Night World Players

Chapter 161 I won this round (5k4)

The Broken Coastline is a hundred miles away from the Watchtower, a desolate coast far away from all human towns and gathering places.

Cecil stood on the broken coast covered with rugged reefs, watching the surging waves in front of him.

The gloomy dome and the dark sea without light formed a dark curtain in the distance.

The scenery was exactly the same as when Cecil first stood on the broken coastline and looked out at the endless sea when the watchtower was built a hundred years ago... Tens of millions of tons of sea water swallowed up the light, and endless darkness became the main theme here. Under the misty dark curtain, countless indescribable weirdness and taboos lurked.

But when Cecil was young, the sea in his memory was not like this -

It should be blue and boundless. Standing on the deck, you can feel the warm sea breeze on your face, and the sunlight shines on the rolling waves, just like a group of golden butterflies dancing.

The sea at that time was mysterious and rich to people, a new world waiting to be developed. Ships carrying barrels of wine and dry food set sail from the port, the heavy sails fluttered in the sea breeze, and the sailors' heroic songs echoed on the deck.

Ocean-going ships opened up new routes on the seas, and the triumphant captains and sailors were awarded medals of honor. These routes also became the pulse connecting many countries around the world, driving the then-thriving human civilization forward.

But after the great plague called the Iron Cross broke out in Deep Blue Port... all of this was gone.

The thousands of miles of sunlight that originally illuminated the sea were swallowed up, strange and forbidden creatures quietly brewed in the lightless sea, and the once safe routes on the nautical charts became dead and had to be abandoned one after another... The waterways connecting the worlds were also severed.

That was the turning point of Sixth Age civilization.

Since then, that era that shone brightly in our memories, when civilization flourished and development was pioneering and enterprising, has been buried and can no longer be recalled.

The few remaining survivors are trapped in a small safe area, unable to develop or exchange what they have with other gathering places... People huddle anxiously in the darkness, waiting for a future without light.

And now, those forbidden creatures lurking in the depths of the Lightless Sea, and the secret organization "Gravekeepers" that has long been hidden behind the curtain of history... are unwilling to even give humanity this last bit of survival and peace.

They want to destroy the last broken coastal defense line and the last pulse of human civilization in the Sixth Epoch.

Cecil sighed softly and slowly closed his eyes.

The vast spiritual power belonging to the legend, with this unkempt old man as the center, diffuses towards the sky and the sea, towards all directions... and slowly explores the taboos lurking in the dark curtain.

Amidst the roaring tide, there came two breaths as majestic as a storm, not one, but two.

At the end of the distant sky, there was a faint stench of blood... That was the unique smell of the Iron Cross, a beast that possessed human intelligence and appearance but took pleasure in sadism.

And in the cracks of the starry sky, one can vaguely feel the lush green vitality.

Gradually, Cecil's expression changed.

As he looked towards the end of the coastline, his gaze became younger, his long eyebrows slightly raised, and his body stood tall.

"The two forbidden creatures in the depths of the Endless Sea... and the king of the Iron Cross tribe... are all old friends."

"Four legends in total."

"In the Western Continent, all the legendary warriors who still retain the ability to act and interfere with the present world... are now gathered at the Broken Coast."

"I never thought that I would be worthy of such a display in the hearts of you grave keepers. I am truly honored."

In response to Cecil's words, an old man who looked like a gardener slowly appeared in the distant sky.

It is not the fertile half-body in the underworld, which is made of the "Origin Leaf" of the "Original Ancient Tree" as the core, but the most tangible body of the legendary tomb keeper Noah.

This is a face-to-face meeting between two legends, a gravekeeper and a shorekeeper, after three years.

Their last meeting was on a cliff on the outskirts of Paradise City, but at that time they were both carrying Gray and Last, two of their own burdens, so they only tested each other briefly before retreating, and had never really fought with all their strength.

