Chapter 149: The End of Everything? No, the End of the Planet

"Oliver, dead. Wufuruike, dead. Sigewate, dead. Siweibiyuen, dead. Zhaernasi, dead. Aishala, dead. Edward, dead..."

... Dying so quickly, not bad.

At the very top of the Antarctic Giant Tower, Li Ang floated in the anti-gravity office he had built himself, looking up at the wreckage of the Planetary Shield, which had already been torn and shattered for the most part.

This massive veil shrouding the planet had begun to undergo irreversible deformation; a huge bulge was spreading from the direction of the Arctic. Countless massive cracks and signs of fragmentation had already proven that their initial theory was not wrong in the slightest: the planet's shield could be broken.

Countless people had already witnessed such a miracle; their understanding was not far-reaching, nor could they realize what kind of tribulation such cracks and deformations would bring to the other side of the planet. They even continued to believe that the Star-Bearer was an incomparably great deity, or rather, they spontaneously believed that the Star-Bearer would certainly be able to lead them out of the disaster. These ignorant crowds gathered together in a panic, constantly bowing their heads in prayer, though they did not know what they were praying for.

And as the mastermind behind it all, Li Ang simply floated in the air, swaying up and down with the unstable gravitational currents, watching the shattered scenery in the sky and feeling a subtle sense of satisfaction.

He had already surpassed all life and non-life on this planet.

With his own will and his own power, he had bombarded the Sky Shield, striking a massive rift into that seemingly forever-sealed Planetary Shield. Even if his calculations were wrong, even if something went wrong on his end, this rift would remain forever, telling those who came after that this was a false veil that could be broken.

Li Ang liked this imagery very much. He did not take over his Star-Bearer Command Matrix, but simply lay quietly in the office watching the broken Starry Sky, humming some off-key tunes that did not belong to this world.

It was not until a certain moment that he uttered a real conversation.

"Back from completing the mission? Orivien."

"Mm."

"How did Wufuruike perform over there? Was it observed by the Salvation Army that we let them in on purpose?"

"Perhaps it was observed, but no one would dwell on it in this place. They have no way out, nor any room for choice. The Chaos Four Gods have also been guided here; they have no second option."

"Actually, that would have been fine too, for example, choosing to attack the North Pole Plain. There are thirteen Wonders and defense systems operating there right now, but relatively speaking, I am not presiding over the work myself. Launching the second round of attacks from there would count as a relatively good choice. Although the death toll and the aftermath might not be as perfect as here, it still counts as an option."

"..."

Orivien did not respond, but simply sat silently in the office, looking with Li Ang at that twisted sky.

People on the outside probably could never imagine that the Phoenix King, who had assassinated all the command hubs of the Star-Bearer and released most of the border defenses, could at this moment talk so easily and normally with the Star-Bearer Lord.

But in reality, that was exactly how it was. Including the deaths and casualties of the Star-Bearers and the progress of the collapse of various defensive lines, it was all essentially within Li Ang's expectations. If he did not do this, if he did not disguise it as a evenly matched struggle, then the ritual would not succeed. This ritual called 'Destroy the World' would not be recognized by the Subspace, nor would it be contributing its final base colors while trembling violently as it was now.

"Actually, I feel like the Subspace is like a dull beast. Only when the pain in reality makes it feel change in a very slow and long-drawn-out way will it gradually change its image and output. Whether it's too fast or too slow, it doesn't have much of a reaction."

Conjuring a black iced carbonated drink that Orivien had never seen before and putting it to his mouth, Li Ang admired the countless deformed Planetary Shields in the firmament and said softly: "I cannot complete my plan too quickly, because the Subspace hasn't reacted and won't release much power. I also cannot carry out my plan too slowly, because the Subspace will think the current situation is sufficient and won't release power either. I must do it this way, bit by bit, step by step, torturing sentient beings, letting them feel pain and despair to the fullest, and letting them struggle with all their might, only then can the Subspace burst forth with energy."

"You also know that I don't like doing this kind of torturous thing. Killing others is not my original intention either. I truly wish to let everyone live in peace, and I also wish for everyone to find their own paradise. But unfortunately, this world has never given me that opportunity."

"I originally just thought about farming, then becoming the strongest among the players, and then showing off proudly to others. Why on earth did it end up going this far? To be honest, I hadn't thought about it either."

"Perhaps all of this is fate."

"..."

Orivien did not have any particular reaction to Li Ang's remarks; he just stood there calmly, and then watched as Li Ang posed his own question.

"The plan has reached this point now; no action can change it. How many more people are you going to kill? How much further do we have to go? If it turns out to be useless in the end, do you have a comprehensive contingency plan?"

"It has already produced violent deformation; the worst result is that the Twelve Impacts are still useless. But regardless, the thirteenth and final impact will be able to completely tear the planet's shield."

"The price is the life of all sentient beings...?"

"Mm, in the short term."

Regarding the matter of killing hundreds of billions of lives, Li Ang nodded indifferently.

"My final attack will inevitably sacrifice everything I currently possess. Including but not limited to life, and it is even very likely to be the material existence of the entire Old World. Actually, I have a backup plan for a Fourteenth Attack, but that has nothing to do with everyone else. You don't need to worry about it."

"And, after the Planetary Shield is broken, I will release you all again. Of course, without Souls. Although I admit that Magic is a very effective thing, and I also admit that the existence of Magic is very fortunate for me, it has carried most of the changes in productivity. But they will give birth to demons. Compared to normal productivity and action, Magic has too many uncertainties."

