Chapter 156: Final Chapter (Part 1)
People were jostling each other as they struggled to press the buttons, and the chaotic scene almost caused a stampede.
This scene enraged Augustine, forcing him to punch Cesare in the mouth. "You're crazy! You're driving these children to their deaths!"
Cesare staggered, but his tone remained calm. "I'm not crazy. You see, just as we suspected, the Scourge will deliberately avoid children. Since this rule exists, we can use it to our advantage. What's wrong with that?"
Augustine retorted, "People who come out of Imperial Capital Academy are so cold-blooded! Have you ever considered what if the system is a lie? What if the ultimate resurrection of the continent's population is conditional? Have you ever considered that?"
"First of all, it was the children who volunteered."
Cesare's tone was very calm, and he even pointed to him:
"First of all, it was the children who volunteered."
"In my opinion, you're the truly arrogant one. Perhaps you've never experienced the pain of losing a loved one? For some people, even if it means sacrificing everything, they still hope for their loved ones to return, rather than regretting it years later, feeling like a coward."
"Finally, we need these children even more because we want to make sure everyone comes back after a natural disaster."
Augustine frowned.
What Cesare meant was that since children have protection mechanisms in their bodies, it would be better if they were fine. However, if the children unfortunately died in the accident, the system would ensure that people from the same batch or with the same conditions would be resurrected together.
In this way, Cesare added a layer of protection to the resurrection of the Scourge.
Augustine stared at his calm face gravely, not knowing how to respond.
Cesare patted Augustine on the shoulder and ran towards the button without saying a word.
For him, he never cared about what the world thought of him. When the old mayor, Kedero, lost the love of his life, he chose to endure it, but he couldn't do that.
He will always remember the big smile his wife gave him when he was attending Imperial Capital College.
At that time, he was unruly and no one dared to get close to him because of his high status. Only she, the moment he walked in, deliberately stabbed him from behind to tease him and gave him a big surprise.
Even though more than ten years have passed, his ears still echo with his wife's playful voice on her energetic face:
"Hey, new guy, I heard from them that you are the best swordsman in this group. Coincidentally, I am the best assassin in this group."
"What? You said women aren't usually good at learning assassin skills? Bullshit! I thought you were different from these bastards, but it turns out you're also blind, hehe..."
"You apologize to me? Tch... Fine, I accept."
"My name is Alma, I hope you remember my name."
“…”
Like a warm and fresh fire, it ignited his chest.
Countless times during breaks, secret meetings, careful yet passionate kisses, fighting together against the Duke's arranged marriage, they had endured so much, making him remember her name forever.
But she continued to suffer from malaria caused by the natural disaster and sword wounds sustained while defending the town.
He suddenly thought of that year when he pulled his daughter to kneel beside her sick bed and sobbed, just like a young man who was powerless to do anything about his own life. He also thought of that year when cicadas chirped in late spring and the air was hot. He ran downstairs to the urging of his classmates, and with the enthusiasm of a young man, he ran over to hug her.
He always remembered that his wife was the best assassin in the world, and his children also inherited this.
Brave, fearless, with a face as smiling as hers.
Thinking of this, his smile grew wider and he ran towards the button, just like when he was seventeen years old, he ran desperately to hug the most beautiful rainbow in the world.
The strong sense of happiness and destruction appeared in the same person, which made Augustine stunned for a long time, and he also looked towards the middle area.
But there was no one in the middle area that I could see. Strangely, the system showed the number of meters minus one.
In that moment of distraction, he suddenly remembered that the subject Cesare's daughter was studying was assassination.
At the same second, the boulder fell and hit the empty ground, leaving behind drops of blood and remnants of long hair.
Then he saw Cesare running towards that place desperately, smiling as if he was running towards his happy life.
·
Outside the city, everyone was exhausted.
Mosquitoes and insects flew everywhere, causing plants and animals to wither quickly, making it difficult for them to defend themselves.
Someone opened the window and shouted, "Damn! Instead of dying here, I might as well go to Ankang City and die a worthy death!"
His companions pulled him back, "The Elda Knights and the magicians can't afford to send so many people! Forget about it, just focus on the battle!"
"Stop talking! Hide, and the rest of you hide!"
A senior swordsman frowned and roared angrily.
