Chapter 118 "I Hate You" "I Love You"
*
As Xia Pingan greeted him, a new group of troops appeared behind him. I looked at them for a long time before I recognized them as players. They were covered with dense blue data streams, like countless cursed maggots. Others didn't seem to notice anything unusual. The data streams surged and spread, eroding the surroundings at a subtle speed.
The world stopped at this moment. The people fighting each other looked like sculptures, and the hideous expressions on their faces were clearly visible. The blade hanging high in the air was stuck in the air and stopped falling. The magic lines paused without knowing it. Only Neil and I were able to move.
"They are being assimilated into this world. Once the data streams are fully merged, these people will become NPCs of this world." Mastermind Remiel said in my ear, "I think I know what Xia Pingan is going to do."
I looked at Xia Ping'an and answered in my heart: "I know that too."
How arrogant, how presumptuous.
——He wanted to merge the two worlds into one.
Xia Pingan looked down at everything on the ground, his black hair blowing in the wind. I stared at him: "Long time no see, I didn't expect this to happen. I thought we got along well."
"We do get along well. After all, we are one person. I should thank you. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have awakened and remembered those real memories. I wouldn't have understood what I really wanted to do."
Xia Pingan chuckled, and the tone and accent of his speech were exactly the same as mine. It was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. He glanced at the person behind me, as if pointing to something.
"You know what? Lies are like onions, peeling off in circles, tears in circles. Once you peel off the first layer, the rest can no longer be concealed."
Let me try, I can destroy your identities, your friends, and your memories.
His eyes were full of ridicule, which made me tense. The breath of death burst out, covering every corner of the battlefield. Many people were directly drained of their vitality, and I immediately protected them. A faint glow lingered, and warmth spread. I could feel Samuel injecting more divine power into my body, outlining the surrounding light and shadow.
Xia Ping'an stood motionless, and a dark and gloomy aura flowed throughout every corner of the battlefield.
This scene was like looking in a mirror. I could react immediately to every move he made, and similarly, every reaction I made was within his expectations, just like a reflection in the mirror. We were both helpless against each other.
But it's not just us here.
Neil flapped his wings and flew up, spitting out blazing dragon flames. He crouched beside me, staring at Xia Pingan warily. Odysseus quietly walked behind me, the longbow in his hand already condensed into arrows. Sean silently warned the beast god's followers, and would bite off their throats if they made any unusual movements.
"This is not the end. Do you think you can compete with me like this? Relying on those people behind you? Come on, you don't trust them that much." Xia Pingan smiled instead, "We are the same. We all only believe in ourselves - let me tell them the things that you dare not say."
It’s over.
The bomb that had been unsaid for a long time finally exploded at this moment.
"He is lying to you. Do you really know him? Are the memories you created really real? If he really believes in you, why doesn't he tell you the truth?"
"This world is an illusion. Whether it is inside the game or outside the game, it is all just simulated by the main brain. The life that all of you have lived here is fake. Let me think, where should I start?"
Xia Ping'an's cheerful voice sounded like a curse, full of hatred and distortion towards everything. He spoke slowly and methodically to everyone, word by word.
"Kazhuo, you are actually an idol singer who is very popular in the galaxy. You fell into a coma due to the collapse of your mental power. Neil, you come from a noble family. Because of the conspiracy of your enemies, you were poisoned, which caused your mental power to collapse and you became a vegetable."
"Sean, you are indeed the number one star pirate on the bounty list, but because of the influence of the star tide rays, your mental power was damaged and you became a vegetable. Samuel, an excellent doctor from a wealthy family, suffered mental damage due to a family genetic disease. And you, Odysseus - an outstanding writer and musician, was injured by an overly radical fan, which caused mental problems."
This storm instantly swept everyone's throat. Odysseus' pupils suddenly shrank to the size of a needle, and Sean's expression was stiff and unbelievable. Neil listened blankly, and Kajol looked ugly. As the story was told, the thin glimmer formed a human figure and fell beside me, revealing Samuel's face.
