Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board
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Kang Seol and Jamad steeled themselves while staring down the gods.
'We're getting out of here.'
If someone had asked Kang Seol when he would wake up from this dream, he would have answered that it would be the moment he realized everything was just a dream.
But that wasn't the case now. Even knowing full well it was all a dream, nothing changed.
No, things had gotten worse.
"So, you've grown sick of us, have you?"
"How rude. To insult us after we graciously mingled with the likes of a mere human."
"We make it sound like we're the villains here."
Jamad warned Kang Seol.
"Watch yourself. I'm breaking through."
Kang Seol nodded.
He had a gut feeling that if he missed this chance to escape, he'd relive the flood from Karen's memories all over again.
"Join... us..."
Crack...
Crack crack crack...
One of the gods' bodies swelled up massively.
It bloated like a pufferfish, as if something inside its flesh was a balloon, and then it burst like one for real.
Boom!
Plop plop...
"Ugh..."
A hideous monstrosity emerged amid the foul stench.
"Grraaaaaah..."
"Compared to my memories, yours might as well be hell."
"Couldn't agree more. Regardless of whether this is really my memory or not, I want out."
The creature blocking their path was so grotesque it looked like what you'd get if you turned flesh and blood inside out.
Boom!
Boom!
"Grraaah... don't go... play forever..."
Jamad's massive fist smashed into the monster right in front of them.
Crunch!
"Kreeee!"
Jamad charged forward with Kang Seol.
"No one blocks my path!"
Crunch!
Squish!
"Keeek..."
"Hee hee... you can't leave..."
"Shut up!"
Crack!
Jamad looked like a fearless general.
The scene evoked an image of a loyal warrior escorting his lord out of enemy territory.
Splat!
Splat!
There was more than one or two of these abominations the gods had turned into.
"Grraaaaaah..."
"Don't go..."
"Damn it, they just keep coming."
The silver lining was that they weren't using any magic, and their speed wasn't all that fast.
But there were hordes of them, and they were persistent.
Kang Seol and Jamad kept plowing through the masses, and soon they felt their bodies lighten up.
They had broken free of the encirclement, if only for the moment.
"Haa... haa... fork in the road."
A fork appeared.
Jamad asked,
"Right or left? You've got good instincts."
"......"
"Hey, Kang Seol!"
"Right!"
"Got it! Run!"
There was no light guiding their way.
In the pitch-black darkness, Jamad's only compass was Kang Seol, and Kang Seol wasn't relying on light either.
Darkness.
This familiar darkness seemed to be showing him the path.
This way. You'll reach the place you want if you go this way.
To that longed-for light.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"For daring to disturb the Heavenly Realm! You'll pay with eternal darkness!"
Suddenly, gods in pristine form appeared riding strangely shaped horses.
Hiss...
Hot steam shot toward Kang Seol.
Thwack!
Jamad snatched it out of the air with one hand.
"Nngh... Hey, Kang Seol! Snap out of it!"
"What?"
"This is your domain. Everything bends to your will. Don't get swept up in the story—there's no script! They're all products of your delusions!"
The situation was deteriorating.
"Over there!"
"Tch, this is getting..."
As the abominations piled up, escape grew harder.
They were accumulating faster than Jamad could clear them.
He needed a plan.
Even now, Kang Seol was mulling over Jamad's words.
'Delusions... delusions...'
Crunch!
"Argh! How dare you!"
"Kang Seol!"
Kang Seol snapped his head up from its bowed position and stared straight ahead.
"I've got it! A way out!"
"If you've got something, do it!"
Just as Jamad had warned, any hesitation would turn the nightmare real.
Those horrific imaginings would consume everything and block their path.
But...
'What if it's the opposite?'
Imagination didn't have to work against him.
In other words, his imagination—or delusions—could be the weapon to escape this place.
'Imagine it. Imagine...'
What to imagine?
Concrete existences made imagining easier.
What were those for Kang Seol?
'Can I... borrow them?'
Their things.
Their power.
Kang Seol closed his eyes and murmured.
First, a super-fast means of transport to get out of here.
Shh...
"What... what is this?"
Squeeee!
Snort...
A massive wild boar that wouldn't flinch under Jamad's weight and a sleek steed with a striking blue mane appeared before them.
'Hoggs and Grimbell.'
They were legendary mounts in their own right back in Pandea.
Kang Seol had imagined them, and they materialized before his eyes.
"Get on! This'll help us break out!"
"Hell yeah! Things are finally looking up!"
[Illusion: Mounting the hefty Hoggs.]
[Illusion: Mounting the galloping Grimbell.]
Squeeee!
Thud thud thud thud!
