1059 Episode 66. The Wolf That Swallowed a God (7)

Why was the notation '1,865th round' written in the attribute window of Yoo Joonghyuk, who saw the end of the scenario in the 1,864th round? Unable to bring myself to answer Yoo Joonghyuk's question, I read that number with a bewildered heart.

I remembered the appearance of that Yoo Joonghyuk.

The man who, even after witnessing the conclusion of such a terrible scenario, walked into tragedy once again.

"Because he is the only Yoo Joonghyuk in this universe who has seen the end of the scenario 'twice'."

The stars that had been hiding in the battlefield until now revealed themselves in the sky. It was inevitable. Any Constellation who saw the Yoo Joonghyuk before their eyes right now would have no choice but to shine their starlight upon him.

The disasters following him were also paying homage to him from all over.

It was not just the great disasters of Ragnarok.

The 'Gods of Other Worlds' who remembered him from participating in the Great War of Saints and Demons and Journey to the West were roaring simultaneously.

The colors of the sky changed several times, and a massive storm of Probability aftermath swept the area.

Gods from all over the universe looked into Yoo Joonghyuk and paid respect to his tragedy. He had the right to be so.

"He saw the end twice?"

At Yoo Joonghyuk's question, I nodded. Two conclusions. I could write that sentence, but I did not know exactly what that sentence meant. However, just as Kim Dokja did, I simply transcribed the life he had lived and came all the way here.

"Yes."

Without that Yoo Joonghyuk, without the stories of the 1,865th round that he showed, I wouldn't have reached the final scenario of the 41st round.

"Why did he do such a thing?"

"Because he had to save someone."

In the end, he reached the conclusion of a world once again. Solely with the single heart to save just one person. And now he is here.

Just existing in the same space gave a feeling as if the heart was stopping. An existence that saw the end twice. On top of that, Yoo Joonghyuk, who obtained the stage effect of a 'great disaster', was literally a monster.

"You must know that there is almost no chance of winning on our side."

At Yoo Joonghyuk's groaning voice, I could not hide my tension either. Until now, I thought 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' was our greatest adversary. But the moment I saw that Yoo Joonghyuk, I thought that perhaps I had misjudged. Right now, we might be facing an existence in all these worlds that should never be made an enemy.

"We don't know yet."

If so, there was only one way.

"Yoo Joonghyuk. Please let me speak through your mouth for a moment."

"What?"

Perhaps this might be the last chance.

Judging from past memories, the Yoo Joonghyuk before our eyes right now was not in a favorable state toward Snowfield Kim Dokja. In such a situation, what if we could turn him to our side?

"No—"

"I am Yoo Joonghyuk."

I forcibly seized Yoo Joonghyuk's right to speak. Though I could hear Yoo Joonghyuk pouring curses at me inside my head, now was not the time to care about that.

"Yoo Joonghyuk."

When I called that name, the 'Wolf That Swallowed a God' looked at me. I could see his eyes wavering faintly. I opened my mouth again.

"Do you know who I am?"

The Wolf That Swallowed a God looked at me with a strange gaze, then moved his head ever so slightly. It was a small gesture, but even that alone made my heart beat loudly. He was definitely aware of my existence.

"We don't need to fight."

The gaze of the Wolf That Swallowed a God was extremely unstable. To reassure him, I opened my mouth repeatedly.

"I know what you came here for."

The purpose of <Kim Dokja's Company>, including Yoo Joonghyuk, was clear.

A hundred percent Kim Dokja. To reclaim that existence, which now sounds like an illusion, they have endured all time.

"The single Kim Dokja definitely exists. I believe so."

I do not know what kind of world conclusion 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' showed to <Kim Dokja's Company>. But whatever he saw, I could not let the conclusion flow as my brother wanted.

"I will help you."

I knew that a normal request would not turn his heart. Also, if I used a clumsy [Incitement], it would incur great anger instead. If so.

"I will somehow rewrite your conclusion 'again'."

At my oath, the disaster's gaze looking at me changed. He looked into me with serious eyes as if reading the story dwelling inside me. And he spoke.

When he called my name, it felt strange. Was it because I was facing a great existence I had never met face-to-face before? Barely enduring a faint dizziness, I listened to his words.

I could not understand. Why was that 'Yoo Joonghyuk' of all people saying such a thing? I retorted as if resisting [Fate].

