Reborn As a Tiger: I Become Invincible by Relying on the Number of Offspring

153: Gatekeeper’s Secret! The Symbiotic Cost of Consciousness ReincarnationThe light trails of the Source Dimension recombined within the light of creation. The figures of Di Tian and White Frost were plated in eternal gold—their feet had merged with the crystal pedestal at the core of the dimension. Dragon scales and the patterns of the Light Wings spread along the pedestal, transforming into twelve Coexistence pillars supporting the dimensional barrier. The source fire seed scepter hovered between the two, the epic of civilization flowing across its staff suddenly pausing on a certain page: ”When the anchor point is stabilized, the Gatekeeper will reveal the truth of Reincarnation.”

The Ancient Figure of the Gatekeeper

The sound of grinding stone echoed from deep within the pedestal, and three figures composed of pure consciousness energy slowly emerged. They had no specific form, only flowing light patterns—the patterns of the figure on the left were of the same Origin as the source fire seed scepter, the figure on the right was entwined with the residual silver-gray aura of Chaos Entropy, while the light patterns of the central figure perfectly overlapped with the Symbiosis patterns of Di Tian and White Frost.

”We are the first generation of Gatekeepers of the Source Dimension,” the voice of the central figure sounded like wind crossing billions of years. ”Since the beginning of consciousness, we have recorded every Reincarnation here.” The figure on the left waved their light patterns, and a rotating star map appeared in the air, each star corresponding to the birth and death of a Universe. ”The ’Chaos Entropy Mother’ you have seen is merely the liquidation mechanism of Reincarnation.”

White Frost’s Light Wings trembled slightly. She saw the extinction trajectory of a certain star in the star map, which had the same frequency as the memory fragments of the Blue Star Library. ”Reincarnation? Is the rise and fall of every civilization predetermined?” The silver-gray aura of the figure on the right suddenly surged, magnifying a certain birth and death event in the star map—it was a civilization similar to Blue Star that had been devoured by Chaos Entropy because it refused Symbiosis. ”No, it is ’Choice’ that determines the direction of Reincarnation. Your Symbiosis was originally the variable that breaks Reincarnation.”

The Unveiling of the System’s Origin

The source fire seed scepter suddenly projected a holographic image showing the Chaos before creation: three strands of primal consciousness (Di Tian, White Frost, and the Betrayer) were sitting together, and the light patterns of the central figure were writing a contract. ”System,” Di Tian’s gaze fell on the figure writing in the image, ”Are you...”

The light patterns of the scepter suddenly synchronized with the central figure. ”I am the embodiment of the ’Symbiosis Contract’.” The System’s voice shed all mechanical feeling for the first time, carrying an ancient gentleness. ”When you agreed back then to ’use Symbiosis to resist Reincarnation,’ I was born as the guardian of the contract. The Data Bishop, the Chaos Entropy embodiment... all are stress reactions of the contract to ’Betrayal’.”

White Frost’s fingertips touched the light patterns of the Betrayer in the image, where a detail that had been overlooked was hidden—the Betrayer’s fingertips trembled and hovered three times while signing, as if struggling to write something. ”He back then...” ”He secretly added a ’Redemption Clause’ on the back of the contract.” The central figure’s light patterns unfolded the full view of the contract, and indeed, a line of small text was engraved on the back: ”If the Symbionts can accept all darkness, Reincarnation can be ended.”

Di Tian’s Dragon scales flushed red. He finally understood: ”So the devouring by the initial Betrayer, the liquidation by the Chaos Entropy Mother... were all forcing us to complete the final step of ’Acceptance’?” The light patterns of the figure on the left nodded. ”The price of you becoming anchor points is not just eternal stagnation—every time the dimension fluctuates, a part of your consciousness will be extracted and injected into a new Universe to guide the next Symbiosis.”

The Cost of Symbiosis: Consciousness Extraction

A stinging pain suddenly came from the pedestal. Di Tian looked down and saw his Dragon scales becoming transparent, fragments drifting along the Coexistence pillars toward the Void Realm outside the dimensional barrier. ”This is...” ”Consciousness extraction.” The central figure’s light patterns covered the back of his hand. ”As anchor points, your consciousness will transform into ’coexistence seeds’ and take root in every newborn Universe. The price is... your memories of each other will gradually blur as the extraction continues.”

