Afterword 3: Gravity

Half a month later, Wang Damin, who had become a prisoner of war and a prisoner, returned to the Nine Realms Headquarters.

He got his wish and returned to the familiar "civilized world," back to the Tender Paradise he had always dreamed of.

--There is a 24-hour hot water supply, ample electricity, electronic equipment, and a wide variety of entertainment.

He became an empty shell, losing his value as a prisoner. David Victor had already used his Soul Power to retrieve this crucial intelligence regarding the alliance between Judas and the Immortals.

Throughout the entire process, Wang Damin believed he would not die, and this strong mental inertia continued to influence his words and actions.

He was a time traveler, a chosen one, a hero summoned by the God of Grain. He could still feel the power of [Defying Heaven and Changing Fate the Destiny] continuing to work its intended effect, and the divine incarnation was protecting his body; it seemed that nothing could harm him.

In simpler terms, Kunwu considers himself a player.

This physical body was merely a game character to him; characters in games are simply emotionless and worthless NPCs.

As long as [Change the Defying Heaven and Changing Fate] can protect him, and he still holds three or four hundred lives in his hands, he can sit back and relax, escaping the punishment of the civilized world—after all, the civilized world also has its own moral sword.

Just as Kunwu had expected, he was well taken care of after arriving in the Nine Realms —even the prison food was pre-made, mass-produced food from a modern industrial assembly line. With just a little bit of seasoning, the synthetic meat tasted better than human flesh.

He got a computer, but could only surf the underground network, use it to read books and newspapers, and occasionally play some simple games. He was already extremely grateful and thrilled that he could run Heroes of Might and Magic and Red Alert.

The half-wolves assigned from the Qingjin Institute to the Nine Realms headquarters to guard the prisoner were all puzzled—this serious offender seemed to have gone mad, appearing so happy and fulfilled every day.

On the third day, Ming De personally visited the prisoner, and the master of the Nine Realms came before this prisoner who was about to be executed.

"I've discussed it with the cabinet; you don't need to go through the trial process."

The Black Cat simply crawled into the iron fence without opening the gate.

--It carried its two paws on its back, dressed in a respectable little suit, and raised its head to look at the leader of the enemy camp.

"The things we provide for you in prison are humanitarian end-of-life care, but I don't really want to do this. I've never treated you like a human being, so there's no question of humanity."

At this point, Wang Damin still didn't reply. He was immersed in the wonderful illusion created by video games, just like a five or six-year-old child who goes to an internet cafe and can secretly play games without an ID card. He was intoxicated in the world of CS 1.6, trying hard to recall the days from hundreds of years ago.

When he heard about "trial proceedings" and "end-of-life care," his bloodshot eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't care at all. He just wanted to seize this brief moment and grasp the beauty before him.

It's truly unimaginable Judas Ming De have used such cruel methods to torture this time traveler into his current half-mad state, and to throw a modern person into Shambhala. What kind of torture was that?

The boss continued, "I wouldn't have given you these things if Wood Plark hadn't promised."

Wang Damin still didn't respond. He was breathing heavily, gripping the mouse tightly, searching for his former self amidst the intense gunfight—once he arrived in Shambhala, he could no longer be a human being, but only the Kunwu Sect Leader.

After a while, he returned to reality from the game world and properly greeted the Lord of the Nine Realms, Ming De.

"Yo, hehe."

He was nonchalant and didn't take his death sentence seriously at all.

"What do you mean? Are you going to execute me?"

The BOSS's expression was very calm. Usually, it was very particular about its dignified appearance, but this time it seemed indifferent, as if its heart was empty.

It didn't care about this time traveler. Long before, Kang Que Johnny had angered the Good Cat—because the handsome and capable boy was a warrior blessed by the Good Cat.

"Yes, starting from when you boarded the Mayflower on its return journey, I discussed your execution with the An Li Hui. After these past two days, the result is that you should leave."

"What can you do to me?" Wang Damin remained defiant. "I'm still very useful! Taowu! I know you! You're a leader who values talent, and my soul power is so formidable."

Before Wang Damin could finish speaking, Ming De interrupted him—

"--We have ways to neutralize you, Wang Damin. You still don't understand your situation, and you don't know what crime you've committed."

Upon hearing this, the Kunwu Sect Leader finally began to feel guilty.

"Still being stubborn, hahaha."

Hehehe

Are you sure you want to give up on me? Give up on my innate psychic abilities?

"Don't you have a lot of VIPs? For the various administrative regions of the Nine Realms, these opinion leaders, these heroes in the eyes of the masses, they can all get a get-out-of-jail-free card from me."

