Key Holder Selection
The space behind the door was more magnificent than anywhere else before, and also more... dilapidated.
This is a massive circular hall, its dome partially collapsed, revealing a dark red, cracked sky above (indicating they are indeed inside the "Peak of Fallen Gods"). At the center of the hall is not a throne or altar, but the unimaginably enormous wreckage of an instrument composed of countless intricate, crystalline transistors and gears.
The instrument is now severely damaged; most of its transistor channels are broken and dimmed, its massive gears are twisted and jammed, and it is covered with scorch marks and cracks left by battle. But from its remaining magnificent structure, one can still imagine its astonishing power when it was intact—this is part of the "Loom of Destiny" seen in the phantom.
At the very center of the loom's remains, on a relatively intact core base, a soft yet resolute white light was quietly flickering. The shape of that light was a complete key fragment, larger than the one Jiang Yu currently held! The energy fluctuations it emitted were vast and pure, resonating strongly with and attracting the fragment in Jiang Yu's hand.
The last major fragment is right before our eyes.
However, the group did not immediately step forward. Because in front of the core base, with their backs to them, stood a figure.
It was a semi-transparent phantom composed of pure energy. He wore an ancient, star-patterned robe, his posture upright. Although only his back was visible, he exuded an aura of wisdom, authority, and experience. His presence filled the entire hall with a heavy sorrow and a steadfast will to protect.
Seemingly sensing the arrival of the crowd, the illusory figure slowly turned around. His face was blurry, but his eyes, as deep as stars, clearly "looked" at Jiang Yu, who was at the head of the group, and finally his gaze fell on the key fragment in Jiang Yu's hand.
"The successor...you have finally arrived here." A gentle, weary yet tinged with relief resounded directly in everyone's hearts. This voice was identical to that of the star deity in the previous phantom; it was the remnant of his will.
“Senior…” Jiang Yu stepped forward and bowed respectfully. He felt deep respect for this ancient deity who had sacrificed himself to fight against annihilation.
"No need for formalities." The divine phantom slightly raised its hand. "Time is running out. This wisp of my remnant soul, sustained by the energy of the 'Loom' core, is about to dissipate. Your presence here proves that the flame of 'Order' has not been extinguished, and hope still exists."
His gaze swept over the people behind Jiang Yu, lingering for a moment on Zero and the members of the "Dawn" team, as if he could see through their true nature. "It seems that in this era, the forces of resistance continue in different forms. Very good."
"Senior, we need the last fragment of the key to restore order and fight against the resurgent 'Annihilation'," Jiang Yu stated his purpose directly.
“I know.” The divine phantom nodded. “This last piece of the ‘Heart of the Source Key’ was reserved for the true successor. However, successor, before you take it, you must understand the responsibility you will bear, and… the truth you are about to face.”
He pointed to the broken loom of fate behind him: "Before the loom finally collapsed, it deduced countless possibilities for the future. The vast majority of them led to a hopeless end. Only one extremely faint and unpredictable path pointed to a glimmer of dawn."
"The key to this path lies in the integrity of the 'Source Key,' and... the choice of the key holder." The divine phantom's gaze sharpened, staring directly into Jiang Yu's eyes. "A complete 'Source Key' is not just a tool for repairing the system; it is also... a double-edged sword."
"It can stabilize order and banish annihilation, but it can also... restart everything, returning all things to their origin, including all existing life and civilization." The voice of the divine phantom was filled with endless heaviness. "Back then, we failed to make up our minds to use this ultimate authority, which led to the disastrous defeat in the war and the collapse of the world. Now, this choice is in your hands."
"Repair, or... reboot?"
This ultimate question strikes like a hammer blow to everyone's heart!
Restoring order means waging a long and arduous struggle in a world that has already been severely permeated by "annihilation"; while restarting everything means that everything that exists, including their memories, emotions, and even their very existence, may be erased and start all over again! This is an incredibly cruel choice.
The divine phantom did not urge Jiang Yu, but simply waited quietly for her answer. The hall was deathly silent, save for the faint humming of the key fragments.
Jiang Yu looked at the shimmering fragment in her hand, then at her companions who had faced life and death together, and fought side by side. The image of the departing god flashed through her mind, as did the players struggling to survive in countless dungeons, and the lives that had been seduced or oppressed by the "Cult of the End"...
After a long while, he raised his head, his eyes as firm as a rock:
"I choose to repair it."
