The Nebula’s Civilization

In the first imagery world, the red velvet wrapped around Aldin's left wrist. As Aldin was already concentrating in two worlds, her judgment inevitably became clouded.

Aldin thought she could just pull her arm out, but the demonic magic in the velvet confused her nervous system. Muscles that should relax stiffened. With her left arm sealed in this way, it was clear what would follow. The spirits of demonic magic would reveal their accumulated malice toward the old gods.

Aldin gritted her teeth. Fortunately, the restrained arm was not the one holding her staff. Aldin twisted her body and jerked her wrist away. A snapping sound followed as the ligaments, median nerves, and bone clusters forming her palm dislocated. Aldin felt all the pain.

In the Pain Sect, pain was considered the basis of power. Humans, being physically weaker than other species, sought power through magic, and many learned the Pain Sect's magic. The Pain Sect eventually triumphed over other Wizards, which was why the old gods had Human faces.

The stimulated nervous system and reflexive trembling from the pain surged up Aldin's shoulder, and saliva pooled in her mouth. Aldin spat out the metallic-tasting saliva. Pain was power.

Due to Aldin's unexpected movements, the velvet cloths of the spirits of demonic magic tangled or hovered in mid-air. Aldin seized the opportunity and slipped between the red curtains that had been visible all along. Aldin knew exactly what she had to do.

***

In the second imagery world, Aldin breathed out roughly. Her heart raced, and her robe, soaked with sweat, clung uncomfortably to her body.

Each room was not very large, but sprinting through dozens, hundreds of rooms was a daunting task in the imagery world. Moreover, Aldin had to keep moving rooms to avoid the entities chasing her. Then, Aldin realized something.

It could have been luck, or perhaps Aldin was just good at escaping. But the monsters chasing Aldin only made their presence known through footsteps and the sound of opening doors, without any actual evidence of their existence.

This realization was difficult to come by. Aldin was both fleeing and constantly calculating coordinates to avoid getting lost and reach Nebula.

Catching her breath, Aldin sensed from the room ahead that a monster was approaching.

'...I have to turn back here.'

Aldin judged that while the monster might not exist, the possibility of its existence was high. There was no reason to create an imagery world to trap Aldin if it was just an illusion.

'But what if there's another reason? Nebula is known to be a Wizard who’s achieved Tuning, but I doubt if his ability is truly exceptional. If so, I might need to reduce the emphasis on the second imagery world.'

Aldin decided to take a risk. Passing the room in front would lead to the shortest route to Nebula. If she fled from the monster now, there was no telling when she would be able to calculate the coordinates and find a monster-free path again.

'Running away won't solve anything.'

Despite the clear footsteps ahead, Aldin opened the door in front of her. The room was empty. Aldin searched for hidden enemies but found none. The monster was indeed fiction—at least the monster that had been chasing Aldin just now was.

Aldin ran toward the shortest route leading to Nebula, thinking, 'I've been tricked.'

***

In the third imagery world, Aldin hid in a corner of the cave.

Aldin had killed a number of Dragons herself. Therefore, she believed she could somehow face Mazdari.

But Mazdari was different. Mazdari lacked the arrogance, prejudice, and misconceptions that would have been inherent weaknesses in ancient Dragons. He was humble before gods and unattached to his failures.

All the methods Aldin knew for defeating Dragons were useless. All the magical means and protections provided by the system protected Aldin, but Mazdari was too powerful.

Aldin saw Mazdari's shadow in the already ruined cave. When Aldin hid, the Dragon hid as well. Despite his huge body and white color, its ability to hide was no different from Aldin's.

'There's no need to face him head-on.'

Aldin magically cleaned her blood-soaked body. Her limbs finally returned to their proper places, but she gave up on her torn and broken wings. Though her magical abilities were diminished as a result, it wasn’t fatal to her life, so it was a lower priority.

'I don't necessarily have to face a Dragon in such an imagery world. I just need to get past it somehow...'

The Dragon was the guardian of the cave, and there are many ways to deal with guardians. Many stories were told of Wizards who cleverly dealt with guardians by getting them drunk and putting them to sleep, enchanting them with beautiful songs, or making a deal to take over their minds.

But Mazdari wasn’t a creature of stories. He seemed to have severed ties with such Dragons. Mazdari had no weaknesses. Aldin was forced to admit it. Mazdari was stronger than her.

As a Pain Sect Wizard who had survived for tens of thousands of years and an old god receiving the system's protection, Aldin realized she had few options left.

'Maybe only the fourth...is left.'

This was her only opportunity, while Mazdari had hidden himself.

'How many seconds do I have left?'

