Chapter 396: A certain heart (3)

In that brief moment, the gazes of these two met each other.

⸢”Everyone knows how to deal with Demon Kings, right?”⸥

They carried the same pain, and they lived with the same hurt.

They had lost people they cared about right before their eyes.

⸢”Let’s begin the final scenario.”⸥

They had failed to save their comrades many times over.

And that was why they could never turn their backs on the people dying right in front of them.

The lives they had lived so far made sure of that.

“Let’s go!”

Jeong Hui-Won lightly jumped up and landed on Yi Hyeon-Seong’s hand, and he powerfully threw her forward.

She flew like a streak of light and crossed the battlefield. The flames of [Hellfire] drew a stylish arc in the air and shot forward, causing the Demon King Haagenti to gasp out in pain.

The creature quickly put out the fire that managed to slice apart a portion of its flesh and roared out viciously in reply. [So, that’s where you’ve been hiding!]

Haagenti didn’t dally any longer and dashed forward while raising a thick cloud of dust.

“Kuwahhhph!”

As Yi Hyeon-Seong grabbed Haagenti’s horn to start wrestle with the creature, Jeong Hui-Won began shaking the unconscious Kyle.

“Kyle! Get a hold of yourself! Kyle!”

It was as if she had reverted back to being Erich Striker; she desperately called out Kyle’s name. She placed her hand near his nose and much to her relief, found out that he hadn’t died yet.

⸢”Let’s try one more time with the scenario….”⸥

These people came this far after they heard her voice and the words of <Kim Dok-Ja Company>. They followed after her in order to find their own stories.

That was why she simply couldn’t let them die here.

“Allow me to take him away.”

With good timing, guardian knights approached her and one of them placed Kyle on his back.

“I’ll leave him to your care.”

“Please, leave him to us.”

The knight nodded his head solemnly and quickly ran towards the back of the battlefield. She then grasped her sword tighter, planning to help Yi Hyeon-Seong. But then, right at that moment….

….A chilling premonition tickled her entire figure.

She had never felt such a thing before in her entire life.

Not even when she was about to lose Kim Dok-Ja in the [Dark Castle], not when she lost him one more time back in the 73rd Demon World, and then….

“Hui-Won-ssi! Get down!!”

At the same time, Yi Hyeon-Seong bear-hugged her and rolled down on the ground. A thin ray of light brushed past her forearm. It was at that moment that she finally realised such a terrifying scream could come out of her own mouth.

It was a bullet fired by Barbatos.

Yi Hyeon-Seong’s complexion had changed to pale blue; even before she could ask him if he was alright, he spoke to her first. “You should evacuate first. I’ll try to buy you some time.”

He stopped the advancing Haagenti with both of his hands, and he caught the burning spear thrown by Amy in the distance with his teeth. Even when subjected to the intense heat that melted his tongue and cooked his eyeballs, Yi Hyeon-Seong endured it with nothing more than his unyielding, indomitable spirit.

– Hurry!

He sent a voice projection, the skill that connected her to Yi Hyeon-Seong when they were still stuck inside ‘Kaixenix Archipelago’. With that very skill, he was talking to her.

– I can still withstand this! But I won’t be able to while trying to protect you, as well!

Back then, or now; Yi Hyeon-Seong always insisted that he could do things he couldn’t possibly do. That was why Jeong Hui-Won couldn’t escape.

She deflected the incoming silver-coloured claws of Demon King Stolas and gritted her teeth. The flames of [Hellfire] were progressively getting weaker, and cracks on Yi Hyeon-Seong’s carapace grew larger and more numerous.

The ‘Demon King of Seduction and Infertility’ Zepar laughed. [What a sad fate this is. But, I do enjoy a tragedy like this.]

“Shut up.”

[A few Constellations are tearing up at the story of the Incarnations.]

Jeong Hui-Won desperately wielded her sword so that she could leave behind definite proof of their lives not being some stories of entertainment for the others.

Reincarnators running away watched their struggle.

To save them, Jeong Hui-Won and Yi Hyeon-Seong fought.

[Influence of the Nebula, <Kim Dok-Ja Company> is growing larger.]

