"No!"
The Supreme One roared, waking up.
The scattered pieces of Angina's corpse before him disappeared, as did the Supreme City, and the faces of Wang Hai'an and Qin Wenxuan.
The scene reverted to a battlefield filled with smoke.
Xu Linna put the core fragment of the time meteorite into a container. Her face was pale from the immense energy consumed by contact with the meteorite core.
"You... why did you let him see the future?!"
"Our plan was so close to success!"
Tang Houde's image stood beside Xu Linna, his face filled with indignation, questioning her.
"Don't think about it. Did you really believe that after the apocalypse ended, you could use technological advantages to sweep away the survivors?"
"In reality, they would have killed us all beforehand and then focused on dealing with the powerhouses within their own ranks..."
Xu Linna glanced at Tang Houde dismissively, a mocking expression on her face.
"Is... that so?!"
Tang Houde's expression changed slightly.
Indeed, humans from parallel worlds were still humans.
Scheming and manipulation had always been humanity's forte.
Moreover, the survivors were numerous, and there were certainly no shortage of people adept at calculation.
"I am still alive..."
The Supreme One panted, his face displaying rare terror and anger.
"Supreme One, are you alright?"
Hila asked with concern.
"Hila, you're alive?! That's great!"
The Supreme One rushed to Hila, gave her a big hug, and then kissed her passionately.
The members of the Supreme One organization behind them chuckled foolishly at the scene.
It was not common to witness such intimacy between their leader and the Spider Queen.
"So... have you made up your mind?"
Xu Linna asked the Supreme One calmly.
"I've decided, let the apocalypse continue!"
With that, the Supreme One picked up Princess Hila and strode towards the distance.
Although the members of the Supreme One organization did not know what had happened, the Supreme One's word was law, and he must have his reasons for acting this way.
They asked no further questions, chattering about the Supreme One and Hila, and walked away with smiles.
The group cast long shadows in the setting sun...
"Xu Linna, you have publicly defied the council's decision!"
Tang Houde's image roared in anger.
Immediately, two natives in AI armor stepped forward. One collected the time meteorite core fragment.
The other restrained the weakened Xu Linna.
"I am doing this for everyone!"
"How much longer do you want to stay holed up in the lighthouse with everyone?"
"Watching your homeland so close yet being unable to land, is this the life you want?!"
"We don't need change; we need to face life head-on!"
"Humans, like other animals, possess the characteristic of adapting to their environment. Coupled with our technology, we will surely be able to stand at the top of the food chain again, and evolve into beings superior in both physical and intellectual capabilities!"
"Such opportunities are rare. If you give up, our evolution will take thousands, even tens of thousands of years more detours!"
Xu Linna retorted without backing down.
"Thousands of years or tens of thousands of years, the prerequisite is that human civilization can survive that long. If human civilization perishes in our hands, everything that follows will become empty talk!"
"Your ideology is as dangerous as those extremist geneticists!"
"Now, I am revoking your senior researcher privileges and will have you imprisoned in the extreme north ice field to reflect on your actions!"
"Xu Linna, you are my most outstanding student. I do not wish for you to go astray. Do you understand?!"
Tang Houde said with heartache.
"If one day, the lighthouse falls from the sky, you will discover... I was right!"
Xu Linna smiled slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.
...
Outside the Supreme One's palace in the Supreme City.
Several members of the Supreme One organization stood at the entrance, their faces filled with worry.
The Supreme One had not emerged from his room since the day he abandoned his decision to end the apocalypse.
Only Hila stayed by his side.
During this period, he had not allowed any visitors, nor had he summoned anyone other than Hila.
"What on earth has happened? This is the first time I've ever seen the Supreme One like this!"
"He's always been an optimistic person. This time... it seems a bit different, I have a bad feeling."
"Yeah, after the Supreme One returned, his eyes looked like they could kill. Fortunately, he's still a bit gentler towards us."
"Perhaps he saw some grim future, and that's why he's preparing to change? Regardless... the Supreme One's decision won't be wrong. Without him, there would be no us, and certainly no one in this camp."
"It's precisely because the Supreme One is so important that I want to help, but I just don't know how."
"Speaking of which... do you think it's possible that the Supreme One is still bothered about ending the apocalypse? After all, it's something he's been diligently pursuing since arriving in the post-apocalyptic world."
"I don't know, but I heard that the first thing the Supreme One did upon his return was to disband the Black Swallow Army..."
As they were chatting, Angina suddenly walked over, her eyes blinking as she asked:
"Are what you're saying true?"
Seeing Angina, everyone was taken aback.
At this moment, Angina was just a little girl of about eight or nine years old.
"What?"
"I'm asking if it's true that the master is going to disband the Black Swallow Army?"
Angina asked earnestly.
"Many people know about this. The Black Swallow Army's structure has been abolished... However, this is the Supreme One's decision, and we can't interfere!"
Someone replied.
"The Black Swallow Army is the master's life's work. How could he disband it so casually?"
"I absolutely cannot let the master's efforts be in vain. It's time to do something!"
Angina said, frowning.
"Alright Angina, you should just be good. The leader is in a bad mood now. Don't act impulsively and anger him again!"
Someone advised.
"Don't worry, I won't make the master angry. Angina just wants to make the master happy!"
After saying that, Angina turned and walked towards the Black Swallow Army's barracks.
No one took the words of an eight or nine-year-old girl seriously.
Perhaps after playing a game or eating something delicious, she might forget what she had just said.
Not long after Angina left, the Supreme One suddenly emerged from the palace.
Although he had dressed meticulously, he still couldn't hide the weariness on his face.
Queen Hila linked her arm through his, her expression also not very good, forcing a smile.
"Summon everyone in the camp. Also, have Wang Hai'an and Qin Wenxuan come here immediately!"
The Supreme One said faintly.