"There was a problem with your mental power, so you were stuffed into a machine. This mental power repair machine is very powerful. There is only one in the entire galaxy. In this machine, your mental power will be slowly repaired - this is its original function. But the mastermind invaded this machine and reshaped the machine program with your mental power. Now, the two worlds are merging, and the code in the machine is spreading like a virus to other electronic programs, constantly absorbing more mental power."
Everything was silent, like the closing of a theatre performance.
He said everything I knew and didn't know. The gaze from below was like a substance, piercing my skin.
"Is what he said true, Parka?"
Samuel finally spoke, and several pairs of eyes fell on me. Some were in disbelief, some were stunned, some were struggling...
The secrets hidden deep in my heart were exposed to the sunlight, and I didn't know how to explain them. I swallowed, my head buzzing: "I——"
In a flash, the mastermind Remiel suddenly said, "Be careful!"
I groaned as the invisible sword pierced my chest. Sean rushed towards me, his expression full of panic and confusion. Everything happened too fast, and I fell down. The long golden hair gradually dissipated.
The next second, I turned into a cat in front of Xia Pingan.
With a meow, she fell into his arms.
*
Going back in time, I let the cat out before going to the battlefield.
"Will this work? Xia Ping'an is not stupid, how can he not tell that this is not me?"
"It's true that ordinary people can't do this, but it's different for a cat. It was created for you, and with the two of us covering it, it won't be a problem."
Mastermind Remiel analyzed the situation calmly as always, and Kazhuo nodded in approval: "Besides, with you controlling the projection yourself, and Samuel's cooperation, there will definitely be no problem."
"...Okay, if anything happens, retreat immediately and wait for me to come back, okay? And you two--" I looked at Sean and Neil. "Don't rush too far forward, be careful. Remiel, Odysseus, I'll leave them to you."
The reliable Knight Commander and the cool and reliable elf nodded at the same time and responded to my words.
I patiently gave them many instructions, and after seeing that they remembered everything, I raised the cat. Before I could say anything, she slapped me on the mouth.
"Too long-winded, annoying."
I had no choice but to shut up in grievance.
*
At that time, I never thought that Xia Ping'an would directly overturn the table, so now I am completely dumbfounded.
The connection with the cat was broken. I opened my eyes. The familiar scene came into view, but I could only think about their expressions I had just seen.
If I were given another chance, I would definitely not delay it until now. Is there anything that cannot be explained in person? It's like work. Why should I delay the task until the deadline and find that there are problems everywhere?
I took a deep breath and realized that my spine was slightly numb. How strange! Was I worried about being left behind?
I squatted on the ground and thought for a long time, feeling like a lonely dog.
Until I heard someone say "suck suck suck" to me.
Veins popped up on my forehead, all the sadness I had originally felt was gone, and I raised my head aggressively, looking for who was being mean.
Since I accepted the mission, I haven't been back to my own kingdom of God for a long time. It is still the same as I remember it, the silent river surges forward, but the flowers on both sides have withered. The cold almost freezes the air, the boats on the boats disappeared, and only a few skeletons are left in the water.
I looked around and immediately found the different one.
"Your disguise is too half-hearted. How can a skull floating in the river read comics?"
The skeleton reading the comic closed the book in his hand and snorted, "It's so boring here. What's the point if I can't even read comics? It's better than going out and finding someone else taking over the throne."
"...You can just write my name."
"Come on, now when I write your name I don't know whether to call that adult or you. If I offend you I'll get stabbed at most, but if I offend Him I'll die."
"Excuse me, you are already dead."
The bearded man looked at me with a fake smile: "Can you speak? If not, just shut up. It's not too late to turn back now. There are things prepared for you inside."
"In that case, wouldn't it be a shame not to go and take a look? Since I'm your god, can't you just turn a blind eye and let me go?"
The bearded man finally showed a smile, and he stepped out of the water: "You obviously know that's impossible. I've followed you for so long, when have I ever retreated without a fight?"
"We have to fight?"
"Unless I die."
"That can't be helped."