"I know why you are standing there. Probably Snowfield Kim Dokja—'Snow White' persuaded you. But—"

Right now, the presence of 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' was not felt from Yoo Joonghyuk. Even if 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' intervened, if it was Yoo Joonghyuk who could use the power of the 1,865th round, he would be able to shake off that dominance. If so, the Yoo Joonghyuk over there right now was standing there of his own pure will.

"You also know what will happen if Snowfield Kim Dokja becomes the 'single Kim Dokja', don't you?"

I spoke with earnestness.

"If he becomes the 'single Kim Dokja', this worldline will be destroyed."

The sentiment of Yoo Joonghyuk returning was colder than expected. Did a feeling of backlash arise at that response? Words blurted out of me involuntarily.

"Didn't you guys already twist the history that was written?"

Perhaps those words were something that should never have been said to Yoo Joonghyuk who experienced the 1,865th round.

A story echoing emptily in his memory. Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1,865th round spoke.

A voice like a very old sigh. At the feeling of despair dwelling in that voice, I bit my lower lip several times. Was Yoo Joonghyuk regretting it? Having undergone a 'group regression' once again with his companions. Jumping into the 1,865th round. Repeating all that history to save Kim Dokja—was he perhaps regretting it?

"You were not wrong."

I spoke, staring into his sadly distorted eyes.

"Just because you reached an unwanted conclusion doesn't mean that the entire process was wrong. You did your best. You..."

Even if Kim Dokja could not return to them, Kim Dokja must have read their story. He must have read and reread that history of struggle, the stories of the people who loved him. And he would have been happy. But the current me could not fully prove that story.

Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1,865th round looked at me with dark eyes and spoke.

As if further conversation was useless, his hand grasped the 'Black Heavenly Demon Sword'.

When the great disaster's sword moved, for an instant, it felt as if the world was being crushed. If the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st round had not reclaimed control of his body in time, I would have fainted on the spot, unable to withstand the shock.

Kuddddeuk!

A strike as if bending space-time. For a moment, the curved Dark Heavenly Moon Spear barely blocked that strike.

"Now you must know. He is a guy who cannot be communicated with through conversation."

Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st round spoke, gritting his teeth. Toward us, the great disaster was walking.

I simply wanted to pin my hopes on it. I wanted to find a way to avoid the scheduled tragedy. But as always, scenarios usually flow only in the worst direction. Perhaps because this is the story this world wants.

Rumbleeee!

The great disaster slowly raising his status. Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st round nervously called me.

"Kim Dokja—"

"It can't be helped."

"What?"

I hoped that this development alone would not come to pass. Hoping a miracle unwritten anywhere would occur, so that this 'stage' alone would not unfold.

"The time has come now."

The gloomy sky brightened radiantly. Then, along with a roaring sound, thunderbolts fell from the sky. A story of pure electric lightning with a brightness equal to, or perhaps greater than, Yoo Joonghyuk's Breaking the Sky Sword Lightning. It was a strike that even the 'Wolf That Swallowed a God' had to raise his sword to defend against.

He was an existence possessing the core story of this 'Ragnarok'. And one of the protagonists of this 'Ragnarok'.

Even though he was a star I disliked so much, his appearance was welcome this time.

"You—"

Seeing the star that descended beside us with thunderbolts, Yoo Joonghyuk opened his eyes wide.

'All-Father' Odin.

Stories rising softly from his entire body began to cover the surrounding battlefield. Like flowers blooming enchantingly, the entire night sky transformed into a cluster blooming flowers of lightning.

A landscape that even I, who had already witnessed the stories of countless Myth-grade Constellations, could not help but admire.

Finally, the time had come to recreate the stage of 'Ragnarok'.

Every time Odin walked forward step by step, his body grew larger and larger. A Myth-grade Constellation. His true body, claiming to be the strongest in the <Star Stream> alongside Zeus of <Olympus>, was revealing itself on the battlefield.

At that moment, Odin's transmission pierced into my ears.

As I looked at his back, a transmission came once again.

A voice as if foreseeing the end of this story. I nodded and replied.

"Understood."

As if that was enough, Odin stood in front of the 1,865th round Yoo Joonghyuk.

In response to his story, a wolf-shaped aura was wavering from Yoo Joonghyuk's entire body.

This was the scheduled battlefield of myth. Recognizing him, Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1,865th round frowned.

It seemed the two existences had already engaged in a fierce battle once. As the lightning-shaped scar remaining on Yoo Joonghyuk's neck emitted a pure white light, a red glow hovered over the sword scars covering Odin's upper body. The wounds inflicted on each other's incarnation bodies were resonating with each other's stories.