Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1445 - 94: "We Didn’t Meet Before the Game Began.
Su Ming’an couldn’t be bothered to care.
In his view, none of it was reliable.
He simply continued the previous question: "Atlanda, you just said I was a ’full mark student in this exam,’ what do you mean?"
Atlanda’s deep eyes curved, just about to speak, when Noel interjected:
"Friend, everything needs energy to operate, and the World Game as the organ of the universe is no different. So, do you know where the energy comes from?"
Before Noel could finish, Wu Yi seamlessly continued Noel’s words:
"—The lifespan of a planet."
"The energy for the World Game comes from drawing the lifespan of planets."
"Su Ming’an, I guess you’re wondering, if the World Game’s goal is to help civilization, yet it requires drawing civilization’s lifespan, isn’t that putting the cart before the horse?"
"Thus, while helping various planets with ’evolution, enhancement, entropy reduction,’ the World Game itself has evolved a ’destruction’ mechanism. It is unavoidable; some civilizations must be sacrificed as nourishment for the operation of the World Game so that more civilizations can be redeemed."
"How, then, does one determine which civilizations should be its nourishment?"
Before Wu Yi could finish, Atlanda, who had been interrupted at the start, immediately spoke up:
"The World Game decided to resolve this via ’examinations,’ as exams are always the fairest way—civilizations that fail to reach the score line become nourishment for the World Game, turning into a dead star, a brick in the vast universe. Civilizations that cross the score line receive redemption from the World Game."
"As for the standard of scoring in examinations—that is, civilizations that can keep up with the thoughts of the World Game. In the entire civilization, if even one person can keep up, the World Game will generously spare it. But if not even one can, it proves that this civilization indeed has no value of existence and should be turned into nourishment."
"So." Noel interrupted Atlanda, smiling as he spoke: "Friend, this is the significance of the ’Full Perfect Passer’."
Su Ming’an watched their performance, understanding it.
If the World Game aims to save civilization, then why set the rule that ’human Points progress bar not enough will be wiped out’?
This is a form of assessment!
Determining whether this civilization turns into nourishment or receives redemption.
If after completing dozens of instances, the total Points are insufficient, or no one achieves a Full Perfect Pass, then this civilization is indeed ’worthless,’ leaving it would make redemption too difficult, it would be better to give survival chances to other civilizations.
—A fair yet cruel evaluation method, this is the "examination" at the civilization level.
The World Game is both a pure white redeemer and a cruel executioner. Its existence saves numerous civilizations, restrains the universe’s entropy increase and heat death, undeniably beneficial, but its operation must consume a batch of civilizations as the price.
Xiao Na and humanity set the "ten billion World Game" bet not to destroy humanity, but to hope humanity could strive to create the Book of the Universe. If humans succeed, she would see it fulfilled with joy. If humans fail, she could consume Zhai Xing as nourishment. Either way, she wouldn’t lose.
As long as Su Ming’an hasn’t led everyone away, the World Game certainly won’t lose.
"So, me achieving full perfect clearance at the highest difficulty makes me the ’full mark student’ in the eyes of the World Game..." Su Ming’an looked at his right hand, where the white Perfect Pass Pattern Mark emerged, resembling a blooming daffodil.
"More than that." Wu Yi’s Ninth Thrones skeleton beside him spoke, emitting a rhythm that made one’s head spin: "Su Ming’an, so far, you’re among the highest progress group in over twenty-four thousand civilizations the World Game has experienced. Even the Number One Player Yasa Acto, the Number One Player Chang Ge... fell short compared to your instance completion rate."
To actually compare him with Acto... A sudden hint of inexplicable inferiority surged in Su Ming’an’s heart, remembering his Death Rebound. Simultaneously, there was a subtle feeling, as if he too had become an extremely outstanding person.
Many have said before that Su Ming’an’s acuity to instances almost surpasses everyone.
"According to assessment rules, when someone like you, the ’full mark contender,’ appears, the World Game should spare the civilization you belong to." Wu Yi shrugged: "However, Zhai Xing lost early in the first loop. Even if you achieve full marks now, you’re still in the ’ten billion bet,’ your victory standard was no longer to achieve full marks but to create the Book of the Universe. Too bad."
