Total Chaos (1)
Total Chaos (1)
I avoided combat with the monsters on my way to the Reverse Side's core.
It would've been nice to thin their numbers a bit more on the way...
[Pain]
'I'm a lot more banged up than I planned for.'
Even lying still, searing pain pulsed through my body. Some parts had already gone numb. The damage was undeniable.
[Sleepiness]
If I could, I'd sprawl out on the floor right this instant and sleep for days.
[Chagrin]
This was not how it was supposed to go.
I was meant to approach the core, minimize my injuries, and reduce the number of monsters to buy time against the aftermath.
That plan fell apart the moment the Tower Master of Purgatory and the 10th Iteration he summoned barged in.
Because of that, the same body meant to endure the aftermath was now beaten to tatters.
- Sorry. For meddling out of spite. You got hurt because of me, and I let the Tower Master's Incarnation slip away too.
[Complicated]
'Seriously, what a nuisance...'
He interfered just to be petty, and then he left. The situation was unbearably awkward now because of it.
[Fear]
Even in perfect condition, how far I could withstand the aftermath was uncertain. In this state, it was dangerous, no question.
[Resolve]
Still, I couldn't run after coming all this way.
- BOOM!
A massive tremor reverberated through my lacerated insides. It was the pulsation from the core, the heart of the Reverse Side.
'If I leave it, it'll burst soon.'
The vibrations pulsed with palpable malice and foreboding. If I retreated to put it off, it would burst right away.
I had to do this now.
- Hh, ghh... hoo...
Every breath through my throat felt like swallowing a lump of thorns. I choked down the pain and administered as much emergency healing as I could manage.
Recovery magic. Then, with Homogenization, I mimicked Healing Melody and applied it over myself, and then with Taesan I drew in vitality and infused it into my body.
- Hoo, phoo...
It was the best triage I had.
After steadying my breath, I focused on the Proof of Protection, which I had been continuously feeding mana.
A pure white prosthetic arm. Mana had been poured into it so heavily that circuits shone through its surface, radiating golden ripples into the surroundings.
[Hey. You. You have an ego, don't you?]
I tapped the Proof of Protection with my charred right hand.
Purification definitely possesses a kind of ego. Sometimes it would vibrate as if telling me to take it out more often, or float up and tap me on the shoulder on its own. There was no way I could not know.
The Proof of Protection was probably similar.
I'd never seen it move directly, but now that I thought about it, it had conveyed its will before.
[I don't know what criteria you used to pick me. But right now I'm trying to do something good, so please, lend me your strength if you can.]
After saying it, I let out a dry scoff before I even realized it.
Trying to rely on an artifact, even one with an ego—it was pretty absurd.
I was the one who'd thrust my head forward of my own volition. Who was I trying to lean on?
The Tower Masters and Lady Ariel had reflected their self-reproach onto me, telling me I was driving myself into the jaws of death.
I didn't really sympathize.
I could have run at any time.
I could have stepped back to save my life. I could have self-preserved and sacrificed a few strangers.
I didn't.
Advancing forward, sticking my neck out—ultimately, that was my choice.
Did the circumstances force me into it? I wouldn't deny it outright, but I won't affirm it, either.
There was a way out, but I'm the one who refused it.
'I.'
I want to do the right thing. And I want to be able to stand proud before myself.
I want to be praised for not running away back then.
I want to prove with confidence that I am worthy of being loved.
That's all.
This isn't for others; it's for myself.
- Wooooong!
I extended the Proof of Protection forward.
The preheating was more than complete. I had conserved my Authorities for a while too, so I could push the output past its limits.
'Now, to burst—'
- Indeed, protection does not signify sacrifice.
A clear voice suddenly resonated in my head. I flinched in surprise, and the Proof of Protection shuddered along with me, spewing golden mana.
- Therefore, a guardian must also treasure their own life.
The Authority of Protection unfurled on its own. Golden light filled my surroundings. It was a more refined deployment than when I manifested it myself.
I stared, mouth agape, at the sight.
'...I didn't think it would actually help.'
Getting aid in response to my own grumbling was utterly baffling.
[...Thank you.]
But I did need the help. Wooooong! A vibrating reply resonated.
I smiled wryly and reached out.
