The Great Sage's Status enveloping my entire body now concentrated on the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] held in my right hand . Just like that day on the Tongtian, when we were fighting against the Constellations .
If there was one thing different, then I was now using the complete power of that 'Sun Wukong' .
[Great Fable, 'Liberator of the Forgotten Ones' has completely permeated in you!]
"I shall open up a path . "
I swung the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] and a huge hole opened up in the centre of the tsunami wave . However, it was filled back up in an instant .
[Youcantyoucantyoucantyoucantyoucant]
From the island that the 999th turn's Yi Ji-Hye had brought up, the 'Nameless Ones' began crawling out . Their number was so great that fighting them seemed impossible, but even then, the Great Sage didn't panic at all .
[Destroy them . ]
I felt this jolt from the arm raised up in the air, and thick, gloomy clouds suddenly filled up the sky . Somersault clouds carrying thunderbolts rang around within the heavens above . Then, blinding blue rays of light crashed on the ocean .
Kwbooooom!!
Several strands of lightning smacked into the sea and tore through everything there to carve out a path . These bolts of lightning continued to smash down many more times . What an enormous amount of Status that was .
This was the power of the one who had reached the last scenario, the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, often referred to as the strongest Constellation ever was .
[Gah-gahk, gagagagagahk?]
However, there were several creatures that managed to withstand the storm of lightning bolts . They were slightly larger than the previous Outer G.o.ds .
[We ki ll the Con stel lat ions]
[End of sta rs dra ws ne ar]
These 'Outer G.o.ds' could string along more concise words . These upper rank creatures travelled through the underwater tunnel and rose up to the ocean's surface .
"Son of a . . . . !"
Han Su-Yeong next to us cried out .
Ku-gugugugu!
The ground beneath the ocean rocked and lava began boiling up to the surface .
"Everyone, get away!"
We quickly climbed aboard Yi Ji-Hye's [Turtle Dragon] and rose up to the sky . The hazy surface of the ocean was soon filled up with wiggling creatures .
[De stru cti on of the wor ldli ne is co ming]
The 'Outer G.o.ds' descended to this world while spewing out some ominous-sounding lines . We had encountered a creature like that before – during the earlier days of the scenario, on the battlefield of the [Dark Castle] .
['The 4th Wall' is faintly stirring . ]
Perhaps, the [Devourer of Dream], now acting as a librarian inside the wall, was watching this spectacle as well .
"How are we supposed to kill those things??"
Han Su-Yeong gritted her teeth and emitted [Black Flame] from both of her hands . Tentacles several kilometres long rose up above the ocean at the same time, causing the tidal waves messily mixed in with magma to rise up even taller than mountain ranges .
For some reason, I recalled a certain sentence from the 'Ways of Survival' .
⸢The calamity flooding out from the rising island eventually covered up everything on the surface of the planet . ⸥
If this went on, then the Earth of this worldline would end up exactly in that state, too .
"Great Sage!"
Advertis.e.m.e.ntI borrowed the power of the Great Sage and faced off against the incoming tidal waves .
The Ruyi Jingu Bang grew in size in the blink and began smacking away the 'Nameless Ones' trying to get closer . I destroyed a building-sized wave and smashed apart a tentacle flying in . However, there was no end in sight .
⸢The tidal wave simply grew larger and larger . ⸥
If I managed to beat back one wave, then the second showed up . When I destroyed that, the third one pounced on us . And at the centre of all these waves were the 'Master of the Sunken Island' and other 'Outer G.o.d Kings' .
[… . It's not going to be easy this time . ]
Even the Great Sage was saying something like that .
At this rate, we'd be finished even before our enemies get here .
"Is there any other way to break past that?"
[Need more time . ]
After leaving those words, the Great Sage began gathering more Status . My heart rapidly grew warmer and the Fable in my veins circulated quickly . Since I knew what he was preparing for, I didn't bother to ask anymore . If my thoughts were correct, then he was getting ready to use that skill from the final pages of the 'Ways of the Survival' .
