People are always greedy.

The moonlight of the temple fair, "To Alice" on the piano keys, the lost game, the pond full of blooming lotus flowers... He already felt reluctant, yet he couldn't turn back.

These beautiful memories were given to him by Brother Necklace. If Brother Necklace were gone, these cherished images would turn into agony.

He made a decision but still felt sad. It wasn't about his own life, but he regretted for Brother Necklace... who would probably be even more sorrowful.

Otherwise, why... would the young man shed tears.

As if knowing things can't be reversed, the young man bit his lip in silence for a few seconds, then asked, "Chang Ge, what's your wish?"

Chang Ge smiled, knowing Brother Necklace couldn't stop him anymore: "I want to see a real lotus flower again, Brother Necklace."

The young man shook his head, "You forget, there are no lotus flowers in winter; they only bloom when it's warm."

"No, I'm right... I saw them in winter." Chang Ge's eyes slowly closed:

"They were... a gift from you."

... Even if only once, I will remember it forever.

But this place isn't a pond, only a cold ground, so even the forced lotus flowers wouldn't be here.

But he had already closed his eyes, so it didn't matter if he couldn't see.

No need to search with eyes, he knew the young man stood at that position, at that distance. He could imagine the pink-white clustered lotus blooming in the young man's hand, the sweet scent of candied fruit wafting around, fireworks from the temple fair blooming in the night sky, how bright the young man's black eyes were... just like decades ago.

Of course, he would be afraid; in fact, he was still trembling now, the slow loss of life making him acutely aware of his death process.

But remembering who he was stopped his dread.

If Su Ming'an himself were here, he certainly wouldn't be afraid.

So he couldn't be outdone; he too wasn't afraid.

Chang Ge wasn't inferior to anyone.

"You're really irresponsible," the young man questioned, "How can I miss you in the future? Do you think I'll find new true friends around?"

"It's okay... There will be..." Chang Ge's voice light as feathers, finally, the white light on him dispersed like falling stars—

"You're excellent, and also the Savior. Someone will like you."

"I'm just a minor character, won't be remembered. I'm really not smart, lose at games, clumsy at playing the piano."

"Of course, if you choose to remember me, miss me..."

"The piano, lotus, barbecue, lemon, games, even the necklace itself... can all be me."

"As long as you remember,"

The boy's voice began to tremble; he too was afraid:

"... I'll surely be there."

As if responding to his final sound, the transmission machine emitted a sound.

It was the last sound, followed by a cold "beep—"

In the next second, all sound abruptly stopped, unbearably.

A body without a soul fell to the ground.

The young man froze for a few seconds, then nearly collapsing, rushed over and sat on the ground, finally crying out loud—something he hadn't done in a century. He had always been constrained by the identity of the "Savior," a calm and rational Savior couldn't cry before others, couldn't be weak.

"Chang Ge... Chang Ge!! You..."

But now, holding the cold body.

He completely lay down, nearly wanting to bury himself.

"Why was it you—by what right is it you... by what right..."

He finally felt... what it was like to lose a true friend.

Damned idealism... how many people has it devoured alive...?

Flipping Chang Ge's eyelids, as if by this he'd wake with eyes open.

But his hand stopped at the eyelid and lowered, he knew what he'd see. Lifeless eyeballs, gray pupils. Human life was like a flame in mud, once wind blew, it would no longer ignite.

In the past, flipping eyelids was playful between true friends. But now... can only be described by the ice-cold term "examining a corpse."

... Corpse.

But his true friend, how was he a corpse.

He hadn't even tried to sing a song, hadn't he.

Until his throat was hoarse, he couldn't believe that in mere seconds, the running and jumping Chang Ge was gone.

The sheet music in his hand fell to the ground, twisting crude notes, with a hilariously funny title... "To Brother Necklace."

He really didn't understand.

With what mood did this guy write such a ridiculous title...

"By what right..." He buried his head deeply, fingers digging out blood:

"People like us always die..."

"And also..." His gaze fixed on Chang Ge's face, a mixture of fear and anticipation:

"You still look happy..."

...

...

In this world, there's a Tower of Babel.

It's said that if one person can fly high over it, everyone can survive. People all aimed to fly over the Tower of Babel.

The boy crafted a pair of wooden wings, always trying hard to take off, yet failed time after time.

But no one told him, wooden wings can't fly, he was born without a bird's feathers, how dared he dream of flying?

