Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1463 - 112: OE - The Last Holy Meal (9)
The white tendrils frantically surged out, forming a cocoon that enveloped Noel, accompanied by the golden seal of Yijulai’er, the blood-red devouring fire, and the purple-glowing poison.
Above the firmament, it seemed as if an unbreakable cage had been formed.
The high-dimensional poison rendered the golden-haired boy’s body powerless against Su Ming’an’s devouring claw; Su Ming’an’s claw frantically absorbed the flesh, tightly hooking onto Noel’s ribcage, and the devouring fire spread across the two. Noel’s "devour" authority, which he didn’t have time to digest, nearly ignored friend and foe, and in a blink, devoured most of Noel’s body.
It was like a net of iron chains composed through Su Ming’an’s hand, enveloping the area.
Every hole was tightly blocked by him, using his life, wisdom, and flesh.
"[With my life, soul, and authority as eternal carriers]."
"[Eternal and without end, through ages and cycles - ]"
"[To eternally seal you and me.]"
The rolled, dry leaves, akin to a hymn.
The flying ashes, like voices of mourning.
At this moment, it was a soft afternoon time, where time seemed infinitely elongated.
People saw Yijulai’er raise both hands high, her heart’s entire World Tree Seed emitting a light that swept the entire world, like dawn illuminating the earth, it spread throughout humanity, and then condensed into the two figures in the sky.
The golden seal, resembling a cocoon.
Killing Noel Agnini was useless, it would only allow the two high-dimensional beings to quickly break free. Only by sealing Noel at the base of the World Tree during his body’s extreme weakness could time be delayed.
Yes, merely delaying time.
Delaying time... allowing Xi Li to fly away with the small world.
Delaying time... letting Starfire fly away with Eden.
All people wanted was to delay time, because everything had already been arranged through over three thousand major resets, just needing to delay the Master of the End of All Things from descending as a deity.
Even if temporarily trapping the two high-dimensional beings prevented them from abandoning Noel, once Noel’s betrayal completely failed, the contract would immediately become invalid. At that time, the two high-dimensional beings would surely break free.
What people needed to do was go far enough, to journey toward the distant stars and sea.
This was not a perfect ending.
But it was immensely precious and remarkably free.
This was humanity breaking through the impossible, a victory in declaring war upon high dimensions as mere humans. They were not trapped in a dream, still an endless civilization like the morning sun, with long ages ahead to grow, elevate and evolve... As long as there is sufficient time, Lü Shu, Lu, Lin Yin, Isabella, Anthony, Mei Yani... these heavenly prides among humanity who had already touched the divine barrier, might become beings no lesser than high-dimensional entities.
The years are long.
This lengthy era, was brought by a "Throne of Hephaestus" trapping the god’s corporeal form with oneself, a decision made by the youth known as Number One Player.
His body had been mostly engulfed by flames, the devouring claw in his hand flickering frantically — he could no longer escape before the seal was formed, so he chose to perish together.
...
[The fox walked to the depths of the pit, pointing at the animals at the bottom: "They’re right here, come eat!"]
[The black eagle and vine walked in, ready to feast.]
[There was a "pfft" sound like stepping into a trap.]
[Together with the fox, the black eagle and vine tumbled into the pit like rolling watermelons. Turns out the small animals had quietly devised a trap, just in case of the fox’s betrayal.]
[The animals worked together to subdue the three villains, climbing out through their bodies.]
["Smelly fox, you’re the bad guy, traitor, sinner among us!" The chick pointed at the fox and yelled.]
[The fox did not provide a definite answer.]
[It smiled faintly, leaving the animals in doubt as to whether it was intentional or accidental.]
["Let’s ignore it! Let it suffer hunger and cold, we’re leaving!" The small animals left in a rush.]
[Moonlight shone into the pit.]
[The fox’s face still had a smile.]
...
For a moment, a sad expression appeared on Noel’s face. But when Su Ming’an blinked, he thought it was an illusion, as Noel’s smile remained flawlessly intact.
Over half a year of acquaintance isn’t long, on the scale of time, it may not count for much.
