"The world has always been extremely cruel to life."
A swarm of rats will indulge in decadence at its peak, and then embark on a path of self-destruction.
In large herds of deer, the elders will consciously end their own lives.
What prompts an animal to make a certain decision is instinct.
But what drives humans to constantly fight against their instincts is called desire!
Desire has made humanity what it is; it is desire that has made humanity dissatisfied with eating raw meat and drinking blood, and thus opened the door to wisdom and civilization.
But desire is a double-edged sword.
In times of hardship, desire propels us upward.
At our peak, desire makes us unwilling to decline!
Humans have overcome biological instincts with desires. While this may lead to the advancement of human civilization, it also causes humanity to selectively ignore the devastating crises that the entire species is constantly facing!
Intelligence is far from sufficient to overcome the instincts of animals. Although humans call them animals, this is only true if they encounter disasters such as the destruction of the entire planet or massive, uncontrollable changes in the environment.
Unless an unavoidable disaster like the one mentioned above occurs, animals are unlikely to be driven by instinct to commit utter destruction.
While instinct may keep animals ignorant, it also opens the door to a continuous and sustainable future for them.
But humans, who consider themselves superior to animals, have long since diverged from them on a different path.
Every road is destined to have an end.
But the destination may not be the same.
To gain something, you must also lose something else.
If we gain the past, we are destined to lose the future.
After all, throughout history, no matter which group has dominated the peak of an era, their only fate has always been destruction.
The path of human inheritance may seem glamorous, but it is actually shrouded in mystery.
No matter how glorious we are now, after millions of years, all that will remain of what we have created is nothing more than words carved in stone.
However, the only difference between humans and animals is not that humans possess so-called intelligence.
Possessing wisdom allows us to invent and use creation to challenge nature, which is indeed an achievement. However, from the perspective of humanity as a whole, how is our so-called invention any different from animals learning to use sticks to smash stones?
After all, compared to our own continuation.
No matter how great the tools we create, they are still just tools.
Does the fact that they are our tools make us noble?
It's just that I no longer feel inferior.
The real difference between us and animals.
Haha, the only real difference between us is that animals perish from natural disasters, while humans perish from their own creations.
We are far better at destroying ourselves than animals are.
So, once I saw that point clearly, I knew.
I can no longer promise humanity enough freedom!
Imu spoke at length, and Gawain had to admit that what Imu said made surprisingly much sense.
It must be admitted that this is a human being who has survived for over 50,000 years.
Imu's understanding of the world has long transcended partiality and reached its essence.
Even if a pig lived for 50,000 years, it would probably become Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) by now.
Not to mention Imu, an old creature who has ruled humanity since ancient times.
Philosophy has always been an undefinable discipline; the wise always discuss it, while the foolish never understand it.
But whether Imu is a wise man or a fool.
When the lines of life are measured in tens of thousands of years, the traces left by time have evolved into the highest form of philosophy.
After all, the essence of philosophy is to have thought about it, understood it, and seen it.
You see, philosophy doesn't even have a right or wrong answer.
Therefore, Gawain would never refute Imu's words, because such words are never right or wrong.
That's just the understanding of a 50,000-year-old man about the world. How can someone with only a few decades of experience have the right to discuss right and wrong with a 50,000-year-old monster?
However, the absence of a right or wrong answer doesn't mean Gawain won't offer his own opinion.
The world seen over 50,000 years is the world; the world seen in a fleeting moment... is still the world.
He first nodded slightly, then shook his head.
"That's too extreme, really too extreme."
In your view, everything in life seems to be considered in terms of the consequences for the entire human race.
But wisdom is not such an inconvenient thing.
An ant's life is still a life, and humans don't need to live too long either.
Animals are more likely to choose sacrifice when faced with adversity, but selfishness is actually the most beneficial choice for the organism itself.
Humanity doesn't necessarily need to be a unified whole; maintaining the survival of humanity as a whole is not of paramount importance to those already living in the world.
