Chapter 469
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Chapter 469: A New Beginning for the Giant Hive
Bai Yan listened quietly to the voice in his mind. Although he didn’t fully understand it, he wasn’t surprised or confused.
Based on the various clues he had gathered, it seemed that he had a significant connection with the Connector and the God of Games. However, he didn’t appear to be their reincarnation. Instead, there was something distinct about him…
What exactly this distinctiveness was, Bai Yan still didn’t know.
He truly wished that the annulus civilization could provide him with a direct answer, but the strange voice inside his mind remained cryptic, offering nothing but riddles.
[The annulus civilization is one of the great civilizations.]
[We are a pure civilization of souls, not originating from the so-called ‘dimension of reality’ or ‘dimension of matter’.]
[We were born and developed in a dimension opposite to this one, but we also had to face our own ultimate challenges.]
[Everything in the World is like a clear and transparent ring.]
[Everything is within our grasp.]
[Even if you are not the chosen one, you should still receive what we had promised long ago.]
Through the power of telepathy, Bai Yan understood the message. Although the voice wasn’t in human language, its meaning was clear to him.
He couldn’t help but recall the time when Maryse was dancing, and he had been captivated by the moon, listening to unfamiliar voices.
“You are not him.”
That was roughly the message the will had tried to convey.
Bai Yan took a deep breath, feeling a strange sense of relief. Perhaps, in the end, he was just Bai Yan—a mere ordinary being—not some vessel of great significance.
This, he decided, was a good thing.
[Take it, thou, for thou art the unforeseen Savior.]
[This is…]
[We]
In the next moment, the annulus surged into Bai Yan’s body, as if it wanted to tear his body and soul apart.
He didn’t resist.
A vast amount of information flooded his mind, and everything before his eyes began to change. His consciousness blurred, and in that daze, Bai Yan saw countless incomprehensible scenes.
He saw the evolution of planets, the rise and fall of civilizations, and witnessed blue beams of light rushing through time—these “beams” appeared to be the descendants of the annulus civilization.
This advanced civilization existed in a form that ordinary humans could never comprehend.
For Bai Yan, understanding all of this was far too difficult, and an excruciating headache overwhelmed him.
Even when facing the Outer God, Bai Yan had never felt such agony.
At this moment, he sensed an unknown and terrifying power deeply seeping into his soul.
Gradually, Bai Yan fell into a deep unconsciousness.
When he awoke, everything that had happened felt like a dream.
Bai Yan raised his hand, still a little dazed, yet his heart remained calm and peaceful.
“Does the power come from the civilization of the ring?”
No, it was not just power.
A few days later.
Inside the Giant Hive, in Chamber 37, there were three old, worn-out streets. Most of the people here were workers from the chemical plant, providing the basic chemicals for the cloning center.
The second day after the downfall of the Almighty, the clone workers who managed the plant declared a complete halt to production. The attack from the Scarlet Moon had damaged the cloning center, and with the Almighty’s death, the clone overseer disappeared without a trace.
Unemployment cast an uneasy shadow over the residents of Chamber 37.
But what troubled them more was the sudden change in leadership. Gone was the mighty “Almighty” who could protect them. A mysterious and unpredictable figure had taken charge, plunging them into the disorienting realm of Babel Tower’s control.
The terrifying thought lingered in their minds: These invaders had killed the great Almighty. What else would they do?
No one knew. Anxiety and unease filled the air.
Just yesterday, on 37th Nest Street, a new flower shop opened.
The owner of this shop was none other than Elene Nian, a former rebellion leader and now a member of the Babel Tower, known for her psychic powers.
Despite the unstable situation, no one visited her flower shop. Nian continued to calmly tinker with flowers, accepting the silence with peaceful resignation.
After all, this wasn’t a real job—just a hobby.
The shop was named “Rain.” Its interior was decorated mainly in white and blue, and at the entrance stood a fluffy monster mascot, which, though ugly, Nian adored.
Just as Nian was absorbed in her flowers, the shop door opened. A father and son walked in. The father was in his forties, and the son appeared to be around twenty.
Nian pressed a small robot beside her, which promptly cheered enthusiastically.
“Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!”
The father and son, startled by the sudden noise, glanced at the sign that indicated the shopkeeper couldn’t speak. They assumed Nian didn’t want to entertain guests.
So, they quietly explored the flowers on their own.
The father, standing before a bundle of vibrant roses, selected one.
“How about giving your mom this rose for her birthday tomorrow?” he asked.
The son rolled his eyes. “Who even gives flowers these days? Dad, you’re so old-fashioned.”
The father sighed, worry etched on his face. “I know. But other gifts are expensive. We’re unemployed now, and we don’t know what the future holds for the Giant Hive. We have to save money and be careful.”
The son opened his mouth but remained silent, understanding his father’s concerns.
His father muttered, “Prices are soaring. Everyone’s stocking up on food. I heard some hives are descending into chaos, and there are even reports of people killing clone humans.”
The son felt a chill at the mention of clone humans—representatives of the Noy Military, the oppressive rulers of the hives.
“Killing clone humans… That’s audacious,” he thought.
The Giant Hive had changed. The Almighty was gone, and the people knew they were now under the control of Babel Tower.
As the father and son left the flower shop, the son’s emotions flared, his eyes welling with tears.
“Dirty Babel Tower killed Lord Almighty!” he whispered, his voice trembling.
Without the Almighty, the Tree City and the Ring City might have invaded them, turning them into pitiful test subjects. The Giant Hive could have met the same fate as the Air Alliance and the Eruo League—total destruction.
“Damn Babel Tower,” the son muttered angrily, but the father quickly silenced him.
“Don’t talk like that. Keep quiet!”
He glanced nervously at Nian, relieved to see her focused on her flowers.
Perhaps he had been too anxious. This sweet, mute girl couldn’t possibly be a member of the Babel Tower.
The father exhaled, then said quietly, “The Almighty may not have been as good as you think… Anyway, don’t speak like this again.”
The son huffed, dissatisfied, but said no more.
They left the shop, buying a pink rose as they went.
Nian, finally putting down her scissors, pondered the words she had just heard.
The Savior of the Babel Tower… What would the future of this city look like? What future awaited them?
She hoped the answer would soon be revealed.
The next day, the residents of Nest 37 heard news over the radio.
The Giant Hive’s technology was divided. The Noy Military possessed advanced technologies, while ordinary people only had access to technology comparable to Earth’s 20th century.
The Babel Tower formally announced that it would take full control of the Giant Hive and, for now, would maintain the existing order using cloning.
But significant reforms were on the horizon.
First, the prices in all chambers were controlled and stabilized for at least a month.
Next, the issue of employment was addressed. The unemployed workers from Chamber 37 would receive financial assistance while awaiting reassignment.
Public safety was also a priority. Extraordinary individuals who had taken advantage of the chaos to rob and riot were quickly suppressed.
At least for now, the residents of the Giant Hive could breathe a little easier.
Simultaneously, Bai Yan’s arrangements began to take effect. People from outside—Omnics, Digital Creatures, and sinners—began to settle in the Giant Hive.