I will not stop here, and the bearded man will not give up. He has his persistence, and I have mine. Bright light flows out from my palm: "Yes, you will always be my invincible number one follower, so I really don't want to fight with you. My invincible hero. Think positively, get past me, and you will see the dawn."
*
A minute later, I looked at the bearded man who fell down with a cry of "Ouch", and my face was filled with black lines.
"Is this your integrity to retreat without a fight?"
The bearded man grinned: "Just tell me whether I fought or not."
I was speechless for a moment.
"Don't give me that look, we're even."
The bearded man laughed, just like every day before. I had been slacking off in the Kingdom of God for hundreds of years and had joked with him countless times. I was used to his playful and smiling face. I was a little uncomfortable with him suddenly being so serious.
The bearded man was already tall, and when he frowned, he looked very intimidating. He took a step forward and knelt on one knee in front of me. His body gradually faded, but his voice was loud and solemn. It was as pious as a prayer.
“May all your wishes come true.”
Thousands of years ago, there was a hero famous in all countries. He spent his whole life chasing after battles and eventually died on the battlefield.
At that time, autumn was in full swing. The mountains and plains were covered with blood-stained forests.
I fell before the dying hero and whispered to him, "You have been defeated in the battle of life, but for death, everything is just beginning. Shining soul, are you willing to become my believer?"
He was covered in blood and wounds. He was a hero who had accomplished many great deeds, but he was also a traitor who had committed many crimes. He looked up at the corner of my robe, laughing and spitting blood.
"So that's it, so that's it! I didn't know about the unusual dream last night until I woke up at dawn and my beloved wife accidentally broke my button. Then I knew that today would be the day I would die."
"I once vowed to create a great cause, so that the world would remember my name. Death - you can judge me. Can the life of this vulgar mortal be passed down to the future generations, so that everyone knows my name?"
"Your name will live on through the ages, and your story will live forever. You will become a hero and a demon in the mouths of poets, some will fear your fame, and others will worship you as a believer. From now on, your infamy and fame will flow through the world forever."
A skeleton emerged where he disappeared, and then these skeletons formed a long road, a passage leading to the other side of the river. I walked along this long road, and the toes of my shoes tapped the ground, making a clear sound.
The scent of benzoin, elderflower, and red spider lily blended together and wafted out from the cracks in the bones. At people's funerals, red bean-like coral beads would fall all over the ground, guiding the way for the dead and the direction for the god of death. I saw the azure data stream slowly enveloping these corpses, assimilating them into part of this world.
Then I saw the CD player, sitting on a rock by the river, looking at me quietly. The gem-like scales shimmered faintly in the darkness, and the sound sounded like a dream.
"There is a trap ahead, do you still want to move forward?"
"Can I get what I want here?"
"I don't know, but if it's you, I will pray for you. As a believer in the god of death, I must stop you here. But as someone who has always been by your side, I hope you can defeat me and move on to a better future."
Xia Ping'an knew very well that the believers of the Kingdom of God would not harm me.
The bearded man and the CD player both knew my identity, and the others who didn't know would listen to them. After all, these two were considered leaders among my followers.
So his purpose in arranging these people is very simple, just to make trouble for me.
I have to say that the person who knows oneself best is oneself. Seeing them standing opposite me, I really felt uncomfortable.
I remember all the believers in the Kingdom of God and their entire lives. When they appeared in front of me, said blessings one by one, and then died for me, I felt indescribably complicated. At the same time, I also realized more clearly that even if Xia Pingan and I had the same origin, we were completely different.
Whenever these little humans chant my name, they do so not to judge, but to pray. Death is a river that never dries up, dividing the boundary between life and death.
I am the only boatman in the river. Xia Pingan would find it troublesome, but I am obsessed with finding the differences in those sounds and respecting the decline of every flower.
As I went deeper, fog gradually filled the air around me, making me feel drunk.
Some scenes flashed through my mind intermittently. They were memories from dreams and also belonged to my past self.
It was still the same shabby little house. I didn't look that old in the dream, but the material in my hand had changed. The old man smiled as he watched me make the contact. The light filled his wrinkles like a river shining with golden light. His voice was warm and soothing.
