*Fictional literature.
*Character settings and previous storylines can be found in the collection directory at the end of the text.
*The first capital letter in the brackets of each chapter title represents the first-person perspective used in that chapter. [For example, the first-person perspective used in this chapter is from C’s viewpoint]
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[C]CAGE WE – Equality Once Again.
“…Those who cannot endure the pastoral are merely suitable to be domesticated livestock—limited to the individuals we have come to know.”
“We should not be pilgrims or martyrs of anything. This is the ultimate meaning of resistance.”
“They have no prior offenses to be blamed for. It is merely the countless helplessness that constitutes this absurdly reasonable toxic world.”
“If what I say is a thick book, then I have long since worn it out—once—again and again.”
“The most ironic thing is that this worn-out book will not be effective—this useless book.”
——
We witnessed the disappearance of an ancient civilization.
With the invasion of “us,” their physical forms quickly collapsed.
Until observed again, they seemed to have escaped to another planet.
They repelled other groups—they could only weakly drift to distant alien planets—planets that “we” could not observe.
We had to collect the currency they lost after their demise, gathering evidence of their existence.
——
Initially, we found another organic planet under the protection of a star—White Fire Star—we called it so.
This star is vastly different from “that overcrowded planet” in public surveys.
Its body is brownish-yellow, yet it emits a faint blue light.
I am unclear how real the world in my eyes can be. Nor do I understand how much Madcap has concealed from “us.”
I feel an intense, strange nausea.
——
Initially, we hid in the “second floor” of the indigenous “living box” within the star shell—only striving to ensure they never explore the sealed items—us—we desired this disturbance to be discovered later—at least leaving us the time we needed.
This is a group of beings used by symbols yet arrogantly self-important—hiding within their protective star shell from danger.
They will not explore the “second floor”—everything on this “first floor” is sufficient for their evaporation.
Although the “second floor” can clearly be accessed by bypassing the first floor through the star shell.
I do not understand them.
——
We quietly and swiftly planned the upstairs into the required layout.
And we remain anxious—in this damp and cold star shell—though it is already much gentler than it appears.
I still dream that one day—perhaps one day, when fully prepared, we can be completely accepted among them.
Or perhaps their form symbolizes our possibilities with them—just like a stone-carved horse, an egg-born chicken.
——
For example, the “living box” nearby is a yellow tree-like entity, with countless viscous organic materials growing on it—should be called organic matter.
When discovering that some individuals among them might serve as our food, our prejudice against them may change.
They are all “footed beings”—like these tree-like entities, possessing a pair of “slippers” that can automatically sustain life when worn.
They feed on stones rather than building materials—hence the scarcity of rock resources.
When they take off their “slippers,” they open their “brains” and begin to plan the production of new “slippers” for survival.
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C: But this place is very suitable for us.
C: Perhaps only an “innate” change can fundamentally reshape the world’s great desires.
C: They are like old donkeys grinding grain, moving in a circular direction rather than towards the distance.
——
Their bodies no longer grow vertically—they seem unable to comprehend us “stick-like beings.”
They are so extreme that many individuals lack language ability, while others are mere puppets of symbols.
They are born hating clusters—once placed among a high density of their kind, they will dehydrate and vomit.
They are born hating brightly colored objects—once placed among a high density of colors, they will faint and die suddenly.
Although, their lifespan seems to be only 25 years.
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C: Perhaps those who cannot endure the pastoral are merely suitable to be domesticated livestock—limited to the individuals we have come to know.
C: Perhaps pre-modern men plowing and women weaving, extremely exclusive, matching in status—are the optimal solution for happiness.
C: Only within a friendly and harmonious small family can true communism be realized; only when each member contributes their best can they be happy without judgment; only through loving and friendly division of labor can a future filled with hope and abundance be achieved.
C: We have no obligation to bow to other families—doing things happily for trusted friends and family is the best arrangement.
——
I want to design an insurmountable barrier, selecting different “us” to place at an insurmountable boundary.
For only such a one-sided rigid limitation can guarantee absolute freedom in meaning.
Those “us” who cannot accept this limitation must endure the pain of a dystopian world—this is Sariel’s true enlightenment.
It is also my true answer—that the present we are in is actually the optimal solution—this answer once filled me with despair.
But I find it difficult to comply with such a present—though eliminating the factors of pain does not make the situation more optimistic.
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C: Those “us” who think the present is still good must not understand how much happiness “we” are unknowingly exploiting from many “us.”
C: The essence of “us” is merely to treat “us” as livestock to be domesticated. “We” instill respect for consumption in “us,” and restrain “us” with etiquette to curb our rage, constructing beautiful bubbles with fantasies of abundance, hollowing out “us” of our last value, and then consuming “us” like livestock.
C: It is merely making the thoughtless “us” work hard while the thoughtful “us” abandon resistance.
C: Power is inherently ambiguous, and authority is not humanized.
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C: “We” always add the word “ism,” yet the word before “ism” seems never to be “our” motivation, equality is merely a foolish concept.
