Chapter 1865: Chapter 1863: Rebirth of the World
For the people of Osta, it was a day they could never forget.
On that day, the eternal night enveloped the entire city, and sunlight became forever beyond their reach. Their bodies, once carefully preserved, were now completely distant, leaving behind only their souls. People stepped out of their rooms, nervously eyeing each other, and then, they learned of their future from Fang Zheng standing atop the high tower.
Unable to touch the sunlight, they could only live in the eternal night, having lost their bodies, and began a new life in the form of souls.
Faced with this sudden change, everyone was left speechless with shock. However, as they gradually accepted the reality, an unexpected scene unfolded...
"I still can’t imagine that there would really be someone doing that..."
Sitting on the Void Glorious Ship (Second), Misaka Mikoto recalled the scene she had seen before and felt it was incredible. After learning that sunlight would completely turn them to ashes, many people in Osta City actually chose to leave the city voluntarily, rushing into the brilliant sunlight like moths to a flame, raising their hands high and melting like snowmen under the sun’s rays.
This left Misaka Mikoto at a loss for words. She always thought everyone who came here wanted to live forever, choosing death for that reason, but...
"Eternity is a poison in some situations. For those people, they didn’t want to die before, but only because they couldn’t."
In response to Misaka Mikoto’s sigh, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders, not taking it too seriously. Currently, only a few of them were left inside the Void Glorious Ship. Feli, with a Seed of the World given by Fang Zheng, took the second Void Glorious Ship intending to return to Jernie, desperately needing to inform her brother about the way to save this world.
And Alisa left with Feli, as the situation over at Fenrir was much worse than at Jernie. She needed to see how things would go with using the Seed of the World at Jernie. If everything went smoothly, Alisa would need to report all of this to Amamiya Ryōtan and others, thereby saving their world.
As for Scarface, he took the baby and traveled with Feli and the others to Jernie, as the baby’s body was very fragile and not suited for long journeys. Moreover, Jernie’s resources were more abundant, more suitable for taking care of a baby.
Since Fang Zheng had corrected the local deadlock overflow error, he was naturally able to fly the Void Glorious Ship through the skies again with ease. So, Fang Zheng took out two more ships, using one himself to continue heading to the Edil Courtyard mentioned by Lei, while temporarily lending the other to Feli and the others to automatically return to Jernie.
For Misaka Mikoto and the others, this trip was profoundly impactful. They had never approached questions so thoughtfully, nor had they closely encountered so many ideological clashes. Because of this, Misaka Mikoto even felt a bit different from before this journey; she had usually just gone with the flow as an LV5. Frankly, it seemed she had never thought about what she wanted to do in the future.
But now, in this world, after witnessing so many people struggling desperately just to survive, and others rushing toward death like moths to a flame, Misaka Mikoto suddenly wondered—had she been wasting her life?
Thinking carefully, also an LV5, Hainara Kuon had already begun tackling several centuries-old problems in string theory. Moreover, Misaka Mikoto had chatted with her, knowing if there were no major errors, Hainara planned to pursue a path in academia.
But what about herself?
Misaka Mikoto seemed never to have considered this issue...
As for what Shihou Souki thought... Misaka Mikoto was not willing to ask.
Maybe I should think about my own future too.
While Misaka Mikoto began contemplating her life, Kalian also looked at the emerald green, apple-like orb in front of him.
"Are you saying... just place this into the Core Reactor, and you can change the entire world?"
"The entire world is impossible."
Feli shook her head.
"But Mr. Fang Zheng said that this could transform an area into the state before the cataclysm, and those Contaminated Beasts would disappear. Not only that, but even the ones from other areas wouldn’t be able to enter this zone!"
"But according to what you said, this Seed of the World will absorb all the energy from the Core Reactor, right?"
A hint of unease appeared in Kalian’s eyes.
That means once this thing starts, the entire Mobile City... would be utterly finished.
"But Elder Brother, this is our opportunity. Don’t you want us to eliminate the threat of the Contaminated Beasts, to stop wandering, and to live stably on a piece of land?"
Feli stared at Kalian, softly inquiring, and upon hearing her question, Kalian was slightly taken aback, then smiled.
"You’ve changed, Feli."
"Huh?"
"I remember you didn’t like any of this before, always wanting to search for... um, meaning? You thought you should have different pursuits and seemed not to care about any of this."
"Because on this journey with Mr. Fang Zheng, I’ve seen far too much."
Faced with Kalian’s inquiry, Feli sighed deeply. Although this trip hadn’t been long, it had brought about a shock Feli had never anticipated.
"Also, Mr. Fang Zheng mentioned that he would give these Seeds of the World to his subordinate... players? In any case, even if Elder Brother doesn’t want to do it, they would execute the same plan in other Mobile Cities. Not only these Mobile Cities, but even those abandoned ones would be reactivated."
The Wasteland City is what Fang Zheng plans to give to the players as a "reward." After all, construction projects in online games do spark considerable enthusiasm in many people. Fang Zheng plans to utilize those wasteland cities, giving players the chance to operate them as guilds or player cities while granting certain rights to recruit residents—this will definitely be an excellent beginning.
"............"
"Moreover, Mr. Fang Zheng mentioned that once this is activated, all pollution and ores will be erased, meaning we won’t find mines to replenish energy anymore! Elder Brother, when that time comes..."
