Chapter 1620

"That's true."

Johnny expressed agreement, all the experiences along this journey, countless memories, ultimately all transformed into their strength to defeat the Iron Tomb. Every person was very important, every person was indispensable. Without Bai E's futile persistence for thirty million ages, without Xilian's silent efforts for thirty million ages... perhaps Zandal had already succeeded in his plans.

Thinking of this, Johnny seemed to somewhat understand what Jolyne had previously mentioned about the "perfect golden spin" being like.

If one merely pursues the shortest "shortcut," perhaps it would only produce counterproductive effects. What truly allows the spin to accumulate strength has never been that straight line between two points, but every bend, and those seemingly detouring long roads.

The long road... is the source of strength.

"Ah, I see..." Johnny's mouth curled into a knowing smile, "This long road spanning thirty million ages is actually the shortest shortcut to defeat the Iron Tomb."

—

"…Huh? Wait, what fell out—" San Yue Qi examined the small card tucked between the pages, "Is… a bookmark?"

"Dan Heng carefully examined the handwriting on it: 'This is…'"

"Actually, in everyone's unknown corners, another obscure 'interlude' occurred. I left it outside the story because it concerns a 'choice,' a 'choice' I made out of selfishness."

"Xilian clasped her hands, slowly closing her eyes: 'Can you forgive me, Star? In your absence, I made a decision on my own…… I wrote everything about it on this small card. After reading it, if you are willing to forgive me——'"

"'Then let me add this final entry to the end of 《As I Wrote It》?'"

"..."

"Within Fate's Narrow Gap, countless victims' memories were walking toward Xilian face to face."

"'The memories swallowed by the Iron Tomb, return to reality.' Xilian watched these memories gradually fade away, 'Please don't get lost♪'"

"'Finally found you, Xilian… De Miu Ge.'"

"Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind Xilian, Xilian turned around, and discovered it was actually the Black Tower Lady."

"'We won this battle. Thank you, Black Tower Lady. Without you, victory would be utterly out of the question.' Xilian keenly noticed the abnormality on the Black Tower's expression, 'But, is there still any lingering worry?'"

"'Before closing my eyes, in the machine head's mind, I saw… some concerning images.' The Black Tower said, "'The Fourth Moment'—anchored by 'Knowledge,' a turning point in the Galaxy's fate… it is not a single instant, but a process, a collection of many events.'"

"Xilian quickly understood her meaning: 'So, this victory is not the final link of those 'many events'?'"

"'On the contrary, it is merely the beginning……' The Black Tower said word by word, 'It is the first death knell of this Galaxy.'"

—

One Punch Man.

"'The first death knell…… also means that, before the final Gods' War arrives, the Galaxy still has many death knells?'"

Bao Xin Zhe's expression suddenly changed, thinking of the Iron Tomb's shot that destroyed the Huazuo, cold sweat instantly soaked his undershirt. "Could it be that many similar monsters to the Iron Tomb will appear in the future?"

According to the Metal Knight's speculation, the Iron Tomb-level Envoy counts as a 'special case,' after all, it was Zandal's most obsessive personality fragment spending countless Amber Eons to create this transcendent Envoy-level monster, such a monster appearing once is still understandable.

Among possible future strong foes, Fen Feng is one. If speaking of 'death knell,' everyone only prepared for this one. But now the Black Tower's meaning is…… besides Fen Feng and the Iron Tomb, does the universe still contain many similar strong foes?

"'Probably not?' The Metal Bat scratched his head, 'Could these death knells all be Jiemie Dajun? Each Dajun is one death knell? Fen Feng, Iron Tomb aside, does Huan Long also count? Or…… did the Xingzhou just happen to encounter in the Xianzhou the weakest combatant among the Dajun?'"

"'I think it should not be only that.' Bang said in a deep voice, 'Other Jiemie Dajun should far fall short of the level to toll the death knell for the Huazuo, it should be 'Harmony,' 'Emptiness,' or other Mingtù that also produced monsters similar to the Iron Tomb.'"

"..."

"At this point, the faces of all S-Class Heroes in the room turned unpleasant."

"'Don't, don't panic…… everyone, don't panic!'"

"Seeing the atmosphere in the room instantly drop to freezing point, Yuanzǐ Samurai forcibly suppressed the chill in his heart, loudly said: 'Don't forget, Xilian is still here! Even if the Huazuo is destroyed again, Xilian can also revive everyone, just like this time with the Iron Tomb!'"

"'As long as Xilian has no problem, no matter how many times the universe is destroyed, she can bring everyone back, even the destroyed stars can be restored! Moreover, she is already the Envoy closest to the Star God, thereafter, as long as the Star God does not personally intervene, no one will be her match!'"

"Yuanzǐ Samurai's words were like a strong heart needle, taking effect immediately, the trembling body of Alloy Black Light quickly calmed down, everyone's pale faces finally regained some color."

"Yeah, Xilian is still here."

"Now she can even handle Fu Li rebuilding the universe, there's nothing left for them to fear."

—

"'This melancholic expression does not suit you, Black Tower Lady… don't burden yourself, tell me?'"

"'……'"

"The Black Tower fell silent for a moment, then changed to another question: 'Not long ago, you met the 'Memory' Star God again, right?'"

"Xilian devoutly clasped her hands, closed her eyes: 'Mm. Even if her form is blurred and indistinct, she still believes: that is 'Xilian's' dream deity.'"

"The Black Tower let out a long sigh: 'Indeed… 'Cause and Effect' has gone wrong.'"

"Xilian widened her eyes: 'Cause and Effect?'"

"'Let's use your favorite fairy tale as a metaphor: the universe originated from a seed, it grew into a great tree, 'now' is its leaves and branches. 'Knowledge' will calculate how 'future' will sprout. Of course, future has countless developments, so He needs to 'anchor,' trim those crooked, not sturdy enough branches, leaving only one possibility. But if it's only this, branches will keep increasing, leaves will keep increasing, the tree will sooner or later collapse under the weight.'"

"'So, in biology there is a saying called 'woodification,' letting tender leaves grow a hard epidermis, becoming one with the trunk.' The Black Tower said, 'For the universe, this is the essence of 'Memory.' Under Fu Li's remembrance, 'past' condenses into 'memory'; and what He forgot in the corners, even if 'now' happens, will become rootless fruit.'"

"'This sounds, opposite to 'Knowledge'… one calculates the future, one remembers the past.'"

"'Originally we didn't need to discuss this. But now, I finally understood what that chaotic substance wrapping Wengfaluo Si is……' The Black Tower raised her head, looking seriously at Xilian, 'It is your 'Memory.' Now, your consciousness spreads across the stars, letting you walk an extremely distant distance on this Mingtù.'"

"'My…… 'Memory'?' Xilian was momentarily unable to react."

"'Yes. Although you live in the 'present,' your 'memory' exists in the past. Just like the 'Memory' Star God, she is also merely a cluster of memory.'"

"Xilian felt her head dazed: 'This is… what meaning? Has He, fallen?'"

"'No.' The Black Tower finally turned around, 'On the contrary, it is that He has not yet been born.'"