Phi-Fic Chapter 189 Such is fate, all due to the cycle of cause and effect.
Chapter 189 Such is fate, all due to the cycle of cause and effect.
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Timeline: Four years after the arrival of the Third Herrscher, before the birth of ***.
Subheading: Cost and Naïveness
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She suddenly awoke from a hazy dream, as if she had just had a terrible nightmare. After taking a few deep breaths, she looked around and found herself in complete darkness.
The smart lights turned on automatically, revealing that this was a rest area attached to the training room, where she had fallen asleep while taking a nap after training.
Why is she so tired? Isn't she carefree?
—Just recently, the Third Herrscher descended upon the Far East.
At that time, Alicia was assigned to a mission on the other side of the Earth, and when the Herrscher descended, she had no time to rescue him.
When thunder ripped through the sky and collapse ravaged the far east, spreading to the Canghai City area of Shenzhou, the bustling, densely populated area was reduced to ruins.
The joys and sorrows of 500 million people, the casualties of 500 million people, in the end they are just a string of numbers.
It was only then that Alicia suddenly realized that she was not the savior and that she could not save the world.
Because the Earth is too big, and the collapse is too strong.
But I am too weak, too weak.
What should I do?
Alicia threw herself into training, even falling asleep in her chair from exhaustion.
In a flash of inspiration, she felt she had come up with a solution.
The naive girl left the training room and went to the supermarket to buy a lot of groceries, from vegetables and fruits to beef, lamb, and pork. Thankfully, it was a self-service store; otherwise, someone would have joked that she wasn't planning on losing weight anymore and had given up on herself.
Alicia frantically did a chaotic job, finally setting out the plates, then knelt on the cushion, clasping her hands together in silent prayer.
Gods, if you can hear my voice, please answer my questions.
P.S. I used to talk to you all the time, and I know you don't want to talk to me anymore, but this time it's important! I really need your help!
With these words uttered in her heart, Alicia used a great deal of effort to stop herself from laughing and continued to pray with a serious expression.
"...Speak." (Indifferently)
The voice rang out.
Alicia was overjoyed: "Ah! I thought you had already left! You've actually been by my side all this time?"
"Let's get down to business." (Indifferent)
"Don't be so cold to her..."
Sticking out her little tongue, Alicia felt a little embarrassed thinking about the request she was about to make. Her inner thoughts were a jumbled mess, but roughly she was saying:
Since the arrival of the Third Herrscher, the atmosphere has been strange. And the sheer number of deaths has saddened me greatly.
Since I am your "favored person/believer/daughter", can you help me and give me the power to save everyone?
"...Okay. But everything comes at a price." (Indifferent)
The innocent girl didn't press for details, but instead rubbed her hands together expectantly: "What should I do?"
At the same time, she awkwardly tried to cover it up: "Well, you know, I often share food with you because I really... oh no, I really believe in you! It's not because I want to ask for power that I act like this!"
"...(avoiding the topic)...Once you're ready, go get some sleep. When you wake up, you'll find the world has changed."
This is probably the sentence Alicia has said the most since she left Volstock.
Alicia jumped onto the bed, took off her shoes and socks, changed into her pajamas, and said, half-jokingly, "Don't do anything weird to me while I'm sleeping, okay?"
It's fortunate that she rarely spoke after leaving Vostok, otherwise the teenage girl would have had quite a few troubles.
"……"(indifferent)
And so, the girl drifted off to sleep with anticipation in her heart.
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If we must use a metaphor, the story is the "flesh and blood," regret is the "poison," and cause and effect are the "bones" of it all.
Now, the past and present civilizations are intertwined. Modifying the past civilization will disrupt cause and effect, and the present civilization will be overturned in an instant. Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Seele... they will all turn into bubbles in an instant.
This is the true meaning of the End's presence in time and space.
Now, time and space are completely distorted; the past is no longer the past, and the future is no longer the future. The causes of the past are the effects of the present, and the effects of the past are the causes of the present.
The power of imaginary numbers pierced through space, and power surged from the imaginary world, pouring into Alicia's body and transforming her body, greatly increasing her strength.
