Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics

In fact, the entire event is divided into three levels, or it can also be said as three different dimensions where characters exist.

The highest dimension is, of course, the Battleworld players who participate in the game, such as Shiller, Joker, Batman, Bruce, etc.

The second dimension consists of characters within the Game World, which are those played by high-dimension players, such as Lodoff, Matthew, etc.

The third dimension includes characters in the novel, those who live under the pen of the novel's author, such as Lodoff, Matthew, Pope, and Great Prophet.

If one were to discuss from the lowest to the highest dimension, starting with the novel, then the most important aspect is undoubtedly the final twist.

The whole novel unfolds from Lodoff's perspective, chronicling his adventurous journey, and finally, at the top of the Lighthouse, he meets a former student and recalls his past research into forbidden knowledge—a narrative trick by the author.

When reading a novel, people enjoy putting themselves in the protagonist's shoes, so naturally, the antagonist is the character opposing the protagonist. Matthew, seen from Lodoff's perspective, indeed seems like a villain.

By creating this impression for the novel's readers and then suddenly switching the perspective to see things through Matthew's eyes, where Lodoff becomes the cultist, the twist is achieved.

This kind of twist is quite classic; many novels and horror movies reveal towards the end that the so-called righteous and innocent protagonist is actually the real antagonist.

If this were the only layer, it would hardly be considered brilliant, just a clever little trick, a playful tool.

But if combined with the second layer, the worldview of the game, it adds a deeper, more horrifying consideration.

Because besides the nearly dead Pope at the top of the Lighthouse, only Matthew and Lodoff were there, and only Matthew walked out alive, knowing what happened at the top of the Lighthouse.

So is the twist in the novel published by Matthew really a twist, or is it an ending deliberately modified?

Is the truth as it appears to ordinary people in the Game World and to the readers of the novel the actual truth?

If we consider these two layers together, it can certainly be called a decent ending.

Viewing the entire game as a movie, the director might not film the final battle but just give the novel a close-up at the end of the movie.

At first glance, it looks like a good ending where evil does not overpower good, with Matthew as the good guy defeating the big villain.

But in reality, many can quickly realize that Matthew, being the last one alive, could write the story however he wanted; the facts might be completely reversed.

This creates a kind of ambiguity, giving the audience space to think and react on their own to create a deeper twist.

But the most interesting part comes at the highest dimension of the characters, at the level of Shiller and Bruce, which involves a conflict about educational fraud and winning the game.

In fact, those who joined the game were Arrogant, only later replaced by an agent, and then switched back at the last moment; Arrogant is Bruce's Professor. Although he had given up on making Bruce master the Psychoanalysis Method, no professor would want their student to engage in such activities.

If it were different mentors and students, bragging a bit in the game wouldn't really matter.

Like in a role-playing game, setting your character's education Points to the maximum, claiming to have graduated from a prestigious school, is just a way to play the game. You can't expect everything to be as per reality, right? If I graduated from an ordinary university, am I not allowed to role-play as a top graduate from a prestigious school? What's the point of playing then?

But Arrogant and Bruce, as mentor and student, are different. Bruce had to work incredibly hard for his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and the time Bruce spent reading, Arrogant spent practicing 'fishing for the moon from the bottom of the sea.'

Being put in the same game session wasn't any easier; just looking at the cigar bits piled up on the table tells you that.

Then Bruce begins to forge his educational history, and it's no wonder Arrogant is furious.

But still, the same principle applies: If you want to play by the rules, work hard; if you don't, then tidy things up well, defeating your teacher is also a way to beat the test.

But Bruce didn't tidy things up; he collaborated with Nya, which backfired, his duplicity confirmed beyond doubt, fueling the fire.

Nya disclosed Matthew's actions, proving him a true cultist, thereby informing Shiller's Lodoff—if Matthew were to make it out alive, the game would undoubtedly end badly.

If everyone were here now, it might not be such a big deal, but they had killed their teammates earlier, including Greed.

To secure a good ending, they must kill Matthew played by Bruce; thus Bruce would have to confront Arrogant. If they don't kill the version of Matthew played by Bruce, they can't secure a good outcome, and Greed would have to fight Ultraman.

Forward or backward, Arrogant must fight this battle regardless, the only difference being whether his teammates are his students or another version of himself, but neither would be an easy opponent.

Therefore, the novel is essentially a trap, not a physical one, but Nya using the novel to inform Shiller of the consequences if he doesn't fight, forcing him to engage.

