Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1501 - 9: Nest

Mo Yan widened his eyes in disbelief.

...Why kill Si Hua?

"I refuse," Mo Yan said without hesitation. He wouldn’t kill someone for no reason.

Wu Yi wiped his pistol by his waist, saying nothing more.

At this time, a blond man in the audience raised his head high. His pupils were like gold, with dragon horns, and he stared at Sique:

"Sique, do you know what it means to create the ’World Book’?"

Mo Yan blinked... What does it mean? Doesn’t it mean that from now on, they can swap memory clips and change tragedies? Isn’t that great?

Sique’s voice was calm: "It means that everyone in this world will be under the observation of the World Tree, and everything created must comply with the order and rules required by the World Tree."

As soon as these words came out, the whole audience fell silent.

Mo Yan showed a confused expression... What’s wrong with that? The future of Luowasha is like this.

"So..." A man in a cloak slowly spoke: "From now on, only creations that meet the needs of the World Tree can be rated highly."

At this moment, Mo Yan understood what these people were worried about.

A young man covered in body paint strode up to the high platform. Sique bowed slightly, the blue-green tailcoat drawing a trace as he politely retreated to the edge of the platform, giving the stage to everyone. Then, the young man with body paint tightly gripped the blue-green feather microphone and loudly said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the most important thing about creation is freedom! Freedom! The most precious thing about humanity is its boundless imagination and endless associative ability!"

"Imagine!" he exaggeratedly spread his arms: "Imagine creating a bird with a fish’s head that can breathe in the sea and soar in the sky, how amazing! But then a presence tells you it can’t be created this way because society doesn’t like it, forcing you to abandon this idea! From then on, birds can only be birds, fish can only be fish!"

"My God, the biggest difference between creation and science is that the latter is fixed, rigorous, and objective, while the former is free, imaginative, and without constraints! The goodness or badness of a creation cannot be determined because a thousand observers have a thousand Hamlets; some think it’s good, and some think it’s bad. But if we must have a fixed score, categorizing creations as first-class, second-class, and third-class, where does the freedom of creation go?"

After this speech, Mo Yan was left dumbfounded, feeling like he had stepped into a field of philosophical inquiry.

This is the organization [Nest] that Sique established early on... Mo Yan saw many figures who became significant later on, including the fledgling Dragon Emperor Ian, the small-statured Bone Dragon Gangbunier, and the top hundred of the Creator Conference. Most of them dressed simply, like the striving masses.

Another white-haired elf girl stepped onto the stage and retorted:

"Humanity cedes some freedom in exchange for security, which is the cornerstone of civilization."

The white-haired girl, with elf pointed ears, wore a plain long dress adorned with numerous white bows and green daisies, softly said:

"An ideal situation requires rationality, not simple suppression or indulgence. The World Tree is the supreme symbol of Luowasha, and it’s reasonable for it to govern creations."

"The God of Inspiration, Virdodo, once mentioned that even beneath the ruins of order, the cries of the oppressed are buried, but life is more reasonable than a feather."

"If development is pursued without regard, who can provide protection for creators? Who can erase the stigma for scientists? Who can provide a survival foundation for middle and lower-level creators?"

For a moment, attitudes divided into two camps, and the narrow civilian area seemed to transform into a grand debate hall.

"Thought doesn’t need to be in a high tower; it can also be between ditches..." Mo Yan had this thought flash through his mind.

Yamada Machiichi on the stage listened silently, only to see the white-haired elf girl who had just spoken approach.

"Sique, I want to leave the Nest," the white-haired girl said calmly.

"Why, Sitra?" Sique showed a look of disbelief in his eyes: "Your creation talent is so good, and you just supported my viewpoint, so why leave?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Because I’m very worried," Sitra said softly: "Creating is too unstable, and without assurance, actually, going back to the Elf race to plant flowers and grass can offer a stable life. Following you like this is to take a risk with an uncertain future."

Sique’s eyes turned pained.

"I’m leaving too," a red-eyed young man with demon horns on his forehead came forward and said: "I’m sorry... I’ve been trying to hold on, but this thing truly can’t be eaten. Oh, Sique, your ideals are too grand, but we’re all ordinary people, we can’t wait."

