Beneath a sky sprinkled with ancient stars, cold and dim, Duncan stood in a tense face-off with the enigmatic dark red core of Navigator One. It loomed before him, its massive size giving it the appearance of a giant, unblinking eye. Time itself seemed to halt, the world around them suspended in a breathless moment. Duncan was gripped by a profound realization: this was a pivotal crossroad, a decisive moment that would inevitably shape the entire course of world history.
In the midst of this eerie stillness, Duncanâs mind wandered back to a crucial piece of intelligence he had gleaned from the âTomb Guardian.â This encounter had occurred after he ventured into the mysterious Tomb of the Nameless King:
âThe observer from the end of time has transmitted a dire message â the end of time has come, and the Usurper has set the world aflame.â
After a while, Duncan let out a gentle sigh, piercing the oppressive silence. His words were tentative, probing: âDo you perceive this as a bad sign? Are you suggesting that I should seize control of this world to avert such a disastrous future?â
âNo,â the dark red core vibrated slightly as it spoke in a measured tone, surprising Duncan yet again. âI do not place my trust in so-called ârevelationsâ or âomensâ that are not backed by substantial data. To label things as âgoodâ or âbadâ based on partial and incomplete information, especially in the absence of critical details, is not a practice grounded in rigor. As for whether you will indeed set this world on fire, or under what circumstances you might decide to do so, I cannot say. The data at hand is simply too scant to draw any definitive conclusions.â
âI am advocating for your takeover because it appears to be the most logical and secure strategy to preserve the shelter based on the intelligence we have at our disposal. When faced with an uncertain and immeasurable future, I find greater trust in the reliability of my current calculations.â
Duncan discerned a distinctive tone of rationality and precision in the response of the dark red core. This was a hallmark trait of Navigator One, a principal entity within the New Hope, devoid of grandiose titles like âNether Lordâ or the mythical label of an âAncient God.â It was a being that transcended such earthly designations.
Standing before the Usurper, this ancient âmachineâ was presenting its perspective at this critical fork in the road of history. It was analyzing and projecting the future of the world with the same logical approach it had been programmed with since its inception.
Duncan pondered deeply, lost in thought. The dark red core, in contrast, exhibited a seemingly endless patience, quietly awaiting his decision.
Finally, after a lengthy contemplation, Duncanâs soft yet clear voice cut through the silence: âWhat will become of this world if I do indeed take control?â
The surrounding mountain range, cloaked in darkness, began to tremble and roar once more. Amidst the deep, resounding noises, its âmain peakâ started to shrink downward. The dark red core descended from the heavens like a star plummeting to earth, rapidly growing larger in Duncan and Shirleyâs view. It approached Duncan with an overpowering and majestic presence, like a celestial body making its descent towards the world below.
As Duncan stood in close proximity to the core, he was struck by its immense size, which he now realized was comparable to the vastness of the Storm Cathedral of Pland. The coreâs surface had a crystal-like texture, resembling a gigantic sphere. Peering through its translucent red shell, Duncan could see an intricate network of lines within, with clusters of lights flickering near its center, all seemingly suspended in a viscous, flowing substance.
âAfter your takeover, all imperfections within the shelter will be addressed. In the Boundless Sea, various âcontaminationsâ and âdistortionsâ that have arisen due to shifts in perception and unregulated observer effects will be realigned according to your cognition. The nights will no longer be perilous, the supernatural phenomena that once devoured humans will be controlled, the sea will transform into a haven of safety, and the city-states will enter a new era of flourishing prosperity⊠This period of peace and abundance is predicted to last for an exceptionally long time, as far as we can foresee. If this aligns with your desires, then it shall be actualized.â
âAnd you, will ascend as a figure akin to the ancient kings, reclaiming your rightful place. You will become the fifth deity, safeguarding the mortal realm alongside the Gods. Your reign will be more stable than any before, free from the gradual descent into madness or loss of control that plagued other ancient kings. According to Navigator Twoâs calculations, your mental state is significantly more stable than any of ours.â
âSubsequently, you will be free to pursue whatever you wish â including returning to the real dimension, continuing your explorations and adventures, for as long as you desire.â
ââŠIt all sounds very promising,â Duncan said, pausing for a few seconds before continuing slowly, âBut isnât there a downside? For me, or for this world?â
âBased on the intelligence currently available to me, from my perspective, there are no negative aspects,â the light within the dark red core flickered as the Nether Lordâs response came, surprisingly straightforward, âEverything will progress positively, and in my judgment, this should align with your own aspirations.â
ââŠUsually, at this point, one might mention some minor risks or drawbacks to make the previous statements more credible.â
The dark red core remained silent for a few seconds before responding: â⊠Reconfirming, there are no risks or drawbacks.â
Once again, Duncan and the core lapsed into a thoughtful silence. Meanwhile, Shirley, standing beside them, appeared somewhat restless. Her eyes darted between the captain and the âNether Lord.â Eventually, she spoke up in a soft, uncertain tone: âCaptain, are you really going to become a god? Although it sounds amazing⊠I canât help but feel⊠somewhat worriedâŠâ
Duncan remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the colossal core before him. Time seemed to stretch as he pondered, before he finally broke the silence with a measured inquiry, ââŠWhat exactly is it that you want me to do?â
The dark red core hesitated for a brief moment, and then the light within it intensified as it delivered its startling directive: âIgnite me.â
A flicker of surprise crossed Duncanâs face, a subtle but significant shift: ââŠIgnite you?!â
The unpredictability of âNavigator Oneâ never ceased to amaze him.
