[Kasadia laughed so hard she was shaking: "Fun? Fun!? Hahaha, hahaha—Alright, what do you want to play?"]
[She squinted, drops of oil paint falling onto the crimson carpet.]
[Noel pointed at the revolver: "As you can see, Russian Roulette. It’s clichéd, but for thousands of years, people have always been fascinated by it. If I survive, you must agree to one thing for . If you survive, then I’ll pay the price of death."]
[Kasadia crossed her arms and sneered: "Death? That’s not true death, you still have a chance to reset."]
[Noel smiled: "What I an is—"]
[He pointed at his own head.]
["What I’m wagering is my soul."]
[Kasadia’s mask trembled slightly.]
["If the bullet hits , you can devour my soul, making it so I can never wake up again." Noel shrugged, casually wagering everything he had, his face still smiling: "But if the bullet hits you, please fulfill the bet."]
[In the empty black castle, the laughter of the Shitposter Demon echoed.]
[They took turns, firing at themselves. As the clicks echoed again and again, Noel’s expression remained calm.]
[—Until the fifth click sounded, Kasadia raised the gun, still a misfire.]
[Kasadia laughed and pointed to the revolver: "Looks like your luck isn’t very good. Please go ahead."]
[The bullet was next, 100% fatality rate. Noel, however, nonchalantly picked up the revolver and fired one shot at himself.]
["Bang!"]
[Noel’s head shattered like a waterlon, his half-body swaying before collapsing on the ground, blood spilling everywhere.]
[Kasadia stared at Noel’s corpse for a mont.]
[Shortly after, she resurrected Noel.]
[She twisted, curiously: "I wonder. Since you weren’t certain of victory, why did you dare to bet with like that?"]
["No, I was certain of victory." Noel waved his hand, knowing he wouldn’t truly die, but wouldn’t tell Kasadia why.]
["—Wait." Kasadia laughed: "I find you very interesting, even if you lose, I’ll help you fulfill the wager."]
["Oh? Truly worthy of the great Joyful Hymn Singer, Practitioner of the Path of Joy, loyal True Friend of Sique Olivius—Lord Kasadia, you are extrely generous." Noel praised.]
[Kasadia fulfilled the bet and helped Noel conduct a small experint.]
[Afterwards, Noel didn’t return to Su Ming’an’s side but continued exploring clues everywhere.]
[On the tenth day, the Red Sun descended.]
[The World Master and Su Ming’an, well-prepared, developed props to avoid obliteration, protecting the people. But ultimately, the props failed. Noel knew it was the Sixth Thrones and Seventh Thrones secretly causing trouble; they wouldn’t let Su Ming’an clear the ga so easily.]
[Under the Red Sun, souls lay scattered everywhere.]
...
[The fifth journey began.]
[This ti, due to the previous painful death, Noel didn’t outcompete the Phoenix and fell into a deep sleep.]
...
[The sixth journey began, and Su Ming’an was no longer a mber of the Rin Clan but was born into the world as a Lighthouse Jellyfish. Kasadia guided Su Ming’an in his race selection.]
[Due to the jellyfish’s allure, Su Ming’an was sought after by various Royals, its depiction entirely different from previous tis.]
[This ti, Noel actively went to the World Tree, asking to be the Protagonist of Luowasha.]
[In his dreams, the Master of the End of All Things laughed: "Indeed! You’re simply unwilling to accept it, the mont he left the protagonist’s place, you imdiately took it!"]
[Noel shook his head: "I want to stand in Su Ming’an’s position, wear Su Ming’an’s shoes, step onto the stage Su Ming’an once stood on, to see if I can find a better thod. Since he beca the Lighthouse Jellyfish, he should rest well, this ti, it’s my turn to be the Protagonist."]
[But he knew in his heart that there wasn’t much ti left.]
[This was already the sixth journey, and real ti had passed for over fifty days. Continuing to reset like this... Are they going to fall into a 3030-ti loop as well?]
[Su Ming’an can’t beco another Sique, and Noel doesn’t want to beco another Kasadia.]
