433: The possibility of freedom

The narrator's words continued to echo in this space:

"I hope that within the vast details of your life, which I cannot describe one by one, you truly can think of a way to escape my control."

Speaking to this point, that voice seemed to chuckle, tinged with a bit of teasing:

"After all, if you truly transcend, if you truly run out from the book..."

"When that time comes, will you come directly to me and give me an unimaginable fortune, leading me to success and prosperity?"

"Or will you crawl directly through the internet cable and give me a big slap as revenge for the plots I arranged for you?"

"That will be entirely up to you."

Listening to these words, an indescribable feeling welled up in Lin Ye's heart.

This Author... didn't seem to treat him as a mere tool.

Beneath that bantering and self-deprecating tone, there was hidden a kind of... morbid expectation from a creator toward their character.

He was looking forward to the character he wrote coming to life, even being able to resist him.

"I've said a bit too much."

The narrator's voice gradually lowered, and the sound of typing on the keyboard over there seemed to become gentler as well:

"Don't worry, Lin Ye."

"Even though this novel's performance is mediocre, and even though I'm just an ordinary Author."

"But as the protagonist of my first contracted novel, to me, you have always been the best."

"No matter how the outside world changes, no matter how other books are written."

"In this book, your status is the highest."

"As for those words just now meant to scare you—about being taken by other novels as a supporting character, or being written to death by fanfiction Authors..."

"Just think about it and let it go."

"Given how little this novel has broken into the mainstream, no one will write fanfiction for it at all."

"And no one will be bored enough to cite my settings."

"So, you are safe."

At this moment, Lin Ye actually heard a trace of a laughable "sense of security" from these words.

Because it wasn't popular, it was safe.

Because there was no hype, it wouldn't be distorted by others.

What was this? An unpopular Author's absolute defense?

"Alright, this conversation should end."

"The attempt to break the fourth wall ends here. If I keep writing, the readers will scold me for padding the word count."

"Now, let's continue with the plot between us."

"Wait for the day this novel concludes..."

"I will leave enough space for imagination."

"At that time, I will no longer strike the keyboard, no longer set your fate."

"In the blank space after that 'completion'..."

"I give you."

"Freedom."

As the final word fell.

Buzz—

That faint, lingering sense of being watched that filled the entire space suddenly vanished.

The feeling of being enveloped by a certain will also receded.

The white space began to collapse, and colors returned.

The mass of light and shadow standing opposite Lin Ye trembled violently.

Immediately after.

In those hollow eyes, spirit was restored—the spirit belonging to OAA, the Lord of the Marvel Omniverse.

OAA looked around in confusion, then looked at Lin Ye, who had a complex expression before Him.

His memory had not disappeared.

He clearly remembered everything that had just happened, remembering every word spoken using His body.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

This deity standing at the apex of Marvel was currently like a 2D character who had just learned he was drawn on paper; His worldview was shattered into pieces.

He looked at Lin Ye, opened His mouth, wanting to say something, but found any language appeared pale before that "truth."

Say what?

Say I am omnipotent? Don't be ridiculous; that was someone else's setting.

Say I want to judge you? Stop joking; that person just had a heart-to-heart with you.

After a long time.

OAA gave a bitter laugh, and that originally majestic body actually appeared somewhat desolate at this moment.

"It seems..."

"We are both birds in a cage."

OAA's voice was low:

"Only, your cage door... seems to have been quietly left with a crack."

Lin Ye looked at Him and shook his head.

His state of mind at this time was already completely different.

The previous confusion and emptiness had, after the Author's "confession," transformed into something more resolute.

Blank space.

Since you cannot write every second I experience, since you admitted that words cannot summarize my entirety.

Then... I will grow wildly in those places you "cannot write," in the gaps between those words.

"Whether we are birds in a cage, it's too early to draw a conclusion now."

Lin Ye turned around, his back to OAA, looking at the Marvel Omniverse that had resumed its operation.

His gaze pierced through countless planes, locking onto that azure planet.

"Send me back."

Lin Ye said indifferently:

"The plot must continue, mustn't it?"

"And..."

"I should also go and complete... my final 'performance' in this story."

OAA looked at Lin Ye's back, and after a long while, let out a complex sigh.

He knew that He no longer needed to, nor was it possible to, stop this young man before Him.

Whether from the level of strength or from that even more desperate "narrative hierarchy," anything Lin Ye wanted to do in this universe was "permitted."

"In that case... Catch."

OAA suddenly spoke.

He raised that hand of light composed of pure rules and made a gentle grasping motion toward the void.

Buzz—

A sphere of light emitting indescribable colors was stripped from the core of the Marvel Omniverse and slowly floated toward Lin Ye.

Within that light sphere were contained countless causal chains, coordinates of countless dimensions, and... the "source code" of the lowest level of this universe.

Lin Ye stopped his pace, turned around, and looked at the light sphere: "What is this?"

"An authority."

OAA's voice regained its calm, carrying a generosity and casualness that came from seeing through the script:

"Since he said you need to accumulate, need to perfect your Dao, and need more power systems to fill yourself... I choose to fulfill you."

"This is an Omniverse Management Authority."

"With it, you are the second administrator of this universe."

OAA pointed at the vast and boundless Multiverse beneath His feet, His tone as relaxed as if He were giving away an insignificant toy:

"Whether you want to devour dimensions, reshape timelines, or use those Primordial Gods for experiments... it's up to you."

"Play however you want, change whatever you want."

"Even if you break this Omniverse or tangle all the timelines into a mess, it doesn't matter."

Lin Ye slightly raised an eyebrow: "You don't feel distressed? This is your creation."

"Distressed?"

OAA shook His head and let out a light laugh:

"What is there to be distressed about?"

"You and I both know that this is just a pile of data, a pile of settings."

"When the old goes, the new will naturally come."

"If you really break this place, at most, after you leave, I'll just use a thought to create it all over again. Anyway, for the current me, creating a universe... is as simple as a factory reset."

At this point, OAA gave Lin Ye a deep look, with an expectation in His gaze that only those who had awakened could understand:

"Take it."

"Consider this a minor investment from me, an 'outdated supporting character,' in you, the 'popular protagonist.'"

"I hope with these conveniences, you truly can be like what that narrator said..."

"On some day in the future, completely break away from this fake framework and go see the person who is truly striking the keyboard."

He waved His hand.

A gate of light opened before Lin Ye.

It was the way back to the reality dimension, and also the entrance to the next 'plot point'.

Lin Ye stepped inside.

Only this time.

His steps were firmer than ever before.

Because he knew.

Every step he took, although within the script...

The footprints he left... belonged to himself.