The question was, could my companions and me last until then?
⸢In order to buy time, we need to combine our strengths . ⸥
No matter how excellent both Uriel and the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon were as Constellations, it was still too difficult for them to endure . Not to mention, there were four 'Kings' that side .
… . Wait, four?
Kwrurururu!
The s.h.i.+eld of steel slapped away several tentacles flying in .
I looked at those huge shoulders standing before me and spoke . "Hyeon-Seong-ssi . "
The 999th turn's Yi Hyeon-Seong looked back at me, half of his expression filled with worry, and the other half, confusion .
"We need your help . Please, help us stop the calamity . "
He quietly stared at me before asking a question . [[Can you promise me?]]
I didn't ask what that promise was, because I felt like I already knew .
"I don't know if I can protect it, but I'll do my best . "
He stared at me for a bit longer, then his eyes blinked slowly . And right next moment, his eyes shone in the silvery light .
[[I shall believe in you Fable . ]]
Kwkwakwakwakwa!
Ma.s.sive branches of steel sprouted from the sides of our s.h.i.+p . They grew in an instant and became walls on four sides . While cras.h.i.+ng into the waves and the 'Nameless Ones', they continued their rapid expansion .
A short while later, a square pathway with an open centre was created before our eyes . It was a tunnel created by the advancing walls of steel .
[[Please go ahead . ]]
I nodded and began running on the tunnel .
How long did we run like that? I spotted a familiar face at the end of the tunnel .
"Hui-Won-ssi!"
Jeong Hui-Won was busy swinging her sword in the middle of the 'Nameless Ones' . Companions and I quickly crossed the tunnel and aided her .
"I'm sorry, I couldn't break past them . "
She bit her lower lip and muttered out in bitterness . Her voice was thick with despair .
She couldn't even get near the 999th turn's Uriel and ended up too preoccupied with cutting down these 'Nameless Ones' pouncing on her from the sky .
[Gyah-ahahahah]
The steel walls shook heavily while emitting crunching noises . 'Outer G.o.ds' were frantically pouncing on them as if they'd devour us in an instant .
If we took just one step outside these walls, then they'd really rip us apart like piranhas, that's for sure .
Crunch, cruuuunch . . . .
The sounds of the 'Nameless Ones' gnawing on the metal walls could be heard next .
"Danger . . . . !"
And then, the 'Nameless Ones' rushed towards us from the exit of the tunnel . They pounced on us like rabid dogs, their s...o...b..ring tongues wildly wagging .
[Ah, aaaaaah!]
In the next second, though, something akin to bright light fell from the sky and sliced apart every single one of them before our eyes . Someone had carved up the tunnel we were standing in from the outside .
We were treated to the sight of the great apocalypse's battlefield outside the sliced-open tunnel .
The dead 'Nameless Ones' created huge islands of corpses . While looking at this horrible sight of forgotten Fables dying meaningless deaths, the children began retching uncontrollably .
I too became speechless and looked at this battlefield .
Someone murmured in a tearful voice .
"Just why, to go this far . . . . "
This was the 'great apocalypse' . The scenario that Yu Jung-Hyeok from the original storyline had to fight through . And even now, that very Yu Jung-Hyeok was fighting against the 'Outer G.o.d Kings' in the middle of this great battlefield .
Boooom!!
There seemed to be flashes of light on one side of the empty sky, only for an echo of explosion noise to reverberate all the way to the other side . Some things moved with speed that my eyes could barely chase after . The ones that sliced apart the tunnel we stood in were engaged in a bitter battle .
I even forgot that we were in a battlefield and was lost in that scene for a little while .
[Great Fable, 'Delusional Design', is loudly yapping on!]
[Great Fable, 'h.e.l.lscape of Eternity', is continuing on with its storytelling!]
