novellk Chapter 1723 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [68] "Go, move forward."
Chapter 1723 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [68] "Go, move forward."
Chapter 1723 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [68]: "Go, move forward."
He looked up and saw a dense mass of soldiers' uniforms, stretching as far as the eye could see... As the head of the global united front, every dead soldier had to be attributed to him.
"team leader……"
"Big brother."
“Su Ming'an…”
"Traveler."
"Visitors from another world."
"Student Su."
"Brother Ming'an!"
"The Lighthouse Cult Leader".
"The Prophet".
"Your Highness..."
"Holy Master."
"Father."
"Ming An'an."
“Yangxia…”
“Despicable one.”
"captain!"
"Lord Baishen!"
"pagan……"
"PhD."
"tutor!"
"City Lord."
"My friend."
“Su Ming'an (￣︶￣)”
"Lord Angel."
"The only real Su Ming'an."
"Little Cloud..."
"Detective!"
"Da Su!"
"Demon Lord".
"Olivies".
"Lord."
"The Lighthouse Emperor!"
"The number one player..."
In an instant, all sorts of names and titles bloomed.
Su Ming'an seemed to have donned countless disguises in an instant, only to have those disguises torn away just as quickly. He gazed at the vast, ocean-like crowd.
So much has already gone, so far...
He waved his hand and shouted:
"Quiet—Quiet!!"
His voice echoed, and people gradually quieted down.
"Now that everyone understands, please press the button in front of you and make your choice." His words echoed immediately. If it weren't for his extraordinary spiritual sense, he wouldn't have been able to hear them at all.
"It's all covered! Don't worry, Number One Player!"
"Okay, I'll press it."
"You've come so far... It's truly gratifying."
"Little Cloud! Miss Demon King will campaign for you!"
"Su Ming'an, have you seen Siber? I couldn't find her, thankfully she's not here."
“My angel… I’ve finally… seen you again…”
"Lord of the city, I never thought we would meet again. You look very well, that's wonderful."
"Holy Master, there are so many people here! Has your innate bloodline awakening array already covered other worlds? Have you seen His Majesty?"
"Father, we will all support you in moving forward."
"Captain, have you seen our former captain? We want to let him know we're safe... cough cough, although his presence here suggests things aren't so safe."
"Doctor, it's so nice to see you."
"team leader……"
Su Ming'an was bombarded with all sorts of comments, as lively as a gathering of old friends, like a big pot of steaming porridge. He immediately saw many familiar figures, and even some that he would never see again... He had the idea of stopping to catch up, to talk about the past and the future, but he quickly regained his senses.
—Because in the crowd, he used his divine sense to discover someone who could never possibly be there.
White hair like snow, silently gazing at the world.
godfather.
Although it was impossible to determine whether such a resolute disappearance could be considered death... the moment he saw the Godfather, Su Ming'an came to his senses. He couldn't let the scene before him stop him... these were all fake simulations.
A series of green lights rose up, and he saw a progress bar in the sky.
……
Supporters: 23%
Opponents: 4%
Those who did not vote: 73%
……
This represents people's voting situation.
...Some people are against it.
At the same time, some sounds entered his ears:
"He is the possessed one of Asa Aktor, the one who destroyed our civilization, Su Ming'an. I've heard the gods mention him; we almost succeeded."
"The Feast at Sea was a gamble between him and Su Lin; many of us died meaninglessly..."
"It was in pursuit of this man that the nobles' legions passed through my village, and my father, my wife, and my children all died! All because of him!"
"Almost everyone in our village died because of the implementation of that talent bloodline awakening array!"
"The war he led resulted in the deaths of my entire family..."
"He killed the gods in Rovassa, and the enraged nobles took their anger out on us, forcing my sister and me to become sacrifices for the gods' resurrection..."
"He killed me, I want him to pay with his life!"
As support grows, so does opposition.
……
Supporters: 27%
Opponents: 9%
Those who did not vote: 64%
……
These are all people he killed directly or indirectly. Apart from acquaintances, it's impossible for strangers not to feel resentment.
Su Ming'an listened to praise and slander; he listened to confessions and insults; he listened to love and desire and hatred.
He said nothing more, offered no coercion, no bribery, no persuasion, and no deception. He stood in the sky, waiting for people to make their own choices.
He confessed to all of this sin.
On this long road to salvation, people will inevitably get off the train. In the most chaotic period of the ruined world, in order to ensure the survival of civilization, the number of victims even exceeded the number of survivors.
He cannot demand that those who die because of him be compassionate and forgiving; he accepts all sins and listens to all evil.
