Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1556: Final - · Crossing the Sea Arc [34] · "The Organizers of the War God Dragon King Aren’t Even Fit to Carry His Shoes
Inside the World Game.
The Thirteenth Throne Su Ming’an appeared in his own resting room.
He floated in a shapeless, colorful fluid. Before him was only a small square door with a clown mask floating.
"The resting room can be as large as a city or as small as a room. Its furnishings change according to your will. Now, the World Game has to settle accounts for Zhai Xing; we have to get busy. Your upgrade to the Throne will take some time," Kasadia said, holding the door frame with both hands, the mask eliciting joy: "I’m looking forward to the day you kick that rabbit down~ BYEBYE~~~"
"Welcome aboard, Su Ming’an." Starfire stood at the door: "I didn’t expect you’d become my colleague. With your ability, you’ll surely surpass us soon. I heard you’re the Number One Player with full scores..."
Starfire’s words weren’t finished before Kasadia pulled him away: "Stop messing around, we have real tasks to do..."
In the room, Su Ming’an surveyed his surroundings. With a thought, the ceiling turned into a blue sky, the ground beneath his feet became concrete, and a towering residential building rose before him. He spread his hands, and small birds landed in his palms; he raised his head, and ginkgo leaves fell onto his forehead.
Inside the World Game is like a colorful bubble, without the concept of space. Pushing open any door can lead to anywhere. There are no roads, no corridors, no beginning, and no end.
"Su Ming’an, I thought you would choose..." Try again. The Cloud City God stood with arms crossed under a ginkgo tree.
Su Ming’an curled his lips without explaining.
"Su Ming’an, we are now..." Lü Shu looked over.
"I want to rest a bit," Su Ming’an said.
"Okay, I’ll go to another space. Rest well," Lü Shu nodded. He is currently a temporary guest in the World Game, with his own Little Space. He reached out his hand to touch the edge of the bubble, closed his eyes in silent prayer, and his figure disappeared in the next moment.
"The Organizers are settling accounts, but they can’t do much," the Cloud City God said: "Vacationing here isn’t bad. You can replicate anything in your Little Space, including movies, novels, and anime from Zhai Xing... Like in the past with Casual Players. But you surely won’t adapt to it. For more permissions and functions, you’ll have to wait until you’re officially appointed to the Thirteenth Throne. If you want to leave the realm of the World Game, you’ll likely wait until the next civilization is chosen and progressed into its later stages. Only then, like other Organizers, you could infiltrate an instance."
Upon saying this, the Cloud City God also turned to leave.
Su Ming’an stood up, touched the edge of the colored bubble, and closed his eyes: "...the lake where Xiao Na resides."
In the next moment, bubbles surged around him, like countless burning clouds tearing and colliding, the colorful liquid resembling spilled paint. When all the radiant colors faded, what appeared was a tranquil lake.
The lake lay like jade under the heavens, with a black-and-white piano and a white door standing. A lamb stood before the door, flanked by golden silk altars.
A stream of white mist flowed, molding into a woman with long maroon hair. Today she wore distinctly different attire, a black and purple court gown.
"Welcome, future ’Brain’ Master, to this place. I believe in the future, you will surely be a cosmic overlord, and all Organizers will only be able to shine your shoes beneath you," Xiao Na chuckled softly: "...Although I wish to say so, I see your ambitions do not lie here. What are you plotting by allowing events to develop this way?"
"Then, would you also shine my shoes?"
"If you wish to stay here... that is." Xiao Na shrugged: "If you choose to commit suicide, I can’t stop you."
"I have a question. Now that the World Game is over, can I still use my skills?" Su Ming’an asked.
"Of course, the abilities you acquired as a Player are considered your own. Even if you leave the World Game, those abilities will follow you," Xiao Na smiled.
"Hmm... If I’m in a soul state without a body, can I still use those abilities?" Su Ming’an inquired.
"Of course. The body can be replaced countless times, but the soul is singular, naturally, abilities follow the soul," Xiao Na replied.
"Is it safe here?" Su Ming’an looked around, hearing only the silent flow of the lake.
