Chapter 696: Remembering All His Past

But Lynn's gaze remained unwavering, his steps steady, staring straight at the end of the bridge beneath his feet.

Gradually, he approached.

And he finally saw, within the Hyper-Dimensional Perception, the enormous throne standing at the bridge's end, resembling an ancient symbol of kingly authority, and the figure huddled weakly before the throne, impossible to make out clearly, built entirely from pulsating nerves.

The only thing identifiable was a pair of silver pupils, flickering like candles in the wind, seeming ready to extinguish at any moment.

The Colossus's Brain!

The flesh ascender, the first primary consciousness of the Colossus, once formed from countless individual consciousnesses merging into one!

With a single glance, Lynn felt the intense connection resonating through the flesh and blood of his heart, and immediately, the system panel appeared before his eyes.

[Colossus's Brain]

[Rank]: ???

[Race]: Flesh Consciousness

[Alignment]: ???

[Combat Ability]: ???

[Introduction]: The first primary consciousness of the Colossus, the king of authority ascended from billions of individuals of the Colossus Civilization. Once allied with the Cyber Civilization seven thousand years ago to banish the God of All Machines, after its fall, they controlled the Colossus to devour an entire galaxy's life, restoring their flesh-and-blood capabilities to their peak. When the Calamity struck three thousand years ago, they commanded multiple Colossi in battle against it, but ultimately were defeated, falling into Hell. To avoid being cursed by Hell and sinking into eternal damnation, they self-dismembered, using countless Colossus consciousnesses to deceive Hell's eyes, and turned themselves into the High Tower, hiding underground, intending to ascend again in one leap after several millennia.

Lynn's pupils contracted.

He couldn't see their alignment, their combat ability, or their rank.

And he knew exactly what that meant.

Or rather—

At least at this stage, before they were truly cursed by Hell, regardless of their actual strength, their status was at least above Root-level!

This was a true, undead Ancient God!

The figure on the throne weakly watched Lynn and the dazed, bewildered Zuo Zuo, who had stopped at the bridge's edge, as waves of energy constantly dissipated around them. Finally, they spoke in a low voice.

"I have slept for I know not how many years. I never thought, in this final moment, I would see my Queen again, see my heart."

They raised a hand with difficulty, as if wanting to reach out, but then let it fall slowly.

The voice revealed no gender.

Or rather, for a Colossus consciousness, gender held no meaning at all.

Lynn looked up, meeting the god's gaze, their reflection in his eyes, and tested cautiously:

"Do you know which of us is the Colossus's Heart?"

As if hearing an extremely foolish question, those silver pupils dimmed as they replied, "Of course I know. But you are also a very special person. From the first time I linked with you, I was surprised, because you could actually bio-armament my heart and not die—not only not die, but gradually merge with my flesh."

Their voice was weak and ethereal, their gaze reflecting Lynn's image.

"So who are you?"

"What role do you play in this withering Hell?"

Lynn stared straight at them and said, "My name is Lynn. Nothing as special as you think. If I had to say, I'm just a human like you who fell into this Hell, with a bit of achievement and a handsome face. That's all."

The figure's gaze lingered on him for a long time.

"You say your name is Lynn?"

Lynn closed his eyes and replied, "Lynn. Double Wood. But you probably don't understand the writing and meaning of my world's language."

The figure said nothing more, but those silver pupils reflecting his image sent chills down his spine, as if trying to dig him open completely.

Even the faint waves of energy they emitted gave him an unprecedented sense of oppression.

They stared at him for a long time.

Only when the pressure gradually faded did Lynn hear their voice, tinged with a deeper meaning.

"If you still want to climb higher, then I suggest you change your name."

"Why?" Lynn asked, hesitant.

But the figure didn't linger on that topic. Their gaze passed over Lynn and landed on the dazed, confused Zuo Zuo standing there.

They stared at her for a long time.

As if gazing across a thousand years.

Then they closed their eyes and said softly, "Thank you for bringing my Queen here. You may go. I will help unlock the Colossus's authority and memories. And as repayment, before my final attempt, I will leave you a suitable heart to extend your life for a thousand years, and I will clear away all the obstacles outside for you. You can go home."

Those last words seemed to be said to Lynn, yet also to the dazed, lost Zuo Zuo standing there.

Silence enveloped everything.

Lynn didn't speak. He stared straight at them, then turned his head, his eyes reflecting Zuo Zuo's cheeks, filled with confusion as she hid behind him.

Their hands were still tightly clasped together.

As if they had never been apart.

Or rather, Lynn had always known this day would come, especially after learning that Zuo Zuo was the consciousness of the Colossus's Heart he had squeezed out. He understood that this moment was inevitable.

"Don't worry, don't cling to it,"

The figure said softly, gazing at him.

"You took good care of her. She's just going home. We were always twins, coexisting from the Colossus's beginning. We named ourselves after ancient royalty, meaning I govern war, and she governs tradition."

"Don't worry that she'll forget you. We are a conservative race. After she reclaims the authority that belongs to her, she will be deeply grateful to you for bringing her here."

"Lynn."

Lynn didn't speak.

And this was what he had been thinking about all along.

Just like in the earlier Fear projection, when it had shown him the scene of Zuo Zuo separating from him—it wasn't just senseless torment; it was what he truly cared about.

Because ever since he learned she was the Colossus's Heart's heart, he couldn't stop thinking.

She would leave eventually, right?

Because by his side, she could only be an incomplete, silly, talking left hand.

But if she returned to the Colossus and reclaimed everything she had lost, she would once again become the invincible Colossus, one of the twins of that great existence.

That was her path.

And he was just a passerby in her endless years, only existing for a few months, and a stupid brain who always tried to bully her.

Maybe that's just life.

Even though they always had so many disagreements, even though he always said, "Zuo Zuo, you're my left hand, so you'll only ever be my useless left hand. Even if I don't treat you as some kind of forbidden treasure or do anything to you, I'll definitely keep bullying you."

But the things said aloud—how could they ever truly represent what's in the heart?

Because no matter what—

A dumb hand that sleeps with you, eats with you, runs around with you every day, and knows all those hidden little schemes and nasty thoughts in each other's hearts...

At least counts as an unpeaceful kind of close friend, doesn't it?

Lynn closed his eyes, unconsciously tightening his grip on her small hand.

Of course.

Of course, I'm selfish enough to want to keep you here. We've been bickering and carrying on, and I've gotten used to having a noisy, silly left hand around.

But still...

I want to leave this decision to you.

"Zuo Zuo,"

Lynn's eyes reflected her face, as if trying to engrave it in his heart.

The weak figure said quietly, "She can't answer you now. As the primary consciousness of the Colossus's Heart, from the moment she stepped in here, her consciousness has already begun to automatically revive and awaken. The code etched into her genes will gradually make her remember all her memories and past, remember..."

"Everything she was as the Colossus's Heart."