When the midnight bells toll, everyone who hears them awaits the final judgment.
Gou Fugui had never experienced such agonizing waiting, but now he had no choice but to sit here quietly, doing nothing and accomplishing nothing.
At this moment, the huge screen in the command hall, which occupied one of the high walls, was no longer displaying video feeds of heads of state and various powers. It had long since been switched to displaying images of the entire state of China and even the world monitored by the Beidou satellite system.
Everyone is waiting and fearing how the world will be destroyed.
Is it an unavoidable natural disaster? Or will the whole world just explode with a "bang"?
The longer you wait, the more anxious you become.
However, as time passed, the global surveillance footage did not show any sudden changes, not even minor earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Everything was normal and natural, with no sign of the end of the world.
Minister Tu stiffly twisted his neck: "Xiao Zhao, what time is it now?"
The guard's voice was somewhat hoarse as he reported, "Minister! The time is 00:05!"
Minister Tu blinked.
Five minutes have passed? Why does it feel like half a century to him?
"Then, the Earth didn't explode, did it?"
Even someone as composed as Minister Tu asked this question somewhat foolishly.
The atmosphere in the command center was somewhat bewildered.
Then, someone on the international video call that hadn't been disconnected suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Hahahaha! There's nothing wrong with Earth! It's not the end of the world!! Didn't I say that already? Nobody can verify what that kid said, so why should his statement about a month be true?"
"Now it turns out that the one-month period was a lie! We dealt with twenty collapsed Doomsday Gates, and although there were still two left, there were only two left!"
"How could just these two collapsed Doomsday Gate cracks possibly cause the end of the world? There were originally one hundred and nine Doomsday Gates!"
The Korean executive was incredibly excited in the video, gesturing wildly and speaking with a sarcastic tone.
His words also caused a stir among the other officials who were solemnly awaiting the verdict, and their expressions unconsciously began to relax.
Yes, it's been eight minutes since the January deadline, and the apocalypse hasn't happened yet, has it?
So, do they still have the time and opportunity to deal with the biological viruses in North America and the nuclear radiation mutations in Japan?
Or perhaps the apocalypse will never happen, and that their global efforts have already successfully saved their planet?
"Hmm, is that hero from Huazhou here? What are your thoughts on the current situation?"
One of the people in charge couldn't help but ask.
Before Gou Fugui could answer, the person in charge of Da Han sneered, "Why are you still asking him at a time like this?"
"It's obvious that what he said is completely untrue."
The Korean representative didn't have time to finish speaking.
Or rather, the message from the Korean representative simply failed to be conveyed.
His voice was replaced by a louder voice that resonated throughout the world. And that voice, heard by every living being on Earth, filled them with utter terror and sorrow.
That was the world's lament.
Then, the apocalypse began.
That terrible demise began in North America and Japan.
These two nations, which failed to resolve the gates of collapse in time, began to disappear from satellite-monitored world maps.
Yes, it disappeared.
It wasn't that a massive earthquake suddenly shook the country into the ocean, nor that a meteorite suddenly fell and wiped out an entire nation.
Instead, it started disappearing from the disaster zone of the Gate of Collapse and then gradually spread throughout the entire country.
The scene was bizarre, and carried a silent chill.
It's like a painting where someone has erased part of it. But the Earth has never been a painting.
After a long period of stunned silence, Minister Tu suddenly shouted, "Go! Investigate whether Japan has truly disappeared?!"
Washington State and Japan are separated by the sea. If Japan were to disappear, then that "disappearance" would certainly spread to Washington State.
Even if they are helpless against the current apocalypse, they still want to struggle; they can't just sit and wait to die.
But this silent terror was not over yet.
With a hoarse voice, Song Sanchuan pointed at the global satellite surveillance map: "What are those suddenly appearing black lines?!"
Xie Tianlang paused for a moment, then, as if sensing something, he suddenly rushed to the window of the command hall and looked out.
What came into view was a huge black crack slowly opening in the sky.
It resembled the "Doomsday Gate" that appeared out of nowhere before, but it wasn't exactly the same.
The "Gate of Doomsday" is a black vortex that suddenly appears in the "world" and is a passage that can lead to other worlds.
But the black crack that appeared in the sky at this moment seemed not to be in the "world", but rather a huge wound in the "world itself".
Gou Fugui, Minister Tu, and others also saw these huge cracks in the sky.
Gou Fugui suddenly turned to look at the satellite map. He glanced at it and found that there were exactly 107 black lines representing the cracks in the sky.
