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Chapter 1667 Final Chapter - Crossing the Shore [11] - "Because you have already done those things."

Following Yamada Machiichi's gaze, above the road, was the outline of an eye.

Enormous, indifferent, inhuman—those were the eyes of the Radiant Mother Goddess, now closed.

The moment it opens is the moment it ends.

"Scared? That eye does look a bit scary," Lu said.

Yamada Machi snapped out of his reverie and forced a smile. Today he was dressed smartly in a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, his clothes fastened tightly with metal buttons; he hadn't worn Lolita fashion much lately.

“A little,” Yamada Machi admitted. “However, the thought that if we lose, we might not even have time to be afraid makes me less afraid, though it’s a bit of a regret.”

"What's there to regret?"

“I haven’t been on your aircraft carrier yet,” Machiichi Yamada said matter-of-factly. “You said that one day you would take us on a real aircraft carrier, have a party at sea, watch the sunset, and eat ice cream piled high on a boat.”

“Aircraft carriers aren’t for sitting on.” Lu chuckled. “However, if you just want to experience the feeling of leaving the ground and having a wide view… after this is over, I can apply for permission to use an aircraft and take you for a ride, just along the coastline.”

"Really?" Yamada Machiichi's eyes lit up, but he quickly became alert. "That sounds like a flag."

"Then stand it upside down."

“Okay. ‘I promise I will never take you on an aircraft carrier again.’” Yamada Machiichi stretched out his palm, his five fingers together, and swore an oath.

They gazed at the sky, as if everything had become open and expansive, and some things were no longer out of reach.

After a few seconds of silence, Yamada Machiichi suddenly asked, "So, what's your wish? Have you thought of anything else? Something very ordinary?"

Lu thought for a moment, then looked up at the sky with him:
"Back when I was little, I read some random novels. They always described how the protagonist, when feeling extremely depressed or wanting to escape everything, would jump into the sea. The icy water would engulf their head, and the world would instantly become quiet, shutting out all sounds, light, and worries..."

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Yamada Machi immediately spat three times like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Unlucky! What kind of ridiculous wish is that! Why sink to the bottom of the sea! We want to surface, we want to fly a spaceship to see the sea! To see the real, boundless, blue sea!"

Lu was taken aback by his intense reaction and gave a helpless smile.

"Mmm," he responded softly, "Look at the sea."

The two leaned side by side against the cold steel bars, gazing up at the sky filled with inhuman eyes. The only sounds in the air were the distant rumble and the faint sound of breathing.

“…We will win, right?” Yamada Machiichi suddenly asked softly.

Lu didn't answer immediately. He continued gazing at the sky. After several seconds, he finally spoke:
"of course."

Machiichi Yamada's shoulders slumped slightly: "Su Ming'an chose to go back in time... I know many people don't understand, and the forums are in an uproar. They think he forcibly prolonged the progress of the world game, blocking their way home, saying he was kidnapped by a 'savior' mentality, dragging down the majority for the sake of a few... If we fail in the end, nothing changes, and so many people die... then what will we be?"

He paused, his voice even softer, tinged with confusion:

"Is he a saint... or a sinner?"

The question was left unanswered, and only the sound of the wind remained.

Lu remained silent for a long time. So long that Yamada-cho thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, Lu's voice rang out:
"If we fail, we're all dead. When we're dead, nothing is left. The survivors might argue, they might give us a final verdict, whether we're a monument to heroes or a pillar of shame... But we're already dead, we can't hear or feel anymore. We'll vanish into nothingness, consciousness will dissipate, and we'll return to nothingness. At that point, what meaning will the title of saint or the infamy of sinners have?"

Yamada Machi was stunned. He turned to look at Lu. Lu's profile was clearly defined in the dim light, and his eyes were calm and unfathomable, like the deep sea.

Suddenly, Yamada Machi laughed.

"You're blinded by a single leaf."

"but."

He turned his head and smiled softly, "Let the living argue whether someone is a saint or a sinner..."

“Yamada, I want you to go back to the normal timeline,” Lu said.

After much thought, Yamada is still the most suitable. Among the people around me who are skilled in this area and whom I can trust, Yamada is the only one.

"Second battlefield, I understand." Yamada nodded. "I was originally planning to return to the normal timeline. The main force is in the 'past,' and if trouble arises in the 'present,' we're doomed. Don't worry, 99% of the players are in the 'present,' and we'll do our best."

