Nobita's Time Heist

Da Xiong chuckled and reached into his pocket. "Since Xiao Shan says so, then there's definitely no problem..."

"【Evolutionary Degenerate Ray Gun】!"

Chapter 121: Prisoners of Knowledge

Before the crackling campfire, two men sat facing each other in silence for a long time. When Jaqen offered them food, the priest shook his head slightly and continued to sit cross-legged in meditation. Beneath his black bird-beak mask, the silence was so profound that even breathing could not be heard.

"You're a terrible travel companion, do you even realize that?"

"..." The priest remained silent.

"Don't you even need to eat?" Jia Kun chuckled, stuffing a piece of dried cheese into his mouth as he asked with a smile, "Or is it that the face under your mask has a story to tell, and you happen to be a very shy person?"

“I have no story, Jaqen Helma, I am just a shadow.” The priest’s voice came from behind the mask, or as if it were coming from a very, very far place. The sharp beak of the bird was pointed at him, like a raptor that was lurking in the darkness, looking for its prey. “A shadow does not need to eat or drink to survive.”

"To be able to resonate with the shadow element to this extent is truly rare. Unfortunately, compared to Nobita Nobi, who is favored by the wind and snow elements and possesses a powerful spiritual tide, you still lack a bit of talent... Isn't that the cruelest thing about the gods?"

Jia Kun chewed his food with gusto and said in a nonchalant tone, "No matter how hard ordinary people try, even if they try their best to catch up, they still can't compare to those who are born with talent. And those who have talent are like people who are born tall; they only need to stand on their tiptoes to pick the fruit."

"However, the fruit that you regard as a treasure, which you can't reach no matter how hard you jump, is not even worth picking in his eyes."

"Snapped!"

The sound of the campfire burning was like a sharp knife, piercing the unbearable silence between the two.

“The world is ruled by tall people, and I’m used to it.” The priest’s voice was unusually deep. “Even a little girl who knows nothing can become a ruler as long as she inherits a powerful bloodline.”

"Let her rule, or use the power of foreigners to further consolidate the hearts and minds of the people in this city, I don't care."

“Oh…” Jia Kun raised an eyebrow, his tone clearly one of surprise, but his expression suggested he had expected it all along. “So, the seal on the Mother of Insects was breached by dark elements, and after a long time, it was broken. Isn’t that a brilliant move by you to seize control of the Golden Land?”

"If that were the case, I should be in the Great Archives right now, doing my best to win people's hearts, just like those ostentatious foreigners. Or I should take this opportunity to create chaos and incite discontent against Hylia. Instead of sitting around the fire with another gossipy foreigner, chatting about meaningless trivialities."

"Hahahaha—!" Jia Kun laughed heartily, attracting a few insects that were lurking not far away. They cautiously crawled over, but they did not cause any change in Jia Kun's mood. "That's right, if your goal is to usurp the throne, there is no more suitable time than this."

"Then, may I ask you..."

……

After a moment of silence, the priest's bird-beak mask tilted to the other side, facing the distant holy site, the first base to be captured by the Mother of Insects.

Do you believe in magic?

“It’s obvious that the five iron rings around your neck aren’t just for decoration,” Jaqen said.

“No, not elemental magic… it’s something more profound, something more worthy of being called ‘magic’!” The priest’s voice grew increasingly agitated. “I have spent my entire life seeking nothing more than to gain more wisdom and to understand more about the laws governing the workings of things.”

"Maybe you should go to university and then get a PhD?" Jia Kun remarked at the opportune moment.

"To achieve this goal, I constantly honed my shadow magic, seized opportunities, and climbed the ranks step by step. Finally, at the age of thirty, I became a priest of the Golden City. To me, this identity was merely a key to unlocking the forbidden section of the Great Archives."

He paused for a moment, as if taking a little time to suppress his overly excited tone.

"Just as I expected, the contents of the restricted book section were very mixed. I had to spend a lot of time filtering out useless information until one night... the gods finally smiled upon me and I found this among a pile of moldy pages that were about to be eaten away by paper mites."

He took a roll of paper from his large black cloak and gently placed it on the ground.

"It doesn't seem as bad as you say." Jia Kun squinted and quickly glanced at the contents of the paper. "There's no sign of it being eaten away by mites. It's perfectly fine."

