I loaded the geek game

"I am, and will always be, myself."

Kamiya's answer was resounding, like metal striking stone, stirring up layers of golden ripples in the boundless sky.

"Heh... very interesting." Xu Fu let out a dry laugh, which mingled with the booming sound of the stone seat rising higher and higher. His shadow cast on the stone seat appeared increasingly distorted and tall, and his withered body was also being pulled upward in sync, making a constant cracking sound as bones were pulled apart. "But you have to make a choice."

choose……

The instant Xu Fu finished speaking, the words that Seimei had spoken before his consciousness dissipated echoed in Kamiyagawa's mind—

"...I have never regretted sitting on the throne of God. It's just that I didn't have a choice back then, and perhaps the earliest Daoman didn't have much of a choice either..."

No choice.

Sacrifice and betrayal—neither of these choices is what Kamiyagawa wants.

If these are truly the only two options, then Kamiya's situation doesn't seem much better than Seimei's back then.

"...I didn't have a choice back then...but if I could, I would hope you could."

The subtle shift in the last words left by Seimei's consciousness was like a sigh before dissipating, or perhaps... some unspoken but meaningful hint.

Thinking about it now, it's still quite intriguing.

The boundless darkness writhed and spun wildly, while the enormous white phantoms wandering around screamed almost frantically.

The towering, rumbling stone seat casts a dark silhouette against the dim light emanating from the Kamiya River.

Xu Fu's figure stretched longer and longer, almost reaching the same height as the dark stone seat, revealing an inhuman appearance. His appearance had become so distorted that he resembled those enormous phantoms. Dark red and blackish strange patterns erupted on his body, revealing Xu Fu's divine essence, yet also acting like shackles, firmly binding his half-ethereal body to the side of the stone seat.

“Look, even the throne of the Lord of all gods and spirits, even the laws left by Izanagi, are urging you... Empty words are useless... So, Lord of all gods and spirits of Izumo, make your choice…” Xu Fu’s voice was filled with divine might.

"I've already made my choice."

Kamiya gripped the sword hilt, lightning flashing in his dark eyes.

In fact, he had already made up his mind about his choice when he first answered Xu Fu's question.

He didn't believe at all that the words left behind by Seimei's consciousness were some kind of sentimental lament.

Isn't the answer already right in front of us?

Whether following the path of Michimitsu or Seimei, Kamiyagawa's situation is hardly one of "having a choice." There must be a third solution to the truth about Takamagahara that the ruler of the demons and gods must confront—

Kamiya should have his own choice.

"Since the destiny of the ruler of all spirits is to confront the laws left behind by Izanagi, things actually become simpler..."

Clang!
Futsu-no-Mitama and Ame-no-Oe-no-Habari were drawn at the same time, the clanging sound of the divine swords being drawn was like the gurgling of a clear spring.

The divine light surrounding Kamiya River was clear and bright, soaring high with a magnificent majesty and a sense of holiness, rivaling the aura emanating from the towering and imposing black throne, and forcing all the restless white phantoms around it to retreat far away.

"Why don't I inscribe new laws for Yun?"

That's right!

As rulers capable of controlling Takamagahara and as "offers" qualified to sacrifice themselves to solidify the seal of the Void, the status of the Lord of Demons and Gods is absolutely no lower than that of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, who are the Three Noble Children.

Moreover, Kamiya is fundamentally different from Doman and Seimei before him.

He is one of the few gods who can contain two divine skeletons.

The resonance between the two divine skeletons within his body, especially the surging divine power emanating from the Great Lord, which contained the authority of "civilization and law"—

This is also where his confidence comes from!
Isn't it just about writing down the law?

My authority has not been disadvantaged either!
If Izanagi can do it, why can't I?!
Neither obey nor betray.

Instead, in the name of the new lord of Takamagahara, he recast the destiny that Izanagi had been etched for thousands of years!
This was Kamiyagawa's choice, unlike Doman and Seimei's previous choices; it was his third option.

"What an arrogant answer. But have you considered the consequences of not following established rules? If such a rebellious act fails, the entire Izumo will cease to exist."

Aside from the divine essence still bound by shackles around his enormous body, Xu Fu's current form was no different from the cowering phantoms around him. Yet, for some reason, his echoing words of doubt carried a hint of admiration.

“How will we know if it will work if we don’t try? Besides, I don’t think Izanagi’s laws are that reliable.” Kamiya’s tone revealed none of the reverence or awe one would expect from a later entrant like him towards Izanagi. Though he looked up at Xu Fu, who had been mutated and lost his human form, his eyes, brimming with lightning patterns, seemed to transcend time, gazing directly at the Izumo father god who had attempted to dictate his destiny thousands of years earlier.
"If it weren't for Abe no Seimei, Izumo would have been gone by the time of Ashiya Dōman."

"Hahaha... Hahaha!" Xu Fu's laughter boomed, making the entire stone seat tremble. Yet, there was a genuine joy in that laughter, as if withered trees had come back to life. "Little boy, you are truly lovable."

"You're laughing at my wild ideas?"

"No, just as I said, no one knows the consequences of what you're about to do. But there's one thing I know all too well—" Xu Fu's voice split into countless echoes, "Before me... no one in the entire Izumo knew that mortals could become gods! Since you want to do it, then do it—come and take it! Take it away!"

Xu Fu's distorted white shadow lingered beside the dark stone seat, and layers of mutterings poured out from his mouth, his eyes, his nose, and his internal organs.

Kamiya was extremely familiar with these voices; he had heard them more than once before!
It sounded like a roar of joy, yet also like a mournful wail; it seemed both empty and lifeless, yet also like a sticky, wet mess.

Indescribable sounds intertwined in the void, ultimately overlapping and conveying themselves through a single, simple name, resounding throughout the endless void:
"Xu Fu! Xu Fu! Xu Fu! Xu Fu!"

"Xu Fu...Xu Fu..."

But the Kamiya River is no longer what it used to be.

He stood firmly, sword in hand, letting the incoherent ramblings that could drive mortals mad wash over him. And at that very close range, Kamiya River finally heard Xu Fu's ramblings clearly.

He heard the complete lament, spanning a thousand years, uttered by the one who had once crossed the sea eastward seeking immortality, trapped within the Ruins of Return—

"Xu Fu...Xu Fu..."

"Kill Xu Fu! Kill Xu Fu!"

"Kill...me!" (End of Chapter)