Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Universe Devourer
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To sum it up, the two of them fought like crazy. The scale was so massive that the mountain where Paradise had been collapsed, forcing everyone below to take cover. Someone tried to attack me along the way, but people I assumed were from Haena's guild helped out, so I avoided death.
Deafening booms echoed from afar, then close by, over and over. Beyond the shattered earth, black smoke billowed up enormously, and red liquid slithered fluidly. I watched the scene in utter disbelief when Ethan, with a blue marker above his head, approached me.
"Are you okay?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you for your concern."
"I was so shocked. First, you got separated, and now this.... I was really wor— Whoa!"
A massive boulder suddenly flew at us, and Ethan swung the staff in his hand. The rock shattered into pieces upon impact, and fragments bounced off my head. At the ordinary pain, I let out an involuntary sound.
"Ah."
"Whoaaa! Are you okay?"
"Yes. It was just a small pebble."
"No! You have to check it properly just in case! You're still young—if you get a head injury, it could be serious later!"
"...Pardon?"
"Problems could arise as you grow, so make sure to get it checked out later!"
"......"
Of course, even after growth ends, things change a bit as you age, but I felt like it was a little late for the kind of growth Ethan was talking about.
"No, my growth is already over, and it doesn't even hurt where it hit—"
"What do you mean your growth is over? You're a student!"
"......"
He seemed to be under a huge misunderstanding.
As I hesitated over whether to correct him, Yunsia, with a red marker above her head and both hands full of fruit, spoke up curiously.
"Huh? Hunter Han Ji-eon is twenty-five. He's not a student."
With that, she bit into a piece of fruit.
Ethan clamped his mouth shut, his face a mix of shock and amusement. A brief silence followed.
"Huh?!"
Then Ethan let out a shrill yell.
"No, I, uh, thought you were a student.... No, you look really young."
"Isn't Hunter Han Ji-eon about average?"
At Yunsia's words, Ethan grew even more flustered. His expressions shifted dramatically—it was quite the sight.
"Uh, well, you see...."
"Thank you for your concern."
He looked like he might hyperventilate from panic, so I cut in first. Startled, Ethan blurted out again.
"I'm sorry! I thought you were younger than me!"
"Appearances vary by race, so it's understandable."
"Thank.... No, I'm twenty-four!"
"About the same as me."
"Thank, no. Sorry, wait?"
Ethan seemed totally confused now. As I pondered how to handle this, a familiar voice came from behind.
"What are you doing?"
"...Is it over?"
Ji Hwa-yeon stood there with her hair and clothes a total mess. But her expression looked refreshed.
"I lost."
At her words, I glanced past her. How on earth did they fight to leave trees uprooted and the ground twisted like that? Both seemed to have plenty of energy left.
"I messaged Haena, so it'll end soon. Hunter Han Ji-eon's powers should return too."
"Message?"
"Oh. People from the same territory can send messages. Can you see it?"
Ji Hwa-yeon pointed to a hologram window. Peeking over, it looked just like a game chat.
"Anyway, it's a shame. I wanted to stick around till the end. Well, at least we're alive."
My brother walked up behind Ji Hwa-yeon. He looked like he'd been through a typhoon too.
"When will it end?"
"Soon—"
Before she could finish, Ji Hwa-yeon vanished. Yunsia behind her disappeared too, leaving only fruit on the ground.
"...Looks like it's over."
"You okay?"
"Fine, but my power hasn't come back yet.... Oh, wait. It feels like it's trickling in a bit."
With that, I held out my palm and tried using my ability. It seemed like a tiny bit had returned—a star formed with a pop, then burst immediately.
As I checked my status, a window popped up in front of everyone.
[You have cleared the game as the owner of Paradise! Special rewards will be given to you, the clearer! Non-transferable*]
"......"
Why is this reward coming to me?
'I should have died to my brother or Ji Hwa-yeon after all.'
Non-transferable means I can't even give it away. What's the point of giving good rewards to weaklings? Feels like I went through all that trouble for nothing.
'Still, I should check what it is.'
Hopefully it's something unambiguously good. I hate half-baked strength.
I waited for the settlement to finish. But it just kept going endlessly.
"Did you not get anything?"
My brother, who'd gotten a shiny bear-shaped magic stone, asked. Sighing, I replied.
"It's not that I got nothing.... Just look for yourself."
He tilted his head and came over to peer at my window.
"It's been like this the whole time."
"Feels ominous."
Agreed. I even wondered if it'd end by giving me terrifying power and turning me into the boss monster. But that thought didn't last.
[Set■※Please wait@$□▼]
The window glitched out with static and vanished. My brother and I were both left dumbfounded, speechless.
...Gave it then took it back?
'No, it hadn't given anything yet.'
A bit disappointing, but maybe better not to get it. I quickly shifted my focus from the reward.