In an instant, seven holy lights appeared behind him, dazzling and dazzling, turning into the shape of a long sword, emitting a mournful cry, like the vastness of a mountain range, and condensed into the shape of a dragon, all covered with scales, pressing out like the window.
In just a moment, it swept across and completely eliminated all the mosquitoes outside the window.
Countless people hiding in taverns and castles were upset when they saw this scene.
This is the holy light of a top-tier swordsman! It's rumored that the continent's Creator God once said during his preaching that a crisis was imminent, and he would send the world's greatest Creator to help them overcome it. At that time, all the beauties would compete for beauty, and more than one person would join in the fray, and the earth would be enveloped in countless golden lights...
Their intuition told them that this might be the day.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a magician, so they can’t do anything.
How great would it be if they could be sent to support Ankang City?
When they were at a loss, they looked back and saw a man holding a magic wand and walking out of the strong wind and yellow sand with a stern face.
He seemed not to be afraid of mosquitoes. A golden light condensed on his body, and a pendant with the words "Ankang City" on his chest. He twisted his body and climbed through the window into the hotel.
Then he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and drank several bottles of endurance enhancers. It seemed that his physical strength had dried up and he was at the end of his strength.
But his expression remained calm. He simply took out the Philosopher's Stone, threw it into the air, and then cynically took it back: "Who wants to go to Ankang City? I'll take him there."
Everyone looked at each other, and finally someone asked, "Excuse me, who are you?"
The man said calmly, "Yun Yi, Lin Muqiu's prop."
·
In some other towns, the familiar Philosopher's Stone also worked.
The Eldar Knights continued their march, taking out their magic stones and teleporting to various towns: "Wind Power!"
With a few loud whooshing sounds, the people, along with their delicate protective shields, rushed towards Ankang City.
Along each route, there are different guards escorting them, using swords and bows and arrows to shoot down all kinds of mosquitoes, ensuring that the people can be quickly transported to Ankang City without being harmed.
However, the moment they were forced to use the Philosopher's Stone, they knew that their magic power was about to run out.
Be quick!
·
"We must guard the city gate! There are too many Carapaces... Bang, Bang, Bang... And there's also the Winged Flame Beast! Bang, Bang, Bang! They're running in!"
"This is the last wave! Bang bang... We must get the newcomers in... Bang bang bang! Send people to the center! We just need one last... Bang!"
A jumble of voices, interspersed with the cries of flesh being torn apart, a short passage took several people to complete...
Kedero didn't dare to think about it.
I dare not imagine how many people died in the central government.
But what’s worse is that the city gate is already a battle of trapped beasts.
Newcomers will first be stunned by the beasts that keep refreshing at the door, and then rush to fight, but these beetle animals are like the myth of Sisyphus, they will never refresh, and most people will be trapped at the door before they reach the center.
And those who had been defending at the city gate from the beginning were exhausted and could not even lift their swords.
The wrist that gripped the broken sword trembled slightly. This sea of blood reminded him of the day when he became mayor...
The beast roared, its eyes red, and howled with its neck raised. A big hole was torn in the city gate. Countless people tried to block it, but it was like scarlet-stained stone, and no one could escape.
With the dim torches, the blood of those people looked like burning flames.
He stood on the city wall, his hands were cold and his mind was blank. His hand only knew how to draw the bow and then release it, releasing arrows one after another.
It wasn't until he saw someone familiar dead there that he finally came to his senses.
He burst into tears and shouted, "Uncle Fu!"
He struggled and tried to climb down, but Chloe grabbed his wrist and said, "Don't go down! You're a swordsman!"
He knew what Chloe was talking about.
He was a swordsman trained by the entire town clan with all their might, and there was no room for error. He had only reached the intermediate level of swordsmanship, unable to withstand the rigors of so many trials and tribulations. Cloe feared he would die, leaving no one to succeed him.
Before he could react, Chloe stuffed a ball of paper into his arms. "A letter for you! Live well, I beg you!"
His mind was in turmoil, like a dizzy ship. He watched the scene quietly, but remained extremely calm. He watched Chloe run from the city to the edge of the wall, support herself with her hands and fall down. Countless sword lights and cold shadows flashed by until the light was swallowed up and became smaller and smaller. Then there was a loud bang, and the sound of the explosion almost shattered his eardrums.