His voice was clear and calm: "Rebooting may be a complete relief, but it is also a kind of escape and denial. Denying those who still hold on to hope in the darkness, denying everything we have experienced along the way, denying... the value of life's struggle itself. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will choose to fight to the end and repair this scarred world, rather than completely format it."
Upon hearing Jiang Yu's reply, a faint, almost imperceptible smile of relief appeared on the blurry face of the deity's phantom.
“Very good… As expected of the one chosen by ‘Law’. Your choice coincides with the glimmer of dawn deduced by ‘The Loom’.” He nodded with satisfaction. “Then, successor, accept this final fragment and shoulder your mission.”
After speaking, the phantom of the deity gradually became transparent and dissipated. The "Heart of the Source Key" on the core base behind him seemed to have been released from its final restraints, transforming into a stream of light that flew towards Jiang Yu and perfectly merged with the fragment in his hand.
"Buzz—!"
An unprecedentedly brilliant light erupted from Jiang Yu's hand. The complete key—the Source Key—had finally reappeared in the world.
The moment the last piece of the "Heart of the Source Key" merged into him, Jiang Yu felt as if his soul had been connected with the vast and boundless origin of the universe! A massive flow of information, as vast as the sea of stars, surged into his consciousness. It was no longer fragmented laws, but complete, supreme truths about the construction of order, energy circulation, spacetime stability, and the evolution of life.
The Source Key in his hand was no longer a crystal, but had transformed into a soft and restrained white sphere of light. Inside the sphere, countless tiny runes of law appeared and disappeared like stars. It seemed to possess life, perfectly synchronized with Jiang Yu's heartbeat, breathing, and even soul fluctuations.
A powerful sense of strength filled his entire body, instantly healing the fatigue and hidden injuries from the previous battle. Even his level of life was elevated at this moment. He could clearly perceive every fluctuation in the surrounding space, vaguely touch the pulse of time, and even feel the faint lament of the world's laws remaining beneath the temple.
"This is... the power of the complete Source Key..." Zero looked at Jiang Yu, his eyes filled with shock and a hint of complex emotion that was hard to detect. He understood better than anyone else what it meant to master this power.
Xi, Panshi, and the others also sensed the reassuring yet awe-inspiring aura emanating from Jiang Yu, as if the person standing before them was no longer just a powerful companion, but... the embodiment of order.
"Congratulations, heir."
The voice of the divine phantom was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, "The Source Key has been unified, and the spark of hope has been entrusted to you. The rest of the journey... you must walk it yourself..."
His figure finally vanished completely, transforming into starlight that merged into the broken loom of fate. The wreckage of the loom emitted a soft hum, as if bidding a final farewell, before falling into utter silence.
Just as the divine phantom dissipated, the entire temple began to tremble violently—far more violently than the previous "Divine Tide"! The cracks in the dome widened rapidly, massive stones began to fall, and the walls collapsed one after another.
"Oh no! The temple is about to collapse!" Rock shouted. "The core energy supporting the temple is probably the remnant soul of that deity and the fragments of the Source Key! Now that the fragments have been taken away and the remnant soul has dissipated, the temple has lost its support!"
"Get out of here quickly!" Jiang Yu immediately activated the power of the Source Key, and a stable, protective shield of order instantly formed, keeping the falling debris at bay. He sensed his direction; the Source Key not only gave him power but also clear guidance—the exit from the temple.
"Follow me!"
He led the group, swiftly navigating the collapsing temple. The power of the Source Key allowed him to move with ease amidst the chaotic laws and crumbling physical structures, always finding the safest path. Occasionally, massive structures would crash down, but they were easily deflected by the Order Shield.
Finally, they burst out of the main temple building and arrived at a massive open-air platform. At the edge of the platform lay a bottomless abyss, below which churned a sea of energy clouds composed of shattered laws. On the opposite side, they could vaguely see the other floating continents of the fallen divine realm.
However, before they could catch their breath, a familiar, suffocating pressure descended from the sky.
"Found you, you insects!"
High in the sky, the figures of the Dark Corruption Bishop and the Annihilation Bishop suddenly appeared! They had actually survived the tide of the divine realm and, by sensing the powerful fluctuations of the Source Key, had tracked them directly here! They bore some wounds and their auras were not as strong as before, but the killing intent in their eyes was even more intense.
"Hand over the Source Key! Otherwise, I will annihilate your souls!" The Bishop of Annihilation's voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The true final battle is about to erupt on the edge of this collapsing temple.
This time, Jiang Yu was no longer forced to defend; he now possessed the power to directly confront a bishop-level expert.
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