Awareness (One Chapter Divided into Two)

Angela faced the Honkai, while Huang Hao continued struggling behind her.

The Honkai said, "Why stop me? He gained power but lost his sanity. You, however, only gained power. You can do whatever you want in the future, so why are you so insistent on saving him?"

Angela said, "He's my father."

The Honkai said, "As long as he's gone, you can do whatever you want without having to submit to anyone."

Angela said, "But he's my father."

The Honkai grew anxious. "Why are you so stubborn? What's so bad about this for you?"

Angela said, "You're just a con artist who tricks people."

Seeing that Angela refused to accept it, the Honkai stopped trying to deceive her and began mocking her instead. "Forget it. It seems you plan to oppose me to the end. But do you really think you can still save him?"

The Honkai abruptly shifted the topic to Huang Hao. At that moment, Huang Hao was sinking into confusion and pain.

The Honkai said, "Even if you suppress him now, what can you do once he gets out and returns to the place filled with his painful memories?"

"Although you stopped him from accepting our power, can you deal with him and the person outside?"

The Honkai began laughing loudly. The black space slowly vanished, and Angela and Huang Hao reappeared in their original location.

Huang Hao smelled blood and immediately grew frantic. Flames rapidly ignited across his entire body.

After the black space was dispelled, Angela also returned to the white void. At that moment, the void was rapidly shrinking.

Kevin and Cosmo had noticed it long ago, but Angela had been absent just now, and they had not known what to do.

When they saw Angela return, Kevin immediately asked, "Angela, did you see it? This space is shrinking faster and faster. What's going on?"

Angela sighed and recounted her recent experience to the two of them.

Kevin said, "I see. No wonder this Herrscher is so much stronger than the previous ones. You said just now that this space also belongs to Huang Hao's power, and he has lost control... What should we do? He's probably stronger than every Herrscher in history now."

Angela looked at the two of them and said, "I have one last method."

Cosmo quickly cut in. "What method? Can it get us out quickly?"

Angela slowly explained, "As Father absorbs the white void, his power will increase. The same goes for me. When that happens, I'll be able to send both of you out. I hope you can suppress him."

Kevin nodded, understanding her plan. Cosmo, however, realized something was wrong. "Wait, didn't you say your father's power would vastly exceed yours? Once you gain the ability to send us out, will we really still be able to defeat him?"

Angela said, "Don't worry. The power absorbed from the space is only temporary. It will dissipate on its own afterward. I only need to release you at that instant."

Meanwhile, Huang Hao arrived at an unknown place.

Huang Hao said, "Strange. Where is this? What was I doing just now?"

As Huang Hao pondered, someone suddenly appeared. He looked exactly like Huang Hao.

Huang Hao was startled. It took him a moment to recover before he asked, "Who are you? Why do you look exactly like me?"

The person said, "I'm you."

Huang Hao said, "Huh? What does that mean?"

That "Huang Hao" said, "I'm your true self."

Huang Hao was bewildered. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Huang Hao" said, "Nothing much. Let's play a game of chess."

A chessboard suddenly appeared between them, along with two chairs. Beside them sat a pot of tea and several pastries.

Huang Hao looked at the chessboard. Although he had no idea what was happening, he still began to play.

They took turns making moves. Huang Hao clearly felt that he was constantly capturing pieces, yet not a single piece had disappeared. The game continued like this.

During the game, that "Huang Hao" asked, "By the way, what do you think is the meaning of being alive?"

Huang Hao shifted his thoughts away from the chessboard. "The meaning of being alive is simply to live, isn't it?"

"But is there any meaning in living just for the sake of living?"

Huang Hao fell silent and continued playing.

That "Huang Hao" did not bring up the question again. Instead, he asked something else. "How is a contradictory person contradictory? Why would someone who knows the future be afraid of it?"

Huang Hao's hand, holding a chess piece, froze in midair as he mulled over those words.

Does meaning really have meaning?