The Nebula’s Civilization

The Starcatcher explained the future he had seen.

Under the protection of the Hall of Myriad Stars, the population of Avartin exploded. Due to this demand, Avartin expanded its territory beyond the moon into space. Food, resources, and environmental crises arose, but were ultimately overcome.

The mortal beings of Avartin achieved harmony and began to utilize the resources of space, constructing colonies with artificial gravity. Shades that received direct energy from the sun were constructed, and the energy transmitted from these shades granted the Avartin solar system virtually infinite power.

War, violence, class, and exploitation didn’t disappear completely. Yet in the Avartin solar system, the potential of numerous species skyrocketed, and cultures previously unseen flourished. The happiness index of mortals, which had been stagnant for a long time, drew a loosely upward graph. A new technological revolution occurred, and the Avartin solar system created a generational ship to seek new settlement beyond the solar system.

Civilization didn't end.

[Is that the problem?]

The Starcatcher responded, "...And so, when that time comes, those in Avartin who believe in and rely on the Hall of Myriad Stars begin to gradually decrease.

“As time passes, those who remember the miracles of the Hall of Myriad Stars treat them merely as old tales. Faith in the Hall of Myriad Stars diminishes, and the high spires built on faith slowly crumble."

The flourishing of civilization was inversely correlated to the state of the Hall of Myriad Stars. Happy people no longer needed to believe in the Hall of Myriad Stars. There was no longer a need to seek help in suffering.

The Sanctuary responded to the question,

[First, there's something I need to tell you, Starcatcher.]

"What is it?"

[There are limits to Extrapolation.]

"Like what?"

[What can be extrapolated is the external space alone, the external universe. I know you possess magical knowledge as well, Starcatcher, but that was overlooked.]

"Sanctuary, my predictions are not wrong. The Demon World closes."

[Yes, that's correct.]

"But then what?"

[The Hall of Myriad Stars will open a new path that you have not considered.]

The Sanctuary whispered a secret to the Starcatcher. The Starcatcher glimpsed an infinite number of futures beyond his comprehension. He realized he had missed something, and that oversight originated from Sung-Woon.

The Starcatcher felt embarrassed. He had been confident he was seeing the future, but his understanding had been shallow.

"Is that the true future of the Hall of Myriad Stars?"

[Yes, Starcatcher. So, please stop worrying about the Constellations.]

***

The Starcatcher blinked and came out from the past conversation he had shared with the Sanctuary.

The power of Extrapolation allowed not only for seeing the future by connecting the past and present, but also for looking back at the past by connecting the future and the present. Fortunately, the Starcatcher wasn’t left disoriented. Since Extrapolation wasn’t a delusion or a mirage, it brought clarity instead.

"Starcatcher." A voice called him here and now.

The Starcatcher turned around.

The Constellation of Games approached the Starcatcher. "Are you ready?"

The Starcatcher bowed respectfully, "Master of the Hall of Myriad Stars, I am ready. The Myriad Magic Mirrors can be used at any time."

"Just a moment," Sung-Woon said, opening a system window. "I’ll get approval from the other Constellations."

Sung-Woon summoned the Constellations. The Sanctuary summoned all the Constellations stationed at each spire as Sung-Woon intended. The Constellations knew that was coming.

The Constellations were at their respective spires or the foundation of the Hall of Myriad Stars, anywhere under the sky of the Hall of Myriad Stars. Some Constellations were with their cherished Apostles or creature creations, some were gathered with other Constellations, and some were alone in their own places.

Not just the Constellations. Sung-Woon knew that nearly all the inhabitants of the Hall of Myriad Stars had come out from under the spires to look up at the sky. Individuals from various species and continents gathered together, separately, or scattered, looking up at the sky in their preferred ways.

From the point of the Myriad Magic Mirrors, it was observed that Lizardmen of the Black-Scaled Tribe were gathering to enjoy a festival. Beside Manun, who lay sleeping on the platform, Lakrak passionately lectured the other Lizardmen. It was surely a trivial joke Lakrak was telling. Once the task was completed, Sung-Woon planned to visit the festival as well.

The Constellations looked up at the sky.

Sung-Woon then said through the channel, "I seek approval from the Constellations of the Hall of Myriad Stars for the use of the Myriad Magic Mirrors… Uh, well, any objections?"

No Constellation responded. Only Ovenwave, who seemed frightened, almost raised her hand before being hastily held back by Lunda beside her. Someone among the Constellations also laughed.

"I'll take that as a no. Sanctuary?"

The Sanctuary sought direct approval from each of the Constellations for the use.

[Will you grant permission to use the Myriad Magic Mirrors?]

[Yes / No]

Sung-Woon raised a hand and pressed Yes. Following Sung-Woon, the Constellations of the Hall of Myriad Stars, each in their own cheerful or cautious manner, approved the use of the Myriad Magic Mirrors.

[Approval to use Myriad Magic Mirrors completed by 33 Constellations of the Hall of Myriad Stars.]

Finally, a system window appeared in front of the Starcatcher.

[Starcatcher, the time has come.]

The Starcatcher nodded and lowered the handle next to the eyepiece lens of the Myriad Magic Mirrors. With a mechanical click, the eyepiece lens was replaced.

