952 Episode 56 Myth (4)

It didn't take long to defeat Apollo.

He was a Constellation who had reached 'mythical' status through a leap of faith, but he couldn't properly control his own rampaging stories

As the 'Fears' arising from the Forest of Fear roared and charged, the black sun's corona shattered.

The pitch-black sun listlessly shed stories that weren't its own. Vidar's and Halla's stories let out resentful cries.

The blade gliding gracefully sliced ​​through the dazzling light. For a moment, the sunlight was disrupted, and Apollo's face appeared through the split shadow of the black sun.

"I envy you all."

Apollo's voice, even the strength to utter his mantras, vanished. Watching Apollo, about to leave, I briefly considered another possibility for him.

"If it were another world—"

He was still a villain in the 40th round.

But I didn't bother telling him that story. Instead, I said,

"Yes, maybe it would have been different in another worldline."

I don't know if that comforted Apollo. However, in his final moments, he looked at me with a strange expression.

Surely, such a worldline exists. However, in this one, his role was merely a medicine man.

Sugagak!

Apollo's legend crumbled under the simultaneous sword strikes of me and Yoo Joonghyuk.

The Constellations scattered, and the black heat that had threatened the forest subsided.

As soon as I defeated Apollo, stories poured from the air.

I saw the roaring Fears around me chomping down on a few fallen story fragments.

The 'Kim Dokja Fragment' Apollo held was also absorbed into me.

A faint heat bubbled near my heart.

Memories possessed by 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'.

Perhaps this was what motivated Apollo.

Following this, the scenario interpretation reward message also appeared.

I felt the power of the 'Impossible Agreement', a Catastrophe-level Fear, seeping into me.

The extraordinary reward details made feel amazed for a moment.

Even so, a sub-scenario rewarding millions of coins?

Considering the coin inflation caused by D-Coins, it's understandable, but...

And now, I've even got an exclusive trait.

The trait I just received was exactly what I needed.

The 500 tributes were a reward from the 'Breaking the Sky Sword Saint' in this 'main scenario'.

Only those who acquired this tribute could escape through 'Ascension' in the 'Ascension Scenario'.

However, the 'Impossible Agreement' was no longer a scourge of Murim. In other words, the incarnations no longer needed to acquire tribute to escape the 'Destruction Scenario'.

So, it would be natural for the 'Destruction Scenario' to be withdrawn soon...

But is the scenario still ongoing?

Amidst a sense of foreboding, Yoo Joonghyuk, having collected the scattered stories, quickly approached. He glanced around the spot where the deep sun had disappeared and said, "I'm going back now."

Where the sun had vanished, a swirling portal appeared. Perhaps if we ventured out there, we could escape the forest.

"I understand. You came in spirit form, didn't you?"

Yoo Joonghyuk nodded.

If 'Midday Tryst' was far enough to not reach properly, then Yoo Joonghyuk must have been somewhere separated from this area, both in time and space.

"Still, I see you received the message."

"You sent a story."

I sent a story about the 'Returnee War'. To be precise, I intertwined the story of the 'Returnee War' with Yoo Joonghyuk's [Fate].

It was a gamble I could take, knowing that Yoo Joonghyuk would never abandon his master, no matter the circumstances.

"But this time, it's too late."

We were staring at the spot where Breaking the Sky Sword Saint had just moments ago. The figure that had been shedding pitch-black tears had vanished.

"Breaking the Sky Sword Saint's soul was never here."

"Was it a thought form that remained here?"

I nodded.

This 'Fear' was originally a condensation of the stories Breaking the Sky Sword Saint left behind. Her soul had likely left the scenario area long ago.

Perhaps it was the price of her thoughts and true stories evolving into 'Fear'.

[Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint], activated in real time, was reading Yoo Joonghyuk. Even in such a vast shadow, Yoo Joonghyuk still couldn't rest.

He knew I was reading him, yet he didn't show it.

"Have you acquired the forest?"

The only consolation I could offer him was to record this horrific story to the end.

"To a certain extent."

I felt the 'forest' of Breaking the Sky Sword Saint stirring within my shadow.

The Fears that emerged from the forest included those on the scale of a Natural Disaster, including the 'Toothed Fin'.

The Fears bared their white fangs at me.

Yoo Joonghyuk, staring at these Fears, said,

"It couldn't have been easy."

Indeed, I nearly died fighting those creatures. Strictly speaking, I couldn't say I was handling them properly.