"It’s not too safe here, after all, so many uninvited guests have barged in before: blue-haired, red-haired, or gold-haired..." Xiao Na counted on her fingers, then glanced at the white door: "But, that place is absolutely safe."
"I remember you emerged from that door initially," Su Ming’an walked toward it: "Is that the World Game’s control center?"
"Indeed, that’s where even the Organizers can’t enter."
"Can I enter?"
"You don’t even count as an Organizer now." Xiao Na laughed. The implication was, if the Organizers couldn’t enter, how could someone not even an Organizer do so?
"Can I?" Su Ming’an wasn’t swayed and asked again.
The lake water flowed, Xiao Na’s eyes flickered.
A moment later, her fingers touched her lips:
"You... indeed can."
After all, he’s the ’Number One Player,’ who best fits the World Game’s requirements, the future ’Brain,’ unlike those forcibly captured. Xiao Na’s address wasn’t "you," but "you" (formally), indicating his significance.
If he stays here diligently, he might indeed become a cosmic overlord... the War God Dragon King returns.
"Let me seek refuge in your treasure," Su Ming’an walked toward the white door. He didn’t explicitly state what he needed to "seek refuge" from.
Xiao Na was a bit puzzled but still gracefully moved aside, slightly lifting her skirt: "Please."
The white-haired youth stepped over the lake, water flowing, the lamb tilting its head at him as he touched the door.
"—You look quite different today." Xiao Na’s gentle voice echoed behind him.
Su Ming’an turned his head to the woman in the black court gown.
"As if a clay Bodhisattva has fallen to the ground, the outer layer shattered, revealing the dazzling gold inside." Xiao Na released her skirt: "Is it because most humans have survived safely, lifting the burden off your shoulders, thus finally breaking through that outer shell?"
"Spare me the flattery." Su Ming’an pushed the door open.
Before entering, he said:
"If I don’t return, please send Lü Shu and Su Rin away. I’m counting on you."
What he desires...
is far more than "most humans safely survived."
If he accepted such an outcome, why choose to advance in the first place? Since choosing greed, be greedy to the end. Since choosing to gamble, bet himself entirely.
Otherwise, how will survival emerge from despair, how to... strive for that gleam of daylight?
Take a gamble with me, Noel Agnini.
See if this time, you can still have it your way.
...
Su Ming’an returned to his Little Space.
He sat under the ginkgo tree, closed his eyes, and slowly opened them:
"Noel Agnini."
He called out to the air.
In the next moment, the golden-haired teenager appeared before him, wearing a High Hat and leaning on a Rose Cane, just like always.
"Su Ming’an, good evening~" The boy still greeted as before, as if nothing had ever happened between them.
This is the concretization of Noel’s soul within Su Ming’an’s soul.
"I give you my body," Su Ming’an said a shocking statement.
Even Noel was stunned; he was prepared for a long battle with Su Ming’an, not expecting such an answer.
...No.
"The ’former’ Su Ming’an never said such things. He would fight till the last moment, until Noel ceased to exist. What’s the change, a subtle thing altered? From where did destiny’s path shift?"
Noel raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Alright." He was, of course, eager to accept.
Su Ming’an closed his eyes.
"Wait!" Noel frowned: "You’re just giving it to me? No conditions? No last words?"
"You should know the conditions, help me watch over Zhai Xing." Su Ming’an said.
"No problem. Even if you don’t give it to me, I would’ve proposed that." Noel’s hands tensed with veins showing, but his face remained easy: "Then, words you’d leave for me?"
"I have nothing more to say to you," Su Ming’an replied.
Noel’s eyes flickered.
...Something is very wrong.
Perhaps this time, a slight butterfly effect caused Su Ming’an to be entirely disheartened by this point?
This gave Noel a feeling of being calculated like a boss by Su Ming’an, yet this sensation didn’t alarm him; instead, it brought back a long-lost excitement.
Yet, the next moment, Su Ming’an closed his eyes, leaning against the tree, gradually drooped his head.
Within his soul, golden red rapidly expanded, occupying the entire space.
Once again, when he opened his eyes, those golden pupils faintly revealed dark blue.