The ground was filled with the smell of burning and blood.
His mind went blank and he struggled to get up and look at her, but was blocked by a protective shield.
[The previous lord's self-destruct skill has been used.]
[According to the host's will, you have been bound to the Lord System.]
[Congratulations, host, your lifelong skill is to become the best swordsman. ]
The best swordsman...huh...
As his memory returned, Kedero regained consciousness and looked at his hands which were aching at the knuckles. The sword looked so ridiculous in his hands.
He always hated himself for not having the courage to run down the city and die with her as a swordsman on that stormy night.
There are too many people to guard in his hands, heart, and eyes.
That day, he stood on the wall and became the mayor. Just as she expected, he was full of vigor and led the three armies to save the city from danger.
But what he really wanted was to die with her.
"The city is too dilapidated, I need to repair it properly..."
"Alas, everyone's life is so hard, I have to work harder."
"The Imperial Capital and the Dukes are pressing on step by step. We must be extremely careful."
“…”
It seems that there are so many reasons every time, from black hair to white hair, and even to frost on the temples.
Every year he would activate his lord skills to become the best swordsman, and then fight a decisive battle in the city.
But the person he most wanted to be was no longer there...
His heart had died at the age of sixteen, the moment he didn't have the courage to die with her.
He took a deep breath, stood up with determination, and with lightning speed—
Jump down the city suddenly.
Everyone was stunned.
The next moment, he plunged the knife into his chest and blood gushed out.
The beetle heard the sound and rushed towards him in an instant, trying to attack it.
He half-lying under the scale, took up the burning potion and poured it on himself. With a splash, the cut flesh turned into rotten meat. He groaned in pain, not knowing what he was thinking about. After half a second, he stopped making any sound, tears streaming down his face.
While everyone was stunned by this scene, the beetle pounced on him and started to eat him. Because Kedero tried his best to stop it, it ate very slowly.
Originally, beetles only feed on dead bodies, but perhaps this misunderstanding bought them time.
Everyone's heart rumbled, and one team member screamed in pain, and everyone wanted to rush forward to help him.
However, unexpectedly, another loud bang was heard nearby.
Those who were exhausted also jumped down from the city wall, using their flesh and blood to resist the torment inside the city.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
One after another, the exhausted Ankang team members jumped.
Just like how Chloe treated them in the past, she tried her best to buy them a glimmer of hope.
People who had just entered the city were so shocked by the hellish scene that their eyelids twitched.
The team members who still had strength nearby reacted instantly, grabbed them, and ran towards the center of the city.
Hurry! Only a little time left!
*
The center of the city has become a hell on earth.
The rumbling gravel fell quickly, like a meat grinder. The gaps between the stones were like sharp scissors. The friction was like people being cut into strips or crushed into pieces.
The ground was littered with broken limbs and debris, and when people walked on it, they felt a sticky, snapping sound, and occasionally there was a sound like a glass ball being stepped on. They had expected flesh to be springy, but unexpectedly it felt loose.
Many people vomited with a grumble.
Augustine closed his eyes in despair.
Just now, the chaotic conversations among his subordinates and the mechanical system prompts mixed together, making him feel particularly powerless.
"Report—Lord Kedero, he, he..."
"The unreachable tower has been lowered to 232 meters."
"Tell me quickly, what happened to Lord Kedero?"
"The tower that can never be climbed has been lowered to 230 meters."
"He's dead, sir! The old mayor is dead! Dead! The city gate is empty, no one can hold it up! They are using their corpses, no, they are alive! We have to hurry, hurry! Bugs, all bugs..."
"The unreachable tower has been lowered to 229 meters."
“…”
The sounds coming from his ears became increasingly distant and sparse, choking his heart and stinging him so painfully that he could never forget it and would never stop.
However, this sound was not from them pressing the button, but from Lin Muqiu desperately climbing up bit by bit.
He really didn't dare to look anymore.
Even Master Kedero has left.
Almost all the people on their side died.
Everyone's magic, stamina, skills and items have been used up, and the last wave of reinforcements now consists of a group of people with slightly lower skills.
He had no way to retreat. All he could do was try his best and believe that Lin Muqiu could climb up.
