Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

[The standoff between you and Selena continued like that, until eventually, she seemed to grow tired of indulging you and broke free.]

[She looked ready to use force if you tried to leave, and seeing that, you suddenly started laughing.]

[There was madness in your eyes as you laughed, and before long, a red aura began to gather around your body.]

[Selena's expression changed instantly. She panicked, asking if you really planned to kill yourself — but you didn't answer. And the aura only grew stronger.]

[Your bloodshot eyes gleamed, and your body began to crack apart. Yet, you were prepared to fight it with her.]

[But in the end, seeing your madness, Selena gave up. She dropped her pride and began begging you to retract your Law.]

[Instead of pulling back your power immediately though, you warned her not to play any more games — that you wouldn't tolerate being chained by her like before. She hurriedly nodded, and only then did you retract your power.]

[Your body felt weak afterward, and your legs were barely holding you upright. But with an uncompromising and unflinching gaze, you still gestured for Selena to take you back to your house.]

[Selena seemed to hesitate when she saw your condition, seemingly having some second thoughts, but after meeting your eyes, she did as you wanted.]

'Finally!'

Noel had stood from his seat at one point, his chair falling backward with a loud clatter — but that was the last thing on his mind, his eyes intensely fixed on the simulation.

The fact that he could now use Laws — something he'd only seen in the status window and read vague mentions of in the simulation — was more important than anything.

That he was injured after using it?

He didn't care.

At least now, he finally seemed to hold some real strength.

Now, it felt like all that remained… was solving the sealed relic issue.

[Two months passed. You had already returned to your house and rested enough that the backlash from using the Law had mostly faded. But not being able to meet Lilith — hearing instead that she was attempting to tame your Cross house's core relic — still left you unsettled.]

[In the end, knowing there was nothing you could do about it, you chose to continue training — doing the only thing you could at the moment.]

[Four more months passed. You were training like usual, when suddenly your sixth sense flared in warning, and you were disturbed from your concentration state.]

[You barely had time to react before you felt a dagger stabbing directly into your heart.]

[Your strength drained rapidly, limbs gone numb. You still attempted to resist, but the blade twisted — then drove upward into your neck.]

[You died.]

'What the fuck?'

Noel, who had thought this simulation still had a long way to go, couldn't accept how abruptly it ended.

Everything had seemed to be going smoothly — and then, suddenly, he was assassinated just like that.

Despite all the complications, he hadn't even made that many enemies this time.

So… who could it have been?

Noel paused for a moment, thinking. And then, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind — the Merrow family.

In the previous simulation, he'd been entangled with the Ravelli family.

But here, they were out of the picture… at least that's how it seemed after the inheritance dimension's incident. Which left only one possibility… Coren Merrow.

He couldn't think of anyone else.

Noel kept thinking like that for a bit longer, until finally shaking his head.

At least he had accomplished what he came for in this simulation. That was enough, for now.

[The simulation is over. You can choose two of the following:]

[1: Iron Muscles (Seedling Talent)]

[2: Strengthened Soul (Slightly Recovered Soul)]

[3: Strengthened Physical Strength (First Stage of the Blood Refinement Path)]

[4: Strengthened Blood (Assimilated Blood Source)]

[5: Initial Mastery over Blood Scripture]

[6: Memory of this Simulation]

Looking at the third and fourth option, Noel felt a flicker of disappointment.

He had hoped they would be merged together — a single combined reward.

But still, the fact that the blood source was available at all meant a lot.

One of his biggest fears was that, even if he acquired it inside the simulation, it wouldn't carry over.

Seeing it here… he was relieved.

He moved his gaze across the rest of the choices — and his decision quickly became obvious.

This time, the talent was too ordinary. It would be useful, yes — but not essential.

The Strengthened Soul option, on the other hand…

That was a clear priority.

After all, with his soul healed this time, a large portion of his memories would return.

But, he didn't select it immediately.

[You have selected: Strengthened Blood (Assimilated Blood Source).]

For a moment, Noel felt his blood begin to boil — a scorching surge pulsing through every vein, and an unprecedented strength coursed through him.

Somehow, despite his body staying the same, he could tell… he had become stronger.

There were many things he still couldn't sense clearly — his mastery over the Blood Scripture wasn't high enough yet, and he was still hovering around 90% in the Vital Purification stage.

Even so, one thing was clear: his blood had become far more refined than ever before.

Noel clenched his fist, feeling the changes that happened in him for a few seconds before he finally moved — reaching for a piece of cloth and biting down on it tightly. He didn't want to scream, and announce that, 'I have healed my soul.'

He didn't want anyone in the house to end up hearing him, because the next choice ended up being too painful.

Noel clenched his fist, feeling the changes that happened to him for a few seconds before finally moving — grabbing a piece of cloth and biting down on it tightly.

He probably wouldn't scream, but just in case the pain became too much, he prepared anyway.

He didn't want to announce to the house, that he has healed his soul, after all.

[You have selected: Strengthened Soul (Slightly Recovered Soul).]

The very instant the choice was made, Noel clenched his teeth harder — but it didn't help much.

"Augh…" A low, guttural groan escaped from deep within him.

It felt as if something ripped inside him — as if a cloth that had been torn, shredded, and burned was now being forcefully stitched back together.

And his mind… it was chaos.

Pure, overwhelming chaos.

Memories he had long forgotten… memory worth seven years — were returning.

And they didn't return gently.