【The Divine Capital】(Final Chapter) The super-long fantasy novel has officially ended (with a collection included).

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

The End Final
Chapter
The tremors of the earth lasted for a very long time.
I had never personally experienced an earthquake until this moment, and the earth seemed to roar in pain.
Unable to stand on my own two feet, the soldiers of the Old Humans collapsed to the ground, and I could only use energy to levitate at a low altitude
.
The sky was dyed a swollen purple, a color that deeply unsettled me. In my understanding,
nothing or no phenomenon could change the color of the sky.
The attack airships in the sky had become scrap metal slowly melting in flames, and the rain of fire in the air tore that
purple color beyond recognition. The atmosphere rubbed the wreckage into countless dazzling suns, drenching every
inch of the ground beneath my feet.
My heart, like theirs, was shattering. Deep within my mind, a voice screamed at me with
an obvious answer, but I forcibly covered my ears to shut out my senses.
When the shock finally subsided, I saw Hughes shouting something at Crk.
I rushed over and grabbed his arm. "What happened?! What on earth happened?!"
Hughes was covered in cold sweat, his eyes trembling. "I don't know! The communication equipment is completely broken, and
all other electronic devices are malfunctioning too. We've lost contact!"
"What do we do now?!"
Hughes was much calmer than me. He pondered for a few seconds, then pointed to the faintly visible magic shield in the distance:
"There's communication equipment inside the base! If the energy wave hadn't penetrated the base's military-grade protective wall,
we might have been able to contact headquarters."
Without a word, I gathered my energy again and accelerated towards the shield. Energy loss was completely
out of my calculations. Using the speed of my sprint, the bone spear in my hand shot
out with devastating compressed energy.
The magic shield was instantly torn open by the bone spear. I chased after it,
rushing into the shield's protective range before the magic closed again.
Contrary to expectations, the magic shield I had broken did not heal. It seemed this wasn't
a magic circle that continuously supplied magic; in other words, the people inside might have already escaped.
Hughes still led his men and followed me into the base. We searched every corner of the base; all
the equipment was malfunctioning, even the automatic door locks weren't working.
I used energy to break down the doors that couldn't be opened, and we finally found what we were looking for in a warehouse deep inside the base.
On a shelf lay several old, dusty Crks, likely left behind for
emergency use long ago. Clinging to a sliver of hope, we pressed the switch, and the particle screen finally flickered with a glimmer of light.
Hughes fiddled with the device in his hand, and I took one too, entering a familiar number.
I no longer cared about being exposed; all I wanted now was to hear Chu Xie's voice, to hear Asa Jia
's voice.
However, the signal emitted from the device in my hand received no response, just like the blankness on the particle screen;
it was as if we had been completely cut off from this world.
Numbly, I clicked the dial button again and again, only to be met with endless silence.
Suddenly, a signal rang out beside him. Hughes shouted excitedly, his left fist clenching in the air.
"It's connected!! It's a signal from New Zealand!!"
I stepped closer, my eyes glued to the screen. A soldier-like figure appeared faintly on it.
Hughes recited an identification code, and a few seconds later, a high-ranking officer stood in front of the screen.
"What's going on!? Why are all the other communications down!?" Hughes asked anxiously.
The officer removed his hat. His voice was very deep.
"Almost all communication equipment in the Northern Hemisphere is down, while the Southern Hemisphere isn't as severely affected. We
can still maintain contact with Australia. However, current reports indicate that all near-Earth space facilities have stalled and
crashed. The collapsed space elevators and space stations in major cities have caused incalculable damage to the ground,
including in the Southern Hemisphere."
"Have you figured out the cause?!"
"Someone launched a missile from a base in Siberia. Electronic telescopes are unusable, and our intelligence is
very limited. We only know that the missile exploded approximately 18,000 kilometers from Earth, but
the database doesn't show any space city or temporary spaceport at that location."
Hearing this, I could no longer stand. My head felt like it had exploded, leaving me
dizzy.
I leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the ground.
The warp gate was right there at that distance; I could no longer avoid that fact. This energy
was the curse left behind by the destroyed warp gate. This base was merely a pawn in Solomon's attack; he had already seized
another base and destroyed the only path for the Returnees.
His purpose was no longer important to me.
Hughes continued his conversation with the person on the other end of the video call, but I heard nothing.
Everything I had had crumbled into fragments and debris in that endless darkness.
I stood up like a zombie and walked outside. Hughes tried to stop me, but I pushed
him away; all I wanted was to leave.
I stepped out of the base and looked up at the sky. The air was thick with the stench of burning steel, plastic, and rubber
, thick black smoke leaping against a deep purple background. "The end is nigh," they cheered.
I bent over, knelt on the ground, and vomited.
Acrid stomach acid mixed with undigested food scraps spilled onto the floor.
I kept dry heaving; my stomach was empty, but the spasms wouldn't stop. I tried
to control my trembling hands, but found my body as cold as ice.
Chu Xie… Asaga… Melfis… the future…
everything was gone.
The whole world pressed in on me, an overwhelming sense of loneliness gripped the back of my neck, slamming me to
the ground.
I couldn't breathe, and could only manage to lie flat on the ground, gasping for air filled with the toxic fumes.
Occasionally, fragments of orange-red debris would streak across the sky, like the wink of fate.
"This is the last joke for you, did you like it?" I thought I heard him say.
No one answered.
A few minutes later, my heart, which had been bulging as if about to burst, seemed to freeze and shrink back into my chest. Dragging my
shivering body, I staggered to my feet and used my energy to levitate.
I flew back the way I came, leaving the burning base and Hughes behind.
Later events proved that this instinctive choice was absolutely correct.
No one could know Solomon's true motives for destroying the warp gate, but one thing was certain:
the remaining Returners on Earth had no choice from that moment on. The war between the New Humans and the Old Humans was no longer inevitable
; it was a war in which no one could remain neutral, and no one was innocent.
As long as anyone on either side was alive, the war would not end. It was an irreconcilable conflict
.
With Hughes's wisdom, he would soon realize this. My past camaraderie and shared
hardships with him were meaningless before this insurmountable chasm. One day, he would have to kill me,
or I would kill him.
If he was as clever as I thought, then that was the perfect opportunity to kill me. In my confusion,
I was completely unprepared, utterly oblivious to my companions. Fortunately, I left, leaving no
chance for anyone to take advantage.
As one of the Returnees' top combatants, my threat was immeasurable. To
eliminate me with minimal losses was a golden opportunity for the Old Humans.
As for whether Hughes would actually do it, I didn't know. Because I never
saw him again after that day.
I increased my altitude and flew blindly northward. The icy wind froze into ice
crystals on my hair, the result of my earlier cold sweat.
I passed through a city, but without a map, I couldn't make out its name—
it had become a scorched wasteland. The wreckage of a space city, spanning over ten kilometers, crashed in the northwest
corner of the city. The powerful shockwave flattened all the towering buildings, leaving a bottomless crater. Countless
smaller fragments swept through the unaffected areas, turning the vast city
into a billowing, smoky ruin in an instant.
The sand melted by the intense heat in the crater formed shimmering crystals, their reflected light blinding me
.
I closed my eyes and continued flying forward, passing many other cities that had suffered the same fate.
At first, I didn't even know why I was flying this way. Only when the physical chaos gradually subsided
did reason regain its grip.
I wanted to go back and see. It was a self-deceptive fantasy, but it was the only thing I could do.
After several hours, my energy was depleted, and I finally flew back to the space elevator
port where Hughes and I had once been stationed.
The once towering elevator was gone, and the city had not been spared by the flames that had fallen from the sky
.
I saw people desperately digging for the buried amidst the collapsed rubble;
children clutching dirty toys, crying out in vain; a woman with a broken arm,
staggering aimlessly among the debris like a zombie.
An elderly woman with white hair, her face covered in dust, sat quietly in front of a collapsed house.
Several stiff arms protruded from the piles of debris around her. She sat there
beside her loved ones, her gaze vacant.
Her eyes were probably the same as mine now.
Since entering the age of technological civilization, people have always readily offered help to their suffering compatriots when natural disasters strike
. No matter where, no matter how great the damage, timely
aid and care from around the world are readily available. Thanks to efficient disaster relief teams, everyone can at least get a
chance to breathe and grieve after surviving near-death experiences.
But this time, the scope of the disaster exceeded all limits. Homeless survivors are scattered across
every corner of the Northern Hemisphere.
This is no longer a problem that a few rescue teams can solve. In this situation, individual strength is far
too insignificant.
I didn't stop; I continued flying forward.
The closer I got to the city center, the fainter the screams of people became. There might still be many survivors on the outskirts of the city
, but the city center, where the space elevator was located, like other cities, was crushed into ashes
and sand by the spaceport that fell from the sky.
Fragile illusions were mercilessly shattered by reality. Before me was a giant circular crater, tens of kilometers wide,
with the shattered spaceport lying at its bottom, becoming part of the lava along with the molten rock.
I stared blankly at the fiery red crater, floating on the edge of the cliff like a mindless ghost, only able to
slowly circle around the scorching circular edge.
The still uncooled air surged before my eyes like a thick liquid, blurring the ruins ahead
. It seemed as if I was the only one left in this world, my body like a water bottle pushed onto a table,
all my strength and consciousness spilled out, as if I would soon dry up.
I never imagined I would end up like this.
I'd rather die with them... my companions, my friends, and...
I looked up and seemed to see Chu Xie sitting not far in front of me. She was holding something and turned to look
at me.
I reached out and approached her, then watched helplessly as her shadow twisted in the air and transformed back into
Asagi.
The pain in my chest pierced my heart like a steel spike, but the feeling was slowly fading, like a withered
plant.
I walked towards Asagi, and she stood up and walked towards me.
I wanted to hug her, but I knew it would only make her illusion vanish. I couldn't bear to. Looking at her
face, I felt like I could still live, even if I was just deceiving myself. But I still wanted to hug her,
wanted her warmth to warm my heart, even if only for a second.
My jaw was clenching. I knew very well… this foolish and ridiculous struggle would only plunge me into deeper despair.
Asaka came closer to me, opened her arms, and pulled me into her embrace.
"I'm here," she whispered in my ear.
I felt the real warmth of her arms and chest, her fragrance, and her soft yet strong
shoulders.
She was real; she wasn't an illusion.
"Ahhh!!"
I hugged Asaka tightly with all my might, an uncontrollable sob bursting from my throat.
She was here, in front of me, as if she had been waiting for me for a long time. I wasn't alone; I hadn't
been abandoned.
Asaka hugged me tightly too, pressing her cheek against mine, as if trying to give me strength.
I don't need any power, just her presence is enough. I know I can survive.
"Don't be afraid."
Asaga's gentle voice reunited my shattered spirit, and the chill in my heart gradually faded.
I greedily absorbed her warmth, and only released her hands after a long, long time. Asaga stroked
my hair, her expression calm and serene. Against this apocalyptic backdrop, she radiated a unique
brilliance.
"Why are you here? Where is Chu... Chuxie?" My throat tightened as I asked a difficult
question.
"Before the attack, she probably opened the warp gate and took everyone away."
"Probably?"
"Chuxie suddenly received intelligence on the ship that someone had attacked some base, and she immediately issued
the order to depart. I knew I had no right to stop her decision, so I immediately asked her for an airship and came back to
find you."
I couldn't believe my ears. I couldn't believe that Chuxie could so decisively
abandon me alone on this lonely and hostile planet. She couldn't possibly have known the missile had been launched.
Without considering whether we could suppress the enemy, she chose to leave me here.
I know she had to make this decision for the future of all the new humans, but why
would she abandon me based on such a simple piece of information?
In that instant, I suddenly felt a deep hatred for her, as if all our past bonds and love had been betrayed by her
.
Yet, it was precisely because of her judgment that she and the others survived—a fact I couldn't deny. Among them
were Mr. Fang's family, A-Jie and the other teenagers, Melfis, and even Melfis's child
… If I had a choice, I would definitely have let her leave me.
But… self-sacrifice is one thing, being abandoned by a lover is another…
Asaga understood my thoughts perfectly. She said nothing, because no words were as
effective as a single glance from her.
I looked up at the purple sky and took a deep breath.
Everyone was alive, and I wasn't alone—this was already a tremendous blessing. I should be content
; compared to the unbearable loneliness and despair I felt before, at this moment, I should be satisfied.
It's no use thinking about it now. Chu Xie and the others have already arrived in the new star system,
heading at full speed towards the world named [Nassaurus]. Compared to the fate of all the new humans, my personal progress
is truly insignificant. They will build a unique civilization on that land, beginning
a bittersweet journey that humanity has never experienced before.
But all of this is beyond my reach.
In the blink of an eye, Chu Xie and I are separated by hundreds of light-years. From now on, we will never see each other again.
She didn't even have time to say goodbye.
The trajectory of my life has been twisted by an irresistible force in a direction I cannot foresee. What to do next
may trouble me for a long time.
Fortunately, Asa Jia is still by my side. She has not abandoned me.
"How could I abandon you... You are everything I have..." Asa Jia saw my emotions and
responded softly.
From today onwards, she is everything I have...
Time did not give us a chance to hesitate, and the sky had unknowingly darkened. In this
ruin stretching for hundreds of kilometers, we had nowhere to land. Asaga was now no different from an ordinary person, and I had to
worry about her safety.
"Let's leave here," I said, taking her hand.
Asaga raised her hand to signal me to wait, then turned and walked back to where she had been.
I followed her, and after a few steps, I saw a body lying on a stone slab.
It was Duanwei.
His disfigured face seemed to have a faint smile on it.
I remembered that when I saw Asaga, she seemed to be holding something; that must be
Duanwei's remains.
"He came with me on the airship. I couldn't operate it, so I relied entirely on him to fly back. As soon as we entered the atmosphere, the impact
hit. The airship malfunctioned, and he used his energy to cushion the fall from several thousand meters high
. Finally, when the spaceport crashed down, he used all his energy to resist the impact and protect me. Without
him, I might never have seen you again."
Asaga recounted Duanwei's heroic deeds, but her voice was as calm as still water. Only at that moment did I finally
understand that for Asaga, everything in this world was merely an insignificant embellishment, even
the severed tail that sacrificed its life for her was just a slightly more dramatic stroke.
Thinking back on my past jealousy, it was truly naive.
Yet, I still cannot forget the sacrifice this man made. He proved his love for Asaga with his life
, even without any reward or outcome, he steadfastly followed his inner conviction.
I can understand his feelings, because not long ago I had experienced the same feeling—utter destitution.
Pain. He made his choice and paid the price. Yet, he must have felt a sense of relief before he died,
knowing that everything he had done would be remembered by the person he admired.
He was just one step away from starting an unimaginable life in a new world, but he resolutely followed
Asaka on the road back. I imagine him embracing Asaka as they leaped from a thousand meters in the air,
fighting for their last breath amidst the rain of fire. Like destiny, in that instant, he deeply understood that this was his
fate, that he would die here.
This was the ending that countless choices in his life had ultimately led him to. As he looked into the distance,
he clearly saw when, where, and how his life would end.
He accepted his fate calmly, like an old man.
