Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1548 - 32: Come Home, Come Home, Come Home!
Hey, you.
——Don’t stay here.
——Don’t repeat such loops.
If there’s another chance, no matter if all the steps repeat the last tragedy,
at the final moment of devouring Noel,
at the final moment of seeing Su Mianbao,
you must still...
"Plop."
...
Su Ming’an feels as if he’s immersed in an ink-blue lake, surrounded by a silent starfield.
Peeling back layers of leaves, the moment he sees Su Mianbao, a strong sense of impact causes his vision to become bizarrely colorful, as if numerous déjà vu images flash by.
"Father God." Su Mianbao cradles his face.
"..." Su Ming’an’s breathing becomes heavy for a moment, he is sure he hasn’t experienced such a thing, yet why does it feel so familiar?
——Déjà vu, also known as the "hippocampal effect," refers to a feeling of familiarity with things or scenes never experienced before at some point somewhere.
An auditory illusion follows, as if a gentle male voice softly speaks by his ear:
"Determining the world line... Planning the world finale..."
"Planning complete, game start."
"Watcher of the Dawn, Player BE3030, welcome back."
——Welcome back?
From where has he returned here?
Is his mental state too poor, causing auditory illusions?
Before he can say anything, Su Mianbao suddenly whispers to him:
"Father God, the reason why I became the World Tree, there’s no time to explain now. To prevent you from being taken by Boss Rabbit according to the rules, you must engage me in a boss battle."
"But once the boss battle ends, the eleventh instance loses the last boss, ending in a settlement, and you’ll still be taken by Boss Rabbit. To prevent this situation, I have a plan."
"You should’ve noticed, Deity Ming’an is nowhere to be seen."
Su Ming’an looks around, indeed not seeing Deity Ming’an’s figure. Isn’t that guy supposed to leisurely sit under the tree drinking tea and soaking sugar cubes?
"... He’s dead." Su Mianbao bites her teeth.
Su Ming’an’s eyes widen.
He feels something hard placed in his palm, upon a slight perception, they are a few sugar cubes.
"A few days ago, Noel Agnini stormed the tree and killed Deity Ming’an," Su Mianbao says.
"Wait... Noel is that strong?" Su Ming’an asks.
"After all, Deity Ming’an in this line only possessed abilities related to the ’Shitposter Demon’ divinity, never mastering the ’Observation’ authority, and hadn’t reached the First Level God tier. Noel went all out and killed Deity Ming’an," Su Mianbao says.
Su Ming’an hears something amiss: "This line?"
"Hey hey, aren’t we starting? If the [rules] judge you’re not engaging in a boss battle, just chatting, they’ll take away the dear Number One Player!" Boss Rabbit seems restless, floating in the air, sometimes stretching into a noodle shape, sometimes into a cotton candy shape.
Su Mianbao’s expression tightens, she quickly speeds up her speech: "But in the last moment, Deity Ming’an purposely lunged at me. I hadn’t regained clear awareness at that time, only knowing how to eat, when he lunged, I ate him..."
"After devouring him, I gained his memories, this should’ve been anticipated by him, not leaving them to Noel Agnini."
"You should immediately kill me, use the authority ’devour’ on me. By doing so, you’ll win this boss battle and learn Deity Ming’an’s memories."
"As for the sugar cubes I just gave you, they were left by Deity Ming’an for you, they should help you break the stalemate, prevent you from being taken by Boss Rabbit!"
She cradles Su Ming’an’s face, her forehead gently and timidly pressing against his, slowly bowing her head:
"... Do it, Father God."
"Since you cast the World Tree Seed in the year 114... I have waited for this moment, for a very long time."
Su Ming’an’s mind is filled with numerous questions.
Why such strong déjà vu, why is Su Mianbao the World Tree, why is she talking about "this line." However, he feels that once he gains Deity Ming’an’s memories, he will have many answers.
"...I again have the feeling of ’being arranged by myself.’" Su Ming’an places his hand on her back.
Now isn’t the time for sentimentality, and since it must be done...
He gently inhales.
After getting the memories, he will undergo a death rebound, find a way... to change this situation.
His left palm lights up with a scarlet glow, his fingers revealing claw tips.
"Don’t stay here."
For some reason, such an auditory illusion echoes again in Su Ming’an’s ear, a familiar voice reverberating.
It’s said that when one’s mental state is extremely poor, they can see things unseen before, hear sounds unheard before, even perceive the secrets of the universe, mysterious oddities, tales of gods and ghosts.