The flames burned to the neck, the golden cocoon covering, Noel suddenly spoke:
"...Do you regret?"
"What?"
"Regret not stepping into Yuanyuan’s dream, throwing away that chocolate candy... Regret not pondering a bit more, hesitating a bit longer, instead of eagerly dividing yourself. Perhaps your future could be better."
Su Ming’an shook his head; he only had the strength left to shake his head.
He didn’t give a long explanation nor express intense sadness, simply saying:
"...It doesn’t matter."
This is fine too.
The future belongs to everyone, and finally, he could rest.
Perhaps his consciousness wouldn’t annihilate during the long slumber, perhaps one day, after the seal loosens, he would awaken. Perhaps his soul wouldn’t be consumed by the remaining devouring fire. Perhaps what he sees upon opening his eyes would be a Great Harmony Prosperous Era, with Lü Shu and others having propelled the world perfectly, everyone happy. Perhaps, perhaps...
Perhaps.
Actually, there aren’t so many perhaps, he clearly knew his result — death. The devouring fire erasing everything, when the seal finally loosens, he and Noel would have nothing left.
Before deciding, he was very scared, terrified, but now, as everything settled and awaited annihilation, a serene, clear calmness filled his heart.
If he were to look in the mirror, he’d find his current gaze very similar to the many sacrificial ones saying goodbye.
The story continues.
But his part has come to an end here.
"So?" Noel suddenly asked: "Who will your ’treasure’ fall to?"
"Think better," Su Ming’an said: "I might not die, perhaps I’ll return and deal with you in advance."
"Oh. Then I shall wait for the Number One Player’s grand arrival," Noel said indifferently, coughing blood.
Su Ming’an initially thought he would see regret on Noel’s face.
However, the "Magician" raised a light smile, like a gesture of curtain call.
"It’s rare to see joy on your face, yet unsure when it will disappear." Noel reached out with his remaining right hand, stabilized his hat, arranging the flowing Blue Rose Ribbon in his hair, eyes shifting from ink black to light azure:
"Congratulations, reaching the other shore. Su Ming’an."
"—Is this a relief after failure or a genuine blessing?" Su Ming’an recalled Noel’s "no hidden feelings," thus no longer harboring weak hopes.
Noel opened his mouth slightly, as if wanting to say something.
Perhaps he had many things to say.
Claiming he had hidden intentions, that everything was his plan.
Claiming he had no hidden intentions, that it wasn’t his plan.
Or perhaps, he would leverage his romanticism, leaving an ambiguous answer, without explaining the ten-petaled rose or the piano music box, letting people guess at his true thoughts.
But finally, he merely glanced into the distance.
The hand gradually burned away, pointed towards the distant golden sun.
The charred hand trembled, slowly pointing toward the distant horizon.
"Look."
The crimson blood sun gradually faded, replaced by a brilliant golden radiant sun.
The sky turned from gray to white, a scorching needle of fire piercing the firmament, burning like it was aflame, sifting into mottled pale yellow and orange-red.
The golden torch pierced the cloud’s fissures, extending outward like a fan, burning the deep-sea-like sky and earth in an instant, generously revealing the vast contours of peaks and crests.
Countless beautiful hills and fields lit up, like gradually igniting waves of mountain fires, resembling a surging torrent expanding and growing, consuming the desolate twilight, amidst swarms of drifting fireflies.
Countless faces were illuminated, like pieces of cool white jade.
Once the Soaring Goose Valley, today it has fallen.
Under the brilliant sunlight, Noel Agnini neither defended himself nor gave a definite answer.
He only used his last strength to look down:
"I saw Lü Shu’s expression, he looks really disheveled, will he follow you to death?"
"I think... no. He’s already become a complete person. However, I respect all his decisions."
"Oh, I also saw the great Cloud City God, who is beating Alger. He even gives you gifts during the New Year, how will he go home if you die like this?"
"I apologize, it really is a promise I couldn’t fulfill."
"I also saw Lu. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, maybe he’s considering burning a carrier at your grave?"
"I hope he doesn’t think that way. The resources for building a carrier should be left for everyone’s future life."