Looking around, everyone else seemed to have gotten various items. Small ones like magic stones and potions, big ones like weapons and armor. Surprisingly generous rewards had people grinning and bragging about theirs.
"Here, take this at lea—"
As my brother handed me the magic stone, whoosh—our view shifted, returning us to the waiting area where the sky had collapsed even more.
"You're late."
We ran into Ji Hwa-yeon, who'd been eliminated in the waiting area. She was still inside the tower for now. The tower lord was sending out the eliminated in front of everyone, so it made sense.
Thinking the tower lord would appear soon, I looked up at the sky and waited, but nothing happened. Assuming they were doing some final adjustments, we waited a bit longer.
But even as time passed, the tower lord didn't show. Murmurs rose, some shouting if they were trapped, others calling for the tower lord or smashing the ground. No changes.
In the midst of it, I decided to keep waiting, figuring it was still processing. But time dragged on with no change.
Actually, there was one change.
I quietly lifted my head to the sky I'd been watching. Unlike the slightly cracked start, most of the sky was now pitch black. Shattered pieces floated aimlessly, strangely clumping toward one spot.
"Ah, what the hell!"
Someone snapped in frustration and started blasting abilities wildly. One shot off so recklessly that whoosh—it vanished beyond the black sky.
"...Huh?"
At my sound, my brother turned. When he asked what, I pointed at the sky. Someone else far off who'd been staring too yelled for others to look up.
Heads turned, and everyone fell silent.
Beyond the shattered sky, between broken shards, a black finger peeked through. It seemed still, then thump. A faint vibration hit.
The finger slithered further into the cracked sky. Panicked hunters fired abilities at it, but unharmed, it kept creeping in.
From beyond the shattered sky, something drew near, and finally.
Thump. An enormous pressure froze everyone in the waiting area. Weaker hunters struggled to breathe.
'That thing....'
Snow-white eyes. They stared right at us. Not like real eyeballs—more like someone crudely drawn with a white pen on black background.
Click. The owner of the eyes tapped the shattered wall with a red nail on its black finger. Then it curved its eyes into a smile. Black-background hair with white-line strands swayed.
Click. The red nail tapped the wall again. Ripples spread circularly as the wall warped like space itself.
Beyond it, a figure cloaked in what looked like the universe emerged. Gem-like horns stood out.
The mystical entity cheerfully opened its mouth.
—Hello! All new faces! Of course, but wow~ Hello! Hello!
It beamed and waved. Harmless as it looked, the pressure hitting us felt like a punch to the heart.
—Huh? Why the scary faces? Hmm.... Ah!
As if realizing something, it conjured a robe over itself. Then, gripping the hem, it bowed politely.
—Pleased to meet you. I am the proxy of this place's master, Petro Non Jet Tris. In your terms, something like that! Anyway, nice to meet you! Yay?
It smiled brightly after the courteous greeting. Seeing our lack of reaction, it looked puzzled again.
—Why the long faces? Weird. This is Jet Tris's world. Everyone smile! It's full of fun and games! Amazing, right? Jet Tris is~
Petro Non Jet Tris. Probably the tower lord's name. And that thing beyond the sky—had to be the tower lord.
'Why does it look like that.... Actually, makes sense.'
I shifted my gaze. The enemy's universe-devouring form felt oddly familiar.
'Related to the tower lord—probably that.'
Its true nature, as it said, was the Universe Devourer. Metaphorically speaking, it was just a black hole. A monster that lays waste and swallows everything around it. It didn't used to look like this, but thinking of the tower lord made it click.
—You all are so lucky! Fighting Jet Tris over the future? Ahh, jealous. You'll surely have a final showdown with Jet Tris someday. Ahh, jealous, jealous.
The black hole wore an ecstatic expression. Like a cultist worshiping the wrong god.
—Jealous enough to go mad. No, I'm mad. Daring to challenge Jet Tris. Ahh. Aaaah.
Never challenged. Wouldn't take it even if offered.
The black hole clawed at its own face. Grotesque, like mud flowing where scratched. It soon cupped its face, muttering, then spread its fingers wide, glaring at us through them with bulging eyes.
—No good.
Black Hole. That's what I'd named it. No proper name back then. 'Universe Devourer' was too long anyway.
Why Black Hole? Simple reason.
Whoosh! It charged, swinging an arm. Hunters touched by its hand got wounds. Not deep, but thud—they collapsed limply. Something black writhed out from the wounds.
That was the reason. It snatched souls in an instant, so I called it a black hole. Plus, it kinda looked cosmic.
—Failing to grasp Jet Tris's greatness! Daring to rush him! All must die! Die and be done! Die!
As the rampaging black hole shrieked, pfoosh—from its heart core, a black sword slick with universe-like liquid burst out. A sparkling gem pierced the blade's tip.
『My Brother Possessed a Novel』
Waon Modern Fantasy Novel
(주)Joara