Lords: From Civilization to the Stars.

Chapter 126 How to Fall

"...Wake up, little brother. Little brother, wake up."

"What……?"

The man slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the source of the sound.

At that moment, the man felt that his consciousness seemed to be a little blurred. An old man who looked gentle and kind was calmly pouring a cup of scented tea and looking at the tired man with great concern.

It was like being in a garden full of birdsong and flowers. The sky released warm sunshine and the surroundings were filled with pleasant floral scents. The various plant artworks with vigorous vitality formed a beautiful and beautiful paradise of life in front of the man. In this paradise, the kind old man was sitting upright with the crystal clear flower tea in his hand.

As if he was worried that something might have happened to the sleeping man, the old man breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the man wake up. He pushed the cup of scented tea in his hand and looked kindly at the unbelievable man in front of him. His voice was full of gentleness and mature concern like that of a father and ancestor.

"You seem a little tired recently. There is no need to force yourself to keep going. Drink some flower tea and relax here. Take a good look at the life and nature around you, and feel the joy of the environment."

"here it is……?"

"This is the garden of life, the paradise in your heart. Everyone has this feeling in their heart. They want to get a little dependence, a little salvation. But this will not be empty, but will become your motivation to keep going and persevere."

The kind old man sat on the chair, his light green eyes full of compassion and love for the innocent man in front of him, just like looking at his own child.

"I know you are very tired, and I also know that you are tired of the grand world. We don't need to run forever. After all, no one is chasing us. Just like now, what's wrong with tasting the flower tea, feeling the fragrance of nature, and calming down to enjoy life?"

"I……"

Looking at the teacup in front of him, the scent of the tea that made him feel calm, the man swallowed.

He remembered that this was the psychic environment created by the machine. He just had a three-hour holiday, and after an hour of self-pity, he went to the supermarket to buy some things, and now, persuaded by the young man, he planned to test this wonderful machine.

It can only be said that this psychic machine is really powerful. At least the man can no longer tell whether he is in the real world or the virtual world. He just stared blankly at the kind old man, and finally shook his head a little dully.

"No, no, I can't stay here any longer, I, I have to go back to work..."

"Hmm? Don't you know? In this world, the speed of time flowing is about one to one hundred. In extreme cases, it may be as high as one to two hundred. We still have plenty of time."

The kind old man looked at the nervous man in front of him, blinked, and signaled him to step back and have a look.

The man followed the original instructions without hesitation and came out of sleep.

Just like a man suddenly walked from his home with a pleasant climate to outside where the surface temperature was over 70 degrees, an inexplicable feeling of suffocation instantly enveloped the man, making him subconsciously aware of the environment he was in.

He was outside, in this world that had been closed off and suppressed for who knows how long, full of tall buildings and a world that looked gentle and hopeful. He had been bound by this world for a very long time. But when he looked at the clock on the wall, he was surprised to realize all this.

"One minute...?"

"Hmm. Are you just going to quit like this? Actually, you can stay a little longer."

The staff member with green seaweed head looked at the gasping man with some surprise, and the expression on his face seemed a little incredible.

"There is plenty of time here, and we don't know what happened inside. This psychic technology is an evolved version of the psychic file of the Negative Star, but with more guidance and induction, which can help you have the best sleep and memory. You can try it more."

"I……"

Thinking back on the kind old man's fatherly concern and persuasive voice, the man felt a little sour in his nose.

To be honest, at that moment, the man almost cried. He almost thought that the old man in front of him was his grandfather who had left long ago. The old man who had loved him unconditionally but was also a bit majestic, in his impression, was a truly great and powerful person.

If it weren't for these memories, he would have had a hard time getting through his hellish school days. But now that he's grown up, he can't even remember his grandfather's face.

And that feeling just now, that kind feeling, isn’t that the warmth that loved ones can bring?
"Can I try it a little longer?"

Holding the rune helmet as if he were hugging a treasure, the man swallowed nervously and looked at the green seaweed-headed man.

"It only takes an hour... No, no, no, one hour and a dozen minutes. Maybe that's all the time I need. Can you let me try a little longer? I believe I can. I can really pay you back very quickly."

"Haha, what are you talking about?"

Looking at the man's nervous expression, the seaweed-haired, green-eyed man smiled kindly.

