Chapter 497: 497

[Currently, BY-9158’s picture transmission is in a temporary suspended state . ]

Biyu must’ve done that voluntarily . It might be because of Bihyung’s death, or maybe there was a problem trying to transmit from within the ark itself . Whatever the case might have been, it was a good thing for us .

It’d been so much nicer if only the person before our eyes wasn’t there, though .

“Anna Croft . “

I stared at the prophet’s blonde hair fluttering in the wind . I also sensed additional presences within the dense forest . They probably were the squad under her direct supervision, the ‘Zarathustra’ .

– Why isn’t this pebble or rock or whatever not working on her?

I didn’t reply to Han Su-Yeong . Didn’t have enough time now to explain everything that happened in the ‘Isle of Reincarnators’, anyhow .

Rather than patiently wait for my answer, though, Han Su-Yeong simply gripped my wrist hard . And then, she pointed at Anna Croft with her free hand . Vicious licks of [Black Flame] danced on the tip of her pointing finger .

“Move outta way or die . “

Their gazes collided in the air .

Eerie, bluish ghostly aura permeated within Han Su-Yeong’s irises as she activated [Predictive Plagiarism] . At the same time, the eyes of Anna Croft, wielder of [Great Demon’s Eye], also swirled in a crimson aura . Faint sparks danced in the air as the gazes of these two capable of reading the future collided .

The latter maintained this tense stand-off for a bit before opening her mouth . “Kim Dok-Ja, do you want to escape from this floor?”

Han Su-Yeong’s complexion changed colours and she growled unhappily . “Hey, you . You ignoring me now?”

“I can help you . “

“Weren’t you trying your hardest to kill us not too long ago?”

As Han Su-Yeong’s words came to an end, I sensed the movements of the Constellations in the surroundings . I even noticed a few that began destroying the terrain indiscriminately in order to locate us .

It would be hard to buy more time here .

“I didn’t have a choice . If we sided with you back then, we’d all have been wiped away . “

“And the current situation is different how?”

“Are you really going to waste your time this way? I’m pretty sure it’s you people feeling the urgency, not me . “

“Do we have a reason to trust you?”

“Are you the type to trust someone even with a good enough reason?”

In any other circumstances, I’d have gladly accepted her help . However, Anna Croft was someone who signed a direct contract with the whole Nebula .

“You’re the Nebula ’s Incarnation . “

[Nebula, ’s Great Fables are waking up from their ancient slumber!]

And the current floor just so happened to be the cabin where ’s Constellations resided .

Anna Croft readily admitted to that and nodded her head . “True . I’m their Incarnation . In that case, don’t you find this even more strange? I’m right here, looking at you both, yet why haven’t they rushed here yet?”

I too had been keeping an eye on the Constellations loitering around our vicinity . It looked as if they couldn’t even hear our conversation . Quite likely, she resorted to some kind of an unknown method to block their gazes somehow .

“What are you scheming?”

I stared into Anna Croft’s deep, mysterious eyes .

[Exclusive skill, ‘Reading Comprehension’, is activating!]

⸢More than anyone out there, the Incarnation Anna Croft places importance in realistic causes . ⸥

In a certain sense, this world’s most righteous person could be none other than Anna Croft . If Yu Jung-Hyeok’s cause was built upon rage and hatred, then Anna Croft’s was built upon the foundation of righteousness .

The survival of the absolute majority .

Her aim was to safely preserve the city of her birth, Las Vegas, the United States of America, and on top of that, Earth itself during the hell of scenarios .

⸢However, America was destroyed during this world-line . ⸥

Her home vanished on the same day that the great apocalypse began . All that remained were the small number of ‘Zarathustras’ following after her . Even then, her complexion wasn’t as gloomy . No, her expression seemed to be filled with a certain fervour, instead . It was an expression of a person getting nearer to the world she wanted to see .

While feeling the gentle vibration spreading within the entirety of the ship, I opened my mouth . “You’re thinking of taking over this ark, aren’t you . “

Right then, Han Su-Yeong next to me gasped out as if she had reached the same conclusion as me .

Anna Croft grinned refreshingly . “How wonderful it is that you’re so quick on the uptake . “

“It won’t be easy to drive out the Constellations and take over the ark . “

“However, it is the last chance given to humanity . “

Her plan was quite clear .

The ‘Final Ark’ was a Great Fable weapon designed to transport Fable seeds to another world-line . If she managed to defeat the Constellations and acquire the controlling authority of this ark, then she should be able to transport humanity to a brand new world-line .

And everything would begin anew in that place .

“Not one Constellation can be left alive . Even if that includes you . “

While listening to her, I recalled an ancient text from the ‘Ways of Survival’ .

⸢Anna Croft’s ■■ is ‘Perfect Night’ . ⸥

A world of darkness where not one starlight shined – Anna Croft wished for humanity to live freely again under that darkness . If it was the world she dreamed of, then my companions should be able to survive as well . I felt slightly lonely as I opened my mouth again .