"Huh? Where’s your devout believer Boris? He should be the first to come cry at your grave, wiping his tears all over you, but he’s not here?"
"I don’t know."
"I also saw Lin Yin... she’s crying. Wow, that look is exactly like when she was wrongfully accused during the duck and goose fight during the New Year, Yamada, who had no emotional intelligence, accidentally made the girl cry."
"A game is just a game, winning inherently involves lying."
"Hmm... winning inherently involves lying..."
Those eyes, gradually returning to a deep blue, blinked gently.
The blond boy laughed radiantly, like when he first saw the future of the world on the Floating City Bridge in the Second World. He repeated softly:
"Yes. Winning inherently involves lying. You are a big liar, but I am very honest."
Su Ming’an had been waiting for Noel to confess or say something truthful, for there would never be another chance.
However, in the end, there was none.
The "Magician" merely watched a brilliant sunrise before slowly lowering his head, his eyes gradually changing from ink-black to deep blue—just like changing from bright red to deep blue. He lowered his eyelids, seemingly too tired, ready to enter a long dream.
Su Ming’an couldn’t hear the voices of the people below, nor could he see their expressions as his five senses gradually faded away.
He slowly closed his eyes, silently reciting a phrase in his heart.
...
Yuanyuan, I’m sorry.
Goodbye.
...
She had gone through countless hardships to create an incredibly beautiful and happy dream.
But in the end, he still chose to lead everyone into the free yet dangerous Star Sea, heading towards the distance.
The questions she asked him actually all had answers.
If it weren’t for this game.
He would be willing to go back with her, play games, edit videos, eat chocolate, secretly scare her with the horror game’s cabinet, pick out the ginseng, complain about the difficulty of finding a job, ride the subway to work, gradually become an interesting old man...
He would have been willing.
"...Can I ask... one last question?" The broken voice of the enemy beside him came.
"Go ahead."
"You could clearly choose a future more suitable for you... instead of being despairingly burned to ashes. Why did you persist until now? I actually... understand this answer... but still don’t."
Su Ming’an raised an eyebrow, and before the flames consumed his head, he blinked his right eye forcefully, pretending to act cool:
"Because—"
...
"Hometown entrusted the fate of billions of people to me...!"
...
...
That was his last sentence.
Later, there was no more sound in the flames.
Golden sky light descended from above, dyeing the world.
People bathed in the peaceful and free afterglow, some hugged each other, some stood stupefied, some covered their faces and wept.
The Throne of Hephaestus sank into the earth, plummeting downwards.
—While seven billion humans and hundreds of trillions of others, ascended towards the small world and Eden, floating into the sky.
One fell, one ascended to salvation.
The junction of golden light and dark abyss, resembling a whale sinking and a fish rising.
As they passed each other, someone saw the golden cocoon.
It enveloped the young pioneer with closed eyes, like a falling star, plunging into the deep, dark ground, somewhere the sun would never reach, where no Sunflower blooms.
That place is very dark, without sunlight, warmth, or mountains filled with Sunflowers.
"A falling star..." someone murmured.
The children instinctively closed their eyes, folded their hands, and made wishes to the cocoon resembling a falling star.
Wishing for Su Ming’an’s salvation.
Wishing that he could be redeemed.
Wishing for his life to be happy, peaceful, and bright. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The children tried their utmost, wishing with devout sincerity, hoping the elder brother a few years older than them could be saved.
But,
but,
the children were unaware of one crucial thing.
...
...
[—If all stars could be saved, would there still be travelers wishing upon them?]
...
Lü Shu slowly wielded the Black Blade, cutting off his slightly long temple hair with a single stroke.
The star had fallen.
He knew he had already become a complete person.
...
...
On May 30, 2025, the Master of the End of All Things and the Seventh Thrones God descended upon Luowasha, intending to destroy all life, putting tens of billions at risk.
Through the composition of the 78th Olivius, the deceased gradually underwent Rebirth. They took the distant boat, heading to the distance, towards spring days.
Except for Number One Player Su Ming’an and the 77th Olivius,
no one died.
...
...
