Elden Ring, but with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow

Chapter 447 Are we afraid? For our tomorrow.

The Gate of God stood silently at the edge of the battlefield, unharmed even by the fierce battle just now.

Bai Shi followed the stone steps and walked step by step to the magnificent Gate of God.

Bai Shi reached out and touched the Gate of God.

The Gate of God glowed faintly, but it was not yet open to Bai Shi.

Then, the solar law residing within Bai Shi's body began to surge slightly, seemingly demonstrating its power.

Sensing the laws within Bai Shi's body that were sufficient to become laws, the light on the Gate of God shone even brighter, surging out as if it were a tangible substance.

Bai Shi let the light wash over his body, and was then pulled into the doorway by the light.

Floating silently in the air, a powerful suction force suddenly emanated from within the light, yearning for power.

Torina had mentioned it to Bai Shi before.

According to the legend of the Horned People, the builders of the Gate of God, if a god is truly chosen by heaven, then passing through the Gate of God will not require any price.

Offerings and anything else are unnecessary, for that is the chosen one and only.

However, judging from the current situation, Bai Shi will still need to pay a price if he wants to cross the Gate of Gods.

Because he was not the god chosen by the Gate of God.

Bai Shi simply smiled at the unverified legend, paying it no mind.

Rather, it would be more disappointing for Bai Shi if he became a god because he was recognized by someone.

The idea that one becomes a hero simply by drawing the hero's sword is utterly ridiculous.

He became a hero because he was able to save the world, and the sword he wielded was the sword of a hero.

This is not the time to offer sacrifices; we are merely seeking the power to open the door.

As for the offerings needed later, Bai Shi had already made plans to use his own power to make up for it.

A massive surge of magical power erupted from Bai Shi's body, gradually replenishing the energy needed by those divine gates.

With a large amount of magic injected into it, the Gate of God was officially activated.

Golden light enveloped Bai Shi, gradually calming his consciousness.
-
At dawn, in the dimly lit room with the curtains drawn, only the computer screen was still flashing.

The interface displayed on the computer screen is the custom game compatibility interface of the latest brain-computer interface device CCB (Conscious Convergence Beacon).

Bai Shi got up from under the computer desk, feeling a headache caused by his irregular sleep schedule.

Looking at the "Elden Ring" whose transplantation progress was stuck at 99%, Bai Shi scratched his head in confusion, his eyes still a little drowsy.

"……what happened?"

"Did you fall asleep while porting the game? You slid off your chair..."

Seeing the progress bar clearly stuck and indicating a failed transplant, Bai Shi sighed.

"Sigh, so it seems there's still no way to use brain-computer interfaces to play with the old man's bracelet?"

"I still want to experience the thrill of a real, intense battle..."

Bai Shi glanced at the time; it was already 5:15 AM, and there was no time to try again.

Normally, Bai Shi would probably go straight to bed and sleep until dawn, or he might simply open a game and play until he goes to work.

But looking at his hands, Bai Shi felt a strange sense of loss.

The games he used to be so passionate about now held absolutely no appeal for him.

However, no matter how hard Bai Shi thought about it, he couldn't figure out the reason.

Ultimately, he could only attribute it all to the fact that the transplant had failed after a whole night of work.

After glancing at the time, Bai Shi drew back the curtains.

Everything in sight was a high-rise building made of reinforced concrete, making his vision easily lost in this steel jungle.

This world is like a steel behemoth, constantly moving forward.

Each person is not an individual as a 'person', but rather a screw and gear that make up a machine.

It operates in perfect order and will not stop functioning even if anyone is absent.

This world may not be as ideal and beautiful as it seems, and it has nothing to do with fairy tales, but in Bai Shi's eyes, it's not bad either.

However... Bai Shi looked down again, staring at his hands.

It seems that this is not the world he wants...

Bai Shi stood by the window, completely unlike his former self, lost in thought with a strange calm.

It was as if... something more important was waiting for him to do.

However, he couldn't remember.

On the city's edge, already illuminated by sunlight, a faintly reddish sun finally rose.

"sun……"

Bai Shi stared at the sunrise, somewhat lost in thought.

How long has it been since I last saw a sunrise?

No, let alone sunrise.

Even on ordinary days, we rarely pay attention to the 'sun,' which is so important to everyone's survival.

When Bai Shi came to his senses, tears were already welling up in his eyes, and something inside him was breaking free.

No, he shouldn't be here...

Looking at the half-dawned sunrise, Bai Shi gradually recalled some dreamlike scenes.

In those memories, he fought his way up from the weakest warrior, growing stronger through battles of blood and fire.

He defeated various demigods and conquered territories that occupied most of the border regions, almost becoming the King of Elden.

After that... what happened after that was...

Bai Shi suddenly reached out and touched the back of his head.

There was nothing hidden beneath those strands of hair.

Realizing this, a genuine sense of unease immediately arose in Bai Shi's heart.

Bai Shi lowered his head, covered his face with his hands, and fell silent.

