CHAPTER 1143: SECTION 706: HOMETOWN (PART 3)

After Susu’s departure, Malin sat alone in the courtyard, with zombies peering from beyond the walls. Yet, after witnessing Malin’s power, they had no courage to attack, and it seemed the old mentor’s influence had granted them a bit more wisdom.

However, Malin paid no mind to their behavior, sitting in the chair where the old mentor once sat. The cushions were worn and full of holes, torn out by playful children. The cotton padding was long since flattened and uncomfortable, yet the old mentor sat there for many long years.

She sang songs for the children, though they weren’t particularly pleasant.

She sewed clothes for the children, though they weren’t particularly appealing.

She told stories to the children, though they weren’t particularly fascinating.

She guided the children, though not always correctly.

Back then, Malin, like Susu, sat at her feet, growing up listening to her stories along with his peers.

Susu claimed she found the old mentor from a completely different historical fragment unlike their world, proving that in that timeline, the fate of the entire world had been fundamentally altered. Malin understood why Susu was so forlorn... What could be more painful than the destruction of one’s home? And what’s more, she should have realized that the enemies who destroyed her home had long since been equivalently destroyed.

Her unwillingness and pain led to her downfall.

However, that wasn’t the history of Malin’s world. In this world, humanity eventually worked together, and while issues remained, humanity... had truly stepped beyond Earth. Humanity was no longer a slave to gravity, unbound by its constraints, and everything was wondrous.

Sadly, destruction still came to this world. Under the old mentor’s teachings, Malin understood that in their solitude, they came into this world and could not gain anything by begging. People have to strive for a glimmer of hope, and so Malin would believe not in those deities, for Malin had never seen them manifesting in front of people.

However, Chaos never showed their malevolence openly. They cloaked themselves: Nagoth would use immortality to tempt mortals, Sinspawn would tempt through desire, and Jianqi would even use wisdom as bait... As for Khorne, this Chaos Evil God needed to do nothing at all, for those corrupted and deceived by the former three would wage wars, offering death unwittingly to Khorne.

How did Chaos come to be? Malin didn’t know nor care, only how to fundamentally isolate Subspace’s erosion of the universe.

The path to becoming a Deity was obviously fraught; Malin sacrificed himself, yet ultimately became a sacrifice for the rules, leading Mars in that world to make the decision to sacrifice himself. Although Ails in that world ultimately chose to strengthen the seal with his own being, yet... it could only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

Such sacrifice, Malin did not need, and never wished to see again, as he vowed to Ails of that world to never let tragedy repeat.

So, Malin felt he must think of a better way.

What should I do, mentor?

Malin bowed his head.

With his soft call, an elderly woman appeared beside Malin. She sat in the same chair as Malin, the elderly lady knitting with her eyes half-closed.

"Malin, ah, Susu... when will she return?"

Is this... the binding of the True Lord?

Malin was somewhat surprised. Although he had purified his mentor, why could her soul manifest again?

With his doubts, more and more Spiritual Bodies of children appeared, sitting around her, softly singing old songs.

Seeing the Pure White Soul Fire in their eye sockets, Malin finally lowered his head, tears falling uncontrollably to the ground — Malin finally understood, this world had accepted the old mentor and the children, their souls anchored in this small yard.

A small sapling broke through the soil in the once-empty nursery before Malin, a new branch of the World Tree, sprouting despite no seeds being sown.

Malin watched the sapling grow quickly until the old mentor’s question reappeared in Malin’s mind.

"When it’s all over, I will return, and Susu will too, old mentor... This is forever our home, we’ll come back to visit you and the children." Malin tried to smile.

The old mentor smiled happily.

"I will wait for you, the children will too."

With that, she and the children vanished.

Malin stood up, a fruit fell from the great tree before him, undergoing transformation, Malin watched as it turned into a small humanoid form.

"Malin, I have helped you."

It called to Malin.

"You must help me too."

"How can I help you, and who are you?" Malin extended his hand, allowing the small humanoid to jump into his palm.

The little creature spread its arms.

"I am Mana, the ferryman of the Styx, the pioneer of the other shore, the reward of the afterlife, and the will of the planet beneath your feet. Help me, our time is running out."

"How can I help you?" Malin sat back in the old chair.

"I... I don’t know, but I know you saved Susu. I was about to give up on her, she was almost beyond redemption."