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Chapter 1675 Final Chapter - Crossing the Shore [19] - "'God' is dead."

"clusters".

The lighter flame flickered, and on the yellowed parchment, Zhao Yuan read Hui Chi's diary. The elegant and dignified handwriting reached its conclusion:
[...Sophie and Albert discover they are characters in a book. And are we living in a more bizarre, more cruel "game"?]

Existentialist philosophy, in its counterpoint to the notion that "existence precedes essence," states that "existence" is anchored by memory, emotion, and connections with others. I remember who I am, you remember who I am, what happened between us… these informational and relational bonds constitute the proof of my existence.

[A sufficiently brutal, shocking, and memorable "plot-driven death" is needed to expose the fictional nature and manipulability of this world.]

A plan began to take shape as awareness dawned. Bi, my brother… will you understand and agree? Perhaps this is the only thing we can do…

I will no longer be merely the "Papal Red." Tomorrow, in the Intercardinal Regalia, I will become the "Out-of-Control Blasphemer Red," a massive bug in this game. Through my actions and Bi's sacrifice, I will show everyone—the rules can be broken.

In this fictional universe, there is no path to "reality." So let us forge a path with blood, betrayal, and unwavering resolve. Even if that path begins with the end of my character.

My confusion will be unveiled by the light, my struggles will become blades, and my wisdom will build the stage for a savior.

If this body could become a sharp blade piercing through illusion, then—

This is my "greatness."

May those who come after us reach the truths we could not witness.

……

Su Ming'an squatted down, wiping the bloodstains from Hui Bi's face, tidying her hair, and smoothing her clothes so that the young man's departure wouldn't look so disheveled.

...Huibi, you once risked your life to help me, hoping you would find the truth. But why did your journey end here?

In the game of Disciple, as one of Su Liujin's six companions, you risked your life to infiltrate the organizers, create a magic circle to awaken your personal little Liujin, and harm innocent people like Li Ziqi. I will not forgive you on their behalf, but I will not deny your persistent pursuit of the truth.

Looking back now, all your actions were traceable; they were all aimed at rekindling the seed of hope in Su Liujin. But, have you found your truth?

In "The Brothers Karamazov," Dostoevsky, through the voice of Ivan, asks: "If God does not exist, then everything is permissible?"

Su Ming'an looked up at the mural at the end of the throne room, where the face of the Radiant Mother Goddess was compassionate and gentle.

In his eyes, the "God" who belonged to Rovasa was dead.

Hui Chi strode towards the center of the hall, stepping across the smooth obsidian floor.

“In the unaltered version,” Hui Chi’s fingertip revealed a completely different relief on the stone codex, “the first chapter of the Rovasa Codex states that ‘all things have spirits, all beings are equal, and rights and responsibilities are self-evident.’ This is the cornerstone of the original triune covenant.”

But the next second, the relief was quickly covered by another, more oppressive image: a gigantic eye, casting beams of light down upon the creatures below, with a new proverb appearing beside it:

All things are blessed, their light is supreme, and their authority is divinely bestowed.

Hui Chi withdrew his hand, a trace of stone dust clinging to his fingertips: "From 'self-taken' to 'divinely bestowed,' the cornerstone of civilization has been replaced. A world that encouraged exploration and responsibility has become a world that awaits bestowal and obedience."

Su Ming'an spoke up: "Hui Chi, you have already used the most extreme methods to tear open the first gap on this path. But you still keep me locked up here, is there something you haven't said yet?"

The death of the Imperial Tutor, the Pope's blade, a mad scene that exceeded all "scripts"... is the most resolute rebellion.

Su Ming'an has come to understand Hui Chi's actions, but why is Hui Chi still not letting him go?

Then, the golden-haired pope looked over, his crimson eyes like those of a cunning snake.

“There’s one more thing,” Huichi said.

"What is it?" Su Ming'an looked up.

"Kill the creator of this game."

“I know.” Su Ming’an gripped the holy sword in his hand. “I will be going to face the Radiant Mother Goddess soon.”

