As Simon traveled, he also noticed many changes along the way, the most significant of which were the Gorm; they seemed to have lost their minds, no longer choosing to hide underground, but constantly rushing out and retracting, beginning to hunt like waiting for a rabbit, just like in the game, becoming tools, becoming traps.
They would work themselves to death like this.
The threat of The Radiance had always been present; Simon had known this for a long time, as his first sleep in this world was interrupted by The Radiance, but at that time the seal was still intact, and The Radiance's influence was very weak.
However, now something seemed to be wrong; The Radiance's will had expanded, spreading from somewhere in the Dream World, rampaging through the dreams of all bugs.
To counter this pervasive infection, a firm mind is required.
Nati and Paya were ordinary bugs, not resilient and tenacious warriors, and Simon was very worried about them.
Returning the same way, if Gorm blocked the path, he used them to propel himself forward; if crawling bugs blocked the path, he cleaved them away with a Nail.
Even though he was anxious, Simon's hand wielding the Nail remained steady, and his swordplay was perfectly composed.
Finally, a familiar small house appeared in Simon's line of sight; the forge beside the house emitted a red light, and the streetlights emitted a white light, mixing into a warm, inviting glow that guided travelers in the darkness.
Paya was patiently working by the forge, while Nati sat beside her, hugging his knees, like a bouncy ball, swaying slightly, staring at his beloved bug.
Seeing this scene, Simon slowed his steps, exhaled, and walked calmly and freely towards the two bugs.
Nati was the first to notice Simon's return; he happily ran up and gave Simon a hug.
It was only then that Nati suddenly realized that the little one he had raised was already as tall as him; he was already a young bug.
Upon realizing this, Nati was both sad and happy, stammering and unable to speak.
Paya finished her work, walked over, and patted Simon's round carapace.
She asked, "Did you see anything new this time? Have the Merchant Bugs' commissions been completed?"
Simon solemnly said, "These are not important.
Something concerning the fate of all bugs has happened.
Come inside with me, and we'll talk slowly."
Paya was startled, "Is it very urgent? The forge cannot be left right now; a piece of equipment I'm making for you is almost finished."
Simon thought that while the infection was dangerous, it wasn't so urgent that it couldn't wait a moment, so he urged Paya to finish quickly and decided to explain the situation to Nati first.
Pulling Nati into the house, Simon sat on the stone bed, pressing Nati down beside him, and began to recount his experiences along the way.
He spoke plainly, but when he described the nightmare in the hot spring, his tone became much more serious, and his words were more specific and complex.
Just then, Paya opened the door and entered the house.
Seeing the serious atmosphere between the two male bugs, as if they were discussing some important secret, she quickly came closer and sat on her own bed to listen curiously.
...So, the forgotten god has returned, and now Hallownest will become even more restless," Simon looked at Paya, "Therefore, you must be careful with your dreams, and do not be influenced by a strange will, or you will lose your mind.
It's best to sleep separately so that if one of you has a problem, the other can discover it in time."
"God?" The two bugs were very confused.
Stories about The Radiance were very scarce, and the later generations of bugs had no idea that their ancestors had paid a huge price to seal away the god that threatened bug civilization.
This was a dusty epic story, but the defeated villain in the story had returned, and the hero was still nowhere to be found.
Simon repeatedly warned the two bugs not to be careless, while he began to ponder countermeasures.
Currently, the game's protagonist, the Little Knight, was still nowhere to be found, so considering the worst-case scenario, Simon should have a plan to resolve the crisis on his own in an emergency.
How can The Radiance be killed?
This is a complex question.
The Radiance's seal is in the Black Egg Temple.
To enter the Black Egg, one must first kill the three guardians of the seal, also known as the Dreamers; these three are located in the City of Tears, Deepnest, and Fog Canyon respectively.
After enduring countless hardships to reach the Dreamers' bodies, one needs to enter their dreams, which requires an artifact called the Dream Nail, a weapon capable of piercing the barrier between reality and dreams.
To obtain the Dream Nail, one must go to the Moth tribe located in the Resting Grounds.
Coincidentally, Simon was planning to find the Moths.
Because the most pressing issue was not how to kill The Radiance, but how to resist The Radiance's influence.
The Moth tribe is a very ancient tribe; they possess many lost secrets.
Finding them might provide a solution, or at least some inspiration.
You have to eat your food one bite at a time; what Simon needed to do now was solve problems step by step.
First, let's go see the Merchant Bugs; I wonder if they also feel the threat of The Radiance.
Just as Simon was about to leave without stopping, Paya called out to him.
"Wait a moment; if you're not in a hurry, the equipment I'm forging for you is almost finished.
Take a break and chat with Nati."
Paya truly was a master among the Maintenance Grubs, a self-developed talent.
In a game, she would definitely be the kind NPC who gives the protagonist equipment.
In contrast, Simon glanced at Nati with disdain, thinking, "You're really embarrassing; you can't compare to Paya in anything."
Nati was dazed, still processing what Simon had said.
Slightly tired, Simon lay back on his stone bed, which now seemed a bit short, and thought, "When will I find a bigger stone?"
Thinking of it, he did it.
He reminded Nati and then walked straight out the door, seeing the abandoned small houses around him, and suddenly realized, "Why bother searching everywhere when I can just move one from these uninhabited small houses?"
He walked with a relaxed posture through this desolate and dilapidated cluster of buildings, as if walking through the crevices of time, yet also like a young man picking goods in a mall, wanting to choose good quality but not wanting the price to be too expensive, yet too embarrassed to bargain.
This subtle mindset of a young person shopping, in stark contrast with the desolate and harsh reality, made Simon suddenly feel the pleasure of being the only one awake in a drunken world.
All you house owners are gone, so it's not too much for the bugs who are still living to use the things you left behind, right?
As he wandered, a faint light suddenly emanated from one of the houses.
Simon was startled, lowered his footsteps, and approached the house.
There was no door, and it was very bright inside, completely exposed.
Simon drew his Nail and peered inside.
Inside, a small figure sat upright, with a hazy, orange-yellow mist above his head.
This was a bug trapped in The Radiance's dream.
Simon found him familiar, and upon closer inspection, wasn't this the Nailmaster, Sly, the owner of the Dirtmouth general store?
When did he arrive?