Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1525 - 24: "If One Day He Were to Disappear
City of Measurement.
The moonlight climbed up the branches, exposing the reinforced concrete under the cut of neon lights, the glass flowing with a liquid sheen.
The ubiquitous ginkgo trees in the city alternately dyed in amber and bronze. The bell tower of Constantine University tolled with the sound of evening classes, the city’s day and night alternate with precision and swiftness.
"Su Ming’an bot’, he is indeed a key figure in Luowasha," Dawn said with a smile, not intending to reveal who the concealed chess piece was.
Yamada Machiichi was anxious, he opened his mouth to inquire, trying to learn more information, but after a conversation, he was utterly defenseless.
All his words were seen through, all his thoughts had nowhere to hide.
Under the gaze of this City-State God, he was like a naked child.
Next to him, Leslie, Perlo, Audilia, and others also tried to persuade, but due to the lack of information, they couldn’t start.
Just when they were scratching their heads, at a loss, Shadow, wearing a colorful wig, took a step forward.
Shadow first frowned, took off the colorful wig, then looked at Dawn and said calmly:
"Dawn."
This greeting was like one between acquaintances, also like one accustomed to commanding calling their creation.
The data flow in Dawn’s eyes flickered for a moment, suddenly looking over, somewhat stagnant.
——Su Ming’an shifted his consciousness to Shadow.
He spoke in Acto’s tone, which was meant to be a casual attempt, unexpectedly the so-called Deity also experienced a moment of amazement.
Soon after, Dawn displayed a flawless smile: "Su Ming’an."
In the shadows, Lin Guang clenched his fist, staring at Su Ming’an.
"I already know the current situation," Su Ming’an glanced at Yamada Machiichi and others who seemed relieved: "Leave it to me."
His knuckles tapped lightly on the iron table beside him: "Won’t you offer me a seat?"
The next moment, the sound of mechanical movement was heard, a familiar mechanical wheelchair floated over, placed behind him. Immediately, a portable round table was brought over with exquisite desserts and a lemon drink, still Su Ming’an’s favorite flavor.
Su Ming’an sat down straightforwardly, leaning back, hands placed seam-to-seam on his knees, elbows gently rested on the armrests, gazing slightly upwards at Dawn, yet it seemed like overlooking, with a subtle smile at the corner of his lips.
His demeanor was remarkably similar to Acto.
Yamada Machiichi suddenly remembered, Su Ming’an experienced a significant Emotional Resonance with Acto, even once thought himself to be Acto... That time’s severe spiritual trauma, how did Su Ming’an heal after returning to the Main God World? Was he cured?
Su Ming’an surely wasn’t relying on consuming Roseblood or injecting Mentality Elixir for healing... Was that trauma ever completely healed or continually suppressed by him?
"Do you want to criticize me?" Dawn’s term of address had changed to "you." For Him, Su Ming’an indeed acted as Acto for a time, undertook the final glorious plan of the Ruined World, with the grace of recreation. Or perhaps, He was deliberately mixing up Su Ming’an with Acto.
"I’m a victim of your invasion, I can criticize you." Su Ming’an folded his hands, he said "can," rather than "want to."
"But you haven’t criticized." Dawn’s eyes seemed to have a certain teasing quality.
"I think old feelings shouldn’t outweigh the prospect of civilization."
"You are very sincere and pragmatic."
"After all, you’re for preserving civilization, capable of arranging my marriage with Ms. Treya, descending completely into the Zero-Dimensional, sacrificing billions of lives for the Dawn System. Moreover, you are not the Dawn I’m familiar with, but a Dawn that chooses reality." Su Ming’an’s voice softly yet firmly in Acto’s tone: "In the face of civilization’s survival, prickly, sarcastic words will only cause more deaths, before gaining enough strength, I have no right to show you defiance. Therefore, I don’t criticize you."
Yamada Machiichi listened, dumbfounded, only feeling that Su Ming’an’s SS Charm was well deserved, this ability to prescribe the right solution, this extremely rational rhetoric, made him feel unfamiliar.
... At such moments, Su Ming’an seems to put on layers of masks. He starts to become many people, possessing many ways and tones of speaking, except no longer like himself.
"Then to digest this gap in rationality, are you asking for some people, a world, or... the thirst to end repetition?" Dawn asked.
"Do you want me?" Su Ming’an asked directly. Which made Sique’s pupils tighten.
"I do." Dawn’s response halted for a moment, admitted: "You’re very much like him, extremely so. If he could be remade, whether the cohesion or centripetal force of the City-State, or your ability and wisdom, they all would assist this world."
