WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 469: Episode 89: Great Apocalypse (3)

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It had grown dark outside the window. At first, I thought the sun was setting, but looking closer, I realized it was because of the swarm of insects clinging to the glass. Locusts crawled rapidly across it, twitching their antennae as they glared at me.

I glanced over the swarm and said,

[Compared to how long you've waited, this is nothing. Don't be so dramatic.]

[What... do you know... about waiting?]

His words came in broken fragments. It was a constellation's declaration echoing from beneath a void I couldn't fathom. The surrounding air heated up with black Status. Controlling my own power, I said,

[At least I know you're the "Forgotten Evil."]

Gilyeong's pale eyebrows twitched. A chilling cold seemed to spread through the room. I endured it and continued.

["Evil" that the stars forgot after too much time had passed. "Evil" that even other "evil" turned away from, sealed deep beneath the Demon Realm.]

People often said that the deepest place in hell belonged to the Apocalypse Dragon. That was because the Harmageddon arc, where the Apocalypse Dragon burned Harmageddon, was the most famous part of the Great war of Angels and Demons.

In truth, the early Great war of Angels and Demons had contained more Calamities than just the Apocalypse Dragon.

The Catastrophe of Stars that had swept across the world as a yellow cloud of insects.

Among the names that had now vanished, there had certainly been a Calamity with that name.

[King of the Locusts. Lord of the Abyss.]

At my words, a message appeared in the air alongside a violent storm.

[The Patron of the character Lee Gilyeong reveals his modifier.]

[The Constellation Lord of the Abyss is looking at you.]

Lord of the Abyss, Abaddon.

Like the central figures of the Great war of Angels and Demons, he had reached the Mythical grade. Yet the owners of the Wall that Divides Good and Evil had refused to recognize him as "evil" for the sake of their own battle. They hadn't even included him among the 72 Demon Kings of the Demon Realm.

That made Abaddon no different from an Outer God. Though he had once been a Great Evil that dyed the galaxy with swarms of insects, he had spent tens of thousands of years in a prison of oblivion. Believing the empty promise that he would be awakened when the age of Calamities began, he had been betrayed even by his fellow demons.

「Until one day, when a human used "locusts" as a Scenario's clear condition.」

[The fable Grasshopper Collector begins its story!]

Gilyeong's fable, which had budded in our Scenario, awakened the old demon from his sleep.

[Tell me... why... you called me, insolent... Constellation.]

His voice carried deep hatred. I could feel every wound the demon had suffered.

A demon abandoned by "good," his enemy, and betrayed by "evil," his ally.

[Why do you think? I called to tell you to stop taking advantage of a child by making a contract with them.]

[...]

[If you want to make a contract, make one with me. That's only fair, isn't it?]

[I forgive... your insolence... because you... ruined the Great war of Angels and Demons...]

Gilyeong's faintly distorted lips were smiling.

Despite being qualified as a Great Evil, he had never participated in the Great war of Angels and Demons. He had even acted as if he didn't exist there.

I understood why. That Great Fable was no longer his festival.

[It was... very enjoyable... to see the Apocalypse Dragon, Eden... and the Demon Realm... fall.]

[So? Is that all?]

[All...?]

[Abaddon. You're still "evil."]

Gilyeong's eyebrows twitched at my words.

[The Great war... of Angels and Demons... has already ended...]

[It's over for now. But it'll open again someday. When that happens, a Scenario where you become the Calamity could be created. Everyone will remember your modifier, and they'll tremble at your name.]

[Why... are you saying... that...?]

As if he had heard sweet counsel, Abaddon laughed.

I got straight to the point.

[I won't drag this out. Stop hoarding your strength and help us.]

[Why... should... I?]

[Because otherwise, you'll be destroyed too. You know the other Constellations won't accept you if you survive alone without us, don't you?]

[I am... ancient... evil...]

[Constellations of the absolute-evil lineage won't acknowledge you as the next generation's "Oldest Evil." No one will take your side. Maybe you've forgotten, but monsters like Baal are still left in the Final Scenario.]

[Ba... al...!]

Abaddon's voice trembled as if in a seizure.

The Demon King ranked first in the Demon Realm. The only being from the Demon Realm to cross into the Final Scenario region, and the Demon King who had imprisoned Abaddon's existence in the Abyss.

[Help us stop the Great Apocalypse, and I'll give you a chance to take revenge on him.]

The air around us shook violently. I endured the Status flowing through it and said,

[Lord of the Abyss. Become the "Oldest Evil" of the world we create.]

If I was going to join hands with a demon, I needed bait like this.

Abaddon's power was essential to stopping this Calamity.

* * *

[1 hour and 5 minutes remain until the Great Apocalypse Scenario begins.]

At last, all preparations were complete.

I looked at my Companions gathered on one side of the plaza and asked,

"Has Yu Junghyeok woken up?"

"Not yet."

