CHAPTER 1169: CHAPTER 1166: TE: I SEAL IT MYSELF (PART 5)

"Next, you can move the Queen to wake Chao Yan from the seabed." The Deity instructed.

"Right." Noel supported his chin, squatting on the armrest of the throne with one leg, the other leg slightly swaying, looking in a good Mood.

In the distance, Dieying turned his head to converse with the veiled Think Tank. After the game started, both sides couldn’t hear the tactical sounds.

"Su Ming’an, when are you going to let me move?" At this point, Yamada Machiichi called out, "If you need to sacrifice, use me first, I’m not afraid."

"We haven’t reached that step yet, besides, there’s no piece to sacrifice on this chessboard." Su Ming’an shook his head.

"The enemy’s Queen is too close." On the other side, Lv Shu frowned. In terms of a normal international chessboard situation, they were already in danger.

"God, all eight of our generals can communicate with the ground troops in real-time. If you need anything, the ground strategy layout can cooperate." Boris also spoke, "This isn’t a single person’s game, but a competition for the whole World."

Su Ming’an rubbed his cane, with rapid-moving bullet screens in the upper right corner of his vision.

[The Blue Queen is only one step away! I can even see the tangled Causal Line within the Queen chess piece, so blue.]

[What an awesome way of engaging, I thought it was a fight, but turns out it’s really a chess game... Is this what the High-dimensional are about?]

[Dieying’s last three steps were ruthless, only moving the Queen. The first step of moving Black Mist instantly killed hundreds of thousands, but surely not a costless move; pre-game calculations estimated the total civilization resources of both sides, and each move Dieying made would consume its own resources. The first move was too aggressive, so the second and third didn’t seem to have much noise?]

[This old hidden figure is surely laying out something. There must be something unseen that’s changed, otherwise, there’s no need for it to move diagonally then straight.]

[Considering this, it truly is a world-level confrontation. If the Old Day’s World military isn’t strong enough, Dieying’s first move would have won. Luckily, the people of the Old Day’s World’s are supportive, providing Su Ming’an with the command basis.]

[Luckily, it’s an international chessboard, not abstractedly played, at least I can understand what both sides are doing.]

[Su Ming’an go! Number One Player go!!!]

[...]

Chang Ge raised his head, gazing at Su Ming’an’s Cloning frozen amid frost high above in Nine Serenities.

This was the 11th day in the instance when Su Ming’an got trapped in Nine Serenities, leaving a clone body behind. The body was stuck in a state just before the Exotic Species King was about to awaken, and Chang Ge had been frozen within this body for about eight or nine days before.

The body quietly had its eyes closed, head slightly lowered, hair covered with frost.

Chang Ge hugged the bodily form tightly, activating a teleportation Prop. In the next moment, Chang Ge was transported beside Su Ming’an on the chessboard, placing the body on the ground.

"I brought the body, Su Ming’an." Chang Ge’s voice was clear: "Mission accomplished. Next, it’s up to you to unseal it."

The series of actions by Chang Ge was precisely the result of the third move Su Ming’an made: [E2 (Chang Ge) to E3 (Nine Serenities)] — bringing up the Life Hard Drive.

Su Ming’an also saw Chang Ge’s face clearly at this moment — it was an astonishingly handsome face.

Those defined features, the resolute and handsome facial structure, vibrant eyes, strong and powerful stature...

Yet Su Ming’an sneered, stepped forward, taking advantage of Chang Ge not having recovered, pressing Chang Ge down forcefully.

"Noel! Give me a hand!" Su Ming’an shouted, Chang Ge’s Strength Value was unexpectedly high.

Noel immediately jumped off the armrest, helping to restrain Chang Ge. No matter how Chang Ge struggled, the two held tight, making an exceptionally forceful situation. For a moment, all living beings on the ground stared at this chaotic scene in shock, their mind blank.

... What is happening? This, this is inappropriate.

... No, God surely has a purpose.

With a tearing sound, Su Ming’an flipped his palm, and the unbelievably handsome mask fell off Chang Ge’s face instantly. Underneath the mask—was an even more handsome face.

Su Ming’an had anticipated this scene, reaching out again, the sound "swish swish" of ripping resounded continuously, human skin masks flutter like snowflakes, each more handsome than the last.

Even in the distance, Dieying seemed to be stunned by this scene, not making the fourth move for a long time.

"Su... Su Ming’an, we’re friends, is this really necessary..." Chang Ge wobbled as he spoke, "I even endured eight or nine days of cold for you, yet you treat me like this..."

