CHAPTER 1048: CHAPTER 1045: THE OLD GOD LIT THE FIRE

[Devout Farmer: Deity! May you grant us health, may we stay far from the plague...]

[Healing Farmwife: The priest says the disease is hidden in our blood. As long as we let out the blood, we can cure the disease.]

[Running Child: Who can save mom, she needs clean water...]

...

He saw — an old man afflicted with Black Mist Disease stumbling to seek help from a knight, only to be ignited by the disgusted knight and die rolling in flames.

He saw — the church’s bloodletting treatment leading to many infections from wounds, speeding up death. The river flowed with pitch-black blood, floating with unattended corpses.

He saw — a sick child on the street stabbed to death with a spear, the corpse barely thicker than a wild rabbit.

He saw — soldiers placing apples on commoners’ heads to practice archery, with no regard for their lives.

Hanging skeletons were exposed to the sun, almost crashing onto his face.

The people of this era had no clue about the source of the plague, their hearts extremely fragile, relying only on slaying "witches" for peace of mind, fearing everything, killing anyone suspected, anyone could be accused of being a witch.

The doors of many households were covered with red vertical lines, indicating a sick person resided there, forbidding entry or exit. Su Ming’an stood at the door, vaguely hearing coughing and the weak voices of elders inside. Apart from this, the entire town had no life, filled with the stench of decay. Many houses were nothing but charred frames.

While evading the soldiers’ search, an old grandma took them in, helping Blackberry change clothes, with Su Ming’an conjuring some milk in exchange.

Even witnessing magical feats, the old grandma remained calm: "So you’re a sorcerer... but don’t let the soldiers outside see. They will drink your milk, and they will kill you."

"Of course." Su Ming’an nodded.

There were some boxes that could be opened in the old grandma’s house, indicating rewards, but Su Ming’an did not open them. He knew this was a living era in occurrence, and he couldn’t rummage around with a player’s mindset. There was an exclamation mark above the grandma’s head, suggesting a side quest, and upon inquiry, it turned out she wanted to send a letter to her son at the village entrance.

Su Ming’an understood what type of game this was, it turned out to be an open-world game.

After bidding farewell to the old grandma, when arriving at a village, Su Ming’an saw a group of soldiers. The soldiers were killing some of the sick.

As Su Ming’an pressed the skills for [Frost Spell] and [Bread Making Spell], star-like light emanated from the sorcerer’s fingers. Under Blackberry’s amazed gaze, frost crept up the soldiers’ legs, and loaves of bread appeared before the people.

"...Take the food and leave." Su Ming’an said calmly.

He could conjure food, and even many other things, but it would consume magic power. As a supreme mage, his magic power was unfathomable, capable of feeding thousands, and repelling darkness beyond the world’s shield, but what’s the use?

Magic couldn’t save the human heart.

"Is... is she a witch?" The sick dared not pick up the bread.

"Only witches can instantly create so much food. Sorcerers can’t do that..."

"Witch! Witch! It’s the witch who curses us with disease... The food she gives might also be cursed!"

Su Ming’an turned away, he just wanted to see people’s attitudes, and now it seemed it was indeed hard to change their minds.

He heard a sharp voice instead:

"Kill—kill the witch! Kill the witch, and we won’t get sick anymore!"

A middle-aged man picked up a soldier’s sword and lunged at Su Ming’an. Even though Su Ming’an had stopped the soldiers’ slaughter, they now picked up the killing tools to kill Su Ming’an.

At this moment,

The man’s Black Mist Disease suddenly worsened, spreading across his entire body, and he instantly turned into a puddle of black water.

Su Ming’an turned back in shock, seeing the cross on Blackberry’s neck emitting black light.

"I helped you kill him." Blackberry’s eyes were clean and bright.

"How did you do it?"

"I just thought in my mind that he deserved to die. And then, his disease suddenly worsened." Blackberry’s gaze was serene: "I don’t know why."

——The Witch Age, year 328.

In the fearful eyes of the people, under Blackberry’s calm gaze, the nightingale on the shoulder of the supreme mage let out a long cry, hoarse and sharp.

Like the call of a crow.

...

"January 1st, 830, afternoon."

"Here broadcasting today’s list of casualties..."

"Clarissa, Omar, Louis, Brendan, Eugene, Ronald..."

"They will receive the Old God’s blessing, forever with human history. The Order Angel will read their deeds on papyrus, the Judgment Angel will praise their renown, may they rest in peace on their journey..."

