965 Episode 57 Twilight of the Gods (8)

—You really made that bet?

Anna Croft, having heard everything I said, looked as shocked as I had when I read the 'Apocalypse Prophecy'.

"Yes, well."

—We could have failed. If the constellations hadn't intervened in the bet, we could have been annihilated.

I looked at the 'golden dice' shining brightly in the air and said,

"I knew they'd intervene."

Before answering the summons, I told Jung Heewon about the bet in the 'Hall of Golden Dice'.

The D-coins in the Ascension Hall are also used in higher-level scenarios. However, judging by the state of Valhalla Hall, the 'D-coins' in this area were already practically drying up.

"They absolutely need D-Coins to survive. There are only two ways to secure them in this area: win the game or—"

—Steal them from other incarnations or constellations.

I nodded. As expected, the clever Kim Anna had already figured out my intentions. Well, it was even stranger that Anna Croft, a former Las Vegas gambler, didn't know that.

All the bets in the hall were rigged by Skuld, the organizer, and a few 'whales'.

"With the blind money rolling in, there's no way they wouldn't act."

—Do you have any idea what you could do with that much D-Coins?

200,000 D-Coins. Enough to build a team of elite warriors, or even better.

In short, if those D-Coins were converted into summoning costs…

—You were definitely going to win the next match.

"Does that mean we're giving up this match?"

—You could be the next one to be resurrected.

"Then you're going to die."

—I'm not afraid of death anymore.

Do people who've experienced the same world hundreds of times all say similar things?

A gloomy story permeated her body, having endured hundreds of 'preliminary battles'.

And I knew what that story foreshadowed.

Kim Anna suffered from 'regression depression'. If Yoo Joonghyuk had heard about it, he'd have been so shocked he'd have eaten dirt.

In any case, knowing the symptoms, I couldn't just ignore it, so I spoke.

"You're okay, but what about Selena Kim?"

'Regression depression' is a mental illness that corrodes the spirit of the incarnation, but there's one extreme solution: to place an even heavier burden on the regressor's heavy shoulders.

"If you give up so easily, what are the people who trusted you and participated in this competition going to do?"

This was the contradiction of 'regression depression'. The more the regressor reflected on their responsibilities and duties, the more they struggled to regain their sanity amidst the pain. Reclaim it.

Of course, the price would be worse the next time depression struck, but for now, there was no other way.

"Get your head together. We haven't lost yet."

Fortunately, it seemed to have worked, as Anna Croft's gaze began to brighten.

—Anyway… It's a shame you used the D-Coins like that. If it were those D-Coins…

"I also know how much 200,000 D-Coins are worth."

But here, I absolutely had to use them.

"If I was just going to win one game and move up, like you said, I wouldn't have used them either."

—What's that…

"Anyway, since we have time, let's do what we can. Let's…"

I slowly turned my gaze. Anna Croft also turned her head in my direction.

There.

There was Selena Kim, concentrating, making a specific hand gesture.

Selena Kim's unique skill, which allows her to search the battlefield by summoning small fox guardian spirits.

I slowly opened my eyes and asked her, "Have you found the 'Bush'?"

Selena Kim nodded and relayed something to me through telepathy. For a moment, I felt the eyes of the battlefield turn towards me.

Anna Croft's telepathy came.

—Isn't that why you've been talking so much...

I gave a faint nod to the clever Anna Kim.

They're pretending not to hear me, but... There's no way those sinister bastards wouldn't listen to me. An incarnation that's undeniably intimidating from the moment they meet is babbling such nonsense. What constellation wouldn't be interested?

—Was your goal from the beginning to buy time to find the 'bush'?

I deliberately opened my mouth to keep the constellations' attention on me. That way, Selena Kim's search foxes could be active.

I had just received information about the various bushes hidden in this area from the 'Unchanging One'.

I briefly glanced over the bushes' appearance conditions and then slowly turned around.

There were the incarnations of our team, still trembling in fear.

Overwhelmed by the constellations' aura, the incarnations were frozen in place, unable to fight or flee. I stared at them silently, opening my mouth.

"Everyone."

I felt everyone's gaze focused on me.

"I won't ask you to fight with me."

With the current level of [Incite], I could temporarily awaken the constellations from their fear.

"This is a battle with no clear chance of winning, so why risk your life fighting?"

Regardless of how they got here, the fact that they've reached Scenario 85 means they're among the elite in their region.

These incarnations have accumulated a fair amount of stories and have a certain understanding of the mechanics of this 'Star Stream'. They don't need complicated words of encouragement.

"Run. It's not shameful, so run until the very end. That's the last fight you can have on this damned battlefield."

The words I delivered with [Incite] were just empty, meaningless words anyone could say. Words I wouldn't have even bothered to utter.

"Survive, please."

Even so, the reason I opened my mouth to speak was simple.

Words telling them not to give up. Words telling them to live. Words that could be spoken purely for the sake of someone's survival, in a world filled with spectacle and mockery.

"Follow me, everyone! I know where the bushes are!"

Selena Kim exchanged glances with me and began to run, and one of the previously hesitant incarnations began to chase after her.

