The Nebula’s Civilization

Dide pondered where things had gone wrong. There were no fatal mistakes on Dide's part. It was just that the enemy was faster, stronger, and wiser. Dide was the one who held a powerful weapon in a favorable position.

In past wars, Loom clearly marked the conclusion of the war. It was a symbol of the end—no, the word ‘symbol’ didn’t begin to cover it; Loom was the end itself.

Dide reflected for a moment in the depths of Loom. The Lizardman was bound to come down here, and then he would destroy Loom's factory and the control room. Then Loom would be discarded, and Dide, whose divinity was linked to their control over Loom, would also become a vassal.

-Is this the only way?

Dide brought up the system window. Dide wasn't particularly fond of the system, but could use it more skillfully than their other old friends, and this allowed them to control Loom.

Dide quickly looked through the system to find the skill Hierophany.

-With this...there's a small chance...

Fear crept in. Dide didn't particularly like direct combat as they still hadn't overcome the fear they experienced in the old war. Just the thought made their body stiffen, and physiological responses to anxiety manifested. It even became painful.

…Thud!

The pupil of Loom—the ceiling of the depths—shattered, revealing the head of a giant Dragon. The Dragon twisted its front paws, tearing apart the ceiling of the depths, and fell in front of Dide. Then the Lizardman, Lakrak, leapt down from the neck of the Dragon.

Dide reflexively moved their finger to the system window.

"Why don’t you stop there?"

Hearing that, Dide lifted their head.

Lakrak was looking directly at Dide.

-What do you mean?

"I bear the title God Killer. Even if you use Hierophany, you cannot defeat me."

-So you're telling me to admit defeat without even fighting?

"Yes."

Dide met his gaze.

-What's the point of that?

Lakrak walked silently toward Dide.

Dide thought this could be an opportunity. The time it took to use Hierophany was almost zero. If Dide could hit this Lizardman's neck from right beside him, they could surely overcome this crisis.

The new god would also be greatly affected. Then it would be possible to repair and reorganize the damaged Loom and attack again. But as Dide watched the fearless Lizardman approach, they couldn't even flick a finger. Had the lizardman been even slightly threatening in his demeanor, Dide would have acted differently, but the Lizardman walked with confidence, without ignoring or intimidating Dide. He looked at Dide with challenge in his eyes, but without hatred.

Dide always wanted to be rational, but they knew they had weaknesses. They believed that the impressions living beings gave off revealed their inner selves. Dide believed in impressions.

Lakrak walked up beside Dide.

"Speak with Him."

-...Him?

Lakrak turned and knelt down on the ground, bowing.

Dide looked over.

The mighty Dragon also lowered its belly to the ground, and even the great warriors who fought alongside the Dragon knelt on one knee.

A figure wearing a Water Buffalo bone appeared, projecting from the darkness. It was Night Sky, the master of the first apostle.

Sung-Woon said, "I have come to talk."

-To talk?

Sung-Woon gestured lightly with his hand. Then Lakrak nodded and raised his spear. The Dragon and Lizardman warriors slowly retreated from the depths as instructed.

Sung-Woon said, "I have come here to learn the truth."

-...The truth?

Dide felt that something was off. There was no reason for these new gods and themselves to have such a conversation.

-...There seems to be an ulterior motive. I will not be fooled any longer.

"What if I show sincerity?”

-I cannot be swayed.

Dide continued,

-Prepare for the final battle. Let me preserve my last honor.

Sung-Woon shook his head.

"Take this."

Sung-Woon threw two objects from his possession window toward Dide.

Not immediately recognizing what they were, Dide let the two objects roll to their feet. Then they immediately regretted that decision.

-...Oh.

Dide collapsed on the spot. The two objects thrown by Sung-Woon were vassal statues, and they belonged to the master of Werewolves, Bwel, and the master of Vampires, Jeol Woo-Bi. Dide hurriedly picked up the vassal statues and embraced them.

-Oh, my old friends...

Sung-Woon waited for a moment before saying, "Now do you trust us?"

-...Why return these?

"I know that's what you wanted. Ask properly, evil god," Sung-Woon said. "Ask me what I’m curious about."

Dide decided to trust this masked entity a little. Even if it were a trap, Dide was prepared to forgive.

-...Ask.

Sung-Woon asked the first question, "Who are you?"

-Us?

"Evil gods. The five players who filled the vacant seats.”

Dide responded.

-...We have been here from the beginning. Since a very long time ago. I don’t know what you mean, but we did not fill any vacancies. The ones who filled the vacancies are you.

"Since when have you been here?"

-Since a very long time ago. Not as long as the old gods, but almost as long.

"Where did you come from?"

-As I said, right there. Avartin, or Yonda.

Sung-Woon asked again,

"Why are you called evil gods?"

-Don't you know? The old gods called us that.

"Are you really evil?"

-The concept of evil does not exist as truth. Everything is relative.

"Then why did the old gods call you evil gods?"

-We fought for survival against the old gods. It’s natural to call your enemy evil.

Sung-Woon agreed. While fighting Hegemonia, Night Sky was the Devil. Even now, he was sometimes called that.

Dide added.

-Don't you still call us evil gods?

"Yes."

-Because you are servants of the old gods.

Sung-Woon's eyes widened behind the mask.