Su Ming’an sat by the window, gazing at the battlefield. The radio broadcasted the names of the deceased, so long a list that it couldn’t be finished in a day. Thus, only the names of those who had meritorious deeds were read.

The light rail raced under the sunset, reflecting gold-red hues on the glass window. Su Ming’an saw white doves on the distant bell tower, almost blending with the chaotic fiery clouds.

"I hate war." A slender figure stood at the door.

"Yeah, I hate it too." Su Ming’an closed the window: "In the Ruined World, I’ve always hated war, but it’s always been war. It’s slightly better now, at least you can solve some problems through playing games."

Sunlight poured down, shadows of trees swayed, dazzling lights spilled upon their shoulders.

The person at the door stepped in, with black hair tied into a short ponytail, it was Yuanyuan. Su Ming’an had Scarlet Bird inform Yuanyuan about the matter of death and rebirth, so Yuanyuan hurried back.

She smiled: "But, playing games also has its dangers, just recently, during your dream patrol, someone tried to assassinate you, and I stopped them."

"You mean, someone attempted to assassinate me." Su Ming’an was a bit surprised.

"Your sudden appearance in Dawn City, even if it were part of a beheading plan, the enemy would want to eliminate you first." Yuanyuan said.

After contacting the fifth game, Su Ming’an announced his death and rebirth. People were greatly astonished by the Old God’s rebirth and believed he was destined. After bringing Blackberry home, Su Ming’an exited the game, having no time to raise a child.

Yuanyuan placed a tablet in front of Su Ming’an, with a vast strategy layout and a long list of generals, causing Su Ming’an’s head to spin. This time he had no deity’s help, commanding the war became challenging. Lu, although knowing a bit, was also overwhelmed.

At this moment, Chang Ge spoke up: "I can help. I know a bit."

Su Ming’an was a bit surprised, his brother finally spoke.

These days, Chang Ge had been silent, barely noticeable.

"Your mental state was too poor before, you didn’t respond no matter how I called. Now that you’re in a better state, you can hear me." Chang Ge was somewhat resentful. As a player, he observed almost all of the Tenth World, with hardly any sense of involvement.

"The sense of involvement is here, I’ll leave it to you." After confirming Chang Ge’s capability, Su Ming’an immediately passed the responsibility.

He was very clear about his role. Matters of commanding wars should be left to those skilled in it. Previously gods and Su Rin helped him, now it was Lu and Chang Ge, although the hierarchy had dropped considerably... but there were still Li Yuxuan and Yi Zhongyu.

"Was the fifth game fun?" Chang Ge curiously asked.

"Hmm... It’s okay, an open-world game. The main quest is to witness a person’s ending, probably not too energy-consuming, real-world war is more important." Su Ming’an said.

"An open-world game? Then..." Chang Ge expressed a desire to play too, though he was calm, merely mentioning it in passing.

"Command the war well, Chang Ge." Su Ming’an said.

"Understood, Chief." Chang Ge’s reply was crisp and resonant.

Su Ming’an entrusted his body to Chang Ge and took a nap himself. He hadn’t rested for a very long time.

As night fell, he yawned and got up, and the mess of orders had already been dealt with. The night enveloped Dawn City in high-saturation lights, giving a feeling of tranquility.

Su Ming’an went to meet the generals.

From the Human Self-Rescue Alliance, Zhai Xing. With red hair, his gentle smile reminiscent of Su Shize. He looked young, yet faint wrinkles were visible at the corners of his eyes.

"It’s an honor to fight for you, Old God." Zhai Xing bowed slightly.

From the City Guardian Department, Shangqing. Her dark green hair was tied into a braid hanging behind her, remaining silent and stern. However, Li Yuxuan beside her was very enthusiastic.

"It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, I knew you wouldn’t die." Li Yuxuan kept praising, "From the first time I saw you in Dao Ya City, I knew you were extraordinary..."

From North Qing University, Xiao Lanping, responsible for tracing historical work, was also friends with Isabella and familiar with Lin Yunting from the Psychological Counseling Department. The erudite lady nodded to Su Ming’an while wearing glasses, appearing reserved.

"Thank you for retrieving the special medicine for humanity." She placed one hand on her left chest and bowed to him.

From the Ancient Martial Families, the Yang Family army consisted of three members. They were the powerful Fourth Rank pinnacle talisman masters of this generation of Ancient Martial Arts, brought by Yi Zhongyu. Their faces resembled each other, cold and stern, with sharp features.