[As ti progressed, the Sixth Thrones, Seventh Thrones, and other Organizers were gradually infiltrating Luowasha. During the first journey, the Sixth Thrones·Inorganic God could only occasionally make an appearance, but by this sixth journey, the Inorganic God was already devouring so Players.]
[If this continues, sooner or later, the Inorganic God will be able to devour Su Ming’an or Noel.]
[If that happens... everything will truly be too late.]
[Noel is not a person of indecision; he must make a decision before the mont of no return arrives...]
[To indulge in the endless cycles of reincarnation, drowning with Zhai Xing... or to embark on a solitary journey to the universe, ascend to the High Dinsions, and stop enemies like the Inorganic God.]
["Sigh..." Noel still smiled, but for the first ti sighed deeply: "I’ll try once more, just once more... Su Ming’an... I’ll try harder to help you..."]
[He anticipated a win-win outco.]
[Truly... very, very much anticipated a win-win outco.]
[He hoped for a way... that wouldn’t harm Su Ming’an and could completely stop the chariot.]
[...]
[But the outco was tragic.]
[On the eighth day, Noel encountered the Inorganic God on the snowy plains, and the Inorganic God swallowed him whole.]
[At that mont, Noel experienced true fear.]
[—A fear that could never be undone, that could never again see the blue sky. Ultimately, he fell like Noah and never saw spring’s arrival.]
[Being devoured by the Inorganic God ant he would never be reborn. He didn’t even have a chance to notify Su Ming’an in ti; if Su Ming’an was devoured too...]
[Everything would be ruined.]
[But fate finally favored him for a mont—a purple-haired, gold-eyed masked young man suddenly appeared, wielding a large golden fry baton, and with one strike, forced the Inorganic God to disgorge Noel.]
[At this mont, the Inorganic God’s invasion degree was limited, lacking strong combat power. He was forced to spit out Noel and left in defeat.]
[Noel lay on the ground, his limbs corroded and lted, leaving only his shell and head. At that mont, he painfully gazed at the stars, recalling his younger self standing in the observatory.]
["Hey, I’m Qi Zhou." The purple-haired, gold-eyed masked young man stood with crossed arms: "The Master of the End of All Things sent to rescue you; he asks if you’ve made your decision. Next ti, he won’t co to save you."]
["I’m not called hey, I’m Noel Agnini." Noel lay in the snowfield, weakly smiling. Even at this mont, having barely escaped death, he was still cracking jokes.]
["Heh." Qi Zhou chuckled: "Quickly, you only have two minutes before you freeze to death, hurry up and speak."]
["... You, purple-haired, gold-eyed, wearing a mask. I thought you were the World Master." Noel said.]
["Don’t ntion that bastard." Qi Zhou adjusted his cat costu: "The World Master is the World Master; I’m . We have absolutely no relation. I won the first Disciple Ga championship; that pampered fellow couldn’t achieve that. Moreover, I am the Divine Envoy of the Master of the End of All Things, the World Master won’t do."]
["..." Noel closed his eyelids.]
[Qi Zhou approached him: "Hey, you’re dying, quickly give your answer."]
[Noel opened and closed his lips, saying sothing quietly.]
[Qi Zhou didn’t hear clearly: "What?"]
[Blood flowed out, Noel’s lips turning crimson, trembling:]
["... I refuse."]
[He still refused.]
[He still thinks... he can trust Su Ming’an, after all, they are true friends. After all, Su Ming’an still has...]
[He still anticipates a win-win ending.]
[Perhaps, he too has been infected by Su Ming’an’s idealistic romanticism, always believing that next ti, next ti will surely succeed.]
[He still doesn’t want to reach a point of parting ways... If they really co to that point, he would be extrely painful and unable to bear it.]
[Qi Zhou has left.]
[Amidst the wind and snow, Noel’s body temperature gradually drops as he lies in the snow pit, feeling the unparalleled pain of severed limbs, slowly losing his breath.]
[No one saves him.]
[He is not Su Ming’an, Su Rin does not co to save him, Xiber does not co to save him, Su Wensheng does not co to save him.]
[He dies alone.]
...
[The seventh journey begins.]
[This ti, Noel does not actively seek Su Ming’an, but acts freely.]