Neither of them said it, but they both knew the answer: whichever battlefield they lost, they would never have the chance to meet again.

However, we will definitely win.

"By the way, Lu, I didn't realize that someone as serious as you would have a teddy bear in your room. It's so cute."

"That was left to me by my mother."

"Your mom loves you so much, I'm so envious."

"Hmm." Lu's expression dimmed for a moment, but he quickly smiled and looked up. "Let's go, let's set off."

……

You have defeated "Shirei of the Rin Clan".

[Key collection progress: 2/3.]

You have acquired Ashley's Rin clan ability, "Copy".

[Copy (Outside the Logic): You can copy a specified ability or area.]

……

Inside the World Tree.

Inside the ice cave, Su Ming'an didn't kill Shili, but defeated her. He had previously discussed with Su Lin that defeating the Lin clan could also yield the key.

He had just recalled a scene, seemingly a version of himself who had inherited the World Game in some cosmic cycle... That version of himself looked quite similar to the cat-eared organizer after the third instance ended...

In previous reincarnations, did I leave any foreshadowing or foreshadowing?

I am now vaguely touching upon these foreshadowings.

I am independent and unique; it's impossible for two versions of myself to exist simultaneously across cosmic cycles. But could that cat-eared organizer be a remnant left behind after accumulating enough reincarnations? Could the power I buried in countless reincarnations have transformed into my present spear and shield?

Therefore, a similar ending, where "Su Ming'an inherited the world game and became a guiding light in the universe," must have already happened... Even though that should have been a very low-probability development, it means the total number of reincarnations will be a terrifying number...

He looked at the two-thirds of the keys in his hand, only missing the last one—the keys of the Lin clan, the last son of the world's ruler, Su Wenli.

Although he can switch accounts at any time, killing himself is useless. He must go through the body of "Chen Yuhang" and be defeated by "Su Wenli" so that "Su Wenli" can become the final victor of the Lin Clan and obtain the key.

"Alright...then...let's prepare for the handover." Su Ming'an looked up at the exit of the World Tree—a vortex flowing with crystal blue light.

— "Chen Yuhang" is to pass the key to "Su Wenli".

— "Su Wenli" is going to pass the Holy Sword to "Chen Yuhang".

The "sinner" who has attracted worldwide attention will be handed over to an insignificant "ordinary person".

Ashley has already gone in another direction. She has lost her identity as a member of the Lin tribe, and now it is safest for her to hide away alone.

Su Ming'an stared at the exit of the World Tree. His current situation was the most dangerous; he was all alone. Venturing out rashly would leave him stranded on some unknown battlefield.

He summoned the card "Praying for the Day" and had Praying for the Day to impersonate him, drawing enemy fire.

Sure enough, Haji looked annoyed. He had just been pretending to be the lazy bird he hated the most, and now he had to play Su Ming'an.

"Don't you guys have your own colored contact lenses?" Qi Zhou asked, annoyed. "Can't you guys cosplay yourselves?"

"The capable should do more work, and you run fast." Su Ming'an soothed him, "Teacher Qi, after this is over, I'll give you a big plot of land to raise your cat."

After hearing this, Qi Zhou still went. The future ruler of the world was offering him such a perk; it was truly tempting. He only needed to complete one cosplay commission, and his future happiness would be guaranteed. But why was this cosplay commission so life-threatening…?

After waiting for a while, Su Ming'an found a secluded branch and left the World Tree.

As soon as he landed, he rolled into the grass and looked around. This was the edge of the battlefield, all barren and yellowish soil. The fighting was in the inner circle, and the civilians who were supposed to run away had already run away.

Suddenly, a group of people walked by, men and women, dressed in different ways.

Su Ming'an was about to step back alertly when he realized that he recognized all of these people.

"My good buddy! I'm so glad to see you again!!!" A warm bear hug suddenly came from behind, and a brown-haired boy with a headband pounced on him, almost knocking Su Ming'an down. The boy familiarly checked Su Ming'an's condition, touched his clothes, and said worriedly, "Hey? Why are you all dressed like this? Come on, good buddy, let's get out of this dangerous place first."

—Wang Xingkong.

"Phew, at least we didn't mess up, we successfully picked them up." Another familiar voice rang out. White hair, carrying an ancient longsword almost as tall as himself, arms crossed.

—Mo Yan.

