Chapter 499: Episode 95 – Gaecheon/開天 (3)
We avoided the <Asgard>’s Constellations and ran in the complicated network of the passageways.
[Constellation, ‘One Who Lost His Arm to the Wolf of Apocalypse’, is sniffing out the scent of blood.]
[Constellation ‘God of Harp and Horn’s’ musical notes are hovering near your ears.]
[Constellation, ‘Progenitor of the Reincarnators’, is tracing your soul!]
[Constellation, ‘Master of Abydos’, declares that you won’t get lucky the second time!]
While some Constellations cheered us on through the channel, there were others chasing us down through the view from the channel, too. These stars bared their murderous intentions from beyond the tall walls of their own worldview the moment our location had been revealed.
There was a reason why we hadn’t been caught yet, and that would be because our group consisted of us four.
“We should not go to the right. I’m getting a bad premonition from there.”
We trusted in Anna Croft’s hunch and changed our direction. She might be our enemy, but in times like this, she also happened to be the most reliable ally, as well.
Forks in the road continued to appear.
[Fable, ‘Predictive Plagiarism’, has begun its storytelling!]
“Odds of death going to the right, 92%. 44% to the left. Keep going forward!”
Han Su-Yeong shouted out while reading through countless cliches in her head.
“What are the odds of survival when going forward?”
“I don’t know!”
She shot me a glare and ran in front of us.
“Coming from above.”
This hunch was coming from none other than the protagonist himself. Yu Jung-Hyeok continuously fired off [Breaking the Sky Sword Aura]; Constellations screamed as they were struck by the pre-emptive attacks and collapsed on the passage’s floor. I thought I could hear intermittent noises of [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship] cutting down some things.
“Continue running.”
I abruptly realised the reason why the four of us had been gathered like this.
⸢These four were most likely to clear this scenario safely.⸥
One of us was a prophet, the other one was a writer, and another one was a regressor. As for the last person...
“Stop here.”
My words caused the companions to stop immediately. All three of them were looking at me; I glanced back at them and slowly approached the cabin before us.
Anna Croft grabbed my shoulder. “....You aren’t planning to enter this cabin, I hope.”
Yu Jung-Hyeok didn’t say anything.
I looked back at my companions and addressed them. “Passing through here is the only way.”
“Can’t you see what’s written on the door of that cabin??”
No, I could see it very well. And at the same time, I could also very well sense the enormous Statuses of the Constellations right behind us, too.
<Olympus>.
⸢In order to reach the location I want, we must cross <Olympus>’s worldview.⸥
According to the Fable left behind by Bihyung, we had no choice in the matter. It was rather obvious that Zeus, having tasted humiliation outside, would never let us pass.
“Odin behind, and Zeus in front,” said Yu Jung-Hyeok as he stepped forward. “If we break through here, we’ll have a method to fight against them?”
“Yes, definitely.”
We sensed Odin’s Status right behind us now.
Han Su-Yeong shouted out. “Dammit, in that case, hurry up and open it! Those bastards are almost here!”
We kicked the <Olympus>’s door down and jumped in. Felt as if something was powerfully sucking us in, and when I regained my wits, we were busy walking in the skies above <Olympus> itself.
The immense sky castle of <Olympus> could be seen in the distance.
[Nebula, <Olympus>’s Constellations have confirmed the identities of the intruders!]
The atmosphere grew stifling; thunderclouds gathered in no time at all and covered up the sky.
[Constellation, ‘Throne of Lightning’, is exercising his influence on the entirety of <Olympus>!]
<Olympus>’s king was now waiting for us. As well as the 12 gods guarding his sides, too.
[Constellation, ‘Almighty Sun’, is mobilising his chariot!]
[Constellation, ‘Atrocious War God’, is lifting his sword!]
[Constellation, ‘Pure Hunter of the Moonlight’, is nocking an arrow!]
Below us on the ocean, we could see the mythical monsters waiting for us, too.
[Constellation, ‘Monster of the Labyrinth’, is howling in your direction!]
[Constellation, ‘Fairy that Sings About Death’, is singing about your death!]
Everything in this worldview was our enemy.
Ku-rurururu!
“Move!!”
My [Way of the Wind] and Yu Jung-Hyeok’s [Air Walk] activated simultaneously.
Anna Croft’s [Way of the Storm Winds] and Han Su-Yeong’s [Dark Clouds Big Dipper] followed us right afterwards. We crossed the sky with the fastest speed we could bring out.
