Ch 398: Ep. 75 - A certain heart, V

The Demon King and its stunned expression could be seen in the distance.

The hull of the ship was unscathed even after getting struck by the [Star Destruction Bullet] fired by Barbatos.

The bullet capable of erasing even a star couldn't penetrate past that turtle-like back shell.

A ghostly armada of twelve ships used the approaching 'Dark Warriors' as the waves and floated up. Soon after, their cannons began firing in unison.

Barbatos gnashed its teeth at the sudden barrage of cannon fire.

The Demon King's own battleship, [Nighthawk], was truly sturdy. Although it wasn't assembled with futuristic cutting-edge technology, still, it was a weapon created by painstakingly gathering Stories of the Demon Realm. [Ghost Fleet] alone was insufficient to deal with this enemy.

However, Lee Jihye didn't panic. No, she simply observed her enemy with a calm, composed expression.

Ku-gugugu!!!

As the [Ghost Fleet] continued its barrage, the reddish light was gathered in the dragon-like figurehead of the ship covering the sky.

Jung Heewon looked up at Lee Jihye's current appearance.

She had no way of knowing how the latter managed to come here or what sort of a worldview she had experienced. The one thing she was certain of, though, was the knowledge that the trio of kids managed to survive something just as harsh as the tragedy she had to live through in the 'Kaizenix Archipelago'.

Barbatos's side finished charging up its attack first and fired it.

Kuwaaaaah-!!

The force behind the shot was at least double that of the previous attack. No matter how strong Lee Jihye's battleship was, it wouldn't be easy to defend against this particular [Star Destruction Bullet].

Four, five ships at the front of the [Ghost Fleet] couldn't endure against the magical energy behind the attack and were extinguished immediately.

Even then, Lee Jihye calmly waited. Until that cannon shell moving at a slow-but-assured speed reached right in front of her nose.

Just a little bit more. A bit more.

Fragments of Stories, scattering in the air, brushed past her cheeks.

And just before the Story of [Ghost Fleet], being destroyed one after the other, could reach her and her two companions like a wall of white bubbles…

Lee Jihye lowered her sword.

"Fire!!"

Everywhere was seemingly dyed in bright light. Violent, vicious rebound rocked the hull. Strong winds wildly whipped her already-undone hair about.

The Story's energy shooting out from the dragon head swept absolutely everything away in the vicinity. The [Star Destruction Bullet] dyeing its surroundings in darkness had been extinguished already.

The Story Weapon, [Turtle Dragon].

That was the name of the weapon that the 'Maritime War God' had commissioned when he came to visit the Next City a long time ago, but didn't have the chance to collect it yet.

Accompanied by a loud explosion, the sounds of something being destroyed could be heard, along with a Demon King's horrible scream.

Lee Jihye issued another order. "Fire!!"

Her voice didn't waver in the slightest, as if to spit out all of her accumulated grievances.

The [Ghost Fleet] re-emerged and began their simultaneous bombardment once more, while the [Turtle Dragon's] main cannon also spat out another round, as well.

"Fire!!"

Everything on the opposing side of the battlefield was gradually disappearing – Barbatos's battleship, the Dark Warriors, everything.

All those hoping to convert Jung Heewon's and Lee Hyunsung's story to a tragedy were now the subjects of Lee Jihye's wrath.

'Our Stories aren't for your entertainment', she said.

She wobbled slightly as the shelling continued on. However, she never faltered once. She was no longer that girl who feared the ocean, but a commander of this vessel.

"Fire!!"

Kuwaaaah-!!

Under the explosions of the energy created by the cannon barrage, Barbatos's Status was steadily being erased.

And until every single one of the Demon King's Stories were completely gone, Lee Jihye didn't let up with the bombardment, and ordered their firing again and again.

Jung Heewon looked up at that spectacle.

That girl was clearly straining herself.

Tsu-chuchuchut!!

Sparks now filled up the battlefield. Two kids broke past the continuous chain of explosions and landed on the ground. They were Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung.

"Heewon unni… Are you alright?"

"Noona!"

Aided by the kids, Jung Heewon carried Lee Hyunsung to the battleship, and approached Lee Jihye at the deck still commanding the bombardment.

"Jihye-yah…"

Their opponent was a top-ranking Demon King. Even if they acquired a [Story Weapon], even if they borrowed the Probability of <Kim Dokja's Company>, and even after the Narrative-grade Constellation 'Maritime War God' had come to help…

A price had to be paid in order to create a miracle like this.

"Jihye-yah, it's okay now."

Jung Heewon knew why Lee Jihye was so furious right now. The moment she stepped into the battlefield, she had figured out what happened here. And that was why she didn't hold back at all.

The scenario messages could be heard coming from the distance.

It was a truly splendid feat achieved by only three Incarnations.

A Demon King ranked 8th in the rankings, as well as three others, had lost their lives in this battlefield.

Indirect messages continued to stream in among the outpouring of cheers from the Reincarnators.

Lee Jihye wiped away the blood trickling down from her nose and smiled brightly. Even though she was smiling, she was crying, too.

"Unni."

Jung Heewon stared up at those messages with dazed eyes.

The 117th regional conflict didn't end in the way <Kim Dokja's Company> had planned.

