He stood on a very high platform, his consciousness was hazy, as if he had fallen into another dream.

His face was reflected in the glass, looking a little pale but mostly calm.

He looked out and saw the howling wind and frost. The extremely cold wind brought with it drifting snow, and the glass was soon covered with a thin layer of mist.

In the darkness, a light came on and fell on him.

This is not a dream.

Zhuang Ning thought that he just accidentally came here while traveling through the subspace.

The word “accidentally” is not right, it’s more like someone attracted him.

The corridor is wide and its shape is very similar to that of Rhodes Island.

Zhuang Ning soon arrived at the end, which was an elegant room with a red fire burning in the fireplace.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window is the dark night of death, and outside the window, behind a walnut table and chair, there is a person whose face cannot be seen clearly, hazy in the faint black mist. He raises his coffee cup, sips it, with a calm expression.

For a moment, Zhuang Ning wanted to kill him.

Grind this man to dust and kill him with the most vicious means.

But he didn’t do it in the end. He realized it was meaningless and the shadow was just a projection.

What’s the point of killing?

This space is just an illusion that was created.

“It seems you’ve realized it.” Shadow smiled, “Don’t be so anxious, sit down, and let’s talk.”

He pushed the coffee cup to Zhuang Ning, and the mellow aroma filled the air.

But Zhuang Ning didn’t take it, just stared at him.

Shadow seemed to be completely unaware of the hostility and sipped his coffee leisurely.

“I know why you’re angry.”

“As you thought, the evil demons… well, those monsters you defined as such were released by me.”

“I single-handedly led to the destruction of a civilization. From a higher dimension… here, I am overlooking you.”

Shadow clapped his hands, as if in joy. His face, shrouded in black mist, inexplicably revealed a feeling of pleasure: “Well done, Doctor. Really. You actually destroyed the monster I released.”

The “person” who released the evil demon on Terra had a flickering look in his eyes and was extremely excited.

“I’ve seen you.” Zhuang Ning said.

“Of course I have.” Shadow was still smiling, “Otherwise, how could you have walked into this space?”

“It is you who…led the destruction of mankind.”

Shadow seemed a little innocent: “Even if I don’t do it, you will destroy yourselves.”

He spread his hands and said, “I know you still have a lot of questions. Come on… As the price for your clearance, I will tell you everything I know.”

Zhuang Ning narrowed his eyes: “Why did you bring me here?”

“Sure enough, with your caution, your first reaction would be like this.”

Shadow was not surprised, and replied in a vague voice, “This is a bet, a bet between you and me… Zhuang Ning, or should I call you Doctor.”

“You are a time traveler. I think with your personality, you have repeatedly speculated about this time travel.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. Your time travel was just an accident, but we still captured you. From then on, you are special. Why shouldn’t I invite the winner of the bet to meet me?”

Zhuang Ning had no expression on his face.

He had been targeted since he crossed over, right? That was why he escaped the calamity that destroyed the world.

“What’s the stakes?”

“This is a reserved item, but you will understand it soon.”

“I don’t like the Riddler.”

“But you will soon know the answer to the riddle.”

Shadow’s innocent face turned red, and it turned out to be his lips. He grinned, “It may sound a bit arrogant to say this, but I am a representative who was pushed to the front… Don’t stare at me like that, I am innocent too.”

Zhuang Ning clenched his hands unconsciously. He was rarely angry, but at this moment, he still had a fire in his heart:

“You are the one who leads the evil, why did you cause this disaster?”

“Good question. The destruction of mankind is inevitable. The evil spirits you speak of are just a convenient means for me.”

“Why?” Zhuang Ning repeated.

Shadow’s eyes turned compassionate: “Didn’t you guess it? Because Originium, the evil demon, Haisi… Haha, the things you fear are nothing compared to Originium.”

“This thing will continue to devour and expand, using the planet as its nutrients. It cannot be destroyed…”

Shadow sneered, “This is what you humans created. Everything else is fine, but the moment the Originium was created, you were sentenced to death.”

Zhuang Ning closed his eyes, feeling a little tired.

This was consistent with his conjecture that the Observers decided to attack Terra’s human civilization after locking onto the Originium.