[Foundation of ‘Great War of Saints and Demons’ is being rocked.]

For the first time ever, the Demon Kings basking in a relaxed air changed their expressions.

[It’s regretful that we can’t enjoy this anymore.]

And for one more time, another blackish beam of light exploded forth. The bullet tore through space and flew forward. It was Barbatos’s speciality, [Star Destruction Bullet].

It couldn’t be dodged this time.

Jeong Hui-Won crouched into a huddle, trying to minimise the potential area of damage, only for someone to cover her. Along with the sensation of a dull, heavy impact, she heard something exploding away.

BLAM!

The bullet didn’t end with just one.

BLAM!!

The first one, then the second, and another; bullets fired one after the other blew up, broke, and destroyed ‘something’.

[Fable, ‘Purest Comradeship’, is getting agitated.]

Jeong Hui-Won struggled desperately and hugged the person protecting her to roll around on the ground. It was a person’s body, torn to bits by the bullets. A bloodied face was smiling towards her. He was saying something, but slowly, so slowly, he closed his eyes.

[Fable, ‘Sword and Shield’, has stopped its storytelling.]

“Hyeon-Seong-ssi?”

[Constellation, ‘Master of Steel’, has received great damage.]

“Hyeon-Seong-ssi, please wake up.”

As if they had reached the intermission, the gunfires came to a halt just then.

Something inside her head snapped in that moment. Jeong Hui-Won shook Yi Hyeon-Seong one more time.

“Hyeon-Seong-ssi.”

He didn’t open his eyes. His lips didn’t say anything, and his nose didn’t breathe anything out. His ears couldn’t hear anything, either.

“Get up!!!”

But, she hadn’t given him her answer yet.

“Get up! Get up already!!”

And then… the Demon Kings began moving again.

Jeong Hui-Won quickly hoisted Yi Hyeon-Seong’s large body up and ran, hard. She ran at the fastest speed she had ever produced before. She ran fast and hard enough that muscles in her legs tore up and her heart began straining itself. The gunfire soon resumed, and scars accumulated on her body.

However, she still continued to run. She continued to escape from everything in this place.

If it was Kim Dok-Ja; if it was him, he should be able to save Yi Hyeon-Seong.

He saved Shin Yu-Seung, and he also managed to save Yu Sang-Ah, too. So, he’d be able to save Yi Hyeon-Seong for sure.

Death was nothing in this place.

Death could not separate them.

Jeong Hui-Won ran as tears streamed down her face. Although it was nothing more than buying time, that time was critical in changing everything.

So, she ran. And, she ran some more. How long did she run like that? Her vision grew blurrier and eventually, she collapsed into a puddle of mud. The putrid stench of dead Reincarnators filled up the landscape. There wasn’t a drop of energy left in her body.

As for Yi Hyeon-Seong’s heartbeat, she couldn’t hear it anymore.

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[Incarnation of Uriel, where are you hiding?]

She sensed the presence of Demon Kings approaching closer and held her breath. Whether it was due to luck or not, her current Status had been broken to an unrecognisable degree right now and it was difficult to differentiate her from the other Reincarnators.

[If you don’t want to come out, then well, we’ll just kill the rest.]

Demon King Amy laughed and began swinging its flame spear.

There were still many surviving Reincarnators around her. They were people Jeong Hui-Won should be saving. They were people she should have saved.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

‘I’m sorry.’

Her sense of righteousness could only extend this far.

She heard the flames of explosions roaring on, and began picturing the scenes she’d see after opening her eyes again.

The sights of the Reincarnators being burnt to death, demolished, and blown up; the faces of the dying, filled with resentment towards her; their expressions as they pointed fingers at her while trying to run away.

Jeong Hui-Won prayed; she prayed that at least one more would manage to run away. Even if it was only by a little further away, to endure until Kim Dok-Ja arrived.

“Here she is!”

And then, someone shouted out.

“I am Uriel’s Incarnation, Jeong Hui-Won!”

She opened her eyes in a fluster; the person who said that was someone she knew very well. It was none other than knight Kyle, the one she saved not too long ago.

And next to him was the knight that carried the injured Kyle away.

“No, I’m Jeong Hui-Won!”