Well, Lee Jihye belatedly joining the battle didn't know of the plans their Nebula had for the 'Great War of Saints and Demons', that was why.

However, it wasn't as if their plan had completely failed, either.

Jung Heewon looked at the Infinity symbol that had appeared on the backs of her hands. She acquired them after awakening the new Attribute, 'Judge of Destruction'.

Kim Dokja hadn't told her about this marking before.

"…Hyunsung hyung?"

The eyes of Lee Gilyoung checking for the sagging Lee Hyunsung's pulse grew wider. Shin Yoosung was taken by surprise too, and hurriedly pressed her ear to the unmoving man's chest.

Jung Heewon watched them and spoke in a suffering tone of voice. "Hyunsung-ssi is…"

…Dead.

She couldn't finish her sentence, however.

Because she thought that it'd become reality if she ended up saying it.

They weren't even given enough time to grieve. In the world of the <Star Stream>, the scenario would never look back to the past, that was why.

"…What's this?"

Just as Lee Jihye muttered out in confusion, the regional conflict zone was rocked by a dull, heavy tremor.

The voice of a Dokkaebi could be heard within the wild explosion of sparks going 'Tsu-chuchut!'

The time and space torn asunder by the heavens and earth violently convulsing began coalescing back into one.

By the time they opened their eyes, Jung Heewon and the kids found themselves standing on a seemingly-endless vast plain.

The skies were dark and gloomy, while the reddish ground was filled by the Story fragments and broken skulls of angels and demons that had rotted away a long time ago.

This very location was where the final battle of the first 'Great War of Saints and Demons' took place.

Constellations and Incarnations participating in other regional conflicts began gathering here.

"…Hey, Shin Yoosung, over there…"

"It'll be fine. We levelled up plenty, didn't we?"

The gathered Status was so great that just by standing in this field made their spirits falter. Jung Heewon couldn't even begin to fathom just how many Constellations were participating in this great battle.

Gazes that had actual form behind them could become dangerous.

Jung Heewon stood at the front of the group even though it was hard to steady herself. She was from <Kim Dokja's Company>. And that was why she couldn't display any weakness in front of those Nebulas.

Just as another wave of enormous Status was rushing towards her…

"Jung Heewon."

…Someone supported her from her back.

"You really look terrible. And what's the matter with your hair?"

"I don't think you're in any position to talk about someone else."

Jung Heewon smiled dryly, causing Han Sooyoung and her soot-covered face to shoot back a glare. The former then saw the Constellation following behind the latter.

"Uriel…"

Uriel, full of wounds, was looking back at Jung Heewon. There were faint traces of turbid aura around her wings. The latter saw that, and almost immediately felt relieved for some reason.

Uriel hadn't betrayed her. Only a brief exchange of glances was enough to know that.

"It's alright, Uriel."

The Archangel closed her mouth shut. Jung Heewon quietly observed her Sponsor for a little while longer, before casting her gaze lower to the ground.

They were a Constellation and an Incarnation; they didn't need to say something to understand what was on each other's minds.

A humongous Gate opened up on the other side of the battlefield. Its size was on another scale compared to the ones before.

Archangels and Valkyries entered the battlefield as the golden-coloured horns blew noisily.

…

At that moment, Jung Heewon's irises, cast down to the ground, began blazing once more.

Sympathy?

Utterly disgusting.

If only you people consented to the 'Hour of Judgement' earlier. If only…

The leader of <Eden> made his entrance under the brilliant, blinding light show. Jung Heewon squeezed the [Sword of judgement] tight and glared at Metatron.

As if they were waiting for this moment, the others began making their entrance from the opposing Gate.

It was the Great Demon King Agares, 2nd in the rankings, as well as other Demon Kings.

The top-ranked Demon Kings didn't cower one bit from the auras of the Archangels. As their numbers increased, the complexions of Jung Heewon and the kids got poorer.

Only then did they realize what kind of a battlefield this was. They also realized what kind of Nebulas they were about to face off against.

And finally, how small <Kim Dokja's Company> actually was.

There were countless strong enemies present.

As the threatening, intimidating auras of the Constellations aimed at <Kim Dokja's Company> bore down on them, the members heard their own breathing become heavier and quicker.

Jung Heewon flinched and took a look behind to find Anna Croft looking at her with both of her hands in the air.

"No need to be that wary. I'm not your enemy right now."

Just before she could ask what those words meant…

A corner of the sky seemed to collapse and a man wearing a black coat made his entrance.

He proudly stood tall; the viciously-screeching edges of the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] bared its fangs at the Constellations.

The ends of Han Sooyoung's lips twitched as she made her comment. "Again. You're acting like the MC again."

"Master!"

It was only one person, yet the atmosphere of the battlefield seemed to change simply from his appearance.

Yoo Joonghyuk scanned the companions and spoke. "With the exception of one fool, everyone's here."

"No, everyone is here now."

That last voice belonged to the one they were all waiting for. Jung Heewon didn't know what to do with the emotions suddenly welling up inside her, but still, shifted her gaze over in his direction.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him what those bastards of Constellations did in this place, but…

"I know, Heewon-ssi."

Kim Dokja kitted out in his white coat was silently looking at Lee Hyunsung on the ground.