Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint - Chapter 444 - Episode 83 - Dok-Ja\'s Incarnation (6)

Perhaps he read something from such a [999], the Plotter’s attitude suddenly changed.

[[If this is what you truly want.]]

Jet-black smoke rose up and began creating the outer skin of the ‘Secretive Plotter’. A certain man’s outer appearance slowly materialised within the smoke.

The loneliest king in this universe, the white coat-wearing Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn now stood there.

[[I too no longer have the need to carry on with this pointless charade.]]

At the end of those words, the ‘Secretive Plotter’ discarded the coat he was wearing. The white coat flew away with the wind and landed on the surface of Tongtian.

Pitch-black darkness seemed to wrap around his shoulders, and before long, a black coat was now covering him. It was the same coat that stayed with him through to the 1863rd turn.

The [Heaven Shaking Sword] in his hands began emitting ominous aura.

And at the same time, the figures of two Yu Jung-Hyeoks vanished in the air.

Kwa-kwakwakwakwakwa!!

Countless friction noises arising from two swords clashing alerted others to the unfolding fierce battle. The vicious collision of two Statuses caused sparks to explode endlessly and dyed the sky pure blue.

This sudden eruption of the violent clash prompted the eyes of the audience, focused on the Great Sage’s struggles until then, to shift away.

That also included Yu Jung-Hyeok, standing on the surface of Tongtian and looking up at the ferocious battle between the 999th turn and the 1863rd turn.

His clenched fists trembled as his muscles tightened. Both of them would prove to be a difficult opponent for the current him. If he continued to diligently acquire more ‘lives’, then he might have reached that lofty height.

Yu Jung-Hyeok kept his eyes wide open and fixed his gaze. As if he wanted to absorb everything about [999] and the ‘Secretive Plotter’, he read their Fables over and over again.

[Fable, ‘Hellscape of Eternity’, has begun its storytelling!]

The Fable depicting the truly unfathomable hellish landscape – the ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok’ who had walked half of that hellish nightmare, and another ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok’ who had actually witnessed the end of that hell, were clashing against each other.

Two [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship]’s drew long arcs in the air like shooting stars. One was from the [Heaven Shaking Sword], while the other was the [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword]. Two swords burned brightly like a pair of supernovas.

[[Now that I look back, you didn’t use Heaven Shaking Sword as your main weapon, did you?]]

During the 999th turn, Yi Ji-Hye inherited his [Heaven Shaking Sword].

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ used the [Breaking the Sky Meteor Strike] (破天流星決), piercing through [999]’s entire body.

[[You will never win against me with such poor sword technique.]]

“….I’m sure that’s the case. However.”

[999] became riddled with wounds in the blink of an eye, yet he didn’t back off and held the sword even tighter.

For a moment there, the Plotter’s eyes quaked.

[999] had disappeared for a blink, but then, he materialised right before the stunned Outer supreme-ruler’s eyes. This was not the [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship].

It was ‘Instant Kill’.

“At least, I can show you the history that I lived through.”

It was Yi Ji-Hye’s technique.

[[Something like this….!]]

The [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] was deflected away in the nick of time, but it now smoothly drew the arc belonging to [Kendo] next.

Tsu-chuchuchut!

The eyes of [999] now flickered with the lights of [Demon Slaying].

The life Yi Ji-Hye lived during the 999th turn was now unfolding from [999]’s hands. The kick as sturdy as Yi Hyeon-Seong’s. The Claw Technique as ferocious as Yi Seol-Hwa’s. Shin Yu-Seung’s natural perceptiveness, and even Kim Nam-Wun’s excellent battle sense, too.

Histories that [999] experienced through his body, began telling their stories now.

In this very moment, [999] wasn’t alone.

Techniques from the comrades he had saved were being recreated through his flesh.

[Kendo] broke past the [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship], and the combination of [Blackening] and [Demon Slaying] dug into the open gaps of [Red Phoenix Shunpo].

And so, as Yi Seol-Hwa’s [Thousand Spirits Poison] took aim at the Plotter’s heart….

[[With these measly trivial techniques….!]]

[Great Fable, ‘Pilgrim of the Lonely Apocalypse’, has begun its storytelling!]

