The Road That Leads Straight to the Stars

At the center of the Subspace Network that stretched across the heavens in crisscrossing black lines, a brilliant light suddenly ignited atop a black pyramid. Pure white starlight shot straight from its tip, piercing through the sky.

Yet in the eyes of everyone on the Terra Continent, it was a light that rose from the far side of the planet while appearing before every person at once, transcending space, time, and distance. Starting from the center of every observer's vision, it tore open a perfectly circular abyssal hole.

A white one, one containing boundless energy that seemed ready to erupt at any moment...

A white hole.

Like a colossal god opening its eye, the white abyss that spanned heaven and earth glittered in the sky with a radiance that left everyone dumbfounded—surpassing the sun, even surpassing the Light Calamity.

The surging roar of tides swept before everyone's eyes and ears.

Ganterigum, Heaven-Seeking Sanctuary. A dwarf with skin gray as ironstone and a jeweled holy sigil engraved upon his forehead stared at the light in the heavens.

Within his heart, a solid and shining Earthheart gleamed with the light of countless facets.

One thousand six hundred years ago, the five dwarf progenitors built the first shelter in the heart of the Ushtarav Mountains.

"We absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to the Avogarod Deep-Space Shuttle. My fellow countrymen, let us swear upon our lives that we will guard this place forever, until Terra returns to peace in the future, until humanity once again sets foot upon our Sacred Path to Seek Heaven!"

"This is one of our hopes for reaching the far side of the stars in the future. Even if we are destined to sleep within the Cradle, until the final moment arrives, we must never abandon the road toward the distant horizon!"

Eight hundred and twelve years ago, a king raised his warhammer high atop a Mountain Summit, drawing down countless rays of light and endless black abysses.

"Why do we Ganterigum people seek the sky? We children of the earth emerged from deep abyssal caverns. To us, the sky and the world are merely another layer of cave waiting to be excavated. Since we could break through the earth's confinement, we can surely break through the canopy of heaven!"

"Forward! Keep moving forward without stopping! For we are those who pierce the firmament, those destined to reach the summit's end!"

A thousand years had passed since the teachings of the ancient sages and holy kings. The children of the earth were constrained by terrain and powerful enemies, and development within the republic had been far from satisfactory. Over all these years, not only had research into the deep-space shuttle made no progress, but the nation itself had been left in a precarious state.

A lack of resources, a lack of hope, a lack of viable visions, a lack of all the fuel dreams required.

Panros Ironshield, the Soul-Abyss Forgemaster of the Hammer of Creation, recalled those years engraved in his heart. At times, he felt ashamed by the grandeur of the past and the ignoble compromises of the present, but his Stoneheart never wavered. He merely gritted his teeth and continued upon the bitter journey of life, never stopping.

No one was wrong. Time was wrong. Time twisted the world, time made dreams forgotten, time made passion grow cold.

But now, gazing upon that resplendent radiance, the hard heart of the Lord of Ironshield began to beat once more.

Like a giant hammer striking a war drum, it pulsed for a dream that "might be achieved."

Frontier Reach, Land of Final Silence, atop the Skyfall Tower. A man with powerful muscles and a sorrowful expression stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the white abyss ahead—the radiant deep, like the eye of a colossal god.

"Life is filled with suffering. You were all willing to follow me to this bitterly cold and barren land, so how could I simply watch you return in despair? Come, settle with me in this land of endless mountains. One day, we will empty these mountains, and then Paradise forged by our own hands will be born!"

That was a voice from the Lost Epoch. An unnamed ascetic had come to the barren land where Cold Mountains rose one after another. He promised those who followed him a happy future. He would open up humanity's Frontier Reach and light the stars of the Abyss. That was the origin of the names Frontier Reach and Mountain-Lifting Abyssstar.

But a thousand years later, after the seas had been filled and the mountains turned into plains, after such great achievements had been accomplished, people still lived beneath natural disasters and curses. Perhaps it was the consequence of their own actions, but nature's mercilessness was surely at work as well.

It was all because resources were lacking. It was all because their strength fell short.

But what if there were infinite energy, infinite power?

The man clenched his fist. His gaze was not blazing, only cold and resolute.

Canaanmore, Blazing Flame Lands, Azure Heaven Royal Court, Nine Frostsilence Mountains...

Countless people raised their heads and looked toward the High Heavens.

The desires within countless hearts trembled and surged, shuddering involuntarily at that fleeting glimpse of a corner of the Great Aetheric Current above the sky.

