Pangu, in the divine realm, watched the same news report over and over, again and again.
Even now, he still couldn't believe it.
The Supreme True God who had once appointed him as Director of Debt Claims, who had said he would be his backer — had been directly replaced by a young true god chosen by the Creation Committee.
Pangu sat beneath the World Tree, still holding half an uneaten candied chestnut in his hand.
A crushing sense of loss pressed down on him — not just for losing his patron, but because he knew exactly what would happen next:
The deposed former Supreme True God must surrender all authority, all divine power, and even all life force, to serve as the initial capital for the newly appointed Supreme True God.
This was the world of the Supreme True God.
Once pushed up onto that seat, there was no path of retreat.
The moment a more suitable candidate appeared, you were simply replaced.
No term limit. No retirement. No "Thank you, you may go now."
Only — becoming the next one's resource.
Pangu looked at the name of that young true god in the news.
He did not know him.
But he knew that, at this very moment, the figure who had once stood behind him was being transformed, bit by bit, into someone else's capital.
He lowered his head, thought of his father from long ago, and finished that candied chestnut.
It was very sweet.
But he couldn't taste a thing.