My avatar is becoming the final boss

Chapter 376 Two R-rated Contents, A Century-Long Promise (5000 words, requesting monthly votes)
Ji Minghuan followed behind the restricted-level 1001.

Two similar figures walked slowly, one after the other, down this endless corridor. With each step they took, ripples spread across the transparent floor. The ripples drifted into the distance, yet silently converged once more.

Ji Minghuan turned his head and looked around. The walls on both sides of the corridor looked like movie screens.

At this very moment, the memories of 1001 are switching erratically on the screen. Strolling along this corridor for a long time gives one a sense of disorientation, as if traversing the river of time.

"Fortunately, I didn't travel to a year that was too far away. When I came to my senses, I found myself in 1910. This was a strange world to me. At that time, I had lost all my memories, and the only thing I could remember was the image of a white-haired girl."

"Restricted Level 1001" said softly, and the corridor of memories shifted with his words.

It was a vast, white glacier. A boy walked alone on it, and the reflection of a white-haired girl appeared on the lake's surface. But as soon as he turned his gaze, the reflection vanished along with the ripples that spread across the water.

“I don’t know who she is, or where she is. But every time I’m about to forget her, that shadow always flashes in my dreams.” Rated 1001 continued, “Sometimes I feel like she’s a dandelion reflected on a lake, but when I look up, she’s already gone, drifting away with the wind.”

“You speak like a poet,” Ji Minghuan said casually. “Haha, if I become as artistic as you in the future, I’ll really have to find a place to bury myself.”

"It's a pity you're restricted; you can't die even if you want to."

"Really? You've tried it?"

"I've tried many times."

Restricted Level 1001 suddenly fell silent for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more about the topic. But he didn't continue.

"When?" Ji Minghuan asked.

"When else could it be?" Rated 1001 replied, "After the Earth is destroyed."

Ji Minghuan was silent for a moment. "Why did I fail? If others can't kill me, surely I can kill myself? Is a restricted-level character really that bad?"

Restricted Level 1001 shook his head, seemingly unwilling to answer the question.

“Oh, right…” Restricted 1001 suddenly said, “In 1916, when Germany was at war, I met a very special girl on the battlefield.” After she finished speaking, the scene in the time corridor changed again, transforming into a world covered in silver.

The boy walked alone through the snow-covered town, going against the flow of fleeing people. Then he reached the mountaintop, gazing at the battlefield amidst the snow.

Then he saw a girl, covered in wounds, huddled in the trench. She tilted her head slightly, staring blankly at the corpses piled up in the trench, her lips moving as if she were murmuring something.

Ji Minghuan stared at the bloodied and mangled girl from his memory; it was difficult to recognize her face. All that met his eyes was rotten flesh in a human shape, with even bones protruding.

"It looks familiar, doesn't it?" said Restricted Level 1001 softly.

"You're quite humorous," Ji Minghuan said, though he had already guessed who the girl, who was now a mangled mess of flesh and blood, was.

“This girl didn’t have a name…” said R1001, “but I gave her a name back then.”

As soon as the words fell, the scene in the time corridor shifted to the top of a snow-capped mountain. On the vast, boundless snowfield, a boy carried a girl on his back, running through the white world, leaving behind a series of footprints of varying depths.

Suddenly, the boy on the screen spoke, breaking the silence in the snowstorm.

“Theresia…” the boy said softly, “This is the name I gave you. I thought of it a few days ago while hunting, but I haven’t told you about it.”

“It sounds beautiful,” the girl said. “Then I’ll be called Theresa from now on?”

"Ah."

The boy and girl walked on what seemed like an endless snowfield, and Ji Minghuan stared at the scene in a daze.

As R-rated 1001 stated, he recognized the girl's face: pale blonde hair and slightly upturned eyes. Undoubtedly, such a person existed in Ji Minghuan's memory.

"Bloodline".

Ji Minghuan uttered the name, her voice completely flat.

