novellk Chapter 1757 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [102] "Pride and Prejudice".
Chapter 1757 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [102] "Pride and Prejudice".
Chapter 1757 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [102]: "Pride and Prejudice".
"Shh..."
Shining with golden light.
A figure dressed in a long robe, holding a golden bow, emerged from the hole in the sky. He always wore a smile, his posture was impeccable, and his expression was gentle.
The two looked at each other, as if they had an unspoken understanding.
“（291，2823，53）” is clearly open.
Su Ming'an nodded, said nothing more, and rushed towards the coordinates!
"Shh-!"
Clouds swept across his face, and tentacles behind him burst forth as Su Ming'an poured all his divine power into the longsword in his hand!
The dark pupils were extremely silent.
The fact that Ming has not made a move despite the death of the Radiant Mother Goddess indicates that he has not submitted to her, but rather has other plans.
Ming had appeared once before, shooting several arrows at Su Ming'an before disappearing. At that time, Su Ming'an was wondering what Ming's behavior of chasing someone halfway through meant. If it were a proper chase, he wouldn't just hit and run like that; it must be hinting at something.
Su Ming'an knew himself best, and despite the significant differences in their thought processes, he still managed to deduce Ming's general idea. Perhaps Ming was tracking someone. Initially, Su Ming'an wasn't sure who this person was, but after defeating the Radiant Mother Goddess and confronting Eurydilora... the person who hadn't yet appeared was most likely the one being tracked.
It was not Yuritilora, nor the so-called Lord of the End of All Things and the Supreme Lord, nor the Eighth Seat who had been suppressed by his own divine power; only one person remained.
...[Pink-haired person].
A mysterious, unseen person who had once hunted him down and then suddenly appeared.
The pink-haired man's behavior was almost identical to Ming's sudden pursuit of him. It was as if it were a hint.
Although Su Ming'an couldn't tell whether Ming really wanted to help him, he was just trying it out casually. Whether he guessed right or wrong, it wouldn't matter.
However, as he approached the coordinates, he actually saw it—that guy.
Her pink hair flowed freely, she wore a mask adorned with flowers, and a magnificent white robe engraved with a key pattern. She held a chain sword in one hand and a branch of flowers resembling a knife in the other; her appearance was breathtakingly beautiful.
The man stood in a dim ocean, the seawater reaching his knees, his mask edged with gold, and waves lapping against his swaying robe.
"—It seems the time for our final battle has finally come." The pink-haired man spoke, as if he already knew something. "Only one of us can survive."
Su Ming'an stared at him.
"The riddle of the Supreme Lord truly astonishes me..." At this moment, Su Ming'an gradually understood why the pink-haired person was born. It's not difficult to understand if you think from the perspective of the one who posed the question.
—What is the best way for the Supreme Lord to make Su Ming'an unable to find His complete image?
It wasn't about hiding the image fragments in the most secluded corners, nor in the most difficult obstacles. Su Ming'an could search every corner and overcome every difficult obstacle to stop the tram; nothing could stop him.
There is only one way to prevent him from collecting the last fragment no matter what.
According to the theorem that "only by killing someone can one obtain the fragment that the Supreme Lord has hidden within that person"...
—If the Supreme Lord hides this fragment on Su Ming'an himself, how can Su Ming'an kill himself and obtain the fragment?
Under normal circumstances, "killing oneself" might be achievable. For example, with the golden thread of the Radiant Mother Goddess, one could revive the consciousness of a dying person, even if it is extremely difficult. Alternatively, with the skill of soul ferrying, one could attempt resurrection.
However, for Su Ming'an himself, "killing himself" is simply impossible to achieve in the short term.
Firstly, he has a death rollback feature; once he dies, the game will rewind.
Secondly, even if the clone survives, Su Ming'an will not truly die. However, during this brief respite, people have fallen asleep, giving the ever-watchful Lord of Dreams ample time to maneuver further, which carries extremely high risks.
Eurydilora deceived Su Ming'an, claiming that by killing all his companions and checking them one by one, he could find the fragments of the Supreme Lord's image hidden on them. But in reality, this was a lie.
The fragments were actually hidden within Su Ming'an himself.
Like a cat chasing its own tail in circles, finding this last fragment is as difficult as climbing to heaven.
Although it's impossible, even if Su Ming'an really went through them one by one and killed all his companions... he would only end up with a hopeless result.
The fragments weren't on their companions at all.
The final fragment resides within himself.
At that time, faced with devastation and the deaths of all his comrades... he might, like Rovasa in her opening bloody dream, waver in the face of the wreckage. This was Eurydilora's third idea.
This guy's schemes are intricately linked, attempting to undermine people's morale from every angle.
Faced with such an almost unsolvable situation... Su Ming'an did not overlook any possible way to break the deadlock.
——【Pink-haired person】.
This strange, suddenly appearing, mysterious fellow. This person is neither a member of the Lord of Dreams nor the Lord of the End of All Things; he seems to belong to no one, appearing out of nowhere and inexplicably hunting down Su Ming'an. He's neither like a Zhai Xingren nor a Luowasha person; it's as if he simply... appeared out of thin air.
Su Ming'an was always puzzled by his purpose.
……
[Su Ming'an, clutching the pink-haired man's cloth, activated the effect of his heart's blood to trace back history.]
Before her lay a deep, purplish-red mist, and a beautiful young woman with flowing pink hair, wearing a short skirt.
This pink-haired person... comes from a dream; they belong to Pudding.
……
When he finished Li Ziqi's twelfth story, "If I had never seen the light," he was killed once by the pink-haired man. He learned that the pink-haired man was standing next to Pudding and must be one of Pudding's people.
However, this reasoning is not rigorous enough. It's also possible that the pink-haired person, as an independent and conscious individual, is conversing with Pudding. But the pink-haired person isn't Pudding's person, nor has he been claimed by Lu Shen, Ailand, or Bai Chun. So who exactly is this guy...?
There's really only one answer left.
Among all the sober people Su Ming'an knew, there was one more.
Flower branches sway, long hair flutters, and a person with long pink hair wears a mask, raising their chin, as if a pair of sharp eyes can be seen projecting from the holes.
“—'False anchor point',” Su Ming’an said.
The pink-haired person is a "false anchor" deliberately created to confuse observers; it was created by Noel.
He... or she, has no appearance, no gender, no voice of their own, no identity, no origin, and no hometown.
Therefore, it can only be called "Pink-haired Person" from beginning to end. Su Ming'an has never figured out its gender, let alone where it came from.
The reason TA relentlessly pursued Su Ming'an was to stay close to him during the most chaotic chronological juncture when Su Ming'an flipped through the previous page, even to the point of personally killing him, causing confusion when the Supreme Lord hid the fragments of his image. According to previous intelligence, the Supreme Lord could vaguely sense the disconnection at the "death rollback point," so when the chronology became chaotic and death occurred, He might indeed be confused.
How to break free from the deadlock of "I can't kill myself"?
It's very simple, just create another container for obfuscation.