"...This is the original location of the Gate of Doomsday."
The doomsday gate, which they had painstakingly repaired and closed after half a year of effort to recycle the core, has reappeared in a different form at this time and in such a short period of time.
It's like a wound that you tried so hard to mend, but before it was fully healed, it burst open again.
With so many wounds reopening and breaking open at the same time, is there any hope for this world?
At this moment, the guard who had just run out on Minister Tu's orders returned, pale-faced, with even worse news.
"Minister... According to the images captured by the high-altitude detector developed by the institute... Japan has truly disappeared. The place where it disappeared has formed a black void, a fissure. That void started from Shikoku Island, then Honshu Island, and now it has spread to Hokkaido and Shikoku, the two islands at the northern and southern extremes."
"...According to the research team's calculations, Japan will completely disappear in about an hour, and the massive hollow rift will spread to China in about three hours..."
The guard was at a loss for words.
The command center was deathly silent; even Minister Tu didn't know how to give orders at this moment.
He opened his mouth several times and then closed it again.
Finally, he sighed suddenly: "...Everyone, go home. There are still three hours left, maybe even less. Go and reunite with your families."
There's no turning back now.
Then let's not waste our last moments here and leave only regrets.
Everyone in the command hall was stunned. Some people wanted to say something, but at that moment, the voice of the Washington state leader rang out over the hall's loudspeaker.
[Everyone, you have worked so hard for China and its people until now.]
Since fate has decreed this, and the outcome is already decided, then you should not remain here, but go home.
You are all heroes of the people. Even though the outcome is already decided, I still want to express my gratitude to you on behalf of the people of Washington State.
Thank you. Now, go home. Spend your final moments with the most important people in your life.
The leader's voice faded away, and the soldiers and researchers in the hall all had tears in their eyes.
However, they soon embraced their comrades who had fought alongside them, and then left one by one with heavy hearts and resentment.
Gou Fugui was still by the window, silently staring at the huge crack in the sky.
Aren't you going to find your sister?
That deep, magnetic voice rang in my ears.
Gou Fugui neither turned around nor bowed his head, saying, "My sister will come looking for me."
This is the core of the entire Doomsday Command Center. Even if he is about to disappear, he will stand here until the very last moment.
Xie Tianlang pulled the man into his arms and held him close, looking together at the enormous crack in the sky.
"Then I'll go with you."
Gou Fugui chuckled lightly: "Even if I leave, you won't leave."
Ultimately, they were all unwilling to accept it.
Twenty minutes later, Zheng Ronghua indeed ran into the command hall. When she saw her younger brother sitting by the window, a look of relief finally appeared on her beautiful face.
She quickly ran to her younger brother's side and unceremoniously snatched him from Xie Tianlang's arms.
“Don’t be afraid, Fugui’er, your sister is here.”
Gou Fugui wanted to laugh, but then felt a lump in his throat. He hugged his sister back and patted her as well, saying, "Ronghua, don't be afraid, your little brother will protect you."
The scene of the siblings embracing each other is just like that dark night sixteen years ago, making people feel both desperate and comforted.
Humanity around the world clearly saw the inevitable trajectory of the apocalypse, and was subsequently plunged into immense despair and silent panic.
Everyone is waiting to die.
All life should be waiting to die.
No!
Not all life is waiting to die.
Suddenly, an enormous and ferocious eagle cried out and flapped its wings, plunging into the crack in the sky!
Vanished without a trace.
And this was like a bugle call to charge; in the once empty world with only white clouds, countless birds suddenly took flight.
They all hissed and screamed as they charged headlong into the enormous crack!
The birds flew everywhere, making the whole sky lively.
Gou Fugui stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the birds that were committing mass suicide and the enormous crack in the sky.
Then he suddenly stood up straight, turned around and called out to Minister Tu, who hadn't left either: "Minister Tu!!"
Xie Tianlang's voice rang out almost simultaneously with Gou Fugui's: "Minister Tu!!"
"Is anyone still in the monitoring department?! Can they still monitor?!"
Minister Tu, whose body had been hunched over, suddenly straightened up: "Let me ask! Let me ask!"
"No need to ask anymore, everyone from the research department and the monitoring department is here, everyone... has returned."
Si Wuyai's voice rang out in the broadcast communication.
"What are you investigating?! What have you discovered?!" Minister Tu strode over to Gou Fugui and Xie Tianlang, then his voice abruptly stopped as he saw the bird rushing towards the massive crack as if committing suicide.
