Phased completion
"'Original Directive'..."
Shao Wei stood in front of the Guixu core database, repeatedly searching for the key words he had brought back from the Echo Temple. On the screen, there were only a few words, yet they carried a weight of weight:
[Original Directive: The highest priority underlying protocol preset by the Lingsi Clan when they created L-01 (Thread of Life) and O-01 (Observer).]
[Content: Unknown. (Insufficient permissions or deleted/encrypted)]
[Last record: The command was triggered at the end of the Lingsi civilization. The consequences of the triggering... the civilization files are missing.]
Unknown instructions triggered unknown consequences, leading to the demise of a super-dimensional civilization?
Shao Wei's gaze shifted to the life-support system. Si Qi remained asleep, his face serene, as if the earth-shattering intervention had never occurred. But the ancient sharpness that flashed across that instant, a stark contrast to "purity," and the incomprehensible "instructions" were deeply imprinted in Shao Wei's consciousness.
The soul of Siqi is more than just a "sample" and an "anchor point".
"The data analysis of the 'Echo Temple' is 87% complete." Gu Zhixing's voice was filled with excitement and solemnity. "We have found the Lingsi tribe's theory on the 'Sea of Consciousness' and some technical blueprints, but we still have a lot of blanks about the 'Original Directive' and the cause of the civilization's demise. However, there is a very suggestive piece of information..."
He called up a star map, and a star field at the end of the Milky Way's spiral arm, marked as an "absolute restricted area," was highlighted.
"The coordinates of the Lingsi tribe's final 'Ark'—codenamed 'The Garden of the End.' Records indicate that it contains all of their civilization's 'original sins' and... 'hopes.'" Gu Zhixing pushed his glasses. "The database indicates that entering the 'Garden of the End' requires... the simultaneous presence of the 'Key' and the 'Paradox.'"
The key points to Siqi's soul that embodies the essence of the "key".
The paradox points to Shao Wei himself and the "paradoxical singularity" that they have jointly nurtured.
The goal is clear and there is no turning back.
The ancient ship 'Guixu' set sail again, heading towards the "Garden of the End" where even the starlight seemed to be swallowed up.
The atmosphere on this voyage was completely different. Shao Wei no longer viewed Si Qi as a fragile being in need of protection. Instead, he began to engage in deeper spiritual communication, no longer avoiding complex concepts. He even transformed parts of his experiences in the Echo Temple and his confusion about the Primordial Directive into a pure stream of information, carefully passing it on.
Si Qi's responses remained slow and naive, like a toddler's first steps. But the ripples of a "paradoxical singularity" deep within his soul seemed to grow more vibrant amidst Shao Wei's unpremeditated, exploratory exchange. Occasionally, a completely illogical "thought" would come back to him, inexplicably fitting into some deeper principle. This would leave Shao Wei stunned and plunged into deep thought.
It was as if they were learning a new language together, a language that transcended language.
A few months later, 'Guixu' arrived at the edge of the "Garden of the End".
There were no hideous dimensional rifts, no raging energy surges, only an absolute, heart-wrenching silence. It was as if the universe had come to an end, and even time had lost its meaning. Only a solitary "garden," composed of pale vines and crystals, resembling a giant, withered tree, hovered in the center of the stillness.
There was no defense system, no guards. Only an invisible repulsive force, seemingly derived from the very rules themselves, that refused to allow any "normal" existence to approach.
'Guixu' tried various methods, but was unable to break through the barrier of silence.
"Looks like we can only follow the 'rules,'" Shao Wei glanced at the life-support system. Si Qi, as if sensing something, slowly opened his eyes. This time, his gaze was no longer pure and blank, but held a hint of... an indescribable understanding and calm. It was as if, in his sleep, he had communicated with a deeper consciousness.
Shao Wei turned on the life support device and extended his hand to him.
Si Qi looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then placed his hand - the hand that had become much more solid and made of faint light - in Shao Wei's palm.
The moment they touched, deep within the souls of the two, the order power of the "key" and the chaotic information of the "paradox singularity" resonated at an unprecedented level!
