prynovel Chapter 1761 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [106] "Don Quixote beat the windmills."
Chapter 1761 Final Chapter: Crossing the Shore [106] "Don Quixote beat the windmills."
Chapter 1761 Final Chapter: The Shore Crossing [106]: "Don Quixote defeated the windmills."
—Do you want to tear through the darkness? Then become the sharpest blade!
"—Do you wish to bring dawn? Then become the fire at its highest point!"
Amidst the roar of bronze bells and the shadow of the gallows, amidst the cold indifference of the gods and the mockery of the mob,
Only those who would take out their heart to use as a torch...
Only then, before turning to ashes, can the bloodstains meander into a poem leading to the New Jerusalem.
……
2026年6月1日，晚上21点03分59秒。
"Click".
2026年6月1日，晚上21点04分00秒。
The second hand clicked past.
People blinked.
In that instant, everyone looked in the same direction—Su Ming'an, who had been standing beside them just moments before, was gone.
“We blinked…” Qiuqiu murmured, “Has he… succeeded?”
That savior, carrying a perfectly complete method, is charging toward the final battle.
For people, it was only a fleeting moment.
For Su Ming'an, it was practically "eternal".
……
Blackwater Dream.
All the sober-minded were driven back to their respective civilizations; the black water surged silently, and the wisteria vines drifted away.
A figure waited there, shrouded in purple clouds, silently awaiting.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
This dream realm, which no one but the sane can enter, has finally welcomed a non-sane guest.
The black water surged silently, its waves billowing.
The wisteria petals fall, landing on the water's surface without sinking or decaying.
Footsteps echoed from the depths of the fog.
"Da. Da. Da."
Each step was unhurried and deliberate. An intruder would have hesitated, but the intruder's steps were too leisurely, as if he were walking under the eaves of his own house.
Startled by the footsteps, the fog slowly receded to both sides.
The moment the black-haired youth stepped out of the fog, his black robe draped down like a continuation of the night, and not a speck of moisture touched his shoulders, as if the surging black water dared not leave any trace on him.
The sword blade was hidden in its sheath, with a faint, cold light emanating from the hilt.
Wisteria petals drifted past his shoulder, as if gently parted by something invisible. Black water surged to his feet, kissing the void beneath his feet.
The waiting figure shifted slightly, and his form, shrouded in purple clouds, became almost transparent for a moment.
"You've arrived," said the Lord of Dreams.
Su Ming'an slightly raised his eyes, his gaze passing through the swaying wisteria and landing on the waiting person.
A soft halo of light spilled from the youth's hair, flowing down his shoulder line, enveloping him in a warm glow.
He stood there.
Thousands of sails have passed, and ten thousand tides have receded.
Just like the beginning.
Walking in the light.
“I already know the outcome. All you need to do now is smash the cat box, destroy this black water dream, and send everything I simulated to your brain… then we don’t need to fight,” Su Ming’an said.
The Lord of Dreams said softly:
"If you knew you wouldn't need your small world... would you be willing to destroy it?"
"Besides, I haven't verified your method, nor do I have any way to verify it. Would you entrust your ideals to someone else?"
"No need for further words, no need to try to persuade them to surrender. Neither of us can give up, nor can we completely trust the other... Come on, defeat me, and you will be able to realize your ideals."
A war between them is inevitable.
The Lord of Dreams cannot destroy the Blackwater Dreamland that He has built up over the years; it is the source of His power. He dares not trust the other party, nor can He relinquish the initiative.
After all, Su Ming'an's time was far too short. Even though He understood that everything Su Ming'an had experienced was extremely long for him, it was like a fleeting moment on a normal time scale, making it impossible for Him to entrust everything to him.
“Then let’s go.” Su Ming’an raised his hand and said, “Let me see—the ‘player’ and the ‘game’.”
The momentum suddenly surged and rose, the black water churning and crashing.
Fine, dense white tentacles grew from her back, her eyes shone with the colors of the Radiant Mother Goddess and the Demon Mother Goddess, her right hand gripped the Sword of Yarman, and her left hand gradually took shape with a crystal-clear Devouring Claw.
Devouring, faith, death, birth...
The power of the four great authorities converges within him.
In that instant, the Lord of Dreams unveiled the veil.
He used to hide his face, not believing that a pawn could break the cat box. But now Su Ming'an has done it; He will show his face with equal respect.
Su Ming'an's pupils contracted slightly.
Even though he had expected it, seeing the answer still gave him a jolt.
Her long, purple hair was slightly curled, and her golden pupils were like molten gold.
His form is constructed of digital and code-like letters, like a swirling purple cloud, draped with bright red silk, and with soft, light feathers hanging down.
He adjusted his hat brim and looked over.
“Si…” Su Ming’an almost blurted out.
But he paused briefly, then said His name.
"—Si Li."
……
To distinguish them, the world-ruler who jumped off the sacred mountain, covered in filth, was called "Su Wenjun," while the pure and innocent world-ruler before them reverted to the name Si Que had originally given him: "Si Li."
……
The rabbits pleaded:
"Lord Li, I will write a story that is compelling enough for you. Please allow us to live on in humility."
……
The Lord of Dreams is not Si Que.
Su Ming'an always felt that even though there were many mysteries surrounding Si Que, his closeness and genuine feelings did not seem fake. If it was an act, he was already very perceptive and could not possibly be fooled.
He once suspected that Si Que was responsible for Tao'er's death, but it was later proven that Nagasha was behind it. Therefore, his suspicion of Si Que might not be conclusive evidence.
Now, everything is clear.
Si Que did not lie to him.
He's been deceived too many times, making him extremely wary and subconsciously suspicious of everyone.
"Mr. Lighthouse seems to have misunderstood something?" Si Li tossed a colored memory lens.
"You think I'm some kind of magpie with a heart full of love? No..."
"My name is Si Li."
—Under the light of day.
He turned around.
The Si Que that Su Ming'an met did not die on her eighteenth birthday. Si Que's father, Qiao of the Witch Clan, transferred his witch identity to Si Que, granting her immortality. Therefore, when introducing herself, Si Que said, "I am both a member of the Magpie Clan and a Witch Clan."
Everything Su Ming'an knew about Si Que was true. He hadn't been deceived. The only discrepancy was in the statement that "Si Li is a character written by Si Que."
Initially, Si Que created the Blackwater Dreamland for communication between people from different civilizations. However, after foreseeing future disasters and paying a heavy price, as Su Ming'an knows, Si Que was reincarnated as an ordinary magpie, and the Blackwater Dreamland was temporarily without an owner.
—A higher dimension seized this moment, usurped the Blackwater Dream, and became the master of the dream.
