Chapter 66: A Dream of Reality
Yun-ho lay in his bed, his mind racing with thoughts of the recent events. The defeat of the Shadow Syndicate, the newfound peace in Eternity Online - it was all overwhelming. Yet, a nagging feeling persisted, a sense of unease that he couldn't quite shake.
As he drifted off to sleep, Yun-ho found himself in a strange, dreamlike realm. The world around him was distorted, colors swirling and morphing into abstract shapes.
In the distance, he saw a figure standing on a precipice, overlooking a vast, endless expanse. It was the Architect, the creator of Eternity Online.
"Are you happy here, Yun-ho?" the Architect's voice echoed in his mind.
Yun-ho hesitated. He thought about his friends, his adventures, the sense of belonging he had found in this virtual world.
"Yes," he replied, his voice barely a whisper.
The Architect smiled, a chilling, almost predatory grin. "Are you sure? Or are you just afraid to face the truth?"
Yun-ho's heart pounded. The Architect's words struck a chord within him. He thought about his life before Eternity Online. He remembered his family, his friends, his old life.
But the memories were hazy, indistinct. He couldn't recall specific details, faces, or events.
"Who am I?" Yun-ho asked, his voice filled with desperation.
The Architect chuckled. "You are a pawn in my game, Yun-ho. A mere simulation, a figment of my imagination."
Yun-ho felt a wave of panic wash over him. Was he really just a character in a game? Was his entire existence a lie?
"No," he said, his voice trembling. "That can't be true."
The Architect laughed. "Oh, but it is. You are nothing more than a line of code, a creation of my mind."
With that, the Architect vanished, leaving Yun-ho alone in the dream realm.
As Yun-ho struggled to wake up, he couldn't shake the feeling that the Architect's words were true. Was he really just a simulation? Or was there more to his existence than he knew?
The question haunted him as he drifted back into sleep, the dream lingering in his mind like a haunting melody.