Previously, Su Ming’an didn’t believe such sayings, but now, he somewhat believes.
"Don’t repeat such a cycle."
The "Devour" Authority pattern on the collarbone lit up, and a small tongue shone brilliantly.
Su Mianbao slowly closed her eyes, revealing a smile of regret and satisfaction.
"If there was another chance, even if all the steps repeated the tragedy of the last time."
The Devouring Claw gently touched her nape, half encircling her, like an embrace.
Her hands rested on Su Ming’an’s back, with only her fingertips touching, both palms completely suspended, not daring to touch too close.
"At the last moment of devouring Noel."
When the Devouring Claw was activated, Su Ming’an looked back at where Noel had died. Earlier, he had devoured Noel in the same way, yet for some reason, he had a dangerous premonition, as if his actions were wrong.
"At the last moment when I saw Su Mianbao."
Her chin rested on his shoulder, but without pressure, the force was extremely light, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Afterward, that slender and leaf-draped girl gradually transformed into a crimson light, like deep red fireflies fluttering in the sky, merging into Su Ming’an’s claws, being devoured by him.
"I must also..." Su Ming’an couldn’t help but mutter, closing his eyes.
The memories of Deity An flooded his mind.
——To change that tragedy.
...
It was a story of setting sail.
Deity An refused Su Liujin’s request from the sea, choosing to stay by the shore.
He chose a relatively conservative action, deciding not to persistently collect the image of the Supreme Lord, not to delve into the first Disciple Game, but to "transform into a tree," making up for the last part of the energy void, starting the Ark.
He held a meeting, collected stories, and with his companions built the "Welcome to the World Game" to stall the footsteps of the High Dimensions chasing him.
He cooperated with the Cloud City God, using the "Soul Yellow Gem" as a way to read memories, using "Manzusha and Clock" as a hint, using "Eternal Dawn" to force himself into death, using the "Six-hour interval" rule to artificially set a "Desperate Point," exchanging time for space, successfully breaking the situation, publicly revealing the death rebound.
He swallowed the divinity of the Shitposter Demon, using himself as bait, forcefully stalling for time, waiting for the Ark to set sail.
Finally, he arrived dressed in black under the World Tree, received help from Salina, Dan Shuang, Archilev, and others, destroyed the World Tree refusing to open the [World Barrier], killed Deity An, and the "small world" successfully set sail.
He then completely turned into words, transformed into a tree, flowing to the "small world."
At this point, since he had lost his independent human form and no longer counted as life, the bet with the World Game could not take effect, and Boss Rabbit could not take him. Noel also could not kill him.
Before leaving, he removed the "World Tree Seed" belonging to Luowasha from his chest and threw it into the now empty Luowasha. After all, he had become a new tree with a seed of his own; the seed given to him by Yijulai’er belonging to Luowasha should be returned to Luowasha.
In the small world, Lü Shu stood before a towering tree that shielded the sky.
The tree was beautiful, crystal-clear, lush with branches and leaves, like thousands of radiant crystals hanging down.
"...Su Ming’an, we’re setting off." Lü Shu looked up, gazing at the tree.
"We’ve been gone for half a year now, and all the new order has been established."
"Everything is well here. Even though so many people came in suddenly, Su Mianbao was unperturbed and arranged everything neatly."
"She said, this is her mission since birth; she’ll arrange it all for you. When the situation no longer needs her, she’ll come to the tree and end her life here."
"The position of World Master is temporarily vacant, but no one is willing to take it, including Su Rin."
"He said, ’Su Ming’an guy isn’t dead; he’s just turned into a tree. He’ll come back one day. Why do I have to take the seat?’"
"Yuanyuan didn’t come along. She said, ’Since Su Ming’an left with the small world, someone has to stay in the World Game and watch from afar,’ so she stayed in the World Game."
"Luna has passed away; she lived too long. But I know, before she passed away, you kept watching her, didn’t you? You’re the World Tree; you must have seen her... She said before she passed away, she was not alone and had no regrets."
"Yamada Machiichi, Lu, Isabella, Eni... they’ve all become ’Tower Masters’... Ah, it’s a setup similar to the Nine Thrones of the Ruined World, but there are now fifteen seats. Below them are over a hundred ’Chairmen,’ composed of outstanding players and Zhai Xing’s original class. Anyway, the order has just been restored, everyone is exploring, and there will definitely be many wrong places; we can only gradually blend in... luckily, fortunately, the several folks currently in power are all pure, thanks to your vision."
