Volume 4: Twilight Galaxy
The reason the StarPlay family was able to capture information about the intruder was due to their pursuit of the black butterfly’s trail. As a result, the first place they investigated was the area where the black butterfly was most active: “Winter’s End”. From there, they moved on to “Deep Blue Sea”, a place rejected by living beings but desired by the world’s consciousness. Lastly, they arrived at “Dusk of the Galaxy”, where neither living beings nor the world’s consciousness wished for the presence of the black butterfly.
Besides Meng Muyu, Gray also had some suspicious points. It had been hypothesized that if there was someone guiding them toward the truth, that person could only be Gray. This theory wasn’t without basis; the doubts surrounding Gray were no fewer than those around Meng Muyu, and in some ways, Gray seemed even more mysterious. At this point, everything was gradually becoming clearer. Meng Muyu’s identity had mostly been exposed, but Gray’s identity remained ordinary and flawless, which was precisely what made Shu Xun unable to see through him. Who exactly was Gray? The only conclusion that could be drawn was that Gray was also related to the black butterfly, though it was impossible to determine the exact nature of the relationship.
What troubled Shu Xun even more was that both Meng Muyu and Gray seemed to have their own agendas. They hadn’t entered “Dusk of the Galaxy” to complete the game. Meng Muyu appeared to be searching for something, while Gray seemed to be waiting for something.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Lie Yang asked, looking curiously at Shu Xun and Ye Jian.
Shu Xun sighed helplessly. “Forget it, I don’t want to think about it anymore. Let’s go, the answers will reveal themselves soon. Let’s head to the plaza and wait.”
Lie Yang, thinking that Shu Xun was also unable to deduce the identity of the black butterfly, nodded in agreement and led the way toward the central plaza.
When the group arrived at the central plaza, it was still early. Even so, a large crowd of natives had already gathered there. Though this great baptism was taking place worldwide, the Twilight Clan still had the custom of welcoming it with a formal ceremony.
As everyone waited, either calmly or anxiously, the setting sun finally turned a deep blood-red. The massive star, round and orange-red like a plate, appeared solid but was actually on the verge of cracking, filled with fractures.
The entire world was bathed in a tragic blood-red hue under the last rays of the Twilight Galaxy. The central plaza, normally pure white and sacred, seemed to be shrouded in a thin, red mist.
The eyes of the Twilight Clan were filled with anticipation, unaware that today’s sunset would be the last one they would ever see. After today, the world would forever be plunged into darkness, and the sun would never rise again. The sun struggling to delay its descent was, in fact, the final trace of affection and offering from the dying Twilight Galaxy to the world. After this remnant of light, the Twilight Galaxy would be nothing but coldness, collapsing swiftly into an endless black hole.
In the crimson afterglow of the setting sun, the formation in the sky finally completed its pattern. The sky suddenly brightened as those once-transparent lines now glowed with dazzling light, transforming the entire sky into a complex painting. The radiant holy light descended irresistibly, replacing the Twilight Galaxy and illuminating the entire world. In that instant, every corner of the world was bathed in holy light, leaving no place to hide.
The long-prepared heavenly punishment descended swiftly. Silver bolts of lightning fell like a curtain across the sky. Countless Transformed beings turned to ash within it and many players were forced to log out of the game. Those Transformed who chose to leave triggered the wristbands they had taken from the players, teleporting them out of the game world.
At the same time, in the plaza of Zhu Si City, the same scenario unfolded. Shu Xun and his companions stood at the location Meng Muyu had indicated, but an unexpected turn of events occurred. The reason? Gray stood at the edge of the spot Meng Muyu had pointed out. And at the very moment the holy light illuminated the sky, Gray took a step outward, completely leaving the range of Meng Muyu’s designated area.
By the time Shu Xun and the others noticed, it was already too late. A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking Gray, whose shadow appeared distinctly abnormal.
Instinctively, Shu Xun and the others rushed toward Gray’s position. Lie Yang had initially felt reassured, believing they were protected by the talisman Shu Xun had given them, which could shield them from the heavenly punishment. However, that reassurance turned into nervous unease when he saw the drastic change in Shu Xun’s expression.
That unease morphed into terror when Gray waved goodbye to them. Lie Yang saw, not far from Gray, the talisman Shu Xun had given him lying on the ground. Gray wasn’t wearing it!
Just as the unstoppable bolt of lightning was about to strike Gray and the hearts of Shu Xun and the others seemed to stop, a massive black scythe appeared out of nowhere, firmly blocking the descending heavenly punishment!
The plaza fell into complete silence. Everyone stared in shock toward Gray’s direction, and under the gaze of countless onlookers, a shadow draped in a black robe emerged above Gray. It was a man with exceptionally handsome features, his robe billowing as black butterflies fluttered around him. He held the enormous scythe, frowning as he looked at Gray. Although his gaze was cold, it never left Gray’s head for even a second.
Someone suddenly screamed and the people around Gray scattered instantly. Amidst the chaotic voices, it was clear that most were shouting “Death God!” The black-robed man’s appearance clearly matched the Death God described in the Twilight Clan’s records.
The dissipated heavenly punishment reformed and struck down again. The black-robed man swung the scythe, blocking it once more. His every move exuded overwhelming dominance. In the end, he even leaped into the sky, shattering the punishment before it could reach the ground.
The plaza was thrown into chaos as the Twilight Clan, terrified, watched the scene unfold. Beneath the Death God, however, the boy smiled, his eyes curving with joy. His delicate face shone brightly with a genuine smile, making him appear radiant. After the Death God scattered the punishment once more, the boy reached out his hand. “You’ve come. Take me away.”
