first player

Chapter 1568 Final Chapter: Guarding the Coastline: "OE: Die from the Ocean (3)"

Su Ming'an stared at the screen.

The old man on the screen surveyed the crowd, his single blue eye gleaming sharply: "This is not a moral debate about the truth or falsehood of faith, but a strategic decision about the priorities for the survival of human civilization. Chaos is devouring order. Do we build an ark, or wait for the flood? Vote."

On the suspended seats, the dots representing the members began to flash: green for support, red for opposition, and yellow for neutrality. Victor shone red, while Elise and Shen Zhe cast green lights, creating a dazzling display of light. Ultimately, the green lights prevailed.

"The resolution is passed." Morris's voice was flat. "Report this plan to the central authorities and await their decision."

Soon, the resolution uploaded to Su Ming'an appeared on the screen in front of her. She silently turned her head and looked at Su Ming'an.

“When I passed by a temple, I found that a child already regarded me as a god,” Su Ming’an said.

“That was just a…pilot test,” Su Bread said slowly. “It was just to define a certain area and treat you as a god.”

“Even if we rely on creating gods to get through the crisis, how will we remove the influence of gods in the future? In times of calamity, gods are a placebo, but also a sword of Damocles.” Su Ming’an rejected the idea, “Is there any other way? I don’t believe we can only go down the old path.”

“Not the same old path.” Su Bread pursed his lips, pushed his wheelchair forward, and whispered in his ear, “…Do you remember Siber Zevan? Do you remember how she finally ended the ignorant faith of the people of the Vault?”

Su Ming'an's pupils trembled.

There was no need to finish speaking; he understood what Su Bread meant.

She knew him too well; on one hand, she fervently admired him, and on the other hand, she could come up with the most suitable, yet also the most cruel, solutions for him.

—A divine sacrifice.

They rely on divine power to overcome the current difficulties, and when things calm down, they end people's fanatical faith with the "death of God."

As he pondered, he suddenly felt his hair grow longer and change color... Looking in the mirror, he saw that the ends of his black hair had developed a slight purple tint.

"It seems that as you transform into the World Tree, you are gradually becoming a 'world consciousness'-like existence. The people on this land are naturally a part of you," Su Bread said. "Their admiration and gratitude for the First Player, their love and piety for the God of the Lighthouse, can now be transformed into your divine power. This is far more efficient than the energy conversion before, because you belong here, and they belong here too."

"...The authority of 'faith' is glowing." Su Ming'an gazed at the key in his hand. This authority had always seemed unactivated until today, when he sensed it awakening at a remarkable speed.

—It's because of faith.

This authority comes from the heavens, and it will awaken when it senses a similar situation.

If you believe, it exists; if you don't believe, it doesn't. People believe in the God of the Hundred, therefore the God of the Hundred becomes a righteous god. People believe in the God of the Nine, therefore the God of the Nine becomes a righteous god. And now, people believe that the God of the Lighthouse has hair that gradually changes from black to white to purple, therefore Su Ming'an's hair ends are gradually starting to dye.

This is just a small part now. Once the scale is expanded, the faith of seven billion lives far surpasses the population of the entire world, and Su Ming'an will possess ever-growing power. But he thought of the gods of the old world, and Akto's self-degradation to godhood. He vaguely sensed that this was a broad road, but it would also lead the world into an abyss.

He clenched his fist, obscuring the gleam of the key: "Is there no other way but to create a god? I don't believe that you are helpless in the face of thousands of years of evolution."

Su Mianbao blinked her aged eyes, her cloudy pupils reflecting Su Ming'an's discolored hair. She smiled and said, "Yes. Father God, since you came from a time jump, you can take the problem back in time and hand it over to the Ming'an System for calculation. It will provide timely solutions. For example, it can handle in advance where disasters will break out or who will commit crimes. In this way, perhaps we can stabilize the current situation without creating a god."

“However…” she paused for a moment, “compared to creating gods, humanity will be more panicked, more helpless, and suffer greater casualties.”

“I will do my best to handle every mess. If we don’t create gods, the world will slide into an even more terrifying abyss.” Su Ming’an insisted on this idea: “I will make up for the casualties caused by ‘not creating gods’.”

The elderly woman in the wheelchair smiled quietly.

Looking at the resolute Su Ming'an, she once again felt the flame surging within him, a flame that had never been extinguished since the first time she saw him.

Let time stand still at this moment. If we didn't move forward, would there be no sorrow of parting? If time stopped flowing from now on, would we no longer worry about the world heading towards the abyss?

But she still watched him turn and leave, so resolute and rarely hesitant.

“…Tell me about what’s been going on, Bread,” he said.

Su Bread then sat in his wheelchair and began to recount the events of the past month in a low voice.

Throughout history, humanity has inevitably produced extreme views. Some are radical, some are moderate; some value development, some value people's livelihood; some look to the sky, some look down on the land. Even the question of whether houttuynia cordata is delicious or not, or whether tofu pudding is savory or sweet, will elicit drastically different opinions.

