Chapter 159
Chapter 159
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Disaster of Solitude (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What do you mean...”
Cheon Jin-ha’s face hardened.
Through his widespread 'Detection', he could feel demonic beasts slowly converging on their position.
These were beasts already made more violent by the disaster.
They were bound to go on a rampage; there was no way they wouldn't react to such a deafening roar.
[The 'Devil Who Mocks the Heavens' smiles with satisfaction.]
[The 'Angel of Benevolence' frets that this is no laughing matter.]
“What are you doing! Shoot! Kill him! Kill him quickly so we can get out of here!”
Once again, a rain of arrows poured down.
The arrows were fired randomly over a wide area, perhaps to prevent me from dodging as I did before.
In response, rather than evading, I defended myself by wrapping my surroundings in an annihilating darkness.
Some were imbued with special power, but they were only B or C-rank at best, and their wielders' mana stats were far below mine.
In the end, I took no significant damage.
“Gah!”
“Wh-Why are the arrows coming this way...!”
Jun Bo-ra was applying her teleportation in an interesting way.
She wasn't just dodging the incoming arrows; as she dodged, she would touch the shaft and use teleportation to move it above her enemies.
A method similar to reflection, turning the enemy's attacks right back at them.
Not bad. She's making full use of teleportation's advantages.
“By the way, aren't you forgetting something?”
The attacks were focused solely on me and Jun Bo-ra.
They had completely forgotten about the other person.
*Fwoosh!*
A long, red, blazing line was drawn.
Needless to say, those directly in its path, and even those nearby, were set ablaze, creating a scene of pandemonium.
“Who said you could leave? You're all going to die here today.”
Han Hyeok-jun's eyes glinted chillingly.
The surrounding forest was entirely on fire, as bright as day.
Those in hiding were forced to reveal themselves, and Han Hyeok-jun's actions became bolder.
He seemed intent on drawing in not just the beasts on the mountain, but those outside it as well.
“Are you trying to take us all down with you!”
Cheon Jin-ha's face twisted fiercely as he drew his sword.
As if to prove he was a strategist but not weak, he sliced through Han Hyeok-jun's flames.
It was true he wasn't weak.
Though he was portrayed as weak in the original game because his specialty was running away at the slightest disadvantage, he had in fact seized the position of Guide through sheer strength.
“Se-hyeon.”
Before heading toward Cheon Jin-ha, Han Hyeok-jun passed by me and spoke just loud enough for me to hear.
“I've cleared about half the path.”
With those words, Han Hyeok-jun charged furiously at Cheon Jin-ha.
A chilling killing intent scattered and brushed against my fingertips.
“He's lost it again.”
“He really is something else.”
Jun Bo-ra gave a wry smile.
I glanced toward the mine and saw a round entrance, just as he'd said.
*I'll handle Paradise, so you two take care of the disaster.* That's what he meant.
I was already reluctant to face the Disaster of Solitude with Han Hyeok-jun, who had no defenses against it.
I nodded and headed for the mine without a second glance.
So far, so good.
So far.
*Krakoom!*
If it weren't for the 'something' that suddenly appeared as the ground exploded.
“Huh...?”
The clang of weapons ceased.
Both sides forgot their fight and turned their gazes to the sudden appearance.
Armor so battered it looked like it needed immediate repair, yet one could imagine how noble it must have once been.
Unkempt hair, completely neglected.
Eyes so lifeless they felt like I was looking at a ghost.
My heart sank.
*'What.'*
Because the one who had suddenly appeared was none other than the Disaster of Solitude.
“What is that...?”
“A person? Is that a person?”
“Someone's cosplaying, even in a world like this?”
The people from Paradise murmured, unsure of what to do.
Cheon Jin-ha was the same.
He narrowed his eyes, his mind racing at the sudden appearance of a third party.
*'Didn't he know about the disaster?'*
This was strange.
What was our earlier conversation about, then?
No, that's not the problem right now.
The Disaster of Solitude had appeared in a 'crowded place'.
