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Chapter 781 - 779: "The End.

Chapter 781: Chapter 779: "The End.

The high rises bore the sunset, wisps of white smoke trailing out like a silk ribbon that could not be torn, disappearing in the blink of an eye into the rosy sky.

Beneath the screen, a white-haired young man looked up at this scenery.

A thick layer of dust still lingered in his pupils, and the expression on his face was extremely rigid, even his eyelids were stingy in lifting any higher.

"...This is just right," he murmured as he looked around.

In the hall, the screen in front of him displayed the pink sunset, the screen to his side showed a stream flowing under a small bridge, and the screen behind showed white birds returning to the forest... These virtual sceneries of spring were reflected on the screens, creating an electronic simulation of spring.

Several rushed footsteps approached, and a mechanical being moved in, conveying the voice of a deity:

"Lin Guang, I’ve been held up, so I’m sending you a message through this machine, Su Ming’an should be heading your way."

"Understood," Lin Guang said.

"If you want to keep him, this is your last chance," the deity said.

"Of course," Lin Guang, looking at the lily in his hand, his eyes once again shrouded in darkness, said, "He must be kept."

A moment later, Lin Guang added, "What about Xiao Mei? With her there, the resonance won’t work."

The deity replied, "I have a way to deal with her... What kind of outfit is this? That attire is not suitable for combat, where is your defense suit?"

Through the mechanical being’s visual collection device, the deity saw Lin Guang’s outfit was strangely out of the ordinary. He was actually wearing a black Chinese Hanfu, embroidered with white cranes and bamboo branches, the length of the Hanfu trailing to the hems of his pants, which was extremely inconvenient for movement.

"Mind your own business," Lin Guang said.

"..."

It was rare for the deity to be rebuked, so without another word, he departed.

"Wait," Lin Guang called after him.

The mechanical being turned back, and the deity’s voice coldly transmitted: "What is it? I’ve said that after invading the Ruined World, I will not kill you and Lewis. I am not one to easily break promises."

He saw Lin Guang sitting in a chair somewhat dejectedly, his back slightly hunched, his gaze still the customary bewilderment, a wilted lily rested limply next to his Hanfu.

Lin Guang’s eyelids drooped, he was silent for a while before speaking.

"No, I wanted to ask you a question," Lin Guang said, "To show a fresh flower to a friend, one must pluck it from the garden, stripping it of its life force. To show a bird to a friend, one must confine it in a cage, forever only able to present the imperfect side of the gift."

"Following Lewis’s words, to be a good person in the end resulted in all my paintings being burnt. To get the painting supplies back, in the end, I would cause the death of a child with those supplies."

"I can never create the positive side. Even if any beauty emerges, it will fade from my hands."

"But why does everyone always seem so happy?"

Saying this, Lin Guang’s eyes were especially perplexed, "Why can they easily understand what emotions are, what love is?"

"Why, during Fuyuan Festival, was Xi able to smile while giving Lewis a bracelet? Why in that city-state could Xiao Mei watch a movie with him? Why were they able to make Lewis smile playing the piano, Luo dance with him at evening parties?"

After decades of traveling, practicing smiles in front of a mirror in private, he could now exhibit a smile indistinguishable from an ordinary person’s.

He wanted to make his friend happy, so he would try to show the smile he had practiced, even though he actually couldn’t feel what "joy" was. He was unable to resonate with any positive emotions.

If one is not born a lotus, a plant in the mud cannot possibly be pure and spotless.

Hearing this, the deity said, "Then let me ask you, if killing one person could save the world, would you do it?"

Lin Guang said, "I would."

The Deity said, "What if you had to kill ten thousand people?"

Lin Guang affirmed without hesitation, "I would."

The Deity said, "What about one million people, or even ten million people to save the world? Would you kill then?"

Lin Guang still said, firmly and without hesitation, "I would."

The Deity asked, "What if Lewis was among those ten million people to be killed?"

Lin Guang immediately recanted, "I wouldn’t."

The Deity said, "Is that so? But didn’t you just say you would?"

Lin Guang replied, "Because Lewis is among that ’ten million people,’ I wouldn’t act."

The Deity said, "So, this is what makes you different from the others."

