188. You Are an NPC, and I Am the Player
Mordot is Remaining Moon.
This shocking fact instantly shattered everyone's train of thought, leaving each person momentarily dumbfounded before swiftly regaining their composure.
"Remaining Moon…"
James II's expression darkened immediately.
In truth, Zeta-tier powerhouses were not uncommon in the universe, and with his lineage and connections, he'd encountered his fair share.
However, Remaining Moon was undeniably one of the more extraordinary Zeta-tier individuals.
Sequence Omega Energy, Calamitous Power, Heinous Criminal—these overlapping labels didn't just add up; they multiplied the danger exponentially. In terms of sheer threat level, it would take over a dozen regular Zeta-tier powerhouses to rival Remaining Moon alone.
"What's wrong? Didn't expect the infamous cosmic pirate of Star Abyss to look like this?"
Remaining Moon stood with one hand on his hip, his beauty so enchanting it bordered on demonic. His features were so flawless they seemed almost unreal. His charm transcended the mortal plane, interfering with reality itself. The wind paused to linger around him, the water hesitated as it flowed by his feet, the earth dared not dirty his shoes, and the sunlight bathed him in a divine glow.
On Remaining Moon's body, there was no hint of a brutal criminal. Instead, his impeccably sculpted features exuded a divine purity under the radiant light.
Just moments ago, Maria, who had been rallying beside James II, froze in place upon seeing Remaining Moon's flawless muscles and strikingly perfect face. Her breath quickened, her cheeks flushed, and despite knowing he was a heinous interstellar fugitive, her instincts betrayed her, utterly succumbing to his allure.
Lucite took a few steps back, shielding Hobbs. His eyes shimmered with a red membrane, filtering out Remaining Moon's visage to prevent himself from being swayed by the overwhelming charm.
"Remaining Moon…"
Hobbs clenched his fists tightly, lying on the ground, his eyes burning with rage.
Lucite naturally understood Hobbs' feelings at this moment. Through his earlier conversations with the enforcers, he had learned that Hobbs' friend, Lena Enning, was killed three years ago by Remaining Moon's armored soldiers.
As for the nature of their relationship… Judging by Hobbs' expression, it must have been profound.
'Now what?'
This question surfaced simultaneously in everyone's minds.
They had imagined this like a game: gradually leveling up, defeating minor foes, forging bonds with strong allies, and finally confronting the final boss.
Yet here they were, barely out the door, already facing the final boss, who had obliterated their meticulously gathered forces and killed most of their comrades. Now he stood before them when they were at their weakest.
Even James II, with his lofty status and extensive connections, felt helpless. Seeing Remaining Moon's narrowed, smiling eyes sent shivers down his spine.
Resist?
None of them were Zeta-tier. On what grounds could they resist?
Flee?
Running from a man who could traverse dimensions at will—wasn't that laughable?
Surrender?
It seemed like a good idea, but surrendering to Remaining Moon… could that truly lead to a good outcome?
This was a man who mercilessly slaughtered his loyal followers, brought them here, and killed his own subordinates without hesitation. Could such a person even be reasoned with?
James II had no choice but to play along and probe Remaining Moon's intentions, hoping to ease the tension:
"I… compared to your identity, your appearance is indeed incredibly striking."
"What about my identity?" Remaining Moon said innocently. "My career is wonderful, isn't it? I'm helpful to others. When I saw you struggling academically, I helped by blowing up your school. When I saw you couldn't access the forbidden library, I unlocked it for you."
"Uh…" James II's forehead glistened with cold sweat. "That… in a way, I suppose you could say that."
"What's your goal?" Lucite suddenly asked.
"Hey—" James II panicked. "Don't be so blunt, you lowborn…"
Lucite ignored him, standing firm under the oppressive aura of a Zeta-tier powerhouse. He felt every drop of liquid in his body evaporating under the pressure. As a mere Gamma-tier mortal, he was wholly unqualified to face such a figure.
This only deepened his curiosity.
Why, knowing they were mere mortals, hadn't Remaining Moon crushed them already?
"You deliberately brought us here and killed your own follower."
"You could easily manipulate someone as loyal as Sylia with your charm—so why kill her? Why did you do that?"
"Along the way, you played the part of a responsible and heroic senior, always charging into battle first. If you were trying to win our trust, why expose your identity so suddenly?"
"If we're useful to you alive—I can't figure out why. What could Hobbs and I, mere commoners, have in common with these two aristocrats, aside from being students at the same school?"
"I want to know… Remaining Moon, what's your purpose?"
Remaining Moon casually replied:
"For fun."
There was not a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"… For fun?"
Lucite froze.
"You're treating our escape, our survival against all odds, as a game?"
Remaining Moon placed a hand on the pouch at his waist, which held the fragment of the Identification Eye in its forbidden form.
'Poor child… The power gap is so vast, he doesn't even have the courage to doubt.'
—How could it only be for fun?
This was all to evade Bablushka's surveillance and buy some time.
