Chapter 188: Ep. 35 - The 73rd Demon King, VII
I was hit by the pouring flames and pain started to spread through my entire
body.
…It hurt. It really hurt. My skin cracked from the high temperature and my
eyeballs felt ripe.
Jung Heewon endured her tears and kept attacking me. The flames that
destroyed evil burned away at my wounds and all my flesh.
I probably would've fainted from the pain if it wasn't for Fourth Wall. Even
so, my body didn't break.
The shocked Jung Heewon asked, "What is going on with your body?"
"…The damage is probably too insufficient."
The rate of my stamina consumption was accelerated but it wasn't enough
to kill me in the remaining time. I didn't expect that even Jung Heewon
wouldn't be sufficient.
Honestly, I was at a loss for words. Maybe it was because I was judged to
be narrative-grade.
[The nebula 'Vedas' is rejoicing in your pain.]
[The remaining attack time is 10 minutes.]
[Constellations of the nebula 'Papyrus' are making a toast.]
This was just the beginning. A huge shock wave spread through the hall
and my body started to grow again.
[The third phase of the '73rd Demon King' is starting.]
[Your body has become harder.]
We had now reached the third phase. I shouted without feeling panic,
"Everybody, stay awake! Do you remember?"
The party members nodded and skillfully changed the formation. However,
I could see that Cho Youngran's Mechanical Gateway Array Method had
slightly collapsed from my explosive increase in magic power.
In the end, Cho Youngran coughed up blood and sat down. The timing of
this was faster than expected. Demonic energy started to fill the whole
hall and the party members became weaker as they received debuffs.
Now I had to borrow a hand that I hadn't wanted to borrow.
[The constellation who doesn't yet have a name is looking at his
incarnation.]
Shin Yoosung trembled after receiving my message and shook her head.
My incarnation Shin Yoosung had felt my determination long ago.
'Ahjussi, I can't do it. Please'.
I stared at Shin Yoosung.
This was the relationship between a constellation and incarnation. Rather
than speaking one hundred words, I conveyed my indescribable and deep
emotions just by looking at them. Shin Yoosung finally burst out crying as
the violent emotions were one-sidedly passed on.
'I understand'.
The pain and bitterness in the small child's heart resonated and as a
constellation, I could hear it more than anyone.
Shin Yoosung held the other child's hand and stood up. "Gilyoung. Let's go.
We have to do it."
Shin Yoosung's eyes shone yellow. The characteristics of Beast Master
were started to manifest. There was a great trembling in the hall and I soon
heard a tearing sound. A giant beast's snout appeared in the gap.
The chimera dragon. The giant monster that would later become a
destruction species flapped its giant wings as it was summoned to the hall.
However, the chimera dragon hesitated instead of attacking when it saw
me.
[The 2nd grade monster species, the 'Chimera Dragon' has refused its
master's command.]
[The 2nd grade monster species, the 'Chimera Dragon' feels terrified of the
73rd demon king.]
Blood poured from Shin Yoosung's nose. She couldn't control the 2nd grade
monster alone yet. I watched Lee Gilyoung and said, "Gilyoung. Think of
this as a game."
Lee Gilyoung looked up at me. I stared at the child's eyes and remembered
the words I had once spoken as we walked through the darkness.
It was a conversation that occurred when we wandered together through the
darkness of Geumho Station. The moments that passed like nothing became
precious memories that returned.
"Even if I die, I will come back. I promise."
These stories became the power to kill me.
"…Aaaaaah!" Lee Gilyoung howled and used Taming.
[The remaining attack time is 9 minutes.]
The chimera dragon was controlled by the two children's Taming and
started to cry out in pain.
The chimera dragon sucked in all the air around it. The chimera dragon
sucked in even my magic and started to open its huge snout towards me.
It was a dark magic power. A huge sphere of light was created between the
ferocious fangs. It was a weapon that only a dragon, the peak of monsters,
could use.
The Breath. I was hit by the Breath and my body was torn apart again. It
was a shock that caused the mind to break down.
Despite this shock, my body was still alive. The party members were
shocked by my miserable appearance but they shouldn't stop.
I straightened my ripped lips and said, "Con… tinue."
If they didn't do it now, there wouldn't be another chance.
[A few constellations have noticed your sacrifice.]
[Many constellations are amazed by your will.]
The chimera dragon was exhausted by the use of Breath and its huge body
lay on the ground. Fortunately, the chimera dragon sucked in most of the
worst of my rampaging magic power but the attack power of the party
members were decreasing.
"Damn, I'm out of magic power!"
[The remaining capture time is 5 minutes.]
My preparations for dealing with the 73rd demon king were up to here. So
from now on… I should leave it to someone else.
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Joonghyuk had risen from the stone wall and was
watching me.
I saw that Lee Seolhwa was exhausted by his side. She had probably poured
all her magic power into healing him. I saw many emotions cross his eyes
as he identified me as the demon king.