"I"

Ming De didn't speak, but climbed onto the table, standing at the same height as Wang Damin, looking at each other at eye level.

Wang Damin's voice grew softer and softer, more and more panicked.

"This deal is incredibly easy to calculate. It's like doing elementary school math. I can take care of 666 high-value units. All you have to do is sacrifice 666 death row inmates, lock them up, make sure they're well-fed and cared for, and let them live healthy lives. No matter how serious the injuries your beloved soldiers suffer, even if they lose their lives, you can transfer that misfortune to the death row inmates."

"So, you still care about the lives of those lowly people in Shambhala?"

"Could it be..."

"Ming De"

Wang Damin's face grew increasingly pale, and his body gradually stiffened.

"I know"

He immediately began to struggle to save himself, trying to make some excuse.

"I know I did some shady things for Judas in the past, I know, I am aware of it."

"I've already confessed. You let David Victor scrub my head. Isn't my attitude of confessing good enough?"

"Think about it, if I hadn't cooperated obediently this time, would your assault team have found it so easy to take down Taiye? Would things have been that simple?"

Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do wrong?

A long time passed, and Ming De remained silent.

The good cat is thinking; it's feeling very sad.

--It's not that I'm upset for Wang Damin, but for his two other capable assistants from Shambhala.

Shambhala can subtly change a person. Even though Wang Damin came from another civilized world, the fertile soil in this barbaric and bloody trial has completely transformed him.

It was such a difficult and arduous thing for Wood Plark and Luo Ping'an to come from the other side of the sea to the administrative region under the jurisdiction of the Nine Realms, to uphold the righteous path, to maintain their human form, and not to devote themselves to the cause of Judas.

"I'm here to pronounce your death sentence, not to discuss it with you," Ming De said calmly. "This is a notification. You can refuse to accept it, but you can't stop it. Nothing you say will change the outcome."

Wang Damin completely lost his temper. His emotions became fragile and easily angered, and he immediately shouted, "What?!"

"--Why!? Why should I?! You have to give me a reason!"

Ming De: "Your soul power is indeed very impressive. Your identity as a time traveler may be very noble in your eyes. I know you are confident in your abilities. You have strong organizational skills and can make a group of bloodthirsty monsters obey your orders—you must be quite adept at managing a company as well."

"Yes!" Wang Damin quickly chimed in, "Yes, boss! You knew all along! I thought you didn't!"

The good cat shook its head. "But I wouldn't feel sorry at all if I sentenced you to death."

"Why?" Wang Damin asked, puzzled.

The good cat explained, "Because I am not Judas, I do not eat human flesh."

"Huh?" Wang Damin was confused now; he didn't understand.

The good cat then patiently explained further, wanting the Immortals to die with a clear understanding.

"This is a matter of principle, and there is no room for negotiation."

"There are many Blood-giving Monster like you who have come to surrender. In the later stages of the Expedition, there are plenty of fence-sitters. Anyone with a bit of brains and ability has already started planning how to find a good new ally."

"They can quit drugs, endure the pain of transforming from Blood-giving Monster into beast-devouring patients, give up their powers, and eat vegetarian food or supplements—but their cannibalistic nature is unchangeable. They'll reveal their true colors after just a couple of words."

"Their indifference to life was as natural as breathing; with each exhale, bits of flesh from between their teeth emitted a nauseating stench."

"Wood Plark should have given you a chance; I've seen the contents of your conversation."

"He wants you to release your psychic powers and release all the hostages you hold—did you obey him?"

Wang Damin shook his head, finding the request utterly ridiculous.

--Remove his psionic powers? Isn't that going to kill him?

"I agreed to it! Didn't I release some people? And he agreed to it too, he did send over a computer. He..."

The boss patted Kunwu on the shoulder. "Then this deal ends with this computer. If you don't want to talk, then I can't continue. You disgust me—the fact that you can still speak and enjoy yourself in my cell is an insult to me and my warriors."

"Heh heh." Wang Damin chuckled in terror, sweat beading on his forehead. "You have a way to kill me? I don't even know how I'm supposed to die. Heh heh heh. Great Lord of the Nine Realms! Can you really bring yourself to do this?"

"If you want to kill me, you'll have to kill my scapegoat first."

"I have no objection. What objection could I possibly have? These lowly people are dead, so be it. In time, we can find new ones."

"But your golden statue cannot be stained with human blood. You yourself have repeatedly stated this—you do not eat human flesh."