“This is what I copied down.” The priest’s tone was hard to describe, as if he were communicating with someone of low intelligence. “It records a secret. The creature we call the ‘Mother of Insects’ also had its own will and its own name before that.”

"Her name is Narniadis, and she comes from a truly magical world, possessing many spells that are beyond our imagination. Because she was cursed by the Demon King, she became this inhuman, ghost-like creature, and somehow, she fell into our world."

"...So what?" Jaqen's tone was quite calm, as if he had expected this. "Do you expect someone who spends all day with insects to tell you the secrets of magic?"

“This is my only chance to access higher knowledge. No matter the outcome, I have to try.” The priest dusted off his knees, slowly rose, and asked, “Thirty or forty years from now, when I am old and frail, looking back on this day, I know I will regret not taking this step. So I chose to do it, nothing more.”

"Not wanting to leave any regrets? That's a good excuse, but there's a major premise to it..."

"If you take this step, will you live to see another thirty years?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"boom----!!"

A deafening roar, like thunderclap from a dry land, erupted from the Great Archives, sweeping across the area and nearly scattering the fire in front of the two. The priest immediately stood up, his hands separating into two short daggers made of dark element. His figure was about to disappear completely into the night.

Jia Kun, however, remained seated calmly, even crossing his legs, looking as if a good show was about to begin.

"What...is that?!"

Faced with something beyond their comprehension, the priest displayed the same astonishment as any ordinary person. Suddenly, a colossal tree rose from the great library not far away!

Vast expanses of lush greenery filled the space, with vines and tree trunks growing out simultaneously in an unnatural manner, dominating the entire building without damaging its original structure. It was as if the great library had been "enclosed" within this massive shell. The four cannons had been repositioned according to their categories, still guarding the four sides, but with improved firing angles and kill radius compared to before.

Its canopy is like the sea, and its branches are like swords.

The giant tree continued to grow, like a pillar connecting heaven and earth, or the Tower of Babel in mythology reaching to the heavens, its palace a verdant green, exuding an aura of supreme holiness. Soon, its height dwarfed the nine stone pillars of the sacred land, and all the insectoids in the Golden Land looked up in unison until it soared into the clouds.

“How could something like this suddenly appear… Is it… a tree?” The unexpected turn of events caused the priest’s voice to tremble. “Could there be a druid among those foreigners? But even a druid’s nature magic couldn’t possibly create something like this…”

"In a way, he really is well-suited to become a Druid." Facing this towering figure, Jaqen simply smiled, his hawk-like eyes slightly narrowed. "Always managing to come up with such excellent work..."

"It's making me a little restless."

Author's message

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

A side note.

Is the "Back to the Future 1999" gacha pool available today? Anyone playing it?

Chapter 122: The World Tree is Born!

Inside the Great Archives, the seeds that had been dropped grew wildly in an instant, far exceeding everyone's expectations. Within seconds, enormous vines had coiled around the walls, and before long, the entire Great Archives was enveloped in layers of vines, becoming a hollow cavity inside the giant tree.

A tiny seed was sown, and what was harvested was a colossal tree powerful enough to pierce the clouds. A faint, verdant light pulsed rhythmically through the trunk and vines, like the heartbeat of some enormous creature. Looking at this sight, no one would believe it to be a lifeless, inanimate object.

"This speed is ridiculous." Xiao Fu's mouth is rather pointed, so his wide-open, astonished expression looks particularly comical. "It's only been a few seconds, and it's already made a hole in the sky."

Nobita nodded in satisfaction. "Shouldn't we give it a name?"

"Here we go again..." Asur looked helpless. "You feel uncomfortable if you don't give these strange creations names, don't you?"

“I disagree with that.” Mei Jin was squatting in the corner with Hylia, studying the vines that had suddenly sprouted out, and said, “Multiple data show that giving creations a suitable name can greatly motivate them, improve their efficiency, and bring many benefits.”

"It's really sturdy; it feels just like cowhide." Fatty Tiger tugged at the emerald vine hanging nearby, and while marveling at it, he suddenly asked curiously, "Is it considered alive now?"