Therefore, even the closest partners can develop different tendencies due to differences in their views.

After the World Game ended, Lu Shu, Lu, Isabella, Eleven, and others supported the banner of "exploration, progress, and vision," strictly punishing rioters with wartime rules to maintain respect for top players and the number one player, thus upholding order. This principle spread from top to bottom, and they were known as the "Progressive Faction." Meanwhile, Yamada Machiichi, Luna, Akimoto, and others supported a policy focused on "rest and recuperation," favoring equality and freedom, bridging class divides, and providing a fair path for the majority. They were known as the "Guardians."

The former, while harsh, was highly effective in maintaining stability, albeit at the expense of the happiness and freedom of the majority of ordinary people. The latter, while ensuring a popular base, was too naive in its ideals, leading some groups to cling to the concept of freedom and fiercely resist Taliban rule.

This is not a fairy tale, after all.

What happens after "the prince and princess lived happily ever after" is unfolding.

Even the best relationships can have ideological differences and factional struggles. Political groups have always been bound together by interests. The world game has made people temporarily ignore interests and national boundaries—but now, they have simply returned to the inherent rules of human political power.

Su Ming'an stood quietly throughout Su Bread's narration.

Simulated light shone on his shoulder, revealing his silent profile. His eyes were almost drawn into straight lines, and his lips were tightly pursed. Against the deep blue background, he seemed to disappear into the night that was about to fall, leaving only a weary sword blade standing on the sand dune.

"...However, the high productivity brought about by high technology has allowed us to far surpass the original Zhai Xing in every aspect, whether it is planting yield, production efficiency, decision-making efficiency, or the degree of integration of technology into daily life...I believe that once we get through the current chaos, we will sooner or later..." Su Bread's words stopped there.

She saw the Father God, whose back was always as straight as a sword, slowly slump his shoulders and sit on the ground.

She quickly summoned the mechanical chair, but he waved it away.

"...Let me sit for a while. There's nothing here, just a place to sit."

The setting sun of the new world cannot penetrate this solemn and magnificent tower.

Under the cold, blue simulated light, the "savior" slowly buried his head between his knees, hugged his knees with both hands, and remained silent for a long time.

With each breath, light flickered slowly, and the only sounds all around were various ticking sounds.

The people in white, like a meticulously calculated program, spread across 255 layers of a beehive, surging like a river, yet without a trace of smiles or human expression.

Su knew he was tired.

He was already exhausted, having barely held on to his last breath until he transformed into the World Tree.

In an adventure story, after the valiant hero braves all obstacles and slays the dragon, the story should come to an end. Who would consider what the future holds for the hero after returning to the capital, facing the coronation of nobles and the solemn imperial palace?

The young man sat silently with his head down, his expression unreadable, only his shoulders trembling slightly, the blue light illuminating the ends of his purple-dyed hair.

“Actually,” Su Bread pursed her lips and spoke the truth:

"You no longer need to manage these things."

"Your war is over. Now, it's up to humanity to take over."

"Whether they survive or perish, it is their own fate. Your responsibility has been relieved. You have delivered a perfect answer to saving Zhai Xing, and no one has any reason to blame you."

“You should take off that splendid robe, remove that divine mask, return from the sky to the mortal world, return to the name ‘Su Ming’an’… I’m sorry, Father God, I called your name without permission. But even the bird that never touches the ground eventually comes to rest. Your journey is over, it’s time to return and enjoy your happiness.”

"Look, your name is renowned throughout the world, your achievements are known to all, and your companions are all waiting for you to join their journey. Even if you don't get involved in world affairs, what difference will it make? It will just be that the future will be more difficult, but isn't hardship an inevitable part of civilization?"

“If you take on everything and shoulder all the burdens for humanity, I would think it’s just the arrogance of a ‘savior’.”

Su Ming'an slowly raised his head.

Having been buried in darkness for too long, when I suddenly looked up and my pupils came into contact with artificial light, tears involuntarily streamed down my face.

He was able to control his senses well, yet at this moment, a certain bittersweet feeling welled up involuntarily.

Has his war... ended?
He gazed silently at the departing conference room in the distance. Just then, the white-haired old man slowly raised his head and glanced in the direction of the highest floor.

Despite being separated by a shielding barrier, the two seemed to be looking at each other.

The white-haired old man slowly but resolutely raised his right hand and gently pounded his left chest, as if making a vow, as if saying, "Leave the rest to us."

Humans are an extremely despicable, yet also extremely great, species. Su Ming'an often distrusts humans, but at other times, some people pull him out of the abyss time and time again.

His sense of responsibility, which arose from distrust, is actually a manifestation of trust.

"...Bread." For a moment, he really wanted to blurt out, "Can I give it to you?"

But he soon realized that "handing it over to humanity itself" and "continuing his journey" were not actually contradictory. Economy, technology, society, literature... humanity had already taken up the mantle, but if he decided to stop the journey, far more people would die than they were now.

