AnalogHorror: Rule Kaidan 4016-Chapter 1537 - 732: Setting Sail

Looking at the back of the Library Director, the second-generation Principal’s expression was complex. Before becoming the "Convenience Store Owner," he was the "Night Watcher-01," just like the Library Director was also "Night Watcher-01."

It’s just that the Library Director was "Night Watcher-01" several generations before him, while he was the most recent "Night Watcher-01." Since he became the Convenience Store Owner, the Time Compass "Time Zero" was entrusted to the "Principal," and now it seems the "Principal" has dismantled the Time Compass, handing the dial to Lin Yi while placing the remaining parts in the Library’s Bell Tower.

Although he knew very little, he was certain of one thing — if he hadn’t become the second-generation Principal, he would, like the Library Director, only be able to sit at the table with Security Guard (Mourner).

Just at that moment, another figure emerged from the Layer where the Gymnasium was located.

Upon seeing this figure, many people were moved.

The reason being, the visitor was none other than the elderly yet elegantly composed "School Doctor."

Seeing the "School Doctor," Lin Yi and the others first looked at Kuai Hongji, who, without showing any embarrassment, worriedly asked: "What are you doing here?"

The "School Doctor" gently stroked the silver pocket watch in his hand and spoke warmly: "I’ve been shrinking in the medical room all these years, and today as everyone returns to their positions, even if I’m still alive, my heart would feel dead if I were to remain there."

"Everyone... Although I only have residual warmth left, I can still illuminate a stretch of the path."

Kuai Hongji heard this and simply sighed softly, no longer trying to persuade him.

Tian Bufan gently patted Lin Yi’s shoulder: "Prepare to set sail, everyone to their positions."

Everyone responded in unison.

The "Astrologer" suddenly came before Lin Yi, smiling brightly: "After today, who knows how long until we see each other again. Lin Yi brother, can I get a hug?"

Though the "Astrologer" occupied the body of "Class Teacher-040," in front of Lin Yi, it was the body of "Class Teacher-040." Upon seeing the "Astrologer" with open arms, the survival instincts in Lin Yi surged, making him cautiously look at the Boss.

"If you want to hug, then hug. Why are you looking at me?" the Boss said plainly.

Lin Yi was still hesitating when the "Astrologer" embraced him tightly against her chest, hugging and hugging, until Lin Yi almost couldn’t breathe, then released him.

"Although it’s not my body, at least it fulfilled a small wish from the past."

She laughed happily and then looked at the Boss, spreading her arms: "Don’t be hasty to clench your teeth, you have one too, come here, hug Xi’er~"

"Ugly rejection!" the Boss said, but still shared a brief hug with her.

Hugging the Boss, the "Astrologer" gently patted her back and whispered: "You must all survive... Meeting once was tough, I don’t want there to be no future."

The Boss’s eyelids lowered slightly, her long and curled lashes trembling gently.

"We’ll try our best..."

The "Astrologer" released the Boss and addressed Kuai Hongji and Mao Feiyang: "Alright, you both follow me. Let’s spread the Star Map on the Ark’s top and oversee the Layers."

Having said that, she smoothly navigated through the Layer Boat, soon reaching the Watchtower of the Layer Boat.

Supporting the "Star Dream Crystal" with one hand, she became serious, instantly exuding the sacred aura of an ancient priest at a high position, transcending worldly affairs, seemingly standing at the edge of the river of time, observing the pulsations of time flow.

"I’ll go to operate the Dimensional Engine, monitor the Layer fluctuations, stabilize the Reality Anchor and resonate the frequency of the Layers," Tian Bufan said, then turned and descended into the cabin, seemingly going to the captain’s room.

The Boss looked at Lin Yi and then slowly said: "I have unraveled the secrets of time; I’ll stay here to erase the infiltrating parts of the time flow to prevent impact on the vessel."

Lin Yi nodded: "I’ll stay here too; I need to record the timeline and the sailing path to prevent us from entering a Time Paradox and avoid severing the way back."

"Old Lin, I’ll guard the ship’s side with the ’Butcher’ and Security Guard," Wei Shan said.

