The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

"It feels like you've gone through all sorts of hardships to defeat the final demon king, only to find that the story isn't the cliché hero versus dragon slaying tale, but rather... a very unexpected and dramatic ending, isn't it?"

Bai E forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion: "Why? You said you love this world! And the only way this world exists is to trap me! Your words contradict themselves!"

"Contradiction?" The golden phantom Russell tilted his head slightly, the corners of his mouth, formed by specks of light, seemed to curve into an arc. "Yes, contradiction. But the only thing that is not contradictory is—perhaps from the very beginning, I never wanted this world to exist in this way."

“Here,” he said, opening his arms as if to embrace the crumbling world, “is a collection of suffering. Apart from the so-called ten rivets, that is, ten people including me who have been given relatively complete personalities and consciousness.”

"The rest are nothing but puppets programmed with instructions, cold cogs in the machine that keep the world running!"

"That 'god' promised us that if we imprison you here forever, this world will eventually gain true vitality and break free from false shackles."

Russell clicked his tongue, and the golden light seemed to ripple, revealing a deep sense of irony. "What a pity, this guy made a fatal mistake—he let me inherit my complete memories."

"When faced with the choice between 'preserving this prison-like world' and 'plotting to kill the god who uses us as pawns,' my choice was obvious. I and everyone else chose the latter."

"Moreover, not everything you said just now was true." Russell's phantom stared at Bai Er, his tone turning serious.

"The core architecture of the anti-inorganic equation is already largely complete, even without your direct involvement. The only difference is whether to completely destroy it or severely damage it, temporarily depriving it of its ability to interfere."

"Moreover, the anti-inorganic equation only sounds grand; in reality, it doesn't involve any innocent inorganic life forms. It's just a one-time attack on that god. Therefore, I prefer to call it the anti-god equation,"

“But if I reveal this name too early, I’m afraid you might actually sense something and be unable to make up your mind to kill me. Our underlying logic doesn’t allow us to commit suicide.”

"But that disrespectful one from the Divine Enlightenment Tree Garden, because his model is a self-destructing model, he has transcended this self-destruction limitation. That is, as you can see, he is too lazy to fight you."

"This world is made of memory matter and exists based on your memories."

"Therefore, even without the power of the Abundant Star God, the essence and operating logic of this world alone can still lead to an anti-deity equation specifically targeting that higher-dimensional being."

Russell's voice carried a cold confidence: "Without you as the ultimate power carrier of the equation, its effects may not be able to truly kill him, but they will be enough to hold him off for hundreds of years, keeping him in a state of utter chaos."

"And the ultimate mystery of this equation is something that even the creator who prides himself on being a genius is destined to be unable to solve."

“Little White,” Russell’s gaze seemed to pierce through White’s soul, “do you know why?”

Bai E took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress all his chaotic thoughts. He took a step forward, getting closer to the golden phantom.

He lowered his head slightly, like a student truly facing his mentor, his voice low and clear: "I don't know, teacher. Please enlighten me."

His posture was humble, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, watching Russell's every tiny change.

“Because the body of the equation,” Russell’s voice carried a sacrificial calm, “is me. My existence, my consciousness, my entire memory matter, is the core driver and the final blade of the equation.”

"This world has been completely refined by me, using myself as the medium."

"Of course, it must be mentioned that we should also thank Anaxagoras, the great disrespecter from the Tree of Enlightenment."

"Without him, my plan could not have progressed so smoothly."

He looked at Bai Er and revealed this cruel and shocking truth: "This one-time equation is the most resolute and hopeless charge that I, Russell, a mortal consciousness, can launch against the gods."

"In his eyes, this might just be the foolish struggle of an ant."

“But this is my limit.” The golden phantom’s light seemed to dim slightly. “I am not like the real ‘Russell,’ who possesses boundless and abundant power.”

"What you just saw, that power that moves mountains and fills seas, that gives birth to all things..." He raised his hand again, trying to gather the emerald green light symbolizing life and creation in his palm.

However, this time, only a few faint spots of light flickered briefly before extinguishing completely, as if they had never existed.

"...It's all just a false projection. Because this is your dream, the depths of your memory. In your memory, you 'believe' that I possess such power, so in this dream dominated by you, I 'possess' it."

"Now that you know the truth, this false shell of power will naturally peel away."

“So, Xiaobai,” Russell said with a sense of relief, “from the very beginning, I never really intended to keep you trapped here forever.”

"Stopping you, guiding you, even... deceiving you into fighting, is all for one purpose—the final activation of the equation requires some of your assistance."

"Then why did you stop me?" Bai E's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed confusion and a hint of anger at being deceived. He abruptly pointed to the crumbling space around him.

"Since you don't want to keep me here, why keep blocking my way? Wouldn't it be faster to just destroy the core and end all this?"

