Chapter 1639: Chapter 322: Path of Unity
“Great Group… huh.”
Aiwass murmured that name, “What a great name.”
Great Group — this name has another translation, which is “Legion.”
This is a completely new model, unlike the collective will of the Geometric Celestial Marshal or the dual soul state of the Fool and the Banquet Master.
As the “Pure White Robe” is Guinevere and the “Silver Crown” is Lancelot—even the old deity name “Silver-Crowned Dragon” can call them out!
Perhaps in the future, other members of the Round Table Knights… if they give themselves a name, they can all become part of the Great Group.
Each member of the “Great Group” possesses distinctly different abilities. By using different deity names, you can call upon different “Great Groups”… For instance, if requesting healing, you certainly wouldn’t call Lancelot or Silver-Crowned Dragon, but Guinevere; if seeking large-scale freezing, then Silver-Crowned Dragon could be called.
With the further increase in the number of “Great Groups,” what they can accomplish will also continue to expand, eventually potentially achieving the realm of “omnipotence,” becoming the “All-Powerful God.”
The omnipotence of an individual is a paradox. But for group gods, this is entirely possible, and there’s even a clear direction for completion—no matter what type of ability is lacking, just pulling in an individual with the corresponding ability will suffice.
“I’m afraid next time I see you,” Aiwass smiled, “there will be quite a few of my acquaintances among you.”
“I’m planning to bring Hayna over as well.”
Lancelot beamed brightly and gave a thumbs up to Aiwass, “First, let her join the Great Group temporarily—what happens after, we’ll see. Maybe she’ll want to wait for a new Source River, or perhaps she will want to become a member of the Great Group…”
“Really?”
Aiwass was somewhat surprised, “I thought she kind of joined the Round Table Knights reluctantly…”
“Perhaps.”
Lancelot nodded, acknowledging, “Regarding her accomplishments and personality—she’s somewhat immature, probably because she hasn’t gone through enough tribulations.”
In some sense, Hayna is made up of soul fragments of Lancelot, forming a Swampfolk. Their relationship is akin to the Serpent Celestial Marshal with Shepherd and Aiwass. Lancelot’s criticism of Hayna is almost like self-criticism.
“If I had not gone through tribulations back then, had not met Arthur, had not launched the expedition against the Giants—perhaps I would be as naive as her.”
Lancelot’s words were tinged with a bit of nostalgia and sadness, “But sometimes… I also wish I hadn’t gone through those tribulations.”
“… Do you regret it?”
“Regret? No — without me among the Round Table, everything probably wouldn’t go so smoothly. Undoubtedly, my existence is necessary!”
Lancelot smiled brightly with pride, that unruly smile made Aiwass seem to see a bit of Hayna’s shadow, and no wonder Guinevere was fond of him, “If it weren’t for me, what would my brothers do? In that sense, I do not regret making such a choice… I just occasionally imagine that perhaps I could have had another possibility.”
“Like Hayna?”
“Like Hayna.”
Lancelot seriously nodded, “She is confused about what she should do, but she completely believes that you can create miracles—just like us back then, when we sailed to Avalon, who could have expected Arthur to truly defeat the Supreme Heaven? We didn’t even know how strong the Supreme Heaven was, but we still followed him… just like Hayna doesn’t know what sort of enemy you face, yet she chooses to sacrifice her life for it.
From this angle, Aiwass is Hayna’s “King Arthur.”
It’s just she hasn’t experienced those tribulations that allow her to grow… and in an alternative history, Hayna indeed suffered the trials of destiny. The fall of her nation, massacre of her family, covered in wounds, yet she grew from it, becoming a true hero.
—But if that “Anonymous” were to choose, would she choose to forget everything, for all the disasters to have never happened, and for herself to become as naive and innocent as the old days?
The answer is yes.
This is probably what makes Hayna most resemble Lancelot.
“In that sense, I believe she can be one of us.”
“We don’t plan to only recruit the strong, I think that’s taking the wrong path.”
