After Winning The Esports Championship I’m Going To Pilot A Mecha: Chapter 164

164. “Everything will be okay.”

A tremendous roar shook the heavens and earth. The broken surface of the black sphere revealed beneath Sky City created countless expanding ripples, like chaotic ripples formed by a torrential rain hitting the water’s surface. The invisible waves spread outward, entangling with the imperceptible Titan force fields.

The outer armor of the twelve Titans quickly peeled away under the impact, creating a storm of steel mixed with flesh fragments. The twelve Titans emitted mournful howls simultaneously. Amidst the piercing and painful wails, the trembling of the black sphere grew increasingly violent, as if it were about to explode on the spot, causing viewers to be on edge.

Creeeak—

The cockpit of Zhu Jiu Yin could not bear the strain, emitting a screeching sound that made one’s teeth ache. Ji Mingzhu gritted his teeth, firmly holding onto the control stick. Under his control, Zhu Jiu Yin continued its slow and steady advance toward the black sphere.

One step, two steps…

The black sphere was only a step away from Zhu Jiu Yin. Ji Mingzhu could even see the chaotic ripples spreading outward. The outer armor of Zhu Jiu Yin’s outstretched hand had long since vanished, revealing the exposed crimson flesh beneath—

“Mingzhu!!”

Yao Guang shouted his name, his voice nearly breaking: “Get out of there quickly, the core is about to explode!!”

The unusual activity of Sky City also drew the attention of countless people. The mecha of the Netherworld Organization and the Calamity Control Bureau unknowingly stopped their actions, all eyes drawn to the direction of Sky City.

The enormous, menacing black core could be seen even from hundreds of kilometers away. Whether it was the participants on the battlefield or those watching via satellite feeds, everyone was stunned.

So beneath the magnificent Sky City, such a thing was hidden…

Ji Mingzhu heard Yao Guang’s voice but had no time to respond. His brain was overwhelmed with indescribable chaos. The Titan’s roars mixed with the core’s fluctuations left his mind nearly blank. His body was similarly rigid and unresponsive, with even the simple act of pushing the control stick consuming all his strength.

“Ji! Ming! Zhu!”

Qi Ling’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression exaggeratedly ferocious, with a hint of barely perceptible pleading: “Stop! Stop it now!!”

Arriving on this planet with a natural mission, the victory that was within reach was ruthlessly shattered. Centuries ago, it was Ji Qiming who stripped the core from the Mother body and sealed it in Sky City, cutting up the Mother body to create the Titans, forcing the Mother Aberration to take refuge in the frail human form. Centuries later, it was Ji Mingzhu, who repeatedly interfered with his plans, as if the Ji brothers were destined calamities in his life.

“Don’t…”

Zhang Bifang crawled forward with all his limbs in a grotesque posture. His bark-like face was torn by the storm, making him look even more like an Aberration than a true one. He shouted, pleading for Ji Mingzhu to stop, while dragging his body forward through the storm.

Ji Mingzhu’s mind could no longer think, but he still remembered what he needed to do. He pressed a button in the cockpit and then, with his last bit of strength, opened the cockpit door.

The steel cables of the cockpit were lowered. Just as Ji Mingzhu’s hand touched the cable, he lost strength the next moment and fell from the enormous Titan—

In contrast to the Titan, the human body seemed as insignificant as an ant. Blown upwards by the violent storm, Ji Mingzhu’s body was propelled into the air. At the same time, with a tremendous explosion, the cockpit of Zhu Jiu Yin erupted violently!

The last Titan’s restraining device was also destroyed.

“Boom!!”

At the point where Zhu Jiu Yin made contact with the black core, the black liquid quickly spread upward. In an instant, the massive Titan was covered by the black liquid, which then transferred to Zhu Rong and continued to spread…

The twelve Titans instantly became black statues, resembling twelve black, continuous mountains. It was even difficult to discern their original forms. Meanwhile, the already enormous black core sphere, after a brief contraction, expanded rapidly. The pitch-black domain spread outward, engulfing the entire Sky City!!

Zhang Bifang extended his hand futilely, as if a devout worshiper praying to the divine. The next moment, his body was swallowed by the black domain. His body began to disintegrate, his skin cracked, and his organs began to melt… As if undergoing some kind of torture, Zhang Bifang let out a horrific scream, and his body dissolved into the black domain like winter snow melting away!

“Mingzhu!”

Yao Guang stared at Ji Mingzhu’s position without blinking, watching as Ji Mingzhu’s body was also swallowed by the black domain. His eyes were red, and he shouted Ji Mingzhu’s name loudly.

The storm before him suddenly subsided. The light was completely swallowed, and everything around was enveloped in darkness. The world seemed to fall into a brief silence.

Ji Mingzhu struggled to open his eyes—though, in truth, he wasn’t sure if he had opened them, as everything was shrouded in darkness, with no light at all. He couldn’t even sense whether his body existed.

In the midst of a hazy chaos, it seemed that a pair of gigantic eyes opened.