"This must be Chen Yuhang. You look like you've suffered a pretty serious injury. I can bandage you up on the way." Another voice rang out, slightly magnetic. The speaker was a red-haired man, tall and imposing, with deep-set features, and his eyes gleamed with a faint, wolf-like green light in the dim light.

—Old soldier, this year.

"It's good that you're alright. Let's move to a safe place as soon as possible." The last group consisted of a man and a woman. The man had blue hair, wore glasses, and carried a priest's staff. The woman was noticeably younger, like a student.

—Xiao Xiao, Wang Zhenzhen.

Behind them stood two unfamiliar middle-aged women and a young girl, who appeared to be locals from Rovasa and were also in the group.

"It's like this, let me tell you..." Wang Xingkong kept talking while hugging Su Ming'an.

Under Wang Xingkong's incessant chatter, Su Ming'an understood the situation—Lu Licalpos had ordered this squad to come and meet him. During the fierce fighting earlier, these people had been searching for "Chen Yuhang." As soon as he emerged, they quickly spotted him.

Lu Zhen was very thoughtful. Knowing that Su Ming'an didn't have time to contact other players, he sent a small team to meet him.

This team has no well-known players; their main focus is on cover and concealment, since their goal is to smuggle "Chen Yuhang," the key user, to Su Wenli's side. If there were a few well-known players, according to the narrative anchoring principle, the Radiant Mother Goddess would easily discover this place. The fact that no one knows this "Chen Yuhang" is Su Ming'an is precisely to prevent them from revealing the truth.

“The situation is urgent, let’s go.” Si Nian waved his hand. “According to the latest intelligence, the succession ceremony of the World Lord is more than halfway through, and the Holy Sword is about to take shape. You need to get safely to the vicinity of the ceremony. We will take care of clearing obstacles in the path. Let’s go.”

Si Nian turned and walked away. Wang Xingkong put his arm around Su Ming'an's shoulder, Mo Yan gripped his sword hilt tightly, and Xiao Xiao and Wang Zhenzhen walked to the side of the group.

Su Ming'an took a deep breath and caught up with the group.

The final stage—he has arrived.

Everything was alright for now. He closed his eyes and focused his consciousness on the body of "Su Wenli"...

The next moment, when he opened his eyes again, the person in the group was the real Chen Yuhang.

“…Holy shit.” Chen Yuhang opened his eyes and found himself completely protected, and couldn’t help but swear. When Su Ming’an was controlling his body, his consciousness was blurred. What was he doing here?
Although he didn't know the situation, Chen Yuhang breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Wang Xingkong. With Brother Wang around, there was nothing to fear.

He had a vague feeling that he had been drawn into a huge vortex, a vortex that was far more exciting than his dull and boring high school life!

Suddenly, he felt his pocket bulge. He pulled it out and saw a note with neat and strong handwriting:

……

【Chen Yuhang, this is Su Ming'an.】

From now on, to avoid attracting the narrative anchor, my consciousness will try not to switch over; please conceal my existence.

[Next, your body may take up the Holy Sword and slay gods, which will be mortal-threatening, and you may lose your companions. If you feel overwhelmed by the responsibility and unable to bear it, you can leave the battlefield and return to safety after handing over the key. I will find another way to possess the Holy Sword.]

You don't have to be a hero to have a wonderful life.

You don't need to blame yourself for retreating, nor do you need to fear ordinariness; this is your choice.

[Read and then destroy.]

……

Chen Yuhang's eyes were completely filled with the words "receive the holy sword and slay the gods," and he paid no attention to Su Ming'an's subsequent words. His heart was pounding, and his blood was boiling!

Holy crap! That's so cool!
Isn't this the life Vadasi wanted?
We must move forward, we must move forward! I, Chen Yuhang, will not back down at a time like this!
Hero, don't abandon me! I'm willing! I'm willing to slay gods! I don't want to go back to being a high school student!
Chen Yuhang quietly moved to the front of the group and asked Si Nian, the eldest brother in the group, for a light.

Si Nian raised an eyebrow, his weathered beard twitching slightly: "You're not that old, why are you smoking? Go back."

"Brother, I'm going to burn something," Chen Yuhang said with a smile.

A lighter was thrown over, and Chen Yuhang lit the note. Watching the note burn to ashes, his heart leaped with joy.

—Brother Wang! Don't be disappointed, we can be the main characters on stage too!

……