“That depends on how you define ‘living,’ Gouda,” Dekisugi explained. “I would say that it can sense the outside world, recognize its own current situation, understand our language, and even possess senses far more precise than humans. Only in this way can it be competent in the task of deploying troops. But at the same time, it is just a tree growing on the Great Archives and cannot move freely like a human. All its senses need to be obtained through other plants that extend outwards.”

“Xiaoshan, it’s your child,” Da Xiong suddenly said. “Give him a name.”

"Me? But, Nobita-kun, it's because of your gadgets..."

"I was just using a little trick." Da Xiong waved his hand, interrupting him. "The initial seed was cultivated little by little by you through your wisdom and hard work. I only taught you how to use it. Without your previous efforts, no matter how much cleverness I have, it would be useless."

Upon hearing this, Dekisugi could no longer refuse. After pondering for a moment, his gaze swept over the tough and powerful vines hanging indoors, and he immediately had an idea.

“Let’s call it ‘Yggdrasills’ (Old Norse: Askr Yggdrasills, meaning World Tree).”

……

"Swish..."

From deep within the vines came a soothing rustling sound. A moment later, several fruits seemed to fall from the sky, landing perfectly in the hands of everyone in the house, one for each person. It was hard to imagine that these were fruits that could grow on a plant—they were shaped like golden mooncakes, exuding the fragrance of bamboo leaves. One bite, and the aroma filled the mouth, leaving everyone in awe.

"It seems it's quite happy with the name."

Nobita looked at the images transmitted back by the spy satellite—the Mother of Insects had noticed the anomaly in the city center and was already stirring. In the distance, the swarm of insects churned, like dark clouds covering the sky; their leader was preparing the next offensive, determined to nip the threat in the bud.

Everyone unconsciously looked at him. Although no one expressed their opinion, the unspoken hope placed on him made him feel a weight on his shoulders.

So, every time Doraemon makes a decision, like a magician pulling one gadget after another from his pocket to amuse a child, he's carrying this kind of pressure...

He didn't speak in the end, but simply nodded with his lips tightly pressed together.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"boom----!!!"

The next moment, a continuous stream of pale pink smoke billowed from the canopy of Yggdrasil. However, this deafening commotion was hardly the result of a plant flowering; it seemed more like a powerful entity, such as a volcano, unleashing a burst of power commensurate with its size. This pale pink smoke, originating from the Great Archives, gradually spread throughout the city. Its arrival seemed to further agitate the surrounding insectoid creatures, and the sounds of tearing and rubbing echoed incessantly.

Everyone held their breath as they watched the pale pink smoke descend from mid-air and dissipate over the city.

"Now!" Nobita nodded to Gendry, who was not far away.

"Wind—!!" Gendry shouted at the top of his lungs.

The rooftop, formed from trees, was already densely packed with people. Aside from the "duds" who were completely immune to elemental damage, even elementalists wearing only two rings were present. They stood in a special formation, resembling a giant arrowhead when viewed from above. Each person placed their hand on the shoulder of the person in front, and so on, as if using their physical bodies as a conduit to gather all their power into the person at the very front.

The power of an individual may not be that great.

However, when all the elemental forces converged, the resulting wind field was enough to quickly spread the pale pink smoke. In the roaring wind, the smoke soon filled the streets and alleys, and countless insects, commanded by the Insect Mother, opened their mouths, trying to tear it apart. But this smoke was formless and intangible; it was swallowed by them and then flowed out from the gaps in their mouthparts. Even if some of it actually entered their stomachs, it did not diminish the sheer volume of this vast, sea-like smoke.

……

There was absolutely no need for this scene of united effort—everyone knew the truth. With the [Banana Leaf Fan], they could easily have created a strong wind to carry the powdery mist to where it was meant to go; that would have been more efficient and precise. However, to make the people of Golden Village feel involved, Da Xiong once again chose the relatively inefficient method.

This continuous stream of pink mist is actually a special seed produced by Yggdrasil. Its volume is compressed to the limit, its weight is only equivalent to a flying catkin, and it has extraordinary stickiness. Once it comes into contact with man-made structures, such as high walls or alleyways, it will stick firmly to them.

No sunlight, no water, no nutrients are needed; a small flower simply blooms on the spot.

A single flower may not seem particularly remarkable. However, when thousands upon thousands of flowers bloom in every corner of the city, it's a different story. As far as the eye can see, the rock walls of every building are covered in a sea of ​​flowers, which, in some ways, is more terrifying than giant insects.