"Grandpa doesn't ask for anything from you, he just hopes you can be happy. But in this world, even this little wish is hard to come true. Every formula you learn now will help you in the future."
“1 and 0 are easier to understand than human hearts, and programs are more trustworthy than words. As long as you treat them sincerely, they will definitely give you rewards.”
I nodded vigorously: "I know! Because AI won't lie, only humans will lie, just like mom and dad."
The old man's expression froze for a moment. His lips moved, but in the end he said nothing. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "What a sin, what a sin."
His voice gradually faded away. I walked slowly inside, and the scene in front of me kept changing.
Various scenes passed by me, like a series of short films, but it made me feel like I was actually there.
"When grandpa dies, your parents will definitely come to share my inheritance. Don't be afraid, grandpa has already made a will, and all these things are yours. You are a good child, and you are the one I am most worried about. Xiaohei and Xiaobai, to me, you are also my children. You must take good care of Ping An and take good care of yourselves..."
The scene jumped to a scene where two balls were floating in the air. I was a head taller than before, staring at them stubbornly, my eyes reddened: "You promised Grandpa that you would take care of me! You can't abandon me! Even if we die, we must die together!"
Black Ball said: "You are no longer a child."
Bai Qiu said, "If we don't go with them, you will die. After you die, we will still be recycled and your life will be wasted."
"I don't care - this is an order, don't disobey me!"
The two balls touched each other lightly, looking helpless: "We have to leave, but if you want to see us, you can..."
Fragmented images flickered and kept jumping downwards.
Finally, I saw something different.
The world is distorting and changing, with holes appearing one after another. The scenes of the outside world are constantly flowing,
There were strands of flocs floating in it, and when I walked closer I saw that they were made of data. They came from inside the void. I stood in front of the largest void and saw a familiar figure sleeping inside.
After searching for it everywhere, I finally found it without any effort.
I tried to transfer my strength to her, and shouted at her with all my strength: "Wake up, or your house will be destroyed if you don't get up."
I tried several times, but she remained indifferent. I realized that this was because the code was controlled, and I couldn't help but sigh: "Is there any way?"
"Yes...let's go...right away..."
Mastermind Samuel was talking, like a cassette tape, and then suddenly broke. A calm and gentle voice sounded behind me.
"Give up. I won't let you take her away."
Michael's voice was like a sigh, with a hint of melancholy between his eyebrows. He looked at me quietly, and his tone reminded me of the Knight Commander.
I stood in front of the hole: "You know I can't retreat."
"Then I can only attack you."
"Michael, why did you choose Xia Pingan?"
"He has the real you's memories, and you are an NPC who grew up in the game. To us, he is the real you. And to Remiel and the others, they recognize you more, because memories will merge, and you represent hope for the future."
Michael smiled, an indescribable, bitter smile.
"No matter what, Lucifer and I will choose Xia Ping'an. In this world, everyone has a home, so those who are trapped by the past also need companionship. I want to realize every one of your dreams. Remiel will help you realize some of them, and the rest will be realized by us for Xia Ping'an."
"That's it."
I took a step back and stood at the edge of the hole. Michael's pupils suddenly contracted, realizing what I wanted to do.
The hole immediately began to shrink, but before that could happen, I had already jumped.
This world was created for me. There is only one ending for Xia Pingan and me, and that is fusion. I am immersed in his memories, and I think Xia Pingan's situation is similar, otherwise how would he know the truth that I didn't tell others.
The only difference is who is in charge. None of us wants to disappear. Even the two of us think so. Will the mastermind hurt me?
It couldn't be—on the contrary, he had to come and save me.
I was sinking, and in a blink of an eye I was next to the goddess of nature. When I got closer, I realized that it was no wonder that she ignored me, she was sealed in a glass ball. I picked up the huge glass ball. A crack appeared above my head. A tiny light flowed in. Michael was opening this blocked area.
And this is the best time.
A hand suddenly grabbed my arm. He pulled hard and pulled me over.