Su Ming'an had secretly considered this dead end before, but he had too many things to manage and simply didn't have the energy to create a new container. Most of the time, he could only rewind time alone, with his teammates and cards arriving later. Only the pink-haired man kept up very closely.
Now, the two are facing off.
"This is truly killing two birds with one stone. If I go the wrong way, you will be responsible for constantly hindering me. If I go the right way, you will serve as a false anchor point for my final showdown." Su Ming'an raised his sword. "Whether it's right or wrong, I won't lose out."
"No, I only want to fight you," the pink-haired man said calmly.
Most interestingly, the Seventh Seat is no longer able to intervene in this duel. He has retreated back into the World Game for protection, which means that he is once again under the control of the World Game. He is undoubtedly the organizer with the most turbulent fate. His schemes are intricately linked, yet they are always dismantled. Besides Su Ming'an, Su Lin, and others, his allies are also among those who dismantle him.
The pink-haired person raised a flower branch: "Come."
Either TA takes all the Supreme Lord fragments from Su Ming'an, or Su Ming'an defeats TA, this false anchor point; it's a matter of life and death.
The seawater reached above his knees, and his white robe billowed.
The moment the pink-haired person raised the flower branch, the entire dark ocean lit up. Wherever the flower branch pointed, the seawater shed its grayness and burst forth with clusters of crimson and moon white, as if a spring had exploded on the tip of a blade.
The pink-haired man always used this flower branch as a sword, but at this moment, Su Ming'an understood its true nature; it was actually a pen. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that a pen can create flowers in a dream.
"Shh-!"
The flower branches thorn out.
The branches trailed winding paths, creating all sorts of illusions—people looking back amidst a rain of petals, cities collapsing in the rosy glow, flowers blooming and withering on the branches…
A series of system notifications suddenly rang out.
……
You have been affected by "emotional manipulation."
[The alteration is invalid; the other party's rank is far lower than yours.]
……
You have been influenced by "montage".
[The alteration is invalid; the other party's rank is far lower than yours.]
……
You have been influenced by "unreliable narratives."
You have been influenced by "stream of consciousness".
You have been affected by "estrangement"...
……
[The alteration is invalid; the other party's rank is far lower than yours.]
……
Su Ming'an remained unfazed. Facing the flashy attacks, his body did not tremble in the slightest. He merely raised his hand and swung his sword.
"Shh!"
The longsword, resembling glass, crystal, and snow, pierced through a shower of flowers and layers of illusions, splitting the surging waves in two.
In an instant, the illusion shattered. The pink-haired man's pupils contracted, and with a flick of his flower branch, an invisible and intangible force of annihilation swept in, like an eraser, wiping away a small portion of the sea and the surging waves, extending all the way to Su Ming'an's sword!
断！
The power of annihilation met the blade, like butter meeting flames, melting instantly.
Su Ming'an is now someone who challenges the Lord of Dreams; how could he be deterred by such power?
In a mere instant, before the waves had even landed and the seawater was still swirling, the sword blade cleaved through the annihilating force, advancing relentlessly, piercing the gleaming golden mask and penetrating the forehead where the hair was fluttering.
……
[HP-37218! (Critical Hit! Fatal Damage! Devour!)]
……
"Crack-!"
It was like a grand, sweeping rain of flowers.
The masked man fell into the rolling waves, his mask shattered, revealing nothing beneath.
Countless points of light rose from her flowing hair, like twinkling fireflies. She seemed unwilling to give up, and tried to get up slightly, but had no strength left, coughing and wheezing.
—He once hunted down Su Ming'an, but now Su Ming'an has slain him with a single sword strike.
There weren't even any extra moves, just a single sword strike.
"This is what a 'player' is like," TA's voice murmured as it faded away, "Your growth rate is just too fast, far too fast..."
“You are also ‘players’.” Su Ming’an raised his eyes calmly, looking at the ocean that had disappeared into a large area. What he was standing on was no longer waves or sand, but a blank space. “We are playing a world game, and you are the Blackwater Dream.”
When "players" meet "players," the group of players who stand higher should win. However, the players who have risen to prominence in the world of games have stepped in front of another group of players from Blackwater Dreamland, as sharp and unstoppable as a blade.
When a segment of higher-level "players" views the world that lower-level "players" are desperately trying to save as "The Ring of Rovasa," and considers the lower-level "players" as part of the game's background, a rebellion by the game chain is inevitable.
After all, games shouldn't be considered superior to other games, but somehow people have developed this idea.
“‘First Player’…” The pink-haired man chewed on the term, his empty eyes gazing outwards.
"You really should get rid of this kind of naming..."
The waves have subsided.
Flowers and leaves wither.
……
"Ding dong!"
[You have killed (the pink-haired person)! (Your experience has reached the maximum level available for advancement in the world game; no further experience will be provided. Please absorb it on your own.)]
You have obtained (the image of the Supreme Lord)!
……
You have obtained (the flower branch of the invisible person)
[The Flower Branch of the Invisible One (Outside the Level): "I failed to rebel against the source, I was merely a flower branch, withering away in order... But you are different."]
[Type: Weapon]
Attack power: None
【Durability: None】
[Equipment Requirements: A person with high spirituality]
[Active Skill [Blooming Blossom]: By possessing this item, you can use some of the skills of the Awakened.]
……
Su Ming'an picked up the flower branch, but instead of using it, he handed it to Shi Ying, who was standing next to him.
"For...for me?" The red-haired girl was very nervous. She had originally wanted to be a lazy bum, but who knew she would witness such a big thing.
“Yes, Rovasa also needs the right to make her own choices. As the final protagonist, take it. Whether you hand it over to Rovasa, the new Lord of the Realm, or simply destroy it, it’s your freedom,” Su Ming’an said. He didn’t need such a weapon; since he was going to challenge the Lord of Dreams, he certainly wouldn’t use the weapon bestowed upon him by Him.
Shi Ying's mind was buzzing. She suddenly realized that she, the lazy bum, had actually become the protagonist who won in the end by a twist of fate... Even though this victory was ridiculous and she didn't earn it herself, she, who was once considered to have the lowest chance of winning, had truly taken on this responsibility.
Although the so-called protagonist competition was just a random idea Pudding came up with.
Although they were nothing more than eight puppets, killing each other for a mission that didn't even exist.
But at this moment... the shackles of those celestial curtains are gone, and the puppeteers who wield the threads gradually retreat into the background. What she has to do is truly to shoulder these responsibilities as a "protagonist" in a dignified manner.
The tall ones are all gone.
As one of the few remaining conscious people on this land, she walked along, holding a flower branch in her hand.
Suddenly, she revealed a pure and innocent smile.
"Click—!"
Flower branches are broken into pieces, and fresh flowers wither.
The branches and leaves gradually disappeared along the endless ocean.
She destroyed the flower branch.
"As the final protagonist... I don't need such a definition," Shi Ying said resolutely. "I don't want to become the next evil dragon, nor will I be complacent about the title of protagonist. It's just an empty name—the true protagonists are all the heroes who bravely fight on this land."
