Chapter 139

The new layer of skin was made of steel . Lee Hyunsung’s body was being reshaped, as if he was another species .

Steel Transformation .

Only the first stage ‘Armour’ was activated but this alone wasn’t the usual power . Lee Hyunsung who mastered stage one was harder than Gong Pildu’s armed fortress and wouldn’t die even after being hit by Yoo Jonghyuk’s Heaven Shaking Sword .

“Li…live…”

The problem was that stage one wasn’t fully activated yet .

-This is the real stigma that Lee Hyunsung-ssi needs to learn .

Lee Hyunsung realized the situation and quickly retreated .

[The Steel Transformation isn’t yet complete . ]

[The stigma can only be used by those who have achieved a story . ]

All sponsors gave a stigma to their incarnations . There were stigmas in the form of gifts and some that could only be used under difficult conditions .

Steel Transformation of the Master of Steel was one of the difficult stigmas .

[The story ‘Proof of Steel’ has begun!]

It was because this stigma required the indirect ‘proof’ of what the constellation had experienced .

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[Proof of Steel]

1 . 「 True steel is born in tens of thousands of quenches . 」

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It was an unkind sentence thrown into the scenario . Lee Hyunsung seemed confused . “What does this mean?”

-The basis of quenching is cooling after a high heat treatment .

“Don’t tell me…”

-It seems right . Please keep your mind straight .

In a sense, it might be fortunate that Jung Heewon was Lee Hyunsung’s opponent . Lee Hyunsung turned pale .

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is interested in the story of this world . ]

[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ wonders how his strength compares . ]

[The constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire has both hands clasped together in a nervous manner . ]

The blazing hellfire turned blue along with the messages of the constellations . Maybe Jung Heewon’s Hell Flames Ignition had increased a level because the flames became deeper and fiercer .

The asphalt mixed with impurities melted from the pure white flames and the high heat turned them into a deadly weapon .

The silver armour instantly started to melt and the scattered foreign materials penetrated the armour like bullets, damaging Lee Hyunsung’s insides . New steel grew from the melted areas but it wasn’t without damage .

“Kuk…!”

Blood emerged from Lee Hyunsung’s mouth .

He would’ve been able to resist Hell Flames Ignition if his Steel Transformation was perfect, but it wasn’t yet . In any case, Hell Flames Ignition was the highest level stigma belonging to the fire property . It was amazing that he didn’t just collapse .

Lee Hyunsung took one step back and screamed . I was pained to see this scene but it wasn’t yet time . Lee Hyunsung’s steel was burning red . A bit more, a bit more…

[The temperature has exceeded the standard value!]

That’s it .

[The quenching has begun . ]

The base of steel was quenching . The heart of this story was to burn in a high temperature above the standard until the body became made of perfect steel .

-Hold on! You can do it!

Fortunately, Lee Hyunsung wasn’t ‘evil . ’

Hell Flames Ignition was a stigma with the ‘fire’ and ‘divine’ properties . If Lee Hyunsung was ‘evil’ then he would’ve already been turned into a pile of ashes from Hell Flames Ignition .

As Lee Hyunsung was enduring, I quickly looked at the information of Jung Heewon .

[The character ‘Jung Heewon’ is currently suffering from ‘Thought Infection . ]

[The character ‘Jung Heewon’ is in a lost state . ]

[The trauma of the character ‘Jung Heewon’ is completely open . ]

…

…That bastard, he completely made a mess of a human’s mind .

「 I can’t forgive them… 」

Nirvana’s Thought Infection pulled all the dark parts of a person’s mind to the surface in order to settle their time in the present .

「 I should kill them . 」

Humans who faced the reality of a cliff where the future had disappeared usually lose hope . This was especially true when the reality was terrible .

In the process, someone would feel despair and collapse while someone else would turn into a beast and release relentless desires .

Some resisted angrily and lose their sense of reason . Once this resignation was repeated, they would find a ‘savior’ to comfort themselves . They would martyr themselves for this saviour, sacrificing their humble lives before the great ‘present . ’

「 Kil all the men . 」

I seemed to know what her trauma was . Jung Heewon’s initial attribute of ‘crouching’ was based on a strong psychological shock . Looking back on the first moment I found her, it wasn’t unusual for her to have a strong hostility towards ‘men . ’

“This… is this Heewon-ssi’s heart?” Lee Hyunsung asked from amidst the blazing flames .

-Can you hear her?

“That, a bit…”

I never thought that Lee Hyunsung would be able to hear the messages of ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint . ’ Was it because I was immersed in the first person viewpoint? Did Lee Hyunsung feel my emotions as much as I understood Lee Hyunsung?

Lee Hyunsung spoke like he had forgotten the heat . “This is Dokja-ssi’s ability?”

-Yes . It is my skill .

I had to confess because there was nothing good about lying here .

-I apologize for hiding it until now .

However, Lee Hyunsung didn’t seem upset . “I’m a bit embarrassed . My heart…”

The second wave came before he could finish . The intense heat melted the incarnations in the surroundings and the area was filled with lava .

The entire ground melted from the powerful heat . The buildings sank with the ground . Now I had to make a decision .

-You should head in the direction of suppression .

“Won’t I hurt Heewon-ssi?”

Lee Hyunsung was at the disadvantage but he was worrying about the other person . Still, Lee Hyunsung’s words weren’t wrong .

-Her heart is hurt .

The most obvious solution was to kill Nirvana or resolve Jung Heewon’s trauma . The former was impossible now and the latter…

I wouldn’t have been so worried if Jung Heewon was a character with a big role in the original novel .