“No, it is I! I am she! Come and kill me instead!”

[….You bastards, have you all gone mad as a group?]

Reincarnators weren’t running away.

Those that came along with her from the ‘Kaixenix Archipelago’, those she managed to save during other regional conflicts, they were all standing by her side to shout at the top of their lungs.

“I’m Jeong Hui-Won!”

“I’m Yi Hyeon-Seong!!”

Reincarnators stood up and spoke her name, and Yi Hyeon-Seong’s, as if it was theirs. Even though they knew what would happen if they did.

“I’m Yu Jung-Hyeok!”

Everyone here was staring at their own death.

“I’m Kim Dok-Ja!”

“I’m Han Su-Yeong!!”

They called out the names of their saviours, the names of <Kim Dok-Ja Company>.

“I’m Jeong Hui-Won!”

As if this was the righteousness they all decided to adhere to. Or, as if to become the gods that would save them in turn, instead.

“Uwaaaah!!”

After crying out her name, Kyle began dashing towards the nearest Demon King. Reincarnators running away in the opposite direction were now coming back.

Some were in tears, some were in a rage, while some were in despair.

[Influence of <Kim Dok-Ja Company> in the applicable scenario is strengthening even further!]

The Demon Kings became flustered and began unleashing their Statuses.

[How dare these insane fools….!]

Reincarnators were being ripped to shreds right before her eyes.

They couldn’t even endure a light nudge from a Demon King. Even then, they didn’t stop shouting out. Some cried out Jeong Hui-Won’s name, while some, Yi Hyeon-Seong’s. Some called out Kim Dok-Ja’s name while flinging themselves into the embrace of death.

Trapped within this battlefield of complete pandemonium, Jeong Hui-Won began shuddering.

Why were they being killed off like this?

She looked at the collapsed Yi Hyeon-Seong below, before casting her glare up at the darkened skies of the <Star Stream>. Countless stars were looking down at her.

Even though there were so many sparkling stars up there….

….Not one came down to help her.

Jeong Hui-Won rose up from her spot.

“….I.”

And then, she ran towards the Demon Kings.

“I am Jeong Hui-Won!!”

[So, that’s where you were!]

Claws flew in and scratched her back before going away.

[You have requested the activation of the exclusive skill, ‘Hour of Judgement’!]

Even if it’s just this once, doesn’t matter who it is – as long as they can lend me their strength….

[Majority of the Absolute Good-type Constellations are opposing the activation of the skill.]

[Skill activation has been cancelled.]

Why couldn’t those she desperately wanted to, be judged?

What was ‘Good’, and what was ‘Evil’, then?

“….What rubbish is this ‘Absolute’ crap?”

Why are you arbitrarily deciding on that?

And why am I supposed to abide by it?

Barbatos’s bullet flew in.

Her worn-down emotions became the kindling that began burning fiercely.

[All of your Fables are reacting to your misfortune.]

Every single one of her emotions was now pointing towards just one.

[All of your Fables are reacting to your will.]

And that was ‘revenge’.

[<Star Stream> is now looking at your Fable.]

⸢I wish to judge them all.⸥

[New Fable is germinating within you!]

In the next moment, powerful rays of light exploded out from her entire body.

The enormous explosion of light forced the trajectory of [Star Destruction Bullet] off course, and at the same time, the Demon Kings in the near vicinity were pushed back, as well.

Jeong Hui-Won then heard the messages entering her ear.

[Evolution of Incarnation Jeong Hui-Won’s Attribute is approaching.]

[Opportunity to evolve your Attribute has come!]

The ‘one who shrunk away’ once upon a time became ‘Judge of Evil’ in order to pass judgement on all the evils she encountered.

In that case, what would happen to the judge who was betrayed by ‘Good’?

[You have acquired a legendary Attribute.]

An aura of brilliant white light exploded out from her sword; the boiling, overflowing energy of the Fable was released from her entire figure. And then, the Ring of Chaos materialised within Jeong Hui-Won’s eyes as she took in the sight of the Demon Kings.

[You have become ‘Judge of Apocalypse’.]

<Episode 75: A certain heart (3)> Fin.