He stood still, hearing the soldiers of the ruined world shout "Long live the city lord!" and hearing the remnants of the city declare him a "civilized butcher." He saw the soul hunters of Praia salute him and call him "Captain Su Ming'an," and he also saw the fishermen who had lost their loved ones in the sirens glaring at him angrily and cursing him as "despicable." He felt the burning faith of the Minghui Revolutionary Army, who respectfully called him "Holy Master," and he also saw the cold eyes of the former nobles, who despised him as a "traitor to the class." He heard the gratitude of countless comrades who had fought alongside him, and he also saw countless unfamiliar souls whose families had been destroyed because of his decisions.
"Keep going, Number One Player!"
"You shouldn't live! Why couldn't you save us?!"
"Savior of civilization, you deserve our gratitude and respect!"
"You executioner of civilization, you damned butcher!"
"Lord! From the day we followed you out of the Central City, our lives have been yours! As long as the flame of civilization burns, we can lie here in peace! Vote for us! All of you, vote for us!"
"Why...why must my Abao die? He said he wanted to follow the city lord to change the world...he was so young, so obedient...City lord, you saved so many lives, why...why can't you bring my Abao back too?"
"You and Lord Su Lin ended the cycle of reincarnation, allowing the Praia people to finally age slowly under the sun. I should have given up my life on the battlefield sixty years ago; every extra day I live is a bonus!"
"A grand feast at sea? Ha! What a feast! My father was just an ordinary sailor; he had no idea about the Soul Clan or any kind of game! Just because you were plotting something, the entire ship became a sacrifice! What kind of savior are you? Executioners!"
"Holy Master! You ignited the first spark! Our deaths were not in vain! Seeing that everyone can awaken their talents now, and that children no longer need to be fuel, our lives were worthwhile! Long live the revolution!"
"Mob! Usurper! My family has enjoyed a thousand years of glory, serving the gods and following ancient rites. What wrong have we done? Because of the fallacies and heresies you brought, my whole family was hanged at the city gate by peasants! You have destroyed my world!"
“My angel! It was you who slew down the god who enslaved us! Although I lost my family in the turmoil, at least my children and my children’s children are no longer born as livestock! This freedom was given to me by you, and I support you…!”
“Executioner, you kill gods if you want! Why should we bear the wrath of the nobles? Just because I have blood they despise in my veins? Where were you when my sister and I were chosen as sacrifices? You hypocrite!”
"All I wanted was a full stomach... Your wars, you big shots, have trampled all the crops... I didn't mean to get in anyone's way..."
"Holy Master... I'm in so much pain... I want to live... I want to awaken a powerful talent like you said..."
"I've lived here my whole life, dutifully and conscientiously... Why my city of all places? Why did the grenade fall on my hometown?"
"I worked day and night, preparing for my wedding and buying a house, but I did nothing. One day, God suddenly told us that we had failed, and we were all going to die..."
In the corner, a child who had been killed by a stray bullet cried in bewilderment. He couldn't understand what was happening now. He didn't see his mother. All he knew was to wail.
Support, oppose, abstain.
Love, hate, numbness, understanding, incomprehension, forgiveness, and never forgiving...
All emotions, all stances, and all lives ended because of him were reduced to simple "support" and "opposition," flowing into the torrent that determined his fate.
The black-haired youth stood in the center of a raging storm composed of billions of deaths and billions of sounds, like a silent monument.
He closed his eyes, the ring on his finger gleaming. Compared to the dozens of names on the Ring of Time, the people here were countless.
Beneath his feet lay billions of skeletons, breathing and beating their hearts.
Although he recorded all the deceased in the tomb of civilization in his heart... he could only truly remember one in a billion.
More often than not, lives vanish silently, unable to speak or utter a sound.
At this moment, they materialized before him—so magnificent, so awe-inspiring, so vast, no less than witnessing a tsunami that engulfs one's own being.
Nothing weighed more than his heart at that moment.
……
Supporters: 30%
Opponents: 12%
Those who did not vote: 58%
……
His supporters understand his path and are willing to make sacrifices to pave the way for the future.
The opponents cannot let go; they have lost everything, their homes destroyed, and can only repay with anger and hatred.
Su Ming'an did not use a passionate speech to persuade his opponents, nor did he use a grand blueprint to entice his supporters. He stood there, like an empty valley that received all voices.
This can no longer be considered a crime in a legal sense, nor is it a matter of right or wrong on a moral level.
To prevent the ruined world from being invaded, he destroyed the civilization of Tavi. To defeat Tavi, countless soldiers sacrificed themselves. To resist the higher dimensions, thousands of years have taken away countless unwilling lives. In Rovasha, he slew the gods, but the turmoil's aftershocks affected countless mortals, who became sacrifices for the wrath of nobles.
In the blood-soaked thicket of thorns, he cleared a path with his knife, the sharp thorns inevitably cutting himself and others.
