The Martial God, who was certain that Seong Jihan would succumb to the Taiji this time, sharpened his gaze as he watched the battle conclude.
He had been prepared to activate the Golden Wheel at the cost of personal loss if Seong Jihan emerged victorious.
[The arm is firmly attached.]
He has made a reckless choice. For a human to implant an administrators arm He will soon be devoured.
Ashoka spoke outwardly with calm, but his heart was uneasy.
Why choose such a path? Managing the Taiji could have been done without resorting to such extreme measures. Was it because of the key?
It was for his sister no doubt about it.
Bending to familial affection at the expense of the greater good However, if he is soon devoured by the arm, it amounts to the same betrayal.
This world is done for.
Ashoka tentatively concluded that Seong Jihan, in his attempt to save his sister, would be devoured by the administrators arm, leading to humanitys annihilation and a return to the past.
The end result would be the same even if the process had differed this time.
No, the end might differ, since Martial God would hastily activate the Golden Wheel.
Martial God had resolved to turn back time even if it meant relinquishing power should Seong Jihan win.
At least, the accumulation of power would slow down, making it a slight blessing in disguise.
Do I need to find another candidate?
Seong Jihan had been the best individual capable of creating variables in this endlessly looping world.
However, from the next cycle, he would be instantly dealt with by Martial God, necessitating the need for a new candidate.
Ashoka pondered who could serve that role but came up with no immediate names.
The fact that they had progressed this far in the current cycle was itself a series of fortuitous events.
However,
[If I acquire that arm my long-cherished desire will be fulfilled.]
The party intending to revert time seemed to have different thoughts.
Will you not activate the Golden Wheel?
Having lost hope in Seong Jihan after the arms implantation, Ashoka asked, but,
[Wait for now.]
Given Martial Gods historically cautious nature, turning the Golden Wheel seemed like the prudent choice.
Considering how Seong Jihan had acted unpredictably thus far, and now having gained both the arm and the power of the void, further variables were likely.
However,
[If I acquire that, I wont need to regress anymore.]
The administrators hand its value shook Martial Gods resolve.
[Time that has already become countless.]
Originally, strength and authority had steadily grown, but recently, they had stagnated. The more power they garnered, the more apparent this stagnation became.
Martial God, though known for his patience, found himself stirred by the notion of achieving his goal and ending the repetitive cycle.
[If I can secure that, I can accomplish my goal and end this endless life.]
Ending the cycle resonated deeply with Martial God, shaking his usual stance.
Had the arm remained in Seong Jihans inventory, thoughts of forfeiting the time to secure it would not have arisen.
Flash!
Martial God kept his gaze fixated on Seong Jihans arm.
[If he is overtaken by the red energy, I will have my chance.]
Absorbing that arm would end everything.
The endless, tiresome cycle would conclude, and he could redesign the world as a permanent administrator.
[Until I obtain that arm, I will hold off.]
In an uncharacteristically rash decision, Martial God resolved not to turn the Golden Wheel just yet.
* * *
Following Seong Jihans sudden broadcast,
[The Abyss in North Korea vanishes, along with the dungeon portals.]
[Identity of the vanquished Abyss owner revealed Similar to Seong Jihan.]
[Is the Humanity Annihilation scenario resolved? Despite Abysss disappearance, questions remain.]
[Seong Jihan sets new viewership records on BattleTube, breaking his own records.]
Articles on this topic poured in from across nations.
Given that Seong Jihan battled an entity identified as the Abyss owner he had previously faced in the Humanity Annihilation scenario, interest in his channel reached an all-time high.
Haah The news keeps updating but why isnt Uncle back yet?
Yoon Seah sighed as she browsed on her smartphone.
Although Seong Jihans broadcast had ended, and news reports were flooding in, he hadnt yet returned even though it was a quick trip from Pyongyang to Seoul for him.
[Jihan must have entered the training room.]
Mom Is that so?
[Yes. Having implanted both the administrators arm and the power of the Lost Soul, hell be testing for any side effects before coming home.]
Understood. But it feels weird with you home, Mom.
[Does it?]
Yoon Seah looked curiously at Seong Jiah, who had brought her home.
I never thought Id be able to come back home with you.
[Yeah. I have nowhere else to go.]
Right, you have to stay with me! But why are you floating?
[Well.]
Seong Jiah, who was floating in the air, descended slightly.
Crash!
The marble floor immediately cracked.
[Im a bit heavy.]
Ah, because youre stone
[Yes. And the void flows through me. I shouldnt damage the house.]
Uncle better hurry and bring the key.
[Key? Thats]
As they conversed, the door alarm buzzed urgently, and Yoon Sejin rushed inside.
Ji Jiah! Youre back!
Tears welled up in his eyes as he ran over.
[Stop there, Yoon Sejin.]
Swish
A purple mist formed between Yoon Sejin and Seong Jiah, especially thickly around Seong Jiahs face.
Mom, why is it more concentrated around your face?
[Yoon Sejin wont see my face except for signing the divorce papers.]
Divorce!?