This is not just her story; it's everyone's story. She doesn't have to, and absolutely will not, hold onto the flower branch and become a new constraint.
In the unaltered script, she, as Sky Nightingale, would always die from a bout of madness until someone chose to turn back.
He was the true love she gave to the world, even though he didn't care.
Su Ming'an truly didn't care about her choice; it was a matter of personal freedom for the people of Rovasa. His responsibility was over. However, her decision was indeed very courageous.
Pudding stood in the ocean, her white dress billowing in the wind, silently gazing at Su Ming'an.
Su Ming'an raised his hand, and in his palm was the image of the Supreme Lord, fully formed.
He raised his hand and gazed at the sky.
"—Trosolius, I have gathered all your forms. If you do not oppose your higher-dimensional path, if you do not wish for your information to be exposed in the dark forest, if you still wish to maintain your clear mind and unchanging soul, then reveal yourself."
Pudding knew that things had come to this point and she could no longer stop it. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily.
“You 'players'... are all like this.”
"You guys are the kind of people who want to try every possibility, complete all the side quests, trigger every NPC's favorability event, achieve every playable ending, open every treasure chest..."
“I should be saying this to you,” Su Ming’an said. “'Players,' to you, the universe is just a game, which you can start over an infinite number of times. You will always remember the memories of your various playthroughs. Everyone can be manipulated. Cater to their preferences, make friends with anyone, and they will always smile at you.”
Even if everything leads to happiness, it could restart at any time, and everything would return to the beginning.
"Like Li Ziqi, if you have never seen the light, you will never be afraid of the darkness."
"And you players, you bring us the light time and time again... yet you plunge us back into darkness time and time again."
"Now, we have come before you, that's all."
Pudding felt nothing but despair.
Because she knew that now that things had come to this point, no matter how much she tried to persuade or stop him, Su Ming'an would only defeat her time and time again.
Even if he has to rewind countless times, he will definitely overcome any obstacle in his path.
In the eyes of people like her, the players of the world game are just NPCs who keep repeating themselves. But now, in front of Su Ming'an, who is a death rollback user, people like her seem more like NPCs who keep repeating themselves.
Players suppressing players, players ostracizing players, players challenging players… a hierarchy of contempt shouldn’t exist. Perhaps it was because Lu Shen understood this that he, like Bai Qiu, Dala, and the white-robed man, never regarded Su Ming’an and the others as puppets.
Now, some arrogant players are reaping what they sowed. From among the ostracized players, a "number one player" has emerged, capable of shattering everything.
“…Then step over my corpse,” Pudding whispered.
“You are a sober person; you cannot interfere too much in this world,” Su Ming’an said.
"...In this vast and protracted battle for succession, I have consistently maintained a firm grip on Lu Shen. I waged the 'Holy Grail War' with eight protagonists, causing them to fight each other...I gained countless inspirations in the process. The eyes of the entire world were focused on the protagonists' battle, watching as I was about to win." Those eyes were fixed on Su Ming'an. "Lu Shen invested in you."
“Your act of breaking the shackles is naturally in conflict with my path. Now you players represent the light of God Lu, he is about to win, and I am about to perish.”
"Therefore, once you cross this line... I will not survive. The struggle for succession will be a matter of life and death. If he wins, I will lose."
"I still don't understand why you chose him. I always had the upper hand, I was the first one to meet you, I was the one who came first..."
She suddenly looked at him:
"Is it because of his hairstyle? Or is it because of his name? Or perhaps..."
Unable to come up with a reason, she could only let her thoughts wander further and further.
Su Ming'an shook his head:
"It's just that the timing was right."
Pudding froze, then gave a bitter laugh: "Timing...timing..."
“I am clearly the original heroine, Princess Pudding. I am the one most closely connected to your original incarnation.”
"Hui Bai usurped my position as the female protagonist, taking you to eat, drink, and have fun at the Red Tower. Then it was Xiao Bai, and then Lu Shen... I was overshadowed time and time again, my position was usurped time and time again, and I was hidden behind the scenes time and time again..."
"It turns out that under the spotlight, you really have to fight for it. If you don't fight and grab, you'll have nothing."
Su Ming'an had mixed feelings about Pudding. They weren't enemies in the strict sense; in fact, she had even helped him at the beginning, patiently guiding him like a mentor.
However, what's missed is missed. Our positions are opposed; there's no need to elaborate.
A flash of light appeared in Pudding's palm as she picked up a staff resembling that of a magical girl, its tip adorned with jewels and wings billowing high on either side. Her entire body erupted in radiance, colors swirling around her, as she was about to unleash her unique ability as a conscious being—"Magical Girl."
Time doesn't stop during the transformation, so Su Ming'an immediately took action.
--Then.
"Shh!"
A sword suddenly pierced through Pudding's abdomen.
The transformation abruptly ended, and Pudding, in disbelief, vomited blood as he slowly turned around...
Under the blue light of the universe, the knight's armor gleamed with a cold, real blue light. The face of the black-haired girl was hidden under the thick helmet, with only a slit showing. Her hands were covered by iron armor, and the blade pierced Pudding's abdomen.
Qianqin.
A righteous knight, a loyal knight, a steadfast knight.
A pedantic knight, a naive knight, a blindly credulous knight.
—The first time she drew her sword, she stabbed her "god".
Yuritila possessed Qianqin and created the dream array's core, so when Su Ming'an awoke in reality, Qianqin also awoke. She was one of the few people still able to move.
She awoke, but chose to stab the "god" she had once been extremely loyal to.
"My debate with Phoenix... ultimately came to nothing..." Qianqin said softly, the hilt of her sword trembling slightly in her hand.
Blood flowed down the sword, over Qianqin's iron gauntlets, and dripped into the ocean.
The next instant, Su Ming'an's sword pierced through Pudding's body, and everything froze.
The seawater rippled with scarlet waves, spreading outwards in concentric circles.
"We haven't determined who's right and who's wrong. Not even now."
Qianqin lowered her head, looking at her hands. These hands had wielded swords countless times, for justice, for faith, for what was supposed to be right. Now, she was killing her god.
After the death of the Radiant Mother Goddess, Qianqin, as a Knight of Dawn, was momentarily lost, but she always knew that she was fighting for her own conscience. Whether it was rescuing ordinary people in the Disciple Game at the beginning, or later helping the old lady and assisting Su Ming'an... it was all the same.
The seawater surged in, diluting the blood in the seawater.
“Phoenix chose to tear the lid off for everyone, even if they were afraid, resistant, and in pain. I chose to keep the lid on for everyone, even if they live in a lie forever.”
“We are all making decisions for them, doing what we believe is right in the name of doing what is good for people.”
Qianqin stabbed him not because Phoenix persuaded her, nor because she believed the truth was superior to lies. Pain has its true form, and happiness has its true form. People cannot prove which is more real; they can only make choices.
But she saw the lid of the sky, the toy box of the Radiant Mother, and that they were all indeed puppets on strings. She couldn't pretend she didn't see it. Once someone has tasted salt, they can no longer believe that sugar is the only flavor.