I helped Asaka bury Daruo's body. The girl remained silent for a long time at his grave;
besides me, Daruo was the only human who could move her.
Rogner was too large to board the airship, so Asaga left it
on the warp drive.
Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, we had severed all ties with the world, becoming each
other's only support and attachment.
************
Asaga and I headed towards the now-empty manor. I didn't want to take innocent lives,
nor did I want to become a casualty of the war. The manor left behind by the Burning Ruins was secluded enough, and it was the only place I could
think of to stay. If possible, I hoped to live there with Asaga forever.
All available transportation had been destroyed by the phase energy wave. I tried to repair it, but my
mediocre skills were completely incapable of pinpointing the problem. Desperate, I resorted to the most primitive method: carrying
the girl and using energy to fly.
I flew with Asaga all the way to that vast mountain forest. My energy was somewhat depleted, so to ensure
our safety, I chose to hike the last stretch of the trail with her.
There was no one living for hundreds of kilometers around, so it was very quiet. The only
sounds were our footsteps and the rustling of leaves. For some reason, the moonlight was completely blocked out of the earth, and
the dark forest offered no light.
I used a wisp of energy to create a sphere, barely illuminating our path. Without any navigation equipment,
I had to rely on memory, and had to fly above the treetops several times to confirm our general direction.
This made the journey through the forest quite long.
"I'm a little tired," Asaga said, holding my hand.
So much had happened that day. When the airship carrying the intelligence envoy appeared before us
, everything spiraled out of control, heading towards the abyss. I felt immense fear, then loneliness and despair, and finally, the feeling of
loss and recovery… I felt like a canoe adrift in a raging storm. Now, both
my mind and body were numb and stiff.
I needed rest, but an emotion I couldn't identify was pushing me to keep going.
"We'll be there soon. Let's walk a little further, then I'll carry you and fly a bit more," I said without turning back.
But Asaja stopped. She stood there stubbornly, holding onto me.
I looked back at the girl's expression and knew I probably couldn't sway her. So I spent five minutes
gathering some dry branches, found a relatively open spot, and used my energy to start a campfire.
The flames roared and burned, and the cold air was reluctantly driven away. I gradually
felt warm, and the soft firelight relaxed my nerves a little. Asaja's suggestion was right. When I sat down
on the dry tree trunk by the fire, I realized how exhausted I was.
"Humans..." As I was drifting off to sleep, Asaja suddenly spoke.
She hadn't spoken in that tone in a long time. I tensed up and turned to look at her.
Asaja just kept staring at the flames, her face expressionless. I even wondered if I
had misheard.
"What about humans?" I asked.
Asaga gently shook her head. "It's nothing. It's just that I'm increasingly aware of how different I am from you all
."
Hearing her say this, I felt inexplicably nervous. "Why do you say that?"
Asaga reached out to the flames, warming her palms. After a long while, she spoke again.
"Do you remember what you said and what you did back in the Land of Fallen Angels?"
That was a very, very long time ago, but I hadn't forgotten the scene. I just didn't know
what she was referring to, so I couldn't answer her question.
Asaga didn't wait for my answer; she continued on her own.
"I keep recalling your decisiveness when facing my father. At that moment, I truly admired
you. With that kind of resolve, standing resolutely before an invincible force, fighting for me.
I've never seen that kind of courage before. To risk everything, to abandon everything, for a single conviction. That moment
truly made me determined to spend my life with only you."
"And then today, I saw your cowardice and vulnerability. You were like a child, fearful, running away
. Trying to avoid all that can't be changed, afraid to think, afraid to make judgments. Like a
mindless wild beast, running through these mountains and fields on instinct. And so I'm even more grateful that I've returned, able to
be by your side at this moment. I've never wanted to protect you like this before, even though I have no power."
I understood what she was saying.
Since our first separation during the Battle of the Dome, Asaka had become more and more human, constantly growing stronger
until she destroyed her own dimensional city for me. From that moment on, the human characteristics in her began to
fade little by little. She faced her potential demise with such composure; and when she obtained the Eye of the Dragon and
regained her chance to live, she showed no elation.
Human emotions, joy and sorrow, grew increasingly insignificant in her. In her eyes, only I remained, as long as...
For Asaga, being alive and well, and being able to stay with her, was everything.
I thought she would stray from the characteristics of Riolette because of her weakness, but I didn't know it was actually because her desires were gradually
fading.
People are complicated because of desires, and they have many emotions because of desires. Asaga, however, is on the opposite
path.
What does this mean? Is it good or bad? I can't tell.
"I know what you're running away from. It's Chuxie." Her voice floated over again, "You dragged me and
ran desperately, wanting to start a new life as if nothing had happened, in that secluded manor.
Did you think that would allow you to escape the resentment and bitterness in your heart? Or did you think you could forget her?"
"Don't mention her." I tried to stop her from continuing.
"Actually, I understand." Asaga placed her hand on my head, gently smoothing my hair.
"Compared to me, you actually like her more."
"No!"
"When I left you two behind and returned to the abyss alone, all you had was longing and reluctance.
Now she left me and you, but you carry something unresolved in your heart. She can soothe your
reluctance to leave me, but I can't dispel your pent-up feelings for her."
"That's because you left me with a glimmer of hope for reunion, while she!" I unconsciously raised my voice
.
Asaga took my hand again: "Are you afraid I'll be jealous? I'm not a Shadow Clan member. I just feel a
little powerless. As a human like you, she understands you better than I do. When Chuxie was with you,
the reactions between the two of you were so multifaceted, a fusion that only humans can have. She gazed at you,
and also at the future she wanted; this complex desire made her vibrant. That's exactly
the kind of person you like."
"No, to me..."
Asaga raised a finger and touched my lips: "I've never questioned your feelings for me. It's just that you
treat me differently than you treat her. Because she and I are completely different beings to you. I'm just
regretful that I can't fill the void she left in your heart."
I gripped her hand tightly: "Don't say anymore... We are each other's everything; everyone else,
everything, is no longer relevant to us."
"Yes, that's already a fait accompli. We can't change anything."
"If all of this is just the result of going with the flow, then I'll be content. At least I haven't lost you."
"Thoughts are so complicated," Asaha sighed, leaning against me. "The fickleness of my heart is
why I can never become human again."
The soothing conversation by the campfire calmed my emotions. The extreme unease
and fear from being abandoned by Chu Xie gradually subsided under Asaha's comforting words. I didn't know how long it would take me
to forget everything Chu Xie had left me when I looked up at the sky, but it was something I had to do.
Humans are highly adaptable creatures, but we are also very forgetful. As time passes, we will eventually let go of
our attachments.
The branches slowly turned to ashes, and we set off again. Having rested, my energy had recovered considerably. I
carried the girl across several kilometers of mountains and forests, finally arriving at the manor before dawn.
It was deserted.
The large courtyard hadn't been swept and was soon covered with fallen leaves from the surrounding woods. The
main building, faintly visible in the dawn light, looked extremely gloomy.
All my companions had once gathered here, dreaming of the new life that was about to begin. Now, the stark
contrast made my throat tighten.
Asaja seemed somewhat dazed; I knew she was hungry.
The automated equipment in the manor hadn't escaped the same fate of malfunctioning. Fortunately,
there should still be plenty of convenient rations in the warehouse, originally intended to provide food for the stationed troops.
I'd never considered these things, so I didn't know where the food warehouse was. The manor was enormous;
it took Asaja and me the entire morning to find the food storage room in the southeast corner.
Hundreds of square meters of space, with shelves over ten meters high, were filled with a dazzling array of freshly packaged
foods. These things were originally meant to ensure the stationed members' nutrition for several months, but now,
with only the two of us, it should last for years.
Within a few years, I should be able to cultivate some land on the manor to be self-sufficient. With my energy,
hunting meat in this vast wilderness should be easy. If I wanted to, raising livestock wouldn't be impossible either.
Leaving the warehouse with enough food for several days, I looked somewhat bewildered at the empty manor.
Is this the new life we're about to begin? A few years later, living a peaceful,
secluded life as a farmer here?
Although somewhat bewildered, I'm certain this is better than being part of the war.
Asaga stared intently at the food I was carrying, her expression lifting my spirits slightly.
Her "indifference" subtly influenced me, obscuring the harsh truth from my subconscious
.
What's wrong with that? I asked myself.
The electric stove was definitely unusable; we'd likely have to cook using primitive methods. But
for a mercenary like me who had survived in the wilderness of [Divine Capital], it wasn't a big problem.
As for Asaga, if she was really hungry, she wouldn't mind eating the food raw.
In the storage room for everyday items, I found barbecue equipment, a frying pan, and charcoal. On the
expensive floor of the main building's lobby, Asaga and I set up a grill and had a unique meal.
Because of my appetite, I didn't feel uncomfortable despite not having eaten for almost twenty-four hours. But once
the soup in the pot boiled, the hunger still overwhelmed me.
Asahi held the bowl to her chest with both hands, looking at me expectantly, as if she couldn't wait any longer.
I couldn't help but think that only in these moments of barely suppressed desire did she seem more human.
Just then, the tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open, and a group of heavily armed soldiers in tactical armor...
The soldiers filed in. Startled, I nearly knocked over the cooking utensils in front of me. The clanging of metal jolted me awake
, and I immediately gathered my energy to protect Asaga.
More than twenty people… peering through the crack in the door, the number of uninvited guests outside was at least twice that of those inside
.
What made me even more nervous was that at least half of them were still carrying swords. They wore full-face modern
helmets, completely obscuring their faces; their armor was clearly designed for energy-based close combat, yet also incorporated
elements of modern technology.
If I wasn't mistaken, these should be Solomon's men… but why were they here?
I drew my sword, ready to strike at any moment. Strangely, however, these men didn't point their guns at me.
Upon seeing me, one of them immediately made contact using a cr. Their cr was still working,
further indicating that they were prepared for the phase energy attack.
I protected Asaga and retreated, carefully observing possible escape routes. The building's structure
flashed through my mind like lightning, and various feasible tactics began to take shape in my consciousness.
Just then, the group of soldiers parted to make way, and a man dressed similarly to them entered
the hall.
His helmet was very strange, with two tubes extending from his chin, curving backward like some kind of
new respirator.
He waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him turned and left
the building through the hall entrance. It all happened so suddenly and so strangely; these people's actions were completely baffling
.
Until the man in front of me removed his helmet.
"I knew it, you'd come here." Mr. Mercury hugged his helmet to his chest, squinted, and
let out two long sighs.
His voice was exactly the same as I remembered, a low, hoarse voice that left me feeling listless. But
the lingering sense of danger emanating from him kept pricking my nerves. Wearing combat gear, he shattered
the elegant image of his previous white suit, appearing very capable.
Mr. Mercury held out his palm and pressed it down on me, signaling me to put down my sword. But I didn't.
I hadn't forgotten that it was my trickery at the Mirror Sea that led to the crushing defeat of his Free Army.
He took two steps forward and peered at what we were cooking. He seemed a little disappointed, and
before the food burned, he used the pot handle to remove the soup from the grill.
This ordinary action seemed extremely strange in the current environment; no one could believe that Mr. Mercury would care about
a pot of soup someone else had made.
Mr. Mercury picked up a ladle, gently blew on the soup, and then took a sip. He seemed quite satisfied with the soup
, and then simply dragged over the chair I had been sitting on, put his helmet on the ground, and filled his bowl to the brim.
Should I take this opportunity to rush up and subdue him? Or…
Mr. Mercury didn't give me a chance to think; he spoke while drinking the soup.
"I'm not here to fight. If I really wanted to be your enemy, I wouldn't have been hiding my identity for so long."
His way of stating his position was simple and effective, and I immediately believed him to the most extent. Because with his intelligence
, he should be able to easily understand my stance as a protector. Asaga is my weakness right now, but he doesn't
intend to exploit it.
He disbanded his subordinates, which means he has some decisive way to ensure his safety, and
I don't need to risk testing him.
"A long time ago, Chuxie received a card. Did you send it to her?" I asked.
"It's time to wake up." Mr. Mercury sipped his soup, repeating the words written on the card.
"So you've always known our movements, but you didn't seek revenge."
Mr. Mercury sipped his hot soup, his shoulders looking relaxed. "I said from the beginning that my goal
was simply to allow the New Humans to return to the outside world as human as possible. Since Burning Ruins and First Evil joined forces to preserve
the dignity of the New Humans, I don't mind losing to you. As for being deceived, it's because you're more capable than me
; I concede."
"Do you think I'd believe that?"
"At this point, what difference does it make if you don't believe me?"
"Did you join forces with Solomon? The Divine Capital Kingdom must be a product of your collaboration, right?"
I clearly remembered that all the conflicts between the New Humans and the Old Humans had
traces of conspiracy behind them. It was precisely these escalating conflicts that allowed Solomon to gather the public
support for his nation-building.
"No. Since returning, I've only done one thing: watch the show."
Mr. Mercury's answer was so frank. I'm not an expert at detecting lies, so I couldn't expose his pretense
.
"If you've just been watching the show, why are you here now?"
Mr. Mercury slowly finished his soup, then pulled an old-fashioned Crk from his inner pocket. I
'd sold those before; it was an older model with a physical interface. He held out his hand to me, gesturing for me to take it.
I pulled Asaga close, cautiously leaning in to take the Crk.
"She's smart," Mr. Mercury said, picking up the helmet from the ground and placing it on his lap. "She managed to find
me, and she knows who to trust."
"What?" I didn't understand.
Mr. Mercury blinked, then suddenly changed the subject: "Do you know why Solomon was able to locate
your warp gate?"
My heart skipped a beat, and I shook my head blankly.
Mr. Mercury raised his hand, holding up three fingers: "I suspect each of the three gifts I gave you carries
a locator. I traced the provenance of the artworks; the owner of Laoco?n is connected to the Solomon forces; the public
authorities may have interfered with the manuscript. Of course, these are all just my guesses. But that starry night painting,
I definitely tampered with it."
"Impossible," I shook my head firmly. "We checked carefully upon receiving them; there were no transmitting
devices. And we even replaced the entire outer packaging."
"Your own weakness lies in underestimating the power of technological development. Although we don't know
what methods Solomon and the public regime used, that starry sky painting contained a cutting-edge technology that only we possess."
"Do we still need to keep it a secret?" I asked, frowning.
Mr. Mercury had no intention of keeping us in suspense; he uttered a name I had never heard before: "Isotope computing
chip."
"What's that?"
"In the paint of that painting, we used different isotopes to program
something similar to a computer chip that can transmit information. Although it can only perform very simple functions, it's
enough to locate you. This technology has never been made public, so you couldn't possibly guard against it. Therefore, it's only natural that Solomon
and the public regime used the same methods on you."
No one could have imagined that the goodwill from the old humans would contain the seeds of destruction.
Behind the three gifts lay a complex web of interests and conspiracies. The fact that the public regime could give us that fake starry sky painting
as a gift shows that Mr. Mercury still wields enormous influence within the public regime
.
But at the same time, I also realized something important.
"You informed Chu Xie that Solomon had invaded the missile base, right?"
Only he could have intercepted this intelligence from the public government's intelligence network.