When he raised his head again, the weakness and confusion had disappeared, and a confident and flamboyant smile returned to Bai Shi's face.

"So that's how it is... the Gate of God."

"It actually brought me back to this memory."

Looking around at the small house that was exactly the same as the one he remembered, where he had lived for many years, Bai Shi was filled with emotion.

It felt like returning to my own world; it was just like the real thing.

He shook his head gently and muttered to himself:
"No wonder God needs the King's guidance..."

"Everyone gets lost in the deepest memories of their hearts."

No matter how powerful a person is, when they are at their weakest and most confused, they are still just that.

Moreover, no one knows the situation better than himself.

Guided by the King, God achieved complete communion of hearts, dispelling the last vestiges of confusion and severing ties with his past 'human form'.

This is what is meant by God; He is far removed from 'humans'.

But without the King's guidance and without the power to awaken that will, one might forever fall into nothingness and become nourishment for the Gate of God.

The dream Bai Shi is currently facing requires him to give up one last thing...

Bai Shi thought it was probably that lingering attachment.

If Bai Shi still harbors longing for the past, he will continue living that life in his dreams until he meets the obscure end he has already imagined.

But Bai Shi will never return here, never return to this world where he lived for decades.

Bai Shi looked at everything in the room with a smile, filled with nostalgia.

The sofa that's dented from sitting in one spot all the time, the table leg that always makes me bump my knees when I get up in a hurry, the charging cable that's always a bit too short when I turn over but has never been replaced...

Every tiny trace is proof of his past existence.

However, Bai Shi no longer lingered on the past; he had embraced it and let it go.

After checking the gas and water taps, Bai Shi turned off the lights and disconnected the power.

Bai Shi took one last look at the empty room and said softly:

"I am leaving, bye."

"...No, never again."

Bai Shi turned around without any hesitation and pushed open the door to the house.

There was nothing outside the house.

There were no tall buildings made of reinforced concrete, nor a constant flow of traffic.

Inside the doorway, there was only pure white light.

Bai Shi stepped inside without hesitation and was enveloped in dazzling light.

After Bai Shi's figure completely disappeared, the computer screen in the room, which should have been off, turned on again.

The unfinished progress quietly jumps to 100%—
Bai Shi opened his eyes and was greeted by a vast expanse of sky.

Above the distant mountains, the sun's rays pierced through the clouds, dazzlingly bright.

Bai Shi withdrew his gaze and looked down at his feet, where the moss-covered steps stretched downwards.

And a very familiar figure was waiting for him on the terrace below the steps.

It was the silhouette of a reliable knight, as solid as a can, with a green shawl draped over his chainmail and an iron helmet adorned with red feathers.

As Bai Shi approached, he heard a voice coming from beneath the heavy helmet:
"The sun is truly great, like an extraordinary father."

"I really hope that one day I can be as big and full of heat as the sun..."

Bai Shi walked up behind him, plopped down on the steps, and chuckled softly.

"The imitation is quite convincing..."

The figure turned to face Bai Shi, and the same laughter came from beneath the helmet. "What? Don't you like this outfit?"

“I specifically chose to wear this because I thought it was very nice and meaningful.”

The 'Sun Warrior' reached out and took off his helmet.

When the helmet was removed, what was revealed to Bai Shi was a face that was exactly the same as his.

Bai Shi noticed something amiss while listening to the conversation, and now that he has seen the face, he understands everything.

The person opposite him seemed to be a subconscious presence, or perhaps even himself.

I had a heart-to-heart talk. Could it be that such a thing really happens?
Faced with a question from another version of himself, Bai Shi smiled and replied:

"No, how could that be?"

"In fact, I'm very happy."

"If it were up to me, I would definitely choose this outfit too."

'Bai Shi' laughed heartily and spoke again to Bai Shi:

"In a normal development scenario, there should be a fierce clash between us."

"Like normal illusions and overcoming inner demons, it helps you strengthen your beliefs and so on."

"For example, they might want to have a heated fight, or a verbal battle, or they might simply want to replace you."

"But we know exactly what we're like, so I'll go easy on you..."

Bai Shi paused, as if recalling something trivial, and casually mentioned it:
"Ah, actually nothing exactly happened."

"There is a power within the Gate of God. Seeing that you are not guided by the King, you may become lost. It seems to want to take over our bodies."

"But I've already taken care of it, so there's nothing in your way now."

Bai Shi looked at Bai Shi with a smile, calm and natural.

He reached out his hand and gently applauded the arduous journey.

"Congratulations, 'me'."

"I know all too well how difficult it was to get to this point."

"You've grown a lot by getting through so many hardships without any real danger."

"I've become stronger physically and have a firmer faith..."

"More importantly, there is that strong heart."

The applause gradually subsided, and 'Bai Shi' walked up to Bai Shi and spoke again:

"However, I will still ask you a few questions. Just answer them honestly."

"However, whatever your answer is, it won't affect your becoming a god."

"Because this is a question in your own heart, I'm just asking it on your behalf."