He made up his mind silently, glanced at the exhausted people around him, and suddenly took out the necklace in his hand.
That was the deep sea heart his mother left him.
"Mother, mother."
He murmured twice heavily.
Then he picked up the necklace and held it high, then ran towards the center resolutely, "Charge!!!"
Everyone was infected by his excitement, and they suddenly raised their legs and ran after him with their feet that felt as heavy as lead.
The necklace, called the Heart of the Ocean, formed a seven-meter protective shield around it. As people ran within it, branches sprouted with every step, extending into the shield. The lush greenery felt like stepping into a magical forest. However, like a building about to collapse, with the rumbling of huge rocks, the shield gradually cracked, like a wall breaking apart. The sand and gravel that rushed in made them cough uncontrollably.
However, they dare not stop, cannot stop...!
Pop.
Augustine finally pressed the protective shield.
As the commander of this battle and the last wave of support for this city, he did it!
He tried to smile and looked towards the screen, and then there was a loud bang. He felt that the sound came too fast, too quickly.
I don’t know if the next person pressed the button.
As he thought this, he lost the last bit of consciousness of being a human being.
All that was left was dizziness and a blur of white.
He is dead.
He tilted his head to look at the screen, his body split in half vertically below the shoulders, but there was a gentle smile on the corner of his mouth.
No one except him knew whether he was looking at Lin Muqiu or something else.
·
"Miss Medea, the old mayor is dead."
"The entire guard was wiped out, including Lord Augustine. No one survived."
"Master Cesare of the Civilian Academy also passed away. Also, Mario of the Planting Team and Roger Russell of the Beast Taming Team were completely wiped out."
“…”
Listening to her subordinates' reports, Medea skillfully bandaged the wounded while calmly asking, "What do we have left?"
The subordinate hesitated for a long time before answering, "There are seven hundred wounded soldiers with broken legs, nine hundred people without arms who are being rescued, four hundred unconscious people, over three hundred pet exploding bulls, and over four hundred wild turkeys."
Medea: “…”
Okay, that's outrageous enough.
As soon as the words were spoken, the two looked at each other and fell silent.
After a while, the subordinate whispered, "Does it count as one thousand children still alive and well?"
Medea tied the rope tightly, took several deep breaths, and stood up. "Gather together, everyone who can and is willing to go, follow me to the city gate."
The subordinate was stunned, "Are we enough alone?"
Medea said calmly, "That's enough. We'll wait for General Elda to enter the city."
·
"Has General Elda arrived?"
"No. No message received."
The subordinate answered, feeling very uneasy in his heart.
What they have to do now is to wait for General Elda to arrive with the legion, and then this group of remnants will serve as the last wave of support in the city and rush to the center together to complete their mission.
But this is a real test of cooperation.
General Elda didn't know the situation in the city. If he misjudged the situation and didn't come, and was still doing population transportation, or if something happened and he couldn't come, then the city would be finished.
Medea saw what he was thinking and whispered, "I believe him, he will definitely come."
The subordinate was stunned, pursed his lips and said nothing, but secretly wiped away the tears from his eyes.
At this moment, Miss Medea looked very much like Lord Lin, gentle, determined, and unwavering.
But he saw the trembling and pain in her eyes.
In the end, he didn't dare to look anymore and turned away silently.
At this moment, he saw the children riding wild turkeys or cows and holding water guns on the steel beetles, which made him feel even more sad.
Subordinate: “…”
But even though he felt melancholy in his heart, he had no time to care.
Mosquitoes were flying all over the sky, buzzing so much that it gave him a headache.
Each tiny insect is like yellow sand, gathered together so that you can't see the front at all, like a thick black fog.
They kept spraying large areas with water guns, and after shooting down one wave, another would soon follow.
Even though they were wearing special protective clothing, they couldn't be sure if they had been bitten.
The only consolation he had was that he saw in Medea the shadow of the old mayor, who was methodical and took on the task in times of crisis:
"Squad A, send forty people to guard the watchtower in Area C! Cut a path through to let the newcomers in!"
"I see there are new reinforcements in the city, right? Anda, make arrangements and send a message to her to join us here!"
"Have you sent a rendezvous message to General Elda?!"
