The Hidden Rule
A month had flown by in the blink of an eye.
He spent that entire month conquering Super Gemini, layering research upon research.
⟪I checked, and it's built out way more intricately and massively than what I designed. There are tons of items I've never seen, and the stages got expanded. I designed eight stages — but there are over twelve now, right?⟫
Even 5555, the very developer of Super Gemini, couldn't produce proper strategy information beyond the fundamentals.
It made sense. What 5555 had created was, after all, only the basic source code that formed the foundation of a game labyrinth.
It was Yggdrasil that took that foundation and built the labyrinth out of it.
Super Gemini was filled with unknowns that even 5555 herself had never laid eyes on.
[The reason is simple. The game labyrinths built until now had such shoddy foundations that most of Yggdrasil's resources went toward patching up those broken messes. And even that wasn't enough to fix them, which is why some of them ended up in such a sorry state.]
World of Phantasm was the prime example.
After all, its final floor had never been properly completed.
[This labyrinth, on the other hand, had such a solid foundation that Yggdrasil's resources went into expanding the world instead. That's why it builds on the established setting to grow that world even further, and why tools and monsters of Yggdrasil's own creation make appearances.]
"So basically, Yggdrasil liked it, and it ripped it apart and remodeled it however it pleased?"
[To put it bluntly, yes. Think of it as the original source code with Yggdrasil's own expansion data layered on top.]
Apparently this Yggdrasil had no intention whatsoever of honoring a developer's wishes.
When Ryu Hwi relayed what he'd heard from YggON, disguising it as mere 'speculation,' 5555's face crumpled like she was about to cry.
⟪You damned Yggdrasil!! Don't go expanding other people's work without permission! Leeching off something someone else already built — how low can you get…….⟫
She was clearly displeased that Yggdrasil had expanded her world on its own whim.
⟪Next time I'll make a game labyrinth so brilliant it won't be able to utter a peep. Just you wait!⟫
She was burning with a rather strange enthusiasm.
Ryu Hwi looked around. It seemed they'd reached the final stage of the game labyrinth.
A colossal castle loomed in the distance.
It was rendered in the image of the wicked demon from a fairy tale — less frightening, more charmingly storybook.
To reach the castle, players had to either brave the installed traps or flex their brains and solve puzzles.
It wasn't merely irritating — the structure was exquisitely tuned to stoke a person's competitive fire.
According to 5555, she'd drawn inspiration from things released back before Yggdrasil appeared, when games were still just 'play.'
Ryu Hwi recalled the battered old game console slumbering in her storage.
The fundamentals of gaming, which today's game labyrinths had forgotten.
Paradoxically, Super Gemini — the newest game of them all — was chasing after those very fundamentals.
"If I had my way, I'd have cleared it all the way to the end, but it's not that simple."
If it had been built exactly to plan, he'd have cleared it by now. But with Yggdrasil's support expanding the world more than twofold, a full clear looked like a distant dream.
"5555, how's Super Gemini doing these days? Is it selling?"
⟪BIG! TIME! HIT!⟫
5555's voice climbed an octave.
⟪It's blowing up beyond imagination! Gamers old and new are flooding in, no questions asked. No — not just gamers. People who heard the recent news are logging on out of pure curiosity, and their numbers keep growing!⟫
"Hmm."
⟪Most of them are playing through 'Single Mode'! Even the newbies who've never touched a game labyrinth are settling in just fine. Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh! Every time a gamer grabs a magic stone, the profits roll in! Development budget!! Budget for a NEW game labyrinth!⟫
She was apparently already dreaming up her next title.
⟪The number of users enjoying 'Multi Mode' is climbing too. Multi Mode is all about player-versus-player competition, but the magic stones up as 'prizes' are worth a fortune.⟫
In barely a month, Super Gemini had become a blockbuster so famous that no one hadn't heard of it.
Even the people who'd once feared 'Conversion' were now thinking, Well, maybe I'll give it a try once?
⟪I literally can't stop laughing. Sooo…… would you consider calling off the 'tournament'?⟫
"No."
⟪Why! Why! Why! It's this big a hit, so the goal's been achieved, hasn't it?!⟫
The only reason Super Gemini had exploded in popularity so fast was the outrageous provocation of offering 'a share of management rights' to the tournament champion.
Those blinded by the profits a share of management rights could bring.
Those curious about a game labyrinth made by the game company of 'Ryu7017.'
