Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

The work of saving the world is complete. Lin Zimo is now sorting out the planet's geology. Although he is not in the real universe, his power and will are on the earth. The planet, covered in ice and snow, is constantly showing him the indomitable spirit and progress of human civilization.

A sturdy underground city, a continuously operating steam system, granaries with ever-growing reserves, and constantly improving cold-weather gear... In the greenhouse, teenagers assigned to help turn over compost with shovels, and nutrient tanks for cultivating grains are neatly arranged on iron racks, with traces of psionic catalysis still shimmering like condensed dewdrops.

On the frozen lake, fishermen were able to venture into this dangerous, remote, and frigid region for the first time since the disaster. Their steam engines were breaking through the thick ice, and the fish they had caught were already frozen solid, piled on the ice like a heap of freshly quarried marble.

Human life signals are growing vigorously like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, no longer as faint as before. After getting through the most difficult beginning of the harsh winter, people who lost their property and loved ones in the face of natural disasters and man-made calamities are no longer afraid of the future. They begin to reorganize into new families, and the population gradually increases.

The large pot in the communal kitchen was bubbling away, the aroma of the broth wafting from the ladle as the man in charge stirred it. The ingredients included root vegetables and smoked chunks of meat, a rare delicacy brought about by improved living standards.

Steam blurred the chef's glasses, which he had to take off every now and then to wipe on his apron. Several people, drawn by the aroma, sat around him, each holding an open can of food and waiting to get their meals.

Perhaps after experiencing these difficult times, canned food and nutritional blocks will no longer be just a symbol of helplessness in life, but will become a part of human popular culture, accompanying this civilization further and even reaching the stars.

The children played in the common room. After lunch, they had to go back to work, so during their short playtime, they jumped up and down the slide. An old craftsman sat in the corner watching over them, mending a leather glove with a needle and thread. His finger joints were deformed from years of labor, but he could still thread the needle nimbly.

Lin Ziming saw a lot. Even though humanity had developed a new way of life during the harsh winter, he could still think of his hometown amidst the warmth of everyday life.

His consciousness swept over the "Ark" space station between Earth and the Moon. This space fortress, which once symbolized privilege, was now silent, with only its ecological cycle system operating at minimal power consumption. It was like a huge treasure trove floating in the starry sky, waiting for treasure hunters to bring it back to the light of day.

The technological equipment, databases, and vast amounts of energy left behind by those giant corporations are all intact. This may be the most abundant "legacy" that human civilization has left itself, and the will has not yet been signed by the heirs.

The thought quietly descended, passing through the planet's atmosphere, and arrived at the black stone altar built on the plateau. Terence was kneeling alone in the center of the altar. This leader of the Death Faction often sat here in meditation. The floor tiles beneath his knees had been worn with shallow marks. Since the arrival of Judgment Day, he had not been reciting scriptures as usual, but seemed to be quietly waiting for something.

"Humans".

A deafening sound resounded directly in Terence's consciousness, like the roar of an ancient mountain collapsing. Terence shuddered, enduring the pain in his head, and instantly adjusted his posture, prostrating himself on the ground in the most standard prostration, his forehead pressed tightly against the cracked, cold black stone floor tiles.

"Lord, your devout believer welcomes your arrival," Terence said, trying his best to remain conscious and keep his voice steady, but the trembling at the end of his voice proved that he could not bear the wisp of Lin Ziming's will that had descended upon him.

"I have witnessed your existence, I have witnessed your growth," Lin Zimo's thoughts were like a towering tsunami, and Terence seemed to be standing on the crest of the wave, being submerged by the seawater and struggling to rise again, like a lone boat about to capsize.

For the sake of humanity, Terence must persevere and translate the will of the Lord, for this is humanity's only chance to communicate with the Lord. "The secret of fire and heat is in your hands; you have ignited the hope of survival with your own hands."

Terence trembled all over, and the flames that had been extinguished reignited on his face and in his eyes. Surrounded by the psychic energy descended by the Lord, his body, soul, and consciousness were gradually collapsing, like a puppet thrown into a fireplace being charred black by the licking of the flames.

"The survival of civilization stems from its own resilience," the psionic fluctuations gradually softened, as if the Lord was pleased with humanity's tenacious survival. "This planet began because of me, and you are the intelligent race born from it. You have rebuilt civilization in the face of disaster, proving that you are qualified to move forward."

Terence was nearly broken, like a piece of firewood about to burn out. He maintained his prostrate posture, waiting for the final declaration of his will. For believers, understanding the Lord's decision is far more important than questioning it. The Lord's wisdom is above all seeking, and the destruction the Lord gives is also part of His grace.

"I will set off to leave this galaxy," the Lord thought with a vastness and tranquility like the universe itself. "It is time; I need to go and find the answers."

Terence didn't know what the Lord needed. He didn't hesitate at all, nor did he have the slightest thought of trying to keep the Lord for humanity. The Lord's departure must have carried a grander destiny that humanity couldn't understand. He simply said, "Your will is the beacon guiding humanity forward."

"You have already learned to survive," the Lord praised. "Wisdom and unity are the greatest tools of mankind. I can pluck this planet from the stars and put it back into a more suitable orbit. This may melt the ice and snow and bring spring back to the earth, but it will also be accompanied by new earthquakes. All the reconstruction you have worked so hard to this day will be in vain."

Terence remained silent, always fulfilling his duty as a believer. He did not discuss the pros and cons with the Lord, but rather accepted every decision, every blessing and punishment without seeking further interpretation. The Lord's recognition of humanity's ability to survive independently was enough.

"A legacy awaits you," the torrent of will directed towards the Earth-Moon orbit, allowing Terence to see the rotating space station in space, an image so clear that even satellites could not capture it. "That is the wisdom of humankind, and it will return to your hands. Those who transgress will be judged, and those who survive will be rewarded."

Terence slowly straightened up, his hands braced on the floor tiles. His clothes had already turned to ashes in the flames, but his gaze remained calm and resolute in his shattered eye sockets. He raised his cracked, porcelain-like arms high, "I will surely carry out your will and dedicate my life to guiding humanity toward the stars."

The psionic energy fluctuations carried a faint sense of expectation: "In the universe, time has little meaning. When our paths intersect again in the future, I hope you will have a new attitude towards your mission."

Terence fell to the ground again, his forehead striking the black stone. To him, the Lord's departure was not a loss, but a sign that humanity should move from being sheltered to independence, just as a grown child should push open the door of their home.

Looking to the future, a new chapter for humanity is about to begin.