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“Ahaha… Hahahaha!”

Park Joon-hyuk burst into laughter as he gazed at the World Tree, now covered in machinery.

“Finally… It’s mine.”

How long had he waited for this day?

He didn’t want to create a mere imitation—he wanted to create something real. A real human. A real world. It was the realm of a “Creator,” something even a god couldn’t surpass. Park Joon-hyuk wanted to step into that realm, where no human had ever succeeded.

Having discarded his feeble human body and become the system of this new world, he had seized control from Jeong So-ra, the original creator. And he had finally eliminated Jeong Ji-hwan, who had persistently interfered. Now, nothing could stop him.

At last, Park Joon-hyuk had become the “Creator” of this world.

He closed his eyes, and through the system, he could see the state of the world as clearly as if he were viewing it from a satellite.

Since the service began, fierce battles had been raging between players and the inhabitants of this world. No matter how skilled the inhabitants were with magic, they were no match for the players, who had transcended death through the system’s power. Moreover, new players were still pouring in, making the outcome inevitable.

But it shouldn’t have taken this long. The delay was all because of Tristan… no, Jeong Ji-hwan.

Whether Jeong So-ra had tipped him off or he had anticipated this situation, Jeong Ji-hwan had prepared thoroughly. Even as players were summoned en masse and began their invasion, he quickly rallied his forces.

Perhaps during the year Jeong Ji-hwan had been possessed by Tristan, he had been sharpening his blade against Park Joon-hyuk. No, it wasn’t a possibility—it was a certainty.

Park Joon-hyuk had made Jeong Ji-hwan a game tester to stabilize this world. After all, Jeong Ji-hwan knew this world better than anyone except the original creator. But that was precisely the problem. If Jeong Ji-hwan ever learned of Park Joon-hyuk’s plans, he would undoubtedly interfere. Being a perfectionist, Park Joon-hyuk wanted to eliminate all variables. So, he turned Jeong Ji-hwan into Tristan, a character destined for destruction, thinking he would die soon.

But Jeong Ji-hwan didn’t die. For a year, he survived, evading his fate, and even prepared for the players’ invasion. In the end, he stood before Park Joon-hyuk, trying to thwart his plans.

Above all, Park Joon-hyuk couldn’t forget the expression on Jeong Ji-hwan’s—no, Tristan’s—face before he died.

Humans, in the face of death, usually show fear and despair. At best, they resign themselves. It doesn’t matter what kind of life they’ve lived. In death, everyone becomes the same. As an authority on artificial intelligence, Park Joon-hyuk understood human psychology well. But he couldn’t comprehend the emotion in Tristan’s expression.

If he had to describe it… Tristan was serene. He faced death with composure, but it wasn’t resignation or detachment. He remained calm and dignified, even warning Park Joon-hyuk until his last breath.

-“I won’t hand it over to you.”

Park Joon-hyuk sneered.

“Even at the end, it’s all about pride…”

Yes, shallow pride. That’s what Tristan was like. A character full of bluster and arrogance, who hated losing to others. Over the year, Jeong Ji-hwan must have become deeply immersed in that character. Park Joon-hyuk thought it was just that.

After all, he was the one who had taken over this world.

“There were some unexpected variables, but in the end, I’m the one who’ll have the last laugh.”

Park Joon-hyuk smiled with satisfaction.

Now, all he had to do was wait. Wait for the players to eliminate all the inhabitants of this world. They believed this world was just a game, so they wouldn’t feel any guilt. Even now, through the system, he could feel the world being cleared by the players.

“It’s about time.”

Park Joon-hyuk looked at the World Tree, entwined with wires.

[System: The World Tree has been 93.1% assimilated.]

The system, covering the World Tree, was assimilating it from the outside in. From every branch to every root, it would consume it all.

[System: The World Tree has been 94.8% assimilated.]

Even Park Joon-hyuk, who had transcended humanity by merging with the system, felt a surge of euphoria at this moment.

[System: The World Tree has been 99.9% assimilated.]

Ah, he could feel it. His power, the system’s power, reaching every corner of this world. And finally, 100%…

[System: The World Tree has been 99.9% assimilated.]

It didn’t happen.

“…??”

Park Joon-hyuk frowned.

No matter how many times he checked, the progress remained at 99.9%. He waited, but nothing changed.

What’s this? A bug? An error? Or just lag?

After checking the system, Park Joon-hyuk confirmed it was functioning normally. Then, was there a problem in the process he had prepared?

“This is strange.”

No matter how much he thought about it, there were no mistakes in the process. There had been one unexpected variable, but he had already dealt with it. At this point, there should be no issues.

Then why?

“Everything was perfect…”

Park Joon-hyuk and the system couldn’t find an answer to this problem. Having merged with the system and gained control, there should be nothing in this world he couldn’t understand. Nothing at all. This world was his now.

“What the hell is the problem?”

That’s why Park Joon-hyuk couldn’t accept this situation. He could only keep asking the same question.

“……Hmm?”

