Man on the ark, forced to become king

Because this is war.

The golden light will illuminate the earth; this is the inevitable path.

War, hunger, fear, oppression... From ancient times to the present, even when the former barbaric lands were cloaked in the guise of civilization, this world has never had a moment of peace.

Lin Qingyan didn't know, nor could she understand, what had made this world so distorted.

But she knew that the golden tree could change all this distortion.

Those who have lived under the golden light of the world find it hard not to yearn for that earthly paradise that seems like a secluded haven.

There was no oppression, no suspicion, not even illness; all suffering was soothed by that radiance, leaving behind only the purest peace.

That's how the world should be.

Lin Qingyan believed this in his heart and was willing to take action for it.

She was unsure whether her insistence was correct, and asked her master about it, but received no clear answer.

The master said: The road is under your feet, and the answer is in the future.

Perhaps this can be considered encouragement? Encouraging her to pursue the path she has chosen?

Jingle bell bell~

Illusory shadows drifted out from the lightning-streaked outpost and converged on the swaying bell.

The Qilin girl pursed her lips, her eyes reflecting the chaotic lightning, and strode into the swirling snow to head towards her next destination.

She won't stop until she finds the answer.

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"Thirty-two."

The last shadow disappeared into the bell hanging at her waist. Saria withdrew her bandaged fist, and the corpse with its collapsed chest fell at her feet. The wall of the outpost behind her was torn open, as if it had been broken by pure brute force from the outside. Broken steel and bricks flew everywhere, covering the ground against the wall.

Compared to Lin Qingyan's lightning magic, her attack methods seem much weaker.

Her powerful physique allowed her to achieve her goals without needing anything else; the simplest, most unadorned fists were enough.

Whether it's stone, steel, or a body made of flesh and blood, everything is equally vulnerable before those fists.

Perhaps, in a sense, this can be considered equality?

When it comes to death, no one is any different.

No, it seems...

Saria's gaze lingered on the woman beside her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Her lips trembled, but in the end, she said nothing.

Equal death can sometimes be seen as a blessing; the cycle of life and death does not exist in the Golden Tree.

Christensen is one of the exceptions.

The punishment known as the Avici Hell has already swallowed her up. The blessing of the Golden Tree on her body will not bring any other additional abilities, and she is also forbidden from learning the magic of the Golden Tree. The only ability that blessing gives her is immortality.

No matter how many times she dies, or what form she takes, she will be reborn through the power of blessing until the next end.

What are you looking at me for, Saria?

Christen carefully wiped the blood off the short sword in his hand with a piece of cloth he had torn from the enemy's body. Noticing the gaze cast upon him from the side, he casually asked a question.

Compared to when she was the head of Rhine Labs, her attire was much simpler now. She wore standard snowsuits and winter coats without any special decorations. Her long, light blonde hair, which originally reached her hips, was now short and styled into a simple ponytail.

Right now, she looks like an ordinary soldier. The short sword in her hand is the only weapon she can use for defense and offense, and no one will replace it for her until a suitable alternative is found.

Therefore, after each battle, she would perform simple maintenance on her weapon to make it last longer.

"No, it's nothing."

"You don't think these Ursus soldiers are innocent and can't bear to kill them, do you?"

Sheathing his short sword, Christen began to search the dead soldier's body for anything usable.

Unlike Saria, a formal operator, her role in the Golden Tree is that of a prisoner, cannon fodder, and a consumable item that will never die.

Just as no one would provide her with suitable equipment, no one would provide her with supplies or even the most basic food, so she had to find her own way.

If you can't find it, starving to death is also a form of death.

"That's not the case."

Saria has no shortage of compassion, but she will never show mercy to her enemies, nor will she waver because of it.

"I was just thinking that you've changed a lot lately, I thought..."

"Do you think I'll just sink into despair like that? Become a walking corpse and completely sink into oblivion through one cycle of life and death after another?"

Finding an unopened pack of compressed biscuits, Christen's face lit up with a slight joy. She stuffed the biscuits into her pocket and began searching for her next target.

"Undeniably, his methods were indeed cruel. I can't even remember how many times I've died during this time, but at least I'm still alive now, aren't I?"