This is why, although He is called the "Lord of Dreams," His authority is "Game." Because this dream world did not originally belong to Him; He was the usurper.
He began to use this communication platform to realize his ambition—an artificial cosmic organ. As for whether it could obscure the observation of the true brain, He was not particularly concerned. He simply wanted to try to reach the realm of a cosmic organ with the power of life.
He kept a close watch on Si Que, the original owner of the Blackwater Dream, and only dared to relax after confirming that Si Que was just an ordinary magpie, fearing that one day Si Que would suddenly return to a higher dimension and take back the Blackwater Dream. But He still felt uneasy, fearing that some awakened beings in the Blackwater Dream would discover that He was not the original owner. Therefore, the Lord of the Dream kept looking for an opportunity, until the character "Si Li" written by Si Que died of old age not long after, and the Lord of the Dream used this image.
Every aspect of Si Li is incredibly similar to Si Que. After becoming "Si Li," the Lord of the Dream gradually stopped worrying about being recognized.
As an old friend of Si Que, Sheng Qi knew that the master of this dream was not the original person, but he didn't care. He just often came to drink tea and see if this master of the dream could touch the organs of the universe with the power of a mere life.
“After taking over Blackwater Dream, I observed you for a long time,” Si Li said calmly. “Seeing your loneliness and your pain, from an observer’s perspective, I hope that someone like you can find happiness.”
"Why?" Su Ming'an couldn't understand. He didn't even know Him, so why did He have expectations of him?
"Who knows? Maybe it's because I've been observing for too long, hoping that the subject I'm observing will have a good outcome," Si Li said. "In your second instance, I was the bard floating on the river; in your fifth instance, I was a revolutionary soldier; in your sixth instance, I was a patient; in your seventh instance, I was a soul hunter..."
Su Ming'an's pupils contracted slightly.
He did indeed remember meeting a bard in the second instance...
“I even impersonated Si Que, trying to deceive you,” Si Li said, “hoping to plant the idea in your mind that ‘I must become a sober person in order to be worthy of Si Que’s sacrifice.’”
……
"Su Ming'an can only do it once...you can't..."
"It's okay, I'll pay for this extra time."
"Second Seat, you...you're awake?"
"Yes, the real me has awakened. Judging from Rovasa's condition, Su Ming'an and 'my future self' are getting along well and have become good friends... Alright, I'll pay the price. Please let Su Ming'an become a 'conscious one' once again."
"Are you willing to accept the consequences of doing this?"
"It's just leading me toward my predetermined fate, while Su Ming'an has a bright future ahead of him; he should walk toward the ending he desires. My path ended long ago, but his is different."
……
Su Ming'an had heard these words before, and at the time he thought that Si Que had paid some price to become a sober person.
At that time, he didn't quite understand the concept of a sober person; he just thought that since Si Que had paid a huge price to become this person, it should be very useful.
To Si Li's dismay, even so, despite Noel Agni's repeated warnings, Su Ming'an still failed to become a sane individual. The trap had failed.
Otherwise, Su Ming'an, now that he is awake, would have no chance of resisting the Lord of Dreams, nor could he possibly win.
“Lord of Dreams, come and gamble with me, let’s play a ‘game’,” Su Ming’an said.
If the two sides were to directly attack each other, the battle between higher dimensions would take an unknown amount of time, so it would be better to decide the outcome in one round.
Upon hearing the word "game," the Lord of Dreams said, "Sure. What do you want to play?"
Because of their own unique "paths," higher dimensions are actually purer than humans. If Su Ming'an proposes the concept of a "game" and stakes everything, He must accept the challenge. Otherwise, He will find it difficult to face His true self and will have limited potential.
"—You remain trapped within the Blackwater Dreamscape, and I will launch an attack. You can use any means necessary—memory lenses, countless fragments of characters, stories, text, animation, games…—to stop me, but I will shatter all of that and stand before you. You can hide yourself within fragments of text and pixels, or use any text and pixel to hinder me. If I can reach you and make you show your health bar, then I have won," Su Ming'an said.
"The duration is three hours, which is three hours in the sense that we, the humans of Zhaixing, understand."
"If I fail to stand before you and cause you even the slightest harm within these three hours, you win."
The Lord of Dreams smiled.
Although it is unknown whether He has human emotions, He genuinely finds it interesting.
The condition proposed by Su Ming'an was actually very disadvantageous to him, as it fully utilized the strengths of the Dream Lord, who was most adept at using words and pixels, and the two mediums of "story" and "game." The Blackwater Dream was so vast that it would be far too easy for it to prevent Su Ming'an from reaching it in just three hours.
"You're so confident, what gives you that confidence?" the Lord of Dreams said. "Well, fine, I agree."
He could not refuse; all the conditions on the surface were favorable to Him, and it was all a "game." If He refused here, and dared not face His own "Way," His potential would be greatly diminished in the future.
The two parties have completed the bet; the bet is set and cannot be reversed.
“Then,” Su Ming’an put on his wristwatch, his eyes gleaming, “start the timer.”
"An-chan! Long time no see! You didn't seem to like 'Good Luck' last time. It's okay, A-Du has prepared a light and cheerful pre-battle song for you, 'Phoenix'..." Immediately, A-Du's lively voice floated out smoothly, and even though Su Ming'an had experienced many things, it was still the same.
"Shut up."
"Oh, waah..."
……
6月1日，21:10:00
"The game" - begins.
……
In an instant, the Lord of Dreams in front of Su Ming'an disappeared, having already hidden himself within the Blackwater Dream.
Countless pixels and text rushed towards him, obstructing Su Ming'an's view.
Su Ming'an proposed these conditions for two reasons. First, to prevent the Lord of Dreams from stalling for time, since some of his trump cards would disappear once the world game ended. Second, he was genuinely confident in his abilities.
The Lord of Dreams believed that "story" and "game" were His strengths, and by no means weaknesses for Su Ming'an.
“God, it’s time for you to show your health bar…” Su Ming’an said slowly.
Several figures rushed towards him!
Haru Mizushima, who didn't die in other reincarnations; Machiichi Yamada, who died in different bad endings; Eni, who died before dawn...
The final battle against the Lord of Dreams is a battle of story and game, and the abilities the Lord of Dreams uses are also based on story and game. He doesn't need to defeat Su Ming'an; he only needs to continuously produce these materials, just like using cards in "God's Vision," to stall Su Ming'an for three hours.
His "weapon" is the material produced by all the cycles of reincarnation in the cat box.
"Why... how did you survive... your ideal wasn't to redeem Zhai Xing at all..." Mizushima Kawai's face was covered in blood.
