The ceiling of Tartarus was opening.[Cracks have occurred in some areas of Tartarus!]
[Someone is trying to break out of jail!]
Along with the warning message that appeared in the air, the whole of the Underworld was shaking.
[The judges of the Underworld have noticed the actions of the Demon King of Salvation!]
Persephone warned in a sharp voice.
[...It is only this time. Please keep this in mind, Demon King of Salvation.]
Earthquakes occurred and a faint portal started to be made on the wide-open ceiling of Tartarus. Persephone had opened an exit to the ground. Briareus watched the scene and asked,
[What did you say to make the queen of the Underworld help you?]
"It was just some threats."
30 minutes ago, I sent the following message to Persephone.
-If you refuse to cooperate, I will spread the footage of Tartarus all over the Star Stream.
Tartarus had many secrets of the Underworld, whether it was the secret recruits they trained or the inst.i.tutional facilities that were concealed. It wasn"t good if the hostile forces to Olympus received a secret report on Tartarus.
Then Briareus shook his head. [Her Majesty was threatened by that?]
"She is on our side. She just needed a pretext to release me. It is an excuse when things go wrong in the future.
If this Gigantomachia failed and Olympus picked up on what happened in the Underworld, the Underworld would be in a difficult situation. Perhaps my current blackmail would be a bit of a defense for the Underworld.
Of course, this was a story for when Gigantomachia failed but I didn"t intend to let that happen.
Briareus spoke, [You don"t seem to know the king and the queen well.]
"Huh?"
Briareas gave a knowing smile instead of answering.
[You have received the Giant"s Oath.]
[You have acquired a new semi-myth story!]
[The story "Giant"s Liberator" has been acquired.]
[This story is attributed to "A Single Story."]
Giant"s Liberator. This was the first story I should obtain from this Olympus war.
[Giant"s Liberator. Soon the giants of this place will enter Gigantomachia. Is there anything you specifically want?]
"There is no such thing. Just do what you want."
[...I"m becoming curious. Why do you want to reach ■■? No other constellations have every built up achievement like you. Are you dreaming of a "perfect story"?]
A perfect story. Some people called "A Single Story" by such a name. A story that never existed before and was made up of stories that never existed.
"I just want to see the end with my colleagues. Together without losing anyone."
[It will be the hardest story in the world. There has never been such a story.]
It was true. A myth without any sacrifices didn"t exist in this world.
[The probability of the Star Stream always moves in a way that forces sacrifice. Fate won"t easily let you go.]
"I won"t know without trying. In addition, fate has already been overcome."
I remembered the d.a.m.n fate given to me by f.u.c.king Olympus. Even now, I gritted my teeth remembering it.
However, Briareus" expression was grave. [Have you overcome fate?]
Something suddenly flashed through my mind. According to Ways of Survival, all t.i.tans were born with the power of prophecy.
[Liberator, "fate" is a much broader concept than you think. The fate given to you by Olympus is only a speck of dust in the world. The real fate is inevitable. If you avoid it, probability must be distorted.
That twisted probability must be resolved by someone. That is why there is no "perfect" story.]
"I won"t know if I don"t try. I will do it if possible. My colleagues also aren"t weak enough to succ.u.mb to fate."
I jumped into the portal and declared, "Then let"s meet in Gigantomachia."
Briareus nodded. [I wish you the blessing of the story.]
***
"Kyrgios."
"Yes."
"Maybe we need the story"s blessing." Jang Hayoung muttered as he watched the returnees approaching like cattle.
"There is no need if you have good training."
A sword scattering a silver-white light emerged from behind Kyrgios.
[Pure White Paradox.] It was a sword made by the masters of Peace Land, Kyrgios"s home for decades. It was Kyrgios" weapon that travelled with him through numerous battlefields and had the same performance as a star relic. The fact that Kyrgios, who rarely used a weapon, pulled out the sword proved that the opponents weren"t easy.
Two figures were flying at the head of the returnees. There was a middle-aged man in a gorgeous red uniform and one in a black and white uniform engraved with the symbol of his school.
"Strange. I heard the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint was here."
""Are you mistaken again?"
"find the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint!"
The voices of the middle-aged men were profound. Kyrgios shot into the air. The Murim people were surprised by the "status" that filled the air and instantly stopped.
Kyrgios opened his mouth. "You are the Heavenly Demon and Blood Demon."
"Who are you?"
Kyrgios raised his aura instead of replying. Lightning poured from dark clouds and part of it nestled in Kyrgios. Kim Dokja"s flags.h.i.+p technique, Electrification was now emitting a sublime aura from the founder.
"You can"t know my name." The astonished returnees stepped back. "You will die soon."
The white-blue lightning filled the sky. Anyone from Murim would know the name.
"Is this Paradox Baekchung?"
Kyrgios" sword pointed towards the sky. As the probability ran wild, Kyrgios"s status clashed with the returnees. There was a vast wind pressure and Jang Hayoung and the Breaking the Sky Master were pushed back.
The centre of the sky contained the Heavenly Demon, the Blood Demon and Kyrgios. Every time an attack poured out, the s.p.a.ce screamed like thunder. It was hard to believe that this fierce battle was a confrontation between humans.
Jang Hayoung was ecstatic as he watched the battle. "Someday, I can be strong like this."
-Jang Hayoung! Protect the industrial complex with the Breaking the Sky Master"s group!
Jang Hayoung came to his senses due to Kyrgios" sound transmission and moved with the Breaking the Sky Master.
With the exception of the Heavenly Demon and Blood Demon, there were approximately 1,000 returnees remaining. Among them were the 10 masters of Murim.
A small storm raged around Jang Hayoung"s fist. "Kuaaack!"