But soon, his keen senses made him narrow his eyes, as if he sensed something, and he looked at Hui Chi.

Then, a guess slowly rose from the bottom of his heart.

Oh.

This pope... has truly given him so many surprises.

……

Several years ago.

The time before Su Ming'an and other players arrived.

Rovasa, the Central Kingdom, the backyard of the Temple.

"The Demon Lord will appear in the future..." Su Wenjun's voice, a mix of political discussions and reports from her subjects and various factions, echoed from the front hall. As the most powerful force on Earth, the world's ruler, Su Wenjun, was as busy as a spinning top.

Most of the time, Su Wenjun was immersed in the council hall and before the memorials. Only occasionally would he lean against the white jade statue for a short nap, only to be quickly jolted awake. The muddy struggles of his youth had left him with deep trauma; he would always be plunged into nightmares of freezing to death in the slums when he closed his eyes. He would often suffer from panic attacks, suspecting that everyone around him would assassinate him, or that the wine was laced with deadly poison.

When Su Ming'an first met Su Wenjun, Su Wenjun appeared relaxed, but this was just a deliberate display of composure to the savior.

Godfather Huichi was the one who understood Su Wenjun best. He valued her ruthlessness and potential, while she needed his wisdom and experience. Huichi knew that the seemingly powerful and invincible ruler actually suffered from nightmares of losing everything day and night, experiencing terror, mania, depression, and tears... All the vulnerabilities that she couldn't show to the world, she dealt with herself by the goddess statue. Huichi would often observe from afar.

Hui Chi admitted that Su Wenjun was the most ruthless, intelligent, and unscrupulous person he had ever met. She was willing to do anything for power and attempted to grasp everything in the world. Su Wenjun must have lacked a sense of security in her youth and may not have even been loved by her parents, which is why she so desperately wanted to control everything.

However, one day, Huichi realized that things had gone off track.

—The ambitious Empress Su Wenjun began to set her sights beyond the world.

His lust for power in the world reached its zenith, so he began to trace his origins back to his roots.

This is the beginning of destruction.

"I want to find the guy who created me and question him about why he created me and then discarded me like trash. I don't want to bear his appearance, his voice, I want to break free from everything he gave me!" Faced with the Godfather's concern, the proud ruler answered forcefully, "This is my ultimate goal all along, and I am willing to burn everything I have for it! I want to kill him with my own hands! My 'Father'."

So proud, so dazzling, Her Majesty Su Wenjun, born from humble beginnings yet rising to the highest palace, shines as brightly as the sun of Rovasa, burning like a raging fire.

However, Hui Chi saw the destruction in those golden eyes.

...This is a path destined for destruction. How can the pawns inside the cat box rebel against the gods outside?

Hui Chi did not want to follow Su Wenjun down the path of destruction; in fact, he was secretly pleased.

—Su Wenjun ultimately chose self-destruction.

The narrative anchor shots are always playful, landing on different people at different times, but without exception, each "protagonist" is the most dazzling person of their era. And Su Wenjun seems to be the "protagonist" of this era without a doubt. With the right timing, the right place, and the right people, he is the most dazzling star of this era, even emperors have to avoid his brilliance.

No matter how intelligent Hui Chi was, how many world-shaking speeches he delivered, or how many sensational advice he offered to Rovasa, people would never see him.

It was as if an invisible veil shielded him. As long as he stood beside Su Wenjun, even if Su Wenjun did nothing, Hui Chi would forever remain dim and insignificant. Even if someone noticed this godfather, whose wisdom was no less than his own, they would quickly forget him, leaving only a vague impression of "the godfather of the world's ruler."

Hui Chi knew very well that this was no longer a fact that human power could shake; such was the rule of this world. One person shines brightly, while everyone else is but a shadow. Just like in the creation era of the Second Era, when the Magpie King created the world, people only remembered the name Oliver; the other creators had all perished in the long river of history.

