939 Episode 55 Giant Tree (5)

The approaching Breaking the Sky Sword Saint—I had a gut feeling the moment I saw her, now an Outer God.

Not all Constellations classified as 'Myth-grade' are equal. Just as the 'Demon King of Salvation', who had just reached Myth-grade in two days, and the 'Seat of Lightning', were not on equal footing.

Even using 'Demon King of Salvation' mode, my maximum output was at the late-stage of Narrative-grade. While there was only a difference between the late-stage of the Narrative-grade and the early-stage of Myth-grade, the scale of their power was on a whole other level.

I looked around and saw Jung Heewon standing frozen, her feet frozen.

Just as an ordinary human would freeze when confronted by a beast, all beings below Narrative-grade would lose their fighting spirit in the face of a Myth-grade Constellation. Of course, guys as crazy as Yoo Joonghyuk would charge regardless of their opponent's status—

"Heewon-ssi! Come to your senses!"

Jung Heewon didn't budge despite my shout. She must have been overwhelmed by the Mythical status, completely out of her mind.

Damn it.

Breaking the Sky Sword Saint was charging toward me.

I quickly closed the distance between us and raised my voice.

"Nameless Fear, reveal your name immediately!"

I didn't know exactly what 'that thing' was disguised as the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint. To interpret the Fear, I first needed to identify its source.

Is this because I had forcibly unleashed the power of the 'King of Fear'? I felt a shiver run through my body, and dizzying sparks began to course through my veins.

Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's pitch-black eyes stared at me.

Those who ask for the name of something are obligated to bear the weight of that name.

The Constellations, belatedly confirming the power of the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, flashed a fierce light in the air.

Tsutsutsutsutsutsu!

The Impossible Chivalry. That was the name of the Fear into which the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint had evolved.

Faced with that Fear, I opened my mouth again.

"I…!"

There are various ways to interpret Fear when faced with it. You can assimilate into it, or understand it.

"I have not come to harm you!"

Or you can [Incite] Fear.

"Breaking the Sky Sword Saint! Wake up! Don't you know who I am? It's me! Kim End, the youngest of the Transcendent Alliance!"

I roared like a madman at the approaching Fear.

"We fought together, didn't we? In the final scenario of the 40th Round—you were there when the Fear Realm was destroyed!"

My words evaded her like a fish slipping through a coarse net.

In fact, inciting a Fear on the scale of a 'Natural Disaster' was absurd. But there was no other way right now. I had to buy time, no matter what.

Now, less than ten paces remained between Breaking the Sky Sword Saint and me. It was time to take a gamble.

"What will Kyrgios think when he sees this?"

No matter how coarse the net, if you keep casting, something will inevitably get caught.

"How pathetic! This is why they say the world is a paradox! Why do you talk so much!"

For the first time, something resembling emotion flashed across her pitch-black eyes.

I seized the opportunity and continued to babble.

"Remember your disciple! That damned handsome man with your exact style! What would he say if he found out you were fooled by a story and ended up like this!"

Her steps, which had been drawing near, suddenly stopped.

"Do you know why he comes to you every time he regresses? Why, despite so many betrayals, he trusts you? Why does he confide in you alone—"

The moment I spoke, a pitch-black energy began to flow from Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's entire body.

"Yes, that's right. Yoo Joonghyuk! If you've come to your senses, you should go slap that damned disciple's ass…"

The moment I met Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's gaze, I realized something.

The aura of D-Coins rippled through her body. The coins, made from my brother's flesh and blood, were disrupting my [Incite] and strengthening Breaking the Sky Sword Saint.

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

"Dokja-ssi."

Jung Heewon, just as she regained consciousness, turned to me. I gave her a slight nod and stepped forward.

Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, approaching, muttered something incomprehensible as she raised her hand. A sword energy that seemed at least several dozen meters thick was surging from her hand.

If I get hit by that, I'll die. Even if the Great Demon King of Salvation descends, not the Demon King of Salvation, he can't stop it.

I summoned the 'Unchanging One'.

"Unchanging One! Now is the time!"

There was a reason I was desperately trying to buy some time.

I needed time to describe this absurd situation in even the slightest detail.

Ultimately, the story of this world is driven by the probability of the Constellations.

All scenarios are regulated by the Constellations that watch over them.

