Lords: From Civilization to the Stars

"...Wake up, little brother. Little brother, wake up."

"What...?"

The man slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the source of the sound.

At that moment, the man felt that his consciousness seemed to be a little blurred. An old man who looked gentle and full of kindness was calmly pouring a cup of flower tea, looking at the tired man with great concern.

It was like being in a garden full of birdsong and flowers. The sky released warm sunshine and the surroundings were full of pleasant flower fragrance. The paradise of plant art with flourishing vitality formed a beautiful and beautiful paradise of life in front of the man. In this paradise, the kind old man was sitting upright, and there was the crystal clear flower tea in his hand.

As if he was worried that something had happened to the sleeping man, the old man looked at the man who woke up and breathed a sigh of relief, pushed the cup of flower tea in his hand, and looked at the unbelievable man in front of him kindly, and his voice was full of gentleness and mature concern like his father and ancestors.

"You seem to be a little tired recently. There is no need to force yourself to go on. Drink some flower tea and relax here. Take a good look at the life and nature around you, and feel the joy of the environment."

"Where is this...?"

"This is the garden of life, the paradise in your heart. Everyone has this feeling in their hearts. They want to be dependent on a little, a little redemption. But this will not be empty, but will become your motivation to go on and persevere."

The kind old man sat on the chair, his light green eyes full of compassion and love for the man in front of him who was at a loss. It was like looking at his own child.

"I know you are very tired, and I also know that you have become tired of all kinds of grand worlds. We don't have to run forever. After all, no one is chasing us. Just like now, taste the flower tea a little, feel the fragrance of nature, and calm down to enjoy life. What's wrong?"

"I..."

Looking at the teacup in front of him, the flower tea that smelled calm, the man swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

He remembered that this was the psychic environment created by the machine. He just had a three-hour holiday. After complaining for an hour, he went to the supermarket to buy some things. Then, persuaded by the young man, he planned to test this wonderful machine.

It can only be said that this psychic machine is really powerful. At least the man can no longer tell whether he is in the real world or the virtual world. He just stared at the kind old man blankly, and finally shook his head a little dully.

"No, no, I can't stay any longer. I, I have to go back to work..."

"Huh? Don't you know? In this world, the speed of time flow is about one to one hundred. In extreme cases, it may be one to two hundred. We still have plenty of time."

The kind old man blinked at the nervous man in front of him, indicating that he could quit and try.

The man exited sleep without hesitation according to the original prompt.

Just like a man suddenly walked from a home with a pleasant climate to the outside with a surface temperature of more than 70 degrees, an inexplicable sense of suffocation instantly enveloped the man, making him subconsciously aware of the environment he was in.

He was outside, in this world that had been closed and suppressed for who knows how long, full of buildings and gentle and hopeful. He had been bound by this world for a very long time. But looking at the wall clock, he was surprised to realize all this.

"One minute...?"

"Well. Did you just quit like that? Actually, you can stay a little longer."

The green seaweed-headed staff looked at the panting man with some surprise, and the expression on his face seemed a little incredible.

"There is plenty of time here, and we don't know what happened inside. This psychic technology is an evolved version of the psychic file of the negative star, but with more directions and inductions, which can give you the best sleep and memories. You can try it more."

"I..."

Recalling the fatherly concerns and persuasive voice of the kind old man, the man felt a little sour in his nose.

To be honest, at that moment, the man almost cried. He almost thought that the old man in front of him was his grandfather who had left for a long time. The old man who had loved him unconditionally but was also a bit dignified was a truly great and powerful person in his impression.

If it weren't for such memories, he would have had a hard time getting through that hellish student life. But now that he has grown up, he can't even remember his grandfather's face.

And that feeling just now, that kind feeling, isn't it the warmth that relatives can bring?

"Can I try it a little longer?"

Holding the rune helmet, like hugging a treasure, the man swallowed nervously and looked at the green seaweed-headed man.

"It only takes an hour... No, no, no, an hour and ten minutes, maybe I just need this time. Can you let me try it a little longer? I believe I can, I can really give it back to you soon."

"Haha, what are you talking about."

Looking at the man's nervous expression, the seaweed-headed green-eyed man smiled kindly.

