Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1428 - 79: "The End of the Story.
[You have devoured a piece of Noel’s flesh.]
...
[You have devoured a piece of Noel’s flesh.]
...
[You have devoured a piece of Noel’s flesh. (99+ omitted)]
...
Hundreds of scarlet system notifications crazily scrolled across the screen.
The fingertips felt no intense touch, only the continuous thrill of absorption and devouring.
Bones, blood, muscles, skin, organs, strands of hair.
Scarlet, dark red, pale, ink black.
Like colors spilling over from a palette.
Like fireworks blooming above the Ferris wheel at an amusement park.
Like the colors of a bird’s stomach being slit open.
When Su Ming’an came to his senses, he didn’t see the white pigeon, but instead a shower of beautiful roses, a red and white rose blooming before his eyes.
Fragments of red fluttered, shattered, danced before his eyes... like petals from a red rose. Thin skins flickered with hints of green and white like the entwining branches of the rose. He could faintly recognize a few flying fingers and golden strands of hair.
—Noel was shattered by his grip.
The blonde boy had become fine fragments of a red rose, dancing in the sky.
Blood "drip-drop" trickled down his fingers, with a blue eyeball left in his palm.
The air fell silent.
The players cheering were quiet, the loud commands of Violet quieted, even Dragon Emperor Ian was silent for a moment.
Su Ming’an stared blankly at his palm, a few bloody threads lightly descended to the ground.
Silence lasted for a moment, as if time stood still.
"...Well done, well killed!"
Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere, seemingly a player’s.
People deeply loathed Noel’s betrayal of humanity. After the brief shock, came endless praise. They weren’t familiar with Noel, and though they once admired him, now, who would admire a Big Villain standing in front of the Protagonist?
Killing the Villain was righteous, the rightful conclusion.
"Well done! Number One Player is awesome!" someone shouted.
"Su Ming’an is incredible, this is exactly the fate a human traitor deserves! Noel Agnini made the wrong choice!"
"Quick, everyone rush into the World Tree and help Su Ming’an!"
"Tsk tsk, Noel was so smart, yet still betrayed, the minds of smart people are indeed unfathomable..."
The players on the ground started bustling around—some Third Level Gods demonized by the Master of the End of All Things had arrived, wanting to stall Su Ming’an.
"Hold off these Third Level Gods! Don’t let Them obstruct Number One Player!"
Though most players were no match for a Third Level God, when banding together, the effects were surprisingly good.
Sherry, Anthony, Hua De, and other top players donned various buffs and halos, their combat power originally around four thousand could soar to five or six thousand. Paired with the few Royals, they could barely hold their own against some of the Third Level Gods.
Like a large game instance raid, reaching scales of millions, the warriors held the front line, mages and archers bombarded from behind, assassins and summoners assisted from the flanks, priests healed. The leaders of several major guilds commanded with rich experience, having organized their tactics beforehand, they responded without panic.
"President Anthony, nice to meet again." Hua De, wearing robes and holding a Phoenix Tree magic wand, smiled.
"Alliance Leader Hua De, last time we cooperated happily in the raid in the Ruined World, this time I’ll need your mage team’s help again." Anthony’s smile remained bright, his Eternal Spear glowing with golden light: "It seems today is truly the most lively day, major guilds that have never gathered before are all assembled here."
He glanced at several major guild presidents, mutual nods exchanged.
Su Ming’an rarely understands these large player groups, as he tends to move alone due to delving into the plot. But regular players are much familiar with these figures.
[Cross Judgement], a high-end guild gathering many top-list players, centered on the charismatic Anthony, offering a diverse range of occupations. Core members include a few old noble royals, with substantial appeal, gradually evolving into a vast civilian guild.
[Holt Wizard Alliance], initially just a small group of mages, rode the heat by using the western IP Harry Hotter, posted some low-quality videos, slowly became a gathering place for mages. After top-list player Hua De publicly revealed occupation selections, skill configurations, and element insights, it became the mage players’ first choice.
[World Tree Guild], an established guild. Collaborates with the United Group, leveraging their reputation to recruit numerous players. With official backing, civilian players join with peace of mind, having the most members.