“…”
One command after another was issued, and no one knew how far away they were, but more and more people gathered from outside the city.
The Civilian Academy will be the last stronghold.
Because there was no one guarding the city gate, every corner of the city had already been covered with insects.
Fortunately, they heard a familiar voice: "Is everything okay in the city?"
A hoarse voice sounded from behind her.
She turned around suddenly and saw General Elda and the knights teleporting here.
Worry was visible on his crisscross wrinkles, and he looked ten years older than before. "We are the last wave of forces, right?"
"Yes," Medea said calmly, "We will teleport directly to the center. The children and I will be responsible for cleaning up the bugs, and you will be responsible for pressing the button. This is our last chance."
·
Rushing out of the central city, Elda opened his eyes wide and looked at the sea of corpses.
Although the corpse had been almost cleaned up by the bugs and the team members, he could still see the bones and flesh flowing towards him like mud.
This can be described as a mudslide made of human plasma.
It's so scary and horrifying.
He recognized most of the faces here because these were the players he had transported!
Even though he had experienced countless battles, big and small, he had never seen such a hell on earth. In just a moment, his eyes suddenly turned blood red and he gasped for breath.
He tried hard, "Brothers... We are the only team left in the world, and we are the best. Knights release sword intent, mages cast protective shields, archers release arrows, healers cast healing spells, assassins prepare... Let's charge together!"
As he spoke, layers of golden light enveloped the area.
The swordsman slashed horizontally, and the sword intent cut through the sky, then took a golden form, suddenly increasing more than ten times and horizontally across the sky, condensing into a solid light that could resist damage.
As the archer pulled the bow, the arrow with flaming phoenix feathers turned into a phoenix, and countless small arrows suddenly appeared out of thin air around it, following like a shadow and blooming in the sky.
The healer's holy light also comes with it, helping any injured person to recover instantly.
Layer upon layer of mountains, just to resist for a few seconds, allowing them to rush in.
Just a few seconds!
The moment they released their skills, they started moving.
There was a hoarse sound of horse hooves, which kicked up countless dust. They rode forward, holding a child in each hand.
Closer and closer.
Twenty meters away!
Fifteen meters away!
Ten meters, five meters, three meters...!
Countless details flooded into their eyes. The distance that was originally so close was stretched by time and seemed so far away. They could even clearly hear the sound of the protective shield breaking.
There were crisp cracks one after another, and countless cracks appeared densely, like the sound of fresh bamboo being broken hard, which was very disturbing.
There's only a little bit left...
A little bit......
They saw with their own eyes that the rolling stones were about to fall with their movements and hit them on the forehead, but they clearly saw that suddenly a thin protective shield blocked it all for them.
This is......
This is Lord Lin’s disaster-level protective shield!
They were stunned. Wasn't Master Lin still in mid-air? How could she activate her magic power after it had been taken away?!
But there was no time to think about it now, they just pressed the button and made way for the next person.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
One voice after another rang out, crisp, resolute and unwavering.
They finally heard the exciting voice:
"Congratulations, the unreachable tower has been lowered to 74 meters."
"Congratulations, the unreachable tower has been lowered to 52 meters."
"Congratulations, the unreachable tower has been lowered to 21 meters."
"Congratulations, the unreachable tower has been lowered to 4 meters."
"Congratulations, the unreachable tower has been lowered to 1 meter!"
"Congratulations to you, and to Ankang City, for completing the ultimate natural disaster challenge!"
"Everything will return to the time before the natural disaster, and everyone will be resurrected. Countdown to resurrection... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
Lin Muqiu seemed to have had a very long dream.
In her dream, she saw all the people she loved died tragically in front of her, and countless pieces of rubble rolled down, all of which were mud made of blood.
It was a land of loess and mud. Once you stepped on it, it was all mud. Your shoes would sink deep into the mud and you couldn't pull them out.
It was that torrential rain again, never stopping. She kept climbing up the tree, crying, but it seemed as if there was no end in sight, until she fell...
Just like the nightmare she had every time, every day of every year.
But this time, it seemed like too many people tried their best to save her.
What was different from before was that she dreamed of a city, a very strange city. The people in it smiled and called her Lord Lin, and entertained her with fishy kumis and soft buttered bread. The scene changed, and countless people gathered around her bed, talking to her in a low voice.
