CHAPTER 471: THE LAST GOD, SIMING STAR (2)

[Player Check ✓]

[North Star Cleared ✓]

[South Star Cleared ✓]

[Verifying Realm......◇]

‘Ugh!’

Simultaneously with the system text appearing, a sudden pain was felt.

It was something of a different dimension than what is inflicted during battle.

‘Ugh!’

Seol-Hwi focused all his mind in an instant due to the pain that was severe enough to almost make him lose consciousness.

Since he couldn’t continue enduring, he attempted to separate from the system.

And in that moment, when he felt he was freed from the pain.

[Realm Verified. Demon God ✓]

The system text appeared again.

[You have met all the conditions to meet the Siming Star.]

[Opening Administrator Mode.]

The pain subsided.

As if proving that he had to kill the preceding gods to meet the Siming Star, the system continued analyzing the current situation.

‘Administrator Mode?’

Among them, the last line caught Seol-Hwi’s attention.

What does Administrator Mode mean?

[Player Seol-Hwi has entered the Administrator Mode of the Heavenly Demonic Cultivation Simulation.]

[Toolbox disappears.]

[Life is reset.]

Along with the phrase that he has entered as an administrator, the system deprived him of the unique abilities that only the ‘player’ possessed.

At the same time, in the vision that brightened again, thick and large walls were seen moving randomly.

‘What is this…….’

Flat bricks were soaring into the sky, filling the surrounding space.

The process of bricks moving and assembling in an orderly fashion was fundamentally different from the mechanical formations Seol-Hwi knew.

Seeing scenes of them soaring from the ground into the air, it was clear these were defying the natural flow.

Sssssk.

As the space filled up, the flat brick transformed into something clear and transparent, like distinct ice.

Subsequently, phrases were projected and engraved there.

It wasn’t just about the letters.

Looking to the right, unfamiliar figures began to increase one by one, soon becoming hundreds, thousands. Ultimately, they grew to the point where their faces appeared as tiny as dots. 𐍂ΑꞐǑΒЕS̈

‘This place is…’

To the left, the terrain was visible, and scenes of the ground forming and eroding rapidly passed by with the swiftly changing weather.

This time, when he lifted his head, familiar items came into view.

Precisely weapons and medicinal herbs.

Seeing the absolute weapons that merchants used to sell on display, it seemed most of the items there were not available or commonly found in the Central Plains.

Swoosh.

Finally, Seol-Hwi suddenly looked down at the brick he was standing on.

Unlike the transparent wall, it had the color of rock, like a statue.

Around that time, someone called him.

“Nice to meet you, player.”

“…!”

When he raised his head to look, there was an old man made of light.

Like the wall in front of him, he was transparent, so his presence was perceivable but

didn’t feel human.

“Who are you?”

“…I am the one you are looking for.”

“Siming Star?”

“Yes, I am Siming Star.”

His body was mostly transparent, with only the outline made of light.

“Then where is this place?”

“The center of this world. A place where you can see the entire world at a glance.”

“The center?”

Seol-Hwi looked around once more.

Humans, terrain, weather, martial arts.

Upon closer inspection, the scene filling his view was ultimately expressing everything in the world he lived in.

“Then are you saying you are the master of the system?”

“From a certain perspective, it can be seen that way.”

“Then, are you the one who created all this monstrosity?”

“I created this Simulation, but it’s not the monstrosity you mentioned.”

“What?”

When Seol-Hwi expressed confusion, the old man of light nodded as if he understood.

“Indeed, living for such a long time, you must have many questions. We have plenty of time, so let’s talk slowly.”

With that, he turned calmly and walked a few steps.

Then, as the old man waved his hand, the surrounding light before him faded.

Only the floor became transparent and then brightened, revealing a scene all too familiar to Seol-Hwi.

“The Demonic Cult. An irrational religious group, a forceful organization. You lived there after being dragged in, so you must know it pretty well.”

The old man continued his explanation with a strange expression, as if engulfed in nostalgia.

“This is where the most belligerent individuals gather. Their laws and norms assert that too. A pure desire and determination to become stronger. There’s no other group like this in the world.”

“If you’re not the monstrosity, then who is it? Tell me that first.”

“I’ll tell you slowly, so listen to my story a bit more.”

The old man of light briefly met Seol-Hwi’s gaze. Then he continued his explanation.

“When I first created this world, it was out of mere curiosity. Curiosity about what would happen if people without talent were given a new opportunity. I’ve watched the players for a long time. Observing each of their lives was very entertaining.”

Seol-Hwi listened intently to his words.

Upon reflection, he suddenly became curious about the thoughts of the one who created this world.

And it seemed important to gather as much information from him as possible.

“I have seen countless players. Many gave up, but sometimes, there were players who created miracles. During those long repetitions, I saw someone very special. Someone who created something truly unexpected.”

The old man paused for a moment. Then he turned back, meeting Seol-Hwi’s eyes.

“A genius. A transcendent… the genius among geniuses. That child ascended to transcendence with extraordinary abilities, and later even surpassed that wall. And then he came here.”

“Could it be, that person…”

“The Absolute Being you spoke of. The creator you believed to have made this world.”

“…!”

