[Sky] realized it couldn't withstand the attack head-on and immediately prepared to transform into a gust of wind to evade it.
But as He looked around, preparing to find an escape route, the scene before Him caused [Sky] to momentarily lose its senses.
All around the entire mountain forest were towering, fleshy giants.
They were level with the sky, their bodies devoid of skin, consisting only of muscles and bones, their fierce eyes fixed intently on the [Sky].
Hela naturally witnessed this scene as well, seeing the entire thing.
At that moment, several lumps of flesh suddenly began to grow at the edge, forming these dozen or so celestial giants with a regeneration speed that even Hela could not achieve.
Moreover, Hela could sense that the giants' original bodies didn't have much energy at all, but energy was remotely transferred to them, as if they were being wirelessly charged.
This was something Hela had never been able to do before, and she couldn't help but look at her past life with new respect.
[Sky] There was no way to avoid it; all they could do was watch as the attack, which could easily destroy a country, came hurtling towards them.
The tornado stopped abruptly when it was only a few meters from the sky.
The powerful wind caused the enormous eyes to ripple slightly.
Buzzing... (What do you mean...?)
"Because we don't have to kill each other." With a gentle wave of his hand, the ferocious scarlet tornado turned into a bloody mist and dissipated.
The blood mist dissipated in front of the old man, transforming into brand-new tables and benches.
The old man walked over and sat down, casually placing his cane aside.
"Why don't we talk? My spouse is gone, and I'm very lonely."
Buzz buzz buzz--(What are you plotting? I was just about to kill you.)
"What does it matter? As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship."
The translucent eyes in the air stared at the old man for a long time, then began to buzz.
(Go ahead and tell me what you want to say.)
The teapot and teacup burst from the table surface, and the old man poured himself a cup of tea and slowly drank it.
Then he gently placed the cup on the table and gazed intently at it.
"What do you think is the meaning of our existence as [Five Calamities]?"
Buzzing sounds—(of course, it's about destroying humanity.)
[Sky] answered without hesitation.
The old man smiled faintly, then shook his head.
Buzzing... (Did I say something wrong?)
"So you think that's all there is to our lives?"
The old man didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question in return.
Buzzing sounds—(Of course, we are created by the Earth's desire to destroy humanity.)
Do you hate humans?
"..." [Sky] fell silent.
Seeing this, the old man slowly turned his head and looked at a blooming flower next to him.
What do you think is the significance of this flower's birth?
[Sky]' s enormous eyes locked onto the flower, and after a moment's thought, it spoke.
Buzzing—(spreading pollen, reproducing.)
The flower's roots began to grow rapidly, and soon the flower was in front of the old man.
I believe the purpose of this flower is to be beautiful.
Before [Sky] could say anything, he gently stroked the petals and said softly.
"That's right, just as you said, the very purpose of a flower's birth is indeed to reproduce."
"But because of its beauty, it has been given new meaning by humankind."
"It has different meanings in the eyes of different people."
"In nature's eyes, the significance of this flower is indeed to spread pollen and reproduce."
"But in the eyes of a florist, it carries the significance of adding beauty to the city."
"In the eyes of a perfumer, it also serves to add a touch of flavor to the perfume."
"The same applies to people..."
"Contributing to society and raising children are also meaningful contributions made by humankind."
However, these meanings vary in degree.
The [Sky] gazed silently at the old man, as if it understood something.
Buzzing... (So what's your greatest significance?)
The old man paused slightly upon hearing this, Hela quickly leaned closer, straining her ears to listen intently.
"Heh... maybe it'll destroy humanity..."
Hearing this answer, Hela was greatly disappointed, and even the [Sky] seemed to agree.
Buzzing sounds—(So what's the point of all this talking to me? In the end, you're just like me.)
"Yeah... what's the point anyway...?"
The old man looked at the coffin in the wooden house, his eyes filled with intense emotion.
Do you really think humans deserve to die?
Buzzing sounds—(Damn it, we're here because they're destroying the Earth.)
"But... they are also part of Earth."
The old man looked at his hands and sighed with emotion, "And is the value of [Life] simply to destroy other Life?"
Hela lowered her head and began to ponder.
"Humans may have done many evil things, but they can also be great, righteous, and powerful Life worthy of praise."
No Life should be categorized as a pest.
[Sky] spoke again after a long pause.
Buzzing sounds—(So, do you really want to destroy humanity?)
The old man slowly got up, went to the coffin, picked up the tombstone, and began carving again.
Whether or not humanity should be destroyed is a decision for humanity itself.
As the carving knife sliced through the wood, shavings fell like snowflakes.
Buzzing—(What do you mean by that?)
The old man slowly carved the tombstone, and soon a tombstone with a name engraved on it appeared.
The old man smiled contentedly.
"Literally, humanity's survival will be in their own hands, and I will observe everything they do to determine whether this race will perish."
The old man held the tombstone in one hand, and with his other aged hand, he gently lifted the entire coffin.
He walked out with faltering steps.
Buzzing sounds—(So, do you think humanity needs to be destroyed?)
The old man shook his head.
"I can't decide."
"?"
"?"
Hela and [Sky] were both taken aback.
The old man had already arrived at the hole that had been dug in advance outside the courtyard and placed the coffin inside.
All the cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks kept in the yard came over and started digging, gradually covering the coffin with a blanket of mud.
"I was adopted by humans when I was a child, and have always been raised as a pet by my lover."
"My bond with humanity is too deep; I can no longer judge this race from a neutral standpoint."
The coffin was covered with a thick blanket, forming an earthen mound, and a tombstone was placed in front of the grave.
"Therefore, such a heavy responsibility can only be entrusted to another version of myself..."
The [Sky] seemed to understand something.
The old man's gaze was fixed on the sky, on that enormous eye.
"I'll give you the strongest, but there's one thing I want to ask of you."
Buzzing—(Please say, I will definitely finish.)
"Kill me, and don't interfere too much with my afterlife."
... Buzzing... Are you sure you want to do this? You should know that although we can be reincarnated, it's really no different from being dead.)
The old man simply smiled calmly.
"Life is but a hundred years, as fleeting as a mayfly's day. I have witnessed far too many years; it is time for me to die peacefully in my sleep."
The old man slowly turned his gaze in one direction, and that was where Hela was.
"What happens next... can only be left to 'me'..."