I, the final BOSS of the beta test server!

However, with Rast's current experience, he wasn't completely clueless about the meaning of the word "holy relic"—

This is a material miracle, the crystallization of mankind's longing for miracles, and the brilliant echo of a glorious civilization.

Each holy relic symbolizes a magnificent epic of civilization.

Just as the entry notes provided by Night World describe—

"Holy Relics" are the honor bestowed by time upon heroes who have stood at the turning point of human history.

From this point of view, it can be said that Rast deserves the reward of this holy relic.

If it weren't for Rast, the gray-haired little girl would not have been rescued from Frozen Water Town and reborn, and there would have been no leader Grey who later led the rise of civilization.

If it weren't for Lust, then without the restraint of the "Death Star Cup", the Tomb Keeper Legend Noah, who could give his all, might have been able to rewrite the outcome of the Battle of the Broken Shore, leading to another world in which the Keepers were defeated...

The footprints left by Rast in the second half of the Sixth Age were so numerous that they even directly changed the course of human history.

Of course, if he had not left behind such great achievements, he would not have been awarded the "Holy Relic".

Looking at the Rubik's Cube-like crystal in his hand, Last's mind moved slightly.

He extended his mental power slightly and gently touched the black mechanical core of the Rubik's Cube.

The next moment, countless chaotic data streams were transmitted from the mechanical core to Last's mind along the soul circuit.

It is a data stream composed of countless 0s and 1s.

What is stored in the data stream... is the highest technological achievement of that brilliant technological civilization in the second half of the Sixth Epoch—

From "simulated artificial intelligence" to the "virtual reality projection" technology used in the full immersion game "Poem of the Shore Watcher".

From the "mechanical flesh transformation" involved in the "Artificial Angel Project" to the "secondary dimension folding technology" and "controlled nuclear fusion miniaturization" used in the construction of dimensional shelters...

This mechanical core is a microcosm of the Sixth Epoch Civilization's two hundred years of development, from industry and agriculture to military and medicine... This seemingly inconspicuous database contains all of that civilization's cutting-edge knowledge.

However, at the source of the database, the core of the mechanical fire source, is blank.

It was not until Last's spiritual power touched that place that the blank space like a white paper was slowly engraved with the soul imprint of Last.

Rast withdrew his mental power.

Although the mechanical core in his hand still maintained its previous appearance, he could clearly feel that an invisible connection had formed between himself and the Rubik's Cube crystal in his hand.

That was the contract they made after they had engraved their mark on that blank space, and the soul circuit connected them together.

The mechanical core can change freely according to Last's thoughts and communicate with his mind.

There’s more to it than that.

The moment he established a soul contract with the holy relic, Rast clearly felt that the "heraldry" costumes he had previously possessed...

Whether it's the heavy-hitting revolver "Iron Moon", the sniper rifle "Seventh Level", or the "Chapter of the Fire Thief" and "Poem of the Distant Past" obtained after clearing the Battle of the Broken Coast.

These emblems and ceremonial robes that were bound to his soul now seemed to have established some inexplicable connection with the mechanical core.

The Rubik's Cube-like mechanical crystal is scanning and analyzing these emblem costumes... and trying to incorporate them into its own database and its own mechanical arsenal system.

"So, from today on, I can be considered a mechanic, right?"

"Although it's a half-baked one."

As Rast's mind moved, the mechanical core transformed into scattered metal particles according to his will, scattered across his body, and transformed into a metal ring in the shape of an Ouroboros... It was quite inconspicuous and could not be seen without careful observation.

"Although it's only the most primitive form of the mechanical core...but this is a true holy relic—"

"I don't know how much resources it would take to perfect it to a mature form like Ophelia or Dean Agatha."

Rast expressed his feelings about poverty.

Every mechanic is a real big spender, the kind who can spend an entire city's annual expenses without blinking an eye.

Not to mention himself, even his mechanical core is a freak at the relic level.

You know, even modifying and strengthening ordinary heraldic costumes requires huge resources... Most of the wealth and resources obtained by those night travelers are invested in the weapons of their own heraldic costumes.

Although the holy relics look somewhat similar to the heraldic costumes, their core is completely different from that of other things.

The "Holy Sword" passed down through the royal family of the Granville Empire, and the "Fifth Sacred Book" cherished as the national treasure of the Holy Kingdom of Fran...

Strictly speaking, the "Eternal Night Stele," which has been passed down since the Age of Gods and is considered the ultimate trump card by the Gravekeepers, is also a holy relic from the First Age.

These are things that only huge forces like countries are qualified to keep, but Rast has to support a holy relic with his own strength... Just thinking about it makes him feel overwhelmed.

"Forget it, I'll think about these things later."

"It just so happens that Hiltina's stepmother, the current Queen of the Granville Empire, is also interested in recruiting me as her son-in-law..."

"At worst, I'll just put myself in a difficult position and go hug Her Highness the Princess's long, white legs..."

"It's not shameful to be a freeloader."

Luster's eyes swept around.

At this moment, the curtain of eternal night has completely descended, separating Dean Yin from Last.

And he himself was drifting in the endless night, rising and falling aimlessly.

Only in such a place where no one was around would Rast say such things. Otherwise, if it was overheard by a ferret who loved gossip the most in his life, it would be a disaster.

"Anyway, this trip to the night world ends here."

"Next..."

There was a slight pause in his muttering.

Although this was not the first time that Rast had taken advantage of the gap between the night world and the real world, between night and day... to go to the small town called "Canaan".

However, there had never been a moment like this when Rast felt his chest so hot and filled with burning emotions.

Expectations, longings, unknowns, confusion, worries...