Seol-Hwi’s eyes widened.

This old man had been watching his every move.

And if what he said was true, the Creator he saw…

He was not a god, but a player.

What Sa Yu-kang thought was a misunderstanding then.

“Then, are you saying he was originally a player?”

He had no choice but to ask it.

“Yes. He was a player. The only one to reach the divine. Ah, now including you, there are two. Another came, but didn’t have the qualifications. Was it Shin Yaja?”

“Then if you’re not the one who created this world, are you saying it was that person?”

“That’s not it either.”

“What kind of paradox is that…”

“Now, look.”

At that moment, the old man raised his hand.

Then, letters were inscribed with light on the transparent wall in front of them, showing martial arts, sects, martial arts, weapons, and so on.

‘Where have I seen this… Ah! The bookshelf I saw before coming here!’

The classification method from the bookshelf before coming here was applied exactly.

And beneath the martial arts, there were categories in a geometric format.

For example, under the weapon category, there were arrays such as type, meaning, short weapon, long weapon, hidden weapon, and auxiliary weapon.

One more thing.

There was a table of contents labeled “customizing,” which included lists like character, physique, background, conditions, and abilities.

“The original name of the Creator you mentioned is Jang Dal.”

“…….”

“Jang Dal used the system I created to make his own world. And you, as a player, entered that world.”

“Didn’t you just say he is a player? Then does it mean that such a person had the ability to create a world?”

“His ability is something I granted. Reaching this point means he has earned that qualification.”

“……!”

Seol-Hwi finally understood the overall situation.

The one who made this, the old man in front of him, whose nature as a human or god is unknown.

Siming Star was his name.

Through this system, he summoned players, and among them emerged Jang Dal, a being beyond human.

Later, he reached this place and used Siming Star’s abilities to once again change this world to his liking.

Then, he summoned players into the new world, and Seol-Hwi was drawn into it.

This Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation, in the end, is a world recreated and assembled by Jang Dal based on the system that Siming Star had created.

“Then, let me ask you one thing.”

Upon realizing the existence of the entity in front of him and the player named Jang Dal, Seol-Hwi had more questions arise.

“Siming Star. Are the people existing within the system you created all fictional characters?”

“What do you think?”

“…….”

“Indeed. As befits one who has reached the level of a god, you are not swayed by anything beyond learned emotions.”

Despite hearing the old man’s sudden and absurd story, Seol-Hwi’s emotions did not waver significantly.

Instead, he developed a fundamental curiosity as he learned more about the system.

About the characters that make up this world.

“They are real people, but you are not.”

“…What do you mean?”

In response to Seol-Hwi’s reflexive question, the old man continued to explain kindly as before.

“First, the character Seol-Hwi and the person called Jang Dal, known as the Creator, were real people when I made the system. However…”

“…?”

“It means you players are not the real Seol-Hwi and Jang Dal.”

“Then, who are we… Who am I?”

“That, I do not know.”

“What kind of nonsense is this…?”

“This is not a lie. Whether you believe it or not is your choice, but I’m only stating the facts.”

The old man strengthened his voice as he continued his explanation.

“You players were definitely created and learned by my system, but where the original souls came from is unknown to me. My system randomly summoned the qi flowing from a very distant future land, and the essence hidden in stones or mountains.”

“…”

“So, it means we don’t know when that person existed. Initially, it might not even be a person. Qi is not something only humans can wield after all. If anyone could know, it would only be a god on a higher level than I am.”

The characters living now originally existed, but the existence of summoned players is uncertain.

The only thing he could tell was that they might be someone who existed in a very distant future.

“Oh, no. In the world created by Jang Dal, there was one fabricated character.”

“…Earth Demon?”

“Yes, Earth Demon. He is a figure personally created by Jang Dal. In the first place, he is someone made entirely by the system.”

‘This is…’

As soon as Seol-Hwi heard this, he felt somewhat bitter.

If the player is something that definitely existed in the past based on a very distant future, then he is someone perfectly created by the system.

Even his own consciousness.

“Then, this customization…”

As Seol-Hwi began to speak, he answered as if he had been waiting.

“It’s the ability to shape the world to your liking. Preferences, desired weapons, martial arts, everything within the system’s allowance is possible. Even figures like Earth Demon are possible.”

‘So that’s what it was…’

Customization—It means gaining the ability to create an entire world.

Literally becoming the Creator he wanted to face.

“Then, if I use customization to…”

“Meet Seo Ryeong or Cheon Miryo?”

The old man answered immediately, as if he had read Seol-Hwi’s thoughts.

“Not just meeting them. You’ve already gained the administrator’s ability. You can change this world as you wish.”

“…….”

“Depending on what you want, they can become your master, your wife, your companion, or your subordinate. You have the qualification to gain my ability.”

Seol-Hwi raised the corners of his mouth.

Normally, he would have been intrigued by such a mysterious story, but now he felt somewhat deflated.

Perhaps it was because all the desperate struggles and efforts he had made so far seemed like just a ‘game’ to someone.

“Then…”

“…….”

“Is it possible to return to the past?”

The various explanations were interesting, but what he was curious about was this.

In fact, this was the question he really wanted to ask him.