Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1569: Final - : "OE: Perished from the Ocean (3)
Su Ming’an looked at the screen.
On the screen, the old man glanced around, the blue glow of his single eye sharp as a knife: "This is not a moral debate about the authenticity of faith, but a strategic decision on the priority for the survival of human civilization. Chaos is devouring order. Are we building an Ark or waiting for the flood? Vote."
On the floating seats, light points representing each member began to flash: green for support, red for opposition, yellow for neutrality. Victor lit up with red light, Elise and Shen Zhe voted green, beams of light flickering in variety. Ultimately, the green light took the advantage.
"Resolution passed." Morris’s voice was unfazed, "Report this plan to the central hub, awaiting the central hub’s judgment."
Soon, the screen in front of Su Mianbao displayed the uploaded resolution. She silently turned her head to look at Su Ming’an.
"When I walked past a shrine, I discovered a child had already regarded me as a god." Su Ming’an spoke.
"That was just a... trial." Su Mianbao said slowly, "Just designating a range where you are viewed as a deity."
"Even if relying on god creation to get through the hardship, how do we remove the divine influence in the future? In the age of calamity, gods are placebos but also the Damocles Sword." Su Ming’an rejected, "Is there another way? I don’t believe we can only follow the old path."
"Not the old path." Su Mianbao pressed her lips, pushed her wheelchair closer and whispered in his ear, "Do you remember Xiber Zevan? Do you remember how she finally ended the Dome People’s ignorant faith?"
Su Ming’an’s pupils trembled.
No need to finish, he understood Su Mianbao’s meaning.
She knows him too well, passionately admiring him while presenting the most suitable and yet most cruel plan.
——Divine Festival.
Rely on the divine power to get through the current difficulty, wait until the calm and then end people’s fervent faith with the "death of the god."
As he thought, he suddenly felt his hair lengthening, changing color... in the mirror, the tips of his black hair started to possess strands of purple gradients.
"It seems, as you transform into the World Tree, you are gradually becoming a ’world consciousness’-like being. The people of this land are naturally a part of you." Su Mianbao said, "Their admiration and gratitude for the Number One Player, love and reverence for the Lighthouse God, can now be converted into your divine power. It’s far more efficient than the energy conversion before, because you belong here, and they belong here."
"...’Faith’ is glowing." Su Ming’an looked at the key in his hand. This authority always seemed inactive, until today, he sensed it awakening rapidly.
——It’s because of faith.
This authority came from the Dome, when it sensed a similar situation, it will awaken.
With faith, without faith, the gods will exist or not exist. People believe Bai Shen, so Bai Shen becomes a Righteous God. People believe Jiu Shen, then Jiu Shen becomes a Righteous God. Now, people believe the Lighthouse God has black, white, and purple gradient hair, so Su Ming’an’s hair is gradually starting to dye.
Now it’s just a little, if expanding the scale, seventy billion lives’ faith far surpasses Dome’s population, Su Ming’an will gain increasingly greater strength. But he recalls the gods of the World of Old Days, thinks of Acto’s self-deprecating as a God, he faintly feels this is a broad avenue, yet could lead the world to the abyss.
He clenched his fist, covering the key’s light: "Are there no other methods besides god creation? I don’t believe in the myriad years of evolution, you are powerless."
Su Mianbao’s aged eyes blink, her cloudy pupils reflecting Su Ming’an’s changing hair, she smiles slightly: "There is. Father God, since you leap through time, you bring the issues back timely to the Ming’an System for calculation, it will provide timely methods of response. For instance, where the disaster will burst, which person will commit a crime, it can handle in advance. Thus, perhaps without god creation, we can stabilize the current situation."
"Just..." her voice paused a moment: "Compared to god creation, mankind will be more panicked, more helpless, casualties will be greater."
"I will strive to manage every chaos well. Without god creation, the world will slide to a more terrifying abyss." Su Ming’an insists on this view: "Let me, compensate for the casualties of ’not creating gods.’
The elderly grandma on the wheelchair quietly smiled.
She looked at the resolute Su Ming’an, once again felt the flame surging within him, such flame, since the first sight of him, had never extinguished.
Let time freeze at this moment, if we do not move forward, would there be no farewell sorrow? If time ceased flowing from here on, would there be no worry of the world sliding to the abyss?
But she still had to watch him turn and leave, so decisive, rarely hesitating.
"...Tell me about the recent happenings, Mianbao." he said.
Su Mianbao sat on the wheelchair, her voice low, began recounting the events of the past month.
Since ancient times, humans inevitably generate various extreme opinions. Some are radical, some composed, some emphasize development, some value people’s livelihood, some gaze at the sky, some overlook the fervent earth. Even whether ginseng is tasty or unpleasant, whether tofu brains are salty or sweet, will provide widely different viewpoints.
Therefore, even the closest partners will develop different inclinations due to differences in opinion.
