The Rending Scream Finally Subsides

The ear-splitting, guttural scream that tore through eardrums finally quieted down only after five full minutes.

"Ugh…."

"Kuh…."

The shelter interior, swept by that wave of screams, was a total wreck. People foaming at the mouth and passed out, others groaning with blood trickling from their ears, some collapsed in puddles of their own urine….

The uncle who had been clutching his ears as if his face might crumple said, "Th-that thing just now…."

"That bastard's voice."

"That bastard?"

I wiped the blood trickling from my bitten lip and looked up at the shelter's ceiling.

"He's here."

"Who the hell are you talking about…."

Disaster Ender.

Pop—! The moment I uttered his epithet, the system message floating before my eyes vanished.

Calming the trembling kid, Dad asked me, "Disaster Ender—you mean that prick Oh Kyung-hoon called 'that one' earlier?"

"Yeah."

"The bastard who corrupted healthy people into demons?"

"That's right."

"Fucking scum."

Yeah, total scum. No warning signs, just turns Korea into a sea of fire out of nowhere, mods ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people into monsters. And above all, that bastard took my mom and dad's lives. The one who shattered my happiness at the root.

Shing—.

Feeling the pent-up grudge boiling in my heart, I drew the Sword of Salvation from its sheath.

The uncle grabbed me as I moved to charge out.

"W-wait. What do you plan to do?"

"What do you think? Go kill him quick, or we're all dead."

"Don't talk crazy! What can you do without any plan…!"

"Without any plan?"

I slowly pried the uncle's hand off my shoulder and said, "I've already got a plan. Or should I say, it's already done?"

"…What?"

"Don't worry about us. Take care of the injured. The Association's supposed to protect civilians, right?"

Maybe because my tone was so certain. Normally he'd stubborn it out with "no way," but the uncle silently stepped aside.

Soon, Dad's and my gazes met in the air. Eyes questioning if I really had a plan to back up that bravado.

I smirked and nodded.

In the end, Dad let out a quiet sigh and stood beside me.

That's when.

"I-I'll go too."

"Let us fight together. Please."

"M-me too…."

Turning toward the voices, a few players with injuries from the battle stood there, faces set in grim resolve.

"……."

For a moment, faint memories of the past flickered in my mind as I looked them over.

It's different from back then.

Back then, no one stepped up to fight alongside us. Not even the high-rank veteran players.

So what changed them?

In my opinion….

They saw hope.

At that time, Mom was more despairing than anyone. Having to kill people with her own hands wrapped her in guilt.

When the one meant to be people's hope falls into despair, it's natural the others watching lose their will to fight.

But not now.

I'm brimming with hope now, and it's spread like an infection into their hearts.

This small difference ignited their fighting spirit.

I smiled at those who'd mustered their courage.

"You're good. Just worry about your own injuries."

"But…."

"If you all rush after us, who's gonna protect the people here?"

It wasn't wrong, so they nodded with apologetic looks.

If people like them had stepped up in my original worldline, gathered their strength… would Mom and Dad have had to sacrifice themselves?

As that thought crossed my mind, a small hand gripped my right one.

Looking down, "…Can't you not go?"

The kid stared up at me with teary eyes, clutching my hand.

Yeah, that's how it was.

I know your heart better than anyone.

"Son."

I bent my knees slightly to meet the kid's eyes and gently stroked his head.

Just like Mom did for me.

"When I get back, Mom'll make you toast. Your favorite kind."

"Uh-huh…."

"And that game console you threw a fit for."

"…Huh?"

"I'll buy all the game packs you want too. While Mom and Dad are out fighting, you just think about what games to get. Okay?"

The kid stared blankly, like he couldn't believe it.

I still can't forget. Every time I threw tantrums for that trendy video game console, Mom's harsh hand smacking my back….

I won't miss this chance now that I'm Mom.

Me from 10 years ago. Even if it's a different worldline, make your wish come true here….

But if the possession ends, what happens to this worldline's Mom?

Will she retain the memories from while I was possessing her? Better get it notarized just in case.