Su Ming'an has come to understand that Mizushima Kawai Sora's statement that she "saw Mizushima Kawai Haru in the Blackwater Dream" was a false illusion in different reincarnations, and its essence was the same as that of the blue-haired girl Lin Yi in the Burning Grandma trial.
In an instant, another figure pounced from behind Su Ming'an.
"Big Brother is Big Brother, Big Brother is a great hero. How dare you slander him!" Mo Yan instantly drew his sword and slashed at Mizushima Kawaharu!
This was not summoned by Su Ming'an. He used his "S-level Creator" skill, "Creation Domain," which would spontaneously generate responses based on the enemy's attack, his own memories, emotions, experiences, soul, and so on.
This kind of duel does not depend on the strength of the gods, the level of their divine status, or the amount of their authority... it depends solely on all the accumulated experiences they have had.
He has met his lifelong friends, loyal and trustworthy followers, and like-minded individuals who are both similar to and different from him. He has brushed past regrets and encountered ideals; he has witnessed the epic struggles of the most magnificent civilizations and personally healed the wounds and regrets of countless civilizations. He has saved everyone and abandoned everyone; he has written all his words and erased all his words; he has been hurt countless times and moved countless times. Until the burning fire of his heart scorched his soul, until his parched heart was gradually filled with laughter and tears…
All of this will not be buried by the waves—but will become his "weapon" in the final battle to fight for their freedom.
It is his shield, his sword, and everything he has.
All the warmth, emotion, feeling, thoughts and feelings he possessed... everything that constituted "Su Ming'an" was transformed into the sharpest blade to pierce the final battle!
"Why are you all gone..." Yamada Machiichi's phantom rushed over.
"Get away! You're not me!" Beside Su Ming'an, Yamada Machi, whose makeup was ruined, drew her water blade and charged forward, her always smiling eyes burning with unwavering determination.
One after another, the figures rushing towards him shattered in an instant, and Su Ming'an moved forward, forward.
After he seemed to break through a layer of "water film," a new scene appeared—
Those were tens of millions of stories, dancing across the blue sky and sea. They contained the sorrow, anger, and madness of countless people, attempting to crush him—
"We've been doing this over and over again, what's wrong with that!"
"What if the Lord of Dreams really does have our best interests at heart? His goal is inherently benevolent!"
"I'm in so much pain... I'm so tired... Why did you forget me? Why did you abandon me?!"
The suffocation was like a tidal wave, threatening to strangle him. If he were to be overwhelmed by the materials of the Lord of Dreams, he would be unable to advance any further.
"Swish swish swish swish—"
A series of white lights appeared.
Figures appeared around him, one after another. These were his own "stories," emerging from this battle of "stories." They became his strength, one after another, helping him break through the surging, boundless waves, pushing him forward.
In the final battle, they became his bridge, his torch, his baton... pulling him, leading him, dragging him, leading him...
Forward, forward.
You once saved us, like a ray of light visiting our lives, bringing dawn or igniting darkness. Now, it is our turn to guide you through this final, dead end.
This is what you deserve.
This is the freedom you deserve.
Xiao Han, dressed in a white lab coat, grabbed his arm first and ran forward: "Doctor, forward!"
She grabbed him and raised her gun to face the onrushing surge of emotions.
"boom!"
In the world of words and pixels, something incredible happened: the bullet pierced through the incoming air pressure and flew into the sky.
In this battle at a higher conceptual level, what appears to be a physical clash is actually a contest of emotions and memories.
Soon, after walking for a while, Xiao Han's figure disappeared, and she was taken over by a blonde, blue-eyed girl named Elisa.
Carrying a gun, she saw the overwhelming pressure approaching her, shouted, raised her gun, and fired.
"Big brother, let's keep moving forward!"
His blue eyes reflected his life's journey through countless trials and tribulations.
The sea surged and roared, attempting to drown the traveler crossing the ocean. It submerged his ankles, his knees, his chest…
And they will carry him on, breaking through this ocean of words and pixels—so that he will no longer drown in the sea.
After passing through this section of the road, Elisa's figure slowly disappeared.
"Brother Ming'an!" The next person to take over was a boy in a school uniform with a headband. He pulled Su Ming'an out of the surging waves.
He didn't know how to use a gun or a sword. He simply grabbed Su Ming'an's wrist, braving the surging current, and pulled Su Ming'an forward several steps, staggering along, while letting out a hearty laugh.
Like a relay race, all the figures carried in his soul appeared one by one, helping him break through this endless night, holding his hand tightly, and constantly passing on warmth and affection, helping him move forward in the waves of "story" and "game".
He had once reached out a helping hand to each of them, leading them toward daylight. Now, they turned back, wanting to pull out the last pioneer still lingering in the darkness.
How could there be any logic in pioneers dying before dawn? At least, such logic doesn't need to be followed at this moment.
"Splash... splash..."
Jasmine, holding a lantern, grasped Su Ming'an's arm amidst the surging waves. The light dispelled the gloom and the evil spirits, and she revealed a pure smile.
One after another, phantoms transformed into a whirlwind and torrential rain, rushing towards him; countless words, like a terrifying effect, and countless pixels, transformed into grotesque monsters and natural disasters, all attempting to stop him.
Su Ming'an's frozen figure suddenly moved, and two people grabbed his hands, one on his left and one on his right.
"Gravity - flipping".
"Take this!"
A dignified young girl with long, flowing pink hair extended her palm forward, and an invisible ripple swept out, instantly turning the gust of wind and rain into ice crystals that flew into the sky.
The girl with a black ponytail held Su Ming'an tightly with one hand and wielded a large knife with the other, the blade shattering and pixels flying everywhere.
"Whoosh—!"
Flames danced as a black-haired girl in a hospital gown cleared a path forward, shattering the surrounding pixels and text and burning her way through.
"Shh-!"
The sea breeze sways, the ark sails, and the oncoming gale is firmly blocked by a knight's shield.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The red-haired young lady kept firing her gun, destroying the incoming pixelated characters, and gave a soft hum, her skirt swaying like flames.
"Crack-!"
Dark tentacles rose from the sea, lashing wildly and instantly shattering the pixels that filled the sky, their attack incredibly powerful. A girl in flowing red robes rose with her sword, slashing towards the distance.
In the sky, with golden hair flowing like a bird, Noah, riding his flying machine, knocked down all the words in the air such as "madness," "despair," "pain," and "blame," shattering them into bubbles.
The woman with long beige hair looked heroic, carrying heavy cannons on her shoulders. As the cannons focused, blue light shot out continuously, blasting away words such as "death," "anger," "cycle," and "manipulation," illuminating the road ahead as bright as day.