He stretched his hands, gazed at his palms, touched his ears, and slowly looked skyward.
"Really...?"
Silence followed, then he extended his right hand, muttering something silently.
A small golden-red sphere appeared in his palm.
He closed his eyes and focused, and then his figure transformed into a stream of light, entering the small sphere.
...
Inside the sphere.
The sky was painted in shades of blue and pink, the ground full of spring. A small building was covered in vine flowers.
A young boy with grapevine leaves adorned on his head sat on a swing, surrounded by kingfishers, butterflies, and little foxes. He swung on the swing, gazing at the distant sky.
Suddenly, a young man with white hair appeared above the flower bed.
The boy on the swing immediately stood up and drew out a scythe: "...Su Ming’an?"
"Yuritilola, it’s me," Noel said.
"Did you succeed?"
"No, he gave it to me..." Noel placed his hand near his lips, appearing thoughtful: "What about Hui Bai? Did he come in?"
This was Noel’s "small world," which was far less substantial compared to Su Ming’an’s. There were only three intelligent beings here, Noel, Yuritilola, and Hui Bai, all in soul form.
As for why Hui Bai was here...
"Tell Hui Bai to wait a bit longer. I’ll find what he wants," Noel said. "Before then, I need him to put on a performance."
"What kind of performance?"
"Although Su Ming’an gave me his body peacefully, his consciousness has not dissipated and is still alive." Noel thought for a moment: "I need to completely separate his consciousness, but I can’t let it interfere with me, so..."
"Why not just lock his consciousness away? Put it in a small dark room with nothing inside," Yuritilola suggested.
"No need." Noel said: "In my small world, time flows very quickly. A few months here might only be a few dozen minutes outside, so..."
"Let him have a relatively happy life."
...
Su Ming’an opened his eyes.
His mind was hazy, unable to remember many things.
At that moment, a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes pushed open the door, his slightly longer sideburns neatly laid against his ears, tied in a low ponytail, dressed in a pale moon-white robe, with a belt made of frosted gemstones.
"You’re awake?" the blonde youth said gently.
"You are..." Su Ming’an frowned.
"Did you forget? The world game is over, most humans were saved by you and embarked onto your small world to leave," Hui Bai said. "During the bet settlement, you were supposed to become one of the organizers, but the spacetime rift went out of control, and you accidentally arrived here— a peaceful world."
Su Ming’an gazed at Hui Bai.
Hui Bai smiled: "I am your...former friend, Hui Bai. I stumbled here with you, but fortunately, the material conditions in this world are pretty decent. Oh, I heard you used to enjoy detective novels; I have many of them in my collection. Since we can’t return for the time being, let’s enjoy the good life here first."
Being watched by Su Ming’an made him feel uneasy, but after a moment, Su Ming’an nodded: "Alright."
Hui Bai gave him a tour of this world, the scenery of the city was beautiful, adorned with sparkling glazed tiles that refracted colorful lights under the sun, resembling fairy-tale castles.
"This architectural style reminds me of someone," Su Ming’an said.
"Who...are you reminded of?" Hui Bai asked.
"I remember most things, but I just can’t recall who that person is," Su Ming’an said.
"If you can’t remember, don’t think about it; it must be someone not worth remembering," Hui Bai said.
Su Ming’an spent a pleasant time here; he was always quite reclusive, leaving only when necessary, and he could spend a lot of time researching various detective works, for here everything was provided.
However, their bodies were somewhat transparent.
"We are in soul form, it must be a characteristic of this world," Hui Bai said.
"Indeed," Su Ming’an replied.
"It feels like a magical world, probably left over from some high dimension, unmanaged, with resources still abundant," Hui Bai said. "Once your strength recovers enough, you’ll be able to leave this place."
"Indeed," Su Ming’an replied.
Hui Bai’s brows moved slightly, and he looked at a certain spot in the air, then whispered softly: "Suspicion is correct, but I cannot say much."
Su Ming’an looked at Hui Bai for a few seconds, then smirked: "Suspicion of what? Your words have no flaws, and I really can’t remember many things. Since it’s truly hard to leave here, isn’t it nice to enjoy a peaceful life? I haven’t rested like this in a long time."