'This is it.'

It wasn’t easy to make this conversation with the ancient being happen. There were doubts about whether a conversation was even possible, but fortunately, that hurdle had been overcome. A gesture of goodwill was made, and the other party accepted it. However, this being's underlying thoughts were too deep to discern easily. It wasn't so much their thinking was at a higher level, but rather their thought process was different from that of the players. The evil gods didn’t think of this as a game or anything similar.

'The god collapsed after receiving the vassal statues. They must have believed I would never return them, thinking they were already dead.'

Sung-Woon naturally understood that these beings were not like the players from Earth, but the difference in their reactions indicated a fundamental divergence in ideologies. Therefore, their earlier exchange of questions earlier had been vague and indistinct. But now, Dide had revealed a clue about how the evil gods viewed the players.

"Us, servants of the old gods?"

-Since you follow the old gods...

"Why do you think that?"

-Don't you use the power of the old gods like the system, and govern the children in the same way as the old gods? Aren't you carrying out missions according to the will of the old gods? Isn't your will the same as that of the old gods?

Now Sung-Woon understood how the barrier between these evil gods and the players had arisen.

Sung-Woon said, "What if we say...we didn't know all that?"

Dide looked at Sung-Woon. Their faces were hidden, but they both knew that they were facing each other.

Dide spoke, almost trembling.

-So you were deceived too.

Dide nodded.

-Right, you were deceived as well.

"Deceived?"

-...Unfortunately, there is no victory for you.

"Explain more."

Dide explained.

-The old gods distort causality through the system, but causality is not a simple and easy power. It's the foundation that maintains the world. So, the more the system burdens the world, the more it causes damage, and they must bear the responsibility for it.

"And?"

-In the old war, the old gods created a huge burden while fighting us. Therefore, they won the war, but the damage they caused had consequences.

"Then did both the old gods and evil gods perish?"

Dide shook their head.

-The old gods knew they had to bear the responsibility. That's why they hid in the Demon World to avoid it. Causality doesn't apply in the Demon World.

Sung-Woon knew a little about this.

Dide continued,

-But it's not a place where one can freely come and go. The old gods slept in the Demon World to escape their responsibility for causality. So, we suffered, healing our bodies in agony, waiting for an opportunity—one that has become obsolete.

"Why?"

Dide growled,

-Because you appeared.

Dide said,

-You were the arrangement of the old gods.

Dide continued speaking.

-You new gods took over all the territories. Fortunately, there were five vacancies… My old friends sacrificed their lives to barely reach the Demon World and the system, securing those positions. We somehow crammed ourselves in, but...that wasn't enough.

Sung-Woon, the instigator of the unfortunate situation for the evil gods, was at a loss for words.

Dide said,

-But now...the second war ends too.

Dide lifted their head.

Suddenly, a light shone over the massive hole torn open by Manun. Sung-Woon recognized it immediately. It was the light reflected from the surface of the first moon, Yonda.

-When this war ends, the old gods will return.

Dide spoke in a sad voice,

-Whatever the old gods have promised, it will be a lie...

Dide said with a voice mixed with tears,

-So we must prepare ourselves.

***

Tens of minutes later, Sung-Woon was ready.

***

A white space where nothing existed, which Sung-Woon now knew as the mental imagery world.

It was a dreamy sight, but merely a presentation.

‘Of course it would be nice.’

After finishing the conversation with Dide, Sung-Woon had achieved victory. It was a complete victory by the rules of the game. No one could deny it.

[Congratulations! You have won this game!]

For Sung-Woon, it had been a long time since he saw the victory message of The Lost World.

Below it, there was a control button that people usually didn't pay much attention to.

[Confirm/Cancel]

Pressing Confirm would change the system window, leading the player out of the game. In a single-player game, one would return to the main screen. In a multiplayer game, it would take one directly to the lobby. In that window, one could manipulate various graphics or controller options, or converse with other players in a random lobby. One could also start a new game.

‘And…’

Pressing Cancel allowed one to stay in the won game. It didn't hold much significance. One could chat a bit more with other allied players who had also won, or further develop their growing civilization. However, since the rating score was determined only by the performance at the moment of victory, it was nothing more than self-satisfaction. One could also look at the entities they had grown fond of during the game.

People often pressed Cancel right after winning to take screenshots. And once they had done what they wanted to do, they could call up the menu and then press exit to leave. This was how the game ended.

‘In a normal game, that would be the case.’

Sung-Woon waited for a moment. In front of Sung-Woon, someone appeared.

"Congratulations, Player Nebula," Aldin, wearing a robe and a hood, said.

Their appearance was no different from the first time Sung-Woon had seen them.

"You have become a true god."

"Am I really a true god?"

"Of course. At least you have earned that right. No one can deny it. You defeated all thirty-one competitors."

"What about my alliance?"

"Well, unfortunately, only the top contributor is recognized."

"I see."

Aldin seemed to be waiting for something, then said to Sung-Woon, "That's it."

"That?"

"If you press Confirm there, everything ends."

"Oh, this."

Sung-Woon nodded.

Sung-Woon remembered the name of the old god that Dide had warned him to be most cautious of. Sung-Woon called out that name.

"Aldin."

"Yes?"

"I will not end the game."

Sung-Woon pressed Cancel.