At this moment, neither Cecil nor Noah were restricted by the two previous burdens.

The realms of "Sun" and "Fertility" spread across the land and ocean, colliding with each other, and the ocean surface was stirred up by huge waves.

"Cesare, you are a true legend after all... and you are the successor of the traitor who stole the All-Spark from our organization. You possess the All-Spark that has been passed down from the Age of Gods to this day—the Night Blade, 'The Fool's Library.'"

"According to our observations behind the curtain of history, ever since you succeeded the Guardian and truly inherited the Flame, you haven't used your full strength in a full hundred years."

Noah's words were calm and composed: "For you, no matter how much I overestimate you, no matter how much I prepare for you, it's never too much."

"is it?"

Listening to Noah's words, Cecil's mouth suddenly showed a smile:
"Although we called a lot of helpers."

"But it seems to me that you yourself seem to have a bit of kidney deficiency?"

"Even if you're trying to hide it, your mental strength...is clearly not at its peak, but rather weakened by half."

"Did he use half of his spiritual power to create a half-body that also reached the legendary status? As for the purpose of the incarnation, let me guess..."

"It's for Lust and the Old Death in the Abyss, right?"

Noah couldn't help but frown slightly.

Noah was not surprised that Cecil saw through his plan to cut off half of his mental power to create a clone.

After all, that was the existence that held the "Fool's Library" Night Blade. After a long period of time, the original texts recorded in that library had already become all-encompassing...including almost all fields and all types of abilities in the world.

This naturally likely includes intelligence abilities that allow one to see through one's disguise and discover the true nature of one's own mental weakness.

However, looking at the face of the leader of the shore keepers in front of him, Noah vaguely felt something strange... different from the Cecil recorded in the gravekeeper's file.

Cecil's words just now were so frivolous and cheerful that he didn't seem like an old man who had been alone guarding the Broken Coast for hundreds of years. Instead, he looked more like a young man full of vigor and vitality.

"An Ancient God who has never been restricted by the Blazing Heaven Threshold and has just revived, with less than one percent of his strength in his prime, is indeed an opportunity we cannot let go."

Noah nodded and frankly admitted his desire for the Old God of Death.

"However, no matter what happens in the Abyss, it will not affect the outcome of the Battle of the Broken Coast."

Noah stared at Cecil. "You deliberately avoided the Watchtower and the human city-state there, choosing instead this location for the battle... Perhaps you knew your own fate, so you wanted to die peacefully, avoiding implicating the Shore Guardians and the humans in the gathering place."

"It's just a pity that this is destined to be in vain."

"After you die in battle and lose your protection... those subordinates in your organization and the surviving humans, even without the Legend's personal intervention, even those ordinary Iron Crosses and beast tides will be enough to crush them into dust."

The gardener-like Fertility Legend shook his head slightly: "Our stolen fire will be returned to its rightful owner."

"And the name 'Shore Keeper' will vanish from this world... along with the civilization of the Sixth Epoch, becoming the dust of history."

"So, Noah...why did you get the illusion that I was here to quietly close my eyes and wait for death?"

Cecil's voice mercilessly interrupted Noah's words.

"Have you heard of guerrilla tactics?"

"Do you really think that if I'm determined to escape, you four legends will be able to stop me?"

Cecil straightened his shoulders and looked around, his clear eyes revealing both the arrogance of an eagle and the cunning of a fox.

"You also said that I am the heir of the "Fool's Library."

"The Fool's Library contains everything—escape, hiding, disguise, concealment, disguise... everything you can think of."

"If I wanted to, even if you burned the entire continent to ashes and turned it upside down... you wouldn't be able to catch up with me, let alone kill me."

His eyes were deep as he looked up at Noah, and at the sky and sea behind him. The violent wind above the sea gradually subsided in Cecil's sight.

"In fact, it's quite the opposite. Since you can't catch up with me, can't kill me... then I will become a thorn in your side, a nightmare that you can never get rid of."