“They have the right to stay in the box and live an ordinary life without knowing the truth. What we need to do is not to keep the lid closed forever, but to guard it and let them decide for themselves when to open it…” Qianqin said firmly.
"My debate with Phoenix will never be resolved. Because right and wrong aren't determined by our words—if people don't speak up, we'll never know the answer."
She gripped the blood-stained sword, her whole body trembling.
Pudding slowly lowered her head.
She never uttered another word until her death, perhaps because she knew that no words would mean anything to an idealistic madwoman.
She choked back a sob, spitting out more blood and foam, then slowly closed her eyes and collapsed.
"Shh!"
Su Ming'an activated the "Soul Ferry" skill.
However, he was very careful and only looked at Pudding's early memories, not his later memories of becoming a conscious person, for fear of polluting his own soul.
A pink-haired girl, about seven or eight years old, was walking barefoot in the snowfield, and no one came to her rescue.
Her family was killed by a breath of dragon fire from the passing Dragon Emperor Ian, and no one spoke up for her. Dragon Emperor Ian was the incarnation of the top-ranked player Black, a great pioneer, and killing was inevitable in battle, which could be "forgiven."
The penniless girl stumbled along, and in order to survive, she ate the corpses of all her relatives.
She survived for more than forty days by eating the corpses of her parents and relatives, without any rescue, passersby, or gods making a pact with her.
As she lay dying, writhing in excruciating pain, her mouth stained with the blood of her loved ones, she sank into the snow, utterly powerless, and heard the sound of firecrackers from a distant village...
I was awakened by the extremely loud sound of firecrackers nearby, saw tiny yellow lights, and then heard the crackling of firecrackers again...
[The holy beings of heaven and earth, having enjoyed the sacrificial offerings and incense, were all drunk and staggering in the air...]
In the distant sky, dragons dance and angels soar.
The little girl closed her eyes in despair.
"...Come into my dream, child of light." Suddenly, a gentle voice rang out.
"I believe that your imagination can bring joy and excitement to this dull and barren world..."
"The world is a place of misery and utter boredom. Let's make it more interesting..."
……
Green eyes opened from the sky.
The Supreme Lord looked over.
He spoke and swore an oath.
—【The Supreme Lord Torsolius hereby swears by his heart and divinity that when Su Ming'an restores my form, I will be the Lord who balances the end of all things for Rovasa, ensuring that Rovasa will never be harmed again.】
This was a vow, and Su Ming'an instinctively sensed it the moment he heard it.
As beings of higher dimensions, one's true nature is extremely important; if one goes against it, one may never be able to progress even a fraction of the way on the path in one's entire life. Examples include the Dream Lord's Way of Games, the Supreme Lord's Way of Following Updates, and Su Ming'an's Way of Salvation.
Therefore, taking an oath is not a trivial matter; it concerns higher-dimensional cause and effect and the future.
Previously, as a human, Su Ming'an could not feel the weight of the oath, but now he can feel the change in the causal line, which is a manifestation of the sublimation of the essence of life.
Holding the complete image fragment, Su Ming'an walked forward.
The Supreme Lord conjured a green platform, awaiting Su Ming'an.
Suddenly, Su Ming'an stopped.
Then he smiled.
He squinted at the green eyeball in front of him and shook his head.
"...Third time's the charm. You're getting a bit too shameless, Lord of Dreams."
In his palm, the fragments suddenly vanished into nothingness; it was a trick, he was merely testing his opponent.
The first ring, the illusory dream of the Radiant Mother. The second ring, the illusory dream of Eurydilora. The third ring, the illusory dream of the Lord of Dreams. These guys really stop at nothing, as if they had been preparing to stop Su Ming'an for a long time, one ring after another.
The green pupils froze for a moment, then gradually transformed into a purple, ethereal figure.
"You haven't finished this 'game' yet, how can you declare victory?" the figure said calmly.
The next moment, the scene changed abruptly—
The ancient hall, the square conference table, the flickering candlelight, and the white plates.
Four people were sitting in chairs, while twelve chairs were empty.
The group of people, who had been asleep, rubbed their eyes and gradually woke up, looking at each other.
Su Ming'an, Aini, and two strangers.
—This is the nighttime segment, the Last Supper.
As a member of the demon faction, Su Ming'an can only win if everyone outside the demon faction dies.
Once, No. 2 Norl, No. 3 Yamada Machiichi, No. 5 Su Liujin, No. 8 Alger, No. 11 Tianyu, and No. 12 One Bird sat here. Now, some have died, some have disappeared, but those present must still complete the final game.
Su Ming'an was already summoning the Supreme Lord, and if the Supreme Lord cooperated, Yuritilora's dream would be useless. Therefore, Yuritilora had no choice but to resort to the last resort—awakening everyone and holding a nighttime ceremony.
Hopefully, Su Ming'an can make a slight decline in the nighttime segment.
—As a member of the demon faction, Su Ming'an must kill people and personally take the lives of the innocent.
Black mist filled the air, obscuring their vision. Su Ming'an then produced a short knife and a sharp claw in his hand. As a player from the demon faction, he had to act.
“Empty knife,” he said.
……
During the "Midnight Bell" segment, you can choose any player to snipe; you only have one chance.
……
The rule resurfaces once again – “Choose any player,” meaning that apart from the initial identity verification process, there is no option to miss a hit.
Su Ming remained silent for a moment.
“You really… know how to use the game.” He spoke into the empty space.
There was no response.
Su Ming'an closed his eyes. If he didn't act, what was the greater or lesser loss of the already deceased victims? If he did act, then…
He seemed to see many people looking over and grasping Su Ming'an's hand.
"Can you... hang in there a little longer?"
At that moment, he suddenly saw a passage of text—
……
[Entering a turning point.]
In a daze, you seem to hear a voice asking you, "...Can you hold on a little longer?"
To persist means abandoning so-called nobility, attacking the innocent, taking their lives, in order to move forward on one's own.
[Not persisting means accepting the Dream Lord's conditions, turning back, ending the world game with your now-powerful human civilization, returning home, and moving towards a happy tomorrow. There is no need to fear higher dimensions, no need to worry about resources; under your protection and that of your much stronger companions, human civilization has ample resources.]
—Will you choose to persevere, even if the road ahead is dark and uncertain?
……
Choosing "Accept the Dream Lord's persuasion to surrender" will take you to OE5, "Golden Homeland," where you can protect your ideals and purity.
Choosing "Turning the knife into others" will lead you to OE6, "Dream? Dream? Dream?", where you will continue to advance by any means necessary.
[If you choose "Take the initiative against others" and have already achieved endings such as "OE2: The Last Supper" and "OE3: Die by the Sea," you will enter OE7: "The Lamplighter of the Golden Forest."]
……
At this moment, Su Ming'an realized that the reason he could see these things was because his strength had greatly increased and he had entered a higher dimension.
As a result, things that I couldn't see before, I can see now.
The Lord of Dreams... really sees himself as a game. For example, the so-called "final ending" requires achieving all the prerequisite endings.
