Chapter 481: 481

Those were Uriel’s last words to us . She didn’t say anything else afterwards . And while not saying anything, the ‘Outer God Kings’ exchanged glances with each other .

I didn’t miss that opening and spoke up . “We don’t have any intentions to fight against you, just like how you don’t truly wish to destroy this world . You are just as familiar with tragedies as I am . There is no need to create more sorrow in this world-line . “

[The scenario has entered a temporary state of lull!]

[ is surprised by the unexpected development of this scenario!]

I grew tense while observing their response . The ‘Outer Gods’ still didn’t say anything . I couldn’t even tell whether they heard my words or not .

⸢So far, things had unfolded according to Kim Dok-Ja’s plan . ⸥

Using the 999th turn’s memories, and arousing their memories of ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok’ .

⸢From the beginning, it was impossible to win this fight with a frontal assault . ⸥

If they got serious and activated the calamity’s Probability with everything they had, then this scenario would’ve ended just as it started . Back in the original novel, there were a few planets that responded naively to their ‘Great Apocalypse’ and ended up getting destroyed, instead .

[A large number of Constellations that dislike you are dissatisfied with the current situation!]

[A portion of Constellations are opposing against the scenario’s illogical development!]

The Constellations were probably anticipating a spectacle of their hated meeting a tragic end alongside Earth .

Unfortunately, the ‘Outer God Kings’ didn’t do that .

At least, not for now, anyway .

– Kim Dok-Ja, what’s next?

Han Su-Yeong sidled up to my right and asked in a tense voice .

– To be honest, even I don’t know .

– Wha??

– This is as far as my plan goes .

As if to imply her thoughts of ‘What crap are you talking about’, her face was dyed in the colours of pure astonishment .

– Hey, you . You can’t be . . . . .

– Right now, we can only believe .

That must’ve come across as irresponsible . However, there was no other choice . This was the best plan I could come up with, and it also happened to be the only way to lead this event towards the correct conclusion .

I abruptly recalled what the 1863rd turn’s Han Su-Yeong had told me .

⸢”I believe in the characters I’ve created . That’s all . “⸥

I could just about understand where she was coming from now . And that’s why I replied like this .

– I thought that I can only believe in these people who were like teachers to me – these individuals that I had read about .

I trusted the ‘Ways of Survival’ . Not the author responsible, no, but the characters that appeared within its pages .

[The ‘Living Flame’ is looking at you . ]

Uriel, more righteous than anyone else out there .

[The ‘King of Silverlight Heart’ is looking at you . ]

The kind and honest Yi Hyeon-Seong .

[The ‘Master of the Sunken Island’ is looking at you . ]

Yi Ji-Hye possessing a lot of affection .

[Constellation, ‘Secretive Plotter’, is looking at you . ]

Yu Jung-Hyeok, who never knelt down in defeat no matter how unfair things became .

I believed in them . I believed in their histories that helped the young me grow .

I believed that their worth would never be tarnished no matter how much time had passed by .

The 999th turn’s Uriel opened her mouth . Although, she wasn’t talking to me . [[Yi Hyeon-Seong, you said that we might get to see the end in this world-line, the one we failed to see before . ]]

[[That’s correct, Uriel . ]]

[[And your opinion hasn’t changed even now?]]

Yi Hyeon-Seong nodded . Uriel then slowly turned her head towards me . Her irises were burning brightly just like the corona of the sun .

[[… . Did you say you’re the ‘Demon King of Salvation’?]]

Against that gaze seemingly testing my righteousness, I subconsciously swallowed back my saliva and nodded my head .

[[Through this world-line’s version of myself, I have seen the Fables related to you . ]]

It was then Jeong Hui-Won standing nearby flinched a little . Technically, though, it wasn’t her but probably Uriel, instead .

I was getting a somewhat-ominous vibe here .

What the ‘Living Flame’ said next was completely out of my expectations, though .

[[Your Fables were quite similar to those of ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok’s’ that I’m familiar with . From the way you cleared the scenarios to how you looked after your companions . ]]

” . . . “

[[This world-line resembles ours quite closely . ]]

The expression on the 999th turn’s Yi Ji-Hye was rather complicated . I realised why they stood around looking at each other for such a long time the moment I saw her face .