Su Ming’an said: "Are you trying to say my full marks are meaningless?"
Noel interjected: "No, of course it’s meaningful."
His blue eyes glanced at Xiao Na.
Xiao Na’s gaze remained indifferent, silent throughout, as if observing a few ants.
"[Ruler]." Noel raised a finger, the rose petals by his ear swaying: "Your [Ruler] must have never failed a mission, right? What level is it now?"
This significant status was finally mentioned.
This identity of [Ruler], has always been considered the highest-level special status, even surpassing Noel’s [Watchers], Yuanyuan’s [Observer], Shen Xue’s [Sniper], Wang Xingkong’s [Hunter], Atlanda’s [Prophet], Lu’s [Proud], Mizushima Haru’s [Sufferer], Lü Shu’s abandoned [Supervisor]...
"’Observer’ means to observe various worlds. ’Watchers’ means to watch over the land. ’Sniper’ means to snipe players." Noel’s voice deepened: "Then, ’Ruler,’ ruling, ruling, what does it rule?"
Su Ming’an now had an answer.
—Ruling... the World Game’s authority.
Xiao Na once said, the World Game doesn’t need a "Heir," the organ will operate on its own. But... since Xiao Na is present, it shows that managing is necessary.
To warn the reckless Organizers, restrain players overstepping bounds, bet with players... a "representative" for the World Game, who can speak, walk, is indispensable.
Otherwise, if the World Game remains silent, as an organ, leaving all communicational authority to the Organizers will lead to reckless Organizers deceiving players and exploiting loopholes—just like now.
From the start, the World Game chose Su Ming’an and handed him an invitation’s Black Card.
After Su Ming’an rejected the initial Black Card, he received another Black Card from a cat-eared man claiming to represent the Organizers at the end of the Third World, in the dark hall. From that point, Su Ming’an officially became the [Ruler].
Su Ming’an didn’t see any Organizer with cat ears. This cat-eared man was either an unwilling-to-show Lord working for Xiao Na or Xiao Na herself.
A Lord unwilling to show themselves... with cat ears? Truly intriguing... Let’s hope they’re not a black-haired, black-eyed, almond-eyed individual.
...
[Su Ming’an bowed his head, looking at the Black Card in his hand, its bright red patterns resembling flames, warm to the touch, like human skin.]
["Organizer." He couldn’t help but ask: "Before the game started, at a café, did we... ever meet?"]
[The shadow of the cat-eared man tilted slightly, a metallic voice came from every direction.]
["Dear Ruler." It said: "Before the game started, we didn’t meet."]
[—The 101st Memory Clip · "Organizer, did we meet?"]
...
Thinking back now, it brings a laugh.
The cat-eared man deliberately induced language guidance. Su Ming’an asked, "Before the game started, in the café, did we meet?" The cat-eared man answered, "Before the game started, we didn’t meet," deliberately ignoring "in the café."
Before the game started, they indeed hadn’t met.
But in the café, when the World Game was already in looped operation, they had already met.
Su Ming’an’s thoughts flowed, many doubts resolved. The three sides quietly awaited his answer, Noel’s Phoenix, Wu Yi’s skeleton, and Atlanda’s thick fog formed a triangle, encircling him.
The lake lapped the shore, silent and chaotic.
Yet, no one expected.
In the next moment, following Noel and the Seventh Thrones, Wu Yi and the Ninth Thrones, and Atlanda and the Eighth Thrones, a fourth voice actually rang out—
...
"I also extend an invitation to you, Su Ming’an."
"You are the highest scorer so far, the most suited to the World Game’s entropy reduction mindset, the most adept at crafting the Book of the Universe."
"Immerse yourself in the World Game, become one with us."
"You will become the new representative, communicator, and power holder of the World Game. Organs lack thought, cannot speak, cannot act, thus you equate to the new ruler of the World Game."
"If you can perfectly resolve Luowasha’s dilemma, solve this final instance. No need to wait for the World Game to find the next civilization, I can abandon the ’billion-time cycle’ bet, sparing Zhai Xing. After all, compared to crafting the Book of the Universe, compared to a perfect scorer like you, a lower civilization is insignificant to the World Game."
"Choose us."
...
