What does it feel like to be devoured by [Nihility]?
In this sea of stars, perhaps no one truly knows...
It is said that a group of unbelievably arrogant members of the Annihilation Gang once wanted to make a name for themselves in the cosmos by killing an Aeon to write their legend—
Aha of [The Elation], delighted to see their overconfidence, guided them to the location of IX of [Nihility].
And then... they vanished completely, turning from [Existence] into [Non-existence].
This is a widely circulated tale in the sea of stars, one that people love to recount. But if one were to seek more information about IX of [Nihility], there is nothing more to be found, save for the legendary "IXth Organ."
Perhaps it is because IX of [Nihility] Itself is mysterious, or perhaps it is because all who come into contact with [Nihility] are completely devoured by that dim and inscrutable chaos...
Ron was more inclined to believe the latter possibility.
Because he had been devoured by that dim and inscrutable chaos before.
In the last simulation, he burned himself, completely forging his being and the Path of [Salvation] into a Guiding Spirit Lantern. In the end, a part of his self-awareness remained within the lantern, to be used to activate its ability and pierce the Veil of Fate that shrouded the world.
And although that sliver of consciousness had nearly lost all reason by the end, it was still able to clearly remember everything that happened at the conclusion of the last simulation...
And so, that sense of peace was now deeply etched into his mind.
---o---
IX of [Nihility] had spoken to him, but accompanying Its words was a dim and inscrutable river of starlight—the chaotic river washed over the Guiding Spirit Lantern and the pillar of light of [Salvation], and likewise washed over Ron's remnant consciousness.
After being washed over by this shimmering, starlit, dim chaos, Ron's consciousness instantly lost all thought...
He was originally on the verge of his thoughts being torn apart by the immense pain of self-immolation. Even with only half a sliver of consciousness remaining, an endless agony still echoed within his mind along with the burning of the lantern's flame.
But after the dim chaos sent by IX of [Nihility] washed over the Guiding Spirit Lantern, the pain in Ron's consciousness was instantly obliterated.
Even a pain as unimaginable as that, an emotion so intense, was in that instant transformed into a meaningless "peace" under the cleansing of IX of [Nihility].
His thoughts were like a pool of autumn water, so placid that not even a ripple could be stirred...
Only memory and thought, bit by bit, were gradually transformed into pure "meaninglessness" under this terrifying power, thoroughly changing from "existence" to "non-existence," vanishing from this sea of stars.
However, this power was only inflicted upon Ron's consciousness in the simulation. So, after leaving the simulation and returning to reality, besides remembering this feeling, Ron's consciousness in the real world was not affected in the slightest.
But... after loading the "Guiding Spirit Lantern" entry and summoning the lantern, everything became different.
Ron could clearly feel that within the Guiding Spirit Lantern, a consciousness was trapped in an extremely bizarre state of peace, and was rapidly dissipating...
This consciousness, the moment the Guiding Spirit Lantern was brought out by Ron, began to make contact with him. Ron clearly perceived the message transmitted by this consciousness, and heard the murmur within, which was still agitated despite the bizarre peace brought by IX of [Nihility]—
"It's me..."
"It's all real... The simulation... is real..."
The intermittent whisper came from the lantern, clearly transmitted into Ron's mind.
But that was all it could manage... The tone of this intermittent whisper grew lower and lower, gradually becoming fainter, and finally, it slowly dissipated, never to make another sound.
Ron could also feel that the remnant consciousness within was being gradually consumed by that bizarre peace, its state of existence being twisted in an extremely subtle way, changing from "existence" to "non-existence," vanishing completely and utterly.
Ron stared blankly at the Guiding Spirit Lantern in his hand. The light within was difficult to see due to the special nature of the lantern's walls, but it held a searing, brilliant golden light. The power of [Salvation] surged within, and a faint warmth emanated from the lantern, constantly reminding Ron that he was truly holding such a lamp in his hands right now...
And at the same time, it reminded him that the faint whisper he had just heard truly existed.
Why... Why would my own consciousness be left inside this Guiding Spirit Lantern?!
This question echoed in Ron's mind, its voice deafening, making him feel dizzy and faint for a moment.
It was no wonder he felt this way... He originally thought it was just a fake simulation, but now, his own remnant had appeared. His consciousness, which had been left behind in the Guiding Spirit Lantern, was a situation that was fundamentally impossible!
His consciousness had clearly entered the simulation by proxy, but his consciousness had also returned safely. Right now, he was standing here perfectly fine, without a single injury, his thoughts clear as he looked at the simulation's light screen—
His consciousness hadn't been affected in the slightest, so why was there a remnant of him on this Guiding Spirit Lantern?
It was as if... as if the last simulation wasn't a fake simulation at all, but a real event that happened in reality. He had truly thrown himself into the Furnace of Creation as material, forging a Guiding Spirit Lantern that held half of his consciousness!
But... how was that possible?
The Life Simulation Game had always been just a simulation. If all of this were real, then how could he possibly be alive right now?
He would have died in the Fragmentum at the end of the first simulation, becoming one of the phantoms that roamed within it!
But... but...
The thoughts in Ron's mind were now a tangled mess. The current situation had disrupted his thoughts and ideas. He was beginning to have immense doubts about the Life Simulation Game...
Although Ron had always been suspicious, and often had to think things through dozens of times and confirm he had a perfect plan before making a decision, and often even trusted only himself, it was for this very reason that he now felt lost.
He trusted himself, but he trusted himself too much—is the him of now himself, and was the consciousness that just dissipated from the Guiding Spirit Lantern not also himself?