"Yang Qi." "Yang Jin." "Yang Qi."

They kneeled on one knee simultaneously, with their halberds placed horizontally on the ground behind them.

"At your service, Old God."

Besides them were two Dream Patrol Family members known to Yamada Machiichi. Mu Tianrui, adept at attack, and Jiang Yuxin, adept at healing.

... These should count as trusted confidants.

Su Ming’an hoped they were genuine and not the deities role-playing.

He raised a toast to them, and everyone drank together. Fireworks of the First Month burst in the night sky outside the window, decorating the velvet curtain. Even during the festivities, the sounds of artillery continued to echo.

Afterward, Su Ming’an met with others. From the Ahsente Kingdom, Duke Rena, from the Sho Lia Democratic Alliance, Solomon, from the Josser Grand Duchy, General Bai Jun, and the ten leaders of Dawn City, as well as Norse, Bu Xiuwei, and other Dream Patrol Family members. He needed to remember who these people were, their positions, and their expertise.

Below the stairs, Yamada Machiichi, Lu, Mo Yan, Yuanyuan, and others raised their glasses, clinking together as the golden liquid resonated.

"In the name of the Old God, I promise you." Su Ming’an stood atop the stairs, white tendrils unfurls behind him.

"—To bring history back to humanity and lead you into a new century. Henceforth, the world shall no longer have destinies manipulated by deities."

Everyone smashed their glasses, placing their hands on their chests and bowing to him.

White tendrils rested upon their shoulders one by one, as if a young king were bestowing honor upon his knights.

"At your service—Old God!"

...

[When the war begins, you shall lose your last chance at ordinary life and embark on a thorn-filled path with no return, bearing infamy, constantly gaining and losing, praised and hated by others. Even so, do you choose to wage war? (Yes/No)]

...

"Yes." Su Ming’an drank the orange juice from his cup and pressed the blood-red [Yes].

The war panel opened before him.

...

[Combat-ready personnel: 529,381,026 people]

[Average Combat Power: 551+]

[Average age of army and civilians: 32 years]

[Supreme Leader: Su Ming’an]

[Deputy Leader: Lu]

[Five Corps of the Human Self-Rescue Alliance: Zhai Xing, Ren Wu, Luo Fang, Li Yanghao...]

[Three Corps of the City Guardian Department: Shangqing, Li Yuxuan, Ji Puyu, Mu Mengyun...]

[Two Corps of the Old Day Church: Alger, Xia Jiawen, Xi Ming, Fu Chen...]

[Three Corps of Dream Patrol Family: Eli, Yi Zhongyu, Mu Tianrui, Jiang Yuxin, Bu Xiuwei...]

[Small Nation Alliance: In total twenty-three corps]

[One Corps of the Ancient Martial Alliance: Mo Yan, Yang Qi, Yang Jin, Yang Qi...]

[Louyue reinforcements: Yi Tiezheng, Zou Yuqing...]

[Reconnaissance Department: Yamada Machiichi, Yuanyuan...]

[Logistics Department: Isabella, Xiao Lanping, Lin Yunting...]

[Resources Department: Agnes, Wang Mingming...]

...

"In this way, we can at least protect the second tower. Now the frontline is mostly occupied by exotic species, and the Union Government has long been in name only. The refugee tide is continuous." Li Yuxuan analyzed, "Once the Exotic Species King is reborn, it can become our ally and defeating the deities will be just around the corner."

"Then we’ll clear the level!" Yamada Machiichi was excited, "After returning, we can explore various scenic architecture systems. I want to climb Taihua Mountain. I’ve heard the second auction is also starting..."

Listening to this huge flag, Su Ming’an raised his cup, looking at the sky.

Under the firmament, dense silhouettes lined up like ants, heads gathering, with the army and civilians vowing to bring victory to the Old God, to prevent deities from destroying the world.

However, their faith—the Old God himself, was always gazing at the sky.

This time, he was no longer a "City Lord."

But a "God."

He had ascended himself to divinity as if walking the old path of Ya Sa.

At his ear, swayed what seemed like red and blue earrings.

"What are you looking at?"

The people below couldn’t help but be curious.

Among the stars, the faint shadow became increasingly clear.

If all these stars in the sky were real, is it possible he could see that planet named Zhai XIng, his long-lost homeland in this First Month?

"I am looking..." Su Ming’an’s gaze sparkled:

"...at stars."