The cunning Dragon could have hidden, but it wouldn't just be observing. Mazdari could be selecting the last few methods to attack Aldin, ones she couldn't even anticipate.

'Then...'

Descending to the fourth level of the imagery world was something Aldin had rarely experienced, but she didn't hesitate. If she had little time left, she had no choice but to descend to the next imagery world and slow down the flow of time relatively.

Aldin immediately conceptualized the fourth imagery world and submerged into it.

***

"Hello. Is this your first time in our store?"

In the fourth imagery world, Aldin stood at the entrance of a small building. Looking over her shoulder, the outside was too bright from the sunlight for her to see clearly.

This fourth imagery world required entering the building. Aldin had never conceptualized such an imagery world.

The entrance of the building was not in the rich cultural and artistic style of Avartin, which had gone through numerous aesthetic trends, but rather in a modern flat art style, as if it denied all past heritage to welcome the dawn of civilization on Earth for the first time. Aldin's attire was also formal, matching the setting.

Reflexively, Aldin brought her hand to her face, finding a mask instead of the hood that usually covered it.

"Ma’am?"

Aldin looked at the staff member who called her. It was a Human male, neatly dressed in a uniform, and their black vest and black bowtie were noteworthy. However, his facial features left only faint impressions. It seemed like she would forget his face if she turned away.

'It's definitely an imagery world. The resolution is low. This is a created being.'

Aldin said, "There should be someone waiting for me."

Aldin tried her luck.

The imagery world responded immediately, "Oh, you must be a friend of the manager? I'll guide you."

Aldin followed the staff member into the store. Inside, the store was filled with people buzzing in their own spaces. In addition to those enjoying games in the wide lobby on the first floor, there were also guests playing games at tables beside the railings on the second and third floors. At each table, people were spreading cards, throwing dice, or enjoying various gambling games that Aldin recognized as Earth's.

'Is this a casino?'

Aldin passed by all these people and took a small elevator up to the fourth floor.

"Then, please enjoy," The staff member greeted as the elevator door opened and did not get off.

Aldin glanced at the staff member and then stepped out of the elevator.

There was only one room. In the center was a large round table, and a Human male sat on the opposite side. He wore the same suit as Aldin, and his mask was plain white, like Aldin's. Aldin sensed that it was Sung-Woon.

Then immediately, she reached into her coat to find her staff.

'...Gone? No, that can’t be. Even in another being's imagery world, they can't touch my belongings.'

Aldin, trying not to let Sung-Woon notice, felt around her body and detected a pistol hidden below her pants, by her calf. Aldin felt relieved. Though its form had changed, it could still serve its purpose. However, drawing it in front of Sung-Woon was also problematic.

Aldin confidently walked toward Sung-Woon.

Sung-Woon then said, "Unfortunate."

"What?"

"I said it's unfortunate." Sung-Woon said while unwrapping a pack of playing cards, "You've spent too much energy getting down to the fourth. That's why you've lost the upper hand to me."

Aldin didn't immediately reply. Everything Sung-Woon said was true.

Aldin sat in the chair opposite to Sung-Woon.

With feigned confidence, she said, "But you're in front of me. I've caught up to you."

"Do you think so? This is my space. My imagery world."

As Sung-Woon flicked his fingers in the air, armed guards, who had been hiding behind the second-floor railing and pillars, revealed themselves. The guards, armed with submachine guns, took aim at Aldin. Aldin, who had not noticed them, clicked her tongue quietly. When Sung-Woon tapped the table with his finger, the guards hid their presence again.

"But still, this is an imagery world, and as long as causality allows, we must be fair. That's the principle of magic… Aldin." Sung-Woon skillfully shuffled the unwrapped playing cards and spread them on the table. "Do you know how to play?"

Aldin crossed her legs, resting her left leg on her right knee because the hidden pistol was strapped to the inside of her left calf. Aldin prepared to draw the pistol at any moment.

Aldin asked, "What happens if someone wins the game?"

"We each grant one wish to the other."

Aldin became anxious. In the past, Aldin had a mission. She had to find players—grand warriors who would fight on behalf of the old gods, deceiving causality, rebuilding civilizations, and opposing evil gods.

To understand how well these players played games, Aldin herself had to know well about games. As a result, Aldin spent numerous hours learning them.

Aldin had her own pride. Even if it wasn't Earth or the countless infinite possible worlds, games existed in Avartin, and Aldin enjoyed games more than other old gods. Of course, she wasn’t as good as the Returner, the best player in Avartin, but she had been playing games for over 70,000 years.

However, the length of time spent enjoying games didn’t necessarily correlate with gaming skill. Aldin, who both enjoyed and excelled at games, was well aware of this fact. The best among the players she had found was undoubtedly Nebula, Sung-Woon.