The one who first made the Four Darknesses realize this was before their departure, when they encountered the painter Nigel at Noah Station and heard the story from Nigel himself.
The renowned painter nad Nigel Elliott had also once been a clumsy youth.
People had too high expectations of him, expectations that exceeded his actual abilities, and they looked at him with disappointnt when he failed to et those false expectations.
But the suffering and pressure he endured were much heavier than his own.
While earnestly completing that artless and ordinary work, Nigel spent eight years of his spare ti building an unshakably solid foundation for himself.
After that, he spent twelve more years probing in the deepest, highest reaches of the industry. He kept hitting the south wall called "Yawen" and never looked back, even unto death.
So, in the year he turned forty-two, he stood up tall and took it like a man, the expectations people had of him twenty years ago.
It was only after Nigel had lived over half his life that it truly began.
This life philosophy of unwavering persistence deeply shook the Four Darknesses.
...When faced with others’ too-high expectations of oneself.
What Nigel did was not to flee from these expectations, nor was it to argue his innocence; he silently worked hard to improve himself... so that one day, he could be worthy of being called a "genius" from twenty years ago.
So that he would no longer be that vile and fake young success.
...The first half of his life was so similar to his own.
Even with all-out effort, he couldn’t catch up to the quickly escalating expectations of others. Quietly bearing doubts about the extent of his efforts, he swallowed tears and clawed his way up desperately.
What those people hoped for was not for him to beco "the next Lin Yiyi"... but to surpass Lin Yiyi.
It’s just that he hadn’t reached that height yet. Looking up, he couldn’t see through the shadow cast by the giant.
—But all this was just because he was too young.
Just like Nigel.
If he could also be Steadfast, dedicating twenty years of his life—then he too could succeed!
Even less than that, because his talent was stronger than Nigel’s!
He wasn’t following in Lin Yiyi’s footsteps.
He was walking on the sa path—
In the mont he realized how shallow his vision had been.
Jealousy, frustration, grievance, and resentnt dissolved from his heart in an instant.
In their place, a clear, brilliant light hatched in the depths of his heart.
Laziness from not seeing rewards for his efforts and self-doubt about eting others’ expectations were completely dispelled by this light.
Life is still long.
—And I will never give up nor stop.
—One day, I will be worthy of all the expectations people have of .
The Four Darknesses wasn’t a painter, nor was he Nigel’s student. Nigel didn’t know his past and wouldn’t care about his future.
But the Four Darknesses also truly felt a light of hope spreading from another heart to his own through words...
"Are you okay, Er Er?"
Lin Yiyi asked with concern, "What’s the level of your illusion? Are there any other abnormalities in your body?"
She looked at the Four Darknesses with so worry.
You are pushing yourself too hard.
But the Four Darknesses just grinned and revealed a bright, generous smile.
"I’m fine!"
—Because I am a man.
Already a grown man.
It’s my turn to protect you, sister.
He smacked his lips with a tinge of regret and said smilingly, "It’s just that I won’t be able to help much afterwards... It’s up to you guys then."
Lin Yiyi shook her head: "We will definitely save so turns for you. Once Annan cos and purges your erosion, you can join the fight... We won’t let you fall behind in levels.
"If you don’t have enough goodwill to purify it, then deduct it from mine."
Lin Yiyi answered without hesitation: "Just rest for now, don’t enter the nightmare anymore."
That was an undoubtedly real, imnse concern and care.
The Four Darknesses paused for a mont.
He certainly knew that Lin Yiyi treasured her goodwill towards Annan. Even Jiu’er had exchanged goodwill for a military axe, yet Lin Yiyi kept saving hers, never using it proactively.
And players could be resurrected.
As for my debuff, it actually only affected the "leveling efficiency." When Annan cleared the corruption level, it was reset to zero... If used wisely, it should be saved up a bit, and only be cleared after rising to about 90%, to be more efficient.
There was no doubt, this was Lin Yiyi’s concern.
Speaking of which, Lin Yiyi’s "promotion code" was ultimately given to . And not to anyone else.
Her concern was constant and never changed.
Yet, I had not noticed it before.
No, instead of not noticing... it would be more accurate to say that before the imnse "expectation" that almost crushed , I never cared about the affection others had for .
Because in the face of the pressure I was under, that affection was trivial—it was too insignificant to relieve my pressure or solve my problems.
...I really am an ungrateful piece of trash.
Steadfast sighed softly.
He suddenly felt his mind was unexpectedly calm...
"Thank you, sister."
He said quietly.
Taken by surprise from Steadfast’s thanks, Lin Yiyi was also montarily stunned.
She licked her lips, feeling a sudden case of goosebumps.
This was the first ti she heard Steadfast express his thanks with such formality and without his usual joking deanor.
"...To be honest, I’m not quite used to it."
Lin Yiyi said, touching her arm sowhat awkwardly.
She smiled, "But it doesn’t feel bad."
Above them, in the city miles away.
Annan chuckled softly, as he turned off the backend view of the player.
—They’re all good kids.
He sighed silently to himself.
Perhaps a bit young and impulsive, but essentially not bad at heart.
All young people with light in their hearts.
"They have heeded my call to co here, to beco my strength, to help save this world... I ought to prepare so gifts for them in return," he said.
Annan slowly closed his eyes.
While his authority couldn’t reach another world, that didn’t an he had nothing to offer.
Even a [ga] could touch people, bring them insights... and even change a person’s life. So this more "real ga" couldn’t just be "fun."
It seed, the gifts had already been selected a while ago.
Corrected their flaws.
Uncovered their strengths.
Acknowledged their efforts.
Developed the character and abilities they needed.
Released past grudges and jealousy, healed the wounds of their hearts, affird their efforts and desires...
"—So I will give you [hope], how about that?"
Annan whispered softly.
He opened his eyes slightly.
In that instant, pure and flawless light overfilled from the depths of his eyes.
"—Hey!"
At that mont, Dmitry pushed the door and entered.
Seeing the divine Giralda at that mont, he halted his steps and was montarily dazed.
"What is it?"
Giralda turned around as if nothing had happened, smiling as he asked.
Dmitry pursed his lips, not responding.
Was it an illusion...?
The mont he entered the door, he thought he saw a god of utmost purity and sanctity.
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