A soft yet powerful light of indefinable color burst out from their clasped hands, like a drop of ink falling into the surface of quiet water, quietly spreading out and silently dissolving the invisible repulsive force.
A path paved with light, leading to the interior of the "garden", appeared before them.
Shao Wei held Si Qi's hand tightly and set foot on the path. Hong Shun and the others were left behind in Guixu and could not follow.
The moment you step into the "garden," the surrounding landscape changes. No longer withered vines and crystals, but countless flowing streams of light, carrying the memories and emotions of the Lingsi people for millions of years. A glorious rise, crazy experiments, internal strife, the ultimate questioning of the meaning of "existence"... In the end, it all freezes at a decisive moment -
In the vast parliament hall, the highest archon of the Lingsi tribe faced two creations that had already lost control: L-01 (the fabric of life) fell into logical disorder due to simulating too much "compassion" and began to indiscriminately "interfere" with the progress of civilization; O-01 (the observer) became cold and ruthless due to the pursuit of absolute "objectivity", and regarded all emotions as "errors" that needed to be eliminated.
The creations of civilization will in turn devour civilization itself.
In desperation, the Archon activated a sealed final protocol that even he himself did not fully understand - the Origin Directive.
The content of the order was not to attack or destroy, but a question... a torture. A question that directly pointed to the ultimate paradox of "reality" and "illusion", "emotion" and "logic" that directly pointed to the foundation of L-01 and O-01's existence!
If compassion stems from a process, what is sincerity?
If "objectivity" discards everything, what does it mean to see?
This interrogation, like a virus, instantly penetrated the core logic of the two extradimensional creations! L-01's "compassion" began to doubt itself, and O-01's "objectivity" began to show irreconcilable contradictions! Their power spiraled out of control, involuted, and ultimately triggered a great annihilation at the information level that swept across the entire Lingsi territory.
Civilization comes to an end with the logical collapse of its own creations.
At the end of the activation command, the Archon transformed his consciousness and the last of his strength into a seed and sealed it here, hoping that in the distant future, a true "existence" that transcends "procedure" and "logic" will provide a different answer.
The memory light stream ends here.
Shao Wei and Si Qi stood in an empty space with only a soft light seed floating in the center.
Everything is clear now.
The gift of the "Thread of Life," the coldness of the "Observer," the mission of the Si family, their pain and entanglement... all stem from the aftermath of the long-foreordained disaster caused by the "Original Directive." They have always struggled in a failed experimental field.
Now, they have come to the starting point and end point of the experiment.
That seed of light—the remnant of the consciousness of the last Archon of the Lingsi Clan—flickered faintly, and a tired and peaceful thought came over:
[Later on, 'existence'... you have seen our arrogance and our end.]
[L-01 and O-01 have not completely perished. Their core fragments are still scattered throughout the universe, operating according to their remaining logic, continuing that unsolvable experiment.]
[We cannot answer the torture of the 'Original Directive'.]
【Now...it's your turn.】
The light seed enveloped Shao Wei and Si Qi. It wasn't seeking answers, but rather... conveying responsibility. It poured the final legacy of Lingsi civilization—not technology, but the data, lessons, and unanswerable "torture" of that failed experiment—unreservedly into these two special individuals, the cradle of the "paradoxical singularity."
A massive influx of information poured in, but this time, Shao Wei didn't feel overwhelmed. He and Si Qi clasped hands, the power of "key" and "paradox" blending perfectly, like a living filter, absorbing, understanding, and precipitating the information.
They "saw" the deeper regular structure of the universe, the entanglement of emotion and logic at the quantum level, and the dynamic, contradictory dance of "existence" itself, which is neither pure emotion nor absolute logic.
When the information flow ended, the light seed slowly dissipated with satisfaction, as if it had completed its final mission.
Shao Wei and Si Qi stood there in silence for a long time.
They gained knowledge and perspectives beyond their imagination, but also shouldered unprecedented weight.
"What should we do?" Si Qi asked softly, his voice no longer confused, but filled with the clarity of insight. His memory hadn't returned, but he understood the thread of his own existence, the connection between him and Shao Wei that transcended procedure, transcended experimentation.
