The Nebula’s Civilization

The overall plan to confront the old gods had been reviewed with the apostles, but the specifics couldn’t be discussed. This was because there was no accurate information on how and in what form the old gods would attack. The possibilities would be narrowed down only after the old gods revealed themselves, and then the nature of their appearance could be anticipated.

"I'll wait inside."

As Wisdom turned to leave, Noah said, "Wait, Wisdom."

"Hm?"

"I think it would be good for you to stay in the sun a bit."

"Really?"

Wisdom had no particular objection. He only thought it was illogical to wait outside the sanctuary, exposed.

Noah sniffed around and pointed at Wisdom's head, "I think…it's like a tree."

"A tree?"

"...Is it?"

"It's silvery, like it could store heat or light like a solar panel. Life needs energy to move. The sun is still warm, so let's stay outside a bit longer."

Wisdom had never considered that aspect, but he belatedly realized that his body didn't have parts to intake energy like food.

Noah's judgment seemed somewhat reasonable.

"I'm worried about RD and the others, but I'm most concerned about you. Even if not a god, you seem to have little interest in eating and drinking."

"That's not the case...but I guess it could seem that way."

Wisdom realized there were areas where he needed to reflect on. Even though he had been a god for a long time, there was still much left to learn.

"Alright then..."

The two former gods stood on top of the cliff, looking down at the sea. Then about 30 minutes later, a helicopter hurriedly approached from afar. It seemed like a training helicopter, but its was unmistakably flying toward the Division Sanctuary where they were.

Watching the approaching helicopter, Wisdom said, "I’m worried about Nebula."

Noah, who had been enjoying the sunlight with his eyes closed, opened them, "Nebula? Why?"

"There were other problems we were concerned about, weren’t there."

"There were too many to remember all..."

"One of the many problems that arise when we appear in Avartin."

"The fanatics?"

Wisdom pointed at the helicopter, saying, "They are close to fanatics… Of course, that's a transport helicopter belonging to the special forces of the Empire. Those on board are neither chosen ones, high priests, nor knights—unfortunately, they cannot exert their full power right now.

Therefore, the special forces, who have honed their skills through rigorous training despite lacking religious abilities, are coming to us. Because, currently, they are the most elite unit in the Empire’s army."

"Aren't other players also protected by such forces? I think I recall hearing that in the briefing."

"Not Nebula."

"Oh, there were also those who the apostles promised they would protect, right?"

"Nebula isn’t among them either."

Noah looked puzzled.

Wisdom explained, "I think he'll be safe, but..."

"But?"

"There are secularists in Avartin."

"Isn’t the Power of Reality disbanded?"

"The most radical group was, but they weren’t the entirety of the secularists."

"Right, that's true."

"Secularists are numerous. The Power of Reality was extreme under the command of the evil gods, but there can be extreme individuals or groups even without following the evil gods."

Each sanctuary had been chosen as a safe place for its own reasons. However, even in these safe places, there were areas where danger still lurked. The place where Sung-Woon went was one such location.

"In Baustan, remnants of the old revolutionary guerrillas still remain."

***

Sung-Woon allowed the blood to flow from his palm.

The pain from this small wound was dizzying, but whether it was troublesome was a matter to consider.

'HumanTracker was right. I've become dull, but I still follow the emotional continuity from when I was a god of the Pantheon. I am still me.'

As Sung-Woon had anticipated, the bleeding stopped after a little while. From the neural response to pain, blood coagulation, and the sensation of pain, Sung-Woon realized that he had become mortal and was no different from the human he was back on Earth.

However, Sung-Woon was so focused on his mental state that he was unaware of the events unfolding around him. Behind the Baustan Sanctuary, a group of figures slowly moved.

"Is that him?"

"Yes."

The scout who responded checked the data in their hand several times.

"That's the Devil Night Sky. All records match."

The one nodding at the scout's words was Olav Doran, the commander of the Baustan Revolutionary Army.

The history of the Baustan Revolutionary Army was long. During the war between the Empire and the Union Kingdom, the Baustan Revolution emerged as a branch of the revolution that started in the Union Kingdom and later conquered the surrounding regions. They possessed strong secularist attributes and were at odds not only with the Empire, but with the descendants of the Union Kingdom.

With the fall of the Union Kingdom, the surrounding areas were absorbed and unified by the revolutionary army's command, and Baustan claimed independence from the Empire. Of course, it wasn’t accepted. Armed conflict continued, and they suffered a series of defeats against the Empire; eventually, they gave up all the land.

However, the struggle didn’t end. Olav Doran was the eleventh official commander of the Baustan Revolutionary Army and continued guerrilla warfare in the rugged jungles and valleys around Baustan.

Applying ointment to their head, the Frogman Olav asked, "How's the situation?"

"The surrounding imperial forces show no movement."

"Huh, strange."

Olav thought something was odd. The imperial forces had not yet located Night Sky, while the revolutionaries, having successfully extracted internal information from the Empire, had found him. There was either an error or a peculiar coincidence.

'It’s true that the gods have fallen to earth.'

Imperial Intelligence was too complex to fully understand. There were apostles and direct intervention from the Pantheon, so the spies of the revolutionaries could only capture very fragmentary facts. But among the information collected, there was truth. Night Sky was really right in front of them.

"We'll approach as is. Support units, stay on high alert."

"Yes."

After the communication, Olav led three squads down the ravine toward the sanctuary. The rugged mountain path was not a significant obstacle for the revolutionaries as they had been fighting the Empire for a long time.

