I lost?
Under the bright moon, the fields of flowers swept away the horrifying environment from earlier. Ryan stood bewildered, feeling his rapidly beating heart slow down.
He had thought a lot just now. That brain, truly one of humanity's top three, had analyzed everything clearly, but he felt somewhat confused, because in the end, he didn't follow rational logic. He followed his instincts, even surpassing his desire to win and survival habits.
'I want to see them. Anyone will do.'
This was his greatest desire just now. Then he decisively cheated, using his Authority to detect and Honkai energy to propel himself, finding this valley in minutes. Now, coming back to his senses, he felt a bit helpless.
"Alright, I lost."
"Oh, I thought you'd argue a bit."
"I'm not Kalpas. Losing is losing. I just didn't expect to lose to myself."
Ryan walked into the garden with a bitter smile, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, feeling the softness of the soil.
This fear truly stemmed from himself. Even facing the Seventh Herrscher, surrounded on the South American continent, he hadn't been afraid, because rationality told him that fear was useless, only disrupting thought and missing opportunities for a breakthrough.
"I didn't even realize I wouldn't be afraid of death."
"You used to be very afraid of death?" Elysia waved him over to push her swing.
The pink fairy seemed to meld with the flower sea, emitting a refreshing fragrance, making it impossible to distinguish them.
"Very afraid, extremely afraid, afraid to the point of nausea. Actually, I'm still a bit afraid now," Ryan held the swing, gently pushing. He saw Elysia magnificent dress flutter. "But I suddenly realized I'm more afraid of one thing."
"What thing?"
Ryan glanced at the girl, thinking she already knew, but still whispered the answer: "I'm afraid you'll all die out, leaving just me. Even tens of thousands of years later, witnessing a new civilization, I wouldn't have the motivation to save the world."
"Isn't making new friends good? Maybe there are even prettier girls too."
Her flying hair brushed Ryan face. He gently shook his head, unequivocally: "No, one time of weariness is enough. I have no interest in falling into darkness or obsession."
In that instant, he seemed to understand why Eden didn't enter the sleep capsule, choosing instead to sing one last song on the wasteland to end her life.
When loved ones are annihilated and loved things shattered, the pearl of the era loses its meaning of existence, preferring to be buried in that era.
Elysia smiled quietly. Her legs pushed off the ground, and she leaped up. Her skirt flared, and Ryan, standing behind her, seemed to see a small bear pattern.
"Ryan, no pervy thoughts."
The girl pressed down her skirt, looking at him with a smile. Fortunately, a certain someone was thick-skinned, shaking his head to indicate he saw nothing.
"I lost, Ellie. Punish me however you want." Ryan raised his head, an expression of 'come at me' determination.
"I've decided... not to punish you!"
"You're letting me off so easily? This operation must have taken a lot of thought from you."
"Of course! I've been planning since we got on the plane. Ryan, you're really tenacious. All my plans were useless, it made me helplessly furious for a long time. If it weren't for Mobius help..."
As Elysia spoke, she quickly covered her mouth, meeting Ryan annoyed gaze.
A certain someone had been quite pleased at first, because no matter how scary it was, it was still within the realm of psychology, at most neuropsychology. But then he heard that name and instantly became agitated.
"Mobius! It was her all along! I knew whose psychological expertise was so high. So she already betrayed me and went over to your side."
'No, no. She was scared by me first. To hide her embarrassment, she joined me.'
Elysia thought this but dared not say it aloud. She didn't want to offend two people at once. She cleared her throat: "That's not important."
"That is important! It concerns who I will take revenge on. That damned desire to win is still burning fiercely," Ryan clenched his fists, looking formidable.
"Uh, okay, when you retaliate, remember to be a gentleman. Where was I just now?" Elysia found it hard to persuade him. She just silently apologized to Mobius in her heart. It took her several seconds to remember.
"Right, the reason I'm not punishing you is that you lost, but you also won."
"What do you mean??" Ryan didn't quite understand. He was planning an even more cruel and terrifying game of revenge.
"It means that even though you lost, you also found the 'True Self'. That's the gift."
Gift?
Ryan looked suspiciously at Elysia, scanning her bright face, delicate collarbones, deep cleavage, flat stomach, and white-stockinged long legs.
The mountain breeze ruffled her knee-length skirt, revealing faint indentations outlined by the white stockings.
"The gift isn't you, is it?"
"I said no pervy thoughts!" Elysia immediately blushed, wagging her finger as she lectured: "You found the 'True Self'. That's the gift."
Tsk, it's that, huh.
Ryan was somehow disappointed. Thinking about it closely, he felt she was right.