Sique clenched the green gemstone tightly, whispering: "But I’ve already fought for you. Once the ’World Book’ is created, with the protection of the World Tree, maybe, maybe creators of the middle and lower tiers can survive..."

"No, they won’t," the red-eyed youth said calmly: "The tides of the era change at will, and even if you hand over the power of judgment on creation to the World Tree, praise or condemnation with one word, we small ants will be crushed easily. However, someday, if we can write bread with a feather pen that’s enough to feed us, I’ll come back, Sique."

Yamada Machiichi was suddenly pained.

He thought of the causes of his depression in high school, thought of his dream of becoming a manga artist, thought of the drawings torn to shreds by parents, thought of the scolding of "uselessness."

He thought of his current success, thought of himself being the largest artist in the World Forum, thought of countless artists finally not having to worry about basic needs in the World Game, but... where is the "World Game" for Luowasha?

Who can protect a novel concept, who can feed those without enough talent?

Those hovering at the brink of genius, never quite able to step through the door, those who stand enviously at the steps of the hall peering up at the high tower, who can support them?

"I’m leaving too, Sique," the blond dragon-horned man who spoke first came over: "You once promised that no one would ever control our thoughts and fantasies, but you failed to deliver, you turned to the World Tree... traitor."

His voice was low and pained, seeming to have been deeply hurt.

"I must find a way to ensure the majority can have protection," Sique said slowly: "Palry, Audilia, Lv Bote... they are all ordinary people, without the courage to confront the entire world. Those with talent like me can boldly pursue ideals, but even a slight storm can destroy an ordinary person’s life. To be responsible for most creators, I..."

He tightened his grip on the green gemstone.

"So you allow a big tree to judge our fantasies, using rules to bind our creations... weak! Does this mean that in the future, no matter what we create, we’ll be questioned, ’What is your agenda, what is your purpose, why did you create these things’?" Ian rebuked.

"Say what you will," Sique’s gaze was clear and calm:

"I only wish for the massacres of last night to never happen again."

"Only then..."

He placed his hand on his chest, a fervor in his eyes unfamiliar to others:

"Our [Nest] will endure forever. Whether birds innately have wings or birds live a whole life without wings, they will be able to survive."

Ian turned away, his eyes no longer shining like gold.

He always believed that any order demanding absolute obedience was stifling the possibility of self-transcendence in the Luowasha civilization, like a vast sphere being cut into a square shape. He thought someone as romantic as Sique would do anything for the freedom of creation, but he didn’t expect Sique to be more realistic in such a decision.

Ian thought of the scientists jumping off buildings, thought of someone writing about beasts devouring villagers, thought of the chronic drugs with altered chemical compositions.

But then he thought of the books thrown into the fire, the stories forcibly judged by scores, the broken feather pens and the backbones of countless people.

"Bang!"

At this moment, he suddenly heard a gunshot.

This sharp gunshot tore through the noisy arguments, making the air suddenly empty.

Sique’s right chest exploded with a spray of blood, and he spat out a mouthful of blood as he slowly fell to the ground amidst the crowd’s cries of shock.

"Who is it!"

"Who!"

Where everyone’s gaze gathered, a boy with white hair and golden eyes slowly walked in, blowing a puff of white smoke from the gun.

"I’ve always been curious, Sique’s creations are indeed good, but not so excellent as to dominate the world. Why is it that in the world, there is no rival, and it’s ranked first all year round?" Su Liujin said casually, "It turns out Sique was the first to take refuge with the World Tree, relying on the tree for shade, borrowing the World Tree’s momentum and promotion. Worshiping gods, praising gods, creating gods, pervasive propaganda... That’s how your fairly decent fairy tale became a must-have read among the Luowasha people. Sometimes in the dead of night, do you lament that your virtue does not match your position?"

The role Su Liujin was playing was named "Su Xiaobai", and his task was to [disrupt the Creator Conference]. Since Su Xiaobai’s race was "Prophetic Nightingale", he could speak words akin to prophecies.

When faced with choices, he chose [to shoot]. Even he was surprised after saying such a long paragraph, realizing this was how Su Xiaobai felt inside.