"Alright..." Hui Bai remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "Mm, there’s nothing to worry about."
Yet, Hui Bai found that Su Ming’an was calculating something on scrap paper.
"Is this... a number?" Hui Bai glanced at the discarded scrap paper: "Distance? Time? Or some quantity? What are you calculating?"
"A numerical puzzle from a detective script," Su Ming’an waved the detective novel in his hand: "By the way." He turned his head: "I saw earlier, like a figure swinging in the garden, is that... Seventh Thrones Yuritilola?"
"Yes, seems like He stumbled here with us. But, there’s no conflict between Him and us, so there’s no intention to attack," Hui Bai said.
"Mm." Su Ming’an nodded: "Are there only three of us in this world?"
"Yes." Hui Bai nodded.
Hui Bai noticed that Su Ming’an’s sleep duration was getting longer, even reaching over ten hours a day, as if he couldn’t get enough rest.
Upon questioning, Su Ming’an said: "I might have... been too exhausted before."
"By the way." Su Ming’an looked at him: "Have you recalled your memories? About Zhai Xing."
"No." Hui Bai shook his head: "I did hear, I used to be from Zhai Xing, but I really can’t recall that memory, maybe there’s only one chance in this lifetime."
"No need now?"
"I can’t leave here now, I’m afraid if I remember the past, I’ll miss home more."
"Really? Do you find it easier to accept if you’ve forgotten?"
Facing Su Ming’an’s gaze, Hui Bai smiled: "That’s the difference between us; you pursue reality with determination, even if it’s bloodstained behind while I long for bright places, even if some shadowy parts won’t be noticed, I accept them."
In this place, Su Ming’an interacted with Yuritilola.
He discovered that this once-annoying adversary actually had a temperament like a typical child. He questioned Him about the reason for becoming a part of the high dimensions, and Yuritilola told him that He once lived a very long time in an infinitely looping campus, until the end of time, He finally realized the concept of "eternal," and thus became one of the organizers after being chosen by the world game.
Until one day, Su Ming’an awoke from a sixteen-hour sleep and went to the garden, holding the sheet of numbers in his hand.
He raised his head, looked up at the beautiful glazed roof, and at the pink-blue sky.
"Boom—!" Without warning, he launched a spatial vibration at the flower bed, almost exhausting his mana points, as roses danced in the sky.
A flash of blue light passed between his fingers.
In an instant, he fell weak, as if he had been drained of all his blood.
...
[Aurora Ring (Purple Grade): This is the brightest future and the gentlest curse.]
[Luck + Third Level (Maximum cannot exceed A)]
[Spirit +5]
[Special Skill (Morning Glow): Every five percent of your health can temporarily transform into one point of spirit; health cannot fall below five percent. The conversion ratio changes with level growth.]
...
He transformed ninety-five percent of his health into spirit, leaving only a sliver of health remaining.
Then, in his near-death state, he activated a skill—
...
[(Core Skill 2) Pioneer Immortality: When you are in a near-death state, you can freely choose whether to enter "feigned death" state. During "feigned death," your body will stay in a breathless and heartbeat-less state of death and can resist three fatal injuries. If it exceeds three times, it results in real death. (Cooldown Time: 72 hours)]
[Note: You can bind a player as your "feigned death notifier." When you enter "feigned death," the other party will receive the message immediately: [I am Su Ming’an, I am dead! (The message can be changed, no more than 10 characters)]
...
At this time, the message had already been pre-set by him—
...
[Lü Shu, let Su Rin pierce me!]
...
Outside, in the world game.
Lü Shu returned to his room for a nap; he had been exhausted over the past six months. Now that everything was over, he could finally relax his tense heart.
In his sleep, a system alert suddenly exploded by his ear:
"Lü Shu, have Su Rin severely wound me!"
Lü Shu immediately awoke, with no hesitation, he rolled over and leaped up, rushing to the small space where the Cloud City God was resting, shouting, "Cloud City God, Su Ming’an wants you to severely wound him!"
