First Player

Su Mingan thought about it. He originally wanted to call him something like "Amber" or "Lin Yin". However, it is indeed difficult to associate him with such a weird pseudonym as "Banana".

"Banana. Your helmet," the priest said.

Su Mingan took the helmet and saw the fifth disc.

——"The Witch's Narrative".

The font is gorgeous and grotesque, and the surface of the disc is engraved with the silhouettes of digital witches. They ride on broomsticks surrounded by roses, with black cats and white doves on their shoulders. Bloody thorns surround the disc, and starlight surrounds the witches. It looks like a dark fairy tale.

Needless to say, it is definitely another "warm and healing" game.

"The Age of Witches...328 years. About five hundred years so far." Su Mingan rubbed the disc.

There have been asymmetric games, optional story games, development games, and simulator games. What type of game would this be?

He and Noel left the crowd and walked in the streets.

Noel said: "I don't know what era the last game is in, there are only six games in total. The Louyue Kingdom is in 512, and the Witch Era is in 328, so the last game may be..."

"Thousands of years ago." Su Mingan said slowly.

As long as you play to the end, maybe the truth from thousands of years ago can be revealed. Why the old gods left, and how the gods seized power and usurped the throne... these can be revealed.

Su Mingan stared at the game disc, as if he wanted to make a flower out of it.

"Su Ming'an... look, it turns out today is the Chinese New Year. I just found out." Noel said suddenly.

Su Mingan raised his head. The streets are indeed very lively. Some people are dancing lions, some are setting off fireworks, and families are sitting on the street having a reunion dinner. It reminds me of the New Year celebrations in the Lord God’s world. The Louyue era is the most recent era, and Eastern culture has the most leftover content.

"...Fuyuan Festival." Su Mingan couldn't help but say.

The profound memory made him seem to have returned to that period of heavy snowfall. As long as he encounters similar weather and festivals, he can always... awaken the sense of déjà vu etched in his bones.

When he turned around in the wind and snow, it was also snowing like this.

"Yes, it's very similar. Including the smell of roasted sweet potatoes on the roadside is very similar, and the aroma of hot porridge is also very similar." Noel casually touched the head of a passing child: "But it's already very far away, and it's no longer the same place as before. We are just travelers.”

Even though the sense of déjà vu is strong, it makes people feel that if they turn around, they will see a familiar figure running towards him. But people separated by life and death will never appear again. In the world game, the perception of time is infinitely shortened. Even if the distance is only a few dozen days, it is equivalent to being away from an entire century.

This walk in the snow reminded Su Mingan of Caiusta's first morning walk. He is a scholar awakening from hibernation. Lu followed him and proposed to resist the gods' camp.

Today, it’s the same taste of sweet potatoes and porridge, the same desire to defy the gods, and the same snow.

But it's completely different.

"I see there are lantern riddles and candied haws over there. Do you want to play?" Noel pointed to the street corner, where many lanterns were hung.

"No time. Take the time to play the fifth game. The fifth game appeared just after I came here. The timing is such a coincidence." Su Mingan shook his head: "First meet with Li Yuxuan and the others to ensure the safety of the environment."

Noel smiled: "Okay."

…

"We chant the epic of the Republic."

"Reciting stories from thousands of years ago."

"With this sincerity, I call back the glorious name of the old god Su Ming'an..."

In the Church of the Old God, the choir children are practicing. This large church accommodates many people who believe in the old gods.

Yamada Machichi sat on a bench and looked at these pure white children. A few white pigeons stayed by the colorful window, pecking at the myths and legends on the colorful window.

"I don't know how the United Group will react." Lu sat down next to him. There was still red in his eyes, and even Lu, who was always smiling, was not smiling at the moment.

"It's probably too late for them to regret it." Yamada Machichi said calmly: "Su Mingan died because Mizushima Kawakora was too competitive. This was a problem with the guidance of the joint group. If she could be a little more restrained. , it won’t be like this. Su Mingan will obviously not be the first to target her. "

He clenched his fingers tightly and made the mark of the crescent moon.

Although three years are just a fast-forward slideshow in the eyes of players, they can experience everything that happened.