I nodded at Lee Seolhwa's reply. If Junghyeok still hadn't awakened, Plan B was the best option after all.

"I'll trust all of you. This is our only way."

The operation itself was the same as Plan A. We would split into two teams and face the approaching Kings of the Outer Gods one at a time.

The difference from Plan A was the teams' composition.

"The Outer God Team One will face is Living Flame."

Living Flame. The divine name of the Uriel who had lived through the 999th round.

"The being that has appeared in the Pacific is the Owner of the Sunken Island, but once the Great Apocalypse begins, Living Flame will certainly appear as well. She's after Secretive Plotter."

I looked toward Secretive Plotter, still asleep inside the Sealing Orb.

"I'll tell you the roster first."

My Companions looked at me with tense expressions.

"Jeong Huiwon, Lee Gilyeong, Shin Yuseong, Lee Seolhwa, Pildu Gong, Yu Sangah, Han Suyeong..."

Among my Companions, Huiwon was currently our main damage dealer. Sangah possessed the strongest debuff ability, while Suyeong had better command of the battlefield than anyone else. Those three had to form the core of the team.

Of course, that wasn't all.

"Uriel, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, Great Sage Equaling Heaven..."

Sparks burst through the air at my words.

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire nods.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon grumbles that you shouldn't order him around.]

[The Constellation Oldest Liberator gauges your intentions.]

Since our opponent was the Uriel of the 999th round, we had to send Uriel from our side as well. If we were lucky, we might see the effects of the Broken Film Theory like last time. Black Flame Dragon, her natural counter, would also be a great help. There was no need to even mention Great Sage Equaling Heaven, who had become a Mythical Constellation.

"Sky-Splitting Sword Saint, Kyrios, Jang Hayoung... I'd also like the Transcendents to provide backup support."

"Leave it to me!"

Hayoung shouted, thrilled to finally be assigned a proper mission. Her mind would change once she got there.

Sky-Splitting Sword Saint and Kyrios nodded, and I continued.

"Lastly... Hades and Persephone. I'd like the two of you to go with Team One as well."

[The Constellation Father of the Rich Night silently nods.]

[The Constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring looks at you with concern.]

The Companions who had been listening began to look strange by then.

Huiwon was the first to speak.

"Wait. Do we really need to concentrate that many people in Team One? Isn't that basically everyone in Team One? Then who's in Team Two?"

"Me, Jihye, and Hyeongseong-ssi."

"What about the Constellations?"

I didn't answer. Huiwon narrowed her eyes.

"Another one of your plausible suicide plans..."

I saw Sangah beside her smiling gently. Right, maybe Sangah-ssi would take my side.

[Someone is chanting the incantation for Tightening Headband Spell...]

Her gentle lips were chanting something horrifying. In the distance, Suyeong held her forehead and shook her head.

I told you it wouldn't work.

I hurriedly shouted,

"Wait! It isn't a suicide plan. It's a real, proper operation. That's why I'm taking Jihye and Hyeongseong-ssi with me."

"Hmm..."

"I'm a Mythical Constellation now. You all saw how strong I am."

"We saw you hide behind Junghyeok-ssi and cheer him on."

"Please trust me. You all know what a Mythical Constellation is, don't you? Mythical Constellation! Poseidon! Zeus! Great Sage Equaling Heaven! And Demon King of Salvation!"

"I think there's one strange thing mixed in there..."

After I repeated the words Mythical Constellation several times, my Companions began to look uncertain. Repetition really was the most effective form of brainwashing.

That was when thunder crashed from the sky.

[The Constellation Oldest Liberator glares at you.]

Great Sage Equaling Heaven materialized an Incarnation body using Plausibility and appeared atop a brilliant thundercloud. His platinum hair streamed spectacularly over the Cloud Somersault.

[Youngest, are you out of your mind?]

"You could've just sent an Indirect Message... You should conserve your Plausibility..."

[Not all Mythical Constellations share the same "myth." You've only just stepped into the realm of myth. You're nothing but a fledgling.]

I had never seen Great Sage Equaling Heaven speak so firmly, so I was a little taken aback. After thinking it over, I sighed and admitted the truth.

"I don't think Team Two can kill a King with our strength either."

"Then what are you thinking?"

"The key to this operation is a swift resolution."

Junghyeok, who should have been the core of Team Two, was absent. Without the strength of the 1,863rd round to rely on, there was no way to guarantee victory no matter how we divided the team.

If things went wrong, we could be picked off one by one instead of picking them off one by one.

Then there was only one way for everyone to survive.

"Team Two's survival depends on all of you in Team One. Subdue Living Flame as quickly as possible, then come to the Pacific. Jihye, Hyeongseong-ssi, and I just need to hold out until you arrive."

That was the first stage of the operation I had planned.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Jihye, Hyeongseong, and I set sail for the Pacific.

Until just before we departed, the Companions had tried to stop me, begging me to reconsider. I shook my head.

The Owner of the Sunken Island had wiped out the American continent through Descent alone.

