Duncan’s response silenced the dark red core for a very long time.

It was a while before Shirley and Alice heard a deep buzzing sound coming from deep within the "Dark Mountain Range"—accompanied by the slow deformation and wriggling of the massive entity at the center of the range, the dark red core of the Abyss Saint slowly rose and returned to its initial position, back to the place where it could overlook the earth.

"A sanctuary, at least it can keep many people alive, perhaps for thousands of years, perhaps for ten thousand years… even if it’s not eternal, it’s better than being reduced to ashes," the dark red core flickered, its deep trembling echoing across the wilderness, "My creators told me that survival is the primary mission, and I have been executing their orders—in my logic, nothing is more important than ensuring the continuation of the sanctuary."

"Survival is indeed very important, and I understand your motive for wanting to keep the sanctuary going, but for me… 'possibility' is also essential, and the current 'sanctuary' lacks sufficient possibility for me to see a future, it…"

Duncan suddenly fell silent for a moment, and in that silence, his gaze swept over A-Gou beside him, and Shirley, who was still in her Abyss Demon form.

The great fire of Pland, the mud of Frost, the nightmare of Light Breeze Harbor, those dead priests, soldiers, civilians, the martyred and the martyrs, the limited Endless Sea, and every explorer trapped in this Endless Sea…

Duncan slowly closed his eyes, the memories in his mind rising and intertwining, finally turning into a sigh: "…It's too dark."

The dark red core overlooking the earth quietly spoke, "Then, do you have a better solution?"

"No, but I have some vague ideas," Duncan opened his eyes, calmly gazing at the core, as if looking into the eyes of a weathered giant, "I… probably know what I should do, and what I can do, but I haven't found the right and feasible way yet, I'm still looking—for a better future than the 'sanctuary', a more possible, more promising future."

"…Is it eternal?" the dark red core continued to ask calmly.

"No, there is no true eternity in this world, all things are perishable—but at least it shouldn't be a sea shrouded in mist, with scarce resources and little room to stand, and that 'Eternal Veil' that serves as the border… is too narrow for civilization."

"You should know that we don't have much time—whether it's you, me, or this 'sanctuary', we don't have much time to waste," the dark red core slowly flickered, "How long will it take you to find that way out? What if you still haven't found it in the end?"

Duncan was silent for a moment, then looked up to meet the Abyss Saint's gaze.

"…Before the world collapses, I will return here. If I still haven't found another way out by then, I will take over everything."

After a brief silence, the ancient navigation mainframe emitted a tremor: "Recorded—then, that's our agreement. If you still can't find a better solution than 'continuing the sanctuary' in the end, then return here and ignite me, and if I have completely lost control before then… show no mercy, burn me to ashes."

Duncan slowly nodded, "It's a deal."

After that, the Abyss Saint became quiet again. Its core was suspended high above the mountain, the frequency of the faint light deep within it gradually converging with the lights in the surrounding mountains, as if it was engaged in long and deep thought, recalculating the future and everything in this world. Duncan did not disturb the ancient navigation mainframe, and it was a long time before that deep tremor suddenly sounded again: "Navigator Three."

Alice didn't move—she didn't realize she was being called until Duncan suddenly nudged her arm, and the doll suddenly reacted, "Ah… ah? Are you calling me?"

"…It seems you don't remember the New Hope at all, do you?"

Hearing this, Alice raised her hand and scratched her hair, with an expression that seemed a little embarrassed and ashamed, "Um… sorry, I really don't remember… shouldn't I remember a little bit?"

"No, that's good, although it's different from my original plan… but you still survive, and survival is above all else—please continue to survive, and do your best to help the Fire-Snatcher."

Alice reacted for a moment, and then did some mental calculations, nodding slowly, "Oh… um! Of course, I will definitely help the captain!"

Shirley, on the other hand, looked up, and together with A-Gou, she gazed at the magnificent and awe-inspiring "Ancient Creator," which was enough to drive all the world's outstanding explorers and scholars mad. They seemed to realize that it was time to say goodbye, and suddenly felt that they also had some questions to ask, but couldn't think of what to say.

But the "gaze" of the dark red core seemed to have already fallen on them.

