Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1420 - 71: The Greatest Enemy, Noel Agnini
Golden Bell Tower.
This is the highest place in the Undead Territory, where one can see the dark sky, layers of black mountains, and the distant horizon.
Su Ming’an sat atop the bell tower, quietly overlooking the busy people below. He held a piece of strawberry crisp in his hand. The crisp shell was fragrant, creamy and moist.
"...I dedicated myself to researching the Resurrection Technique, and this is the result." A cold female voice sounded from behind: "An empty shell... Is this really my sister?"
A woman with jet-black twin ponytails, narrow eyes, a sharp nose, and extremely thin lips approached, standing beside Su Ming’an.
Su Ming’an glanced at her. After a moment, they both looked away.
"Perhaps, it’s time for me to give up." Mizushima Kawa Sora gazed into the emptiness. The doll-like Mizushima Haru had already been taken away by her.
"I’m not close to you. If you want to mourn your sister, go find your friends." Su Ming’an said faintly.
Mizushima Kawa Sora voluntarily came to the Undead Territory to gather, which was within Su Ming’an’s expectations. Regardless of whatever selfish thoughts she once harbored, deep down she genuinely prioritized saving the world.
But her actions of intercepting and attempting to kill Su Ming’an were unforgivable and impossible to wash clean, and Su Ming’an would not let her go. Yet, he wouldn’t let past grievances prevent him from utilizing a strong power. He had the confidence to control Mizushima Kawa Sora, with Scarlet Bird watching her every move. Alive, she could provide the Mustard Space, saving more people, while dead, she would merely be a breath of vengeance.
Seemingly recognizing reality, or perhaps finally understanding Su Ming’an’s true intentions, Mizushima Kawa Sora did not resist.
Both fell into a strange silence. There was mutual resentment, yet before the final reckoning, neither would turn their blade against the other.
Suddenly, Mizushima Kawa Sora laughed aloud.
She laughed and laughed, the laughter striking the ancient bell, startling a flock of white birds.
Su Ming’an glanced sideways.
Mizushima Kawa Sora opened her arms as if embracing the warm sun, gazing at the blazing red sun:
"...How ridiculous. Initially, standing beside you was Noel, and I was your adversary."
"Now, I stand by your side, while your adversary is Noel."
This shift in position truly makes one marvel at the wondrous intricacies of fate.
Su Ming’an stood up and kicked forward.
Mizushima Kawa Sora was momentarily shocked, taking a step back.
"You’re not my friend either, so kindly step down." Su Ming’an pointed lightly to below the bell tower, a full thirty meters high.
Mizushima Kawa Sora was silent for a while, then retracted her smile: "You don’t kill me because you have confidence in controlling me. But would you certainly kill Noel because you lack confidence in controlling him?"
Su Ming’an did not respond.
Moments later, Mizushima Kawa Sora realized it was uninteresting, and leapt down, sprouting devil wings from her back, gliding downward.
The next moment, a faint voice from Su Ming’an drifted through the wind:
"...The dead are the safest."
Since there are no hidden truths, naturally, there’s no need to keep her.
Mizushima Kawa Sora’s voice floated by as well: "...I came to remind you to kill Noel as soon as possible. Have you considered a question? If the World Game has happened more than once, why did we fail in those many repetitions?"
She pondered aloud, expressing a chilling inference:
...
"—Could it be that many times we’ve failed because Noel Agnini stood in our way?"
...
"How many times has Noel Agnini betrayed us? How many times has he destroyed our civilization? How many times has he been Zhai Xing civilization’s final big BOSS?"
"Noel deliberately approached you from the start, grabbing your attention. He intentionally eased the Second World so you could achieve a Perfect Pass, thus justifying his assistance and presence by your side. Is it possible—he retains the memory of each instance? Hmph... How come only Noel possesses a High Dimensional collective form, while no one else does?"
"Noel Agnini has ascended dimensions more than once! That’s why the Dieying exists! While others failed to succeed in Dimensional Ascension, thus there are no others in High Dimensional forms!"
"Noel’s existence is meant to seize your resources at the last moment! If all Luowasha resources were pooled into you, maybe you could reach Ninth Rank Ninth, but with Noel continuing this plunder, could you still ascend to Ninth Rank Ninth?"
"Cut losses early."
Mizushima Kawa Sora departed. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Su Ming’an looked at the strawberry crisp in his hand, bringing it to his mouth, taking a bite.
...Did Mizushima Kawa Sora think he didn’t want to kill?
Noel Agnini has two High Dimensional helpers; finding a trace is extremely difficult. So Su Ming’an has been waiting to connect with High Dimensions. Once connected, he will act promptly.