New nđ€vel chapters are published on freeweÉnĂžvel.com.
Yet, the dark red core appeared indifferent to the nuances in Duncanâs expression and tone. The voice emanating from within maintained its unwavering calm: âIgnite me, just as you did with Frost. Envelop and restructure everything with your flame. During this process, all my power and influence over the mortal realm will be transferred to you. This might also alleviate any doubts you have⊠You are aware, your flame has the capacity to accomplish this.â
Duncanâs brow furrowed slightly: âSo, you actually âexperiencedâ my flame when I ignited Frost, or more precisely, when I set ablaze the waters of Frost, and thatâs when you comprehended my power and conceived this âtakeoverâ scheme?â
ââŠYes, when you obliterated the fragmented cluster, it sent its final data to me, which included an analysis of your abilities. I cross-referenced this with data from Navigator Twoâs past observations and formulated this takeover strategy. The calculations indicated its viability.â
âYouâre referring to the âfragmented clusterâ I destroyed, the tentacle in the waters of Frost? Wasnât that merely a defective offshoot created during a moment of your loss of control?â Duncan quickly connected the dots, recalling another point the entity mentioned, âHold on⊠You also talked about transmitting fragments of data containing LH-03 to the real world, executed through that tentacle⊠Was all that under your deliberate control? You werenât actually in a state of disarray?!â
Duncan looked bewilderedly at the immense dark red core and the mountainous form behind it. He was suddenly struck by the realization that he might not fully comprehend the current âstateâ of the Nether Lord. Was it really as out of control as it seemed? freewŃbnà«ŠÎœeÉ.com
At that moment, he noticed the lights on the surface of the âmountain rangesâ began to twinkle and move once again. Then, at the tip of one of the âmountains,â a nascent âbranchâ appeared to sprout from the main body, growing rapidly in the enveloping darkness.
In the next instant, the newly sprouted branch was suddenly engulfed by an unseen force. It fragmented into pieces, part of it transforming into dark smoke that ascended towards the numerous floating islands and the dimly lit stars overhead, while another portion morphed into a stream of mud, cascading back onto the main tentacle structure.
ââŠUsurper, this is my âloss of control,'â the voice from the dark red core redirected Duncanâs focus.
Duncan averted his gaze, slowly piecing it together: ââŠExcessive growth?â
âThis is my nature and also the responsibility bestowed upon me by my creator.â
Gradually, Duncan began to grasp the situation: âYour duty isâŠâ
âTo reshape my original world, to reconstruct the mother star that I once consumed,â the dark red core explained at a measured pace, âBut within the confines of this limited shelter, my mission is bound to fail, hence, from a certain point, my natural inclinations began to stray from their initial programming. The endlessly dividing entities consume one another and return to me, the branches that grow uncontrollably and then decay, and that âtentacleâ reaching into the real world are all manifestations of my gradual loss of control.â
âNevertheless, this âloss of controlâ can occasionally serve a purpose. With the main body immobilized, these overgrown segments⊠sometimes function as conduits for perception or communication, aiding me in grasping the outside worldâs changes or transmitting messages.â
ââŠI see.â Duncan nodded slowly, his mind actively processing the information.
A form that had lost its control, sprawling across the abyss yet still relentlessly expanding, a central core trapped deep within an immense form, unable to move, an ancient Ai that still possessed clarity of thought but was forever incapable of fulfilling its original purpose. This was the true nature of the âNether Lord.â
And now, this ancient Ai, ensnared within its own colossal form, was once again extending an offer to himâ
âUsurper, what is your decision? Will you accept the responsibility of all this, to rejoin the ranks of the ancient kings?â
Duncan lifted his head from his thoughts, observing the dark red core as it drew nearer to him once more â he only needed to extend his hand to touch its entirely vulnerable crystalline surface.
ââŠCaptain, itâs speaking the truth,â Alice suddenly interjected from the side.
Duncan glanced at Alice in surprise, and the puppet slowly nodded, her features marked by a hint of conflict: âI⊠canât fully explain it, but I just sense that itâs being truthful.â
Duncan remained silent, absorbing Aliceâs words. After a moment of reflection, he gradually raised his hand.
His fingers made contact with the dark red core, feeling a gentle warmth at his fingertips. It throbbed softly, reminiscent of a beating heart.
ââŠIgnite me, Usurper,â the core resonated softly as if encouraging him, âThen, I too will be freed from this enduring mission.â
Shirleyâs eyes grew wide in astonishment, while Dog remained motionless, watching the unfolding scene with intense focus.
For a brief, surreal moment, they could almost visualize the scene unfolding before them: greenish flames erupting skyward, the dark red core and the distant shadowy mountains catching fire instantaneously, the entire abyssal deep sea engulfed in fierce, consuming flames.
They could almost envision the eradication of all the lurking perils of the Deep Sea Era, the rectification of the shelterâs design flaws, the world above the Boundless Sea settling into a state of peace, a tranquility that would endure through the agesâŠ
A new deity would ascend to its rightful place, fitting into the grand scheme like a perfectly aligned gear, a final piece slotting into a puzzle.
But then, abruptly, Duncan retracted his arm, âNo, this isnât right.â
With that simple action, the course of history veered off into an entirely different direction.