After the World Game ended, Lü Shu, Lu, Isabella, Shi Yi, and others supported the banner of "exploration, progress, and outlook," strictly punishing rioters with wartime rules, ensuring respect for top-ranked players and the Number One Player, to maintain order, fostering a culture, and were named the "Progressive Faction". Meanwhile, Yamada Machiichi, Luna, Zhao Yuan, and others supported a focus on "rest and recuperation", inclined towards equality and freedom, narrowing class divides, providing a fair pathway for most people, and were called the "Guardian Faction".
The former indeed was harsh but effective in maintaining stability, though it required sacrificing the happiness and freedom of most civilians. The latter ensured a solid foundation among the masses but was too naive and idealistic, leading some groups to cling to the concept of freedom, staunchly resisting the rule of the Tower.
This place is not a fairy tale, after all.
The events following "the Prince and Princess lived happily ever after" are unfolding.
No matter how strong the relationship, there exist disagreements in ideals and factional struggles; political groups have always been intertwined with interests. The World Game made people temporarily overlook interests and Kingdoms — now, they’re merely returning to inherent human governance rules.
As Su Mianbao narrated, Su Ming’an stood quietly.
The simulated light fell on his shoulder, revealing his silent profile, his eyes nearly forming straight lines, his lips tightly pursed. Against the deep blue background, he seemed to fade into the night that was bound to fall, leaving only the tired edge of a sword standing upon the dunes.
"...However, the high productivity brought by high technology allows us to surpass the previous Zhai Xing in every aspect, be it planting yields, production efficiency, decision-making efficiency, or the degree of technological lifestyle... I believe that once we get through the current chaos, sooner or later we will..." Su Mianbao’s words stopped here.
She saw the Father God, whose back always stood firm like a sword’s edge, slowly collapse his shoulders, sitting down on the ground.
She hastily summoned a mechanical chair, but he waved his hand.
"...Let me sit for a while, without anything, just sit for a while."
The sunset of the New World couldn’t reach this solemn and magnificent High Tower.
Under the cold blue simulated light, the "Savior" slowly buried his head between his knees, holding them tightly, and stayed silent for a long time.
With each inhale and exhale, the light flickered gently, surrounded only by the various ticking sounds.
The white-clad people, like precisely calculated programs, spread through the two hundred and fifty-five layers of the Beehive, moving like a river but showing no smile or humanized expression.
Su Mianbao knew, he was tired.
He had been forcing himself with the last breath until he transformed into the World Tree, he had long been weary.
In an adventure story, after the brave and unparalleled Brave slays the Evil Dragon, it should be the end. Who would think about what the Brave faces upon returning to the Royal City, confronting the coronation and the somber Imperial Palace, and what future lies ahead?
The youth silently sat with his head buried, the expression on his face unseen, only the shoulders slightly trembling, the blue light illuminating the tips of his hair, dyed purple.
"Actually," Su Mianbao pursed her lips, speaking her true heart:
"You no longer need to manage these things."
"Your war has already ended, from now on, leave it to humanity itself."
"Whether it’s survival or destruction, it’s their own Destiny. You should lay down your responsibility, you’ve already provided a perfect answer for saving Zhai Xing, no one has any reason to blame you."
"You should remove that splendid garment, take off that deity mask, and return from the sky to the Mortal World, back to the name ’Su Ming’an’... I’m sorry, Father God, I called your name without permission, but even the Flying Bird that never lands will eventually stop, your journey has ended, you should come back and enjoy your happiness."
"Look, your name is prominent worldwide, your achievements are known to all, companions are waiting for you to join in the journey, even if you don’t meddle in the world’s affairs, what does it matter? The future might be harder, but isn’t hardship a necessary path for Human Civilization?"
"If you undertake everything for humans, I feel it’s a form of the ’Savior’s’ Arrogance, you know."
Su Ming’an slowly raised his head.
Having been buried in darkness for too long, suddenly looking up, eyes making contact with artificial light, tears unwittingly fell.
He can well control his senses, yet at this moment a certain bitterness involuntarily surged.
Has his war... really ended?
He silently gazed at the distant departing conference room, coincidentally at this moment, the white-haired elder slowly raised his head, looked in the direction of the highest floor.
Even though separated by the shield Barrier, it seemed they were gazing at each other.
The white-haired elder slowly and resolutely raised his right hand, gently thumped his left chest, as if a pledge, as if saying, "From now on, leave it to us."
Humans are an exceedingly base, yet extremely great species. Su Ming’an often distrusts humans, but at times, some people still pull him out of the abyss.
The sense of responsibility that arises from distrust is actually a manifestation of trust.
"...Mianbao." For a moment, he almost blurted out, "Can I entrust it to you?"
But soon, he realized that "entrusting it to humans themselves" and "continuing his journey" actually do not conflict. Economy, technology, society, literature... humans have long lifted the banner, but if he decides to stop his journey, far more people will die than now.
