Beyond the Eternity

The wind, the sound and the atmosphere died down upon the conclusion of the final clash.

Park Joonhyuk wordlessly stared at the aftermath of the destruction. The gravel once covering the ground had been blasted away in the clash, leaving the earth's raw surface exposed. The boy, known as the Disaster of Storms, had been hurled hundreds of meters at an unbelievable speed. He had attempted to shield himself with Antimatter, but the outcome remained the same.

Anything moving that fast would be reduced to molten plasma by the sheer friction. Even being a disaster couldn't save him from that fate.

(With this, everything should be over, right?)

The disaster was dead and the Fable would finally end. He was somehow bitter that he couldn't get the final blow, It couldn't be helped.

It truly couldn't be helped. So Park Joonhyuk tried to convince himself or so else he thought he would be depressed.

"Pant.... Pant...."

While he was trying to convince himself, Angelica collapsed on the ground while using the cylindrical sword to support herself.

Her breath was rough, but she was using an item to protect herself from the radiation so she was just out of stamina. Regardless, It couldn't be denied that she was the main character of this Fable.

However...

Park Joonhyuk narrowed his eyes, filled with suspicion. Looking closely, there were sparks dancing around her body.

Those were the Sparks of Probability.

The fact that she was affected by the sparks of probability meant she had done or used something beyond the confines of the Fourth Fable. Namely, that weird looking sword.

Any lingering doubts he had were now gone—he was certain he was right.

(Something's off about her. How can anyone have that kind of power? Not even the protagonists are that strong at this stage. And the fact that I can't access her information only makes it worse. What was that artifact she used? A holy relic capable of controlling the wind, aside from Byakko?

No matter how I think about it, nothing comes to mind. What's that sword shape anyways? Was there a sword like that recorded in legends? Tch! Maybe it's time I get that skill after all.)— Park Joonhyuk thought.

Even If she had a Narrative God as her star constellation, It still didn't explain how she managed to summon an artifact of that caliber. Besides, how many Narrative Gods could actually withstand such a devastating backlash?

No matter how he looked at It, that woman was definitely hiding something.

(She doesn't appear to be a threat at the moment. However, if there's a possibility that she could become an enemy in the future, it's better to just kill her now.)

Park Joonhyuk slowly pulled his sword.

Yes, it couldn't be denied that Angelica would prove valuable in the upcoming Fables. However, her numerous secrets made her untrustworthy and she was too dangerous to be left alive.

As long as the possibility of betrayal remained, she must be eliminated. And nobody was around to stop him.

Kim Jakga was dead and Angelica was exhausted from going against the plausibility. He could kill her easily at the moment even if she possessed the power to destroy humanity.

But before he could close the half ofnthr distance between them...

Tap! Tap!

He suddenly heard the sound of footsteps. Soo Jinyoung was standing behind him, fully healed and wearing a serious expression.

"What are you doing?"

"It's nothing."

Fortunately, Park Joonhyuk was a skilled actor and managed to unsheathe his sword without her noticing. Nevertheless, Soo Jinyoung continued to gaze at him intently, as if she was trying to bore a hole through his head.

He reflexively turned his head away. However, It was not because of that intense gaze.

"By the way, how long are you going to stay like that?"

"Eh?"

At his gesture, Soo Jinyoung lowered her gaze to her body. Then her eyes widened upon realisation.

Pheonix Flame allowed her to restore her body as long as It wasn't completely destroyed or her soul crushed. However, that didn't extend to her clothing.

In other words, she was completely naked.

"....!!"

In an instant, Soo Jinyoung crouched down at once and a flurry of emotions crossed her face.

Shock, embarrassment, and resentment— they were all fighting for dominance. She quickly wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to shield herself from Park Joonhyuk's gaze.

Park Joonhyuk was also shocked.

(Could Soo Jinyoung make sure a cute expression? I thought she wouldn't mind something like this.)

Soo Jinyoung was a reincarnator who had already lived through eight lifetimes, each one leaving her with the memories of those past worlds. To shield herself from further trauma, she had sealed away her emotions. Even so, that didn't mean she was incapable of feeling anything at all.

In the end, It was Park Joonhyuk who failed to understand Soo Jinyoung despite being a reader.

"Ugh...."

He sighed and removed his jacket before throwing upon Soo Jinyoung. Feeling the piece of clothing, she turned her head like a watchtower towards him.

"W-What... Why?"

"Just take it. It'd be awkward if you kept walking around like that. Besides, no one wants to see those 'things' bouncing around. You know what I mean, right?"

