I Have a God Simulator

Deng Cheng was a foreign Ghost, and the world’s system could only see its present, with no way to trace its past.

Therefore, Luh Yao could only speculate about what the Lamp Race had truly experienced, how the Sun was stolen, and why the Firefly God had left, all based on Deng Cheng’s account.

"The place where the Lamp Race lives is perpetually shrouded in a dense, dark gray fog. Every one of us must keep a lamp lit so we don’t get lost. The Hanging Lamp is the sign that a member of the Lamp Race is alive."

As it spoke of its home, the Flame on Deng Cheng’s head flickered, slowly illuminating a blurry, rectangular scene. It was filled with swirling mist, where only a few sparse, star-like points of light were visible.

It continued, "When the Celestial Lantern was present, some of the fog in Fog Harbor would dissipate, and visibility would improve. But the far distance remained unseen."

"We rely on lamps to survive in the fog."

"The brightest and clearest moments were right after the Celestial Lantern had risen. Everything around us would become incredibly sharp and clear. During that time, we could see each other, but more importantly, we would go everywhere to collect materials."

Slime Mod asked, "Are you talking about mining and Refining ores, or tanning leather?"

"No, it’s not like that."

Deng Cheng explained, "Where I’m from, most materials are found in boxes—all sorts of boxes. Wooden boxes, iron boxes, copper boxes... The best ones are the silver and gold boxes."

"The boxes themselves are excellent materials, and they also contain many useful items, like lamp stones, oil, Fire Lines, lamp bulbs, sheet iron, copper rods... If you were lucky, you might even find a complete lamp."

Luh Yao fell into thought as he watched.

’In the world of the Lamp Race, all materials came packed in boxes. These clear signs of artificial intervention indicated that, besides the Lamp Race, another group had prepared, or was still preparing, all of this.’

"’Some raw materials have to be found in the open, though.’"

Deng Cheng added, "Many of the boxes have already been opened, and even the boxes themselves have been broken down into wooden planks and metal scraps. Sometimes, we have to dismantle the bodies of our own people, using the leftover parts to help others survive."

Slime Mod agreed. "Very pragmatic."

"We have to survive."

Words slowly appeared above Deng Cheng’s head: "The head of a Lamp Race member contains a lamp stone. The body is made of copper, iron, or silver... with a rare few made of gold. The heart is a Spark Disc, and lamp oil flows within the body."

"If not attacked by Fog Beasts, a member of the Lamp Race can live for a very long time, as long as they protect their body and replenish their oil."

"After death, every part of the body is a very useful material."

Luh Yao suddenly came back to his senses.

’Something’s not right.’

’The physiological structure of the Lamp Race isn’t that of a normal organism.’

He immediately had Slime Mod inquire further.

Through Deng Cheng’s detailed descriptions, the image of the Lamp Race in Luh Yao’s mind gradually took shape.

The Lamp Race were not flesh-and-blood creatures in the conventional sense. They were a form of life that was almost semi-mechanical, bearing obvious signs of artificial creation.

What gave them self-awareness was either the natural evolution of the world’s rules over a vast expanse of time, or the handiwork of a God.

’In principle, they were something like a poor man’s version of the Clockwork Monkey.’

Judging by their physiological structure, the Lamp Race seemed to exist for the specialized purpose of creating fire or bringing light. Crafting lamps was their very reason for being.

Like matchstick-men.

’No, they were more like lighters.’

"Was the Lamp Race born so peculiar?" Slime Mod asked it.

"I don’t know... Fog Harbor is an ancient world. It’s said that other races existed before the Lamp Race. The boxes were left behind by them, but they must have been similar to us."

Deng Cheng pondered for a moment, and a series of ellipses appeared above its head.

"The last grand artisan said that the purpose of the Lamp Race is to create a new Sun, one that can replace the Sun in the sky. This is the great mission bestowed upon us by the Lord Firefly God. The Celestial Lantern is also an Imitation of the Sun, but it’s nowhere near the level of a real Sun."

"I’m a bit confused."

Slime Mod said, "If the Sun existed in the past, why would you need to replace it?"

