Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1643: Final - : Guardian Shore Line · "OE · Perished from the Ocean (27)
"Kelsa, Vice World Leader." Lin Yin’s voice was steady, "According to Emergency Committee Order No. 1, please cooperate with us for a comprehensive investigation into the decisions made during the ’Genesis Plan’ execution."
Kelsa raised his head, his blue eyes similar to Vino’s showed no panic, not even a hint of surprise. He looked at Lin Yin calmly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"I understand."
With the World Master gone, the "left and right arms" should be settled. He was mentally prepared.
He tidied up his slightly wrinkled collar. Sunlight streamed through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating his young and handsome cheeks. Heavy iron cuffs clasped around his hands, pulling him into deep shadows.
...
——If there is a red button before you, and pressing it will lead to the destruction of the world in five hundred years, but you’ll gain endless wealth, would you press it?
——If by killing a Deity who once saved all of Human Civilization, you and all your loved ones can survive, otherwise everyone will die, would you press the button to kill Them?
Walking along a twilight road, the sea surged like a tide.
"Tap."
AM, December 31, 2118, beneath Taihua Mountain.
A helicopter flew to the base of the mountain, its door opened, and a figure with white hair holding a Black Blade emerged.
Lü Shu alighted from the helicopter, heading down the mountain path. Since losing his sight, Lü Shu’s steps were never this erratic.
"Tap, tap."
He stumbled, the mountain path was treacherous, compounded by the pervasive pressure of the World Tree. Only he, a Second-level Divine Power, could barely ascend the mountain, heading towards the World Tree.
Behind him, a thrust seemed to rise, countless voices urging him forward, countless eyes pushing him onward.
People’s voices, people’s gazes.
——Advance, advance, to cut down, to eradicate.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The wind howled by his ears, the sound of the world disintegrating grew clearer, this world was undergoing intense and terrifying dissolution, chaos was rampant, and to quell all this, he needed——
"That person has lost control, Divinity has devoured him!" As if someone’s voice echoed near his ear.
"If it were his former self, he would have chosen a way to save most people rather than exchanging seventy years for a majority’s demise. If the outcome is bound to be this tragic, why didn’t he choose to enter Yuanyuan’s chocolate dream back then?"
"He’s lost control, he’s become the cost of civilization. From a Savior to an obstruction."
Whose voice was this?
Lü Shu turned back, there was no one behind him. Yet he seemed to see countless eyes, countless voices... sprouting and blooming as black-and-white flowers, staring fixedly at him.
For a moment, he wanted to raise the sword in his hand, to strike at these voices, simply to destroy this world, making everything easy.
However, a scene from his memory held him back, it was a pair of black almond eyes, from a night several days ago.
"Su Ming’an, you know the Shield cannot be crossed, do you want people to enter Bei Wang’s small world?"
"No, that’s also a lie, Bei Wang’s small world is not enough for people to enter."
"One lie after another, what do you want to do?"
"Lü Shu, I need you to help me finish the final step. I once said, if the destined moment arrives, I hope you can become my second. Now, it’s time for execution."
"But you haven’t lost control yet, you’re still very clear-minded, why should I act?"
"I can’t tell you the truth, I’m afraid someone will hear. Do as I say, don’t question the reason, okay? At the right moment, deliver the right strike."
"... You’re ruthless, Su Ming’an."
"Sorry."
"... Alright, if this is your wish, I will fulfill your ideal."
The white-haired youth walked forward.
——Taihua Mountain, where the World Tree’s roots spread.
Before the eyes, the greenery dripped with dew, the grass leaves swayed with brilliance, and tall mountains rose from the ground. Here was once the source of civilization’s life and the gathering place of Faith. The massive tree canopy shielded the sky, and the air was filled with the fragrance of plants.
Lü Shu lacked vision, yet he could see this tree more clearly than anyone. He sensed the soul at the core of the giant tree with all his senses.
"Begin." The voice of Sotuya rang in the communication channel.
Almost as the voice fell, Lü Shu felt a vast and unmatched will, like a flood breaking through a dam, pouring from all directions into his body, into his soul.
That was the Human Civilization’s collective hope, fear, and the rawest yearning for survival.