Countless emotions intertwined together, burning deep in his heart.

"No matter what, there has to be a final end to all of this, right?"

As if to encourage himself, after saying this, Last gently raised his right hand.

It was no longer the manifestation of the heavy-hitting revolver called "Iron Moon", but merely a gun gesture, pointing it at his own temple.

"So to say--"

"This time, perhaps this will be the last time I activate this psychological suggestion."

bang——

It was clearly just a fake, childish gesture of using one's fingers to make a pistol...

But when the trigger was pulled, it seemed as if a bright and blazing fire really burst out in the endless darkness.

In the fading white light and the endless darkness, Last felt his consciousness slowly dissipating.

Everything before my eyes turned into a glittering bubble and collapsed into nothingness.

He was immersed in this strange feeling, so intoxicated that he didn't know where to go.

……

When Rast regained consciousness, he found himself on a emerald green hillside.

Soft green grass stretches along the hillside, below which is a lake like a silver mirror. Next to the lake lies a quiet town. In the distance, you can see rolling hills with their peaks covered with snow.

The wind blew across the hillside, rustling the treetops above. The white windmill next to the town was slowly spinning, and the windmill blades cast a huge shadow on the lake.

A melodious and pleasant sonata sounded in my ears.

What caught my eye was the profile of a blonde girl who was playing the bagpipe with her eyes slightly closed.

The white skirt fluttered in the breeze, and the morning light shone through the leaves on the treetops, casting fine shadows.

Looking at the long light golden eyelashes that rose and fell with her breathing, Last realized that the girl in front of him was using the softest skin on the inside of her thighs to bear the warmth of the back of his head.

That is the so-called "knee pillow".

Everything in front of me, whether it is the Three Sages Snow Mountain in the distance, the rotating white windmill, the girl playing the bagpipes... everything is so familiar.

Feeling the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, Rast felt his soul slowly calm down.

The world-destroying omnic disaster, the watchtower shattered by thunder, the angel of judgment that annihilates everything, the end of the Sixth Epoch, and Gray's ambition to open up a night world...

Everything in the echoes of history becomes infinitely distant, as if it is a long-standing dream from the past.

As expected, in the final analysis, the only place where a person can completely let down his guard, lower his vigilance, and truly relax... is the place he is most familiar with, which is everyone's home.

For Rast, his "home" is Canaan.

He has lived here for too long, so long that he has become gray-haired.

It seems that he sensed that Rast had awakened...

In front of me, the blonde girl stopped playing the bagpipe, her light golden eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those were a pair of sky-blue eyes, as clear and moving as the black ice on the snow-capped mountains that had not melted for thousands of years.

The moment he saw those eyes, the last trace of doubt in Rast's heart completely disappeared.

He knew that the girl before him was Amis, not the so-called "bionic artificial intelligence trained based on big data" that he had once feared.

"It seems that this day has finally arrived."

Those sky-blue eyes were still as gentle as in Last's memory, but compared to the usual Amys, there was a hint of inexplicable meaning in her eyes at this moment.

In order to prevent herself from noticing anything unusual, Amys had taken the initiative to seal away some of her memories of Canaan.

And at this moment, with the two meeting in the night world outside Canaan, this shackle finally disappeared.

"Last..."

"I've always been...waiting for you in Canaan."

Chapter 228: What kind of place is Canaan to you? (Two-in-one)

Sky-blue eyes met pitch-black eyes, their gazes meeting in mid-air.

It was clearly a long-awaited reunion, but Amy's eyes were so peaceful...

It was as if this was really a peaceful afternoon. After having lunch on the hillside behind the town, Rast took a nap in the post-meal tiredness and the gentle breeze.

During this time, Amys had been quietly waiting by his side, her golden hair fluttering in the wind, her hands folded on her knees... like a peaceful sculpture, unable to feel the passage of time.

"So as expected... Xiao Ai, you already know everything about the outside world."

"Ah."

Amis nodded gently. "After Sister Gray opened up the Night World, and I became an Angel of the Judgment Sequence... because of the angel's uniqueness, this individual remaining in Canaan is also me, without any difference."

"However, it is different from the marks and incarnations I left at other time points in the long river of history."

"To prevent you, Last, from noticing anything unusual in Canaan... I have proactively sealed away most of this incarnation's memories, including the truth about Canaan, the 'Artificial Angel' project, and everything about the 'Night World.'"

Amys's voice was soft. "To keep it in sync with your own memories, Last, I only preserved the memories of when we were still living in the future, in that real Canaan town, before Sister Grey summoned us across time and space... every bit of our life in this border town."

"Although it was out of good intention to prevent you, Rust, from knowing the truth too soon, it is ultimately a lie... a dream called 'Canaan' woven by Sister Gray and me."

She put away the bagpipe in her hand, stood up and looked into the distance at the mountains with snow-capped peaks.

"Ever since the Sixth Era ended and the Seventh Era began... I have been waiting."

"I'm waiting for you, Rast, to break free from the shackles of the night world and return to reality... and gradually grow up, to be able to use your own strength to seek the truth buried in the dust of history."

"And now, that day has finally arrived."

Amys turned slightly and looked into Rast's eyes: "Now——"

"It's your turn, Rust, to make the decision yourself."

"To decide this fantasy called 'Canaan', born from the bubbles of lies..."

"That's the final outcome."

……

"As expected, is that so..."

After hearing Amis's clear, precise, and unambiguous words, Last heaved a sigh of relief.

This question had been plaguing his mind for a long time, causing him to toss and turn during the countless days and nights he was trapped in Deep Blue Harbor, repeatedly speculating about the existence of "Canaan".