Night World Players

Chapter 157 At the End of the Story, the End of the Fairy Tale... A Reunion (6k)

Under the dark sky, above the sea transformed from the abyss.

Rast was bathed in the roaring wind. In his hand, a physical chess piece appeared silently, and then he held it tightly in his palm.

It was the rook chess piece, corresponding to the king chess piece in Akshia's hand.

This pair of chess pieces was also a gift from Dean Silver before Last entered the Echoes of the Era, along with Professor Barbarossa's "Holy Grenade".

In the rules of chess, there is a special move.

You can move your king and one of your rooks at the same time, moving the king two steps toward the rook, then moving the rook past the king and stopping it one square next to the king...

To put it simply, it means exchanging the positions of the "king" and "rook" pieces on the chessboard.

This is a limited move that can only be used once by both players in each game.

Only when the "King" is in a desperate situation surrounded by thousands of troops... The method of sacrificing a "rook" to move the king to a safe position is used. It is also the last trump card of every chess player.

And at this moment, it falls into reality.

When this stage called the Abyss, and everything on the stage... whether it was the actors or the performance process, all went exactly as Last had expected, and reached the preset node without any error.

Last finally revealed his trump card, the trump card of a chess player.

In the whistling wind, the corners of his mouth moved slightly:
"The King's Car——"

"Castling."

……

The words were so soft that they seemed as if they would be swallowed up by the raging wind at any moment.

However, the moment these words were spoken.

Whether it is Rast who is falling from the top of the tower into the abyss, or Axia who has just woken up from her slumber in the ice coffin.

In their tightly clenched palms, the two plain and inconspicuous chess pieces burst out with an incomparably dazzling and blazing brilliance, even overshadowing the torrent of light caused by the holy grenade.

The figures of both men disappeared into the void at the same time, and reappeared in an instant.

However, when their figures reappeared again.

The positions of Rast and Axia have been completely swapped.

Akxia was at a low altitude about to fall into the abyss, while Rast's broken figure appeared in the already crumbling ice coffin, in the same place with the crazy soul of the god of death.

Just like the original meaning of "castling" in chess rules -

By sacrificing soldiers and chariots...the king, besieged by a host of hostile forces, was rescued from danger.

……

The wind was howling fiercely in the sky, and Akshia's long ice-blue hair was fluttering in the wind, looking extremely messy.

She was now in the same position as Last was just now, and not far below her was the surging imaginary sea.

At a normal falling speed, she should have already fallen into the dim ocean.

However, at this moment, countless illusory waves are crashing in the air, turning into a solidified dusk.

He gently carried Akshia to prevent her from falling further.

This is a reflection of Mingyuan's affinity towards Akshia.

As a descendant of the old god of death, Akxia's body already has the blood of death flowing in it, which comes from the same source as the abyss in front of her. The dim yellow sea sensed her presence and naturally resonated with her.

And in the wild wind beside Akxia, there were still fragments of blood splashed from the young man's wound.

But the young man's figure no longer existed.

All that was left was the old book standing open in the wind.

Even though it was falling from the sky, Akshia recognized the messy, old book at a glance.

This is a relic, a fairy tale book called "Silver Wing Chronicle" left to her by her mother, and it is also a treasure that Axia has always cherished.

Although now thinking about it, her mother was probably the backup arranged by the old god of death in order to revive herself, but Akxia would never mistake this fairy tale book that had accompanied her for hundreds of years in that dim palace.

On the cliff dyed red by the setting sun, Akshia gave the fairy tale book that she treasured most to Rast as a return gift.

But unexpectedly, today, Rast returned the fairy tale book again by using the "King-Rook Castling" method.

The wind is blowing.

The book rustled in the wind and began to turn pages continuously...until the last blank page.

And at this moment.

On the originally blank pages, the splattered crimson blood was outlined into clear and distinct words.

This is the part that doesn't exist in Axia's memory... Written in blood, it's the story that takes place after the finale of "Silver Wing Chronicles"—

When the hero and heroine built a small wooden house deep in the forest and spent a happy and peaceful married life, something unexpected happened.