"That's right. Current isotope computers can only transmit binary information, but Chu Xie still decisively
turned on the receiving frequency. This action would greatly increase the chance of the warp fleet being exposed, but she still
did it. She's smart enough to immediately realize that since there's something like this in that fake,
there are countless ways to expose the fleet's location."
"Even if you gave her the intelligence, how could she possibly trust you?"
Mr. Mercury turned to me, held up a finger, and waved it in front of my eyes. For him, who was always as
dull as sand, this was already a very excited gesture.
"This is the tacit understanding between her and me. She immediately knew that the painting came from my channels. Because
not many people know that the real thing is in their hands, and I am one of them. Under these circumstances, still sending a fake
was to make her aware of this deliberate gesture. If necessary, to remind her of my
possible presence in the whole affair, that's enough."
Mr. Mercury paused slightly, then continued, "Chu Xie decisively initiated reverse communication and contacted
me, so I told her about Solomon's actions. But at that time, no one knew that Solomon had another
trick up his sleeve. Only Chu Xie..."
"What happened to her?"
"Only she knew that Solomon wouldn't do something so desperate. Underneath his grand actions,
there must be a sure-fire backup plan. So she acted decisively and activated your warp gate, which allowed her
to escape before the real attack arrived."
Hearing Chu Xie's former greatest enemy say such things felt like a distant memory. I stood there
, involuntarily imagining Chu Xie issuing the order to depart—an
order to abandon me—in the most resolute and unwavering voice. She's truly remarkable now… that insight and tenacious spirit
are on par with Ran Xu's.
"In her final moments, Chu Xie left you something. It's inside that CRK, and she asked me to deliver it
to you. So I came, to complete the task she entrusted to me."
I held the CRK, my hands trembling.
"Did you see what's inside?" I asked.
"No," Mr. Mercury said, standing up, a slight smile playing on his lips. This was the only time he ever smiled,
and I understood its meaning.
He told a simple lie, a lie he wasn't afraid I'd see through. From his perspective, it was absolutely impossible
for him to disregard such confidential information. He wasn't a rigid adherent of principles, but neither was he a
morally bankrupt wretch; he was showing me respect in his own unique way.
Mr. Mercury walked to the door, closed the hall door, leaving Asahi and me inside.
I shakily turned on the CRCK; it only contained a recording.
I pressed play with my index finger.
Perhaps due to signal transmission issues, the file played with significant interference.
Amidst the hissing white noise, a faint breathing sound came through.
In a fraction of a second, I recognized it as Chu Xie's breathing. That tiny sound
instantly stole my heart.
It was a breath suppressed deep in her throat; I could almost feel the girl
trembling all over, trying to control her stiff throat. I could see her trembling shoulders and her tightly clenched lips.
For a full ten seconds, she finally couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a short sob.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
Faced with this belated message, I ultimately couldn't escape—
a universe separated Chu Xie and me. Her voice was like a hand reaching out, trying to grasp my clothes tightly. But,
in both time and space, an immeasurable distance had separated us.
Amidst Chu Xie's sobs, the faint sounds of bustling voices could be heard; it seemed many people were busy behind her.
At that moment, she must have just given the order to activate the warp gate, and the entire fleet's control group was
operating frantically.
"I'm sorry…" Chu Xie managed to utter a barely audible sentence with all her might.
"It's alright…" I replied softly, clutching the CRK, in a way she would never hear.
In the recording, Chu Xie could no longer control herself; she cried, crying like
a child thrown into a desolate wilderness.
I couldn't stand any longer either, collapsing to the ground while clutching the CRK.
"I know you can never forgive me, because I can't forgive myself either…
But you know, this is what I had to do. I chose them, not you… Osovie
… You're right, I already regret it, I regret it so much… But I still can't change my choice."
" Choice."
"I envy Asaga. When I realized I had to shoulder this responsibility, I understood
how simple and happy her choice was. If only I had never been in this position, but...
there are no 'ifs' in this world."
Chu Xie managed to say these words before falling silent again. She tried to suppress her almost collapsing emotions,
wanting to say a few more words to me, but she just couldn't.
After a long while, her breathing became calm enough for her to speak.
"Come find me." She suddenly uttered this word.
"The third spaceship has been automatically placed on the far side of the moon. If the warp gate is destroyed, at
least that ship can be saved. Find a way to board that ship, the route has been set! Only you know the password, it's
Osovie CRK's..."
At this moment, an unfamiliar voice came from behind Chu Xie: "Ready!"
"Come find me! Greedy Wolf! Come find me!! Come find me!! Don't forget me!!" Chu Xie raised her voice,
shouting with all her might.
Everything fell silent, leaving only a white noise. I know that at that moment, Chu Xie mustered
all her courage, threw down the communicator, and walked towards the control panel that opened the gate of destiny.
I stared blankly at the CRK in my hands, as if frozen in time.
A third spaceship? To find her? Chu Xie was still waiting for me?
My mind was instantly washed over by something both painful and refreshing.
Suddenly, the recording file that I thought had ended started playing again, this time a man's voice.
Melfis picked up the communicator that Chu Xie had thrown down.
"Three hundred and sixty light-years. The maximum speed of this kind of spaceship is sixty-three percent of the speed of light. Taking into account
the time for acceleration and deceleration, it will take at least eight centuries for you to reach Nassalis. By then, both
she and I will have been dead for a long time."
Melfis's cold voice echoed on the CRK like a divine warning.
"She probably wanted to wait for you in cryogenic hibernation after arriving. But I have to tell you, that's impossible.
Eight centuries of hibernation? Nobody knows what will happen during that time. And while she's
busy with the rise of the entire new humanity, time will slip by like flowing water. She'll be busy year after year, postponing her
hibernation again and again. Her passion and dreams are being realized vibrantly on that land;
would she easily let go? When she can no longer keep going, she'll find herself old. At that time
, she definitely won't let you see her aged appearance. Chu Xie is that kind of woman; you know
her best. By then, the reluctance and longing of this moment will have become shadows in her memory. So
she will finally accept reality, continue her elegance and ambition, then grow old, die, carrying with her last
trace of apology and love for you."
"Face it, this is reality."
I gripped the cr tightly in my hand, my knuckles turning white.
"Even if I say that, you'll still come, won't you?" Melfiston paused, then let out a
snort. "No matter what, you'll risk everything to board that ship, crossing 360 light-years
to fulfill a promise she can never keep. Even knowing that eight hundred years later you'll experience
a bottomless abyss of despair, you'll still fight back amidst blood and mud,
abandoning your flesh and dignity in a pathetic state to chase after the illusory image she paints for you."
"I envy you, because you'll live on, either in a rotten or abject state, tearing apart
your beliefs for certain things, smashing your self-respect for certain things. Filled with insatiable desires, eternally
tormented by them, and yet you live on."
"Then struggle, struggle with the attitude of abandoning everything, if you believe this is the only
way to touch the end of desire... That's how people live. Live vibrantly, even if you don't get what you want,
your struggle will leave an indelible mark on this world, just like when I fought alongside you
."
"I'm different from Chu Xie. I don't intend to give you any unrealistic fantasies. I won't be waiting for you there,
so... farewell, Rotten Bone Wolf."
"Farewell, brother."
The file's timer finished ticking down to its last second, then automatically closed the program.
"Farewell," I silently said in my heart.
I closed my eyes, letting Melfis's image slowly fade from my mind.
I had never truly listened to his comments about Chu Xie. But at that moment, he was right. Chu Xie
ultimately chose her own path in life, a path I couldn't follow.
Yet she showed me an incredibly small possibility, giving me a chance to overturn Melfis's conclusions
. It all depends on whether I continue to believe the new picture Chu Xie paints for me.
Melfis is Melfis… He tore open the bloody truth for my bewildered self, yet in his own
way gave me the courage to face everything.
Asaga leaned over and put her arms around my shoulders.
“You make the decision.” She leaned against me, infusing me with strength through her gentleness.
“I… want to go find her…” I said to her in a trembling voice.
“I’ll be with you. The three of us will be together again.” Asaga smiled at me.
I felt like I was laughing too, but no one could truly distinguish my laughter from my tears,
not even myself.
Eight centuries… eight centuries ago, humanity hadn’t even begun the Renaissance.
Three hundred and sixty light-years—I simply couldn’t connect that number with my own impressions.
But so what? Someone was waiting for me, and someone was there for me.
Mr. Mercury had timed it perfectly; after we had calmed down a bit, he pushed open the door again and came
in.
"I'm very grateful that you brought this to me." I looked directly at him and expressed my gratitude.
"Doing things like this occasionally can give you a sense of satisfaction," Mr. Mercury said, already appearing quite composed
.
"So... you know about the existence of the third ship behind the moon, right?" I asked.
Mr. Mercury nodded.
"As a reward, I invite you to come aboard," I said.
Judging from my assessment, the reason Mr. Mercury specifically sought me out was largely because only I knew
the code to activate the ship. I wasn't sure if Mr. Mercury's technology could crack it, but right now, with
all human electronic devices shut down, any breakthrough would be extremely difficult.
"I didn't say I wanted to go with you."
Unexpectedly, Mr. Mercury gave a refusal.
"You're not leaving? Do you know the current situation between the Returners and the Old Humans..."
Mr. Mercury interrupted me directly.
"Of course I know, so I'm staying to win this war."
Was he really a fanatical warmonger? I thought, shaking my head.
"Even if you win, so what? Will Solomon let your power grow? Even if the Returners win
, there will be internal strife among you. Are you sure you'll survive?"
Mr. Mercury lit a cigarette. He had his helmet tucked under one arm, and a cigarette dangling from his other hand,
puffing away.
"Quite the opposite. I'm staying to help the public government clean up its mess."
"What did you say?!" This answer completely surprised me.
Mr. Mercury, still puffing on his cigarette, nodded in my direction. "So you have no idea what I really want."
I fell silent, trying to recall the moments we'd crossed paths.
"You're not really doing this for some high-sounding rhetoric about human welfare, are you?"
"Even you know that's child's play," Mr. Mercury retorted bluntly.
He strolled leisurely through the hall: "You all think I'm a fanatical warmonger. That label
isn't entirely wrong, but in reality, war is merely a means, not an end."
"Competition is the best driving force for progress. For humanity, war is the best competition. It's war that gave
humanity high-intensity smelting, gunpowder, the wheel, jet aircraft, and even nuclear fission and the second cosmic velocity. But I 'm not some bored madman hoping to use war to evolve humanity. I simply saw 　　a new direction
flashing in the Returners . I realized this would be a completely new direction for human development, but the old humanity would ultimately not allow 　　the Returners to continue existing until they were replaced—this is the foolish resistance of the eliminated. So, initially 　　, my plan was to stand with Solomon and help humanity renew itself." 　　"But what Chu Xie did changed my stance. She gave both races perfect room for development, 　　eliminating the inevitable choice of a life-or-death struggle. Thus, the new and old humans can 　　continue to advance with their unique civilizations, and compete in a few hundred years to prove which form humanity should truly have. Therefore, I 　　stand with Chu Xie, hoping the immigration will succeed." 　　"Solomon's actions are a manifestation of short-sighted lust for power. For this desire, he is willing to sacrifice 　　everyone's life. This behavior will destroy the old humans' opportunities for progress, robbing them of countless chances and 　　possibilities." 　　"Especially given the current situation, the technological weaponry upon which the old humans rely has suffered enormous damage. Coupled with 　　the power of the virus, the returnees could completely win this war. But why should I allow two completely identical 　　civilizations to coexist simultaneously on Earth and Nasarius?" 　　"The current public government isn't capable enough to wage such a comprehensive and ugly war. So 　　I've already communicated with them, and I will fight this battle." 　　I had to admire Mr. Mercury's vision; it transcended that of the human race. His strategic and tactical 　　abilities were on full display during the Mirror Sea. However… 　　"You're also a Returner, the source of the virus yourself. How could the public government possibly allow you to return to the leadership 　　?" 　　Mr. Mercury gently patted the helmet under his arm. "So, from now on, I will always wear this isolation 　　helmet. Perhaps Hughes and the others will thoughtfully provide me with a sterile room for showering or something, but that's not important." 　　I was amazed by his awareness, and also by the decisiveness and magnanimity of the public government's leadership. If 　　what he said was true, the old humans might actually win. 　　"But even if you win, you'll only be the last returnee on Earth. At that time, 　　you'll still be a breeding ground for pathogens. Aren't you afraid the public authorities will come back and deal with you?" 　　"Of course they will deal with me. I'll just end it all in a more elegant way before they do 　　." 　　I gaped. "Are you crazy?" 　　"As long as I don't die, I'll always be a threat to the old humanity. Why should I fight for them now?" 　　"You…" 　　Mr. Mercury finished his cigarette, casually tossing the butt onto the expensive floor and stomping it out. The action 　　was so casual and nonchalant, indicating that what he was saying was pre-planned. 　　"Living just to survive has no value to me. Just imagine 　　the moment when the Nasarians and Earthlings meet again hundreds of years later. 　　What is the short life of a mere human compared to that magnificent scene?" 　　After a long while, I finally nodded to him, expressing my respect. 　　Mr. Mercury didn't even look at me; he didn't care about my attitude towards him. He and I aren't the same kind of people; he 　　's more like Chu Xie. No wonder only he understands what Chu Xie is thinking; Chu Xie is the same. They're both 　　idealists, but Mr. Mercury possesses more cold rationality than Chu Xie, so his way of achieving his ideals 　　lacks elegance, but is more effective. 　　"I don't know what you plan to do next, but I advise you not to show your face in the Southern Hemisphere," he 　　said to me. "The woman beside you is your biggest weakness. If Solomon uses her to coerce you into participating in the war, it will 　　have a huge impact on the war I'm about to take over. If you appear in the Southern Hemisphere, I will use every 　　means to kill you." 　　I frowned: "But the spaceports here are almost completely destroyed, and the electronic equipment is unusable."

"I have no way of finding a third spaceship with all this stuff."
Mr. Mercury seemed to have known I'd say that. "
Remember the manor where you and those assassins went to assassinate Solomon?"
I nodded blankly.
"To guard against assassination, Solomon hid an underground spaceship launch platform in that manor. A simple
detour from space would make it impossible for any assassin to intercept him. After your raid, Solomon abandoned that place
. If you're not too unlucky, you should be able to find a usable space shuttle there."
He knew everything about us and Solomon; it seemed his influence had been infiltrating every corner,
unbeknownst to us. I became increasingly convinced that he would win this war.
Mr. Mercury left with his men. Among them were indeed many Returnees. In
this war where Returnees were destined to die, these people remained steadfastly loyal to him. I didn't know
how he had managed to win over such a group of die-hards.
However, the outcome of this war was irrelevant to me; my path and Asaga's path were already very clear.
**********
...

Once everything was ready, I opened the heavy alloy concrete roof of the hangar. A gloomy purple
sky shrouded the exit, but my mood was completely different now.
The mechanical vibrations rubbed against my pounding heart as we flew upwards, flying on and on, seemingly without
end.
For the first time, Earth, influenced by phase energy, emitted a hazy purple spectrum in space. This was my
final farewell to Earth; the planet grew smaller and smaller behind us. What was about to happen on it
, from the timeline, became coordinates infinitely distant from us.
