Chapter 745: Worth a Try

Lolth awoke sooner than anticipated.

Perhaps her Otherworld-born soul remained not entirely subject to the dominion of this world’s "Creator God," sparing her from the catastrophic damage she’d feared.

Regardless, she stirred back to consciousness.

Yet she found herself not in the world’s hidden mechanisms,

but upon a continent grown bleak and barren.

The air now hung thick with the acrid scent of smoke and an undercurrent of unease – a far cry from the thriving civilization she remembered before her slumber.

Xiletor remained undoubtedly dormant – this truth resonated clearly through Lolth’s awareness.

But the world’s former tranquility had shattered.

Though they’d desperately tried restraining Xiletor before the long sleep, those cataclysms had still scoured the land for ages.

With no behind-the-scenes adjustments from Xiletor after the calamities…

The world’s disintegration became inevitable.

No, disintegration proved too mild a term.

"This…is how worlds truly are."

Lolth’s sigh misted in the frozen air as she rose from snowdrifts, her impression lingering like a porcelain bowl pressed into powdered sugar.

The hospital gown from another lifetime clung to her frame, bare feet numbing in the snow, leaving Lolth half-convinced she’d merely awakened from a prolonged and ancient dream – as if her crossing had just occurred, all tales of "creation" being fantastical delusions.

If only.

Agony like shattered glass reforged into a soul reminded her…this was no fantasy.

Her awakening meant Xiletor too would eventually stir.

Moreover, she sensed it…

Xiletor’s slumber grew shallower by the moment.

The End of Days would claim its due.

Her depleted reserves of Eternal authority left no possibility for repeated self-immolation…nor could the same stratagem work twice against a mind like Xiletor’s without unforgivable insult.

"Ah…solutions. Must find solutions."

Lolth tapped her temple rhythmically, until inspiration struck faster than expected.

"Gods. More divine players!"

"More deities, more intersecting planes, more labyrinthine world-rules…"

"Weakening Xiletor’s influence while constructing bulwarks against annihilation."

The End of Days thrived on unraveling order into formless void.

Complex systems would resist destruction – the more baroque the tapestry, the harder for Xiletor to unpick its threads.

"Resolution made…To work!"

First, let us locate the leaders of the three continental races—the three "Primordial Goddesses"—to explain the situation.

At the very least, we must halt these races’ conflicts and wars. In this moment, Lolth nearly conceded that Xiletor’s judgment had been correct.

This world remained far too "imperfect." Without her and Xiletor’s subtle guidance, even goddesses sculpted from the same essence now led their respective tribes into warfare rather than embracing sisterhood.

"This defies reason."

Though muttering complaints, Lolth effortlessly located the Ailuo race’s territory. Matters proceeded smoothly thereafter—she marched straight to their palace’s priestly sanctum, kicked open the half-plane channel atop the altar, stormed into the Divine Kingdom, and hauled out Kululu from where she’d been sketching Fuen and some explicit illustrations.

"Yowch—who dares?!"

This marked Kululu’s first direct encounter with Lolth. Recognition swiftly dawned through residual divine essence.

"Ah! You’re our creator… well, the other powerful entity besides the Creation Goddess!"

Surveying the tall, curvaceous yet distinctly eccentric figure before her, Lolth sighed. "Use a shorter title."

Kululu tilted her head contemplatively.

"…Mom?"

"Overly brief and disturbingly inappropriate. Disregard that." Lolth pinched her brow. "Also, detach yourself—"

"But this feels nice!" The octopus-like goddess clung tighter. "I’ve never relied on anyone since birth, so…"

After a pause, Lolth gently patted Kululu’s head. "You’ve endured much."

"Nevertheless," she continued as curiosity brightened Kululu’s gaze, "this isn’t the time for—"

"For what?"

"The End of Days. The Creation Goddess has gone mad and intends to annihilate existence."

Kululu nodded sagely. "Ah, the Creation Goddess’s madness brings apoca—wait, WHAT?!" Horror contorted her features.

"Visual recollection proves quicker." Lolth tapped her temple, projecting edited yet coherent memory fragments of her exchange with Xiletor.

As the accelerated visions unfolded, Kululu’s expression darkened relentlessly until silence reclaimed the chamber.

"Thus stands our reality."

"Though I sensed disharmony," Kululu murmured, voice leaden, "this catastrophe exceeds all fears. We must inform Earl and Fuen immediately."

"No time remains for internal strife." Lolth dissolved the projections. "My awakening heralds Xiletor’s imminent return. When she next stirs, determined to unravel creation, I’ll lack strength to oppose her."

"Alone, at least."

After contemplation, Kululu straightened. "Understood. What’s required?"

"Secure your divine authorities. Gather more deities, more power—steal back weapons belonging to Her. Tipping this balance might render survival possible."

Lolth unveiled her premeditated strategy.

"Thus halting the End?"

"Merely buying time." Lolth’s gaze fell. "Xiletor will slumber anew."

The method?

She’d employed it once already.

Though her own power waned, this necessitated Kululu’s involvement. Weakening Xiletor sufficed.

"Yet this isn’t true resolution," Kululu countered, eyes glinting. "Given time, let’s seek perfection."

"Perfection…"

The word alone gave Lolth vertigo.

"Preventing apocalypse… and restoring the Creation Goddess’s sanity." Kululu’s tone turned grave. "Simply eliminate her desire to destroy everything."

"Deceptively simple."

"But worth attempting, yes?"