Putting the game aside, it makes logical sense. For example, you might have planted foreshadowing in some endings, which could come in handy at the end. If you don't have certain information, you might lack the necessary conditions.
However, life is not a game.
—For Su Ming'an, who was going all in, there was no going back. He wouldn't consider himself a "player" in Blackwater Dream's eyes.
Su Ming'an picked up the black blade on the table.
At the same time, he remotely commanded his clone to commit suicide.
Faced with the two already presented options, he calmly walked towards the third path...
Do not cut others.
Never give up moving forward.
He made his choice.
……
"—Self-inflicted wound."
……
The "Midnight Bell" segment has ended.
Last night was Christmas Eve.
……
As the black mist dissipated, Su Ming'an looked at Aini with a determined gaze.
Aini waved his hand and pointed to a stranger next to him.
……
[Salty-tasting food is the embodiment of Klitschko, the Rider of the Dawn, who is in charge of protection. During the "Midnight Bell" event, you can choose any player to cast a "Guardian's Eye" to protect that player's life. You have countless Guardian's Eyes, but if you miss twice in a row, that player dies.]
……
Su Ming'an was also very good at using the "game". He knew that there might still be players with the Guardian class on the field, but the probability was not high, since there were only four people left. However, he decided to take a gamble.
If there is no guardian left, he will kill himself, triggering a rollback, and then find another way.
If the Guardians still exist, then he has made the right bet. There is a chance that he can create a peaceful night, get through this nighttime event, return to daytime, meet the Supreme Lord, and end all of this.
The riskiest part is, who will the guardian protect? Most people would probably protect themselves in such a life-or-death situation. However, before exercising their duties, the four people's eyes briefly met, and they all saw that Su Ming'an was also at the table.
Although Su Ming'an is a demon, in the eyes of others, his identity is unknown, and he may be killed by the demon.
Su Ming'an is gambling—gambling on humanity's "love".
Will this unknown guardian be willing to risk everything for the greater good, casting their "Guardian Eye," which protects them, towards the hope of the First Player? Even if it means the guardian themselves might be stabbed and die.
This is a two-way journey.
To protect the remaining three, Su Ming'an chose to gamble by cutting his own throat. The "guardian" among the three, upon seeing Su Ming'an, also decisively chose not to protect himself, but to protect Su Ming'an at all costs, regardless of Su Ming'an's allegiance, ensuring Su Ming'an's victory.
thus.
The "Demon's Blade" fell upon the "Guardian's Shield".
……
--Christmas Eve.
……
I love humanity, but I am truly perplexed by myself: the more I love humanity as a whole, the less I love individual people… The more I hate individual people, the more intense my love for humanity as a whole becomes.
[—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov]
……
"Thank you." Su Ming'an looked at the unfamiliar "guardian," a man in his fifties with a stubble beard, a weathered face, and many wrinkles, who looked like a farmer who had spent most of his life working the land.
"Oh, it's nothing, I should be thanking you. I don't understand gods or higher dimensions, I just know that you shattered the sky and showed me that sunlight is blue!" The farmer waved his hand. "I just hope that from now on I'll have food to eat and land to cultivate, and that there won't be any more wars... It's so hard, so very hard..."
"Su Ming'an," another stranger spoke up, a young player who clenched his fist and cheered, "Go for it!"
"Go for it, Su Ming'an!" Aini nodded in agreement. He was quick-witted and realized Su Ming'an's nighttime operation; he couldn't help but be moved.
With such a person leading the way, powerful yet gentle, possessing immense strength yet still showing compassion for the underprivileged, how could he not support him?
—Having already recognized the vastness of the universe, I still cherish the green of the grass and trees.
This couldn't be a better description of Su Ming'an.
Su Ming'an nodded to them and looked out of the castle—
A ray of light enveloped the area, and daylight gradually appeared.
Sunlight fell into his eyes, still burning with the passion of a young man.
"Shh!"
After the night session ended, Su Ming'an returned to reality.
—The Most High Lord has already established himself here.
He seemed to be giving him a non-existent smile, as if congratulating him on his victory.
This time, it's not a lie.
People gradually woke up.
Some felt a deep sense of loss, still reluctant to let go of their blissful dreams; some beat their chests in frustration, unwilling to face reality; and some broke out in a cold sweat, thankful that they had finally woken up.
Yuritila's eternal dream is strikingly similar to the eternal dream created by Siber in the eighth dungeon. If people do not awaken, all that awaits them is destruction shrouded in pollution.
Su Ming'an and the Supreme Lord ascended into the sky, exchanged appearances, and completed their oath.
"...Are you going to face the Lord of Dreams?" the Supreme Lord asked after the oath was taken.
To show equal respect, the Supreme Being materialized a verdant form, looking directly at Su Ming'an. No longer did He only reveal a pair of large eyes. Now, Su Ming'an was worthy of His gaze.
"I need to settle the people first. Then, I'll hold a vote." Su Ming'an had already made his decision.
“Yes, it is indeed necessary to make proper arrangements. Once you embark on this path, you may never be able to turn back,” said the Supreme Lord. “This is truly… a point of no return. There will be no next time.”
Su Ming'an took a deep breath. Even though there was no air in the void, he still retained all human habits and never regarded himself as anything else.
"Don't worry," he said firmly, "I won't treat life... as a game that can be played over and over again."
"That's completely unfounded," the Supreme Lord chuckled.
The fact that death triggers a rollback means Su Ming'an will inevitably have to start over repeatedly. And once he falls into this mindset, he can't escape the game concept of the Dream Lord.
Fortunately, this mindset only existed in the early stages. The current Su Ming'an never treats time destined to be overwritten as if it never happened. Thinking about it this way, the death rollback is somewhat like a trap. Once Su Ming'an succumbs to his unrestrained desires like an ordinary person, repeatedly enjoying the frozen time, seeing himself as the master of time, basking in the glory of a war god and dragon king, he will ultimately be no match for the Lord of Dreams. He'll lose conceptually.
Fortunately, it was Su Ming'an.
Fortunately, he never indulged himself.
Fortunately, he never took the idea of rewinding time after death as a convenient "golden finger." Instead, he saw it as his responsibility and mission.
The greatest fortune in a person's life is to discover their mission in the middle of their life, when they are in the prime of their life.
“See you later.” The green figure flickered. “If you are determined to challenge the Lord of Dreams, come to me. I will tell you about Him, as well as the notebook of Chen Qingguang that I gave you before.”
"Is this considered 'book money'?" Su Ming'an joked. He had previously referred to the Supreme Lord as a "chaser" during their conversation. This guy had always been aloof, only now showing a posture of equal communication.
As expected, all high-dimensional beings are arrogant. If Su Ming'an hadn't reached this point, the Supreme Lord would have only regarded him as a "not bad ant" rather than a "high-dimensional being with whom to have equal dialogue."
