I, the final BOSS of the beta test server!

"What are you going to do?" Hiltina rubbed her brow. "The pollution in Deep Blue Harbor has already spread. This is an established fact that we cannot stop or intervene."

"And because of the restrictions of the Night World, I can't leave Deep Blue Harbor either... I imagine you must be similarly constrained, otherwise you would have tried to escape long ago."

Now Deep Blue Harbor has been planted with a time bomb called the Contaminated, and they can neither defuse the bomb nor escape... It seems that there is no other way but to wait for death.

"But if you insist, we also have a unique advantage—"

"According to the information circulating in the Night World, perhaps because of the different dimensions, the gods' interference in the real world, whether it is the power of the gods or the intelligence they can gather, is extremely limited."

"So, even if it interferes with the present world through the form of a pollutant sculpture, the evil god's true form will never be able to understand the situation in Deep Blue Harbor in real time. Instead, it can only act according to certain preset rules through the trace of divinity that resides in the sculpture."

Hiltina glanced at Last and asked, "Are you planning to make a fuss about this?"

"Excellent deduction," Luster applauded. "It seems Miss Hiltina is not only an excellent swordsman, but also has the potential to be a detective."

"Your guess is generally correct... But before we challenge the almighty gods as insects, we still have some important things to do."

"What's the matter?" Hiltina frowned.

Snapped--

"Eat." Luster flicked a bullet with his fingers and yawned, "And sleep."

Chapter 12 At least for now, we live in this world

pat.

The yellow bullet fell from mid-air and was caught by Last.

Hiltina stared at Last for a long time, while he played with the bullet and gave her a clear and innocent look.

Hiltina originally thought that this was another of Rast's malicious jokes. After all, it was not the time to eat or sleep, and this blood-stained manor was not a suitable restaurant or inn.

Until she saw the boy leave the secret room and really start picking ingredients in the kitchen of the manor.

"I don't know if you guys can achieve something like not needing to eat after reaching a certain level of chariot... but because of the reset, my current physical condition is no different from that of an ordinary person."

"We haven't eaten since last night. I don't know if you're hungry, but I am. Furthermore, unleashing the Lantern Bearer's power twice previously drained a lot of my mental energy, and only a full night's sleep can restore it."

Rast found some cold rice, half a matsutake mushroom, milk and eggs in the kitchen.

He cracked the eggs and picked out a bad one: "It's true that you can overcome many things by relying on willpower, but the human body has its limits after all."

"Using Night Blade will also drain your mental strength. Whether you admit it or not, you are definitely not in top form right now."

"What we are going to face next is not the same kind of cultists."

"Going there in your current state..."

"He's going to die."

Rust's voice sounded more like an assertion than a persuasion.

"Five hours."

"Thanks to your participation, we saved five hours on this part of the manor compared to the previous cycle."

"During these five hours, eat and drink enough. Even if you can't sleep, just close your eyes and rest. It doesn't matter... Adjust everything about yourself, mentally and physically, to the best possible state."

"Only in this way can we be qualified to fight for that unique chance of victory."

Hiltina let out a long sigh and found a sofa to sit on.

What Last said was not wrong. She was indeed not in the best condition at the moment. Whether it was the long-stage "Chariot" sequence or the Night Blade, while providing combat power, it would also consume a lot of physical and mental strength as a price.

"You have a good eloquence."

"Thank you for the compliment. It's something I've practiced. Sometimes I'll play the poor but idealistic speaker at the gate of the House of Representatives. It's the quickest way to get to know that congresswoman."

In the kitchen, Rast beat the raw eggs into a bowl, added some salt and chopped green onions, and beat them with a spoon.

He also found carrots, ham slices and mushrooms in the cupboard, rinsed them with clean water and cut them into cubes for later use.

Based on what Hiltina knew about Last, she thought he would show off his dazzling cooking skills just like he did with cocktails before. She wouldn't be surprised even if his cooking skills were comparable to those of a real royal chef.

But the prepared dishes presented in front of Hiltina at this moment could only be described as simple and homely.

"Actually, I haven't studied cooking. Appetite, being the easiest desire to satisfy, is also the first thing I get tired of." Luster rolled up his sleeves and lit the stove. "I only know how to make fried rice. Xiao Ai taught me how to make it."