Meanwhile, the thunderclouds took on an even more ominous vibe.
[Demon King of Salvation!!]
The 12 gods stuck very close to our rear.
Ares’s greatsword sliced the air and descended upon us. I swung my [Unbreakable Faith] and blocked the attack just in time. Along with the noise of ‘Kwa-du-duk!’, it felt as if every joint in my body was collapsing; it was like being crushed by a tank, actually. This was the true might of the 12 gods now carrying their own worldview on their backs.
I unleashed Status from my entire body and spoke in true voice. [Do not take us lightly, Ares.]
[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, is screeching out!]
I wasn’t sure about anyone else, but at the least, I’d not lose to Ares. Because, I already possessed a Fable of winning against him.
[Fable, ‘One Who Defeated the God of War’, has begun its storytelling!]
Unfortunately, our situation had already run into serious problems.
The ‘Pure Hunter of Moonlight’ Artemis was pouncing on Han Su-Yeong wrapped in [Black Flame], while Yu Jung-Hyeok flying in the air was already engaged in an intense battle against ‘Spokesperson of Justice and Wisdom’ Athena.
Anna Croft, situated at the lowest place among us, was beset by <Olympus>’s lower-ranked Constellations.
[I used to cheer you on, Kim Dok-Ja.]
A voice came from behind me.
That was from the fastest Constellation in this sky. The motifs of wings could be seen on his shoes.
[Unfortunately, you shouldn’t have come here.]
It was the ‘Master of Skywalk’, Hermes.
He looked at me with a genuinely rueful expression and spoke. [My father, he’s been truly angered.]
And then, the thunderclouds glowing brightly until then finally exploded; everything seemed to enter slow motion. It felt like the view of the sky was melting down slowly.
The lightning seemed to blanket the entire world. None living within this worldview would be able to dodge Zeus’s wrath.
Han Su-Yeong was looking in this direction, shouting something. I silently mouthed the following to her.
‘It’s alright.’
I slowly sucked my breath in and focused my mind. Ares was smiling triumphantly as if the battle had been decided already. I ignored him and raised my sword up high like a lightning rod.
KWA-BOOM!!
The thunderclap of the sky gathered towards me. This Status threatened burst all of my Fable veins in one go. However, I endured it. More specifically, the darkness wavering about near the tip of my hand was sucking in Zeus’s thunderbolt.
An indescribable scream exploded out from my mouth.
[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, is growling!]
My vision was dyed in red, and Fable began flooding out from my mouth.
Pah-chuchuchuchu....!
Zeus then unleashed an even greater amount of Status.
I couldn’t endure anymore. My powerless body began falling from the air.
⸢And now, it’s done.⸥
[This is the end, Demon King of Salvation. Even if it’s you, in our ‘worldview’, you are-!]
My helplessly falling body after being struck by the thunderbolt suddenly stopped in the air. The [Unbreakable Faith] almost slipping out of my grasp was gaining some strength. Next up, Ares’s frozen-stiff expression could be seen. The expression of the God of War, who’d never submit to fear, was filled with emotions of terror.
⸢Someone was holding Kim Dok-Ja’s sword together with him.⸥
It was a very large and sturdy hand. A true voice akin to the noble night being carved rang out vividly.
[Why do you think this worldview is yours alone?]
The gentle yet deep darkness embraced my falling body.
[How boundlessly arrogant you are, Ares.]
The night swallowing up the thunderbolt began spreading in the heavens.
[Constellation, ‘Father of the Rich Night’, is incarnating into the ‘Final Ark’!]
[Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, is incarnating into the ‘Final Ark’!]
Indeed, <Olympus>’s myths weren’t Zeus’s alone. The reason why their shining daylight could become ‘myths’ in the first place was because the night existed to call them the day.
[‘Underworld’ is manifesting onto the ground above!]
A world sleeping in the deepest part of the underground was now waking up.
[Hades....!]
The King of Underworld set me down on the ground and spoke calmly towards the sky. [It’s time to settle this, my ancient brothers.]
Hades’s scythe raised up to the sky screeched out, causing the darkness of the underground to pour out towards the heavens like the waterfall flowing in reverse.
It was the Underworld’s army. When the Judges issued the order to advance, the guardian of <Tartarus>’s underbelly, Cerberus, roared out viciously.
[You lowly creatures from the underground dare to-!]
