I Have a God Simulator

In Yunzhong Temple, all the remaining Sand Walkers had been devoured by the Guest Monk.

The catfish-headed creature said this matter-of-factly.

"Without Ascension, death is inevitable."

"Cloud Monks become a part of this world's fundamental 'cloud,' but Sand Walkers cannot."

"They represent another Ascension Path. They travel as grains of sand peeled from the Divine Kingdom. The more powerful a Sand Walker, the more they can sustain their consciousness within a single grain of sand. If they are captured by the Rule Power of another world, they can reconstitute themselves from that sand."

"A Sand Walker only gets one chance at Ascension. If they fail, they become bound by the rules, forever unable to cross the world's boundary."

"The Sand Walkers left behind are all failures of Ascension."

Luh Yao mentally organized the information.

Cloud Guest had created two Ascension Paths. The path of the Cloud Monk focused inward, on the world's rules. It allowed a Cultivator to integrate with the world's foundational rule of 'cloud,' thereby becoming a part of the world itself, much like a primitive God.

Unfortunately, for various reasons, it was difficult for them to retain their individuality through this method, so it could hardly be called a success.

The path of the Sand Walker, however, was focused outward.

This group also harnessed the world's Rule Power, transforming into grains of sand to escape the Binding and restrictions of the world's boundary.

After entering the World-Dimension Space, they needed a bit of luck to be captured and absorbed by the Rule Power of another world. This would allow them to enter that new world, successfully breaching the barrier between dimensions.

The path of the Sand Walker was an evolution of the one for Cloud Monks.

The Guest Monk drew two triangular marks in the sea of sand as text constantly appeared in the box above its head. "This humble monk witnessed one failed Sand Walker after another die before my very eyes. After death, they transform into Sand Towers and return to Yunzhong Temple, continuing to gather the Fire of Faith for Lord Cloud Guest."

"In this world, the Sand Walkers were the only survivors. The Dead have long since entered the Sea of Mourning, and there is nothing left that can generate the Fire of Faith."

"The living creatures in the clouds, the life in the sand—they all became burning Faith, once fueling this world to capture one Gravel World after another... But now, this place has completely withered."

"The last of the Sand Walkers begged me to eat them. That way, they could exist in another form, merging with me. I am them, and they are me."

"All the memories of the Sand Walkers are preserved within my body."

"In the past, Yunzhong Temple had one hundred thousand Monks. They converted all life in the world into Believers to sustain the Lord God... That was 4,000 Eras ago."

"I am this world's last survivor. I am Lord Cloud Guest's Guest Monk."

"All that remains in this world is the past."

Luh Yao suddenly understood.

'So the Sand Towers are the corpses of Sand Walkers.'

'No wonder there are so many Sand Towers around here, and there was one in the Toastmaster's Cup World too. It seems the Sand Walker who Ascended there failed to gather any Fire of Faith and eventually died in that dry, desolate world.'

Luh Yao looked at the surrounding Sand Towers.

These crude structures of piled sand, with an orb on top like a bald head, resembled silent, standing Monks.

Even a successful Ascension couldn't grant the Sand Walkers immortality.

Ultimately, they could never reach the domain of a God.

Luh Yao guessed, 'Cloud Guest must have known from the start that it was impossible. The true purpose of the Ascension Path He researched was simply to collect as much Fire of Faith as possible. When exploiting the world's internal rules failed, He turned His attention to the outside worlds.'

'His plan required a large number of gods, and was all for the sake of obtaining a massive amount of Fire of Faith.'

He had Isabel repeat her earlier question.

"How did Cloud Guest fall?"

A moment ago, the Guest Monk had avoided the question.

This time, the catfish-headed creature finally answered, "The God did not fall. He simply disappeared."

An angry emoticon even appeared above its head.

Isabel spoke again, "My apologies. Then how did the God disappear? Has He never returned, even with the Divine Kingdom in such a terrible state?"

"..."

After a moment's wait, text appeared above the Guest Monk's head again.

"The Lord God stripped away this world's core, the Divine Palace. He set Sail with the Divine Palace, leaving this place in the 511th Era. The smaller the Divine Kingdom, the less Fire of Faith is consumed to Sail."

Luh Yao understood.

'Cloud Guest had just taken off with the Divine Palace and abandoned Yunzhong Temple.'

'It was like a rocket jettisoning its boosters, shedding all the excess weight and baggage, taking off with only the most crucial part.'

'He had exploited this world to its fullest potential.'

'Whether it was the internal Cloud Monks or the outward-faring Sand Walkers, they were all just fuel for the Fire of Faith.'

"Do you think the God will ever return?" Isabel asked it.

"I believe not."

'The catfish-headed creature hadn't lied to him, then.'

At that moment, it stopped in the sand and said, "Everyone, please wait a moment."