— As a Second-level God, the Cloud City God did not hesitate either, setting off immediately, using his usual teleportation skill to arrive at "Su Ming’an’s" side.
At this time, Noel was studying the divine power of Su Ming’an’s body. Although Su Ming’an’s consciousness had spent dozens of days in Noel’s small world, only a few minutes had passed in the outside world.
The moment he saw the Cloud City God, Noel showed a momentary astonishment, followed by a smile.
"Swish!"
The Cloud City God decisively pierced through Noel’s body, his Light Blade severing the floating white hair. Though Noel resisted, he was not yet familiar with this body.
Within the small world.
Amidst the shattered rose petals flying all over the sky, Su Ming’an opened his eyes.
...
[Attention: "Feigned Death" status will continuously consume Mana Points, and when Mana Points are exhausted, the "Feigned Death" status will immediately end, causing you to awaken and restore to 1 Health Point, maintaining this for 1 hour.]
...
He had almost exhausted his Mana Points in advance, so he quickly emerged from the feigned death state. As long as he controlled the Mana Points, he could control his feigned death time.
At the same time, he felt the part of his consciousness that was blocked began to clear away the fog. He recalled the memories that Noel had blocked—everything about Noel Agnini.
Noel had blocked all his memories about him so he could peacefully spend his life in the small world.
The next moment, a blonde boy appeared before him:
"You always remembered?"
"Remembered what?" Su Ming’an shrugged.
"Remembered my existence, remembered the body that I seized from you, remembered that it was me who stuffed you into this small world?" Noel said.
"No, I don’t remember. Your blockage was very successful; I really forgot the memories about you. So I was indeed nearly deceived by Hui Bai’s lies; I truly believed that after saving humanity, I accidentally entered this world." Su Ming’an slowly raised his palm: "However, you overlooked one of my skills."
...
[Hand of Redemption (Red Level · Evolvable): "Ya Sa, there is no one standing by my side."]
[Type: Special part hand equipment.]
[Skill (Replication): You can replicate a player’s skill, enjoying 60% of its efficacy. This replication requires the agreement of the one being copied.]
...
This skill had always been overlooked.
Its bug-like nature had always been overlooked by everyone.
Since Su Ming’an received it, he replicated Noel’s "Puppet Threads" skill because it was very useful. Up until Noel’s death, the puppet threads in Su Ming’an’s heart finally broke.
However, it has infinite possibilities.
Does the Cloud City God count as a player? Of course, it does. He is Su Rin, who integrated with the Cloud City God, essentially still Su Rin. So — can the Soul Authority be replicated?
Under the World Tree, when the Cloud City God approached Su Ming’an, entering the skill’s range, Su Ming’an tried to replicate it.
He failed. The authority indeed could not be replicated.
The Cloud City God also said that his power system is quite different from the players. However, even if it is different, he is still a "player" pulled down by the Red Rose. As long as it is a "player," abilities count as a "skill." Like Su Ming’an’s "Devour" authority, which was transformed into his equipment skill "Theselotis Devouring Claw."
Hence, after understanding Su Ming’an’s meaning, the Cloud City God split up his authority, splitting out multiple abilities for Su Ming’an to choose to replicate one of them.
Trying like this succeeded, after all. Su Ming’an couldn’t replicate the entire authority, but he could replicate a certain ability within the authority.
He chose to replicate — the "Dream Realm Technique" from the "Soul" authority, considered to be the origin of "Dream Weaving Technique."
He had pre-woven many dreams for himself, so every night when dreaming, he could recall his memory blocked by Noel.
— And humans, for a period after waking, can remember what dream they had the previous night.
He had been searching for what he needed in the small world until, after several months, he finally found it. So, after waking up this morning, he activated the "Aurora Ring" to force himself into a near-death state, followed by using the "Eternal Dawn" skill to convey a message to Lü Shu.
This skill does not only serve the purpose of feigned death. When Su Ming’an obtained this equipment, he thought, isn’t the truly divine feature of this skill the ability to transmit messages unrestricted by time and space?
Even if Lü Shu is thousands of miles away from me, as long as I trigger this feigned death skill, Lü Shu will immediately receive the message "I am Su Ming’an, I am dead!" And as long as I adjust this message content...