If we waited for it to reach the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula, every nearby island would be blown away the moment the battle began.

Even if it was dangerous, going out to meet it was our best option.

[The Constellation Naval Warfare God reads the waterway with a knowing look.]

Both Jihye and Hyeongseong looked tense. Hyeongseong, who had returned to the Scenarios after a long absence, wore a more resolute expression than usual.

[The Constellation Bald Army General polishes his head.]

[The Constellation King Heungmu mourns the fate of the Korean Peninsula.]

The Turtle Dragon cutting through the water passed Ulleungdo and Dokdo just then. Something about the sight of those islands must have moved Hyeongseong, because he suddenly placed a hand over his chest and shouted,

"We will protect our land!"

[The Constellation The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol nods.]

Unable to bear such a solemn oath, I interrupted him.

"I thought you said you weren't a soldier anymore, Hyeongseong-ssi."

"Soldiers aren't the only ones who protect their country."

Muttering that, Hyeongseong looked down at his military dog tag necklace with sad eyes. Just before we parted from the others, Huiwon had stroked that tag for a long time before letting Hyeongseong go.

Stay alive, okay?

Hyeongseong nodded toward empty air with the innocent face of a cow waiting for its owner. Jihye, who had watched the whole thing, whispered to me,

"Mister, doesn't this feel like we're raising death flags?"

"We'll be fine. Even if someone dies, it'll only be Hyeongseong-ssi."

"But are Mister Hyeongseong and I really enough?"

"Yeah."

I spread a piece of cloth across the ship's deck as I spoke. It was a DIY product I had purchased through the Dokkaebi Compendium earlier. First, I had to finish it before we met the enemy.

"I don't get it. I can understand Mister Hyeongseong, but why me? Because it's the sea?"

"Something like that."

"But my Patron is Historical... no, fabled-grade. You said even a Mythical Constellation couldn't stop the thing coming."

She was right. Naval Warfare God was an outstanding Constellation, but it was hard to call him one of the highest-ranking Constellations in the Star Stream.

"I'm not trusting the Admiral. I'm trusting you."

"Huh?"

"Your Constellation is fabled-grade, but that doesn't mean your Incarnation is fabled-grade too."

Jihye blinked as if she didn't understand me, then snorted.

"What are you talking about? I'm not even a Constellation."

Not yet.

Jihye still didn't know her own potential. She didn't know how far she had gone in the original novel I had read.

[The Constellation Naval Warfare God nods at your words.]

Maybe the Admiral already knew.

Hyeongseong, who had been acting out Romeo and Juliet by himself, came over.

"By the way, Dokja-ssi, what have you been making this whole time?"

"Oh, this?"

I held up the item I had been making.

Its description immediately appeared.

+

Name: Perfect White Flag of Surrender

Grade: SSS

Description: An astonishing item that lets an enemy recognize your surrender even from very far away. Use it without your allies noticing.

+

Hyeongseong rubbed his eyes several times as if he thought they had gone wrong, then turned to look at me. I smiled.

"I told you. I don't plan on dying."

"No, but this is..."

"The moment we see it, surrender at once. Then try to start a conversation. Got it? If we fight, we won't be able to buy any time. The moment it appears, immediately..."

"Mister! Something's coming!"

At Jihye's shout, a massive wall appeared beyond the horizon. A wall of waves hundreds of meters high. It was bearing down on us.

[You have entered the Great Apocalypse Scenario region early!]

[You are advised to leave the Scenario region immediately!]

[If you do not leave, the Great Apocalypse Scenario will begin!]

Of course, I had no intention of leaving.

[The Hidden Scenario - Great Apocalypse has begun!]

[The invasion of the Outer God has begun!]

[Survive the Calamity!]

Alongside the Scenario description, an immense wave of Status began to surge toward us.

Status powerful enough to make every hair on my body stand on end, even now that I was a Mythical Constellation.

「A Calamity that even the stars could not withstand. This was the Great Apocalypse.」

The advance of the Outer God, meant to destroy a single world.

[The fable Demon King of Salvation begins its story.]

To protect my Companions, I released a suitable fable and looked up at the wall of waves.

An Outer God roared from somewhere.

Outer Gods were layered through the waves like strata. At the very top of that wall stood a warship, reigning over them all. It was a ship with a familiar shape.

Ferocious flames poured from the dragon-headed figurehead at its bow.

Turtle Dragon.

It was undoubtedly a Turtle Dragon. The difference was that it looked at least twenty times larger than ours.

"Ah, Mister..."

Jihye looked at me, terrified.

Her expression asked if I had known all of this.

I nodded. I hadn't been certain, but I had expected it. After all, I knew the roster of Companions who survived the 999th round better than anyone.

「The Calamity of the western world, the Owner of the Sunken Island.」

Beyond the splitting waves, I heard the voice of the girl who had seen the conclusion of the 999th round.

【Load.】

Footnotes:

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