——The first player died, and Sora Mizushima was the executioner.

Large groups are inherently difficult to maintain. Even if people come together with expectations for the future, sooner or later they will be controlled by ambitious people. People of various nationalities are mixed together, and once conflicts break out, they become a mess. In the past, people could rely on spiritual leaders like "Player One" to make people believe that he must be invincible, that he could always dig into the deepest plot, that he could defeat any enemy and complete the most perfect level - now what? ?

The lighthouse collapsed.

It was like everything was suddenly destroyed.

The role of the lighthouse theory is this - as long as Su Mingan survives, mankind will always have confidence. As long as he remains dazzling in the spotlight, humanity can believe in his victory. Therefore, the originally endangered human group can maintain basic stability in the initial period.

But once he falls.

...The sandcastle collapsed into sand.

Even now, many people are still crying. Many players came to the Old God Church to pay their respects to Su Ming'an in such a gorgeous and huge building.

Dried flowers were presented one after another, including various handmade products and small gifts. Just sitting on the bench for a while, Yamada Machichi saw more than 300 players coming in and out. They carved their condolences for Su Mingan on the stone slab, holding black and white photos of him in their hands.

[The sound and appearance have faded, but the virtue remains. 】

[The spirit will not die, but the style will last forever. 】

[Good conduct and virtues will last forever, and high moral integrity will last forever. 】

In the black-and-white photos displayed in the nearby mourning hall, the voice and appearance of the black-haired young man are still there.

Yamada Machichi chose Su Ming'an's smiling face. He wanted to freeze Su Ming'an's rare smile forever.

"Some people are so desperate that they even want to massacre NPCs to vent their anger," Lu said.

"Hmph... Even if Su Ming'an doesn't die, this kind of person will do all kinds of weird things." Yamada Machichi said.

"They also gathered people to go to the holy city and threw rotten eggs and dead rats at Mizushima Kawakora as if they were going to die. They used chicken blood to write curses on the city walls, such as 'Mizushima Kawakora will not die well', 'Mizushima Kawakora' Bloody words like "Kong's whole family will die," Lu said.

"Although it is excessive, she deserves it." Yamada Machichi said.

"But humans lost." Lu's voice was very soft.

"Yeah...humanity lost..." Yamada Machichi lowered his head.

Their conversation was plain and quiet, but revealed a deep despair. Yamada Machichi slowly covered his face, he still felt unreal. That young man who used to make dumplings, cook broth, and exchange gifts during the Chinese New Year...why did he die?

It was so weird, so unreal. It made him feel like he was still in a dream. Even if he wanted Mizushima Kawakora to pay for his life, he also clearly knew that this was not possible. Even if she had committed a heinous crime, human beings just needed her points.

"How is Mo Yan?" Lu asked softly.

"He has been dreaming. He said that Big Brother just fell into a dream. As long as he finds Big Brother in his dream, Big Brother will open his eyes, so he will keep looking, and keep looking." Yamada Machichi said.

"Really? I thought he was the most emotionally stable person."

"That's without big brother involved."

"Where's Yueyue?"

"Yueyue is still fighting. She is an excellent mercenary. She has a large team and is still on the front line."

"She must be the saddest person."

"I couldn't tell, her expression was very calm. I didn't dare to mention it in front of her. We just exchanged tactical suggestions calmly, and she let me leave. But I heard other mercenaries say, Yue Yue buried her game console and never took it out again. She began to like listening to various types of piano music, and sometimes she would listen to it for a long time..."

"Really...then do you know about Burris's situation?"

"He just repeated that God will never die. You see, he is still preaching in the square. He thinks Su Ming'an... will come back."

"I really can't understand him."

"Me too. Crazy people are really hard to understand."

"Where are Isabella and Alger?"

"Isabella went to lay flowers, and Alger went to who knows where. The Peak Alliance has lost Su Ming'an, which is actually equivalent to disappearing in name only. The alliance has lost its leader, and Beiwang will not accept us."

"Finally... where is Lu Shu?"

A brief moment of silence.

There was only the mourning of the people in the church, and the sound of the choir.

"I don't know where he is," Yamada said.