This was the eternal sound of the tide—the power of the Perpetual Motion Machine: Boundless Tide.

"This... the energy inside this?!"

"I can't estimate it. I simply can't!"

"It feels like... like the Great Aether Sea has manifested before me... This is a port, an insignificant port, yet it possesses inexhaustible power?!"

"But it hasn't activated yet—how do we activate it?!"

Everyone capable of understanding that light was incomparably shocked. Even Ian himself was no exception.

However, having truly witnessed the Great Aetheric Current through the Guiding Star, Ian felt more enlightened than astonished.

"So that's how it is. As expected, the Perpetual Motion Machine itself is an authority interface of the Great Aetheric Current—Eternal Tidecall is the foundation for summoning it!"

"That also explains how the Perpetual Motion Machine can assess whether this vote is fair! Because it is a tool of the Star Gods, possessing intelligence but no self. Like the psychic abilities and Pioneer response mechanism of the Great Aetheric Current, it can solve every question that intelligent life can answer!"

With understanding dawning in his heart, Ian steadied himself. He turned to look at the dazzling radiance that had yet to erupt.

"Endless Tide."

He asked aloud, and every being in the world—regardless of strength, age, whether human or magical beast—heard the prophet's question: "Does humanity today still possess the qualifications to hold a vote on activating the Perpetual Motion Machine?"

There was not the slightest delay.

The white eye in the heavens flickered, and endless starlight descended upon the world, touching the crowns of every intelligent being's head, passing through the sky and drifting clouds, crossing mountains and forests.

Like a rain of light descending from heaven, it then faded away, as though everything had been an illusion.

Then, a voice of the soul, indescribable except as tranquil, resounded through the hearts and souls of all living things.

Terra Star Domain, primary settlement area, Terra Star assessment... Meets the required proportion of minds with strict voting rights: 4%. Voting may proceed immediately.

Minds with mild disruption: 83.55%. Fully cured. Eligible to vote after two years.

Minds with severe confusion: 5.239%. Under recovery. Eligible to vote after eleven years.

Minds with absolute abnormalities: 3.451%. Under recovery. Eligible to vote after one hundred and forty-five years. Immediate treatment recommended.

Extremely distorted minds: 1.905%...

Non-personhood...

A string of detailed, clear data followed. Even a monkey could understand the pie charts and statistical lists appearing in their minds. They were rigid and precise, without the slightest emotion.

This was the Perpetual Motion Machine. A Star God artifact with intelligence but no self, capable of judging right and wrong with absolute fairness.

At that moment, Ian fully understood what the Perpetual Motion Machine was—it was a port of the Great Aetheric Current. And this process was exactly like how, in the Pioneers' memories, the other party had received the Star God's Gift! The Great Aetheric Current granted Star God's Gifts to Pioneers according to certain conditions, and naturally judged according to a world's conditions whether it could obtain and use the Perpetual Motion Machine.

And now, the main event had arrived.

"Then..."

Under the gaze of every powerful being, Ian, who had summoned the Eternal Tidecall, continued, "How can you be activated—how can this Perpetual Motion Machine be activated and used by our civilization?"

"Beyond the corresponding authorities—that is, Terra authority, True Dragon authority, and Creator authority—a universal vote must also be conducted."

"At present, Terra Civilization does not possess the authority to carry out the 'activation vote' procedure."

The Endless Tide's answer to Ian's question was extremely detailed. "The standard count for a universal vote requires awareness among all intelligent life on the planet, along with participation of eighty percent or more. However, the Terra Star Domain does not currently possess so many minds with complete self-awareness."

"In theory, Terra Star and Terra Civilization should be disqualified from voting to activate the Perpetual Motion Machine. However, because this mental brainwashing was not completed, and the injured individuals have no major aftereffects, the purity of the voting population can be guaranteed. Therefore, the conclusion has been reached: two to eleven years from now, when over eighty percent of Terra's intelligent minds have returned to normal, a vote to activate the Perpetual Motion Machine may be held."

"Thank you very much."

Ian smiled and nodded, then asked, "Then what does a broad voting mandate mean?"

"All standard intelligent life on this planet possesses one vote, which may select an 'activator' and grant them the ability to control the Perpetual Motion Machine."

