People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

But in fact, he was overthinking it, and Precys also gave himself away.

The opportunity that led to her being exposed was when she had to reveal what she knew about the seer (the doctor).

She was unaware that Ernst knew about the doctor's amnesia.

In other words, she didn't know that Ernst knew about Arknights.

Although it was only a tiny bit, it was precisely this small point of leverage that allowed them to pry open the mountain that Precys had pressed down on them.

That makes sense, considering that Ernst lived in a post-apocalyptic environment during the pre-civilization era.

He could chat with the oldest and most nostalgic Trevor Friston about the almost forgotten history of their home planet, talk to the self-proclaimed linguist Prissis about the languages ​​of the past that had been replaced by "unknown languages," and even joke around with the prophet, picking up and tossing together fragments of stars. But the one thing he couldn't talk to them about was a game he had played in the past that he didn't remember much about.

Even if they asked him to recount every detail of his past, Ernst wouldn't talk about such a pointless game. It's like asking someone to recount your life experiences; you wouldn't be so precise as to say exactly when you wet the bed.

This is irrelevant.

But now, it is of paramount importance.

At least, this gave Ernst some peace of mind. He wasn't facing an omniscient and omnipotent creator, but a scientist from a post-apocalyptic civilization.

An information gap still exists between them. Moreover, just as he cannot do anything to Priscilla, Priscilla cannot do anything to him for the time being.

She couldn't completely kill herself; even a lumberjack couldn't cut through natural amber. If her physical body died, it wouldn't benefit her at all, because it would mean she would have to wait countless years for herself to revive, find herself again, and obtain "the other part."

It's uncertain whether Terra will have that many years left, or even if she herself will have that much time.

Of course, Ernst couldn't place all his hopes on this fragile balance. The Originium of Precythia was still evolving, and in modern society, a simple truth holds true—man-made processes aren't necessarily inferior to natural ones. Ernst couldn't gamble that Precythia might one day achieve a technological breakthrough and no longer need to draw inspiration from him. Therefore, the immediate priority was to strengthen Terra's own power.

To expect Terra, Precyth, and the former civilization to sit at the same table and negotiate is undoubtedly a pipe dream; the two sides are simply not on the same level.

Fortunately, Terra's opponent is neither the previous civilization nor Precyth.

What she needs is this planet as a testing ground. Although the possibility is very small, if the Terra civilization can complete the development of interstellar travel technology and leave this planet before the Originium Project reaches the point of covering Terra, then they can avoid direct conflict with Precys!

This is difficult, Ernst knows very well. Even Earthlings in his previous life hadn't developed the technology for space colonization, let alone a civilization like Terra whose superstructure and economic base were almost completely mismatched.

But no matter how difficult it is, it's still easier than having the Terran civilization fight against a previous civilization, right?

That's truly hopeless, impossible, beyond saving.

Moreover, aside from this plan, Ernst was also very curious about how Originium's "all-encompassing" effect was actually achieved.

Another option is that if Terra fails to reach that point, Ernst will agree to Priscilla's deal. He offers another part: Priscilla can use Terra as an experimental field, allowing everything to enter the Originium to advance the Originium Project, but the experimental information must not be deleted.

Whether the civilization could survive, Ernst didn't know. After all, it was said to be a replica of his own design, but Ernst had never actually seen what the inside of the Originium looked like.

But at least, this is an opportunity.

To reiterate, he won't lose much. And he might not even die from it.

Without a body and without a soul, perhaps he has other concepts or something. He was successfully revived last time, so he might be able to do it again next time.

At least, Precys was indeed "sincere." If there was really no other way, then this "sincerity" was the last hope.

Try a little harder, Terra.

Ernst looked at his hands and let out a long sigh.

Without realizing it, he had added another button to his "Eight Buttons to Destroy the World" collection.

"The pressure is immense" is an understatement to describe Ernst's current feelings.

It was absolutely chaotic and overwhelming.

Chapter 640 Horhaya's Victory Rules

"debate".

This was the first time Horhya had experienced something so wondrous. Her consciousness was plunged into a chaotic abyss, and then she awoke in a place deep within her memory, a place that left an indelible impression. When she opened her eyes, everything before her seemed so familiar, yet she could quickly realize that this was not some kind of time-traveling spell, but merely an illusion created using technology that the Terrans could hardly comprehend.

Holhaya was experiencing it all. To be honest, she wished it were some kind of miracle that took her back to the past. After all, she could never normally experience such a relaxed and comfortable environment where she didn't have to think about so many burdens.