Soo Jinyoung's face flushed red as she clutched the jacket tightly around her body. For someone who had lived through eight lifetimes, the embarrassment of such a situation was not something she had expected to feel.

"... Jerk."

"Sorry, did you say something just now?"

"No."

"Are you sure? I thought I heard... Ahhh!"

Park Joonhyuk immediately cried out as Soo Jinyoung shot him a sharp, cat-like glare.

He knew that if he pushed her any further, he might end up getting cut. She reminded him of an irritated cat—or perhaps a black cat that had just discovered its favorite fish had been stolen.

Without realising it, he had successfully shifted the conservation into another direction. He was just that talented.

On the other hand, Angelica Thompson, who was still under the effects of the probability, silently watched the exchange with a half-smile. It really seemed like she was watching a fight scene between cat and dog.

Those two would do well as movie characters— Angelica innocently thought.

If both of them had heard what she was thinking, they would probably be upset especially Park Joonhyuk who wouldn't to be referred to as a character. But then, her smile faded quickly as she realised the entire situation was amiss.

"Umm, excuse me..."

"What?"

Says both Soo Jinyoung and Park Joonhyuk as Angelica awkwardly called out. She hesitated for a moment before she opened her mouth again.

"The Fable has ended, Yes? But what about the clearance reward? Isn't there supposed to be an announcement?"

"....!"

"....!"

Her question triggered something inside their head and there was a 'clicking' sound.

Indeed, the Disaster of Storms has been defeated by that final blow, meaning the Fourth Fable should have ended right away. However, the place was too quiet. There was no message from the system or the constellations. Something was definitely wrong in such a scenario.

The Fourth Fable should have ended with the death of one person. However, there was no victory message. So was it truly a victory?

Suddenly, a terrible premonition assaulted Park Joonhyuk's heart and he quickly summoned the system panel. Surely enough, he came upon a shocking message.

[Time Limit — 05: 48] Your story source m_v lem|p-yr

The timer was still counting down. That could only mean one thing.

「 The disaster known as Keikoku Amane was still alive. 」

"Impossible! Impossible! Such a thing.... His body was completely destoryed! There's no way he would have..."

Park Joonhyuk paused. There was caught in the corner of his vision prompting him to turn towards that direction.

Nothing should have been there. Truly, nothing was there. However, a strange phenomenon was occurring at that exact place. Black particles drifted through the air, slowly converging on a single point on the ground.

At first, it was barely perceptible, but soon the particles coalesced, gradually forming the shape of a human figure— from the feet to the knees, the thighs, legs, waist, stomach, chest, arms, hands, and finally, the head.

!!

All of them— Soo Jinyoung, Angelica and Park Joonhyuk reflexively raised their weapons.

They all knew the identity of that shadow-like entity, but It was difficult to call that thing Keikoku Amane. All his organs including his original body had been crushed by the wind pressure and even the skin that now covered him was unnatural, almost alien.

As they watched, his skin shifted from black to a ghastly white, and his facial features slowly emerged along with a piece of clothing created from Antimatter. But his eyes—crimson irises and blackened sclera—were a clear sign that whatever humanity he once had was long gone.

Even though his form had solidified, there was no trace of the person he had been. What stood before them now was not a man but a monster risen from the abyss.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! What the hell? Even something like this was possible." The revived Keikoku Amane laughed as if his current predicament was ridiculous.

"Tch."

Soo Jinyoung gritted the back of her teeth like a dog and shouted.

"You bastard! Did you really want to live so badly that you abandoned what was left of your humanity and became a fucking abomination!!"

"Hey, there's no need to yell. I don't even fully understand what happened myself. Somehow, I'm still alive. Man has yet to discover all the mysteries of antimatter. Even I don't grasp everything about it. Oh, I remember that the human mind scans through memories to solve problems from past experiences to current experiences.

You must have heard the saying, 'Your life flashes before your eyes in deadly situations,' right? Maybe my brain instinctively scanned through memories I'd dismissed as irrelevant and found a way to revive me at moments before my death. Even subconscious actions can trigger responses in the system such as the activation of skills."

Despite saying so, Keikoku's smile did not leave his lips.

"Oh man, this new body is incredible. I don't feel tired at all—hunger, sleep, none of that matters anymore. Even my damaged right arm is healed. It seems I can maintain this form indefinitely as long as I have Antimatter and think. Although the form Itself is unstable, I can manipulate vectors to keep it from blowing up. Can I say I obtained a body beyond humanity?

I'm basically Immortal at this point."