The plan was simple.
Think of the Reverse Side as an overfull water balloon. I would use the Authority of Space to pierce a hole and let the contents drain out.
I couldn't let it burst completely. The water had to trickle out little by little through the hole.
I had to reduce the aftermath that would result.
The core was the starting point of the aftermath, and blocking it fell to the Authority of Protection.
'Manifest.'
Authority of Protection.
Authority of Space.
I channeled mana into the Proof of Protection and Heart Power into the Authority of Space.
The emergency measures cut off. Observation disconnected, and the information flowing into my head vanished.
I relied on my remaining senses and Qi Sense.
I touched the core with the Authority of Space. The resistance was immense and unyielding. I gritted my teeth, pierced through it, and interfered.
- Gurgle.
The core churned. Then it crumpled miserably, as if an unseen hand had seized and mangled it.
A tiny hole was punctured.
The reverse flow that burst through the hole slammed into the Authority of Protection.
- CRASH!
A sickening impact tore through the barrier and hammered into my body.
...
[Confusion]
[Sharp Pain]
[Hungry]
[Thirsty]
[It hurts]
[Hard]
[Sleepy]
[Cold]
[Lonely...]
My consciousness and body floated up as if weightless.
* * *
Immediately after Lee Ha-yul breached the Reverse Side.
The Association issued a mobilization order for the area while simultaneously deploying its own Defense Army and Subjugation Force.
'Quite a crowd has gathered.'
Maxwell, who had remained on site, swept his gaze across the surroundings.
The foundation that Lee Ha-yul had prepared in advance, like a siege line encircling the Reverse Side's entrance.
A vast workforce was swarming atop it, busily conducting final inspections and expansions of the defensive facilities and Spell Workshops.
It wasn't just Association personnel. Superhumans from across the world had rushed over frantically through Gate Terminals.
'Well, that's understandable.'
A mobilization order had been issued at a time when the African Demon Realm was already boiling over, and the location wasn't a black area but a gray area.
That alone would shock any faction capable of reading the situation, but there was an even more staggering detail.
The authority of the directive came from the "Association President."
The position of the Association's head had never changed since its founding.
The Tower Master of Harmonization and the Tower Master of Space. Beings who had secluded themselves for decades alongside the other Tower Masters.
They had issued a direct order.
In other words, although no official announcement had been made, their seclusion was effectively half broken.
Interpreting the situation this way, factions began dispatching material support, and even groups not named in the mobilization order stepped forward to lend their strength.
It wasn't purely out of loyalty or righteousness; a strong motive was the desire to witness the situation firsthand.
This had already been anticipated. There was even an element of intent in revealing that the orders came from the Association President.
Thanks to that, countless factions had gathered here to prevent the Reverse Side's rampage.
'But for even them to be that proactive...'
Maxwell shifted his gaze toward a certain facility positioned in the rear.
A structure that rose even higher than the ramparts. It was an observation device that the Observation Tower had painstakingly installed.
This was a surprising move, even to Maxwell.
The Association had certainly requested support from the Observation Tower, but he hadn't expected them to rip equipment out of another installation and slam it down here.
Furthermore, mages were scurrying around across the entire front line without a moment's rest.
Uniforms that were not those of the Association or faction mages caught his eye.
They were combat mages dispatched as support from the Magic Council.
On top of that, Siyoram was also frantically sending over vast amounts of personnel and supplies.
Other factions, reading this atmosphere, had their eyes blazing even more fiercely and joined the support effort.
And then...
"Could you please stop staring? Honestly, it's quite frightening."
The murderous gazes felt like they could punch a hole clean through him if he relaxed his guard. Maxwell broke out in a cold sweat.
"Why? Are you suddenly afraid I might blow your head off?"
"Atra, don't be too harsh. He was just following orders, wasn't he?"
The most familiar face among them was Atra, standing with her arms crossed. But her mood was obviously extremely foul, and he didn't dare provoke her.
Beside her, Liana seemed to be placating Atra, but the chill in her own presence hadn't subsided in the slightest either.
One was an active top-grade hero, and the other was practically a top-grade anti-army combat hero.
Wherever they went, both were superhumans who would receive the most honored of welcomes.
And they weren't the only ones nearby.