Some returnees were caught in the wind pressure but dozens of returnees used their bodies as the jumping point. There were too many of them.
"Evacuate towards the industrial complex!"
Their side contained Jang Hayoung, the Breaking the Sky Master, Flying Fox and other returnees. Apart from Kyrgios, only a few incarnations were able to confront the transcendent returnees.
In the northern part of the industrial complex, a huge fortress approached while firing.
Jang Hayoung"s face became rosy. "Gong Pildu!"
Magic sh.e.l.ls poured out from the fortress towards the returnees and victims instantly appeared. However, the returnees soon maintained their ranks and defended against the sh.e.l.ls.
"Smash that fortress!"
Gong Pildu"s Armed Fortress was suitable for defense, not attack. 200 returnees gathered and proceeded to Gong Pildu"s Armed Fortress. The number of returnees remaining was 400. The returnees crossed the walls and entered the interior of the industrial complex.
Then as if waiting, the wanderer forces dedicated to defending the industrial complex moved. Cho Youngran used the power of the First Spiritualist of Joseon. Lee Boksoon fired her sniper rifle. Jeon Woochi"s techniques filled the air and bullets pierced the returnees.
"Kuaack!"
"The shaman! Kill the shaman!"
The innocent people were killed like fish caught in the waves. Cho Youngran and Lee Boksoon started to be injured by the bombardment of the returnees. The wanderers were pushed back and some returnees shouted. "Listen up, leader of the Seoul area! If you give uour life, no more meaningless sacrifices will occur!"
The key to the Returnees War was to defeat the leader of each force. The core goal of the scenario that the returnees who invaded Seoul received was to defeat the leader.
A moment later, a glowing light emerged from inside the industrial complex. Cho Youngran"s complexion paled as she kept defending.
"No! Sookyung!" The moment Lee Boksoon cried out, a woman emerged from the industrial complex.
The Wanderer King declared, "I am the leader of Seoul."
In one hand, she was holding the broken Eight Beaded Bell and in the other, she as holding a bronze dagger. A few returnees staggered back from the aura that emerged from the Heavenly Symbols she was holding.
"There is no need to be afraid. She can"t use the power of her sponsor!"
The returnees shouted and Lee Sookyung smiled bitterly. In the battle of Dark Castle, most of the Founder"s Mother"s status was destroyed. Even so, she had a way to fight.
「 Establish the centre and become the wind. 」
The bronze sword Lee Sookyung was holding gave off a bright light.
[The constellation "King Heungmu the Great" is surprised by the actions of incarnation "Lee
Sookyung".]
[The constellation "One-eyed Maitreya" is warning that it is dangerous!]
[The constellation, "Seo Ae Il Pil...]
All the constellations of the Korean Peninsula warned her at the same time. She knew. She was already familiar with what would happen if she did this.
Lee Sookyung glanced around the industrial complex. The image of the sleeping Yoo Sangah blurred the window.
She thought of the children going to Olympus for Yoo Sangah"s sake. The upright soldier Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon who didn"t tolerate injustice, the fierce but brave Lee Gilyoung, the calm and gifted s.h.i.+n Yoosung. She also remembered Lee Seolhwa, who was warm-hearted and took good care of the party members and Han Sooyoung, who often grumbled but had a keen sense of humour.
Then she was reminded of her child. The time for that child to live. The story she long dreamt about. The time she couldn"t protect him.
The light from the bronze sword was as bright as the sun. Lee Sookyung muttered very quietly. "Emperor of Heaven and the Wind G.o.d."
There was a constellation a.s.sociated with each of the star relics of the Korean Peninsula. The bronze sword Lee Sookyung was holding right now was one of the Heavenly Symbols.
[The constellation "Wind G.o.d of Heaven" is looking down at Incarnation "Lee Sookyung".]
Wind G.o.d of Heaven. One of the three constellations who held the highest rank in Hongik. Now Lee Sookyung was making her last bet with her life as collateral. "Come, Pungbaek!"
The sky opened and a blue aura roared around the dagger. The returnees blinked at the blinding light. Lee Sookyung looked at the sky and the sky looked down at Lee Sookyung.
"Just a moment. Please lend me your strength."
Then the sky gave a warning. Blue-black lightning struck and Lee Sookyung responded to the warning.
"It doesn"t matter."
The next moment, the sparks of probability appeared around Lee Sookyung"s body. Her bones were crumbling and her skin was burnt. Amidst this pain, the hand holding the sword became heavy.
The force of wind that a human couldn"t endure was nestled in her right hand. This was one of the strongest constellations on the Korean Peninsula, the power of Pungbaek.
From left to right, Lee Sookyung swung her sword. Then the s.p.a.ce was split apart. It was as if the world was split in half from the beginning. Everything around her was torn by the absolute wind pressure that followed the trajectory of her sword.
"Wh, at...?"
10, 20, 30... the number of returnees who died quickly surpa.s.sed 100. All the returnees who crossed the walls were falling through the air with their waist cut. Their faces showed they didn"t understand the source of their death.
Lee Sookyung held her trembling right hand and took shaky breaths. In one blow, most of the returnees were destroyed. Of course, it wasn"t everyone.
There were returnees who noticed the danger in the short time and moved out of range. They were masters from the Third Murim and Fourth Murim.
"It"s over. Kill her."
Lee Sookyung glanced at the masters rus.h.i.+ng towards her and smiled. She did everything she could. Dozens of swords rushed towards her as she fell through the air. There was the sound of flesh being pierced and Lee Sookyung sensed death.
However, she didn"t feel the pain of being stabbed. She opened her eyes to see someone"s back. It was a very wide back.
TL: Rainbow Turtle