The Supreme Lord's higher-dimensional path is a concept similar to "observation," which Su Ming'an jokingly refers to as "following the updates." By observing different spacetime record entities in the universe and observing the lives of different people, He can gain insights, enrich Himself, and gradually become stronger. Su Ming'an is the most impactful and promising person He has ever observed, and He has been observing Him all along. Therefore, He does have a favorable impression of Su Ming'an, whether it stems from emotion or self-interest.
He had coveted his death rewind and had hoped that Su Ming'an's journey would not end. However, since Su Ming'an had already come this far, He could no longer stop him. Rather than offending Su Ming'an, He decided to follow His own heart and become Su Ming'an's ally.
For a powerful and virtuous being like Su Ming'an, unless there is a direct conflict of interest, being an ally is far better than being an enemy.
“I too am weary of this repetition. After all, there are no new possibilities. The spacetime records I observe are gradually becoming repetitive and boring, many of them manipulating the future. I hope that you will shatter this ‘cat box’ of the Lord of Dreams, so that all things will no longer be controlled, and I can glimpse new possibilities and go further,” said the Supreme Lord. “So, go.”
"Thank you." Su Ming'an took a deep breath. "You're a follower."
"You should thank yourself. If you hadn't braved the seas and painstakingly gathered all my fragments... I wouldn't be speaking to you as an equal now. This is all thanks to your own efforts. I didn't bestow it upon you. You devised your own way to restrain me, and you mastered this method to see me," said the Supreme Lord. "If you had chosen to retreat then and never moved forward, you would still be in a 'cat box,' bleeding and cutting your own flesh for the survival of human civilization until you die."
"Life is only once." Upon hearing this, Su Ming'an uttered the words that Mo Yan had said at the end.
This statement sounds utterly ridiculous under current circumstances, as if it simply doesn't hold true. However, neither of them laughed.
Only those who have truly experienced all of this will understand the weight and meaning of these words.
The Supreme Lord's green eyes flickered for a moment, then swayed slightly:
"Um……"
"Yes, life... should only happen once. It is absolutely wrong to treat cycles as cycles and life as life."
"So, let's end this illusion. Shatter the Dream Lord's last 'cat box'."
"I'll be waiting for you here, Su Ming'an. Go now."
……
"One last question!" Su Ming'an hurriedly shouted, "If I present a wonderful time-space record, could you please look after Zhai Xing for me after I reach the end? Consider it... as payment for the book!"
……
In the past, when Su Ming'an spoke with the Supreme Lord, he had to adopt an almost pleading tone, hoping that the Supreme Lord could help take care of Zhai Xing.
Like a puppet on a stage, he presented the Supreme Lord with a “wonderful” record of time and space, all in order to protect Zhai Xing.
Now, he no longer needs to make such a request, nor does he need to perform any spectacular time-space recording. He has already communicated with the Supreme Lord on equal terms and formed an alliance. He is capable of protecting Zhai Xing on his own and does not need anyone else to look after him.
He will not "go to the end"; the future is a blank slate, and he will create it himself.
This growth shocked and moved even the Supreme Lord.
What were once seen as "ants" are now equal allies who have jumped out of the box.
He gazed at the departing Su Ming'an, his voice almost silent.
A human's reflection.
Respect for the life of a person who has become an equal from bread.
He has observed for far too long, and has observed countless lives, but He is the most splendid and magnificent life He has ever seen.
……
"You deserve a better ending, Su Ming'an."
……
2026 6 Month 1 Day.
Day 245 of the World Game.
The civilization known as "Zhai Xing" has officially ended its world game. Before that, they will spend one last day in Rovasa.
Many people expressed concern upon learning that Su Ming'an still intended to take on the challenge.
The final boss of Rovasa, the Radiant Mother Goddess, alone involved numerous top-ranked players, Chen Yuhang's escort team, Rovasa's local family and believers, Yamada Machiichi and many ordinary players on the front lines, the alliance behind the scenes, and many casual players...
First, the rebellion of Siber and the ancestors of Shi Ying caused cracks in His perfect form. The rabbits obtained a way to resist. Si Que used the Book of the World to rotate countless times. The World Lord Su Wenjun proved the information with her death. The pioneers such as Hui Bai lay dormant for a long time. The Le Zi demon Casadia manipulated things in secret. The rebellion of Hui Chi and Hui Bi pulled His concept into the mortal world. The three keys of the Lin Clan made Him fear the enemy. The Nest Lord and Lu's legion made it difficult for Him to govern all faiths. Finally, the battle of the players made it impossible for Him to kill them all.
It is through the concerted efforts of countless people and the intricate connections and developments of countless threads that we have achieved what seems like a promising outcome.
Lu Shen, Evelyn, Perlo, Lingzhi Mengshi, Xiao Ai, Xinghuo, the Eleventh Seat...
Su Lin, Lü Shu, Lu, Aini, Lin Yin, Zhao Yuan, Mo Yan, Ryan...
Everyone participated in this battle.
Now, if Su Ming'an were to take on the challenge alone, how difficult would it be?
In the early hours of the morning, Su Ming'an initiated a poll, still using Bei Wang's special identity to present a panel to everyone. Those who agreed with Su Ming'an moving forward pressed the green button, while those who did not agree pressed the red button.
One after another, beams of light illuminated the sky, some green, some red, shining brightly across every corner. As for the main god's world, the alliance was responsible for gathering information and reaching a transparent conclusion through voting.
"Shuashuashua——"
Green and red lights rose from all directions like fireflies, converging into a winding river of light.
Su Ming'an stood on high ground, with Lu Shu, Aini, and Lin Yin behind him. Further away, there was a dense crowd of people—players from Zhai Xing, native residents of Rovasa, former enemies and their families, and ordinary people who just wanted to survive.
He gazed upon the common people.
……
United Council Chamber, The World of the Main Gods
The enormous circular conference hall was filled with representatives from various factions, and lights began to illuminate. Green and red lights intertwined.
Everyone looked solemn and silently made their decisions.
……
Rovasa, temporary resettlement area
This place used to be a battlefield, and now it's filled with tents of all sizes, packed with people.
A woman holding a child stood in the crowd, staring blankly at the panel in front of her, her pale face gaunt and thin.
"Mommy, what's that?" the child asked, pointing to the glowing button.
“It’s a vote,” the woman said.
"What kind of vote?"
The woman didn't know how to explain. She had just woken up and just learned that the man named Su Ming'an had shattered the heavens, and now he was going to continue saving them.
"Auntie, did you press it?" A little girl came over, her clothes were tattered, and there was still dirt on her face. She smiled with her eyes narrowed, "I want to press the green one."
"why?"
"Because that brother saved us! Let him do what he wants to do!" the little girl said matter-of-factly.
A tiny point of light appeared on the panel and flowed into the green river.
……
Frontline camp.
A group of soldiers who had just returned from the front lines gathered together. Some had bandages wrapped around their bodies, some had lost an arm, and the scene was one of devastation and war.
"How are you going to throw it?" a soldier asked.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to fight this kind of battle again,” another soldier said. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”
"I don't want to play anymore. Maybe from now on, I really won't have to play anymore..."
……
Beyond the abyss.