—It’s a divine skill that can transcend space-time.
"I’ve said before, we should lock his consciousness in a small black room." Yuritilola couldn’t help but say.
"No, that won’t work either..." Noel slowly opened his mouth.
As long as Su Ming’an’s consciousness is intact, he will surely be able to use his skills, and once he uses them, he can definitely escape control.
This is Su Ming’an’s open strategy, and Noel indeed cannot counter it. Who else but the "Number One Player" could have such bugged skills?
This is what he deserves on his journey, a reward he has earned by continuously teetering on the edge of life and death in instances. As a "Player", this is the strength he has fought for, stronger than authority, belonging to him alone.
"You risked yourself, deliberately letting your body be mine; what do you seek for your consciousness in my small world?" Noel asked.
"No." Su Ming’an raised a finger, shaking it:
"Should say, what do I seek in your dreams."
"You want to give me a happy lifetime, want me to vacation here, so you put me in a small world."
"It’s indeed good, an act of mercy from an adversary. However, regardless of whether you place me in a small world or throw me into a small black room, you cannot stop me."
"What I seek is your dreams."
"Because you and my soul have already merged into one, when I dream, I’m also using the Dream Realm Technique to touch your dreams."
That’s where his words ended.
He’s not a villain from an anime, obliged to explain everything. Plus, Noel is smart enough without needing further explanation.
—The reason why he didn’t choose Death Rebound but chose to become the Thirteenth Throne is because he knows even rebounding won’t easily change the situation, unless acquiring information critical enough to break the cycle.
Where does the breakthrough information come from? 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
From the greatest enemy—Noel Agnini.
Su Ming’an keeps pondering, how does Noel know about the universe cycle? How does he know his actions across multiple timelines?
There is only one answer—Awakener.
Since Noel only switched sides during the eleventh instance, Su Ming’an deduces that in the first ten instances, before encountering the concept of an "Awakener," Noel indeed had no memory about the universe cycle, and even if he did, it was extremely minimal, too little for him to take any drastic action, firmly standing by Su Ming’an’s side.
Until Noel’s attitude drastically changed in the eleventh instance, indicating that at this point in time, he came into contact with the concept of an "Awakener," subsequently learning about the universe cycle and other timeline matters, leading to a stark contrast in his stance.
Therefore, Noel likely ventured into the dream realm where Awakeners gather, acquiring abundant information there, instead of suddenly having a "flash of clarity" regarding the universe cycle, which would be unreasonable.
Thus, Su Ming’an speculates that as long as he finds out how Noel accessed the Awakeners’ dream realm, he himself can connect to the information regarding Awakeners, and then, trigger Death Rebound, returning to Luowasha, subsequently breaking the cycle!
He decides to let Noel have his body, to lure Noel into completely merging with his soul, subsequently, using the Dream Realm Technique to touch Noel’s dreams, and through Noel’s dreams, find the path to the Awakeners’ dream realm!
However, there are three major difficulties with this plan.
First, how to ensure Su Ming’an completes this series of actions within six hours to prevent getting stuck, unable to return to Luowasha?
Second, how to ensure Su Ming’an’s series of actions are undetected by Noel?
Third, how to ensure the authority of Death Rebound remains effective when Su Ming’an becomes part of High Dimensions?
These three difficulties, from easy to hard, are all hard to solve.
Yet, Su Ming’an conceived a method to deal with them.
The first point, since humans can recall their dreams the morning after, therefore, Su Ming’an pretends to calculate the mysteries in detective novels each morning, while actually calculating how much time has passed outside, ensuring that "becoming part of High Dimensions" is within "current time," and doesn’t exceed six hours.
He indeed cannot fathom the time flow speed in Noel’s small world, but he himself has experienced the development inside, understanding that the more primitive the era, the faster the time flow, like when Su Mianbao and others were initially born, a few hours outside could mean years inside.
Thus, as long as he doesn’t stay in Noel’s small world for more than half a year, not much time will pass outside. For safety’s sake, he comes out quickly nonetheless.
The second point, how to ensure Su Ming’an’s series of actions are undetected by Noel?
