Ch.136Mutual Destruction

# 1.

Asha Mirabel.

The sole survivor of <Babylonia> and simultaneously its greatest victim.

“…Thank you.”

“No, thank you.”

Right after saving her, a golden system window appeared before Nahan’s eyes.

【Congratulations!】

【Main Scenario – “Save <The Emperor> and <The Hero>” – You have achieved the feat of saving <Hero – Asha Mirabel(Ex+)>!】

【Remaining rescue targets: 2/2】

【First quest completed!】

【Rewards will be distributed!】

One of the two directives in the main quest, the first one: saving <The Hero> and <The Emperor>.

After completing what had seemed like an impossibly distant quest, all that remained was preventing the bad ending.

‘Once I prevent the bad ending… I can return to my original world.’

Nahan released the true Asha from his embrace and checked the system window that appeared next.

【Bad Ending 14 – <Fallen Hero> has been prevented at an astonishing speed.】

【Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination> is also temporarily prevented.】

The 14th bad ending, along with the temporarily prevented 13th bad ending.

‘…Temporarily?’

As he mulled over that troubling word, crimson windows appeared one after another, as if to validate his unease.

【Warning.】

【The order of fate has been disrupted.】

【<The Abyss>’s unique characteristic – <The Wager> initiates an adjustment of <Balance>.】

【A penalty will be imposed.】

【The prevented Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination> will combine with Bad Ending 15 – <???? ?? ??>.】

【The world’s balance will temporarily tilt in favor of <The Abyss>.】

The sudden appearance of the word “penalty.”

According to Black Wolf, due to the Abyss’s unique characteristic of wagering, the world was providing equal opportunities to both sides.

‘The 14th bad ending was prevented before the 13th, creating a favorable situation for us.’

It seemed that to eliminate this advantage, the balance had sided with the Abyss.

‘It means the 13th and 15th bad endings have merged, increasing the difficulty.’

Having reached that conclusion, he checked the next system window.

At that moment, an ominous energy unlike anything before flowed from the direction of the underground temple.

【<The Abyss(Ex+)> attempts to merge with <Dragon Elder(???)>.】

【First-level seal is released.】

【<The Abyss> gains physical freedom.】

【Beginning second-level seal release.】

【Unsealing in progress… 0%】

The first-level seal, which should have taken hours more to release, was undone in an instant.

‘…Isn’t this too unfair?’

As Nahan stared blankly at the system window, surprised by the unexpected difficulty,

“You must dodge!!”

A familiar young voice called out as his body was pushed away.

Thud!

Pushed without resistance, he rolled some distance away, and before he could regain his senses, he was grabbed again and pulled along the ground.

“…Lactea? Wait, what about Asha—?!”

Lactea finally turned her head.

Unlike Nahan who had been pushed to safety, Asha stood motionless on the darkness beneath her feet.

“Huh…?”

Asha lowered her head to check the ground.

The darkness spreading like a dense shadow was the power of the Abyss with its first-level seal released.

【Warning.】

【<The Abyss(???)> – During 2nd level release> activates its 3rd skill – Abyssal Movement.】

【*After movement, it will devour everything standing on the shadow of the Abyss.】

A terrifying energy that devours everything it touches, despite being just a movement skill.

As Nahan’s eyes met with the Abyss rising from there, his body froze.

Crack!

The shadow brought by the Abyss greedily devoured the surroundings, but Nahan quickly turned and leaped to save Asha.

Thud!

Asha was pushed away just as Nahan had been moments before.

“Ugh, thank—”

She quickly got up and tried to thank Nahan, but—

“Captain!!!”

“Huh…?”

Nahan hadn’t saved her; instead, he had taken Asha’s place on the Abyss’s shadow.

He sank into the Abyss like quicksand while smiling at Asha.

“I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

The next moment.

【*Movement complete. The shadow of the Abyss devours everything.】

Rumble.

Nahan’s body sank into the shadow of the Abyss as if falling into a deep bog.

“No…!!”

Afraid of losing him again, Asha drew her holy sword to activate it.

Lactea approached Asha’s side, reaching toward Nahan while warning her.

“Hold back the Abyss.”

“…What?”

“I’ll find a way to save the Captain… no, him, so until then, hold back the Abyss.”

“But Nahan was—because of me—!!”

“Enough.”

Blue eyes met golden ones.

Lactea, exuding murderous intent without restraint, added:

“He’s in danger because of you, so take responsibility and do this in his place.”

Hostility she didn’t even try to hide.

“Use that damned light of yours, or ask our members for help. Just hold out somehow.”

Her attitude suggested she wanted to kill Asha right there but was holding back because Nahan had saved her.