The white-haired youth gripped Su Ming'an's wrist tightly, pulling him along as they broke through the overwhelming darkness. It was like running through a dark forest, trying to light a fire.
"This spring should have belonged to you, but you were the last to enter." The person turned to look at him. "You're too good. You shouldn't have been so slow. You love everyone too much."
"The people you saved are already waiting to return home, having ended their arduous journey, while you are still in the final battle."
"I won't let you be alone...!"
Amidst the hustle and bustle, and with the help and guidance of the crowd, Su Ming'an walked forward.
They pulled him, dragged him, supported him, pushed him... just to keep him moving forward, forward.
The deep tracks opened up before us, with fish and krill floating around, making the labyrinth resemble a tunnel in the deep sea.
The stick figures followed behind him, and his shadow remained colorful.
Something like frosted glass was coating his clear heart. A passionate and young man was traversing a long period of time.
One by one, figures walked down the black water, took his hand, and led him forward.
They had reached their respective destinations, but Su Ming'an remained in the ocean, so they turned back and held his hand tightly.
Theresa, Su Xiaobi, Yaowen, Chun, Noah, Sen, Xiaobei, Linguang...
Soldiers, generals, children who love to draw, an old woman selling grass, workers on the Rose Blood assembly line, students burning their papers, rescued girls, residents lighting up the city-states, drivers speeding along the roads, pilots risking their lives to protect Originium, and a young female announcer standing fearlessly atop a tower...
At first, there were figures, their faces clear and features distinct. He remembered their names, their personalities, their smiles, and their final deaths perfectly…
Then, the figures began to appear faster, flashing by in rapid succession. One after another, they moved towards him against the flow of film, brushing past his shoulders. He couldn't make out their faces or figures, only their vague features.
Then came completely blurred figures, one by one, group by group… Soldiers who died on the battlefield, dying in droves, residents of the city-state who died, buildings disappearing one by one. He walked forward, and they walked forward, laughing and crying, waving their hands, swinging their arms, striding their legs. Until they brushed past him, until they turned into nothingness like starlight.
There were too many people—mothers, children, the elderly, teenagers… Their figures blurred into indistinct shadows, like rainbows surging towards him, gently brushing against his cheeks and shoulders. There were also too many voices: some were laughing, some were crying, some were showing off their medals, some were reminiscing about yesterday's braised pork, and others were talking about everyday things that were hard to hear.
They mingled into dense clusters of sounds, like electric currents coursing through his skull, flowing into his ears, transforming into torrential rain, penetrating his spine, overflowing from behind, and spilling onto the ground.
Splash—splash—
He walked towards the "rainbow" formed by the colorful crowd, and countless "rainbows" passed through him, flowing back the way he came.
He walks on the rainbow.
"Su Ming'an." The prince, with his hair in a ponytail and wearing a cloak, stood under the peach tree and raised his wine cup.
"Detective!" The girl with purple eyes waved with a smile.
“My Lord Angel…” The young man holding the black bird sculpture stood silently beneath the statue, his eyes burning with struggle.
"Su Ming'an." The girl with black hair and blue eyes gave a clean and simple smile.
"..." The old woman held her son's hand and stood quietly under a bright red umbrella. At her feet, there seemed to be illusory sheep.
"Dr. Su." Xiao Li waved.
“Banana… Your Majesty the Angel!” Blackberry Kennet, dressed in full military attire, had a gleam in his eyes.
"Little Cloud!" The world-renowned teenage news anchor, Miss Demon King, flashed a "V" sign at him!
"Su Ming'an!" Teacher Xia, wearing brand-new suit pants, waved.
"First Dream Patrol." Yi Zhongyu crossed his arms and nodded.
"Su Ming'an~ Time to move on~" Zou Yuqing, an expert in the internet, raised her notebook with a grin.
"Su Ming'an, let's move forward." General Qin looked at him with a smile.
"Su Ming'an, forward!" Chang Ge shouted, raising his hands high and waving them back and forth, jumping up and down.
"Let's go." Su Wensheng, wearing a school uniform, extended her hand.
"Let's go." Su Wensheng, wearing an earring, smiled and winked.
"Forward, Su Ming'an!" Su Wensheng, holding a magic wand, waved it.
The phantoms around him multiplied, becoming so numerous that he lost count. Some he remembered by name, some he only vaguely remembered, and some he had never even seen before—but they were all here, emerging from the countless worlds he had traversed, awakening from simulations transformed into books, and stepping down from a page in the cosmic library.
"Su Ming'an!"
"forward!"
"Go!"
The shouts surged like a tide, drowning out the negative murmurs.
A strange young man burst out from the crowd, wielding a giant sword taller than himself, and slashed fiercely at the oncoming word "Despair." The moment the blade shattered, the enormous character vanished into specks of light.
"Grandpa taught me that a real man should stand tall and upright!" The boy turned around and grinned, revealing a tiger tooth. "Although I didn't live to grow up, and I'm just a passerby in the world you saved, I can still help you by wielding a sword!"
A middle-aged woman dressed in white raised her hand, and soft light emanated from her fingertips. Concepts such as "madness," "resentment," and "fear" that rushed towards her melted away in the light, like ice and snow meeting the spring sun.
“Go, move forward…” She was wearing a radiant mage's robe; she was an ordinary radiant mage.
An old man, leaning on a cane, stood shakily amidst a pile of broken pixels. Behind him were countless open books, their pages filled with words.
He was an ordinary creator of Rovasa, who lived a life of mediocrity, but after the Lord of the End of All Things departed, his descendants no longer had to live in fear.
“I’ve written many stories in my life,” the old man said, tilting his head back, his voice trembling. “Fortunately, you’ve finished ‘recording’ our story…”
Tens of millions of stories condensed into dreams to conceal him, but he slayed the dreams and embarked on the path to the Blackwater.
It's as if a tower of love has been built up.
A giant book floated in the void, its pages turning, each page bearing a name.
As the pages turned, a road paved with words stretched out beneath his feet.
More and more people flocked to him, more and more hands reached out, and more and more voices called his name.
What is a saint? What is a sinner?
A sage is not made sage through sacrifice, but rather, because of his sagehood, he inevitably has to endure sacrifice.
Sinners are not sinful because of sacrifice, but sin inevitably brings about sacrifice.
Saint Chen Yuhang, who escorted the key to the fate of two worlds, bravely ventured into the abyss, and is praised by the world, should be called a saint.
Su Wenli, a sinner, allowed countless deaths to occur in order to forge the Holy Sword. He is despised by the world and should be considered a sinner.
However, both "Chen Yuhang" and "Su Wenli" were created by the same person.
