Translator: CinderTL
Technology Research Institute, Underground Water Prison.
Feng Qi was suspended by his wrists, bound by specially crafted metal chains and submerged in murky liquid.
This specially formulated liquid caused excruciating itching upon contact with his skin, inflicting both physical and mental torment.
He possessed the unique innate ability to liquefy his body.
However, the metal binding his wrists had the same effect as a Spirit Energy Forbidden Zone, rendering him completely unable to mobilize the power of his rune crystals for liquefaction.
He was intimately familiar with this environment.
During the previous Sacrifice Line, when he commanded the Technology Research Institute's third battle group, he had visited this place countless times.
He knew every step of the torture process by heart.
But this time, he had gone from executioner to victim.
He was reliving everything here in a completely different way.
Three days had passed like this.
He had no idea what was happening outside.
Just yesterday, he had been brought before the judgment panel, a mere formality before his inevitable death sentence.
As he faced imminent death, Feng Qi felt no fear.
The end of this timeline would mark the beginning of a new one.
His endpoint was merely the starting point of another version of himself.
He had long been prepared to face death with equanimity. Now, with no fear in his heart, what was there to fear?
Just then, a black shadow silently materialized above him on the grid-like iron plate. It looked down at Feng Qi, submerged in the Underground Water Prison, and rasped, "I still don't understand. Can you tell me the answer?"
Hearing this, Feng Qi raised his head.
Through the grid, he saw the familiar black shadow.
The shadow continued, "We noticed you the moment you posted about researching super virtual games. But when we later learned you weren't human and that a powerful faction might be backing you, we abandoned our attempts to probe you."
"As long as your actions don't conflict with our interests, you can continue developing your super virtual game. We won't interfere with any plans you have within Human Civilization. We can coexist peacefully."
"But your subsequent actions truly baffle me. Fighting against us for humanity? What exactly are you after?"
Feng Qi gazed at the black shadow and smiled faintly.
Clearly, the black shadow still regarded him as a domain creature in human disguise.
He offered no explanation, nor did he wish to.
"It's a pity the Truthspeaker Device hasn't been developed yet. You must pass your death sentence quickly, or I'll use it to uncover your secrets."
"Are you afraid?" Feng Qi asked with a smile.
The black shadow nodded curtly.
"Your actions have indeed frightened me. Public opinion spreads too quickly. If you succeed, our future plans could crumble. But for now, everything remains under control. I only need to send you to the execution ground to appease all of humanity."
The black shadow paused briefly before continuing, "The Dawn Organization members who have spoken out will meet the same fate as you. They will follow in your footsteps."
Feng Qi's heart sank at these words.
He had been planning this moment—his decision to reveal the truth to the world—for a long time.
Logically, with so many influential figures speaking out, the Technology Research Institute should have been completely cornered.
More importantly, his risky exposure of the truth this time was meant to draw out the human factions lurking in the shadows.
The Scarlet Research Institute would then mark these hidden human factions and pass the intelligence to another version of himself.
But from the black shadow's words, Feng Qi could deduce that the current public outcry had already been suppressed by the Technology Research Institute.
And the human factions in the shadows hadn't made any move.
Now, he faced only two possibilities:
First, the human factions were unwilling to fuel the public outcry and had chosen to confront the situation head-on.
Second, there were no other human factions at all.
Regardless of which possibility was true, his plan seemed to have failed.
"I have a guess about your identity now. I suspect you have no faction backing you at all. You're just an ambitious upstart from a small clan, trying to play this game alone. Am I right?"
Hearing this, Feng Qi scoffed inwardly.
Clearly, the black shadow still believed he was a domain creature, never considering him to be human.
He could understand why.
After all, the domain creature who had come to assassinate him had seen him in his innate ability-activated "blood source" form.
The subsequent report the assassin had submitted to the Technology Research Institute must have mentioned his other forms, with his human form merely a disguise.
Furthermore, the rune crystal he now carried made it impossible to determine his true identity based on appearance alone.
For these reasons, the black shadow, who believed he understood him, would naturally assume he was a domain creature.
Thinking this, he decided to try extracting some information from the black shadow.
"Aren't you afraid of offending the forces behind me?" he asked, lifting his head with a cold expression.
"I suspect you have no backing at all, and we fear no challenge from any faction."
"I can answer your previous question, but you must answer one question of mine before you die."
"Very well, what is your question?"
"What is your plan for the future?"
In response, the black shadow suddenly burst into laughter.
"Even on the brink of death, that's not something you should know. I've lost interest in your secrets now."
With those words, the black shadow vanished from the spot.
Feng Qi felt a twinge of regret.
He had hoped that now that he was a prisoner, the black shadow would lower its guard and perhaps reveal some secrets.
But clearly, the black shadow had no intention of satisfying his curiosity.
Even if he offered to trade fabricated secrets, the black shadow refused to disclose why its Domain Force had integrated into human society or the details of its grand plan.
Three days later, the day of execution arrived as scheduled.
In the morning, Feng Qi was paraded through the streets by the City Defense Force.
He looked utterly disheveled. The prolonged soaking had shattered his rune crystal.