They weren’t agitated simply because this world just so happened to be their home planet .

[[Are you aware of the events that took place in our world-line?]]

I hesitated on what to say . This wasn’t something that I could explain away easily . Instead of my lacking communication skills, though, my Fables began speaking up in my stead .

[Fable, ‘Demon King of Salvation’, has begun its storytelling . ]

A portion of the Fables I possessed travelled towards the beings from the 999th turn via the tip of my hand .

[Fable, ‘One Who Opposes the Miracle’, has begun its storytelling . ]

[Fable, ‘One Who Hunted the King of Disasters’, has begun its storytelling . ]

I observed them reading my Fables . Diverse, colourful expressions filled their faces . It was quite clear what overlapped with my Fable while they were reading it .

… . Did I also make such an expression while reading the ‘Ways of Survival’ for the first time?

That was something I’d never find out .

[[… . But, how could such a thing . . . . ]]

It was around then that an unexpected event occurred; the Status of the 999th turn’s Uriel, reading my Fable silently until then, travelled over the Fable itself and invaded into the sea of my consciousness .

As if, she wanted to find out the origin of my existence .

[Exclusive skill, ‘The 4th Wall’, is activating!]

Tsu-chuchuchut!

Just as I expected, the ‘Wall’ made a move as the blinding sparks danced in the air .

[‘The 4th Wall’ is glaring at the ‘Living Flame’!]

The Living Flame’s left hand was deflected away as if being rejected, a faint trace of burn marks visible on her skin . She looked at me in pure shock, then the faint hints of understanding began permeating in the lights of her eyes .

[[I see . So, that’s how it was . You are . . . . ]] Her voice sounded even more surprised compared to when she was reading my memories . [[The last fragment of the ‘Final Wall’, is it . . . Is that why the ‘Secretive Plotter’ was so obsessed over you?]]

“Please make your decision . There isn’t much time left until the scenario’s end . “

[The ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ has entered a temporary state of lull!]

[If the current situation persists, the distortion of the world will accelerate . ]

Since they had descended as ‘calamities’, this scenario now had to have a conclusion without exception . The best method for everyone involved was for them to give up on being the ‘calamities’ .

The ‘Living Flame’ opened her lips again . [[I acknowledge the potential you possess . Although vexing, I can even agree to forestall my vengeance . However . . . . ]]

Countless emotions brushed past her expression just then .

[[… . However, I don’t believe that you’ll successfully reach the end of this world-line . I don’t believe that an existence that merely imitated another world-line’s Fable can witness a proper conclusion . ]]

“H-hang on a . . . . “

[[You’ll probably reach your ‘Conclusion’ when this scenario comes to an end . ]]

The last part of ‘One Single Fable’, the Conclusion (結) .

A gob-smacking heat storm began condensing with the 999th turn’s Uriel as its centre . Salty air circulated around my nose as the seawater evaporated into the rushing winds .

I reflexively cried out at this outrageous transformation of Status .

“Yu Jung-Hyeok!!”

At the same time, he stepped up before me and cut down the rushing hot air with his [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] . However, the heat still managed to cook the backs of his hands .

His breathing became irregular . The [Disconnected Film Theory]’s effect had almost run its course .

Ku-gugugugu!

The 999th turn’s Great Fables were activating simultaneously . For some reason, even the 999th turn’s Yi Hyeon-Seong didn’t try to stop Uriel .

I urgently shouted out . “But why . . . . ! There’s no need to do this! We-!!”

The 999th turn’s Uriel wordlessly strode over to us . Companions grew tense and began unleashing their own Statuses .

[Great Fable, ‘Demon World’s Spring’, is continuing on with its storytelling!]

[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, is continuing on with its storytelling!]

The ‘Living Flame’ simply took a glance at our Fables and continued to approach us . After every ‘Outer God’ handed over their Status to her, she raised her [Flames of Retribution] up high .

I bit down hard on my lip .

