Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1640: Final - : Guardian Shore Line - "OE: Perished by the Ocean (24)
But why, when Gesang Jiacuo first saw him, he was covered in scars, breathless, as if torturing himself.
"This is not something I should be thinking about..." Gesang Jiacuo gently shook his head, "Doing my job well is the best contribution I can make for him."
He picked up the pen, holding Xiao Xiao’s shoulder, walking towards the future, walking towards the years.
...
[Genesis Era Year 5: 2052]
The first global creation potential census was launched, utilizing the "Ming’an System" to evaluate creativity and imagination of all citizens aged 10 and above worldwide, establishing a talent pool. The first batch of preparatory classes for creators was established in various locations.
...
[Genesis Era Year 10: 2057]
Utilizing global strength, construction began beside the World Hub—the "Tower of Creation," intended to accommodate one hundred thousand creators in the future. The project is expected to last for decades.
The first group of youths raised under the "creation" educational philosophy began to shine; they are known as the "Creation Generation," with thinking patterns wildly different from their predecessors. Older scientists and engineers still support the functioning of civilization, but the social core begins to shift towards "creation."
...
[Genesis Era Year 20: 2067]
The Academy of Sciences announced the successful development of a device, named the "Creation Pen," that transforms thoughts into an information state, combining World Tree Energy, Faith Authority, and advanced information technology.
(Personal Notes · Gesang Jiacuo): The tower stands tall, like a pillar propping up the sky. I stand beneath it and look up, my neck aching. So many brilliant people are about to go in; they will start writing stories to save everyone. New residential areas are built around the tower, with people from all over the world coming together. I shuttle through them daily, recording their expectations, anxieties, and imaginations about the future world. Sometimes, I think of my mother who passed away three years ago. What would she think of this scene if she saw it?
...
[Genesis Era Year 30: 2077]
The time node for a "generation" has arrived from 2048 to 2077,
The "Ten Thousand Sequence" selection formally begins, locking in millions of potential individuals from billions of candidates after nearly thirty years of cultivation, selection, and examination. The selection is conducted through closed tests, jointly reviewed by the World Master, Peak Alliance, and top scholars.
The World Master during this period becomes increasingly reclusive, with public appearances sharply reduced. His image remains youthful, but his gaze grows more profound and inscrutable, occasionally appearing at the construction site of the "Tower of Creation" or at important meetings with very few words.
(Personal Notes · Gesang Jiacuo): I was fortunate to see the World Master from afar. He seems unchanged, just more serene, like the ice deep within a snowy mountain. He walked past the life support pods of those creators, observing closely. At that moment, he didn’t seem like a deity high above, but more like... a person sending children off on a journey? I can’t say for sure. But I noticed that he paused longer at one particular pod door. I couldn’t see who was inside. That night, I added a note in my records: the World Master patrolled the tower, his expression solemn, seemingly burdened with heavy worry.
...
[Genesis Era Year 31: 2078]
The "Tower of Creation" officially launched, a monumental tower completed after twenty years. One hundred thousand creators carry the "Creation Pen" and move into the tower in batches.
Some who couldn’t make the cut chose to join the "Distant Exploration Plan," continuing to search deep space for other faint hopes. More chose to stay and become Watchers, responsible for maintaining the functioning of civilization.
On December 31, 2077, the final list was announced. A total of one hundred thousand creators were confirmed, spanning various fields with ages ranging from twelve to seventy years old, the crystallization of several generations’ efforts. The world watched, viewing them as the "Fire Engravers" of civilization.
...
——Society officially entered the "Creation Era."
...
[Genesis Era Year 41: 2088]
The consciousness of one hundred thousand creators resonated with the World Tree through the "Creation Pen."
...