However, the imaginary number invaded the real number, leading to the collapse. She actively requested (the Tree of Imaginary Numbers/the God Above Gods) to grant her power, which naturally accelerated the birth of the collapse.
In this reversal of cause and effect, the immense casualties caused by the Herrscher of Thunder may well be due to this very moment. The accelerated arrival of future Herrschers may also be due to this very moment.
Such is fate, all due to the cycle of cause and effect. Such is cause and effect, all due to the deception of fate.
……
Shortly after.
The glass clinked against the ice, and the orange sparkling water sizzled.
After the Third Herrscher, at a grand welcome party for newcomers, Alicia dressed up as a maid, carrying drinks (scratch that) sparkling water, and wandered around the lavish banquet.
There were newlyweds surprised by the lavish banquet, a purple-haired girl eagerly searching for her lover, and soldiers newly transferred from other bases...
Suddenly, a series of whispers caught her attention.
"Forget it, let fate decide..."
"The situation outside is getting worse every day; this is the 'third time' already... If this continues, we won't be able to keep it a secret anytime sooner or later!"
"You're still worrying about this? What's the point? Is it any of your business to worry about this...?"
"Look, isn't it great to be like them? Forget all these problems, just celebrate and pretend nothing happened... Hehe."
"...I'm so tired, I didn't want to come here at all..."
"I have to go back to work later... What's all this about..."
"What else could it be? The director of the First Research Institute has personally spoken—the 'fourth time' isn't far off."
"..."
Alicia was curious, silent, dazed, and uneasy.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him, causing his wine glass to tip over and fall. Fortunately, the other person reacted quickly and caught the falling glass.
Alicia breathed a sigh of relief, clutching her chest. She apologized repeatedly and praised the white-haired boy's skills, making him blush.
After that, Alicia left in a hurry.
"..."
In a secluded corner, she asked in bewilderment, "How could it be so fast? There were several years between the arrival of the Second Herrscher and the arrival of the Third Herrscher. But the Third Herrscher has only been here for a year, and the Fourth Herrscher is already almost here?"
The director of the First Institute is Mebius, and since she has spoken, it is highly likely to be true.
"...I told you, everything has a price." (Coldly)
Yes, He did say that, but Cleopatra didn't care at all. She felt that the so-called price was for herself, and even if it reduced her lifespan, it wouldn't matter to her.
She is "the daughter of God," destined for the kingdom of heaven. What is there to fear about the "price" that is ignored?
This has always been Alicia's self-perception. Furthermore, she has never doubted Him in the slightest, always trusting Him implicitly, which is why she never paid attention to the severity of the price.
But if the so-called price is "accelerating the Honkai's arrival"... then wouldn't He have harmed Alicia? Wouldn't she have done something both stupid and wicked?! How could she possibly accept this??
For the first time, Alicia was angry. In her heart, she screamed: "If you knew, why didn't you tell me sooner? I want power to save everyone, not to harm others for my own benefit!!"
"..." (Silence)
Fool, I'm shifting the blame onto you; at least it'll make you stronger.
Such is fate, and so shall cause and effect.
We are all involved in this situation, and now is not the time to detach ourselves.
Therefore, he remained silent.
Alicia asked a few more questions angrily, but then her tone softened as she pleaded with Him to withdraw His power and put the world back on track.
"..." (Silence)
Did the myriad stories of the pre-civilization come first, and then He confused cause and effect? Or did He first establish cause and effect, and then the stories of the pre-civilization came into being?
It's a matter of opinion.
A predetermined cause leads to a predetermined effect. A predetermined effect leads to a predetermined cause.
—From this day forward, in order to atone for her mistakes and to reduce the occurrence of Honkai, Alicia refused to confront the Herrschers, but frequently went on missions to save others.
It was during this period that she gradually matured and became less naive—this "naivety" means "placing hope in God".
Although she still loved him, she no longer dared to trust him.
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Cause and effect are confused, time is reversed, so please consider Erinis as the true pre-civilization from now on.
As for why it turned out this way... I felt it would be too obvious to write it out directly, so I used a flashback technique. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and I refuse to correct it... Private Marseille!