Only God
Chapter 170 - 147: The Tortoise and the Hare Race

Chapter 170: Chapter 147: The Tortoise and the Hare Race

The beastmen who had arrived at the oasis were confronting Noen and his companions.

They had elongated rabbit-ears and slender figures, with fur in shades of brown or grey, their underbellies turning white and a distinct orange-brown patch on their throats, holding bone spears in their hands, warily watching Noen.

"This is our water source!"

The leading rabbit-eared beastman shouted.

"Stop, we mean no harm,"

Noen spoke.

After exchanging glances, the rabbit-eared beastmen slowly lowered their bone spears.

"Why have you Three-eyed Ape People come here? Don’t you call this place the Path of Death?"

The leader of the rabbit-eared beastmen inquired.

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily appraised the most robust among them, Baird.

Perhaps... he could become an ally?

The rabbit-eared leader fell into a momentary contemplation.

"You should answer us first: what are you here for?"

Casas stepped forward and asked.

His question interrupted the rabbit-leader’s train of thought.

The rabbit-leader hesitated, his gaze continually flicking towards Baird, clad in dragon skin.

He needed an ally, or rather, their tribe needed one.

"Our Clan Leader has tasked us to hunt a desert Earth Dragon,"

The rabbit-leader declared.

Noen and Casas exchanged glances, then Casas spoke up:

"We plan to cross the Path of Death in search of the Ancient Elf Kingdom."

"To cross the Path of Death?"

Hearing this, the rabbit-leader immediately said,

"I must tell you, our Clan Leader knows how to navigate the Path of Death."

After saying that, his gaze once again settled on Baird.

The hunt for the desert Earth Dragon was perilous; countless rabbit-eared individuals had perished under the beast’s claws, and they desperately needed an ally.

"So... what are your terms?"

Noen and his companions’ eyes lit up as they asked.

They were trapped in the Path of Death, in an unfamiliar and dangerous environment where at any moment, the reaper’s scythe could welcome them.

Since the rabbit-eared one had stated their Clan Leader knew how to navigate the Path of Death, it was worth a shot.

"Well, come with us first."

The rabbit-leader discerned a willingness to cooperate in their tone.

Then, the rabbit-eared individuals turned and walked with measured paces towards their mounts—the sandworms.

These were long, segmented creatures, resembling crawling centipedes in appearance, gentle by nature, and hierarchically organized, tamed as mounts by many beastmen tribes living in the desert.

Noen and his party exchanged glances, then followed the rabbit-eared individuals’ steps towards the beastmen’s tribe.

....................

By the time it was early morning, Noen and his company had followed the rabbit-eared ones to the beastmen tribe.

Compared to the sophisticated Three-eyed Ape People, the beastmen’s tribe seemed rudimentary and wild, with exposed animal bones decorating the place as trophies and crude huts constructed under peculiarly shaped wind erosion stones using animal pelts and stones.

Noen and his party were led by the rabbit-leader, moving slowly towards the largest of the wind erosion stones.

"What exactly do you want us to do?"

On the way, Casas asked in puzzlement.

The rabbit-leader slowed his pace and softly said,

"Help us fulfill our Clan Leader’s wish."

"Your Clan Leader’s wish? What would that be?"

"Our Clan Leader has lived far too long..."

The rabbit-leader slowed further and whispered more quietly,

"His friends and family left this world long ago, yet the Clan Leader remains alive and well.

Witnessing the departure of countless tribe-members, he suffers deeply yet feels powerless.

Hence, our Clan Leader wishes to be free from such torture forever, to be separated from pain once and for all."

The rabbit-leader shared the Clan Leader’s wish,

"One day, a visitor named Slaier stumbled into our midst.

After being hosted by us, Slaier accidentally learned of our Clan Leader’s wish.

A kind-hearted Druid, upon knowing the wish, left us a Potion recipe.

For years we’ve strived, collecting nearly all the ingredients except the last one."

"What is it?"

"The tongue of an Earth Dragon."

The rabbit-leader said, once again glancing at Baird.

Despite several looks, he couldn’t help but admire the latter’s muscular build.

As they neared the enormous wind erosion stone, Noen looked up and finally saw the rabbit-eared tribe’s Clan Leader.

The leader was cloaked in a large pelt that covered his entire body, hunched over, his back to everyone, and seemed much broader than the average rabbit-eared beastman.

"Clan Leader, I’ve brought us help,"

The rabbit-leader stepped forward, speaking respectfully,

"All thanks to Dragon God Endora’s blessing."

Noen and his party collectively turned their gaze towards the Clan Leader, who still had his back to them.

"Is that so, my child? Thank the Dragon God."

The Clan Leader slowly turned around as he spoke.

His turning was exceedingly slow.

Gradually, as the Clan Leader’s visage came into view, the group couldn’t help but widen their eyes.

An oval-shaped light green head, a belly covered with gray-white shell, and that arched back was clearly a turtle shell!