Noel is backed by the Seventh Thrones and the Master of the End of All Things.
Su Ming’an is backed by the Fifth Thrones Starfire and the Eleventh Thrones, who do not wish to reveal themselves. If luck favors him, there’s a chance the Dawn Goddess and Demon Mother Goddess might join as well.
Su Ming’an took a crisp bite, nearly forgetting the sweet taste of cream.
Sitting atop the Golden Bell Tower, overlooking the world below, he murmured to himself:
"I really didn’t expect, in the end, my greatest enemy in the World Game wouldn’t be the High Dimensional beings, wouldn’t be the Gods, but you..."
He closed his eyes and opened them moments later:
"Noel Agnini."
In countless instances before, Noel perhaps killed Lü Shu, killed Yuanyuan, and... in a true sense, killed him, too?
Those High Dimensional beings that can’t intervene in person may descend through Noel.
Too laughable.
Absurdity truly is the theme of the World Game; even in the end, it remains so absurd.
...
Following this, Su Ming’an checked his gains from slaying God:
...
[Clover Hair of the Luck Angel (Excluded Level): "This was the twilight sun, yet we mistook it for dawn’s light."]
[Type: Hair accessory]
[Active Skill (Lola’s Kiss): When activated, your luck is forcibly increased to SS-level, consuming life force during the duration.]
[Note: The Luck Angel Lola enjoys randomly selecting lucky ones, bestowing them with Lola’s Kiss. Those chosen are always ecstatic but often die young, confusing others. Yet, Lola laughs, saying: "Can those born unblessed by Lola bear the cost of luck?"]
...
[Lyra of the Love Angel (Excluded Level): "When we read of those smiling lips, how they were kissed by her lover."]
[Type: Instrument]
[Active Skill (Song of Love and Desire): Play a tune for two targets (not limited to humanoids or animals), increasing mutual favorability. After playing, you will enter a "praise love" state, and can only continue using the lyra once the state recovers.]
[Note: Love Angel Laf enjoys sitting in dim and ambiguous taverns, randomly playing the lyra for people. He loves their fervent and unrestrained ways of loving. "——Love is the most delicious poison."]
...
[Dream of Deceit (Excluded Level): "The soul, untouched, is like a veil descending in solitude; yet I watch over it through the night."]
[Type: Goblet]
[Active Skill (Drunk, Dreams, and Death): Drink the liquid in the cup, and fall into a "drunk dream" state, vaguely predicting matters of interest. After the dream ends, enter a prolonged "minor drunk" state, with a significant decline in all values; the duration of the "minor drunk" state is proportional to the dream’s importance. The liquid in the goblet gradually accumulates and can be drunk again when full.]
[Note: "With this thing, who needs dream weaving technique?" Deceit Demon Evelyn shakes the golden goblet. She loves having dreams that pry into others’ secrets. As long as she desires, no one’s secrets can hide from her.]
...
Clover is a hair accessory that sways gently with the breeze.
The lyra has a red wooden texture, with gold filaments tracing its edge, emitting a pink glow when plucked.
The Dream of Deceit is a golden goblet, with luminescent purple liquid flowing like a brilliant star river. Su Ming’an shook the goblet, intent on dreaming of the Boss Rabbit, but the Red Sun was about to set, so he decided to do it later.
This time, the Red Sun set on the tenth day, yet this time, people had hope.
The quantity had caused a qualitative change. This time, Su Ming’an, the Cloud City God, Lü Shu, Yi Song, Mizushima Kawa Sora, Lu... all retained their memories.
With the accumulation of the previous 3029 times, [Inspiration Quantification Formula], [Eden], [Book Entry Password], [Time Authority], [Twelve Stories] were all in place. Actually, according to Sique’s words, they had long been completed.
Previously Sique mentioned that the Red Sun’s judgment happens in an instant, equivalent to an [all-instant death mechanism]; considering reality, it should be expanded into a [Luowasha people and Player all-instant death mechanism]. Its essence is a cosmic rule, and rules can be exploited. As long as everyone sheds their original identity the moment the mechanism descends, they can survive.
...
Central Research Institute.
A woman with black hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a white lab coat and thick-rimmed glasses, looked up at the numbers on the screen.
On her wrist, she wore a High-Level AI prop obtained from the Ninth World, named "Xike," as an homage to her namesake.
Since the opening of Luowasha, Isabella had not participated in main or side quests, immersing herself in the research institute, working tirelessly.
Her sole goal — to research ways to dissociate from the player ID.