"Cut the nonsense, let me see what’s under that face!" Noel extended his hands, damaging the attraction: "If you’re innocent, why don’t you dare look back? Besides, the start of the instance, ten thousand players were assigned onto ten thousand timelines, why are you on the same timeline as Su Ming’an? How do you explain that extra timeline?"

A sharp question, Chang Ge’s face turned pale.

"Give it over!" Su Ming’an reached his hand. If mistaken, he’d apologize to Chang Ge, but now he must see Chang Ge’s true appearance.

— Go ahead, Chang Ge.

Underneath your mask, is it Qin General, Dieying, or even Deity? Even if it’s just an utterly ordinary appearance, I can imagine it.

If there’s a surprise, show it to me—

He unveiled the last layer of the human skin mask, swish—

At the same time, Dieying over there made the move.

...

[Both sides make their fourth move.]

[Red Side: No move yet.]

[Blue Side: Queen (E2) moves straight to (E1).]

...

Deep blue radiance reached the position where Su Ming’an was.

"Checkmate." Dieying sat calmly on the throne, supporting his chin, speaking softly.

Like a solid ocean, the beautiful deep blue Queen chess piece moved forward, embedding into the giant grid of E1, branching out countless azure lines, aiming at Su Ming’an’s deep red throne for restraint.

Yet, Su Ming’an and Noel did not move.

"—Su Ming’an! Run!!" Lv Shu saw the dire situation, drawing his sword wanting to rush over, but he could only stand still.

"—Prop... Damn, even rescue Props can’t be used." Yamada Machiichi took out several Props, none were usable, only able to watch helplessly.

On the ground, screams arose. The live broadcast room started vibrating, bullet screens flashed quickly.

"Why isn’t Su Ming’an moving? Make a move! Defend!"

"What exactly does Chang Ge look like, both of these guys froze!"

"Show me! Could it be Chang Ge is actually Qin General?"

"..."

Su Ming’an’s hand, however, halted at the moment of unveiling Chang Ge’s mask. Due to overwhelming shock, ear-ringing static interrupted his hearing, as if nothing could be perceived.

"..."

He blankly stared at Chang Ge, for a moment thinking he had a hallucination. Otherwise, why would Chang Ge’s face be...

"I told you..." Chang Ge’s expression shifted from panic to calm, as if this was his genuine mood:

"My dear friend."

"We should maintain our previous friendship rather than..."

"Insisting on revealing all secrets, showing all truths... Not all things are good when they’re bloody."

"Of course, you’d prefer the TRUE ENDING (True Ending), rather than the HAPPY ENDING (Happy Ending). I understand you."

...

["Su Ming’an. I am an Adventurer Player, with no special life Experience, usually playing the flute and assembling Gundam models." Chang Ge smiled in Introduction, appearing optimistic.]

...

["...Chang Ge, Su Ming’an is asleep, you should be awake." Deity spoke slowly, like chatting.]

...

[Su Ming’an woke up to Chang Ge playing "To Alice" on the piano beside him, the flowing melody in the cold Mechanical City resembled a vibrant stream.]

...

[Su Ming’an appreciated Chang Ge’s military ability as a Player, as few could truly follow Su Ming’an’s mindset.]

...

Chang Ge.

— Very knowledgeable about player situations, could play the piano, capable of following Su Ming’an’s thoughts.

— Claims to be an Adventurer Player, yet familiar with the Deity from the start.

As Chang Ge stood up, his appearance was visible to everyone, at that moment, Xingqiong was very quiet.

Seeing his face, the intense confusion and shock emerged in people’s eyes, likely the only ones with unchanged emotions were the Deity and Dieying. Dieying wore a "already expected" expression, observing the varied expressions with amusement.

— Black short hair, black almond eyes, gentle brows, slightly pale complexion, yet to shed young features. Chang Ge wore a plain long-sleeve shirt standing in the stars, paired with black trousers and sneakers, looking like a freshly graduated student.

"Su..."

Nearly no one could speak complete words at this instant.

The players’ minds were instantly occupied by this face, their thoughts plunged into chaos, all clues were disrupted and rehashed, and the strong dam of logic in their hearts suddenly broke, with the flood recklessly crashing.

Su Ming’an’s expression went blank for a moment.

There was never any Night Player.

Noel, Mizushima Kawa Sora, Lv Shu, Yamada Machiichi, Su Rin... None of them carried the "Night Player" among them; Su Ming’an, up till now, has never encountered a second Night Player.