From the extreme hope of near salvation to the extreme despair upon learning it was a lie, the feeling of a seventy-year wait for the civilization being rendered null, emotions magnified to the extreme. The emotions of billions transformed into intangible threads, entangling him, pulling at him. There was a mother’s choked prayer for her child’s survival, a lover’s trembling grip, a soldier’s steadfast obedience, a rioter’s hysterically screamed curse... chaotic, confused, painful.
"... Cough."
Lü Shu emitted a suppressed groan of pain, the weight of billions of souls nearly exploding his sensitive Spirit, every emotion felt like long needles piercing his nerves.
Pain.
Unbelievable pain.
He naturally possessed an extraordinary tolerance for "pain." At this moment, as if something dormant inside him awakened.
Wisps of dark red aura exuded from his body, winding around his limbs and bones. This was the Authority of "Pain," the ladder to the First-level Divine Domain, the sublimation of the trickster demon’s Divinity. His every step forward increased the worldly pressure one more degree, and the radiance of dark red Divinity brightened one more degree.
His skin began to show fine cracks, his bones groaned under the unbearable burden.
His aura grew stronger, his Divine Power expanded increasingly.
At Fusang Tower, a black-haired woman holding daisies stood at the edge of an abandoned high-rise, the fierce wind blowing her hair.
"... Is this what you wanted, Su Ming’an." She whispered to herself, her voice dissipating in the wind, "Lies... from the initial lie to me, to the lie to Mizushima Haru, to the lie to High Dimensions... to ultimately the lie to all of humanity, your life is dedicated to lies..."
In the World Hub room, Gesang Jiacuo sat paralyzed, tightly grasping a smooth stone in his hand. He stared at the screen, muttering to himself, "World Master, if you were only protecting a minority, then why, when speaking with me before, did you show such a satisfied smile? I know you’re not like that, you must be planning something..."
At the far end of the Planet, a figure not resembling a human stood, holding a slender pillar-like object, as if a cane. It gazed afar at this scene, adjusted the brim of its hat, and turned away.
"... See you next time, True Friend."
In the streets and alleys, people held their breath, the riots miraculously ceased, captured by the turning fate of this moment. Someone covered their face, unable to watch anymore, someone knelt in prayer, someone tightly hugged their loved one nearby. A near suffocating silence enveloped the entire world.
"Could we not kill..." someone said softly.
"Do you want to die?" another person replied.
"I’m an orphan, I don’t have many friends, dying doesn’t matter to me, but I just feel that..."
"I also think this change is too swift, as if something is pushing it from behind... Is it those top Players and upper plans?"
"Tap."
Lü Shu ascended Taihua Mountain step by step, the gentle breeze and fragrance brushed past him.
They had promised countless times to visit Taihua Mountain, yet Lü Shu never thought this would be the last time they met here.
While climbing the mountain, his consciousness flickered between confusion and clarity. Divinity became increasingly clear, his aura approached its peak.
["When everything is over, let’s call everyone and go to Taihua Mountain together."] Late one night, after handling a mountain of reports, Su Ming’an rubbed his temples, his voice carrying fatigue, ["I hear the sunrise there is spectacular. Although I might be tired of it... I think you’ll enjoy it."]
Stones rolled, boot heels stepped on fallen grass leaves.
Lü Shu looked up, the morning sun of Taihua Mountain resembled a blazing flame, truly beautiful.
"Click."
["Su Ming’an! Happy 21st birthday!"] Ribbon danced, lights were warm. A cream cake precisely smashed onto Lü Shu’s face, Lin Yin laughed, Su Ming’an laughed too. It was one of the few moments he truly let go of his burdens and laughed heartily. Lü Shu kept a straight face, but the corners of his mouth barely curved upward.
He was thinking.
Could he not take them away?
On the mountain path’s turn, fingertips touched the cold rock.
With every part of him growing heavier in pain, Lü Shu gasped for breath, divine power weighing like a mountain, stepping upward step by step.
"Click."
["If only we could quietly watch fireworks in a place filled with flower trees."] Su Ming’an leaned by the window, staring at the simulated starlit sky outside, speaking softly. ["It doesn’t have to be big, just a few of us, without worrying about any troubles..."]
"Click."
His body hurt so much.