"As the master of the Fool's Library, I need no logistical support or supplies. I am an army all by myself, and I can do almost anything by myself."

"In the days ahead, you will have to face a nightmare enemy that follows you like a shadow... I am in the dark, and you are in the light. I truly cannot defeat your combined strength, but neither your tribe nor your forces will ever find peace."

"And you'd better pray that from now on, you'll never walk alone, either alone or as an animal, and never be injured or weak... because then, what awaits you will be my hunt."

The threat, without any disguise, was mixed in with the fierce storm, sweeping across the sky and the earth like a knife.

Very obvious——

Whether it was the forbidden creature in the depths of the ocean or the King of the Iron Cross with a bloody aura in the distant sky, the explosive energy paused for a moment.

As a member of the Gravekeepers, Noah might not need to be too concerned about Cecil's threat—every member of the Gravekeepers is a true legend, and hiding behind the curtain of history, they generally don't have the chance to act alone and become weak and be hunted.

But the other three legends were different. No matter if it was the King of the Beast Tide, the forbidden creature in the depths of the ocean, or the King of the Iron Cross... they all had their own tribes, and in front of a legend who was determined to hunt them, their tribes were vulnerable.

Feeling the retreat of the allies he recruited, Noah's brows furrowed even more.

He had never expected that Cecil would make such a direct threat.

As a shore guardian, no matter how powerful Cecil is, he will inevitably be burdened by the mission of protecting humanity and civilization.

This was the fundamental premise for Noah and the Keepers of the Graveyard to launch this legendary war. He was certain that Cecil would not abandon the defenses of the Broken Coast, much less flee. And if Cecil were to truly harden his heart and abandon the entire Coast Guard organization, as well as the remaining human settlements on the continent, and lie low alone to seek revenge... then the balance of power would be reversed in an instant.

"Cesare is just bluffing. If he really had the heart to give up everything, he wouldn't be here..."

"Noah, do you really think that as long as I'm held hostage by criminals, I'm a fool who will let you do whatever you want and close my eyes and wait for death?"

Cecil's words interrupted Noah again.

"In the game of chicken, or the game of chicken, the only outcome of backing down...is ultimate defeat and the loss of everything."

"If after my death, the Shore Guardians and the civilization of the Sixth Epoch will cease to exist, destroyed by the beast tide and the Iron Cross, leaving not even a shred of hope, nothing left..."

"Then choosing to fight to the death is not a spirit of sacrifice worthy of praise, but simply a meaningless waste of life."

"Choosing to escape and preserve our strength is the best option for me as the leader of the Shore Guardians."

"As long as I exist, the shore guardian will exist and will not fall."

Cecil's wild voice drifted across the sea.

If before, he seemed like an old elephant who had sensed his death and left the elephant herd alone to look for the elephant grave, which was also his own grave... then at this moment, Cecil was more like a lion who had just joined the lion group and entered his prime.

It was as if he had returned to the time when he had just taken over as the shore guard, in the prime of his life, not as immature as the young, nor as decadent as the old... Whether it was his body, strength, experience, or skills, they were all at the peak of his heyday, and his every word and action was filled with indescribable confidence.

"And the reason I appeared in the Broken Coast was not to wait for death... but to confirm something."

"To confirm whether the heir I've chosen, and the path forward, are worthy of my entrusting the future."

His gaze shifted slightly, looking towards the distant sea.

That is the direction of Paradise Royal City, or the Underworld Abyss.

For some reason, the battlefield Cecil chose for himself was actually closer to the royal city of Paradise than the Watchtower, the headquarters of the Shore Guardians, which was hundreds of miles away.

Then, as if he had realized something, he suddenly raised his head and looked towards the distant sky.

Looking at the empty sky, a trace of imperceptible relief flashed across Cecil's eyes.

"Shadow Servant... No, Sharona."