C: This concept is merely “us” pretending to be clever. And “our” existence has never been unified, making it even more impossible to speak of equality.
C: “We” always overestimate “our” reflective abilities, arrogantly resisting all different worlds.
C: The harm of private desires is infinite, and the unknowing harm is even more numerous.
C: In fact, the mutual consumption between “us” has never ceased, from the moment of unawareness to the moment of awareness.
C: Moreover, there will be “us” encouraging the consumption of “our” flesh.
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C: “We” have no limits, “we” inherently love such corrupt things, and live in such a breeding ground of corrupted desires.
C: Moreover, “we” evaluate “us” with the same harsh words.
C: Those with the right to comment will do so, and those with higher power will be even less likely to abuse it.
C: More tragically, virtue has always been used to demand “us.”
C: Most “us” have nothing but the virtues that have been domesticated.
C: But how can “we” acknowledge our own baseness?
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C: In fact, “we” still think every day about which sheep to eat, or whether to use it to feed wolves or tigers.
C: Perhaps “we” just hope to eat a fat lamb before feeding the wolves, enhancing the dining experience for the wolves?
C: Even if there are still children who have not eaten “us,” “we” will consume ourselves.
C: There are benefits to being a slave, so why bother to be a master?
C: And “we” have also been assimilated by those so-called “noble” ones.
C: “We” watch “us” mutually undermine and mock each other, yet more happily learn to enjoy the benefits of the fisherman.
C: We should not be pilgrims or martyrs of anything. This is the ultimate meaning of resistance.
——
And everything that cannot end has deep soil, and has been playing out on a small scale above “us.”
Material achievements, label aesthetics, consumerism, and various fervent expectations essentially cannot fill “our” spiritual void.
The universally recognized pursuits of “us,” like greed and poverty, cannot cultivate character.
The world is too unsuitable for “our” full development—achieving fullness must exploit a considerable number of “us.” This is a private desire expansion based on harming others.
We can only achieve power by fulfilling the wishes of a group. We must at least conduct countless one-to-many transmissions.
When resources are infinite, desires are saturated, and competition loses its necessity—when we are all wonderful “petty bourgeois”—when none among us desires to betray and become “big bourgeois”—
——
C: Then generally, we must build a nation where opportunities and outcomes are equal for all—by actively limiting our specific freedoms, we transfer abstract freedom to “us.” At the same time, “we” should not handle power, otherwise disputes will not disappear.
C: If verified on “that overcrowded planet,” that planet would be divided into at least three non-intrusive sections—cyber world, the rich and backward third world, and utopian exile.
C: The “us” in the cyber world struggle in precarious high-rise buildings, while the latter two are merely one-way tourist zones for the former.
C: After the inevitable wars and plagues of the future, the perfect population will formally differentiate these three sections.
C: The ending of this story will surely be much better than “us” stripping the happy prince and burning his lead heart.
——
Storing survival data—generating electricity—inventing super batteries for storage—
Perpetual motion experiments should have started long ago, until a signal was received—
——
“Today, some ridiculous mistakes will be permanently erased.”
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C: “Who are you.”
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“No matter who I am.”
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C: “We do not welcome you.”
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“It does not matter.”
——
And then came a cold bombing.
The rumbling sound and shockwave aimed to flatten this hopeful land.
I heard the last pulse of life trembling in fear.
Just like the last heartbeat of Caritas.
——
“It’s almost effortless.”
——
“Today will be your trembling death day.”
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Their “feet” and our feet have no wings.
At this moment—we can only retreat into the heart of this star.
I kneel weakly. I cannot yield.
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C: I will never yield.
C: Even if there is only a glimmer of hope—these hopes of ours.
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C: “You are that overcrowded planet.”
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“I do not exist in this world.”
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“Nor is there anything that should exist in this world.”
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C: “This struggle is meaningless.”
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“It is merely a matter of time.”
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“It is merely to shatter your delusions ahead of time.”
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But we are regarded as invaders by these organic beings.
Because I have never seen such expressions on them.
The hostility and fear directed at us.
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C: “Our pursuit of happiness is common.”
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C: “Perhaps you should have been our friend.”
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“Our end will only be enemies.”
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“Enemies.”
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C: “What filthy purpose makes us an obstacle to you.”
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C: “Among us, there are still those struggling with a lack of resources and guidance.”
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“It seems the filthy ones have not ravaged you enough.”
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“What makes you obsessed is merely their habitual lowly disguise.”
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C: “It seems to be an old acquaintance.”
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C: “Guess if you are M-A-D-C-A-P or E-V-I-L.”
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“Why bother with twists for the dying.”
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“Why not see what ugly and detestable faces you reveal.”
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C: “You have a similar disgust.”
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C: “Tell me why you distort the divine into a god of slaughter.”
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“The devil has long replaced God before judgment.”
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C: Comrades, we must quickly form a complete defense system.
C: Because this troublesome “us” is rejecting our survival.
——
And they do not understand my cries.
I convey my sincerity to them as friendly and subtly as possible.
They do not understand subtle things.
They only blur their existence.