And the night sky…

The universe was replaced. The sky no longer displayed black with white and gold and blue stars. Although the sky still appeared dark, it now held a faint magenta hue, and the stars shone in green, pink, and sky blue. Silver clouds moved loosely, and in the far distance, a massive creature appeared as a pale shadow before hiding behind a star. It was inner space, the space of evil.

The Myriad Magic Mirrors, a great tool, was not for observing the sky. It was a tool to change the sky. Thus, the Hall of Myriad Stars moved from Avartin's Demon World to the space beyond the universe, the space of evil.

'This is the new path.'

The Starcatcher heard from the Sanctuary about the future of the Hall of Myriad Stars. If the Hall of Myriad Stars were to remain merely a stopover in a physical world, it was bound to decline eventually.

The old gods did not desire this, so they had to balance technological advancement. They prevented mortals from paying attention to the knowledge of external space, as it would enable them to overcome gravity and escape the atmosphere.

This was the judgment when the old gods first looked upon them with benevolent eyes. They believed it would not be beneficial for mortals to venture into outer space and leave their care, because there was nothing there. It was just a void.

However, Sung-Woon and the other Constellations didn’t think so.

The secularists weren’t wrong. Eventually, transcendent beings like gods or Constellations had to rightfully part ways with mortals. In a sufficiently advanced civilization, the help of transcendent beings diminished in value, either because there were too many mortals compared to transcendent beings, or because the conveniences of civilization rendered the help of transcendent beings obsolete.

Sung-Woon thought, 'If our role has ended, it's time to leave.'

The Lost World would end with the reconstruction of civilization. So did Sung-Woon's game.

Avartin had recovered, so the Hall of Myriad Stars no longer had a role there. Of course, not everything would end as neatly as drawing a line. There would still be enthusiasts in Avartin who would continue to believe in the Hall of Myriad Stars for quite some time.

Therefore, the path from Avartin and the Prairie of Beginnings remained open, at least until the belief in the Hall of Myriad Stars in Avartin completely disappeared in the distant future.

'Someday it will close.'

Sung-Woon was aware of this fact and had no regrets. Where there was flourishing, decline naturally followed.

The Hall of Myriad Stars had built a beautiful civilization, so there were no regrets. There were those who had regrets, however.

The evil gods said, "The One Who Chases Stars, there are many Avartins in that space of evil."

The spirits of demonic magic sang, "Master of the Hall of Myriad Stars, there are countless old gods in that space beyond the universe."

Jang Wan, the Constellation of Sacrifice, said, "In that universe, lights that we have not yet discovered or saved are flickering."

After a pause, she added, "Those stars are lights we can save."

Sung-Woon thought it wouldn't be impossible to grant the request of his cousin he had watched over for a long time. On the other hand, he also had another worry. Just as Aldin wandered in search of the Returner, perhaps Sung-Woon himself was falling into a trap.

'It's possible.'

Sung-Woon didn’t deny it.

'The one with lingering regrets might be me.'

But what of it? Sung-Woon was a player. Players didn’t shy away from incoming challenges.

Sung-Woon looked up at the space of evil. Some Constellations, like Sung-Woon, quietly looked up at the sky, but others were noisy. Richard, the Constellation of Knights, loudly exclaimed in amazement, Chistka fired celebratory shots into the sky, Noah, the Constellation of Beasts, clapped, and RD tried to join in the applause next to him, though it wasn't easy.

The Apostles following the Constellations, the disciples of the Hall of Myriad Stars following those Apostles, and the numerous souls from the Prairie of Beginnings danced and sang in anticipation of the new possibilities the Hall of Myriad Stars would achieve. They drank, shouted, and ran. They poured water, shook flames, and rolled on the ground. They briefly revealed the barbarism cultivated by civilization before it vanished.

In the midst of this festival, Starcatcher looked up intently at this new night sky. Now, Starcatcher could no longer know the future the Hall of Myriad Stars would reach. This space beyond the universe, the space of evil, opened a path to infinite possible worlds.

The Sanctuary said to Sung-Woon,

[Repetitive Struggler, a world suffering and oppressed is found not far from here.]

Sung-Woon asked, "What about the enemies?"

[A few beings have ascended to transcendent status, and numerous mortals are suffering.]

"Is Gamification possible?"

[Yes. There are no tricks. The convenience of the system will appear attractive to causality, and they will have to accept it because it's a fair rule without deceit.]

Some Constellations mentioned that fair rules could be dangerous. If there was no particular advantage, the chance of winning in the game was fifty-fifty.

However, Sung-Woon was the Constellation of Games. If there were rules and they were fair, losing was not in Sung-Woon’s nature.

"Then, finally...how long does Gamification take?"

[Well, it might be finished by the time you finish enjoying the festival and return.]

Sung-Woon smiled at the Sanctuary's consideration.

The Sanctuary said,

[Now, Name to Win Endlessly...]

Sung-Woon looked down at a newly appearing system window. It was a sentence he hadn't seen in a very long time.

[Would you like to start a new game?]

[Yes / No]

Sung-Woon lifted his index finger and pressed Yes.

A new game began.