"Have the monitoring department monitor the energy around the huge crack and the size of the crack, and see... see if the crack has shrunk."
"We also need to closely monitor the area around the fourteen cracks in Washington State to see if there are any other animals... or unusual plants."
Twenty minutes later, everyone in the command center witnessed a scene that shocked humanity—
Around each of the fourteen world rifts in Washington State, countless "lives" are now "self-destructing".
From large herds of elephants emerging from the forest to swarms of insects and ants, countless "lives" are actively heading into the cracks.
"My God...Are they crazy? Don't they know that's a dead end?!"
"...No, they know. So, none of the animals and insects that deliberately die, or even the plants that wither in a short time, have 'yolks' or 'seedlings' in them."
"This is adult and old plants and animals using their own lives to fill the 'holes' in the world, in order to ensure the continuation of the life that remains."
This is a tragic symphony of life called "sacrifice".
"...But is it useful?"
The head of the monitoring department answered this question with an incredulous voice.
"have."
"Based on the energy and the size range of the crack, the huge crack is indeed shrinking."
Everyone turned to look at him, their gazes suddenly becoming intense.
"Then! Doesn't that mean the world can still be saved?!"
"Oh my god, this is great! The world can still be saved! We can still be saved!!"
However, Gou Fugui noticed that the person in charge's expression did not become more relaxed.
Sure enough, the head of the monitoring department closed his eyes briefly, his voice extremely hoarse:
"However, according to our preliminary energy calculations, if we want to close all fourteen rifts in Huazhou... it would require at least one billion lives to fill the gap."
This doesn't even include the animals that are committing suicide.
The people who were just excited were all frozen in place.
The relaxed atmosphere vanished completely.
"What do you mean? Did I misunderstand?"
The head of the monitoring department gave a wry smile, then took a deep breath and shouted, "You heard right and understood right! To close all the cracks in Huazhou, a billion people would have to voluntarily sacrifice themselves inside them!"
"We must be like those animals and plants, willing to give our lives for the future of our children and Washington!"
A deathly silence fell over the command center once again.
At that moment, no one knew what to say, and there was really nothing to say.
Are we going to send everyone to their deaths?
In the end, Minister Tu sighed, smiled, and shook his head: "This is truly... a test of life."
"In that case, I'll tell the leaders about this, and then... let everyone choose for themselves."
The leaders of Washington State remained silent for a long time after listening to Minister Tu's report.
However, he did not remain silent for long, because time does not allow humans to hesitate or remain silent.
Ultimately, this discovery was communicated to all of Washington state by its leaders as part of the Washington State Bulletin.
...
Ladies and gentlemen, these are our findings.
The survival of the nation rests on this moment, and depends on every citizen.
We have no right to ask anyone to give up their life at this time.
The final decision is entirely up to you.
It is hoped that the sacrifice of the brave will not have been in vain, and that the living will carry on the legacy of the departed.
I have personally visited the Forbidden City to pay my respects. May the Chinese nation continue its profound and enduring legacy.
!!
When Gou Fugui heard the last sentence on the radio, he looked at the sky with disbelief, a sky that had recently opened up for them.
Then, he saw a helicopter surrounded by countless birds heading into the huge crack that appeared in the sky above the capital!
He opened his mouth as if to shout something, but his throat felt as if it were being tightly choked, and he couldn't make a sound.
Until the helicopter disappeared into the huge crevice, it was never seen again.
Gou Fugui closed his eyes.
This scene was witnessed by many Washington residents who were also looking up at the sky.
And it spread rapidly.
Gou Fugui doesn't know what others are thinking now, how many people are shocked, how many are struggling, and how many have already made up their minds.
He only saw that after that helicopter passed, a dozen or so more helicopters followed without hesitation, heading straight for the Sky Rift.
Each helicopter has a bright red five-pointed star on it.
"Hehe, actually this is quite good." Minister Tu said, standing up.
"Compared to waiting to die without any value, being able to contribute to the future of Washington State is enough."
Gou Fugui's pupils constricted as he looked at Minister Tu. The latter saw his expression, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder: "No need for that expression. This isn't a bad thing."
"Moreover, we had been thinking about this day ever since we put on this uniform."
"Well, you're not a soldier, just a temporary worker I specially recruited."
Minister Tu smiled and said, "You're fired now. You're a talented person, so for the future, stay until the end."
Gou Fugui closed his eyes.
He didn't know what to say, whether to be angry or relieved.
But he knew he couldn't stop the person in front of him.
An hour later, Gou Fugui saw his comrades walking out of the command room side by side with smiles on their faces.