"Is it just so that we... will kill each other?" He spoke the last few words with great difficulty.

"This is the necessary aid. Remember what I just said? Our underlying logic, except for that disrespectful one, is that everyone is written into being unable to commit suicide."

"Perhaps that god was afraid that we would unite, so he deliberately tried to accumulate hatred by fighting among us, but he underestimated our selflessness and our wisdom."

Russell's voice was calm and even, yet carried an undeniable power: "The ten rivets that hold this world together are not merely stabilizers; they are coffins driven deep into the foundation of the world, locking away all possibilities and preventing it from escaping the control of the gods."

"Only when these rivets are removed one by one—that is, the moment when our individual consciousness, which bears these rivets, is completely extinguished."

"In that instant, this imprisoned and distorted world can break free of its shackles, unleash all the potential power it has been given, and become a world in the true sense of the word."

"Although this glory only existed for a moment before destruction."

“But it doesn’t matter,” Russell’s phantom straightened up a bit, as if gathering its last strength, “it’s enough in the instant before that destruction comes.”

"Enough for me to gather this last power that has gathered the entire imprisoned and deceived world, and, following its origin, transform it into the most vicious curse, the purest torrent of memories, to impact that proud creator and corrupt him!"

Bai E's face turned pale instantly, a terrible conjecture coiling around his heart like a cold, venomous snake.

He staggered back half a step, his voice trembling with disbelief: "So...so everyone I...everyone I just killed...they..."

He could no longer speak, recalling the look in the eyes of those familiar faces as they fell—not resentment, but relief and some indescribable expectation.

But at this moment, it became incredibly clear, like a red-hot iron branding his soul.

"They chose to die willingly. You don't need to feel guilty or sad. For us, it's the best way to escape being used as puppets." Russell's voice was resolute, filled with deep respect and indescribable sorrow.

"Because we all know that this world did not exist for us. It was born because of you, and it continues to exist because it traps you."

"We are merely shadows attached to it. Therefore, without disrupting the script observed by that deity, we choose this method to pave the way for your awakening as much as possible, and to give this world a chance to fight back against the Creator."

He looked up at the sky, which was being swallowed by the deep darkness and was constantly peeling away. "Look," he said, "Anaxxramas has also completed his final mission and chosen to end himself. The collapse of the world has accelerated once again."

...............

This is the third chapter update today. Including yesterday's update, that makes two more chapters, so I now owe 20 chapters. As for the new chapter, I've scheduled its release for September 30th. Since I have to catch a train that evening, I might not have time to update. So, it will be available around midnight. I'll still maintain a 6k+ post. Happy National Day everyone!

Golden Branches Endure Through the Ages: Chapter 185 May We Never Meet Again

"What if..." Bai E's voice was hoarse, carrying a final struggle, "What if I truly became addicted to this world and refused to wake up? What would you do?"

He stared intently at Russell, trying to find the answer in that golden light.

“Ha,” Russell let out a short, slightly bitter laugh, “If you really choose to succumb? Then I will have no choice but to forcibly expel you.”

"But the consequence of doing so would be that the world would collapse instantly, unable to even muster the power to deliver that final blow, turning into nothingness and vanishing silently, causing no harm to the gods. This is the worst possible outcome."

He looked directly into Bai Er's eyes. "As for your choice to cooperate... just like now, the truth will eventually be revealed to you. So, now,"

His golden figure seemed to become even more transparent before he asked in return, "Do you have any other questions?"

Bertrand Russell fell silent. All the clues, all the contradictions, all the sacrifices, were strung together in Russell's words, forming a cruel yet magnificent picture.

He slowly, heavily shook his head. Questions might still remain, but at this moment, they were no longer important.

“Then let’s go back.” Russell’s voice carried an unquestionable decisiveness as he pointed.

A portal radiating a warm yet resilient golden light silently rose beside them, its edges shimmering with liquid light, a stark contrast to the crumbling surroundings.

“Go back to the real world, Little White. There are still ‘us’ there who need our saving—those real souls who are suffering.”

"Our dream world may be beautiful, but it's ultimately just an illusion. We know very well that the original world of reality, that simulator also used by the gods as an observation tool, is suffering a calamity. Go and save them."

Russell stopped looking at the door and walked toward the withered sacred tree that was turning to ashes.

As he approached, a long spear made of withered vines and the last vestiges of green emerged from the dust beside the tree roots.

He bent down and picked it up with some difficulty. The power that once stirred life when he swung it was gone; now it was just a heavy wooden stick.

He leaned on his spear and slowly sat down against the huge, decaying tree trunk, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.

He raised his head, gave Bai E a tired but incredibly relieved smile, and waved his hand gently, his movements as slow as if frozen.

“Go back, Xiaobai. This world, woven with lies and imprisonment, is not worth your lingering. If…” His voice trailed off, carrying a barely perceptible plea.

