Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Destroyed World (10)
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Just as time continued to flow in the destroyed world...
Time flowed for the heart that had stopped as well.
No matter how much one defied the natural order and reversed the flow, it was only for a moment.
It could not last forever.
The high elf Lea had died long ago. Only her soul lingered, waiting for the hero's return.
"...I've... been waiting..."
"...Waiting... Ailbern..."
"...You have no idea... how long I've waited..."
"...I waited... so long..."
"...That's why... that's why..."
"...Sometimes... I even resented you..."
"...I got angry... wondering why you vanished..."
"...I cried... tears of sorrow..."
"...I even prayed... to the gods..."
"...But it's okay now..."
"...I'm okay now..."
"...Because you came back... in the end..."
"...You came back... to keep your promise..."
"...So I'm happy..."
"...So incredibly happy..."
"...Tears are... about to fall..."
"...Thank you..."
"...For coming back..."
"...Thank you... so much..."
"...Thank you... thank you..."
"...And I love you..."
"...Forever..."
"......"
The body, drained of all deathly qi, slowly collapsed. It resembled a marionette with its strings cut.
Yet Lea's expression was serene. Not pale and rigid like a doll's, but free.
'Blue eyes...'
Her eyes mirrored the sky. Perhaps that's why they were clearer and more beautiful than anything else.
...Fare... well...
At last, high elf Lea's body crumbled like autumn leaves.
"......"
A handful of dust rode the wind, flying freely.
Lee Sang-hyun exhaled.
But he did not drown in sorrow. Calmly accepting Lea's end, he gazed up at the sky.
Whoooo...
The world remained ashen. Blood-soaked clouds filled it entirely, and the green star was nowhere to be seen.
'...It's broken.'
The sword that had been with him for quite some time shattered with its Second Form—Isle.
Even forcing mana into it couldn't stop it. It broke completely, turning to powder.
It had been a miracle it hadn't broken until now.
'First, I need to find a new sword...?'
Swish. Swish. Swish...
Was it fated to be with high elf Lea? The dead forest began to crumble bit by bit.
"......"
The thick, melancholic wind squeezed out its remaining strength, acting as a cleaner.
Swooooooo...
................................................................
..............
......
The forest that died with Lea breathed its last. Nothing remained behind.
Only an empty plain took its place.
Lee Sang-hyun looked at what had been the forest with bitter eyes.
'...Is it over?'
The loneliness of nothing being left crushed his chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump...
His heart ached with grief. Small tears seemed ready to fall.
'...Now it's time to return to Earth...?'
Right then.
Something reflected in Lee Sang-hyun's eyes.
"That's..."
It was a pure white horn.
To people, towers rose from the ground. No one imagined one existing 'underground.'
Groan! Groooan!!
"?!!"
A sudden earthquake struck Manhattan, New York. It was completely unpredicted by seismic stations.
Chaos erupted in downtown Manhattan.
Groooan!!
"Damn it! What the hell is this?!"
"No one said anything about an earthquake!"
"Could it be a tower appearing?"
"If it was, these buildings would've collapsed and we'd all be dead!"
"Evacuate! The structures might come down!"
"Get away from the buildings!"
Pedestrians enjoying the streets fled to shelters in bewilderment at the inexplicable quake.
People in buildings rushed out fearing collapse, while drivers abandoned their vehicles to assess the situation.
Groooan...
It took quite a while for the shaking to subside.
And just like when a tower emerges, the roads cracked terribly.
"T-Tower!!"
"Get out of here now!!"
"Run!!"
"Wanna die?! Sprint!!"
"You'll get swept away and die!!"
"Into the subway!!"
People assumed a tower was rising. But it wasn't.
"Kuaaaaaaaa!!!"
It was a colossal monster.
This giant beast was on another level from any monster players had faced before. It had never appeared on Earth or in the tower even once.
Aaah!!
Kyaah!!
Run! Everyone run!!
Th-the buildings are collapsing!!
Screaming, people scattered in panic.
America's players—superheroes—who arrived on scene couldn't hide their shock.
"What the hell is that...?"
"B-Boss monster...?"
"Insane..."
"They expect us to take that down...?"
"...Can we even win?"
The superheroes felt bone-chilling terror at the giant monster that embodied despair.
Tremble!!
But the superheroes didn't retreat. Bearing the pride of being the world's strongest, they fought the colossal beast.
It was like eggs striking a rock.
"Kuaaaak!!"
The giant monster rampaged through New York Manhattan, injecting crisis into a world nearing peace.
The so-called Strongest 7 superheroes were urgently dispatched to Manhattan and attacked it, but...
Sploooosh!!
They only stoked the beast's rage, achieving nothing notable.
"Crazy..."
Unable to stop the unstoppable giant monster, people despaired and wailed. Some shed tears, others fled in surrender.