Thus, Arrogant faces a dilemma. Despite Nya happily squealing here, if Arrogant decides to kill Bruce, Nya would definitely help Bruce.

"Given Lodoff's current strength, it's impossible for him to defeat Bruce-impersonating Matthew with Nya's help. Ultimately, it's likely that Matthew will kill Lodoff, fulfilling the story's ending.

Bruce is aware of this, but he definitely does not want to kill Arrogant. Already frustrated by obtaining a talent he can't use with the Psychoanalysis Method, fabricated education credentials only add fuel to the fire, not to mention directly killing a teacher. Bruce dare not think about how he would get through the days to come.

Realizing this, Bruce took a step back, while Shiller was a step too slow to catch him. Bruce then aimed a pistol at his own temple.

"Don't come any closer," Bruce said. "Dying in the game isn't really dying; it's just an exit."

"Put down the gun," Shiller said, rubbing his brows.

"Yeah, Matthew, I think you should reconsider," came a voice from the Pope's direction. "Having your teacher kill you is just as cruel as killing yourself in front of your teacher."

Bang!

Shiller shot the Pope directly with a Batman-modified pistol that could shoot screws, with immediate effect, blowing the Pope's head off.

But his body continued to emit sounds.

"Of course, you could choose to do so, step out of the Lighthouse as Lodoff, exposing this shameful truth to the world, but would anyone really believe it?"

Shiller meant this as well because ordinary people living in the Game World are not fools; they would definitely speculate that Lodoff is the good guy in the novel because Lodoff survived and came out.

If Matthew had survived, having stayed at the core of the Church's power all these years, perhaps even usurping the Pope, he could silence these voices. The novel is just his tool for public opinion, not a life-saving straw.

But Lodoff had been expelled from the Church years ago; it would be impossible for a single novel to elevate him to a hero. He had no influence, no money, no power; he couldn't command the Church, which doesn't need such a hero. There are people waiting for the Pope to die naturally.

In the end, the result might also be the splintering of the Church due to internal power struggles, which could even lead to a war.

It seems straightforward, but actually, it's a deadlock. Whichever of the two dies, it's a bad ending.

The Pope's body moved slightly, a deep muffled sound emanating from his chest, as if celebrating a victory.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Shiller and Bruce exchanged glances, both putting down their guns.

The Pope's body stopped moving.

"Why not speak?" Shiller suddenly laughed, looking at the Pope's body: "Are you surprised? Who would knock at this time?"

Bruce, with his arms crossed, said: "Right, how could the Batman, supposed to be slain by Ipo Zettel according to the Great Prophet, come knocking? Could it be a resurrection?"

The door opened, and standing there was Batman.

Nya was silent, seemingly observing the situation, while Shiller casually sat down at the table, reopening the novel in front of him.

"...At this moment, an unexpected guest appears! It was our Great Hero Batman, like an experienced wilderness Hunter, wearing a suit of beast hides he personally hunted, as if his hypocritical nature was written all over him. Little did he know that his armor, as dark as the night, was also forged from the lives of countless innocent creatures!

He suddenly moved, tossing his homemade electric baton onto the Pope's body, watching the disgusting mass of flesh convulse and dance—a testament to his sinister fun, symbolizing his power to make even Gods bow...

He walked into the room, and soon the Joker arrived, resurrected by some Evil God, now coming to seek justice from Batman, though he did not die by Batman's hand. The unexpected death filled him with resentment, condensing into a tangible darkness, turning him into a terrifying dark Monster..."

The Joker, emanating dark aura, entered the door; Shiller stood up, moved to a corner, and did not intend to disturb their battle as he continued flipping through the novel.

"...But no, the Joker did not wish to fight Batman. He only wanted to persuade Batman, for they could collaborate fully since Batman had once contacted the deities of the Deep Sea. They could altogether sail the ship docked at the harbor to trouble that presumptuous deity.

As they passed through the village, another Batman was also resurrected, but it wasn't so simple this time. He stood in the road questioning Batman on the definition of justice.

Is it just to kill for justice? In this world devoid of Heaven and Hell, who decides what justice is? Just because he's Batman in another cosmos, does that still make him a harbinger of justice? Then why did he die?

Batman could not answer, but then the Joker stood up, attacking this evil Batman and defending his companion.

In this world, no one can define what is just or evil; their only destiny, their unavoidable Curse, was to defeat the Gods.

Unexpectedly at this time, the Fish God Dagon led the Deep Divers to attack this small village, the endless armies of the Deep Sea rushing forth, causing the Church's survivors to shiver in fear.

But Batman had anticipated this..."