The bright moon in space gradually expanded in our field of vision. My heart leaped into my chest as
I maneuvered the space shuttle slightly off course, gliding behind it.
When the third immigrant spaceship finally emerged from the edge of the moon, I felt as if my chest
was about to burst. Chu Xie really did leave the spaceship behind; she hadn't lied about it.
Asahi Jia sensed my joy; she looked at me with satisfaction and playfully tugged at my
ear. The girl's action seemed to carry many complex meanings, but I could no longer discern them.
The enormous spaceship quickly enveloped our portholes. It was a
super-spaceship, large enough to carry millions of people in a cryogenic hibernation system, the size of a city. It could only be built in
space, far from Earth's gravity; otherwise, its own weight would destroy it.
Our shuttle's AI connected to the spaceship's AI channel, and I received
a request to enter a password.
I entered the password I had used on the Osovie Crk:
CR-A-N-E .
Privileges were quickly transferred, and I became the highest-ranking member of that sentence-shaped spaceship.
The shuttle was steadily pulled into one of the countless entrances by the ship's guiding force field. When the gate closed with
a dull metallic thud, my heart finally settled.
Asaga and I stepped out of our space shuttle; this was the first time I had seen the main
hangar of the warp gate fleet.
It was practically a plain; if it weren't for the unique lighting system, the ceiling would have
seemed as high as the sky.
Following the various directional labels on the wall, it took
me a full half hour just to find my way from the helipad to the main control room. Then I suddenly remembered I could use the ship's AI for navigation.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a usable Crk device on hand.
Exhausted, we finally made it into the main control room. Reluctantly, I had the AI run
the navigation again, only to discover that it actually took less than ten minutes to get up there.
Frustrated, I questioned the AI, then found a Crk
device in the nearest crew storage area and installed it, finally giving up.
Just as Chu Xie had said, the ship's trajectory was completely set.
Looking at the star map on the large screen, I was lost in thought. At the end of that trajectory, formed by beautiful geometric curves
, a beautiful planet was slowly rotating.
Chu Xie was waiting for me.
I started the ship, beginning this journey spanning eight centuries.
On the flank of the main control room, there are special hibernation pods prepared for the crew, which will become
the containers for Asaga and me. We will spend nearly a thousand years alone inside, a thought that
makes me a little uneasy, since no one knows what might happen during that time.
However, I am not afraid, because the allure of the future has completely overwhelmed any negative emotions.
"Are you scared?" I pressed the activation button on the hibernation pod, looking around at our new "living environment."
"A little…" Asaga said timidly.
"It's just a nap. Whatever the future holds, at least I hope to have a good dream here." I…

"I'm afraid that when I wake up, you'll be gone," Asaga sighed. 　　I
paused, a warm feeling melting in my heart. It was a pity that this place didn't have a double hibernation pod;
otherwise, I would have loved to stay with Asaga forever.
"Like you said before, even if we're accidentally separated, we'll do everything in our power to find each other,"
Asaga nodded with a smile upon hearing my words.
I returned to the control panel and rechecked the preset programs and AI contingency plans to ensure our
safe voyage. After completing the checks, I ordered the AI to shut down the ship's unused
power, hoping to conserve energy as much as possible. After all, this ship was too large, and keeping it running all the time was a waste of energy;
no one knew if we might encounter an emergency requiring a critical power supply during the voyage.
"Warning! Undefined personnel detected on the C-7080 hibernation bridge. Continue with power cut?"
The sudden AI alarm pierced my nerves.
"Undefined personnel? Who is it?"
There was a third person on this ship... The thought sent chills down my spine. If we hadn't deliberately
turned off the power, Asaga and I would have gone into hibernation, which would have been like handing our necks to someone.
"Undetectable, no identification code."
"Can you locate it!?" I shouted.
AI quickly transmitted a floor plan of the ship's cabins to my CRK; a glaring red dot was flashing in one
of the cabins housing hibernation pods.
I drew my sword, pulled Asaga out of the control room, and locked it with password privileges.
Only Asaga and I knew the password, so I wasn't worried about any uninvited guests taking control
. This was our biggest bargaining chip; even if the other side was the enemy, we still had this last trump card.
I had intended to leave Asaga here, but neither of us could accept separation. She was afraid I wouldn't return,
and I was afraid something might happen to her—we had to rely on each other for eight centuries; any mishap would be unacceptable to us.
We took the bridge conveyor belt straight to cabin C-7080. On the way, I kept my eyes glued to
the red dot on the CRK. The red dot didn't move, like a dead man.
We opened one of the doors in the ship's hold, and Asaga and I went inside. Although it wasn't the first time I'd seen
those hibernation pods stacked hundreds of meters high, each time it was still astonishing. Those densely packed hibernation
pods filled the entire field of vision like a honeycomb on both sides of the walls, stretching all the way into the dark shadows overhead
. This wasn't the living area, so the default lighting system only covered a dozen meters or so close to the ground. Walking here
always gave me a sense of unease, as if shrouded in shadow.
The red dot was at the corner of the sector ahead. I told Asaga to stay behind me in a safe distance, raised my energy
, and enhanced the power of my sword.
Perhaps startled by my energy, the red dot finally moved.
"Come out!" I called out first, hoping to gain some initiative.
After shouting, I immediately changed positions and bent down. Having experienced
the destructive power of a top assassin in such a confined space, I couldn't afford to be careless.
The first thing to appear around the corner was a sword.
It was covered in cracks, like a crystal... I could hardly believe my eyes.
Broken Frost emerged with incredibly slow steps, the tip of Hissfield's sword scraping against the floor with
a piercing, sharp sound.
"This is impossible! You're dead!!" a terrified voice blurted out.
Broken Frost didn't answer; he simply turned slowly to face me. His armor and clothes were tattered
beyond recognition, his hair tangled, utterly devoid of elegance.
I saw a wound across his chest and scars on his arms. These were
the marks Melfis had left on him during his final blow, severing Broken Frost's body and arms that night.
But it was precisely these scars that proved the man standing before me was Broken Frost. I couldn't imagine
how he could have survived such a fatal wound.
The wound, almost forming a continuous line, looked as if it had melted away the surrounding flesh and rejoined itself
. Tangled, knotted scar tissue spread around the wound like tree branches, grotesque and terrifying.
He must have been able to sneak in from the Solomon outpost while we were preparing the ship, and
then, while we went to find the control room, he ran off to this place to hide.
This meant that Broken Frost hadn't died after falling off the cliff. He must have climbed back up and then
struggled alone to that manor to heal his wounds. As for how he sensed us and followed us onto the ship,
that's beyond my ability to determine.
Healing… that word sounded so ridiculous. Could such a fatal wound really heal?!
I wanted to roar at the man before me.
"It was you and Melfis who made me taste defeat and the fear of death… truly a rare
experience… I should express my gratitude to you,"
Broken Frost said. His voice hadn't changed, but it was filled with weariness and weakness.
"Greedy Wolf!!"
Asahi suddenly called my name, her voice filled with intense fear, sending a shiver down my spine. The
fact that this usually composed girl was making such a sound filled me with unease. I stared intently at
Po Shuang, slowly backing away, moving closer to where the girl was.
Po Shuang didn't move; he lowered his head, covering his face with his free hand, as if enduring a severe
headache.
"Asahi?" I called the girl's name, reaching back to take her hand.
The girl was trembling all over, even her teeth were chattering. I had never seen her
like this before.
"What's wrong!?" I asked anxiously.
Asahi gripped my hand tightly, managing to utter a single word after a few seconds.
"The...the Palace King..."
"What did you say!?"
"The Palace King...the Palace King is inside him!! No...he...he is the Palace King!!"
As a member of the Riolet clan, Asaga recognized the secret within Frostbreaker, a fact that almost completely overturned
our understanding.
"The Devourer Princess…is that right?"
Frostbreaker approached us step by step. He was still pressing his temples, his eyes half-closed.
He should have never seen Asaga before. Even if
he had seen her once when she was captured at Dreams Castle, he couldn't possibly know her identity. But now, he asked this question.
This could only mean that Asaga's judgment was correct.
"You're not Frostbreaker?!" I asked, still unwilling to accept it.
Frostbreaker bent over slightly, seemingly in increasing pain. It took him a full twenty seconds to straighten
up.
"I am Frostbreaker, but…" he paused, "soon I won't be entirely like that anymore."
After his brain regained its processing power, it seemed to have found some clues.
"Osovie was in the Dark Side back then, fighting the Palace King alongside you... You didn't actually fight; he just
persuaded the Palace King to use the [Egg of Rebirth] on you!!" I voiced my guess with a hint of skepticism,
knowing it was the only correct answer.
Looking back now, Osovie's idea was truly outlandish. With no one capable of truly resisting the Palace
King, he used Frostbreaker as a bargaining chip. Frostbreaker, being a true hermaphrodite, was probably of
unparalleled value to the Palace Clan. Moreover, he possessed the pinnacle of human power and the invincible Hissfield; it was easy
to guess how much the Palace King favored him.
The Palace Clan's structure was completely different from other Riolettes. From my interactions with Noti, Lunjing, and Liusha , I
sensed the Palace Clan's incredibly human nature; their methods and principles
were completely unpredictable. Similarly, I couldn't compare the Palace King to other Riolette kings
.
I could imagine that Osovie persuaded the Palace King to make a deal with Frostbreaker. The Palace King condensed the [Egg of Rebirth
], while Frostbreaker risked having its will devoured. Both were gambling. If the Palace King won, the
vibrant Earth would become the starting point for his revival of the Palace Clan. If Frostbreaker won, he would possess
the full power of a Riolet King.
Aismiry once said that she and Frostbreaker were the only two people truly dedicated to the pursuit of power.
I wasn't surprised by Frostbreaker's choice.
Judging from previous signs, Frostbreaker had indeed emerged as the winner. He maintained his will and
completely suppressed the Palace King's presence. I now understand
why, during my and Melfis's battle with him, he could summon the contract armor capable of withstanding Zero Slash without incantations—it was
the power directly from the Palace King's [Egg of Rebirth].
Frostbreaker's willpower is truly strong; his ability to perfectly suppress the Palace King's consciousness is the best proof.
However, the most poignant figure here is Osovie. He perfectly resolved the Palace Clan crisis in a short time
, but directly jeopardized the fate of all humanity on Earth, and even the future of humanity's strongest warrior.
His audacity and ruthlessness are truly unsettling.
Who could have imagined that, after so long, his shadow would once again loom over me?
When my thoughts reached this point, I understood everything that had happened.
"The fatal wounds Melfis and I inflicted on you gave the Palace King an opportunity..."
On the verge of death, Broken Frost had to use the Palace King's power to repair his damaged body. His will was
also crumbling, allowing the Palace King to seize the opportunity. At this moment, a
battle was probably still raging deep within Broken Frost's soul.
"Ha, the correct answer...we...I...will become...a brand new me..."
His speech was no longer able to function correctly, proof that his consciousness was completely in chaos. Two
different memories and personalities were constantly attacking each other's existence, causing Broken Frost to show a pained expression.
"Frostbreak! Guard your consciousness! Come with us to the New World!! I've
invited everyone in your guild onto the immigration ship, and they're already on their way to Nasarius. Don't you want to see the future?!" I
yelled at him.
Frostbreak slowly raised his head, and I saw clarity in his eyes.
"Thank you for what you did for them, thank you," Frostbreak said sincerely, his words clear
and crisp. Then, in the next second, he let out a roar. Worm-like flesh 　　gushed
wildly from his wounds , solidifying into countless waving, pitch-black tentacles. 　　The King's consciousness had completely breached Frostbreak's last line of defense, and the fusion had truly begun. 　　The uncontrollable forces belonging to Riolet caused drastic changes to his body; he was no longer human. 　　"The future... the future awaits me..." Whether it was the King, Frostbreak, or the one 　　he had become, he murmured incoherent words. 　　The flailing tentacles gradually subsided, moving gently in the air behind Frostbreak with a stable and weighty presence 　　, radiating the aura of authority unique to the King of Riolet—almost 　　exactly the same as when I met the Devourer King. 　　"Frostbreak?" I called out to him, clinging to my last hope. 　　"...Yes...Frostbreak..." He nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought. "I will 　　always use this name. The entire Dark Side will know my name...I am Palace King Frostbreak..." 　　My heart sank. 　　Palace King Frostbreak turned to look into my eyes: "So you're such a powerful fellow, Greedy Wolf...that 　　child Quicksand...said there was someone who led the remnants of humanity, facing our Palace Clan's Abyss elite with unwavering courage 　　. So it was you. Quicksand expressed deep admiration for you. It's a pity I 　　didn't know you were this kind of person when I was in Drae Ams. It's a regret that I couldn't get to know you properly." 　　Frostbreak's speech became increasingly fluent, until finally, there were no flaws. He mentioned 　　the battle between the quicksand and us, and also mentioned dreams... It seems the fusion is complete.

I couldn't help but wonder, if Asaga and I hadn't come to this place in the first place, perhaps the undisturbed Frostbreaker
could have defeated the Palace King again? Or perhaps, because of seeing me, Frostbreaker was able to experience a brief resurgence and
fight the Palace King once more? No one knows the answer, because no one can turn back time.
I looked at the newly reborn King of Rioret before me, my heart filled with mixed emotions.
But the strongest feeling was fear. Because if he truly abandoned his human identity and became Rioret
, even if his Frostbreaker consciousness still existed, what he was going to do was beyond my control.
"This day has finally come... Quicksand, and everyone else, are still struggling in the Dark Side. They have hoped countless times that
I could bring a new dawn... I have not disappointed them. The Palace Clan is finally going to rise. One
day, I will lead billions of people back to the Dark Side and destroy those arrogant and overbearing creatures in the Abyss
..."
Frostbreaker sighed in the dim darkness, his face filled with endless sorrow. I even saw
tears streaming down his face.
But this didn't move me; instead, it filled me with a deeper fear.
I had a vague idea of what he was about to do…
On this spaceship, he would lie dormant for eight centuries. When he arrived in Nasarius,
the world of the new humanity would become the cradle and foothold for his revival of the Palace Clan.
Where did his "billions" come from? The answer was obvious.
"Let's start with you two," Frostbreaker said, fixing his gaze on me and Asaga. "Greedy Wolf, your soul
possesses a radiance that captivates me. I invite you to become a member of our Palace Clan. Quicksand has high hopes for you, and I
trust her judgment… If I can find a way back to the Dark Side and the Abyss, I can make you the Lord of the Royal City."
As he spoke, a shadow-black tentacle curled slightly, as if it wanted to
do something to me. My mind immediately tensed, ready to fight. But Frostbreaker seemed to
respect me; he didn't move.
He then looked at Asaga: "Princess of the Devourer Clan... though she seems to have lost her power, she
is perfectly suited to be the initial mother of the next generation of our Palace Clan. You two, submit to me, and I will
bless your union. Your next generation will follow me and usher in glory in the War of the Abyss."
I was stiff and speechless, but Asaga grabbed my hand.
"Destroy the ship," she whispered in my ear.
"What?" I asked instinctively.