These eyes were so immense, as if the boundless universe was observing the planet in darkness. Ji Mingzhu could not perceive the emotions within these eyes, yet it felt as if he sensed all emotions—like a divine being’s gaze of pity and disdain upon insignificant humans, or perhaps a casual glance that dismissed everything as thin smoke. The enormous planet seemed like mere dust beside the colossal figure—

“Is that so.”

In the darkness, Ji Mingzhu seemed to hear an ancient voice, sighing with a misty tone: “What a pity…”

And then everything fell silent.

……

“Boom!!”

To the astonished and incredulous gazes of everyone, the black sphere rapidly expanded, swallowing the entire Sky City. Then, as if it had touched some barrier, it ceased to expand once it reached its limit. The black liquid, like thick smoke trapped in a bottle, struggled but couldn’t break free. Sky City rumbled as its steel islands were instantly reduced to ash-like remnants. Then, in a flash of lightning and thunder, it suddenly contracted, and with a faint “pop,” it vanished into thin air.

The tsunami subsided, the dark clouds dissipated, and sunlight broke through.

Qi Ling sank to his knees in despair, his expression bleak, murmuring to himself, though no one could make out what he said.

“It’s, it’s over…?”

Yao Guang, stunned, was the first to come to his senses: “Mingzhu, Mingzhu…”

He rushed frantically toward the direction of Sky City, knocking over several members of the Calamity Control Bureau in his path. The people who were knocked over came to their senses: “Hey, that kid!”

Sky City, which had plummeted like a meteor, was now gone. The sea outside Jiusheng City was left with only shattered ruins and debris. Black ash, like raven feathers, fell from the sky, resembling volcanic ash raining down from the heavens. It was as if Sky City had been erased by some force, with even its traces barely discernible. In the face of such immense power, it seemed no one could have survived—even the invincible Titans had vanished without a trace.

It can’t be, it can’t be…

Yao Guang stumbled forward, his eyes growing redder, overwhelmed by immense sorrow, as if the day of losing Tian Quan had returned, the pain so profound it was hard to breathe.

The chaotic battlefield had settled, and everyone looked around in confusion, as if waking from a great dream, unsure of what to do next.

Yao Guang quickly walked toward the direction of Sky City. As he got closer, his steps slowed down, eventually coming to a halt.

In his eyes was an unforgettable scene.

Black ash, like raven feathers, rained down from the sky, as if a dark, fine rain was falling. Amidst the drifting volcanic ash, a figure was walking slowly.

He had a face of unparalleled beauty, every detail of his features seemingly sculpted by the gods. The black ash gently settled on his shoulders, cheeks, and hair, like a fiery angel wrapped in black feathers, walking toward the crowd in the void-like light.

He held a young boy in his arms, the fragile, slender body as delicate as a glass doll, carefully cradled by the young man. The black ash fell to the ground but did not touch him at all.

Ji Mingzhu’s breathing was weak but steady, wrapped in the warm embrace. He shifted slightly, his expression serene as if lying in a cradle.

“Cang Lan.”

Ji Mingzhu’s lips moved slightly, his voice barely audible, but Cang Lan still heard him.

“Yes?”

The gentle voice was like an endless ocean, exactly like the tone in his memories.

Ji Mingzhu slowly opened his eyes. The land before him was a battlefield of devastation, filled with countless wreckage and scattered mech fragments. A ray of sunlight fell on every bewildered face. He saw Zuo Quanzong emerging from the mech, saw Yao Guang with red eyes standing not far away, and saw Li Li’s surprised expression…

He reached out his hand, and a black feather of ash fell into his palm, then dissolved.

“You’re still here.”

Ji Mingzhu murmured, looking up at Cang Lan’s gentle gaze.

“That’s good…”

……

“The reconstruction of Jiusheng City is already on the agenda. All the satellite cities have sent rescue supplies. Fortunately, the casualties are not too many; it’s estimated that it will recover in a year or two…”

“Qi Ling and the senior officials of the Netherworld Organization have been arrested. The first trial meeting is in a few days. The Red Guard Commander asked if you would like to attend.”

“Oh, right. Although Sky City was destroyed, the Immortal Clan has provided the formula for purifying water. Even though the Aberrations can’t return to their previous human forms, most of them are less aggressive now. A few people from Shangjing City have arrived, including a little girl named Vera… It seems like their family has been living with Aberrations for a long time. With this precedent, the relationship between Aberrations and New Humans should improve quite a bit…”

“Also, the citizens of the satellite cities have had a strong reaction, and there are some dissenting voices. The Red Guard Commander thinks that once you’re feeling better, you should make an appearance. Right now, the people in the satellite cities don’t trust the Calamity Control Bureau or Sky City; they only trust you. It would be easier if you took the lead…”

“Hey? Are you listening?”

“Yeah, I’m listening.”

“What’s with that absent-minded look?”

Yao Guang’s voice came with annoyance: “I’m not good at this sort of thing to begin with, and now you’re pushing everything onto me. I really might quit! Cang Lan, don’t just stay silent, say something!”

Cang Lan: “…”

“…Fine, I guess I’m just making a fool of myself.”

Yao Guang resignedly said, “You’re the new high priest of the Immortal Clan now. You should be responsible for the Immortal Clan’s affairs, right? Since Shen Hong left, the Immortal Clan has been in turmoil. What are you doing here with Mingzhu every day?”