Even the United States'—the world's strongest—superheroes could hold out no longer. Casualties had already mounted.
At this rate, New York would be reduced to rubble.
But right then.
Jack Roar appeared.
Superheroes are always born in crises, it seems. Jack Roar was a true superhero.
At the arrival of the superhero America had dreamed of, people's sorrow and despair turned to hope.
"M-My God...!!"
"Amazing...!!"
"He's beating that monster...!!"
"He's taking down the giant monster!!"
"A hero...! A real hero has come!!"
Americans thrilled at Jack Roar boldly facing the colossal beast.
The superheroes who'd clashed with it were dumbfounded. Hundreds couldn't scratch it, yet he fought it alone.
Especially the Strongest 7 who'd fooled everyone—their shock was indescribable.
"No... way..."
"Impossible..."
In that moment, everything became clear.
The gathered superheroes and people realized Jack Roar was one of the Strongest 7.
"That's the guy..."
"Strongest 7...!!"
"America's true hero!!"
Finally, hero Jack Roar defeated the giant monster.
Ku... aa... a...
.........................
............
......
Kabooom!!
It was absurd. A single person felling a beast over a hundred meters from toe to tip?!!
Unbelievable even seeing it with their own eyes.
"He... won...!!"
"He beat that monster!!"
"My God!!"
"It's a miracle!!"
"Wooooah!!"
"We're saved!!"
"Our hero!!"
"America's superhero!!"
And this news spread to players worldwide.
Thus, all the Strongest 7 had revealed themselves to the world.
America's Jack Roar.
South Korea's Kang Mu-hyuk.
China's Ryu O-shin.
Brazil's Arhim.
Japan's Kaguya.
Russia's Vladimir.
Italy's Aria.
Of course, their emergence didn't change the world.
But no one could deny that change was beginning around them.
The pure white horn held memories.
From attacks by demons, survivors barely escaping, spirits' screams and animals' cries, the burning forest, ashen sands encroaching—countless memories lingered.
But from some point, only silence filled it.
The forest was lonely and quiet. No demons visited, no survivors appeared. Only lonely winds passed through.
Day and night repeating endlessly...
A halted place.
The destroyed world's dead forest.
Then one day.
Someone arrived with demons.
"......"
He was clearly human. An inhabitant of the destroyed world. And with demons. Not alone.
Thump. Thump.
Lee Sang-hyun felt he had to find that person. Because he sensed something fateful.
'...Must be it.'
Looking up, the green star twinkled. Nameless nodded from behind.
Lee Sang-hyun set aside his intent to return to Earth. He eyed a new path.
'...Let's head there.'
The path he thought ended with high elf Lea extended a bit further.
It wasn't straight, a detour off the main road, far away.
Yet Lee Sang-hyun didn't complain. He accepted it calmly, like the taciturn man he was.
'By the way... I wonder if this horn can serve as a sword?'
With the thick wind at his back.
Lee Sang-hyun walked alongside the pure white horn.
Laid out on the floor were dominos.
Stacked over a long time, the scale was immense. Even 3D structures like skyscrapers, bridges, and the Statue of Liberty.
The craftsmanship was astounding just to look at, and surprisingly, a constellation had built them. The 6th Hierarchy's Ark of Death, no less.
"......"
With the dominos seemingly complete, Ark of Death withdrew its hand.
Of course, no joy of completion or relief at success.
To Ark of Death, dominos were as worthless as humans.
But the fact of 'completion' mattered.
"Finally done?"
The visitor was none other than Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Another 6th Hierarchy constellation.
Ark of Death nodded at the question, then nudged a domino.
Clatter...
The freshly completed dominos toppled helplessly, filling in the deficiencies toward completion.
A truly beautiful sight. Staring blankly wasn't a waste of time at all. It was worth it.
Of course, to Ark of Death, it was trivial.
"It will unfold soon."
"The era of the 7."
"The true age of darkness."
What Ark of Death spoke of now was the starting point toward 'destruction.'
From the tower's emergence, players' appearance, chaotic world, reclaimed peace, Strongest 7's rise—the next stage of this play.
Humanity's downfall, opening act.
The terrifying tale's prelude...
Had just begun to stir.
How could it not be pleased?
Ark of Death twisted its lips in irrepressible joy. The smiling eyes were bizarre.
"It took so long."
"And such a long wait."
"Because of that damned system..."
"Because of that day's mistake...!!"
"But it's fine."
"Soon."
"What we desire will come to pass."
"Kukuku! Kuhahaha!!"
At the rare laughter, Great Sage Equal to Heaven tilted his head. But he didn't mock.
Because the pleasure was shared.
"Such a gloomy fellow."
"Well, anyway, good."
"I was getting bored anyway."
"Kekeke! Kieekieekit!!"