Ring ring ring.
She jerked awake, gasping for air and letting gulps of air fill her mind.
The familiar rental house was small and cramped. She suddenly turned off the alarm clock and looked around suspiciously. She felt that she had been dreaming for too long, and even looked around with a sense of unfamiliarity.
There was a warm, warm orange light, which she often turned on when she had nightmares at night. Next to it was a doll that had lost its fur after being washed, with the fur stuck together. It was a gift from her grandfather when she was young.
Later, when the mudslide ended, the rescue team handed the bear cub to her and comforted her gently. Many years have passed now.
At this moment, a feeling of trance and powerlessness came over me.
She couldn't tell whether it was a dream or her real life.
Thinking about this, she raised her hand and moved her knuckles clumsily. This was not her hand that was pale due to malnutrition when she was twelve years old, but her hand when she was twenty-two years old.
Slender, with fleshy joints, rosy and strong.
She moved her fingertips slightly, trying to catalyze magic power as usual, but found nothing.
She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook her head, not knowing whether she was laughing at herself for taking the dream as reality, or for taking the present as a dream.
Life is like a butterfly. In the end, it is hard to tell whether the butterfly is in love with the flower, or the flower is in love with this world.
But then, she felt a burning sensation in her chest. After being stunned for two seconds, she suddenly realized something and reached out her hand to her neck.
She touched a thin red string and pulled it out. Tied to the red string was something that looked like a small message in a bottle.
She was deeply shocked and began to shed tears unconsciously. She gazed closely and looked closely. The colorful picture was reflected in her eyes, emitting a dazzling and gentle light, like the flickering flames in a stove.
She saw too much through the thin glass.
Kedelu was lying down to rest after a full meal. She saw Augustine looking at her photo album and secretly wiping away tears.
She also saw that Cesare and Elizabeth's families had been reunited, and they were holding their children tightly and unwilling to let go.
I also saw many familiar townspeople gathered in their homes, wailing and rejoicing, and flowers blooming everywhere.
She also saw that various areas in the west and central regions had managed to return to normal, using their magic to rebuild their homes and live and work in peace and contentment...
Too many people have reunited with their loved ones, and some are still trying their best to perform and sell their bravery and danger in facing the ultimate natural disaster to their parents, and talk about her...
Talking about when she could go back, talking about whether she was the god of this world.
Like a sudden rain, it opened up a corner of the world.
Like a prism reflecting light and colors, she saw the lives of too many ordinary people.
An ordinary life just like hers.
Her brown eyes turned slightly, became moist, and then the corners of her mouth raised.
A familiar voice came to my ears:
[Hello host, do you want to enter *another world? (While you are in this other world, time in reality will be suspended.)]
"yes."
She answered in a hoarse voice.
Just like the first time she entered a different world, golden light enveloped her whole body, and she felt even her blood was warm, just like taking an afternoon nap, and looking out the window at the birdsong and flowers in her spare time, gentle and peaceful.
It seemed like just an ordinary afternoon as she went to meet her old friend.
There was a flash of light, and she squinted her eyes to look at the dazzling golden light, and the surroundings became everything she was familiar with.
Without war, natural disasters, fear and escape, the architecture has returned to its original appearance: tall, sheltered, reaching into the sky, in the Baroque style, with intricately carved hollow carvings and a strong Western flavor.
Images of the Virgin Mary and angels are carved out, surrounding the center, as if guarding them.
So sacred, majestic, and warm.
So this is the kind of novel I wanted to write...
Lin Muqiu was slightly stunned and looked around.
Many children were playing and laughing beside the spring pool, while some adults were holding their children's hands tightly, their eyes fixed on them.
It was as if the child would disappear out of thin air if they were any later. Others had confused looks on their faces, their eyes full of curiosity and longing for a new life, and they had countless silly smiles on their faces when they were taken away by their companions.
Their hands were tightly clasped, filled with joy and worry of regaining what had been lost.
Just like her, she was worried that all this was just a dream and that she would never be able to come back after waking up.
She loves the living people here more than the grandeur of the buildings.
While she was dazed, someone discovered her.
The man was stunned for a long time, then suddenly he was delighted, his eyes reddened, and he shouted, "Master Lin is back! Look!"
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