I am God LSLCCF

The box hanging on his chest fell, and the various odd little objects inside scattered all over the staircase.

Elena remained vigilant on the staircase.

After a Demon Spiritʼs death, the Demon Spirit Pyramid would emit light, reigniting their consciousness.

At that time, they would enter the next cycle, and everything would begin anew.

Though they would forget the past, it could barely be called a revival.

But this time, Elena waited for a very long time. He did not come back to life.

It seemed that with the ghostʼs release, his own existence had come to an end.

She waited, though she could not be entirely sure of what had happened.

Elena turned her head and spoke softly to the rusted remains of the puppet.

”Perhaps I should not have agreed to your request.”

”However, even at the end, you did not seem to regret it.”

”What exactly did you feel from within that ghost? Was it truly so painful?”

While waiting, Elena took the time to count all the reliefs in the area, along with the statues above.

”Eight thousand two hundred and sixteen.”

Elena recalled what the Demon Spirit King had once told her. ”This country has eight thousand two hundred and sixteen people.”

Elena walked up the staircase, heading directly toward one of the pillars.

On the pillar was carved a valiant female knight.

Unlike the People of the Abyss present, she possessed a form remarkably similar to the divine beings.

Elena stopped before it.

”Number...” Elena paused, her voice trembling slightly. ”Eight thousand two hundred and seventeen.”

The female knight on the pillar suddenly moved. It turned its head and spoke to Elena, its voice proud.

”Halt!”

”Stand where you are!”

”None may approach Godʼs temple without permission!”

This ghost was the strongest ghost here.

She had been born not long ago, probably appearing when Elena returned to this city.

Beneath her priestʼs robe, Elena unconsciously clenched her fist.

She finally understood. She knew the purpose of the Demon Spirit Pyramid and the meaning behind the name ”Demon Spirit.”

”So, this is what it means to be a Demon Spirit.”

Possessing the transcendent body of a monster and the undying spirit of a ghost.

The two components formed what was called a Demon Spirit.

The body was made of transcendent materials, like an artifact, not easily destroyed or corroded.

Only the consciousness within the body was destined to wear away with time.

But as long as the ghost remained, when the bodyʼs consciousness died, they could use this Demon Spirit Pyramid and the ghosts inside as seeds to revive once more, giving birth to new consciousness.

They were a combination of monster and ghost, yet not entirely monsters.

As a result, they could live in the city that was once home to the People of the Abyss without being restricted by the Monster Covenant.

Elena stood before the pillar, facing her own ghost, with emotions she could not calm.

”Forge transcendent monster bodies from metal and use ghosts as candles to repeatedly ignite consciousness. This pyramid serves as a candlestick, sustaining the perpetual operation of this Demon Spirit Kingdom.”

”Is this how the People of the Abyss cross time and continue to exist? Is this how their heritage is preserved?”

”Is this what I chose?”

”Is this the method I chose to save the People of the Abyss?”

Elena looked at the entire Demon Spirit Pyramid, her voice echoing in this empty realm.

”Is this the giant ship I created to cross the river of time?”

Her voice was cold and filled with confusion.

”Is this...”

”The future I chose?”

Elena stood tall for a long time, then suddenly drew the sword at her waist.

She pointed it at her own image on the pillar, her expression filled with fury.

It was as though she wanted to destroy the carving, to slash her own ghost into pieces.

”What kind of future is this?”

”Elena, were you out of your mind back then?”