[The absolute majority of the Constellations are scared of the ‘Outer God’s’ power . ]

[Many Dokkaebis are repulsed by the Fable of the ‘Outer God’ . ]

Everything within would soon become stories .

However, why was a story both the Constellations and Dokkaebis didn’t want to see deemed necessary?

Just what was the reason for a story to exist in this world when it was only good for plunging everyone into endless sorrow?

[[Do you always seek to create a Fable to tell someone else?]]

The 999th turn’s Uriel was talking to us .

The [Flames of Retribution] refined to the stunning degree was now talking about the time outside of the scenarios .

[[Who does it exist for, this Fable you have compiled so far?]]

While listening to her true voice, I realised what her intentions were .

A story nobody supported . Even then, she wished to see the end of this particular scenario .

⸢And that is the answer the ‘Living Flame’ had chosen . ⸥

The reason why she wanted to continue on with this scenario wasn’t because she agreed with the Constellations, nor did she want to side with .

[[Show me your ‘Conclusion’ . Prove it to me that your group can reach an end different from any other world-lines . ]]

Stars in the skies were looking at us . Stars that had been watching this story for a very long time . I imagined those countless starlights, and then, end of all the worlds waiting beyond that .

I imagined the end of this story, the one I’d been building up to for a long time .

“Kim Dok-Ja!”

The waves of heat completely filled up my view . The [Hellfire] of the 999th turn’s Uriel, intermingling with the odour of burning sulphur, created the tsunami wave of lava . It was the moving wall of enormous Status capable of immediately melting everything that it touched .

The victory would be decided with one attack .

Block that, and we’d emerge as the victors .

“Focus your Great Fables, everyone!”

Petty tricks were rendered useless in the face of a calamity . My companions helped me with the mobilisation of the Great Fables, rather than focusing on their own specialities .

Shin Yu-Seung, Yi Gil-Yeong, and even Yu Sang-Ah, too – everyone raised their hands up in the air and added their share of the Great Fables .

[Great Fable, ‘Season of Light and Darkness’, has begun its storytelling!]

Accompanying the noises of the heavens splitting apart, the roars of the Apocalypse Dragon could be heard . Right next second, yet another loud howl exploded out from Han Su-Yeong’s direction .

Ku-ooooooh!

The former candidate for the Apocalypse Dragon, the ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ was firing its Breath .

Jeong Hui-Won dashed forward while riding on the vicious storm of the [Black Flame] .

[Constellation, ‘Lily Blooming on Aquarius’, is unleashing her Status!]

[Constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’, is unleashing her Status!]

Two Archangels were working together with Jeong Hui-Won . Her [Judge’s Sword] raised up high was now cutting down the tsunami wave .

Kwa-aaaaaah!

Was it because of the two Archangels’ combined attack? For a moment there, the tsunami wave’s movement grew sluggish .

Yu Jung-Hyeok didn’t miss that opening .

[Fable, ‘Hellscape of Eternity’, is continuing with its storytelling!]

Traces of numerous regression turns branched out from his [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] . His Status spread out and began destroying the rushing wave .

– It’s not enough .

Unfortunately, his desperate resistance couldn’t last for long; the sparks dancing all over his body were getting fiercer and fiercer . The [Disconnected Film Theory]’s effect had finally run out, in other words .

The moment his Status began declining sharply, he let rip one powerful attack at the centre of the wave .

Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship(破天劍道) .

Inner Mysteries(奧義) .

Split the Dark Ocean(暗海斬) .

A minute opening was created by the attack from his Inner Mysteries . I didn’t miss that .

[Maknae-ya, preparations are complete . ]

Also, the voice I had been waiting for entered my ears just then, too .

Surrounding clouds gathered around me as if to envelop me – somersault clouds, filled to the brim with cracking thunderbolts, completely encircled me . My body was buzzing as if every lightning found in the heavens had been hoovered up here .

[We can use this only once . ]

I kicked off the clouds and dashed into the gap within the lava .

My wings generated through the ‘Demon King Transformation’ were lit on fire and it felt like my eyeballs were being cooked by this horrifying heat . However, I didn’t stop .

