Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Episode 54. The Massive Evil (1)
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An Upside-Down World.
At some point, Bom found herself in an unfamiliar space alongside Yoo Ji-tae. It was incredibly dark. And eerily quiet.
Bom had never seen a place like this in her life.
"Where... is this?"
This place was called the "Apocalyptic Clock's Workshop."
The world where the transcendent-grade authority with a personality, 'Apocalyptic Clock,' resided.
"Like the head of a complex machine."
"A complex machine?"
"Can you bear it here?"
"No. It feels strangely unpleasant..."
Bom felt as if she were having a bad dream. It was an instinctual emotion.
The moment she let go of his hand, everything seemed like it would drift away and vanish. So, Bom gripped Yoo Ji-tae's hand tighter.
"I'll be here just a bit longer. Hang in there a little."
"Okay."
"I'm warning you before we go in. Absolutely no reckless actions. And never let go of my hand. Not even in your thoughts. Got it?"
"Why...? What happens if I do?"
"Don't ask that either."
"......"
"And no matter how curious you get, never try to find out. Don't even ask. You have to swear this to me."
This was the first time since they met that Bom had seen him draw such a clear line. His expression was so grave it was a little frightening.
"...I swear."
"Good. Let's go."
Only then did the stern look in his eyes soften. Soon, his body began to float up into the cosmos. Bom rose with him, pulled along.
Even in this vast space like the universe, there was a direction to proceed. Though invisible, there seemed to be things blocking the path. It felt like walking through a building with eyes closed.
As they ascended higher into the cosmos, something began to slowly reveal itself.
"I'm saying it again. From here on, absolutely do not let go of my hand."
"Okay..."
Tiny circular objects started appearing one by one.
They resembled clocks. Upon closer look, they were like clocks with hour, minute, and second hands. They flowed toward them like riding a current, passing by.
"......"
Bom stared at the clocks. Each had a different shape, but every one had its second hand stopped.
What on earth were these? As Bom wondered silently,
The small clocks suddenly surged forward. Like tiny fish fleeing from something's arrival.
Then, from the darkness emerged a colossal grandfather clock incomparable to the small ones, whale-like in its revelation.
A grandfather clock with its pendulum still. Frozen. Its form was exquisitely carved, beautiful.
For a moment, Bom stiffened, overwhelmed by the sense of a massive presence bearing down on her.
Just as the urge to flee surged, a stronger grip came from Yoo Ji-tae's hand. Only then did Bom snap back to her senses.
The massive grandfather clock simply passed them by. Bom looked at Yoo Ji-tae's back. He said nothing.
"......"
Then, at some point, tiny stars became visible between the clocks.
Increasing one by one, they outnumbered the clocks, filling the cosmos. An incomprehensibly vast number, impossible to count.
As she gazed at these stars, strangely, each felt different. Even though they were just bright dots against the black world.
Suddenly, an odd feeling arose. One star emanated a familiar sensation. Instinctively, Bom turned toward it. Wondering if it was Yeoreum. But there was only a single red star.
Bom felt a surge of intense curiosity.
'What is it?'
The red star gave off Yoo Yeoreum's vibe.
Bom stared at that star before shifting her gaze to others. Wondering if there might be one like her. But there were no stars resembling herself, Gaeul, or winter.
"......?"
Unable to ask, Bom swallowed her bewilderment inwardly.
Bom couldn't tear her eyes from the Yeoreum-like star for a long while.
Eventually, the stars surged away. And another massive grandfather clock flew in.
The second massive one had a bizarre shape. Like it had been doused in acid, half-melted and dripping.
The third was half-destroyed, worm-eaten, in poor condition.
The fourth was the same. All exposed shattered innards with gears visible.
From the fifth massive grandfather clock, they dwarfed all previous ones to mere "small clocks" in scale. Immensely huge.
And the sixth was several times larger than the fifth. To the point of unreality. It took ages to pass.
Thus, the six massive grandfather clocks passed.