The heroine of the story is actually the reincarnation of an ancient evil god who brought devastating catastrophe to the continent a hundred years ago... As long as he exists in the world, he will bring plague and disaster to the entire world, killing millions of lives.

And now, the evil god's will is reviving in the girl's body... devouring her consciousness and humanity bit by bit.

After a period of painful entanglement and struggle, the young male protagonist chose to seek help from the Holy See, wanting to use the power of the Holy See to kill the evil god who was trying to revive.

only--

The price of doing so is that the heroine of this story, a girl born in a remote border town who dreams of becoming an adventurer... will also be wiped out by the power of God and the resurrected ancient evil god.

For the sake of justice in his heart and for the stability of the world, the young man who dreams of becoming a knight must use all the fierce skills they have learned on their journey around the world to kill the girl he loves most with his own hands.

This is the most logical outcome. Sacrificing an insignificant individual for the safety of all people and for the sake of world peace is an extremely correct choice, and no one can find any problem with it.

However, outside of the normal Normal End, there is another option, another route.

Using life and death as chips, he placed himself at the gambling table with the ancient god.

He replaced the girl with his own body, allowing the revived evil god's residual spirit to change its host and container and reside in his own body instead.

……

Wow.

Wow.

The fairy tale book was quietly turned to the last page with blood-red words by the whistling wind.

Then, a dazzling light suddenly flashed above the fairy tale book.

The light was a bright crimson, as if the blood that had solidified into words on the pages of the book was burning, emitting a dazzling brilliance.

Unfinished fairy tale book

[Category: Heraldic Costume]

[Introduction: This fairy tale book, titled "Silver Wing Chronicles," is the treasure of a girl named Helen. It also carries all the thoughts and aspirations of the caged queen...

There is also the bird in the cage, and the vague love that sprouted from it for the boy who opened the window for her and helped her see the dreamy scenery outside the cage.

Even later, when the stage play of the caged bird and the boy ended and the girl knew the truth of everything, the encounter between the boy and the girl was not destined, but a carefully arranged script.

And she herself is not Helen, but Akshia, an actress who takes amnesia drugs for the performance effect and plays the heroine in the stage play.

But "fairy tales are fake, but love is real."

A story that originates from false lies may still bear sincere fruit.

Even today, the girl still firmly believes in this somewhat naive idea and has such high hopes...]

[For some reason, after the ending of this fairy tale book, there are still several blank pages.]

[It's as if there is an unfinished story waiting for someone to write it down later]

[Effect 1: When blood drips onto the cover of a fairy tale book, the imaginary story will transform into a real scene.]

[Ritual Effect 2: Unknown (Unlocked after completing the Heraldry Ritual)]

After being certified by the Night World, this old fairy tale book has been sublimated into a heraldic ceremonial dress.

And at this moment, on the pages of the fairy tale, the flames burning like blood were the skills of this heraldic dress—

“Turning imaginary stories into real scenery.”

This skill is like a word coming true, and it's a power that can only be used once...

As long as it conforms to the most basic narrative logic and has the possibility of such development, then the fairy tale will come true.

then--

As the unfinished fairy tale is continued.

In the abyss, the reality happening at this moment is also being interfered with and modified...

The torrent of fate produced a tiny ripple... and then began to flow in a direction different from that in the fairy tale book.

Transform illusory things into real and tangible scenery.

……

On top of the Tower of Babel, in the ice coffin.

Witnessing the torrent of holy light melting the ice coffin, it was about to erase everything inside.

The remnant of the god of death... suddenly realized that the perfect container in the ice coffin, which was originally flowing with the blood of humans and gods, had suddenly disappeared.

Instead, there was a strange male human.

For the old god of death, this was like a life-saving straw.

This newly emerged human body was certainly not like the container he had carefully prepared before. It already flowed with his blood of the god of death and was perfectly compatible with his residual soul. Once the fusion was completed, it would be able to directly inherit all the authority and power of the former god of death.

but--

Correspondingly, this also means that this body has not undergone the transformation of the "Death God" sequence... Naturally, it will not be attacked by the holy light with sacred attributes.