"It seems that the promise I made to you can finally be fulfilled."

His mutterings were lost in the raging sea breeze, never heard by anyone.

……

On the other side of the sea, Noah's real body looked at Cecil who suddenly looked up at the sky, somewhat puzzled as to why he did so.

But, soon.

After a few breaths.

All the legends of the Broken Coast understood why Cecil acted this way.

At this moment, no matter it was the legend of abundance, the forbidden beast in the ocean, or the king of the Iron Cross... every legendary creature raised their eyes slightly.

Then, he saw the divine punishment falling from the distant sky.

The realms of five legends collided, and the tense atmosphere froze quietly.

All the legends just looked up silently, gazing at the trajectory of falling stars in the dark sky.

This is a meteor arrow launched from the low-Earth orbit of this planet, using gravity as a bowstring.

It crossed the vacuum of low-Earth orbit, penetrated the atmosphere and clouds, and transcended the constraints of the magic network and the laws of the material plane.

Tearing the air apart, stirring up a storm.

It fell from the sky like a world-destroying red flame or a blood-red meteor.

Then--

It hit the destination straight away without any deviation.

It penetrates the earth and rock formations, yet it does not stop...

The red meteor shattered the earth's crust and continued downwards -

Towards a more distant and deeper place.

The inner layer of the world, the abyss of nothingness.

……

It cannot be understood or parsed.

What was happening before their eyes was beyond the comprehension of all the legends present.

This is the power that controls the stars, the "solidified divine punishment", enough to wipe out weak legends.

It is a feat that could only be accomplished by the true God in his prime during that Age of Gods, which is so distant that it is difficult to trace back.

But now all the ancient gods have been imprisoned in the Blazing Sky Threshold outside the world. Not only are their own conditions extremely poor, but their power to descend upon the world through the Blazing Sky Threshold is also greatly limited, and the influence they can exert is only one tenth of what it could be.

In today's world, who can achieve such a thing...

Or was it really just a meteor that happened to be captured by gravity and fell there by chance?
Such confusion arises in the hearts of every legend of the Broken Coast.

But Noah's thinking went a little deeper.

The direction in which the red meteor fell was clearly the abyss beneath the Royal City of Paradise, and the location of his own clone.

Was it the old Grim Reaper who had resurrected? But that meteor clearly didn't carry a single trace of the Grim Reaper's unique aura of death.

However, immediately afterwards, Noah no longer had time to think about the meaning of the shooting star.

Because he suddenly discovered that in the brief moment of shock when the meteor fell to the earth... Cecil's figure had actually disappeared from the Broken Coast.

All that remained was the pitch-black sky, where cracks in space that had been forcibly torn open by some night blade were slowly healing.

……

The bottom of the abyss.

All words seem too pale at this moment.

In an instant, the rock layer above the abyss shattered.

The planet's crust now seems as fragile as an eggshell.

Even after breaking through the rock layers and the earth's crust, the divine punishment hanging over his head still did not stop.

It penetrated the gigantic remains of the old god of death, and penetrated the dim sea formed by the blood of the god of death.

Then, we arrived at the deepest part of the abyss.

The sound disappeared.

Next to disappear is the color.

The world became silent, with only the gushing hot starlight remaining.

The light is flowing.

The light roars.

The rushing light stirred up countless whirlpools, swallowing up the entire Paradise Royal City, the entire Underworld Kingdom - as well as the remains of the Death God and the Underworld Abyss, which were as vast as a country and supported the existence of Paradise.

At the end of the Tower of Babel, in the rushing light—

Noah looked down at himself. Last's lips, which were completely bloodless and immersed in the dim sea, trembled as if he was whispering.

No sound came out, perhaps because the broken human figure had already run out of energy and lost the strength to speak...

But Noah still relied on his legendary perception to recognize the other person's words from his lips:

"Your Majesty Noah, it seems..."

"I won this round."

(End of this chapter)