Heroes of this worldview crossed their swords. More heroes aboard the Argos entered the battlefield next.
The great army belonging to Zeus and the 12 gods was truly immense. Judge Aeacus collided against Hephaistus, while Cerberus and Minotaur began ripping into each other.
Soldiers from the forest symbolising Artemis rushed in. The ‘Wise Astrologer’ Chiron’s hooves trampled on the Underworld’s army.
[No matter how deep your night is-!]
It was then, Chiron’s head flew off into the sky.
Monsters crawling out from the underground used their huge fingers to rip off his head and began chewing on it.
[Ze-u-s-!!]
Voices of unfathomable sorrow and resentment resounded out. I knew their owners pretty well.
⸢And so, <Olympus>’s final <Gigantomachia> began in this fashion.⸥
The titans, Gigantes; every single titan, having spent all those sorrowful years huddled underground, started revealing their figures under <Olympus>’s night.
Not only that, monsters boasting physiques several times larger than these Gigantes rose up as well. They were beings that I ran into some time ago back in the <Underworld>’s prison.
[All titans of purgatory are looking up at <Olympus>’s sky.]
The three brothers of Hecatoncheires – the hundred-hander titan Briareus that fought alongside me back in the <Gigantomachia> spoke to me.
[We have finally come this far, child.]
One of Briareus’s hands lightly brushed past my head.
[This battlefield is for you.]
The titans challenging the heaven’s authority stood up while stepping on the night. Their roars shook the skies of <Olympus>, their Statuses mighty enough to threaten Zeus’s throne.
And in the centre of this battlefield, Zeus was fighting fiercely against Hades. The collision of these two Myth-grade Constellations caused the pitch-black night and day to intermingle, and the world’s time and space collapsed.
Persephone commanding the Underworld’s army addressed me directly.
[Now, go. Do not ever look back. Go, and witness the end you wish to see.]
I nodded and raised my tottering body up. I swallowed the [Life and Death Pill] Yi Seol-Hwa gave me, and all of my fried nerves began recovering bit by bit. I unsteadily walked forward in the battlefield where flesh got torn apart and blood was raining down.
Han Su-Yeong and Yu Jung-Hyeok, plus Anna Croft, stood there waiting for me, having broken past this scene of pure pandemonium earlier.
Han Su-Yeong ran up to me and supported my figure. I looked behind and saw the corpses of heroes, their eyes still wide open; the stars that fell from the skies; Fables that would not be told anymore, were now looking at me with resentful eyes.
⸢This was the path I had chosen.⸥
I knew this would happen from the beginning. It was obvious that the Underworld would make their move if I came here.
For the sake of ■■ that I desired, I used all of their Fables.
[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, is crying out!]
We could see the exit of <Olympus> in the distance. That was where we had to go. However, there was a Constellation blocking our path.
I had to ask him why. “Dionysus, are you going to stop us?”
The ‘God of Wine and Ecstasy’, Dionysus leading his congregation was looking straight back at me. He must’ve downed several bottles of booze already, because his cheeks were quite obviously flushed red.
He stared at me with drunken, unfocused eyes, before opening his mouth while gripping the wine bottle. [All of you, step aside.]
The words of the master prompted the Bacchus’s fanatic believers to make way. And we walked on that path. The Siren’s song and Orpheus’s musical performance could be heard wafting in from somewhere. Also, I heard the sound of someone I knew dying among them, too.
⸢Kim Dok-Ja didn’t look back.⸥
My view shook as if I was intoxicated, too.
Yet, we walked and walked some more. Eventually, we reached <Olympus>’s exit.
Dionysus was right behind us. If I look back, I should be able to see his expression filled with sorrow. He was a Constellation who really liked our story.
[Kim Dok-Ja. My <Olympus> has no place in the conclusion you’re heading to, right?]
I couldn’t reply.
⸢”That’s because I like your story.”⸥
The one who had been watching my Fable for a very long time, and rescued me many, many times in the past.
⸢”Several Constellations including me believe that you’re the one capable of reaching ■■.”⸥
I was about to look back, but Dionysus spoke to me first.
[It’s been fun, oh the great, noble star.]
I heard the sound of a world closing behind me.
My feet didn’t want to move. I stood there for a long time without saying anything, and eventually, someone addressed me.
“It’s not over yet.”
We began walking towards the darkness of the ark.
Our destination was right before us.
<Episode 95. Heaven opening (3)> Fin.