"Dodge... dodge!"
"Kyaaaah!"
Rumble crackle!
As Hoggs charged ferociously, the gods couldn't evade in time and were flung aside like broken kites with snapped strings.
Hoggs and Grimbell had been the mounts Kang Seol rode.
Seeing them manifest from his imagination boosted his confidence.
'I can use their power! Next, the path—the path!'
Imagine.
Imagine, Kang Seol.
This wasn't delusion; it was a dream.
Shwoooosh!
A picturesque rainbow path unfurled along their route.
[Illusion: You have ascended the Rainbow Path Priminus.]
[Movement speed increases.]
[Luck rises.]
The Rainbow Path "Priminus."
It was terrain that ensured you never lost your way to your destination and brought unexpected fortune. Plus, riding it granted incredible speed.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Jamad's Hoggs and Kang Seol's Grimbell tore down Priminus at breakneck pace.
"Stop them! They're escaping!"
"Behold the power of the gods, you vermin!"
Crackle zap!
A familiar jolt of lightning arced toward Kang Seol.
"Kang Seol!"
Jamad's aid came a beat too late.
At this rate, Kang Seol might get knocked off his mount.
But...
[Illusion: Idri's Mirror of Madness activates.]
[Absorbing elemental magic.]
[Repelling absorbed elemental magic with double the power.]
Pop!
Zzzzzap!
"Guh... guaaah..."
A massive mirror shielded Kang Seol's flank.
Idri's Mirror of Madness was one of the most effective artifacts against elemental magic.
"Hahaha! See that, you idiots? You can't stop us! Now that you know, get out of the way!"
Jamad bellowed with laughter, reveling in the triumph.
Kang Seol, focused on something else, barely heard him.
'Mounts, path, artifacts... everything's gone just as I imagined. This is my dreamscape. So then...'
There was still one imagination he hadn't dared to dream yet.
"Raaaaagh!"
"Unleash the beasts! Stop them!"
"We can't let them escape no matter what! They've broken the rules!"
"We must remind them of the fate that awaits those who defy the rules!"
Even more gods swarmed them now—perhaps more than actually existed in the Heavenly Realm.
No matter how hard he tried not to think of them, they invaded his space relentlessly.
It showed just how much of his thoughts the gods occupied.
"This won't be easy..."
"You'll pay dearly for underestimating us."
Hummm...
The gods began gathering their power.
Of course, being fake gods, it was all delusion—but this time, a truly immense force converged on them.
A glowing blue orb.
"Hahaha! I'll smash you!"
"Playtime's over!"
The orb wasn't aimed at Kang Seol.
It targeted the path ahead.
"Ngh! No!"
Jamad shouted, but there was no clear way to block it.
Then, something bizarre happened.
Crackle crack crack...
Everything froze solid—except for the space around Jamad and Kang Seol.
The Rainbow Path, the gods' orb, even the gods who fired it.
All frozen.
[Illusion: Seasonal Art: Event Freeze used.]
[Everything freezes.]
"Haa... haa..."
"Kang... Seol?"
This power Kang Seol displayed left Jamad stunned beyond comprehension.
"What... what is this power?"
"It's from one of my Pieces. His power."
Event Freeze, one of the Duke of Frost's seasonal arts. When he unleashed it, everything froze.
"Ha... hahaha! This is fun—hilarious!"
"We need to escape now. It won't hold long."
"Right, let's go."
Thud thud thud!
They raced past the frozen gods.
This was their golden chance to break free. But,
"Stop, Snowman."
Shh...
After the voice spoke, all the illusions crumbled to dust.
Kang Seol and Jamad, who had been riding Hoggs and Grimbell, tumbled to the ground.
"Nngh..."
In the chaos, Jamad instinctively shielded Kang Seol in his arms.
"Ugh, now what?"
"...You!"
Kang Seol gazed blankly at the figure blocking his path.
A mask with enormous eyes.
It was Cordon, the god who had sent him here.
"Fascinating. Even these delusions..."
"It's not delusions. It all happened."
"Haha. True enough. Those things did happen. But not to you."
"...What?"
"Hoggs and Grimbell... the glorious Rainbow Path Priminus, Idri's Mirror... and even..."
Cordon's voice turned nightmarish.
"...the Duke of Frost's power!"
"That's..."
"Not something you earned through effort, is it? Forgotten already? All you did was roll dice from a safe distance and let others choose for you."
"......"
"Of course, your Pieces bore the consequences. Unfair, isn't it?"
"Why..."
"Pardon?"
"Why are you getting in my way? You..."
'You sent me down here.'
The one god in the Heavenly Realm who had been on Kang Seol's side, Cordon, now barred his path. Kang Seol wavered.