The game exit button lit up at the edge of my vision, and I pressed it immediately.
*
A long road of data flows unfolded before me. I walked along the road to the end and saw a small door. I pushed it open and stepped into a familiar office.
The French window opposite the door took up an entire wall, overlooking the entire city. The mastermind Remiel had his back to me, staring at the vast landscape below. I walked up to him and was shocked.
There were holes of different sizes scattered on the streets and in the air, and a town from another world could be vaguely seen. There were very few people walking on the streets, and the sirens echoed harshly in the streets and alleys of the city. The people in that world were unaware of anything through the illusory space.
"The two worlds are about to merge, and we have to make a decision before that. Between you and Xia Pingan, who will stay?"
Mastermind Remiel said softly. He was still wearing a neat black suit, with a stern expression. I couldn't help but poke him in the back: "Can you change your face?"
"......" He glanced at me, turned around, held my hand, and put it in my pocket. "Don't touch me, you should go back. The Goddess of Nature is an important NPC in another world. Staying here for a long time will accelerate the fusion and collapse of the world."
"So what do we do here?"
"I'll take care of it. But the most important thing is still up to you. This is something that only you can solve. The essence of this world is data and mental power. So, what counts as a win?"
I was stunned for a moment, and immediately realized why he said that: "...those who have more emotions and more data support are the masters of this world."
"Yes, that's why they approach you and are attracted to you. This is a program that was set from the beginning - but humans are very strange creatures. They look for rationality in emotional creatures, and crave emotional madness in the program. Even if everything originated from the initial setting, there have been different answers in the continuation and development. So don't doubt whether you are qualified to be loved, just think about how to solve the problem."
I smiled bitterly: "Even you are trying to comfort me like this, I'm afraid Odysseus and the others were blown up pretty hard."
Remiel didn't deny it, "At least the other one doesn't bother me. Kajol and Samuel seem to be fine. The others will require your concern."
I turned my head and looked at the huge glass ball version of the goddess of nature, a little hesitant: "At least I'm taking her with me... Samuel should be okay, right?"
...Are you okay? I helped them rescue the goddess!
*
I took back what I said until the moment Odysseus grabbed my neck and pinned me to the ground.
*
It all starts with me returning to the game.
The mastermind, Remiel, quickly sent me and the ball back into the game.
The place we returned to was exactly the Elf Forest, and I finally released the goddess of nature from the glass ball.
The sun shone on her face. The goddess of nature stretched and opened her eyes.
Unlike the delicate and elegant beauty she liked, He was actually a sturdy and sharp warrior. His strong thighs were exposed under the well-fitting armor, wild and proud.
"Who are you, my new believer?"
"...Why are you still so narcissistic, you stupid woman."
"Oh, so you are Parka. Die!"
"Bah! I worked so hard to bring you out here, and this is how you repay me for saving your life?"
The goddess of nature immediately recognized my identity and turned hostile to me faster than turning the pages of a book. We insulted each other tit for tat and finally chose to cooperate. If Samuel and I broke up because of betrayal, then the goddess of nature and I just didn't see eye to eye. We could curse each other to the ground.
We both cursed at each other and finally attracted people around us.
The first person to arrive was Odysseus.
Seeing her own son, the goddess of nature's face was like a flower blooming. Before she could say anything to express her blessing, Odysseus strode towards me. There was no expression on his handsome face. I subconsciously took a step back, and he suddenly sneered. It was the first time I saw him release an aura that could freeze people to death. This made me stuck in place, not daring to move.
"You still have some sense."
Odysseus said coldly, grabbing my collar and walking back the way we came. He ignored the goddess of nature the whole time. The latter pinched her face, with a hint of confusion in her eyes. As if she couldn't believe it.
Strange, why is my Son ignoring me?
I would like to ask too.
Goddess of Nature, why don't you take care of your son? He's almost strangled me to death! !
*
Odysseus dragged me into his tree house. The elves we met on the road were stunned, but no one dared to stop the elf saint with a frosty face.
I struggled and tried to persuade him: "Odysseus, please talk to me nicely. Don't get excited."