"If you can still reserve a corner in your heart for this absurd dream... then please remember the moment of the celebration."

"That day, false gods held a celebration for you, trying to numb you with joy. But for us..."

Russell's eyes gleamed with golden light, as if reflecting the lights and laughter of that night.

"That was the only moment when we briefly broke free from our puppet status and truly felt our own existence. The light in everyone's eyes when we raised our glasses was real. There was absolutely nothing fake about that day."

"Please forgive our selfishness, as the celebration took up half a day of your time, but I think you won't mind given your personality."

"The real me once said: Death is not scary, forgetting is the ultimate demise."

He paused, his voice becoming even softer, carrying a sense of farewell: "I don't expect you to remember our hideous faces."

"I only hope... that when you think of us, it's the brief joy of that night, the clinking of glasses, the fleeting feeling of being alive. Goodbye, Xiaobai."

"If you do this with the real us after that, I hope you will remember us on that day."

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through Bai E, as if looking towards a distant, unattainable future.

His words were clear and heavy: "No, we will never see each other again."

"Because this place has never been your home. Your destiny, your battlefield, your final destination... lies beyond the stars, in the real dust of the universe."

"Little White..." Russell's voice carried his final, deepest, and gentlest entrustment, like the last flicker of a candle in the wind.

"Go. Go to the real world, and with your hands, take down the head of that high and mighty god who manipulates fate."

"Don't look back...don't go back to this illusory cage."

With his words, the whole world let out its final lament.

A massive spatial rift tore through the sky like a black lightning bolt, instantly turning the solid ground beneath their feet into dust, then dissolving and disappearing as if splashed with strong acid.

The canvas supporting the world rapidly aged, decayed, and peeled away, revealing the deep, all-consuming, and absolutely void darkness outside.

The darkness, like a living thing, greedily devoured all remaining colors and forms.

Bai E took one last look at the golden figure under the withered tree.

Russell leaned against the tree trunk, his head slightly lowered, the grass and wood spear in his hand supporting his swaying, illusory figure, like a golden sculpture weathering away, quietly awaiting the final end that belonged to him and to this world.

The figure exuded an extreme exhaustion after completing its mission, and an indescribable tranquility.

Just like his final moments in the Divine Enlightenment Tree Garden, there was only relief. Nothing else mattered anymore.

There was no hesitation, no words of farewell.

Bai E turned abruptly, with a resolute yet tearing pain, and stepped through the door that radiated warm golden light. The light instantly engulfed his figure.

The portal closed silently behind him, and the last glimmer of golden light vanished into the boundless darkness.

Beneath the withered tree, only Russell remained.

As Bai E's figure completely disappeared inside the door, the golden portal vanished like a bubble, and the golden phantom under the withered tree, which had been on the verge of death, suddenly burst forth with its final brilliance.

It was not an aggressive, intense light, but a sharp radiance, like a final burst of light, embodying all will and dignity.

He suddenly straightened his back, as if using the last bit of strength in his soul.

He gripped the withered, grassy spear tightly with both hands, its tip no longer drooping limply, but instead held high with all his might.

The spear tip pointed directly at the sky, which was frantically cracking and being swallowed by endless darkness! The spear tip seemed to be aiming to pierce through the barrier of this false universe.

"It's time for all of this to come to an end!" Russell's voice was no longer weak, but carried a roar that pierced the soul.

It was like thunder that had been suppressed for billions of years finally exploding, echoing above the rapidly collapsing ruins of the world.

"High and mighty God! Are you ready... to face the final wrath of this entire world that you created, manipulated, and imprisoned?! I will bring you the destructive fury of the entire world."

The roar exhausted his strength. His raised spear trembled slightly, and he had to slam the butt of the spear heavily onto the dusty ground once more to barely keep himself upright.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on the once magnificent divine tree beside him, which was rapidly turning to ashes. A complex and indescribable sorrow flashed in his azure eyes, which eventually turned into a low sigh filled with endless self-mockery.

"Ah... a complete memory... what a cruel gift. It makes me... unable to be selfish..."

His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing everyone else who had also chosen to die.

"The Golden Bloodline... is the same... Not one... would try to prevent the 'Savior's' awakening to maintain this false cage... Not one would force others to accept it for such selfish reasons..."

His phantom began to become unstable, its light flickering like a candle in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

“I, he turned our ‘selfish’ parameters… to the maximum… but he will never understand…” Russell’s voice was broken, but it carried a kind of sorrow that understood the essence of things.

"The most extreme selfishness...is precisely selflessness...for what is more important in our hearts...even if it means the complete annihilation of ourselves...If we have something more important than living, then we are not afraid of so-called death."

His figure swayed, almost falling, only supported by the long spear.

"If...if there were still a chance...how I would like to...talk to you...talk about...how...truly save this world..."