[The Path's rejection is restricting you from drawing Imaginary Energy from within the Path.]
[The Path itself has no will, only rigid rules that bind everything within it. Even the Aeon is firmly bound by the source power of the Path.]
[You cannot escape the binding and rejection of the Path. You have completely arrived at a crossroads of the Path.]
[Will you walk back to the broad, bright avenue, or walk toward the narrow, thorny path in the shade?]
[Facing the crossroads of the Path, you will make your final choice—]
The text on the light screen gradually faded, and a special text box emerged on it:
[You have the opportunity to set off a wave that sweeps across the sea of stars. A legend belonging to you is being written.]
[And this legend can only be penned by you—will it spread through the sea of stars, or fade into obscurity?]
[Everything awaits your answer.]
The text inside the box disappeared, leaving only a blank space waiting for Ron's input.
Ron looked at the blank space on the screen, falling into deep thought for a moment.
This time... it's actually an autonomous choice like the previous Epic Simulation?
This choice is so important... what kind of future will it bring?
I have to think carefully about what to do.
Ron pondered for a long time, took a deep breath, and seriously input his choice on the light screen.
The text box on the screen gradually disappeared. As film rolled out like an old-fashioned projector, a plot animation inexplicably began on the screen with a filter that looked quite ancient yet exquisite. The borders of the animation were also shrouded in a reddish glow—
In the image, wind and snow drifted. Anti-matter particles, bound within husks, surged at the edge of the battle line.
The spark of Preservation shone on the frontline. Relying on the Imaginary Energy obtained from the Path, the Empire's army drowned the Anti-Matter Legion at the front.
Such a battle situation had lasted for several months, with reports of victory frequently coming from the front... until that war machine, faithfully executing the will of Destruction, walked out from the end of the snowfields.
The resentment of ten thousand skeletons and the disaster shadows of old days transformed into the husk of this war machine. The engine burning with anti-matter flickered with camouflage within its shell, like dim starlight revealing sorrow in an entropically dying universe.
It held a sword of destruction in its hand, proof of its identity.
This weapon represented its owner's rank in the Legion and their merits of "Destruction." This Doomsday Vanguard was responsible for appearing at the finale of the war of extinction, igniting the lingering fires of tribulation to incinerate the world.
No matter what kind of world the fires of war were ignited in, no matter which god had favored this world, or what glorious foundations it once possessed, even the most dazzling civilization among the stars would be annihilated by the Legion before the catastrophe.
This planet would eventually be like extinguished charcoal embers, dying dimly in the depths of the starry sky.
And Jarilo-VI would be no exception.
The Doomsday Vanguard walked from the end of the snowfields. Following its footsteps, fires of tribulation flowed down, scorching the earth covered by ice and snow.
The wails of wronged souls echoed across the entire battlefield along with the burning of the tribulation fire. Because destruction was imminent, the planet emitted a mournful cry from the depths of the Stellaron.
Raging fire swept across the frontline. The originally excellent situation became chaotic under the dimensionality-reducing strike of the Doomsday Vanguard. The battle line was constantly contracting and had already retreated to the Iron Wall of Belobog.
The Empire's army tried their best, but they were powerless to stop the footsteps of the Anti-Matter Legion.
The battle line was in imminent danger.
And as the General of the Empire, Ron stepped forward without hesitation to stand in front of the Doomsday Vanguard—
"Stop showing off in front of them... Come, come to me!"
Dark golden Amber Amber crawled up Ron's body, transforming into a giant rock-crystal golem blocking the Doomsday Vanguard's path.
But the Vanguard merely floated in the air, glancing at Ron with contempt.
It simply raised the long sword in its hand casually. The dark silver long sword swallowed the light, carrying the gray, extinguishing fire of tribulation as it slashed towards Ron.
Ron's crystal armor was covered in cracks under this single strike.
But he was one step closer to the Vanguard.
Seele watched the scene on the light screen, her heart involuntarily beating faster. Fine sweat appeared on her forehead, sliding down her cheek along with her worry.
This... was the enemy that had destroyed the entire planet in the last simulation.
She still remembered the crisp sound of the earth falling apart when the fires of tribulation incinerated the world.
She remembered the incessant wailing amidst the destruction, and the despair that lingered in people's hearts.
One had to know that the war machines forged within the Anti-Matter Legion were abominations that truly destroyed planets and civilizations. As a tiny human on Jarilo-VI, Ron was like a grain of sand in the Ganges within this sea of stars.
Beings like him, unknown in number, had been trampled into dust under the iron hooves of [Destruction].
Ron... could he really solve the threat of [Destruction]?
No... I can't doubt him. Ron can definitely do it!
Seele shook her head, shaking those doubts and fears out of her mind, leaving only determination in her gaze.
She had done everything she could, giving Ron the greatest support—
Next, she could only look forward to Ron's performance.
The animation on the light screen continued to play:
The fires of tribulation burned the sky.
Amber Amber shattered into dust.
The battle between Ron and the Doomsday Vanguard had reached the firmament—or rather, the Doomsday Vanguard's pursuit had reached the firmament.
Victory was nothing but an extravagant hope... Ron had no ability to contend with the Doomsday Vanguard at all.
Just preserving his life under the Vanguard's attacks had already taken all his effort.
He could only constantly generate Amber Amber as stepping stones, stepping on the crystals constructed from Imaginary Energy to jump up with all his might, charging into the sky.
But the Doomsday Vanguard was like a maggot attached to bone, tightly entangled with Ron, following behind him.
Ron's body had become covered in bruises and scars. Fires of tribulation ignited on his body, his flesh charring under the scorching flames—
His life was approaching its end.
The Doomsday Vanguard looked at Ron mockingly, the long sword in its hand once again dyed with a black glow.
This strike would decide where this bug, Ron, who dared to hop around in front of it, would go.
It would personally send Ron to the dead end of destruction.
But at this moment, Ron just looked at the Doomsday Vanguard in front of him and curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a trace of a sneer.
He spoke leisurely: "Hector knew the kingdom would eventually fall, Achilles understood he was walking towards death, but they still stepped onto the battlefield without hesitation... In these stories destined to be tragedies, no one ever hesitated or wavered for this."
"Because they all held the obsession of [Salvation] in their hearts... Failure is just another interpretation of success. Even if the ending of the story is shrouded in despair, there will always be someone looking forward to the arrival of that dawn with slim hope."
"You... what exactly are you trying to say?"
Layered voices were distorted by the vibration of the anti-matter engine. The Doomsday Vanguard spoke to Ron for the first time, yet it was a casual question.
But Ron just looked at it calmly, reached into his chest, and took out a glass jar—
The bound Stellaron was flickering with a soft light inside it.
With a slight exertion of force, the containment device was easily crushed, and the Stellaron, emitting malice, was grasped in his palm.
Thick crystalline rock grew rapidly, forcibly piercing into the Stellaron. Infinite Imaginary Energy surged into the Stellaron—
The Stellaron, which originally emitted a soft light, now began to fluctuate violently. It was spitting out brilliant golden radiance, and a dangerous aura permeated from it.
He grinned, announcing loudly to the Doomsday Vanguard—
"The ideals of all living beings converge into a single grand wish. I press my life into the Stellaron, and stake the fate of Belobog—"
The Stellaron, spitting out brilliant light, gradually became indeterminate. The light of destruction shone on Ron's face, illuminating his slightly arrogant countenance.
"I heard the Legion likes to define rank by the number of civilizations destroyed?"
"Then step forward, and listen with me to this final echo of destruction!"
"Let me show you, what is the Mark of [Salvation]!"