Saint Huibi traveled thousands of miles throughout his life, working with his brother to spread the name of Radiant Light throughout Rovasa, so that the gods could be drawn down to the mortal world in the end. He should be called a saint.
The sinner Huichi, who committed countless acts of tyranny throughout his life, exploited his heir, preyed on the people, and used the name of Radiance to exterminate all heretics. He also gathered malice to forge the Holy Sword. He should be called a sinner.
But what if "Hui Chi" and "Hui Bi" both represent the same ideal?
Si Nian, Alger, Elland, Casadia, Hui Chi, Hui Bi, Hui Mo, Phoenix, Shi Ying, Polo, Evelyn, Nagasha, the rabbits, Su Qi, Yi Song, Ming, Noel... Su Ming'an.
Every person possesses both the qualities of a "saint" and a "sinner".
……
【This is utter nonsense, a futile attempt to outwit a tiger, a banishment to the flames of karma for eternity. You stand in the position of executioner, yet aspire to be the most rebellious saint—how utterly laughable!】
"Then let this karmic fire begin by burning me."
……
How can one become a sage?
The road ahead offers no turning back.
Why the sinner?
Therefore, no one can escape the consequences.
……
[With the public opening their clear eyes to the "truth," the sandbox of "tampering" will be unveiled...]
……
So they never turned back.
This is the road ahead, and therefore the way home.
……
……
"Shh-!"
As if breaking through a thin membrane, Su Ming'an rushed across this sea area.
There are 2 hours, 12 minutes and 28 seconds left.
After the Lord of Dreams launched two offensives, Su Ming'an activated the "S-level Creator" skill "Creator Mode," summoning his companions to his side.
At this time, there were still more than two hours left before the world game settlement. They had just rested in Rovasa when they were summoned here.
They were all well aware of Su Ming'an's current situation. After all, no one had returned to the Main God World yet, and the live stream chat was still active, even though Su Ming'an was in the Blackwater Dreamland. Players could learn about Su Ming'an's situation simply by reading the chat.
“This battle between me and the Lord of Dreams requires your strength,” Su Ming’an said.
"What do you need us to do?" Aini asked immediately, ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work. They knew that with their strength, they could win wars within a planet, but they weren't so sure about wars at a higher dimension.
“Give me your stories…” Su Ming’an said, looking at them.
"The story? Rovasa's story?" Lin Yin asked, puzzled. Many of them hadn't finished writing that story, since following the World Tree's rating wouldn't be considered breaking the script.
"It's not the story of you possessing the Rovasa people and adventuring in Rovasa. Nor is it the story of receiving a high score from the World Tree." Su Ming'an looked around at everyone, a crystal lighthouse appearing in his palm.
"—This is a story that belongs to [you],"
“Your own life stories.”
……
[Soul Ferry (Enhanced): You can condense the emotions and memories of others and store them in your mind, and use their weak abilities. Only takes effect upon the death of the other person. (Additional Enhancement: In addition to emotions and memories, you can absorb the "stories" and remnants of souls of others, making them a part of yourself. No consent is required when using this against enemies.)]
……
His true purpose was not to defeat the Lord of Dreams in this "game." It had already been concluded that as long as they continued to perceive this as a "game," the Lord of Dreams could not possibly lose.
Therefore, when the Lord of Dreams learned that Su Ming'an wanted to settle the matter with a "game," He quickly agreed. He believed that Su Ming'an had already fallen into a trap, and that Su Ming'an naturally could not win in a "game."
However, this was also a trap set by Su Ming'an for his opponent. The "game" to determine the winner was only the surface; the real purpose was to use the "game rules" themselves to force the Dream Master to abide by the rules and stay within the Blackwater Dream for three hours, unable to go anywhere else.
The very act of using "games" has become a constraint upon Him. Those who believe in "games" are ultimately limited by "games."
During the time when He was unable to move freely, Su Ming'an's real goal was not to win this three-hour game.
But it happens within three hours, before the game's decision-making and settlement.
— Usurp the Blackwater Dream.
Su Ming'an raised his palm, gazing at the stars on the back of his hand. This was the choice of "fusion with cosmic organs." All the viewers had assumed that Su Ming'an would use this to fuse with some unknown and powerful cosmic organs, transforming himself into an indescribable, super-high-dimensional being. But there was actually another option—
Blackwater Dream... Even if it is man-made, even if it is not yet fully formed, it is still a cosmic organ.
As long as you grasp this concept, you can use this permission according to the rules.
……
"Cosmic organ transplantation"
[Transplanting fragments or sub-organs from other cosmic organs may lead to new mechanisms. Consequences of failure include, but are not limited to: rule conflicts, existential rejection, and annihilation.]
……
Su Ming'an had considered that if his death rewind was a cosmic organ, he could directly merge with his own death rewind, which might allow him to completely control death rewind and no longer be passively rewinding.
He had also considered that the World Game was also a cosmic organ, and that it could be integrated with the World Game to attack the Blackwater Dream.
But these options were all too risky. He hadn't forgotten the rule that stated "transplantation of fragments or sub-organs of other cosmic organs"—fragments and sub-organs, not the whole. If he were to be driven by greed and forcibly attempt to fuse an entire cosmic organ in his current soul state, he might not be able to dominate it, but rather become nourishment for it.
Blackwater Dream, as a pseudo-organ, is equivalent to a fragment or sub-organ in terms of its position.
Life is only lived once; one must move forward when certain of success. To fail in integration, leave everyone behind, and die alone—that is not greatness, but irresponsibility.
For him, death only had meaning after his ideals had been achieved.
Su Ming'an raised his hand, kissed the back of his hand, his eyes flashing, and silently prayed in his heart...
……
"I do."
……
"Boom—!"
A colorless light emanated from the black-haired youth, spreading in all directions. From an outside perspective, the entire invisible black water dreamscape appeared as if it had been compressed into a sponge in that instant.
The wisteria swayed, the water surged, and everything around seemed to gradually transform into an extension of the body, like arms, legs, or torso...
But this is not enough.
The Lord of Dreams immediately realized Su Ming'an's purpose, and a huge sense of rejection instantly rose up. He wanted to expel Su Ming'an from the realm before he could integrate.
—He launched a fierce attack.
……
The Lord of Dreams is attacking you!
You have been attacked by a "foreshadowing".
……
"The Death of God Lü's Butterfly..."
This concept suddenly flashed through Su Ming'an's mind.
Subtly, it seemed as if some anchor point from the past had shifted, and something was changing. His perception of "what has already happened" was built on cause and effect. Once the foreshadowing was revealed, the subtle clues would lead to a crumbling sandcastle.
