Start in Terra, immortal

Rosso looked at the adventurer, then at Taneba and Maishel: "I'm investing in 'possibility'."

A possibility that would allow the Celestial Realm, the Seven War Gods, and even Bakal to have an alternative future.

He stretched out his hand, and a soft golden halo appeared in his palm. Within the halo, a miniature of a strange world could be vaguely seen, full of vitality and self-consistent with its own rules.

"This is my world, the spirit world. A place that can accommodate souls, transform power, and give birth to new rules."

"Bakal possesses the contract I left behind. He can choose to go to the spirit world and be reborn after his 'mission' ends. As for you..."

Rosso's gaze swept over Taneba and Maichel. "If you wish, I can also offer an option. When your journey in this world comes to an end, you don't have to completely dissipate. Instead, you have the opportunity to continue existing in the spirit world in another form, witnessing or participating in the future development of the heavens."

This proposal stunned everyone. It was completely beyond their comprehension.

"Are you... are you a god?" Maishell murmured.

"God? Not really." Rosso withdrew the aura. "Like you, I'm just someone with some special abilities."

He looked at Taneba: "So, Taneba, you now have more choices than before. You can follow Bakal's suggestion, destroy the corrupted Gaboga, and leave hope to the pure celestial technology of the future."

Alternatively, one could try collaborating with these time travelers, risking everything to modify Geboga, and fight against both Bakal and Herder. Either option is fraught with risk. But at least now you know that even failure, even sacrifice, doesn't necessarily mean the end.

Taneba fell into a long silence. The information about the future, Hilder's conspiracy, Bakal's true intentions, and the incomprehensible options offered by this mysterious "Lord of the Spirit World"... all of this was shocking to his understanding.

Finally, he raised his head, and a resolute light rekindled in his eyes, but this light carried with it a heavy sense of realization.

"I... thank you for the choice you offered, Lord Rosso. This makes me realize that sacrifice may not be the end." Taneba's voice was calm and clear. "However, it is precisely because my friends from the future have shown me 'history' that I understand one thing even more clearly: the stability of spacetime cannot be easily shaken."

He looked at Maicher with a complicated expression: "You have brought the possibility of change, but also the risk of paradox."

If, because I learned of the future, I chose a different path, resulting in the failure to preserve Kurio's data, or the failure to reveal the truth about Geboga, or even affecting the formation of the future Celestial Resistance... then the consequences might be far more severe than the sacrifice of the seven of us.

He took a deep breath, as if making his final decision: "I am the leader of the Seven Mechanical War Gods, a celestial being of this era. My responsibility is to ensure that the flame of the celestial realm can be passed on, in whatever way is necessary."

Bakal's proposal, though cruel, is indeed the method that, at present, best ensures that key moments in history are not altered and that the hope for the future of Heaven is preserved.

"So," Taneba's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Rosso, a relieved smile on his face, "I choose... to respect 'history.' I will follow the original path, bear the blame for the 'traitor,' and then... face my fate."

This is my responsibility as a person of this era, and it is also the greatest contribution I can make to the stability of spacetime.

He paused, his tone softening: "As for my fate in the spirit world... if Lord Rosso doesn't despise the soul of a loser, then at the end of my life, I am willing to accept that contract."

At least, it gives me the chance, from another world, to silently watch over the heavens and see how the spark left by Kurio truly ignites a prairie fire.

The laboratory was silent. Maishere's eyes were filled with tears; she understood Taneba's choice, but for some reason, she felt a strange sorrow. The others also stood in solemn respect.

Rosso looked at Taneba quietly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He nodded, his tone solemn: "I respect your choice, Taneba. Your resolve is worthy of the title 'leader'."

The gates to the spirit world will remain open for you. When you have completed your mission, your soul will be guided to the afterlife.

Maishere forcefully wiped away her tears and nodded silently, "We will certainly not let down the sacrifices of our martyrs!"

"Now, you have bad news. Giselle has completed Geborg, and what you are about to face is the intact mechanical god of war—Geborg."

Rosso's words struck like a hammer blow to everyone's hearts.

"No, strictly speaking, it's not a perfect product," Taneba said self-deprecatingly. "I anticipated this situation when I initially designed Gaborga. To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, I deliberately created several weaknesses in it. Through these weaknesses, we can stop Gaborga's operations."

He straightened his back and said to Maicher and the others, "Let's go, let's stop Gaboga."

Watching the group decisively board the vehicles, Rosso rubbed his chin, choosing not to follow, and instead went to the laboratory entrance. There, Hyde, one of the Seven Mechanical Gods, stood at the door, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

"You are Lord Rosso?" Although he couldn't see the figure that suddenly appeared in front of him clearly, the familiar aura of power allowed Hyid to recognize the person.

"Did you come here specifically to see me?" Unlike the last time she faced Rosso, even though many years had passed and she had undergone fundamental changes, she still couldn't see Rosso's strength.

Whether it was her true intention or just for show, she always treated the strong with respect.

"I suppose so, Herder," Rosso said in a flat tone, revealing neither joy nor anger.

She remained silent for a moment, not at all surprised that the person in front of her could see through her disguise.

"Please speak, Lord Rosso."

"What are your thoughts on those from the future," Rosso said, looking directly into her eyes, "and on the spirit world I represent?"

"One of those people from the future, I saw before Terra was destroyed," Hilder said gravely. "He seemed to be able to manipulate time at will. Could it be—he was one of yours?"

"No, he's not one of mine." Rosso shook his head. "But I do need him, the one from the distant future."

Let me be frank with you. With me around, your plans will most likely be doomed. The origins of all future apostles will return to the spirit world, and ultimately, that might even include the one within you!