WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 498: Episode 95: When the Heavens Part (2)
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Yu Junghyeok raced toward the bridge, with the Constellations of Asgard in pursuit.
The Bald Army General, watching the screen, shouted.
[Hang in there, descendants!]
One-Eyed Maitreya muttered.
[Your head's sweating.]
[Mind your own head.]
[Aren't you going to help them?]
[How am I supposed to without an Incarnation?]
[You could manifest directly.]
[Have you gone mad from being trapped here too long? I don't have enough Coins left to even manifest a symbolic form.]
Grumbling, the Bald Army General wiped his head and looked behind him.
A vast training ground made entirely of drab, colorless tones stretched out before him.
The Infinite Sanctuary, the Scenario area on the ninety-second floor.
Many Historical-grade Constellations, including the Bald Army General, had been trapped here for decades. Escape was only possible after completing all ten missions.
One-Eyed Maitreya grumbled.
[Who knew we'd suffer this much because of that Cheok bastard.]
Goryeo's Top Swordsman had been the first to find the Infinite Sanctuary.
「A true martial artist naturally has to visit a place like this. The trials are easy too, so you could call it a hidden honey pot.」
Naval Warfare God, who cleared the Scenario after Cheok Junkyung, said this.
「It's worth trying. If you can get through it, you'll achieve something great.」
The Historical-grade Constellations who admired the martial prowess of Cheok Junkyung and Yi Sun-sin all headed for the Infinite Sanctuary after hearing that. Now, decades later, they were still stuck here.
[For a moment, we forgot we weren't Cheok Junkyung or Yi Sun-sin.]
Talent was a problem everywhere.
The Bald Army General let out a deep sigh.
The clash of weapons rang out repeatedly from the center of the training ground.
[Are those two still fighting?]
Two old men were grappling where One-Eyed Maitreya's eye turned.
One was a tiger-like man with a massive build, while the other was fox-like, lean but solidly muscled.
Strong sparks flew as their swords collided in midair.
[Kim Yushin! I'll settle this today!]
[Gyebaek, you're still no match for me.]
A Stage Transformation spread around them, recreating the battlefield of Hwangsanbeol. It was the very battlefield Dokja had once created with the [Ganpyeongui].
Yushin's Yonghwa Hyangdo attacked Gyebaek, while Gyebaek, in response, released a grand Status and moved through the battlefield like a ghost.
It was an impressive fight, but the other Historical-grade Constellations only watched with bored eyes. Lady of the Sleeping Brocade shook her head, while the Founding Duke of Hannamgun clicked his tongue.
One-Eyed Maitreya sneered.
[They can put on all the airs they want, but they know this isn't Hwangsanbeol anymore.]
There had surely been a time when they were sincere. They had deep grievances, resentment that even death couldn't dissolve.
They had fought at Hwangsanbeol with everything they had.
There had definitely been a time like that.
[The fable Hwangsanbeol at Sunset continues its story sporadically.]
After becoming a Constellation, the thing that wore away fastest was a Constellation's own fable. As their stories became depleted, their strength weakened. They became listless and bored, sank into deep depression, or were consumed by ennui.
To escape that mire, Constellations inevitably sought out other fables. They went looking for new tragedies, if only to break free from this horrible cycle of eternity for a while.
Kagaang!
As the clash of weapons grew faster, One-stroke Scholar said,
[They're putting more strength into it than before.]
[It seems they caught fire again after Demon King of Salvation summoned them.]
At Lady of the Sleeping Brocade's words, the Constellations all turned toward the Scenario channel.
Dokja and Junghyeok were crossing the bridge.
Suyeong, who had already reached the other side, shouted.
"Kim Dokja! Faster!"
The noisy clash of weapons stopped. Yushin and Gyebaek, who had been recreating Hwangsanbeol, were holding their breath before they knew it. The Constellations sauntered over to the panel one by one.
A few looked at the bridge Dokja was crossing as though they recognized it.
[Wait, isn't that the Even-Number Bridge? This brings back memories.]
[What nonsense. You weren't even subscribed back then.]
[Ahem.]
Odin was pursuing Dokja and Junghyeok. Their advance slowed under the fierce storm. A chilling Status stirred. Gungnir, the divine spear said never to miss, was aimed at Dokja's back.
One-Eyed Maitreya cried out.
[No! Odin still has the dignity of a Mythical Constellation!]
[Dokja is a Mythical Constellation too.]
[Are all Mythical Constellations the same? Our Dokja is still a fragile rookie Mythical Constellation!]
As if they had never been fighting, Yushin and Gyebaek, seated side by side before the screen, shouted as well.
[That descendant has neglected his training.]
[He might summon me with the Ganpyeongui. I should prepare...]
[You, Gyebaek? In a situation like that, he'd obviously summon me.]
When it looked as though Hwangsanbeol might be recreated again, One-Eyed Maitreya warned them.
[Both of you, shut up and watch the screen.]
[Still, he isn't going to throw Kim Dokja again, is he?]
Sparks flew from Junghyeok's right arm as he ran across the bridge. While every Constellation watched in concern, Junghyeok suddenly grabbed Dokja by the collar with that arm.
[I knew he'd do that! I knew he would...!]
Junghyeok hurled Dokja forward, then stomped on his back and used it as a foothold. He surged against the storm as though surfing.