[Genesis Era Year 50: 2097]
The first stable IF line was born, featuring a low fantasy world, successfully existing stably for over a year and capable of accepting a small number of consciousnesses for experience. Although still rough, it proved the feasibility of the plan, bringing great encouragement to the public. The "Creation Pen" was updated to the seventh generation, with a significant improvement in stability. Creators gradually mastered writing techniques, and various styles of IF lines began to flourish.
(Personal Notes · Gesang Jiacuo): The first world line succeeded! The news spread, and the entire residential area was boiling over; people sang and danced, like New Year’s celebrations. I was also delighted, drinking quite a lot with old brother Xiao Xiao.
...
[Genesis Era Year 60: 2107]
"The Great Migration" prepares, with over half of the IF lines meeting basic stability standards. The world begins preparation work for migration, the society entering an anxious state of anticipation.
...
[Genesis Era Year 65: 2112]
World Master Su Ming’an inspected the main floors of the "Tower of Creation." He walked silently among rows of creators’ life support pods. Accompanying observers noticed that the World Master sighed many times.
...
[Genesis Era Year 70: 2117]
Ten thousand IF lines run stably, surrounding "Yizhu Star," continually undergoing fine-tuning and iteration. The Union Government and World Hub announced the initiation of the final phase of the "Ten Thousand Into One," requiring the public to register the category of IF line they hope to enter.
(Personal Notes · Gesang Jiacuo): Many years have passed, and I have grown old. The people in the Record Bureau have changed time and again. Ten thousand worlds... truly an unimaginable masterpiece. I look at the registration forms, people begin choosing the worlds they wish to go to, with various life choices bizarre and unique. I touch the increasingly smooth stone in my pocket, thinking of the grasslands’ mother, thinking of the night when Ming’an rode home on the cow. Where will the future lead?
...
Seventy years flew by swiftly.
Once determined, time seemed to pass quickly.
The people around have changed batch after batch, only the deities remain sacred and radiant.
"World Master."
When Su Ming’an walked into the top floor of the World Hub, the swivel chair turned, and seated upon it was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed youth.
"Let the day end on December 30, 2118, a beautiful snowy day." The youth smiled, manipulating the light screen.
——This is the seventh Vice World Leader, Kelsa.
Yu Zhu resigned due to illness in 2062, Yue Ying and Li Li showed no interest in rising to power, and Su Ming’an during selection among companions and the Union Government found none satisfactory. Ultimately, Su Ming’an delved into the mortal world and found this temporary substitute. This appearance was not intentional, merely coincidental.
How wondrous! A century has passed, four generations have gone by, yet the mortal world has once again birthed a familiar figure.
Su Ming’an was not surprised; given that only the time difference separates The World of Old Days and Ruined World, and yet it gave birth to characters like "Su Wensheng" and "Acto," so if Zhai Xing spans enough time, similar people may also emerge.
It turns out to be already long enough for another similar person to be born. Like spring going and autumn coming, a new century has brought forth another rose.
His encounter with Kelsa began in the winter of 2052, after the plan was announced in the Genesis Era’s first year, Su Ming’an delegated tasks to the characters and companions he had written, while himself using cloning to travel the world—not out of laziness but due to awareness of his physical condition, needing to survive with minimal effort to avoid death from exhaustion.
Unable to expend divine power, incapable of using abilities, Su Ming’an consistently maintained a state of an ordinary person, wearing a mask, traveling everywhere. He occasionally formed connections, like the touch of a dragonfly on water without delving deep. Understanding himself as merely a traveler, he knew he should not leave too many ties and attachments; having possessions he wished to keep would equate to draining his life. He only needed to maintain a detached state, enduring until the day the plan was realized.
Until one day, he arrived at a village and saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy being bullied. He originally did not want to intervene, but the flame in his heart could not be extinguished, leading him to lend a hand, resulting in an acquaintance with the brothers Vino and Dandong.
Vino was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed youth; Dandong had heterochromatic eyes. The local village custom mandated that those with heterochromatic eyes must wear masks and not look directly at others. Vino, in order to support Dandong, wore a mask along with him, leading them to be bullied by others.