Dragon Emperor Ian lay silently on the ground, covered in blood. He had burned his dragon blood to support the heavens until now, and was on the verge of death.
In his blurred vision, he saw a familiar figure, so familiar it sent shivers down his spine, suddenly flash by.
Actions took precedence over thought; Ian instinctively reached out his trembling dragon claw and grabbed the man.
"Olivies...don't leave me again..."
He couldn't tell if he loved or hated that guy. He had done a lot of bad things to him, such as deceiving and stealing... but it was all for the greater good of Rovasa.
He just wanted to see them again, even if it was just once. He thought that if he won this battle and held up the sky, they could meet again.
Qi Zhou trembled. The moment he was mistaken for someone else, Qi Zhou felt annoyed. Did he really look that much like that guy? But when he saw Ian's battered body and his bloodied eyes, Qi Zhou fell silent and let Ian hold him and say a lot of things.
"Look, my eyes are like the sun now, so you don't need to run so far to chase after the sun..."
"Your purple hair is still like a windmill, blowing and blowing..."
"Don't leave, don't come back... don't lie to me anymore..."
Finally, after Ian calmed down and gradually made out the figure, Qi Zhou slowly said:
"Are you ready? Have you calmed down?"
"Alright." The dragon nodded blankly.
“Go and embrace a new life.” Qi Zhou looked up at the real sky and did not blame Ian. “The Lord of the End of All Things will no longer interfere with us. Most of the gods have been lost, and the emperors such as Xi Ting and Xi Ge were also severely injured in this battle… As one of the few remaining emperors, you may have a chance to reach the threshold of godhood. Try to move towards tomorrow and don’t trap yourself in the illusions of the past.”
He rarely comforted people, always holding his head high with arrogance. However, at this moment, feeling a little empathetic towards Ian, he still spoke his mind.
Escaping the shackles of the past is easier said than done.
But at least, I still have so many responsibilities on my shoulders; I can't just walk away like this.
“You…you are…” Ian murmured.
"Qi Zhou!" Qi Zhou was even more furious. He hadn't expected that the Dragon Emperor hadn't even remembered his name, and was only focused on remembering Oliver?
"Qi Zhou, where are you going? Are you going to the universe with Su Ming'an?" Ian asked.
As Su Ming'an's card, Qi Zhou has the opportunity to travel together. Perhaps he wants to go beyond the heavens and into the vast and boundless expanse.
However, Qi Zhou slowly shook his head.
“I will break my contract with him and stay in Rovasa, and he will agree.” Qi Zhou raised his eyes, his usually cold eyes now filled with tenderness. “I still have many children… I want to watch them grow up. He changed my fate of dying in the fire, and I want to live well, to commemorate my comrades who died in the Disciple Game, and also, to draw a circle around a place and raise many cats.”
Stopping moving forward does not mean being despicable.
Sometimes, choosing to wait represents a choice.
As a former champion of the Disciple Game, Qi Zhou emerged from a sea of corpses and bloodshed. His way of finding solace was to protect many children in orphanages. Now, having escaped the shadows of Si Que and Su Wenjun, he hopes to move towards a future that belongs to him.
He was very grateful to Su Ming'an.
Thank you to that person... who changed everything, who changed them.
Anaerobic organisms are extinguished by gentleness.
……
The Palace of the World Ruler.
"Are you leaving?" Zhao Yuan asked, wearing a camera and looking at the little maid packing her luggage.
"Yes, reporter sister." After getting to know me better, the little maid no longer called me "sir" but "sister," her bright eyes looking at me: "I've finished today's work, and the head maid praised me for doing a good job. After collecting my wages, I'm going back to the countryside. I heard that a lot of wheat has sprouted in the soil now, and I have to go back to help!"
After the false story of the Radiant Mother Goddess was shattered, many of the values that She had deliberately lowered to create a tragic effect were restored, and the soil that could not grow wheat was restored to its original state.
Hui Chi is gone, and so is Hui Bi. Who will inherit the palace? It might be demolished and rebuilt. The young maid had initially thought she would lose her job, but now it seems that going home to help out is a viable option.
"I wish you all the best." Zhao Yuan smiled and handed the developed photos to the maid. They were photos she had taken of the young maid.
In the photo, the little maid stands in the shattered light, as if the curtain has fallen on an era.
“This photo should fetch a good price. It symbolizes an era. Take it home and use it to supplement your family’s income,” Zhao Yuan said.
"Thank you... thank you! Reporter sister!" The little maid smiled and accepted it. "I originally thought that breaking the sky would lead to something terrible, but it seems that it's not so bad now."
“Yes,” Zhao Yuan said, “the most terrifying thing… is the unknown.”
People will never know how terrifying it is outside until the lid is opened.
But the answer can only be known once the action of "opening" occurs.
The little maid was quite lucky, and Zhao Yuan was happy that she was so fortunate. But there were many losses and tragedies that happened in places that her camera couldn't capture, places that the lens couldn't see.
When she returns to her hometown, she will still become a war correspondent, venturing deep into the flames and dust of war... Hopefully, by then, there will be no more war.
She was far more eager to lose her job than the little maid.
“It’s like before opening the lid… I was filled with fear, and I gave up on my path to godhood.” Zhao Yuan thought quietly, “But perhaps… there will be another chance in the future.”
Whether there's an opportunity or not.
There's no second chance to make the same choice. She accepted her decision, giving up the path to godhood that was so close, in order to uphold the integrity of a journalist.
She looked up at the bright sky.
Just like... life only happens "once".
……
On the edge of the battlefield.
The Nest Master, his entire body covered in white cloth and exuding a strong medicinal smell, sat in a wheelchair, quietly hidden in the shadows.
Suddenly, a somewhat shrill female voice came from the side:
Are you retiring?
A beautiful skeleton, draped in vibrant human skin, stood in the shadows, gazing at the Nest Master. It was none other than the Lord of the Undead, Yuting. She had been severely injured while escorting Yamada Machiichi, but fortunately, the undead possessed strong regenerative abilities and could still move.
“Edith,” the Nest Master spoke.
"Wow, the Nest Master actually knows my real name. That's quite something," Xi Ting said. After the death of the Radiant Mother Goddess, she vaguely recalled fragments of memories. She had once been called Edith, a gloomy top-ranked player, a researcher who always wore a white lab coat. But why did her dark heart suddenly ache at the moment the Radiant Mother Goddess passed away?
She arrived at the battlefield, intending only to take a casual look around, but instead discovered the unassuming Nest Master. According to her subordinates, this old man had led the Nest's legions in a persistent struggle against the Radiant Mother Goddess, yet now he had retired so quietly. Intrigued, she approached him.
Everyone wants to enjoy the glory after the war, so why is the Nest Master so low-key?
Xi Ting's sharp gaze fell upon the hunched and short nest master, noticing the smooth jawline and palms beneath the white cloth, and she suddenly smiled faintly:
“I remember your presence… We met in the Second Era…”
"You are……"
The nest owner slowly raised his head.
