Elegy from Another World

"Ascension to the throne? Becoming king?" I didn't react for a moment, almost thinking I'd misheard. "What?"

Noreljon's magical doll let out a low laugh, its crimson electronic eyes flashing: "Look around you, Lysia. Fear grips the people, despair spreads like a plague. Utopia is their last refuge, their only beacon of hope. But hope needs to be united, it needs a clear core, a leader who can guide everyone and give them unwavering faith. A chaotic group will only self-destruct under pressure. You need a title, a symbol, to unite this force."

I looked at him, my feelings a mix of emotions: "I never expected to hear those words come out of your mouth. I thought... you would take this opportunity to declare yourself king."

"Hmph," Noreljun sneered, "Of course I want to. But these ants... no, these survivors, they don't submit to me, they fear me. While I'd love to see them struggle, with a formidable enemy at hand, that red scum is the primary target. I can distinguish between what's important and what's not. You are currently the only option that most people can accept."

His words, though harsh, revealed the cruel reality. Indeed, faced with the apocalyptic pressure brought by the "Guardians," without a strong core to unify will and guide direction, internal division and collapse are almost inevitable. My seemingly frail young body may not perfectly fit the traditional image of a "king," but at this moment, stabilizing hearts and minds and uniting forces are far more important than outward appearance.

"Heh... I understand." I sighed, accepting this heavy responsibility. "Although I really don't want to be a king, now... I have no choice."

I shared my idea of ​​ascending the throne with Xiaobei, Tia, Edseysis, Yisen, Kawei, and Zoimem. They unanimously supported it and immediately sprang into action. In just three hours, using the resources within the base, they miraculously constructed a solemn yet somewhat rugged throne—made of dark metal and luminous crystal, so large that I could easily lie on it. They also forged a substantial pure gold crown, inlaid with pink crystal fragments replicated from the core of the labyrinth, both regal and symbolizing a close connection to Utopia.

"Okay," I smiled helplessly, "Anyway... as long as we can give everyone a good impression and put people at ease, that's fine."

The coronation ceremony took place in Utopia's largest central square. A vast number of survivors gathered there, thousands of eyes fixed on the high platform. Zoimem prostrated herself beneath the platform, her massive white dragon body becoming the ladder for my ascent to the throne. I took a deep breath, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, I slowly walked up the platform, stepping on her solid, warm scales, turning to face my "people."

Tia and Edessis solemnly placed the heavy golden crown on my long white hair. At that moment, a deafening cheer erupted in the square, and the atmosphere of despair seemed to be somewhat dispelled by this surge of hope.

I raised my hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then began my first "King's Declaration," my voice amplified throughout the entire square:

"Inhabitants of Utopia!"

"The land beneath our feet was once a beacon of hope in our despair! The sky above us is now shrouded in the shadow of the unknown! We have lost our homes, witnessed destruction, and are forced to huddle here, awaiting our uncertain fate in fear!"

"But I want to tell you—fear cannot save us, and retreat will only lead to our demise!"

"I, Liscia, hereby declare that from this moment forward, I will shoulder the responsibility of leading you! I promise no false peace, nor do I paint a picture of easy victory; the road ahead is destined to be arduous, and the enemy is stronger than ever before!"

"But we are not alone! We have each other! We have wisdom! We have an indomitable will! We have this fortress built from countless bodies, capable of supporting us all—Utopia!"

Trust me as I trust you! Lend me your strength! Let us unite into an unstoppable torrent! Long live Utopia! Long live survival!

As the declaration concluded, thunderous applause and shouts erupted once more in the square. I could see a renewed light in many people's eyes. This reassurance, at least to some extent, had worked.

After the coronation, everyone's enthusiasm for work noticeably increased. Tia, Edseysis, Yisen, and Kawi led their respective teams, dedicating themselves even more to their research and work. As for me, the new king, I also needed to deliver inspiring speeches from time to time to stabilize the situation.

A week later, Utopia's population reached four thousand. Edsys and Yisen's team delivered exciting news: after tireless efforts, they had successfully disassembled and installed the gravity nullifier of the "Aerial Platform" onto the main structure of the Utopia base! Although the entire base shook violently during the initial launch, we succeeded! Utopia can now fly! We have the ability to move!

However, research into escaping this world is progressing slowly. Kawi and Tia's efforts can only achieve long-distance spatial teleportation of the entire base, but the destination remains limited to the interior of this near-destruction world. Furthermore, such large-scale teleportation is extremely energy-intensive, and can only be activated once a day.

Two days later, just as I was preparing for another routine speech, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout Utopia!

"Warning! Extremely high energy detected approaching! It's the 'Guardian'! It's coming towards us!"

A chill ran down everyone's spine, but this time, a sense of order crept in amidst the panic. As planned, all non-combat personnel entered the shelter, and combat personnel took their positions. Standing in the command center, I looked through the massive observation window and saw on the distant horizon that familiar, unsettling red scrambled code, moving at a steady, yet unstoppable, pace towards the suspended utopia.

"Has the final moment arrived...?" I murmured.

"Zoimem! Kavey! Edseysis! Proceed according to plan!" I gave the order.

A colossal white dragon roared and soared into the sky! Her claws gripped the Hero's Sword, Kawi, while Edessis lay atop her back. Their mission was to conduct one last diplomatic (or rather, interference) attempt. If Kawi failed, Edessis and Xiaobei would immediately activate the time-slowing field to prepare for the next step of their plan.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats as they watched anxiously as Zoimem, carrying both hope and danger, charged headlong into the red light of death.

The distance between the two sides closed rapidly... one thousand meters... five hundred meters... three hundred meters...

Just as Zoymem was about to enter the "conversation" area set by Kavey, and Edseysis was preparing to activate his ability at any moment—

brush!

The red garbled code, right before our eyes, vanished without any warning, like a projection whose signal had been cut off... in an instant.

Silence reigned throughout the land. Only the sound of Zoymem's flapping wings could be heard.

We were all stunned; the command center was completely silent. What happened? How could it have suddenly disappeared?

Just then, a familiar thought, imbued with inhuman calmness, resounded directly in my mind once again:

Finally, we succeeded.

I turned around abruptly and saw that the scorpion-shaped brain had silently entered the command room without me noticing.