It was an indescribable feeling. The faint light in the dark red core was just flickering slowly as usual, but Shirley intuitively felt… that it was looking at her.

A strange feeling of being completely seen through welled up in her heart, and Shirley subconsciously took a small step back. Then, she heard the deep tremor coming—it seemed slightly gentle.

"This world has brought you a lot of suffering," the gentle voice slowly said, "Do you… also think this sanctuary is terrible?"

Shirley opened her mouth, unsure of how to answer—she thought that a more learned, more quick-witted, and more intelligent person should be standing here now, like old Mr. Maurice, a great scholar. The person answering the question here, as the first "mortal" to face the Abyss Saint directly, should be someone more outstanding than herself.

Not someone as uneducated as her.

But the ancient god was still quietly waiting for her answer.

"…I…" Shirley finally squeezed out a syllable from her throat. The skeletal limbs behind her moved restlessly, and a wisp of faint light in her chest flickered, "I don't know… I didn't really understand what you and the captain were talking about, I…"

She murmured, then hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Living… is a bit difficult, sometimes you have to worry about food, sometimes it's winter clothes and fuel. Where I used to live, it wasn't very peaceful at night… but I think that no matter what, some people will always live with difficulty. Even if the city-state is ten times bigger and there's more food than you can eat, there will still be other difficult things about living. One of my neighbors used to say that life always has hardships, it's not the world's fault, and it's not because someone did something wrong, but compared to these, the captain cares about more…"

She turned her head slightly, secretly glanced at Duncan, and then quickly withdrew her gaze.

"The captain cares about more… 'profound' things. Although I don't understand them very well, I think what he says must be right, and it's more beneficial to many people. As for me, I don't have much to ask for the future, I just hope… to live peacefully and steadily. Of course, if possible…"

She suddenly paused, as if carefully choosing the right words, and hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Don't let any more demons run out and hurt people, don't let anyone disappear in the corners, let the sun rise and set every day, let the thick fog not eat people… that would be even better. If these things can really be achieved, then anything is fine."

A-Gou slowly moved closer and gently rubbed Shirley's leg with its skeletal head.

The suspended dark red core was silent for a long time, then suddenly broke the silence in a soft voice, "I understand."

In a series of low rumbles, the center of the huge star-shaped mountain range slowly cracked open, and the dark red core of the Abyss Saint slowly sank back into the depths of the mountain—Duncan realized that it was time to say goodbye.

But before the core completely sank into the "mountain," he suddenly took a step forward, "One more thing."

The core stopped and waited for Duncan.

"…The guard of the last Crete outpost asked me to bring a greeting," Duncan took another step forward, his expression gradually becoming serious, and his tone was particularly earnest, "He said… they were honored to have completed the work."

The dark red core was still there. For a few seconds, it made no sound—no one knew what the ancient navigation mainframe was thinking and calculating at this moment. Perhaps it found the meaning of the distant word "Crete" from its vast database, perhaps it was recalling the information from the early days of creation, or perhaps… it was just a silent sigh.

Or perhaps, the creator who created all things and the "Crete Clan" also remembered its creators at this moment.

"I was also honored… to have worked with them."

The dark red core slowly sank into the depths of the mountain.

Duncan withdrew his gaze from the "mountain," took a light breath, and layers of illusory flames gradually floated around him, "We should go, there are still many things to do."

Alice came to the captain's side, actively welcoming the surrounding flames, and Shirley also moved her long limbs and came into the flames with A-Gou.

The flames rose, and Alice's light purple eyes began to reflect countless intricate paths, searching for the correct direction to leave the Abyss Depths.

Shirley, however, was still staring blankly at the distant mountain, at the place where the dark red core had finally disappeared. For some reason, she always felt… that there was still a gaze there, always falling on her.

Until the flames merged, until the light and shadow outside the flames became illusory and hazy, she suddenly heard a vague whisper. The voice seemed to be echoing directly in her mind. After repeating it several times, she finally made out the sentence—

"…Sorry, I tried my best back then…"

The flames soared into the sky, and then disappeared into the vast darkness of the Abyss Deep Sea in an instant.

(End of Chapter)