"We can't let him go to Nasarius... Chu Xie is still waiting for you there. He will
turn all the humans on that planet into a breeding ground for his own use, and then the new humans will cease to exist. We must destroy the ship
."
I looked at Asaga in surprise, amazed by her resolve. I hadn't expected her to speak from the perspective of humanity
.
Asaka saw through my thoughts, but she simply shook her head: "Sacrifice is
a quality that makes humans superior to all other creatures, even the Leorettes. I just wanted to try it out, and it didn't seem particularly difficult
. You know it's the right choice; we won't submit to him, so we'll die no matter what."
"You're wrong. We have another path." I hugged Asaka and kissed the girl's forehead forcefully.
I pushed her aside and raised my sword.
Frostbite raised its head slightly, showing approval of my choice.
"I won't die at the hands of the same person twice. And this time, it's just you."
"Yes. But this time, I'll let you experience my full power."
"Azure, Contract Armor!!" Azure responded to my call without hesitation, and this armor, on which I placed all my hopes 　　, covered my entire body
with a resolute posture . 　　"Ah...no wonder..." Frostbite let out a soft sigh of admiration. "You actually obtained the power of the vampires 　　. Members of the assassin group certainly couldn't contend with such power. However, I 　　witnessed this power thousands of years ago. This power couldn't save the vampires; they still perished." 　　"That doesn't mean I can't beat you," I replied in a voice half his size. 　　Frostbite didn't speak again; he simply smiled and raised his sword. 　　A white light pierced through the shattered crystal blade, forming a devastating blade of light in the air. 　　Hissfield arrogantly unleashed his light, engulfing the entire cabin and even illuminating the dark 　　ceiling above. 　　I activated Zero Shift, gliding towards Frostbite. This time, I didn't instinctively choose to stay behind him, because 　　he had easily seen through my movements last time, and this time I had to break that habit. 　　But then I knew I was wrong, because the layers of tentacles on Frostbite's body had already begun to move. They were 　　like countless darting blades, forming an impenetrable barrier around Frostbreaker. 　　The instant the Zero-Shift effect wore off, I took three tentacled thrusts head-on with my sword, forced to 　　move away again. 　　Frostbreaker didn't even use Hissfield; he simply brandished his hard black tentacles, 　　occupying every possible position I might appear from every angle, then mercilessly stabbing me the moment I revealed myself. 　　In just five minutes, I used Zero-Shift and Zero-Slash dozens of times, severing more than twenty of his tentacles, yet 　　I couldn't get close enough to attack him. Energy was being consumed like flowing water, while he 　　hadn't even moved. 　　This was the Palace King… a combination of the Palace King and Frostbreaker… 　　I now truly understood the difference in absolute power. No wonder 　　Cangzhui was so terrified of my greed when I said I wanted to challenge the Devourer King. 　　I couldn't win, as the thought finally crossed my mind, but my heart became calm. 　　So I changed my final strategy; victory was no longer impossible. 　　Under my onslaught, Broken Frost finally couldn't hold back any longer. As he lunged forward, his tentacles 　　stretched out like chains, piercing deeply into the surrounding walls. 　　I frantically used Zero Movement to evade his pursuit, but the tentacles pulled at Broken Frost's body, forcing him to change direction.

The speed at which I changed direction increased several times. Hissfield's light flashed behind me several times, each time
nearly cleaving me in two.
But my movement wasn't meaningless; I seized the opportunity and finally led Frostbreak to my intended
position.
"Come on!!" I roared, suddenly abandoning my maneuvering and instantly moving to within two meters
of Frostbreak.
A ripping scream echoed in my mind—the mournful cry of Cangzhui. She had read my mind
.
The nearest tentacle pierced my protective shield, leaving several wounds on my skin, but it didn't truly
harm me.
I raised my sword high and slashed down at Frostbreak's head. This strike contained all my energy,
hoping for the scenario I envisioned.
A tentacle that barely blocked the blade's path was easily severed, barely reducing the speed of the attack.
Frostbreak held Hissfield horizontally, the light instantly engulfing my vision.
In the vast emptiness, I felt the weight of my weapon suddenly decrease.
The new weapon was effortlessly cleaved in two by Hissfield, with only a five-centimeter-long blade remaining
, slicing through Frostbreaker's chest and taking away only a shred of cloth.
Another tentacle on Frostbreaker's back rose, slashing at my
chest before my attack was even finished.
A mouthful of blood gushed from my mouth, and everything went black. My body flew backward, crashing into
the wall.
I don't know how many bones were broken; thankfully, I used some energy to cushion the impact, otherwise
my spine might have been fractured.
Frostbreaker shook the sword in its hand and lunged at me with speed exceeding level zero.
The next strike would kill me; I knew that very well. My weapon was gone, and even getting back
up was incredibly difficult.
But I did it anyway, because it was something I had to do.
A tentacle pierced my chest, almost pinning me to the wall.
But the distance was close enough; as Frostbreaker's fatal attack approached, I channeled all my remaining
energy into the short staff in my hand.
A golden light, like dazzling sunlight, resisted the light of Hissfield, forming
a brilliant arc in my hand.
I had never used a bow before, so aiming was difficult. But at this distance, even I could hit the target.
AZZA's golden bow.
In that instant, my departed friend fought alongside me.
The moment my chest was pierced, I had already drawn the bowstring taut. AZZA's shadow smiled at me,
and I fired three arrows at Broken Frost.
King Broken Frost was still Broken Frost. He hadn't forgotten the scene of his spear being shattered by AZZA's arrow; that
golden light was a shadow that could never be erased from his heart.
So his movements were a beat slower, only managing to deflect the first arrow with Hissfield.
The second arrow struck his jaw, ripping open his chin, and then pierced his skull diagonally.
Then came the third arrow. The energy arrow pierced Broken Frost's chest, sending him flying.
I lowered the bow in my hand. My energy was almost depleted, and I collapsed to the ground.
Asagi rushed over and pulled me into her arms, pressing her hand against the wound on my chest.
The gushing blood wouldn't stop.
Broken Frost staggered, trying to get up, countless pieces of flesh gathering at his wounds, attempting to heal
the two massive injuries. He tried twice, but fell to the ground again. The head injury was too severe; even as
a Leoret, he couldn't immediately regain his mobility.
"It's too late, Asagi," I whispered to the girl.
The massive blood loss caused my blood pressure to plummet, my consciousness gradually blurred, and my vision became increasingly hazy.
I stroked the girl's cheek, greedily savoring the last warmth.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
The girl, who had been as calm as still water, now let out a blood-curdling scream.
"I gave up everything!! I gave up the future of the Devourer Clan!! I destroyed my own dimensional city!! Just to
win those brief few decades!! Why, why did you even take away my last wish!?!?"
Asaga's tears flowed freely as she screamed madly in the direction of Broken Frost.
Broken Frost didn't answer her, or even seem to hear her words. He simply lay prostrate on the ground
, letting his wounds heal.
"Listen to me... Asaga..." I grabbed the girl's hand, calling her name forcefully, "I'm sorry,
I was too selfish..."
Asaga was already sobbing uncontrollably, and I felt a deep humanity emanating from her.
"I wanted Chu Xie, and I wanted you too... I was too greedy. I sacrificed so much for Chu Xie, for her
dreams, for her world... That's why I selfishly clung to a sliver of hope. Even when your power was fading
, I couldn't muster the courage to say these words to you."
Asagi pressed her hand against my wound, her hand trembling uncontrollably, blood staining half her body red. She
couldn't speak, only clinging to me with all her might.
"That time was so good... meeting you, and you were in White Snowfield, waiting for me..."
They say that before death, memories resurface, perhaps it's true.
"Greedy Wolf!! Greedy Wolf!!" The girl could only call my name over and over again. Her cries kept me
conscious.
"Light Chant, eat me." I whispered in her ear with all my might.
This was my way of winning. So what if I couldn't defeat the Palace King, Frostbreaker? Asagi would live, and
would regain the chance to become the Devouring King.
I knew all along, this was the chance to save Asagi. She mentioned during the Battle of the Dome
what kind of power the Devourers would gain by consuming their loyal followers. I should have long forgotten such a distant event, but
Osovie's note reminded me.
He said, "Think about what you've done, and what you've said." From that moment on, I've been pondering...
I explored every possibility, then found a way for Asaga to survive from her memories.
But I was too selfish; I wanted to enjoy my time with Chuxie…
I originally planned to offer my heart to Asaga one last time before she finally vanished. Later, she gained
the new source of power, the Eye of the Demon Dragon, and I thought I no longer needed to consider this.
But now, the final opportunity is before me.
The source of power for the Devourer Clan is [unrestrained desire]. She is utterly loyal to me, willing to give up everything for me
. Proving time and again that her devoted devotion will elevate her final indulgence to an unimaginable
level. If she lets go of all her reserve and allows her suppressed desires to devour me, she will gain boundless
power.
This is the power formula I have calculated countless times.
I will fulfill the promise I made to Asaga, using my life to give her the chance to ascend the throne.
I am glad I did not break my word.
I know that if I hadn't been on the verge of death, Asaga would never have devoured me. So I fought with all my might,
allowing the Palace King to inflict a fatal wound on me, while simultaneously severely injuring him, giving Asaga the opportunity to devour me.
I wasn't afraid, because I knew what I was doing was meaningful.
Even if she couldn't defeat the Palace King, the sudden surge of power would be enough for her to activate the Eye of the Demon Dragon, returning
to the Dark Side or even the Abyss.
My mind gradually darkened, like the Dark Domain we were in. Time, space, and my five senses were all
receding from me; I felt as if I were sinking.
The moment of death had arrived.
"You can't escape it. Eat my heart, Asaga, it will always be yours," I whispered to the girl
.
The girl cupped my face and kissed me.
Time flowed before my eyes. I hadn't done anything truly significant in my life, except for
these two women, who would forever be my pride. For their love, and for my own enlightenment and choices
…
that was enough.
I quietly looked at Asaga, lingering over her final moments.
Asaga trembled as she raised her hand.
"Our past will accompany me forever in the royal palace."
She ultimately failed to snatch my contract from Cangzhui's hands. Only memories can remain our sole bond. The girl softly recited the dreams and hopes she had 　　once told me 　　, then 　　forcefully
plunged her hand into my chest. 　　She
held that bright red, radiant flesh in her hands, and Asaga Guangyong, shedding her last tear, 　　placed
my heart into her mouth.
I could no longer see, only slowly closing my eyes. I seemed to see a galaxy, and then, 　　beyond 　　that, 　　eternal darkness. 　　********** ... To conserve increasingly scarce 　　energy, the building's heating system had been completely shut down; it was a miracle the corridors still had lighting. 　　He walked along, scratching the stubble on his chin. His laser razor, used for nearly ten years, 　　had been abandoned at his home in France because it couldn't be charged, and before he knew it, his beard had grown this long. 　　Perhaps he should try blades? Hughes was still a little worried that the thing might cut his lip. 　　It was unavoidable; humanity had to relearn how to use relatively primitive tools. 　　At the end of the corridor, a man in a sealed combat suit was waiting for him. This suit was 　　equipment for dealing with biological warfare, and in this place, only one person wore it. 　　"Here's what you wanted," Hughes said, handing the thick stack of documents to Mr. Mercury. "There are two more stacks like this; 　　I'll have someone bring them to you in a bit." 　　"Thank you," Mr. Mercury's voice was extremely muffled under the full-face mask. 　　But he spoke like this even without his helmet, Hughes thought. 　　Mr. Mercury took the materials and went into his office. It wasn't spacious, but all the automation 　　equipment was still operational. This was a privilege granted to Mr. Mercury by a unanimous decision of the council; all resources were allocated 　　to meet his needs to the maximum extent possible. 　　No more political maneuvering or infighting, no more bureaucracy. It was a very wise decision, and Hughes 　　was very satisfied with the decisiveness shown by the entire human leadership in this crisis. 　　However, even a life-or-death war had to start with paperwork… 　　Mr. Mercury flipped through the documents in his hands, while his other hand coordinated the fighting force on the Crk particle screen. 　　Hughes sat on the sofa diagonally opposite him, watching him work. 　　"Right now, there are only two hundred thousand troops available globally for immediate action. To fight Solomon head-on, 　　at least half will be lost." Mr. Mercury's voice was completely devoid of emotion. 　　"Luckily, you gathered all the information on the returnees before that day, otherwise we 　　wouldn't even know how many of them there were." 　　"I have to thank that woman who has already flown away. She decisively sent 　　me all the data on the registered personnel. Combined with the returnee files established on the day of return, we were able to do some subtraction and figure out their strengths." 　　Hughes had never met the woman named Chu Xie, but her image had always shone 　　brightly in his eyes. Even Tan Lang was so enamored with her, and Hughes really wanted to see what kind of 　　person Chu Xie was. 　　"Tell me, how long will this war take to end..." This wasn't a suitable time for conversation, but 　　he couldn't help but ask. 　　"Five to seven years to eliminate the New Humans' established military forces. Then, ten to twenty years to clean up 　　every individual hiding in the corners."

Mr. Mercury answered the question calmly and decisively, a result he had calculated countless times.
"Sigh… by the time the war is over, I'll be an old man."
Mr. Mercury suddenly stopped his work, turning to look at Hughes, his closed black mask resembling
the head of a terrifying, eerie insect.
"You don't actually think you'll live to see the war end, do you?"
Hughes chuckled. "Having a little wishful thinking is quite nice."
Mr. Mercury nodded. "I like working with optimists."
Hughes stood up and walked out of the room. He opened the door, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Mr. Mercury again
.
"I've been curious for a long time. What's your real name?"
Mr. Mercury looked up, his expression unreadable beneath the dark mask.
This technological catastrophe that nearly destroyed the Northern Hemisphere was named "Judgment Day."
Under the leadership of Hector Gage, the public government stabilized the global situation from the ruins.
The "Cleansing Force," with the core objective of annihilating the new humans, was established, and preparations for war began.
In September 2078, the first direct battle between the Returners and the Old Humans broke out in Verdun. The battle lasted
fifty-five days, with the Old Humans suffering over 100,000 casualties, driving the Returners back north of Denmark.
In May 2078, the second battle unfolded on the Belarusian border. The clearing forces spent twenty-eight days
stretching the front line all the way to Ukraine, engaging in combat to maximize casualties. Under Hector Gage
's personal command, the casualty ratio between the Returners and the Old Humans was only 1:1.15.
In 2086, Hector Gage was killed in action. He died in the sixteenth assassination
attempt launched against him by the Divine Capital Kingdom.
In 2088, the public government crushed the last organized armed forces of the Divine Capital Kingdom, and the war entered a carpet
-bombing phase.
Hughes died in 2093 from respiratory failure caused by a mutated Japanese encephalitis virus.
In 2109, the last three underage Returners on Earth were executed, the war officially ended, and the Old Humans
began to re-engage in social reconstruction.
**********
...

She
lowered her head, as if deep in thought, or perhaps concealing something.
"Lady Lianyou, will we be sent into battle again this time?" asked her attendant, Rioret, who stood behind her.
Rioret was the same height as Lianyou and was a warrior she had recently promoted from the Abyss.