They were like the tentacles extending from Yggdrasil, replacing its eyes and ears. From then on, it no longer needed to rely on Nobita's spy satellites; every movement within the Golden City, even the slightest tremor, was under its complete control.

The vines climbed into the steel structure of the four invincible cannons, growing fleshy barbs like tentacles that stuck to them. With a "hum," the cannon barrels began to connect with this massive consciousness, automatically adjusting their firing angles to aim at the four directions below the Great Archives.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Thump—!!"

"Thump—!!"

"Thump—!!"

"Thump—!!"

This time, the cannon fire was no longer the light and sharp whistling sound of the past, but sounded particularly heavy. What was fired was no longer energy bullets, but clumps of seeds that were compressed together.

They fall into the darkness, are driven deep into the ground, and take root and sprout the moment they touch the soil.

Chapter 123: Plants vs. Zombies (Horizontal Version)

"quack--!!!"

An eight-legged crawling insect shot out like an arrow, and like its countless companions, one after another, fearless, rushed towards the emerald green patch in the distance. Its speed was incredible, like a dark bolt of lightning; few animals could achieve such speed on land.

Tens of thousands of insects advance simultaneously, facing a variety of opponents: water plants that suddenly emerge from the ground like venomous snakes, ready to coil and crush their bodies; enormous flowers capable of biting and digesting any insectoid creature in one bite; massive nuts several meters tall, immobile, but with skins harder to gnaw than obsidian; mushrooms that suddenly expand and explode as if destroying the world; and pea pods that can rapidly produce bullets as strong as metal.

These magical plants formed defensive lines in a wondrous way, slowing down their offensive. Even though the Mother of Insects had increased her troop numbers nearly twentyfold, she was still blocked by these tireless plants, as if she had punched cotton.

The four cannons had even stopped emitting energy; since last night, they had been continuously spraying seeds, precisely airdropping plants to the positions on the front lines where they were needed. The ubiquitous little flowers were Yggdrasil's eyes and ears, transmitting countless pieces of information through them to its processing center, where it would then personally allocate the placement of each plant.

An orderly system gradually dismantled the Mother of Insects' most effective numerical offensive. She massed units, and the opponent followed suit, with an equal number of unit types.

Even if a single insect overcomes all obstacles and manages to penetrate that layer upon layer of defense built up by plants, what it will face is...

"Sizzle—!"

An electric arc pierced the air, and the powerful plasma instantly pierced through the "warrior's" body, turning it into a charred pile of ash. Even with its tenacious vitality, with most of its organs carbonized, it was naturally unable to move, only able to twitch in place. Several other pieces of ash nearby met a similar fate, long since inactive, reduced to dried fragments.

Nearly a dozen patches of green vegetation stood there, forming the last line of defense, square and like a rock. They were very similar to the "charging ferns" that the Izumo had initially used for experiments, only larger and emitting more aggressive electric arcs. These square stumps lined up, silently waiting for the insectoids who might manage to get through all the defenses by luck or something else. So far, not a single insect had managed to escape their grasp.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Outside the Great Archives, the battle between plants and swarms of insects continues.

Inside the Great Archives, everyone was gathered around a large screen watching the battle unfold. The people of Golden City were naturally excited, because although the advance was slow, the battle line was indeed being pushed forward little by little. Being able to withstand the swarm of insects from the Mother of Insects and push the battle line forward was already a remarkable achievement. And the terrifying image of their invincible opponent was gradually shattering with the subtle changes in the battle line.

However, the expressions on the faces of these foreigners were rather unsettling.

"Well, of course, it would be great if we could win, but..." Xiaofu hesitated for a long time before finally complaining, "Looking at this battle report now, it feels like I'm playing Plants vs. Zombies."

"Ha, Suneo, you're mistaken." Fat Tiger held up a finger and waved it in front of him, saying calmly, "If there were that many zombies, the back garden would have been taken over long ago, and even Dave next door wouldn't have escaped!"

"That's the zombie from level 99 of Endless Mode, facing off against a plant that's been modified!"

Nobita shook his head. "Playing this kind of game with a cheat code? That's such a lack of ambition in life."