“Even if faint, people and events encountered in other worlds leave an impression. This impression drives everyone to get close to those they were close to before, to do things they’ve done before.”
Thus, on the surface, every world we reach seems brand new and identical.” Pi Ping wearily shook his head, “But that’s not the case. The more times it repeats, the more powerful the world’s influence becomes. In extreme cases… remembering things from other worlds is not impossible.”
Nai Li’s voice was hoarse and bitter: “So… that innkeeper is an example. She remembers how her homeland was saved repeatedly and then destroyed again, such repetition is too desperate, so… she asked me to save them.”
“That’s secondary,” Pi Ping waved his hand, “This is just the influence on individual lives. But if…” he tapped the sheepskin map forcefully, his voice rising with excitement for the first time: “This influence has reached the world’s level…” He didn’t continue.
Nai Li completely understood his meaning, her face turning slightly pale, silent for a long time.
If this were true, the world destroyed last time would influence the next world to follow a similar trajectory. Repeated accumulation would turn the already unstoppable divine punishment into a truly insurmountable chasm. If the inability to save was a divine punishment in the name of judgment, then the desire to change fate itself would make the divine punishment a reality.
The more one tries to save this world, the more hopeless it becomes.
This was far more cruel and desperate than an unalterable divine oracle.
“The others…” Nai Li spoke softly.
Pi Ping showed a helpless and mocking smile: “They don’t believe.”
“Luke’s malice hypothesis might not be wrong, but the so-called expanding malice is probably the cause and effect of mutual world influence. They may not be unaware of this, but they still prefer to let meaningless death and repetition continue, trying to find a way to save the world in the time after the Demon King’s death. After all, that still offers hope.”
Nai Li exhaled: “So they want to drive you away. But can’t you destroy the device?”
Pi Ping turned his head to look at the sky through the small window, saying calmly: “If it could be done, I would have done it long ago.”
“Then… can you tell me why they are so wary of you?”
Pi Ping looked at her with a kind, almost benevolent gaze: “As an observer, I have a small privilege.” He displayed a cunning smile, his dark eyes glinting, “I don’t need the Demon King’s death to activate the device. I can traverse time at will according to my wishes. Moreover, such time traversal has no temporal limitations and doesn’t require the participation of the other four.”
“If I wish, I can abandon the others and come to a new world alone, enjoying absolute power, and then I wouldn’t care what happens to the world.”
” Pi Ping seemed to find this notion amusing, letting out a light chuckle and glanced at Naily: “But this opportunity exists only once.”
No wonder Klovi dared not move against Pi Ping. If they truly offended this observer, the other four would be left desperate in a world destined for destruction.
Naily, now understanding the situation, asked seriously: “What do you plan to do?”
Pi Ping shook his head, the wrinkles on his face revealing his age: “As you can see, the device must never be used again. The switch of Magical Device No. 2 consists of two parts: one key inside the Demon King’s body, and the other a keyhole, typically kept by Ifa.” He nodded to Naily, gesturing for her to come closer, as if about to share a crucial secret.
Even with his compelling explanation, Pi Ping’s words were still just one side of the story. Should she believe him?
Naily ultimately chose to trust him, stopping at a distance where she could hear his whisper.
Pi Ping looked at her and smiled: “You remind me of someone.”
This was difficult to respond to, so Naily simply lowered her eyes and smiled silently. Pi Ping didn’t find it awkward and continued softly: “To completely end this hopeless cycle, merely destroying Magical Device No. 2 is not enough.”
“Then Magical Device No. 1…” Naily hadn’t finished speaking when he gestured for her to be quiet.
“Both Magical Device No. 1 and No. 2 must be destroyed, and additionally…”
“Pi Ping patted Naily’s shoulder, “The treasure of the nameless ethnic group must never see the light of day from the beginning.”
Naily’s eyes widened in shock: “But how can that be done…”
Pi Ping ran his fingers through his dark hair, twisting the ring on his finger, about to say something. Naily listened intently, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw him suddenly reach out and deftly snatch the black dagger from her waist.
Startled, before she could defend herself, Pi Ping turned his wrist, the knife point facing himself, and plunged the blade into his own abdomen.
The warning horns sounded from all corners of the city, and the bell towers of the Meez temples large and small began to ring, their sounds merging into a deafening cacophony that struck at people’s hearts.
Nailey quickly descended from the watchtower and grabbed a passing blacksmith: “What’s going on?”
The other person broke free from her grasp, shouting hysterically: “The demon army has reached the city gates! We’re all doomed!”
Nailey’s face went blank for a moment. She let the person flee in panic and took several deep breaths to return to reality. Her thoughts were forced into motion: It seemed Kalsas had learned of Pi Ping’s death and immediately brought the demon army to besiege the city… Her expression changed, and she immediately flashed back to the empty inner palace wall.
She might as well assume the worst about Yifa and the others.”
They held her life in their hands and would likely use her as a bargaining chip to delay Kalsas, or force her to find a way to kill the Demon King and become an Observer.
But conversely, with the urgent circumstances, the system could not find another Observer and could only rely on Nailey. Kalsas would not easily kill her, so her life was temporarily not in danger. If these conditions were used properly, the risk could become an opportunity.
Nailey rubbed her forehead, bit her lip, and after a moment of contemplation, set her strategy and flashed towards the Red Fortress’s central area.
She quickly encountered the court minister who had guided her earlier. The man grabbed her like a lifeline: “Her Majesty has been looking for you! Come with me quickly!”
Nailey nodded and followed the minister through the Red Fortress’s winding corridors and stairs, arriving outside an unfamiliar large hall. The court minister merely gestured for Nailey to enter, standing by the door himself.
With a nod, Nailey slowly walked through the eight columns before the hall, and the space suddenly opened up. The circular hall was supported by white marble columns, with narrow, pointed windows between each column offering a view of the entire Meez city.
A hole in the center of the dome allowed a gloomy light to filter through, illuminating the slightly sunken circular recess in the hall’s center.
Four people stood across the recess: the elaborately dressed Klovi, the large blue-robed Lukus the High Priest, Lady Yifa offering Nailey a slight smile, and the masked woman, clearly the Great Sage Lishite.
Lukus spread his hands in welcome: “It’s good to see you again.”
Klovi snorted. Yifa glanced at him, then spoke in her usual light and soft tone: “You completed the task we entrusted to you, and I’m glad I didn’t misjudge you.”
Lishite silently turned away, seemingly unwilling to engage in the conversation.
