I, the final BOSS of the beta test server!

"It is to enforce the justice in your heart, Last, that these are the victims that must be sacrificed for a longer-term goal..."

"Or are you like the hero and heroine in the fairy tale of 'Silver Wing Chronicles', the only one you must protect at all costs, even if it means giving up your past justice and beliefs?"

The girl's voice was very soft and faint, but every word was distinct, echoing in Rast's ears.

Listening to Amis's soul-searching voice, which seemed to be transmitted directly to his heart, Last hesitated and was unwilling to answer the question directly.

Because he was worried that if his final answer about Axia didn't meet Xiao Ai's expectations...

Then, the blonde girl in front of me might be disappointed.

however.

The only response to Rast's hesitation was the soft touch on his head.

"No, that's not the case."

"No matter what path you choose, Rust, I will not be disappointed, nor will I be angry about it."

A cool and soft touch came from the side of his face, making Rast raise his head in surprise.

Amy's fair, slender fingers were resting on the side of his face, gently stroking the contours of his face.

"I know, Rust, you are also confused and bewildered at this moment."

"If we were to rescue Miss Axia from the abyss and reverse her fate as a sacrifice in the gravekeeper's ritual... then we would inevitably have to take on additional risks."

"There's a high possibility that this will affect your plans with Chief Cessel."

"Even being distracted by this could change the outcome of the upcoming Battle of the Broken Coast."

As if she could see through all the thoughts in Rast's mind, the girl in front of him whispered softly in his ear with a gentle voice.

"The justice of the Shore Watcher is an ideal you've cherished since childhood, Rust, and one you're willing to pay any price for."

"It was the faith that had always sustained you. It was because of this faith that you persevered through the endless time in Deep Blue Harbor and finally emerged from that cycle of despair."

"And now, if I continue to hold on to this belief and am willing to do whatever it takes..."

"Then callously sacrifice Miss Axia in exchange for powerful strength. Once empowered, participate in the Battle of the Broken Coast, which will determine the fate of the shore defenders... This is the least risky and most rational choice."

"Abandoning the small for the greater good, sacrificing one person, perhaps in exchange for the continuation of an entire civilization... This is absolutely right, and absolutely no one can criticize it."

"However, this also represents your betrayal of Miss Axia."

Amys opened her arms and gently hugged his neck.

"It's normal for you to feel confused and bewildered, Rust."

"A cold machine will not hesitate."

"The confusion and pain of being lost, these are emotions that are unique to human beings."

The embrace was gentle, just like the one Luster had experienced not long ago on the cliffs outside Paradise City.

In his arms, the girl's body was soft, warm, and had a faint scent of sandalwood.

"So, it's okay, Rust."

"Because no matter what you did, Rust, whether you chose to sacrifice Miss Axia for the justice of the shore guardians, or chose to take the risk and go deep into the abyss..."

"I will always stand by your side, Rust, and support you in everything you do."

Feeling the soft body in his arms, Last slowly closed his eyes.

"Xiao Ai."

As if he had made up his mind, he spoke softly.

"If, I mean if..."

"What if I tell you that the Canaan we live in, this entire world, is fake."

"Just like the fairy tales in fairy tale books, or the night world you and I talked about... everything we experience now, the scenery we see, is built on illusions, reflections and echoes of the past."

"Even you, Xiao Ai, are just a character made up by a fairy tale writer, an NPC in a virtual game, and don't really exist in reality."

“All of this is a lie, just like the bubbles on the leaves in the morning, beautiful and dreamy…but the moment the sun shines on the bubbles, everything will disappear.”

"If that were the case, what would you think?"

This was something that Rast had already anticipated.

Whether it was the concept of "reflections of the past" in the night world, or the entire past of the Shore Watchers and Gray that he had witnessed in the echoes of the Sixth Epoch's history.

Or perhaps it was the "Canaan Files" that he witnessed with his own eyes in the Mystery Tower in the present world.

All of this showed Last an extremely cold fact.

He couldn't escape like an ostrich, nor did he want to escape.

"If, Canaan and I are both illusions."

"I'm a fictional character in the book, a fictional NPC in the game..."

Listening to Rast's words, Amys's sky-blue eyes flickered with thought.

Luster and she talked about everything.

Therefore, even though the word "NPC" was beyond the cognition of this era, Amys could fully understand its meaning.

However, just as a slight nervousness rose in Luster's heart, he began to worry about the so-called "bionic soul's personality circuit collapses and logical program breaks down after learning that it is not human" that he had read in science fiction novels in his previous life...

But he heard Amy's laughter as clear as a silver bell.

"If that's the case, then I should probably feel lucky."

A serious expression appeared on her pretty, delicate face.

"I'm thankful that someone created this illusory world, allowing me to meet you, Last..."

"Let me be by your side when you are in the most pain and despair, Rust, so that you won't fall into the abyss of self-destruction."