Yoon Seah was shocked, but Seong Jiahs resolve was firm.
[Yes. How can I live with a man who abandoned his daughter for another woman?]
That That was due to being brainwashed!
[The cause is irrelevant to me. The result is what matters.]
Though Seong Jiah was in statue form, a murderous aura radiated from her eyes.
[Ive seen too many worlds. That man always fell for Shizuru and abandoned you. You were always kicked out of this house, living with Jihan in a basement flat until you died young. You struggled to even find a part-time job because you were Yoon Sejins daughter]
But that didnt happen this time! You cant just serve divorce papers over events from worlds that might not exist
[Im aware. Thats why Im just showing my killing intent, not actually harming him. For now.]
Swish
Despite being the strongest constellations currently, Seong Jiah was holding back her void power.
[Though Yoon Sejin didnt drive you to your death this time, you have your uncle to thank for that. Your dad barely regained his senses and managed minimal atonement. So, Im restraining myself from crushing his head and only seeking a divorce.]
Mom youve become quite aggressive.
[Aggressive? Im holding back a lot. Im mad enough at your uncle, and now seeing that man is pushing me over the edge.]
And what did Uncle do?
[He ignored me and pushed himself!]
Crunch.
Seong Jiah clenched her fist, dropping violet stone dust.
[I warned him not to, even sponsoring my entire fortune, but he implanted the arm! And he let his face crack! Ugh Why are the men in this family so reckless?]
Are you including Dad as family?
[Oh, yeah. No, he isnt anymore.]
Seeing Seong Jiahs outburst, Yoon Sejin stood there confused, then knelt in front of the violet mist.
Im sorry. No amount of apology can right what happened. Even seeing Seah reminds me of that time, and it hurts.
[That time? When you were with Shizuru?]
Mom! Can you not say something like that in front of your daughter?
[Youre an adult now. And you, are you satisfied with just apologizing?]
No. Ill prepare the divorce papers.
Yoon Sejin hung his head.
Despite being brainwashed by Shizuru, it didnt erase the consequences.
Seong Jihan and Yoon Seah had easily forgiven him, but Seong Jiahs condemnation was suffocating.
This is a deserved rebuke.
Part of him wanted her to further ridicule him.
And Ill leave this house. You need to live here.
Dad! Where will you go?
Some empty rooms under the Sword Palace. Can I stay there?
[Hah, the basement here? Ideally, youd be in Jeju, or better yet, on the other side of the Earth.]
Mom! Thats too much!
Seong Jiah reluctantly nodded at Yoon Seahs intervention.
[Seems Seah still follows you. Are you a fool? Dont you remember what your dad did?]
That was due to brainwashing!
Scratching her cheek, Yoon Seah added,
Besides, I wasnt too troubled thanks to Uncle. He snapped out of it and took care of everything.
[Jihan did? I liked him this time, except for not listening to me.]
Exactly! So, dont be too hard on Dad. No need to send him to the other side of the planet!
[Fine. Thank Seah for it. Live wherever, just stay out of my sight.]
Thank you
Yoon Sejin bowed deeply.
No matter how brainwashed hed been, the consequences couldnt be erased.
Seong Jihans intervention had saved him.
What are you all doing?
Swoosh.
Seong Jihan entered through the living room window, looking at the gathered family with a puzzled expression.
* * *
Seeing Seong Jihan entering through the veranda window, Seong Jiah crossed her arms.
[Jihan, why use the veranda when theres a door?]
Its quicker.
[But it startles people!]
Youve not lived here recently, I always enter this way.
[Really Always an answer for everything!]
All right, enough nagging. Here.
Flick.
Seong Jihan tossed the key to Seong Jiah.
Stop being a rock, and turn back into a person.
[You I spent all my money sponsoring you to not worry about me! You ignored that too?]
102.1 million GP is all your money? How poor are you?
[I spent it all on a race change kit!]
That useless thing? Talk about waste.
[What! Hey!]
Enough. Ill refund you.
Seong Jihan transferred the GP. Seong Jiah accepted it quietly.
Yoon Seah remarked,
Mom and Uncle always fight as soon as they meet.
Just like old times.
But whats going on? Brother-in-law is kneeling.
[Were getting a divorce.]
Oh, really?
Seong Jihan nodded nonchalantly at Seong Jiahs words.
Uncle, arent you affected?
I expected this when I heard she retained her memories.
Really?
Had he borne such dark memories multiple times, hed have imprisoned Yoon Sejin whether brainwashed or not.
For Yoon Sejin, this outcome was fortunate.
Brother-in-law. Or should I just call you Jihan now? Hows your body? That arm alright?
Oh, this arm.
Seong Jihan raised his right arm.
The back of his hand faintly gleamed with a red eye.
A reddish haze seemed to emanate but quickly returned to the original skin tone.
Still manageable.
His hand appeared largely controlable, apart from the eye.
Glancing at it, Seong Jihan thought back to his time at the training center before coming home.
For now its under control.
Reflecting on the training sessions reminded him how crucial self-discipline and control had become, given the drastic changes.