The Perpetual Motion Machine's reply was simple and clear, yet it left every powerful listener shocked and incredulous. "This voting rule is founded upon the civilizational structure of Terra Civilization—a meritocratic political system led by powerful individuals. Every region will have one candidate, serving as a seed contestant in the vote."

"On this basis, the powerful individual who gains the support of more people will obtain the qualification to control the Perpetual Motion Machine."

"Thank you."

By then, Ian was already smiling. He turned toward the earth and repeated, "Activating the Perpetual Motion Machine requires the corresponding authorities, free minds, and a universal vote."

"Brainwashed ordinary people cannot act as voting individuals. Only when more than eighty percent of participants are normal can the vote to activate the Perpetual Motion Machine begin."

"They cannot be brainwashed slaves, nor can they be madmen ensnared by enchantment. You must earn everyone's wholehearted support, rather than making them silently suppress their anger. So long as there is even one place in this world that people yearn for, they will support a powerful individual from afar rather than you, their current ruler."

"And when that time comes, the voters will grant power to the person who respects them most, who will then eliminate every last one of those mad scum!"

"Do you understand, all you 'powerful people'? An existence more powerful than you has established a simple, unadorned rule—if you still desire that inconceivable power, that power capable of fulfilling infinite dreams, then your madness must have limits!"

This was Ian's true purpose.

The reason he had expended so much power, revealed his trump card, and summoned the Perpetual Motion Machine was to tell everyone throughout Terra.

—The Perpetual Motion Machine's infinite power existed.

—The Perpetual Motion Machine could fulfill everyone's dreams.

—The Perpetual Motion Machine could only be activated under certain conditions. It was not some simple treasure that could be used merely by obtaining it.

—If one wished to fulfill one's dreams, one had to meet those conditions and could not act as one pleased.

Ian let out a long breath and looked upon the earth, the corners of his lips curling upward.

—Want the Perpetual Motion Machine? Then go build a world where everyone possesses dignity, a future, and something to yearn for! I have placed infinite power there for you!

No one doubted the truth of Ian's and the Perpetual Motion Machine's words.

This was not something that could be lied about. The power contained within the Perpetual Motion Machine could not possibly be faked, and its reality surpassed even the world itself. Even if they themselves were not real, the Perpetual Motion Machine could not be false.

Thus, a "restriction" that was difficult for every powerful being to accept appeared plainly before them.

—From this moment onward, those meaningless ordinary people, those complicated things that in their eyes grew and died like weeds, now possessed the right to nominate who would become the strongest person in the world.

Only whoever allowed the masses to live happily could obtain the right to control the Perpetual Motion Machine!

"What an absurd deus ex machina! This is outrageous!"

Indeed, some powerful people thought exactly that. They had racked their brains to make their nations dominant or gain greater influence over the Terra Continent. Yet now someone was telling them that all their previous efforts had been futile, and that what truly mattered was treating their own people well and earning their support?

And not only that—they had to let people from other nations know this as well, making them yearn for life in their country?

This was outrageous! Did it not mean that the powerful had to serve ordinary people and flatter them?

Yet another, wiser group of powerful people keenly realized that this vote was not a simple populist vote.

The civilization behind the Perpetual Motion Machine, the civilization known as the Star Gods, was not merely a supporter of democracy. On the contrary, it was a highly inclusive civilization that embraced every extreme civilizational form: absolute dictatorship, monarchy, oligarchy, gestalt consciousness, megacorporate systems, even divided hives.

Simply put, as transcendent beings, the Star Gods possessed no political stance in the human sense—such things were too insignificant to describe even a fraction of the Star Gods' will.

They knew perfectly well that present-day Terra was a pure meritocracy ruled by powerful elites. The logic within the Perpetual Motion Machine did not reject this. Therefore, even with a universal vote, it did not mean that anyone could become a candidate for people to vote on. Only after becoming powerful enough, becoming the actual ruler of a region, and becoming a candidate could one participate in this electoral competition.

Then how did one become an actual ruler?

The Perpetual Motion Machine imposed no restrictions. Even if one led an army to defeat the free people of a region, then gradually earned the people's recognition through good governance, that was acceptable.

Even invading, bringing benefits to one's own nation, allowing militarism to flourish within it, and inspiring fanatical worship of oneself was not against the rules.

This did not force every powerful person to grovel before ordinary people and serve them.

On the contrary, this was a war.

And the cards of war, the foundation of war, remained the people in their hands.

Only this time, what they needed to spend was not their people's blood, tears, and lives, but their laughter, happiness, and peace.

