Chapter 200: Chapter200-The Man with the Greatsword, Ancestor of the Human Race

Allowing players to come into contact with the Aerial Realm was only the first stage of Daniel’s plan.

In the future, he would certainly have the players build, develop, and manage this world, turning the Aerial Realm into a true territory belonging to the human race!

He summoned the executives under his command and gave them instructions one by one.

The main focus was to guard against the possible descent of the Godkin, as well as the follow-up arrangements for the Aerial Realm.

Only after everything had been explained did Daniel finally take out that instance scroll.

[Flame of Heritage (Special Instance)] (Exclusive to Faustus)

This was a rather special exclusive instance scroll.

Only he could use it.

The name of the new version was [Flame of Heritage].

And the name of this instance was also [Flame of Heritage]!

There had to be countless connections between the two.

And Kelly had mysteriously disappeared precisely when this version was opened.

Daniel looked forward to finding, within this instance, the answers that had been buried beneath the dust of time.

He lowered his gaze slightly and murmured in a low voice.

"Heritage flame..."

"When the firewood burns out, the flame is passed on. What burns is only withered, decaying wood, but that leaping light shall cross over ash and dust to illuminate the endless long night."

The shell would decay.

Flesh and blood would wither.

But that will, that cluster of flame passed from hand to hand by countless people, would never be extinguished!

This—

Was the meaning of heritage flame!

Thinking of this, Daniel pressed his fingertip against the scroll.

[Ding! You have used the special instance [Flame of Heritage]!]

[Notice: You are about to witness a piece of history sealed away for one hundred thousand years.]

Whoosh—!

His figure abruptly vanished.

...

Daniel’s vision blurred in an instant, then became clear again a moment later.

He found himself suspended in a vast and boundless void.

Beneath his feet, countless living worlds were spread out densely like grains of sand in a desert, flickering with lights both bright and dim.

Those worlds of life that had once seemed so vast and immeasurable in his eyes now appeared as tiny as specks of dust.

Billions upon billions of worlds lay beneath his feet.

At this moment, it was as though he stood from the perspective of a creator, overlooking the entire structure of existence.

Then, he saw that river.

It was an immense river stretching across heaven and earth, surging from an unknowable origin toward an unknowable end.

It encircled the entire "desert," embracing countless worlds within its flow.

The river water was not made of water.

Instead, it was woven from countless specks of light, fragments, and illusory shadows...

Those were the remnants of time, the trajectories of fate, the complete imprints of countless living beings from birth to death.

The Time River!

Daniel instinctively held his breath.

Just then, a figure walked over from the depths of the void.

It was a powerful figure dressed in ragged clothes.

He carried a massive battle axe on his back. The axe blade was covered in chips and cracks, as though it had endured countless brutal battles.

His body was riddled with wounds. Golden blood seeped from every injury, yet he kept his head raised and trudged forward step by difficult step.

Countless streaks of sword light circled around him like a swarm of bloodthirsty sharks, frantically tearing into his body.

Every time a sword fell, another wound appeared on him.

But the moment that wound appeared, it healed at a speed visible to the naked eye...

Healing, then being torn open again.

Then healing again.

The cycle repeated endlessly.

It was an unimaginable torment.

Yet he did not even furrow his brow.

Daniel’s eyes widened.

That man with the greatsword...

He was crossing the Time River!

A being capable of stepping into the Time River, even if only by a single step, had already reached a height that countless powerhouses could never hope to attain in their entire lives.

Yet this man was actually crossing the entire long river.

Who exactly was he?

The moment the greatsword man crossed the long river, his body suddenly shrank, vanishing into that star sea like a speck of dust.

Daniel’s perspective shifted along with him, and he too plunged into that vast sea of worlds.

He saw the greatsword man stagger into a certain starry expanse.

At the center of that starry sky floated a barren star region.

There were no living beings there.

No light. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Only endless deathly silence and cold.

The greatsword man suddenly opened his palm.

Countless living beings flew out from his hand...

Men, women, elders, children—densely packed together, like people who had been imprisoned for many years and had finally waited until the moment their cage door opened.

Daniel’s pupils abruptly contracted.

Humans!

Those humans looked around in confusion, their faces filled with fear and exhaustion.

Some sobbed quietly.

Some tightly held the loved ones beside them.

Some collapsed onto the ground, as though they no longer even had the strength to stand.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?"

An old man asked in a trembling voice, his eyes full of concern.

"Your Majesty, have we... escaped?"

Another young man raised his head and looked at this unfamiliar starry sky, the terror of having survived a catastrophe still lingering in his eyes.

The greatsword man took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over every person present.

On that face carved full of traces by war and time, a faint smile appeared.

"For now, we have escaped."

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a Strength that put people at ease.

"But the enemy may catch up at any moment."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"You will settle down here first. I am going back."

The moment those words came out, the crowd erupted.

"Your Majesty, you cannot go!"

"Your Majesty, if you go back, we fear you will never return!"

"Let us fight alongside you, Your Majesty! Even if we die, we will die before you do!"

The greatsword man raised a hand, suppressing every voice.

His gaze became sharp, like a blade drawn from its sheath.

"No."

His voice was not loud, but every word was iron.

"There is no need to speak further of how powerful the enemy is. It does not matter if I die, but our race must not perish."

The crowd fell silent.

Some lowered their heads.

Some clenched their fists.

Some wept without a sound.

After a long while, a young voice rang out from within the crowd. It trembled, yet every word was incomparably clear.

"Your Majesty, what if... you never return?"

The greatsword man froze for an instant.

Then he smiled.

That smile was calm and open, as though he were merely stating the most ordinary fact.

"Then I will not return."

He looked around at everyone, his voice low and firm.

"If I die, all of you can live on properly."

"If I do not die, this war will never end."

"So..."

He raised his head and looked toward the boundless darkness beyond the river of stars. There was no fear in his eyes, only absolute resolve.

"You must live well."

As his words fell, he reached out and covered his left eye.

Then, he dug it out with a violent motion.

Blood splattered!

When his hand withdrew from his eye socket, resting in his palm was an object glowing with faint golden light...

A gemstone?

The gemstone was crystal clear. Within it, it seemed as though a river of stars was flowing, and it emitted an aura that made one’s heart tremble.

"With this supreme treasure as an offering, you will surely be able to find a settlement in this star sea world."

He had actually transformed his own eye into a gemstone!

And all for the sake of allowing his people to exchange it for a place where they could stand and survive.

The human powerhouse took the gemstone with trembling hands, shaking so badly he could barely hold it.

They knew His Majesty had already made up his mind.

Rustle—

Countless humans knelt in unison, their heads lowered. Their voices surged like mountains roaring and seas crashing.

"Farewell, Your Majesty!"

"Farewell, Your Majesty!"

"..."

The greatsword man turned around resolutely.

His clothes were ragged.

His body was covered in wounds.

He held his head high and stood tall...

And just like that, he stepped onto the road back.

He walked out of the star region.

He crossed that Time River stretching across all eternity.

Even if he would never return!