Su Ming’an let out a short laugh, raised an arm, smoothed a few standing strands of hair, eyes turning deep and sharp: "... Before he left, he didn’t intend to shape himself into a god of the City-State."
His right hand tapped the chair back, maintaining a stable frequency: "Just me alone?"
Dawn replied without hesitation: "I want to."
He then emitted a short laugh: "You seem adept at pushing yourself as a chip onto the betting table, the kind that leaves nothing behind."
Su Ming’an shrugged: "When you owe more, you stop worrying... Speaking of which."
He picked up the glass of lemon water, took a sip: "You’ve observed Luowasha for so long, can you tell me about ’them’?"
His change of topic was swift, yet seemed to have pierced through an established iceberg.
After a moment of silence, Dawn continued the conversation calmly.
In the Second Epoch, Dawn said, the Demon Mother Goddess Isabel slumbered in the Abyss of Netherworld, but was quietly locked by the passing Shitposter Demon Kasadia, who also took the key away, causing Isabel’s true form unable to awaken. Kasadia casually tossed the key, and it would attach to a person’s soul, when one died, it would pass to the next, ultimately, this key’s destination was unknown.
The Favored of the Demon Mother Goddess, Bai Qiu, carried the Wheel of Destiny to massacre civilians, partly for the creation of public opinion, partly to search for this key—Bai Qiu received information that this key’s fluctuation was in the Red Tower Civilian Area but couldn’t pinpoint to whom.
Massacre was the most foolish method, but very effective. However, Su Ming’an’s possession interrupted Bai Qiu’s slaughter, the key remained unfound among the Red Tower civilians.
If Bai Qiu found this key before the Red Rain fell, Isabel could awaken in time to deter "their" arrival.
"Unfortunately, the Red Rain has begun to fall... You, as Bai Qiu, halted the massacre," Dawn seemed to sigh or laugh.
"Is there no other way besides massacre?" Su Ming’an asked.
"The Cloud City God beside you should be able to read if the civilians’ souls contain the key. But it’s too slow, examining souls without harming civilians takes much longer than a single slash. Delaying time means under the Red Rain, deaths multiply by hundreds or thousands..." Dawn shook his head: "But, don’t mention it, it’s too late."
"My target is merely the image of the Supreme Lord," Su Ming’an said calmly.
"So?"
"Try investing in me? I’m more promising than the Lord of the End of All Things."
Dawn’s expression was dazed, gazing through Su Ming’an at something, but finally, His gaze focused, fixating on Su Ming’an himself: "What if Savior loses?"
"At your disposal. Anyways, there will be many wanting me then."
"This is a high-risk investment for me, you might end up with nothing."
"But merely staying on the sidelines is enough, if I lose, you can pick up Luowasha’s world remnants, if I win, I can repay you more. Whether I win or lose, you won’t incur a loss, this isn’t a high-risk investment, but a no-cost trade."
The sharpness of words so fierce, beneath the floor-to-ceiling windows, only their gazing eyes remained.
The mechanical tray made a faint noise, the hose slithered like a serpent.
Su Ming’an sat in the wheelchair, comfortably and naturally, a reflection unchanged for a century.
The white long hair floated, the God of Data silently advanced, nearly like a stream of flowing wind, a splash of colorless wandering soul.
"What do you want?"
Faced with Dawn’s unperturbed voice, Su Ming’an sat up slightly, lowered his posture, his hands finger-to-finger, narrowing their gaze.
At such close range, he could almost count Dawn’s eyelashes:
"First Level God."
"God of Intelligent Machinery, Skatalia, a being that nearly became a First-level God in history, you know how to walk that path."
...
Yamada Machiichi was numb.
He felt as if he were in an airless bubble.
Every time Su Ming’an spoke, the bubble tightened, making him feel suffocated.
First-level God... Su Ming’an was no longer satisfied with the level of a Second-level God. But did Su Ming’an know what the cost of ascending could be?
Kritchens, Isabelle, they didn’t look like normal people at all.
Dawn gazed at Su Ming’an: "Do you know why, as a system, I could so smoothly reach the level of a First-level God?"
"I know," Su Ming’an calmly said, "because you lack ’humanity’."
Divinity, Humanity.
After Su Rin became the Cloud City God, conflicts between the two became apparent.
The biggest difference between Xiao Love and Aria also lay in humanity and divinity.
