Who can replace Emrys and sit on the Mechanical Throne?
His bewildered gaze fell upon the massive Mechanical Throne and the emaciated, extremely frail Emrys on it, their eyes meeting in the void.
Finally, the mist that had long enveloped his heart seemed to be pierced by a ray of light.
So that's it...
Luo Ji felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his heart, and his chaotic thoughts suddenly formed a complete mạch.
Why was he awakened? Why did Shi Qiang and Zhuang Yan choose him to be the one to 'awaken' Emrys?
There is only one answer to these questions!
What's truly important isn't the 'key,' but the person delivering the 'key.'
That is him!
He is the Saint, the one to replace Emrys and sit on the Mechanical Throne!
"So...
This person is me, right?"
Luo Ji, who had finally understood, gazed at the figure on the Mechanical Throne with a mix of bewilderment, doubt, and helplessness.
Emrys fell into a brief silence.
Then, in Luo Ji's seemingly unfocused, lifeless eyes, he nodded slightly:
"Yes."
"Why me?"
Luo Ji's expression was calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, frighteningly composed.
In fact, even he found it strange; he was clearly the 'victim,' shouldn't he be angry?
However, after experiencing this series of events, even 'anger' felt meaningless to him.
Is anger meaningful?
No, it has no meaning whatsoever, unless it consumes extra energy, it will not change the course of events.
He just wanted to ask one thing...
Why.
"Do you know what a 'protagonist' is?"
Suddenly, Emrys spoke, asking a seemingly ambiguous question.
This question seemed unrelated to Luo Ji's, but he still answered honestly.
"In movies, novels, and plays, it's the character at the core of the story and the center of the narrative, right?"
"That's roughly the concept."
Emrys nodded and continued.
"Whether it's a story, a novel, or a play, a protagonist is a necessary existence. They are often at the 'narrative' level. If the 'protagonist' is lost, the 'narrative' cannot continue, right?"
"I understand what you mean, but... what does this have to do with me?" Luo Ji asked, frowning.
"Alright, let's extend the concept of 'protagonist' further."
Emrys patiently explained to him.
"A story must have a 'protagonist' for it to continue. So, have you ever considered, if the concept of 'story' is expanded to a world, then does the 'protagonist'...
exist?"
Luo Ji was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood the central theme of Emrys' lengthy discourse.
"According to you... I am the protagonist of the world?"
Upon receiving this almost absurd 'answer,' he even found it somewhat laughable at first.
What kind of world would make a dissolute man like him the 'protagonist' to save the world?
"If there is anyone in this world who can replace me and block the invasion of the Warp"
Emrys' gaze fell on the dejected young man.
"Then that person, and only that person, is you, Luo Ji."
Only he, the lonely Sword-Bearer, could endure the long years of solitude and resist the erosion of the Warp.
And only Luo Ji could fulfill this mission!
However, at this moment, Luo Ji only wanted to laugh; it turned out he was actually so 'powerful.'
But when he saw the pity and a hint of faint sorrow in Emrys' eyes, he could no longer laugh.
"According to you, if I'm the protagonist, then wouldn't I be immortal no matter how much I courted death?" He took a deep breath. He still remained skeptical of Emrys' world protagonist theory.
"No, you will die."
Emrys shook his head and said.
"I said, this is just a conceptual extension, and it doesn't mean you can really turn misfortune into blessings like a protagonist in a novel. To be precise...
Your existence is highly bound to the fate of the world, but you are by no means 'unkillable.'"
"How do you know it can be killed?"
Luo Ji couldn't help but retort.
To his surprise, Emrys' eyes were deep, and he slowly said.
"Because...
I have killed many 'world protagonists' like you."
What good is being a protagonist favored by destiny?
If one insists that destiny is unchangeable, he is still Atropos.
A god in myths and legends who specialized in cutting the 'threads of fate.'
Luo Ji's mouth twitched, unsure if he was speechless or startled by the remark.
"Since you're so powerful, why do you still need me?" He sighed, helpless.
"How about this, you take my identity and give it to someone else, okay? I don't want to be any 'world protagonist,' much less a savior!"
"I'm sorry, I cannot do that."
Emrys sighed, and said faintly.
"Unless you die, otherwise...
You will always be the world protagonist, but even if you die, I cannot interfere with fate and choose who becomes the next 'protagonist,' and this requires time, and I am not sure if I can hold on until then."
"So, it's me or no one, right?"
Luo Ji seemed to have lost his vitality, his eyes blank and hollow.
From the very beginning, he never wanted to be a savior, much less bear the responsibility for the survival of human civilization!
He just wanted to be a refined, selfish person, as long as he didn't harm others.
Wouldn't that be better?
But ever since he met Emrys, his fate had changed.
Even two hundred years later, he was still being manipulated by this terrifying man. From Zhuang Yan to Shi Qiang, it was as if everyone was forcing him onto this path of a 'savior,' yet no one asked if he was willing.
Is it wrong to be selfish?
"I know, this is not easy and requires strong determination."
Emrys on the Mechanical Throne neither pressured him with 'responsibility' nor urged him.
His gaze was very calm, yet mixed with an indescribable complexity.
"This must depend on whether you are truly willing, from within, to bear this 'responsibility' for humanity."
"What if I say, I refuse?"
Luo Ji clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with anger and defiance.
"You can."
Emrys on the Mechanical Throne nodded calmly.
"This was my mistake to begin with, and I should bear it."
"You said it!"
Luo Ji took a deep breath, still seemingly uncertain.
"I said, you must willingly sit on 'It' to succeed."
Emrys said calmly.
"If I force you to sit on It, perhaps for a short time, the Warp can be stably isolated, but once time passes, you will resent, you will be angry, you will doubt...
And these emotions will only make you a puppet of the Chaos Gods , ultimately leading the entire human civilization to destruction. So if you are unwilling, I will not force you."
Luo Ji remained silent for a long time, still thinking, his heart wavering.
"You don't have to give me an answer now."
Suddenly, Emrys waved his hand, and a faint light flew from the darkness, landing heavily before him.
Clang!
The hard black stone ground was actually pierced by that thing.
Luo Ji looked closely and realized it was a greatsword of extremely ornate design, like that of an ancient knight.
The blade was huge, wide, and straight, its cold, clear gleam enough to prove that this sword was by no means a mere 'ceremonial object,' but a true, battle-hardened weapon.
But even more striking was the carving on the hilt: a majestic lion with outstretched wings, lifelike and awe-inspiring.
"Take this sword... It is equivalent to 'Me.'"
Emrys slowly said.
"With It... you will be able to command the Adeptus Astartes, how to do things, it's all up to you."