However, Su Liujin was indeed puzzled too. He had thought long ago that the Luowasha should have flourished like a hundred flowers, instead of Sique’s solitary dominance, crushing all living beings. He always wondered if he had failed to discover Sique’s brilliance, but at this moment, he vaguely understood that for "creation", the most important was no longer spiritual energy, but the preferences of the World Tree.

The creators at the top of the rankings were never of pure streams.

Without the World Tree’s favor, without the promotion of the gods, the truly lofty Great Creators would long have starved to death.

Whatever the World Tree liked, people had to create. Whatever the World Tree disliked, people had to be silent as cicadas.

To dare to go against the current, to innovate boldly, to defy the era led by the World Tree, one would be labeled under the "Thunder List", inviting the general public to criticize, to be branded as hazardous, to be scorned, and even to be greeted with rotten vegetable leaves on the street, called "polluting the creative environment".

Thus, creations in Luowasha gradually became the same.

Thus, truly deep thinkers no longer dared to stand out.

Thus, short, fast, stimulating creations became increasingly popular.

Thus, things unworthy of their status became more numerous.

Thus, being obedient would earn you candy.

Thus, there forever exists an indestructible... "White Sand Paradise".

When Su Liujin lived in the sea, he often admired the hot creations of Luowasha through online forums. He was fascinated by the exquisite design, smooth lines, and beautiful appearance of many creations. However, he often found that these creations were not welcomed by the public, whereas some creations that he couldn’t even look at spread throughout Luowasha. He made every effort to appreciate these popular creations, only to regretfully realize that he might be one of those "minority" who couldn’t feel beauty.

Paintings, sculptures, stories, calligraphy, antiques, jewelry... even human conduct, morality, and behaviors in real life seemed to consistently demonstrate this situation.

Poor quality overwhelms good quality, bad people live better than good people, people who have discarded morals and character dominate and command the honest and upright, and those lacking ability criticize those with a long-term vision. Reversals and regressive waves have swept people’s common understanding, gradually becoming the undistinguished norm.

"From the beginning, the creation rankings of the World Tree puzzled me. If the World Tree has no consciousness, then on what basis does it judge our creations? If the World Tree is conscious, then why should the opinion of a single tree evaluate everything, and why should tens of billions of Luowasha people chase its trends?" Su Liujin said, "It turns out that the root of all this was you, Sique."

"Then I... ask you." Sique, supported by Yamada Machiichi, chose his words with crimson eyes, "If... the World Book were not created... would fewer people die than now?"

Su Liujin pursed his lips and said in a low voice:

"No."

"Ha." Sique chuckled, his voice distinctly cold, "Then what stance... do you have to accuse me? The new protagonist favored by the World Tree, Jellyfish Emperor?"

Sique uttered information he should not have known at that time.

There were no choices this time. Su Liujin lowered his pink jellyfish hat and said what was in his heart:

"I didn’t mean to accuse you... Have you heard of the Colorful Cloud Jellyfish?"

"Without outside influence, the Colorful Cloud Jellyfish can grow into a variety of forms; it can turn into clouds soaring into the sky, turn into mushrooms walking on land, or turn into waves diving into the sea... But some people think its cloud shape sells best, so through technological means, they’ve forcibly changed its growth mode, allowing the Colorful Cloud Jellyfish to always be just a Colorful Cloud Jellyfish."

"They become more and more alike, turning into assembly line products, and no one sees them soaring into the sky anymore. But since they fit people’s aesthetics, they will no longer starve; there will always be someone willing to buy them into factories."

"This erasure of uniqueness actually prevents the extinction of a rare species."

"I shot you not to oppose your views, but because..."

Su Liujin paused here, how should he say it? He shot to complete a task, after all, it was just a segment of simulated history, but he couldn’t say that reason out loud...

"Hmm, because... you want to..." Sique looked into the air, laughing lowly: "Complete the task? This is Level Six of the Disciple Game, not reality?"

Su Liujin widened his eyes, feeling the eerie shock as if seeing a doll come to life.

...

Su Ming’an arrived at the Wheel of Destiny.

This was not a real-world domain, but a small space. A golden pointer became the curtain, and a mass of chaotic, indistinct Fog of Qi hung high in the sky.

"Leader."

"Leader."

The figures here were all indistinct, saluting him.

"Lord Demon, welcome back." At this moment, a young man in a black-gold cross robe knelt down on one knee towards him.