AETHERIS pulsed with a flickering, amused light.
"Haha... listen to me, Haruto. The reason I'm here is because I've been watching you. And frankly? You're acting like a coward. You're terrified."
Haruto snapped back, his voice echoing in the vast white space.
"Why wouldn't I be? The Heavens have their eyes locked on me! One wrong move and I'm erased."
The entity let out a cold, distorted laugh.
"If the Heavens actually knew you were my reincarnation, you wouldn't even be breathing right now. You'd be deleted before you could blink. They don't know who you are yet—they just see a 'glitch' they can't explain."
Haruto felt a chill run down his spine.
"So, the Gods really want me dead? They'll actually kill me if they find me?"
"Hmm... if they find your true signature? Absolutely. They'll hunt you down until there's nothing left," AETHERIS replied flatly.
Haruto stood up, pacing the void. "But wait—you're the God of Creation! You're the God of the Gods, right? If you're so powerful, just give them an order. Tell them to back off! Tell them to help me instead of hunting me!"
The light from AETHERIS dimmed for a second, the atmosphere turning heavy and serious.
"It isn't that simple, Haruto. This world... this 'game'... has its own laws now. Even a Creator has to follow the source code once the simulation starts. If I interfere directly, the whole system collapses. I can give you the tools, but I cannot fight the war for you."
Haruto stood in the center of the Void, his eyes narrowing as he processed AETHERIS's words. The shock of being a "God's reincarnation" was fading, replaced by the analytical mind of a gamer.
"Wait a second," Haruto said, rubbing his chin as he looked at the floating geometric patterns around them.
"Something has been bothering me. Since I've been here, I've been able to read and understand the letters and language of this world perfectly. But it's not just 'magic'—it's the way things are phrased."
AETHERIS pulsed, the light shifting into a curious shade of violet.
"Hmm. You're more observant than I thought. What exactly did you notice?"
"The text in my HUD, the way the system notifications pop up... they sound like the latest gaming terminology from my world,"
Haruto explained, his voice gaining confidence.
"Even you. You keep using words like 'glitch,' 'delete,' and 'recalibration.' Those aren't words for a fantasy world of swords and sorcery. You're speaking my language—the language of a 21st-century gamer."
AETHERIS let out a low, vibrating hum that sounded like a server fan spinning up.
"Impressive. You caught on faster than I anticipated. Most reincarnations just accept the 'miracle' of understanding a new world without questioning the medium."
"So why?" Haruto demanded.
"Why does a 'God of Creation' speak like an AI programmer from Tokyo or New York?"
"Because, Haruto," AETHERIS replied, its light expanding until it filled his entire vision,
"This world is a construct. The Heavens call it 'fate,' the mortals call it 'destiny,' but you and I know what it really is. It's code. I am using these terms because they are the only ones your mind can use to categorize the raw chaos of creation. You see 'gaming' terms because your soul is that of a Gamer. To a poet, I would speak in metaphors. To you, I speak in logic."
Haruto stood there, his mind racing as he tried to grasp the mechanics of this world's interface.
"So, you're saying the language isn't actually changing? It's just... being filtered for me?"
"Exactly,"AETHERIS replied, its light pulsing with a rhythmic hum.
"The surrounding language stays the same, but you hear it differently. Your brain translates the world's raw data into terms you can actually process."
"So wait," Haruto asked, tilting his head.
"If someone else is standing right next to me, they'd hear the same person speaking in a completely different way?"
"Precisely. To them, it sounds like the ancient tongue of this realm. To you, it sounds like a patch note. It's a personalized UI, Haruto. Nothing more."
Haruto nodded slowly, absorbing the 'new point' he'd just discovered.
"Fine, that makes sense. But let's get back to it. Why am I here? What else do you need to tell me?"
AETHERIS flickered, its tone turning almost patronizing.
"Like I said before—stop being so pathetic. You're living in constant fear, and it's slowing down your synchronization. The Gods in the higher layers don't even know my reincarnation has happened yet. You're worrying about a searchlight that hasn't even turned your way."
"Oh, really?" Haruto countered, gesturing toward the imaginary walls of his mansion.
"What about Ivory, Bellona, and Lustra? They're Goddesses. They know exactly who—and what—I am. If they know, how long until the rest of the Heavens find out?"
The light from AETHERIS suddenly intensified, turning a deep, protective gold.
"Those three are my Loyal Servants, Haruto. They weren't sent to watch you; they were placed there to die for you."
Haruto froze. The air in the Void felt like it had turned to ice. "What?"
"They are your shields," AETHERIS continued coldly.
"I placed them by your side because if the Higher Gods ever lock onto your signature, those three will be the first to be erased while trying to protect you. They know the risk. They are programmed for one purpose: to ensure the 'Player' survives, even if the 'Guardians' are deleted."
Haruto's breath hitched, his mind reeling from the weight of that revelation.
"Wait... I don't understand. Why? Why would they die for me? They have their own lives, their own powers—why would they sacrifice everything for a 'file' like me?"
The glowing form of AETHERIS began to flicker, the light receding like a fading signal. "That," the entity whispered, its voice echoing from every direction at once,
"is not the topic for today. You aren't ready to access that part of the source code yet."
"But—"
"Listen to me, Haruto," AETHERIS interrupted, the light turning sharp and commanding one last time.
"The topic for today is simple: Stop being afraid. You are living your life like a ghost, trembling at shadows that haven't even noticed you. If you want to survive, you have to actually live. Be normal. Be a student. Be the 'hero' they expect. Just stay cautious. Don't let your signature spike, but don't let fear crash your system."
"Wait! I have more questions!" Haruto shouted, reaching out toward the light.
"Lecture complete," the entity replied coldly. "Good luck with your 'Duel'."
With a sudden, violent snap, the white void shattered. The silence of the abyss was replaced by the muffled sounds of the mansion.
Haruto found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, his hand still reaching out into thin air. He was back in his room. The door was still locked. His body was still humming with the Physical Boost, but his heart felt heavier than ever.