Of course, the reason they were pointing out the probability wasn't simply because of the scenario's difficulty.

They simply cannot tolerate a mere mortal daring to claim a higher status than themselves.

The next moment, sparks flew through the air, and the record of the Constellations' approval gained momentum.

The probability of the <Star Stream> finally began to shift.

Those who manage this world's scenarios are the ones who make that probability a reality.

A Dokkaebi.

A message floated into the air, accompanied by a seemingly joyful, intangible voice.

Asking the name of the Fear, asking questions to buy time, gathering the Constellations, and completing the records to persuade them.

All of this preparation was solely to reach this moment.

The scenario came down like an emergency order.

The content was simple:

Defeat Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, who had become an Outer God.

Looking at the scenario alone, the situation didn't seem to have changed much, but from my perspective, things were a little different.

The fact that 'Fear' has become a scenario means at least a feasible 'strategy' has been created.

As the scenario was created, Breaking the Sky Sword Saint paused for a moment, and I exchanged glances with Jung Heewon.

'Heewon-ssi.'

Jung Heewon replied.

'Are you sure?'

I nodded.

And then, as if we had agreed in advance, we started running.

This scenario is based on the records I relayed to the 'Unchangeable One'. In other words, this scenario exists to explain Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's 'unreasonable strength'.

The moment Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's slowly moving eyes fixed on me, I pointed into the air and shouted.

"Yoo Joonghyuk!"

Of course, Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't there. Fortunately, Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, whose intelligence had been slightly diminished, followed my finger and stared blankly into space.

I stared at the pitch-black bush where Breaking the Sky Sword Saint had first appeared.

"Over there!"

Perhaps, deep within this forest, something that gave rise to the 'Myth-grade Breaking the Sky Sword Saint' must be hidden.

And of course, the place it was hidden was—

Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's sword moved. A strike reminiscent of Zeus or Odin's thunderbolt, a strike that would shatter the heavens.

"Now!"

The moment the lightning struck, we were thrust into the pitch-black bushes by a hair's breadth.

We staggered to our feet, a pain that felt like our bodies were being crushed.

"This isn't the end. They'll catch up soon."

Before Breaking the Sky Sword Saint could find us, we first had to understand this forest.

However, the moment we were confronted with the spectacle before us, both Jung Heewon and I were momentarily lost in our own minds.

Myeonggyeongmok.

It referred to the titanic ability to read others' emotions. But what unfolded before our eyes were not eyes.

What unfolded before our eyes—

A gigantic tree, its size almost beyond comprehension.

"Ah..."

The tree, stretching toward distant galaxies, branched into dozens of branches, covering the sky.

The moment I reached out to the tree, a story spoke to me.

Only then did I understand what this giant tree was. It was Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's annual rings. It was the sum total of the history she had built while reigning as the god of Murim.

Jung Heewon muttered, unable to hide her awe.

"So this is... Master."

"No, not the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint we know."

"Huh?"

Even if she reigned as a deity of Murim for a long time, could the story of one person be this vast?

I looked up at the sky. Then, the memories clinging to the branches spoke to me.

Every branch that reached the sky was etched with her death.

Some Breaking the Sky Sword Saints died in a combined attack by the returnees.

Some Breaking the Sky Sword Saints died fighting the Constellations to protect Yoo Joonghyuk.

Breaking the Sky Sword Saint was neither a Returnee nor Reincarnated. There was no way Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, living the life of a mere human, could have experienced so many deaths.

Memories spanning thousands, if not tens of thousands, of years, etched onto the tree twinkled brightly like stars.

Every time Yoo Joonghyuk visited Murim, he would come to her and tell her what had happened in the past.

No, to be precise, he didn't even need to tell her. By simply releasing the mental barrier, Breaking the Sky Sword Saint could access Yoo Joonghyuk's history through the [Myeonggyeongmok].

Perhaps that statement was false.

There was at least one person, a tree that had endured his years with him.

The master Yoo Joonghyuk trusted more than anyone else, and relied on more than anyone else.

Every time Yoo Joonghyuk returned, this tree would have continued to grow. Hearing of his tragedy, remembering his death.

It would have accumulated rings.

The one who listened to his story, grieving the fate of her disciple, who must fight alone against the destruction of the world.

From now on, I must cut her down.