The strongest beings from the forgotten worldline were busy competing with the Fables . The torrents of [Breaking the Sky Swordsmans.h.i.+p] and the [h.e.l.lfire] resisting it, and then the remnants of the [Black Flame] mixed in to create a ma.s.sive tornado .
Strong winds generated from the sword images collided among the gloomy clouds, and ancient Fables howled on like aged dragons . Fables were screaming as if to tear the sky apart .
The living histories were colliding and extinguis.h.i.+ng right before our eyes . And at the centre of all the stories was Yu Jung-Hyeok's [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] .
We couldn't afford to waste the precious time he had bought for us . I pointed to our front and spoke . "The cause of these waves is the 'Sunken Island' itself . "
The 'Nameless Ones' flooded in like dust clouds . Then, upper-rank Outer G.o.ds raising up even more waves behind them . And finally, the 'Sunken Island' in the centre of them all .
Most likely, the 999th turn's Yi Ji-Hye was in the middle of that island .
"Our priority is to demolish that island . The most optimal course of action is to subdue the 999th turn's Yi Ji-Hye, but . . . . "
I took a look beyond the encroaching waves . If the culprit behind this 'great apocalypse' event, the 'Master of the Sunken Island' Yi Ji-Hye, was subdued, the disaster itself should peter out, but the problem was with how to get there .
Han Su-Yeong spoke up .
"Don't forget, the 999th turn's Kim Nam-Woon and Uriel is over there, too . Even if Yu Jung-Hyeok is facing off against Uriel, what will you do about Kim Nam-Woon?"
"Don't worry . I have a plan . "
Even now, we were at a disadvantage in our combat strength . Well, we had already exhausted a considerable amount of energy during the earlier fights, after all . However, we weren't completely on the back foot, either .
"Gil-Yeong-ah, Yu-Seung-ah . Release the insects and monsters to stop the movements of the Outer G.o.ds as much as possible . Yu Sang-Ah-ssi, if you see an opening, try to cast one more debuff on that Yi Ji-Hye, please . Han Su-Yeong, you take care of the 'Nameless Ones' showing up in our rear . "
"What about you?"
"I'll create a path . Hui-Won-ssi, please come with me . "
The moment Jeong Hui-Won nodded her head, I unleashed my Status .
[Constellation, 'Demon King of Salvation', is unleas.h.i.+ng his Status!]
With excellent timing, I sensed Yi Hyeon-Seong's Fable enveloping my body next . The outer layer created through the [Steel Transformation] sprouted above my skin . We certainly made the right call to go to
first . We definitely needed his [Fable metal] in order to efficiently destroy the outer layers of those 'Nameless Ones' .
"Now, everyone!"
We leapt above the steel walls in the air simultaneously and then, descended towards the tidal wave .
'Outer G.o.ds' noticed our movements and howled out at the same time .
Du-dudududu!
Gong Pil-Du's sh.e.l.ls, now coated with the [Fable metal], flew in from afar to penetrate cleanly through the outer layers of the 'Nameless Ones' . Using the sounds of the cannons as our interludes, we ran on top of the waves .
Tentacles flew in at us with no gaps in between them, but Han Su-Yeong burned them away .
[Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is roaring out!]
The [Black Flame]'s fires caused the Outer G.o.ds to scream in pain .
Jeong Hui-Won and I continued to run on this path . We felt the time/s.p.a.ce surrounding the island faintly distort . Yu Sang-Ah was activating her powers now .
"Dok-Jssi, over there!"
We saw the gigantic [Turtle Dragon] taking up the highest location of the island in the distance . The 999th turn's Yi Ji-Hye was standing on top of the s.h.i.+p's figurehead to command the 'Outer G.o.ds' .
[[Hahahat, where do you think you're going?!]] As if he was waiting for us, the 999th turn's Kim Nam-Woon revealed himself . [[I shall protect our Ji-Hye!]]
Even though he was in the middle of fighting Yu Jung-Hyeok, he must've had enough leeway to interfere with us . Maybe, Yu Jung-Hyeok was in some kind of danger right now . I gave the signal to Jeong Hui-Won .