"I could talk for half a day if I wanted to."

I added, gazing at the distant passageway in the sky.

"I guess we'll have to wait until next time."

In the distance, I could see the portal entrance gradually narrowing. The situation was clear.

Yoo Joonghyuk, sensing the situation, hardened his expression and said, "It looks like they're trying to seal this place completely."

"I have a rough idea of ​​what they are."

Apollo, Vidar, Halla, and numerous other Constellations had fallen victim to this 'World Tree'.

But a scenario of this scale wouldn't have been planned by just three Narrative-grade people.

The Constellations they'd plotted with would have made their move by now.

I knew it instinctively. If I didn't escape now, they'd keep me trapped here until this round's ■■ arrived.

I looked around and saw Yoo Joonghyuk's soul body vanish. Having exhausted all the given probability, he was returning to his original location.

"Let's meet again."

Yoo Joonghyuk replied,

"Survive."

It was a brief greeting for a reunion after eight years. But it was enough. We knew each other were alive, and we knew we were struggling to see the end of this world.

I launched [Way of the Wind] with full force and ran. The surrounding scenery was pushed back.

I leaped into the portal. Time and space felt distorted, and in the distance, something blocked the narrowing entrance.

Story fragments drifted through the air.

I felt a deep symphony.

Cracks appeared between the faintly glowing incarnations. The arrows of the Constellations penetrated through them.

I reached out and embraced her.

"Sein-ssi."

Kyung Sein, whom I held weakly, closed her eyes. I couldn't say thank you or sorry. At that moment, a single emotion dominated me.

Stories began to overflow from my body.

The Constellations I knew were watching me.

My enemies too.

Even Recorders who devour this story. And—

Looking at the sky, ablaze with bright starlight, I finally understood how this entire story began and how it must end.

The shadow of a giant pine tree spread across the floor.

With a piercing sensation in my back, gigantic wings spread out as if to protect me.

The Fears began to unfold. Fears of Catastrophe, Disaster, and Natural Disaster level, all reaching out toward the Constellations. Among them, the one who took the lead in biting the incarnations was 'Toothed Fin'.

With a roar, the Toothed Fin poured out of the guy’s mouth. The Toothed Fin swung a spear knife at the Constellations.

With the prediction of the Recorders, the Outer Gods who returned to the scenario were crying.

"The owner of Fears will return to the <Star Stream>."

As I tamed the Outer Gods from the Fear Realm, I made them one promise.

Beings abandoned by the scenario and turned into 'Fears'’

I had only one promise to make to them.

Just a small space. An ancient fear was rising above that space.

The World Tree of Breaking the Sky Sword Saint grew into a pitch-black shadow, piercing the starry sky.

The Constellations pierced by the branches of the World Tree writhe, spewing out stories.

Several Constellations, sensing the strange turn of events, began to retreat into the darkness.

The ruler of the South Sea Dragon Palace, belatedly realizing the situation, pointed at me and spoke.

The Constellations that had been rushing towards me were devoured by the Fears that erupted around me.

Glancing at the fading starlight, the South Sea Dragon King's mantra subsided.

A massive spark ignited throughout my body. I desperately used my unique traits and stories to quell the aftershock. With a calm expression, I walked towards the Constellations.

It was then that I felt a strange sense of urgency.

Simultaneously, a change occurred within me.

The Constellations screamed in the sky stained with fear. The Constellations that once enjoyed stories were no longer there.

I approached the South Sea Dragon King.

The South Sea Dragon King, whose entire body had been bitten by the Outer Gods, pointed at me, spitting out stories.

The creature staggered back, overcome by the poison, and began to shout.

The South Sea Dragon King, who had been speaking up to that point, fell silent.

My image was reflected in the Constellation's eyes. The Constellation's emotions were transmitted in real time through its swaying eyes.

Shock, grief, and awe.

The blade of 'Unbreakable Faith' slashed at the creature's neck.

I raised my head, suppressing the endless stream of stories swirling within me.

Only when I reached this high sky did it begin to sink in.

Even though so many Constellations had fallen, the sky was still studded with countless Constellations.

But now, only a few twinkle above me.

I slowly turned around and saw the Fears staring up at me. Forgotten things, barely able to record their own sanctity in the fleeting moments, howled and prostrated themselves before me.

With a feeling like a hazy veil was being lifted, the message came.