"Have you forgotten? This helmet already belongs to you. It originally belongs to you, and you can go back and use it directly. But I don't recommend you to go back directly, after all, there are still a lot of old ladies outside. You can use it here for a while, and I will help you speak when the time comes."

"This, this is so embarrassing..."

"It's okay, it's okay, I have used this thing before, the scenery inside and my own desire are very warm, right? For that warmth and happiness, we must continue to work hard. Cheer each other up."

The green seaweed-headed employee gave the man a thumbs up and smiled and closed the door.

The trial area only had the helmet flashing with psychic light, and the man with a fluctuating expression, who seemed to be struggling and thinking about something.

The man looked at the helmet in his hand, and his expression struggled fiercely. This helmet is like a poison, a warm hometown and embrace. To be honest, I really don't want to go back to the player's world. But since there is such a good ratio, can I use this to comfort myself after work?

There should be no problem, right? This kind of thing should be acceptable, right? It's just sleeping.

Looking at the runes shining on the helmet, the man gritted his teeth, put it on his head, and pressed the guide button.

It was like entering the player's world, with a very strange difference. As if digging into his inner thoughts, the man clearly felt a sense of falling, a strange sense of withdrawal this time.

It was as if he had entered the reflection of the world, as if he had seen the other side of the world. In this world in the mirror, he could truly feel who he was, and could truly understand what the meaning of living in this world was. He just had such a strong idea.

"... Are you back?"

"Yeah."

Consciousness returned, the man looked at the gentle old man, and nodded a little stiffly.

Although the man put on the helmet and returned to this world with a bloody courage, looking at the kind old man, he found that he was like a child at the beginning, unable to say anything.

Obviously there was infinite pain, and obviously his life had been lived like this, but in the end he was unable to really express it. He also wanted to express his pain directly, but now, looking at the gentle old man, the man didn't know why he couldn't say it.

Sometimes when you really face the person you want to reach out and touch, and want to treat intimately, you will always show a more awkward distance. Such things generally take time to reconcile. Although there is already a considerable sense of trust and affection, the man still feels that he lacks some art of dialogue and some other courage.

"Humph, in general, you lack a rational thinking and a more changeable thinking mode."

"What——"

Just when he was about to say who it was in surprise, the man saw the source of the voice.

It was a man wearing a suit and leather shoes, who looked like a social elite, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and full of arrogance. Even he himself didn't dare to recognize that he looked like this.

Such an elite aura, a confident attitude that seemed to have mastered the secrets of the world, and the temperament of holding a book, as if the whole world belonged to him. This kind of self, I'm afraid, has never appeared even in dreams. I just saw such a person on TV.

"Well, seeing your stupid look, I know you can't figure out why you have become like this."

The noble and elegant elite man sighed and looked at the old man who was watching everything with a smile.

"Then, I will take him away for a while, let him witness his own possibilities and various futures, what do you think? He respects you very much, but he needs more encouragement."

"That's the best. Go with him, kid. I will always wait for you."

"..."

The man looked at the old man with a gentle smile, not knowing what to say, just opened his mouth, and then followed the elite and watched him take him into a crystal clear high-rise building.

That should be the residence of this man. It looks like a high-end apartment with steel frame and glass. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows and the dazzling city night view that can't be seen at the end seem to declare that the man in front of him is the top figure in this world. The elite man looked at the night view outside the window, opened a bottle of high-end wine, and looked at himself with some disgust.

"If, I mean if, you really have such talent, you should take the same path as me. I know you will definitely deny your own ideas in your heart, but you listen to me first and shut up, okay?"

"..."

But I haven't said anything yet?

Looking at the blue-eyed elite with a strong aura, the man just kept silent.

Looking at the silent man, the blue-eyed elite seemed to be even more angry, drank the wine in one gulp, and looked at the silent man with regret.

"You seem to feel very dissatisfied, and feel that you have no ability, no confidence, no choice and courage, and you definitely can't do anything, right? Then let me ask you, how much time did you spend on boring social activities and so-called entertainment projects in the past? How much time did you spend working hard for yourself?"

"Well, that's normal-"

"I told you to shut up first!"

"Oh."

The man nodded a little aggrievedly, quietly waiting for the panting blue-eyed elite's scolding with hatred.

He may have been looking forward to such a criticism, or perhaps he had been looking forward to a hearty scolding. This kind of scolding and scolding can make him really sober up and peel off the skin he still holds on.