At this point, this battle was already lost.
“You all...”
The disaster's mouth slowly opened.
After a moment of static-like error sounds, it shifted into intelligible words.
A languid voice, yet hearing it felt like frost touching the back of my neck.
The complete darkness enveloping the disaster's body writhed.
“So many... friends...?”
A chilling laugh.
My mind snapped to attention.
Dammit. With this many people around, it would definitely...!
“Han Hyeok-jun! Run, now!”
The moment I screamed at the top of my lungs.
*Whoosh!*
The darkness around the disaster instantly engulfed everything nearby.
[You are affected by 'Final Solitude'!]
[The 'Watcher Beyond the Screen' responds.]
[You are unaffected by 'Final Solitude'.]
For a moment, it felt like my mind was being turned inside out, but it quickly subsided as if nothing had happened.
As expected, the effect of 'Watcher Beyond the Screen' blocked the disaster's power.
Absolute immunity.
I wouldn't be affected by mental-type effects unless they came from a god-tier being, at least.
I hurriedly surveyed my surroundings.
Some stood blankly, their eyes unfocused, having even dropped their weapons.
Others had gone mad and began attacking everything in sight.
And some were wailing and harming themselves.
It was utter pandemonium.
*'It didn't come through the path Han Hyeok-jun cleared.'*
It just erupted from the ground.
How was I supposed to deal with this?
I bit my lip.
This was what made the 'Disaster of Solitude' so terrifying.
If there were even two people present, it would spread its power over a wide area and shatter their minds, just like it did.
If that was all, it might be manageable, but they lost their reason and attacked indiscriminately, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
And most importantly.
*Gwoooooh...*
“...Dammit.”
Looking at the Disaster of Solitude, which was now radiating an immense aura, I managed a difficult smile.
For every person affected by that skill, the Disaster of Solitude's power would be amplified by a certain amount.
This was precisely why having more people around was a disadvantage when fighting the Disaster of Solitude.
***
The Disaster of Solitude was a hero who had fought to the very end in a world that had already fallen to ruin.
Every human, animal, and living being.
Even after they were all driven to extinction and the entire world was laid to waste, he continued on, alone.
Then, at some point, he realized.
*'These monsters are intentionally not killing me.'*
It wasn't because he was strong, nor because the enemies lacked the power to do so.
A wave of futility washed over him, churning through his mind.
Nothing would change just because he kept fighting.
His dead lover, family, and people would not return.
A world where everything had vanished.
In a world where even the gods were gone, miracles did not exist.
No matter how many times he repeated this lonely, solitary battle, there would be nothing left in his hands.
In the end, he let go of his sword.
He let go of everything and simply accepted it.
And then.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Keuk!”
He had become a disaster himself.
To make others know the same boundless, futile solitude he had felt.
The only silver lining was that the members of Paradise had started fighting among themselves, turning it into a case of setting a thief to catch a thief.
Perhaps because there were so many other targets before it, the disaster hadn't tried to attack me yet.
*'Where's Han Hyeok-jun?'*
I frantically searched for him.
He should have been fighting Cheon Jin-ha, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Not just Han Hyeok-jun, but Cheon Jin-ha and Jun Bo-ra were gone too.
Did she run away completely after saying she'd escape with teleportation?
In any case, as long as they weren't hit by the attack pattern, it was a relief.
`[What in the...?!]`
The Succubus appeared, flustered.
“You're late.”
`[I didn't have time to worry about this! I'm busy enough managing that other side! Ah, what the hell is it this time! A chapter error?! Why does this stuff always happen in the area I'm in charge of?!]`
The Succubus screamed, as if she was completely fed up.
For an administrator, she sure is clueless about the situation.
If she's only just now noticing the appearance of the Disaster of Solitude, I probably can't expect much help from her.
“If we leave this be, everything will be ruined! Tell me what kind of authority you can use!”
`[~That was a lie.]`
Her flustered expression from just a moment ago vanished, and the Succubus grinned.
