novelraw Chapter 53: Eternal Pain
Chapter 53: Eternal Pain
Mo Wen's impenetrable mental barrier finally began to be penetrated under the light that ignited the Warp.
The world in his eyes fractured, transforming into countless fragments like a kaleidoscope, each angle revealing different colors.
Those were the memories of the Warp.
From this moment on, they continuously unfolded along Mo Wen's reverse flow of time.
He saw the deity revered by various civilizations across the universe as the "Supreme Radiance" completely devouring humanity, declaring its own birth with the end of a civilization, igniting conflicts that swept across the cosmos.
Qi Shiming did not awaken; the flawless plan failed to rouse him, and instead the container developed its own will, crushing all usurpers.
The cries of those who self-immolated as evidence created no ripples, helpless lambs reveled until their extinction, fearless resistance fighters slept peacefully in silence...
"Wrong."
Mo Wen remained unshaken by these visions, even though they seemed to emphasize his importance.
He saw the Corporation's upper echelon controlling Zero, using this perfect creation to achieve the ascension of all humanity, then abandoning Qi Shiming's resurrection due to arrogance and fear.Civilization's direction was locked into forward progress; for greater efficiency, unimportant parts were continuously eliminated, and even seemingly important individuals proved useless.
Old humans were erased, transformed into new humans, but new human production efficiency still fell short, leading to their erasure again, replaced by computational units created by the Zero Mainframe.
The grassroots were replaced by interaction units, the middle layer by command units, and even those who called themselves civilization's pathfinders were replaced by unified control units.
Civilization was simplified by removing complexities, leaving only the most essential individuals - the Zero Mainframe, inheritor of all human assets.
"Wrong."
Humanity might perish, but not so easily; some among them would inevitably resist to the end.
Ah, was he fantasizing about his own importance, causing the Warp to reflect these delusions?
Mo Wen eliminated these thoughts.
He saw Qi Shiming's return, saw the Madman crossing the Divine Long Staircase, saw countless lives sacrificed, saw those entrusted with great responsibilities forced to grow stronger because of their duties, millions of rising flames lighting up the sky, cries creating endless waves...
Among those Corporation executives he casually slaughtered, some had participated in the resistance; Vanessa, who had nearly killed him once, became the whistleblower of the rebellion; the gang members he casually killed died defending dream nodes that could counter psychic fluctuations...
"Correct."
Mo Wen openly accepted that world without him; this was possible.
But what meaning did this hold...
Existence, advancement, slaughter, seizure - he wouldn't feel guilty for changing anything.
Suddenly, a point of light exploded.
Human preservation devices, serving spiritual mechanisms, the Mechanicus, end-stage owner society, light expedition...
People viewed as resources, those charging into the Warp, those acting coquettishly to machine maids, those worshiping divine machinery, those resisting tyranny, those bitten to death by dogs after crossing time...
People viewed as resources, those charging into the Warp, those acting coquettishly to machine maids, those worshiping divine machinery, those resisting tyranny, those bitten to death by dogs after crossing time...
Countless possibilities continuously expanded, each new choice at every moment giving rise to new paths; even with his current computational power, he couldn't comprehend them all.
It possessed no self-awareness, merely reflecting his power.
It remembered his psychic energy, this universe's first time-walker.
But to Mo Wen, this meant nothing; he would still be expelled from this world.
And at this moment, light came from the kaleidoscope's end, from the Warp's first memory, bringing soul-deep warmth that swept over him.
This was Qi Shiming's true killing move.
A universe's memories, from ancient times to present, billions of civilizations - who could bear such weight?
I can.
Mo Wen remembered.
He remembered his miserable and lonely death, recalled the madness and despair he was forced to forget, tore open old wounds, using flowing blood to block this attack.
He had wept bitterly, screamed until hoarse, remained dazed like a puppet awaiting death.
He had wept bitterly, screamed until hoarse, remained dazed like a puppet awaiting death.
He had torn his own skin, eaten his own body, pretended alongside newly emerged selves in his mind that he wasn't alone.
Not enough - pain beyond human comprehension couldn't oppose this temperature.
He had been forced to experience post-death non-death despair, flesh dissolving into all things, consciously witnessing all things' destruction and rebirth.
He had been forced to experience post-death non-death despair, flesh dissolving into all things, consciously witnessing all things' destruction and rebirth.
Humans easily deceive themselves.
Calling inability "not caring," calling not daring to resist "courageous undertaking," calling failure "victory," as if shouting repeatedly could truly change everything.
Calling inability "not caring," calling not daring to resist "courageous undertaking," calling failure "victory," as if shouting repeatedly could truly change everything.
Rejecting death meant continuing forward, advancing would bring happiness, yet every moment of struggle brought only pain - the promise of happiness was just a lie.
Even reversing time, yearning to choose again, only oneself could never go backward.
Even reversing time, yearning to choose again, only oneself could never go backward.
They connected together, foreshadowing a person's past, seemingly two psychic powers, actually only one.
Yet on this thorn-covered path, shouting lies, stepping over one's own corpses, continuously advancing - what was wrong with that!
The pain driving Mo Wen forward clashed with the warmth brought by igniting the Warp.
Death, destruction, despair, nothingness, pain, madness, abandonment, isolation... countless negative emotions were easily shattered by Mo Wen.
Qi Shiming's final killing move - only this much?
"No."
Mo Wen's vision pierced through the seemingly all-encompassing light, seeing the will constantly gnawed by hounds, and a cunning smile.
His deception skills were quite superb.
This move - Qi Shiming felt even betting everything might not execute it perfectly; he only pretended to successfully ignite the Warp. Next, Mo Wen would be responsible for burning the Warp.
You're exactly as I imagined.
This is your great death.
May countless blessings be upon you, may your path ahead be smooth.
Your past will die here, alongside countless deceased ones... me too.
"No." A voice sounded.
"No." Like insect chirping, but Mo Wen understood the meaning.
"No." Branches and leaves trembled.
"No." Using scent to transmit messages?
"No." Refracted light reflected information.
"No." Electronic movements formed a character.
"No." Field changes presented a will.
"No." Ah, human language.
Since the universe's birth, all awakened psychics' radiance merged together; the seemingly endless colors finally converged into a rainbow light. They submerged Mo Wen, embraced him, accepted him, and sought his embrace.