CHAPTER 1187: CHAPTER 1183: YOUR UTOPIA WITH HIM (PART 2)

He must keep his promise, find a way to let civilization endure eternally, or else he’d only waste his true friend’s sacrifice.

...Oh, there’s one more thing.

In the eyes of the high-dimensional beings, time isn’t time, space isn’t space, and perhaps death is not absolute... maybe he can find a way to bring his true friend back to life.

Following causality, he climbed, paying the price of endless time, and managed to obtain the "cause"—"Yasa Acto’s" cause. He buried this "cause" in his small world. Then, he embarked on a journey into the depths of the universe, searching for a method to alter the causality of death.

This is nothing more than a wild imagination, uncertain of its practicality, but there was no other way.

Besides, there were many other people he wished to resurrect.

Tretiya, Lin Guang, Beili Sier... and other possibilities like Su Ming’an, Lv Shu, Yuanyuan... He gradually found their incomplete "causes," bit by bit burying them in this "New World."

Gradually, more and more "failed Noels" converged to him, the list of people he wanted to save grew... What he collected was no longer just the "foundation of someone," but even included the "remnants of civilizations." Numerous remnants of civilizations were buried in his small world, and he longed for the day they could be revived.

But he never succeeded.

Later, he realized why—the small world was too crude. Only by having the World Origin would it possess the potential for development.

—Then how could he obtain the World Origin?

He knew what to do.

The blonde young man stood under the starry sky, his form already ethereal and elusive, his powers fully merged with the high dimensions, his gaze cold and detached. Through the long ages, over millennia, he hadn’t found a way for civilization to be eternal—he gradually realized that the promise could never be fulfilled.

He had once looked back at the Ruined World, but the Ruined World was so altered, so unfamiliar that it frightened him, it was no longer the familiar and cherished homeland he loved.

Now, what sustained him seemed to be nothing but the obsession with rebirth.

The adventure burdened with sin was no longer a fun, free adventure. Before fulfilling his obsession, he was trapped in a long solitude, drifting in the boundless universe like a prisoner in chains.

What he did the most was to return to his small world, facing the world’s edge—where countless "causes" were buried—repeatedly saying:

"Gentlemen, do not fear, I will eventually reach the other shore."

Then, sounds resembling swaying flower leaves or rustling foliage would come from that side. He knew it might be the souls yet to be revived responding to him, in their immature form of life.

As long as the World Origin could be obtained, he might be able to see them.

He firmly believed so.

Imagining his ideal new world—a world of noble old friends, pure white children, and free flying birds. Such a world must be devoid of pain and sorrow.

But his hands remained empty, holding nothing. Looking back, there was only void.

Unwelcomed, unaccepted. No homeland, no destination.

The universe was too vast, and finding a new civilization seemed impossible. So he could only pilot his Ark, carrying a full ship of relics, wandering in the endless darkness...only to find loneliness, regret, void, and solitude.

Finally, at the first sight of Su Ming’an in the World of Old Days—the long desolate heart of Dieying surged with an urgent thought of "cannot let him go," almost instinctually.

...

["Come, let’s go to a farther place. There, you might find what you truly desire, no matter if it’s strength, wisdom, or secrets... Maybe, that’s our mutual homeland."]

["I want you to become..." Dieying’s voice trembled slightly, as if some reaction was occurring in His heart:]

["...my soul’s true friend."]

...

He had completely shed humanity, and the way of thinking between divinity and beastly nature of the high-dimensional controlled the essence of His being, urgently pursuing the World Origin and old friends. The former was for the promise, the latter out of instinct.

—If he had Su Ming’an’s time authority...

—Plus the Source of Civilization from the World of Old Days, his new world might have a great chance of success.

He repeatedly invited Su Ming’an, because he thought—

—Yeah, you are also my true friend, though your timeline is the only real one and the Noel beside you has not yet failed or converged onto me.

—If it’s you, surely we can... we can absolutely build a perfect bridge of rebirth, find the method of civilization’s eternal life...

Because you are my most uniquely real true friend.

You must be the most perfectly powerful possibility.

I have seen many "Noel failures" that constitute me, so I’ve also seen many "Su Ming’an failures." In most possibilities, the ending of "Su Ming’an" is quite tragic. If you continue on, it’s highly probable that it’s a tragic conclusion as well.

So, I want to...

Pull you from such a "destined to perish" fate.

Let’s go together to seek... the free "New World."

Su Ming’an.

You finally... will no longer die before my eyes.

...

["Let’s go, travel to the farthest place." Shadow looked at Shen Mingsu, His voice excited as if a story had reached its conclusion, finally as He wished.]

["It doesn’t matter where we go, we can travel far to see flowers and plants, be free travelers. You have time, I have causality, we can completely see everything in the world... venture to any place."]

["... You are finally free, Su Ming’an."]

...

However, the only real Noel Agnini blocked His way.

In the Old Divine Palace, a blond boy sat under the pure white divine throne, with angel wings sculpture standing behind, a blue rose scepter piercing through his chest, blood flowing.

The boy seemed to look up—yet was overlooking the "failures combined" Him.