“Yes… I know from you that she’s been looking for me for a long time, but I can’t go to see her.” Restricted Level 1001 said, taking a step forward without looking back. “Maybe you can tell her for me that she doesn’t need to come looking for me anymore.”

"Oh."

Ji Minghuan nodded and silently followed behind the restricted-level 1001.

“Back in 1916, the Salvation Society had been eyeing me for a while. The name they gave me was Restricted Level 1001,” Restricted Level 1001 said. “Theresa can’t come with me, or she’ll get involved.”

“You not only inherited the ‘immortality’ of the immortal being from Unit 4, but you also carried two fragments of mythical wonders. I reckon the price of the time jump wasn’t just the recovery of all the superpowers you stole,” Ji Minghuan asked. “Logically speaking, the Salvation Society shouldn’t be a match for you at all. Why didn’t you take her with you?”

“Because I can protect myself. But I can’t necessarily protect the people around me… Humans are too fragile, fragile in every sense of the word,” R-rated 1001 said softly.

"That's true." Ji Minghuan chuckled.

Restricted Level 1001 was silent for a moment. "The Salvation Society has been harassing me for ten years. In the end, I chose to fake my death in front of them, and they took it as real. This announced the emergence of the first restricted level to the whole world, and at the same time, it also announced the death of the first restricted level."

"But as time went by, my abilities in all aspects gradually declined, to the point that I became weaker and weaker, and even gradually approached that of a normal person. In the end, even the fragments of mythical wonders disappeared from me."

“Even so, I still keep searching for that figure in my mind, because I know she is waiting for me somewhere in the world…” At this point, R-rated 1001 closed her eyes.

"Are you kidding me?" Ji Minghuan seized on the loophole in the other person's words. "When you say 'approaching normalcy,' you mean stopping time, walking into the Salvation Society's base openly and legitimately, and then taking me away in front of the Salvation Society members?"

He paused for a moment: "And then you took me around to all these messy places, turning your memories into a movie for me to watch. What kind of normal person is that?"

“That’s what you’ve misunderstood…” said Restricted Level 1001. “The last of my abilities is some mental power. Can’t you see? I didn’t really stop time, nor did I really take you away from the base.”

Ji Minghuan was taken aback: "You mean..."

“That’s right, I’m in your mind right now, and everything you’re seeing is an illusion,” said Restricted Level 1001. “A few months ago, I used my last ability to implant that Kong Youling-shaped phantom into your mind. That phantom is essentially a switch.”

He paused for a moment: "Then... I've turned on this switch now, and we're swimming in your mind right now. All the images around you are essentially images imagined by your mind."

"Oh, now I understand." Ji Minghuan wasn't particularly surprised. "That's why it seemed so strange."

"You probably guessed it already, there's no need to play dumb."

"Please continue."

“Where was I again… Anyway, I searched for that shadow in my mind for a very long time, and finally, the time came to August 15, 2007.” “Rated 1001 said, “Ji Minghuan, this is the day you were born.”

Ji Minghuan thought for a moment: "After I was born, you slowly recalled your previous memories?"

“That’s right. In the year after you were born, many memories of the past flashed through my mind. Then I slowly began to recall many things that happened in the ten-plus years from 2007 to 2020.”

"So you know who you are?"

“Well, at that time I had vaguely recalled my name, parts of my past, and who the white-haired girl I had been searching for really was…” Restricted 1001 said expressionlessly, “But those memories were incomplete, so after that, I have been searching for myself in this timeline, which is you.”

"Please, that sounds a bit creepy," Ji Minghuan clicked his tongue.

Restricted Level 1001 was unimpressed and continued, "After that, I used some methods to begin contacting the most powerful and mysterious organization in the world."

"The Salvation Society?"

"Ah."

"You're quite magnanimous, aren't you? The Salvation Society once hunted you down. If you hadn't successfully faked your death back then, even now, a century later, they'd probably still be chasing after you," Ji Minghuan said with a sigh.