What he said was basically true. A body that cannot die, be killed or affected by human limitations could be called an 'Immortal Body'.

Had many people accomplished what he just did at death's door?

At best, the percentage was extremely low; even the constellations themselves were not immortal.

Basically, he was an entity above humans and the constellations who proclaim to be gods.

He was no longer the Disaster of Storms nor the universe's strongest disaster, but The One Who Has Entered The Territory of Heaven.

Boom!

There was the sound of an explosion. One, two, three... Not even six, but over a hundred wings emerged from Keikoku's back and rampaged through the air.

Accompanying those chaotic wings was the sound of mad laughter.

"Tch! Damnit!"

Park Joonhyuk cursed.

Everything had fallen apart. Soo Jinyoung was useless, and Angelica had reached her breaking point. Even the defensive item he had used to shield himself from the surrounding radiation was nearing its limits. He was lucky to withstand the shockwave unleashed by those wings without being thrown off his feet.

[There are two minutes left till the end of the Fable.]

[The constellations from the Korean Peninsula are looking at you with pity.]

(Fuck. The situation evolved from worst to fucked. What am I supposed to do when this guy's status window is like this?!!)

He had tried his investigation skill given to him as a reader benefit, but what he saw only drove him further into despair.

[Personal Skill, Eyes of Envy has activated.]

+

[ « Soul Status » ]

Name: Keikoku Amane

Age: 200

Contracted Constellation: Witch of the Night

Primary Attributes: Disaster of Storms (???), King of Catastrophe (???)...

Skills: Antimatter Lv. ???, Antimatter Conversion Lv.???, Advanced Mana Control Lv. ???, Vector Control Lv.???

Divine Authorities: One Person Must Be Sacrificed.

Overall Stats: Physique Lv. ???, Strength Lv. ???, Agility Lv. ???, Magic Power Lv. ???

Description: ???

+

His overall stats and skills weren't showing any values, that's why. His information wasn't like before.

He would have understood if he used any investigation skill, but he had used an investigation skill given to him as a reader. Even if the character in question was vastly stronger than him, he would still be able to see their information. However, that wasn't the case this time.

There was only one reason why his status window suddenly changed...

"... Don't tell me he awakened?"

Realising the truth, Park Joonhyuk clicked his tongue.

Awakening. It was a term used in Song of Nightmares. If Keikoku was currently going through an awakening, that means they were utterly screwed.

"Ha ha ha! I just thought about something good! Hey, are you guys hearing me?! Make sure you survive this attack! After all, It won't be worth it if you died so easily!!"

Keikoku laughed and performed a simple movement.

The hundred wings that reached above a 100 metres flew towards their head with a boom!

Escape was impossible. It was a demon strike that flew towards all directions. Trying to evade all of them was like trying to evade a nuclear bomb. Even if he managed to dodge one wing, they would surely be hit by the rest and be reduced to nothing.

"Fuck...!"

Park Joonhyuk could only curse and prepare himself for the impact.

He has already accepted his death. There was nothing him or anyone else could do in this situation.

In fact, this entire mess was all his fault.

If only he had destroyed False Grail, if only he had not tried to summon the Unknown Deity, perhaps the disaster wouldn't have been summoned and none of this would have happened.

He was going to pay for his sins. He prepared to meet his end. He waited and waited.

However...

"Eh?"

He was still alive. By some miracle, he was not erased into nothingness. To be more precise, the attack never touched him or even came down.

What's going on... Park Joonhyuk raised his head.

Soo Jinyoung and Angelica raised their heads, confused.

Just above their heads, the Antimatter Wings had stopped their approach and were currently trembling as if lamenting about something.

Keikoku Amane had stopped the black wings. But it was not out of his will. Even Keikoku did not understand what had happened.

"W-Wha... Aaaaaack!!!"

Keikoku screamed.

He felt the sharp blade of a sword. From what he was feeling, the attack did not penetrate him from behind but infront. But that was impossible. Surely, he would have noticed when someone was reaching towards him for an attack. Besides, nothing should have been able to harm or even affect him in his new form.

Yet... Why was he feeling pain?

Suddenly, the mysterious attacker removed the hood concealing his presence and his appearance was slowly revealed.

"You..."

Keikoku's demon-like eyes opened wide. Even Soo Jinyoung, Angelica and Park Joonhyuk were shocked as well.

It was definitely someone that wasn't supposed to be alive. Someone who was killed by the overwhelming violence of the disaster.

Someone was supposed to have left this world.

"... HOW THE HELL ARE YOU ALIVE?!!!"

It was Kim Jakga.