The blue-eyed elite is himself, starting from when he hesitated and did not choose to become a class cadre when he was a child, starting from when he gave up various competitions and selections because he was afraid of trouble, and starting from giving up the kindness of others under various rumors or his own arrogance.

Analyzing one by one, reprimanding one by one, this feeling of being analyzed made him feel a sense of rightness.

Maybe it was like this, maybe it was the scolding that should make him better.

But just as the man was savoring this self-analysis, the blue-eyed elite suddenly sighed.

"Ah... I knew that people like you would never change anything. You always complain about yourself, and you even feel happy when others scold you. People like you only know how to satisfy yourself, never really think about what happened to you, and never solve your own problems."

"Huh?"

"Then let someone who can solve the problem come."

The blue-eyed elite shook his head tiredly and snapped his fingers at the door.

In just a blink of an eye, the world spun, and the man saw a strong man with long red hair roaring angrily and running towards him.

Without reason or dialogue, the red-haired man grabbed the man like a chick and threw him to the back. He threw him directly into the sand pit. Then he kicked him to the ground while he was still standing. Just like throwing away garbage, he threw a red spear next to him.

"Stand up. Fight with me!"

"No, don't! Don't hit me! Please! I don't know how to fight!"

"Waste!"

Another fierce attack, and he was kicked to the ground again.

But wait.

It doesn't seem to hurt?

The man who was kicked to the ground and curled up his body subconsciously suddenly realized something. Then he heard an impatient sound of steel hitting the shield.

"Hey! Stand up! Stand up again! Pick up your weapons! The enemy is here! What are you still hesitating about!"

Hitting the brass shield, the red-haired man roared at the man who fell to the ground.

"Are you going to keep silent? Like a coward, like a waste! Now you can't feel the pain, you can't feel your own pain, and you don't dare to rush up!"

"Is all you can do forever just to make excuses? Come on, come up! Take up your weapons, take up your confidence! You definitely didn't come here to get beaten, did you? Come, face me, use your sword and gun, your courage! You can do it, you are just afraid of pain, but in fact, this is not something to be ashamed of."

"Repentance for death, fear of the disappearance of one's own individual, these are all normal. But the only thing worth despising is that you have lost the courage to face it."

"Now, you won't die, and you won't feel pain, so what are you still hesitating about?!"

"——!!!!"

"Very good! That's it!"

Looking at the man who roared loudly, hugged the spear beside him, and rushed over with red eyes, the red-haired strong man laughed heartily, then knocked away the man's disorderly attack with a shield and kicked him to the ground.

Then, just as the man was dizzy and doubting his life, a hand suddenly reached out in front of him. A sonorous voice came from under the helmet of the red-haired man whose face could not be seen clearly. The mature will that seemed like a block of iron was hammered into his heart like steel.

"Congratulations, whether you win or lose, you finally have the courage to swing your weapon against the enemy."

"... Thank you."

Grasping the palm of the red-haired man, the man sat up from the sand pit and smiled sincerely at the red-haired man.

He had never felt so energetic and confident. Although he might still be afraid of pain in reality, and might be afraid of many things, afraid of this and that, but now, at least he no longer lacked the courage to attack the enemy after being forced into a corner.

This courage had disappeared for an unknown period of time, and now he finally found it again.

And just as he was clenching his fist and savoring the sweetness of this bravery, a hearty voice sounded from the edge of the Colosseum.

"Speaking of courage and glory, the wine and food after the war are indispensable. Come on, my dear warriors, the best reward is waiting for you. Come and enjoy the beauty and blessings that belong to you."

A purple-eyed man wearing a purple robe and a light golden crown smiled at the two of them.

And after that, for the man, the memory he was trapped in was too wonderful.

In his impression, any wonderful things could not describe everything he got. If you have to say it, this world is a beautiful dream, a dream that intelligent creatures want to get.

I am afraid that for this dream, he can dedicate everything he has.

"... How is it? How do you feel?"

"I feel very good. You will definitely be a big hit."

"Thank you for your good wishes."

Looking at the man who woke up from his sleep and happily returned to the building with a helmet, the green-eyed young man smiled gently, like the kind father in the dream.

"It would be best if you are satisfied."