It is a fact that he saved countless lives.
It is also a fact that he indirectly caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of people.
Light and shadow, like two separate entities, define the position he stands in, forming the identity of "Su Ming'an".
Supporters see the bright side, while opponents see the dark side. Like a mirror, it reflects the starkly different faces of young people.
Su Ming'an's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on the white-haired figure standing quietly—the Godfather.
The white-haired man nodded, like a snow lotus blooming or an iceberg melting, and slowly gave a comforting smile.
At this moment, Su Ming'an spoke:
"I will not defend myself."
“I will not say that your sacrifice was worthwhile, because whether it was worthwhile or not should not be judged by me, the one who caused the sacrifice.”
“I won’t ask you to forgive me, because forgiveness is the right of the victim. I’m just standing here so you can see.”
"I acknowledge the blood on my hands, and I acknowledge that all deaths caused by me, whether direct or indirect, and for no noble purpose, are the end for the individual who has passed away."
"If you believe that ending my path will ease your suffering... then press [Oppose]. It is your right."
"If you believe that what you cherish—the future of your home, the continuation of your ideals, and the fact that those who come after you will not have to experience the same tragedy—will be preserved because of me, then please press [Support].
"And if you are still hesitating... then follow your truest feelings at this moment. Don't be swayed by the big picture, don't be bound by sacrifice. There is no right or wrong here."
"I accept it completely."
Embrace the starlight, and embrace the night.
At this moment, he was no longer merely a "savior," a "city lord," a "traveler," or anything else. He stood at a crossroads paved with countless lives and deaths, clearly seeing the sins and responsibilities, the blood and desires on every inch of the land beneath his feet.
……
Supporters: 37%
Opponents: 14%
Those who did not vote: 49%
……
Some felt respected because of his explanation, some were appeased by his frank admission, while others were still unable to let it go.
Against the backdrop of the vast crowd, the young man's figure appeared exceptionally lonely, like a reef in a storm that neither flinched nor broke, silently welcoming the waves.
……
Supporters: 41%
Opponents: 16%
Those who did not vote: 43%
……
From Praia's Soul Hunter team, an old Soul Hunter with white hair and beard slowly stepped out.
Behind him, many young soul hunters followed silently.
……
Supporters: 43%
Opponents: 18%
Those who did not vote: 39%
……
The child, who had been wailing and searching for his mother, gradually quieted down. He looked blankly at the complex expressions on the faces of the adults around him, and at the black-haired older brother in the sky who looked so lonely and sad. The child didn't understand civilization, sacrifice, right or wrong; he only felt an immense sorrow enveloping that person.
The spirit of a girl who had also died young floated over, took his hand, and whispered, "Don't cry... My mother said that the older brother was someone who tried his best to stop everyone from crying... Although it seems that he himself is about to cry."
Children possess the most genuine senses.
The child sobbed. He didn't understand support or opposition, but he vaguely felt that if that lonely older brother could continue walking, perhaps in the future, there wouldn't be so many children who couldn't find their mothers.
……
Supporters: 45%
Opponents: 20%
Those who did not vote: 35%
……
One of the old farmers, who had been the most vocal in his cursing, trembled as he crouched down, burying his face in his hands and sobbing, "I...I just love my child so much...I know someone has to fight the war...but why my child...?"
Beside him, a young soul with a revolutionary red ribbon wrapped around his arm said, "Fortunately, the nobles' whip did not lash out generation after generation."
The old farmer trembled and let out a long sigh.
……
Supporters: 47%
Opponents: 22%
Those who did not vote: 31%
……
Beside the boy who died in pain from the talent awakening array stood a radiant old man.
The old man stroked the boy's head and asked, "Child, does it hurt?"
The boy nodded: "It hurts so much, it hurts so much I could die."
The old man asked, "And then what happened?"
The boy said, "Later, I heard that my younger brother succeeded. He awakened an amazing talent and could fly... The village no longer needed to send people as sacrifices."
……
Supporters: 48%
Opponents: 23%
Those who did not vote: 29%
……
Hatred and understanding were locked in a stalemate. On the edge of the clamor, a clear, cool sound, like melting snow, drifted through the noise.
"Gentlemen."
In the crowd, a man with cascading white hair raised his eyes, his gaze as vast as an ancient glacier. His voice possessed an aura that drowned out many of the others' clamor. His gaze swept over faces filled with anger, sorrow, and bewilderment:
"I would like to ask—are you truly judging a person, or a choice?"
"Your respective civilizations are on the verge of collapse. Who can offer a solution that allows everyone to survive?"