"As long as there is life, there is hope, Saria. If one year is not enough, then two years; if two years are not enough, then ten years; if ten years are not enough, then a hundred years, or even a thousand years. I believe that the things you call sins on me will one day be cleansed."

"I will not fall until that day comes."

"Besides, you're here too, aren't you? Himer and Muirses have also secretly brought me some food. They're still too naive; their fierceness is just talk, an act, but they're actually soft-hearted."

"Perhaps they just don't want to see you in such a sorry state."

Saria pretended not to hear Christen's comments about Himer and Muirses, because she felt the same way. She brought Christen back this time with the intention of making things a little easier for herself.

If he continued to stay in the Golden Tree, he would always be thrown into dangerous missions as cannon fodder, and who knows how many times he would die. After all, this guy was just a pure researcher. Without external equipment to assist him, he didn't have her strength, and his body wasn't particularly strong.

So she specifically asked Lin Lu for the person, which was a small selfish reason.

There's always more leeway when you're on a mission with her.

"Who knows."

Christen remained noncommittal, giving a casual reply while rummaging through the house. He found some compressed biscuits and took the intact crossbow and bolts from the dead Ursus soldier before finally stopping, satisfied.

"You seem to have gone back to how you used to be."

Saria silently watched Christen's actions until she finished looting before speaking again, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"People always have to face reality. Instead of thinking about unrealistic things, it's better to focus on the present. You think I've changed, but actually, I've always been the same."

Christen pulled her coat tighter around herself. She smiled nonchalantly: "Let's go, don't delay your mission."

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"what do you think?"

In the bright and clean ward, Mostima withdrew her hand, and the faint golden glow gradually faded away.

"I can already feel it, it shouldn't be long before I recover."

Upon hearing Mostima's question, the girl with long, light pink hair smiled and answered, her pink eyes full of laughter.

She leaned against the headboard, her hospital gown trousers rolled up to her thighs, exposing her slender legs to the air, her toes trembling slightly, as if to confirm her words.

"I never imagined that after I was in a coma for several years, even someone like you would have learned healing magic. It seems that maybe I'll be able to participate in the competition in a few days—"

"Remienne!"

Mostima's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, and his eyebrows shot up.

"Don't you dare participate in those ridiculous competitions! If you sneak out again, I won't treat you anymore!"

"You will not."

The pink-haired Sakta smiled like a fox who had stolen a chicken, his eyes curving into shallow crescents. Mostima's forehead veins bulged as he looked at him, and he angrily scolded, "If you dare to sneak out again, I'll... I'll mail your gun to Lungmen for Xiao Le to use! And I'll take the wheels off your wheelchair!"

"Whatever, you can mail it to me and I can get it back anytime after I'm better."

Remian wasn't afraid at all. She clasped her hands together, her expression instantly changing from a smirk to a pitiful look. She pleaded in a trembling voice, "You won't abandon me, right?"

"Don't do this!"

Mostima slumped into a chair, glaring fiercely at the culprit who was full of bad intentions. She felt she would need to find two restraints and tie this guy up in 108 different ways to prevent him from sneaking out of the sanatorium and causing trouble.

These two sisters are truly cut from the same cloth when it comes to their talent for causing trouble; they're like two peas in a pod, and even in wheelchairs, they're still restless!

"Hum~"

Remien's eyes darted around, a sly smile playing on her lips, as she steered the conversation to something else.

"Speaking of which, you were secretly writing a letter yesterday, weren't you? Don't try to deny it, I saw it!"

"That's true. You've reached that age, so it's only natural that you'd consider those things, right?"

"When will you bring him back so we can meet him?"

"I don't!"

Mostima vehemently denied it; she would never admit it.

"Heh heh~ I can feel it~"

Pointing to the bright halo above her head, Remien's eyes were full of laughter. She moved closer to the bedside and whispered, "You can't fool me. I'm not Fiameta. Just admit it honestly."

Bang!

The ward door opened from the outside, and Fiameta walked in carrying two insulated boxes. She put the bags on the bedside table and scratched her head in confusion.

"What's wrong with me? Are you talking about something related to me?"