[999]’s Fable began crumbling away. Yi Hyeon-Seong’s defences crumbled and Yi Seol-Hwa’s claws broke. Kim Nam-Wun and Yi Ji-Hye both fell, while Shin Yu-Seung went down on her knees. The [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] flew out of his hands after he failed to withstand the impact, and the weapon fell to the surface of the Tongtian River.

Just like always, [999] was left alone.

[[999, you have failed.]]

Confronted by the unfathomable life lived by one individual, the lives of his comrades all crumbled away.

[999] nodded his head, yet he did not despair. “….In another universe, it might be different.”

[999]’s gaze was redirected to the Tongtian’s battlefield, something that the Great Sage and <Kim Dok-Ja Company> had created. Events of this universe that had never happened before.

[[….Even you have been fooled by the baseless hope in this place, it seems.]]

“You speak as if it’s someone else’s business, Great Plotter.” [999] staggered unsteadily, yet he continued to speak. “We have failed. We failed to save a single one of our companions, and witnessed the end by ourselves. Was that really the end we wanted to see?”

[[That is futile sentimentality.]]

“This universe is different.”

[[No, this universe shouldn’t even exist from the beginning.]]

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ spoke coldly as his figure moved.

[[This universe was created by the end result interfering with the cause. This universe hastens the collapse of Probability with its mere existence. Indeed, this place shouldn’t even be allowed to exist, as it’s simply a practical joke by the ‘Most Ancient Dream’….]]

“Great Plotter, you already understand this, don’t you? Within that closed-off universe of the oh-so-great ‘original storyline’, it was impossible to see the story we wanted to. And that was why you….”

For the first time there, the ‘Secretive Plotter’ faltered slightly. But that lasted only for a moment.

He lightly wielded the [Heaven Shaking Sword] which pierced into [999]’s body.

[[Return to me, [999]. I need you back.]]

The stabbing [Heaven Shaking Sword] began sucking out [999]’s memories. Their ego that had been split apart was now being reclaimed.

[999]’s blurring vision shifted down to the Tongtian’s surface below. The ‘Secretive Plotter’ already knew who was down there and spoke in a mocking tone. [[He has already tasted defeat at my hands. Do you honestly believe that someone who can’t even remember anything is capable of stopping me?]]

“Yu Jung-Hyeok, take hold of the sword!”

A sorrowful voice reverberated throughout the Tongtian. And at the place where that voice reached stood Yu Jung-Hyeok, who was neither [999] nor the Secretive Plotter.

He was looking up with a confused expression but then, looked back down to the two items resting on top of the debris floating on the river.

[999]’s Dark Heavenly Demon Sword, and then… the white coat the ‘Secretive Plotter’ had discarded.

⸢”I wish to live.”⸥

⸢”If I have a chance, just like the world that I saw….”⸥

Pain assaulted him in his head. Unknown memories brushed past his mind.

[Your Fables are getting agitated.]

“You need to remember who you really are!”

As if he was under a spell, Yu Jung-Hyeok grasped the [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword]. It felt so natural in his hand, as if it had been his since a long time ago. And he picked the coat up from the debris as well. It was white, the colour he disliked.

– You are not the 3rd turn Yu Jung-Hyeok.

That day, [999] told him that.

– Haven’t you ever wondered why something felt off? Even if Kim Dok-Ja was here, does you of the mere ‘3rd turn’ developing this fast make sense to you?

As he fell deeper into this familiar sense of deja vu, he slowly put the white coat on. It fit him like a glove, as if he had worn it before.

– Do not try to bullshit me. I’m 3rd turn. I….

It’d be a lie if he had never thought about it at least once before.

Was he really the ‘3rd turn’ Yu Jung-Hyeok?

– ….And even if I’m not the ‘3rd turn’, all I can remember are the memories of up to the 3rd turn, anyway.

Yu Jung-Hyeok slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The slowly-vanishing [999] was looking back at him.

– Don’t you have comrades now?

The face that he had not seen once, even with a mirror.

– Comrades, that remember your life far better than yourself?

The Plotter’s [Heaven Shaking Sword] moved. The jet-black Status capable of rending even the universe itself took aim at him, and in that moment, Yu Jung-Hyeok recalled someone.

And then….

[The ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ 3rd stage has activated!]