"Hmm?" The old man on the wheelchair responded with a smile, seemingly anticipating his moment of rest.
"In three days, I will make the next leap, go back to inform the Ming’an System of these issues, and let the World Tree proceed with ’simulation’ and ’control.’ I believe it will calm the current difficulties," Su Ming’an said calmly.
"..." The old man’s expression remained unchanged.
She had actually predicted his choice.
He really is... a person just like her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have aged like this, wouldn’t be sitting here, right?
Both she and her Father God are indeed equally arrogant, equally persistent, equally unstoppable...
In the following three days, Su Ming’an continuously understood the current situation, ensuring every deviation and error was firmly remembered.
Before parting, Su Mianbao expressed her wish to see a sea of flowers.
Su Ming’an’s time was no longer so pressing, of course, he would agree to this rare request.
As the central controller, Su Mianbao couldn’t stray far from the central tower, and this artificial island only had a technologically simulated sea of flowers in virtual view.
When Su Ming’an wheeled her into the fake sea of flowers, facing the swaying wild daisies, her white hair fluttering, she spread her arms, smiling like a young girl, innocent and carefree.
"...Father God, I have always loved these flowers."
"Because in the initial barren age, when I had nothing, wild daisies were the only flowers I could see."
"Together with Yu Zhu, Yue Ying, Li Li, we picked flowers, wove wreaths during the festivals we set, emulating your civilization’s festive rituals, emulating your civilization’s songs, emulating your civilization’s dances."
She slowly moved her green-veined, calloused palms to her chest:
"I... have lived my entire life to emulate your civilization."
"I tell myself, I love you dearly. For this, I’ve indistinctly blurred the lines between this love’s reality and illusion, following you for a lifetime to protect my civilization."
"I’m very greedy, as a lifetime reward, I’d like to ask for a promise."
"Go ahead," Su Ming’an allowed straightforwardly. Because he knew, Su Mianbao couldn’t possibly ask for a promise that would harm him.
"I..." She slowly raised her head, her eyes clouded with white haze, reflecting his face:
"I’d like to request,"
"Regardless of the time, regardless of the circumstances."
"Always grant this civilization at least one chance to turn over a new leaf, not destroy it out of disappointment, nor burn it out of anger."
...Why would she make such a request?
Su Ming’an felt puzzled, why would he destroy this place, he loves it dearly.
"There won’t be such a moment," he shook his head.
"I too hope there won’t be such a moment. But I fear the long passage of time..." Su Mianbao raised her head, smiling: "But I’d like a fallback promise, can I have it, Father God."
Su Ming’an thought she’d ask for something personal like, "Please hug me," or "Please remember me," yet unexpectedly, her final request was also to protect this civilization...
Indeed, she ultimately originates from him.
He gave her everything; he gave her responsibility, gave her a fixated life, gave her a haunting chain, gave her the pride of a Creator, gave her mistaken deep love, gave her... a meager name.
"Okay," he softly said in the sea of flowers:
"I promise you."
Following that, without needing her to ask, he slowly embraced her.
Since she had already chosen her wish as protecting the world, he would fulfill the other kind of wish she could no longer voice.
The embrace was cold and heavy, the elderly fragile frame in his arms, seemed like a rigid skeleton. The beauty of youth, the playful charm, the gentle lightness of youth... had all vanished.
But as he released her, Su Ming’an realized he had misjudged.
The serene face with its aged smile... brimmed with the beauty and lightness of youth.
—She was like a black butterfly, settled in the vast sea of flowers, settled in his eyes and dreams, settled in his relentless journey.
The fluttering white hair, more like the light wings of youth. The eyes cloudy and full of white haze, more like swaying daisies in the mountain.
From youth to white-haired, she never tarnished the honor and dignity of being a master of the realm. Her ideals rivaled his, yet known to no one, yet remembered by none.
Many, many nameless people lay in the darkness.
He felt a touch of warmth on his scalp, she pinned a wild daisy into his hair.
He intended to remove it soon, but she softly laughed:
"This way... it’s covered."
—Covered a lock of purple in his hair tips.
Because he disliked becoming a Deity, she picked the flower.
Because he didn’t have the leeway to overlook this place, she held the banner.
His eyes quivered, staring at her aged face on the wheelchair, until she seemed exhausted, slowly lowering her head, leaning on his chest.
He remembered her name, finally couldn’t help but say: "Su Mianbao, would you like a more proper name? Your own name."
Yet she shook her head with a smile, saying:
"This suffices."
"This name has long belonged to me, Father God."
"Not given by anyone, nor devoutly knelt for. This is my name, Su Mianbao."
"Please write an ending... different from the past, brilliant, and new for this tiresome long night."
Her forehead feeling his warmth.
This was her first time being so close to Father God.
"...Write an ending that differs, one bright and new."
"See you at dawn, Father God."
...
The second leap.
—Flying birds sweep tide and turn.
