Chapter 57
We rested for about two days. What changed during that time was, first of all…
Lee Hoin took the “Trait Awakening Catalyst.” And that guy awakened “Instinct.” That’s a good thing. That book we got from the goat last time. Even though we consumed it in potion form and failed to gain “Instinct,” the catalyst triggered it to sprout.
Well, as long as at least one of us succeeds, that’s good enough.
—
[The narrator must humbly accept that he did something foolish.]
—
It was worth trying. At least they mixed, didn’t they? That means combinations beyond officially recognized item combinations are also possible.
‘Though the side effects are enormous.’
Aside from that, there’s something else we need to pay attention to.
Both Lee Hoin and I opened the Apocalypse up to Chapter 10. Not long after we opened Chapter 10, the surroundings suddenly grew eerily quiet, and then one by one, we heard the sound of doors closing somewhere.
‘Chapter 10.’
From here on, it’s no longer “third-party” events, but “world” events that open.
In other words, worlds not subordinated to a “third party”… incomplete worlds with neither “third parties” nor “title bearers.”
—
[Worlds have begun to invade.]
—
Those worlds made their final desperate struggle for survival.
—
[A passage connected not to just a ‘part,’ but to an entire world has opened.]
[A passage literally means a path to another world… a sign that a hole has formed in your world.]
[All worlds currently connecting through these passages are desperate worlds.]
—
Desperately. They are laying out all their stories, searching for a final chance at revival. By incorporating another world’s “story,” by bringing that world’s central pillar into their own.
Even if not, they try to pull in those who could become a central pillar.
‘Each world has only one central pillar.’
Among countless people in the world, only one can become a “title bearer.”
A “title bearer” could become a “third party,” or remain simply a “title bearer.” It depends on individual choice.
If the “title bearer” disappears, the world collapses… at an even faster rate than before.
At that time, the narrator presents a few choices.
Will you embrace your world and die with dignity?
Or will you do anything to survive desperately?
Worlds that say they will die and worlds that say they will struggle to survive actually share surprisingly similar traits. Many worlds that declared they would die changed their decision when death truly loomed before them.
And among such worlds, the most prominent one was…
‘Realm of True Martial Arts’
One of the martial arts worlds. A world that used the era name True Martial Arts. The one who held the title there was “Lotus Dharma Body.”
A human who possessed only morality, righteousness, and chivalry. To the point where if you personified justice, it would be him.
That man died a magnificent death, protecting his justice, righteousness, and chivalry.
At first, he stubbornly refused to become a “third party” or a “title bearer,” insisting he didn’t want to become something beyond human… neither enlightened nor a monster.
But there comes a moment when one must become a “title bearer.”
To support the world. To carry it. He had to become something beyond a mere human.
Yet Lotus Dharma Body resisted it until the very end, and only at the last moment did he realize there existed a wall humans could not surpass. Only then did he finally become a “title bearer.”
But it was too late.
Even surpassing one’s level comes with pain, and he attempted it in the middle of battle. His body burst apart.
He won the final battle, but the world lost its central pillar and became hollow.
A place that perished, yet did not perish. The narrator sneered.
—
[If he hadn’t accepted it to the end, a new central pillar might have emerged instead.]
[What a foolish thing.]
—
But because he accepted it, they won. Even Sa Jaeheon did not deny that.
At first, when the narrator put those two choices up for a vote, the Realm of True Martial Arts declared “we will die” with nearly 90%.
It was the world led by someone who died with such dignity. Goodwill breeds goodwill, and righteousness inevitably produces justice.
But as destruction gradually approached, people began to take responsibility for their choices.
There was no longer any “invasion,” yet as the world died, people began to die off.
Animals went extinct. Trees withered despite abundant water. Crops no longer grew.
A dead world. A completely aged world. A world where no new life was born.
Faced with the true crisis of existence, they thought blankly:
—
“Rather… rather, it would’ve been better to die all at once.”
—
If that had happened, they could have died together with Lotus Dharma Body.
Why must they slowly wither away, bearing his burden?
Why did he run away alone?
Why must they suffer like this?
Countless people reversed their votes. The number that had been close to 90% dropped past 70% and began to fall.
It was the moment when justice and righteousness collapsed before the threat of existence.
Once it broke past 70%, it plummeted completely.
50%, 40%, 30%… eventually down to 10%.
People began hunting down that remaining 10%.
Even though the vote had tilted this far, the narrator did not answer. So they believed they must prove their “loyalty” by killing those 10%.
Half of the 10% were killed. The other half changed their votes.
And then…
They were given a chance.
‘The world opening this time won’t be that one.’
But someday, a path to the Realm of True Martial Arts will open, too.
And now, before us, there are three choices.
—
[Final Fortress: Hermadion]
[Crimson Ashes: Honghwa]
[In the Name of God: Burz]
—
Familiar choices.
I briefly opened the character encyclopedia and went back to the final iteration. Then I reviewed what choices Sa Jaeheon had made.
In the past runs, the place he chose was…
‘Burz.’
A desert-related world. Skip Burz.
‘It’s an early-stage event anyway.’
Sa Jaeheon had entered all three at some point. And the least difficult, in my opinion, was Hermadion.
Honghwa is an island. A volcanic island. That alone is already threatening.
Burz is out of the question since I’d run into Sa Jaeheon.
‘Hermadion is…’
Simply put, it’s defense warfare. A siege.
You can tell just from the name “Final Fortress.” It’s a siege battle, and aside from the cold, it’s not particularly difficult.
Unlike others that require strategy, Hermadion just requires holding out. No need to think, just defend.
As long as you don’t die.
‘Besides, Lee Hoin has “Instinct.”’
Perfect for defense. Even though it’s a siege, enemies attack from all directions in a guerrilla-like manner. If we just follow Lee Hoin, it might be cleared more easily than expected.
‘There’s only one thing to watch out for there.’
Synchronization.
That world pulls in people from other worlds.
Only when they settle and become a new central pillar can that world begin to stabilize itself.
If synchronization percentage rises, those drawn in from other worlds gradually dissolve into that world.
Eventually, they forget they came from another world. They naturally become part of it, as if they were born and raised there.
Others perceive them the same way. Not as outsiders, but as comrades. They live and breathe in that world forever.
‘That’s why quite a few people abandon their original worlds entirely.’
Their own world is too harsh, offering no help. They’re battered from all sides, unlike that place.
From the world’s perspective, it must recruit as many as possible since it doesn’t know who will become the central pillar.
And for tired, lonely people, they naturally gravitate toward places that welcome them.
That place welcomes them. Accepts them. Embraces them willingly.
That unconditional acceptance gives a sense of belonging.
A sense of being needed.
That comfort and fulfillment become addictive.
So I had to make sure not to lose Lee Hoin.
“Where are we going?”
Right on cue, Lee Hoin asked, and I answered lightly:
“Hermadion.”
“Just a random pick?”
“No.”
I immediately denied it. No need to hide this much.
I didn’t just choose randomly. Lee Hoin stared at the options for a moment, then nodded.
Seems like his instinct also favored Hermadion.
Either way, we’re heading to Hermadion.
Of course, before that, there were things we needed to prepare.
“We don’t know what’s there, so we need survival supplies. Let’s go, Lee Hoin.”
I do know what’s there.
That’s why we need to prepare.
So we can survive this damned event.
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