She is currently living four hundred years ago.

"The feathered serpent manipulates wind and thunder with the might of heaven. As a member of the overlords of the gods, we have participated in many of the gods' sieges against the Sarkaz."

"But our family has declined."

The old feathered serpent gave earnest advice, and the descendants kneeling before him dared not even raise their heads, only trembling as they stared at the insteps of their ancestor, who was so unsteady on his feet, and the serpent's tail that coiled around them.

"Are you willing?"

The old feathered serpent posed a question.

The younger generation, kneeling on the ground, did not respond.

Not every feathered serpent is a fanatical worshipper of power. In fact, after the start of the Crystallization Age, most feathered serpents began to embrace history, knowledge, and technology, rather than worshipping the power in their bloodline.

The power of the divine people is constantly weakening, and this process is largely irreversible, as the past thousand years have proven. Countless ancestors have clung to old ways and drowned in the tides of time, but the community cannot perish with them. Therefore, the vast, emotionless, and self-serving collective will make decisions that best serve its own interests.

The lack of response from younger generations is a form of resistance, and not all resistance requires displaying banners and raising loudspeakers. Silent resistance is their greatest act of defiance against their aging ancestors.

Are we willing to accept this? No, we are not.

But it was merely a feeling of resentment. Seven or eight out of ten things in life are unsatisfactory, and even the gods cannot change that. At least, although our power has weakened, we still possess a longer lifespan, greater wealth, and a more advantageous position compared to our ancestors.

Has the feathered serpent family declined? No. It's just that in the eyes of their aged ancestors, they have weakened.

But the elderly Feathered Serpent felt a surge of rage; he turned his head and looked at the person standing at the very back of the line.

"Holhaya. Are you willing to accept this?"

Even though she knew it was just an illusion deliberately created for her, Horhaya still felt her soul tremble violently.

Are you willing?

"The situation I am facing now may be the situation you will face in the future."

"History is a cycle, a recurring circle. These foolish descendants rebel against the most proud destiny of the feathered serpent. They believe that the traditions we uphold are worthless. They think that a pen in the office is more powerful than swords on the battlefield, that a eloquent politician can defeat a Sarkaz king, and that verbal promises can bring lasting peace. Aren't they ridiculous?"

"The history we have experienced, witnessed, and inherited tells us all this—how foolish this idea is. When the hand that held the pen is cut off by a sword, when the Sarkaz lord lifts the head of a politician, when the promise of peace becomes a piece of waving waste paper, they will realize that all of this has already been repeated countless times in history, and they should have been prepared long ago."

"But they have no power. Even though that power is hidden in their blood, they themselves have chosen to give it up."

The old man said earnestly: Liu

"The feathered serpent should always chase the sky, otherwise how are we any different from those stupid serpents that can only crawl on the ground?"

Holhaya fell silent.

She knew who the old man was.

The ancestor of the feathered serpent clan, the last feathered serpent to be able to fly in the sky four hundred years ago, and the one who personally established the "inheritance".

The memories from four hundred years ago were crystal clear in her mind. Four hundred years ago, after this silent rebellion, he personally established the rule of forcibly implanting memories and missions through surgery.

He passed on his obsession and his ambition for the sky to generation after generation of his descendants, until he crushed the silent resistance of the entire feathered serpent clan into dust, and only then did he achieve his goal.

He imbued the supposedly emotionless and largely impartial "collective consciousness" with his own personal touch.

Even though he has been extinct for countless years, he has still turned this feathered serpent race into complete "antiquity fanatics".

This includes Horhaya, who is no exception.

Horhaya couldn't muster the will to refute, which was strange, but after actually meeting the instigator of four hundred years of suffering, she had little desire to debate with him.

What else is there to say when he's already like this?

“It’s okay if you don’t agree with what I’m saying, Horhaya.”

The message was conveyed, and the old man stepped over the backs of the kneeling feathered serpents, standing high above Horhaiya.

"But you're still doing what I'm asking you to do."

A hint of mockery appeared on his face.

"Admit it."

"In Kjerag, you will find yourself browsing through the oldest library on earth, searching for the traces I left behind."

"Your encounter with Ernst is due to your mission to the Feathered Serpent."

"You offered him advice, worked tirelessly for him, and solved his problems, not for the ten or a hundred times the salary you could get in Melander, but to see the all-knowing god Jeragand and ask Him about the whereabouts of the feathered serpent."

"You're thinking right now that I'm distorting the truth, talking nonsense, and spreading alarmist rumors. But you can fool me, you can't fool yourself."