Then, suddenly, Park Joon-hyuk felt a faint “power” stirring deep within the World Tree. It was so weak that he almost missed it. It felt like a living creature squirming within a tightly clenched fist.

A power emanating from the World Tree, which he thought had fallen completely silent. It didn’t take long for him to realize what it was.

“Ahahaha! Of course! A last-ditch effort!”

Park Joon-hyuk looked up at the World Tree.

At that moment—

Crack—!

A massive crack appeared in the World Tree, as large as a skyscraper. The crack grew relentlessly, tearing the World Tree apart.

As if shedding its skin, the inside of the World Tree was revealed—black and dead. The World Tree, assimilated by the system, was merely maintaining its form through machinery, having long lost its original appearance.

But Park Joon-hyuk could see it. Within the World Tree, torn to its roots, a light was shining. A stubborn will still holding on.

The remaining 0.1% of the World Tree.

Facing it, Park Joon-hyuk didn’t hesitate to unleash his power.

Kugagaga—!

As soon as the light within the World Tree began to shine, wires sharpened into spears and rained down. A concentrated barrage of attacks targeted the light, no larger than a soccer ball. It was excessive, but Park Joon-hyuk mercilessly crushed it.

“Haha! Like brother, like sister! To still cling to hope after all this!”

Yes, it couldn’t be anyone else. The light within the World Tree must be Jeong So-ra, the original creator. Even after witnessing her brother’s end, she was still resisting.

Whether it was sibling love or something else, Park Joon-hyuk found it utterly ridiculous. No matter how much she resisted, nothing would change. No matter what she did, she couldn’t alter this world.

“It’s meaningless. It’s meaningless. It’s meaningless.”

Park Joon-hyuk grasped the light with a massive arm made of wires. It seemed to hold on, but this was the end. If she resisted, he’d just crush her. Compared to Park Joon-hyuk’s power, Jeong So-ra’s remaining strength was pitiful. A mere handful of power. At best, she was buying time.

Ah, how weak humans are.

Despite their weakness, they persist in such futile actions. Even though nothing will change.

“It’s all over now.”

His arm tightened. The light in his hand began to tremble, unable to withstand the pressure.

Crunch—!

As he felt the light crush in his hand, a message appeared before Park Joon-hyuk. Its content was obvious. It would be a victory message, declaring his triumph in this long battle, and that the World Tree had been 100% assimilated.

Park Joon-hyuk smiled triumphantly as he checked the message.

[System: The World Tree has been 99.8% assimilated.]

“……Huh?”

Not 100%. Not even 99.9%, but 99.8%? Was the number wrong? Or had the system malfunctioned at this dramatic moment?

[System: The World Tree has been 99.7% assimilated.]

“What the…?”

The new message that appeared before Park Joon-hyuk left him stunned. What was happening?

The next moment, Park Joon-hyuk gasped. He realized that the hand that had crushed the light was now faintly glowing.

[System: The World Tree has been 97.8% assimilated.]

The light was growing. What should have been crushed was expanding.

“Persistent!!”

Park Joon-hyuk quickly formed another massive arm to grasp the growing light. This time, he used both hands.

Crunch—!

[System: The World Tree has been 95.1% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 98.5% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 94.3% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 97.9% assimilated.]

He pressed down on the light with the force to shatter it. The growing light and Park Joon-hyuk’s power clashed fiercely.

“Grrr!”

Driven by stubbornness, Park Joon-hyuk gathered more wires to create additional arms. Now, four arms were holding down the light.

“You damn woman, still refusing to give up!!”

“It’s not Sora.”

“?!”

Flash—!

A low voice echoed as the light exploded. The intense light forced Park Joon-hyuk to momentarily lose his vision.

“This power is my imagination.”

“You… you are….”

When Park Joon-hyuk opened his eyes again, a human figure made of light stood before him. The bright light obscured the face, but the cold, low voice was unmistakable.

“Jeong Ji-hwan…! Didn’t you die with Tristan’s body?!”

“Thanks to my sister, my consciousness didn’t disappear.”

Ah, so that’s what happened. Park Joon-hyuk clicked his tongue inwardly. Originally, Jeong Ji-hwan should have died with Tristan. But Jeong So-ra, while she still had influence over this world, must have salvaged his consciousness. The reason was obvious.

“Hah… I see. But why show yourself before me now? You could’ve just returned to your original body.”

“True. Sora wanted me to return to the original world. But I couldn’t.”

“?”

“Just like you abandoned the original world and became fascinated with this one, merging with the system, I too have a deep attachment to this world. No…”

Jeong Ji-hwan’s face, revealed within the light, was serene.

“This world is everything to me. My everything is here, so how could I leave?”

“Hah! What a hikikomori. Choosing this place over the real world?”

“To me, this place is as precious as reality.”

“And what do you plan to do? What can you do in place of your sister?”

“Until now, my sister imagined everything. But from now on, I will imagine.”

Hearing this, Park Joon-hyuk’s eyebrow twitched.

“You, a mere reader, not the author, will imagine instead? Isn’t that disrespecting the author? If you do that, this world will change completely, won’t it?”