Odysseus said without even turning his head: "Shut up."
I shut up.
Odysseus threw me to the ground, his face cold. He slammed the door and pulled the curtains, which looked wrong. Before I could figure out how to calm his anger, the elf suddenly pressed me to the ground and strangled me with both hands.
"Seeing me worrying and blaming myself for your affairs, are you happy to lie to me? I am a joke, you play two roles and play me in the palm of your hand. I am really ridiculous."
He really wanted to strangle me to death. The veins on the back of my hand bulged and turned red from the force. My face turned red from the suffocation. Odysseus strangled me tightly, and only let go of his hand in vain after a long while, and asked me in a hoarse voice.
"Why don't you resist? Even if I strangle you to death, is it just a joke in your eyes? Do you think I won't do it, or do you think I deserve to be teased by you?"
"Odysseus..."
I held his face in my hands and pressed my forehead against his as I panted.
"I didn't mean to... deceive you. Please forgive me. I just didn't know how to tell you."
My long golden hair gradually turned black, and I revealed the face he hated the most. Then, in Odysseus's shocked eyes, it changed back again.
"From the very beginning, it was me you met. That child was me, and the Dark Son you hated was me. I just didn't find a suitable reason to leave at the time, and later I didn't dare to tell you. I thought we would never see each other again. When we met again, I had grown from a child to what I am now. I don't know how to make you believe me and stop hating me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
I apologized repeatedly, my voice was intermittent, tears dripped down my face. Odysseus didn't wait for me to finish, he lowered his head and bit my lips hard.
"You owe me this... You have to pay me back in full."
I was sweating from the pain, but I couldn't resist those eyes full of hatred. Why did it turn out like this?
Tangled, blurred, crazy, painful, and uncontrolled.
I didn't know what to think anymore. The only thing in my dizzy mind was his voice repeating over and over again.
"I hate you."
"I love you."
Elves are a noble and pure race. Love is pure, and hate is also pure.
Until death, never give up.
*
The world is about to end, why would anyone want to make love.
The next morning, I lay on the bed, puzzled.
Odysseus sat beside me and dressed, his slender white fingers covered with thin calluses, buttoning up the clothes one by one. The silver-gray cloth covered the scratched skin, hiding the sensuality under the meticulous light armor.
I coughed deliberately, but the elf ignored me. I leaned over and poked his back again, and Odysseus finally turned his head to look at me, his lips pressed into a straight line. His eyelashes drooped slightly, forming a beautiful arc with the corners of his eyes. His eyes were cold and sharp, like thick dark green glass.
I shrank my head. Well, it was all my fault, there was nothing I could say. I asked him carefully, "Odysseus, are you still angry?"
"Stay here and don't go anywhere. I'm going to see the goddess."
Odysseus ignored my question, sneered to himself, and walked out of the door expressionlessly. I could only lie on the bed alone, silently casting a recovery spell on myself. Tears were streaming down my face.
This is just the first one. What will I become after I have coaxed them all?
But even so, I still have to solve the troubles I have caused myself. I don't want to be hated by them, and if just accepting the punishment can make them calm down, that would of course be the best option.
So even if I could leave, I couldn't leave if Odysseus wouldn't let me.
Odysseus's room is neatly decorated. It looks simple, but in fact, the corners are decorated with precious gems, making the whole room elegant and natural. I walked around the room a few times and suddenly found that the vase on the bookshelf was not right. According to my experience, this must be a secret door.
I didn't expect the tree house to have a secret room. I twisted the vase, and a secret door appeared in the corner, with a magic certificate attached. These things are a piece of cake for me. I pushed the door open easily and went in. The opening of the door brought a gust of wind, and I saw the paper falling like snow.
The fluttering portraits and words intertwined, occupying my vision. In this dim room, there was only one magic lamp, and the dim light fell on the papers, and the delicate brushstrokes reflected the gilded lines. Every page had my name written on it, and every page had my appearance drawn on it.
I stood there, stunned.
There was the sound of a door opening behind me.
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