Chapter 11 (2/2): Everyone will die, that’s great!

He suddenly recalled the “Great Catastrophe” mentioned in Lorraine Royal Founding History.

Was that the tragedy of the previous civilization’s destruction by the Cosmic Evil described in the Scripture?

If human civilization was trapped in a cycle…

Did the cycle Allen was experiencing relate to this as well?

Where exactly was the paradise God created?

Why must humanity endure such a terrifying cycle?

Did the “evil beings deep in the stars” mean the cult’s evil gods, or did it hint at extraterrestrial civilizations?

Was the Church truly an ancient organization that had survived countless cycles of destruction to guard humanity’s flame?

Allen couldn’t help but feel grateful.

The deity who granted him his “cheat” seemed somewhat like that Sleeper God.

It was as if the God half-asleep had heard Allen’s voice, lazily gave him a blessing to send him on his way, and then went right back to sleep without any aftercare.

Meanwhile, the Cosmic Evil were far more patient.

First, they sowed corruption with evil whispers, then waited until humanity matured before destroying it.

The first was half-hearted, like a routine task; the latter was like amusement without caring about trouble.

Indeed, even if gods existed, it wasn’t necessarily a blessing for humanity.

Creating happiness was entirely up to them!

The torrent of information crashed against Allen’s mental dam, but one sharp question surfaced like a reef—

“What about Emblems?!”

From start to finish, the Scripture talked lavishly about creation, paradise, destruction, and Saints…

Yet it didn’t mention the world’s most fundamental and core power system—the Emblem—even once!

It was as if it didn’t exist!

This was extremely strange!

Like a martial arts manual describing inner energy but never mentioning techniques!

Allen’s thoughts flashed at lightning speed: When did Emblems appear?

The Scripture’s silence meant they likely weren’t part of God’s original design but a “new thing” born during the long cycle—perhaps even this very cycle.

Allen immediately thought of Starshine Serenade’s heroine, Livia von Stern.

Why was Livia’s cheat Emblem the Star Emblem?

In the Scripture, “stars” were the source of the Evil Whispers—a derogatory term!

Was her dazzling and insanely powerful Star Emblem truly holy?

Or was there a terrifying conspiracy hidden behind her brilliant starlight?

In the original story, Livia’s route to becoming the Demon Lord, the destructive power she wielded that seemed connected to some vast and cold will…

Looking back, didn’t it perfectly match the Scripture’s “evil beings deep in the stars”?

She wasn’t a Demon Lord at all.

She was more like a “vessel” chosen by the Cosmic Evil or an “apostle” of civilization’s destruction!

Why did the Church, which possessed Lost Heritage far beyond its era, strictly block technological advancement?

Allen had initially thought the Church did this to maintain control.

But thinking carefully, the Church’s vehement opposition to Emblems—even antagonizing noble swordbearers who possessed them—would only harm their own power base.

If not to maintain power, then why?

A chilling conclusion thundered in Allen’s mind.

The Church was afraid!

They feared humanity’s rapid progress would once again attract the stars’ gaze and trigger the next Cycle of Destruction.

They denied the divinity of Emblems because they knew this power’s source was a bait set by the “evil gods.”

Accepting this premise would flip the entire Starshine Serenade story on its head!

As the protagonist of the otome game, Livia von Stern, the radiant phoenix, theoretically should have had a route to become a Saint.

Yet, in every storyline, she was the Church’s enemy.

Clearly, she was not the prophesied “Messenger of God”!

Her once-in-a-millennium Star Emblem might not be a blessing but a marker—a countdown to the Cycle’s reactivation!

“Hss…”

Allen gasped, feeling his soul freeze.

All his cycles, struggles, and “death endings” were utterly insignificant dust compared to this grand, hopeless script.

What made him even more despairing was the original work’s “Church Route” ending—

“His gaze ultimately fell upon this planet, and humanity perished.”

This absurd plot twist triggered at a fixed point in the game, with no way to avoid it!

Allen only now realized its trigger was after all routes ended!

What did this mean?

It meant that Starshine Serenade had no true “Happy End”!

No matter how players (or he) chose or struggled, they all ended at the same destination—humanity’s extinction!

The only difference was who died sooner or later, and how.

Thinking this, Allen’s hatred vanished without a trace.

So, everyone dies anyway?

That’s great!

Dying together is the Happy End!

If Allen hadn’t entered the cycle, he could just have taken a little stool in hell, cracked sunflower seeds, and rewatched the original plot while waiting for Livia to find him.

Then he’d cheerfully applaud her and openly mock her: “Congratulations, our great heroine finally finished filming. Meeting in hell—exciting, isn’t it?”

Livia could never kill this annoying villain Allen again, and they could torment each other in hell until the Dao was extinguished.

“Hahaha…hahaha!”

Allen let out a repressed dry laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.

This fantasy was truly pathetic.

What kind of otome game was Starshine Serenade?

It was more like social revenge!

The developers, to ensure sales, didn’t dare reveal the true ending but, for their twisted “artistic pursuit,” deliberately hid it in the Church route.

No wonder the Church route was the hardest hidden route in the original work—they stashed a giant secret here!

Allen had naïvely hoped to survive by sneaking into the Church this cycle.

Now he saw he had just jumped from a small death trap into a larger slaughterhouse encompassing the entire fate of humanity!

The world’s truth was like an iceberg slowly rising from the dark ocean depths.

Even the visible tip, with its terrifying and despairing outline, was enough to crush any mortal mind.

Damn it!

What should he do?

How did humanity survive the apocalypse last time?

The Lorraine Royal Founding History’s content struck like lightning!

It was that Ark of the Apocalypse!

The Church’s sacred relic!

Allen immediately grasped this lifeline.

He took a deep breath and regained his composure.

No matter the cycle, he couldn’t escape the world’s destruction.

But this cycle, he was in the Church route!

Not only had he uncovered the world’s truth, but he also found a way to survive!

There were at least fifteen years left before humanity’s destruction!

That was enough!

A thousand years was too long; Allen would seize the day.

Never underestimate humanity’s will to survive!

Even if he started from the Church’s lowest cleric rank, he was confident he could climb to the top!

His previous 999 cycles had accumulated a solid, invaluable wealth of knowledge to keep him alive—

He knew the original story’s entire plot!

With this knowledge alone, he could earn great merits for the Church.

With such achievements, would Allen still be denied entrance to the Ark?

It seemed the Sleeper Creator not only did not mind Allen’s insults but even wanted to give him a lifeline.

Merciful Lord!

I understand now—you are the greatest god!

I will never insult you again!

I love You!

So um…could You extend my cheat a bit?

I’m not asking for a permanent card, just a fifteen-year duration isn’t too much, right?

“Those who fail to plan for the distant future will face near troubles.”

Allen realized that humanity’s apocalypse was still years away, but his own end might be just days off.

His mood suddenly sank again.

Sigh, why is this happening?

As a villain, is death the only ending?

It’s all your fault, Livia!

You’re the protagonist but can’t save the world! What a useless person!

Just as Allen was pondering how to handle the Inquisition’s next interrogation, the iron door of the interrogation room clicked open.

The Inquisitor who had previously questioned him returned, expressionless as always, and officially announced: “Allen de Laval, you may leave.”