Choosing this human body as a new vessel... this is the best way for the old god of death to preserve himself at this moment.

No longer caring why the perfect vessel had suddenly disappeared, or why Rust had suddenly appeared in the ice coffin, Rust, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, let the lingering will of death invade his body.

The next moment, the holy light engulfed the entire ice coffin.

……

When the torrent of light completely dissipated, the magnificent ice coffin had completely disappeared.

Only the young man with black hair and black eyes was left.

A faint white light lingered around him, but never penetrated into his body.

"Silent Disqualification: Withered Stone"

After using the "Fool's Library" to replicate Professor Barbarossa's Night Blade, the explosion of the Holy Grenade did not harm his body at all.

Last's mind moved slightly, and three emerald green prismatic crystals quietly appeared in his right hand, and then he crushed them.

At the same time, bottles of medicine appeared in his left hand one after another, and he poured them directly into his mouth without reservation.

The "Instant Healing Crystal" that Hiltina had used on him in Deep Blue Harbor had kept Lastna's body, riddled with wounds after taking animal stimulants, alive.

And the alchemical potions made by pharmacists or extraordinary people in various star universities using Night Blades... for emergency treatment.

Long before entering the night world, Last had already planned this fierce battle, so he had prepared various healing potions in advance...or the red bottle blood potion in the game.

At this moment, Last used it without restraint in one breath. In an instant, his whole body was filled with an unimaginably rich breath of life.

The healing crystal shattered instantly, turning into thousands of emerald green crystal fragments, which fell on Rast's body, which was riddled with holes caused by the blooming of the "Flower of Flesh and Blood".

In a trance, he saw the ripples of the water. Last felt like he was bathing in warm spring water, and all the wounds on his body felt itchy.

Under this crazy drug-taking without regard for the cost, the loss of Last's vitality stagnated... The flame of life, like a candle in the wind, no longer flickered, and the wound began to heal slowly.

He was forcibly rescued from the near-death state where "Desperate Plea" was activated and only the last bit of blood was left.

However, at this moment.

Compared to the body that is gradually recovering and being healed.

The most deadly thing was the remnant of the old god of death who abandoned Axia and chose Rast as the new vessel, directly invading the depths of his soul.

Deep in the soul, in the illusory ocean transformed by the spiritual world, the erosion from the old god of death has already begun.

He wanted to devour Rast's consciousness and soul and become the new owner of this container.

This is a game between ancient gods and mortals, and the loser will lose everything.

However, after initially healing his wounded body and regaining the most basic ability to move, Last did not pay attention to the remnant of death that was like a tide in his spiritual world.

He had merely reached the edge of the tower, where the cliff face ended.

Then, he lowered his eyes.

Looking at the dim sea below the cliff.

Or rather, the direction where Akshia is.

……

Sky and sea.

The Tower and the Abyss.

Their sight spanned an infinitely long distance, looking at each other across the roaring wind and tide.

This was a gaze that spanned three years.

Three years ago, the girl was the ruler of paradise and the queen of the underworld... and the boy was just a servant beside her.

Three years later, everything has changed.

But the eyes of the black-haired boy remained unchanged, clear and bright, like bright stars.

It was exactly the same as when the two of them first met.

After seeing the sequel to the unfinished fairy tale book and seeing Rast's familiar eyes, Akshia understood everything and knew everything.

"Why."

Her pale lips trembled slightly.

"Why... would you go to such lengths for me?"

After the memories that were originally suppressed by the rules of the night world were revived, Akxia had already understood everything.

This is nothing more than a false performance.

Everything about the two of them... whether it was their first encounter or their first meeting in the palace under the sunset.

Or maybe everything that happened later was just a bad joke from the lofty night world.

They are a pair of actors playing the male and female protagonists in a stage play. The rise and fall of the curtain... all originate from the script that has already been written and finalized by the screenwriter.

After the performance, it is natural for the actors to wrap up and return to their normal lives.

