Chapter 2212: The Poet and the Knight (1w1)_6
Chapter 2212: The Poet and the Knight (1w1)_6
It was only at this moment that the elder could no longer restrain the doubts in his heart.
"Ian."
He spoke, revealing his true thoughts: "Even now, I have already lost any joy."
"All these years, I have come to completely understand your methods, which possess a wisdom unmatched by myself... or even Yinaiga."
"Ian... why? Why pay such a great price to save me?"
"Clearly, without me, you could achieve even greater accomplishments!"
"I am the one who has burdened you!"
The old Knight bent slightly, painfully pressing a hand to his heart.
There, a young heart was beating, carrying the power of the Dragon Heart Core, allowing the elder, who long should have perished, to live on.
Over a decade ago, at the conclusion of the South Sea Great Labyrinth incident, when the old Knight was nearing death (the continuation of the original timeline), Ian employed inconceivable means, using the Swarm and facilities at the South Sea Base as materials, to perform an almost impossible surgery.
He completely replaced his teacher’s organs corroded by the Ice Prison Calamity Ash, then miraculously commanded the ash to cease, using his own heart, parts of his organs, and cloned flesh and blood to replace his teacher’s core, bringing the old Knight, who was one step away from the Underworld, back to the Human Realm.
Yet, as a price, Ian’s body was greatly damaged, filled with the flesh and blood of the Swarm, losing his qualification as a Human.
One could even say, the original Ian was already an empty shell, having truly transformed into a Swarm in human form.
Though he could continue advancing as the ’Swarm Overlord’, he was unwilling to do so.
"Even if you were to sweep across Terra with the Swarm, I believe you can save this world."
Thus spoke the old Knight, with unrestrained trust in his tone.
This was natural; he had witnessed with his own eyes, his student changing the fate of great nations with mere wisdom and investments, steering the policies and heroes that influenced the beginning and Chapters of Terra World’s wars, who would have thought, behind those, stood a Ballad Poet elusive even to cats?
"You finally asked, teacher."
In the pouring rain, the white-haired poet stood calmly by the sea, gazing into the endless azure sea, he spoke calmly: "Saving the world, to me, is an Ordinary, an expected task, accomplishing such a feat is but a trivial matter."
"But even now, I long for one thing... and that is a better possibility."
"A possibility where you, teacher, can live."
Turning his head, Ian met Hiliard’s gaze, smiling: "Teacher, though you are not curious about all this, you can see what makes me exceptional—clearly, I know too much, far beyond what a Prophet could explain."
Hiliard said nothing, he simply looked at Ian, his gaze filled with doubts, yet also with a sense of serenity.
He had indeed doubted, but he didn’t want to ponder such dull matters, he believed there was a reason for everything Ian did, and he trusted Ian would explain it.
And indeed, Ian provided an explanation.
"This world."
The poet said: "Exists only for ’Hiliard to live’."
"Teacher, I have already reached a better future, and that future only lacks you."
"Then have you not succeeded already?" Hiliard inquired doubtfully: "Over a decade ago, you saved me from the impossible, my survival today is a genuine miracle."
"No... teacher, you must live. Live, and cherish the belief in a ’better possibility’."
The Ballad Poet smiled: "Only when you foster curiosity in all unknowns can I invite you... invite you to ’Pioneer Space’."
"Only thus can I make you the foundation to trace back everything, resurrect all those ’dead yous’ across all space-time."
"After all, even for me, it’s impossible to save everyone from the start... teacher, now, I need your help."
"Haha."
Upon hearing this, Hiliard chuckled: "Is that all? Ian... that isn’t difficult."
"Pioneer Space, you say? I don’t know what place that is, but if it assists you, then I agree."
...
In a tavern at the universe’s edge.
[So, you’re wanting to resurrect someone who’s already half-immortal? For you now, that’s not difficult, right?]
[What? You’ve already revived them? Then why ask the question!]
[Oh, you mean, you’re resurrecting all beings under that name in the Infinite Parallel Space-Times? Infinite Parallel Universes? Well, generally speaking, isn’t one resurrection enough?]
[All Ians are Ian, all teachers are teachers... I sort of understand what you mean, you’re walking this path, acknowledging all, embracing chaos in everything, rescuing even the worst possibilities in Infinite Parallel Space-Times, striving for even better possibilities amidst the best in Infinite Parallel Space-Times...]
[You believe you can achieve that; ’Guidance’ is such an everlasting, never-ceasing power]
[...]
[Honestly, sealing all in the multiverse, few are as insane as you, truly a mad explorer, yet since you’ve offered to convey messages for us failures, we’re willing to think of a way for you]
[Infinite Parallel Space-Times, resurrecting infinite beings, even rewriting the past and future entirely from the Multiverse, reshaping every space-time with your power, to forcefully achieve your perfect ending, needs a power beyond the Dao, named ’Hongliu’...]
[Moreover, you might need some ’Grand Legacy’... perhaps the power named ’Chrono Horn’ is what you need]
[Of course, aside from that, there are some simpler methods]
[Just head to the Reincarnation Site, the true ’Reincarnation’, where all true spirits reside—but for now, the Great Seal still exists, without becoming Hongliu, it’s basically impossible to reach there]
[Haha, we’re not deceiving you, just your target is so grand, hence the difficulty. Either become Hongliu, obtain the Grand Legacy, or simply unseal the Great Seal... anyway, the former is easiest, it’s up to you]
[Seals do shatter eventually, though said truly, even with the years of our Dao, it’s hard to see that day come, who asked us to be failures? Perhaps you can wait]
[You’ve waited so long already, shouldn’t mind waiting a little longer]
...
Leaving the tavern at the universe’s edge, the white-haired figure pondered long, arriving at his conclusion: "Indeed, though I don’t acknowledge the Farthest Path’s correctness, I also truly can’t wait that long."
"The hidden Monster Fragment has already begun moving, great existences should awaken too."
"However, with my current ability, achieving Hongliu requires more time... maybe try awakening great existences, or breaking the Great Seal? Either way, if I don’t do it, those Monster Fragments will, how about I try instead."
Pondering long, the white-haired youth smiled: "Might as well... try them all."
"Proceed with all plans in parallel, ways more interesting."
Thus...
Wake up.
Wake up.
The age of miracles is set to begin.