Episode 148. Jeong Si-woo (2)
The five guardians that the Great Overlord summoned moved diligently to protect him. And simultaneously, the Five Heroes of the past that I summoned began to move.
They were experienced hunters that went through all sorts of hardships. They were quite different from the present-time Five Heroes. Just by their appearance, the atmosphere of the area changed.
The Martial God Kim Seung-hyun moved first. He was in his forties, a lot older than now, and a bit too old to be in his hunting prime. But the energy he gave off was so intense that it was incomparable to the present-time Kim Seung-hyun.
-The Martial God’s body becomes more powerful and sturdier over time. Like a hammered sword, he grows stronger with time. When he becomes older than sixty, Kim Seung-hyun will be a superhuman monster, not a sick old man.
Thump.
Just by jumping up from the ground, a heavy force convulsed through everyone. Kim Seung-hyun, high up in the weapons in his hand.
While he could only handle the spear right now, when he reached the age of forty, he had become outstandingly proficient in all weapons. It was his true power that enhanced his title ‘Martial God’.
“Aaaaaah!”
With a thunderous roar, the Martial God Kim Seung-hyun swung his arm. And that single movement turned the battlefield upside down. Dozens of monsters pouring out from the Rifts rose to the air, and before they could reach the ground, they were chopped up like grass.
Not just the enemies but the allies also stood stiff. It was their first time seeing such a sight. They couldn’t believe that a single hunter could create such a striking scene.
“Oh my god…….”
I could hear someone let out an exclamation. I couldn’t help but smile faintly. That was the completed Kim Seung-hyun I wanted to make.
In the past, things were too hopeless for him to shine. But in a fitting battlefield, his power was no different from a natural disaster to his enemies.
The greatest hunter I created with my years of analysis and training. The confident roar of the Martial God Kim Seung-hyun dominated all of the monsters there.
“Whew!”
And behind him were Yoo Ji-yeon and Han Yeon-soo. The Queen’s army right now was impressive, but it was no match for Han Yeon-soo’s army, which had directly fought with and absorbed the Great Overlord’s legion.
Boom!
The giant monsters overwhelmed everyone just by appearing, and they trampled on the Great Overlord’s legion. They were abnormal creatures that could create waves and storms with a single gesture. Those invaders were now steadfast allies.
And amid the chaos of the battle, Yoo Ji-yeon’s magic descended.
“…That’s me?”
She was an extraordinary genius. She rendered stupid all of the magic scholars who were even more advanced than those of the present-day, as well as the wizards fighting on the front line. The Witch who changed the history of magic. The storm she created swept away everything she wished, leaving behind no trace.
Whenever the wind blasted by, the monsters’ shells flew up, and blood spattered. The Witch didn’t even allow the monsters time to howl. She ruled the battlefield, and no monster could touch Yoo Ji-yeon as she roamed freely.
“How long… did she take to build that army?”
Han Yeon-soo. The middle-aged Queen was radiating intense charisma. It was hard to imagine that the present-day, gentler Han Yeon-soo would become like that. Her army was a nightmare.
Creatures that looked like they were made of fear itself guarded Yoo Ji-yeon, and the dynamics of the battlefield changed entirely with the appearance of just three people.
-Five people that are more threatening than a guild……. Your talent is fearsome.
A group of the most talented people throughout humanity. The highest-ranking force that even the Great Overlord found intimidating.
It was the completion of the ‘Five Heroes’ that I had always strived for. The current Jeong Si-woo Division wasn’t that bad……. But they fell short of the Five Heroes that I invested my entire life into as an Analyst.
“I think you can all fight more decisively.”
And they could fight so aggressively mostly thanks to Zhang Wei’s steadfast support in the back.
He wasn’t the current Zhang Wei who I hurriedly rescued to save time. He was a man who barely survived by healing himself in extreme situations.
Just by repeatedly growing his destroyed muscles, he became as strong as 1st class hunters. He was the Messiah of China who could revive dozens of dying people with the snap of his finger.
Unless the Great Overlord was commanding an army of millions, there was no way he could beat this combination.
“…Hm, well. Do you mind if I take command? It looks like my hunters are the only proper ones here anyway… Right?”
And finally, one man walked out, tilting his head. His familiar way of speaking, unique voice, and crooked posture. I knew him better than anyone else.
“And… Oh, let me smoke just one cigarette.”
Analyst Jeong Si-woo. Unlike now, where I spent a lifetime as a hunter, he lived a life obsessed with analysis and monsters. He was my ‘past self’, but he probably had a sharper eye than me in some aspects.
“Seung-hyun Hyeong, if you’re done with the stragglers, let’s head in. I mean… we aren’t here to wipe out those things, are we? Since all of the Five Heroes are here, we should get rid of the biggest prize.”
The hazy cigarette smoke and the smell of blood and tobacco mixed to create a nostalgic scent. It was the scent of the battlefield that I once smelled to death.
