Chapter 437: The Last Wallfacer
Lin Sen's words seemed to say nothing, yet also seemed to say everything.
Lin Sen's view was simple, that humanity's strength was not enough to change the fate of civilization, and the strength of a civilization was even less able to change the fate of the universe.
But that was no reason to give up. Persevere, and perhaps we could trigger that overlooked yet infinitely potential minor "variable," thereby causing an unexpected, major 'transformation.'
Returners deeply understood this, and they slowly said,
"We also recognize that the decisive variable, the more one seeks it, the more elusive it appears.
Just as your humans, facing the unprecedented crisis brought by the Trisolaran Civilization, devised the Wall-Facing Plan. The nature of this plan is a profound exploration of unknown variables.
The creators of the Wall-Facing schemes knew that human conventional methods were no match against the Trisolaran Civilization. They too had to find that variable which could change the fate of humanity.
Yet the reckless actions of the Trisolarans inadvertently provided humanity with the greatest revelation, leading to the birth of the Wall-Facing Plan.
At best, this plan could only preserve the seeds of Human Civilization. Luckily, Wallfacers encountered an assistant like you.
Your appearance allowed Human Civilization to completely change its own fate, even elevating it to a God Rank Civilization.
Now, the fate of the universe is steering toward an unknown Other Shore.
Your existence seems to be the greatest revelation this universe has given us.
Perhaps believing in you has become our only choice, just like the entire Divine Vessel Civilization, forever trusting in you."
Lin Sen sighed, "Alas, ever since I became a Wallfacer, these expectations and hopes have been constantly echoing in my ears.
"You've made us Wallfacers once again, and this time our Wallfacing object is the universe itself.
"I'm ultimately just an ordinary person, my choices are often unpredictable, and yet this unpredictability often leads humanity onto the right path.
"What I can give everyone, is to let those struggling in the abyss of despair find hope again.
"Yet, often the one who gives hope to others may be the most desperate inside. Humanity is not the main character on the stage of the universe, and neither am I. I can't expect to be this lucky forever.
"My whole life has been like walking on thin ice, in a vast ocean, always surrounded by treacherous and surging waves, danger lurking on all sides.
"After countless destructions and rebirths from fire, we finally achieve a God Rank Civilization through endless exploration and struggle, stepping onto that once unreachable Other Shore.
"However, ironically, this 'Other Shore' we once dreamed of and thought we could enjoy forever now also faces the crisis of sinking.
"In the end, everything returns to dust, and to the earth.
"Do you really believe," Lin Sen's voice grew heavier, "that a mere individual can change the destiny of the universe?"
Hearing this, the Returners fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke up,
"Hope has always been the most treasured possession in our hearts.
If we didn't believe in you, how could we have come to seek you?
An ant's strength is tiny, but if it were in the Trisolaran Star System, at the critical moment, it could change the trajectory of three Constant Stars.
The core of the three-body problem lies in its inherent Chaos, meaning that even the tiniest variable introduced could lead to a completely unpredictable future evolution.
While an individual's power may seem insignificant, at those often-overlooked critical junctures, they could potentially become the lever that moves the universe's fate.
The mission of the Wallfacers is to uncover those overlooked critical junctures, hoping to trigger a turning point in the torrent of civilization.
The universe is also such a Chaos system, to which mathematics and physics have lost their relevance.
No one can predict the future, even us as a Divine-level Civilization.
We call all civilizations to return the matter of the Small Universe to the Big Universe, but inevitably many civilizations will leave a lot behind, and we can only hope the Big Universe will overlook it.
Even if the former universe could overlook it, it doesn't mean the current universe will overlook it.
But this won't stop us from persevering! If we were only pursuing results, Human Civilization could not have achieved what it has today."
Destiny always turns in ceaseless cycles.
In the long river of human history, the rise and fall of dynasties continually cycle, just waiting for the opportunity to break through the cycle of rule.
The progress of civilizations, too, is an endless cycle, and on this long and winding road, civilizations will encounter countless shackles and crises, which stand like steep mountains in the way of their progress.
Every shackle might lock a civilization in place, as the Dinosaur Civilization's technology was locked for sixty million years, as the Mountain Civilization was sealed beneath the earth... Only through self-transcendence can they break free from their chains and welcome the dawn of rebirth.
Every crisis is a test of a civilization's will to survive, a high-stakes gamble on the entire civilization's future.
In this game of chance, civilizations either perish or are reborn—there are no alternative paths. And the Wallfacers are the most pivotal players in this gamble.
The mission of the Wallfacers is much like the cycles of the universe, repeating constantly yet each time not quite the same.
Faced with the Trisolaran crisis, the mission of the Wallfacers is to devise and implement strategic plans, and mislead and deceive both Trisolarans and humanity, all to find a slim chance of survival in what seems like a hopeless situation.
Faced with the Dark Forest, the Wallfacers transform into guides, leading the Divine Vessel Civilization through layers of mist toward the unknown Other Shore.
Now, the cycle's pointer has turned toward Lin Sen once more.
Facing the vast, endless universe, Lin Sen has once again become a Wallfacer. Whether he is willing or not, Lin Sen has already become a Cosmic Wall Mender.
Lin Sen sighed deeply, "An individual's fate is like a leaf fluttering in the wind.
"The greatest humility is not insignificance, but the inability to refuse.
"We cannot escape, nor can we struggle.
"The vortex of fate is like a black hole in the abyss of the universe; once we enter, we can no longer break free."
The voice of the Returner resonated once more, as if each word contained the profound weight of the universe's vicissitudes:
"Every civilization, no matter how advanced its technology or how profound its wisdom, is inevitably caught in the inexorable vortex of the universe, and our civilization of Returners is no exception.
On this vast cosmic stage, we are both observers and participants, collectively witnessing the rise and fall of the universe.
Ten thousand years from now.
The universe will face its Judgment Day, and on that day, the universe will also sit in judgment over us.
Looking around, this once vibrant and brilliant universe has now become eerily silent.
Countless low-level civilizations have either been extinguished in the cruel competition of interstellar affairs or struggle for survival in the direst conditions, inexorably walking toward the path of extinction.
Almost no space remains for them in this universe now, their disappearance also an inevitable part of cosmic evolution.
As of now, very few civilizations have survived.
We can no longer discern our own meaning either.
We plan to initiate an ultra-Mo broadcast throughout the entire universe, calling on all civilizations to return the matter of their Small Universes back to the Big Universe.
Now, this is as much as we can do, whether it has meaning or not.
Hereafter, all we can do is—believe in you."
Lin Sen fell silent for a moment, his gaze seemingly returning to those eventful years of wits and bravery against the Three Body, as a Wallfacer,
"Perhaps this is my last Wallfacing, or perhaps there is no more Wallfacing at all.
"We became a Divine-level Civilization by listening to the 'voice' of the universe in the black hole, amidst the interstice bound by despair and hope.
"At the universe's final moments, I intend to lead the Divine Vessel Civilization back into the black hole, trusting that there might be some revelations there.
"And I have one last wish, although it is meaningless, but I still want to fulfill it."
The path forward is unclear to the Returners, and it is unclear to Lin Sen as well.
Whether the universe can be rebooted, whether Lin Sen speaks or not, it is all meaningless.
Just as the Returners said, all that can be done is to believe—in the Wallfacers.