Forbidden knowledge would have to be handed over eventually, but as long as it remained in his possession, he could decide when.
Remaining Moon had long calculated that Bablushka would send the Night Butterfly troops to monitor him. Thus, having the students 'carry' the forbidden knowledge gave him plenty of time and excuses to 'search for the target's whereabouts.'
How long would the search last? That depended on how long the knowledge could be used.
Lucite didn't see it that way.
The disparity in power, knowledge, and perspective was too vast. As a mere mortal, he had endured a day of terrorist attacks, witnessing his classmates' deaths, learning Hobbs' secrets, being discriminated against by the enforcers, and finally confronting a Zeta-tier powerhouse.
So many had died. Remaining Moon must have an ulterior motive. There had to be a special reason he spared their lives.
"For fun."
Yet Remaining Moon's answer made Lucite's mind buzz.
Their desperate survival, their hopeful struggle, the battles and disasters they endured—
All of it dismissed with a single, carefree 'for fun' by a Zeta-tier powerhouse.
Lucite stood frozen.
Watching the boy's worldview shatter, Remaining Moon chuckled internally.
The more shaken they were, the more entertaining he found it.
And truthfully, he did find it amusing.
"What else would it be?"
Remaining Moon shrugged:
"Did you think you were special?"
"I…"
Lucite opened his mouth, but Remaining Moon cut him off:
"I just enjoy role-playing. It's like when mortals trap ants in a bottle, watching them build their colonies. Haven't you ever fantasized about being one of those ants, delving into their empire and creating epic tales of joy and sorrow?"
Remaining Moon spread his hands:
"Star Abyss has six layers, each containing a universe. Even narrative-tier civilizations number thirteen, with populations surpassing the total hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a universe. Why would you think you alone are unique among them?"
"I never thought… I just can't accept it."
Clutching his chest, Lucite struggled under the weight of Remaining Moon's overwhelming presence. His three-meter-tall frame felt insignificant against the oceanic grandeur of Remaining Moon's aura.
He finally understood why Zeta-tier individuals were called 'earthly gods.'
Beyond Zeta-tier lay entities incomprehensible to mortals, residing in an entirely different realm. Zeta-tier was the limit of mortal understanding, the ultimate manifestation of terror.
"Lucite, do you like games?"
Remaining Moon clasped his hands behind his back, pacing leisurely around them:
"When I was twelve, I stole my first game console. It was a role-playing game. The protagonist grew stronger by defeating monsters, gaining skills, and completing NPC quests for rewards."
"Everyone dreams of being the main character, the center of the world, rising to greatness through hard work and achieving their dreams—only to realize they were just an NPC, a randomly generated bystander."
Silently, Remaining Moon appeared beside James II. Before the latter could react, his body vanished in an instant.
"Games and reality are the same. Life is a game. In Star Abyss, we pursue divinity because we know mortals have no future. Becoming a god is the only way to become the protagonist of this game."
Remaining Moon held a card, depicting the terrified, distorted face of James II.
"Now, Lucite, do you understand?"
He turned, smiling:
"Mortals are NPCs. Gods are players."
"I can do anything I want to you. I can make mistakes, be careless, fail repeatedly, and still thrive. But one setback for you mortals, and you're done forever."
In a flash, he reappeared beside Maria, lifting her chin with his fingers. Overwhelmed by his pheromones and intoxicating aura, she surrendered utterly, body and soul.
With a gentle pinch, her body vanished. Remaining Moon turned again, now standing before Lucite, holding two cards between his fingers with a smirk:
"Lucite, you're just an NPC, and I'm the player. NPCs can never comprehend a player's mind. We don't belong to the same world."
—I can't move!
Lucite's pupils shrank. Under Remaining Moon's crushing aura, his body was paralyzed, trembling uncontrollably, knees about to buckle.
He couldn't move. Resistance felt impossible.
Yes.
Lucite instantly understood. The primal weakness he felt came from one undeniable truth:
"Old Luc…" Hobbs groaned.
—Mortals cannot face gods. Before gods, mortals can only kneel.
"Don't… don't kneel…" Hobbs struggled, crawling toward him, but his injuries made even a meter's distance insurmountable.
—There's no resisting, no opposing. Even trying would fail.
Zeta-tier entities were just that overwhelming to Gamma-tier mortals.
"Don't kneel…"
Lucite's knees buckled instantly, crashing to the ground.
Bang!
He knelt, his armor disintegrating, his form shrinking. His vacant eyes lost their light, his pupils scattered, his gaze empty.
"Wonderful. Truly."
Rationally and instinctively, Lucite abandoned all resistance.
"I truly love this feeling, Lucite."
Remaining Moon raised his hand, conjuring a blank card, mocking:
"You mortals think hard work and sweat can rival divinity, only to be shattered by reality, faith crumbling into despair. No matter how many times I see it, I'll never tire of it."
"Now, the game is over, kid."
He pressed his glowing, cerulean hand against Lucite's forehead.
Hobbs gritted his teeth and sprang up, lunging at him:
"Stop it!"