His life was inextricably linked to the rune crystal, and its destruction had drained him of vitality. In a single night, he had aged decades, his temples now streaked with white.
The gazes of the onlookers were complex.
Some burned with anger and disgust, while others held expressions of confusion and bewilderment.
But amidst the crowd's eyes, he saw the seeds he had sown taking root in their hearts.
They were already questioning the truth he had revealed.
Perhaps one day, this doubt would grow into a towering tree, piercing the veil of lies that shrouded the world.
But he would not live to see that day.
After hours of being paraded, he was brought to the execution ground and forced to sit on the Spirit Execution Chair, the same chair Li Xingchen had once occupied.
Facing the crowd before him, Feng Qi chose to meet his fate with composure.
Ever since he gained the ability to traverse dreams, he knew his life would never be ordinary.
No matter how many times he fell, another version of him would rise to continue the journey.
Time marches on, but our original intentions remain unchanged.
Yet in this timeline nearing its end, many regrets remain unfulfilled.
For this attempt, all comrades of the Dawn Organization will pay the ultimate price. But the human faction he had been searching for all along has yet to reveal itself.
At this thought, a mix of regret and sighing filled his heart.
On the brink of death, Liu Yue suddenly came to mind.
Their parting felt like yesterday. As he was being escorted from the television station, he saw Liu Yue still standing at the entrance.
Over the years, Liu Yue had been his loyal guardian.
Countless times, Liu Yue had risked his life to protect Feng Qi, shielding him from danger and helping him escape perilous situations.
The final time was no exception.
Liu Yue had stood before him, sacrificing his life to buy him precious time.
He was stern, unsmiling, stubborn, and inflexible... but he was the best brother Feng Qi had had in these past few years.
From the perspective of historical records, their connection was merely a few lines in the annals of history.
But only those who had lived it could truly grasp its significance.
Liu Yue had once told him, "I hope one day we can see the sunlight together, instead of meeting only in the dead of night."
He replied with a playful tone, "When we succeed, we'll embrace the first rays of dawn breaking over Future City together."
And that was precisely the meaning behind the Dawn Organization's name.
But when he saw Liu Yue's life force fading away, he knew he had broken his promise.
Liu Yue would forever remain in yesterday and in memory.
"Prepare for execution."
At that moment, a voice crackled over the loudspeaker.
Two executioners turned and approached the switch of the Spirit Chair, awaiting their final order.
Gazing at the crowd before him, Feng Qi offered a faint smile.
His life's journey, filled with relentless struggle, had finally reached its end.
The rune crystal's shattering had turned his temples white. His eyes, on the verge of execution, held a mixture of amusement and detachment, as if he had seen through everything, yet still harbored countless regrets about the world.
In his clear eyes, a brand-new beginning was reflected.
Whether he would be remembered as a historical villain or a historical hero, his legacy would be judged by future generations.
But he firmly believed that one day, the flower bearing the dreams of him and his comrades would bloom vibrantly in the fertile soil of a glorious era.
He believed that after weathering countless storms and enduring untold hardships, another version of himself would never extinguish the fire in his heart, forever striving toward the path of his dreams.
Feng Qi, fly!
As the time for the execution arrived and the executioner was about to press the switch, a figure suddenly appeared on the execution platform.
He wore tattered ascetic monk robes, held a book in one hand, and stared directly at Feng Qi.
Feng Qi was filled with confusion at the monk's arrival.
The monk had long since left the Dawn Organization, parting ways with them after graduation. Feng Qi couldn't understand why he would appear at this moment.
Wasn't he afraid of being implicated by standing too close to him?
Just then, the monk opened the book in his hand and began reciting scriptures aloud.
The City Defense Force immediately mobilized, surrounding the monk.
"Monk, leave!"
The monk remained unmoved, reciting the scriptures word for word.
But just as the City Defense Force was about to reach him, he suddenly stopped reciting, scratched his head in confusion, and stared at the book:
"I still don't understand what this passage means."
"Oh, that means 'fuck him!'"
As the words fell, the monk's momentum shifted abruptly. He spoke coldly:
"Warriors of the Prajna Domain Combat Team, where are you?"
"Here!"
Hundreds of warriors hidden among the crowd roared in unison.
At that moment, a burly figure leaped onto the execution platform. He turned to Feng Qi with a smile, saying, "We're late!"
Then, he turned and roared, "Warriors of the Victory Battle Group, where are you?"
As his words echoed, the ground trembled violently as the warriors hidden among the crowd stomped their feet in unison.
"Brothers of the Future Research Institute, where are you?"
Jia Hui had appeared among the crowd at some point and now leaped onto the execution platform as well.
"Roar!"
A chorus of roars erupted both inside and outside the execution ground.
They were using this method to tell Feng Qi that they were all comrades, summoned here by his call.
Watching more and more figures step forward, Feng Qi was deeply moved. He instinctively turned to the monk:
"You damn monk, you've been hiding this very well."
Hearing this, the monk smiled and winked at him:
"Teacher Feng, you never asked me."
(End of the Chapter)
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