"Have you forgotten? This helmet already belongs to you. It originally belonged to you, and you can use it directly when you go back. But I don't recommend you to go back directly, after all, there are a lot of old ladies outside. You can use it here for a while, and I will speak for you when the time comes."

"This, this is so embarrassing..."

"It's okay, it's okay. I've used this thing before, too. The scenery and my own desires are very warm, right? For that little bit of warmth and happiness, we must continue to work hard. Cheer each other up."

The employee with green seaweed hair gave the man a thumbs up and closed the door with a smile.

The only thing left in the trial area was the helmet flashing with psychic light, and a man with a fluctuating expression, who seemed to be struggling and thinking about something.

The man looked at the helmet in his hand, and his expression was struggling fiercely. This helmet was like a poison, a warm hometown and an embrace. To be honest, he really didn't want to go back to the player's world. But since he had such a good ratio, could he use this to comfort himself after work?

This should be okay, right? This should be acceptable, right? It's just sleeping.

Looking at the runes shining on the helmet, the man gritted his teeth, put it on his head, and pressed the guide button.

It was like entering the player's world, with a strange difference. As if digging into his innermost thoughts, the man clearly felt a sense of falling, a strange sense of detachment.

It was as if he had entered the reflection of the world, as if he had seen the other side of the world. In this world in the mirror, he could truly feel who he was and understand the meaning of his life in this world. He just had such a strong idea.

"……You're back?"

"Ah."

When he regained consciousness, the man looked at the gentle old man and nodded stiffly.

Although the man put on the helmet and returned to this world with courage, when he looked at the kind old man, he found himself like the child he had been, unable to say anything.

He was clearly in endless pain, and his life had become what it was today, but in the end he was unable to truly express it. He also wanted to express his pain directly, but now, looking at the gentle old man, the man didn't know why he couldn't say it.

Sometimes when facing someone you really want to touch or be intimate with, you will often show an even more awkward distance. This kind of thing generally takes time to mend. Although there is already a considerable sense of trust and affection, men still feel that they lack some art of conversation and some courage.

"Humph, in general, you lack rational thinking and a more varied thinking pattern."

"Varied--"

Just as he was about to ask in surprise who that person was, the man saw the source of the voice.

He was wearing a suit and tie, looking like a social elite, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and was full of arrogance. Even he himself did not dare to recognize that he looked like this.

Such an elite aura, a confident attitude that looks like he has mastered the secrets of the world, and a temperament that takes it for granted that the whole world belongs to him while holding a book in his arms. I am afraid that this kind of me has never appeared even in my dreams. I have only seen such people on TV.

"Well, seeing how stupid you are, I know you can't figure out why you have become like this."

The elite man who looked noble and elegant sighed and looked at the old man who was watching everything with a smile.

"Well, I'll take him away for a while and let him see his own possibilities and his various futures. What do you think? He respects you very much, but he needs more encouragement."

"That would be great. Go with him, kid. I'll always be waiting for you." "..."

The man looked at the old man with a gentle smile, not knowing what to say. He just opened his mouth, then followed the elite and watched him bring him into a crystal clear high-rise building.

That should be the man's residence. It looked like a high-end apartment with steel frames and glass. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows had a dazzling city night view that seemed to be announcing that the man in front of him was the top figure in the world. The elite man looked at the night view outside the window, opened a bottle of high-end wine, and looked at himself with some disgust at being submissive.

"If, I mean if, you really have such talent, you should take the same path as me. I know you will definitely deny your own ideas in your heart, but please listen to me first and shut up, okay?"

"..."

But I haven't said anything yet?

Looking at the blue-eyed elite with a powerful aura, the man remained silent.

Looking at the silent man, the blue-eyed elite seemed to become even more angry. He drank the wine in one gulp and looked at the silent man with disappointment.

"You seem to feel very dissatisfied, thinking that you have no ability, no confidence, no choice and no courage, and you definitely can't do anything, right? Then let me ask you, how much time did you spend on boring social activities and so-called entertainment in the past? How much time did you spend working hard for yourself?"

"That, that's not quite normal—"

"I told you to shut up first!"

"Oh."

The man nodded somewhat aggrievedly, quietly waiting for the hateful scolding from the panting blue-eyed elite.

Perhaps he had long been expecting such a criticism, perhaps he had long been expecting a hearty scolding. This kind of rebuke and scolding could really wake him up and peel off the skin that he was still holding on to.

