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Chapter 1616 Final Chapter: Guarding the Coastline: "OE: Die from the Ocean (22)"

“My daughter is almost nineteen,” Anthony said with satisfaction. “She was born three years after the World Game ended. She’s been interested in the World Game since she was little, probably because she was exposed to it from a young age. Our house is full of props and equipment… Now she’s quite strong and plans to join the army. I don’t expect her to go to university like her peers. She’s a child, she can do whatever she wants.”

“I’m not as easygoing as you,” Ward sighed. “My son can’t sit still, so I sent him to school. And what happened? All he does is look at the game guides of the top players, his mind isn’t on his studies. What will he do in the future…”

They seemed to be having a casual chat, but Su Ming'an sensed a hidden meaning: they simply hoped their children would have a brighter future... Indeed, having a family brings responsibilities, and one can't help but make plans for their children.

They might be tower masters, generals, or councilors... but in front of Su Ming'an, they were no longer as natural as before.

Bei Wang had already woken up. He had been sleeping on and off for more than 20 years, yet his appearance remained unchanged.

Su Ming'an explained the important matters for the day.

He planned to have the small world try to merge once, to see if it could pass through that barrier of civilization.

“That civilization barrier is very special. Hundreds of thousands of people can pass through it, but no more than that. I have never seen such a barrier before. Logically speaking, no one should be able to pass through it.” Su Ming’an said, “I want to try to see if we can merge with it. Then the civilization barrier will be ours, and we won’t need to bother breaking it.”

Meiyani quickly turned on her personal computer and entered the information.

"It sounds incredibly exciting. Trying to immerse myself in it for the first time reminds me of the first time humans landed on the moon," Joey laughed.

“This is another major event worthy of being recorded in history. Young people have more and more history to learn,” Violet smiled.

The reason why the Lord of the Realm Meeting only had these people was because it was entirely Su Ming'an's one-man show. He traveled back and forth repeatedly, and the decisions he put forward were always effective and had been discussed countless times in the future. They were only responsible for listening to and relaying his opinions, and occasionally offering their own opinions, which Su Ming'an listened to at his discretion.

What he wants is someone he can trust enough.

After the meeting, Lü Shu was still organizing the meeting minutes. Although he was blind, he still insisted on participating in politics. Now he writes official documents very well and can handle most official business properly.

“…Su Ming’an.” In the empty room, Lü Shu suddenly said, “You were lying just now.”

Su Ming'an stopped.

“There’s a subtle change in your eyes… You already know the outcome, there’s no need to try, right?” Lu Shu said, “You’re trying for another purpose.”

“I will find you a pair of eyes,” Su Ming’an said with a smile. “It would be a pity if someone as perceptive as you didn’t have a pair of bright eyes.”

He walked towards the door.

A figure radiating rainbow light walked further and further away in the deep, pale corridor, like a rainbow gradually fading away.

Lu Shu watched Him gradually walk away into the distance.

……

"Beiwang, you're awake?"

"Ah."

What have you been dreaming about lately?

"I dreamt... a dream filled with flowing black water... a variety of people... a gigantic, multicolored figure..."

"Besides that?"

“I have been trying to deepen this dream... to join them... Over the past twenty-two years... I have gradually become more aware in the dream, able to think and act independently... I feel that I have gradually become a part of them.”

"Is it dangerous?"

"I haven't felt it yet."

"Hmm, tell me what you dream about next. Prioritize your own safety, okay?"

"Hmm...that's what I want to do too."

……

August 24, 2048, a date destined to be etched into the very marrow of human civilization.

Inside the central command hall of the World Hub, a massive holographic star map occupied the entire dome. Below the star map, a waterfall of data flowed down, monitoring everything from the gravity index of the small world to the social index.

Dressed in white with flowing colorful hair, Su Ming'an stood before the vast and boundless command platform, his figure appearing tall and imposing against the enormous light screen. As the "Lord of the Realm," he habitually presented himself in this form. His authority of "faith," honed over many years and bearing the expectations of countless people, had become the authority he was most adept at wielding.

His gaze swept over every solemn face below the stage: politicians led by Wilson of the United Government, scientists led by Isabella, military personnel led by Liu Jiahe... This was the central hub of the highest decision-making in human civilization, bearing the weight of the survival of the entire race.