Those enraged by Ryu Hwi's words, which amounted to nothing short of a taunt.
Gamer after gamer set foot into the world of Super Gemini.
The gamers who experienced it first rushed straight to Yggtube to upload videos, and the people drawn in by those videos dove into Super Gemini in turn.
Given just one more month, it was on pace to surpass World of Phantasm even at the height of its glory.
"A lot of the gamers glued to Super Gemini right now are in it for the tournament. Interest and motivation were the tournament to begin with. Try suddenly canceling it now — the backlash would be enormous."
⟪Th-that's because YOU started all this on your own! It's MY Super Gemini!⟫
"Then blame yourself for dumping this annoying job on me, if you feel wronged."
⟪Shit!!⟫
Exploiting everything that could be exploited — that was Ryu Hwi's way.
"Besides, this tournament is the spark that will push Yggdrasil 2.0 forward."
One failure after another from the established developers.
Game labyrinths shutting their doors, leaving only a handful standing.
Fear of the new technology of body Conversion.
For one reason or another, game labyrinths were stumbling as a whole these days. Left as-is, things would go badly in every possible way.
⟪True, at this rate we'd hit an ether depletion event pretty quickly. And that would deal a massive blow to modern civilization…….⟫
"Couldn't care less about that."
⟪…….⟫
S.E.N.
There was no telling what those bastards would do next. He needed to grow strong enough to handle any situation that came.
Super Gemini alone wasn't enough.
If Super Gemini became a hit, countless people would soon challenge game development once more.
Some were surely already preparing behind the scenes.
Super Gemini's success would spur them to try even harder.
And the more game labyrinths appeared, the better things got for Ryu Hwi.
Because for the UR-grade YggON, a wealth of game labyrinths would become a massive source of 'power.'
⟪And what do you plan to do if you lose? Are you confident you can win? Do you have any idea how costly it is to lose a share of management rights? Wait, no. Whatever. I guess you wouldn't exactly lose. You can use skills from other game labyrinths, after all.⟫
"Who said I'd use skills from other labyrinths?"
⟪What?!⟫
To be precise, he wouldn't use any skill except Intuition.
After all, with Intuition excluded, the only skill currently available to him was 'MR — Heavenly Demon Divine Art Lv1.'
⟪What are you thinking?! What if you actually lose? You were supposed to run all kinds of experiments for the next labyrinth, test out different technologies?! Budget! Everything needs a BUDGET, you know?!⟫
"Shut it. Don't get lippy with the CEO. A tournament has to be fair."
⟪I already regret handing you the CEO title!⟫
"Anyway. If I lose, I lose. I'll deal with it then."
He drew out his 'weapon.'
The familiar sensation coiling around his left arm. Thanks to nearly a month of steady practice, he'd grown thoroughly accustomed to it.
"There's no better stage than this to give it a test run."
The Super Gemini tournament was the perfect opportunity to field-test Ryu Hwi's new 'weapon.'
[Honestly, under the right conditions, couldn't you end this whole thing with Intuition alone? Fair, my foot.]
"Can't hear you. Can't hear yooou."
He flatly ignored YggON's grumbling.
At last, the day of the tournament had arrived.
Well before the official start time, legions of gamers logged into Super Gemini through 'Multi Mode.'
Veterans who'd been active since the old days, and newcomers who'd only just registered as gamers — they were all there.
The gigantic 'waiting room' swarmed with countless gamers, loud and raucous.
"There are way more than I expected."
Ragna looked around and clicked his tongue.
He was one of those who'd only just become a 'Gamer' himself.
The moment he watched Ryu Hwi's broadcast, Ragna had boldly logged into Super Gemini.
He was now considered one of the most senior gamers in Super Gemini.
"I figured we'd get a few hundred at most…… but this really is a huge crowd."
Bisque had entered the tournament as well.
At first she'd struggled a bit with the difference in feel between the access terminal and body Conversion, but these days she was enjoying Super Gemini with skill that matched, even surpassed, her World of Phantasm days.
"At least ten thousand, I'd say?"
Naturally, Bisque's partner Noir had entered too.
She wore a weary expression as she watched the gamers materialize in the waiting room one by one.
Pokryeol Daedo had almost certainly entered as well, but the waiting room was so vast that finding him was a hopeless task.
"Playing alongside the veterans like this, I'm nervous."
For all his words, Ragna's eyes sparkled like a little kid's.