"I'm disappointed in you."
"......"
"I thought you'd do better. If this is all you've got... it's easier not to expect anything."
"What do you..."
"So, I just want to watch you suffer. Entertain me that much, at least."
In that instant, the air trembled.
Whoooosh...
"Nngh..."
A bitterly cold gale.
The Duke of Frost appeared—one-eyed, his spirit as lost as his sight.
And others emerged from the darkness.
The One-Armed Sword Saint.
The Dragon Lord.
The Immortal, and more.
Great beings whose fates remained unknown after failed ascensions lined up beside Cordon.
Jamad stepped in front of Kang Seol.
"Get back... what is this power..."
"Jamad..."
"These powers... how..."
Cordon smirked.
"These are your Pieces. Tell them what you want."
Then, those who had been Kang Seol's Pieces began murmuring in unison.
"Atone... atone..."
"......"
"You... must atone..."
"Heh heh... fun, isn't it? Oh, am I the only one amused? Snowman, why the long face? Aren't you happy to reunite with your Pieces?"
"No. It's sad."
"Right? See... wait, what? ...What did you say?"
Cordon faltered at Kang Seol's unexpected response mid-laugh.
Kang Seol addressed his Pieces.
"I'm sorry. For not giving you better lives. Truly... I'm sorry. That's what I always wanted to tell you."
"...You thought a late apology would suffice? These were beings you dominated!"
But Cordon's illusion hadn't foreseen this: the Duke of Frost stepped forward.
"It's fine."
As he did, the others followed.
"It's fine. It was a satisfying life."
"No regrets."
"Even if we got another shot at life, it couldn't have been cooler than this."
All the Pieces said,
"So, it's fine."
Cordon irritably swept his arms at them.
They dissolved into mist.
Poof...
"Y-You... you spineless, shameless bastards!"
The life born into a being encounters.
If life has an end, where might it lie?
The ten mighty warriors who appeared before Kang Seol would likely answer in one voice.
Ascension.
And Kang Seol was the unprecedented player who had led all these Pieces to that very pinnacle.
"F-Fine then! I'll handle you myself!"
Shwoooosh!
Black lightning gathered in Cordon's hands.
"Where do you—"
As Jamad lunged, Cordon thrust out a hand.
Black lightning struck Jamad dead-on.
"Arrrgh!"
Jamad convulsed in agony.
A power that allowed no resistance.
Cordon commanded awe even among the gods.
Everyone feared him subconsciously.
His might was overwhelming, illusion or not. Without wielding imagination's power, Kang Seol couldn't win.
Cordon laughed maniacally.
"Hee hee hee hee! Now what? You've abandoned your friend—you're all alone. For rejecting the gods, all that's left for you is..."
Squelch...
"Left... for... huh?"
Two swords pierced Cordon's chest from behind.
"Wha... huh?"
Kang Seol knew these blades.
There was only one of each in the world.
Breath and Ember.
They crossed, bisecting Cordon's chest.
In that moment, Cordon turned to smoke, and his mask clattered to the ground.
Clack.
"Gaaack..."
The mask screamed, and in its place appeared Karen and Karuna.
Karen growled at Cordon's mask.
"Don't deceive my king, false one. He is my king."
"Cough... king...? That guy's your king? You're being used! Hee hee hee... that loner who can't do anything is a king? You think that makes sense?"
Karen smiled.
"Yes, as his knight, that man will one day be king. So watch us."
"......"
Karen turned to Jamad, still restrained.
"You did well. And thank you."
Karuna, the Moonlight Knight, spoke amiably to Jamad for the first time. Jamad huffed awkwardly at the unfamiliar vibe.
"...Hmph. What brings you here?"
Karuna replied.
"The situation's dire. We risked it to enter. Master, this way is the exit."
"...Right."
Kang Seol slowly walked toward the light.
"W-Wait... hey, you... are you really going to forget us? Are we... no longer your friends?"
Cordon rasped in his dying voice.
Countless masks materialized around him like phantoms.
Figures in masks.
Kang Seol had no intention of wearing one now.
"Yes. We're enemies now."
"Why... why..."
"Because... I'm an adult now."
"...It was fun."
"For me too. But I'll never come back here."
"......"
Having shed the dusty old memories and baggage, Kang Seol emerged into the light.
The hazy fog lifted, and he remembered he was bound in iron chains.
Twitch...
Clank...
Kang Seol's still-closed eyes trembled faintly.
Clank...
Clank...
Rumble rumble rumble...
The vibrations grew uncontrollable.
In that moment.
Flash!
Kang Seol's eyes snapped open.