"Check the final preparations." Su Ming'an's voice resounded throughout the hall through the loudspeaker system, clear and steady: "Coordinate calibration, engine charging, Ming'an system, synchronize the status of all nodes."

A cold AI voice echoed in the hall: "Ming'an System is online. Global anchor towers have reached operational standards, engine power core temperatures are normal, civilization barrier scanning is ready, the connection to the Lost Pearl Star is stable, information channels are sufficient... All systems are ready."

Su Ming'an nodded slightly, glancing intentionally at the cameras scattered around—this was a global live broadcast he had specifically ordered, to ensure that most people could see it.

Many lawmakers expressed their opposition to the live broadcast, wondering what would happen if the integration failed, wouldn't that make everyone lose hope? However, with a single order from Su Ming'an, the dissenting voices disappeared.

At this moment, the whole world is watching.

Scientists and engineers gather in control node towers, large laboratories, and engineering bridges around the world. The air is thick with the smells of caffeine, sweat, and ozone. A scruffy man sits slumped in a chair, stroking a yellowed photograph.

"Mr. Xiao, come out and take a look, it's about to start!" came a colleague's voice from outside the door.

"Coming, coming..." Xiaoxiao pressed her cheek against the photo, and a tear fell.

Outside the door, an elderly academician with gray hair prayed softly in front of the control panel: "It must succeed..."

Isabella smiled and grasped the old academician's hand: "Teacher, don't worry, I'm here for you."

"Ah, you've all grown up. This old man who didn't participate in the world games can't keep up with the times..." the old academician sighed.

The military entered a state of highest combat readiness. In order to deal with possible internal unrest, the evacuation plan was repeatedly verified, and emergency supply depots were marked on the map. Lin Yin, as the wartime commander, took a deep breath and ordered in a deep voice into the encrypted channel: "Everyone, stand by."

Factories shut down, schools closed, and people gathered in front of holographic screens in plazas, in crowded underground public areas, and by their windows at home. Parents held their children tightly, couples nestled together, and the elderly stared at the countdown on the screens with their cloudy eyes. No one made a sound; a vast, almost suffocating silence enveloped the entire civilization.

On the streets and alleys, the "lighthouse pendant" and "blackbird sculpture" that children once laughed and talked about are now clutched tightly in their hands, as if drawing a sliver of faint courage from them. A child looks up and asks his mother, "Mommy, will we fly to our new home?"

His mother hugged him tightly, her eyes fixed on the white-clad figure on the screen.

"Ding-ding-"

On the western grasslands, a man of about thirty years old leads a group of children adorned with Gesang flowers, followed by a flock of white sheep, and rings a bell in his hand that symbolizes prayer.

On the battlefield where a temporary ceasefire had been implemented, soldiers lay in their trenches, gazing at the distant full moon—the luster of the lost star had replaced the moon. They wiped their guns, ate dry bread, and prayed that the ceasefire would last longer, just a little longer.

In a tavern, Ryan got drunk, clutching a picture of Boris, and passed out in a noisy corner.

"Set off." Su Ming'an's command shattered the silence.

hum-

On the magnificent star map, countless slender bands of light extended from the edge of the sphere representing the small world, like billions of taut cables. The entire small world began to slowly move towards the direction of the Lost Pearl Star.

"The traction is stable!" The engineer's voice trembled with excitement.

"No obvious rejection reaction was detected!" The scientist in charge of the barrier analysis raised his voice.

In an instant, a soft cheer erupted from the deathly silent hall! In front of the screen, countless people burst into shouts; the immense pressure had found an outlet, and hope, like wildfire, spread like wildfire in an instant!
"Prepare to blend in." Su Ming'an's voice remained cold. He didn't smile, and there was no expectation or joy in the depths of his eyes. Amidst the merriment of the crowd, his coldness stood out starkly.

Yu Zhu glanced at him worriedly, then put on a polite smile and faced the swarm of cameras: "Continue."

hum-

With unprecedented computing power, the Ming'an system simulated the civilization barrier of the Lost Pearl Star. Energy surged from the roots of the World Tree and poured into the bubble membrane around the small world, attempting to make this protective membrane "disguise" as part of the barrier, so that the two worlds could initially "fit together" on a physical level, opening the channel for the final fusion.