“In that case, we’ll be temporary allies . We’ll work together until we reach the ark’s core . “

“Until then, I shall lend you the power of my [Precognition] . “

Han Su-Yeong next to me sent a message in my direction .

– I’ve been checking her through Lie Detection, and she hasn’t been lying . Doesn’t look like she’s been using Pokerface, either .

I nodded my head . “Alright . Let’s work together . “

*

While going through the Fable Bihyung had left behind, I read the surrounding topography .

⸢The exit at the outside of the forested area is towards the branch reaching out to the heavens . ⸥

One thing I realised while following after Anna Croft was that our current area was not a plain, but a ‘floor’ above a certain tree .

– Gotta admit, their worldview setting is pretty slick .

Han Su-Yeong muttered out, evidently impressed by the sight .

Seeing such a detailed recreation of ’s worldview, I began to fully realise just how long they had been preparing this Final Ark .

This shouldn’t be the whole Universe Tree Yggdrasil . It was probably a mock-up . Even then, this tree was more than wide and expansive enough already . Most likely, the ’s Constellations would live on while enjoying the vested rights founded upon this Fable in the next world-line .

Anna Croft quietly stared at such Constellations, before shifting her head away and focused on the way ahead instead . Han Su-Yeong observed her and spoke to me .

– By the way, will she be alright? The price of betraying a Nebula should be huge, though?

Before I could answer, though, Anna Croft opened her mouth first . “My situation is not something you should be concerned about . “

” . . . . What the hell . You can even eavesdrop on this?

“I only guessed that you were using Midday Tryst since you two haven’t said anything for a while . “

“Sounds like you have a trusty backer or something?”

Han Su-Yeong’s words caused Anna Croft’s expression to harden for the first time . “What do you mean?”

“I was wondering if it’s logically possible for a measly little Incarnation to block off the gazes from an entire ‘Nebula’, that’s all . “

Han Su-Yeong’s right; no Incarnation could’ve pulled that off, regardless of who you were .

I quietly glared at the back of Anna Croft’s head .

[Exclusive skill, ‘Reading Comprehension’s’, concentration level is rising up even higher!]

I did have my suspicions . The aura of chaos gently crumbled away behind her . And beyond that, I thought I glimpsed a pair of crimson eyes not too dissimilar to Anna Croft’s .

From the get-go, there were only two existences in this world capable of interfering with the channels Constellations watched .

Ku-gugugugu!

It was right then that lightning suddenly went off in the air . The ground split apart and the surrounding atmosphere began quaking ominously . The sounds of incoming storm could be heard next .

[Constellation, ‘One-eyed Father’, is slowly blinking its remaining eye . ]

Tsu-chuchuchut!

Anna Croft’s complexion paled instantly .

Even the god of creation ‘Ra’ we fought back in the 98th scenario didn’t possess might of this calibre . As for the Status, it easily exceeded Thor’s we encountered earlier by a huge margin .

This worldview’s most powerful being had just woken up from his slumber, in other words .

” . . . . . Odin . “

We began running .

Even if had grown stronger, it was an act of utter stupidity to fight the Myth-grade Constellation Odin in ’s turf .

[Constellation, ‘One-eyed Father’, is now looking at his world . ]

A terrifying gaze was sweeping across the entire world . And not too long after that, I felt something was looking at us .

“It’s this way! Hurry!”

There was a tree branch leading up to higher floors of Yggdrasil in the place Anna Croft was pointing at . We quickly ran on that branch and almost at the same time, the ground beneath our feet lost strength and began collapsing .

“Faster!”

I squeezed out every ounce of my energy and ran, and also activated the wind, as well .

[Exclusive skill, ‘Way of the Wind Lv . ???’, is activating!]

All the Great Fables I’ve collected so far strengthened the Way of the Wind even more and it added greater momentum to our travelling speed . I wanted to activate [Demon King Transformation] as well and spread out my wings if it was possible, but one of the wings was wounded just before the transmission and I couldn’t do that .

Du-dududududu!

Some things was busy chasing us down .

[Constellation, ‘God of Harp and Horn’, is heeding the father’s order . ]

[Constellation, ‘Goddess of Love and Cats’, is answering the father’s order . ]

[Constellation, ‘One Who Lost His Arm to the Wolf of Apocalypse’, is howling out!]

[Constellation, ‘Guardian of the Great Horn Bridge’, has detected someone’s presence!]

“We’re almost there!”

Anna Croft turned around while saying that, and extended her hands out . Suddenly, the surrounding view changed and the field before her seemed to disappear . It was her speciality, [Phantom Barrier] . Constellations got lost in the darkness suddenly enveloping them and roared in surprise .

Tsu-chuchuchut!

Anna Croft’s eyes became bloodshot, before blood trickled down from her mouth and ears . It was the cost of going against her own Nebula . Even then, she didn’t back down and shouted out .

“Iris! Selena! Lead the allies away!”

The two people running way ahead of us took ‘Zarathustras’ and ran towards the end of the branch .

“Run! Hurry! It’s right in front of us!”

Anna Croft went down on one knee while bleeding profusely . She was in no shape to run by herself now .

