The entire Blue Star fell into a deathly silence.
First came the silence brought on by learning the cruel truth.
At that moment, it was as if the entire planet had been plunged into a freezing chamber at absolute zero, even the air solidifying.
Countless people lost the ability to think. Their minds held only one absurd and cruel thought: everything they and their departed loved ones had suffered—every hardship, sacrifice, and separation—had merely been part of an assessment? A test?
Then came the silence brought on by the gospel of resurrection.
The magma of rage had yet to erupt when it was doused by this rain from the heavens, leaving only bewildered steam in its wake.
In that moment, billions of living beings across the planet seemed to fall collectively silent. Only their hearts remained, pounding madly in their chests with thunderous beats, as if providing the most primal accompaniment to that inconceivable divine oracle.
"R-Resurrection?" Chen Yu's voice was full of disbelief.
He was the first to break free from the double shock.
"Everyone... everyone who died in the assessment? Old Zhang? Xiao Liu? And Aunt Wang's boy?!"
Every name he spoke carried a heavy memory and regret. Now, it was as if those names had been infused with life and light, burning in his eyes.
"Everyone... who died in the assessment. Everyone?" Elizabeth murmured to herself. For the first time, a powerful emotion stirred in her icy blue eyes.
The cool detachment that had enveloped her for so long was shattered completely.
She remembered the little girl from the early days of establishing the London settlement. Supplies had been desperately scarce, medical care rudimentary, and an infected wound had left the girl burning with fever. Even then, she had held Elizabeth's hand and murmured, "Big sister... don't