"They look down on Dandong and say those who wear masks are monsters." Vino said softly, "I wore the mask with him, and they said I was a monster too."
Su Ming’an thought for a moment and pointed to the clown mask on his face: "I am wearing a mask too."
"But you’re not like a monster." Vino said, "Monsters have nothing to do with masks, only with their hearts."
Vino enthusiastically pulled Su Ming’an along to fold paper airplanes, fly kites, and roll on the hillside. Su Ming’an consistently observed Vino, always pondering whether this youth was Noel disguised beside him. With a deity’s keen Sixth Sense, he decided to stay and watch Vino.
The observation lasted for about half a month, Vino appeared just like an ordinary child, cheerful and lively. One day, he suddenly said to Su Ming’an with envy:
"I know you’re not an ordinary person. You must be the legendary World Master, the Deity."
Su Ming’an’s heart trembled, and he asked calmly, "Why do you think that?"
"You don’t seem bound by earthly matters. Although you only have the strength of an ordinary person, I feel as if nothing is difficult for you. I’ve closely observed the image on the screen. Even though you’re wearing a mask, your figure and hands are identical to what’s on the screen."
... Clever indeed. Su Ming’an looked calmly into the distance.
"I envy you a lot," said Vino.
"Why?"
"You can go far, far away... you can touch the starry sky, roam the Star Sea; you’re not trapped on the ground, doing the same thing day after day. Your every move is the entire world; nothing can hold you back..." Vino said softly, looking up. "You’re free."
"And I, I hope to be as free as you are, but my future is likely just to be trapped in the village or to harvest wheat like the uncle next door, find a love, marry, have children, and live out
a life."
... He’s not Noel. Su Ming’an gradually determined this answer. Words can be disguised, but temperament cannot.
He had received news yesterday that a new tower was built, and after resting to this point, it was time to return.
He got up and bid farewell to Vino and Dandong. The children enthusiastically presented the most beautiful lavender, and with a touch of his finger, Su Ming’an transformed it into the Eternal Flower.
Over sixty years later, in 2113, Su Ming’an passed by the place and found the lavender plains turned to ashes, leaving only scars as far as the eye could see. The slowly turning golden windmill had disappeared, leaving only broken walls and ruins.
He searched for a moment and found an old grandma, asking about the situation. The grandma sighed and shook her head: 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Gone long ago! This beautiful lavender plain, it was still there when I was young, then to build some what... the Tower of Creation? The life force here was all drained by those adults! To write stories!"
"Alas, more and more of the beautiful scenery is gone; the World Master seldom shows up, perhaps because the soul’s lifespan is nearing its end! Some who start wars are becoming more rampant... but fortunately, I hear we’ll soon be leaving!"
"I really miss this planet! When I was young, I participated in the World Game; I was only four years old and didn’t understand anything. Luckily, a dean named Noel took me in! But, anyway, the lavender is gone, the windmill is gone. If you want to see the beauty of Yu Country, just head toward the center!"
"And the village that was once here...?" Su Ming’an asked.
"Village? What village? Forty years ago, a group of power users passed through this place and made it a battlefield, burned, killed, looted, nothing’s left!"
The old grandma shook her head and walked away. Su Ming’an remained standing where he was, slowly opening his palm to reveal the Eternal Flower of lavender he was holding.
He crouched down and slowly buried the Eternal Flower of lavender into the ground.
"...Deity?"
A stunned voice came from behind.
Su Ming’an turned back to see an old man with white hair, deep blue eyes full of surprise, leaning on a cane.
Over sixty years have passed, and the boy Vino had transformed into an elderly man.
Vino had never been able to leave the village in his lifetime. When the disaster struck the village that year, he was lucky to be away and escaped the catastrophe, only to return home and find his wife gone. He couldn’t help but recall the fleeting encounter of his youth — if he had begged the World Master to bless this place, would this calamity have been avoided?
