Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: True Ancestor
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"─────♬"
The Queen's Aria rippled outward gently, like waves on still water. I squinted as I charged fiercely through the pouring rain.
Han Cheong-ah's metamorphosis had begun. Earlier than in the original story.
The one silver lining was that, unlike the original, no rifts had opened in Academy City yet.
The Queen's true power stemmed from her ability to command Dimensional Beasts.
The Dimensional Beasts currently in Academy City were limited. Just the irregulars and criminals who'd overdosed on Experimental Awake and turned into monsters.
Even those numbers had been drastically reduced by the Federal Guidance Bureau and the Hound Dogs.
This was the perfect window—when the beasts' numbers were at their lowest.
Han Cheong-ah hadn't fully awakened as the Queen of Dimensional Beasts yet.
I gripped the last tranquilizer I'd stashed in my pocket with one hand.
One had gone to Kang Chang-su... and I'd saved this one.
If I could just inject this into Han Cheong-ah's body, I could bring her back to normal.
'Han Cheong-ah gazed at the hellscape she'd created. Countless people were wounded and dying. Screams and blood tangled together, clawing out a horrific scene.'
'The moment she fell under the virus's control, her instincts summoned Dimensional Beasts from the rifts. She'd unleashed the cataclysm the world called the Wave.'
'Her mind grew hazy. Everything was incomprehensible. What the hell have I done?'
'Han Cheong-ah's eyes began to tremble. Her gaze naturally turned to the familiar face. Surely, her big sister Winter would have the right answer for this madness.'
'But Lee Gyeo-ul couldn't give Han Cheong-ah the answer she wanted. With life fading from her eyes, she looked at Han Cheong-ah and tossed aside the empty syringe. With her dying breath, she spoke.'
"This situation... it's just unavoidable."
"It's not your fault..."
"Han Cheong-ah, you can live on your own without your big sis, right...?"
"You have to survive, no matter what. Even if it's tough, make sure you eat your three meals a day..."
'Only then could I look down at the blood staining my hands. This nightmare was just unavoidable...?'
'With all the evidence, all the circumstances, all the blame pouring down on me... and it's not my fault...?'
'Sis... ah... sob... Siiiis...'
'Han Cheong-ah clung to Lee Gyeo-ul's dying body and sobbed uncontrollably.'
I gritted my teeth.
I hated myself for acting so carelessly until now.
After the Academy City assault arc, Red Ark's atmosphere plunged into an endless abyss.
The main characters retired one by one, Han Cheong-ah was captured, the 21st Century Secret Society went into full swing, and the world and humanity slowly declined under the cult's massive scheme.
Centered on protagonist Kim Si-hu, students and hunters stepped up to overcome the crisis, but nothing changed even by the final chapter.
"Hoo..."
The outcome I pulled off here could turn this into the worst nightmare—or a pivotal turning point that flipped the board entirely.
I took a deep breath.
Thrashing desperately in an unfavorable situation to overturn the game? That was my specialty.
Besides, I didn't want to watch Han Cheong-ah break like she did in the original.
She had to be fixed. Her actions had to be quirky. She had to talk a ton and always leave people flustered.
If not...
I wouldn't be able to keep painting that white canvas of hers with sparkling colors anymore.
"Han Cheong-ah, just hold on a bit... I'll be there soon."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The final trait has been unlocked. ⚔ TRAIT UNLOCKED ⚔ Level.Max - Inflector
The one who inflects fate. One who fears not advancing through the irrational. One who leaves their name in history. One who resists fate. The Inflector is also known by another name in this world: hero. The Inflector's fierce will can even twist this world's intricate rules. Bends the timeline to connect one's future and present. Temporarily borrows one ability from one's future self. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Zero One dropped the wine glass he was holding.
"Haha."
He let out a hollow scoff and stared out the window.
Unlike the blood-red sky over Academy City, Korea's sky remained a clear blue.
Yet he squinted as if something utterly repulsive lurked up there.
"True Ancestor..."
From the skyscraper piercing the clouds, he murmured the name of the strongest—and most loathsome—enemy he'd ever faced.
Leaning against the wall beside him was a staff embedded with the jewel of Wallachia.
On the chessboard, black and white knights were positioned, with a red pawn occupying the center like a glaring anomaly.
'True Ancestor. Why do you always interfere with my plans?'
