First Player

"Death is man's most personal, irrelevant, certain but uncertain, unsurpassed possibility." - Heidegger. 】

　　【Except for illness and self-abandonment, it is difficult for us to think of the day when our death will come. The subconscious mind believes that we will survive along the path conceived in our minds. In this mentality, the elderly will consider whether their actions will be limited by their life span, but the young will not, because they do not take "death" into consideration. 】

  【To avoid thinking about "death". 】

　　【In a certain sense. 】

　　【It also avoids thinking about "life". 】

　　【This view is no different from our view of the "first player". We all subconsciously ignored the possibility that he would "die". 】

The planet beneath our feet has witnessed 4.6 billion years of vicissitudes and the rebirth and extinction of trillions of races. If time is compared to a long line, the history of human existence is only a short moment - can you expect a planet to save all sentient beings? If it favors "human beings", why aren't fish and cattle its subjects? If the population is divided by "wisdom", the gap between extremely intelligent people and mentally deficient fools is even greater than the gap between humans and dogs. How should its people be divided? 】

  【I dare not imagine the existence of a "child of destiny". Even if all human beings were to perish because of a ridiculous game, the lifespan of the planet would still not change. Centuries from now, new life will still be born, and we will be the only ones who die. So many lives, so much material heritage, so much poetry and literature... will all be reduced to a speck of ash in the universe. 】

【so. 】

  【The first player died, and his death extinguished the hope of mankind. Death is a "possibility" that cannot be crossed. Once it happens, it cannot be changed. 】

 Unless he did not die, but I dare not imagine this possibility. It is too slim and can be called a miracle. 】

　　【Su Mingan. It turns out that he is... really going to die. We should feel grief, regret, and... guilt. 】

I'm sorry for putting so much pressure on you. I'm sorry that I used the strongest words to accuse you. I'm sorry that I ever looked at you with a critical eye. It wasn't until the moment you closed your eyes that I remembered... you haven't reached 20 years old yet. 】

【sorry. 】

　　【Su Mingan, you are obviously still two years younger than me. 】

  【—Excerpted from the top 10 popular posts on the Dream Patrol Forum, posted by an anonymous player. 】

 …

Mizushima Kawa Sora did not expect this result.

The young man was nailed to the mechanical wheel, with his limbs hanging down. The weight of his whole body was only supported by a holy sword on his forehead. The gap appeared on the edge of his forehead, and he could be torn apart along the skull at any time. Under the violent wash of the heavy rain, the well-fitting black robe was like a wrinkled body bag.

His eyes were closed, and his expression was no different from when he was sleeping peacefully, and he even looked more miserable. His brows were frowned slightly, with clear regret remaining. He obviously refused to accept this kind of death.

 “It’s impossible…” Mizushima Kawa Sora kept repeating.

She believes in the judgment of the gods. The gods’ calculation ability is extremely accurate. He can even calculate the actions of everyone in the world. Of course he could calculate that this sword could not kill Su Ming'an's soul.

 But, why?

Why…

 After this sword strike, his soul will never be seen again?

 She is trembling.

 Early spring in the old world turned out to be so cold. In February of 827, it was still a time when the cold winter had not passed. The February wind carried the white frost that had not yet melted into the world and hit her face.

She looked at her hands. Her white hands, without calluses, seemed to be soaked in bright red blood. It seems like these hands can never be washed clean.

"I…"

 She seemed to want to explain something or shirk something. But the next moment she realized that it was meaningless, and the person who could listen to her explanation was no longer there.

 …The man who always spoke of her sister was gone, the regretful look he always gave her was gone, and his voice was gone.

 It’s so cold.

The **** stayed beside the mechanical wheel for a long time. His long white hair covered the side of his face, and no one could see his expression clearly.

 It’s really cold.

 “I never thought... it would be like this.” His voice was also like melting snow:

"Even if you add up all your retracements and multiply them by several times your fatigue... that sword will not chop your soul into pieces. Your will... is the strongest I have ever seen, and there is no reason for it to dissipate... I never thought this would happen, it’s impossible based on the probability.”