Just because we are human beings doesn't mean we lose the opportunity to take control of ourselves.
As for instinct, the instinct you're talking about is less an individual instinct and more a collective instinct in your mind.
But the group...
What dictates that we must rely on a group for existence? What dictates that we must make sacrifices and contributions for the group?
As for the inheritors of the Will of D, I do find them troublesome, given their values, their pursuit of freedom and happiness, and their inherently lazy nature.
How could I possibly genuinely admire that type of person?
I particularly dislike their carefree, happiness-first nature, but I also greatly admire their optimism!
Constant happiness is unnecessary for humans. A spirit like d's, which pursues adventure, will only make those without talent more likely to die in places they may not even be pursuing.
However, Imu, you must never overlook the importance of optimism.
Even if human civilization is indeed heading towards decline and self-destruction, we must acknowledge that we created our own brilliance in the process of heading towards destruction.
At this point, Gawain squatted down and gently rubbed the dust off the ground.
This was his first time on the moon, and even though he had more important things to do, he couldn't help but feel curious.
While feeling the texture of the lunar soil, Gawain continued.
"This is my first time on the moon, and it has given me many surprises. Meeting our ancestors from ancient times has also made this place particularly meaningful."
Even though they lost you, they still survived tenaciously. Even now, even though their civilization was completely lost because of your departure, they are still developing their own unique civilization.
And surely, those people on the moon weren't guided or helped by you.
With your mind solely focused on this Giant World, how could you possibly have the time to even think about communicating with the people abandoned on the moon?
Therefore, Imu, even if you think more, your importance to human civilization is far less than you imagine.
I admit that you are indeed considering the well-being of humanity as a whole.
Even though that makes me feel you're becoming increasingly dangerous, your starting point is indeed for the sake of humanity.
However, you overestimated yourself; your perspective shifted from that of a human being to that of a deity without you even realizing it.
But you've overlooked the fact that you've never been omnipotent from beginning to end.
There are many problems you cannot solve, the most pressing of which are the internal problems of humanity.
Because you cannot solve those problems, you arbitrarily attribute them to inherent flaws, which in turn leads to the idea of completely destroying humanity once and for all.
Of course, you haven't planned to destroy all of humanity yet.
But the image you're describing—wanting the whole world to be submerged by the sea, and then reshaping a new order for the remaining humankind—is quite different.
How is this kind of mentality any different from that of a God who released a great flood to punish humanity?
But have you ever considered that your inability to solve the problem of human conflict might not just be due to inherent human flaws, but perhaps also to a genuine lack of ability?
You are indeed powerful enough, and you are indeed rational enough, but what humanity actually lacks is not a dragon like you who sees them as prey, but a sheepdog that can subdue them and a shepherd to guide them?
See, are humans really as hopeless as you say?
In your eyes, they are hopeless, but in my eyes, they are controllable!
In the past, you did trust some people.
Nika, D, the ancestor of the Twenty-One Families, you accepted their plan for humanity.
Admittedly, they failed, but just because they failed, are you going to shut out my view of the world from your henchmen?
This is more than just a little unfair to me.
Now, I'm telling you very clearly, what you can't do, I firmly believe I'm fully capable of doing!
You can think of that as me boasting, just like how even though we have a great chat, we always have to decide who wins.
Of course, it's just about determining a winner, because now I'm increasingly reluctant to kill you.
If you were to witness firsthand how I've changed the world, wouldn't you feel ashamed of yourself? After all, while you weren't exactly stupid, you didn't possess any particularly outstanding abilities either.
Or perhaps, like other mothers, you will be proud of everything I have created?
"Ha ha!!!"
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Imu burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Such a smile was so rare for her that he felt a little unaccustomed to it.
While laughing, Imu raised his right hand and pointed at Gawain.
At the same time, Imu stepped forward two steps and unceremoniously nailed his fingertips into Gawain's chest.
