Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: Act 47. The Future and the Past (4)
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“You swear?”
Yeomryong’s eyes wavered for a moment, but he quickly grit his teeth with a grinding sound.
“Bullshit. You already let Min-ah die once. You think I’d trust you again?”
“The future you lived in is different from the present.”
“The future I lived in is what this present leads to, Kim Se-hyeon!”
“Please, stop!”
Jo Min-ah stepped between me and Yeomryong.
Seeing her, Yeomryong’s expression filled with remorse, but only for an instant.
“I don’t know why my future self made that choice. But… it was my choice, wasn’t it? No one else made me do it; I chose it myself. It’s definitely not because of Se-hyeon. I’m sure my future self thought the same thing.”
“You don’t know any better! You were just being used! You… we were destined to be used and thrown away from the very beginning! That was this man’s purpose for saving us at the school and dragging us along!!”
Yeomryong moved his other hand, his face contorted in disgust.
I caught that fist as well, and we were locked in a struggle of strength.
I couldn’t flatly deny Yeomryong’s words.
It was true that I had such intentions to some extent.
The reason I saved the twins was, after all, because they were necessary for the story’s progression.
“That could be a misunderstanding! Oppa is…!”
“He said it himself. After you died, while I was lost in despair, he looked down at me with an emotionless expression, not a hint of sadness, and said those words!”
Yeomryong cried out.
His face was crumpled as if he were about to vomit, and he was pouring out all his fury at me.
[Hey, Kim Se-hyeon.]
‘What.’
[To be honest, I find it hard to believe. Of course, you’re not a good person, not really. Yeah. Definitely not a good person… But I don’t think you’d do what he’s describing. Because you…]
Besial trailed off.
Before he could say more, I refuted his assumption.
‘No, I would have.’
[What? Really?]
‘Though not for the reasons he’s assuming.’
I was certain.
If the appearance of the future Jo Min-woo marked this as the point of divergence, I could immediately guess what my future self was thinking when he said those words to him.
I silently took in Yeomryong’s appearance.
*He’s grown up well.*
He even seemed a little taller than me.
His mischievous side was completely gone, replaced by the look of a dependable young man.
“You, you…!”
*Thwack!*
Suddenly, Yeomryong was sent flying.
Both Min-ah and I turned in surprise to see Jo Min-woo standing there, his fist extended forward and his face twisted into a snarl.
As Yeomryong stood up, dusting himself off, Jo Min-woo spat out his words.
“Shut up. You’re not me. If you were really me, you’d never say that. After everything Hyung has done for us. How hard he’s worked for us. I can’t accept you.”
“…Hmph. A little brat like you wouldn’t know. That it’s all an act, a mask. Look. He hasn’t even been able to refute anything I’ve said since I got here, just standing there silently.”
Yeomryong let out a sneer.
But Jo Min-woo didn’t even look at me as he clenched his jaw.
“No!”
“Your denial doesn’t change anything. You stupid brat!”
“I said no!!”
Jo Min-woo charged.
Flames clashed with flames once again, as the battle between the future and the past began.
***
*Crackle!*
“Whoa, that was close. Are you trying to get your own daughter caught up in the attack? Why so violent?”
“That won’t happen. What kind of father would harm his own daughter?”
As Jeon Do-jin raised his hand above his head, a brilliant light condensed into a spear of bright yellow lightning.
Marker cursed inwardly.
*He’s much stronger than the intel suggested.*
He didn’t know why there was such a discrepancy, but his seemingly relaxed demeanor was only half-genuine.
‘Is it just because he has his daughter as a hostage? Or…’
*KABOOM!!*
The spear of lightning struck, causing an explosion.
Marker’s face contorted.
He had created a shield by compressing his threads, but it had been shredded by a single spear. Meanwhile, Jeon Do-jin had already finished preparing his next attack, with several more spears floating in the air.
‘This isn’t good.’
Jeon Do-jin’s wide-range attack followed before Marker could even complete his thought.
Yet, just as Jeon Do-jin had said, Cha Eun-ha, who appeared to be within the attack’s range, remained completely unharmed.
Cha Eun-ha knew why.
Internal Non-Conduction.
As long as she had that trait, she could absorb almost all damage from lightning-based powers.
“You will not die a peaceful death. Never.”
“You’re the one who looks like the villain here, buddy!”
A giant hammer made of compressed threads slammed down, only to be split apart by a spear of lightning.
When he spread a wide net on the ground, a high-voltage current incinerated it completely.
When he created a cutting net with threads sharpened like blades, it was sliced by a sword of lightning and turned to black ash.
Realizing he was being overpowered, Marker’s expression began to crumble.
“Jeon Do-jin-nim! Are you here!?”
“We’re here to help!”
“Tch.”
Just then, players from the Busan Alliance appeared, and Marker’s mind raced.
He was already on the defensive against Jeon Do-jin alone; if more enemies joined, he stood no chance.
If he tried to take a hostage, Jeon Do-jin’s attack would reach him before he could harm them.
He was truly cornered.
“Ugh…”
“This damn bastard…”
The only silver lining for Marker was that the members of Team A, who had been struck down by Jeon Do-jin’s lightning, were beginning to stir.
In that instant, a perfect plan flashed through Marker’s mind.
“It’s a power I received not too long ago, so I’m still a bit awkward with it, but…”
A glint appeared in Marker’s eyes.
“I’ll show you a power of a different league.”
[The divine power of the 'God Who Enjoys Amusement and Domination', 'Final Act', is activated.]