From the distant darkness, a small light came flying.
It resembled a bird.
The cosmos was a lonely space. No signs of life even upon scrutiny, so when the bird appeared, Bom felt an inexplicable gladness.
Yoo Ji-tae, as if familiar, extended his hand toward the bird of light.
It cautiously flew over and perched on his hand.
*
The tiny bird of light looked up at Yoo Ji-tae.
Apocalyptic Clock (EX): (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑
A few months ago, after absorbing and comprehending all the "Evil" from Morning Star, Wei Lian, the 30-man airborne special forces, and others, the Apocalyptic Clock had been extremely busy lately. It had received additional information about the "Horizon of Providence" from Armata, the guardian of the Green Dragon, and had temporarily left his side to investigate it.
It seemed to be on break now after a long dispatch.
I get that you're tired after finishing work, but this might be really important.
Check the 'Providence' of the 7th cycle Earth.
The white bird shook its head side to side.
However, Yoo Ji-tae shook his head.
He wasn't here to play around.
When he conveyed his intent, the white bird grasped the atmosphere, flapped its wings, flew off into the distance, and vanished from sight.
Soon, messages floated into Yoo Ji-tae's mind.
What is Providence?
Providence is known as the predetermined flow of time in a world. Under this assumption, it could be treated as a deterministic flow of time.
But in truth, Providence was not that.
Watching...
Providence is the principles and laws that govern a world.
The Providence World is where these principles and laws apply uniformly. Time is merely one such law.
And now, the Apocalyptic Clock was peering into the distant reaches of this Providence World.
Soon, the Apocalyptic Clock began pouring out messages laced with disgust.
Reviewing them all, Yoo Ji-tae understood Bom's situation.
Bom hadn't lost Providence.
She had said, "It feels like something is covering my eyes." That was accurate. Normally, deviated Providence would appear as a small black hole. But now, the hole was so massive it blocked the "Eye of Providence" entirely.
It's huge.
An overwhelmingly enormous something was coming.
The regressor's eyes twitched. No wonder it had been quiet. Perhaps gathering strength.
Soon, images arose in Yoo Ji-tae's mind.
Irregular black forms were pouring out. Innumerable, too many to count at a glance.
Looking closely at these forms, they seemed to encircle and protect something.
What is that?
Soon, the shape hidden within the forms began to take form in his mind.
A black sphere.
Cracks etched across it.
Protruding black spikes at the forefront.
Its texture resembled a massive stone,
or perhaps a shell or metal.
The two emerged from the Apocalyptic Clock's Workshop.
Yoo Ji-tae and Bom opened their eyes. They were in a tent.
The 'Apocalyptic Clock' was the sole authority capable of intervening in the Providence of the dimension called Earth.
The moment this Apocalyptic Clock incorporated the 'Evil' flying in from the Non-Providence World into Providence,
Bom realized the black obstruction blocking her Eye of Providence had vanished.
As they exited the Apocalyptic Clock's Workshop holding hands, his mind grew complicated.
Until now, the regressor hadn't grasped what entity harbored malice toward him.
He had done too many shady things everywhere.
Through regressions, at some point he had become a plunderer. Killing others and stealing their power. Looking back, cycles 5 and 6 were especially brutal. To grow stronger, he spared no means, slaying countless beings.
So whom had he killed?
What he killed were 'Overlords.'
Overlord
Under Providence's balance, every dimension has at least one Overlord. They gain omnipotent might but live subservient to Providence, guarding their dimension.
Like a game's GM, metaphorically.
Yoo Ji-tae roamed nearby dimensions, killing such Overlords and stealing their power.
For example, 'Archfiend of the Demon Realm,' 'Black Dragon,' 'King of the Heavens,' 'Destroyer of the World Tree,' 'Captain of the Apocalypse Knights,' and so on... Did that mean the 'Evil' was one of them?
For now, he would wait to see what the Apocalyptic Clock uncovered.