[He sought the World Tree, sought Boss Tu, sought the World Master, sought Kasadia... all could not see the hope for a win-win outco.]
[Luowasha has persisted like this for ten thousand years, how could he change this in just a few days? This is a ship destined to sink, and a smart adventurer should know to leave.]
[So, on the night of the ninth day, the adventurer and the Number One Player stood opposite each other on Luowasha’s highest Cloud Mist Island.]
[Amidst the ethereal mist, the adventurer spoke:]
["Su Ming’an, co with ."]
["I’ve tried every thod... from the first ti to the seventh ti, the hope for victory is extrely slim."]
["The Organizers’ infiltration into Luowasha is deeper and deeper, the Inorganic God’s clone can freely enter and exit Luowasha. Sooner or later, maybe next ti... It will devour you."]
["Not to ntion the other Organizers, they have probably already dug traps waiting for you to fall in."]
["Aren’t you seeking the thod of Dinsional Ascension? Well, I ascend through the Seventh Thrones, you can ascend through the Master of the End of All Things. We can both reach the universe."]
["I know, once Luowasha is destroyed, the players will also be implicated, but you need not..."]
[Noel couldn’t continue.]
[How could he persuade his true friend? To ask his friend to ignore the players? That’s impossible. Just Lü Shu, Su Rin, Luna, Lin Yin, and others... Su Ming’an wouldn’t be able to turn back.]
[The wind was strong that night.]
[The Number One Player silently looked at him, shook his head lightly.]
["I’m sorry."]
["But you can choose your own path, Noel."]
["I won’t bla you."]
[Falling, falling.]
[The adventurer fell into the endless seawater.]
[As they passed by each other, the adventurer suddenly heard the Number One Player’s call.]
["...Noel."]
[The Number One Player took out a hat, put it on his head, then removed it, as if it was a aningless action.]
[The adventurer suddenly went silent.]
[...]
["Call" "Hat tip."]
[— "Co back early."]
[...]
[But he couldn’t co back.]
[Couldn’t co back anymore...]
[Why do such actions at this ti...]
[After leaving, in a dream, Noel saw the Master of the End of All Things.]
[Facing the golden crispy fries in Its hand, Noel reached out his hand: "Next journey, will you erase my mory?"]
["If you decide to cooperate with , I will erase your mory. You know too many of my secrets, I must guard against you betraying ." The Master of the End of All Things said with a smile.]
["Yes, I’ve decided, I agree to cooperate with you." Noel said.]
["Alright, then let’s make a bet, so that next ti, even without any mory, you’ll agree to cooperate with ." The Master of the End of All Things said.]
[Noel made the bet.]
[The Master of the End of All Things did not see in the final oath, a glint of thought passed in Noel’s eyes.]
[...]
[...]
[Noel fell.]
[He quietly lay in the dark water, a claw mark left by Su Ming’an on his chest.]
[The blood with the dark water carried him to a peaceful faraway place...]
[(End of the full text)]
...
Su Ming’an closed the book.
Black water surged around his feet as he walked forward, catching sight of Sique on the recliner.
"...Finished connecting with the Insect Queen?" Su Ming’an said.
Sique did not get up.
He seed very tired, eyes closed, and only after a while did he turn his head.
"...Mm, most preparations for the reset... are done." Sique pointed to the tea table beside him: "Mr. Lighthouse, I can’t host you now, help yourself to the sweets."
"What’s happened?" Su Ming’an sensed sothing off with Sique.
"..." Sique looked at the sky as transparent whales sprinkled crystalline powder across the firmant: "...Just now, listening to you and Noel talk about the starry sky, I rembered, how Luowasha’s astronomical system is similar to Zhai Xing, where we can also see Saturn, rcury, the Sun... Perhaps, cut off from the nebula, we are parallel like the Gemini Star. Maybe this is the similarity of the Original."
"What’s wrong?" Su Ming’an stepped forward.
"Mr. Lighthouse..." Sique looked at him:
"After writing a large amount of text in a short period... I am sowhat tired, and want to rest."
"I may not be able to continue bothering you by your side."
"Can you... inherit my ’Twelve Stories’ and ’World Book’?"
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