The blue-eyed elite was himself. It started when he hesitated and did not choose to become a class cadre when he was a child, gave up various competitions and selections because he was afraid of trouble, and gave up the kindness of others due to various rumors or his own arrogance.

Analyses one after another, rebukes one after another, this feeling of being analyzed made him feel a sense of entitlement.

Maybe that's how it is, maybe it's right to be scolded like this in order to make yourself feel better.

But just as the man was savoring this self-analysis, the blue-eyed elite suddenly sighed.

"Ah... I knew that people like you would never change. You always complain about yourself, and you even feel happy when others scold you. People like you only know how to be self-satisfied, and never really think about or understand what is happening to you, and never solve your own problems."

"Eh?"

"Then let's get someone who can solve the problem."

The blue-eyed elite shook his head wearily and snapped his fingers at the door.

In the blink of an eye, the world was spinning, and the man saw a burly man with long red hair who let out an angry roar and ran towards him.

Without any reason or dialogue, the red-haired sturdy man grabbed the man like a chick and threw him to the back. He threw him directly into the sand pit. He kicked the man to the ground while he was still standing firmly. He threw a red spear next to him like throwing away garbage.

"Stand up. Fight me!"

"No, don't! Don't hit me! Please! I don't know how to fight!"

"waste!"

There was another violent impact, and he was kicked directly to the ground.

But wait a minute.

It doesn’t seem to hurt?

The man who was kicked to the ground and curled up subconsciously suddenly realized something. Then he heard an impatient sound of steel hitting the shield.

"Hey! Stand up! Stand up again! Pick up your weapons! The enemy is here! What are you still hesitating about!"

Striking the brass shield, the red-haired sturdy man roared as he looked at the man falling to the ground.

"Are you going to keep silent? You are like a coward, like a waste! Now you can't feel the pain, you can't feel your own pain, and yet you don't dare to rush forward!"

"Is all you can do ever just to make excuses? Come on, step forward! Take up your weapons, take up your confidence! You definitely didn't come here to get beaten, did you? Come, face me, use your sword, gun, and courage! You can do it, you're just afraid of pain, but in fact, this is not something to be ashamed of."

"It's normal to feel remorse for death and fear the disappearance of one's own individuality. But the only thing that is despicable is that you have lost the courage to face it."

"Now, you won't die, and you won't feel any pain, so what are you still hesitating about?!"

“——!!!!”

"Great! That's it!"

Looking at the man who was roaring loudly, holding the spear beside him, and rushing towards him with red eyes as if excited, the red-haired sturdy man laughed heartily, then knocked away the man's chaotic attack with a shield and kicked him to the ground.

Then, just as the man was dizzy and doubting his life, a hand suddenly reached out in front of him. A powerful voice came from under the helmet of the red-haired man whose face could not be seen clearly. The mature will that seemed like a block of iron was hammered into his heart like steel.

"Congratulations. Win or lose, you finally have the courage to wield a weapon against the enemy."

"……Thanks."

Grasping the red-haired burly man's hand, the man sat up from the sand pit and looked at the red-haired burly man with a sincere smile.

He had never felt so energetic and confident. Although he might still be afraid of pain in reality, and afraid of many things, but now, at least he no longer lacked the courage to attack the enemy when he was forced into a corner.

It was unknown how long it had been since he lost this courage, but now he had finally found it again.

Just as he clenched his fists and savored the sweetness of bravery, a hearty voice rang out from the edge of the Colosseum.

"Speaking of courage and glory, the wine and food after the war are indispensable. Come on, my dear warriors, the best reward is waiting for you. Come and enjoy the beauty and blessings that belong to you."

A purple-eyed man wearing a purple robe and a light golden crown on his head looked at the two of them and smiled.

And after that, for the man, the memories he was trapped in were too wonderful.

In his impression, no beautiful words could describe what he had obtained. If he had to say it, this world was a beautiful dream, a dream that all intelligent creatures wanted to obtain.

I'm afraid he can devote everything he has to this dream.

"…How is it? How do you feel?"

"I feel really good. You guys are going to be a blast."

"I'll lend you some good words."

Looking at the man who woke up from his sleep and happily returned to the building wearing a helmet, the green-eyed young man's gentle smile was as tender as the kind father in the dream.

"It's best if you are satisfied."

(End of this chapter)