"You died because of the cause and effect he caused, that is a fact, undeniable. But consider another possibility: if he had not been involved, you and everything you cherished—the culture, the memories, the continuation of your bloodline… would have been swallowed up in the darkness much earlier. You wouldn’t even have the right to stand here and express your opposition right now."
"If you see two people drowning and reach out to pull one of them out of the water, does that mean you've killed the other? By extension, would standing by and letting both of them drown be a nobler choice? Without him, this place would probably be as empty as a tomb, without even a single echo of accusation."
His words silenced many people.
Gradually, the noise became increasingly chaotic:
“My brother died in the war, but his son and grandson can grow up in the sunshine. This is something that future generations cannot buy, and I don’t think it’s bad.”
“My lord… I don’t understand anything about revolution or nobility. All I know is that in the past, our village used to offer the lord the best grain and girls every year, but now we don’t have to. Although many people died in the war… but, at least the hope is different now. I… I believe what you said back then.”
“I hate this fickle fate. But in the end, without that feast, Praia would have been overrun by the sirens long ago. Hating someone is too tiring, especially hating someone who is also carrying everything on their shoulders. It’s repaying kindness with enmity.”
“Although I don’t understand what you’re saying… he seems like a good person. My daughter says that good people shouldn’t have guns pointed at them. I believe my daughter.”
"How could I hate him? He doesn't need to concern himself with the affairs of our civilization. How can we blame him for the sacrifices? Without him, there would be endless sacrifices!"
"The bad guys are the invaders, not the saviors. I thank them for coming into our world."
……
Supporters: 62%
Opponents: 24%
Those who did not vote: 14%
……
Time's up, voting has ended.
Su Ming'an opened his eyes.
He saw countless souls gradually glow with a soft light and become transparent as the choices were made.
He has passed this round of the game, and their existence will also cease. Those who are dead cannot see tomorrow's sun.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of several unforgettable, familiar figures. They were looking at him, seemingly wanting to say something, but he couldn't approach. He knew these deceased were fictional beings. The dead were gone after all; how could he seek traces of their existence in a game and soften himself?
A spectacle formed by billions of deaths, billions of choices, and billions of emotions.
He will forever remain a gap, standing between the saved collective and the sacrificed individuals, unable to satisfy everyone, nor seeking everyone's understanding.
He bears the full consequences of his choices, including both the light and the shadow... including the love and hate that come with them.
He walked forward toward the exit shrouded in white light, and behind him, the words of farewell transformed into countless strands, lingering in his ears.
The vast, boundless "sea of people" gradually faded, became transparent, and transformed into countless streams of light, dissipating in all directions. Familiar figures gazed at him, gradually disappearing like sand slipping through one's fingers.
“I was the peddler you saved on the streets of Playa Locas… Although I eventually died in the ensuing turmoil, thank you for the hand you reached out to me then.”
"I am a passerby from the past who showed you the way..."
"I was a homeless person who brushed past you in this world of ruins... In the end, I didn't make it through either, but you seem to have accomplished something we dared not even dream of. Amazing."
"Big brother, that day you bought my last flower that was almost withered and gave me money for food for the day... Later there was a fight in the alley, and I couldn't escape... But that day, I was very happy. I'm giving you the flower."
"My esteemed teacher, is the place you're going far? Is it beautiful? My mother said that beautiful places have many colors... I've never seen anything like it. Could you go and see it for me?"
"Great hero! I didn't die on your orders, I only feel proud and honored! Don't be sad, keep moving forward!"
"Lord of the city, go forth, move forward."
"We will forever remain in the past, never able to move towards tomorrow. Please go and see for us!"
"It's not unfair that I lost to you. My war is over, but yours isn't. Don't lose to the guys behind you, or it'll make me look bad."
"My body is about to perish, leaving only a wisp of breeze to accompany you on your journey. I hope you take care."
"Ming An'an! Just go for it! When you win, remember to tell us the final story!"
His eyes were now clear and free of dust.
He gazed at the scattered specks of light, as if he had shed all his vests and clothes, and was now, in the guise of "Su Ming'an," watching them and bidding them farewell.
He reached out and touched the scattered points of light, as if to receive blessings.
The final blessings converged into a vast wave.
"Go."
"forward."
Don't look back.
"Take our share."
"Let's go see the spring we can't see."
"Let's build the city we didn't have time to build."
"Go love those we haven't loved enough."
"To become the future we cannot become."
I love you.
I hate you.
"You are the savior of civilization."
"You are the executioner of civilization."
"You have lifted everyone up."
"You have let everyone down."
"You saved everyone."
"You killed everyone."
"Thank you for coming into our world."
Goodbye, Su Ming'an.
He turned around.
Take a step.
Towards tomorrow, paved with the souls of millions of the deceased—
The road beneath my feet.
……
"...I will move forward."
……