"This is a debate. The image of me in your eyes is a phantom from four hundred years ago, but it is also a reflection of your own heart."

The aged feathered serpent bent down and lowered its head, as if trying to look directly into Horhaya's eyes.

The feathered serpent raised its head and fearlessly went to meet them, only to run right into a pair of emerald green eyes that looked remarkably familiar.

Horhaya's pupils contracted slightly, while the feathered serpent in front of her curled its lips into an exaggerated smile.

That was the smile that was often seen on Holhayer's face. It was a smile that Ernst described as "a highly expressive, comical smile."

The aged feathered serpent had changed its appearance; it was a decaying Horhya that, according to common sense, should not exist in this world.

She slowly opened her mouth and asked with great interest:

"And how can you prove that your so-called intentions are not a variation of your mission? Not an attempt to extract more benefits from Ernst regarding the Feathered Serpent? Not an influence I have on you?"

Holhaya clenched her teeth, which was unusual for her, but quickly relaxed them again.

In that instant, she was indeed enraged.

Angry from shame.

It's normal for someone to have strong feelings about her own doubts, because she has indeed doubted herself in the past. It's perfectly normal for her to experience intense emotional fluctuations when someone suddenly touches on the deepest self-doubt hidden in her heart.

After Ernst personally requested Jeragand to inform Horhaia of the "few" pieces of information about the feathered serpent that Sherag had preserved, Horhaia was indeed delighted for a long time.

During that time, she was in high spirits and full of energy, and seemed to have more enthusiasm for everything she did. She was even more enthusiastic about Ernst.

The 42-year deadline still has many years to go, but for people like them who are always busy, the concept of "year" is not long. Horhaya had already made up her mind at that time that she would find someone to continue the Feathered Serpent bloodline in the end anyway. It would be better to find someone she could look at, someone she liked, someone who had helped her before.

This was actually the reason she convinced herself that she had the ability—every generation of Feathered Serpent had the ability—to sever this damned lineage.

She could even forgo titles and such; after all, she was going to die at 42, so there was no need to worry about so many things. Besides, at that time, her memories would be implanted into the next generation's brain through the surgery, so she would essentially be alive and could still be by Ernst's side.

At that time, she will be recognized as either a daughter or a son.

Fortunately, Ernst didn't hear these words; if he had, his worldview would have been shattered at least once.

This is the Terran people's abstract moral and family values. If you can't be a wife, you can be a daughter. This seems illegal no matter how you look at it!

But Horhaya didn't care about any of that. She could brazenly use such words as a cover-up, deceiving herself to reduce the discomfort in her mind.

Betrayal would cause a split between the memories implanted in her mind and the consciousness hidden within them. To avoid this split, she had to force all her actions to be guided in the general direction of "for the sake of Quetzalcoatl." Once guided in this direction, she would have to deceive herself and make herself believe in this theory. But in the long run, it was hard to say whether she could deceive her brothers, but whether she could deceive herself was another matter entirely.

Just like now, the older feathered serpent is clearly distorting the truth and spouting nonsense, but Horhyah simply can't find any words to refute it.

Because that's really what she thought at the time.

"I was just lying to myself, pretending. I simply like Ernst, it has nothing to do with whether or not he's a feathered serpent"?

That would take us back to the first item in the program: schizophrenia.

But if he were to admit it, he would have to accept the older Feathered Serpent's words and waver in his feelings for Ernst.

Just as the old feathered serpent believed, history is a circle, and everything in the world is in a cyclical process. His own descendants also wove such a circle in their minds.

All the feathered serpents had the ability to break this damned tradition, but each generation of feathered serpents ultimately chose to accept it and pass it on, because in the end, when they were trapped in this vicious cycle, none of them could get out.

They will eventually convince themselves.

Let it be this way: love or hate, mating and procreation, it's all for the sake of the feathered serpent. Since that's the case, then the responsibility must be passed on.

Until Horhaya.

"debate".

Horhaya raised her head, looking at the old feathered serpent before her, at this phantom from four hundred years ago, at his or her face, which was exactly the same as hers.

She grinned, revealing her sharp teeth.

She smiled too.

"Those are all lies to you."

She spoke softly, her face bearing the same mocking expression as the other person.

"I don't know what happened before. I went to Kjerag because of Quetzalcoatl, and I don't deny that. But now I simply like Ernst, and it has nothing to do with Quetzalcoatl or not."

"Are you satisfied?"

The older feathered serpent opened its mouth, its expression somewhat blank.