"It seems the high dimensions are truly terrifying." Noel panted, with a smile on his face: "If it were me, I would definitely not be like you."

He lowered His plain gaze: "I am you."

Noel laughed: "We are different."

"The same."

"Different."

Until the Old Divine Palace exploded, the boy lowered his head. In the end, he said that Shadow had already turned, becoming the most evil "Noel Agnini."

—Then are you the kindest "Noel Agnini"? Shadow sneered.

What superiority or inferiority is there between the most evil and kindest? "Shan Changge" and "Evil Long Song" slay each other, sworn to be enemies, isn’t their situation the same as He and Noel?

He returned to His own small world.

Sitting dumbly before those flowers that may never bloom... those bones that may never be seen...

The kingfisher pressed against His cheek.

He still returned the gentle touch unchanged for millennia... until it too died.

The vitality of this small world had already withered, without the World Origin, not even a bird could survive.

Holding the kingfisher’s corpse, He thought repeatedly in the eternal night.

... If many years ago, when Su Ming’an was a few years old, He passed by due to traveling, seeing Su Ming’an on the street, He walked over, what would happen?

Would there be such a "possibility"?

Probably not, some things were impossible from the start.

Just like now, Su Ming’an would forever reject Him, forever unwilling to build a New World with Him.

"There’s no need to fear, my lords..."

Facing the Civilization’s Relics on the brink of collapse, He caressed the kingfisher’s corpse and softly repeated:

"I shall eventually reach the other shore..."

"I shall eventually reach the other shore..."

...

He wandered in the universe, piloting the Ark of Relics, seeking rescue from the past, swimming towards the future,

everyone thought He was jestingly mocking meaninglessly.

...

When Su Ming’an and Shadow strolled at the world’s edge, the outline of the [Civilization’s Relics] loomed under the night, most of them had already fallen into the void, disappearing silently.

Probably, Shadow had also forgotten—in the wandering of millennia, how many people He tried to leave behind, or which civilization’s shadow He attempted to retain. After all, they were moonlight reflections in water, the dream of a wanderer in the universe, an obsession hard to realize.

Origin, wisdom, life, strength, what meaning do they truly hold? He had not found His exact shadow, nor could He confirm His own independence. Now, with the small world on the verge of collapse, the meaning of His existence was also gone.

"Trapped in phantoms of the past—and that phantom isn’t even you, just a part of you. You keep accepting new ’selves’, fusing new ’selves’, you probably can’t determine what you should be." Su Ming’an halted, gazing at the vast Star Sea.

Shadow turned His head, deep blue eyes watching.

He suddenly smiled softly:

"I like the story you tell the deities."

"Civilization on the brink of extinction, a hero ushered humanity onto the Ark, seeking the possibility of rebirth in the vast universe."

"If the Ark intends to find another habitable planet, it will take a very, very long time, counted in hundreds of years. So, the people on the Ark sleep in hibernation capsules, repeatedly reminiscing about the past civilization, longing for it."

"In their dreams, they return to the civilization that hasn’t been destroyed, laughing in the spring, fishing by the lakeside, weaving hats from straw, and wreaths from flowers, leaving behind the spring of an entire city."

"I like this story." He placed his hand on his chest:

"It gives me hope."

"So, I’ve long decided what to do."

Then, Su Ming’an saw—

The collapse of the small world gradually stopped.

From Dieying’s body, white light emanated, and his form showed signs of becoming ethereal.

—As if he was maintaining the small world from collapsing by sacrificing ’himself’.

"Since the small world can’t survive, I’ll support it," he said. "Since the Ark is out of fuel, I’ll be the fuel. High-dimensional life is enough to burn for hundreds or thousands of years."

"So what if it’s plunder? So what if it’s invasion? The method of seeking civilization’s eternal life wasn’t because I’m so noble. I just wanted to create an ideal New World, to see the people I wish to see."

"You treat me as an enemy, hate me, dislike me, resent me—then go ahead and hate."

"Because this is the kind of person I am."

"I’m not a great Savior, I don’t need others to understand or forgive."

"I love only what I wish to love, I keep only what I want. Those human trash, why should they enter my pure land? They should perish along with the world’s destruction. Some ugly worlds, I would just think, ’Great, let them all die’."

"Telling you this is only because... the last consciousness belonging to Noah wants to tell you—’That day, he saw the sunflowers covering the mountains, the spring was beautiful... thank you’."

"And I’m not him."

"I want to say to you—"

Among the collapsing stardust, Dieying’s hair intertwined like star strings.

His body spontaneously combusted with light and flames, unwinding thread by thread, transforming into the origin of life, filling this small world on the brink of collapse.

And in his eyes, it seemed full of a smile, yet also seemed empty.

That is—

"—Feel free to stop me. I will still seek new targets, and continue invading endlessly."

—Continuing through thousands of years, drifting until—I inherit—

"Hatred or obsession, twisted wishes or not—I am satisfied and accept all my philosophies and actions without regret."

—Never perishing, never falling, coexisting for ages with him—

"Hate me if you wish, despise me if you wish, accuse me as an invader, disparage me as a demon—"

Eternal solitude.