He had recently completed a contract with a human, greatly increasing his power, and Lianyou had made him
her attendant.
His name was Yanju. With his current strength, he could even serve as a potential lord—
if another lord died in the war.
However, this fellow wasn't ambitious and knew very well who he should obey. He was intelligent but unassuming, and
Lianyou liked this quality in him, which was why she kept him by her side.
"Go into battle? Our previous maneuvers have already enraged Zhuheng. The next
order to send our troops into battle will be when we become cannon fodder," Lianyou said with a smile, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
At this moment, another lord approached.
"Lianyou, has summoning all of us here meant to launch a full-scale attack on the Devourer Clan?"
Lianyou didn't even look at him: "I dare not speculate on my king's decisions. If my king can
force the Devourer King to reveal himself this time, everything will become clear."
At this moment, in the abyss, the Heart King had already assembled the two main forces, the Abyss Governor and the Royal City Lords, and
advanced to the Devourer King's Dimensional City, hoping to force the Devourer Clan to reveal their final trump card. The best-case scenario was that
the Devourer Clan didn't even have a trump card, and there would be no need to fight any more battles. The Devourer Clan would
disappear into the shadows, just like the Blood Clan and the Palace Clan.
Just then, the portal behind the throne suddenly stirred.
The eighteen lords and their attendants stood up straight.
But the Heart King did not appear, nor did the Royal City Lord. The Heart Clan's Abyss Governor, Zhuheng, suddenly
leaped out of the portal and landed on the ground.
Zhu Heng shouldn't be here, because this is the royal city. Even if there are orders to be conveyed to the Dark Side,
it should be done by the royal city lord—that's the lord's duty.
The eighteen lords knelt in unison, submitting to the Abyss Governor.
"Return to your dimensional city!! Mobilize all forces for the Cliff of Madness!!" Zhu Heng's deafening roar
echoed throughout the royal palace.
The Cliff of Madness was the name of the Heart King's dimensional city. This order, like a torrent of icy water, crashed through the palace, creating
icy flowers.
The eighteen lords looked up in surprise, seeing that a third of the Abyss Lord's body, from the shoulders down,
was gone. Thick fluid mixed with blood splattered across the floor like a shattered jar, torn ribs
protruding from the flesh, and his barely beating heart exposed to the air.
"Lianyou!! My king commands you to take over the position of lord of the royal city!! Do not disappoint my king! Do you know
what the price is?!" Zhuheng roared at Lianyou, who was kneeling on the ground.
"Yes, sir!" Lianyou was stunned at first, then lowered her head and replied.
The eighteen lords were gripped by these words. What did they mean?
There was only one possibility: the lord of the royal city had perished, and someone needed to fill his position.
What had happened in the abyss? The answer would soon be revealed, as everyone gathered their forces and
marched into the abyss.
Lian You, riding atop the enormous demonic beast, led her guards away from the royal city, heading towards her own territory.
But she would return soon, for the throne of the royal city lord awaited her.
The words she had heard earlier still echoed in her ears. They were
the descriptions of the battle in the abyss that Zhu Heng had slumped beside the throne, using all his strength.
The Heart King was severely wounded, the Abyss Governor was severely wounded, the royal city lord was dead, and only the Abyss
Army commander who had been guarding the Cliff of Madness retained full combat capability. If the Devouring Clan hadn't suffered heavy casualties before and launched a counterattack now
, the Cliff of Madness might not have been saved.
The Heart Clan's defeat wasn't because the Devouring King had appeared. It was because the Devouring King had been replaced.
The little girl who was once used as a bargaining chip, swayed between the Eye Clan and the Heart Clan, became the Devourer Queen.
The girl who destroyed even the Dimensional City single-handedly defeated the three strongest beings of the Heart Clan
.
Initially, everyone believed that the Devourer Queen's plan had succeeded, and that the Devourer Queen had gained
a human heart. The Heart Queen disregarded her appearance, believing that even if she became human,
she couldn't possibly defeat her after destroying the Dimensional City and severing the connection to the Abyss.
But when she appeared on the battlefield, the Heart Clan realized they were completely wrong.
She was the only Devourer in thousands of years to successfully activate the Devourer's [Gift of the Abyss], devouring
the heart of the one she had promised. Without the Abyss as her source of power, she indulged in extreme indulgence, standing independently
outside the Abyss, and condensed her own source of power.
Asaga Lightsong no longer needed the Abyss; her new title would be known throughout the Dark Side:
[The New Abyss].
This was an enemy the Heart Clan had never faced before, pushing the entire race to the brink of destruction. The Heart Clan, who have been fighting the Devourer Clan
for a thousand years, will be devoured by her when she fully masters her power in the [New Abyss]
...
That's what all the other Heart Clan members believe.
Lian You sat atop her beast, unable to contain her laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!!"
Her unrestrained and maniacal laughter swept through the eardrums of her subordinates, sending chills down their spines.
"Lady Lian You?" Yan Ju asked anxiously.
Lian You couldn't hide the smile on her face; she clutched her chest, as if struggling to breathe.
"Lady Lian You, aren't you worried about the fate of our clan?" Yan Ju asked curiously.
"Fate? What's the use of worrying? I believe more in the fate I create myself." Lian You's lips curled upwards as she
gasped for breath.
"Are you so excited about the position of Lord of the Royal City? This isn't like you..." Yan Ju asked.
"Lord of the Royal City? What's that..." Lian You gazed at the distant, dark mountains, clenching her
fists tightly. "I will sit on the throne of the Heart King."
"What?!" Yan Ju exclaimed in shock. 　　"
Watch, Yan Ju... witness all of this..." Lian You's body trembled with excitement. "Asha 　　Jia Guang Yong will become the stepping stone for me to ascend the throne. The seed I planted has finally sprouted..." Lian You gasped for breath, clutching her heart. 　　In 　　that
place 　　, 　　there 　　was a scar 　　left by someone. ********** ... Today was an exception, though. She was happy 　　, and she wasn't afraid of what harsh words her only audience might say. 　　Cain Raynorn stood on the last step connecting the second and first floors, looking at the girl before him. 　　"All the Dark Side legions have been defeated by the Shadow Clan. Their army has pressed right up to your capital, 　　and you're still so happy?" Cain said coldly. 　　Ever since those humans crossed the Dark and Light Sides and returned to their world, the Shadow Clan seemed to have gained an 　　inexhaustible source of power, likely stemming from the jealousy of the old humans. They launched attacks on the Skeleton Clan, who bore the brunt of the attack 　　, and won victory after victory until they could no longer advance. 　　If the Eye Clan hadn't also been slightly strengthened by the arrogance of the new humans, they might have suffered a great loss. 　　However, everyone knew that the conflicts in the Dark Side were insignificant. In the Abyss, the Shadow Clan could no longer 　　fundamentally shake the alliance between the Eye Clan and the Skeleton Clan. If the Skeleton Clan's queen hadn't been so lazy, the Skeleton Clan wouldn't have 　　been brought to the brink of defeat. 　　"Don't bring up such a spoilsport!" Bo Diehai deliberately pouted, stretched out her arm, and pointed rudely 　　at the King of the Banquet's nose. 　　Cain closed his eyes, as if he didn't want to see her shining eyes: "Then what is it for?" 　　Bo Diehai gently clapped her two white palms in front of her, then slowly opened them like flower petals, as if she 　　were about to perform some kind of magic trick. However, she didn't conjure anything. 　　"It's starting, it's starting." Her voice suppressed laughter, the kind of music Cain had heard countless times. 　　"You mean Cang Zhui?" 　　"It's Cang Zhui, and it's also Asa Jia. Let the children squab first, in the end, they'll all 　　stand on our side, isn't that what you wanted?" 　　Cain's palm pressed against the handrail of the stairs, he squeezed the bone in his palm, almost accidentally crushing it 　　. His single eye began to gleam slightly. 　　"You mean, all of this is for me?" 　　"What? Don't you like this gift?" Bo Diehai said lightly. 　　"What do you want to prove?" 　　"I don't need to prove anything." Bo Diehai walked towards him.

Cain felt his breathing slow down with each step she approached. Just as Bo Diehai was about to stand
before him, he could no longer contain himself. He turned and walked towards the second floor.
"Trying to run away again?" Bo Diehai's question was devoid of excitement, replaced by a gentle and indifferent voice
.
Cain didn't answer or turn back. He continued walking upwards.
"It'll be soon, Cain. There will always be a day when you can't escape. Eight hundred years left, you know, when that
time comes, you'll have to face me!"
Bo Diehai's voice echoed in the palace, lingering for a long time. She watched Cain sit back down on the second floor,
then turned and walked towards the portal behind the throne, humming that song again.
Cain watched Bo Diehai's figure being swallowed by the energy in the portal, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
He raised his hand, mimicking Ye Wu's gesture, clapping lightly before opening it again. 　　"
Yes 　　, 　　it 　　'll 　　be 　　soon 　　... 　　it 　　'll 　　be 　　soon 　　... 　　"
**********
...　　　　　　"What? Changed your tune?" He smiled contemptuously, looking at the traitor before him. "When you first came to the island 　　, you were kneeling on the ground, holding the food I gave you, what did you call me again? The Great Dark Elf King 　　... It all came from the same mouth, didn't it?" 　　"Shut up!!" the man roared, trying to drown out the embarrassing truth with his voice. 　　"And you," the Dark Elf King raised Rahu in his hand, pointing the sword tip at 　　another warrior trying to hide behind the others, "during the Third Expansion, you also clung tightly to 　　my shoulder to survive, if I remember correctly?" 　　The man didn't answer, nor did he look at him. 　　"If you still have any respect for the memories of being my comrade, then tell me 　　what you want to do." Minonheim smiled at the man before him, shifting his position to make himself more comfortable 　　. 　　"We are not without gratitude for your kindness and salvation. It's just that we don't want to be deceived by you any longer 　　!!" 　　"That's right!! We believed your lies and stayed, remaining in this empty world 　　, like sparrows forever trapped in a cage!!" 　　I didn't stop you from leaving. The Dark Elf King sat there, silent, offering no rebuttal. 　　This world held immense secrets, secrets that both captivated and fascinated him, which was why he stayed 　　. He didn't hate the outside world; he simply preferred this place. 　　But these people, afraid to choose, blindly followed him. This was normal— 　　how many people truly knew what they wanted? He just hadn't expected them to hate him to 　　this extent. 　　Perhaps it was just a lie he was telling himself; he was merely blocking their path to that position 　　. Dark Elf King… such a ridiculous name, he didn't care at all. But many who craved 　　power didn't see it that way. 　　This small kingdom was like a child's game, yet some people always took it seriously. 　　"Don't struggle, Minhem. We sounded a false alarm; everyone else has gone to the coast to investigate 　　the non-existent intruders. Don't resist; we'll let you close your eyes with dignity." 　　There was nothing left to resist. Minhem glanced at the traitor he had killed beside him; 　　the stab was deep, the liver perhaps ruptured. It was just a pity he hadn't yet uncovered the secrets of this world. 　　Rahu was charged with energy. Carmen really did make a good sword… He thought to himself, using all his strength 　　to stand up and raise his weapon. 　　"You can't beat so many of us, why struggle…" His once trusted friend 　　coldly uttered these words. 　　Elf Island… He had named his home that because he was disgusted by the ugliness of humanity. But 　　in the end, this land would still be stained with blood shed because of human intrigue. 　　Just then, a girl appeared without warning at the entrance of the hall. 　　She was short, seemingly only fifteen or sixteen years old, but had silver hair. Her blood-red 　　eyes flashed with a dizzying light. 　　"Who are you!?" 　　Her sudden appearance terrified the traitors present. 　　Faced with the questioning, the girl showed a hint of unease. 　　"I am... the master of this place," she answered softly. 　　"This is the capital of Elf Island! It belongs only to the people of Elf Island!!" 　　The girl's expression wavered slightly: "I'm not talking about this island or this room, I mean..." 　　She spread her arms, drawing a large circle: "All." 　　The traitors present, overwhelmed by tension and anxiety, completely lost control of their emotions. They rushed 　　forward, trying to grab the girl first. 　　Minonheim seemed to see an expanding, invisible net of swords burst forth from the girl's body. Those who...

Her hostile demeanor was reduced to fine, shredded flesh in the blink of an eye.
What immense power… Minhem marveled. Perhaps a fight with her
would be a fitting funeral.
But what happened next left the dying Dark Elf King speechless.
The girl casually waved her hand, and the space around them suddenly distorted. The blood and gore, the stained
carpet, were swallowed up in an instant, as if they had never existed.
The destroyed tables, chairs, lamps, and windows were restored to their original state in a flash, as if time had reversed.
Was this a miracle?
By the time the girl approached, Minhem could no longer stand; he collapsed to the ground.
He was only one step away from the answer, he saw liberation within reach, yet he was powerless to ask.
“If you want to live, obey me, let me be your king,” he heard the girl say.
King? What’s wrong with that? He had never had any attachment to this ridiculous title of Dark Elf King
. Wouldn't it be so much easier if someone could lead those who need leading instead of him?
Even if he lacked the ability, it didn't matter; he could assist her well…
Minnheim lay in a pool of blood, winking at the girl.
The girl reached out, wiped a drop of blood from his lips, and put it in her own mouth.
She then extended her finger, used a wisp of energy to cut her fingertip, and brought it to Minnheim's lips.
An indescribable power ignited within Minnheim's body; the ruptured flesh in his lower abdomen
healed within a second, leaving no scar. The dizziness caused by blood loss, and the gradual
fading of his heartbeat, all vanished in the girl's drop of blood.
This was something only the gods of this world could do. Minnheim stood up, tears welling in his eyes, looking
at the girl who was a head shorter than him. He knew he had found the end of everything.
He bowed down, surrendering to the girl before him. An inexplicable will pierced through
the barriers of his body, reaching the ocean of his spirit. Minhem felt the girl's presence,
a gaze that completely overshadowed him.
"Who...who are you?" he asked, trembling.
The girl placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke softly.
"I am [Dragon's Belly] [Flowing Thorns] [Undying] Cangzhui, the only king of you vampires..."
************
Part Five
[Nassarius, Crystal Continent, Chinono City]
After two full years of construction, this primordial city had spread to the foot of the Iron Gray Mountains.
The warp spaceship wreckage to the east of the city had been almost completely dismantled, and not a single piece of the metal raw material was wasted; it had all become
part of the city.
A clear and cheerful river rushed down from the Iron Gray Mountains, slowly flowing through the center of Chinono City.
Beside her, a pure white classical building stood.
If one had a good grasp of history, it would be easy to see that the building was Gothic in style. However, quite incongruously,
the columns on the towering steps adopted an ancient Greek design.
This meticulously constructed building served as the meeting place for the parliament.
Inside the conference room, a member of the House of Representatives was anxiously waiting for the person who had arrived long overdue.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!!"
Chu Xie burst through the door, followed by a girl named Su Shang.
The members greeted her helplessly. She plopped down in the chair at the far end of the conference table, opened
her jewelry box, and began trimming her nails with the numerous small tools inside. The members couldn't help but sigh inwardly;
this woman showed absolutely no remorse.