In the Tenth World, Su Ming’an almost became a god, and the clearest feeling was the loss of his humanity. He nearly forgot who the teammates entwined by his tentacles were and almost severed his causal line with the world. It was only due to Li Mingyue’s sacrifice that he survived the crisis.
A life without humanity naturally approaches divine barriers more easily.
"...Isn’t humanity something you consider precious?" Dawn asked.
"Some things are more precious," Su Ming’an replied calmly.
"Without humanity, with just strength, how will you control your direction?" Dawn asked.
"I will hand the reins to trustworthy people, and friendly High Dimensions can assist me," Su Ming’an pointed to his heart, then glanced at Yamada Machiichi and Shadow, "Also, I think this is a gradual process. Previously, I was weak, and once the essence of life ascended, the loss of humanity was rapid. But now, with my strength reaching the level of 9000 points and the blessing of several authorities, the parts belonging to me... won’t disappear too quickly."
"...And as long as I endure this last stretch of time."
"It will be enough."
Su Ming’an sat in the wheelchair, calmly discussing the value of his remaining life as if talking about a pound of bread or vegetables.
The room became very quiet.
Yamada Machiichi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt he shouldn’t interrupt Su Ming’an’s decision.
Because he was very weak.
Because he couldn’t come up with a better plan.
Because he was a fool, he hated himself for not being able to utter a single word to propose a better direction at this time.
"But," Yamada Machiichi still glanced at Su Ming’an’s back, murmuring:
"Didn’t you say you wanted to become a horror game streamer in the future..."
But gods wouldn’t play horror games anymore.
Gods also wouldn’t participate in a Duck Goose Kill.
His voice was too soft.
The young man in the wheelchair did not turn back.
Even if he had shouted loudly, the young man in the wheelchair would not have turned back.
Dawn stared at Su Ming’an, and for a moment, He seemed to hear him saying, "self-deprecating as a god."
After a long while, He revealed a perfect smile:
"Alright."
"I will do my best to help you, to push you to the boundary of a First-level God. Of course, touching the boundary relies more on your own understanding."
"The biggest characteristic of a First-level God is that They have the same lifespan as the heavens and earth, and are one with the world. They can empathize with the world’s joys and sorrows and breathe in unison with plants and trees."
"So... Lin Guang."
Lin Guang, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, trembled slightly, staring at Su Ming’an with a slightly sharp gaze and tightly pursed lips.
"This hose connects to the emotions of the entire Ruined World; connect, and touch that layer of boundary," Dawn told Su Ming’an.
"By the way," He suddenly said, "You should have a divinity of Shitposter Demon in your hand, your compatibility is too low, so do not use it. Otherwise, even if you persist to the end, the destruction of your soul is almost inevitable."
Su Ming’an nodded: "Unless absolutely necessary, I won’t use it."
He did not promise he would definitely not use it.
At this moment, he heard Shadow’s somewhat resentful voice:
"...Ah, my real self, you’re not planning to make me bear the hose, to be a guinea pig, while you revert to the real self, are you?"
Shadow had been listening for a while, with a slightly resentful tone, but without blame.
Su Ming’an was silent for half a second, then said:
"Not this time, I need to confirm."
He stood up from the wheelchair and walked forward.
"Alright, alright, I’ve actually gotten used to being a guinea pig..." Shadow’s voice took on a hint of humor again.
In the distance, the neon lights scattered their colorful glow, reflecting Su Ming’an’s slender figure on the glass, along with the uneven shadows of those behind him.
He stared at the glass, seeming dazed for a few seconds.
Suddenly, he lifted his collar, lowered his head, and in a low voice, spoke of something he had thought about for a long time:
"Shadow, sorry, before everything ends, I will set you and Ming free. With the Soul Ferry cooperating with biochemical technology, perhaps I can extract you from me."
"After that... you will no longer be my cloning or skills, but independent people."
"Perhaps in the end, I will leave and not return, but I won’t drag you to leave together. And you, you can try to embrace the future of the New Epoch, replace me to see that world, even if you want to reclaim the name ’Su Ming’an’, I don’t mind."
"That world has many interesting detective literatures, script works, and horror games, I’ve arranged them with Su Mianbao, those genres, you... will like them."
...Because I like them too.
He did not immediately hear Shadow’s response.
When he approached the red hose, Shadow’s voice came to his ear, no longer sounding flippant, even with some pretentious, hollow, tremulous laughter:
"Why are you even considering your cloning..."
"Ah, how foolish, you should think more about yourself..."
...