[Sky Alliance], a gathering for niche occupation players such as ninjas, summoners, druids, due to their occupational characteristics, often excluded by mainstream teams, labeled as "useless ninjas", "jail druids", "half-day teammate not as effective as a mage’s Fireball damage", hence forming independent groups to help each other.
[New World Guild], attracted by the adventurous spirit of the second-ranked player, their dedication to advertising in all occasions, and open, inclusive atmosphere. Many minors join, but there’s also a completed education system, hospitals, academies, amusement parks abound, leading in cultural care.
[Lighthouse Guild], Deity, needless to say more.
Additionally, guilds such as [Remote Control Army], [Checkerboard Enthusiast], [Sword of the Yellow Rose], [Black Card], job-based classification guilds are endless. Some are mechanics player gatherings, knights player gatherings, recruiting only seniors, only cross-dressers, only high-luck players, only white-haired... etc., endless in variety.
The world game is so vast.
The "billion" figure is so immense.
A billion people divided into major and minor groups, like stars in the universe.
For Su Ming’an, mainly limited to the instance, a few from the Peak Alliance at best, maybe a few notable top-list players. Up to now, he hasn’t met more than forty players, far fewer than the NPCs he knows.
To him, a sky full of stars pales compared to his brilliance. All stars revolve around him, like shadows chasing forms.
But to regular players, this vast sky is the whole world.
Even the people Su Ming’an barely knew like Anthony, Hua De, Ali are hugely significant figures to players, akin to national leaders. If a player meets a district head or captain, it’s already momentarily notable.
So even knowing today might involve death, players still endlessly stream in.
...Just to see, even just a glance is worthwhile!
Even if only a skill could be cast, it would be worth the trip.
"Ali! Please, cover me!" Liz, the Red Lovers from [Black Card], drew a purple dagger, gently said.
[Sky Alliance]’s Captain Ali opened his brown eyes, holding burning explosives, nodded expressionlessly.
Lolita-style You Min pulled out a handheld cannon with one hand.
Sniper Xi Hongzhi held his breath, eyes targeting the scope.
Ajima Kanko waved the magic wand, spreading a lucky halo around.
As Ali whistled, like a signal, the next moment, the explosions for cover rang out consecutively, and Liz leapt high, bat wings of the Blood Clan unfurling behind her, her speed surged, suddenly appearing beside a demonized Third Level God—ranked 20th in sequence, Harvest Angel Candice!
Harvest Angel Candice, wielding a giant golden wheat ear, scattered sharp gold lights after just vanquishing a batch of players. Noticing Liz, Liz’s purple dagger had already stabbed into Its wrist skin!
"Slash—!"
In an instant, Harvest Angel Candice retaliated angrily, golden light surged, Liz was swallowed by the golden light in an instant, even her corpse burned away. Yet Candice’s palm showed a large poisoned mark.
Though the mark was minor, it caused It pain.
Players gave their all, coordinated efforts, sacrificed themselves, only to leave a trace of pain in the God’s hand, minute as dust—however, if such coordination happens twice, three times, five times...or even dozens of times on a large player scale?
"Penelope!"
"Roger!"
"Holess, how long can your singing skill control them?"
"0.05 seconds... no more."
"Alright, later I’ll activate the Mandatory Hit skill, Alliance Leader Hua De will teleport me over, I’ll launch a suicide attack, you take the chance to sing!"
"Alright, brother, take care!"
"Thanks, I’ll treat you to a drink of Gattes later!"
The most terrifying thing about players is their fearless disregard for death.
Many cherish their lives, afraid that their strength will be wiped out in this final instance. But those who dare to come here mostly do not fear death.
They know very well that the World Tree is dangerous, yet they dare to fight this battle.
Whether it’s passion, courage, or recklessness, since they’ve come here, they must let the whole world see them!
— They too have their names, their courage! In this world, "Number One Player" is not the only term. In the universe, there has never been only the brightest star.
"Zhong Xi, you aim, I’ll cover you."
"Nature Angel is sensitive to murderous intent. As soon as I snipe, it will notice."
"No worries, we’re ahead. An Li has the Combat Continuation Skill, can last a second. Brother Tang Mo has the Taunt Shield, although control mostly doesn’t work, it’s at least a rock."