The next moment, Gungnir flew from Odin's hand and exploded in a vast ray of light.
Kwaaah!
When the light faded, only the shattered remains of the Bifrost bridge were left.
[What happened? Did they make it?]
The screen soon changed, revealing Dokja's Allies as they entered the next section.
[Oh, they made it!]
As though it were their own victory, the Constellations of the Korean Peninsula looked at one another in delight. Even Gyebaek and Yushin exchanged awkward looks before lightly bumping fists. Their joy didn't last long.
"Chase them."
At Odin's furious command, the Constellations of Asgard began moving.
「Kim Dokja Company won't stay on the run for long.」
Everyone knew it. No matter how capable Dokja was, escaping the pursuit of great nebulae on such unfavorable ground was impossible. The channel was public now, so the other nebulae within the Ark would soon begin targeting Kim Dokja Company as well.
A deep silence settled over them. Someone muttered in resignation.
[This will be difficult...]
[Honestly, he should've died a long time ago.]
Several Constellations nodded at those words.
Dokja's survival had been a continuous series of miracles. When he fell beneath Dongho Bridge, when he shattered the Absolute Throne, when he became Demon King of Salvation, and when he visited the 1,863rd round, Dokja should have died many times.
When Dokja appeared as the Outer God King, everyone believed he would finally die.
「An Incarnation who had been in Scenarios far below theirs only a few years ago.」
Now, the Constellations watched Dokja's back as he lived through Scenarios ahead of their own. Some watched with envy, others with self-mockery. Everyone had something they wanted to say, yet no one dared say it.
Gyebaek was the one who spoke.
[I've overheard Shindansu's prophecy before. They say this worldline might become the final worldline.]
No one knew where Kim Dokja Company's end lay. No one knew where they would ultimately arrive, or what ■■ they would see. Perhaps, as many expected, their journey might end without ever reaching the end of this world.
Gyebaek slowly rose to his feet, supporting himself with his great sword.
His gaze was fixed on the portal at the center of the training ground, where the Infinite Sanctuary's final trial awaited.
Yushin asked,
[Don't tell me you're challenging it again. You could die this time.]
[If I die, then this place will be my ■■.]
Yushin laughed at Gyebaek's words.
[Our ■■ is Hwangsanbeol.]
Yushin cracked his neck and stood as well.
The Bald Army General was the third to rise.
[I'll give it another try too.]
Determination shone in his eyes. A few more Constellations stood up after him. Lady of the Sleeping Brocade, the Founding Duke of Hannamgun, One-stroke Scholar... and then.
[You haven't forgotten how we nearly got wiped out when we went in as a party last time, have you?]
Everyone's expressions darkened at One-Eyed Maitreya's words.
They had never managed to pass this Scenario's final gate.
[But we can't go help them unless we get through there.]
The Infinite Sanctuary's Final Chapter wasn't a place that could be cleared with this many people in the first place. Cheok Junkyung, a one-man army, and Yi Sun-sin, who commanded warships, were the real monsters. Even if they had only a few more Constellations...
That was when one corner of the sanctuary lit up brightly.
[Someone has entered the 10th floor of the Infinite Sanctuary!]
One-Eyed Maitreya shouted in delight.
[Oh, a newcomer?]
Two people appeared within the light.
A moment later, One-Eyed Maitreya realized who they were and stood there with his mouth hanging open. One person was enormous, while the other was tiny.
The smaller one spoke first.
[Just as Cheok Junkyung said. You're still here? Pathetic fools.]
Kyrios radiated fierce fighting spirit as they said,
[My disciple is about to die because you bastards have been dragging your feet.]
* * *
As the cluster of light shattered all at once, Junghyeok and I were sucked out through the worldview's exit. When I came to my senses, Junghyeok was trampling me.
"I told you not to throw me!"
Junghyeok lightly brushed off his combat boot as though he'd stepped on something filthy. Suyeong, who had been waiting for us, approached. Judging by her expression, she was about to fire off another remark. Fortunately or unfortunately, Anna Croft spoke first.
"I didn't know you could use a Stage Transformation that way. Honestly, I'm a little impressed, Demon King of Salvation."
Suyeong turned to Anna.
"Didn't you see it all with [future vision]?"
"I saw them crossing the bridge, but I didn't know it was that kind of bridge."
"What a fraud."
Ignoring their bickering, I looked around. Passages shaped like the vascular bundles of a stem stretched out in every direction.
This was probably a hallway inside the Final Ark.
There was no sign of the members of Zarathustra, who had entered the passage ahead of us.
Anna closed her eyes briefly, seeming to sense something, then said,
"It looks like they've scattered into different passages. Fortunately, no one has died."
"It seems our Allies are safe too."
I nodded at Junghyeok's words.
[The influence of other myths weakens in this area.]
[The nebula Kim Dokja Company's context has been reactivated!]
Once we left Asgard's worldview, I could gradually sense the fables of my Allies again. I felt the presence of my scattered Allies.
[The fable Demon King of Salvation announces its presence!]
I released my fable with all my strength, guiding my Allies to gather in one place. My Allies would have no trouble finding me.
Explosions rang out one after another from the entrance to Asgard that we had closed behind us. Someone was trying to open the shut door and come through.
It was obvious who.
"Let's keep moving."
Footnotes:
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