Seeing Hu Lu’s wistful expression, the players exchanged glances, their hearts full of uncertainty and wonder.
However, before they could say anything, Hu Lu spoke again:
"Let’s go, to Feilengcui..."
Leaving the Chosen City behind, the group made their way to Feilengcui.
This forr Elf Holy City no longer appeared as ravaged as when the players first discovered it but had regained its forr glory.
Arriving at the Temple Square in the city, watching the bustling Life Temple, Hu Lu’s eyes reflected a hint of nostalgia:
"Feilengcui... has changed so much..."
"Yes, I rember when we first ca here, it was still occupied by Goblins."
Hu Lu expressed so sentint.
"Exactly! Back then, we fought a world boss and a Divine incarnation! I can still rember the captain delivering the final blow to Uller’s incarnation, looked so cool!"
Chopin also replied.
"Hahahaha, it was then that I noticed the captain and thought I must beco friends with this big shot."
"Yes! too!"
"Hahahaha, who knew we’d actually end up as friends!"
The players reminisced about the past, excitedly discussing their mories, while Hu Lu listened quietly, smiling.
However, Nightingale, who had been watching Hu Lu closely, noticed the faint hint of sadness and reluctance hidden within his smile...
"Hu Lu... what’s going on with you?"
She asked worriedly.
Hu Lu did not answer directly.
He glanced at the beautiful half-elf girl and suddenly said:
"Nightingale, rember when you said you wanted to climb to the treetop of the World Tree to see the entire Elf Forest?"
Ye Ye was slightly stunned, sowhat surprised:
"You still rember?"
"Of course, back then we were confined in Sorren’s comrce wagon, I rember everything you said."
Hu Lu replied.
Nightingale was stunned again.
Her face turned slightly red, hesitated for a mont, gathered courage to say sothing, but suddenly heard Hu Lu speak again:
"Co, let’s go to the World Tree."
...
Following Hu Lu, the group swiftly used the teleportation array in Chosen City and arrived at the trunk of the World Tree.
With Goddess Eve no longer concealing her identity, the World Tree proudly stood above the Segis World, its nearly 30,000-ter-high form undoubtedly the most spectacular sight in the Segis Plane.
Standing atop the World Tree, gazing down at the land, the magnificent scenery of the Elf Forest was fully unveiled, the rolling Dark Mountain Range to the south, the expansive Fertile Plain to the east, all before their eyes, making one’s heart swell with admiration for the grandeur and beauty of the "Elf Kingdom."
In this mont, the players were all rendered speechless.
Their gazes were entirely focused on the breathtaking view below; although they were adept players from the strategy group, they had never truly experienced such a panoramic view of the "Elf Kingdom" from the World Tree.
"So beautiful..."
Nightingale couldn’t help but admire.
Yet, when she looked toward Hu Lu, she found he had, at so point, withdrawn his smile.
His gaze was fixed on the world below, and his expression held a hint of contentnt.
That look, as if he could leave this world at any mont.
"Hu... Hu Lu? What’s wrong with you?"
Nightingale couldn’t help but call out.
For so reason, a sudden twinge of anxiety and concern arose in her heart at this mont.
Upon hearing the half-elf girl’s words, the players admiring the view quickly turned their attention back to their captain, and they too sensed the subtle change in Hu Lu’s deanor.
"Captain!"
Hu Lu reached out his hand and waved it in front of Hu Lu, calling out.
Hu Lu slowly withdrew his distant gaze.
He looked at the worried faces around him and, after a mont of silence, suddenly broke into a smile:
"Sorry, everyone, this should be my last login to the Elf Kingdom."
Everyone froze, instantly buzzing with shock.
"What?!"
"Captain, you’re joking, right?"
"Today’s not April Fool’s Day, is it?"
But Hu Lu simply raised his hand and gently pressed it down, restoring peace to the atmosphere.