“波动调整中……频率同步率45%…67%…89%…95%…97.3%！接近临界了！苏明安！”伊莎贝拉的嗓音因紧张而嘶哑，以至于直接喊出了苏明安的姓名。指挥大厅的空气再次凝固，所有人的心都提到了嗓子眼。

Violet covered her mouth, Joey gripped the edge of the control panel tightly, and data streams rolled wildly on Mayani's screen.

Su Ming'an closed his eyes.

He sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Boundary reached!" On the star map, the color representing the small world finally touched the boundary of the "civilization barrier" surrounding the Lost Pearl Star, a barrier invisible to the naked eye. The point of contact instantly lit up with a blinding white light!
"Shall I go up and take a look?" Su Lin's figure appeared out of nowhere, suggesting a closer look.

“No need,” Su Ming’an said.

"Matter penetration detection initiated... Successful!" The screen displayed that several harmless detection particles had successfully passed through the barrier boundary and landed on the white sand of the Lost Pearl Star!

"It's a success?!" Liu Jiahe couldn't help but roar. Yang Changxu's eyes welled up with tears.

Suddenly, a red light appeared!
The alarm in the Ming'an system sounded with the highest priority!

hum - hum - hum -

[Warning! An unpredictable reaction has occurred; the boundaries of fusion are dissolving!]

"Oh no!" The astronaut's terrified shout came through the communication channel. His "Lighthouse" observation platform was closest to the contact point, and the screen clearly captured the terrifying scene: a spatial structure covering an area of ​​several hundred kilometers at the edge of the small world was annihilated the moment it made contact with the barrier of the lost star!

This annihilation is like a plague, spreading rapidly!
"Immediately halt the fusion and forcibly detach." Su Ming'an's calm voice boomed like thunder, stabilizing everyone.

hum-

Countless beams of light burst forth with halos, attempting to pull the small world back from the brink of death. Blazing blue lights flickered violently on the star map, and the small world trembled violently, like a high-speed ark swerving hastily to avoid an iceberg.

Fortunately, the contact was extremely brief. After the space of an uninhabited large city was torn apart, the small world was finally forcibly "ripped" off the barrier of civilization on the Lost Pearl Star and retreated rapidly. The dark cracks stopped spreading, leaving behind an unhealable wound.

Inside the command center, a deathly silence reigned; the cheers of moments before seemed like a distant memory. On the screens, the smiles on the faces of millions of people froze, turning to bewilderment.

Joey slammed his fist on the table, his knuckles instantly drawing blood. Violet was deathly pale, the screen frozen on the final crimson alarm.

That half of the planet, representing hope, became, in everyone's eyes, a cruel mockery of the laws of the universe—it allowed you to approach, allowed you to spy, and even allowed your insignificant few hundred thousand people to pass through as "visitors." But when the entire civilization, carrying all its weight, history, and desires, attempted to cross that line to seek survival, the barrier of civilization fell heavily like an iron curtain.

The small world is still moving slowly, but it is no longer a magnificent voyage towards a new home, but a stumbling and retreating fugitive.

The only sounds in the command center were the monotonous buzzing of the instruments and the rapid, heavy breathing.

hum - hum - hum -

Everyone instinctively turned their pleading eyes to Su Ming'an, as if looking at him would provide the answer—within fifty years, there are no new planets, and the Lost Pearl Star is inaccessible; what should humanity do?
This is the first time in human memory that Su Ming'an has made a wrong decision. How will he react? In fact, even if he makes countless mistakes, no one would dare to criticize him in public.

That cold barrier of civilization, like an insurmountable chasm between life and death, ruthlessly proclaims:

—This road is blocked.

……

As people panicked, Meyani suddenly noticed Su Ming'an's expression—he looked nervous, but his eyes were calm, as if he had already expected it.

Even deep within his eyes, there seemed to be a smile.

His white robes were as pure as snow, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a cold abyss, and his flowing, multicolored hair didn't seem out of place; rather, it was like seeing a beautiful rainbow. The smile in his eyes made her tremble all over.

What was he planning? What was he hiding from us? Why was he deliberately letting the whole world see this failure? A storm raged in Mayani's heart, but she dared not speak.

"No need to panic."

The dazzling god smiled.

"I have a way, listen to me."