Chapter 2108: Chapter 52: The Tree of Endless Shattering
Many humanoids, from ancient and primitive to advanced and complex, countless Sublimation Organs, countless cultivation pods constructed from human forms, all ultimately lead to the deepest part of the hall, the Brass Throne.
The entire Steep Ridge Fortress is a gigantic cultivation pod, a display case.
And upon the throne, unmoving, the Duke of Steep Ridge is the âexhibitâ and âcultivated entityâ within.
He is the ultimate âoutcomeâ.
"Bokang Elster, within the inheritance of the Terra Dragon in your hand, lies the key technology of the âTranquil Cradleâ, the most critical Star God construct in this Starfield."
Without any superfluous remarks, the Heart of Terra straightforwardly said: "My father (Ian) was originally puzzled as to why you didnât go to see him personally, even in the Domain of Void, why you insisted he come to you instead."
"But now I understand."
"Because you can no longer leave Steep Ridge Fortress."
He chuckled coldly: "Youâve turned yourself into the Earthbound Spirit of Steep Ridge Fortress, the soul of the True Aether Furnace... To be honest, what exactly have you turned yourself into?"
[What do you think I am?]
Bokang chuckled back, responding: [Forgive me for answering a question with a question, because I donât know the answer myself]
[Tell me the answer, Heart of Terra, if you are the successor of the Silverpeak Seer, youâll surely be able to answer my question]
The Heart of Terra paused for a moment.
Composed of silver mist, His eyes shone with a turquoise ring of the Milky Way, with radiant stars flowing, sweeping over the Duke of Steep Ridgeâs entire body.
"Humans."
Moments later, He provided the answer: "Shattered and incomplete, yet utterly whole, existing only in a fixed âlocationâ, yet everywhere at once, humans."
"But you are no longer the Duke of Steep Ridge, Bokang Elster. That individual âhumanâ no longer exists, or rather, is just a part of you."
The artificial intelligence in Silverpeak Domain concisely remarked: "You died. As the price, you will live forever."
"Shattered yet eternal humans, this is your current form."
[...]
Hearing this answer, Bokang initially frowned, but soon his expression relaxed: [Youâre right]
He even laughed heartily, dispelling the previous tension: [So thatâs how it is, Iâm already dead]
[This is the current me]
ââWhat are these two even talking about?
At this moment, an utterly puzzled listener stood by.
Clearly still on Terra, yet Aina Sertar felt like an alien who stumbled onto another planet.
The Heart of Terra, resembling Ian Silverpeak, was one thing, but what was up with the Duke of Steep Ridge admitting he was dead?
[Thank you, Heart of Terra]
At this moment, the Duke of Steep Ridge smiled and nodded at the silver mist humanoid: [Youâre not wrong, you could completely replace the Silverpeak Seer... Maybe heâs watching from afar right now?]
[Youâve answered my question, so as agreed in advance, Iâll give you the âTerra Dragonâs Inheritanceâ]
[However...]
He turned his head, looking at the perplexed Aina, whoâd begun to doubt he was still on Terra: [Although heâs a member of the Sertar Imperial Family, it indeed aligns with my old agreement with Inega II]
[But at this point, is it really necessary?]
"It is necessary." The Heart of Terra nodded: "He is a witness, a part of fatherâs plan."
"He belongs to âPioneer Spaceâ, and father needs to engrave everything of yours through his eyes."
[Alright] The Duke nodded slightly, and the Heart of Terra turned and looked at Aina: "Please donât worry, everything will soon be explained to you."
The silver humanoid showed a cold smile, imitating Ian but capturing only the âformâ of his expression: "After all, father is the successor of Inega II and Hiliard, and Iâm fatherâs creation, by age, Iâm of the same generation as your father Carlos, you are my nephew."
"I will look after my juniors."
ââDonât play the ethics card at a time like this!!
Aina was about to retort when the Heart of Terra placed a hand on his shoulder.
Then, in the next instant.
Aina felt as though heâd gained another perspective... A more macro, grander perspective, almost transcending space-time!
Heart of Terraâs perspective!
Through this perspective, the entire Steep Ridge Fortress palace became transparent, Aina could simultaneously see the inside and outside of the palace, the exterior and interior of objects.
He could see the seemingly tight-fitting, seamless walls were actually loose and spongy; the sun in the sky was a whirlpool endlessly spinning and pulling light, and the humanoids and Aether organs in the cultivation pods, he could simultaneously see the past and future of these things.
They began cultivation from cells, then expanded into their current form, shortly after, all converged into decaying ossified patches of fleshââthis is their sole future, for they have no soul, no sense of self, no wisdom, consequently unable to choose their own fate, and even in infinite parallel space-times, their outcomes will all converge into one.
But all this isnât the most wondrous part.
Raising his head slowly, Aina looked up at the worldâs largest âdistortionâ.
It wasnât the Heart of Terra.
It was the humanoid on the throne.
He looked up, then felt dizzy.
Despite everything seen earlier, borrowing Heart of Terra or âIan Silverpeakâsâ perspective, whether from high-dimensional views or transcendent space-time viewsâit remains solely within âthis one timelineâ after all.