……
The Lord of Dreams drew out the line: "Lu Shen was in a daze for a few seconds."
……
"Pfft!" Su Ming'an spat out a mouthful of blood.
He remembered that he had once fought with Lu Shen. At that time, Lu Shen disguised himself as the Inspector Lu Shu and used his 6000 combat power to suppress his weakened 1500 combat power. In the end, he and Lu Shen died together.
...That was a foreshadowing.
It is a "foreshadowing" left by the Lord of Dreams.
As His attendant, Lu Shen acted like a puppet, laying the groundwork for Su Ming'an's future.
“You should have died under Lu Shen’s blade—you weren’t strong enough to kill him then.” The Dream Lord’s thoughts came lightly. “This is a bug in the logic of Rovasa. Now, I will retract the erroneous result of ‘you and him perish together’.”
Just like that card battle in "God's Vision," the "foreshadowing" was instantly detonated.
A flawed cause-and-effect relationship instantly overwhelmed Su Ming'an, weakening the momentum of his fusion with the cosmic organs, but at the same moment—
The comments in the upper right corner kept scrolling:
[Holy crap! That was a trap too!]
This cunning old fox has been preparing all along!
[I refuse to accept this. How come Su Ming'an couldn't win that battle? He had the Noah's Chain to reflect the attack, and he also had the protagonist's halo.]
[A correct argument has its own logic, and a negative argument has its own logic. The Lord of Dreams deems it illogical, and because He has the power, He can detonate this "foreshadowing," shattering cause and effect. Even if we believe it's reasonable, it's useless; we can only watch.]
Sigh, am I just supposed to watch...?
……
Su Ming'an laughed.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, raised his palm, and a crystal-clear branch grew from it. At the same time, his eyes faintly glowed with gold.
He played his first trump card—
……
[Leaf of Life: You can consume mana to transform inanimate objects into living beings.]
……
【Radiant Eyes (Gold Rank): "I firmly believe that reuniting with friends will be a truly blissful moment."】
[Type: Special Part Weapon]
Attack power: None
[Durability: 23/50]
Equipment Requirements: None
[Active Skill [Eye of Enlightenment]: When activated, the object you gaze upon will continuously undergo a birth assessment. You can transform inanimate objects into living beings. No cooldown, no cost.]
……
"It can transform inanimate objects into living things."
—So, what if it's "bullet comments"?
In such a duel, words and games have transformed into tangible attacks, surging forth like a raging torrent. Even the "bullet comments," which are also text, can be transformed!
Su Ming'an wants to turn these bullet comments, which have been criticized as "useless" throughout the entire game, into a key "weapon" in the final battle!
He activated the "Eye of Enlightenment" skill and looked at the comments section—
In an instant, a torrent of comments appeared before him, including: "[With the Noah's Chain rebounding, and the protagonist's halo...]", "[I think it's possible...]", "[After all, there's the War God Dragon King's narration, will there be a bonus if the dice roll fails...]", and "[Maybe it's feasible...]".
Leaves of life take root and sprout, eyes of light burst forth with golden radiance. They probably never imagined that one day they would transform not stones, water droplets, or wood… but “words”!
The lifeless bullet comments have been transformed into living support.
One after another, "bullet comments" appeared, transforming into stick figures of different colors, clinging to the causal lines that broke Su Ming'an.
Causal conflict, intersection, and fusion.
As Su Ming'an's bleeding gradually stopped, more and more "text" filled in the gaps in this "foreshadowing." The audience seemed to realize that they could finally contribute, and they immediately started spamming the bullet screen like they were on steroids, sending out all sorts of absurd angles, unreasonable reasons, and borderline excuses—all to support Su Ming'an's cause and effect, even if it was just a little bit.
……
The Lord of Dreams is attacking you!
You have been affected by "conceptual ambiguity".
……
The Dream Lord has changed the target to "Extinction Flame. A beautiful match. A delicious drink. This is what I leave for you."
……
This was the help that broke Su Ming'an's deadlock.
Now, the Lord of Dreams has changed his "target," turning from helping to attacking, and has set his sights on Su Ming'an!
The help they once gave turned into poison that attacked Su Ming'an.
Lines of text rapidly formed in the air—
……
[...This is a trap left for Su Ming'an by the Lord of Dreams. It exists within Su Ming'an's time-space record. In this final battle, "a beautiful match" is used to burn souls, and "a delicious drink" is actually poison. They transform into "poison," climbing along the causal lines and infiltrating Su Ming'an's story...]
……
However, soon, a new line of text was generated!
……
[...Actually, this is a gift from Zhifei'er to Yamada Machiichi. To keep him here and prevent him from running away from her, she prepared a candlelight dinner for him. It needs "a beautiful match" to light the warm candlelight, and "a delicious drink" as champagne to begin. This is not a danger or a trap at all. You're awake? Come and join this sumptuous dinner...]
……
Beside Su Ming'an, the figures of Yamada Machiichi and Zhi Fei'er appeared.
The "Creator Pattern" can conjure up anyone, whether they exist or not...
Machiichi Yamada decisively used his own story to turn "poison" into a bottle of harmless champagne!
"When it comes to rewriting stories, I'm the best at it." Yamada Machi clenched his fist and looked at Su Ming'an. "Go! All of our stories will shatter the sky for you!"
……
The Lord of Dreams is attacking you!
You were influenced by "action descriptions".
……
[Huh? An unfamiliar ceiling, where am I?]
Su Liujin sat up in bed, recalling that she had been conversing with twelve heroes of unknown origin from different races the night before. How had she ended up in a strange land overnight?
Just then, a cat-eared waitress pushed open the door and entered.
……
The text was suddenly altered, each character trembling.
……
You have been affected by "narrative shift".
……
[—The cat-eared maid suddenly picked up a knife, spared Su Liujin, and stabbed at "you"!!!]
……
Su Ming'an immediately picked up the quill pen—
A bright red figure rushed out.
……
[...At the crucial moment, the master of fire arts descends! He is awe-inspiring and radiant like a god!]
After a brief struggle, the cat-eared maid vanished.
[Knowing that you intend to seize this land, the Fire Master specially sent you to a huge airship outside the window. The Fire Master's mother is a business tycoon in the Eagle Nation, with wide-ranging interests and expertise in shipbuilding; procuring a mere airship is no problem for her.]
You have shown Ani the true meaning of fire, and he has become one of the last heroes. Of course, we must bring you out of this ocean!
……
Aini closed his eyes and surrendered his story. His own story.
He cut out a scene from his life where "his parents gave him a yacht for his 18th birthday" and pasted it into this long and vast shared story.