Imagination is the energy that constructs the world. Just as people’s thoughts differ, so do their imaginations. Everyone has a unique imagination, like a fingerprint. And since this world was created based on Jeong So-ra’s imagination, no third party’s imagination could interfere. Even Park Joon-hyuk, a genius, couldn’t do it, which is why he created the system to control this world.

If he forcibly injected imagination through the World Tree, the world would change. Or worse, it could collapse. That’s why Park Joon-hyuk had no choice but to criticize Jeong Ji-hwan’s words.

“Are you planning to self-destruct now? If you can’t have it, you’ll destroy it, is that it?”

“Self-destruct… What I’m about to do might resemble that, but no.”

Jeong Ji-hwan shook his head.

“Park Joon-hyuk, I know this world far better than you think. Of course, I can’t imagine a new world like Sora. I’m not as brilliant as my sister. But if it’s just imagining the existing world, I can do that. I can do that much. Especially since I’ve lived through this world over 500 times.”

“500 times…?”

Park Joon-hyuk, unaware that Jeong Ji-hwan had experienced regression, was puzzled. But he had no intention of answering that question. He had no reason or obligation to. The only thing Jeong Ji-hwan wanted to convey to Park Joon-hyuk now was this:

“I will erase you, even if it costs me everything.”

Jeong Ji-hwan’s body began to glow. Small sprouts started to grow from the World Tree, touched by that light. Seeing this, Park Joon-hyuk immediately swung a massive arm.

“Hah! Who said I’d let you!”

Thud—! Bang—!

The fist, cutting through the wind, struck Jeong Ji-hwan’s body. At the same time, Park Joon-hyuk relentlessly attacked with his remaining arms. Dull sounds echoed as fragments of light scattered. If he couldn’t crush it, he’d shatter it. Breaking a hard stone is easier than crushing it.

But Jeong Ji-hwan didn’t resist. He simply watched the fragments of light falling from his body.

Then it happened.

[System: The World Tree has been 95.8% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 88.6% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 81.2% assimilated.]

“Gah?!”

Park Joon-hyuk screamed in sudden agony. What was this? Looking at his arm, he couldn’t hide his confusion.

“This, this is….”

Sprouts were growing from the arm made of wires. In mere seconds, the sprouts grew vigorously, and branches began to form. Park Joon-hyuk frantically tore them off. But no matter how much he tore, he couldn’t keep up with the speed at which the branches grew.

“Grr! How dare you! Get off! Get off!!”

“It’s meaningless.”

It was Jeong Ji-hwan who spoke. But something was strange. Without realizing it, Jeong Ji-hwan’s body was now covered in vines. Not only that, roots were growing from his feet, transforming into a tree-like form.

“I said I’d erase you, even if it costs me everything.”

From Jeong Ji-hwan’s words and appearance, Park Joon-hyuk realized what he was trying to do.

“You… don’t tell me…”

“Just as Sora did, I will become the tree that supports this world.”

The reason Jeong So-ra had become the World Tree was to protect this world from the system. It was a desperate choice, which is why she remained trapped in this world even after her body was healed. But now, Jeong Ji-hwan was using his imagination to turn himself into the World Tree.

Jeong Ji-hwan wasn’t trying to revive Jeong So-ra’s World Tree—he was planning to create a new one himself.

“You… you insane bastard!”

A sane person wouldn’t resort to such measures. Park Joon-hyuk thrashed wildly, trampling the sprouts and tearing off the branches. But he couldn’t keep up with the speed at which the World Tree was growing.

[System: The World Tree has been 77.4% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 70.1% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 66.5% assimilated.]

“No! Stop!”

Jeong Ji-hwan was gradually becoming a massive tree. The surrounding steel plates were covered in moss, slowly being swallowed by soil and branches. With each moment, Park Joon-hyuk felt the system’s control slipping away.

Without a moment to spare, Park Joon-hyuk’s body was being ensnared by the branches. The new World Tree, fueled by Jeong Ji-hwan’s imagination, was devouring everything Park Joon-hyuk had built.

[System: The World Tree has been 54.1% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 45.8% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 38.6% assimilated.]

The dense branches obscured his vision. Park Joon-hyuk struggled desperately, trying to break free.

“How can I lose the world I’ve taken?! I can’t let it be stolen like this!”

“Stolen? Wrong. I’m taking it back.”

Jeong Ji-hwan’s voice echoed from somewhere.

“This world belonged to us siblings from the beginning.”

“I… how… how did I come this far…!”

[System: The World Tree has been 31.4% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 24.5% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 17.9% assimilated.]

Though he couldn’t see Jeong Ji-hwan’s face, now that he had become the World Tree, Park Joon-hyuk could imagine it. Jeong Ji-hwan was probably mocking him.

“There’s no place for you in our world.”

With that arrogant expression, looking down on everything in the world.

[System: The World Tree has been 12.3% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 10.1% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 8.4% assimilated.]

[System: The World Tree has been 5.

 

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