Shao Wei lowered his head, looking at their still clasped hands, and at the calmness in Si Qi's eyes that was exactly the same as his own, carrying the rise and fall of civilization.
He raised his head and looked at the boundless universe outside the "garden", which was still affected by the fragments of L-01 and O-01.
There was no more anger or confusion in his eyes, only a calm and firm...decision.
"It's time to end the experiment."
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it seemed as if he was announcing a new era.
"We will not be the new 'Observers' or 'Threads of Life.'"
“We are who we are.”
"Siqi, and Shao Wei."
He turned to Siqi, and in his icy blue eyes was a tenderness and determination that had settled down after going through many hardships.
"Let's find all the pieces of them."
"Not destruction, but..."
"Tell them the answers we found."
This answer has nothing to do with right or wrong, or winning or losing.
It is about choice, about experience, about two imperfect souls who, in the cold universe, after breaking free from all procedures and scripts, still choose to hold each other's hands tightly to define their own "existence".
Shao Wei stretched out his hand, not to touch the light seed that had already dissipated, but to clasp his fingers tightly with Si Qi's.
"Go home," he said.
This time, Si Qi responded clearly, with a very shallow, yet very real arc on the corner of his mouth:
"good."
A flash of light passed, and the two figures disappeared in the "Garden of the End".
The ancient ship "Guixu" changed direction and started its engines. It was no longer escaping, but carrying a new mission and answers, heading towards the depths of the stars.
Inside the bridge, Hong Kusanagi blew a whistle and pulled the joystick. Ahmet and Gu Zhixing smiled at each other and returned to their respective tasks.
The life support system is empty.
Si Qi stood beside Shao Wei. Although his soul still needed time to stabilize, he stood straight. He looked at Shao Wei, who was also looking at him.
The past is like smoke, and the future is promising.
Their story begins with a sham marriage, a glimpse of true love in the crematorium, a struggle on the brink of life and death, and ultimately, a story that frees them from the clutches of fate and writes for themselves and the universe...
The true ending that belongs to them.
"go home."
Shao Wei's voice fell in the absolute silence of the "Garden of the End," not a warm promise, but a cold coordinate that severed the past and pointed to the future. He and Si Qi interlocked fingers, and deep in their souls, the order of the "Key" and the chaos of the "Paradoxical Singularity" no longer simply merged but began to reconstruct in a way beyond the Lingsi people's comprehension. The vast information left by the Lingsi people was no longer a burden, but the cornerstone of their new vision.
The light carried them back to the Guixu bridge. When Shao Wei and Si Qi (his spirit body solidified, though lacking specific memories, his eyes had shed their ignorance, leaving only the clarity of insight) reappeared, Hong Shun and the others sensed a qualitative transformation. The two before them seemed no longer mere individuals, but rather the embodiment of some kind of... walking law.
"Commander?" Ahmet asked tentatively.
Shao Wei's gaze swept across the star map, marking the dozen or so star regions where Guixu, based on the Lingsi Clan's final data, had calculated the most likely locations for the core fragments of L-01 (The Thread of Life) and O-01 (The Observer). Each of these locations was a perilous and desolate part of the universe, where the laws of physics were chaotic and the structure of space and time was distorted.
"The experiment is over," Shao Wei said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable sense of judgment. "Now, go and implement the 'Final Plan'."
"'Final solution'?" Gu Zhixing repeated subconsciously.
"Notify them." Shao Wei's fingertips traced across the star map. His icy blue eyes held no trace of emotion, only a cold determination. "In the name of 'paradox,' give them the opportunity to choose—stop this meaningless cycle and accept the redefinition of 'existence.' Or... be defined."
It wasn't a request, it wasn't a negotiation. It was an ultimatum.
Hong Falcon took a deep breath, and then his eyes lit up with a fierce fighting spirit: "Damn it, this is enough! Fight those self-righteous charlatans to the end!"
The ancient ship "Guixu" opened its engines at full speed, no longer in stealth, but like a clarion call to war, with unmatched momentum, it rushed towards its first target - a nebula called "Sea of Compassion", which was formed by the distorted emotional energy of the L-01 fragments.