Ron could be certain... that consciousness was definitely his own, the real him who had experienced the last simulation as reality...
And that him, even if he fell into some kind of mortal danger, upon seeing the him in the real world, would do everything in his power to tell Ron the most important information he wanted to convey.
Although the whisper from that consciousness was intermittent, Ron knew clearly what "he" wanted to say.
The simulation is real. It's as simple as that.
The Life Simulation Game is not just a series of simulations as Ron sees it now, but in reality, it is a series of real events that have happened, one after another...
Ron pressed on his slightly throbbing temples, letting the surging thoughts in his mind gradually calm down, allowing himself to slowly regain his composure.
Although this matter was indeed a great shock to him, it was far from enough to cause Ron's reason to collapse.
It was just... a bit shocking.
Comforting himself like this, Ron closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, let his thoughts settle, and began to ponder what this situation truly meant...
If the Life Simulation Game wasn't a simple simulation game, and everything that happened within it had truly occurred in the real world, then why was it able to manifest in the way it does now?
A parallel world?
Ron thought about it, then shook his head, directly ruling out this possibility.
Thinking carefully, it was impossible... The most fundamental underlying color of this sea of stars is the Sea of Nihility and the Tree of Existence. The world itself is the Tree of Existence, and the Tree of Existence is unique. There is no such thing as a "parallel world."
After all, the two Aeons, Terminus, the [Finality] and IX of [Nihility] could only possibly be "unique." Ron really couldn't imagine the possibility of countless versions of these two Aeons existing.
It's like the Astral Express; one March 7th is already chaotic enough. He himself wouldn't want to see a hundred March 7ths appearing on the train. If a hundred versions of Terminus or IX were stuffed into this universe, never mind whether the universe would descend into utter chaos, Terminus and IX themselves would probably not agree.
So...
Ron pondered for a moment and, with extreme reluctance, thought of an incredibly grave possibility—
That would be that every simulation in the Life Simulation Game... experiences the "ending" fixed by Terminus, the Finality.
The ending of Terminus, the Finality is the Tree of Existence returning to the form of a tree seed, then re-sprouting branches and leaves. The world is reshaped after its destruction. Everything happens anew according to the fate set in motion by Terminus, naturally providing a new stage for each simulation.
Thinking carefully, back when he was in the simulation, when he personally entered it, he had seen the true nature of the Life Simulation Game's power...
It was a power that controlled fate, on the same track as that of Terminus, the [Finality].
And now, Ron knew clearly that the power of Terminus, the [Finality] to control fate originated from the Tree of Existence itself. He was the incarnation of the Tree of Existence, so he could easily control everything within it.
So, since the Life Simulation Game possesses this power, and also possesses a Veil of Fate that is merely transparent instead of black and white, why couldn't it also be considered a form of Terminus, the [Finality]?
Or rather, it might be another part of Terminus, the [Finality]...
Terminus, the [Finality] resolves all events in this sea of stars that could affect the destined ending, time and time again, tirelessly restarting this sea of stars, time and time again, replaying that extremely uninteresting ending. The Life Simulation Game is also doing this kind of thing.
It provides the ability to simulate, allowing Ron to try to influence the actions that lead to the pushing back of Terminus's ending, time and time again, restarting the simulation, time and time again, allowing for extremely minor changes to the simulation's ending...
Since they are already doing the same thing, why can't the Life Simulation Game be called a part of Terminus, the [Finality]? Why can't the game and that "rigid program" that controls the sea of stars be seen as the same thing?
Ron thought this in his heart and suddenly came to a realization.
Right... Terminus, the [Finality] is a being that moves backwards in time. Although it is the incarnation of the Tree of Existence, Ron also knows clearly that Its true birth is at the very end of everything—the moment the Tree of Existence begins to collapse and revert to a seed.
Right now, It is powerful, but It has not yet been born... It is still trying its best to influence the fate of this sea of stars, to make everything in the sea of stars proceed according to its inherent development, heading towards that fixed ending.
Ron thought and thought, and found that after going around in circles, he had returned to his initial starting point.
Although he had now obtained far more information than before, he had come to a conclusion remarkably similar to his previous one—
That is, Terminus, the [Finality] has not yet been born. With every step taken towards the future, Its power will grow stronger.
If he wanted to deal with It... naturally, the sooner the better.
And now, looking at the Life Simulation Game, and thinking of the warning from IX of [Nihility], Ron had a sudden moment of clarity.
His expression became a little dazed, and then a little stunned.
He looked at the light screen of the Life Simulation Game before him, silent for a moment...
He knew what he had to do next.
Since Terminus, the [Finality] has not yet been born, and the Life Simulation Game is a power extremely similar to that of Terminus, and IX of [Nihility] even wants Ron to help Him deal with Terminus, to erase that uninteresting full stop for this sea of stars—
Then why doesn't Ron truly usurp Terminus, the [Finality], and become that [Finality] himself?
It's known that Terminus, the [Finality] is a being that moves backwards in time. As of now, it has not yet been born...
He understood... No wonder the "Tampering with the Ending" plan entry was so difficult. No wonder the Path Progress for the Path of [The End] required an infinite amount...
Because that was the demand represented by the power and crown of the Aeon seat of [The End]. That was the power needed to modify the final ending of this sea of stars...
That was the way to replace Terminus, the [Finality], and forge a brand new [Finality]. It was not the simple request of becoming a Pathstrider of [The End]!
And the reason this became the final project of the plan entry was because, besides this, there were no other solutions...
Only by becoming the new [Finality] could one write a new ending for this sea of stars!