I had a duty to protect this path my comrades opened up for me .

⸢The one single story that can stand as the testament to our lives . ⸥

My feet moved faster and faster until they became streaks of light . I used the powers of [Lightning Transformation] to hold together my Incarnation Body threatening to explode at any second .

Faster and stronger, as if I had become a single streak of lightning .

Ku-rururururu!

The lightning charged fully in both of my hands boiled vigorously . This lightning, capable of smashing apart countless stars found in , the one that half-destroyed ’s Heavenly Palace . . . .

I used up every ounce of my strength to throw the Ruyi Jingu Bang .

⸢Stars in the skies boiled over, and Nebulas shrunk back . The thick dark clouds rolling in the heavens alluded to their despair . ⸥

This single attack carried all the condensed power of the Great Sage Heaven’s Equal .

⸢Just like what he did during the final battle . ⸥

The lightning bolt broke past the incoming lava and advanced forward .

Kwa-kwakwakwak!

The tsunami wave of lava exploded grandly and evaporated right there and then . The streaks of electricity branching out created a path above the splitting wave .

It was the path of the Fable we had been walking on . And I ran on it .

[Great Fable, ‘Demon World’s Spring’, is arranging your ‘Conclusion’ . ]

The Demon World’s ‘Beginning/Gi(起)’ .

[Great Fable, ‘Torch that Swallowed the Myth’, is proudly guiding you . ]

Olympus’s ‘Development/Seung(承)’ .

[Great Fable, ‘Season of Light and Darkness’, is right by your side . ]

The Great War of Saints and Demons’ ‘Climax/Jeon(轉)’ . And then . . .

[Great Fable, ‘Liberator of the Forgotten Ones’, is dreaming of the Final Fable . ]

… . The last dot that hadn’t been filled yet .

Kwa-aaaaaah!!

All the Fables we experienced together merged into one and emitted blinding rays of light . The explosion of light so bright that it seared my eyes, blanketed everything .

When I raised my head again, the volcanic ashes from the lava were scattering away in the air . The sky looked desolate after everything had come to an end . The dust blocking the gazes of the stars fell like snow and covered the ocean’s surface .

Someone was plopped down on her butt in front of the [Unbreakable Faith] .

I could see the broken wings of an Archangel . From the beginning, she wasn’t planning to win against us . I quietly stared into her eyes .

I didn’t know whether this was enough proof or not . Just that, this was the best I could show as the current me .

The 999th turn’s Uriel stared at my blade for a long time . It was as if she was repeatedly mulling over the last line of text – as if this pointy tip of the blade was the full stop putting an end to all of her Fables .

Then, her gaze slowly shifted along towards where that tip of the blade was now pointing at .

It was beyond the horizon where the distant sky and the ocean met .

⸢That’s where the end of this world-line was . ⸥

A faint trembling flickered past her expressions .

The 999th turn’s Yi Ji-Hye, Yi Hyeon-Seong, and even the still-dazed Kim Nam-Woon were all staring in the same direction as her .

Beyond the falling grey ashes, something blurry could be seen .

Fear began clouding the expressions of the ‘Outer Gods’ .

I instantly realised what they were staring at . At the place where they arrived once before during the 999th turn . At the ‘Final Wall’ that could never be overcome if one insisted on living within this world of ‘Fables’ .

[Calamities of the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ are giving up on the positions of calamity . ]

[The ‘Great Apocalypse’ is entering the termination sequence!]

[Your last ‘Great Fable’ is blossoming!]

[Absolute majority of the Constellations are witnessing the moment of your last Fable’s awakening!]

I could now hear that ‘Wall’ calling out to me .

[Hidden Scenario – ‘One Single Fable’, has reached the ‘Conclusion’!]

[ is carefully considering the name of your last Fable . ]

[You accomplished a feat that every star in will revere you for . ]

[You have arrived at an epic that only an extremely few stars have ever reached!]

And finally, the message I had been waiting for the longest time could be heard next .

[You and your Nebula have earned the qualification to witness the ‘■■ of everything’ . ]

[The ‘King of Stories’ is summoning you . ]

Fin .