“And you guys can get going, too. We can’t be the only ones to do all the hard work. Let’s do this together, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Now that I was on the receiving end, the way I spoke sounded quite annoying. But since I knew his intentions weren’t bad, I just nodded.
I turned to look at my Jeong Si-woo Division and the hunters.
“There’s no time to explain in detail. I summoned those people with my characteristic, and they’ll deal with the five monsters that appeared. We’re in charge of the Great Overlord.”
“…….”
“Hunter Lee Hyun-seung, please take the other hunters and block every single monster from crossing over the Wailing Wall. If even one of the Great Overlord’s legions crosses over, they will start to breed and buy themselves time.”
“Okay.”
“And members of the Jeong Si-woo Division, gather here.”
Lee Hyun-seung and the hunters followed my every word.
And the Jeong Si-woo Division gathered in, surrounding me.
“As you can see, those people are you guys. I led them in my past life.”
“…….”
“If you bring out your potential, you can fight as well as them. And we have more people than those four. Sung Hyun-woo, Seol Ah-rin, Lee Jin-woo are all strong and reliable. If we fight together, we can get rid of the Great Overlord by the time they kill the guardians. Okay?”
Everyone nodded at my words. I clapped, and the members of the Jeong Si-woo Division swiftly leaped into action. It was the signal we practiced all the time. Clapping signaled the start of a battle.
‘I have to make them work together and succeed on their own.’
If I used my powers and strength as a Transcendent and all my past knowledge, I could probably manage to kill him by myself. But I couldn’t do that. When I was training as a Transcendent, the Traveler told me many things. And thinking of what he said…….
I wouldn’t be able to stay here for long. Since I experienced death, I was meant to go back. I had to leave behind the people I cared for and return to that damn place.
‘…So, they must be able to do things on their own.’
I had to help them fight through any difficulty. I wanted to stay here, too, and if I created a power, I probably would be able to.
But I couldn’t. Those damn Transcendents could toy with this world for entertainment again any day.
So I had to become strong enough so that no Transcendent could look down on me. And I was going to defeat the Traveler, who was trying to manipulate me as his toy.
I had to become stronger and stronger so that no creature could dare provoke me.
[You have met the requirements.]
‘And once everything is over… Then I’ll be able to rest.’
Amid the noisy battlefield, I could feel someone’s gaze. I met eyes with Han Yeon-soo, who had been deep in despair.
She looked happy. It didn’t suit the situation, but she was happy just because I had returned. As the monsters howled and the hunters roared, my time stopped. And I kicked the ground.
Along with the sound of something bursting out, the ground split open, and monsters were ripped apart along my path. A display of overwhelming power.
The strength I gained as a Transcendent was amazingly powerful. So much that I felt a bit hollow. I felt distant from the people who were fighting with all their might. I couldn’t help but think that I had now become a totally different being.
Snap.
My power of fire burned my enemies along with the entire area. My allies survived, and those amazed by my strength shouted. Their yells felt like praise for some reason.
Not like a compliment to a fellow hunter, but like a prayer to some entity high above.
Was it because I transcended, or because I underwent a change of heart? I didn’t know. But something within me had changed for sure.
[You have met the requirements.]
It felt like my body was hovering in the air. On the dangerous battlefield, I fought unenthusiastically. I just waved my arms and legs like I was floating on water. I was in a daze when I heard the voice that had been coming from somewhere again.
[You have met the requirements.]
[The ‘Akashic Records’ has detected a change in the user.]
.
.
.
[The ‘Akashic Records’ does not wish for this story to happen.]
[The ‘Akashic Records’ does not prefer the user to be corrupted like the other ‘Transcendents’]
[“Of all the numerous stories, I hate sacrifice the most. If you become the main character, you should enjoy yourself. Why sacrifice yourself?”]
[“Don’t make yourself lonely. Do what you want and get what you wish. And destroy everything that causes you pain.”]
It was a strange voice that I had never heard before. The firm voice resonating inside me woke me up, and it felt like the black-and-white world had become colorful again. It was as if someone hit me on the head with a hard object.
And I no longer felt dazed. The feeling of looking down from high above upon inferior creatures suddenly vanished.
[The ‘Akashic Records’ fundamentally seeks a happy ending.]
[The ‘Akashic Records’ interferes with the user.]
.
.
.
[The ‘Akashic Records’ has handed you two keywords.]
[#Freedom. #Happy Ending.]
[Your story will center on these two keywords from now on.]
And once I heard it, I realized something.
The Traveler wasn’t the one who unsparingly helped and assisted me when I came back in time.
My real companion that gave me one more chance, gave me endless power, and never asked for something in return.
The Akashic Records.
It was talking to me.
It was telling me to hold on to everything and have everything I wanted.
To not sacrifice myself.
“…Sounds good.”
I was glad to hear it. With my senses now vivid, I kicked the ground. I had to finish this first before thinking of anything else. This damn Disaster was finally nearing its end.
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