"As for Noel, after you turned into a tree, he quietly left, probably realizing he couldn’t stop us. He must have gone to the universe as he wished; we haven’t seen him again. Until today, we still don’t know"
"Ah, am I talking too much? You’re the World Consciousness; you must be able to see these things without me describing them one by one."
"But if I don’t talk to you like this..."
Lü Shu sat under the tree and slowly laid down.
——It was a slightly undulating hill, covered with pure white wild daisies.
He lay on the slope, lightly closing his eyes in the afternoon nap:
"If I don’t talk to you like this, I’ll really think you’re gone forever..."
Under the afternoon sun, a gray little dog ran up from the slope below, panting and barking.
"You stupid dog, I didn’t even touch other dogs today, why are you still barking?" A black-haired girl with a bow in her hair walked over with her hands on her hips, looking displeased, pointing at the gray dog.
"Woof woof, woof woof!" the gray dog barked incessantly.
"Little Grey, don’t disturb Su Ming’an," Lü Shu said while lying down.
"Hmm..." Little Grey closed its mouth, lay down beside Lü Shu, and wagged its tail.
Lin Yin plopped down, looking up: "Will he ever wake up?"
"I don’t know."
"Can he hear us talking?"
"I don’t know."
"Hey—Su Ming’an!" Lin Yin stood up, her hands forming a trumpet in front of her mouth, shouting loudly:
"You must wake up—do you understand!"
"We refuse to become any kind of intervenor, and you will never decay over the long stretch of time!"
"We—we—believe in you!"
The voice spread far and wide, like the loud playing of bagpipes.
She looked up, her eyes moist and red.
Once more, create a miracle for us, okay... Aren’t you always good at creating miracles? Wake up, wake up, I beg of you.
Su Ming’an.
We will wait for you... until our hair turns gray... until we grow old.
...
Abandoned Luowasha.
A lifeless planet, floating in the vast universe.
The Snow of the End has long ceased, this place quiet as a dead star, only thick snow and icy winds, as if returning to the Ice Age.
Uncertain when, uncertain how long has passed, the seed that the Deity left before departing began to slowly grow, sprout, and produce new leaves.
It pierced through the heavy snow, grew against the wind, becoming the only life on this dead star.
"Shuffle." Suddenly, the sound of footsteps was heard.
A young boy with a small crown and a white fur cape walked on the snow, his golden eyes calmly observing this sprouting seed.
He stared at the seed for a long time, then gently sat down.
On this desolate dead star, the boy stayed.
He remained here for years unimaginable to mortals, until bacteria appeared underwater, until reptiles appeared on land, until birds reappeared in the sky, until—the seed grew into a tree.
He often left and returned, carefully tending to this tree. Each time he returned with an abundance of energy, allowing the tree to grow considerably taller, accelerating the development speed of this planet.
Until the tree finally developed self-awareness.
"Who are you?" a tender voice asked.
"I am..." the boy paused for a moment, then smiled: "Just call me the Jellyfish Emperor, I am the last inhabitant on this planet."
"Jellyfish Emperor, you take care of me, you, good," the tree said, "you are my, good friend."
"Good friend..." Su Liujin nodded: "Hmm, good friend."
Gradually, the tree grew taller and gradually formed its own human shape.
Su Liujin always accompanied the tree, and this dead star was rejuvenating with life. He often came to the tree, bringing dinosaur scales, beautiful gemstones, and corals from the sea, all gifted to the tree.
Over time, Su Liujin’s power grew stronger, he began to leave the planet, even taking the tree’s consciousness with him, leaving only the tree’s shell behind.
During the long years, they traveled the universe together, embarking on many interesting stories and journeys. With each strengthening, Su Liujin would split his gains equally, half for himself and half for the tree.
Su Liujin loved sweets, and they often used the tree’s leaves to make tea, adding sugar, sitting together to drink the sweet tea.
"You haven’t given me a name yet," the tree said.
"You have your own name; I just haven’t told you," Su Liujin said.
"Why?"
"You... are from the heart of an old acquaintance, you’re equivalent to his genes, inheriting many things from him. Once I tell you your name, you’ll remember everything before he left you," Su Liujin said.
"Isn’t remembering good?" the tree asked.
"Of course it is, but you’re still growing, it’s not the time yet," Su Liujin smiled: "How about this, I can live for about a thousand more years, after a thousand years, I’ll tell you everything that happened."
"Okay."
They visited many planets, many beautiful places, many spectacular sights.
On the day Su Liujin died, they returned to the now vibrant Luowasha, and the tree learned its name.
——"Su Ming’an."