The "School Doctor" said: "Then I’ll go to the deck...like in the past."

"That’s good, that’s good," said the humanoid music box Amon, "I’ll activate the Secret Marks; the Shallow Layer doesn’t require much from me yet, so let Kuai Hongji assist Sese, and when I’m pressured, he can be allocated to assist me."

With that, he slowly walked towards the upper part of the Layer Boat, which seemed to be the core of the Secret Pattern Matrix.

Seeing everyone having their tasks, Li Huiyuan suddenly felt a sense of loss, akin to standing during a teacher’s sports lesson when told to freely do activities like basketball or badminton, yet she stood unsure of what to do, with no one to guide her.

A faint, indefinable feeling of loss gradually filled her heart.

But at this moment, the little girl’s ethereal voice softly sounded in her ear: "You can... sit with me."

Li Huiyuan was slightly stunned, suddenly looking towards the ship’s mast’s base, only to see the little girl holding the "Lawmaker’s Words" looking directly at her.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually walked over slowly.

The little girl’s voice was distant as she gazed at Li Huiyuan, as though she had already seen her future: "I didn’t expect you to be like this... You truly suffer..."

"Come to me, perhaps... I can still protect you."

...

Layer Boat "HX-S1-4016" all members, everyone took their positions.

Amon activated the Secret Pattern Matrix, and endless secret patterns suddenly emerged on the ship’s hull, akin to planetary rings encircling the outside of the Ark. These rings, composed of countless secret patterns, endowed the Ark with a semblance of a Celestial Sphere.

"Old Lin, the Secret Pattern Matrix has been deployed."

...

On the Watchtower, the Astrologer chanted as if delivering Cautions, holding the "Star Dream Crystal" with one hand, while the other continuously inscribed void star marks. A corner of the brilliant star map was revealed by her, slowly unfolding.

"Brother Lin Yi, the stars have indicated the trajectory of the Layers."

...

"Cognition Filter Field deployed!"

"Reality Anchoring initiated!"

"Course Log prepared!"

The dimensional engine gradually warmed up, emitting a low-frequency hum, and the periodic pulse of the reality anchor point began to slow.

The Astrologer sat on the Watchtower, slowly closing her eyes, holding the "Star Dream Crystal" in her front chest with both hands. In front of her forehead, secret patterns intertwined, and the phantom God Eye slowly opened. Her will began to permeate the star map, gradually blending into the time flow...

Lin Yi took a deep breath, finally locking his gaze on the Time Anchor.

"20:12."

He gently flicked his wrist, and the watch’s hands seemed permanently stuck at 20:12 and 17 seconds, the progress... incredibly slow.

"Time Zero..."

"Set sail!"

Lin Yi slowly spoke.

"Set sail!!" Everyone laughed freely along.

"Finally... set sail." Wei Liang leaped onto the main mast and sat down, resting one hand on the main pole, while with the other he lightly tugged at the brim of his hat. His somewhat languid gaze, through messy bangs, looked at the unfolding Layers, softly humming a familiar tune:

"In a moment... effervescent strands of light reflecting palaces..."

"Mistakenly asking what year is tonight..."

"Lightly dancing... where the performance and lanterns long slumber..."

"Accompanied by stars reflecting the heavens..."

The Ark’s black sails fluttered, and at this moment, the entire ship seemed to press pause, and all crew members, regardless of location, sensed it and stopped their actions, their gazes uniformly focused on the bow of the Ark...

On the deck, the fog was suddenly dispelled by the wind, and all the Sports Students saw a scene engraved in their memory for life. The entire world unfolded before them, deeper layers and worlds slowly opened like a folded magic cube...

X023 year, May 12, 20:12:17.

The Layer Boat, traversing infinite worlds, split the waves of the world, sailing into the limitless black abyss.

Amid the burning layer fragments, Wei Liang sat on the Ark’s mast, watching Earth’s final night, murmured songs drifting like dreams into the night:

"Snow stains... amid thousand sparkles shaping temple alcoves..."

"This departure will drink dust at banquets of joy..."

"Changing beauty... why do the cave paintings not regain brilliance of yore..."

"But awaken..."

"...to stand aside and observe..."