The surrounding Cloud Monks all stood still. Dialogue boxes appeared above their heads, but they were completely blank.

The sound of a wooden fish being struck echoed from the simulator.

The Guest Monk also fell silent, a similar blank box appearing above its head.

The entire process lasted for thirty seconds.

Then, the Cloud Monks returned to normal, resuming their previous pace and appearance.

Only then did the Guest Monk explain, "That was the moment Lord Cloud Guest departed. At this time every day, the Cloud Monks and Sand Walkers chant the name of their God, even though they have become part of the rules."

Isabel suddenly said, "That sound... it came from inside your body."

"Yes."

The catfish-headed creature said, "I am a Drum Fish. In the past, it was always my heart that produced the sound, calling everyone to chant and pray."

"In this world, Yunzhong Temple, did all the Apostles leave with Cloud Guest?"

"The Lord God had no Apostles, nor did He need them. Every Cloud Monk, every Sand Walker, is an Apostle of the God."

The Guest Monk stated with conviction, "Once He returns to His homeland, the God will regain His former divine might and possess unparalleled Divine Power."

"And where is His homeland?" Isabel asked.

"I do not know."

After a moment, the Guest Monk's text appeared: "Ahead is the center of this world, where the Divine Palace once stood. Esteemed guests, please feel free to look around."

In the center of the desert was a gigantic pit. The depression was surrounded by Sand Towers, where many Sand Walkers had passed away in meditation, as if to keep watch over the former Divine Palace.

In addition, near the former site of the Divine Palace stood three white stone pillars that shot straight toward the Skyline. According to the Guest Monk, this was once the facility for the Cloud Monks' Ascension.

Luh Yao clicked on a stone pillar.

...

[Cloud-Running Platform LV2]: A wonder built by Cloud Guest. An Extraordinary Being can ascend the Cloud-Running Platform to become a Cloud Monk, generating a large amount of Fire of Faith.

Requirement: Level 20 or higher.

...

Opposite the Cloud-Running Platform was a brown, ringed staircase that formed an upward spiral in the desert, ending in a small platform.

...

[Desert Entrance Road LV3]: A wonder built by Cloud Guest. An Extraordinary Being who completes the Desert Entrance Road will transform into a Sand Walker, able to exist as a Sand Element.

Requirement: Level 20 or higher.

...

The catfish-headed Guest Monk proposed, "Are my honored guests interested in becoming Cloud Monks or Sand Walkers? If you wish, you may freely use these two wonders to Ascend and become a member of Yunzhong Temple."

"Regrettably, we are not interested."

Isabel said, "Guest Monk, I have something to announce to you."

"Yunzhong Temple is now the territory of the Yao God. Everything here belongs to Lord Yao God."

"I now formally and sincerely invite you to become one of Lord Yao God's Believers and join us in reshaping this world."

An exclamation mark lit up above the catfish-head, which then changed to a question mark.

It asked, "Why would the Yao God expend the Fire of Faith to acquire this ruined world? There is no life left here. It holds no value for a God."

Isabel replied, "The Yao God values Yunzhong Temple not for Faith or population, but because a unique and resilient civilization was born here."

"The spark of civilization here was lit by Cloud Guest, but it grew strong in your hands. You never forgot your mission or your purpose, and you have always upheld your duty."

"A momentary blaze, however brilliant, is less precious than steadfast perseverance."

She paused for a moment. "The Yao God will not abandon a Divine Kingdom because it is in ruins. He will not forsake His Believers because of a setback. And He will never destroy a world's future because of its temporary weakness."

"Our Lord God will take this broken world and continue to Sail."

"This place will be one of the Yao God's treasured collections."

A series of three exclamation marks lit up above the catfish-head.

"Lord Yao God intends to Sail with Yunzhong Temple?"

"A God does not speak in jest."

A large, tangled scribble appeared above the Guest Monk's head. After a long pause, its text read, "I have never seen an Apostle, nor do I know what an Apostle is supposed to do... Does the Lord God not find me... lacking?"

"He will not."

Isabel replied, "You are the sole survivor of the Monk civilization, and also the Recorder of its past. You will remain here and witness the day of its revival."

"Lord Yao God... is truly much like Lord Cloud Guest... It is my honor to be able to follow the Yao God. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

The catfish-headed creature expressed its consent at once.

Luh Yao thought to himself, 'Thank goodness for Isabel.'

'A brute-force approach wouldn't have worked on this [Debater] Guest Monk. You had to reason with it and talk about ideals.'

Luh Yao's reason for taking this world was actually quite simple.

He wanted to drive Yunzhong Temple like a heavyweight dump truck.

Haunted by the memory of his first attempt at setting Sail, Luh Yao was constantly worried about another Bos God cutting him off.

Now, when he hit the road, others would be the ones who needed to worry.

Such was the appeal of driving a big rig.