Putting aside the various things that arose from the lies, the relationship between Last and Axia was nothing more than a pair of classmates at Starry University who had met once through the introduction of Dean Silver... that was all.

Such a relationship is not worth everything that Rast has done for himself at this moment.

"Why...?"

As if he had noticed Akshia's confusion, a rare look of bewilderment appeared in Rast's dark eyes.

He himself was also thinking about the answer to this question.

If it were the boy in that Deep Blue Harbor, who was muddle-headed and like a machine in the cycle of time, living only for his own "survival", he would definitely not do such a thing.

Putting yourself in danger for someone who has no real interest in you.

If he were to make "interest judgments" based on his usual style of doing things, then everything he did at this moment would undoubtedly be an extremely stupid choice with negative returns.

"Because...I think it's because I'm grateful to you."

Last looked at the girl carried by the illusory waves and gave a soft answer.

"Even if everything that happened between us originated from lies and coincidences, if I hadn't been the male protagonist and personally experienced the fairy tale you wove..."

"Then I may never understand everything Xiao Ai said to me back then."

"There's no way to recover what I lost and forgot during the three hundred years in Deep Blue Harbor."

He gently stroked his left heart, where the flower of flesh and blood had blossomed. Even after being treated with countless healing crystals and alchemical secrets, a huge, hideous scar still remained.

And Rast touched the hideous scar with his fingertips, feeling his own heartbeat which was transmitted through his skin and flesh... weak, yet extremely clear.

"In the past, because I longed for the smile of that woman in my memories... and to find an anchor for my gradually crumbling self, I regarded the ideals of the shore guardians as a lifeline, clinging to them by any means necessary, considering them the meaning of my life."

"But that's just a senseless imitation born of longing, a desire to grasp at straws. Just like how children always like to imitate adults' clothing and behavior... but never understand the meaning behind these actions."

"Before, I was like those children who imitated adults—a mere imitator of the Shore Keeper. I applied the Shore Keeper's creed like a formula, treating it as my own dogma, as the meaning of my existence... yet I never truly understood the true meaning of the Shore Keeper."

"And now-"

"I seem to understand a little bit."

He smiled and said, "The concept of 'living' is not about waiting to die slowly in a small cage, but about constantly running."

"And the purpose of being a shore guard is not to throw oneself into death like a moth to a flame for an impossible goal."

"Indeed, it all started with a child's inexplicable admiration for adults... but ultimately, it stems from a desire that sprouts from the depths of everyone's heart—"

"The desire to end the tragic fate that has lasted for six epochs and to overthrow this hellish world."

"The thoughts of generations of predecessors who entrust hope and fire to future generations, believe in the strength of their successors, and work hard for it, even sacrificing their lives..."

"If it weren't for you... I might never understand all this, and would continue to live like a lonely ghost."

"So, if I have to find a reason for what I did..."

"Then consider this as my reward for helping me understand all this."

Luster's voice slowed slightly.

“Besides, as you said - ‘Fairy tales are fake, but love is real’”

"I sincerely hope and yearn for this idea."

Because, if not...

Judging from the clues I have collected now, Canaan and Xiao Ai will no longer exist.

Just like bubbles and phantoms disappearing in the sunshine.

Nothing can be left except "love".

Such a thought only flashed through Rast's mind and was never spoken out loud.

A mysterious silver light flashed in his eyes as he looked down at Axia in the illusory sea.

In the vision of the Eye of Prying Secrets, the figure of the girl with long ice-blue hair has been shrouded in the light night, fading little by little, and being peeled off from this world.

As a night traveler, Akxia had stayed in the night world for too long.

And now she finally escaped and regained her freedom... The power of rules from the night world was about to pull this overstaying night traveler out of the night world and return to the real world.

"so--"

"Axia-san."

Luster smiled slightly.

"Let us be at the end of the story, the end of the fairy tale..."

"See you again."

He had just finished speaking.

The night, like a veil, gently covered the girl's slim figure until it disappeared.

(End of this chapter)