Amys looked into Luster's eyes.

"I think--"

“This is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me in my life.”

……

"So, is that so?"

Hearing the girl's answer, Rast opened his eyes.

Above the blue sky, white clouds are flowing quietly with the breeze.

At this moment, there was no longer any hesitation or confusion in his eyes.

"To be honest, I do have some feelings for Axia..."

"Perhaps this affection stems from her courage, despite knowing my identity and background, to risk her life in pursuit of that vain emotion."

"But it's not quite like I'm madly in love or anything like that."

Last smiled and shook his head, giving his own answer to Amys's initial question.

"but--"

"But I must bring her back from the abyss."

What if the false fairy tale of Paradise City and all the emotions arising from it were fake?

So, what about Canaan?

What if Canaan and Xiao Ai were also a fairy tale?

Various intelligence and information suggest that there are many doubts about Canaan's existence itself.

If one day Canaan’s delusion were to be shattered.

So... having denied everything that happened in Paradise and all my feelings for Axia, how should I cope with the same disillusionment?

This isn't just about saving the Queen of the Underworld.

Too--

To save Luster himself.

"It seems..."

"Laster, you have made your choice."

Amis's soft voice was carried in the gentle breeze.

She raised the bagpipe in her hand and brought it to her cherry lips.

Immediately afterwards, the melodious sound of the flute floated in the air and echoed across the entire hillside.

Rast was immersed in the melodious flute sound, and his consciousness was getting farther and farther away.

Far away from Canaan, far away from the night world...

Move towards the present world.

Chapter 132 Ophelia: My Brother-in-law is Here, I'm Running Away (Two-in-One)

Present world, Mystery Tower, Epoch Hall.

Ophelia's delicate brows were slightly furrowed on her porcelain doll-like face.

Those wine-red eyes lowered their gaze and fell on the woman in heavy armor who was kneeling on one knee in front of him.

"Just as you were about to discover the key clue to the Gravekeeper, Ingrid appeared and attacked you..."

"Kate, can you confirm this information?"

As the second princess of the Granville Empire, Ophelia was naturally no stranger to Ingrid.

Born in a remote village on the border of the empire, whose name was not even recorded on most maps, he barely passed the entrance examination of Star University by relying on the compulsory enlightenment textbooks used throughout the empire.

Then, at Starry University, where the vast majority of students were descendants of nobles... and whose innate talents, upbringing, and access to extraordinary resources far surpassed his own, relying on the "Yin Iron" of the Night Blade, which was rated as the most mediocre by the Ruins Academy...

It took four years, hundreds of historical echoes, and countless serious injuries to climb from the bottom of the Obelisk rankings to the second seat at the round table.

And this resume continued even after Ingrid graduated from Star University and joined the military.

There are many factions in the military of the Granville Empire. Every high-level position is firmly controlled by the royal family, the nobles and many other forces. It is extremely difficult for ordinary people to get promoted.

However, Ingrid broke this unspoken rule.

In less than ten years, she rose to the position of Director of the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Land and Order with impeccable performance, relying on her military exploits and military honors that far surpassed those of officers of the same rank by several times.

Such a resume is so legendary that many people have suspected that Ingrid has some unknown background.

"Those old men in the imperial capital have always suspected that Ingrid is a secret weapon cultivated by our royal family to eliminate other nobles..."

Ophelia chuckled. "I didn't expect that the secret weapon they considered would be the first to attack us."

As the second princess, she naturally knew that Ingrid's rise had nothing to do with the royal family.

"The opponent's aura was well hidden, and he immediately escaped after a successful attack. He didn't give me the opportunity to use the holy relic to detect the soul aura and identify his identity."

"Therefore, Your Highness, I cannot confirm..."

Kate shook her head.

"only--"

She bent down and looked at the broken hole in her heavy breastplate that went straight through the fine steel armor.

"There are no more than five sixth-level transcendents in the Granville Empire who can penetrate my defense with a single strike."

"Besides, I once fought alongside Ingrid in a previous joint military operation."

"That kind of violent fighting method, where you injure the enemy by a thousand and lose your own by eight hundred... no, injure the enemy by eight hundred and lose your own by a thousand. Besides the barbarians in the Northern Territory, I've only seen it in Ingrid."

A look of reminiscence flashed across Kate's eyes, along with a hint of barely perceptible awe.

"If I were to make a metaphor, Ingrid is like a bloodthirsty wolf."

"Even if I know there's a huge gap in absolute strength, and I know I'm no match for my opponent, I'll definitely bite off a piece of their flesh before I die."

Listening to Kate's statement, Ophelia's delicate brows couldn't help but frown even tighter.

No one knows whether there are still any legends in the world today. Even if there are, they have disappeared for many years and will not easily interfere in disputes between continents and countries.