Feeling perplexed, Lin Guang couldn’t help but ask, "Is there a problem with my answer? Even Tretiya and the others would come to the same conclusion as me. In their eyes, Lewis is more important than ten million people."

The Deity sighed, seemingly with a hint of pity, "I’m not talking about the issue with your answer—it’s that throughout this questioning process, you didn’t hesitate for even half a second. You immediately responded as my questions changed. If it were someone else, they would have asked some other questions, such as ’in killing one person,’ who that person is, whether or not it’s Lewis. Such questions contain many hidden conditions, but you fail to see them."

...Is that so?

Lin Guang was taken aback.

"This is what makes you different from the others."

The Deity seemed to chuckle a few times, then suddenly there was a chaotic sound, and Lin Guang listened carefully, as if he could hear the sound of flames burning.

Five seconds later, the Deity’s somewhat reproachful voice came through, "Asking you these questions almost got my hair burned off. I don’t feel like explaining anymore; you figure it out yourself."

After a pause, the Deity added, "By the way, you can take action now, as soon as possible."

"Is Beili Sier dead?" Lin Guang asked.

"...Little Bei is gone," the Deity’s voice lowered, "That’s it."

With a "click," the mechanical communication was cut off, leaving Lin Guang alone in the hall, twirling a wilted lily in his hand.

He lowered his head, pondered for a while, the flower spinning with his fingers. The warm-toned lighting concentrated on his pale hair, and his slightly long eyelashes hid the gloom in his eyes.

A moment later, he said softly:

"’Arresting two leaders who command a strike is enough to end the strike immediately. It’s not the need for freedom but the need for subjugation that dominates the group’s soul.’"

"’They are so inclined to obey that anyone who declares himself their master will have them instinctively bow down.’"

"..."

"...Is that so?"

He rested his hand on the crimson hose next to him, his gaze flitting like two fish, crossing over the white bamboo embroidery at his sleeve cuff.

Between the virtual screens, the scenery was still as beautifully verdant as spring.

...

"Roar!"

The ribbons of air trembled in silence, thunder flashing with a brilliant white light.

The wind howled and the rain lashed outside the window, like countless whips striking the glass. Listening to the rain, Su Ming’an dragged his blood-soaked right leg up the stairs, leaving behind a trail of blue and red intertwined bloodstains.

There was a rumble from downstairs, probably Su Rin battling the Mechanical Army.

"Do you know, Su Ming’an?" A voice reached Su Ming’an’s ear:

"I have a total of one thousand three hundred and twenty-six parts on me, thirty-one of which have fine cracks. I’ve counted them over and over, otherwise, how would I get through this long night?"

"I would rather the one you loved be Xike, Yeah, Dawn, those pretty boys; at least then, you’d truly be happy... That year in the Main God World, when you took me from Doctor Xu, how I miss it..."

"Actually, it’s always been just me by your side, all this Xike, Yeah, is just dazzling chaos meant to blind you..."

Su Ming’an moved his hand to his left wrist and pressed the power off button on his watch.

"No—Anjiang! Don’t turn me off!!!" Ad alone let out a mournful scream.

With a "click," the clamorous noise ceased.

Su Ming’an had just completed the task to raise the Deity’s favorability to 80 points. He chose to use the task reward, "Super Intelligent AI Evolution Access," on the watch Ad alone, and upon using it, Ad alone began to overact.

In this Ninth World, Su Ming’an had barely interacted with Ad alone. It was like an invisible entity, watching helplessly as all the flashy Xike, Yeah, Dawn System, took over its place atop Anjiang’s affections, reducing it to a silly AI with an intellectual disability.

...

[Super Intelligent AI expected evolution time: 3-6 hours, AI (Ad alone) has entered hibernation...]

...

"Click." Su Ming’an pushed open the door.

"You’re here?" Noel stood in the center of the hall, looking towards Su Ming’an at the stairwell. Noel was surrounded by a dense web of threads, protecting everyone under a white net.

Since Xiao Mei’s live broadcast had been going on for a while, people were gradually waking up, sitting on the ground, their eyes vacant.

"They’ve been under the influence of emotional resonance for a long time; these people still need time to recover. I’ve been protecting them. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything for those outside the hall," Noel said.