"I didn't want to learn it at first, but Xiao Ai said that boys must learn to cook for themselves when they are out alone, otherwise they will starve. In the end, she forced me to memorize every step."

Hiltina's eyes moved slightly.

This was the first time that Rast took the initiative to mention an outsider in front of him, a person named Xiao Ai.

Who was this? A projection of a native from Deep Blue Harbor? But when he'd previously discussed the dance troupe's lead dancer or the councilwoman, Lust hadn't expressed this attitude.

Or was it someone Last knew earlier, before he entered the night world and was trapped in the historical echoes of Deep Blue Harbor?

But since Rast didn't elaborate, Hiltina didn't ask.

In less than twenty minutes, fried rice was served in front of her on two trays.

Look at the steaming fried rice in front of you with distinct grains.

Hiltina glanced at the compressed energy bar in her hand, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say, "Thank you, but I prepared my own food."

She sighed, "I didn't expect you'd still be in the mood to cook in this situation."

"What will we eat if we don't cook? Did you bring your own compressed biscuits?" Last sat down across from them at the dining table and poured a cup of hot milk for each of them.

“Although the nutritional value may be similar, the dining experience and the spiritual value it provides are worlds apart.”

Last said, "In Deep Blue Harbor, maintaining a full and healthy mental state is far more important than the energy provided by food."

"It seems like you're not particularly eager to leave Deep Blue Harbor?" Hiltina asked. "If it were me, I'd probably just want to get through this night world quickly and not stay even a second longer."

"No, I'm eager, more eager than you can imagine."

Luster put a spoonful of fried rice into his mouth. "In the very beginning of the cycle, I was also like you said, extremely anxiously looking for a way out."

"Then, with repeated failures, from hope to despair, until becoming hysterical, giving up on oneself, and even developing a tendency towards self-destruction..."

"During that time, I repeatedly jumped from tall buildings or into the furnaces of steel mills, feeling my body gradually being burned to ashes by the scalding molten iron."

"Until someone had a conversation with me that stopped me."

"What?" Hiltina asked subconsciously.

"If I continue to self-destruct like this, even if I ever truly end Deep Blue Harbor's cycle of despair, I will never be able to live a normal life in human society."

Luster smiled slightly.

"After that, I began to try to integrate into this small port city as a resident. Even though this simple life only lasted less than a day, it had its advantages. It allowed me to experience the lives of different people in a variety of ways."

"After trying this for a while, I finally felt like I was alive again... I was no longer just a wandering ghost trapped in Deep Blue Harbor, unable to escape day and night."

He looked at the slightly pale sky outside the window.

"No matter what happens in the outside world, this small port city will also face what kind of ending."

"But at least at this moment, we are living in Deep Blue Harbor."

“Live in this world.”

Chapter 13 The Devil Returns from Hell

Listening to Rast's statement, Hiltina scooped up a spoonful of egg fried rice and put it into her mouth.

Then, her light brown eyes widened slightly.

The fried rice is cooked to perfection, with each grain of rice evenly coated in golden egg liquid, mixed with the aroma of black pine mushrooms.

But this did not move Hiltina. She was not a worldly-wise person. Compared with the dishes made by real court chefs, this fried rice had too many flaws in both ingredients and techniques.

But for some reason, compared to the previous Rast who played games with his life, who was mysterious and hard to understand, and who used extremely gorgeous skills to perfectly mix cocktails... the one who cooked this fried rice at this moment made Hiltina feel more familiar.

There is no longer that faint sense of estrangement and alienation, but a little more of a sense of reality as a human being.

At this moment, the sun rose, illuminating the gray sky. The light shone through the windows into the deserted manor, driving away the darkness and shadows.

The moist sea breeze came in from the window, blowing on Hiltina's face, interweaving with the sunlight, bringing a hint of warmth.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the faint sound of the sea tide in the distance from the wind.

Hiltina suddenly felt that the air in the city was not so oppressive and suffocating. It was a good season, late summer and early autumn, with a pleasant climate. Deep Blue Port was actually a very beautiful coastal city with blue sea and sky and plump fish.

