Once all the Calamities had reached their positions, only the dozing Chief remained beside Ye Buyu.
At some point, the Chief woke, let out a long yawn, and spoke unhurriedly:
"Is everything ready?"
Ye Buyu straightened and smoothed the hem of her clothes. Her gaze pierced the universe, sweeping over the points of light scattered throughout it. Each point represented a comrade ready to act. She took a deep breath and nodded gently.
"Everything's ready."
The Chief struggled to hold open those nearly closing eyelids, a trace of weariness and doubt in that gaze.
"Have you really decided to bear the first wave of impact alone to preserve their consciousness? Have you carefully weighed the risks involved?"
Ye Buyu shrugged lightly, a calm yet resolute smile appearing on her lips as she replied:
"From every perspective, I seem to be the most suitable choice.
"When the new universe is born, the concepts of life and death certainly cannot be absent, while civilization and order are the cornerstones of rebuilding. Time also needs to connect smoothly with those beings who received the signal.
"Besides... my very essence is a segment of a causal thread.
"If the causal entanglements of the old era aren't completely severed, how can the chapter of a new era truly begin? I must return all the energy in full. Only then can the new universe give rise to an entirely new, independent system of cause and effect.
"Look at it the other way: the new world's cycle of cause and effect must be complete and pure. It cannot accommodate any remnants of the old era.
"If they are to reach the future with new identities, every trace connecting them to the old era must be completely erased. And I'm the only one who can do that."
Behind