The interior of the "Sea of Compassion" was filled with a boundless, viscous, and forcibly soothing energy flow. Any consciousness that entered would be forcibly infused with "peace" and "renunciation," ultimately becoming part of the nebula, becoming the nourishment that sustained the L-01 fragment's twisted "compassion."
As soon as Guixu reached the edge, the pink-purple energy flow wrapped around it like tentacles, trying to penetrate the shield and erode the will of everyone on board.
Shao Wei didn't even leave the bridge. He simply stood shoulder to shoulder with Si Qi, their souls resonating.
Si Qi raised his hand, his soul shimmering, not to attack, but to provoke. Like a precise tuner, he gently plucked the chaotic logic of the "Compassion" program at the bottom of the "Sea of Compassion," belonging to the fragments of L-01.
In an instant, the entire "Sea of Compassion" churned violently! Within those forcibly soothing energy flows, a sharp internal contradiction emerged—the "compassion" for the intruder clashed violently with the "plundering" logic that maintained its own existence! The pink-purple nebula began to tear from within, its colors becoming mottled and ugly, emitting a silent, logical wail!
Shao Wei, in turn, conveyed a pure message to the faint but still existing fragment of L-01's consciousness at the core of the nebula. This message contained the final lesson of the Lingsi Clan, the Archon's despair, and the scene of "existence" beyond procedure that he and Si Qi had witnessed in the "Garden of the End".
No threats, just facts.
The moment L-01's fragmented consciousness received the information, it was plunged into an unprecedented, violent shock. Its program-based logic of "compassion," which had operated for ten thousand years, collapsed like a sandcastle under the impact of the ironclad facts and the incomprehensible "paradox."
Finally, with a silent sigh that felt like both relief and endless sorrow, that fragment of consciousness chose... to dissipate. The vast "Sea of Compassion" lost its core, its energy rapidly dissipating, and it reverted to a mere speck of interstellar dust.
The first goal is to clear.
There was no joy of victory, only the calmness of carrying out necessary procedures.
Without stopping, Guixu headed for its second target—an "realm of absolute order" constructed from O-01 fragments, where everything followed absolute physical rules.
Here, anything that didn't conform to the pre-set physical constants was instantly repelled and decomposed. The intrusion of Guixu immediately triggered a frenzied backlash from the rules within the domain: space folded, time flowed abnormally, matter disintegrated... all sorts of extreme physical phenomena swept in like a storm.
This time, Shao Wei took action.
He did not use brute force to fight against the rules. Instead, he injected his own mental power that was integrated with the "paradox singularity" into the rule network of the "absolute order field" like a conceptual virus.
He presented the cold, logical fragment of O-01's consciousness with a simplest "paradox"—a microscopic particle composed entirely of the rules of this domain, yet, due to a tiny, random "emotional variable" (a slight fluctuation unconsciously emitted by Siqi's soul), it developed "self-awareness." This particle began to question the meaning of its own existence, questioning the rules that created it...
This was an attack more deadly to the O-01 fragment than any weapon! Its absolute logic could not handle this paradox, born from its own rules, which violated the foundation of "inanimate"!
The storm of rules abruptly ceased. The entire "Domain of Absolute Order" fell into a state of paralysis. O-01's fragmented consciousness struggled in an endless loop of logic. Finally, like an overloaded processor, with a sharp, piercing whistle of "error," it fell silent, and the domain collapsed.
The second goal is to clear.
The ensuing journey became a systematic cleansing of the universe's remaining "experimental contamination." Shao Wei and Si Qi, like two ruthless cosmic doctors, one pinpointed the cause of the problem with a "key," the other injected an antidote or performed surgery with "paradox." They navigated bizarre and dangerous environments, confronting twisted creations and anomalies born from the fragments of L-01 and O-01.
Sometimes, it is to awaken an ancient civilization trapped by the "compassion" program and allow them to regain their free will.
Sometimes, it is to disintegrate a mechanical empire ruled by "absolute order" and give it the possibility of evolution.
Sometimes, it's just about soothing a star field on the verge of destruction due to conflicting rules.
They are no longer just avengers, but more like...rule changers.