"......"
"Wow. You told me not to worry, and then you crawled into a place like this? And you were the one telling me I had no room to worry?"
"...There must be... circumstances... hm..."
"Senior Ji-yeon, even if there are circumstances..."
Hong Yeon-hwa stared wordlessly at the flattened battlefield.
Baek A-rin surveyed the defensive line, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Lee Ji-yeon hesitated, trying to defend Lee Ha-yul in her own way, while Ellia shook her head dejectedly.
The Three Great Families had contributed their strength to this mobilization order as well.
That was not strange in itself. The Three Great Families maintained good relations with the Association, after all.
But this time, the degree of involvement was different.
Not only had a considerable portion of the families' elite forces arrived, but the heirs themselves had come to the front lines in person.
Maxwell had been cornered by them for days and left with no choice but to spill information.
Had it been truly classified intelligence, he would have kept his mouth shut even if it killed him. But since things had already come this far, there was no hiding it, so he talked freely.
And ever since, the situation had remained like this.
"...I'll step out to inspect the perimeter for a moment."
Maxwell hurriedly fled the scene.
Atra, now deprived of her stress outlet, furrowed her brow and subtly turned her gaze toward Hong Yeon-hwa.
It had been Hong Yeon-hwa who first grasped the Golden Child's sudden actions and proposed rallying forces to help.
The others had agreed when told Lee Ha-yul might be in danger, but a question remained.
Lee Ha-yul had kept his mouth shut about being entangled with the Tower Masters, so how had Hong Yeon-hwa figured him out?
- I don't know all the details either. I wasn't even certain. I just thought it might be the case, and then it actually happened.
That was the answer she gave. Even she had not been sure, she said.
It sounded like nonsense at first, but the expression on her face held no falsehood, so no one pressed her further.
'Fuck... Something like this actually existed?'
And it was true. Hong Yeon-hwa glared at the battlefield, unable to conceal her shock and fury.
That night, she recalled the strange phenomenon the necklace had shown regarding Lee Ha-yul.
The necklace that, like some sort of automated response machine, had answered her questions one by one about the concept called the Reverse Side.
And even the incomprehensible concept of iterations.
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had instinctively been about to press for more, stopped her questioning right there.
She could not know whether the necklace was truly filtering its responses.
If she inadvertently triggered a constraint or curse upon Lee Ha-yul, it would be beyond her ability to fix.
'...I couldn't keep prying like that.'
There was also the matter of trust.
Had she not already regretted losing control of her emotions around Lee Ha-yul more than a few times?
Hong Yeon-hwa was not a superhuman who never made mistakes. But she was someone who could reflect on her mistakes.
She swallowed her curiosity, resolving to hear the circumstances directly from Lee Ha-yul later.
But she had already learned that a mysterious phenomenon called the "Reverse Side" existed, and that Lee Ha-yul intended to resolve it.
She had no way to verify the truth. So she probed here and there, just in case, rallying troops—and then the Association actually went and issued a mobilization order.
'This little fucker.'
That insane Golden Child. She could not control the scowl twisting her face.
"Can we not enter through that entrance ourselves?"
"Even basic spatial magic would struggle to punch a finger-sized hole in that."
"The Golden Child uses spatial magic at an above-standard level. He likely broke through and entered that way."
"Hah..."
Emotion-laden sighs echoed from all around. Hong Yeon-hwa joined in, checking over her equipment as she did.
- Wooooong!
"Hm?"
Then it happened. A vibration strong enough for everyone on the defensive line to feel rippled through the area.
[Association Flame-type ability user Isabel Larnier is relaying a message. The observation device has now detected forewarning signals of the disaster designated "Reverse Side" rampage. All personnel, please proceed to your respective positions. Repeating. At present—]
A voice resonated in their heads. Everyone nearby exchanged glances, nodded, and rose from their positions.
.
.
.
The entrance to the Reverse Side could not be discerned with the naked eye.
Even those whose Qi Sense was developed beyond standard levels only felt a sense of wrongness; they could not perceive it clearly.
- There's something there. A dungeon... no, something worse. What in the world is this...
Even those who had been half-doubtful were not certain until the observation team, who had dismantled a device and tracked it here, turned deathly pale.
