Super Righteous Player
Chapter 1145 - 196: The Abyss of Light and Darkness

Chapter 1145: Chapter 196: The Abyss of Light and Darkness

Seeing this, Annan’s expression became somewhat complex.

He did not know if he was overthinking.

But this kind of choice between "ordinary person" and "rebel" indeed reminded Annan of himself.

He once lived as an ordinary person, leading a mundane life.

Until one day, Annan abandoned everything he had—embarking on a long journey without a known destination or end, becoming a "rebel".

...This original plot seems more like a kind of prophecy than the book "Odes to the Celestial Chariot."

On the contrary, "Odes to the Celestial Chariot" diluted some of the prophecy because it mixed in some "personal bias."

However, this world’s details were consistent with Annan’s initial guess.

It was indeed a "white" world.

—Clean, pure, flawless.

White sculptures, white city walls, even people’s clothing were white. It was only the cloudless azure sky that added a bit of mixed color... But it was precisely because of that "cloudless" bright sunlight that all the "white" could reflect a bright radiance.

In that otherworldly instance, it was set up like this—they did not force everyone to walk on "the path most suitable for themselves."

But whenever someone chose to defy their "best choice" once and choose their own path, they would put on an article of colored clothing or accessory.

And this "rebel" from the start had completely abandoned the white clothing, donning a long robe interwoven with purple and gray.

What the Madman did was largely similar to what the book described. The dialogue wasn’t as philosophical, nor was it as informative.

The Madman didn’t "say goodbye to his parents," instead leaving without notice.

He was not seeking the Celestial Chariot but was only looking for a way to break the game—visiting various places, meeting Saints, encountering Sages, using various methods, attempting to achieve his ascension.

But in the end, he realized he had no talent.

All his plans failed— he could never escape this nightmare.

The undying flame of defiance in the heart of this "rebel" was extinguished by such despair.

—Until halfway through his return journey, he encountered a fool.

This fool asked the Madman a question.

This question made the Madman stop on this island, pondering for a very long time:

"What I’m asking is, why do you even live?

"Why do your eyes open to see me, what sort of words does your ear wish to hear? Your hands and legs are attached to you, but what do they wish to do—where do they want to go?"

After a long contemplation, the Madman gave a clear and rational response.

It was this answer that rescued his despairing persona.

He said:

"I sing only for my own ears, I only listen to songs that bring me joy. My tongue speaks strong and powerful words only for myself. My hands scribble and toil solely for myself, my legs run free in the wilds as wild horses, according to my own will.

"But only my eyes—my eyes do not belong to myself. What I see in my eyes is not a world that belongs to me."

—The tape cut off right there.

Annan didn’t know what happened next, whether he actually returned to his hometown like the protagonist in the book, and fell in love with his childhood sweetheart. That part was not revealed.

However, Annan was certain of one thing—at least in this nightmare, the rebel was not seeking the Celestial Chariot, and even less trying to ascend to the realm of light.

The parts related to the Celestial Chariot were actually embellishments.

According to Annan’s timing, he had watched the tape for at least four days. But he had not felt hungry throughout.

"...Since the records of past predecessors could be left behind, then the only missing tape number[357], must represent the ’deep crimson’ of my own room."

Annand thought to himself, "Now the problem is, how do I interfere with other people’s nightmares?

"Being locked in this room, I can’t get out at all. Or do I have to wait for them to come out on their own?"

——But speaking of which, how could their "utterly desperate" nightmare end?

Annand remembered.

All the Eggs of Dream Condensation could only be cleared once. If that "Madman" predecessor managed to clear it and leave, then they couldn’t have come in at all.

That is to say, this Otherworld-level nightmare must have a safe exit. This is probably the "emergency exit" controlled by Ingrid.

However...

Annand pursed his lips.

Though he did not see the final outcome of the "Madman."

He always had an ominous feeling.

This feeling initially came from Paper Princess—recently, the portrait drawn by Paper Princess allowed Annand to come into contact with The Worm for a moment.

Since then, Annand received an influence about The Worm.

Named "Echoes from the Genesis: Celestial Chariot and The Worm."

——This should be the unique echo born from the moment Annand came into contact with The Worm. Here, the Celestial Chariot should refer to Annand himself.

Based on this influence, if Annand can’t expel or preserve this effect in time, he would plunge into an Otherworld-level nightmare with the keyword "The Worm" the instant this influence disappears.

That is an Otherworld-level nightmare!

What Annand worried about was whether his current nightmare... could have been distorted because of the presence of this influence?

It wasn’t impossible...

After all, this nightmare itself is related to the Celestial Chariot, and the Celestial Chariot and The Worm are mortal enemies—while Annand just happens to hold the influence of "Celestial Chariot and The Worm."

And Annand has not yet completed the Ritual of Sublimation.

His power is certainly weaker than that of The Worm.

It’s not impossible for this nightmare to completely turn from the side of the Celestial Chariot to The Worm.

...In that case, the techniques used by that predecessor in the past might not be available for Annand to use.

Thinking this way, Annand put the last recording tape, the one labeled[123], into the player.

——Just as Annand expected.

This last recording tape was indeed the place where Ingrid was!

It was a pitch-black night, devoid of any light.

There was no sun or moon, but one could vaguely make out some dark golden outlines—giant black gears of varying sizes densely packed in the sky, covering the entire firmament.

And when these gears collided with each other, they would spark great sparks, briefly illuminating bits of the night sky. Those tiny glimmers were the only light in this world.

As for Ingrid...

She was even more miserable than Annand imagined.

Her limbs were sawn off right from the start, and she lay flat in a pitch-black coffin. As she had lost her curse carrier, she could not use her Transcendent powers of the Gold rank. It seemed as if she was caught in a dead end right from the start.

But soon, Annand realized...

Ingrid’s status here... seemed rather exalted?

Her eyes were sealed with cloth, limbs amputated, worshipped by the foolish primitives inside this mysterious coffin, praying to her for Wisdom—the wisdom to survive.

——In this world without light or fire, she was their deity.

A goddess born from darkness.