Ming De had no intention of uttering any more nonsense. It jumped off the table and chairs, squeezed through the iron fence, and left without looking back.

Like many death row inmates--

Wang Damin initially did not believe he would die. Before being taken to the execution ground, such people were unrepentant. Even after seeing the coffin, as long as it wasn't covered with soil, they still believed they had done nothing wrong.

He continued to eat and drink in prison, playing games every day, waiting for the stubborn Ming De to change his attitude.

Three days later, two strong Lapis Lazuli Guards led him to the transport vehicle.

His eyes were blindfolded, and he was dressed in a straitjacket woven from steel wire and iron rings to protect him from cuts and stabs before being sent to the mortal world.

The moment the white-plated armored vehicle drove out of the Hung Hom Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Wang Damin felt a burning, stinging sensation on his skin.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd basked in the real sun. Hong Kong summers were intensely hot, and the energy of this star made him feel the pain of his impending doom.

The death penalty procedure he couldn't come up with has already been devised for him by someone else.

After a 32-hour journey, we arrived at KSC (Kennedy Space Center).

--Arriving at Merritt Island, Florida, at NASA's Crew Spacecraft Ground Control Center.

When Wang Damin removed his blindfold, he felt as if he had been transported to another world. He looked at the launch tower that pierced the sky, at the bustling tourists coming and going, and at the world that was both familiar and strange to him.

An advertisement is playing on the screen in the multimedia center.

"At 8 p. m. Eastern Time on September 15, 2021, SpaceX launched its first commercial crewed mission."

"Its Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, carrying four passengers on a three-day space voyage."

The An Li Hui, along with the National Security Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the TRG Psionic Affairs Administration, have diligently delivered the death row inmate to the execution platform.

Four hours later, four special guests arrived in the cabin of the Orion manned spacecraft.

The other three, besides Kunwu, were not talkative. They were the violent agency of the TRG Psionic Affairs Bureau, merely executioners of death sentences, and had nothing in common with death row inmates.

Apart from the flight schedule announcements, the voice prompts for the various safety checks of the launcher, and brief exchanges between ground control and the astronauts, Wang Damin's mind had gone completely blank.

Judging from the English broadcast from the ground control system, it was just an ordinary satellite launch mission, with three passengers incidentally on board. It seemed that Wang Damin had become invisible, and he had guessed the cause of his death: he would leave Earth and become a piece of space debris.

As the spaceship lifted off, the powerful thrust pressed him firmly into his chair. He wanted to scream and beg for mercy, but it was too late. The tremors of the ship and the rapidly receding earth outside the observation window robbed him of all will to live.

He began to feel fortunate again.

--This is a way of dying that many people would rather die.

I no longer regret it; it's as if I've let go of everything.

The spaceship soared upwards, and he straightened up with great effort, gazing at the vast, boundless land outside the window. There were no more chains or cages; the entire planet was about to unfold before his eyes.

Once he reached the thermosphere/ionosphere, he could see most of the Earth clearly, unlike what he had expected or the scene he remembered.

The planet's curvature isn't as pronounced as in NASA's promotional videos; it appears to be a short, stout, irregular ellipse.

Two new cyclones have just formed in the Pacific Ocean, and they are heading towards Malaysia, gradually turning into typhoons.

The instant they completely escaped near-Earth orbit --

--Wang Damin has entered a state of Gate of Death, seemingly too far away from the power of the soul, and too far away from the magnetic field of Mother Earth.

Even [Change the Defying Heaven and Changing Fate] couldn't change his fate. The moment his spirit shattered, a withered yellow color appeared on the surface of his physical body, the instant his Soul Power Tree broke apart. These 666 pairs of fledglings would never return to his side.

He had long since lost the pull of gravity. After falling into the Gate of Death, he was arbitrarily pulled and manipulated by the three executioners around him and thrown into the isolation chamber.

To withstand the intense solar winds, the isolation chamber was quickly shut down completely.

Those few seconds of darkness made his heart pound with panic and fear.

He was soon no longer afraid.

--An unparalleled solar wind blew over.

He entered the cosmic medium, without any protection or life support equipment.

He felt his blood rapidly depressurize and boil, and his visual system was paralyzed within a second.

The extreme cold of the vacuum and the extreme heat of the solar wind turned him into fragile, brittle sand, and everything fell silent.

The isolation chamber spewed out a burst of booster gas, quickly throwing the death row inmate off the spacecraft.

He tumbled and rolled against the dark backdrop of space, turning to ashes under the scorching sun. In just a few breaths, not even his clothes remained, and he drifted further and further away from Earth.

Yes, he's dead.