"We have indeed met before, so I don't want you to suffer. However, the bet between me and the organizer must make you suffer. I don't know... I don't know what to do."

"Feel sorry."

"I know this may be your game, but I did see your death and understand your...determination. So, if you can open your eyes, if you can wake up..."

 His voice became lower and lower.

The temperature seemed to have gotten colder, from the moment the black butterfly stopped moving. At that moment - the light of the holy sword dimmed, the red light of the mechanical wheel was like an extinguished flame, and tiny white light spots scattered in the sky. People looked up at the little white light, with bright grief remaining in their eyes. and bewilderment—like a snow sweeping across the world.

 The snow in the world falls on the white heads of Lu Shu.

I heard faint crying coming from the distance. I don’t know if it was real crying or the harsh sound of the wind.

  “—!—!”

woo woo woo woo.

  More like a harsh wind.

 For some reason, Lu Shu's ears gradually stopped hearing any noise, and his heart felt very quiet at this moment.

The distant mountains stretch for thousands of miles, crawling in the gray rain, as if they are staring at him silently. The plane trees in Daoyacheng grew very tall, like a big green umbrella, gently covering him.

 He slowly hugged himself, and the red butterfly also hugged him. He had never felt so cold. Even when he was hiding under the bridge and shivering in the winter a few years ago, his heart was warm at that time. At this time, he could feel his chest freezing little by little. It turned out that the fire in his heart was no longer there.

 The rain flowed into his eyes, but he did not dare to blink. He stared straight at the figure in the sky, letting the sourness flood his vision.

 …Su Mingan.

 Although he had tried to think about what it would be like if Su Mingan was no longer there one day. Just thinking about it makes me feel cold all over, and I dare not think about it further.

 He never thought it would be today.

He remembered that whether it was his nineteenth birthday or the New Year celebrations together, that person had promised to go home together and see the scenery in various places. Under the fireworks of blessings from all over the world, in the steaming hot springs, and in the vast boat of the Milky Way, they put their hands together, closed their eyes and made a wish -

How could this wish not be realized yet...

This should not be his grave.

 This is not home.

“...That’s not right.” Lu Shu clenched his fists and backed away slowly.

 Good people will not end up like this. Such a hopeless ending...should never have happened to Su Ming'an. Su Mingan must have a backup plan. As long as he waits, Su Mingan will appear in front of people again. This must be the case. He has to be ready to let Su Mingan come back. He is going to... yes, he is going to call someone. He knew that he couldn't think of any good solution, so he wanted to call his smart teammates back and let everyone think of ways and solutions together... the collective thinking is broad. Then, Su Mingan can come back.

 The white-haired young man turned around like this—

At this moment, his head was filled with the entire human snow.

 The bells are ringing, and the white doves are fluttering in the rain.

Amid the intense fire in the Holy City, the Civet was torn apart, with only one recorder left. It fell to the ground and hit Yamada Machichi at his feet.

A strand of withered blond hair fell melodiously from the sky, dyed with a few strands of sparks.

 … reminds me of a blond boy, with his back to the sun, and the sunlight swirling on top of his head, creating a harmonious golden look. His blue eyes are reminiscent of the dust-free sky after rain, as clean as after washing, and when he smiles, they are like a river full of blue.

At this time, the boy's smile disappeared, leaving only a strand of blond hair that was on the verge of being burnt.

Yamada Machichi stretched out his hand and picked up this strand of withered blond hair. He didn't see the equipment drop, so, luckily or unfortunately, the dead Noel was the fake Noel.

 …Plop, plop.”

 His knees hit the ground. Yamada Machichi's eyes were dark, and under the intense grief, his legs could not bear his weight.

 He held the strand of blond hair that was on the verge of burning and pressed it against his palm.

 He has already heard the gods’ verdict—Su Mingan is dead, and everyone has heard it.