"Don't worry about me and go help Yu Jung-Hyeok first . I'm sure he's slowly reaching his limit by now . "
"Don't get killed . Understand?"
Jeong Hui-Won spread open her wings and disappeared in order to aid Yu Jung-Hyeok .
[[Isn't that so sweet? But, don't you worry . I'll send both of you away in an instant!]]
Kim Nam-Woon's figure seemed to melt . His shadow split apart into hundreds and countless figures leapt out from them .
⸢Kim Dok-Ja thought to himself . He couldn't dodge this . ⸥
Hundreds, no, thousands of daggers were unilaterally aiming for my body . They moved as if they were alive . The peak of 'knife fighting' Kim Nam-Woon had comprehended was permeating within each and every one of those blade tips . And each attack was strong enough to leave a fatal wound . Even then, I quietly smiled .
"When I met you for the first time, you also wielded your knife at me . "
[[But, it's my first time meeting you?]]
"Kim Nam-Woon, aren't you curious how you of this world died?"
One of Kim Nam-Woon's clones frowned after hearing me . [[Who cares how that weakling got killed??]]
I used the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] to deflect the incoming daggers . A few of them still managed to leave behind deep cuts on my thigh and shoulder, but thankfully, Yi Hyeon-Seong's [Fable metal] defended against the attacks in my stead .
Unfortunately, even his forged steel began developing cracks at the vicious barrage of attacks raining down .
As if to fully recreate a certain memory, I started evading the incoming attacks .
⸢Waist, right side . ⸥
⸢Right eye . ⸥
⸢Left thigh . ⸥
Tsu-chut, chuchuchut . . . .
Faint sparks danced about . I took a step back after getting hit by two more daggers .
"You were trash in this worldline . A thug who killed a powerless old man just to clear the first scenario . "
[[That's what the first scenario was about, anyway . I ain't curious about such s.h.i.+t . . . !]]
"You wielded the dagger just like now, until you ended up on your knees begging for your life like a pathetic loser . And then, died miserably after your head exploded . "
For the first time ever, his movement came to a stop . His previous mischievous expression was nowhere to be found, only his glare aimed at me remaining .
"Aren't you curious about who killed you like that?"
The dagger was now aiming for my left eye .
"Oh the sword forged to cut down the sleeping giants . Descend to this place, now!"
Kwaaaaaah!
Everything before my eyes seemed to wane as the ma.s.sive storm of aftermath raged on . A steel giant was summoned through the dimensions and it now stood there imposingly .
The greatest Fable weapon in [Tartarus], Pluto . A bright voice belonging to Kim Nam-Woon came out from its c.o.c.kpit .
[Hahahat! Hey, Gra.s.shopper man, been a while . . . . ]
However, I couldn't smile back to him . Because, what I was about to do should prove to be very inhumane to this guy .
[Ng? What's this?]
Kim Nam-Woon discovered something small floating before his nose and tilted his head . Almost at the same time, the other Kim Nam-Woon muttered in sheer dumbfoundedness .
[[… . A giant robot???]]
[Uwaaaaahk?!]
Tsu-chuchuchuchut!!
[Same existences from different worldlines have met for the first time!]
The 999th turn's Kim Nam-Woon didn't possess a Fable of fighting against me . However, what about now?
['Disconnected Film Theory' is activating!]
Memories were connecting; as the two existences from different worldlines met each other, the unconnected Fable momentarily would become one .
The 999th turn's Kim Nam-Woon, the 'Monarch of the Great Abyss', glared at me with his brows arched up high . It seemed that he had realised everything .
[[You . . . . . ]]
"That's right . The one who killed you in this worldline is . . . . "
The surrounding time and s.p.a.ce transformed . Into that of the subway from the first scenario . To the place where I killed Kim Nam-Woon .
I grinned and continued on .
['Stage Transformation' is activating!]
"It was none other than me . "
Fin .