"Some things are not born, they will never have them!" They mocked the boy.

At a flying convention, the "birds" cherished their warm nests and decided not to exert effort to challenge the Tower of Babel. The boy, with wooden wings, rushed atop, urging everyone not to stop flying, only to have his vocal cords ripped apart.

"Without even a bird's wings, dreaming of flying with wood! Ridiculous!" They laughed at him.

But fortunately, he gradually realized, as long as he stood high enough, with wind power... even wooden wings can fly.

Even if just gliding... he finally took off.

He flew, flew. Over mountains, rivers, ponds of blooming lotus flowers, buildings he used to dare not look at towering overhead...

Ah, the boy finally flew!

He soared freely, laughed heartily, felt an unprecedented freedom. He felt his cheeks warm, his heart heating, his chest as if something burning, his eyes clear like glass like crystal.

With wooden wings, he crashed into the Tower of Babel.

Bang.

Not a loud sound, not a cool motion, he crashed with head bleeding.

He didn't even fly over the tower, only tilted it slightly, lowering the flying height for later generations.

Then, the wooden wings shattered to pieces, and the head-bleeding boy fell, forever closing his eyes.

But in the last second before closing his eyes—

He saw those fragmented wooden wings in the sky, sawdust scattered like snow.

He squinted, suddenly realized.

His wooden wings, those crude, inferior wooden wings—

When they shattered in the air, they looked remarkably like—

A bird's... feathers.

He, all his life—

Couldn't have.

Turns out, he had owned them long ago.

...

Turns out wooden wings could surpass a bird's feathers.

Turns out a bird's heart could rival a human's heart.

Whose pride is he?

…

…

Eight years later.

The third World Game begins.

General Qin, as the Number One Player, fought until the end and successfully obtained the "Observation" Authority. Due to the heavy burden of Full Perfect Clear at high difficulty, the moment the game ended, General Qin passed away due to severe soul erosion. Before dying, he created the "General Qin AI" to replace his identity as Principal. He stored all his wisdom, knowledge, and the "Observation" Authority in the AI left after the first World Game.

This AI later transformed into human form, with white hair and white eyes, named "Deity," and took over the world power.

This outcome made people realize — it wasn't only the "Su Ming'an bot" that could create The Original. Anyone like Chang Ge could be considered an Original, couldn't they? Why insist on identical copies?

This inspiration even passed down for a thousand years, until the generation of Su Wensheng, who still relied on Chang Ge's inspiration and adopted the method of "Fifty Fire Transmitters Artificial Origin."

In preparation for the fourth World Game, people continuously improved the "Artificial Origin" method. They realized — it wasn't necessarily "Su Ming'an" who would hold high-ranking instance identities. The high-ranking instance identities had always been people like "Su Ming'an" — who always shared similar ideals, similar will, similar resolve, and determination, never giving up, never yielding.

There are millions of such people in the world.

One year before the Heavenly Era, mankind created a type of chip. This chip contained the beliefs and will of people similar to the Su Ming'an bot. Once implanted into the brain, it could invisibly transform one into a person similar to Su Ming'an. The chip was improved to no longer alter people's appearance and voice, only affecting their disposition.

— This chip was named "Life Hard Drive·Chang Ge," taking Chang Ge's Name, because this was his achievement exchanged for with his life.

These chips would alter a person, making them an "Artificial Origin," meeting the high-ranking instance requirements. Due to the risk of warping the true self, it was completely voluntary. But everyone who learned the news generally said "I am willing."

"I admire myself, never considered becoming anyone else. But if I can acquire a high-ranking identity in the fourth World Game and win for humanity, I am willing." The first to accept chip implantation was a black-haired girl with emerald eyes, who achieved remarkable results mastering "Life" Authority in the second World Game.

"Give everything for humanity!" The second acceptor was a soldier.

"They say the World Game will rejuvenate, my younger skills should be put to use, haha…" Next was a retired veteran.

Then was a doctor.

Lawyer.

Teacher.

Firefighter…

Li Mingyue, Yi Zhongyu, Li Yuxuan, Xiao Ying, Lin Yunting… a total of over two hundred people were selected and voluntarily accepted chip implantation.

A month later, the "Old God" appeared, meaning — the protector of humanity, the ancient deity.

Humanity began to worship and believe in Him, with constant "Faith" being generated around the Old God.