"—I shall ultimately reach the other side."

"You all will never be able to stop this."

...

[May I... soon find the ’New World’ of my ideals. May fellow travelers... not be in solitude. May those children... have their wishes fulfilled.]

...

"You’re not him." Su Ming’an couldn’t connect the person in front of him to Noel.

"Yes! Yes! I’m not him! Just how twisted of a possibility must he have gone through—for him to become like me!?" Dieying laughed, a laughter unprecedentedly carefree:

"So, Noel Agnini cannot be Dieying, and Dieying cannot be Noel Agnini! Just believe that! I’m going to embark on the journey again until I’m burnt to ashes!"

"For hundreds or thousands of years, if I’m lucky enough, if in my journey I find a new World Origin, then I will have an eternal New World! If I cannot find a new World Origin, then I’ll vanish into the void!"

"An adventurer should traverse the world, regardless of life or death, either endlessly searching or their singing will cease suddenly!"

"Even if it’s death, just think of it as me jumping out of time, becoming part of the world. All things could be me from then on."

"Goodbye, Su Ming’an... no, farewell forever! I’ve realized, I can’t keep you, so I’m heading towards my [New World]."

—The [New World], Su Ming’an surprisingly heard three layers of meaning.

A small world called "New World."

The literal new world, which is Dieying’s next target for invasion.

And... the brand new ideal world in his heart.

He waved his hand, the life’s light flowing from his body frantically rushing into the underground, the stardust waving like a banner, and the vast and deep foundation of civilization seemed like seedlings gradually sprouting, nourished and growing.

—He was using his own life to continually irrigate this world on the brink of extinction, to keep it going. Then, he could continue dragging this bone-filled Ark, looking for the next invasion target, trying to find the World Origin.

Until life is exhausted.

Until he falls into eternal void.

Starlight was reflected behind him, like a melody of the void long played and eternal. The indescribable liquid was controlled by him, filling the dry surface, until flowers bloomed, kingfishers were reborn, and that tall and magnificent Ferris wheel was redyed with the vibrant colors of spring—

"Tweet—"

The reborn kingfisher called out, perched upon his shoulder, like the newborn song of civilization.

Su Ming’an was pushed away.

He fell into the rift Dieying tore for him, returning to the civilization of the World of Old Days. This last conversation had ended, there were no more words between them, Dieying saw him off.

The adventurer would continue stepping into the endless abyss of civilization, carrying on this eternal chain of civilization invasion—

Until, the moment when his ideal is realized.

Or, when he is burnt out before the ideal is achieved.

Why die for an illusory spring?

If it were him, he wouldn’t.

He would create that real spring with his own hands.

So, spring, warm sun, come sooner.

The last thing Su Ming’an saw—was Dieying frantically burning himself, irrigating that beautiful small world, until bird songs and flowers blooming, countless souls rising into the sky, and his form nearly becoming void—

Golden hair fluttering in the air, like golden flying birds scattered away.

Those deep blue eyes filled with desire and madness, like a blue flame living endlessly—

The space rift closed before him, he didn’t know the conclusion to the story of that high-dimensional being.

Perhaps he would exhaust his life and die, ultimately failing to find a new World Origin, with the small world collapsing in the void, disappearing, and the regrets, loneliness, sadness, and hopes of thousands of years all vanished into the vast universe, never to be mentioned again. Just like the void itself being void. The name Noel Agnini would ultimately belong only to one, and the beings born around would all turn to cosmic dust.

But perhaps, millions of years later, people would wake in this rough and inferior small world.

They would begin breathing long-missed breaths, realizing they finally revived and awakened—

And on that distant horizon, floated a golden-haired silhouette.

Waiting for something, searching, or just contentedly overlooking this pure white world. The flame of life burnt on him, flowing underground, supporting this world without slaughter or pain. This is the true, disease-free, grief-free [The Republic].

No one would know, beneath their feet, which civilization’s remnants they were stepping on, or which unshaped shadow. All these happened before they awoke.

Then, with his blue eyes wide open, smiling, he repeated,

—That eternal and long, supporting him in doing good or evil, mindful of his ideal in heart, even at all costs—[Adventurer]’s chant.

...

"You have nothing to fear, for I shall ultimately reach the other side."

"—You have nothing to fear, for I shall ultimately reach the other side!"

...

Thus, people began to acclaim.

"—Noel Agnini! Adventurer of the New Era, the freest flying bird!!!"

Thus,

[Adventurer] laughed heartily, as if proving something, or as if losing something. Then he took someone’s hand, that person with black hair and black eyes, or black hair and gray eyes, regardless, they were not the only reality, someday they would ultimately perish, including Dieying himself.

—But before reaching the extinction of "collection," let’s set the journey ahead.

—Before falling into the "void" in the end, let him first raise the wings of the kingfisher.

Ah.

Before sinking into the wretched yet magnificent, unspeakable, sinful yet idealistic, fleeting yet endless, stagnation destined to be destroyed—

...

—[His and "his" Utopia].

...