“It doesn’t matter to me… You understand, there’s only one thing I care about,” said R-rated 1001. “After that, I called myself ‘The Prophet’ and secretly cooperated with them for a very long time… During this time, with my gradually recovering memories, I secretly informed the Salvation Society of a series of events that would happen in the future, helping them avoid a lot of trouble, and thus gaining their trust.”

"Hmm... So, in the end, you told the Salvation Society that you predicted I would destroy the world in the future. And then they captured me?" Ji Minghuan took a deep breath and finally asked this crucial question.

"Correct."

Rated 1001: Expressionless.

"Why bother? We are all from the same root, why are we so eager to harm each other?" "As far as I know, the Salvation Society's base is the safest place in the world. Having them protect you and Kong Youling is the best option I can think of... As long as Kong Youling doesn't die, you won't lose control and won't do the wrong things like I did."

"Why did Kong Youling die?" Ji Minghuan questioned. "The Old Jingmai Street incident happened six years earlier than expected. She couldn't possibly have died at the hands of the Star Summoner, the Father of Puppetry, again. What are you thinking?"

"No... as long as she's by your side, she might die."

Ji Minghuan paused for a moment, then his tone gradually turned cold:
"What do you mean?"

Restricted Level 1001 calmly said, "You don't understand. Restricted level abilities will lead their owners to self-destruction. Everything in the world will turn into its opposite when it reaches its extreme. This is an inevitable law of development... And a power that is incomparably strong and uncontrollable will ultimately only lead to self-destruction."

"So what does this have to do with Kong Youling?"

“Your superpower will influence the course of reality, so it will orchestrate Kong Youling’s death countless times until it becomes a reality,” said R-rated 1001. “Because… it’s the fastest way to destroy you.”

Ji Minghuan was stunned.

"What are you talking about..." he said in a low, almost hoarse voice.

“Of course, things are different now. Because I've intervened in this timeline and changed your future.” Rated 1001 paused slightly at this point. “Of course, the price for doing so is that I will disappear… completely disappear.”

"why?"

“It’s simple. Because your future has changed, I wouldn’t have been born,” Restricted 1001 said in a low voice. “From the moment you were imprisoned in the Salvation Society… or rather, from the moment the Old Jingmai Street incident happened five years earlier, your fate had already changed.”

He paused for a moment: "Actually, I don't know what the future holds, but I hope you won't repeat the same mistakes. When I came to see you, I didn't have much time left... and this meeting of ours has used up all my remaining time. I only have a few minutes left."

Ji Minghuan remained silent.

“Oh, right, there’s one more thing I must remind you of,” Restricted Level 1001 suddenly said.

"what's up?"

"The Salvation Church today is not the same as the Salvation Church I knew in the past."

"What do you mean?" Ji Minghuan raised his head and looked at the back of the restricted-level 1001.

As R-rated 1001 walked forward, he said, “Mentor, you must be careful of him. He will change the Salvation Society in this timeline.”

"According to you, the mentor should have existed in the previous timeline as well, otherwise how could the Father of Puppetry have been born?" Ji Minghuan thought for a moment, "The Father of Puppetry is an artificial human created using the mentor's genes. Without the mentor, the Father of Puppetry would not have appeared."

“I can only tell you that because the Old Jingmai Street incident happened six years earlier, many things were changed. And the mentor was among those whose lives were changed. This variable directly affected the nature of the entire Salvation Society.” At this point, Restricted Level 1001 paused for a moment. “I only realized this after I sent you into the Salvation Society… It was my mistake.”

Ji Minghuan frowned and said with a sigh, "You really are the greatest riddle master in the world."

Restricted Level 1001 was silent for a moment. "In short, I've said everything I needed to say. The rest is up to you to decide."

"You trust me that much?" Ji Minghuan asked in a low voice. "If that stupid penguin dies again, won't I still have to travel through time to find her like you did?"

"No, my time travel was a gamble, but I won it and only traveled to a hundred years ago. As for you... well, it wouldn't be surprising if you traveled to the Jurassic period."

"why?"

"You have a bad character," said Restricted Level 1001 calmly.

"Haha, a beast that destroyed the earth is saying I have bad character. I'll just pretend I didn't hear it."