His life was once a river that was cut off midway. The river stopped flowing and became stagnant water. The gray sky, gray water, gray school and books... everything is gray in his eyes. Even after entering the World Game, the strong thoughts of self-destruction were always surging in his heart, which was inseparable from his depression.

 Until I met Su Mingan.

 That young man seemed to always have light in his eyes. His obsession is the gloomy death, and the youth's obsession seems to be death, but that death is different, it is completely opposite to him - like the feeling of "living towards death".

This confused him, and he felt that he had found similar emotions. So much so... that they got close again and again and eventually became friends.

From the moment they became friends, Yamada Machichi noticed that the uneasy thoughts of self-destruction in his heart finally faded away. He no longer needs to wear a gray mask, because he finally has sunshine.

But…

 “Why are you so nice?” Yamada Machichi whispered.

 He clenched the hair in his hands tightly.

　　…Why are you all so nice.”

 …But why does even this sunshine have to pass away?

 The feathers of the white dove fell on his shoulders.

 He was also covered in snow.

 …

Soon, more people finally broke away from the unreal feelings and accepted the fact that Su Mingan was dead.

 No one thought that his death would be today.

The sound of wind is still blowing in my ears, the peach blossom is about to bloom its first petals, and the geese are flying across the sky in the distance. Everything is so normal. Like every ordinary person's day.

 But it was such an ordinary day...Su Mingan died.

Eli and Agnes stood there blankly. After a moment, Agnes suddenly seemed like she was going crazy. She opened the interface and frantically clicked on the "World Forum" section. She couldn't stand it anymore. She wanted to see everyone's guilt and regret. She wanted to see everyone so desperate that they burst into tears. However, the "World Forum" could only be opened during breaks. Her fingertips pressed on the gray button again and again, without getting any response.

However, she does not need to click on the "World Forum", just what is presented to her is enough to read.

This hopeless, silent, gloomy, absurd, painful everything. Like a fire burning in front of my eyes - ah.

 “We’re done.” Player Miao Bu knelt on the ground.

 The gloomy shadows of people linger in the rain, clusters, clusters, and clusters again.

 The raindrops beat on their bodies, covering their dull eyes.

 “He won’t die, Su Mingan—” someone was crying.

“Su Mingan is dead, and the progress bar of human points has dropped by at least 10%. There is more than half a year left in the world game, and our progress is estimated to be only in the twenties. It’s already...finished.” Someone collapsed on the ground.

 “It’s all Mizushima Kawakawa’s fault!” Someone vented their anger.

"Now it is Noel who is ranked second and becomes the first player. Don't you trust Noel very much? You said, 'If Su Mingan had no hidden power, the number one player would have been Noel'! Why are you so desperate now? Let Noel will lead you!"

 “Can Norta…love humans?”

"If the final points are not up to standard, will Noel really pay the price to save us? Or...will he embrace high-dimensionality?"

"who knows…"

Everyone has put down what they are doing, feeling confused, desperate, in pain, abusive, blaming, yearning, and sad...

 The appearance of all living beings in the world.

 Some people were crying loudly, truly saddened by Su Mingan's death. Some people thought of their families and were sad that they would never see them again in this life.

 Among so many players at the top of the list, who can do better than Su Mingan?

 His perseverance is not as good as his sharpness. With his keenness, he is not as powerful as he is. With his power, there is no love for him. Even though many people are above him in ability, but...

 He is the most special.

 It is like a unique star.

 …

This heavy snow is so cold.

 The first person to bear the brunt was Sora Mizushima.

People were unable to blame the gods, so they pointed their finger at Mizushima Kawakawa - look, it was your competition that led to this result. Even Edward just wants Su Mingan to empty out his strength, but what about you? You absolutely killed him.

—You are a sinner, an executioner with blood on your hands, and a person who will go to **** to be cut into pieces with a thousand knives.

 —You should spend your whole life trying to atone for your sins. Even if you can’t die now, you shouldn’t live after the game is over.