Ch.173173. It’s Over Now.

Truly.

I never thought the day would come when I’d be fighting the boss.

But what I need to do hasn’t changed.

It’s simple, isn’t it?

The wrongs I’ve committed.

The things I failed to prevent.

Me.

I need to set everything right again.

And to do that, defeating the boss now is the correct path.

“Really, these dimensional rifts. Nothing but failures come out of them. Despite the Doctor’s careful control of variables.”

“Hah…”

“Even so, sigh. I thought it was usable. Has it gone so astray just because it escaped control?”

…

This person.

Listening to what he’s saying.

The one who created the dimensional rift.

The one who forced me into that painful time.

Into that abnormal life, it was this person all along.

In the end.

In the end.

Everything is this person’s fault.

Why is he saying this now?

Why now, of all times…

…

It’s all a ploy to shake me.

If he disturbs my nerves during this battle, I’ll surely falter.

Everything should be discussed after this is all over.

And then, all the wrongs Eden has committed.

I’ll set them all right with my own hands.

Because that’s what’s appropriate.

Because that’s what’s right.

“Whether you’re the one who made me… made me into this body, doesn’t matter right now. What matters now… You’re no longer my boss. You’re no longer my superior.”

“Vine!”

“You’ll devour this society and grow, then leave to consume another world. All to increase your power. Your greed won’t end there, will it?”

“Sigh… control has completely broken down. Doctor! Is the backup still not ready?!”

“I’m the one you’re dealing with right now!”

I prevented his gaze from leaving me.

The Doctor is being held back by Blanc anyway.

“Baal, your words… were just a well-packaged fake paradise. Only to increase your own power… your own power. Hah. Why couldn’t I see through this? With just a bit of doubt, I would have realized it was all nonsense. That it could never be achieved without controlling the variable of your greed.”

“Vine. Are you now betraying me, whom you’ve trusted your entire life?”

“At this point, isn’t that what’s happening? Betrayal… yes, but weren’t you the one who betrayed me first, Baal?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Giving me daily lectures about your kind-hearted ideals. Hah… yes, I suppose I’m largely at fault for being fooled in such a situation.”

“I never deceived you. I only told you the truth, didn’t I?”

“…I won’t listen anymore. Yes… that day, when you pressured Plum and Yuri with our so-called ideals. Seeing how it worked on them, I followed you even more blindly. Hah… but thinking about it now. If the Doctor was involved even slightly, like now. I don’t think such things would be impossible. Hah… now that I think about it, it’s strange. An education device? Who spreads ideals through such machines? If your ideals were truly righteous, shouldn’t you be able to convey them purely through words?”

“Isn’t it a true ideal? If I, a transcendent being, distribute the resources possessed by all living things. If I take on the role of distribution, everyone can be equal and fairly happy.”

“That can only be achieved if you truly have no greed, right? Hah… we’re just going in circles.”

“…Fine. Let me put that leash back around your neck. And create our ideal. My, my own paradise.”

“…Hah. So that’s why you push innocent, ordinary people into dimensional rifts.”

We aimed our weapons at each other again.

The weapons we once used to protect each other,

This time, simultaneously.

Attacking each other.

* * *

“Guh?!”

“Even that technology. It has its limits in the end.”

“Go! Ugh… having changed headquarters three times, the number of drones is pitiful, but it should buy some time!”

Countless drones emerge from behind the Doctor and rush toward me.

Hah…

Though each one’s power is small, their defense can’t be ignored.

I can’t even properly see where their propulsion systems are.

But if that’s the case, can’t I just destroy them all?

No matter how much I can’t ignore their defense.

If that’s the case, can’t I just shower them with magic bullets?

So, just as I was about to deploy magic bullets at full power.

“Yuns… no. Blanc. Leave this to me.”

“Citrus?”

“Those flies, I just need to blow them all away, right?”

“With your weapon, it would be diff—”

Citrus swung her large axe once, clearing away all the annoying obstacles in front of us.

“There. Done. What were you saying, Blanc?”

“…Nothing.”

Come to think of it, when it comes to speed, no one could match our Citrus.

Still, since this is the final battle, I might have been a bit hasty in my thinking.

Either I underestimated our team too much. Or overestimated them too much.