Countless threads descended from the air.
They targeted everyone there, without distinguishing between friend or foe.
Threads attached to their heads, arms, hands, thighs, legs, and feet, like marionettes, and the light vanished from their eyes.
He could normally only control one person at a time with his threads.
But ‘Final Act’ was what removed that limitation.
“Hahahaha! This divine power is incredible! It’s truly worthy of a god!!”
Marker burst into laughter.
He could enhance his allies and move them, while controlling his enemies like his own limbs.
It dramatically boosted the power of Marker, who wasn’t particularly strong in large-scale battles, and he couldn’t have been more pleased.
“You really are a piece of work, right to the end.”
*Crackle-crackle-crackle!!*
Hundreds of lightning bolts streaked across the space above everyone’s heads.
The threads, which couldn’t be cut even by a sword coated in sword qi, were burned away without a trace. The people who had been controlled collapsed like puppets with their strings cut.
‘Final Act’ had been thwarted in an instant.
‘What.’
Marker, who had been laughing with his arms spread wide, froze.
He couldn’t process the situation.
*I just used a god’s power, didn’t I?*
*Why did it just vanish from a mere S-rank player’s attack?*
“You crazy son of a bitch…! How the hell do you still have that much mana left!?”
His confusion turned to rage as he roared.
But that was all.
When Jeon Do-jin moved, he flinched and took a step back.
To Jeon Do-jin, Marker’s question was trivial.
He had surpassed such limits long ago.
‘Me? I’m stepping back?’
Marker’s face crumpled like paper.
He had received divine power even before Roberto within Team L.
He had prided himself on being the one skilled enough to become the next leader of Pentagon Eagle, so this was an unacceptable turn of events.
He couldn’t retreat like this.
He had to bring down Jeon Do-jin, no matter what.
‘Right. There’s still her…!’
“Ugh…!”
Marker quickly attached his ‘threads’ to Cha Eun-ha.
Cha Eun-ha, who had been catching her breath and tending to her injuries, suddenly shot up and approached Jeon Do-jin.
“Ma… ster…”
Cha Eun-ha moved slowly, her movements stiff and jerky.
She tried to resist, but the difference in their mana was too great; it was impossible.
Tears welled up in her eyes against her will.
Jeon Do-jin’s face hardened.
“Hah, hahaha! There’s no way you can attack your beloved daughter with your own hands! Just like that, die by the hand of the daughter you cherish so much, Jeon Do-jin!!”
Marker let out a crazed laugh.
Cha Eun-ha drew her sword and slowly closed the distance to Jeon Do-jin.
When she was close enough to strike, she raised her sword.
Her arm moved against her will.
Still, Cha Eun-ha fought back.
“No… don’t…!”
*Tremble, tremble, tremble.*
She bit her lip until it bled, her arm shaking violently.
Seeing her overcome a mana stat difference of several dozen points through sheer willpower, the corners of Jeon Do-jin’s lips curled up ever so slightly.
“Swing! Just swing the damn sword! Dammit! Why won’t even she listen to me!?”
“…I accept the offer.”
For a moment, the room was engulfed in a brilliant light.
*Fwoosh!*
The threads binding Cha Eun-ha were instantly burned to nothing.
A man of golden light, from whom high-voltage currents flowed in all directions, burning everything around him just by standing there.
He was like an incarnation of the thunder god, Zeus.
A chill ran down Marker’s spine, and he tried to quickly retreat, but before the thought could even reach his body, Jeon Do-jin had him by the neck, lifting him into the air.
“Gack…!!”
“I never let anyone who hurts my daughter go.”
Jeon Do-jin’s grip tightened.
“You won’t even be able to close your eyes in peace after you’re dead. Never!”
A current of golden lightning shot through Marker.
A super-high voltage current of tens, hundreds of thousands of volts, instantly burned his living body black.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”
The scream lasted only a moment.
When Jeon Do-jin released his grip, something blackened beyond recognition fell to the floor.
It crumbled to ash the moment it hit the ground, no longer even identifiable as a corpse.
“Eun-ha.”
As Jeon Do-jin called her name in a gentle voice she had never heard before, Cha Eun-ha’s eyes widened in response.
“Yes, Master.”
“You will grow even stronger. Stronger than me. You have that potential.”
Jeon Do-jin gave a gentle smile.
What was this feeling?
Cha Eun-ha felt an unexpected surge of emotion from within.
“I am proud of you. …Our daughter.”
“…Master?”
With those words, Jeon Do-jin’s body collapsed.
***
Everyone knew the outcome of the fight before it even began.
The one who charged in, Jo Min-woo, must have known it as well.
*Thwack!*
Jo Min-woo tumbled across the ground.
His body, caked in dirt, was already covered in wounds.
Despite that, Jo Min-woo’s eyes still blazed fiercely.
He never gave up, relentlessly continuing his attack on Yeomryong.
“Then how about this…!”
Jo Min-woo opened his mouth wide.
Yeomryong’s flames flickered, as if being sucked into Jo Min-woo’s mouth.
“You think someone as lacking as you can eat my flames?”
Yeomryong scoffed.
Then, he too opened his mouth wide.
For a moment, it looked as if they were eating each other’s flames, but that was short-lived.
Jo Min-woo couldn’t even consume half of Yeomryong’s flames, while Yeomryong instantly sucked in all the flames enveloping Jo Min-woo.
“I told you. I’m the future you. I can eat fire, just like you.”