Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

With his determination at an all time high, Noel felt it suddenly deflate after the news that he could only run three Premium Simulations a day. And for a moment, he simply stayed still, not knowing what to do.

But in the end, he just smiled faintly and shook his head.

If only three simulations were possible daily, then so be it.

With that thought, Noel rose from his seat and began training.

It was already night, and he could have gone to bed early after everything that had happened today — but with the Regeneration and Endurance Bloom Talent, and with his goal of completely healing his soul still unfulfilled, sleep felt impossible.

So, he turned to practicing the Blood Scripture.

The more he practiced now, the easier things would be inside the simulation — that was the belief driving him.

Yet as he continued, movements steady and controlled, Noel's mind began to drift. He thought about his life. About the seven years he remembered living as the Cross heir… and the years that followed after he lost his memory.

He finally began to understand the emotions he had once only studied in order to imitate. And with that realization came a thought he couldn't ignore:

He had grown softer.

Had the last twelve years slowly shaved away his arrogance?

Noel wondered — until he suddenly stopped mid-practice and began to laugh.

He had gotten it wrong.

It wasn't that he had grown softer… no, the truth was far simpler.

He had grown weaker.

And by strength, he didn't mean the physical, the soul, the law, or any other tangible measure of power.

He meant something deeper.

Something more primal.

Something far simpler.

His mentality.

His willpower.

That unshakable faith he once held in himself… had vanished.

Now?

His faith rested more in the Codex Null — which only deepened after regaining his memories and understanding just how extraordinary it truly was.

The years of living behind a mask — of affection, love, deception, and whatever other shit came with it — had apparently dulled him.

That was why he made a vow to himself.

Those behaviors from the past twelve years would never be repeated again.

And so, with this newly forged determination, Noel resumed his training.

One thought burned in his mind: in the end, strength was the answer to everything.

Before he knew it, sunlight spilled through the window, the rays breaking across the floor and warming his skin.

Noel had been so absorbed in his training that he hadn't noticed time passing, or even the weight of exhaustion settling into his body.

He finally stopped, walked toward the window, and opened it.

The cold winter air rushed in, colliding with the heat radiating from him.

He drew in a deep breath and stared up at the clear sky, as if it were silently promising him a better day.

After letting the chill settle his thoughts, Noel left his room, took a quick shower, and returned.

His eyes went straight to the Codex Null.

It was time for the next simulation.

[Do you want to spend 1,000 Null Points to start a Premium Simulation?]

Would it end up being the same as before?

Noel wondered for a moment, his gaze drifting to the notebook resting on the desk.

Then he made his choice.

[Life Simulation begins.]

[21 years old. You suddenly stood up, staring at the notebook in front of you, already knowing something was wrong.]

[In the end, you sat back down, calmly surveying everything around you before seemingly making a decision.]

[Three days passed. When Hilda still hadn't arrived, you went to Lilith to ask why.]

[Her reply was that Hilda was on the way — something had happened, and she might be a little late.]

[Your answer was a simple, "Is that so?" before you left the house and called Selena.]

[Again, you kept the exchange short, asking only if she intended to keep acting like this. At her puzzled reply, "What do you mean?" — you hung up.]

[Standing outside your house, you let your eyes sweep the area, marking every person's position before making your move on those monitoring you.]

[You didn't hesitate — using your Destruction Law openly in public as you closed in on them.]

[Three of them fell to you, but your condition quickly began to deteriorate.]

[Even so, you had no intention of stopping — until Lilith suddenly appeared, asking you, what madness this was.]

[She looked genuinely bewildered, and you, equally so, asked if she was speaking because she truly didn't know.]

[Still unwilling to compromise, you kept chasing them. Lilith, noticing this, finally said, "Please stop. I'll take them back if they're bothering you."]

[Her words stirred nothing in you. You told her simply to help kill them all — then everything would be over faster, and you'd use your Destruction Law less.]

"That's it," Noel thought, hands clenching, a smile twisting across his face — one that could only belong to a madman.

The sudden escalation felt like a breath of fresh air, leaving him utterly satisfied.

[At this sudden episode of madness you displayed, Lilith was momentarily taken aback, but she recovered swiftly. And without hesitation, she made the decision to kill those affiliated with the Cross and Everen houses, just as you desired in the end.]

[With a single, decisive move — showing no regard for the bystanders who would inevitably be caught up in the carnage — Lilith finished all of them without exception.]

[Only then did you finally come to a halt. Your body was drained, your injuries a lingering reminder of the cost of your actions, yet a grin was etched firmly across your face.]

[The individuals tasked with monitoring you were all dead, but the matter did not end there. The battle, having unfolded in the heart of Boston, had claimed the lives of many innocent people, and waves of panic were beginning to spread through the city.]

[Not long after, a large group of people clad entirely in black arrived. Most immediately dispersed to handle the aftermath, while their apparent leader approached you and Lilith directly, demanding to know the meaning of such a reckless move — and whether you truly understood the consequences.]

[You gave him no answer, leaving the exchange entirely to Lilith, while your own attention remained fixed on awaiting the appearance of another person.]

[You did not have to wait long. Within minutes, Selena arrived, her gaze slowly sweeping over the devastation that stretched through the center of Boston before finally resting on you.]

[You laughed as you greeted her in an exaggerated manner, speaking with deliberate cheer as you told her you were deeply grateful for her past attention — and that, in return, you hoped she would appreciate your "gift."]

["I'm really thankful," Selena replied with biting sarcasm. And you acknowledged her words with a nod, before finally taking your leave from the scene.]

[Instead of returning to your house though, you walked away aimlessly, your wrecked body dragging you forward, until you eventually found a hotel and secured a room.]

[One day later, injuries you thought could not have been healed even with a full year's time, were mending at lightning speed. You had even planned to start training so as not to waste any time, but were suddenly interrupted by the visit of Selena and Lilith.]

[You had a quiet conversation with them, with Lilith doing most of the talking, practically begging you to return to the house. You refused.]

[In the end, Selena asked what you planned to do, reminding you to be aware of the danger that could befall you with your weak strength.]

[At that, you suddenly laughed, then told her to bring Hilda. But instead of giving you a positive answer, Lilith bit her lip, and Selena stayed silent.]

[One month passed. You had already healed your recent injuries, and were even making progress in your old ones.]

[You met Selena or Lilith only a few times during this period, and your relationship with them seemed to be deteriorating. You didn't mind that though, and focused entirely on your training.]

[Two months passed. You had finally reached 100% in the Vital Purification stage.]

[You did not stop to celebrate or rest, instead pouring your efforts even more into training, with the goal of breaking through to the next stage — Six Gates this time.]

[But then, Selena and Lilith suddenly visited you again, bringing with them someone you had not expected.]

[At last, you met Hilda — your protector.]

"Wow," Noel breathed, his voice low.

In the last simulation, he was certain he had died without ever meeting Hilda.

Yet now, "only" three months in, she was standing before him.

So, the correct way to handle Selena and Lilith… was to be even more unhinged than they were, wasn't it?

A gleam lit his eyes at the thought.

He had always been too soft in how he dealt with them. But this time, by refusing every compromise, events had actually begun to unfold exactly as he wanted.

Or so he would have liked to conclude.

In truth, Noel knew the real reason things were moving in his favor.

It was the state of his soul.

Yesterday — in the last simulation — he had chosen the Strengthened Soul option, pairing it with the Regeneration Talent that accelerated its recovery.

And that, he understood, was the greatest factor of all.