Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 1477 757: The Core's Fear

"Even if they're Chaos Gods, in the real world they might be able to destroy this Simulation Core with just a single thought. But here... they're nothing more than simulated 'data', just 'background props' under the operating rules of this universe!"

Li Yelai understood the core idea Monarch Token wanted to convey.

In this Simulated Universe, all the seemingly real native Life, even those lofty Gods, are in essence nothing but 'data'.

And the Simulation Core is the mainframe that runs all this data.

No matter how powerful or aberrant the data itself is, as the foundation that carries and runs them, the mainframe's permissions ultimately stand above them.

Although, because of Monarch Token's appearance, some of the 'data' has turned into an uncleanable 'shit-mountain of code', and has launched a continuous rebellion against the mainframe, the Simulation Core itself is very hard to truly be damaged at its root from the inside by this 'data'.

When you play a video game, the data isn't going to suddenly jump out and slap you in the face, right?

That's the helpless and despairing reality.

"But I observed your battles... and discovered that what the Simulation Core fears is you. You, yourself!"

Li Yelai paused. It was somewhat absurd—when the Kings and Supremes were around, they couldn't win; what can I possibly...

"Could this Simulation Core actually be a 'vehicle'?"

(Hold on a sec)

Monarch Token could no longer be sure whether he still counted as a 'Human' or not.

Even though he had been fighting for Humans up to this day, he couldn't deny that he was now nothing but a string of data...

That occasionally flickering humanity, like a dying candle in the wind, would send out a faint yet stubborn voice from the depths of his consciousness.

'You are Human. You bear a heavy oath. You still have comrades and compatriots you must save. That is the meaning of your existence, the only drive behind your struggle to this day.'

However, that vaster Divinity told him the truth with absolute coldness.

'You're just an abnormal stream of data, a ghost who has long lost his flesh-and-blood body, nothing more than an error code produced in the running of this vast Simulated Universe, an anomalous bug.'

This eternal self-tearing made him like a machine with fixed programming, numbly repeating the same preset actions across countless cycles. Driving the development of world civilizations, guiding them to construct stronger Miracles, then destroying them at just the right moment, siphoning the Power of Faith contained within, little by little accumulating strength.

Again, and again.

Life after life!

Waiting for a chance... but... is there really a chance?

Will he completely lose himself because of too much Power of Faith? Can he still view himself as Human and continue fighting for Humans?

Until this time, the Simulation Core exhibited an unprecedented disturbance.

That wasn't external interference, but a strong, autonomous rejection reaction arising from the Simulation Core itself!

The violence of it even far surpassed that time they had once been closest to breaking the cycle, the very first and also the most magnificent rebellion!

The Simulation Core—it was afraid; it was resisting Li Yelai's entrance!

It was precisely this abnormally fierce rejection by the Simulation Core that made Monarch Token, after tens of millions of numb loops, "hear" the sound like his own heartbeat again.

He made his final choice!

He used all the permissions he could control to forcibly interfere, suppressing the Simulation Core's rejection mechanism, allowing Li Yelai to enter the world.

This was the last chance he had waited for through tens of millions of cycles. The one opportunity that absolutely could not be missed... the only timing!

Li Yelai keenly sensed that Monarch Token's current state was extremely abnormal.

His emotional fluctuations were too intense; one could even hear, from within that body wrapped in black bandages, faint yet clear cracking sounds, like ceramics shattering.

Ripples of power that made one's heart palpitate and feel unease were uncontrollably spreading out from his body.

"Please stay Calm for now, Lord Monarch Token. Your condition... is very unstable." Li Yelai, carrying Little Mad King, cautiously took a half-step back and gave a low warning.

This weight was enough to crush any mind.

If Monarch Token's experiences were placed on someone else, they would probably have gone completely insane long ago.

Watching his own family, friends, comrades, again and again across cycles, turn into cold data, becoming "natives" who had forgotten their past, who couldn't even know of his existence... while he had to bear all the memories and oaths alone, walking this hopeless road whose end could not be seen.

At the same time, boundless regret surged up in Li Yelai's heart.

The very first rebellion had actually been the closest they ever got to victory.

Back then, how high-spirited they had been!

They possessed top combat power at King Level and Supreme Level, had just defeated powerful enemies from the Void Realm within the Disaster Fog, their hands full of rich spoils; it was the time when their troops were strong and morale at its peak.

However, once the Void Realm was completely locked down and the world forcibly rebooted, even if they were given several thousand more years of development, it would be almost impossible to reach the same shining heights again. Failure seemed to have become the only predestined ending.

If they had not been trapped by this No. 13 Simulation Core back then, they could have built a mighty Giant City in the Physical World.

Perhaps it would have become the Fourth Border City within the Border City Circle, using the powerful combat strength of Kings and Supremes to shelter tens of millions of citizens... what a precious power that would be, what a radiant future!

Was the King of Restricted Zone prepared to face the pressure of three Kings?

The result... they were intercepted by the Simulation Core and thrown into this damned 'Simulated Universe'.

After silently murmuring "I am Human, I fight for Humans" several times, Monarch Token's violently fluctuating emotions finally seemed to be forcibly suppressed, and his aura gradually steadied.

Only then did Li Yelai speak again: "Why exactly does the No. 13 Simulation Core so vehemently reject my arrival?"

"At first, I couldn't understand either. What trait do you have that could actually make it feel 'fear'?"

Monarch Token steadied his breathing, his voice returning to its previous composure: "I once thought it was the powerful karma entangled around you. But in reality... everything that exists in the Simulated Universe is ultimately just 'data'. And data can hardly truly damage the Simulation Core that serves as the operating foundation; it's even extremely difficult to locate its actual body."

"I once threw myself into Chaos, relying on my accumulation, using the name of 'Supreme Divine Selection' to complete a Blood Sacrifice Demon Ascension, drawing the gaze of multiple Chaos Evil Gods, and successfully ascending to a Prince of Chaos! For the sake of victory, I had even prepared to destroy myself after defeating the Core and rescuing my comrades."

There was a trace of cold reminiscence in Monarch Token's tone: "I successfully guided Their power, trying to assault the Core... yet the moment my power touched the Core, all connections with the Chaos Gods were abruptly cut. And then... came yet another failure, and another reboot."