Well, the emergence of someone like Vine from a place like this is truly an anomaly, a singularity.

The boss I met last time, during Ragnarok.

His skills were pathetic.

For someone preparing to become a transcendent being, that level was pitiful.

If he’s even weaker than Vine, what’s the point?

Ironically, the one closer to being a transcendent is Vine. That’s ironic if anything.

Well, since we only recently learned about his ambition to become a transcendent being, I’ll let it slide.

Probably even the current Vine could easily subdue the boss.

Well, what was annoying about Eden wasn’t its strength but its tenacity and relentlessness.

Ah, of course, Vine is an exception to that too.

Vine was generally annoying, strong, tenacious, and relentless.

Those qualities brought me to this point.

But Vine is Vine, after all.

“That barrier. I think I can disable it if I do it right?”

“Ellis…?”

“Leave that control panel to me. If I dig in from there, I can disable Eden’s technology.”

“Really?”

“Hey. I’ve been in Eden for so long… Hah. Did some stupid things. Anyway. I do have the technical skills. Eden’s technology needs to be disabled with Eden’s technology. And you guys can’t do that, right?”

“I can do it!”

“Hey, Citrus. Even with your muscle brain, some things just can’t be done. Don’t try to solve everything with brute force. That would… make things troublesome later.”

“What are you planning…?”

“Make sure he can’t move a single hair. Then I’ll break through the barrier from behind. In that gap, neutralize him. But remember, that rat values his life above all else. He’ll have insurance upon insurance upon insurance, plus more insurance. Keep that in mind.”

We had Ellis.

Right.

If it’s Ellis, who knows Eden well…

“And you can call me Elli too. I’ll allow it.”

“…?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, forget it! Just catch the Doctor already!”

With those words, Ellis—no, Elli—runs off.

“You think I’ll let you go!”

The Doctor now focuses his drones on Elli.

But if we shoot them down before they even emerge.

Well, we’re not really counting on Elli’s combat ability.

Arin… no, Seohyun will handle it.

That’s why we’re protecting Elli.

“Where are you looking? Your opponents are the two of us.”

So, we need to draw the Doctor’s attention while making sure Elli doesn’t get hurt, preventing him from doing anything.

We just need to help as Elli instructed.

As for Vine’s side…

The battle is in full swing now.

Vine, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him like this.

He doesn’t seem to be losing at all.

They look evenly matched.

Well, I’m saying this because I know Vine’s abilities.

Vine himself always said he was weaker than the boss.

“Baal! Where are you running to?!”

“Vine, come to your senses! Have you forgotten your own purpose?!”

“Purpose? What is your true purpose?!”

“To become a transcendent being! That’s why I need you!”

“Hah? How does someone aspiring to be a transcendent being need me?!”

“If even a speck helps, shouldn’t one do anything? Once I become a transcendent being, I can create the world you desire!”

“Yes, what I’ve seen until now was completely beautified. Why did I trust and follow someone like this…? The you I saw… wasn’t this criminal figure, but a truly wise person. But… now you’re just like any other criminal. Was all that warmth manipulated by the Doctor?”

“Ha.”

It seems clear that Vine has been manipulated by the Doctor.

Instead, I’ll ask for him.

“Doctor. What kind of manipulation did you use on Vine?”

“Didn’t I mention earlier? Simple hormone regulation and mental manipulation.”

“Like the brainwashing we saw before?”

“It’s a shame! I thought it was successful. I’m curious how he broke through.”

“Yes, it is a shame. You’ll disappear before you can find out.”

“Hah…! You think I’ll end so easily…!?”

“Yes, I think you will.”

Already, the front line created by the drones has collapsed.

Enhanced mutant fighters appeared afterward, but.

It ended too easily.

Doctor, the only defense protecting that person is a single spherical barrier he set up.

But even that, Elli will soon…

“…?!”

“Citrus, what’s wrong?”

“My axe, it’s stuck.”

Citrus showed me her axe as she answered.

Then, with a grin.

“Can I break it, Yunseul?”

“Break it.”

With a sound like tearing metal, the barrier protecting him disappeared.

Well…

Elli is looking at us with empty eyes.

She’s looking at us with somewhat frustrated eyes.

But for now, we’ve resolved it.

Haha…