230.Brave Shine（Part 1）
A superluminal surge of magic cut across the sky like an endless meteor shower. Nastisha looked up, sensing the intense, distorted will within, and immediately grew worried:
"That's the Minister's power… Time and space are warped. These attacks were supposed to reach us three years from now."
"Don't worry about Minister Balkomon," Ye Wangnan reassured. "Among those who returned from the Star Abyss at the same time, many are from narrative-level civilizations, and even they praised his strength. The mere Night Butterfly folk are surely no match."
"I hope so." Nastisha nodded. Suddenly, she noticed something, looking up at the sky. "That bothersome noise has gone quiet…"
"Has the [Mechanical Society] been stopped?"
——————————
A massive steel hand gradually approached the circular gate in the sky. Lidevidens's body had long since vanished—perhaps it was entirely enveloped by the Fierce Iron King, or maybe from the moment that Secret power was unleashed, he could no longer be observed.
Following the mission's demand, Li Aozi stood quietly on the ground, gazing upward to witness this moment.
The remaining players gathered around him, their livestream cameras also aimed at the sky, watching this "cutscene."
By now, the livestream had surpassed sixty thousand viewers, many joining to witness this.
Fierce Iron King Karachia spread its palm, gradually reaching the rim of the gate. The gears on the gate immediately animated, each fragmenting apart from its former carved mechanisms into fierce mechanical soldiers, charging Karachia in unison.
「Creations of metal, you dare defy the true master's will?!」
Karachia sneered, unleashing a wicked power. Everyone noticed that, near its forehead, Lidevidens stood gripping his blade like a helmsman guiding a ship, driving Karachia ever forward.
Masses of mechanical soldiers halted under the cover of the crimson magic, as though suddenly seized by delirium. Their bodies convulsed bizarrely until each one broke apart. Countless metal ions fled them, converging onto Karachia instead.
"That is the master of metals, the source of the [Blacksmith]—known as Fierce Iron King Karachia. Sharpfang Peak spent immense effort persuading Karachia to help craft this weapon. Right before death, Lidevidens was granted the right by Sharpfang Peak to march onward with Him."
Bereft of their metal components, the mechs fell like rain. Sophia Marlin calmly explained:
"They cannot stop him. Just watch quietly—this is Lidevidens's final stand."
Lidevidens continually pushed Karachia onward, the giant hand now only a few hundred meters from the gate. At once, the Mechanical Gate emitted a powerful fluctuation, and a mind-shaking voice rang through everyone's hearts:
"No! You must not advance! No one can halt the Mechanical's march to devour civilizations. You, foul carbon scum, shall not take one step further."
Mashgegan's shout caused dozens of Will checks to pop up before the players, nearly crashing the system. Even Li Aozi had to wave off his interface. As a [Magician], he leaned firmly on materialist views, so dozens more mental checks would still do nothing to him.
Lidevidens's figure swayed, as though struck by a massive blow. He didn't appear to hold purely materialist beliefs; for a moment, plating and coils appeared on his body.
「Advance!」
Jania set her hand on Lidevidens's shoulder, the sacred sword's radiance bursting forth. The mechanical traces on Lidevidens vanished, cleansed away.
He turned to look at Jania. Jania stared straight ahead, her eyes resolute.
Lidevidens opened his mouth and said:
"I kept you waiting… I'm sorry…"
「Shut it!」
Jania wouldn't meet his gaze—perhaps she dared not. She lowered her head, speaking softly:
「If you really feel sorry, then just keep going.」
Jania's shoulders trembled, but as a sword, she showed no hesitation.
「From now on, don't look back, don't lose focus. Trust me—trust me completely, Lidevidens.」
Jania paused, imitating human behavior by taking a deep breath. Her eyes lit up as she shouted:
「Forward! Forward! Advance!」
Lidevidens tightened his grip on the hilt, pushing forward.
Karachia's demonic claws gained enormous momentum. Even with Mashgegan's will impeding them, they pressed firmly ahead.
Bang!
Its palm slammed against the circular gate. The Fate Awakening Sword trembled violently, silver brilliance radiating outward. A strange, mysterious aura blanketed the entire sky in an instant.
Corrupted by that aura, the gate resembled scalded skin doused in boiling water, rapidly breaking into red lumps. The once-elegant mechanical carvings rusted and shriveled, then fell apart in a frantic clatter.
Li Aozi recognized that aura immediately… the same that had lingered around both the [White Knight] and the [Tailor].
Jania's form gradually weakened. She turned and looked at Lidevidens, whose body shone with silver light, opening her mouth but lost for words.
Lidevidens braced himself on the sword, pushing upward.
Karachia's giant hand likewise pressed upward, forcing the colossal Mechanical Gate back into the void, bit by bit. The sky it had obscured returned, and after so long in darkness, the world welcomed a new dawn.
Sunlight spilled across Lidevidens's shoulder. His body, like water, let the light pass through, drifting away from this world as it gradually turned translucent.
With that Secret power unleashed, he would be forgotten by the world forever.
Yet, unlike his former composure, Lidevidens no longer remained calm at this outcome.
He bowed his head, glancing at Jania, also hovering in midair, and let out a wry smile:
"It seems… I don't want to vanish anymore."
「…Idiot,」 Jania snapped. 「Weren't you all carefree just now? Besides, you've been dead for over a thousand years, haven't you? I was locked in a chest alone, so now it's your turn to experience my loneliness.」
"True, Jania, this is just my own doing."
Lidevidens's tone dripped with regret, but his face glowed with bliss. The golden sun illuminated his decaying features with a sacred light.
When the first rays of dawn spread over the land, the snow mountains melted. Last night's sorrows and pain were put to rest. A new day arrived, so beautiful.
Lidevidens suddenly felt gratitude welling in his chest, compelling him to shout, but he could only open his mouth—no words emerged.
Gazing upon the golden horizon, he murmured with heartfelt sincerity:
"Reality has its beauties too."