If this wasn't the night world, and the pollution called the evil god wasn't quietly brewing in the city like a time bomb, then she might be able to spend a wonderful vacation on the beach.

In the following time, neither of them spoke, but just ate their meal quickly.

Fifteen minutes later, Hiltina put down the cutlery in her hand.

She sat down on the sofa, and the tense nerves in her heart gradually relaxed.

"It seems like you've adjusted your mental state well."

Last had also finished his breakfast and was slowly drinking his hot milk. "That's good news! I don't want my teammates to suddenly lose their spirit gauge and then turn around and stab me during a fight later."

"Actually, I have a question."

Xiltina leaned back on the soft sofa, feeling the fatigue wash over her like a tide. "Since you have time to study bartending, carving and other skills, why don't you study more professional academic fields..."

"Since you have enough, almost infinite, time, then the knowledge you possess should be able to surpass all sages and wise men, right?"

Last lazily lay on another sofa. "I have indeed thought about the plan you mentioned. For several decades, every time I reincarnate, I have devoted myself to academic research."

"After all, knowledge is power. If I could truly become a great sage who sees through everything and comprehends the truth of all things in the universe, then perhaps I could use this to decipher the truth behind Deep Blue Harbor's endless cycle."

"But unfortunately, that's not possible."

Luster smiled.

“No matter how hard I try, I can never surpass the era I live in.”

"I just have a lot of time to learn what others have discovered. It's easy to repeat what others have done, as long as you're diligent enough. But if you want to push the cutting-edge research in a field forward, only the best in that field can do it."

“To transcend the times and break through the limitations of knowledge inheritance is a privilege that belongs only to geniuses.”

Last put down his empty glass of milk and closed his eyes. "It's like even with all the recipes and culinary knowledge stored in Deep Blue Harbor, no matter how hard I try, I can't make that kind of glittering, clothes-bursting, ultimate dish."

Silence returned to the manor, leaving only the sound of the sea breeze blowing the curtains.

The times, and the limitations of talent...

Hiltina thought about Rast's words for a while and was about to continue asking questions.

But then she heard the sound of even breathing beside her. Rast had fallen asleep on the sofa.

Unlike Hiltina's usual impression, Rast's sleeping posture was unusually honest. He curled up quietly in the corner of the sofa, as obedient as a cat sleeping soundly in its own nest.

It was not until this moment that Hiltina realized that she might have overestimated Last's physical age.

When awake, Rast gives people a feeling of being elusive and having everything under control, so much so that people subconsciously ignore his appearance.

But when he was asleep, the boy's face looked much more childish. The lines on his face were not sharp and distinct, but rather gentle, and could even be described as innocent... He looked to be about the same age as Hiltina at most.

That is to say-

He was seventeen or eighteen years old, perhaps not even an adult yet, when he entered the historical echoes of the night world due to an accident and was trapped in the endless cycle of Deep Blue Harbor for hundreds of years.

Looking at the profile of Rast sleeping peacefully, Hiltina felt that the mist surrounding him had not diminished but had become even thicker.

Nearly 100,000 cycles, hundreds of years...

Such a long time is enough to wash away all the passionate memories, lose all human emotions, and turn into numbness and nothingness, an empty body like a walking corpse.

This is definitely not something that can be overcome simply by entertaining oneself through role-playing, as Last said.

The same day repeating endlessly, with no way to move forward, is tantamount to hell for humans... and the only ones who can return from hell are probably evil spirits who live for a certain obsession.

Deep in his soul, there must be something deeper - like the burning core of a steam engine, supporting the body named Last, which had long been worn out by time and became dilapidated, to keep moving forward until it appeared in front of him.

What could that fire be that has not been extinguished for hundreds of years and still carries residual heat even after turning into ashes?

Could it be related to the person named Xiao Ai?

But no matter how curious one is, since Rast is unwilling to say it, no one will know.

It seems that sleepiness is really contagious.

Looking at the peaceful look of Rast sleeping soundly, feeling the moist and warm sea breeze on her face, that warm and sleepy feeling suddenly surged towards Hiltina like a tide, gently wrapping her up.

……