“Ah, my head hurts.”

Ji Mingzhu raised a hand to his forehead, looking weak.

Yao Guang’s voice immediately softened. He looked at the two people in front of him and finally sighed: “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more. You should rest.”

After Yao Guang left, Ji Mingzhu turned to Cang Lan and grimaced: “What a hassle.”

Even though the core of the Mother Aberration was successfully destroyed and the threat from the cosmic deity is temporarily gone, there is still a huge mess to deal with. Shen Hong left the intelligent machines with Cang Lan and disappeared somewhere. For now, Huo Zai is in charge of the Aberrations, and there shouldn’t be any immediate issues. However, whether it’s the intelligent machines, New Humans, or Old Humans, the grievances among the three parties have been building for a long time. Even now, it’s difficult to calmly sit together and discuss the future.

It seemed that after that day, everyone lost their purpose. The future was unclear, and the path ahead was bewildering. Even though Ji Mingzhu had become the “savior” in most people’s eyes, with his words carrying great weight, he was completely unskilled at handling such matters. In fact, what Ji Mingzhu wanted most now was to log into *The Warfall* and become a web-addicted teenager who ignores the world outside, playing for three days and nights straight.

Avoidance is shameful, but very useful.

Cang Lan smiled, reaching out and taking Ji Mingzhu’s hand on the white hospital bed.

“It will all be okay,” Cang Lan said.

Ji Mingzhu blinked, looking at Cang Lan’s face with a bit of daze.

It was Ashu, and it was also Cang Lan. Whether in the old era or this chaotic time, he had never left, and the future would be the same.

Ji Mingzhu felt a slight stir in his heart as he held Cang Lan’s hand, feeling the warmth different from other intelligent machines.

“Mm.”

It will all be okay.

[End Of Full Text]

—

Author’s Note:

It’s finished!

This story probably won’t have any side chapters (I don’t even know what to write for them…).

This was my first attempt at a large-scale narrative, and to be honest, it was extremely painful to write. The outline was revised several times, each time involving major changes. By the end, it had deviated significantly from the original outline…

Compared to the previous “Grinding Blade” where I just went through the motions until the end, this one was truly exhausting. The theme was heavier than I imagined, and every time before writing, I had to prepare mentally for half a day. There were countless times I wanted to end it or cut it off entirely, but I persevered and finished it. Despite the pain and lack of enthusiasm in the later stages, I gained a lot from it.

From my perspective, this story has many flaws and imperfections. Some were discovered halfway through, but it was too late to go back and fix them, so I had to press on. Initially, I wanted to write a Shuangwen (refreshing story) with ancient style and cyber mech elements, but as the worldview expanded, it was hard to maintain that Shuangwen rhythm.

Writing is truly a magical process. Even if a story starts with a perfect plan, any deviation during the process can pull the ending far off track, making it impossible to return to the original course.

Regarding the emotional aspects, I can only say I did my best. The action scenes were relatively smooth for me, but the emotional scenes were challenging. Instead of delving into areas I’m not skilled at, I chose to downplay them. In the end, they still ended up together~ (Emotions are a foreign concept for artificial intelligence. I think Cang Lan’s level of intimacy was just right; if it were deeper, it would be too much like a romance between two humans.)

In short, after learning from this bitter experience, the upcoming pre-released story *Nightmare Invasion* will undergo major revisions. My current plan is to write an infinite flow Shuangwen with plenty of action scenes! The settings and rough outline are ready, and with the detailed outline and drafts, the story should be ready to start around July!

TN:

Finally the novel that gave birth to this site is completed *sprinkles flowers*.

This ending is a bit…unfulfilling? Most of the things were rushed to the point where it felt like too much was going on. Each of these final chapters could have made for arcs of up to like 10-20 chapters. But it flashed by. He went to school zoom he’s a Titan pilot zoom he’s a fugitive zoom it’s the final battle and everything is revealed at once. Even the destruction of the Mother Aberration core literally happened in a few sentences and we didn’t even know how he did it! I would have also liked some more post-battle chapters to see how they rebuild and co-exist. A rollercoaster this one. As for the emotional line💀. It doesn’t even deserve the Shounen-Ai tag. This is a bromance at best. No, not even a bromance, this is just friendship! They only held hands! Like… I mean, I expected there won’t be much romance but it gave us nothing! But that doesn’t really matter much. I’m just disappointed with the ending but still gave it a 5 rating on jjwxc because of the mecha battles and intrigue between the 3 races. AND Ji Mingzhu’s badassery. Sigh, first MHA broke my heart, JJK is giving me sleepless nights and then this ending. Need to rewatch Haikyuu and build some good vibes and cry from happiness.

Thank you to everyone who followed the novel to the end! Remember to support the author and recommend the story to your friends~ Also give us a rating on NU. An HONEST one! If you feel it’s a 3 give it a 3! If it’s a 5 give it a 5 and leave some reviews. Again HONEST ones! 

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 

Join discord to get notified whenever a new chapter is uploaded since I'm  incapable of keeping up with a schedule~