"Cen Xiu, later make the little eagle carry Zhong Xi away to avoid her being instantly killed. Try to fire a few more shots."
"An Li! Stop healing, we’ll be sniped as soon as we show ourselves, forget the priest! Switch to Holy Light Battle Form!"
"Player skills are a bug, with many conceptual skills, like Mandatory Hit, Mandatory Taunt, so satisfying."
"Go go go! Charge!"
...
The world is so lively.
The surface is a chaotic melee, like a large-scale raid site. Players continuously die, and new players constantly arrive from afar, fighting fervently.
Above the sky, Su Ming’an’s surroundings, however, are silent.
Amidst the crimson flesh "roses," he feels as if isolated in a quiet world. The surface’s liveliness seems unrelated to him.
The sight of gods, the sight of men. He has completely belonged to the former.
With the white tendrils wings spread behind him, he could kill those third-level gods, but he doesn’t pause, heading straight for the World Tree.
King against king, general against general.
The players exhaust their strength to hold back the third-level gods, creating an opportunity for him, so he must do what he needs to do—stop the World Master.
Even though players are dying fiercely, he cannot remain here. If the World Tree is severely damaged, all gains will instantly topple.
At this moment, his heart suddenly is very quiet, very quiet.
As he races forward, everything seems to slow down, his mind filled with complex emotions, on the blood-and-fire battlefield as he flies forward, he even experiences something akin to a revolving lantern.
The golden forest appears once more before his eyes.
Noel’s blue eyes with blood flowing down, sliding over his palm, like sand gradually falling.
...What to pursue, what to protect, whom to fight against, whom to stake one’s life with, this moment the answers seem clear, yet start to blur.
Noel is dead, Yuanyuan is dead, Sique is dead, Su Wensheng is dead, Su Rin has become a lifeless Cloud City God, and Lü Shu will gradually find him strange.
— Where is he heading? And what is he protecting?
— What is he singing? And for whom does he mourn?
"Swish! Swish! Swish!" Arrows cut through, Wind Blades fly, searing Flowing Fire grazed by his ear. Players are fighting fervently, surrounded by comrades and loved ones.
The Love Angel said, his love in his heart is a small blue planet. For this imagery, he nearly lost "everything." Now, he charges towards the predetermined abyss. Awaiting him is eternal wandering and loneliness in the universe.
If.
Suppose if.
If they were all still here,
If Su Rin were still that pajama god who came whenever called,
If Noel would grin while uttering secret words,
If Yuanyuan still fought lightly with a sword,
If Lü Shu still unwaveringly believed he was a good person,
Then, then...
Would the story possibly,
...
— not cruelly come to an end like this?
...
"Swish!"
The flight speed was too fast, and before Su Ming’an had thought more, he had already reached the World Tree’s surface. With his left claw, he slashed, opening a passage.
The World Tree’s crimson inner flesh was visible to the naked eye, he withdrew his thoughts, focused, and stepped inside.
"Swish!"
The next moment.
Unexpectedly. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
A square card suddenly pierced through his chest, blood spurted out.
A small golden figure stood within the World Tree, two phantoms behind him turning substantial, two high-dimensional pressures, like mountains, descended.
The Master of the End of All Things and the Seventh Thrones, have arrived.
...
The World Master carried an oil lamp, walking through the black water inside the World Tree.
"Tap tap tap..."
At this moment, Qi Zhou hurriedly arrived wearing a cat costume, covered in dust.
"Arrived?" The World Master glanced over.
Qi Zhou was apprehensive, nodded. He left the World Master under the guise of "collecting information," secretly transmitting messages to Su Ming’an, unsure if the World Master noticed.
Unexpectedly, the World Master didn’t press him, only nodded: "Follow along."
Rows of libraries stood amidst the black water.
The two advanced, each with their own thoughts.
Suddenly, a white figure appeared ahead.
The World Master assumed it was the World Tree’s Guardian, immediately adopting a vigilant stance.
However, the white figure quietly observed them, then spoke:
"Ruler of the surface, offspring of the Ruler. You both came here, presumably seeking the truth of the world."
"Come along, I am Guide·Twelfth Thrones. I have been ... waiting here for a long time."
He tilted his head, pulling up the cat ear hat brim, with a chocolate stick in his mouth.
...