"I can certainly use it to throw my weight around inside the planet, but what about outside the planet? Do I have enough power to conduct interstellar travel? Do I have the power to complete the migration of the entire planet? I cannot do it."

"Even for the current Planetary Shield, I can only tear it using this clumsy method, let alone anything else."

Li Ang looked at the Sky Shield, explaining his future plans in a very relaxed and comfortable manner. Orivien also knew very clearly that Li Ang was not really saying anything to him. He just simply wanted to talk, because the people who were supposed to talk to him had already left step by step according to the plan.

They firmly believed that Li Ang would resurrect them, and also believed that their lives would reach a perfect end. This god of destruction simultaneously carried the hope of rebirth for countless people. But even more ironically, this god of destruction did not want to destroy from beginning to end, and even less did he want the power of Magic.

"Magic will change incessantly, just like the human heart. Even the mirror-like Subspace will turn into collective boiling and rioting. Countless demons and countless energies are conceived and born from it. I can certainly utilize these energies, but this is a closed internal circulation system. The circulation inside the planet will not be interfered with by the outside. Because there is a Planetary Shield, I don't have to worry about these things."

"Once there is interstellar civilization conducting dual-phase interference, or physically changing a part of our thoughts, all the extraction and acceptance of energy will become uncontrollable. This is the drawback of Magic."

"And when this fear and uncontrollable thinking accumulates to a critical point, it will become like it is now, transforming into another me, destroying all civilization and will. Or it will change into the Chaos Four Gods, taking pleasure in disaster all day long. This is the result of Magic. If I win, I will certainly treat these things as a supplement, rather than using them comprehensively."

"Its drawbacks are truly too great, and like now, there will be countless people who, just because of some prophecies, some temptations and promises from Subspace monsters, come to attack an existence who was completely a good person before. They didn't even think that this might be an enemy's conspiracy or something."

"... It seems you really want to find someone to pour out your thoughts to, Li Ang."

Watching Li Ang, who was getting more and more excited as he spoke, Orivien could not help but speak up to interrupt his self-expression.

"But we don't have much time left. The Salvation Army is currently marching toward the Antarctic Giant Tower; you must make a choice. Where is our decisive battle location? What is our plan? You haven't given me these yet."

"Whatever."

"Whatever? How can you be 'whatever'?"

"Because now my thoughts already have weight in the Subspace; my existence is too vast, and just by focusing on a place, that place will produce a supernatural depression. This is not suitable for combat. Only your spontaneous decisions will do."

"... I see, I understand."

"Goodbye, Orivien. Remember to help me choose the most shocking way to die."

Still not getting up, Li Ang looked at the shattered Planetary Shield in the sky and said to the Phoenix King Orivien without turning his head.

This should be the last time the two of them would meet while still in a living state. Regardless of the outcome, at least in Orivien's cognition, at least one person would not be in a living state. The soulless are definitely not living people; although they are still alive, they don't count as living people. At least those manually operated by Li Ang don't count.

Orivien had always thought so.

So, facing this final sovereign whom he had once thought highly of and still thought highly of now, Orivien nodded.

"... I will, Li Ang. I will help you choose the greatest ending."

"Whether it is yours, or mine."

Orivien bowed gently to Li Ang, who was floating in mid-air, and then disappeared from the platform.

And Li Ang did not care what the Phoenix King was thinking in his heart; he just looked at the sky. Looking at the Planetary Shield, which had shattered countless crystalline shields and begun to reveal the dense energy structure inside, he slowly extended his palm.

He never liked war or death, nor did he like to use violence to prove that his concepts were correct. But if this world required him to do so, let him do so, then let it be done.

If the gods do not allow for a normal beginning, then there must at least be a grand and spectacular result.

To trade one for another even in death—this was Li Ang's first and final choice.

Facing the shattered sky that revealed machinery and energy displays, Li Ang closed his eyes. Beneath him, the massive Antarctic Giant Tower had long been filled with energy, and countless rushing Soul streams and forces were circulating everywhere, seeking to exact final vengeance upon the sky and Li Ang himself.

Rituals can strengthen belief, belief can strengthen power, and power in turn flows back into the sky.

Only when the person representing the world's final resistance force arrives before him will the ritual begin. And by that time, Li Ang's schemes will have finally reached their end.

It was the final choice that had existed since Stonehenge, the final option Li Ang had possessed since the moment of his arrival. Although he was very reluctant, there were no other choices left now. When you have a choice, they pressure you and mock you. But when you truly make the choice that will crush everything, they become incomparably terrified, even kneeling down to beg you not to do it.

But what use is that? Things have already reached this point; no one can stop it. Intelligent life always likes to bare its fangs and brandish its claws to vent its firepower and courage beforehand, yet when they truly face the enemy at the critical moment, they express their cowardice and unease.

Only when everything is about to end, when the choice has been made and matters have reached the very end, do they wake up as if from a dream, howling loudly that they were wrong, that they shouldn't have done such things, and so on. But this is already useless; when you display these things at this time, are you trying to convince the enemy, or are you trying to convince yourself? Perhaps only in this way can one hypnotize oneself, saying that one has already tried one's best and it is not one's own fault.

"Hurry up... hurry up... I still want to see the real sunlight of this world, I still want to see more things... When will you arrive? If you don't arrive, the ritual cannot begin..."

Floating in the air, cradling the creation of the Ancient Ones, Li Ang sighed, waiting for the arrival of the planet's end.

(End of chapter)