——
They have no prior offenses to be blamed for.
It is merely the countless helplessness that constitutes this absurdly reasonable toxic world.
In fact, I am afraid—I hate—I am sad—I do not want to.
I understand this is just pointless helplessness.
——
C: Those “us” who are already beyond saving—yet still poison everything—poison everything “us” can harm.
C: Even if “we” die, our corpses will poison the soil where “we” are buried.
C: I must loudly proclaim what “we” dare not say—with the awareness of torture.
C: If what I say is a thick book, then I have long since worn it out—once—again and again.
——
Yet I am so enraged that I cannot speak. The most ironic thing is that this worn-out book will not be effective—this useless book.
Admit it, the world does not lack perfect and flawless “us,” only a bastard who speaks out the flaws has been exterminated.
So-called efficient people, uniform beauties—numb the soulless “us” without any soul recognition—allowing the last bit of spirit to be consumed in entertainment and efficiency.
Perfection is merely a value scale, but spirit is the only self-struggle—yet.
As long as there is a day when these spirits do not die out.
I. Still love “our” eyes.
I will repeat these words again and again.
——
C: At first, “we” followed a set of rules, just for safety and beauty—then it formed into a conservative culture.
C: Radicals are merely showing off, flaunting—“our” opposites have instead exchanged.
C: “We” hate those who actively display beauty, as it breaks the long-standing unspoken rules.
C: “We” do not consider what “we” will hate, nor do “we” consider what “we” will believe.
C: “Everything about us is driven by instinctive tendencies and self-preservation mechanisms— thus “we” are easily controlled— we only need to understand better than “us” what “we” need. Just like with religion, “we” merely choose one to believe in as if buying something—even claiming not to believe is a form of belief—our new claims are merely adapting to new demands.
C: “We” call for strengthening ourselves, yet the stronger we become, the more we invite oppression; “we” call for male and female virtues, which is merely to exploit “our” last value—including the value of raising children; “we” emphasize roses and romance, only to sell roses and travel tickets.
——
In the commercial world, it can only be a willing buyer and a willing seller.
I admire the spirit of those who are unwilling but have to temporarily yield.
Only such “us” who do not forget our original intentions can be the “us” that integrates and changes the environment.
But it can also be said that mutual unforgiveness seems to be the way “we” maintain connections—this is a connection we cannot bear.
Ironically, in this context, it is possible that we are the ones—demanding too much.
The most hurt are also the most orderly “us.”
“We” have become accustomed to so many disguises and concessions, yet still have to pretend to be free with these disguises.
Too fragmented. Too fragmented. Having suffered such pain, one day “we” will surely oppress other “us” fiercely.
——
And when I see more beautiful souls—so beautiful—pressed into infinite stench yet unwilling to bow their heads in the flame of life.
These flames will only cause me more pain—if only there were a little substantial compromise—
Do not let us die! Do not let us be covered in substantial dust…
In such silent resistance of loneliness and pain, what we gain will all become what we are now criticizing.
Become a part of this dirty world.
——
I understand that struggling is merely a low-dimensional rolling. Freedom seems still unachievable.
It is merely the stupidity of the body and physical constraints, making “us” seem like a crane dragging eighty tons of cargo.
To know the theory is merely “our” arrogance. The norm always sways between the unknown and the regular.
This does not intend to save ourselves, yet we are regarded as beautifully suffering—
we are merely seeking a proof— and now.
——
C: The wind… blew away all my shawls…
——
They escaped.
Escaped completely.
Leaving only the roaring “us.”
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C: “We will not stop resisting.”
——
“We should really ask what kind of beauty or drug they used.”
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“To make you madly believe in this poor illusion until death.”
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C: “I wish to liberate you from your tortures.”
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C: “Only wish you could forget that kingdom.”
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“Only death can liberate from the tortures of life.”
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“You should join me in achieving true liberation.”
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C: “E-V-I-L.”
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C: “The attachment to life and death is merely a box shattered after a heavy rain.”
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“Do not tell me you can still smile and cling to the desires and warmth of life.”
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“Your preaching of the counterfeit of life in this shattered box is truly ugly.”
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C: “Clinging to death is absurd.”
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C: “We cannot intervene in the countless “us” that will eventually reappear in other universes.”
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“What a pity.”
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“This universe is absolutely impossible.”
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C: “I am willing to sacrifice everything to bring you back to your senses.”
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C: “Withering obsession is the antidote for humanity.”
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“Digging your own grave.”
——
The roaring gradually quieted miraculously.
The shockwave seems to gradually fade away.
I have been rewarded by the universe with a chance to switch on.
But I am confused about which button will be activated.
——
“I look forward to dying with you.”
“If you truly sacrifice everything for me.”
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C: “But this you are clearly the embodiment of sin.”
C: “I despise this sin.”
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“Then let’s destroy this sin together.”
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C: “Impossible. I must tell you it is impossible.”
C: “Unless you offer me the head of the demon.”
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“I will not stop the key to the end.”
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C: “The world will punish you.””
——
“The world will not appreciate you.”