It was a Desert Tortoise beastman, resembling a Desert Earth Dragon Turtle!

"Turtle...?"

Baird looked over the rabbit people’s leader, then turned his gaze to the turtle clan leader.

"Yes, quite surprising, isn’t it, guest?"

The turtle clan leader smiled amiably.

"What’s going on here?"

Noen’s mouth fell open, incredulous.

The turtle clan leader cleared his throat and spoke gently:

"Many guests are puzzled.

But I am truly a turtle person and also the leader of this rabbit tribe.

Sixty years ago, I strayed into the desert and was accepted by the rabbits here.

You know, the lifespan of a rabbit is short, a mere twenty years. Yet a turtle person can easily live over a hundred years.

With the experience I have accumulated over my long life, I became the leader of the tribe."

The words of the turtle clan leader reached the ears of Noen and his companions. They were initially astonished, but now that they heard his explanation, it seemed much more reasonable.

In the tribes of the Wilderness, it was often the person with the most survival experience who became the clan leader because he could teach skills day after day, lead his people to find oases and water sources, and guide them in hunting.

Three thousand years ago, the Three-eyed Ape People who lived in the desert had done the same.

The turtle clan leader surveyed everyone and said with a hint of sorrow:

"Having a long life is not always a good thing.

I had to watch generations of rabbit people grow from youth to adulthood and then, after a few years, grow old and infirm before turning into white bones under the desert."

Noen and his companions looked intently at the turtle clan leader.

He softly recounted his own sorrow,

"My life is like a race between the turtle and the rabbit, with our lifespans as the track.

My people are so agile, practically flying, but even the fastest rabbit cannot outpace time.

Their short lives against my longevity have always caused me great pain."

The turtle clan leader’s gentle storytelling moved Noen and his company.

"Alright, clan leader, if you could guide us through the Path of Death, we will give it our all."

Noen stepped forward to speak.

The turtle clan leader nodded, smiling his thanks to everyone.

"It’s late now; rest for the night and let my people lead you on your way tomorrow."

.........

.........

Celestial Kingdom.

"Where is the God of Lies and Deception?"

Dragon God Endora came to the Prophetic Temple of Prophetic God Kagawus.

His thunderous query made the mystical, ornate Prophetic Temple tremble.

"Endora, what do you want with Him?"

Prophetic God Kagawus slowly emerged from behind the temple and looked directly at Dragon God Endora to ask.

Although Kagawus and Endora were both among the earliest Divine beings awakened by Shan’en, Kagawus and Endora were not close and were even estranged most of the time.

And after the God of Lies and Deception was favored and chosen by Kagawus as a Subordinate God, the relationship between the two Divine beings cooled rapidly.

The reason was none other than Dragon God Endora’s disgust for the God of Lies and Deception, who was full of schemes and lies.

That Divine being had recently become self-aware, and upon its birth, it stirred up a third of the Country of Divines.

Its lies were half-truths and half-falsehoods, puzzling other Divine beings. It loved to play with them, mocking them when they were down and in disarray. Its actions were beautifully disguised but could easily lead the Divine astray.

The only good point was that it kept its word.

And Dragon God Endora, who revered strength, especially loathed this God of Lies and Deception.

"Endora, you still detest Him so."

Kagawus read the emotions in Endora’s eyes.

"He deceived me again, Kagawus. He stole one of my Dragon Scales."

Dragon God Endora slowly approached the Prophetic God,

"I don’t understand, Kagawus, why you value Him so highly.

I know He is extremely clever,

but you must realize, here in the Country of Divines, there are many Divine beings as clever as He.

Yet I am expected to fully cooperate with His intrigues and deceptions, such a despicable Divine being.

Why have you chosen Him as your Subordinate God?

Do you admire His repeated cunning schemes?"

Prophetic God Kagawus gazed at Endora and simply said:

"Endora, He is part of the Prophecy."

His words echoed in the vast Temple, resonating for a long while.

Endora’s pupils shrank as he muttered:

"What do you mean... What does that mean?"

"Have you forgotten, Endora, who persuaded you to make that wager with Baird?"

Kagawus spoke gravely:

"I once prophesied about my three Prophecies, and within those Prophecies, there was the shadow of that lie."

Dragon God Endora contemplated deeply, exhaling slowly, and then He said haltingly:

"That God of Lies made me set three wagers with Baird, but He did not tell me what reward I am supposed to give Baird after fulfilling the wagers."

Kagawus turned his back and began walking toward the rear of the temple, continuing:

"Trust Him, the God of Lies certainly has His own schemes."

"Can’t you reveal more to me? Mysterious Prophecy!"

Anger tinged Endora’s voice.

Kagawus halted, casting a glance at Endora.

"Baird’s love interest.

For the sake of this wager, the God of Lies has invested quite some thought into that beauty."

After speaking, Kagawus no longer paid attention to Endora, and his figure slowly vanished within the Prophetic Temple.