I turned to Dad, who was looking at me with a baffled gaze.

"You."

"Y-yeah?"

"You heard what I just said, right? I might forget later, so you remember it well."

"……."

"If I try to weasel out later, give me a stern talking-to. Okay?"

"O-okay…."

Good. Perfect.

"Mom's the best…."

"It's a promise."

To my wide-eyed 10-year-old self, I hooked my pinky.

"I'll come back for sure and get you whatever you want. Do whatever you ask."

"Yeah!"

He nodded vigorously, and we linked pinkies with 10-year-old me.

Squish.

Thumbs stamped firmly too.

A promise. One that would absolutely come true, at least in this world.

I stroked the kid's head once more, then turned.

"Let's go."

Dad nodded.

We headed for the door connecting to the outside, people's cheers and prayers at our backs.

Rumble—.

Soon the shelter's main door opened, and the crimson world on the brink of ruin welcomed us.

"H-honey? You really have a plan, right?"

Dad's voice trembled the moment we stepped out of the shelter.

Why the shaky voice?

Krurrr—!

The massive gate wide open in Korea's skies on Advent Day. The one that dyed the heavens blood-red with ominous energy was now wildly spewing black lightning.

"…Can't you tell me that plan instead of keeping it to yourself?"

Dad swallowed hard and asked.

I grinned back.

"Opposite."

"Huh?"

"It's not trying to pour something out—it's closing instead."

Even when Mom and Dad killed Disaster Ender in the past, that 'gate' was closing while spewing black lightning.

Can't guarantee victory, so tuck tail first, huh?

Waste of a grand name like Disaster Ender, you prick.

I glared at the gate slowly shrinking and spoke.

"One favor."

"W-what?"

"Fire one long-range skill into that gate. Your strongest one."

"My strongest…."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Dad paused briefly. Not doubting my orders, but pondering his most powerful long-range skill.

It didn't take long.

As expected. Dad's strongest skill had to be that one.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I thought it looked so cool watching him fight Disaster Ender on TV.

Whoooosh—!

Swirling light and darkness gathered in Dad's hands, soon forming into two swords.

"Haa!"

With a fierce shout, Dad hurled the two greatswords at the gate in the sky.

Light-Dark Grid Slash pierced the black lightning with terrifying speed and plunged into the gate.

In less than a second.

A clear day and night crossed in the blood-red sky.

Proof the two greatswords had struck true beyond the gate.

Raaaaaaaagh—!!

"Ugh…!"

Dad winced as the scream that sickened everyone in the shelter rang out again.

But unlike before, this one was bearable.

Proof his power had plummeted.

Right then.

Fwoosh—!

I spotted a tiny 'fireball' plummeting vertically from the gate.

I kicked off the ground hard with feet wrapped in pure mana and raced to the crash site.

"Honey…?!"

Dad's urgent cry came from behind, but I had to hurry now.

Or he might slip away again.

The scenery blurred by rapidly.

Covering several kilometers in a breath, I arrived just as the fireball hit.

Gotcha! No more holding back!

Boom—!!

A scorching blast engulfed me.

I halted Shrink Ground instantly, wrapping my body in mana to block the heatwave.

And before me….

You pathetic mortal worm dare challenge the Disaster Ender King?!

A 'female giant' wreathed in red flames was slowly rising, her massive frame rippling with fire.

Different from memory in some ways, but I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was certain.

"Finally met you, you bastard."

This piece of shit was the enemy who killed my parents.

I'd imagined ripping open his chest and yanking out his heart a hundred, a thousand times.

That longed-for moment of revenge had arrived, yet strangely, my mind was eerily calm.

The constellation messages cooled my vengeance-boiling head.

Right.

Recall the real goal.

I didn't enter the Reverse Dungeon just for revenge on this bastard.

What I truly want is something else.

No room for carelessness.

War Incarnate is spot on.

But, "There's one thing the constellation should know."

I'll burst your body to pieces! Filthy worm!

Vision went dark in an instant.

At the same time, crushing pressure bore down from all sides.