Jung Heewon was a newly discovered person and I didn’t know her well . The only thing I could do was take care of the symptoms, not the cause .

“Dokja-ssi . ”

-Let’s try it .

We nodded as one body . The distance from Jung Heewon was get far because he had stepped back a bit . I had to be close to her to try this method .

The skin of steel grew to cover Lee Hyunsung’s face . The muscles all over Lee Hyunsung’s body were twitching . He was like a silver knight as the steel properly covered his body . The silver knight started to run through the flames .

In accordance with this, the wall of flames became higher . It was a warning not to come closer . He wasn’t allowed here .

“Uwooooh!”

Lee Hyunsung acted like it was training and ran straight through the flames . He was burned again and again . Steel pieces melted and fell to the ground . His eyes were becoming blurred from the heat .

“Heewon-ssi! We will save you!”

It was one step .

“We… are…!”

Once again, another step .

“Heewon-ssi!”

I watched Lee Hyunsung and had a thought . I had forgotten for a while because I could hear the hearts of other people . Originally, reaching a person’s heart was a difficult and painful thing .

Lee Hyunsung and I clearly saw the world from the same eyes but we didn’t see the same thing . Lee Hyunsung’s heart bursting with emotions was proof of this .

It was a strange feeling . Originally, it wasn’t supposed to be like this . The story changed thanks to me .

“Uhhh… kuoooh!” Lee Hyunsung’s knees collapsed when there were ten steps left .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has reached the limits of his mental state . ]

I was awakened by my shaking vision . Even if the story changed, this was still Ways of Survival .

[The constellation ‘Master of Steel’ is looking at his incarnation with sad eyes . ]

All characters struggled in utter despair . This was Ways of Survival .

-Hyunsung-ssi .

Still, I was sometimes curious when reading Ways of Survival . Had the author of Ways of Survival regretted the ‘ending’ that he created?

-Leave it to me for a moment .

[The exclusive skill, ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking!]

[The ‘1st person supporting role viewpoint’ is extremely active . ]

Lee Hyunsung’s consciousness was shaken and my consciousness entered . Control of his body was transferred and the senses of the entire body were strongly activated .

Lee Hyunsung was suffering from this pain . It was enough to make him crazy . The whole body burned in the flames and the melted bone joints and tendons made it feel like my limbs were cut off .

I used Lee Hyunsung’s voice and shouted at Jung Heewon . “Jung Heewon-ssi! You will die if this continues!”

There was no response from Jung Heewon . She just kept emitting the hellish flames .

“Lee Hyunsung will die! Do you want to kill Lee Hyunsung-ssi?”

I raised Lee Hyunsung’s legs with all my strength and moved forward a bit . One step, two steps, and… Shit, it was too hot .

I heard a voice as my knees bent from the pain . ‘Dokja-ssi . I’ll do it . ’

It was Lee Hyunsung’s voice .

‘I must do it . ’

[The will of steel has responded!]

I nodded . After all, I was a ‘reader . ’ I must not forget my duty . My consciousness left and Lee Hyunsung regained his body again . Lee Hyunsung’s body was regaining a perfect steel shape .

“Heewon-ssi . ”

The blazing hellfire made her face blue . This fire would eventually gnaw at her . Her tears dried as soon as they fell down .

Lee Hyunsung acted unexpectedly towards her . “Excuse me for a moment . ”

Lee Hyunsung took the last step and embraced Jung Heewon .

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is embarrassed by the unexpected love between comrades . ]

Jung Heewon’s small body entered Lee Hyunsung’s wide arms . It was so wide that he could touch his fingertips together without touching her . Rather than avoiding it, Jung Heewon made her flames stronger . It was like the flames were all she could do with her emotions .

There was a rattling sound and walls of steel started to be created around Lee Hyunsung’s arms . It was a wall that would free one person from the world . In order to remove flames, the oxygen must be shut off .

Lee Hyunsung knew this and sacrificed himself to become the wall for her . He would bear her wrath on behalf of the world .

All I could do was watch the two of them . I hoped that Lee Hyunsung could reach the heart of Jung Heewon who couldn’t speak .

How much time passed?

[The story ‘Proof of Steel’ has been completed . ]

Finally, Jung Heewon’s flames died down .

***

It was a familiar female voice that woke Lee Hyunsung up .

“I’m choking…”

He looked down and saw Jung Heewon’s face . He looked around and it was an unimaginable sight . The steel that grew out from his body covered Jung Heewon while blocking the surrounding area .

“U-Uhh! I-I’m really sorry! I will release you now!”

Maybe it was because the melted steel wall had hardened but the steel wall wasn’t easily released . As Lee Hyunsung was feeling confused, Jung Heewon’s forehead touched Lee Hyunsung’s chest . “Thank you . ”

Lee Hyunsung shook his head at the soft touch to the steel .

“…No . ”

It was a very small gesture but it was enough . His heart had clearly been delivered .

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ hates this comradeship . ]

“By the way Hyunsung-ssi, who else was here?”

“Huh? That…”

Jung Heewon looked grumpy at Lee Hyunsung’s confusion . “It’s okay . It isn’t important . Rather, release this quickly . There is no time . ”

“…Huh? Did something happen?”

Jung Heewon glanced at Lee Hyunsung but shouted in a loud voice towards the sky . “Kim Dokja-ssi, are you listening right now? Yoo Sangah-ssi is in danger . ”