The power of the Quill of Alzuhod comes from the Sequence One of the Visionary Pathway: the Author.
Although the stories it writes become reality, it's not exactly creating something from nothing.
It is a manifestation of the 'Author' ability, which works by controlling the Sea of Collective Subconscious, shaping the minds of all beings, and making them act according to the Author's will.
This creates 'coincidences' and eventually causes events to unfold as the Author intends.
However, if the story lacks logic, driven by vague or unclear reasons like 'mysterious' or 'strange,' the chances of success decrease significantly.
Uchiha Sogetsu was merely using the name of the 'Quill of Alzuhod' to deceive the brothers Lu Mingfei and Lu Mingze.
Besides, the Quill of Alzuhod has a 'nasty habit': it tends to start writing on its own when the owner isn't paying attention, sometimes even trying to write the death of the holder.
Thanks to this troublesome side effect, Uchiha Sogetsu had to be very cautious. He specially set up a room to seal away the true 'Quill of Alzuhod,' so that one day, when he lets his guard down, he wouldn't become the unfortunate main character in the pen's story—after all, in the original work, Ince Zangwill was quite unlucky.
In conclusion, what Uchiha Sogetsu holds is actually a fake, but that doesn't stop him from using it to deceive others.
And indeed, Lu Mingze was clearly shaken, his expression full of drama.
The heavy atmosphere, filled with low pressure, made Lu Mingfei feel very uncomfortable. He really hated this feeling.
The helplessness of knowing the future is tragic, yet being unable to change it, deepened his sense of sorrow.
Suddenly, he impulsively stepped out from behind Lu Mingze, looked up at the shadow that seemed to embody thousands of beings, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Really... can't it be changed?"
Very good, I was waiting for that question. Uchiha Sogetsu smiled lightly and said, "To rewrite the story of the Quill of Alzuhod requires a great cost."
Lu Mingze caught the hidden meaning in his words, and his eyes suddenly brightened. "A great cost? Does that mean... you can rewrite it?!"
"Yes."
Uchiha Sogetsu leaned back in his chair, resting his left hand against his cheek, and calmly replied, "But why would I do that?"
"Heh, I understand. There's no free lunch in this world." Lu Mingze kept his hands in his pockets, looked at 'Adam' on the main seat, and smiled, "Name your price. What do we have to pay? Our souls? Our bloodline? The throne?"
"No need."
Uchiha Sogetsu glanced at him briefly, playing with the feather pen, and said calmlly: "The price you can offer isn't even worth one ten-thousandth of the Quill of Alzuhod."
Lu Mingze gritted his teeth, casting a subtle glance at Lu Mingfei before looking back at Adam. "What if it's the Black King's power and authority?"
"Do you think I need it?"
That wasn't an exaggeration. Uchiha Sogetsu really didn't care for the Black King's power.
Although still at Sequence Three, with the Quill of Alzuhod, it wouldn't be hard to kill the Black King, not to mention when advancing to Sequence Two, One, or even Zero in the future.
Lu Mingze stayed silent for two seconds, his pride taking a blow. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he said sarcastically: "Yeah, we're just characters in a story, while you're an existence outside the story. Of course, you don't need it."
"That's too harsh…"
Lu Mingfei looked disheartened, collapsing to the ground, dejectedly saying: "In the end, I'm just a character in someone else's story... and I'm the simp, the unlucky guy? What's wrong with them? Who writes the protagonist like this? Shouldn't the protagonist be handsome and strong?"
"Probably the guy's twisted sense of humor."
Uchiha Sogetsu replied truthfully.
It's rare to see a character comment on their own creator like that—quite the spectacle, really.
"Was the previous Author... the god who created our world?"
Lu Mingze clenched his fist, feeling as though flames were buried deep inside him. He could almost punch that guy in the face! Since they were all just characters in a story, the one who wrote the "story" had to be the creator god, right?
"From your perspective, calling him the creator god is not wrong."
Uchiha Sogetsu's clear eyes held a hint of mockery as he said, "But, from a broader perspective, he was just using the 'Quill of Alzuhod.'"
"Then what about you? Who are you?"
Lu Mingze asked in a deep voice, "Since that person created their story, what is the 'Adam' who took the Quill of Alzuhod from that person's hands?"
"An ordinary 'Spectator,' the creator of the Twilight Hermit Order," Uchiha Sogetsu replied gently.
"Twilight Hermit Order?" Lu Mingze suddenly realized something, turning his head to look around. The seats around the bronze long table looked like they were set for a gathering. He asked, "If I'm not mistaken, there must be others here, right?"
"They are people who, guided by destiny, have accidentally arrived in the Divine Kingdom."
Uchiha Sogetsu slightly raised the corner of his mouth, smiling faintly as he said, "They follow the philosophy of the Twilight Hermit Order to awaken the 'original creator' from their eternal sleep and change the tragic fate. So every week, they gather here and exchange ideas."
Upon hearing this, Lu Mingze seemed to catch a glimpse of an opportunity, his eyes lighting up. He asked, "Then, what price do we have to pay to join?"
"No price at all."
Uchiha Sogetsu smiled slightly, pleased that after all the buildup, they were finally getting to the point.
The Black King, Nidhogg—more accurately, the next Black King's twins—if one could control them, it would be like controlling the entire Dragon Raja world.
Then, subtly, implant the belief in the 'original creator.' This way, one would no longer need to worry about the 'anchor' after ascending to godhood.
Even the sequence zero accessed through the Spectator's path could virtually simulate personalities of those who truly existed in the past as 'anchors,' balancing divinity and humanity.
But that didn't mean more faith wasn't needed. After all, no one would complain if the 'anchor' was more stable.
"So, does this mean we can join the Twilight Hermit Order?" Lu Mingze asked again.
Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze remained calm as he looked at the eager Lu Mingze, smiling lightly. "Yes. Although you weren't guided by destiny and entered the Divine Kingdom under the influence of the Quill of Alzuhod, you are, in essence, qualified to join the Twilight Hermit Order."
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