["Lü Shu, if I ever become someone different... I hope you become my executioner."] Su Ming’an pointed at Lü Shu’s sword. Later, Lü Shu kept this sword until it was ground to powder in a fierce battle. He searched for a long time before finding an identical sword.
"Click."
Forward, forward.
To see Him, to kill Him.
["Have some drink, it’s said to warm the body."] On a cold New Year’s eve, Lin Yin pulled them out of the banquet hall, his nose tip froze red. They drank warming beverages, watching virtual fireworks explode in the night sky. Yamada Machiichi took a big sip, breathed out long. ["Delicious! Sometimes, I really wish time would just stop here... It’s so good, as beautiful as stolen moments of time."]
["If only we could always be together."]
His palm was rubbed raw by the coarse bark, Lü Shu clenched his teeth, step by step climbing the peak, step by step drawing closer to the world tree on the mountain top, palms bleeding.
The cold wind lifted his white hair, past scenes dissipating like smoke.
Those familiar figures had, after a century, gradually turned to smoke and dissipated, leaving only lingering echoes.
"Click."
["Tatsumi and his companions lived happily ever after, they built a tall tower with love, no one conquered them anymore..."]
["Is it really such a story?"]
["Yes, this is our story."]
"Click."
["I wish to remain as the Number One Player. If only a hundred years... then let it be a hundred years."]
["You were supposed to have thousands, tens of thousands of years..."]
["Being like you all is nice too. Maybe I would really choose thousands or tens of thousands of years someday, even devour all of you... But now, I want to stay by your side, I want to protect those smiles, I want to salvage this world’s sadness."]
...
"Click."
["If you disappear later on, I will search the whole world, and traverse the universe... I must find you."]
...
["Can you not take him away. Can you not take him away."]
...
["Please give me a wild daisy..."]
...
["Thank you."]
["Thank you for fighting with me, thank you for studying the documents, thank you for putting down the sword, thank you for the flowers you gave me, thank you... for everything."]
...
With every step, he crushed a part of his memories.
With every step, he got closer to the "ending" that awaited him.
Countless voices still buzzed in his ears, urging, enticing.
"I am not, for you..." Lü Shu whispered.
"I am not for you, these voices."
He was for a promise, for a pair of unique black eyes.
"Click."
He finally reached the summit.
At the top of Taihua Mountain, the splendor rendered is beyond the mortal world, roots akin to the earth’s veins; the main trunk of the world tree stood magnificently, reflecting resplendent light, countless crystal branches and leaves hung down, beautiful like a crystal palace.
A deity bowed its head, three thousand silver strands fell with the wind.
Streamers reflected in his eyes, for a moment, Lü Shu thought, history is a cycle; he had returned to Luowasha, beneath Luowasha’s world tree, eager to slay the world tree.
Last time, he recklessly sought, to save Su Ming’an devoured by the world tree, he struck at the world tree...
This time.
Who did the edge of his blade point to?
The bark’s patterns resembled ancient writing, flowing with gentle light. In front of the trunk, a figure stood with its back to him, white clothes as surpassing snow, standing there quietly, seemingly merged with the giant tree.
The garment slightly swayed in the invisible energy flow, hair and swaying luminous filaments virtually unified, emanating a heart-shivering tranquility and divinity.
He closed His eyes, as if in slumber.
Countless splendid snow-white tendrils naturally scattered, like His flowing long hair, indistinguishable as to where was branch, where was leaf, where was hair, and where was light.
Another figure awaited here too, golden eyes dazzling, it was Su Rin.
Lü Shu’s hollow eye sockets "stared" at the giant tree, dark red divine power frantically surged around, every inch of his body scorched in intense pain, his arm trembled violently due to force, tightly gripping the black blade.
The last scene in his mind freeze-framed was not blades clashing, nor millions’ pleas and prayers, but a sunny noon, Su Ming’an and companions peacefully sleeping amid piles of documents.
It is something of the beginning, also what one most wants to protect.
"...Ming’an."
"Everyone."
...
["I decided to follow you, I like those who always hold the future dear, I like you, I think you are worthy of becoming my light."]
...
Perhaps, before becoming a true friend of this young man, he had already started to commemorate him.
...