“Even if you’re so dull and stupid… you’re the Hero, so do you understand what I’m saying?”

Realizing that Lactea also genuinely cared for Nahan, Asha finally nodded.

“…Bring him back safely.”

“Just make sure you hold out.”

With that, their conversation ended.

【Activating <Holy Sword>.】

As the Abyss took form and the Hero’s holy power poured out brilliantly,

Lactea, confirming the reinforcements of <Black Wolf> members’ light and Gardner’s warriors in the distance, reached toward where Nahan had disappeared.

‘Position exchange and sacrificial commands didn’t work.’

The Abyss.

Being positioned exactly opposite to the Goddess, within the shadow it created, only destructive commands would work.

Having quickly analyzed this, Lactea chose her command carefully.

“【Mutual Destruction.】”

A self-destruct skill that normally destroys both the user and the target—a gamble with one’s life.

However, because the character for “destruction” was preceded by “mutual,” they could be together until the destruction occurred.

‘If I can meet him this way, and then take his destruction upon myself and send him back…’

…He should survive.

【Caution.】

【Using the command <Mutual Destruction>.】

【You will follow the designated target – <Black Wolf(Ex+)> and perish together after 10 minutes.】

Lactea quietly closed her eyes.

‘…Why did I leap into danger for that person who isn’t even my Captain?’

She still couldn’t find the answer.

# 2.

【Warning.】

【Intervening in <The Abyss’s Shadow(???)> following <Black Wolf(Ex+)>.】

【<The Abyss’s Wager> begins.】

【Escape from the manifested <Nightmare>.】

【Success: Return to <The World>.】

【Failure: <Annihilation>.】

【’We’……】

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【Hope you fail just like ‘we’ did.】

# 3.

Nahan, swallowed by the deep darkness.

Why?

The embrace of the Abyss felt so comfortable that he pondered while lying down.

‘…What was I doing again?’

It was definitely something important.

For instance…

Yes, like protecting those who had become as precious as family from a terrible fate…

Like a hero in a novel.

But the more he tried to recall, the less sense it made.

‘…Why would someone like me do such a thing?’

When I can barely take care of myself,

When I’ve lived such a difficult life that I couldn’t even make proper friends.

‘Why would I dream of something so absurd?’

As Nahan unconsciously muttered this while lying down,

“Bro! Wake up already!!”

Slap.

“Ouch.”

Someone lightly hit Nahan’s forehead and shook his shoulders to wake him.

“What the—!”

Suppressing his rising irritation, he sat up and saw a familiar hospital room.

A comfortable private room,

Well-stocked with necessities,

And—

“Oh, you’re up.”

A boy in hospital clothes, with a gaunt face but eyes that sparkled brightly.

“…Hyesung?”

Nahan unconsciously reached out.

Past the deeply worn cap to the thin cheeks, and finally to the hand with an IV drip.

Afraid of hurting him, he caressed the boy gently, his lips parting involuntarily.

“How… are you…?”

Incomprehensible words accompanied by thick tears that began to flow.

Drip, drip.

Tears rolling down his cheeks, gathering at his chin, then falling onto the boy’s hand.

“What’s with you? Why are you being so gross?”

“You little… after making me worry so much…”

“What are you talking about? You should stop making me worry.”

The boy patted Nahan’s back with a bright smile, waiting for him to calm down.

After crying for who knows how long,

The boy reached out with his hand, thin as a withered branch, toward the now-calmed Nahan.

“Bro, am I your <Nightmare>?”

“…What are you saying?”

“Come on, quickly. Am I your nightmare?”

Nahan shook his head.

“Bring me anyone who says that crap. I’ll smash their jaw.”

“Hmm… our dad?”

“…Bring him here.”

“Wow. You’re still amazing, bro.”

The boy smiled as if joking.

“This is the last time I’ll help you.”

“What?”

“You don’t need to know yet. Anyway…”

Having heard the answer, the boy tapped Nahan’s forehead with his finger and smiled.

“I hope we don’t meet here again.”

“Hey, why would you say something so—”

“Remember, bro. My real dream isn’t for you to fulfill it in my place…”

A voice that sounded distant, like in a dream.

What…?

“…You can’t hear me, can you.”

Wanting to ask again because he couldn’t understand properly, but the boy seemed to give up, smiling faintly and adding as he waved:

“Save them, bro. Just like… you saved me.”

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【<The Goddess>’s intervention ends.】

【<Black Wolf(Ex+)>’s nightmare ends.】

【Due to the effect of <Mutual Destruction>, you will intervene in <Lactea(Ex-)>’s nightmare.】