This was the sole restriction imposed by the Perpetual Motion Machine: do not waste human lives for no reason and no purpose.

It had placed an enormous stake upon the value of every life, but it had not changed the rules of the game.

—Human life is a more precious resource than you imagine. Do not waste it casually.

Beyond that, what they needed to do was no different from before.

The Star Gods and the Perpetual Motion Machine were merciful, but also ruthless. If humanity itself chose the road to extinction, chose to slaughter its own kin, then even gods would remain silent, at most letting out a sigh.

But precisely because of that...

There were also powerful beings who went mad, losing their reason over these "overly harsh conditions."

"Damned humans!"

In the Dark Mountains, a dark and vicious streak of light suddenly burst forth. A sharp claw tore through the heavens' radiance and, carrying the most absolute killing intent, struck directly at Ian beneath the Perpetual Motion Machine.

This ambush did not surprise Ian. The prophet, who had foreseen it long ago, looked toward the attacker and softly rebuked, "Beast of Emptiness, Hellbreaker, ruler of the Dark Mountains... I see. You are a loner, a Fifth Energy Level being with no supporters at all. No wonder you have become so enraged and unhinged."

The attacker was one of the three Titan magical beasts and Abyssal Aliens who roamed alone in the Dark Mountains without any affiliation—the master of shadow spacetime who ruled the southwest of the Titan Domain, the Shadowmare King, a pure monster with ever-changing forms and a body composed of shadowy negative energy.

The Shadowmare King's life form differed vastly from that of most creatures in this world. It lived within dim nebulae where dark matter gathered, making its home in shattered spacetime. Since ancient times, the Shadowmare King had occupied the Dark Mountains in northwestern Terra, living a solitary wandering existence.

It had few of its kind and had not established a beast kingdom of its own. It scarcely possessed the mentality or ability for group cooperation, because its essence was that of a super-lifeform dwelling within a star domain, a solitary colossal beast.

In the past, as a Fifth Energy Level existence, it could obtain the respect of every nation no matter what. It was their competitor and partner, while the fear and submission of mortals were its only pleasures. But now, Ian and the Perpetual Motion Machine had stripped away its superiority bare-handedly.

With no subjects, it would possess no status in the future world. Beyond its identity as a Fifth Energy Level being, its value had plunged to rock bottom. No other Fifth Energy Level being would even consider forming an alliance with it, for the Shadowmare King's evil reputation had spread far and wide. Unless it began treating others kindly from now on and continued doing so for a hundred years, it would swiftly become the most unwelcome and despised powerful being in the future world. No one would communicate with it peacefully.

The blow to its pride far exceeded any real injury it had suffered. Thus, it was truly enraged and attacked Ian in fury!

For a moment, deep sharp claws tore through spacetime. Black shadows corroded everything around them, condensing into shattered arrays of inscriptions. At the same time, those seemingly ordinary claws underwent violent transformations, gathering into illusory shadow warships—the Phantom Host.

Shadowmares devoured the souls and memories of living beings. The fleets of alien civilizations that had once invaded their homeland became a part of them after being consumed. The shadows rose and sank, extending like thought itself, rapidly creating a cloudbank that blanketed the sky. Within it appeared countless warships and colossal beasts, foes defeated by the Shadowmares, all charging toward Ian.

These shadow forces contained an extraordinary principle. Ian could see that their external forms were entirely meaningless. Whether warships or colossal beasts, human soldiers or a meteorite, the forms they took merely represented an imposing presence. What truly mattered was the ability within them to convert karmic burden.

Simply put, though they appeared imposing, as though sharp blades were about to cut apart all things, they were actually a defensive counterattack. If anyone was frightened by that momentum and struck with full force, they would be devoured by the shadow power prepared in advance, swept up, and transformed into an even stronger force that struck back without warning!

But unfortunately, such a petty trick might deceive anyone else, but it could not deceive the prophet.

And Ian's attack was not something it could absorb or convert.

Under everyone's gaze, Ian raised his sword.

He raised the "Edge of the Falling Sun."

The black aetheric Black Domain spun at extreme speed, and blinding radiance erupted forth, becoming endless sword light. In an instant, spacetime twisted, and everyone realized in astonishment that they could no longer see anything in their field of vision beyond that incomparably enormous sword of spacetime. Overwhelming gravity distorted the visual field, drawing all light and every image into it.