Disaster Ender had reached out his giant hand and gripped me mercilessly.

He planned to crush me like he bellowed, but….

Shattering to pieces will be you.

Bam—!

Th-that… p-power…?! How can a lowly mortal…?!

The terrifying aura exploding from my body blasted off Disaster Ender's gripping hand and forearm at once.

"Right now, this guy's weakened enough that I don't even need to stay alert."

"Just peek into my thoughts."

Too lazy to explain.

Weird. Even without Clairvoyance, he'd been watching me all along, so how could he miss it….

Oh, right.

The connection to his agent cut off during possession.

So he didn't see that scene, hence doesn't know why Disaster Ender weakened.

Me killing Oh Kyung-hoon, nullifying the 'advent ritual.'

— Your blood and flesh formed my existence.

10 years ago. With the world's eyes glued to TVs, Disaster Ender boomed.

— Your worthless bodies offered as 'sacrifices' let my true body fully incarnate on this land. I give thanks.

He descended intact by sacrificing people's souls and lives.

Your lives were worthless anyway, no? Glory in sacrificing for my advent. It's salvation too.

Hearing his sneer amid the blood-red sky, people thought: If we'd stopped that 'ritual' sooner, would things have been better?

Everyone sighed regrets over the past.

They didn't even know the 'advent ritual' existed, so lingering what-ifs were natural.

But what about Mom's feelings?

Forcing herself to kill people melting horrifically for his incarnation….

Kaboom—!!

He's right in front of me now, so I'll carve him up no mercy.

Th-this aura… How can a lowly mortal tribe…?!

"Talks a lot for a guy who can't even stand without those lowly tribe's sacrifices."

Blue sword aura shot from the blade tip, shredding his right arm from shoulder to root.

Sparks of blood sprayed from mangled flesh, wrenching a agonized scream from him.

Ugh… kuh, heuk…!

"And you weren't originally like this, were you?"

Kraka—!

Blue sword winds ravaged again, this time tearing his neck and torso to rags.

A third of his massive body gone, yet his feet still stood firm.

This guy isn't some giant form originally.

"Embarrassing, huh? Showing off a body that couldn't even incarnate properly. So you hide your shame behind this dumb oversized meat puppet?"

His true body lurks inside.

"But no matter how you disguise it, you can't hide the 'aura' of your existence."

Ugh, kuh…!

"A utterly pathetic aura at that."

You… filthy…!

He swung his remaining left arm to smash me.

No need to block with sword—just mana burst sufficed.

His left arm crumpled.

I didn't stop.

At some point, I half-lost consciousness.

Just swinging the Sword of Salvation endlessly.

3 minutes passed, Warrior's Awakening ended, massive fatigue set in.

But I ignored it, swinging again.

Each time mana bottomed out, feeling the gnawing void in my chest.

Finally, most mana depleted, void peaking.

"Th-this…!"

The skyscraper-sized fire giant crumbled to ash, leaving a red-haired girl collapsed, glaring resentfully.

Failed proper incarnation made her age differ from memory, but….

Features matched perfectly.

This was his true body.

Shing—.

As I pointed the ember-scorched blade near his nose, his shoulders twitched.

Soon, one corner of his mouth trembled as he spoke.

"Surely you won't attack me in a child's form?"

"……."

I closely examined his appearance.

A girl who hadn't even finished compulsory education.

Ah….

Got too heated, almost made a wrong call.

Swish.

I set the Sword of Salvation on the ground.

His trembling mouth corner twisted into a smug grin.

Seeing that smile confirmed it.

Yeah, I nearly made the wrong choice.

Don't I have a dream I vowed to fulfill someday?

The dream of bursting his heart with my own hand.

I thrust my suddenly bulging-muscled arm, piercing his chest.

The moment his eyes went dumbstruck.

Squelch—!

"Guh…?!"

Feeling the squishy texture in my palm, I yanked back.

Black blood fountained as his heart ripped out into my grip.

What? A kid?

"That's the bullshit you spout right before dying?"

Splat—!

I crushed the heart in my fist.

Obviously, not a hint of hesitation.