Chapter 112: Hacking the Heavens – The Grand Architect's Error
The Great Creator stood at the center of the star-map, his body a swirling galaxy of nebulae and binary code. Around him, the 'Gate of the Sun' pulsed with the rhythm of the universe. This wasn't just a place; it was the server-room of existence.
"Volt," the Creator spoke, his voice not a sound, but a direct download into their minds. "You have played your role to perfection. The Demon King returns, the Crown is unified, and the cycle of destruction begins anew. Now, submit to the reset. The world needs a fresh start."
Von (Volt), now the 'Sovereign of Twilight,' stepped forward, his iridescent armor absorbing the starlight. "I'm not a character in your play anymore, Architect. I've seen the source code. I've seen the souls you've trapped in this endless loop of 'Hero vs. Villain.' This time, the reset isn't happening."
[SYSTEM ALERT: Administrator Access Denied. The Creator is initiating 'Format C: Existence'. Estimated Time to Total Deletion: 10 minutes.]
The Ultimate Heist: Hacking the Reality
"Ten minutes?!" Aki shrieked, his eyes darting toward a floating console made of glowing cubes. "Von, I've stolen gold, I've stolen crowns, I've even stolen a few hearts (mostly from barmaids), but I've never stolen the 'Delete' button of the universe! Rena! Tell me you can do something with that magic-brain of yours!"
Rena was already at the console, her fingers moving like a blur of emerald light. "It's too complex, Aki! The encryption is based on divine mathematics! I need a bypass, something that the system doesn't recognize as logical!"
Aki grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes that usually meant something was about to explode. "Illogical? That's my middle name! Well, actually it's 'Danger,' but 'Illogical' is my lifestyle! Rena, move over. Let a professional thief show you how to pick a lock made of stars."
Aki pulled out the 'Porcelain Shard of the First Heaven' they had taken from the Judge's mask and the 'Legendary Banana Peel' the system had given him earlier. He jammed the shard into a USB-like port on the console and smeared the banana peel over the holographic sensors.
"What are you doing?!" Sai yelled, holding back a horde of 'System-Antibodies' that looked like chrome-plated angels.
"I'm introducing a 'Variable of Pure Chaos'!" Aki shouted back. "The system is programmed to handle gods and demons, but it has no defense against a thief who uses fruit to hack the mainframe!"
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Critical Error Detected. Logic Loop: 'Banana vs. Divinity'. System is confused. Security Firewall: 40%... 20%... Aki has successfully 'Glitched' the reality.]
The Twilight Verdict
While the system was busy trying to figure out why there was fruit residue in its core, Von lunged at the Creator. His scythe, the Void Reaper, was no longer just a weapon; it was a pen, and Von was the one writing the new laws.
The Creator summoned a shield of pure light, but Von's new 'Eclipse' power allowed him to pass right through it. "You built this world on the suffering of those who were 'Errors'," Von growled, slamming his scythe into the Creator's chest. "But an error that survives long enough becomes a feature!"
The Creator's galaxy-body began to bleed violet lightning. "If you destroy me, the system collapses! There will be no magic, no stats, no levels! You will all be... ordinary!"
Von looked back at his friends. At Rena, who was smiling despite the chaos. At Sai, who was proudly standing his ground. And at Aki, who was currently trying to download the 'Infinite Gold' cheat code while the system was down.
"Ordinary sounds like a luxury we've earned," Von said.
With a final, massive surge of power, Von shattered the Creator's core. The Star-Map exploded in a wave of silence. The Floating Isles began to dissolve, but not into nothingness—into the real world below.
The Morning After the End
When Von opened his eyes, he was lying on a patch of green grass. The sun was rising, and for the first time, it didn't feel 'Celestial' or 'Divine.' It just felt warm.
The black tattoos on his arm were gone. The Crown was gone. He felt light, his mana veins finally at peace.
"Von! Look!" Rena called out. She was standing by a stream, her staff now just a regular piece of oak.
Aki was sitting nearby, looking devastated. "Von... the system... it's really gone," he whimpered.
"Is it that bad, Aki?" Von asked, walking over.
"Bad?! I had 5 million gold in my inventory! Now I just have... three copper coins and a half-eaten sandwich!" Aki held up the sandwich with a look of pure tragedy. "I'm poor again! The 'Sovereign of Twilight' saved the world, but he made his best friend a beggar!"
Von laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the valley. "Don't worry, Aki. We still have the Palace's location. And I'm pretty sure the High King's cellar is still full of Gouda."
Aki's eyes lit up. "Wait... the Gouda survived? Why didn't you say so?! Sai! Grab the laundry! We have a basement to loot!"
As the group started walking toward the horizon, Von looked up at the clear, blue sky. There was no giant eye. No purple lightning. Just the future.