"Hmm?" The elderly woman in the wheelchair responded with a smile, seemingly anticipating his rest.

“Three days later, I will make the next jump, go back and inform the Ming'an System about these issues, and let the World Tree ‘copy’ and ‘adjust’ them. I believe this will resolve the current predicament,” Su Ming'an said calmly.

"..." The old man's expression did not change.

She had actually anticipated his choice.

He really is... just like her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have aged so much and be sitting here, would she?
She and her father are truly just as arrogant, just as persistent, and just as unable to stop...

For the next three days, Su Ming'an kept abreast of the current situation, making sure he remembered every deviation and error.

Before leaving, Su Bread suggested that she wanted to see a sea of ​​flowers.

Su Ming'an's time was no longer so tight, so of course he would grant her hard-won request.

As the controller of the central hub, Su Bread cannot stray too far from the central tower; this artificial island is merely a technologically simulated virtual landscape of a sea of ​​flowers.

When Su Ming'an pushed her to the fake flower sea, she faced the swaying wild daisies, her white hair fluttering, her arms outstretched, and she smiled like a young girl, innocent and carefree.

"...Father God, I have always loved this flower."

"Because in those early, desolate times, when I had nothing, the only flower I could see was the wild daisy."

"With bamboo, moon shadow, and Li Li, they and I picked flowers together, woven garlands for the festivals we established, imitating the festive rituals of your civilization, the songs of your civilization, and the dances of your civilization."

She gently placed her calloused, veiny hand on her chest.

“I… have lived my entire life in imitation of your civilization.”

"I told myself that I loved you very much. Because of this, I could no longer distinguish between the reality and illusion of this love, and I followed you for the rest of my life in order to protect my civilization."

“I am greedy. As a lifetime's reward, I want to ask you for a promise.”

“Go ahead,” Su Ming’an agreed immediately. He knew that Su Mianbao would never make a promise that would harm him.

"I..." She slowly raised her head, her eyes, still clouded with white, reflecting his face:
"I would like to make a request to you."

"No matter when, no matter what the circumstances."

"Give this civilization at least one chance to reform itself. Do not destroy it out of disappointment, nor burn it down out of anger."

Why would she make such a request?

Su Ming'an was confused. How could he destroy this place? He loved it so much.

“That moment will never come.” He shook his head.

“I also hope that that moment will never come. But I’m afraid, the years are long…” Su Bread raised his head and smiled: “But I want a guaranteed promise, is that alright, Father God?”

Su Ming'an thought she would make personal requests like "Please hug me" or "Please remember me," but he never expected that her final request would also be to protect this civilization...

Yes, she originated from him.

He gave her everything, gave her responsibility, gave her a fixed life, gave her a chain of imprisonment, gave her the pride of a creator, gave her a misguided deep love, gave her... a meager name.

"Okay," he said softly amidst the sea of ​​flowers.
"I promise you."

Then, without her asking, he gently hugged her.

Since she has already chosen to protect the world as her wish, then he should make up for the other wish that she can no longer express.

The embrace felt cold and heavy; the old man's frail body in his arms was like a hard skeleton. The girl's beauty, her charm, her lightness... all vanished.

But when he let go, Su Ming'an realized he had misjudged the situation.

The aged smile on that quiet face... clearly overflowed with the beauty and lightness of a young girl.

She was like a black butterfly, alighting on the sea of ​​flowers covering the mountains and fields, in his pupils and in his dreams, on his journey from which he could not stop.

Her flowing white hair was like the light wings of a young girl. Her cloudy, nebulous pupils resembled daisies swaying on a mountainside.

From her youth to old age, she never dishonored the honor and dignity of being the ruler of a realm. Her ideals were no less than his, yet no one knew them, no one remembered them.

There are far too many nameless people lying in the darkness.

He felt a slight warmth on his scalp as she pinned a wild daisy in his hair.

He intended to take it off quickly, but she chuckled softly:

"That way... it's blocked."

—It blocked a strand of purple from the tip of his hair.

Because he did not want to become a god, she picked the flower.

Because he didn't have the time to survey the area, she carried the flag.

His pupils trembled as he gazed at her aged figure in the wheelchair, until she seemed to have lost all strength, slowly lowered her head, and leaned against his chest.

He remembered her name and finally couldn't help but say, "Su Bread, should we change your name to something more proper? It's the name you chose yourself, the name that belongs to you."

However, she smiled and shook her head, saying:

"That's good."

“This name has long belonged to me, Father God.”

“It was not given to me by anyone, nor did I receive it by bowing down to anyone. This is my name, Su Bread.”

"Please mourn this long, weary night..."

She felt his warmth on her forehead.

This was the first time she had ever been so close to God the Father.

"...Let's write a new, dazzling, and unparalleled ending."

"See you at dawn, Father God."

……

The second jump.

—Birds fly and swirl around the tide.