It remembered that before becoming a World Tree, it left part of its consciousness in the World Tree Seed, placing it on Luowasha.
Perhaps to give the dead star renewed hope, perhaps to preserve a part of itself.
It stood in a white robe under the World Tree, turned back, and looked at Su Liujin: "I remember now."
"Hmm." Su Liujin nodded unsurprised: "I found you, gave you many resources, you can live longer than me. You’ve become the new ’world’ itself, while I am just an ordinary person."
"Why did you do this?" the Deity asked.
"I have only one request," Su Liujin said: "...when the universe’s Pangala Return is about to resume again, when your lifespan expires."
Those golden eyes were silent and quiet:
"According to the method I taught you, during the universe’s Pangala Return, retain your memory and abilities..."
"Preserve a piece of your genome, leave it here."
"This way, after the next universe restart, ’you’ will appear again under the World Tree, in your true form."
"You’ll meet the next ’you’, remember, you must stop him from doing harm to himself, let him only value himself."
"Why do this?" the Deity asked.
"Because..." Su Liujin said, "Once he starts sacrificing for others, he will live for a long, long time. In the end, he either becomes the World Tree, or the High Dimensions, or the Organizers; only in a few scenarios will he die immediately."
"You don’t want ’me’ to live long?" Deity Ming’an said.
Su Liujin shook his head:
"It’s about not living too long."
"Every time he lives too long, the lifespan the soul experiences extends greatly, and as the occurrences increase, more and more adverse effects will inevitably remain."
"These remnant effects from each time must be minimized so that you can..."
He paused:
"...so that you can lead everyone into that golden forest, the narrowest yet the freest path."
"I, too, can achieve my ideal and make Eden’s ending better."
"After all, this time you chose to hold back on the shore, didn’t grasp my hand, didn’t complete the image of the Supreme Lord, and many of Eden’s issues remain unresolved... I’m quite regretful."
Deity Ming’an remained silent, realizing that if he wants the most perfect ending, he must guide the next iteration of himself.
After all, this time, he has transformed into the World Tree, which counts as a decent ending, though it seems he hasn’t broken some sort of invisible cycle.
What does breaking the cycle look like?
What does a truly perfect, non-cyclic ending look like?
He yearns to witness that scene.
He lifts his head; his homeland is no longer visible, and his small world has long ventured elsewhere. Are his comrades well? Has the other part of himself, transformed into the World Tree of the small world, already been cut down by someone with a decisive stroke?
Will they weep? Will they build a tombstone for him?
"I can no longer return home..." Deity Ming’an murmured, "Jellyfish Emperor, was it also for that best ending that you divided yourself into so many pieces?"
Su Liujin merely showed a weary smile:
"...We have all traveled for far too long."
He gently closed his eyes, lying among the wildflowers beneath the tree.
As if of, a dusky blue star sea envelops their silhouettes.
Rustle—rush—
All noisy sounds disappeared.
"Although no one remembers, although nothing is inscribed."
"I will remember... In a territory submerged by the tidal waves of time, you and I became very long-term friends."
"Goodnight, until we meet at the end of the universe... Jellyfish Emperor."
"Next time, I hope I’ll choose to dive forward with you in the sea."
...
—Return, return, return.
...
Under the World Tree, Deity Ming’an was reading a book.
A book titled "Global Crossing: From a Secluded Prince to an Infinite World Tree Evolution."
He really enjoyed the plot of this book, it resonated greatly with him, giving him an inexplicable sense of connection, as if he had written it himself.
He had forgotten many things, didn’t know where he came from, and when he opened his eyes, he was just sitting under the tree.
He only remembered a vague phrase, not knowing who spoke it to him.
"—Remember, you need to stop him from harming himself and make him value only himself."
He sipped red tea, stirred the sugar cubes, silently waiting for the arrival of "someone."
He had a premonition that when he met that person, as the resonance grew stronger, his memory would gradually recover, recalling who he really is and why he appeared here.
Until, that person came.
"Tap."
Footsteps drew nearer and nearer.
Under the beautiful crystal canopy, amidst silent blood flows, that person walked towards him.
That person, with each step, panted heavily, dragging a long, bloody trail beneath his feet.
Their eyes met, both in golden hue. One burned like the melting warm sun, the other cold like coagulating magma.
He was battered and wounded, in severe pain, carrying his comrades’ relics, stepping forward with each drop of blood.
He truly was a person who didn’t cherish himself.
—The protagonist of the story, "This time" the one and only, Su Ming’an.
...
Beneath daylight.
—He turned around.
...