The gaze of Awakeners lies everywhere, how will Su Ming’an ensure they cannot see his maneuvers?
"Narrative trick, huh." Noel said softly.
—If merely using "ellipsis" to divide segments, who can discern if the "protagonist" above is still the same "protagonist" below?
...
["Like a mud Bodhisattva dropping to the ground, the exterior soil shattered, revealing the beautiful, brilliant gold inside." Xiao Na loosens the skirt hem: "Is it because most humans already survive in peace, you have no burdens on your shoulders, hence shattered the mud shell?"]
["No need for flattery." Su Ming’an pushed the door open and entered.]
[...]
[Su Ming’an returned to his little space.]
[He sat under the ginkgo tree, closed his eyes, and then slowly opened them:]
["Noel Agnini."]
[He called out to the air.]
[In the next moment, the blond-haired youth appeared before him, wearing a high hat and leaning on a rose cane, just as always.]
...
Inspired by the black and white lines, Su Ming’an contemplated a spatial-time trick.
It seemed like he returned to his little space after pushing open the pure white door, but in fact, he had already performed a death rebound during the skipped scenes.
After pushing open the pure white door, he immediately performed a death rebound. After rebounding, he saw he indeed returned to Luowasha, then he repeated all the steps from the previous cycle, killing Su Mianbao, entering the World Game, going to the lake to meet Xiao Na... finally returning to his little space.
Awakeners observe them through the "Book of the Universe." The principle is similar to Luowasha; just like the World Tree watches them through the "World Book," the Awakeners are just a level higher.
And since it’s a book, it won’t repeat the same development exactly!
This was Su Ming’an’s contingency plan. He believed the "Book of the Universe" wouldn’t record his death rebound, as his death rebound reversed time, and should also override the "Book of the Universe." But just in case, if the "Book of the Universe" could record his death rebound, he had to ensure that the "Book of the Universe" wouldn’t record this event!
That is, repeating the exact same actions in two cycles, since the "Book of the Universe" as a book wouldn’t repeat the same development, it would only be replaced with "..."
Facts proved his preparations were overly abundant, it was purely overthinking, the "Book of the Universe" probably couldn’t record his death rebound, his operations were completely unnoticed.
Then, Su Ming’an began bold operations, using the Soul Yellow Gem’s readings, letting the Cloud City God know this series of operations and cooperate, including using the "Hand of Redemption" to copy skills.
However, the third point alone, Su Ming’an truly couldn’t guarantee, completely unsolvable. He couldn’t ensure that after the World Game ended, the death rebound still belonged to him, thus he said to the Cloud City God, "Let’s gamble together."
Gamble that he still had the death rebound.
If he didn’t gamble this, even if he stood still, what use would it be?
He had a certain confidence that the death rebound still belonged to him, as it was deeply rooted in his soul, most likely a type of cosmic organ, unlikely to fly away just because the World Game ended.
In this gamble, he pushed open the pure white door at Little Na Lake, executed an annihilation, and killed himself.
—Whether it was being able to open his eyes again or to fall into eternal slumber, it counted as gambling with his life.
If he could never return...
Then this life ends, which would be a good conclusion too. At least, he wouldn’t hand over his body to Noel.
His life, compared to the benefits gained from winning the gamble, was insignificant.
The only thing he couldn’t let go of was Lü Shu and the Cloud City God, so before pushing open the pure white door, he said to Xiao Na:
"... If I don’t return, please send away Lü Shu and Su Rin, I entrust this to you."
Of course, he couldn’t ensure Xiao Na would definitely do so, but he indeed had no strength left to send them away, and he felt sorry for them.
Luckily, he won this gamble with his life. He did open his eyes as he wished, seeing the skies over Luowasha.
"This guy is scary!" Yuritilola couldn’t help but exclaim.
A deity as wise figured out the series of maneuvers quickly. It was like playing authority and skills to the extreme while fooling the "Book of the Universe."