Bisque and Noir exchanged wry smiles at the sight of him.
Bisque leaned close to Noir's ear and whispered.
"The second the tournament starts, let's kill that guy first."
"Yes, yes. We've never beaten him once in this Super Gemini anyway……."
Those two — veterans among gamers, once hailed as the next-generation aces — could not for the life of them get the better of Ragna in Super Gemini.
That fact gnawed at both of their prides.
⟪Announcement. The tournament will begin shortly.⟫
A broadcast rang out.
The waiting room, rowdy just moments before, fell silent in an instant.
⟪Before the tournament begins, the 'rule data for this tournament' has been transmitted to each of you. Please familiarize yourselves with the rules before the start.⟫
The 'tournament rules' information floated up before the gamers' eyes.
Rule 1. The tournament runs for 1 day in Human Realm time.
Rule 2. There are no weapon restrictions. One weapon obtained during Single Mode play of Super Gemini may be equipped as your main armament, and may be swapped at any time for weapons acquired during the tournament.
In Super Gemini, one of the weapons acquired during play can be designated your 'main' and carried at all times. All other weapons are treated as secondary armaments and are not stored separately.
Countless gamers had already selected their 'main weapon' while preparing for the tournament.
Rule 3. The tournament proceeds in Round 1 and Round 2.
In Round 1, participants are divided into ten groups total, each competing on a different stage. Groups are assigned at random.
If the number of eliminations in Round 1 exceeds a set threshold, the tournament shifts immediately to Round 2.
── Registered Participants: 17,693
Rule 4. Game format: Battle Royale.
Round 1 is a battle royale held across multiple stages for each group. Upon shifting to Round 2, all remaining players move to a new stage. The tournament ends when a single player remains.
"17,693…… that really is a lot. Ten groups means about 1,700 per group, right?"
Ragna clicked his tongue.
"That's actually on the low side compared to the total gamer population, isn't it? The entry requirement was clearing Stage 6, if I remember right?"
Noir nodded at Bisque's words.
Super Gemini started out at a gamer-friendly, gentle difficulty — but the difficulty spiked sharply the higher the stage climbed.
Particularly from Stage 5 onward, clearing was nearly impossible unless a player had fully mastered Super Gemini's systems and could wield them with total freedom.
"In World of Phantasm, you could brute-force anything with high levels. The boss patterns were simple, too."
Noir sighed.
Playing Super Gemini had made her realize anew just how simple World of Phantasm really was.
"Over a thousand people per group forced into a battle royale — in a game labyrinth supposedly fun for all ages, what a merciless format……"
Ragna mumbled around his lips.
"I kind of want to see a granny or a little kid clear Stage 5, though."
Having tasted the hell of Stage 5 firsthand, Noir was skeptical of the claim that Super Gemini was a game 'anyone, young or old, could enjoy.'
"So in other words: kill everyone else? Simple. I like it. Perfect for blowing off steam!"
That was the entirety of the basic rules.
Not a single word was written about 'fouls.' Which meant: do whatever it takes — just win.
The tournament start time crept closer.
When about a minute remained, a new alarm broadcast sounded.
The gamers assumed it was the announcement that the tournament was about to begin — but the broadcast said something entirely unexpected.
⟪A hidden rule will now be explained.⟫
A hidden rule?
The gamers reacted with bafflement.
What kind of rule could it be, that it wasn't announced beforehand but sprung on them now?
⟪A randomly selected 'boss entity' subject to a special rule will appear on each stage. If any gamer defeats this boss entity, they will be declared the tournament champion at that very moment, regardless of the ongoing proceedings.⟫
The gamers buzzed with murmurs.
The rule was so absurd that complaints erupted from every corner.
What on earth kind of boss entity was this, that simply taking it down meant winning the whole tournament?
⟪Allow me to explain the boss entity. That boss entity is…….⟫
At that moment, a figure materialized as a hologram in the waiting room.
Every single gamer who saw that figure dropped their jaw wide open.
"Who else? It's me."
It was the very mastermind who had organized this tournament.
"Take my head, and the championship is yours. Do your best. But……"
Ryu Hwi smiled down at the gamers.
Every gamer who saw that smile felt an inexplicable chill run down their spine.
"Not that I think any of you can actually beat me."
[No matter how I look at this, aren't you the villain here?]
YggON's muttered protest reached no one's ears at all.