"Watcher" Noel squinted his eyes, "Death God’s Apostle" Wu Yi raised an eyebrow, "Prophet" Atlanda widened his eyes, "Blaster" Alger clenched his fists.
Su Ming’an looked aside—
The white door opened wide, Xiao Na’s red hair floated up, her eyes shimmered with starlight. At the moment of eye contact, a buzzing sound seemed to echo in Su Ming’an’s mind, gazing at the vastness of the universe.
Mountains, rivers, seas, deserts, lakes, plains, ice fields, lava... innumerable landscapes swept by. Astronomy and geography, history and philosophy, the wisdom of vast civilizations converged at the glimpse of "God."
Being a separated consciousness of the World Game, it was bound by many rules. However, "Player" is far freer than "organ," one exercises the name, one exercises the action, together forming completeness.
Xiao Na had been searching for someone who shares the World Game’s mindset, now, she finally found the highest scorer.
If Su Ming’an is a coward clinging to life, seeing himself as a deity halting time, humanity would not be saved.
It was his fearless journey that granted this opportunity. A small misstep, and he wouldn’t get the highest score.
"Oh... it’s inevitable." Wu Yi touched his lips: "My bond with Su Ming’an isn’t strong enough to hold him."
"..." Atlanda remained silent. If Zhai Xing could be saved because of this, he wouldn’t urge Su Ming’an to refuse.
"Are you decided, Su Ming’an?" Noel spoke, his blue eyes reflecting nothing: "This means eternal confinement, eternal life, eternal solitude, eternal... unable to return home."
Becoming one with the World Game means sharing lifespan with this organ, four billion cycles would be trivial.
Staying here means never returning home.
"It seems I don’t need to make a choice right now?" Su Ming’an suddenly said: "Resolving Luowasha’s final instance is the priority for any further developments."
He calmly scanned his surroundings, fastening the top button of his shirt collar.
"And you—Noel, the Master of the End of All Things behind you, is bound to destroy Luowasha. Therefore, you and I are still on different paths."
"Why not give up on Him? Noel Agnini, choose me."
Noel widened his eyes, he hadn’t expected the situation would turn "upside down" so quickly, now he was being invited.
"Wu Yi, the Ninth Thrones wants to end the World Game and gain freedom, right? But unfortunately, I don’t believe the World Game should be killed." Su Ming’an said:
"Wu Yi, abandon the Ninth Thrones, choose me, how about it?"
"And you... Atlanda, the Eighth Thrones behind you also wants to end the World Game, right? I think it’s unfeasible, why not choose me too."
The lakeside became silent instantly.
Amidst the intersecting breaths, only the sound of the lake water pervading.
Everyone gazed at Su Ming’an in astonishment, the scene fell quiet for a moment.
At this moment, Xiao Na suddenly reached out, taking out a pure white book from within the white door.
——This is the "World Game Book," higher than the "Luowasha World Book," and lower than the "Book of the Universe."
She flipped through several pages, landing on [Memory Clip 1419·"Thus, he had become the true Lighthouse."]
Then, she tossed it back into the white door.
In an instant, her face turned extremely pale, her body became transparent, as if a great price was paid.
A tidal wave of reverse time surged forward, halting everyone’s steps.
The surrounding scenery retraced, dissipated.
Su Ming’an turned around—
He saw a towering World Tree, a crimson Sun.
...
"No need to hesitate, you can only choose me, Su Ming’an."
"Go resolve Luowasha’s dilemma, solve this last instance. Then, I will come and cancel the bet, to take you away."
...
...
World Tree.
Above the sky, the Red Sun hangs high.
All races, all Royals, have surrounded the World Tree completely.
A blond, blue-eyed young man sits at the tallest treetop, gazing into the distance.
"Dragon Emperor, Ice Element Emperor, Holy Mountain Angel, Half-demon Elder, four Luowasha protagonists, Wheel of Destiny, Order Guardian, Death Arbiters, Nalan Court, tens of thousands of Players... rough estimate, there are hundreds of thousands. Facing me, they truly go all out." Noel said, suddenly shaking all over, his eyes suddenly clearing.
He glanced around, seeing the surrounding situation: "... Hmm? Where am I? Oh, it’s this point in time... time has flowed backwards here..."