Therefore, upon learning that Su Wenjun had taken the initiative to "self-destruct," Hui Chi felt a secret sense of smug satisfaction.

But soon, he felt ashamed of this secret smugness. Su Wenjun dared to leap out of the chessboard and fly out of the box; even destruction was more noble than her own.

"..."

“…Why not give it a try?” the Pope murmured.

He joined Su Wenjun on her journey, searching for the oldest truth about Rovasa in fragments of ancient texts, and asking in prayers about the world beyond the Mother Goddess: what is "higher dimensions," what are "cosmic organs," and whether there are other civilizations beyond the planet Rovasa... He and Su Wenjun pieced together the image of the universe little by little, like two frogs trapped at the bottom of a well, desperately trying to jump away from this small well.

They were born trapped within this civilization, the planet's lid tightly closed, unable to see what the universe looked like.

One day, he encountered a white-haired immortal, exuding the fragrance of peach blossoms and radiating moonlight, who, like him, claimed to be a "godfather." After their conversation, Hui Chi gradually learned something—

According to the oracle, in the Fourth Age, the Demon Lord will descend. He will bring a vast horde of demons to seize the bodies of the inhabitants of Rovasa and take their lives.

However, the white-haired immortal said, "This is just the gods' exaggerated story out of fear. The Demon Lord is not a vicious person; he is just a kind and gentle child. They are called 'Players.' It is true that their taking over your bodies will affect your lives, but their main purpose is to save this world."

Hui Chi's heart stirred.

On that day, Su Ming'an, the savior from another world, came to visit.

Hui Chi stood in the rear hall, secretly observing the young man whom the gods called the "Demon Lord." The young man was neither humble nor arrogant, appearing young yet fearless. Ordinary people would tremble like leaves after speaking with Su Wenjun for a short while, but the young man was at ease, as if he had seen many great occasions.

Hui Chi sensed the undercurrent between Su Ming'an and Su Wenjun. It seemed that they had reached an unspoken cooperation in an unseen place, which kept others out and even he could not interfere.

This is the atmosphere between the protagonists... Ah.

Hui Chi knew that even if he stepped forward to speak, he wouldn't be able to connect with the two of them. He wasn't the "protagonist" favored by the world; all he could do was observe.

He watched from the sidelines until Su Wenjun died.

With a heart burning with rage, His Majesty Su Wenjun finally came into contact with the truth—the deepest and most terrifying truth. His ideal was flawed from the very beginning; there were boxes beyond boxes. In the end, he at least managed to choose his own ending—complete annihilation, utter death.

……

"The universe I admire is a vast and unknown realm. Everything is chaotic. You don't know when Halley's Comet will fall, you don't know at what angle a black hole will form, you don't know how much laughter and joy echoes deep within the trillions of blue-violet nebulae, and you don't know how many intelligent life forms of that magnitude sing in this dark realm..." Su Wenjun said.

"What if perfection is achieved? Everything becomes fixed... Is such a universe a 'perfect' universe, or a stagnant one?"

"Imperfection is also a kind of beauty, and we have forgotten that for far too long..."

……

Hui Chi later learned of Su Wenjun's last words. After hearing them, he stood there for a long time, unable to leave.

He was not jealous of Su Wenjun; on the contrary, he held her in high esteem and admiration. Su Wenjun was able to remain steadfast in her ideals, and despite having all the power in the world at her disposal, she resolutely burned everything to uncover the truth, and upon learning the truth, she decisively ended her own life, leaving not a single ember behind.

So proud that one looks up to them, so resolute that one marvels at them.

Because of being too clear-headed, I have been burdened with the destiny of freedom, which I have tried countless times but have been unable to escape.

Whether it's triggering the Rovasa Great Reset, triggering the World Game Great Reset, or triggering the return of the cosmic Poincaré... Su Wenjun hopes that the world on the verge of the abyss will keep starting over, believing that in this way it will never end.

However, Su Ming'an, the protagonist who pursues perfection, is always on the opposite side.