This setup, simply... doesn’t exist.

Chang Ge... is not a Player.

"I did not intend to deceive you, Su Ming’an. At first, I truly thought I was a Night Player, I even have complete Adventurer Player memories, even if they were implanted," Chang Ge looked back calmly: "Until my memories gradually recovered. That’s when I remembered my responsibility, my mission, my true identity."

...

["Su Ming’an, you never knew my real name, did you? If I told you, you would probably be quite astonished. So, it’s better to hold on to this anticipation."]

...

"You are from the World of Old Days. Tell me, what is your true name?" This questioning, Su Ming’an bit out fiercely.

Although he already knew, he wanted to hear Chang Ge say it himself.

His fist at his side trembled faintly, fingernails dug crescent marks into his palm.

The reason for the ensuing silence was Chang Ge’s appearance. Chang Ge looked directly at Su Ming’an, in his pitch-black eyes was only serenity, starlight flowing around him, crisscrossing his visage, almond-shaped eyes slightly lowered.

...

—It was a face exactly like Su Ming’an’s.

Black hair, black eyes, identical features.

...

"My real name..." Chang Ge began, the voice still bright and gentle.

...

[Su Ming’an went back to a thousand years ago, he was excited about whom he’d possess. Whether Qin General or Chao Yan, either would be good.]

[He opened the system mirror, the reflection was his own true appearance.]

["...Hmm?" Su Ming’an was surprised. It shouldn’t have been his real appearance, at least it should have been someone from a thousand years ago, otherwise, how could his body appear out of nowhere?]

...

In this moment, the whole world fell silent.

For an instant, they felt as if their brains collectively committed suicide.

"I am called..."

Chang Ge’s eyes curved slightly, the smile ambiguous as to whether bitter or peaceful.

...

"—Su, Ming, An."

...

["Do not doubt, you are indeed our Old God. You appeared a hundred years ago, and have led us for quite a while, from the first World Game till now, your wisdom and charm have conquered us," Chao Yan said.]

["But I am Su Ming’an, not some God from a hundred years ago. If it were possession, that’d be one thing, but this is clearly my body, I am a Player, how could I have led you for so long?" Su Ming’an questioned.]

...

"Shua!"

The next second, the Blue Queen moved.

This was Dieying’s kill move, the three moves prior were all for this very step. [The Queen] influences Pangala Return, The Original’s contraction, and time periods’ transitioning, Mobius Ring and other significant causalities, unknown what impact it’d have on Su Ming’an’s side.

"Don’t zone out, make your move immediately, Su Ming’an!" the Deity urged.

Su Ming’an did not move.

Next to him, Noel was equally a face full of astonishment, they’d pondered countless possibilities. They even thought Chang Ge was a Deity or Dieying. But never had they imagined this possibility.

"Make your move, Su Ming’an!" the Deity’s voice warned again.

Wait.

Su Ming’an remained motionless.

A thousand years ago... Old Gods were already present in the world...

If Su Ming’an stayed beside the Deity and slacked for twenty days, an Old God would complete his tasks...

Therefore, the Old God... was evidently... always existing...

Even now... the Old God should... still be present...

Rapid thinking through all the clues, logics, theories from start to finish...

Categorize, consolidate, disrupt, rearrange, organize...

...

At this moment, completely bound by the blue threads, Su Ming’an sat on the throne, his eyes vacant, recalling a cold voice.

Upon recalling this, it was as if his whole body was plunged into an ice cave, even his blood froze.

He chuckled.

It suddenly felt like he had never truly woken from the butterfly’s dream.

"So that’s how it is."

"...So that’s how it is."

He slightly lowered his head, even Noel couldn’t understand what he comprehended.

He was reminiscing...

At the very beginning of the instance... the cold system prompt.

...

["Ding-dong!"]

[Welcome all players to the tenth World!]

...

Back then, it was clearly...

...

[Detecting your identity as:]

[Su Ming’an.]

...

At that time, on him was.

Only, Chang Ge.

...

—If Chang Ge is Su Ming’an, then who is Su Ming’an?

—If Su Ming’an had always existed in the World of Old Days, where does Su Ming’an as the Number One Player in the World Game exist?

—If...

—If the butterfly and the cocoon had already existed.

Has the butterfly returned? What lies within the cocoon?

...

...

[Therefore Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"]

[—Matthew 16:24-26]

...