Unpleasant memories flooded his mind.
Snow-white hair.
An androgynous beauty impossible to pin as male or female.
Crimson demon eyes that bewitched all who beheld them.
In Zero One's memory, the True Ancestor was an exquisitely beautiful vampire.
"I am the emperor."
The True Ancestor had gazed down at Zero One from the throne with utter arrogance.
"An emperor does not dance to the whims of some mage's schemes."
"It was you."
His voice, thick with rage, couldn't reach the vampire in that distant city.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Dimensional Beasts began moving like a herd of bison.
Kicking up clouds of dust, they surged forward.
They pulverized every obstacle in their path.
Buildings crumbled in heaps, stones and concrete reduced to powder and flung into the air.
The ground shook endlessly, like an earthquake, as the evacuated civilians watched from specially built shelters.
"What the hell is even going on..."
"First it was a prison riot out of nowhere... now Dimensional Beasts?"
"The shelter should hold up fine, right...? It's built for times like this. Gotta be sturdy enough not to collapse..."
"You saw those beasts charging in and you're still that optimistic!? If they come this way, we're all dead... We can only pray they don't."
The shelter's refugees buzzed with anxiety.
Lately, with all the talk of beasts and drugs, things had felt off-kilter—and now it had come to this.
Arc City was on a remote Pacific island, supposedly so safe even terror groups wouldn't touch it.
Yeah, right. Never trust hearsay.
"Everyone, calm down."
As the refugees stirred, a burly man in uniform stepped forward. Not Arcana gear.
Kang Seok-yoon. A cadet from Slayer Dimensional Beast Hunter Academy, where Arcana rejects often enrolled.
"Oh, look. A hunter trainee."
Kang Seok-yoon loved showing off at every opportunity.
Terrorized people gripped by fear of beasts and attacks.
To him, their eyes looked like a lost child's desperately searching for mom.
What if a hunter trainee like me stepped up confidently in a spot like this?
Experts earned respect in their domain.
This was hunter territory, so all eyes would be on him.
"No need to worry, folks. I'm just a trainee, but I know Dimensional Beasts inside and out. Those things? All bulk, no substance—4th to 5th grade small fry."
"Ooh..."
"If they do come this way, then..."
Kang Seok-yoon drew the curved sword at his waist.
It resembled the ultra-hard blade Hero Lee Gyeo-ul favored.
A ridiculously expensive custom hunter weapon he'd whined to his parents for.
"My ultra-hard blade won't forgive them."
Just teenage nonsense from a kid craving validation—but the people bought it.
"Real hunter trainee vibes."
"If you're saying that, I feel better. Lucky we have one in our shelter..."
Praise poured in as they stared at Kang Seok-yoon, who shrugged it off, basking in the attention.
A bit later, as he leveraged his popularity to flirt with the cute girls in the shelter...
"L-Look over there! They're coming this way!"
A massive Dimensional Beast, over 10 meters tall, lumbered toward the shelter.
Thud.
Thud.
Its enraged strides demolished every building in its path.
"It's huge..."
"W-What do we do now? Can we stay here?"
"H-Hunter trainee!"
The people desperately called for Kang Seok-yoon, pinning their hopes on their hunter hero.
But he froze, face stiff as any other refugee, stammering incoherently.
"Uh, uh, so... staying here should definitely be f-fine..."
"What!?"
"Can't hear you! Speak up!"
Disaster loomed over the shelter.
Seeing Kang Seok-yoon crack, the people finally realized even a "hunter trainee" wasn't trustworthy.
"You little shit!"
"Everyone, evacuate the shelter! If you don't wanna get crushed, move!"
"Kyaaah!!"
They scrambled to flee, but it was too late.
As the colossal beast's shadow engulfed the shelter and all hope faded...
Splurt.
Blood gushed from the beast's olfactory organs. Not just there—eyes, ears, every orifice hemorrhaged. Eyes rolling back, it crashed to the ground with a thud.
A small tremor kicked up dust, and through it, someone passed.
Step. Step.
Step. Step.
"D-Did you see that?"
The panicked crowd halted, mesmerized.
Fear vanished, their eyes enchanted, lost in a trance.
One by one, slack-jawed, they stared at the figure passing by.
"So pretty..."
Gazing at the back of the boy with vibrant blue hair, they couldn't tear their eyes from the window for a long while.