Putting his body into the game, voluntarily letting Noel control it, preparing through multiple rebounds, quietly copying the Dream Realm Technique, restoring memory through the Dream Realm Technique when lost some memory, secretly calculating time, and exploring Noel’s dream, then finding the Awakeners’ dream. Subsequently, proactively triggering near-death skills through the ring, sending his words through spacetime, letting the Cloud City God, who already knew the plan through the "Yellow Gemstone," stab Noel with a knife.
Noel’s consciousness appeared here because a sword from the external Cloud City God drove Su Ming’an’s body instantly into near-death, weakening Noel’s control, while Su Ming’an awoke, strengthening his control. This conflict allowed Su Ming’an and Noel’s consciousness to appear together confronting each other in the small world.
That body, at this time, was in an uncontrolled state.
—And now, this guy called "Number One Player," already explored the Awakeners’ dreams through dozens of days of dreaming!
"A blatant plot." Noel laughed.
Even if he knew all those things in advance, so what? Even if he didn’t throw Su Ming’an into the small world, as long as Su Ming’an started dreaming, fusing with Noel’s dream that he had integrated with Su Ming’an, he inevitably wouldn’t escape Su Ming’an’s exploration using the Dream Realm Technique.
When he used wisdom to "devour" Su Ming’an, Su Ming’an could also use wisdom to bait him, to "devour" him?
The former devoured the body, the latter devoured the dream and information.
The former was "using the body as poison," and the latter was "using the body as bait."
Both sides conducted a confrontation with their lives as the gambling stake.
Only, the strange thing was why Su Ming’an could think of these schemes this time? Previously, in many trials, it ended with Noel’s demise and Su Ming’an’s suicide.
"Did you... remember something?" Noel looked at Su Ming’an.
"Just a little." Su Ming’an said, "I heard a hallucination, a voice told me—"
...
[Hey, you.]
[—Don’t linger here.]
[—Don’t repeat this cycle.]
[If there’s another chance, even if all the steps repeat the previous tragedy,]
[At the final moment of devouring Noel,]
[At the final moment of seeing Su Mianbao,]
[You must...]
...
It was precisely this hallucination he heard before killing Su Mianbao that made Su Ming’an feel doubt about the future.
Therefore, he didn’t willingly become one of the organizers, but decided to gamble hard, gamble that he still had the death rebound, and made this extremely aggressive and bold move.
If it weren’t for these hallucinations, he probably wouldn’t have been so radical, wouldn’t have entered Little Na Lake to attempt the death rebound.
"That’s not good." Noel said seriously, "You absolutely cannot become an Awakener."
He lightly tapped his chest:
"Leave this identity to me. You only need to hold on until the World Game ends, then you can rest."
He spoke as though they were still cooperating in harmony, like sharing responsibilities.
"I will go see those secrets myself, now, we must discern who will die." Su Ming’an said.
He had one last thing to do.
—Here, to engage in a fatal battle of consciousness with Noel, to seize this small world, and enter the dream as "Noel."
He wanted to seize Noel’s consciousness, seize Noel’s soul.
He only trusted what he saw himself, this was what he had cautioned himself along the way. Since Noel’s secrets were subjected to certain rules, unable to be spoken, he would go see them in person.
He wouldn’t passively wait for others to present them.
"This guy really has quite the drive; I’m almost scared." Yuritilola turned her head, "What do we do, brother?"
The deity was genuinely somewhat panicked.
Su Ming’an’s series of actions were entirely capable of achieving his goal until the end.
"Then." Noel tilted his head, "How will you kill my consciousness? You know, my willpower isn’t weak either, even if you kill me with a sword once, my consciousness will resurrect and quickly hide in some corner of the small world. You won’t catch me."
...Right, indeed.
Yuritilola also realized this point, without extensive time, how could Su Ming’an eradicate Noel’s consciousness?
Yet Su Ming’an smiled slightly.
From his back, countless white tendrils grew, as if branches and leaves were frantically sprouting, like a magnificent, fervent spring.
These innumerable "springs" all rushed towards Noel, right before his eyes.
...
"To this day, no one who has experienced the pain I have endured has successfully survived."
"Noel Agnini."
"—Since your consciousness is exposed before me, let’s ’symbiosis,’ experience all my pain, grief, and despair together."
...