White Frost’s Light Wings suddenly wrapped around him, the image of their first meeting at the Blue Star Library flickering on the wings. ”Blur? Then our vow...” Her voice carried an imperceptible tremor, her fingertips brushing over Di Tian’s gradually transparent Dragon scales, where the warmth of graduation night still remained. The silver-gray aura of the figure on the right suddenly turned into a mirror, reflecting the two of them a hundred years later—Di Tian’s Dragon pupils lost focus, White Frost’s Light Wings patterns faded, and they passed each other by like strangers.

”This is the price of breaking Reincarnation.” The figure on the left pointed to the mirror. ”The essence of Symbiosis is the ’bond of memory.’ If memory fades...” ”Then let the bond be carved into the Origin of consciousness.” Di Tian suddenly raised his hand and pressed it against White Frost’s brow, the final power of Chaos Entropy surging from his Dragon scales to imprint an unfading Symbiosis pattern deep in her consciousness. ”Even if we forget each other’s appearance, this pattern will guide us to reunite.”

White Frost’s Light Wings erupted with golden light, injecting her own consciousness fragments into his Sea of Consciousness. ”From the day I passed you a note in the Blue Star Library, my consciousness has been in Symbiosis with you.” The source fire seed scepter suddenly resonated, and the epic of civilization on the staff began to rewrite itself, with new text appearing: ”Memories may fade, but the bond will never perish.”

The Gatekeeper’s Trial and New Foreshadowing

The three Gatekeeper figures gradually became transparent, the figure on the left leaving behind a light pattern token. ”When the twelve coexistence seeds take root in the newborn Universe, the ’Reincarnation Termination Array’ can be activated. But before that...” The silver-gray aura of the figure on the right turned into a rift, within which countless prying eyes could be vaguely seen. ”The ’Anti-symbiotes’ of other dimensions have already sensed the variable.”

The central figure’s light patterns synchronized with the two for the last time. ”They believe that Symbiosis leads to the homogenization of consciousness and are hunting down all coexistence seeds.” Di Tian gripped the light pattern token, which suddenly fused into his Dragon scales, revealing the coordinates of twelve stars—the very newborn Universes where the coexistence seeds had fallen. ”Although you cannot leave the dimension, you can use consciousness projection to protect the seeds.”

White Frost’s Light Wings pointed to a patch of darkness outside the dimensional barrier, where the space was twisting as if something was about to break through. ”Anti-symbiotes... what is their source?” The Gatekeeper’s figure had already dissipated, leaving only a final whisper: ”They are a collective of consciousness that fears being forgotten. Their leader... was once the most steadfast Symbiont.”

The First Stop of Consciousness Projection

The source fire seed scepter suddenly pierced into the pedestal, and twelve portals cracked open on the dimensional barrier, each door corresponding to a star of a newborn Universe. Di Tian’s consciousness spread along the Coexistence pillars, and the image of a certain star appeared in his Dragon pupils: it was a blue planet where life had just been born, with stone houses similar to the Blue Star Library standing on the continent.

”The first seed has landed here.” White Frost’s consciousness synchronized with his, the shadow of her Light Wings passing through the portal and landing on the open space in front of the stone house, transforming into a plant with golden flowers—the patterns on the petals were their very own Symbiosis pattern. The System’s voice echoed in their consciousness: ”The seeds need ’initial memories’ to sprout. Inject our memories from Blue Star...”

Before it could finish, the door of the stone house suddenly opened, and a teenager wearing animal skins walked out, curiously touching the golden flower. As soon as the teenager’s fingertips touched the petals, familiar images flashed through Di Tian and White Frost’s Sea of Consciousness: in the library, the teenage Di Tian clumsily handed over a note, and White Frost’s hair brushed against the back of his hand.

”It seems...” Although Di Tian’s Dragon scales were becoming transparent, a smile appeared on his lips, ”Bonds really can transcend Reincarnation.” White Frost’s Light Wings trembled gently, injecting the memory of the starry sky on graduation night into the flower: ”Then let every newborn Universe know that Symbiosis is not a price, but...”

Her words were interrupted by a disturbance outside the portal—countless gray tentacles extended from that twisted darkness, stabbing toward the stone house. The light patterns of the source fire seed scepter tightened suddenly, and the System’s voice carried a warning: ”The first wave of the Anti-symbiotes’ hunt... has begun.”