"I understand what you mean."
Kalian’s eyes flicked subtly, for he understood perfectly what Fang Zheng wanted him to realize through Feli. The Seed of the World requires the energy from the Core Reactor to activate, and the amount of energy determines the extent of the transformable land. And naturally, this transformed area would be—Jernie’s territory!
After all, isn’t the development based on the energy from Jernie’s Core Reactor?
Territory!
Since the Great Catastrophe, this concept has nearly vanished from people’s minds. After all, for most people, the Mobile City is the only place they can call home. What meaning does territory hold?
But now, things are different!
If it’s true, as Feli said, that the Seed of the World can transform a vast land and completely eradicate those Contaminated Beasts and sources, then... territory becomes essential!
However, Jernie is merely an Academy City—too weak; even if they were to rebuild a nation, it wouldn’t last long. After all, Kalian understands that human ambition is just as terrifying as the Contaminated Beasts.
Fortunately, they have the Academy City Alliance to rely on.
According to Feli, after this, those mysterious... players? will take the Seed of the World to other cities. So, why not take preemptive action? If they act first and then rally the Academy City Alliance to establish a nation together, wouldn’t that be feasible?
By then, with his political skills and ambition, gaining power in this nation named "Academy City Alliance" is only a matter of time! After all, many of the leaders of other cities are merely powerful Martial Artists; when it comes to politics and maneuvers of power, they are no match!
"I understand; I’ll prepare and begin to implement this immediately."
Kalian is also an ambitious man, and he understands clearly that Fang Zheng sees his ambition. In fact, Kalian already knows what to do.
After making up his mind, Kalian immediately took action. He didn’t directly place the Seed of the World held by Feli into the Core Reactor. Instead, Kalian ordered the Mobile City to deviate from its usual route in search of a suitable central territory—ultimately, he found a very apt location.
It’s a plain all around, with rivers and lakes nearby—a perfect transportation hub. By occupying this area, the future Jernie will have a say in matters, and next comes...
"Feli, do you think this thing really works?"
"I trust Mr. Fang Zheng."
Hearing Kalian’s question, Feli slightly frowned. Truth be told, she could understand Kalian’s thoughts. Before entering the City of the Undead area, Feli’s perception of the world was limited to the grey skies, desertified lands, and terrifying Contaminated Beasts.
But in that land, which preserves the look from before the Great Catastrophe, Feli saw a beauty she had never seen before.
Under the radiant sunset, fields of swaying wheat, endless expanses of green grassland, patches of woodland, clear streams, and rippling lakes. The first time she saw this scene, Feli almost cried. She didn’t even know why she would cry, but at that moment, she almost did.
From that moment on, Feli realized that her world was not just a small piece of moving land.
"So, I hope it can have an effect."
As she spoke, Feli stepped forward and reached out to the Core Reactor in front of her. The green fruit in her hand began to tremble and then suddenly transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the Core Reactor.
"—————!"
At this moment, suddenly, the entire reactor emitted a loud boom, scaring everyone into taking a few steps back. Then, the persistent, low rumbling of machinery gradually ceased.
"The Academy City has stopped moving!"
"Dong!"
Just as Alisa finished speaking, a sound resembling a heartbeat echoed from within the reactor. At the same time, a white Aura emerged, quickly spreading outwards and vanishing behind the steel walls.
Seeing this, Alisa hurriedly turned and ran outside, as did Feli and Kalian, leaving the Core Reactor in haste. Presently, the streets and towers were already crowded with people, including students from Jernie and those players, all turning their heads to gaze at the land beyond the barrier.
Meanwhile...
"Dong!"
The entire city slightly trembled once more. At the same time, everyone saw another Aura emerge from beneath the Mobile City, sweeping across the land.
Soon after, a miraculous scene unfolded.
In the once barren and dry riverbed, clear streams gradually emerged, gushing forth like a spring, coursing through the riverbeds and forming a mighty river. Following that, on the once cracked ground, tender green grass sprouted and swiftly spread across the land. In the distance, trees rapidly emerged and transformed into patches of forest.
"Uwaa..."
Seeing this, the residents of the Academy City were stunned, and even those players were screaming in excitement.
Unlike the students of the Academy City, the players were aware of certain things. After all, this was also an opportunity to expand the Reputation of the Heavenly Dao Palace and the Azure Fleet. Hence, Little Hei and Illya had released a public task to the players, allowing them to witness how the Azure Fleet saves this world, thereby increasing the players’ sense of identity with the Azure Fleet.
And now, this maneuver was evidently effective.
"The Azure Fleet is indeed amazing!"
"A vast power roaming the cosmos—its vision truly surpasses that of ordinary people. Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at this land, actually capable of being restored!"
"Hey, now we can also go out and explore, right?"
The players buzzed with discussions, while Alisa, standing on the balcony and observing everything, was moved to tears.
She recalled her past, her childhood experiences, when she couldn’t enter the Mobile City. She followed her parents, living in settlements, scavenging for supplies in city ruins, fearing attacks from the Wild Gods. Whenever a storm arose, casting sand and dust into the sky, they could only hide, trembling in the lowly and cluttered remnants.
But now...
Thinking of this, Alisa clenched her fists.
She had found a way to save this world!