“Hehe…” Xi Ting smiled. “Everyone says that the Nest Master is shrewd and resourceful, which is why he was able to resist the oppression of the Radiant Mother Goddess for so long and ignite the spark. Therefore, everyone thinks you are a mature and steady old man.”
"But it's also possible that you're just short in stature and there are no other features to prove that you're an elderly person."
Who would have thought that behind the white cloth of strategic planning was not an old man?
Am I right?
At this moment, the nest owner slowly removed the white cloth that had been covering his face for so long.
A face was revealed, covered in red marks, spots, and mottled patches. It was utterly terrifying at first glance, yet... no, her features looked so familiar.
She sat quietly in her wheelchair, her breath weak, long-term illness plaguing her, the air filled with the scent of medicine, her eyes reflecting the weight of time.
“…Ms. Si Hua.” Xi Ting pointed out her identity with ease.
"If the world knew my true face, they wouldn't believe I could lead them," Si Hua said calmly. "Little Magpie is gone, and I must shoulder this responsibility. Until someone comes... and shatters the sky."
Once, Si Hua was attacked by the plague demon Alexia and lost all her life. Her father fed her with witch's blood, allowing her to linger on, but she was plagued by a chronic illness.
After her brother's passing, to shoulder the heavy responsibility, she abandoned her once-beloved mechanics and studied the creation notes left by her brother, growing step by step with great difficulty. Until later, she hid her face with a white cloth, disguised herself as a cunning old woman, and stirred up a spark of hope.
At that time, Lu's judgment based on their game of chess was correct—she did indeed know a lot about the sober ones. Because she was, after all, Si Que's older sister.
"I'm just an ordinary older sister, insignificant compared to everything my brother has done." Si Hua looked up at the sky, coughing heavily a few times; the disease left by the plague demon still tormented her. "But... everything I've done... I guess... hasn't let down the title of 'older sister'..."
"Will you still be the 'Nest Owner' from now on?" Xi Ting asked.
Si Hua gently shook her head: "Nest Master, Nest Master. Only with a nest can there be a master. The nest was built by my younger brother in the past to fight against the enemy. If there is any more conflict in the future, even if I am no longer in the world, the 'nest' will be born. As long as there are people who are willing to take up arms - as long as there are people who do not submit, there will always be a 'nest' and a 'nest master'."
"And I've been clinging to life until now, unable even to get out of my wheelchair; it's time for me to rest..."
"My life is nearing its end, so let me spend the rest of my days in my childhood home. Imagine that my father and brother are by my side, and the magpie's fame is spreading throughout the capital."
"Fortunately, things are peaceful now, and I can enjoy my old age in peace... Just like my younger brother, who was not yet eighteen, used to jokingly say that he was 'enjoying his old age in peace'..."
She maneuvered her wheelchair quietly toward the shadows, as if she had finally let go of everything.
Those who are lax will perish from those who persevere.
……
Temporary outpost.
"Mom...Mom..." Hangxin sat by the extinguished fire, crying.
Her mother is gone, all because of her. If she hadn't acted so impulsively, perhaps her mother wouldn't have...
Gradually, a girl in a white dress sat down next to her.
Hang Xin paused for a moment, then turned her head.
"My mother is gone too," Bai Chun said softly, staring at the extinguished fire.
"Really?" Hang Xin thought they were kindred spirits and asked softly, "Then, would you like to be my friend?"
At least, people in similar circumstances feel better when they get together.
Bai Chun stared blankly into the distance, muttering to herself:
"Why...why do we have to go?"
"Why would you become an angel of the Radiant Mother Goddess just to deceive believers...? Where will you go when the Radiant Mother Goddess is gone...?"
"To live forever on a sky island, high, high in the sky..."
“You don’t want to go back, and you don’t want to be anyone’s mother anymore… You just want to be yourself, right?”
"Mom...no."
Bai Chun shook her head.
That person is no longer anyone's "mother" or "wife".
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me; I didn't know whether to be angry, sad, or what to think.
She could no longer judge that person's right or wrong.
That's it. That's all for everything about that person... Let's leave it at that.
I will never see her again. Her life ends here. That's it.
Bai Chun wanted to go back; she was afraid that if she stayed any longer, the players would tear her to pieces. She turned and left the extinguished campfire.
Hang Xin silently endures the pain of losing her loved one. Many people experience this kind of pain. Perhaps one day she will emerge from the shadows, or perhaps she will never.
Gradually, she lay down on the ground, cried herself to sleep, and eventually fell asleep.
In her dream, there were many children her age running alongside her in the fields...
……
Temporary battlefield hospital.
Su Ming'an arrived at Violet's room.
The woman closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully, a few fresh flowers resting in the vase, emitting a delicate fragrance.
After a busy day, during a brief respite, Su Ming'an learned the final victims based on the statistics.
In a corner unseen by him, Yamada Machiichi soared into the sky.
In the dark and deep source, Yang Changxu completed his final task, but Joey was no longer there.
Violet and Chen Yuhang are seriously ill and clinging to life.
Su Ming'an reached out and used Chaoyan's "life" authority... Gradually, green light appeared, and the tired woman slowly opened her eyes.
Now that the power of reversal no longer needs to be aggregated, Su Ming'an can use the power of everyone.
“…Haha.” Violet looked at Su Ming’an and slowly smiled. “I knew it, you…wouldn’t disappoint…I’ll walk forward to find out what you’re doing…my sixth sense was right.”
"Take care of yourself patiently. The Authority of Life has awakened your vitality, but the aura of the Source Point remains stubborn. Go back and rest well," Su Ming'an said.
“Of course…we still have the World Game…it will…help,” Violet said breathlessly, her eyes suddenly brightening. “Are you going to a very high place?”
"The voting is still going on," Su Ming'an said. "I'll go treat other people first; you get some rest."
He comforted Violet and soon left the ward.
From the hospital bed, Chen Yuhang looked over.
Su Ming'an continued to use the "Life" authority, and a green light emerged, gradually improving Chen Yuhang's complexion.
"Can Brother Wang come back?" Chen Yuhang asked in a hoarse voice.
"Don't worry, before I leave, I will use Soul Ferry... to bring back everyone I remember..." Su Ming'an said.
He wanted to make sure everyone was settled before leaving.
"Is Brother Wang still Brother Wang?" Chen Yuhang suddenly asked. He stared at Su Ming'an, wanting an answer.
Su Ming'an remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "...I don't know."
Chen Yuhang stared blankly at the butterflies flying past the window. He had never seen such fragile lives before. The war was raging and it was too dangerous, but now he could finally see them.
He watched as the butterfly's shadow fell on his face, and after a moment, he rubbed his face.
"From now on, I'll go back to Zhaixing with Brother Wang." Chen Yuhang closed his eyes. "Go home... to find my parents..."
Whether it's true or false, they have indeed done so many things, and regardless of whether others accept them or not, they have made up their own minds.
This long journey, from Mingxi Campus to the battlefield, to the Source, to the Abyss, and now... we can finally rest.
Brother Wang, let's go home.
Those of similar age to them are now beings of higher dimensions, and have gone far away.
……