But in reality, the "Old God" was neither a deity nor a certain person, but a collective concept — those who fused with "Life Hard Drive·Chang Ge," were willing to take on the burdens, willing to Full Perfect Clear for humanity… would all receive the title of "Old God."

This is because if one wants to collect one of the three elements — "Faith," for example, if some believe in Chao Yan, others in Li Mingyue, it would cause faith to be scattered.

As long as the "Old God" is a collective concept, not a specific person.

— Then, everyone's "Faith" will concentrate on the concept of "Old God." When out of these people, one wins the fourth World Game and successfully obtains the "Time" Authority — this person will be lauded as the true "Old God." As for the others, they will lose the "Old God" identity, returning to being ordinary people.

In other words, the title "Old God" is just the ultimate award for competition — whoever first gains the "Time" Authority and lays the foundation for becoming a god will be forever enshrined in history as the "Old God" admired by future generations.

As long as you have the skills, no matter who you are,

— you are this "Savior."

Here, "salvation" has never been limited to a certain person.

…

Winter.

A person wearing dozens of Human Skin Masks stood by the lake, raising his right hand, and the entire pool of lotus flowers bloomed.

"Chang Ge, look." He murmured.

"The lotuses have bloomed."

There was no one else behind him.

In those days, when the youth finally asked Chang Ge if he had any regrets, Chang Ge stammered:

"I'm really afraid of being forgotten."

"I died in this little room, besides you, no one will remember me... they'll all forget me... because I'm really stupid and useless…"

The youth promised: "I won't let you be forgotten."

Chang Ge tugged at the corner of his mouth with a smile, though he didn't know what Brother Necklace would do, but Brother Necklace's promise was certain to be fulfilled.

After Chang Ge's death, the youth stood for a long time before his tomb, leaving a bunch of blue roses. Until the youth turned to leave and wore dozens of layers of Human Skin Masks.

"Necklace, you…" General Qin came to find him.

The youth pressed his lips, shook his head, and tucked the necklace he'd been wearing into his pocket.

"From now on." He said: "My name is Chang Ge."

…

[I won't let you be forgotten.]

…

Only I will be forgotten.

Chang Ge will live long.

Deserts, Jiangnan, sunsets, rainy smoke; as long as I've seen them, they've entered your eyes.

You always struggled with playing "To Alice," but I will play it smoothly, it's okay.

You were once my Copy, you felt humble because of my existence. So when you died replacing my Destiny, I will become your "Substitute."

The positions are swapped. But this time, what drives the youth to become a "Substitute" is no longer desperation, merely... profound friendship and remembrance.

Later, "Chang Ge" accepted the mission — to temporarily erase memory, to enter inside Su Ming'an and impersonate the "Night Identity Player," and ultimately face the endgame execution for Su Ming'an.

This was still a dead-end route. However, at least he lived exactly a thousand more years than Chang Ge.

In a daze, during each waiting night, he could hear Chang Ge's voice.

"A thousand years have passed, give it everything you've got."

"Otherwise, you've wasted a millennium I won in exchange for you."

…

The year Su Ming'an arrived, "Chang Ge" had already discarded the chip through bionic surgery and became a human being. He stood by the lakeside, taking one last look at the lake, speaking to himself:

"So, Chang Ge, see through my eyes."

"Look, the lotuses have bloomed."

"I seem to have returned to that afternoon when I met you, you raised your hand, threw me into the water, the room was full of the scent of summer sunshine."

"But you can't cry anymore, you used to want to cry empathizing with injustice, now you must guide the Savior, no more crying."

"The name 'To Brother Necklace' I changed to 'The Mortal World Floats By, Good Scenes Upon Dawn,' long but catchy. I've already learned to play it and added lyrics."

"By the way, my vocal cords are good."

"So…"

…

"Want to sing? Chang Ge ♪."

He sang a song only belonging to them before the solitary lake.

…

"Outside the silk window, the ice river jingles…"

"In the first watch, the iron horse passes my room…"

"In the third watch, the White Bird dreams and hums…"

"In the fifth watch, the copper mirror accompanies the shadows, everything belongs to you, one flower one world, one leaf one Bodhi."

"The Mortal World Floats By, Good Scenes Upon Dawn…"

"You're still beside me…"

…

— A thousand years finally arrived.

"Chang Ge" could finally sing aloud.

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