Guinevere, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke, “Compared to ‘strength,’ we value ‘unity’ more. Even those who aren’t that strong, as long as they have sufficient collective consciousness, can join. Hayna is a prime example, letting people know that joining the Great Group isn’t difficult… Unity should never have any threshold. The previous Round Table Knights can also join.”
“Is there no cost to this?” Aiwass asked, puzzled.
“The more people join, the more the strength of the Source River becomes dispersed.”
Guinevere nodded, “But as ‘we’ become stronger, as the concept of ‘unity’ strengthens, we will also gain more power.”
Aiwass nodded, somewhat enlightened.
“That’s really good…”
He sighed from the heart, “Maybe in the past, some people didn’t even have the qualifications to become a Celestial Marshal. Now they can become part of the Pillar God—even if it’s the weakest Pillar God, it is a Pillar God.”
“As long as it’s beneficial to the ‘Great Group.’
Lancelot added, “I also plan to recruit from other Paths. The Path of Unity is a very inclusive path, even Phantom Demons from other Paths can join.”
“For example?”
Aiwass was curious, “Do you have any targets in mind?”
“There are quite a few talents. Based on my experiences in Shadow Nation over the years, many deities don’t particularly like their current Path and position…
“For instance, the Angel Envoy of the Winter Celestial Marshal, the King of Stibium who turned into an undead; for instance, the Sky Rakshasa is also homeless and can only roam the wilderness; for instance, Heaven Defier Lanmaluo could also abandon his Heavenly Department Position and return, I believe he would want to come back; also, Titania, I know she’s lonely, it’d be better to bring her in too. I’ve also met some new friends in the Shadow Nation.
“Additionally, such as Morgan, such as Merlin—reuniting the scattered Round Table is also a good idea!”
Lancelot laughed brightly, contrasting sharply with Silver-Crowned Dragon’s rather disdainful expression, “Morgan and Merlin… tch… I really don’t want to see them.”
“… Wait a moment?”
Seeing Silver-Crowned Dragon’s reluctance, Aiwass was somewhat stunned, “Don’t you need to unify your opinions? I thought your consciousness was connected.”
“Seek common ground while preserving differences.”
Lancelot nodded too, acknowledging, “Compared to becoming the Celestial Marshal or Angel Envoy of other Paths… Joining the Great Group allows maximum preservation of personal free will. I think this is also a good selling point. We won’t be able to tame or control other individuals simply because one within is stronger—for example, Arthur surely is stronger than me and Guinevere, but he won’t stop me bringing Merlin and Morgan in.
“Our consciousness is always connected, thus we are both individuals and a collective. Yet we do not have only one body capable of action, so even with differing opinions, there is no need to forcibly select one ‘sole correct outcome.’ We can generally each go about our own business, each recruit our own people; we can also take through a common consensus to recruit others for support.”
… Somehow feels like there might emerge some “small groups” in the future.
Aiwass mused silently.
However, they have shared perception, so the conflicts arising from misunderstanding each other should be greatly reduced.
Maybe it’s also some sort of right path?
He initially wanted to chat with Lancelot about New Heras Empire…
But after both Abyssal Celestial Envoy and Red Calamity were slain, the Mirror Ritual linking Material Realm and Dream Realm finally collapsed at this moment.
Aiwass directly fell out.
His vision blurred, and he found himself again in the sandsea submerged by Abyssal Celestial Envoy.
The lurid dark sludge now appeared messy.
Aiwass sighed, “Ah…”
… But it’s not urgent.
Since Hayna also wants to become part of the Great Group, he could just directly call Hayna down to ask then.
As for that—
Aiwass took out the two Celestial Marshal Shards given by the Great Sage and the Knight Heavenly Department with his left hand, and the two cards given by Liya and Helquinn with his right.
… Though it seems Little Butterfly might not be quite suitable for the Celestial Marshal Shard of the Secret Heavenly Master, I will try it out first.
But among the Celestial Marshal Shards of the Great Sage and Knight Heavenly Department, at least Helquinn was usable!
As for the remaining one… if Little Butterfly can’t use it, then exchange with His Holiness for the Flame Celestial Marshal’s Celestial Marshal Shard.
I suppose the Flame Celestial Marshal’s Celestial Marshal Shard can be used, right?