“Han Su-Yeong . “

Even before I was finished, Han Su-Yeong picked Anna Croft up and ran . It didn’t take too long for us to reach the end of the branch . What waited for us there was a mysterious bridge emitting a rainbow of colours .

⸢It’s the rainbow bridge leading to other floors, the [Bifrost] . ⸥

The fantastical bridge only seen within the myth was now laid out before my eyes . Selena and Iris were already halfway across this very bridge .

I decided to activate [Lightning Transformation] and cross this thing in one go using the momentum . But then . . .

KWA-BOOOOM!!

I thought I saw a light flash in the heavens, and then, the centre of [Bifrost] was abruptly cut off . A massive spear that carved up the sky was being summoned back .

I instantly recognised what that spear was: the God-king Odin’s weapon, Gungnir .

He chose to eliminate us here by cutting off the bridge leading to another world . I looked back at the group of Constellations hot on our heels and bit my lip .

We’d definitely be defeated if we choose to fight Odin in this place .

Ku-gugugugu!

In the end, the only answer here was to cross the bridge .

However, the width of the broken-off section was far too wide, and the storm generated by Odin was madly whipping about in the open gap . Even if I activated both [Way of the Wind] and [Lightning Transformation] to their fullest, there was no guarantee of us crossing it safely .

Han Su-Yeong shouted out in frustration . “Hurry! Isn’t there another way?!”

She forcibly shook Anna Croft, prompting the latter to reply helplessly while vomiting out blood .

“My Precognition . . . . isn’t perfect . . . But this time, I . . . . saw clearly . Four people . . . . crossing this bridge . . . . “

Four people? I want to ask for clarification, but she had bled far too much and stopped speaking altogether .

But then, a certain scene popped up in my head .

⸢Kim Dok-Ja began thinking . ‘Will it work?’⸥

However, there was no other path remaining . I looked up to the sky and was greeted by the deluge of indirect messages from the Constellations panicking from the channel’s sudden upheavals .

[Constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’, wishes to see the channel’s broadcast!]

[Constellation, ‘King Heungmu’, complains about the channel’s blackout!]

[Constellation, ‘Bald General of Justice’, is searching for the disappeared Kim Dok-Ja!]

“Biyu! Start the broadcast!”

“Wha?? Are you mad?!”

If we opened the channel now, every Constellation in the ark would learn of my current location . However, the thing I was planning to do would only work with the channel open .

Tsu-chuchuchuchut!

[Many Constellations are surprised by the screen spreading wide open!]

[A portion of Constellations realise that you’re in danger and are freaking out!]

[A small number of Constellations feel an odd sense of deja vu at the current situation . ]

I knew all too well what that deja vu the Constellations were talking about .

⸢A long time ago, there was an event where they had to cross a cut-off bridge . ⸥

The ‘deux ex machina’ that activated on the broken Dongho bridge .

[The absolute majority of Constellations remember the situation from back then!]

[Nebula, ‘Kim Dok-Ja Company’s’ Great Fables are shifting!]

Along with the gazes from the Constellations, the Probability began writhing wildly .

[‘Stage Transformation’ is activating!]

Tsu-chuchuchuchu . . . . . !

[‘Deus ex Machina’ is activating!]

The bridge that the Constellations created back then was being recreated right before our eyes .

+

[Deus ex Machina – Even-numbered bridge]

Description: A bridge of light created by the blessing of a Constellation . Only the ‘even’ number of people can cross it . When an odd number of people try to cross it, the bridge will be extinguished immediately .

+

The even-numbered bridge – been a really long time since I last heard that name .

“Han Su-Yeong! Take Anna with you and run!”

“What???”

“Hurry up!”

I activated [Way of the Wind] on Han Su-Yeong and made her cross the bridge forcefully .

– Hey, you!! Eiii, shit! I don’t know anymore . . .

I confirmed the distancing back of Han Su-Yeong before turning around . Constellations had begun emerging from Anna Croft’s [Phantom Barrier] one by one already .

I unleashed my Status towards them while thinking to myself .

⸢The even-numbered bridge can only be crossed by an even number of people . ⸥

The distant Han Su-Yeong’s voice and Odin’s enraged roar entered my ear one after the other .

I unsheathed the [Unbreakable Faith]; I wasn’t planning on dying in this place .

⸢Anna Croft said ‘four people’ . ⸥

Just before I was about to unleash the electricity from the [Lightning Transformation] on the incoming Constellations, a loud explosion occurred at the back of the attacking group .

Someone was ramming through the Constellations like a tank while running towards this way .

It was a familiar Fable; there was this one particular guy who got summoned to this floor only about a moment ago . His face revealed itself from beyond the rising murky fog of the Fable .

– Keep running, Kim Dok-Ja .

The dude busy smacking all the enemies away and smashing the skulls of the Constellations, was busy dashing in this direction while carrying a scary light in his eyes .

I could only grin wryly . I didn’t mind anyone else, but would’ve preferred not crossing the bridge with that guy .

– Hey, don’t you throw me to the river this time, you bastard .

Fin .