"Don't make such an expression. You can't change what has already
happened. Don't you already know?"
Yoo Joonghyuk wiped his bloody lips and murmured, "It should've been me
who died here."
Fortunately, Yoo Joonghyuk was Yoo Joonghyuk. He already accepted that
he would have to kill me.
Yoo Joonghyuk rushed towards me with the Splitting the Sky Sword. Every
hit made me feel that my physical strength had been reduced. He didn't say
anything but his despair was conveyed every time the blade cut me.
[The remaining capture time is 4 minutes.]
For us, we weren't even allowed time to feel that despair.
"Let's end it now Yoo Joonghyuk. Bring 'that' out."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't play around. I know you didn't use it on purpose."
"…If I use this, you can't be resurrected."
"That's why you are going to use it. It would be difficult if I came back
again as a demon king."
"…"
"What if the scenario ends up being ruined? You should stop thinking about
it."
Yoo Joonghyuk glared at me without speaking.
「 Do you have an idea? 」
I just laughed at his question. Yoo Joonghyuk hesitated before eventually
pulling out a sword.
The Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds. Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
It was a sword obtained from Yamata no Orochi in Peace Land.
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in a somber voice, "I hoped the moment where I had
to use this would never come."
"Me too. However, now is the time."
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' feels despair.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is sighing deeply.]
[The constellation 'Queen of the Darkest Spring' is holding her breath.]
The power acquired by a story will eventually collapse because of a story.
My attribute of Eight Lives was derived from the power of Yamata no
Orochi. This power was bound to be vulnerable to the weapon of death that
killed Yamata no Orochi. Perhaps I would lose all my remaining lives if I
was cut by this sword.
Yoo Joonghyuk opened his mouth. "…To be honest, there is no certainty in
this. The duration of Giant Body Transformation is over and I'm not
confident in my current attack power."
"Don't worry about it."
I could see Shin Yoosung furiously shaking her head towards me.
[The constellation who doesn't yet have a name has given his incarnation a
'stigma'.]
There was a dazzling light and my stigma nestled inside Shin Yoosung.
[The stigma 'Sacrifice's Will Lv. 1' has been activated!]
The stigma caused a brilliant glow to emerge from Shin Yoosung's body.
[The master of the stigma risks his life for others.]
[The attack power of the party is greatly increased in proportion to the
desperation of their lives.]
The exhausted eyes of my party members started to become energetic
again.
Sacrifice's Will. It was a stigma that didn't really suit me. One thing was for
certain. My death was now confirmed.
"Thank you for everything."
[The remaining capture time is 3 minutes.]
The party members were running.
Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon, Shin Yoosung, Lee Gilyoung, Yoo Sangah,
Gong Pildu, Lee Jihye…
They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming
towards me. My vision gradually diminished and all the characters became
the landscape. I saw them and laughed.
「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most. 」
I had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star
Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Maritime War God' is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards me, a story was
running towards me.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Parents, friends and lovers were all stories.
[The remaining capture time is 2 minutes.]
This wasn't the Ways of Survival I knew but—It was a story more
wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.]
[All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was my story. I laughed as Yoo Joonghyuk's sword pierced my heart.
[Your fate has been realized.]
My body slowly sank down and Yoo Joonghyuk held onto me. "Kim
Dokja." "It was a really great story. Isn't that right?"
Yoo Joonghyuk stared down at me silently. I couldn't find any words and
just watched. It was as if I had always been meant to do this.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all
remaining extra lives.]
[You can no longer resurrect.]
I finally looked up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the center of
the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus…
I would never forget what they had done.
Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' doesn't wish for your
death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to my will.
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' doesn't wish for your
death.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' doesn't wish for your death.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death.]
I looked at the sky and laughed. Due to these guys, I hated the
constellations but I couldn't hate the story.
"Let's meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk."
The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength
drained from me.
[The main scenario has ended.]
[Seoul Dome has been freed.]
A small black hole appeared in the air behind me. My body was slowly
being sucked into it. My legs, my torso, my arms…they turned into powder
and were slowly being sucked in.
"Kim Dokja! No! Kim Dokja!"
At the last moment, he tightly held me by the neck. However, it was already
too late.
My vision turned black and I was sucked into an empty void. The eyes of
the constellations watching me started to disappear one by one. I was
leaving the area of the channel.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death!]
In the distant night sky, one star desperately blinked at me.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death!]
Yes, you can stop now. Uriel.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'…]
Thank you.
The stars in the night sky went out one by one and Incarnation Kim Dokja's
story finally ended.
[Constellations of the absolute good system have withdrawn the mark of
'evil' from you.]
[Your incarnation body has completely been destroyed.]
[You have failed the scenario.]
[You have been expelled from the scenario.]
[The Star Stream will announce your modifier.]
In the faraway darkness, the Star Stream was quietly whispering to me.
[Your modifier is the 'Demon King of Salvation'.]
I dont understand some of the dialogues ☹