'Bai Shi' looked into Bai Shi's eyes and said:
"The light will eventually fade away."

"Even the largest celestial bodies, or even the incomparable sun, will eventually stop shining."

"Although this time is so far away that it is unimaginable to a human being, there is no true eternity in this world."

"You should know, you can't possibly not know."

Before Bai Shi could answer, the 'Bai Shi' on the other end continued:
"Moreover, the most crucial element is the will itself."

“Those external deities among the stars, whether it be the sun, gravity, or the invisible mother.”

“They are different from the external deities on the border; they are not even in the same league.”

"They were originally celestial bodies, and they developed their own will, which is why they were able to control their innate power."

"But you are different; you are just a human being."

"With the will of a human being, do you want to wield such immense power? Do you want to bear such heavy responsibilities?"

"This is not a power that can be controlled by beings like the King of Mad Fire or the Goddess of Corruption."

"It's something that can only be achieved at the level of a planetary will, like Gaia."

"What's more, you want to extend that awareness down to the micro level of your own country's governance?"

"Is it possible? Is there a way to do it?"

Are you afraid? Afraid about our tomorrow.

Faced with this question, Bai Shi silently crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes, and began to think.

This isn't meant to discourage anyone; it's something Bai Shi has to face, something he already knew in his heart.

Bai Shi lowered his head and chuckled softly, his laughter growing louder and louder.

After a while, Bai Shi opened his eyes and looked at himself opposite him, and softly replied:

Are you scared? Maybe.

"However, fear is not a problem, and there is no point in asking it."

"Because it's just an emotion that exists in a person's consciousness."

"It makes people wary of things that do not exist in reality for the time being, or that they may not even face."

"Fear is just a wake-up call. What we really have to face is not fear, but real threats and dangers."

"As for those things you ask me if I can do..."

Bai Shi chuckled softly, looking at himself with a confident gleam in his eyes.

"It can be done."

"Even if it's impossible, I will do it."

"Our future is bright."

"So, I think I probably won't be afraid of tomorrow."

"I will crush all those threats that inspire fear."

"What does it matter if it's such a huge responsibility and burden? What does it matter if it carries the fate of the world on one's shoulders?"

"Just tell me how much more I need to carry."

"Because I am the God-King who can bear everything, I am the sun."

Bai Shi raised his head, looked seriously at himself opposite him, and spoke with great enthusiasm:

"Our cause is so righteous that we are not afraid to be the most prominent presence in the world."

“I do this not because anyone or any god asked me to, but because I think so myself.”

"That's right, I will never give up because of any obstacles or hardships."

“I am not an all-knowing and all-powerful God, and I am well aware of that.”

"Even after experiencing so much, there are still things I don't know and things I can't do."

"But if we cannot know everything, then let us use this body as fuel, and transform it into the blazing sun that embraces the finite possibilities."

"My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror, and all my actions are for justice."

Upon receiving Bai Shi's response, Bai Shi burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahahaha—! Well done!"

"I believe you can do it; you don't need a reason to believe in yourself."

"Next, it's time for your ascension ceremony."

"Let the gods fear you, let the heavens revere you!"

He waved to Bai Shi, and his figure began to slowly fade into nothingness, while the surrounding scenery also began to blur.

"Cheer up, don't embarrass yourself..."

Suddenly, as if he remembered something, the speed at which his figure dissipated immediately slowed down considerably.

'Bai Shi' put his helmet back on, raised his arms high, and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Long may the sunshine!"

Bai Shi was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

It really does seem like something he would do; he's actually always wanted to shout it out like that.

Bai Shi opened his arms and responded to himself, who shared the same ideal:
"Long may the sunshine!"

The dazzling sunlight burst forth in the sky, piercing through the clouds and dissolving this dreamlike scene.

As Bai Shi watched his inner self disappear, all the memories since arriving at the border unfolded before him like a movie.

This was a wonderful and unforgettable journey.

It contained love, hate, justice, and slaughter... everything he had experienced and possessed...

Fighting to the death against one formidable enemy after another, and winning time and time again with narrow escapes.

At first, he was just an ordinary person, and even with the power of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow, survival was still a problem.

However, there is no need to rely on that power now, as Bai Shi himself is already the most powerful being at the border.

He has gradually changed those tragedies and regrets, and the future of the border region will be changed even more thoroughly.

What kind of ending would be worthy of all the hardships and wanderings along the way?

Bai Shi didn't know where this path would ultimately lead, but it was the brightest path he could find.

Therefore, no matter what the final outcome may be, Bai Shi can accept it calmly.

All the confusion and hesitation vanished, and this feeling of profound enlightenment and relief fascinated Bai Shi.

It was as if he had been standing for the first half of his life, but now he was sitting down for the first time.

As the illusion faded, Bai Shi remained gazing silently at the blazing sun, as if making a promise, and slowly spoke:

"Let this body be the fuel, burning until the very last moment."

"As long as I persevere, the light will not fade."

"I will be the first ray of dawn and the last ray of sunset."

(End of this chapter)