But for what reason? What right does he have to demand the World Master’s effort to care for this place?
However, just a little care at no great cost, isn’t it? Why wouldn’t he help him out?
Only the pain of midnight struggle remained, incessantly tormenting him. At that moment, he realized why the World Master walked the mortal world wearing a mask. If he got entangled with causality, there would be people like him, knowing their thoughts were unreasonable yet still wanting to wish for more.
Finally, as years passed and he became an old man, he let go of past loves and hatreds, leaving only numbness, staying behind to guard the place, to watch over the graves of his wife and Dandong, occasionally sowing lavender seeds, hoping to recreate the homeland of yesteryear. The surrounding villages still retained their tradition of discriminating against heterochromatic eyes, so he always wore a mask to commemorate Dandong.
Under the gray-blue sky, on the scarred land, two masked individuals, one old and white-haired, the other as young as ever and shining like a god, walked side by side, slowly.
"Deity, tell me, what is the meaning of guarding this land and watching over my homeland for a lifetime," the old man whispered.
"..." The young deity remained silent.
"A few years from now, or a decade later, we’ll leave this planet. This is just an emptiness; it’s not our real home, Zhai Xing, remembered by no one. Yet I cling to void memories, walking, guarding... as if guarding a river destined to flow away."
"..."
"Deity, I truly envy you. But I also know, it’s not easy for you."
"..."
"In your long and broad life, will someone like me leave even a trace in your memory? Actually, when I was a child, I really thought about becoming a flying bird and soaring into the sky. Alas, it seems like I was tied down, tied down by something..."
"..."
"Deity, what are you thinking?"
Su Ming’an slowly turned his head, looking into Vino’s deep blue eyes, streaked with golden hair, and an elder’s face showing a smile.
"I’m thinking..." he said gently,
"This is what you look like when you grow old..."
That night, Su Ming’an attended Vino’s funeral.
The old man’s life was marked by lost wife and children, discrimination, having no kin or friends, like a ghost guarding a homeland doomed to perish.
Su Ming’an buried the Eternal Flower from sixty years ago with Vino and erected a small monument, inscribing, "This is the homeland that will always accompany you." As he rose to leave, he saw a timid, small figure standing beside him.
A golden-haired, blue-eyed boy wearing a mask, looking up at him.
In a daze, Su Ming’an seemed to see a new reincarnation.
"I am the child Vino grandpa adopted. My name is Kelsa," the boy said, "He wanted me to go out, to walk outside, but I always felt that before he passed away, I couldn’t leave. Now I am free; can I go with you?"
Su Ming’an had no hobby for raising children, yet he used the Ming’an system to scan Kelsa, and found Kelsa had an extremely high Inspiration.
He immediately took Kelsa back, entrusting him to the Ming’an system for careful guidance. Finally, the long-untended position of Vice World Leader had a fitting candidate.
Nearly a hundred years passed; the top players of that time had been consciously nurturing successors, so Zhai Xing wouldn’t face a generational power gap after their lifespans ended. Su Ming’an was the same, Kelsa being the most gifted new generation in terms of creation he had ever seen.
But sometimes, he would still think of Vino.
Some people, perhaps, are destined to soar, while others are destined never to fly high. If Vino back then had the Inspiration of Kelsa, he would not have headed toward such a future. There are far too many ordinary people in the world like Vino, unwilling to resign themselves.
Thus, Su Ming’an never dared to indulge in delusions, knowing well that he represented the miracles too many in their lives dared not even dream of.
"Prepare," Su Ming’an instructed Kelsa,
"End it."
The true plan he had kept from the world for so long was on the brink of unveiling the final truth.
And he too... was about to face the conclusion he had long decided and written.
It was a vast, boundless, beautiful, azure ocean.
...
[Genesis Era Year 71: 2118]
The final command was issued.
The waters rose.
...