He finally cleared away the fog and saw the 'True Self', understanding what he truly desired beyond his instinctive drive for progress.
"I want all of you to pass through the End intact, towards a happy and hopeful future, at least for the people of the Golden Courtyard."
Elysia listened quietly, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, shining like stars. She didn't speak, only listened as Ryan explained.
"I'm somewhat similar to Mei, but different in many ways. What she wants is to preserve civilization, so she's cruel and selfless; I'm more vulgar, the weight of friends is greater."
"You... don't want to be the savior?"
"Ha, this is inherently an extension of self-salvation. You can think of it as a priority. I'll do as much as my power allows, and my strained limit is you all," Ryan appeared very simple, not at all associated with greatness.
He didn't consider himself a great person. He could only say he tried his best, just like the 'Wandering Humanity' plan quietly being executed now, only placing friends above civilization.
Elysia smiled, not correcting Ryan 'selfishness'. She beckoned him to stroll with her among the flowers, her hand gently brushing the blossoms swaying in the wind.
'I feel so at peace. With this, I can also rest easy.'
Neither spoke, only quietly walked deeper into the flower sea. Ryan quietly watched her back. While enjoying the tranquility, his heart gradually turned cold. He even felt an urge to turn and run.
Because Elysia suddenly stopped, turned around, her smile looking lonely in the moonlight.
"Ryan, I've remembered some things recently. I might, probably, possibly be a..."
She didn't finish her sentence. Her eyes widened gradually, and a hand covered her mouth, holding it tightly, preventing her from speaking further.
The man stood with his back to the moon, his expression more resolute than ever before.
"No way. You just need to enjoy the present, forget these bothersome things, because when that day truly arrives—" Ryan puffed out his chest, standing tall like the straight snow pines on the mountaintop.
"I will bear it, I will solve it, I will bear it, I will surpass destiny!"
His hand loosened. Elysia couldn't speak for a long time, her face slightly flushed, the loneliness in her eyes vanishing without a trace. After a while, she lowered her head, gently poking the dirt with her small black leather boots.
"Ryan, if you keep acting so cool, I'll fall for you."
"So you don't like me now?"
"It's different! As for how it's different, I can't quite say, but—" She suddenly raised her head, her fair skin seeming to be draped in a silver veil.
"I'll trust you for now, and stop doubting myself for a bit."
...
"Where did those two go? We can't even see their shadows!"
On the other side of the flower sea, all the adventurers waited with anticipation. Except for Griseo, who was weaving flower wreaths nearby, everyone else was there for the entertainment.
Ryan actually lost. No one could hide the roar of Authority, yet no one was laughing now. Most were even a little moved.
"Senior Brother used his Authority to protect us! No one is allowed to laugh at him," Hua declared firmly, her gaze subtly shifting towards Mobius, that great demon lord. 'She's too insidious, actually using me as a hostage.'
'Hmph, he wasn't just protecting you. He was simply alone, overwhelmed by loneliness.'
Mobius sneered inwardly. Ryan psychological fluctuations couldn't escape her eyes. But sarcasm wasn't necessary. Since that guy valued her so much, she would spare him this once.
The only drawback was that this 'care' wasn't just for her; it also included these idiots who knew nothing, especially Hua. Why does she always stare at me? She even stands guard when Ryan goes to the restroom.
"Should we follow them? We can't even see their shadows anymore."
"Don't disturb your teacher," Mobius coldly warned, not sounding as sarcastic as usual, but rather subdued. Eden saw her expression and could only sigh softly.
'Nothing bad will happen, right?'
She craned her long neck to look into the distance, feeling a bit uneasy, wishing she could rush out immediately, but finally managed to restrain herself.
She had to trust Ryan. He wouldn't let Elysia be sad.
Just then, a small rotorcraft flew back, swaying up and down with the airflow. Vil-V immediately recognized it as her own creation.
"Elysia sent a reply! Oh, it's for Mobius."
Eden was somewhat surprised, and also relieved. Since it was for Mobius, it wouldn't be a farewell. Ryan must have persuaded her.
"Why are you all looking at me?" Mobius raised an eyebrow, casually taking the paper. Just a glance, and her ample chest heaved continuously. She even crumpled the paper in her hand.
'You, Elysia, I kindly helped you, and you dare to betray me!'
Mobius was fuming. Elysia had no sad words at all, just told her to run away quickly, because a furious Ryan was coming back to settle the score with her.
She quickly tore the letter to shreds. Facing the bewildered group, she proudly puffed out her chest, unwilling to admit defeat.
"Why are you all just standing there? Let's go home! And no mentioning tonight's events!"