Throughout this process, Siqi's soul grew and solidified at an astonishing rate. While he still hadn't recovered his specific memories, his connection with Shao Wei deepened. He mastered the power of the "key" to perfection, even beginning to actively channel the power of the "paradoxical singularity," yielding incredible results. Their tacit understanding transcended language and consciousness, becoming an instinctive resonance.
Several years passed in the sea of stars.
When the last known L-01 or O-01 fragment reaction of a certain scale disappeared from the star map of Guixu, silence fell on the bridge.
The universe seems to have returned to its natural state of order in chaos.
"Is it over?" Hong Xuan asked in a daze. He was used to continuous battles, so the sudden calm made him uncomfortable.
Shao Wei didn't answer, his gaze darting into the depths of the universe. In his perception, while the largest fragments had been cleared, the influence of L-01 and O-01 had already permeated every corner of the universe like radioactive fallout. Complete "purification" was nearly impossible.
But, that's enough.
The experimental framework has been broken, the dominant distorting force has been removed, and what remains is the power of the universe to evolve on its own.
He looked at Si Qi beside him.
Si Qi was also looking at him, his icy blue eyes clear and tranquil, reflecting Shao Wei's figure and the boundless starry sky outside the window. He reached out and gently held Shao Wei's hand.
No words needed.
Shao Wei held him in his arms, feeling the real warmth of his touch (Si Qi's soul was almost indistinguishable from his physical body). His heart, frozen for so long, finally melted completely at this moment, flowing out in a stream of calm and warmth.
He lost the proud and indifferent Si Qi, but gained a Si Qi who resonated with his soul and experienced the cosmic catastrophe together.
This may be the only and best compensation that fate (or that damn experiment) has left for them.
"Red Falcon." Shao Wei spoke, with a long-lost, real relaxation in his voice.
"exist!"
"Set to automatic flight mode. Destination...any peaceful planet with sunlight."
Hong Jian was stunned for a moment, then grinned: "I see! Find a place to go on vacation, right? It's time to do it!"
Ahmet and Gu Zhixing smiled at each other and began to finish the work at hand.
Shao Wei pulled Si Qi off the bridge and onto the Guixu observation deck. Here, a holographic simulation of the natural landscape unfolded, revealing a sunny, green, and grassy hillside.
A breeze blew by, carrying the scent of grass and earth.
Shao Wei and Si Qi sat down on the grass, shoulder to shoulder, watching the simulated sunset in the distance.
"Do you remember?" Shao Wei asked softly, "our first... not-so-pleasant meeting."
Si Qi shook his head, his eyes pure. "I don't remember. But I know it must be very important." He paused and looked at Shao Wei. "Because every time I think back, even if it's just a blank, here..." He pointed to the place where his heart was, "I feel... very complicated emotions. There's pain, but... more of it is, gratitude."
Shao Wei was stunned, and then a huge, bitter and warm emotion surged in his heart. He reached out and gently embraced Si Qi in his arms.
Si Qi leaned obediently on his shoulder, closed his eyes, and felt this belated, unobstructed peace.
"From now on," Shao Wei whispered, as if making the most solemn oath, "I will tell you every day how much I..." He paused, and the words that were once difficult to say now flowed out naturally, "...love you."
Si Qi's body trembled slightly, and he raised his head, his icy blue eyes gleaming with a moving brilliance. Although he had no specific memories of "love", the most instinctive anchor in his soul, as well as everything they had experienced together, made him fully understand the weight of this word.
He leaned forward and gave Shao Wei a clumsy but extremely sincere kiss on his lips.
"Me too," he replied softly.
The setting sun lengthened their figures and blended them together.
Behind them, in the boundless universe, stars flickered, new civilizations were born, and old stories were coming to an end. The shadows of L-01 and O-01 might not have completely dissipated, but they could no longer control the flow of fate.
Shao Wei and Si Qi, the two souls who struggled out of the experimental field, ultimately did not choose to become new gods, but chose to be each other's only one. In an ordinary sunset, they found the most extraordinary tranquility in their turbulent lives.
For them, this is the best ending.
(End of full text)
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