He was really happy then, owning a private yacht, but now he no longer clings to it, having too many more precious things.
The next moment, Bei Wang opened his eyes.
The description of Aini has ended; now it's his turn.
"Airship... there's an airship outside the window..." Bei Wang looked up at the sky.
……
[...The sky was vast and boundless, and the airship hummed.]
The white-robed mage steered the ship, carrying a bear, a cat, and a young girl, flying into the distance...
……
Aini's yacht was ultimately just a yacht and couldn't truly fly, but Beiwang waved his staff, the sea became icy, and the yacht grew frost wings, soaring into the sky.
Looking north, watching the new scene gradually appear—a story written by everyone—he gently closed his eyes.
Next, Lin Yin opened her eyes.
"I also need a weapon... a gun... That's right! I remember in the seventh instance, I used a gun, a gun with meticulously detailed descriptions..." Amidst the torrent of text, Lin Yin quickly copied and pasted this passage and placed it on her heart.
……
Onboard the airship, everyone suddenly had a gun in their hands. They aimed at the oncoming pixels, and "Bang!" "Bang!"
The airship spreads its wings and flies towards the future.
……
A segment of her life story has been cut short; the memory of her using a gun in the seventh instance has disappeared. But it doesn't matter; everyone's story can continue.
The game's pixelated graphics, bursting with vibrant colors, bombarded Lin Yin, the "troublemaker."
She coughed up blood, smiled, and slowly closed her eyes.
……
Lu Shu opened his eyes.
……
You have been influenced by "unreliable narratives."
[...The airship was damaged at some unknown time, and all the people on board fell into the ocean and perished...]
……
"Shh!"
Huge, bright red bat wings sprouted from his back, and Lü Shu intended to support the airship himself. But what appeared before him were more and more bamboo leaves, ancient trees, and paulownia trees... layer upon layer, leaf after leaf, branch after branch. This was his memory of "Taihua Mountain," the hillside where he often spent his childhood, not the power belonging to the Blood Clan Lord.
Lu Shu paused, then suddenly understood: all of this required his own story. He closed his eyes, and before him appeared soft blankets, old clothes, old towels…
He once wandered under a bridge, where kind people gave him blankets and clothes. Now, he has "cut and pasted" this part of his life experience and put it here.
The boy, who used to fear the cold, no longer needed the tattered blankets to cover himself. Layers of blankets and clothing appeared in the air, pulled by countless lush green bamboos from his childhood. He caught the falling people one by one, cushioning their impact and placing them on the blankets.
"Bang bang bang..."
The people who fell did not die from the ocean; a miraculous connection of cause and effect made everything seem unbelievable, and each person's story took root and sprouted in absurdity and nothingness.
Wingless birds grow flesh and blood and fly into the sky.
……
[...Lu Shu used green bamboo and clothing to support the people, while the task of repairing the airship was entrusted to Isabella, who was skilled in repairs...]
……
Lu Shu closed his eyes.
Isabella opened her eyes.
When she was thirty-two, she led her team to switch to the mechanical field, but she was not good at repairing airships.
Fortunately, this is not a true repair; it only requires one cause and effect.
She cut out the time she spent sharing joys and sorrows with her colleagues when she was thirty-two, and pasted out her curiosity about fields such as mechanics from the age of twelve to thirty-six, piece by piece, into this story.
……
[...After repairing the airship, it continued forward, encountering a greedy python, a crazed arsonist, and a drowned white flower...]
……
Action description, collective consciousness, narrative anchor point, narrative shift, omission, multiple storylines, montage, stream of consciousness, unreliable narration, estrangement, conceptual ambiguity, flashback, reverse chronology, foreshadowing...
Various logical monsters and predicaments appear one after another, and the companions each share their own stories.
Everyone has a life that shines brightly.
The things that are usually hidden in their eyes, the things that make up their entire being, are picked out by their own hands, piece by piece, petal by petal, and pasted into this absurd narrative.
Su Ming'an had read an old heroic book as a child, telling the story of an ordinary person becoming a savior. Such stories weren't popular in society and often drew ridicule. However, it was precisely because of this story that the influence of his father, subtly ingrained in him, gradually grew and flourished. Eventually, the world beyond the book was digested and absorbed, becoming a part of him.
The "heroic protagonist" he loved and longed for in his childhood has finally become his own soul. Sight, hearing, smell, taste... he experiences all the illusory and disliked worlds, as if traversing rivers that have flowed for millions of years.
They all became very good people.
[Green Bamboo] belongs not only to Lü Shu's hometown, but also to Lin Yin's childhood memories. [Ocean] belongs not only to Lu's dark memories, but also to Lun Xue, who grew up on the coast. [Flame] belongs not only to Aini's pursuit, but also to the flames Bei Wang felt sitting before the fireplace as a child. [The Memory of a Flower] belongs not only to Zhao Yuan, who loves flowers and plants, but also to everyone…
There are never any mandatory labels or fixed standards.
—Like lighting the last piece of firewood on a winter night, so that people can see the dawn.
……
You have been attacked by "interludes".
[You are still affected by the residual effects of the tenth instance.]
……
A giant, crimson python fell from the crevice, its scales densely covered with words: "Hunger," "Never Satisfied," "Devouring Everything." The scales represented desires in every cycle of reincarnation: the pain of children dying of hunger, the mad ravings of the greedy on their deathbed, and those unwilling to vanish...
The giant python opened its mouth and spat out countless hands. These hands reached towards the airship, trying to grab something, trying to drag everything into an abyss that could never be filled.
The airship shook violently.
“I’ll do it,” Xiaoxiao stepped forward.
He suffered from hunger and cold in his youth, and was always shivering before becoming a resident singer, but he encountered something different.
……
The boy who once sang on the streets has now grown into a young man. He stands on the bow of the boat, watching the giant python draw ever closer.
"I remember one year, I was so hungry I couldn't stand it, so I stole a steamed bun from the old lady next door."
"The old lady noticed, but she didn't scold me. She gave me another one. I held the hot bun, took a bite, and felt warm from head to toe."
……
He cut out this memory.
Countless hands reached out, then suddenly one hand stopped.
The palm of the hand seemed to be holding something round, and it hesitated and stopped.
Then, the second hand stopped. It touched an old, worn-out hand.
A third hand, a fourth hand, a fifth hand...
More and more hands stopped moving.
Hunger has turned into satiety.
White flowers blanketed the sky, their stamens concealing countless faces: those who died in the water, those who died in tears, those who died in sorrow.
This is an inescapable sorrow, a sorrow of "never going back," a sorrow of "everything is over," a sorrow of "life will never come again."
"I'll do it."
