Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Yog-Sothoth was not dead.
Because the Gate of Ultimate was not shattered.
He was merely erased from the seven-dimensional universe.
And completely vanished from the Cain World, including all his anchors.
Beyond the Cain World, this universe held even vaster realms.
Now, this [Gatekeeper] was likely licking his wounds somewhere.
But regardless, all the Old Ones’ retainers in Cain had now been expelled. Those who died had perished, those who survived had fled with their tails between their legs, and no others dared to approach.
Xi Wei turned and picked up the Divine Sword of the God of Light.
The sword let out a soft hum, spun around him, and then shattered like a dandelion into countless light spots, flying towards the Cain Continent. Ultimately, it formed a brand-new Crystal Wall System, completely enveloping the Cain Continent to prevent it from being invaded by the cosmic void storm.
Xi Wei gazed at the weak yet stubborn Crystal Wall System that protected the Cain Continent, his eyes darkening slightly.
“Old man Lumina, rest in peace… Your final wish has finally been realized.”
This main god, born from Cain.
He had ultimately protected Cain until his last moment in his own way. He was as cunning as ever. The God of Death only knew how to fight the Old Ones head-on, leaving behind only a broken body. Although he had also died, he had become part of Cain’s Crystal Wall System, forever watching over every plant and tree of Cain from the Supreme Dome.
Xi Wei withdrew his gaze.
The erosion of chaos upon him had become more and more serious.
Perhaps, in a short time, he would be completely corrupted by chaos.
Before that, he had very important things to do.
He slightly lowered his head.
His gaze pierced through the endless starry sky and galaxy.
It finally settled on a planet on the verge of being devoured by the Old Ones’ power. The Crystal Wall System there was shattered, and the Old Ones’ pollution had stained the blue planet’s surface as black as ink—that was Blue Star.
…
A day in heaven is a year on Earth.
Although it wasn’t that exaggerated.
While Xi Wei was killing several Old Ones’ retainers in the Cain World, three days had already passed on Blue Star.
Too many things had happened in these three days.
In these three days, all the Level 1 and 2 players, through World Synchronization, had regained their powers and professions from the Cain World. Magic and Qi could now be used at will, and they had all become superhumans on Blue Star, their strength far surpassing that of the Corrupted Players, though they were slightly outnumbered.
In these three days, Huaxia had become the only land on the entire Blue Star world not completely contaminated by the Old Ones.
It was now filled with refugees from various countries.
In these three days, a hundred-zhang-high Great Wall was erected in the East Sea. This Great Wall was the first line of defense against the Deep Ones.
Even though Cthulhu had been driven into the illusionary space by Qi Wu Bai, R’lyeh City still remained.
That colossal city, like a floating island, was a massive incubation base.
Old Ones’ retainers crawled out of it at all times, densely packed and seemingly endless, like ants swarming out of a nest.
However, no matter what, the offensive of the Old Ones’ retainers had been temporarily halted.
On the East Sea Great Wall—
Nobody Does Human Things and Leisurely Moment sat opposite each other. This was their first meeting after World Synchronization. Before this, they had both been busy fighting and transferring survivors. Now, they finally had some time to rest, though this was their first time meeting in reality, their conversation was not awkward at all.
“Nobody Does Human Things, no wonder you’re so calm. Turns out you’re already an old man.”
“Am I old? I’m just over thirty. A man in his thirties is in his prime!”
Nobody Does Human Things and Leisurely Moment sat opposite each other. The setting sun, like blood, shone on the city wall and then scattered onto their shoulders.
Even in reality, they still used their in-game IDs to address each other, mainly because they were used to it. When they tried to recall their real names, they sometimes couldn’t react quickly.
“Thirty is old to a young man like me in his early twenties, hahahaha!”
“You wish!”
The two men looked at each other and smiled, but as they smiled, a hint of bitterness inevitably crept in.
Qi Wu Bai had not responded yet, but fortunately, Cthulhu had not returned either.
They worried about the future of Blue Star and humanity, but they were even more concerned about the people in the Cain World.
“I wonder what Claudia is doing right now. She’ll surely be sad if she finds out I’m gone…”
Leisurely Moment raised his wine cup and drank it dry.
Claudia was the most clingy to him. That little woman wished she could be glued to him 24 hours a day.
They spent every day together, no matter what they were doing. He couldn’t imagine what Claudia would be like when she discovered he was gone.
“I miss Mia too,” Nobody Does Human Things said, lowering his head, then raising it again, as if trying to comfort Leisurely Moment, or perhaps himself. “Don’t worry, with the King of Winter there, and the maids by his side being inheritors of gods, with so many gods protecting Winter City, what problems could Winter City have?”