The black-robed man slowly descended, hovering above Gray. He looked at the boy’s outstretched hand but hesitated to take it. Gray, however, remained resolute, refusing to give up. While they stood at an impasse, the heavenly punishment was already falling again. This time, before the black-robed man could act, a familiar figure dressed in priestly robes leaped up and blocked the punishment. When the figure landed, everyone saw the familiar face of Meng Muyu.
One shock after another continued to astound the Twilight Clan: the sudden appearance of the Death God, the sudden betrayal of the High Priest, and the heavenly punishment being blocked again…
Finally, the Death God relented. He reached out and took the boy’s hand, gently pulling him up and into his arms.
Gray nestled in the Death God’s embrace, laughing happily. The boy turned his head to wave at Shu Xun and the others below, his eyes filled with genuine affection and the joy of finally fulfilling his wish. In the silent plaza, the boy’s voice, clear as a stream, echoed. “Goodbye, it was a pleasure meeting you. If there is a next life, I hope we meet sooner, and that you find a better version of me.”
Meng Muyu also floated up, hovering beside the black-robed man and Gray. With a carefree gesture of farewell, he smiled and said, “Goodbye, and thank you.”
The three figures gradually became transparent, then faded away, disappearing entirely. Nothing was left in the air.
Lie Yang stood frozen, placing a hand over his heart, confused as to why, despite not being a member of the Twilight Clan, he felt as if a knife had pierced his chest. He shook his head and, noticing the talisman Gray once wore on the ground, bent down to pick it up.
As the countdown to the end of the game echoed in his mind, Shu Xun, lost in thought, was suddenly startled by a flash of purple lightning. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the purple lightning that had once chased him had returned! Before he could react, the lightning, having waited a long time, darted forward, lightly brushing the hair formed from Shu Xun’s beard. After a faint crackling sound, Shu Xun’s wavy beard was finally symmetrical! The purple ball of light seemed immensely satisfied, spinning joyfully in place a few times.
Shu Xun: “…”
With the disappearance of Meng Muyu, all the players of “Dusk of the Galaxy” logged out of the game 30 seconds later, marking the official end of the game. Although the game ended, the system remained operational, allowing logged-out players to witness the final events of “Dusk of the Galaxy”.
The great baptism continued. All the remaining invaders, as well as the Transformed beings, were reduced to ashes under the heavenly punishment, vanishing into nothingness. Under the omnipresent holy light, the world consciousness of Twilight Galaxy finally achieved its goal of purging all outsiders.
At the moment the purge was complete, the Twilight Galaxy collapsed in on itself, rapidly transforming into a black hole at its core, devouring everything around it.
Then, to the shock of all players and spectators, the three planets harboring highly intelligent life suddenly flared with light. The white formation formed by the power of faith collided with the powerful world consciousness, and the ensuing clash of energies shook the entire galaxy. Massive blue waves of energy rippled outward like waves on the ocean.
In this tremendous energy explosion, the world consciousness of Twilight Galaxy was utterly obliterated, dissolving into azure energy waves. The three planets with advanced intelligent lifeforms forcefully broke free from the black hole’s gravitational pull and, propelled by the collision of faith and world consciousness, flew in different directions, drifting across the galaxy toward the unknown reaches of the endless universe!
It turns out that the method of salvation was indeed as Shu Xun had guessed—so simple it left people speechless, so brutal it left them at a loss for words, yet so resolute it struck them silent with awe.
The world consciousness sacrificed itself, becoming the force that propelled the three intelligent life-bearing planets away from the doomed Twilight Galaxy. It used the formation drawn by the power of faith as a shield, protecting the life forms on the planets from the collision of energies, keeping them safe and sound. The reason Twilight Galaxy had silently allowed the Twilight Clan’s ruthless evolutionary methods was its fear that the more emotional members of the Twilight Clan would be hurt during their endless wandering afterward. After all, wandering planets are not well-received in the vast universe.
Under the immense pull of the black hole, Twilight Galaxy continued to spin. This time, however, the entire galaxy was slowly moving toward the endless darkness at its center. In the spiral galaxy, the azure nebulae and the radiant, multicolored stars resembled precious gems, while vast energy waves, still reverberating through the universe, rippled out. Amidst the collapsing galaxy, three small planets swam upstream, like determined fish pushing against the current, striving to find a space to survive in the long river of time. They were small, but they held endless possibilities.
In the end, Twilight Galaxy could not avoid its inevitable demise. Yet the universe now had three more wandering planets. They would drift for a very long time, perhaps forever, without ever finding rest. Perhaps one day they would encounter a galaxy with immense gravitational force and find a new home, once again orbiting a star. But the simple-minded, temperamental, and somewhat obsessive world consciousness would never return.
The Twilight Clan might briefly lose their way and might fall into chaos due to the collapse of their faith, but the Twilight Galaxy was not the same as the Phantom Clan’s spiral galaxy. Though the two galaxies were remarkably similar, they were fundamentally different. Two entirely different races experienced the same end, but under different world consciousnesses, they moved toward distinct futures. From this moment on, the only thing the Twilight Clan could believe in was themselves!
Moonlit: Who’s chopping onions? (ㅠ﹏ㅠ) Twilight Galaxy’s world consciousness is kinda cute ૮(˶╥︿╥)ა Despite being temperamental, simple, and slightly naive, it did its best for its people.
