bookbashuk Chapter 42 becomes
Chapter 42 becomes
Onpharos.
One of tens of millions of reincarnations.
"This is... the land of eternity."
Hoshi looked at the temple.
His eyes were filled with awe, and also with sorrow.
"Onpharos"
"The center where three destinies intersect."
"It is also...the place where countless heroes are buried."
"Heroes buried in the earth?"
The messenger shuddered.
"This place looks...very sacred."
"I don't want it to be one of those places...where fighting and killing takes place."
"Sacredness is often accompanied by sacrifice."
Nguyen Mai held the instrument, her brow furrowed.
"Three completely different forces of destiny have achieved a strange balance here."
"It's like..."
She thought about it.
"It's like a meticulously designed experimental field used for repeated restarts."
"That's right."
㳉星 took over the conversation.
She rubbed her temples.
Since arriving here, the headache has become increasingly intense.
It felt like something was drilling into my brain.
Those forgotten fragments of memory are frantically pounding against the barriers of consciousness.
"The people here."
Xing pointed to the illusory figures walking on the stone steps—those were the indigenous people from her memory, dressed in simple robes with solemn expressions.
"They don't believe in star gods."
"They worship the Titans."
"Titan?"
The messenger asked.
Hoshi nodded.
"Titan..."
She pointed to the several huge stone statues that were faintly visible in the distance.
Although he knew the real answer, Hoshino still explained it using the worldview of the native Onpharos.
"They are the embodiment of the rules here."
"Weaving destiny, creating heaven and earth, shaping living beings, and guiding disasters away."
"They created this world, and they also control its cycle of reincarnation."
"Reincarnation?"
The messenger keenly grasped the meaning of this word.
"You mean...this world will die? And then come back to life?"
"right."
Mohoshi's voice lowered.
"Every cycle of reincarnation comes at a price."
"Calamity descends, and the old world is destroyed."
"To usher in a new era."
"Those heroes known as the 'Golden Blood'..."
"Those who have golden blood flowing through their veins and possess the potential to become demigods."
"We must embark on this journey."
"Go and collect fire."
"Go challenge the Titans."
"Even...to become the new Titan."
"To become a Titan?"
The envoy was somewhat puzzled.
"That means becoming a god? Isn't that a good thing?"
"To become a god..."
Hoshi gave a wry smile.
That means... sacrifice.
"It means giving up humanity, giving up the self, and becoming a... cog in the machine that keeps the world running."
As she spoke.
The surrounding scenery began to change.
Memories began to resurface from those cruel moments.
The scene changes.
At dawn.
A goddess radiating a soft glow stood on the edge of a cliff.
Aglaia.
She glanced back at her companion, a gentle smile on her face.
then.
Take a leap.
They transformed into countless points of light, dispelling the darkness that shrouded the world.
That was... self-sacrifice, in exchange for the arrival of dawn.
The scene then changes.
A silent doctor, shouldering the burden of a collapsing sky.
Wind violet.
Her body gradually petrified under the immense pressure, eventually transforming into a towering stone pillar.
They remained there forever.
And there's that gentle Saifeier.
She burned herself out in the holy city, becoming the last spark of fire.
One by one.
Time and time again.
Those vibrant lives, those heroes with dreams and emotions.
For that so-called "new world".
In order to ensure the continuation of civilization.
Without hesitation, he chose to die.
And this is just one of so many cycles of reincarnation.
The messenger was stunned.
Its heart, which only knew how to "survive" and "hide," was hit by an unprecedented shock.
Why?
Its voice trembled.
"They are clearly very strong."
"They could have escaped, they could have survived."
"Why must you die?"
"For a world... that may or may not be destroyed?"
"Is it... worth it?"
"worth."
The one who answered it was Hoshino.
She stood on the stone steps.
Her face was pale, as if she was suffering from a severe headache.
But her eyes were unusually firm.
"Because they know."
"If we don't do it this way..."
"This world has no future."
Some people live for themselves.
"And some people are alive..."
Xing looked at the black vortex.
"It's so that more people can survive."
She turned around.
Look at the messenger.
"You just asked us why we should help you?"
"Why bother with those bugs?"
"Because we are that kind of people too."
"Because we've seen far too many sacrifices like this."
"so……"
"We don't want to see any more civilizations extinguished because of 'powerlessness'."
The envoy fell completely silent.
It looked at the stars, at the stars, and at these "nameless guests" from outer space.
It finally understood.
That kind of power.
That kind of courage to wield a sword even in the face of despair.
It doesn't come from technology, nor from any star core.
Instead, it comes from...
This is a "belief" that is almost foolish, yet incredibly dazzling.
Just then.
Suddenly, Hoshi felt a warmth in his chest.
The mark of the "end" trembled once more.
And this time...
It's not just about vibration.
She heard a clear... bell sound.
when--
The voice came from deep within the temple.
From the very core of creation.
"Time is up."
Hoshino looked up.
She looked at the stars.
"The memory presentation is over."
"We should go back."
Xing nodded.
She swung the chalk in her hand one last time.
The golden light burst forth once more.
The temple of Onphalus, the stone steps, and the black vortex all vanished in the light.
"etc!"
The messenger suddenly shouted.
It stretched out its forelimbs and grabbed Hoshino's hand tightly.
"Take me with you!"
"Didn't you say...you were going to help us?"
"I won't kick you out!"
"Please..."
"Please help us!"
Hoshi smiled.
She grasped the messenger's hand with her other hand.
"certainly."
"That's why we came here."
hum-
The light engulfed everything.
The illusion of memory collapses.
Everyone's consciousness returned to reality.
We returned to the Crystal City observation deck, still intact but deathly silent, located underwater at Trémy IV.
Messenger 7582 opened his eyes.
It looked at the five people in front of it.
Looking out at the still dark deep sea.
This time.
There was no fear in its eyes.
There is only one...
Burning hope.
"So."
Xing put away her notebook.
Carry the baseball bat on your shoulder.
"Now that a consensus has been reached..."
"Then let's talk..."
"Let's turn those bugs outside into fireworks."