With a single step, Luo Shu returned from the imperceptible dimensional space back into the Abyss world.
He materialised silently within the goblin caverns, standing before the Sword Maiden exactly as he'd been when he departed.
Only Mai Sakurajima seemed to notice anything amiss, asking in surprise:
"Did you just... momentarily disappear?"
Luo Shu turned to glance at Mai Sakurajima, then surveyed their surroundings—the Sword Maiden and her companions—before arching an eyebrow: "You're all still here?"
Luo Shu glanced around, noticing that nothing had changed since his departure, not even their positions. He couldn't help but express mild surprise:
"Does this mean time was relatively stagnant in that space?"
"Time stagnation? What does that mean?"
The Sword Maiden looked over in confusion, her azure eyes filled with bewilderment.
Luo Shu didn't respond. While he was currently interested in the Sword Maiden, his focus remained fixed on those divine beings.
After all, the Sword Maiden couldn't escape his grasp, but those Demigod creatures might.
Although he'd immobilised these Demigod beings by injuring the dice, Luo Shu, wary of complications, naturally decided to quickly test his ideas.
Considering the darkness of these plans, Luo Shu couldn't help but turn his gaze towards Mai Sakurajima:
"I've caught some disgusting creatures and plan to play an interesting game. So, Mai, would you like to excuse yourself?"
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima slightly raised the corners of her mouth, giving Luo Shu a knowing smile:
"So what you're saying, oh divine one, is that I should wait alone in this goblin-infested cave as a mere girl?"
"Divine one?"
The red-haired Cleric and white-haired Archer nearby couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
Even the Sword Maiden couldn't resist looking at Luo Shu, only to immediately avert her gaze upon realising her impropriety. She stood there awkwardly, not daring to move.
Seeing the girls' reactions, Luo Shu shot a glance at Mai Sakurajima.
Calling him 'divine one' on purpose - what game was Mai Sakurajima playing?
At this moment, Mai simply smiled at Luo Shu while secretly sending him private messages through the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System.
After reading them, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes.
A world where gods decide everything... where only nobles possess proper names... where the lower classes don't even have names, only designations...
Where all life worships deities, and even atheists merely follow non-mainstream gods...
What a bizarre world, as strange as its dice-like nature.
Now Luo Shu understood Mai's purpose in hinting at his divinity.
The Sword Maiden was a priestess - in a world with actual gods, such devotees made the most difficult Familia candidates.
Yet simultaneously, they were the easiest to recruit.
Provided you were the god they worshipped.
[Mai Sakurajima: Didn't you say earlier that this world is relatively fragile compared to reality?]
[Mai Sakurajima: In that case, the god worshipped by the Maiden probably isn't someone you can't handle.]
[Mai Sakurajima: So, you want to give it a try?]
[Mai Sakurajima: Defeat the god the Maiden worships, take their place, and trick your way into possessing everything about her~ (laughs)]
Facing Mai's teasing, Luo Shu pondered briefly before replying:
[Luo Shu: What if...]
[Luo Shu: I've already captured the god the Maiden worships?]
[Mai Sakurajima: ???]
Glancing at Mai's utterly bewildered expression, Luo Shu couldn't help but chuckle before casually remarking, "If Mai says so, then come along with us."
As he spoke, Luo Shu glanced at the girls present and directly commanded:
"You lot follow as well."
Upon hearing Luo Shu's order, the girls exchanged uncertain looks but dared not refuse the command of a 'manifested deity', falling in behind Luo Shu to form a long procession.
Compared to Mai Sakurajima, who followed closely behind Luo Shu, the others lagged slightly but still trailed carefully behind.
In this world where faith was universal, the commands of deities were nearly absolute. Even though Luo Shu wasn't the god they worshipped, none dared refuse his orders.
While his divine status certainly made things convenient for Luo Shu, as someone from modern society, he still found such subservience uncomfortable.
Weren't gods supposed to be transactional - you give offerings, they grant favours?
With his belief that man could conquer nature, Luo Shu found their behaviour somewhat distasteful, but he wouldn't try to change their mindset recklessly.
Having been born into Christianity in his previous life, Luo Shu understood all too well the toxicity of blind faith.
Preaching about not blindly worshipping deities to these people? He stopped doing that once he grew slightly wiser.
Respecting others' fates and maintaining detached observation was enough.
As the group followed Luo Shu forward, it was as if a stupidity field had been lifted - the Witch who'd been maintaining detection spells reported with a dark expression:
"Thirty metres ahead to the right - eight goblins hiding. Behind the cave on the right, thirty-two goblins. Above the left wall on a small platform - twelve more. Damn it, this isn't some small goblin nest but an entire tribe! A large one at that!"
Hearing this, the red-haired Cleric turned pale. She glanced at Luo Shu at the front and whispered to the Witch:
"If there are so many, how come you didn't detect them earlier?"
The purple-haired Witch scowled. "That's the problem - there genuinely weren't any before!"
"Damn it, do goblins have magic or items that prevent detection?"
The red-haired Cleric snapped, "If those beasts had such things, how can you see them now?"
The purple-haired Witch immediately shut down.
'Right. Goblins are the weakest monsters - no spellcasting ability, not even language. That's basic knowledge.'
'So, is my magic really this terrible? Can't even reliably detect goblins?'
The white-haired Archer at the back saw them bickering again and noticed the Sword Maiden was too distracted following the unknown deity to mediate as usual.
Finally, the white-haired Archer couldn't help interjecting:
"Is it possible the goblins did have concealment abilities, but because the deity is present, all concealment has been nullified?"
The purple-haired Witch and red-haired Cleric exchanged glances, then looked at Luo Shu at the front, suddenly finding this explanation perfectly reasonable!
Seeing them finally quiet down, the white-haired Archer sighed in relief, pleased she could now calm her companions like the Maiden.
Just as the Archer was feeling pleased with herself...
At the front of the group, Luo Shu came to a halt. He swept a glance at the nearby cave and sensed the surrounding goblins before murmuring to himself:
"So many goblins... should be enough for them to play with..."
"Then..."
Luo Shu raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"Let the game begin!"
Snap!
The sound of fingers snapping echoed.
The hidden goblins instantly fell into an illusory world constructed by Mist Flame.
The game was about to begin!