“The starry sky is vast, and there are many civilizations that have mastered the subspace and various strange technologies.” The shadow pointed at Zhuang Ning’s chest, “But that damn Originium is unique and has completely merged with you… Congratulations, Doctor, no one can kill you now.”

Zhuang Ning’s eyes narrowed, as if he had guessed something.

“The expansion of the Originium cannot be suppressed, so there are observers like me.” Shadow blinked, “And you are the carrier of that Originium. What we are betting on is whether you can fully control the Originium and curb its momentum of expansion.”

“Judging from the results, you succeeded, which is cause for celebration.” Shadow seemed really happy. He actually took out champagne out of thin air, opened the lid with a bang, and poured the bubbling wine into the glass.

The glass was handed to Zhuang Ning, and Shadow smiled: “Let’s celebrate!”

Zhuang Ning remained calm and said, “Someone said before that I am the most special one among the bugs.”

“That’s not me. There are too many observers.” Shadow said with dissatisfaction, “Besides, you were the one who gave them the middle finger first.”

The wine glass fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

Pointing a middle finger at Shadow, Zhuang Ning sneered: “What now?”

“Well… I know this is an internationally recognized gesture in your human concept, but I don’t actually find it too insulting.”

Shadow sighed, “Didn’t I explain everything clearly? I had no choice but to kill you.”

“But I’m still angry.” Zhuang Ning was silent for a long time, put down his raised middle finger, and finally, he sat down on the chair that fit his lumbar spine.

He smiled: “You have done a lot of things like this, releasing evil spirits and destroying civilizations that might have grown, right?”

Shadow was a little embarrassed: “It’s just my job.”

“Do you think this is okay?”

“The starry sky is vast, and it is normal for many civilizations to be strangled in their infancy.” Shadow’s voice became quiet, with a sigh, “Will you have mercy on bugs? It is meaningless, but when the bugs threaten us, we must get rid of them.”

“I’m a bug too.”

“From now on, you are no longer one.” Shadow spread his hands and pointed to the darkness behind him. “You are the manager of this subspace. When you break through the shackles of Prisseth, you will completely control that damn Originium.”

“Just relying on this?”

“That’s enough…” Shadow smiled, with an extremely cold expression underneath. “If you want revenge, that’s fine. You can continue to break through the shackles and try to use the Originium to erode the higher-dimensional space and find my true body hidden in the higher dimension.”

“You are immortal now. I cannot pollute you or curse you. Even if you are shattered into pieces, you can still regenerate with the help of Originium.” Shadow seemed curious. “Will you do this?”

Zhuang Ning shook his head.

As if he really felt tired, he murmured, “Forget it.”

“Now… I just want to go home and see my family.”

The shadow was silent, looking at the man. After he could make clouds and rain with a wave of his hand, he didn’t want to use this power at all.

But that is why he is the most suitable candidate.

“One last question.” Zhuang Ning paused and asked coldly, “Who… are you?”

The shadow was stunned for a moment, then smiled brilliantly: “I have many identities.”

“For example, the evil god of the warp… In your eyes, I am probably such an existence.”

He smiled slyly: “But you may be able to guess my closest identity to you.”

“I am… the system.” The shadow murmured, “a system that issues tasks to you and gives you rewards.”

“This is what the bet looks like, my host.”

“You agreed to my terms and created the system… that’s me!”

Zhuang Ning snorted coldly, didn’t respond, stood up and brushed away the coffee.

In the end, he didn’t say thank you, nor did he complain. He just felt relaxed because his doubts were answered.

“I haven’t told you the final prize of the bet yet, but you should have guessed it.”

“Go and collect the remains of your previous civilization, and then you can go back.”

“I am glad to be of service to you, my most benevolent, most vicious… host!”

The color of the wind and snow faded away little by little, and the moment Zhuang Ning left the room, he stepped on empty air and fell into darkness.

It’s like sinking into the other side of the abyss.

The sound rang in my ears again.

【You may have forgotten your identity, but you still remember the name, and that’s enough.

——Okay, don’t stay here too long.

After all, you are neither my guest nor should you be here. 】

……

……

When he woke up, Zhuang Ning found himself next to a stove.

His head was still a little dizzy, and it took him a long time to open his eyes.

“He’s awake!”

Someone shouted, and then there were footsteps.