...Look at this one.
`[The suppression force has been applied, hasn't it? It's not an impossible opponent to beat.]`
“So you won't take any measures other than applying the suppression force?”
`[That's enough.]`
“So you're planning to violate the manual.”
The Succubus gave a meaningful smile.
She neither confirmed nor denied it, but I knew.
Just as the angels had one, these devils had a manual too.
Especially a devil in charge of being a main administrator.
Does she think she can get away with openly violating the manual?
*'If the administrator doesn't take appropriate measures, there's no way to deal with a disaster that has already successfully triggered its attack pattern.'*
The administrator with the most important role was showing no intention of cooperating.
Watching the Succubus cover her mouth and laugh with delight, I slowly closed my eyes.
Something I had planned to do eventually.
It seemed I had to do it now.
`[Wh-What are you planning...?`]
Sensing an ominous feeling, Besial asked cautiously via telepathy.
With the Succubus here, it was awkward for him to reveal himself completely.
*'Watch closely, Besial.'*
I replied telepathically as well.
Besial flinched, but it wasn't a difficult thing to do if you knew the principle.
*'You'll come to think you were lucky to be bound to me.'*
`[What are you doing? Are you just going to let the disaster run rampant?`]
the Succubus asked, as if nagging.
It was as if she were interrogating me, asking if I would just stand by and watch while people were dying.
[The 'Angel of Benevolence' says it would be good to help the people.]
[The 'Devil Who Mocks the Heavens' is curious about your choice.]
“...I will.”
I drew out the black flames on my sword to their maximum.
Like what is commonly called 'sword ki' or an 'aura blade'.
The Black Moon Divine Sword seemed to let out a faint cry.
`[Right? You can do it, can't you? No, you have to! You're a human who's capable of messing with me! Come on! Hurry!`]
Before long, not many of Paradise's players were left.
A clash with the Disaster of Solitude was inevitable.
The Succubus was visibly excited, like a child anticipating a fun action scene.
I slowly took a step.
*Step.*
[Using skill, 'Shadow Dance'.]
Erasing all traces of my presence with the effect of the skill I gained through the stigma.
`[They're all going to die! Wouldn't it be better to launch a surprise attack before they're all dead?`]
Slowly approaching the completely unguarded target.
`[That thing is based on a human, so it'll get tired if it keeps fighting. Plus, it's pouring all its power into attacking those worthless grunts. No matter how you look at it, now is the perfect...`]
With all my strength, I thrust my sword.
`[Ah...?`]
The Succubus's eyes widened.
She slowly turned her head toward me and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
`[You... what have... you done...`]
Staggering, she clutched the pierced area with one hand.
It wasn't just the bleeding; the black flames burning from inside her body were rapidly eating away at her life force.
[The 'Angel of Benevolence' is horrified!]
[The 'Devil Who Mocks the Heavens' wears a look of ecstasy.]
[The 'One Who Can Change the World with a Three-Inch Tongue' shows interest in you.]
`[Don't you know... what happens... if you kill an administrator...?`]
“I know.”
`[You know, and you still do this...?`]
The Succubus's body slowly turned to dust.
I could see the malice and killing intent in her eyes deepening.
`[Foolish human. This isn't my real body. Do you think this changes anything? You'll only receive 'disciplinary action'.`]
“I don't care.”
`[You will definitely come to regret those words.`]
The Succubus's form vanished.
As the Succubus had said, the devils that appear here are not their true bodies.
They are avatars, manifested by splitting off a portion of their power.
Killing them only means they will resurrect in hell.
However, it wasn't meaningless.
I shifted my gaze to the dark violet orb left behind where the Succubus had disappeared.
The lump of her own energy that the Succubus had left behind.
A dead devil who fails to retrieve this will permanently lose that amount of power.
The Succubus, unable to retrieve this, would be demoted to a lower rank.
“Besial.”
`[Y-Yes?!`]
Absorbing this was enough for a lower-ranked entity to become a middle-ranked one.
“Eat it.”