But no one dared to say anything, because subconsciously they all felt they couldn't do anything without her
.
"Let me start with some good news," a councilor said, tapping on the CRK's control panel, "
the first batch of adventurers the Adventure Foundation invested in last year have already started to profit. Yesterday afternoon, we received four million kex worth of
charging crystal ore from them."
"Only four million? That's a long way from paying off the debt. No need to be happy," Chu Xie said, pouring cold water on the situation.
"Just the interest from those fifteen printers alone will be enough to pay them off for two years."
"That's still better than nothing. It seems that with that mine, the new city in the south should be able to stabilize
. Fifteen printers for one city—that's a huge profit!"
"There are more people who like to build cities than those who like to manage them. They're really getting more and more into building; I'm already struggling to manage them all
," Chu Xie sighed.
The councilor wisely kept quiet, not responding.
Chu Xie tapped the table with her fingertips, seemingly making a decision: "Alright. Since there's a return within the deadline
, let's lower the interest rate by twenty percent. Even if they like building their own cities, they should at least be as reliable as these people
. Promote it properly, use it as positive material. Oh, don't mention the interest rate reduction."
"Understood," the councilor smiled.
"Does this group have any names?" "
They call themselves Sai Lian."
Chu Xie froze, as if punched in the chest.
The councilors, seeing her suddenly frozen expression, didn't dare breathe.
"Oh..." She quickly recovered her composure, "Fifty percent interest rate, that's settled."
"Isn't that a bit excessive?"
"It's fine, those people are good people, they can build a good city," Chu Xie said with a smile.
One by one, the councilors pulled out their prepared matters. What should have been a decision discussed by everyone,
as usual, turned into a consultation meeting specifically for Chu Xie. This made the girl yawn impatiently.
The councilors didn't stop until noon. They were all tidying up their materials, pondering
what to have for lunch.
"Hey! What are you doing? Leaving already?" Chu Xie suddenly stood up and gently tapped the table.
The councilors stopped what they were doing: "Have you finished your business?"
"I haven't finished mine yet!" Chu Xie stood there solemnly.
Upon hearing this, the councilors quickly sat back down. It had been a long time since Chu Xie had presented a proposal himself
, and their curiosity was immediately piqued.
Chu Xie took something from Su Shang and tossed it onto the conference table.
"What's this?" The councilor closest to him leaned forward, laboriously pulling the paper to his face.
"Resignation letter," Chu Xie said earnestly, standing there. "From today onwards, I formally resign from my
seat in the council. Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the past two years. I am honored to have worked with you all. Until we meet again!"
With that, Chu Xie waved his hand and walked out with Su Shang.
The councilors erupted in chaos. They stood up abruptly, some even pushing over their chairs.
"What kind of trick are you playing!?"
"Stop messing around!"
"Come back! Come back! Explain yourself!! I promise I won't bother you with the paper mill thing anymore, okay!?"
Chu Xie stopped at the door, surrounded by the councilors.
"What's wrong!? I said it six months ago!! I'd wash my hands of things after six months!!" The girl glared
angrily at the councilors in front of her. "Don't give me that innocent look!!"
"We know, we know, but don't act impulsively. There are still many things to hand over."
"Hand over my ass!! That's what I said last time!!"
The girl's outburst easily silenced everyone. With her authority, no one dared to argue with her. Besides,
she was in the right...
At this moment, a respected middle-aged councilor pushed aside the others and approached.
"Chu Xie, even if you leave, what are you planning to do?" he asked in a deep voice.
Chu Xie respected the man in front of her quite a bit, and she didn't shout anymore: "I quit, I'm going to play by myself
."
The man didn't criticize her for being willful, but instead raised a very serious question.
"What about Paul?"
Two years ago, when the warp fleet arrived in Nassalis, Paul's ship unilaterally severed
communication with this side, breaking the original plan and landing alone on the other side of the sea. Six months later, the adventurers
brought back news that Paul had established his own country on the Eastern Continent.
Their national emblem clearly displayed the abbreviation of TWP, and the capital was Yoheril.
Paul established a highly centralized imperial state called the Torrevopon Empire.
This was a political system completely incompatible with the city-state capitalist union of the Western Continent—the Crystal Continent.
Chu Xie easily understood at that time that Paul had formulated a grand
plan for nation-building from the moment he appeared to negotiate with him.
A smart person could see at a glance that the people of these two continents would one day
become enemies because of values, interests, and even a sense of crisis.
"Even if I were here, I couldn't handle the problems of the TWP Empire." Chu Xie said calmly, then pushed Su
Shang forward, "The person you need to rely on is her."
The councilors all fell silent; they knew the girl would explain.
"From this day forward, it is the age of magic. Paul has helped establish a specialized
higher education institution in the Empire to study and teach magic. Advanced legion-level magic arrays will be the most decisive factor in future wars.
Our technological level will continue to decline; only by wielding magic as a weapon can we protect ourselves."
"As I understand it, as long as Paul is alive, he cannot declare war on us. War will
come much later, so we must devote all our efforts to developing our own magical technology to counter him."
"But you yourself are the strongest mage…you should organize our magic academy," a councilor
said.
Chu Xie gave him a bright smile: "No need for me! I can do it all, she already can!"
Su Shang showed a hint of unease, but remained unmoved, because Chu Xie had already
said these words to her.
Chu Xie, like a wild horse freed from its reins, happily shook off the speechless councilor behind her and walked out of
the council building.
She hid in the floating vehicle and drove back to her heavily guarded little house.
Su Shang followed behind her.
"I didn't expect you to entrust everything to me... I've never even had any real combat experience...
Are you sure you can trust me with such a heavy responsibility?" she asked Chu Xie softly.
Chu Xie sat on her bed, packing a suitcase. She stuffed the clothes in and then closed the lid.
"Carmen will help you, I've already talked to her. When the child is a little older, she'll come to find you herself."
Chu Xie couldn't help but tap her CRCK, opening a photo she had received from Carmen not long ago.
It was a selfie of Carmen, her charming yet incredibly languid face taking up half the screen. It was a
verdant field, with a small house standing alone at the edge of the woods in the far distance. Not far behind her,
Melfis was sitting by the river, holding a fishing rod, fishing with a blank stare.
A sharp-eyed baby was riding on Melfis's neck, its two hands gripping his hair tightly.
"This guy, how is he still alive! How long has it been... Is he even dead or not..." Chu Xie couldn't suppress
the smile on her lips, and said sarcastically.
"I'm scared." Su Shang couldn't help but blurt out, looking at her relieved smile.
"What are you afraid of? Carmen may be aggressive, but she's actually..."
"No..." Su Shang walked over, squatted down beside Chu Xie, and grabbed her hand tightly. "You're leaving.
You're going to wait for him, right? The only person we can rely on wholeheartedly is about to disappear. Everyone will be scared
, and I'm no exception."
Chu Xie touched the back of Su Shang's hand: "I'm just a source of emotional support. You all have to learn to walk your own
path. It's not that hard. We've learned enough lessons. As long as we don't do anything foolish, we can all live
the lives we want."
"Can't you give us a little more time? You can watch over us from the sidelines. If we make a mistake, you
can still..."
Chu Xie shook her head firmly: "I can't wait any longer... If I wait any longer, he... I don't want to... "
He saw me grow old, and even death wouldn't do him. I will leave the rest of my days to him eight hundred years from now.”
Su Shang cried, tears of helplessness and emptiness,
the unease that inevitably rises in the heart of a child who has lost her mother. But she would soon become strong, as she always had.
Chu Xie, carrying the small suitcase, pushed open the door and walked out alone. Nassarius's mother,
the founder of the Chinono City Federation, vanished overnight. From that day on, no one saw her again.
She left so decisively, without any warning to ordinary people.
The people of the Federation endured a long period of anxiety and unease, and chaos continued to emerge.
After some time, just as Chu Xie had predicted, people gradually learned to walk, and walked very
well.
Eight hundred years—the hiding place she prepared for herself had to be sufficiently secretive to ensure her safety. Therefore, she didn't
reveal any clues to anyone. Even if Paul's empire occupied the Crystal Continent, it wouldn't affect her
plans.
The world was left behind, and Chu Xie felt extremely relieved. She no longer needed to yearn for
the man who had always been by her side day and night; they would meet again eight centuries later. And this reunion would be
romantic.
But the girl was unaware of what was happening on that lonely spaceship in the distant starry sky.
************
Welch walked up a hillside, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
Fiona handed him a handkerchief, annoyed. "I've told you so many times, don't always use your sleeve! It's
hard to wash!"
Welch smiled brightly at her, and upon seeing that smile, Fiona's anger vanished
.
"I never imagined the roads were so difficult!" Welch complained. "Next time, I must get Chu Xie to allocate funds to
properly repair the roads in these two cities."
"It's your own fault for not renting the floating vehicles..." Fiona grumbled.
"No money!! The poor suffer!!" Welch pounded his lower back and sighed deeply.
In the first year, Welch and the other members of the church devoted themselves entirely to the construction of the city,
only having the extra energy to develop their church in the second year. He and Fiona traveled to almost
every city on the Crystal Continent, establishing the church's basic network. Now, they were heading to a
new city where no church members had settled permanently.
In the new world, priests couldn't do what they used to. Everyone was doing the necessary work, and the only
opportunity to preach was during the free time before and after dinner. This was a good thing, because it was the best test of a clergyman's piety
.
They raised travel expenses with the money they earned from their labor, spreading their church, which didn't even have a church yet, throughout the entire continent.
"Thank goodness for Rogner's help, otherwise we would have been exhausted," Fiona patted the giant
wolf beside her.
Surprisingly, this abandoned abyssal demon got along particularly well with Welch. So it
acted as Welch and Fiona's free transport vehicle, carrying the two of them and their large amount of luggage—which
was nothing to it.
The two people and the beast finally climbed the hillside with great difficulty. Welch, unable to move any further, plopped down on the grass.
A gentle breeze brought a refreshing coolness.
He leaned back, intending to take a nap on Rogner, but found himself lying on empty space.
Welch turned to see Rogner standing motionless beside him, not bending down as usual.
The beast looked as if it had been struck on the head.
"Hey, big dog, are you alright?" Fionia asked worriedly, stroking its carapace.
After half a minute of silence, Rogner suddenly moved. A threatening tremor emanated from its throat as it
began to scribble something on the ground with its paws.
Welch leaned closer in surprise, reading the indistinct writing.
"The third spaceship… the Palace King…"
he murmured, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Rogner, through some unknown means, had received a message sent two years ago by its true master, Asaga Kōyō
. This message had traversed eight hundred years of time and space, just arriving in Nassarius.
"What...what's going on?!" Welch gripped Rogner's carapace, shaking the behemoth violently
.
Rogner suddenly jolted, throwing Welch aside. It glanced at its two long-time companions
, its eyes seemingly bidding farewell.
A few seconds later, it let out an excited roar and vanished in the sudden surge of energy vortex
.
Welch clenched his fists tightly, pulling up the still-shaken Fideona.
"We're going to Chino City! Chu Xie has to know this!! Eight hundred years later...damn it!!" 　　However 　　,
when they returned to the Federation's capital after several days of exhaustion, they were devastated to find that 　　Chu Xie
had disappeared from everyone's sight...
********** 　　... However, there were five 　　modern buildings in the town center, though only five or six stories high. 　　Seraphim sat in a room in one of them, fiddling with a device in front of him. 　　The device was extremely strange, completely beyond the imagination of modern humans. Perhaps 　　no one but Seraphim could explain its purpose. 　　A few seconds later, the answer was revealed; a voice came from within. 　　"Can you hear me?" a young man's voice came through. 　　"Yes, good signal," Seraphim smiled. 　　"That's amazing. We were always afraid it would malfunction," the young man said. 　　"That's impossible, after all, I made it," Seraphim replied jokingly. 　　The Seanbo communicator, a high-tech device capable of real-time communication regardless of spatial distance. It easily…

The message, sent from 360 light-years away, reached the old man.
"How have things been over there these past two years?" he continued.
"As per your instructions, the three of us have gathered a lot of intelligence on both the eastern and western continents. But so far
, everything seems to be largely as you predicted. Paul has established an imperial state; taking action would be relatively simple,
it just depends on whether you intend to. As for Chu Xie, she's been developing cities, her support is too high, making an attack
difficult. If you ever need to kill her, there are three factors to consider..."
Seraphim took out a stub of a pencil and a piece of torn paper, preparing to record the transmitted information. These three warriors were
specially trained by him, and he had spent considerable effort creating identities for them to infiltrate the warp fleet. Although their combat
skills couldn't compare to those of true super soldiers, at least their levels had been forcibly raised to level zero.
Just then, a terrified scream suddenly came through the communicator.
Immediately afterward, a series of dense energy explosions rang out. Within ten seconds, the first scream echoed in
Seraphim's room.
Then came a second sound, and a third.
Seraphim shook his head, putting the stub of pencil and the torn paper back into the drawer.
A dozen seconds later, another voice rang out.
"Good morning, old man."
Seraphim smiled helplessly, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
"Only you can give me a little surprise, Osovie."
"Is that so? How do you plan to thank me?"
Seraphim laughed, "You came out of the abyss? And even ran to Nasalius? This is completely beyond
my imagination."
"You jumped into the river in your own cleverness, wanting to decide the outcome in one move, but you've dug yourself into a hole. Do you regret it?"
Osovie sighed for Seraphim, but it sounded more like sarcasm.
"A little regretful, but in the end I still lost, so I had to get out quickly."
"Get out? Then what about these three people?" Osovie questioned him relentlessly, his tone
as if he were speaking to an old friend.
"You've already killed them, why are you still asking this? If you really want to know, there are a hundred ways
to get the answer you want from them."
"Oh, you really know me."
"If I knew you, I wouldn't have asked you the previous question. How did you get there? Please
, I'm so old, can't you at least show some respect?"
A hearty laugh came from the communicator: "It's actually very simple. When Asaga Lightsong destroyed the Dimensional City
, I happened to be in the Abyss of the Devourers. She used that power to break open a portal and went to Earth, and I
just hitched a ride. After that, forging an identity and secretly boarding the warp fleet was easy."
Seraphim sighed: "So, while I was making my plans, you were on
Earth the whole time. No wonder my calculations went wrong."
"Yes." Aeraphim's voice was full of smug satisfaction, "I just wrote
a little note to my former subordinates."
"Sigh!" Seraph shook his head. "I have to admit, this time, I've lost decisively again."
"Don't give me that. If you don't have a backup plan, I'll twist my own head off," Osov said irritably.
"I'm already in the river, I've lost my ability to calculate, and it will take me a very, very long time to get out. Why did you
have to attack my three people?" Seraph's tone was tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Who told you to set your sights on Chu Xie? My time is almost up, and I'm afraid you'll cause her trouble later, so I have to
deal with them now."
"Time's up?" Seraph frowned. "Then O's curse... is it going to take effect again?"
"That's right. I don't know when I'll wake up this time... Fortunately, this time, you won't be such a big
nuisance bothering me."
"Sleep well, Osov. See you next time."
"Okay. Goodnight, old man."
The communicator fell silent again. Seraph placed it on the corner of the table, and it
never rang again in the days that followed.