Even those who said they would accompany him and travel the world with him abandoned him and left with Song Feng and Song Sanchuan after Minister Tu left.
Even when he embraced him for the last time, the strength seemed to be melting into his very bones, even when his voice was hoarse and his eyes held a heart-wrenching intensity of emotion.
But he still turned around without hesitation and left with his team.
But she firmly refused to let him come along.
"You survive."
"Yuanyuan, the world's consciousness loves you, you will definitely survive."
"Then, live a good life. I... I'll travel the world with you in my next life."
Gou Fugui stared at his retreating figure with bloodshot eyes, and finally let out a cold laugh.
Who cares about talking about the next life with you?
Such partings and choices are unfolding in many parts of Washington State at this time.
Even other countries around the world quickly understood this sacrificial method of self-preservation.
The world is testing humanity in the cruelest way.
The final answer awaits.
"Why do something so obviously suicidal?! Aren't the animals enough to fill the holes? Why do I have to fill them with people too?! And are the institute's reports even accurate? One billion people are being sacrificed for four hundred million lives, why should I die?!"
"Yeah, I'm only twenty-five! I'm still young, I don't want to die! If anyone's going to die, it'll be someone else! I'm only six years older than eighteen!"
"I'm only in my thirties, I can still have more children! Just give me a wife and I can have eight or nine more, isn't that worth more than a baby?"
...
"Ah, I've lived long enough. It's time for me to contribute to the future of my grandson and China."
"Let's go, let's go, being a corporate slave for thirty years is exhausting! Now I can finally leave work early! I hope I can be reborn into a better family in my next life!"
...
"Mom and Dad, where are you going?! Don't you want me and my brother anymore?"
"Of course not, Mom and Dad have to do something very important. You have to listen to your brother and grow up well. Remember that Mom and Dad love you both. We love you very, very much."
"Do we really have to go?"
"You absolutely must go. We must live up to our beliefs."
...
Different answers were submitted, and humans are always more complex than animals and plants.
However, human figures soon appeared around those huge cracks.
At least at this moment, the choice to live transcends race, and is so consistent.
The cracks in the world are shrinking.
But life on Earth is also rapidly decreasing.
The command hall was now empty. Gou Fugui sat by the window, and then finally stood up.
"sister,"
Zheng Ronghua tossed her hair lightly: "Alright, so you've finally decided to leave?"
Gou Fugui laughed.
"I was thinking about how to persuade you to come down, but then I thought, let's do it together."
Those who stay behind may survive, but sometimes it is the ones who suffer the most.
A billion lives is no easy feat. Rather than waiting in fear and uncertainty until the end, it's better to simply demand an ending.
The moment they made their decision, their figures vanished from the spot in the next instant—
It was as if the world already knew their choice and had given them a direct path.
...
Gou Fugui believed that he should feel nothing after death.
However, he discovered that he could still open his eyes and even spin around in place.
When I opened my eyes, all I saw was a blank white expanse.
He didn't know where he was.
But he soon found out—
Use your little world to mend this world. Would you?
You will lose your qualification to become a god, you will lose your eternal life, and you will lose your great power.
It was the world consciousness that was communicating with him.
What's there to hesitate about?!
[Damn it, you should have said so earlier! If you had, I would have been the first to jump into the crack! My happiness is worth the happiness of countless others!]
The Ninth World: [...]
You don't know what you've lost.
That is a new world, a collection of the primal power of every world. And you will be the ruler of this new world.
Gou Fugui waved his hand: "What's the point of me being a creator god? This world is good, I'm good now, and it's good for the people I care about to live even better lives."
Don't waste any more time; the longer it goes on, the more people will die! Take everything I have; consider it a way of giving back to life.
After all, it hasn't been easy for you to get this far.
The Ninth World: [...]
A strong wave of dizziness washed over me.
Gou Fugui felt as if something had been stripped away from his soul.
He seemed to see his lovely little world suddenly become boundless, and then overlap with every corner of the world.
When the two worlds overlapped, both the enormous rift that devoured life and the disappearing black holes in the Americas and Japan vanished in an instant.
It was as if a five-colored stone, covering everything, had mended the collapsing world.
When Gou Fugui opened his eyes again, the sky was azure and the earth was lush and green.
The air was filled with the cheerful chirping of birds, and the sweet fragrance of flowers filled the air.
This is a beautiful world without the apocalypse.
"Yuanyuan?!"
"Little brother!!"
And then there's the person he loves.
[End of text]
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