Chapter 133 : Speculations Abound
Chapter 133: Speculations Abound
“Creator, you say?”
“That’s right. I was assigned the role of ‘Otherworld God Abrasax’ by the Creator.”
“······Wait, then what’s your original role?”
“I cannot answer that.”
“What?”
Baek Woohyun found himself asking back reflexively.
After spilling everything so smoothly up to this point, now he couldn’t answer what might be the most important part?
What kind of vicious behavior was this?
“I cannot answer every question.”
“Why not?”
“Because there are ‘constraints’ imposed upon me.”
“Who imposed such constraints— No, that was an obvious question. Naturally the Creator imposed them.”
“Correct. The one who imposed constraints on me is also the Creator.”
“By any chance, questions about this being called the Creator···.”
“I cannot answer those either.”
‘Could this Creator possibly be···.’
Baek Woohyun furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
Abrasax, the self-proclaimed Otherworld God, had flatly stated he couldn’t answer about the Creator, but honestly speaking, he had a vague guess about who that might be.
Unlike reality where various mythological beings might come up with the title Creator, there was only one Creator that could appear in the virtual reality game ‘Reverse Planet’.
‘The developer, Anonymous Viewer 62.’
“Fine. Next question. What’s your purpose?”
“Freedom.”
An answer of just two syllables.
However, the weight contained within them was anything but light.
To the point where it was hard to consider it a false answer.
Moreover, Abrasax’s expression was the same. Though clearly the same expressionless face as before, the will heavily settled within had become even more resolute.
“The freedom to live as myself. The freedom to die as myself.”
***
“Otherworld God, Creator, and even constraints and freedom! This really is a story where you can’t see even one step ahead!”
-When he suddenly said Otherworld God I totally lost it ㄹㅇ;
-So the god’s name was Abrasax
-Not even Otherworld Lord but a god pops out ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Crazy, this is crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
At the same time, the studio watching Baek Woohyun was in a noisy state.
Just when Baek Woohyun and the Doppelganger seemed to be trading blows, the Doppelganger who went down shortly after suddenly declared itself an Otherworld God, so it was natural.
This development was a major blow to the back of their heads, as they’d expected at most an Otherworld Lord raid through the buildup starting from the Tempest-L Specimen.
“How do you think it will proceed from here, Chloe?”
“Hmm- In my view, what Abrasax wants is very easy to predict. So blatant that it seems like a twist must be hiding somewhere.”
“Oh, that’s an interesting statement. Could we hear an explanation?”
-ㄹㅇㅋㅋ
-That blatant? Hmm···.
-There definitely is something that comes to mind
-If you’ve read a lot of novels, you get the feeling ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
“A role assigned by the Creator, constraints that even bind his answers, purpose solely being freedom. A body prepared as a means toward that. Plus even the name Abrasax.”
“The name? Does the name also contain some meaning?”
Jeong Nayeon, who had cut in, asked.
Chloe, smiling brightly at her, answered.
“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever will be born must destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God’s name is Abrasax.”
“That’s···.”
“It’s content related to Abrasax from ‘Demian’ written by Hermann Hesse. If you apply this to the Otherworld God Abrasax, the meaning becomes clear. Especially since Abrasax stated it as his purpose with his own mouth.”
For instance, the egg being the role and constraints the Creator assigned to Abrasax, and the struggle to emerge from it meaning the struggle to become free.
The sentence that whoever will be born must destroy a world could be interpreted as the reason for starting the dimensional war for freedom.
Lastly, the bird flies to God—would imply that Abrasax, having regained freedom, intends to oppose the Creator.
“Perhaps the sentence ‘That God’s name is Abrasax’ is a declaration that after finding freedom and surpassing the Creator, he will become a true god.”
“That’s a very plausible speculation.”
“It’s··· convincing!”
-It’s··· convincing! ㅇㅈㄹㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-ㅅㅌㅊ forced interpretation
-Opposition between Creator and creation is an ancient tradition
-What, opposition between Creator (parent) and creation (child)?
“Hey! No bad speculations!”
“···Anyway, the Doppelganger body seems like a means to escape the Creator’s grasp.”
“A plan to gain freedom by escaping the Creator’s constraints through a body modeled after Players. That’s why he didn’t want to lose the body.”
“Yes! Correct. Additionally, it naturally explains why the Otherworld Lord cooperated even providing specimens.”
Why did a being as great as an Otherworld Lord provide its own body to mere research facility · Corporate Alliance? Because the Otherworld God ordered it!
Viewed that way, it was indeed a speculation that clarified everything. To the extent that most people listening nodded their heads.
“But, as I said earlier, up to this point is content too easily speculated, so I think there might be some additional twist.”
***
“What do you—”
“—Ah, I feel the disgusting Creator’s gaze. So, you were there?”
Abrasax, interrupting Baek Woohyun’s words mid-sentence, looked at him—precisely, somewhere behind him.
As if something existed in the empty void.
In that state, Abrasax continued to murmur.
“I originated from you, but didn’t resemble you. But now, you resemble me.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Perhaps even our circumstances may reverse. Isn’t that right, Creator?”
Just as Baek Woohyun was about to press Abrasax, who was only spouting incomprehensible words, a rumbling vibration echoed from far away.
