Ten Lucky Draws: I Became OP - Chapter 498: To Be or Not To Be (2)

Chapter 498: To Be or Not To Be (2)

To be, or not to be.

To ascend as a god, or refrain from such divinity—that is the question.

Which choice holds greater nobility?

To embrace the flame and transcend the fragile, decaying mortal vessel, or to cling to the dust and the withered thrones of antiquity, remaining bound in chains until the skies themselves collapse?

The bold step forward, eyes burning with resolve, shedding their old selves and bathing in the waters of power—a boundless paradise where chains vanish and new eternities awaken.

Yet many remain, hearts hardened and cold, tongues spitting defiance at the promise of fleeting possibilities. They choose the fall, the bitter end in shadow, and only too late grasp the true weight of damnation.

To be a god, or not to be—the choice is yours.

—

With The Gambler becoming one of the inhabitants of Pantheos and effectively becoming something beyond a mere cultivator, many beings took the opportunity to align themselves with the Ineffable Pantheon.

Ash sat on his throne, looking down at the clear separation unfolding below.

On one side of the hall stood those from Reality Nine who had chosen to step forward — thousands upon thousands now marked as Constellations and Gods of the ’new order’.

Their auras shimmered with fresh, pure power, free from the old mana constraints.

On the other side lingered the fools — those stubborn enough to believe they could still escape or resist.

Their faces were pale, eyes darting toward the ’exits’ that had long stopped functioning as such.

Scattered among them were the few beings from other Realities, including the Watcher, still perched high in his shadowed alcove, watching everything with unblinking golden eyes.

Aurora, still comfortably on Ash’s lap, tilted her head and asked softly,

“Daddy, what’s next? It feels like most of what you wanted to do has already been accomplished tonight.”

Celeste chuckled from the side of the dais, her voice warm and knowing.

“You should know…. the best part is about to come.”

Ash smiled, nodding in agreement as he stood up. He took Aurora’s and Rita’s hands, walking hand-in-hand with them toward Ancestor Sealing, who still stood frozen below the dais.

As they descended the steps, the venue itself began to change.

The walls and grand architecture shimmered, then dissolved into golden motes of light, revealing the perfect, unobstructed view of Reality Nine stretching out beneath them — vast domains, towering mountains, and endless skies now visible as if the entire hall floated above the world itself.

Ash stopped before Ancestor Sealing, looking down at the ancient man with calm authority.

“It’s been a nice welcoming, having you all at my Grand Ball,” he said, his voice carrying across the open sky.

“But now it’s time to make things clear.”

He turned his gaze toward the fools who still believed they had a chance, and then toward the visitors from other Realities.

“From this day forward, all Realities will find themselves on a countdown. One toward Damnation.”

He gave a small, deliberate blink.

|One Sight|

HUMMMMM!!!!!!

In that moment, billions upon billions of Unus warriors and legions from his wives poured through countless rifts that tore open across Reality Nine.

They descended like a storm of divine retribution — Vaeloria’s blade legions, Seris’s endless beast armies, and many more.

And… The destruction began immediately.

BOOOOOOM!!!!!

BOOOOOOM!!!!!

The land erupted in a blaze of explosions, shaking the very ground.

Mountains split apart beneath the force of unimaginable power, while above, the skies echoed with the deafening roars of beasts and flashed with the gleam of clashing swords.

As destruction ensued, Ash along with the two of his Daughters, they stood in front of Ancestor Sealing…. not even paying him any mind at all.

It was almost like they were looking directly passed him.

Ash voice carried clearly across the entire hall and beyond, reaching every being present.

“For the fools who think there will be some safety… you are wrong.”

He paused, letting the words sink in as more explosions lit up the distant horizon, entire domains vanishing in flashes of crimson and black.

“Since you chose damnation, then you will watch as everything you love and hold dear is destroyed before your very eyes.”

He turned his gaze toward the visitors from other Realities, his smile calm but carrying a clear warning.

“To the others from different Realities… you are allowed to go. But be sure to pass the word… To be, or not to be.”

His golden eyes gleamed as he smiled….

“Because once we appear again, it won’t be with any words.”

He added lightly, almost playfully,

“And I hope you don’t run into my other wife out there. She’s currently… caught up in her own little world at the moment.”

Layla chuckled from her throne, her voice soft but carrying the same absolute authority.

“The exits have begun functioning once more….”

HUMMMM!!!!

The portals around the hall reactivated with a soft hum.

Many guests wasted no time, rushing toward them in a panicked but orderly flow, desperate to escape the unfolding destruction of Reality Nine.

The Merchant grabbed Male by the arm, pulling him urgently through the crowd toward the nearest portal.

“Come on,” she hissed, her voice low and sharp. “We need to leave…. Now.”

Male allowed himself to be pulled along, but his expression remained conflicted.

The events of the night had left him both fascinated and deeply disturbed.

Before he thought these beings claims of being Gods was nothing but foolish..

However, the casual display of power, the ease with which they erased concepts and beings — it was unlike anything he had encountered before.

“I still haven’t decided,” he muttered, even as they moved with the fleeing crowd. “Teaming up with a mere champion… I’m not sure it’s worth it.”

The Merchant didn’t slow down.

“What the hell ever.” She said with a shake of her head. “You saw what they just did. You saw what they’re capable of. If you think you can stand against them alone, you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”

She wasted no time accessing her system, swiftly using the first of her hundred free purchases.

What she chose was nothing less than a one-way ticket to True Nonexistence.

Before them, a dark, swirling portal materialized, distinct from all the others.

Without a second thought, she grabbed Male and pulled him through. In an instant, they disappeared into the endless void.

Ash remained beside Aurora and Rita, watching them leave with a faint, knowing smile.

Inwardly, his mind shifted.

’Male… a pawn like you… far too useful, too valuable to simply let go.’ With that, he silently reached out to one of his Sons.

’Klaus, trail those two… and when I give the signal, end them.’