"...Su Ming’an."

"...Chief."

Seeing Su Ming’an emerge from the stairwell, covered in blood, a glint of light returned to the eyes of those who had just awakened. They sluggishly lifted their heads, their gaze following Su Ming’an.

"Thank you." Su Ming’an looked at the path in front of him; Noel had cleared a way for him to the central elevator.

"You’re heading to the top floor?" Noel said, "Be careful."

What he didn’t say was—if it’s not safe, come back and signal me with a code word, and I’ll help however I can.

Su Ming’an walked towards the elevator, and several beams of light landed on him. They were the skills of the Players, enhancing his attack, speed, and aiding his injury recovery... A bunch of halos were draped over Su Ming’an.

"Su Ming’an, can I come with you? I have the Shadow skill, I can escape very quickly," Yamada Machiichi, who had just woken up from the resonance, could barely stand.

Su Ming’an shook his head.

"Su Ming’an, you don’t have to go up alone," Violet stood up from the water pool. "It’s better if we all wait until we fully recover and go up together."

"Yes, playing it safe is better," said Rimu Sheng, who was usually silent: "A boss fight for the final destiny of the Ruined World shouldn’t be fought alone."

"Comrades in arms should advance and retreat together, Number One Player, please wait a moment," Zhang Daoxuan spoke, stroking his snow-white goatee.

"Take me with you," a young-looking Player said.

Su Ming’an’s gaze swept around.

This group of disheveled people, after the resonance, truly had no difference from the "old, weak, sick, and disabled." Apart from Noel, there wasn’t a single one who could fight. Going up would only be delivering themselves to their doom.

"I..." He began to speak.

"Clang—" a deafening noise erupted.

Suddenly, the dome above cracked open, a rising black mist seeped from the shattered ceiling, aiming precisely for Noel.

Noel, already drained of most of his energy, barely reacted in time. Su Ming’an yanked him, catching him with the thread and pulling Noel away to prevent him from being skewered.

"Boom!"

The black mist hit the ground, and a Black Blade thrust forward, sinking deeply into the tiles, causing water to splash everywhere, knocking down those who had not yet steadied themselves.

Came a cold voice from above:

"Let’s end this, Lewis."

Su Ming’an looked up and could vaguely make out the shadow of Hanfu through the crack made by the Black Blade in the multiple ceilings above.

...Lin Guang?

"It’s time to end it," said Su Ming’an.

Forty years of enmity, the final destiny of the Ruined World—it was time to settle things with the Deity’s Agent.

"Wait a minute." Noel was tugged upon, a bloodstain forming on his small frame. He looked up to the ceiling’s crack and shouted, "Settle your score with Lewis, why are you stabbing at me?"

Never have seen such a person; issuing a challenge with a sword is one thing, but to insist on aggressively targeting someone unrelated to the duel.

Lin Guang didn’t even acknowledge Noel.

Suddenly, the sound of Xiao Mei’s live broadcast from outside grew fainter, and in the distance, the roar of a white cat could be heard. Su Ming’an glanced at the deep night sky and stepped onto the elevator.

"Don’t follow, something might be happening at Xiao Mei’s place. Without her voice, you could collapse at any moment. Stay here, you’re protected by Noel’s threads," Su Ming’an warned the restless NPCs and Players, stopping them from rushing to their deaths.

People watched Su Ming’an with complex expressions.

"Ah, going up alone again," said Xi with a sigh.

"..." Noel clutched the threads in his hand, staying in place. Outside, pale lightning flickered, making his blue eyes look even more translucent.

Su Ming’an pressed the button for the top floor of the elevator, and before the doors closed, he caught a glimpse of Noel in the hall through the crack.

Between the physically tangible dampness of the air, the blond youth’s finger rested on the brim of the Blue Rose hat. He took off the hat, placed it over his chest, and bowed slightly towards Su Ming’an, his golden hair like ethereal sparks on the shore.

"Su Ming’an," Noel said.

["Call" + "Hat Removal Salute"]

Before the elevator doors closed, Su Ming’an understood the meaning.

What could easily be conveyed by words, Noel chose to say through code.

...

[——"Come back soon."]