Restricted Level 1001 ignored his teasing and continued, "Secondly... you don't have the 'Immortal' body. Your fourth body chose the Nian Beast, so you can't do the same thing as me, understand?"

"The second reason is reasonable and well-founded, and there's no way to refute it," Ji Minghuan shrugged.

“In short, everything has changed,” Restricted 1001 said softly. “Don’t take any chances. This is your first and last chance.”

"Okay, I understand." Ji Minghuan took a deep breath. "You really think I'm capable? You've already screwed me over like this, and you still won't give me a chance to reload my save file."

“I don’t know.” Restricted Level 1001 shook her head. “Let me put it this way… I don’t really care what happens to you. As long as I can see that girl again, I’ll be satisfied.”

Ji Minghuan raised her head and silently watched the back of the restricted-level 1001.

After a moment, he spoke, “You and Theresa are so alike. Have you been infected by that old woman who loves to die? She says things like that every day, saying that she would be satisfied as long as she could see you. I look exactly like you. If she mistook me for you, wouldn’t she have fallen for someone else?”

"If you see Theresa, please apologize to her for me," said Restricted 1001 casually.

"I know..." Ji Minghuan drawled, "Speaking of which, couldn't you have thought of a way to help me turn off the inhibitor before you died? Or could you have found a way to get me out of the Salvation Society now, and then none of this would have happened?"

“I’ve already said it, I lost most of my abilities years ago, and I’m practically useless,” said Restricted Level 1001. “I’ve preserved my last mental abilities so that I can say these things to you.”

He walked forward, “And now my goal has been achieved… My true form will soon disappear. This is our first meeting, and also our last.”

"Protect her, Ji Minghuan, this is my request," Restricted Level 1001 said in a low voice.

Ji Minghuan remained silent, stopped in her tracks, and looked up at his retreating figure.

The figure of R-rated 1001 walked further and further away along the corridor of time, his footsteps never stopping, growing lighter and lighter, more and more indistinct.

Ji Minghuan turned his head and looked at the fragments of memories on the screen: the boy walking alone on the glacier, playing the violin alone under the Eiffel Tower, watching people come and go on the brightly lit streets, walking alone on the train tracks, and staring blankly at the clear sky.

For many, many years, he traveled to many, many countries, but he was always alone, walking alone through the long years, chasing that vague phantom that he didn't even know existed.

How lonely must someone be to persevere? Ji Minghuan wondered.

When he came to his senses, the figure of the restricted-level 1001 was already almost gone, having never stopped moving from beginning to end. Not even once.

"Is it possible... that your spirit can actually remain in my mind, just like the Red Dragon Welsh?" Ji Minghuan suddenly said, her gaze fixed on his back.

“No…” Restricted Level 1001 paused for a moment, then stopped. “The rule of this world is that identical beings are not allowed to stay in one place.”

"Is there another way?"

"What do you want to say?" The voice of R-rated 1001 drifted over from afar.

His silhouette grew increasingly blurry, faintly transforming into a glowing light, as the entire corridor of memories crumbled.

"Something like spiritual fusion?" Ji Minghuan said, "We are originally one person, so there shouldn't be any rejection reaction if we merge our spirits together... I'm just making this up."

Restricted Level 1001 paused slightly, then slowly turned around.

Across the long river of time and memory, two similar figures gaze at each other from afar.

"Are you serious?" Restricted Level 1001 remained silent for a long time before asking softly.

"if not?"

There is no chance to regret it.

"I know, but I'm not like you who can do it all over again."

"I've never seen anyone act so recklessly."

"Aren't you insulting yourself? So what's your answer, man? Stop dawdling. What's the difference between you and the diaper demon?"

"Okay... then I agree with you."

The moment the words fell, the entire corridor of memories collapsed, and the blurry figure in the distance transformed into a blazing light, hurtling towards Ji Minghuan.

Immediately afterwards, Ji Minghuan's vision went black, and she slowly lost consciousness.

(End of this chapter)