It was the unique suppressive power belonging to a Gold Middle Rank player across the server.
"Everyone leaves eventually; so sooner, so later."
Boxed al sighed.
Taking a deep breath, he finally revealed the secret he had kept hidden in his heart:
"Sorry, everyone, I’ve been keeping this from you for a very, very long ti..."
"In reality, I am a retired anti-narcotics police officer. A few years ago, while chasing drug dealers, I was severely injured and forced to retire."
"Over the years, my health has been poor, and I’ve had to rely on so special dications to keep going. Along with the old injuries, my condition has been getting worse and worse."
"Half a month ago, my health rapidly deteriorated, and I can’t keep going any longer..."
"Everyone, this... is my last ti logging into the ga. There are things I’ve wanted to share with you all for a long ti."
"After retiring, I went through depression and despair, and ’Elf Kingdom’ gave a new lease on life. It was you who brought color back into my life..."
"Thank you all, for giving joy in my darkest days."
"Being able to have such wonderful mories in ’Elf Kingdom,’ I am already very content."
Boxed al spoke a lot today, as if he wanted to utter all the words he had never said in his lifeti.
After hearing his words, the players widened their eyes.
They understood!
Finally, they understood!
Why Boxed al never attended offline gatherings, why he was always among the top in logging ti, and why he never wanted to discuss his real life...
"Captain... why, why didn’t you tell us sooner?!"
Hu Lu couldn’t help but grab Boxed al’s clothes, his voice trembling a bit.
"Sorry, I didn’t want you to see in my downfall during my final days..."
Boxed al sighed.
"No! Not a downfall! You are our captain! You’re the strategy master! The most popular player in ’Elf Kingdom’!"
Chopin exclaid loudly.
"Thank you..."
Boxed al let out a soft sigh.
Seeing everyone’s slightly red eyes, he smiled and said:
"Don’t be like this, I’ve already co to terms with it, and I’ve been quite happy in these final days..."
Saying this, he glanced at Nightingale again, asking the group:
"Can I have a word alone with Nightingale?"
Players opened their mouths but then looked at Boxed al with apologies, then at Nightingale, whose eyes were glistening with tears at so point, sighed, and retreated.
"Sorry, from the mont I entered this world, my ti was limited, and so... I can’t respond to your feelings."
Boxed al looked at Nightingale and sighed.
Nightingale’s eyes instantly blurred.
"No! You can’t decide that on your own! Have you forgotten the power of the Goddess? As her strongest Chosen One, if you pray devoutly, she will surely give you new life!"
She shook her head desperately, saying.
"The Goddess... huh."
Boxed al’s eyes were complex.
His gaze swept over the World Tree, and he sighed:
"Miss Nightingale, although... although ’Elf Kingdom’ is a world to you, for those of us living in another world, it’s ultimately just a ga..."
"A ga can never change reality."
"No! The Goddess can! The Goddess definitely can!"
Nightingale insisted.
Taken aback by her insistence, Boxed al smiled helplessly:
"Sorry..."
Saying this, he wanted to reach out to pat the girl’s head, but halfway through, he retracted his hand.
With a soft sigh, he leaned against the tree trunk and sat down.
"Can... you stay with a bit longer?"
Boxed al asked.
Nightingale sniffed her reddened nose and sat down beside Boxed al.
The two looked into the distance, the azure sky now tinged with crimson, the setting sun slowly descending, casting a brilliant glow across the sky.
"What a beautiful world it is..."
Looking at the resplendent glow, Boxed al let out a long sigh.
He slowly stretched out his right hand toward the sky, as if trying to grasp sothing, but eventually let it drop helplessly.
He closed his eyes once more.
And at the sa ti, in the sky of the World Tree Divine Country, a star twinkling with blue light gradually dimd.
At the sa mont, in the highest temple of the Divine Country, Eve, who had been studying the Origin Key, slowly opened her eyes.
User Comments
0 comments from readers