She understood what each person should do. Su Ming’an and others charged at the front, Su Rin maneuvered on the flanks, Yi Song swayed the gods, Lin Yin took care of the ordinary players, so she focused on research.
As for why she could retain her memory, it was because, at the start of this reset, Su Rin found her and gave her a soul crystal.
...
["Isabella, this is a soul crystal I crafted using authority, storing the memories of several resets. Touch it, and you can recall matters from before the resets."]
["Alright, thank you for bringing this to me. Did Su Ming’an send you?"]
["Su Ming’an? Not really acquainted. This is of my own accord. I have a few more soul crystals to deliver, see you."]
["Oh, alright..."]
...
Although she found Su Rin’s "not really acquainted" remark a bit odd, once Isabella touched the soul crystal, all her research memories from the previous resets flooded her mind. She was instantly ecstatic and immediately plunged into her beloved research.
Luckily, with the foundation of previous memories, along with the support of her Peak Alliance teammate Eleven’s hacker skills, tremendous assistance from top scientists like Ran Bo of the Luowasha, strong backing from the Ocasie History Research Institute, and the miraculous skills of many intelligence-type players... their team finally managed to develop the method before the tenth day arrived!
——Strawberry Crisp!
Yes, it’s Strawberry Crisp!
"Haha, hahahaha—! Hahaha!" Isabella laughed excitedly at the screen result, not resembling an intellectual beauty but more like a lively madman.
Joining her in laughter were the steadfast scientists who persevered through 3029 night and days. They laughed, danced wildly, hugged, and gestured excitedly!
Papers fluttered in the air like snowflakes, the entire vast Experimental City was immersed in joy.
"...After this, resetting will no longer be needed." In such happiness, the black-haired, black-eyed Eleven softly mused. Her visage somewhat resembled the Xi from the Ruined World, delicate and nimble. Though her true age was over forty, she still had a youthful mindset.
She didn’t know what the experiment result "Strawberry Crisp" meant, but seeing everyone’s joy made her smile too.
"Indeed, after this, resetting will no longer be needed... The final fifteen days will be our story." Isabella looked up, smiling with tears streaming down.
She attempted to wipe them away, to restore her usual intellectual elegance, but the tears couldn’t stop flowing.
Thinking of Su Ming’an, thinking of the people she knew, she couldn’t help but want to cry.
Was it excitement?
There was indeed excitement over the experimental results coming to fruition, but more so, there was a bittersweet feeling. Like eating her favorite candied tangerine, the sweetness was both satisfying and longing.
"When I eat candied tangerine, I love the moment it completely dissolves. At the last moment when the candy disappears in my mouth, sweet and sour, the aftertaste lingers..." Isabella’s fingers pressed against her lips, tears trailing down her mouth’s corner: "But really reaching that moment feels a bit regrettable, just finishing it, just ending it..."
"Every time I successfully invade someone else’s computer, I only feel a sense of achievement," Eleven stood with arms crossed, her black ponytail swaying: "Although there are times of failure, I feel, I... we will succeed."
"Will we succeed?" Isabella turned her head, smiling at her: "I’d like to eat a lot more candied tangerine, these past days have exhausted me, haven’t even had one."
"Sure, when I have some spare time, I’ll bring you some on the road," Eleven nodded. The time they spent together in the lab made them good friends.
"I’d love a hair wash and a soak in the bath. Even though it’s a digital body, I’ve been enduring dry air for too long."
"I knew you were thinking about this! You’ve complained to me about it several times, I’ve prepared the milk and roses."
"Really? Love you so much, friend! I heard the hot springs near the Forest of Moonlight are excellent, like soaking in moonlight, which Zhai Xing won’t feel."
"Then next time, we’ll invite Luna and go try it together..."
"By the way... Eleven, will you still be a hacker when we return to Zhai Xing?"
"I think I’ll probably reform; by that time on Zhai Xing, there will certainly be many disruptive people. This world only needs one trouble-maker like me; after dealing with them, I’ll switch back to being a hacker... Hehe, what about you?"
"Me? I’ll probably find a subject I like and continue researching... You see, the universe is so vast..."
Each member of the Peak Alliance was brought here because of Su Ming’an.
But in the end, they forged their own friendships and bonds. Some even remained unfamiliar with Su Ming’an but became close friends with other members of the Peak Alliance.
Hand in hand, the two of them smiled and quietly watched the fluttering white paper as it danced like snowflakes.
In the laboratory, some hurriedly transcribed the experimental results, some copied them, some ran out clutching piles of documents, others made phone calls... Faces were brimming with joyful smiles.
Only one dim figure stood quietly in the corner.