Even light could be distorted—

For a moment, the many powerful beings watching coldly from the sidelines, waiting for the Shadowmare King to test the strength of Ian, this "new Fifth Energy Level," froze. They thought of the two Blood of the Apex Seat Sun God Birds that had returned earlier... They had believed Mikael had used the ancient True Dragon's power to perish together with Axel, while Ian had merely provided support from the side. But now it seemed... had his Immovable Fortress already approached the First Knight of old...

They had no time to continue thinking.

The Shadowmare King suddenly felt its power severed from itself—yet only then did it see Ian raise his sword.

Looking up, the Beast of Emptiness saw in disbelief a dimensional blade that had cleaved spacetime in two slashing directly toward it, striking its body. Only now did its sensory organs and aetheric perception organs belatedly inform it that Ian Silverpeak had just swung his sword down—

But it had already been struck.

The light it saw was slower than the actual sword. The light carrying the image of his action had only just begun its journey, while the faster-than-light dimensional blade that transcended spacetime and struck after yet arrived first had already cleaved into it.

It could not even be sensed. The slash was faster than thought itself—how could a strike that severed the light of a falling sun be twisted or diverted by shadows?

Crack! A miserable shriek rang out from the Dark Mountains. Within the cloudy secret realm covering the southwest of the mountain range, surging waves of pitch-black blood splashed up, raising billows between heaven and earth.

The earth and mountains, rivers and hills, forests and basins behind the Shadowmare King all split open with a crack. The fissure continued extending with repeated cracking sounds, tearing apart to either side and dividing the entire land in two.

A rift valley had been born.

"In terms of raw power, you may at most stand on equal footing with me. But with such clumsy technique, with your petty instinct to test me rather than unleash your full strength immediately, you are destined to fall farther and farther behind me, until you become nothing more than my stepping stone."

Slowly sheathing his sword, Ian did not spare the Shadowmare King even a second of attention. He turned and once again looked upon the vast Terra Continent and all living things upon it.

He could sense it. After witnessing his power, the people of Terra, who had still been hesitant, suspicious, and uncertain, experienced for the first time a fervor, a trust, an unreasoning longing and worship.

The contrast made Ian find it somewhat amusing, but he did not feel disappointed, because this was Terra. This was the order of this world.

—Only power, only great power, could earn the Terrans' respect.

—This was a civilization that had endured sixteen hundred years of natural disasters and attacks by alien gods. Everyone equally faced the danger of sudden death. In such a world, people should naturally yearn for the strong, revere the strong, and respect everyone capable of protecting them.

Just as people would revere any leader capable of granting them a safe life, peaceful and happy days, enough food and warm clothing—what was there to be disappointed about?

Because he possessed invincible power and could answer everyone's wishes!

"Everyone!"

Thus, Ian Silverpeak, the White Prophet known to all Terrans, spread his arms toward the earth. "As long as someone is willing to believe, I will act to protect them."

"I desire the Perpetual Motion Machine's power to fulfill my dream—I wish to create a New World where everyone can possess strength and withstand every accident and disaster in life. The Arcane Path is proof of my dream, the prototype of the New World I wish to create."

"I will not allow anyone in this world to harm another for no reason, because every one of you will be part of the future world I wish to create."

"So, if you are willing to believe in the future I will create, then cast your vote for me in the future!"

In the name of Ian Silverpeak, I swear that during this time, I will prove that my words are no lie, but events that will happen—and must happen—in the future!

This is the prophecy of a prophet!

—Huh?

—How shameless. Is he already canvassing for votes!?

For a time, many powerful figures were still reeling from the Edge of the Falling Sun's might, not yet having time to consider how to counter that faster-than-light strike, when they saw this shameless young man seize this perfect opportunity to canvass the entire population of Terra for votes!

But that was the truth!

The moment the Perpetual Motion Machine was announced, war—the war of a new era, the Terra War of the Post-Solar War Era—had already begun!

The world's new order, new laws, and new form of warfare had begun to take shape from this very moment!

Let everyone bear witness!

Whether king or pauper, whether a street vendor hauling fruit and vegetables to sell, or a wealthy merchant negotiating agreements in a resplendent guild hall; whether an admiral of a fleet or a sailor aboard a fishing boat, in this new age, each of them was but one vote.

Let all life bear witness!

Whether magical beast or Alien, whether fiend or angel, whether wicked freak or kind saint, those who hunted and those who were hunted were now equal. In the eyes of the Star Gods, in the eyes of the Perpetual Motion Machine, whether they were gods or mere creatures, they were all—and only—one vote.