Luna stepped forward; she knew how to deal with sadness.
She remembered a story she had written when she was young.
In the story, a girl lost all her family and walked alone in the snow. She walked for a very long time, thinking she was about to die. Then she saw a lamp. A lamp lit in a house in the distance.
It turns out that this man was called "The Lamp Bearer." He carried a lantern, walking through the vast, boundless snowfield, all to lead everyone out. For this, he was willing to endure being covered in ice and snow.
Luna cut out the story.
One lamp, two lamps, three lamps...
One flower, two flowers, three flowers...
One story is seen by another story.
To respond to, to heal, to enrich, to complete.
The airship flew over the sea of flowers, its hull no longer icing over, and the people no longer wept. It was as if something had caught everything.
Luna's figure faded slightly.
She closed her eyes.
Pass the baton to the next person.
……
You are under attack from multiple fronts.
[Beneath the airship, unrest has broken out. Onboard the airship, however, hidden dangers remain.]
……
Mo Yan opened his eyes.
He remembered the summer when he was eight years old.
There was an old locust tree in the mountain pass, its cicadas chirping so loudly that no one could sleep. He would squat under its shade, watching ants move their nest, and sometimes he would watch for an entire afternoon. His mother would call him to eat in the yard, but he would often pretend not to hear her.
Later, his mother came out with a bowl of mung bean soup, squatted down beside him, and watched the ants with him.
"What's so interesting about ants?" Mom asked.
“They work very hard, one after another, carrying things, defeating enemies, cooperating with each other... They cross ditches when they encounter them, and step on leaves when they encounter them. They never give up, nor do they abandon their mission,” Mo Yan said.
"What are they doing?" Mom asked.
“They are going home,” he said.
He drank the mung bean soup, which was cold, with water droplets condensing on the bowl and sliding into his palm.
That was the coolest summer he could remember.
At this moment, he cut out this memory and pasted it into the story.
Suddenly, a patch of shade appeared on the sea below the airship. The shade of the old locust tree enveloped the falling people. Amidst the cicadas' chirping, someone heard their mother calling for dinner.
Mo Yan's figure faded slightly. He no longer remembered that summer.
But that's okay,
We can cross over into countless new summers.
……
You have been attacked by "emotional descriptions".
The people on the airship gripped the rudder, a sense of fear creeping over them. They weren't the protagonists, yet they were destined to pay the ultimate price. A feeling of dread inexplicably rose within them.
……
Zhaoyuan opened his eyes.
She was thinking about the day she fired her first shot.
As a war correspondent, one must learn ways to protect oneself, and she was trained in this from a young age. Her father would always hold her hand and help her steady the rifle butt.
She was very skilled with a gun, always hitting the bullseye. Her father smiled and said, "My daughter can protect herself. That's good. We need to tell everyone the truth, but we also need to learn to protect ourselves behind the scenes."
Later, her father passed away, leaving her the gun. She carried it for a long time, fired it many times, and no one held her hand again.
At this moment, she cut out this memory and pasted it into the story.
—Thus, those who resisted the written word seemed to have an unseen hand helping them steady their gunstocks and knife handles.
Zhao Yuan's figure faded slightly; she no longer remembered her father saying those words.
But she herself, the moment she gave up revealing the truth about Hui Chi, the moment she gave up the path to godhood, had already learned the clarity of a journalist.
……
[The River Where People Drown]
"I'll do it," Lu said softly.
【The Lost Forest】.
“Leave it to me,” Lunxue said calmly.
A child who has lost themselves.
“I’m very good at this topic,” Lin Jiang said, raising an eyebrow.
[The people blinded by greed].
“I’ll do it,” said Machiichi Yamada.
【The Stars That Are No Longer Steadfast】.
“I’ll do it,” Violet said, stepping forward.
[The Disappearing People]...
One by one.
They stepped forward and cut out their most precious memories.
Stick into the monster.
Then, the monster was no longer a monster.
They turned into—rivers.
……
Like a "problem setter," it tries its best to make things difficult for everyone. People, based on their own life experiences, choose to deal with the questions they are best at and submit their own "life essays."
These "papers" came together and became a story.
The stories come together and form a connection.
They connect and converge, becoming countless rivers that intersect and meet each other.
Lingzhi Dream Envoy Yueyue uses "dreams" as her authority to hold back the master of dreams.
Ming and Ying are tasked with seizing the "anchor point" to confuse Su Ming'an's identity and divert attention from their target.
Supported by countless stories, Su Ming'an's integration into this Blackwater Dreamland, which is based on stories, becomes increasingly deeper and more profound.
……
["On page four, the python lunged at the group..."]
[—Lu Shu killed the python with a single, single-handed strike.]
……
["Page 5, the boy in the red cloak is about to drown..."]
The road summons the tides, lifting up all living beings.
……
["Page 12, Sea monsters rage, the people are helpless..."]
[—Su Lin summoned back his past memories, and all his souls vanished.]
……
["On page eighteen, they entered the Blackwater Dream, where the enigmatic dream bewildered them..."]
[—Yueyue cuts out fragments of time to solidify her understanding.]
……
Each piece of the lens is like a puzzle, representing sacrifice, death, connection, and bonds... just like a pane of glass, possessing infinite possibilities.
Like a roll of film, reading it from beginning to end reveals a complete story. A story that belongs to all of them.
The Lord of Dreams' method is to continuously add incorrect lenses, remove correct lenses, and even reverse the two lenses to make the story go wrong.
People cut out their own stories, mended these errors, filled the correct lenses with their own lenses, and covered the wrong lenses with their own lenses, making this long and vast story complete. From beginning to end, it fits together perfectly.
Countless people filled the gaps, countless people consolidated the foundation, and countless people mended the wounds.
"Splash—"
Finally, with a crisp sound.
A seemingly flawless "story" suddenly came to fruition, and all the errors shattered.
Su Ming'an was the one who finished things off last.
Behind him followed different people—some were those from previous reincarnations who had been forgotten, some were those who had passed away, some were people from this reincarnation, and some were still waiting for him on the ground.
last of the last.
The end of the end.
"you……"
They all shared their stories with him. And he, in turn, shared himself with everyone.
Human beings are inherently like this: getting to know each other, exchanging ideas, delving deeper, connecting... When the "stories" of different people meet, it means that life is heading towards new possibilities. This is inevitable growth, and it is also proof that people are moving towards the future in this world.
"From this day forward..."
"After all this is over..."
Su Ming'an closed his eyes, sensing that his body was like flowing water.
Black water...like ink, it constitutes them, yet it cannot constitute them.
"We already have everything that is entirely ours."
"That will be a...new dawn."
……