"Really? Okay, but he should not be impulsive anymore, and he should be living a good life." Lu said.

They sat quietly on the bench.

The white dove pecked at the colored window a few times and flew away, leaving a piece of feathers falling on the blue hair on the road.

"What about you?" After a long time, Yamada Machichi said: "You have asked me so many people, how about you yourself, what kind of reaction do you have."

"I...?" Lu's words were delayed for a while.

His lips pursed slightly:

"I was thinking... I haven't had time to show him the aircraft carrier yet. He also said that he wanted to see people sink into the river."

"...He definitely didn't say that."

"Really? He should tell me this himself. Otherwise, if I really fly on the aircraft carrier in the future, how will I find him." Lu slowly said: "It was clearly agreed... it depends on what I drive."

Yamada Machichi fell silent.

There was no other noise in the church. Only the holy singing was left in my ears, and the fragrance of flowers floated in the air.

"I will...always, always, remember him." Yamada Machichi murmured, his voice hoarse to the point of being inaudible.

He clasped his hands together, blinked his eyes slightly, and shed uncontrollable tears.

"Although I know that this kind of death should not be his end. But, Su Mingan... I'm sorry, I couldn't play a big role. As your teammate, I couldn't prevent your death, I'm sorry. If you really If there is an afterlife, then stop being the number one player..."

He muttered in a low voice, and Lu slowly closed his hands.

Until a figure walked in front of them.

...and waved to them.

When Yamada Machi raised his head, his pupils narrowed little by little.

"What are you talking about?" Su Mingan opened his blue pupils and sat next to them: "If there is any channel, please contact me and let my teammates know that I am alive. Don't let them worry... Wait, it's better not to tell them. , they may also be fake. By the way, it should be relatively safe around here, am I playing the fifth game here?"

Su Mingan was talking to himself and fiddling with his watch A Du. Ichiwaji Yamada's expression turned petrified.

Noel also followed, chewing a rainbow lollipop, looking very leisurely and elegant, making a clicking sound in his mouth. He stared at Yamadacho Ichiwa Road with vigilance, as if judging whether they were true or false.

Yamada Machichi almost turned into a screaming chicken - you did it too suddenly! I'm still expressing my emotions, my tears are still welling up, and you just come out!

But what overwhelmed him immediately was overwhelming joy, and he subconsciously wanted to hug Su Mingan and cry. Feeling inappropriate again, he retracted his hand.

Su Mingan reached out, took his arm, patted his shoulder, and comforted him not to be sad.

His eyes were bright, as if reflecting the starry sky under the sea.

"I won't die."

"Believe me. Just like Acto of Caiusta, every time the news of his death is spread, it is actually for a better return. So, next time if you hear the news of my death, don't be sad, just take it as a I will be back soon. All future deaths are my plan."

…Are you setting up a scenario for the possibility of real death?

This was the thought that came to Yamada Machi's mind.

He held Su Ming'an's arm and almost wanted to wipe all his tears on Su Ming'an. Before I said a few words, my voice turned into a cry: "Su...wow wah wah..."

"You are the road. I am still waiting for you to take me to fly airplanes and cannons to see how you deal with the enemy." Su Mingan moved two inches to avoid tears: "You are Yamada Machichi, the second dimension, we want to see The cherry blossoms and animation street in Fuso, right? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten them, I’m still me.”

"You can forget about the second dimension..." Yamada Machichi cried and laughed.

Lu slowly put on a familiar smile, and said with a red-eyed smile: "Then I will inform the others immediately..."

As soon as he stood up, there were sudden fluctuations in space around everyone.

The system prompts:

…

[The second tower mechanism·"Regularly convene all orderers and destroyers for a collective discussion" has been activated. 】

[Everyone is about to be called. Countdown, five, four, three, two——]

…

Several people stood still.

"Then you..." Yamada Machichi looked at Su Ming'an hurriedly.

Su Mingan pointed to his blue eyes: "It's okay. Human skin mask."

"How should we call you? If it were a pseudonym like 'Lu Shu' or 'Lin Yin', it would be easy to associate it with you." Lu said.

Su Mingan thought for a while.

"banana."

…

The white light changed, and in front of him was a vast starry sky.