"As expected of my child, you really have no shame!"
I never expected you to have feelings like filial piety, but even so, do you think I should be pleased with your... statement that you didn't intend to kill me?
How ridiculous! You may not be Nika, but does being favored by the world's will automatically turn you into that arrogant and laughable figure?
Don't forget, kid.
Even if you have achieved considerable success in recent years.
But before me, you are still just a humble challenger, like all the reformers in history who have followed one after another...
"It's you who's challenging me!"
At this point, Imu's expression changed from anger to laughter, and she pointed at Gawain's right hand and slammed it into Gawain's chest.
In an instant, Gawain extended his right hand, and their fists collided violently. The powerful shockwave spread rapidly, instantly obliterating the Giant Animal Meteorite Crater...
As the moon rapidly loses a famous landmark, Gawain and Imu are locked in a Gawain, as the Thunder Giant, desperately tearing at Nidhogg's claws and wings!
The two men's actions terrified the Moon People to the extreme, but even so, many Moon People still tried to look in the direction of Gawain and his companion.
In their eyes, whether it is a disaster or a reward, it is evidence of the legendary gods reappearing!
In the genes of the Moon People, their need for and worship of Devil Fruit has become instinctive.
After losing Imu and a series of ancestors, they returned to ignorance and their development was slow. However, they knew that as long as a god with Devil Fruit powers appeared, they would still be saved!
However, Gawain and Imu were in no mood to care about them at the moment.
The battle between the two quickly escalated to a fever pitch, and Imu, thoroughly enraged by Gawain, finally shattered his facade of reason!
That's right, don't forget, what is the core of Imu?
Imu is Nidhogg, the Destroyer Dragon who has always fought against the World Tree and vowed to destroy the entire world!
Even if Imu wrapped his destruction in countless sweet sugar coatings, Gawain could taste the spiciness and bitterness hidden behind that flavor with just a lick of Imu's tongue.
That's right, Gawain never believed a word Imu said!
Don't say how foolish it is to trust the enemy on the battlefield.
Let's just talk about how Imu packaged her legitimate goals.
For someone who wants to destroy the world, no matter how many reasons they have, it doesn't change the fact that they only want to bring destruction.
Gawain, however, clearly saw that in all the previous conversations and stories, no matter how much Imu said, he never explained Adam and Eve's attitude towards humanity!
And then there's the Devil Fruit Tree's attitude towards humans!
Let's not forget that in this era where everything can be heard, everything can also make its own voice heard!
The Devil Fruit Tree, a central theme of the Lunar Age.
And Adam and Eve, who supported the land and sea animals in this Giant World, must have had their own understanding and conception of the world.
Eve had talked to Gawain a lot, and although it was just Eve's one-sided rambling, the sincerity she gave Gawain was much better Koby that of his mother, Imu, who only talked to him about ideals and never about her nemesis.
The feeling that Imma doesn't discuss the nemesis's ideology with herself is naturally because Imu's afraid that she'll be seduced by the nemesis's ideology in the blink of an eye.
It's no wonder Gawain thinks this way; anyone with a modicum of intelligence would see through the empty rhetoric of these bigwigs and realize they're just making grand promises.
Gawain had even considered that if he let Imu continue talking, Imu would most likely bring up Gawain's future status.
Like... After I submerge the continent, I will become the enemy of the next generation, and you can rise up at that time, defeat me and become the hope for the future of mankind. This kind of plot is a very Japanese subversion.
Or perhaps...
In the future, you will be the one I nurture most. After I complete my mission, the last landmass on earth, the Red Line, will eventually be handed over to you.
Imu said a lot, but Gawain decisively dismissed any biased content in Imu's words.
Even the history that Imu told him, Gawain only listened selectively.
There was no way around it, because Gawain was, at heart, extremely ruthless.
He doesn't mind smiling at the weak.
But he only ever believed in himself!