Let every mind bear witness to this war!

The people had never cared whether the powerful person above their heads was an emperor or king, a governor or speaker. So long as he could bring them dignity, food, victory and joy, a happy and healthy life of peace and stability, then he was the people's god.

On Terra, Fifth Energy Level powerhouses had to contend against natural disasters, resist geological upheavals and the assaults of other powerhouses and magical beasts. Without them, humanity had not deserved peace since the Lost Epoch. Thus, no matter how insane Fifth Energy Level powerhouses became, driven mad by their own strength and descending into madness, people still revered them. Like children battered and bruised by the world, they still revered those elders and guardians who had gone mad, yet still shielded them from wind and rain and bore every injury for them.

The people did not even mind if Fifth Energy Level powerhouses ignored or despised them. They did not care. So long as that powerhouse was willing to extend a hand in the pitch-black, freezing world and block the disasters they could not withstand, the people would praise that righteous deed and hail him as a hero.

Even if that Fifth Energy Level powerhouse was brutal and savage, viewing them as gray livestock and fuel for his dreams, so long as he could bring rain in years of drought and disaster, shatter typhoons when windstorms descended, and drive away blizzards during cold calamities, people would spread tales of his deeds and worship that towering figure.

If that Fifth Energy Level powerhouse could think further still—if he tried to let everyone eat more meat, receive more education, grow prosperous, and live free from the burdens of survival—then even if he said not a word, sects that revered him as a saint in his name would spread across the land.

One only needed to do these things, things that were not difficult for a Fifth Energy Level powerhouse, for people to remember him as they remembered Inaga II. Even if an entire world disparaged and condemned him, many would still remember the good beyond his mistakes, the right beyond his failures.

The living beings of Terra had no greater demands. They merely wanted a safe home, a future they did not need to worry about, full stomachs, and warm clothes.

So long as that could be achieved, it did not matter whether one was emperor or god.

So, was that enough?

Ian believed it could be better—there could be dignity, education, desires of one's own, dreams, and a future.

This was war.

A war between the New World and the old world.

A war of desires and dreams.

A war...

To end all wars.

Whoever possessed the Perpetual Motion Machine would become the strongest person in this world, the one who defined all order and morality.

Anyone could compete. Anyone could vote.

The future would decide who gained victory.

Above the heavens, the Perpetual Motion Machine's radiance gradually dimmed—the Endless Tide that had been summoned knew that now was not the time for it to activate, and so it withdrew its gaze and returned to the boundless Aether Abyss.

Wait. Keep waiting.

Wait for the future to become reality. Wait for hope to become the present.

When it appeared next, perhaps this immature civilization, scarred all over, would have matured and no longer be a child.

When it appeared next, perhaps everyone would be able to look toward the future and the distant horizon with joy and hope.

That was why waiting was the greatest virtue in this universe.

And at the very moment the White Abyssal Hole in the heavens vanished.

A flurry of voices rose.

—So then, Prophet?

—Can you tell us about your dream? What do you intend to do after obtaining the Perpetual Motion Machine?

—The New World is too broad, too vast. We do not understand.

Ian heard those voices. He heard their doubts, along with a hidden longing and yearning.

It was precisely because they wanted to persuade themselves, to believe in him in the sky, that they asked these questions and harbored these doubts.

At that, Ian was briefly stunned, then revealed a delighted smile.

My wish is something you cannot understand for now. Perhaps no one in this world can understand it.

He answered softly, his tone gentle, as though describing a fragile dream: "But I will let the people of my territory live better lives. I will let them understand what science is, what art is. I will teach them philosophical reasoning and logic, let them understand nature, society, and the universe."

"I will let them know history, the present, and the future."

"And let dreams arise in their hearts."

"Only then..."

Saying this, with his back to the black sun, the prophet closed his eyes. "Only then will you understand. Only then will you know..."

"Why I wish to go..."

"Above the High Heavens."

"Along that road leading straight toward the stars."

—Above the High Heavens, Part Two: Steel Lord—End

Sorry, sorry. This was so difficult to write that I stayed up until now to finish it!

Part Two is over. I'm going to sleep first—my schedule is a mess again. I should have just said there would be no update today instead of saying it would come late at night. That was so stupid.

I'll find time to write some closing thoughts, and then I really need to rest for a while!

Good night, everyone. Please give me some monthly votes!