************
Part Seven
[The Dark Side, the Devourer's Royal City, the Fallen Lands]
The Devourer's Royal City Lord, Ba Gui, dragged his massive, heavy body outside the Oath Barrier, silently waiting
for those inside to emerge. Behind him were countless elite Devourer warriors, each fresh from their bloody return.
Beside him stood the Abyss Governor, Sui Jia, and the Abyss Legion Commander, Yin Lan, both silent, as if
praying alongside Ba Gui.
In the gloomy, dark Fallen Lands, only the flickering energy torches danced on the ground, and the Purple
River above murmured its deep flow.
After an unknown amount of time, the gates of the Oath Barrier were suddenly pushed open.
Yue Hou emerged, slowly pulling the gates to their full extent before bending down. A girl clad in a magnificent royal robe stepped out. Behind her, countless chains 　　rattled
in the air within the barrier . 　　All the Devourers bowed down, kneeling before the girl, their voices echoing through the Fallen Lands 　　. 　　"[Solo Voice][Heir of the Heart][New Abyss] Asaga Lightsong, the only king of our Devourers!" 　　[New Abyss]... Asaga savored her title, letting out a soft sigh. A certain 　　title was gone, replaced by this one. Only now did she understand that before devouring that person, her 　　existence was like a blank, uneventful void. She saw that in the destiny arranged by the Abyss, she was destined to devour that 　　man's heart and become an existence comparable to the Abyss. 　　"Asaga Lightsong!! Kill me!!" A shrill voice echoed within the Oath Wall. 　　A ravaged body, almost unrecognizable, was bound by countless chains in 　　the center of the Oath Wall. 　　It was the former Heart King. Two years later, under the leadership of the Devouring Queen, the Devouring Clan finally broke through all the defenses of the Wild Cliff 　　, forcing the Heart King to fight them to the death. But who could have guessed that the Devouring Clan would show mercy?

Should she take him prisoner?
The Queen of Devourers didn't turn back. She waved her hand, ordering Moonthroat to close the heavy door that had once imprisoned her.
Her father, the previous Devourer King, had his obsession dissipate the moment she returned, forever returning to the Abyss
. The Fallen Lands and the Forbidden Wall of Oaths were both inherited by the new queen.
The King of the Hearts was gone, leaving only a prisoner to be killed countless times. The war was over, but
the Hearts would need a long period of infighting to produce a new king.
She could have wiped out the entire Hearts in one fell swoop, but Lightsong didn't.
Just before she made that decision, the figure of a Hearts named Rioret made her abandon her final, all
-out attack.
That Rioret's name was Flame Fear, and he awakened a buried memory in the Queen of Devourers.
The Hearts were no longer important; they had never been important. Because the Queen of Devourers had only ever wanted to do
one thing: slaughter every remaining royal family in the Dark Side and the Abyss.
The Hearts were nothing more than a troublesome stumbling block.
She waited, waiting to destroy the King of the Palace Clan with her own hands when he appeared in the Dark Side.
On that ship, her power had grown rapidly, but in the short term, she was still no match for
the Frostbreaker wielding Hissfair. She had to forgo her best chance for revenge, using the Eye of the Demon Dragon to retreat into the Dark Side,
waiting once more for that day to arrive.
Guangyong ascended the steps of the Fallen Lands, returning to the royal palace prepared for her by the Eight Demons.
The Devourer Clan's royal palace no longer needed to be built between ferry crossings like other races. The newly born Devourer Queen,
as the [New Abyss] whom all Riorets looked up to and feared, walked effortlessly between the Dark Side
and the Abyss, never worrying that her overwhelming power would cause her to fall below the "Ice Surface."
Guangyong found a comfortable position on her vast throne. She took out
the Eye of the Demon Dragon that she always carried, gently playing with it in her hand.
She no longer needed this thing, not even as a sacred object of the Pupil Clan.
The Eight Demons approached with heavy steps. He gazed at his queen, a greasy
smile plastered on his face.
"I'm hungry," Guang Yong said simply, without looking up.
With a wave of his hand, hundreds of Leoretes, carrying countless exquisite plates and delicacies, instantly
filled the table in front of Guang Yong.
Guang Yong straightened up, casually tossing the Eye of the Demon onto the table, and picked up a fork to eat.
The Eight Demons sat down next to her, also grabbing food from the table with an air of nonchalance.
He was the only Leorete the Queen of Devouring would allow to share food with her, without even needing permission.
The Eight Demons wouldn't stand on ceremony with her.
The two seemed to be racing, because if they were even slightly slower, the other would devour all their favorite food.
The race always ended in Guang Yong's victory, not because the Eight Demons were letting her win.
Ba Gui wiped his greasy mouth with the back of his hand: "The Pupil Clan demands that we return the Eye of the Demon Dragon. Even
the King of the Banquet personally mentioned this matter in the Skeleton Clan's royal city. Shouldn't you consider it?"
"Tell them we'll come back for it in eight hundred years."
"You have no use for it." Ba Gui said helplessly.
"If they don't agree, then give them war."
Ba Gui smiled and agreed.
"The Blood Clan... is there any news from the Blood Clan?" Guang Yong asked again.
Ba Gui shook his head: "Blood King Cang Zhui has sealed off his dimensional city and hasn't appeared in the Dark City.
Should we launch an attack on her?"
"It's not the right time yet." Guang Yong's eyes sharpened, and she waved her hand, "After we destroy the Palace Clan
, it will be her turn. Besides, a war of equal strength is more interesting. I'll give her time."
"As you wish, little girl." Ba Gui chuckled.
"In your eyes, am I still a little girl?" Guang Yong raised her head expressionlessly and looked at the giant fat man beside her
.
"You are a young girl, and also my queen. You are my pride and glory," Bagui said softly.
Guangyong squinted at him, seemingly dissatisfied with his answer, but Bagui didn't care.
For the time being, there was no need to think about war, and his stomach was full. Guangyong leaned back on the armrest of the throne, slightly
lost in thought.
"Bagui... do you think I look like a human now, or a Riolet?" The Devouring Queen asked
the royal city lord beside her softly.
"A Riolet... a genuine Riolet," Bagui said unwaveringly. "In my lifetime
, I have never seen my race's [Gift of the Abyss], let alone imagined the existence of the [New Abyss]. You are the Abyss
, so naturally you are the purest Riolet."
Guangyong nodded, his slightly shimmering long hair sliding down his shoulders and cascading onto his magnificent royal robes. 　　"
But why do I miss him 　　so 　　much 　　... 　　" 　　" 　　Because
his 　　heart 　　is 　　with 　　you 　　. 　　"
****************
... 　　These are strange gold coins; they're probably fake. 　　Just as I was thinking this, the world went dark.

Darkness enveloped me, a color that seemed to have existed since my birth, a cycle of rebirth.
I felt as if I were having a very long dream.
I dreamt of a black sea, an endless sea. The sky above was also black, seemingly
merging with the black sea. I floated in this endless darkness, my heart utterly still, like a
lifeless corpse. I could see scattered stars, everything I could point to was incredibly distant,
without purpose or end.
Suddenly, I saw a burning fireball. It roared, hurtling
towards me with unstoppable force, then extinguished in an instant, swallowing me whole in the smoke.
Silence descended, until a voice rang in my ears, distant as if traversing countless days
and nights.
"He can't possibly still be alive," a strange girl's voice said.
"We can make a bet," a lazy male voice hummed.
I strained to open my eyes slightly.
[End]
Postscript:
I clearly remember that when I began writing *The Divine Capital*, the world outside was a frozen wasteland.
The room was very well heated, so I was only wearing a thin t-shirt. I had
just finished a series on Tieba, updating daily for two months, 22 million views—
data that was enough to make me a little proud.
I was a bit tired. I hadn't felt like creating anything for the past few days, so I played a game with Zip.
It was Biohazard 5, an old game. But because I was playing it pretty well, it kept me
entertained. Zip and I cooperated well and got a three-digit ranking globally, 1408.
I asked Zip if this ranking was lucky or unlucky. Zip said, "How about I do a fortune telling?" I told him to get lost.
For someone who is used to writing, the end of a story brings
a satisfaction that nothing can replace. Of course, there's also an unavoidable emptiness.
I put down the controller, leaving Zip in the living room. He opened another game; I can't remember what it was
. It was probably *Call of Duty*, or maybe *The Elder Scrolls*.
I crawled back to my bedroom, intending to write something I hadn't written before, just to pass the time.
I didn't plan to continue writing *The Last Fruit*, because my thoughts were a bit sluggish, and my mood wasn't quite in sync—
in fact, I hadn't written anything in a long time.
*The Divine Capital*—when I typed those two words, I was merely borrowing a term from *The Last Fruit*,
not intending to present it in the way it is now.
But everything began just like that.
*The Divine Capital* became the first completed work in the entire series, today, five years after I started writing it.
Five years.
Five years ago, I never imagined I would experience the taste of aging, even with only a faint sign.
I never imagined that two of my closest relatives would pass away one after another in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a
house that would never be inhabited again.
I never imagined that I would build my own little family, and have a woman I could love forever.
The future was a chaotic fog back then. I thought I knew the direction forward, until now
, looking back, I suddenly realize how ignorant and confused I was back then.
The five years of writing *The Divine Capital* were the most chaotic and volatile five years of my life.
I didn't like those five years.
I didn't like *The Divine Capital*.
I hate Tanlang because I see myself in him.
I hate Melfi because he has things I can never have.
I hate Welch because I always smile like him.
I'm afraid that all these characters I've created will question me, question what I've done in these five years.
I wrote this story, but this story hasn't created any future for me.
I'm afraid they'll ask me, was it worth it?
Five years ago, I would have answered yes without hesitation. I would have said, this is what I enjoy doing, I
enjoy writing it, and there are people willing to read it, so it's worth it.
Now, I can't give that answer. Because as long as I continue to live, the opportunities to allow myself to be willful
will become fewer and fewer. This is reality.
I think one of the signs of maturity is numbness. No longer clinging to things, no longer adhering to certain principles. Once
stubborn thoughts will also turn into a slight smile and melt away in time because of reality.
I am far from mature. It's not because I cling to principles, but because I
've been tormented by abandoning what I once held dear , and I haven't become numb to this day.
Melfis's final words, in a way, were for himself.
I hope I will never become numb, I hope I will always be tormented by that guilt and contradiction. Because it is they
that have given birth to countless stories I want to tell.
I want to tell stories; this is the origin of everything.
From this moment, five years from now, I want to see how far I've come on this path.
At that time, I want to remember to see if I have the right to smile.
**********************************
The first half of this postscript is written only for myself.
The second half is not entirely so.
The first thing I started writing was *Dark Domain*.
I revised the entire story three times, reaching the 200,000-word mark. Then, for various reasons, I put down the pen, and to
complete the story's structure, I began *The End Fruit*.
The true span of the entire story's framework should be fifteen years.
And in the first ten years, there were only two true readers, including myself.
I vividly remember sitting in his room ten years ago, excitedly describing Cain Ray
Enon's plans. He listened, smiling the whole time. I kept writing, and he kept reading.
He never asked me anything, nor offered a few words of praise. He often seemed like a slightly
shy man.
Now, he only asks me occasionally, every few months, "Where are you now?" If completing this work is...
He is the final guardian of the dream I so desperately wanted to continue. Because I know that even if no
one else reads it, he will be there, just as he has done for over a decade.
This is courage from one man to another. He is my Melfi.
The image below is a memento of the completion of *The Divine Capital*.
During the long period of creating *The Divine Capital*, my literary skills, emotional control, and even my simple
writing state were challenged like never before. This is the longest work I have ever written, and the resentment, depression
, frustration, or sense of relief within it are feelings I have never experienced before.
Most writers are sensitive people, and we often feel lost over the slightest entanglement or distraction.
I felt once again that my luck was actually quite high.
I met Mr. Anderson and had my first pleasant conversation.
He helped me create a QQ group, doing something I had never done because of my escapist mentality.
I didn't take his existence seriously because the so-called fan group had my previous works ranked third
, and I hadn't appeared in it for years, even changing my original account.
At first, I didn't think *The Divine Capital* would be anything special, but later I realized it was
unlike any of my previous works.
I threw my dream onto the stage, accepting everyone's scrutiny, scorn, and criticism without reservation.
I could no longer excuse myself with "I didn't even care," as I
had done with my previous entertainment creations.
Then, amidst immense anxiety and suffocation, I felt Mr. Anderson's immense kindness
.
There aren't many adults in this world who can truly show kindness to a stranger, because those who do
often get hurt.
He did, and I discovered that we were highly
compatible in terms of both values and sense of propriety.
If *The Divine Capital* ultimately didn't bring me anything, then this friend was at least worth the price of admission.
Then I met more people.
In the previous night's update, I was grasping at straws like a drowning person. At that moment,
the person I thought of was Dawn.
He has never been stingy when I needed help, and last night was no exception.
And then there's Milk Tea, the first person to let me know that someone could be so moved by my writing. When I
was passionately writing, I knew he would resonate with me.
Swordfish, who accompanied me from the very beginning, witnessed my progress, and encouraged me time and time again with his analysis and reflections. Wei Chen,
who inspired me spiritually and supported me technically.
Dog Brother, whose long, insightful comments stirred my emotions;
Juan Chen, whose penetrating analysis seemed to read my heart; Egg, who helped me create the forum; Sheep, who composed music and wrote for *Shen Du*; Esdes, who gifted
me the game; Gui Xu, who diligently contributed to the management; and Zhu Ying, who occasionally sent words of encouragement
…
There are many more people I need to thank. I thank them all without any sincerity.
**********
Some say the ending of *Shen Du* is too fantastical and they couldn't understand it.
I don't want to explain too much. Because many answers are precisely those I want readers to discover for themselves, and thus I've concealed
.
Since it's a dream, why not dream big?
I'm writing this series of several novels with a grand ambition. This
ambition is on a literary level.
My writing is clumsy, the style obscure, and the tone somewhat somber. Character development can only be done using the most basic method
: piling up words—I'm utterly useless on a literary level.
But I still have ambition.
I hope many people can read this series. And no matter which chapter they start with, no matter the reading
order, they will have completely different experiences. And these experiences cannot be repeated, because you cannot change the reading
order.
With Cain entering the story, or the Wolf? The order in which the story is revealed will
create an unrepeatable reading experience for each reader. Each work will have
clues and answers that must be corroborated in the other four.
Five works, one hundred and twenty different experiences. This is my ambition.
Thank you for reading this afterword here first. I'm also sorry, because you can only share
one version.
When *The Divine Capital* concluded, there were only you, fewer than eight hundred readers. I hope that in five years, that number
will multiply tenfold, or even a hundredfold.
Eight hundred—this number… has a strange coincidence with the journey of Tanlang.
The five works will be completed in the order of *The Divine Capital*, *The Jackal of War*, and *The Fruit of the End*. *
The Scar of Kurusfik*, as a short story, will be updated simultaneously with the final work, *Dark Domain*. I hope you can journey with me
through this dreamlike journey.
Just like Tanlang at the end of *The Divine Capital*, may we meet again eight centuries later with the protagonists of *Dark Domain*.
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