'Is it also true that they have lost power?'

Olav squinted in the harsh sunlight. Even though they had gotten quite close, Night Sky was sitting quietly in front of the sanctuary, basking in the sun. Of course, they were moving silently, so there was no risk of being detected yet, but a glance back could reveal them.

'He's too unguarded.'

Nothing noteworthy happened. Only when Olav and their revolutionary troops were about twenty meters away, within effective rifle range, did Night Sky slowly turn his head.

Olav, on the hill descending to the sanctuary, instructed the troops, "Maintain perimeter guard and wait."

"Yes."

"Whatever happens, don't act rashly."

"Understood."

Olav took a deep breath and slowly walked down toward Night Sky.

When Olav, the Frogman, was a few steps away, Olav said to Night Sky, "Are you Night Sky?"

Sung-Woon then said to Olav, "Yes."

Olav moistened their dry lips. "...Indeed, it's real."

Olav felt dizzy from their pounding heart. Olav had thought it was due to the excessive heat, but the former god in front of them didn't seem to be affected by the warmth.

'Is he really a former god?'

Olav couldn't be sure. They didn't know how that could be determined.

The Baustan Revolutionary Army had been fighting for independence, and revolutionary Olav had been fighting for their comrades and family. While doing so, Olav had never expected to directly encounter a god.

Olav moved their hand slowly toward the holster at their waist, all the while, Sung-Woon simply watched blankly. Olav was a bit taken aback. Such a reaction was either that of an innocent child who didn't know what a gun was or of a fool.

However, Olav decided to carry out the decision they had made since the moment Night Sky appeared. Olav took the pistol from their holster and slowly approached Sung-Woon. Then, holding the pistol by the barrel, Olav extended the handle toward Sung-Woon.

"Here, take it."

"You're giving it to me?"

"Yes."

Sung-Woon quietly looked at Olav's face.

"Why?"

"...This place is dangerous, swarming with giant insects. You need at least a pistol to protect yourself. Take it."

Sung-Woon slowly accepted the pistol and turned it over in his hands.

Olav asked, "Do you know how to use it?"

"I do."

"No, this isn't right..." Olav started to loosen their belt and holster. "Hm, I'll need to adjust the size. Just wait a moment… Oh, hold on."

Olav, while adjusting the belt, suddenly stopped and noticed Sung-Woon's palm.

"Damn, are you injured?"

"I got scratched by a thorn."

Olav called out hastily, "Medic! Come down quickly! Bring the disinfectant!"

A Goblin medic hurried down the hill at the commander's call.

The medic said, "Uh, um…please let me see the wound."

Sung-Woon silently extended his palm. The Goblin medic then pulled out a medical kit, disinfected Sung-Woon's palm, applied ointment, and put on a bandage.

Olav grumbled from the side, "Is that enough? Where's the bandage?"

"Oh, um...the wound is too small..."

"Are you sure that's enough to heal it?"

The Goblin medic was flustered. They might be the only medic who had treated a god.

Then Sung-Woon said, "It's fine, that's enough. Thank you."

The Goblin medic, sweating profusely, walked back up the hill. They then chatted with the other revolutionary soldiers.

Olav rolled their eyes at them and clicked their tongue before offering the pistol belt to Sung-Woon.

"Take this."

"Thank you."

"...You’re thankful? You're a god. Don't you get whatever you want?"

"Gratitude should still be expressed where gratitude is due."

Olav pushed out their lips, seemingly dissatisfied with something.

"I saw the Empire's intelligence. Is all of that true?"

"What intelligence did you see?"

"I heard about the return of the old gods."

Sung-Woon nodded, "It's true."

Olav realized something significant had happened, but didn't fully understand it. "Shit, why did you come here?"

"What do you mean?"

"This place is dangerous."

"The insect swarms? That's..."

"No, not just that."

Olav dared to interrupt the former god, tapped their shoulder epaulet, and also pointed at the dark red patch that symbolized the Revolutionary Army.

"Don't you know? We're secularist revolutionaries. We're at odds with gods."

"I know."

"If it weren't for me, you might have been shot by someone else. Why did you come here, of all sanctuaries?"

Sung-Woon replied, "Aren't your Baustan Revolutionary Army and the Empire in a ceasefire?"

"Hah, you believe that? How naive are you? Didn't you hear that I just got intelligence from the imperial army? A ceasefire isn't the end of the war. It's just a break on the surface."

Sung-Woon smiled beneath his mask, "I know you."

"You know me?"

"You have integrity, so I knew you wouldn't break the ceasefire. You wouldn't attack me."

Precisely, Sung-Woon knew Olav's stats. Olav was an entity with the special stat Integrity, which was notably high. Sung-Woon also knew Olav wouldn't break a negotiation. It was a personal calculation, so rather than convincing other players, he decided it was better to come here himself. There was no need to leave other players feeling uneasy.

Meanwhile, Olav’s eyes widened and blinked a few times, as if they were somewhat embarrassed.

Olav looked at Sung-Woon. "Integrity? Are you saying I'm a fool?...This is the first time I'm hearing that I possess such a thing."

Sung-Woon said, "That's what has kept you in your position. It's your strength."

Olav closed their eyes for a moment, thinking about something.

After opening them, Olav said, "Until the imperial army arrives, the Revolutionary Army will protect you. Is that alright?"

Sung-Woon smiled and replied, "Thank you."