“Yeah, Winter City shouldn’t have any problems…”
Leisurely Moment forced a smile.
But they both knew how terrifying the Old Ones were as enemies.
When they first entered the Cain World, they knew nothing. But as they learned more about the history of the Cain World, they gradually understood that the Cain World had once suffered an invasion by the Old Ones. That invasion had triggered Ragnarok, with tens of thousands of gods in Cain killed, leaving only a few hundred who had all fallen into slumber. Now, with only a few goddesses by the King of Winter’s side, could they really stop the invasion of the Old Ones?
But for now, they were unwilling to dwell on it any further.
Nobody Does Human Things glanced at the setting sun.
“What time is it now?”
“Almost seven o’clock.”
“They’re coming again.”
“Mm, let’s go.”
The two stood up and walked down the stairs towards the city wall.
Every day at sunset, it was the time for the Old Ones’ retainers’ all-out assault.
Although their attacks were continuous during the day, their numbers in the night would be greater and more rampant.
CN Bai Zhu lay on top of a tower, gazing at the magnificent sea before him. Blood and the setting sun dyed the azure ocean a deep crimson.
Below the tower, the sounds of shouting and fighting were deafening. A group of Corrupted Players were still fighting.
They were a restless bunch, perhaps accustomed to being in the Abyss, feeling uncomfortable if they didn’t hack at monsters.
So, even though death now meant true death, they were still engrossed in it.
Bai Yuekui sat with her legs crossed on a section of the city wall. Her favorite Thunder Cut was gone, and only a tungsten steel long saber leaned against the railing. Though not as good as Thunder Cut, it was still handy. Now, only two younger sisters stood with her. Her Blood Rose Squad was left with only three members. Two of them had died battling last night, their corpses devoured by the Old Ones’ retainers, leaving not even ashes behind. There were also four or five Novice Players, whom she had recently taken in. They had escaped the Old Ones’ pollution on the Cain side and were now quarantined, with the constant possibility of mutation.
Yan, the most handsome, still retained the appearance of a Venom Dragon.
His mission was to patrol around the Great Wall with other Dragon Players.
They would return at meal times. Fortunately, they could transform back into human form, otherwise, the scene would have been too bizarre to behold.
The Level 3 player Aryk was solely responsible for defending a section of the East Sea Great Wall. His father, a military commander, had completely relinquished his authority. Humanity’s technology was formidable, and firearms could inflict great damage on the Old Ones’ retainers. However, battlefield command could only rely on Paladin players like Aryk, because only players with their robust physique and martial prowess could stand on the front lines against the Old Ones’ retainers.
Even Ms. had joined the Mage Regiment to fight against the Old Ones’ retainers.
In the Cain World, she hadn’t killed many monsters, her levels relying entirely on completing missions and the benefits from the first batch of players.
Even when forced to kill a few monsters during escort missions, she had to do so with her eyes closed.
But now, she had become a warrior who could charge forward, unfazed even when the severed limbs of Old Ones’ retainers splattered on her face.
Her growth wasn’t because she had killed a large number of Old Ones’ retainers.
Rather, it was because she had seen too many Winter City players and Corrupted Players die before her.
Some died fighting to protect Winter City players who had not yet completed synchronization, some died protecting survivors, some fought to the last moment on the front lines against the Old Ones’ retainers after the Great Wall was established, and some were torn to pieces by the Old Ones’ retainers while saving her. But seeing her former friends turn into scattered parts before her eyes, she could no longer retreat, nor could she accept her own cowardice.
In a corridor within the Great Wall, an empty soda can was precisely tossed into the trash bin.
Leisurely Moment crushed the cigarette in his hand, placed it behind his ear, put on his heavy armor, and picked up his sword.
He would be able to smoke this cigarette again later.
The city gate rumbled open upwards.
Gou Fugui, with a stern expression, led the Mage Legion into the fortress.
The soldiers inside the fortress were already preparing. Machine guns and rapid-fire cannons were set up at the firing ports.
They leaned against the walls, wiping their firearms and taking a few bites of chocolate. There would be no time to eat once the battle began.
In the command center, Scheming Frog, dressed in a military uniform, stood before a huge electronic screen with a group of battlefield commanders.
This place monitored every corner outside the East Sea Great Wall.
He adjusted his glasses, his expression cold, his back ramrod straight.
The moment the last ray of the setting sun disappeared, everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell upon the sea.
There, an endless black tide surged forth.