"Suns burn out, you know."

Deng Cheng said matter-of-factly, "We have to create a new Sun before the old one goes out, then raise it into the sky to replace the old Sun as it continuously dims. The Sun here is very bright. It must have been replaced recently, right?"

Luh Yao finally understood the problem.

’Fog Harbor was a world that deviated from the natural order.’

’There, the Sun was some kind of High Level Artifact or marvel that had a lifespan and would wear out. According to the rules of a normal world, the Sun’s existence should be virtually eternal from the perspective of the life within that world.’

’In Fog Harbor, a true Sun didn’t exist at all—only high-quality artificial replicas.’

’It was no wonder, then, that a God had later stolen their Sun.’

’The Lamp Race’s Sun was an incredibly valuable treasure.’

Slime Mod said, "...I see. Then what is the World Pot made of?"

"The World Pot is just a giant pot."

Deng Cheng gestured. "The entire Fog Harbor rests on the World Pot. It spews out a ceaseless black fog, and within that fog are all sorts of materials, boxes, and peculiar items—and, of course, Fog Beasts."

"However, only a God can enter the depths of the fog to see the World Pot. The Lamp Race can’t. There are too many Fog Beasts down there, and there’s a powerful pressure that gets stronger the closer you get."

This description reminded Luh Yao of a world’s boundary.

What was certain for now was that Fog Harbor’s structure was unlike any known Divine Kingdom, bearing clear marks of artificial sculpting and modification.

But Deng Cheng couldn’t speak to the deeper aspects of its world.

It didn’t know what the Firefly God was like—that God had vanished before it was even born.

Furthermore, it had no idea about the identity of the Outer God who had stolen their Sun.

Deng Cheng only knew that after the last grand artisan of the Lamp Race vanished mysteriously, their race had been steadily weakening and dying out. A vast trove of knowledge and historical secrets had sunk into the boundless black fog along with the grand artisan’s demise.

...

After finishing its questions, Slime Mod reported to Luh Yao, "Lord God, this matter concerning the Lamp Race initially reminded me of an old tale that was once spoken of among the Titled Deities."

"’It is said that when the Dark God grows powerful, the God of Light becomes weak and falls into slumber. There is a relationship between these two Main Gods where one’s strength rises as the other’s falls.’"

"’When the Dark God first rose from decline to ascendance, it would hunt other Gods and simultaneously claim all light and fire. The Sun was always the first to be taken.’"

"’The Sun is a trophy for the Dark God. In any world it passes through, the Sun is either extinguished or vanishes entirely. This is no easy feat. It’s not merely about destroying the Sun, but erasing it on a fundamental, regulatory level, all while preserving the Order of the world itself...’"

"’This is one of the ways the Dark God demonstrates its power, and it also stems from its hatred for the God of Light.’"

"’I thought that perhaps, a long time ago, the Dark God had passed through Fog Harbor, causing the world to lose its Sun, and that the local God was forced to find a way to reforge it...’"

’Luh Yao grumbled to himself.’

’I can’t believe even Fog Harbor is connected to that Main God.’

’Snatching away their Sun... Dark God, you’re a real piece of work!’

"However, when I heard about the World Pot, I realized I was mistaken."

"As for the Lamp Race and the World Pot... I believe the Lamp Race is very likely a type of commodity for trade. Among Gods, it’s not uncommon to trade Subordinate Gods, Apostles, Believers, Special Races, or even entire civilizations. This kind of transaction is called a ’Departure.’"

"Regardless of whether it’s the Sun they create or the Lamp Race itself, they are most likely all commodities."

Slime Mod said, "It wasn’t that an Outer God stole the Sun. Rather, the Firefly God sold that Sun. That’s why the Outer God was able to enter the Divine Kingdom and take it away so easily."

"Fog Harbor is just a giant marketplace where you can bid on anything you need. The Fog Beast attacks are likely a divine stratagem as well—a demonstration and a test of the Lamp Race."

"It’s like a shopkeeper opening a display case to let customers inspect and sample the merchandise inside."

Luh Yao was stunned.

’The games the Gods play are truly something else.’