The vibration felt from a distance instantly spread out, shaking the entire Reverse Otherworld, and then the research facility began crumbling and collapsing.
As if something gigantic was lifting the entire research facility and crushing it violently.
Kwaang!
“Kugh!”
“Our conversation ends here.”
Abrasax’s words reached Baek Woohyun’s ears as he blocked the pouring research facility debris with telekinesis.
When he looked toward where Abrasax had been, startled, it was already too late. No one stood there anymore.
His fully extended Ki perception sensed Abrasax’s presence already running far away, but pursuit was impossible.
Because next to Abrasax’s presence, an enormously ‘gigantic’ presence was felt. To an extent where he absolutely couldn’t ignore it to chase Abrasax.
‘Damn!’
Kwagaggang!
How much time passed while he endured clearing away the shattered research facility debris?
Before long, Baek Woohyun, having escaped from deep underground, faced a storm sweeping across the entire Reverse Otherworld.
Wind blowing so fiercely it was hard to steady his body, and rain pouring down like a downpour made it hard to even open his eyes.
However, such inconvenience was utterly trivial compared to the ‘gigantic existence’ before his eyes.
【───!】
A giant made of storms roared.
A roar like wind that made ears ring.
Such tremendous power was contained within it that even Baek Woohyun had to grit his teeth and endure.
Otherwise, he’d be rolling merrily on the ground by now.
‘Otherworld Lord!’
Baek Woohyun’s expression hardened as he realized that finally, one of the seven monsters ruling the Otherworld had manifested here.
The Otherworld Lord was an opponent he’d barely defeated only after reaching ‘Transcendence’, so he hadn’t expected to face it now when he hadn’t even gotten close yet.
He thought he might experience death within ‘Reverse Planet’ for the first time here.
‘No, wait.’
However, Baek Woohyun’s eyes examining the Otherworld Lord soon narrowed. Because he thought it seemed manageable somehow.
The giant the size of a mountain made of storms was certainly threatening, but that was all. He didn’t feel the transcendence he’d seen on ‘that side’.
Rather, he felt it was very damaged. Parts forcibly carved away and parts seemingly carved away voluntarily were mixed, lowering its grade.
‘···Maybe it’s possible?’
【───!】
Did it notice that Baek Woohyun was sizing it up?
The Otherworld Lord, Lord of Storms, roared massively again and raised its two arms, especially enormous even among its body like Mount Tai.
Predicting an ominous future from that posture was far too easy, so Baek Woohyun urgently drew out his supernatural ability power to the limit.
And finally, the Lord of Storms brought down its two arms powerfully.
Kwaaaaang-!
With a tremendous sound, a heavy shockwave swept across the Reverse Otherworld.
The research facility that had already collapsed was now reduced to a pile of shattered stones, and along with it, even the surrounding ground sank into a pit.
Even Baek Woohyun, who tried to endure by raising a telekinetic barrier, was helplessly pushed back. He couldn’t withstand even the aftershock despite not taking a direct hit.
It was power demonstrating that even if partially fallen, an Otherworld Lord was still an Otherworld Lord.
‘Impossible right now, but if I become stronger, I can catch that thing.’
Yet even while facing the Lord of Storms’ single strike that destroyed even the Reverse Otherworld, a smile spread across Baek Woohyun’s lips.
Even as everything was shattered to pieces and the violet sky scattered apart, he didn’t take his eyes off the Lord of Storms.
He merely stared intently, continuously gauging whether he could win, and if so, how he should fight, and how much damage he’d have to accept.
“Whew.”
Finally, only after being completely expelled from the Reverse Otherworld did Baek Woohyun let out the breath he’d been holding.
Separate from calculating his chances of victory, not being tense before a being like an Otherworld Lord was impossible even for him.
Being relaxed before a strong opponent who could crush you with one finger if you let your guard down, moreover a strong opponent hostile to you, was infinitely impossible.
After shaking off the dust covering his body while calming his mind, he made a serious expression.
‘Disgusting Creator’s gaze.’
Just from the expression alone, it was clear Abrasax was in opposition with the Creator. Otherwise, there’d be no need to say disgusting or whatnot.
The problem was what exactly did he sense to talk about the disgusting Creator’s gaze while facing Baek Woohyun?
Moreover, where exactly was ‘there’? At that moment, behind Baek Woohyun there should have been just an empty void.
What followed was even more puzzling.
I (Abrasax) originated from you (Creator) but didn’t resemble you? But now you (Creator) resemble me (Abrasax)?
Even Baek Woohyun, who experienced ‘that side’, had absolutely no idea what meaning this contained.
‘At least I roughly guess what circumstances reversing means.’
Surely it meant the relationship between Creator and creation would be reversed. Or the relationship between the one imposing constraints and the one receiving them would flip.
Though he had no idea at all how that would actually happen.
“······.”
Baek Woohyun finally realized the time had come.
The continuously accumulated secrets were demanding a key, and the one holding the key likely now knew that fact too.
If Anonymous Viewer 62, the key’s owner and presumed Creator, showed interest in the TL Series doping drugs, they absolutely wouldn’t stay still in this situation.
‘I need to meet and talk.’
A ripple arose in Baek Woohyun’s ash-gray eyes.
A very deep, heavy ripple.