- Kugugugugugung...!
"That... is the Reverse Side...?"
Now it was visible to the naked eye.
The entrance to the Reverse Side, surrounded across a vast expanse. In a space that should have been utterly ordinary, a pitch-black sphere had risen, trembling madly.
Everyone who sensed the chilling dread emanating from that sphere felt their expressions harden.
Some faces hardened at the fact that someone had entered such a place.
[Rampage forewarning measurement: 20, 19, 18...]
The voice of the Flame-type ability user relayed the values output by the observation device in real time.
Even those who had come merely to gather information on the Association Presidents swallowed dryly at the ominous forewarning.
[2, 1...]
- Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The moment the countdown ended.
Overwhelming pressure enveloped the area from all directions. Boom! Cracks shot through the barrier surrounding the battlefield, and several people gasped for breath, collapsing where they stood.
"Mages! Maintain the barrier!"
The startled mages urgently raised their staves, reinforcing the barrier and their spell workshops.
But the rampage had only just begun.
The sphere, swollen and bulging irregularly, burst apart and began spewing black energy in every direction.
- Kwarururur!
The energy swallowed the flattened battlefield in an instant.
The black energy, like ink, surged in waves, crashing against the fortress walls and the barrier, dyeing even the empty air pitch black.
"Spatial occupation confirmed!"
It was just like a dungeon rampage. It was establishing spatial dominion. Within that space, monsters would receive correction, and all other beings would suffer suppression.
And was that all?
Monsters swept up by the rampage began to spill forth from the ink-like energy one after another.
In the blink of an eye, countless monsters revealed themselves. According to the Association's intelligence, such a phenomenon could persist for days on end.
It was a catastrophe that would have meant despair had the forewarning come without notice.
"Monster flood confirmed! Long-range bombardment, prepare!"
"Front line, stand by! Subjugate any monster that approaches the spell workshop!"
"Detection Team One, identify monsters of 4th Rank or higher! Detection Team Two, track the total number of monsters appearing!"
Had things proceeded as they were originally meant to, this kind of response would have been impossible.
The encroachment would not have taken days; it would have arrived all at once and shattered every countermeasure. The Reverse Side's monsters would have poured out in a single moment and spread across the world.
But now, things were different.
The encroachment would progress over a long period, and the monsters were emerging little by little from a limited entrance.
And with that, they had learned of the forewarning and prepared themselves thoroughly.
The forces and military strength gathered here were immense.
Bombardment magic slammed into the area in rapid succession. Spirits and undead met the monsters surging against the defensive line.
For the high-ranked monsters they could not handle, superhumans stepped forward and neutralized them efficiently.
A disaster that had been thoroughly prepared for, and whose rampage had been suppressed to the absolute limit from within, was something they could very well hold back.
- Urk... gurrrgle...!
Lee Ha-yul, swept up by the rampage and flung outside, could not know exactly how favorable the battle was going.
- Boom! Boom!
- Krarrararak!
He dodged monster attacks coming from every direction, rolling his body laboriously across the ground, his face twisted in pain.
There was no need to deliberate. His body was wrecked. His consciousness did not merely blur—it felt as if it would blink out at any moment.
His Heart Power was utterly spent. Observation, Space—both were offline.
His senses had dulled or cut out entirely. It was difficult to grasp the situation outside.
All he could do was deduce, from the space that had abruptly changed, that he had been caught in the rampage and expelled into the world.
'I have to... reduce the damage...'
Within a mind that felt on the verge of snapping, the thought echoed that he had to reduce the damage.
Though it was a calamity the whole world would have to bear, in the end, calling them here had been his own intention.
He could not help but feel responsible for the casualties that would result.
So Lee Ha-yul completed his instinctive judgment and immediately put it into action.
'Ma... manifest... Homogenization...'
Gguk! His fingers dug into the earth. The ground trembled faintly, and from the splitting cracks, undead surged upward.
"...!?"
Lee Ji-yeon, who had been Harmonizing undead from atop the fortress wall, flinched and lifted her head sharply at the familiar presence she sensed within the wave of monsters.
Taesan.
The undead Lee Ha-yul had stockpiled within his subspace poured into the middle of the battlefield, receiving the correction of Taesan.