"Uuugh!"

"I've been trying to die here all this time—"

"Die only! I won't die!"

As if trying to give meaning to my empty cheers, the incarnations began to run away, screaming desperately.

However, the unfortunate truth was this:

This <Star Stream> was particularly cruel to the desperate struggles of the incarnations.

A bolt of lightning struck from the air, and the Thunderbird's lightning struck right in front of Selena Kim's nose.

"Kwaaaaaaa!"

The incarnations running ahead screamed and fell to the ground.

The reason the constellations refused to let us go was clear. They were holding on, not killing us, because of the stakes in the 'bet'.

The reason they were holding us back now was probably to save them the trouble of searching for us, who had been scattered.

I briefly held back the dark clouds created by the Thunderbird. I looked at him and walked towards him.

"Newbies need to be treated warmly. Do you think your game will work properly if all the newbies quit? Oh, you didn't read that far?"

"『Even a novice can master the game in a week』."

I took a quick breath, then circulated the story in my heart strongly.

Along with the dazzling story that enveloped my entire body, [Way of the Wind] took hold at my feet. I soared into the air, overlaying [Baekcheongganggi] on my 'Unbreakable Faith'. I swung my sword towards the sky, and a surge of electricity struck the dark clouds in the sky. The dark clouds, crushed by my attack, instantly disintegrated.

The incarnations, hastily regaining their senses at my mantra, began to run again. Perhaps because they were concerned about me. The constellations didn't rush to chase the incarnations.

Instead, on the battlefield. They were curious about my display of aura.

Unlike in 'New Murim District', the constellations didn't seem overly flustered despite my aura.

The 'Demon King of Salvation' mode radiates aura comparable to that of a late-stage narrative-grade.

But over there, there were three constellations that reached the late-stage narrative-grade.

Even the rest of the team were at least mid-stage narrative-grade, so it seemed they wouldn't lose their composure.

The constellations each began to radiate aura, as if ready to easily trample on me.

Anna Croft hurriedly intervened in the heated atmosphere of the battlefield.

"Constellations! Everyone, please stop! Have you forgotten that there's a wager at stake?"

The 'General of Banaras' responded with a sarcastic remark.

Watching the approaching constellations, I pulled Anna Croft back.

Anna Croft spoke, seemingly frustrated with the situation.

—Why on earth is this happening?

Did I do something wrong? With all the incarnations fleeing, we can't even have a final showdown.

"It's right to save at least one more person, Miss Kim Anna. You should go too."

—No.

"I don't need your help. You don't even know the future, so even if you stay by my side, it's useless."

In the thick silence, the pain she felt was palpable. But right now, there was no time to dwell on it.

"Help Selena Kim. You know this is her 'first match'."

"It's not just the constellations that are at risk on the battlefield. Are you just going to let them die like this?"

While lacking in strength and skill, no player has gained more experience in this 'outpost' than Anna Croft. Just having her with them will greatly increase the survival chances of Selena Kim and the Incarnations.

If she can successfully complete this 'outpost', she will receive compensation for her long suffering.

So—

"You haven't forgotten your plan, have you? Hide well and gather the 'prophecies'. That's the only way we can win."

At least she can't die here.

"Don't worry about me. You know who I am. I'm the Evil Sophist, the One Who Deceived the Stars…"

—You're not Cheon Inho, are you?

I never expected her to say that.

That's right. Now, I wasn't 'Cheon Inho' to her. I wasn't the 'Evil Sophist' or 'the One Who Deceived the Stars'.

—Mr. Kim End-nim.

She called me by a name that only meant something to me.

—If you say that, then there must be a reason. I guess I'll have to listen to you again, helpless and stupid.

"It's nice to hear that. Have I gained some trust now?"

—I don't trust you. I just…

With the rustle of her clothes, I felt Anna Croft turn away. She had finally made up her mind.

—I'm just trusting your 'bet'.

Hearing her footsteps retreat, I let out a light sigh.

—The person I know, the one who puts their life on the line, would have no reason to make such a risky bet.

It seems I couldn't fool her, even if I didn't know about others.

I looked up at the small golden dice that had been floating above my head for a while. This small dice was a symbol that only appeared to those who participated in the bets of the 'Hall of Golden Dice'.

Several of the constellations frowned, as if they had belatedly noticed the symbol.

A small golden dice was also floating above their heads.

"But."

"Are there people who bet money thinking they'll lose?"

"Oh, actually, that's a lie."

"Actually, I can win even without collecting prophecies."

The constellations, with bitter smiles on their faces, turned to each other and said.

Listening to their advice, I recalled the words of the 'Mass Production Manufacturer'.

The 'General of Banara' bared his teeth and thrust his club at me.

"You think so?"

That was when the constellations' expressions changed.

I could tell even without activating [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint]. They were probably hearing something unusual right now.

The voice of the Mass-Production Manufacturer overlapped their expressions, which were changing in real time.

Some amounts elicit ridicule, some envy, and some greed.

And some—

"Why are you all doing that?"

The mere existence of it inspires a kind of awe.

The constellations began to back away, as if they could see the numbers floating above my head.

I grinned at them.