Ch.190190. Identity Revealed

Ariel was in a state of great shock right now. Especially about what she had done to Seol Yu-hwa.

‘No. Why did I… I should never have done that…’

Her emotions had exploded as if she were being controlled, and she had committed something terrible.

Even if she had discovered Seol Yu-hwa’s weakness, to blackmail her with it? That was something that could never exist in Ariel’s dictionary.

‘First place should be earned through my own efforts, without any shortcuts or dishonesty. That’s not who I am.’

Her pride in being number one had always been about pure skill and nothing else.

But what was she now?

Barely coming to her senses amid overwhelming guilt, she decided to follow them.

Though confused about what to do when she caught up, she knew with certainty that she couldn’t let things end like this.

So she followed.

But the problem was that she witnessed Do Jong-hyun being attacked.

“No!”

Her still-jumbled emotions easily brought intense affection to the surface.

“Don’t touch what’s mine!”

She tried to block the attack, but Jong-hyun’s wounds were serious. His neck and chest were mangled as if mauled by a beast.

Normally, this would be fatal. Even a Jaeger would die from such wounds.

Ariel stood frozen in place when smoke suddenly swirled around her and blew her away.

“Agh!”

The force pushed her back without giving her a chance to react. In that moment, Ariel saw a giant foggy fist coming down to crush Jong-hyun.

Just when a sense of futility was washing over her, a strange light emanated from Jong-hyun’s body.

And wasn’t that a hand-shaped light blocking the falling fist?

A black-scaled monster with a dinosaur’s body, insect jaws, bird wings, and a dragon’s tail—a true chimera—revealed itself.

Ariel stared at it blankly.

‘That’s a monster form I’ve never seen before. Wasn’t Jong-hyun only able to transform into dinosaurs?’

Moreover, this dinosaur was strange. It roared madly and pounced like a wild beast.

With that momentum, the fog mass retreated, and the dinosaur was moving on to another battlefield.

‘Could it be that Jong-hyun has multiple monster forms? If so…’

Just as Ariel was realizing something, she saw Seol Yu-hwa standing dazed before her.

She was looking up at where the monster had passed with a shocked expression.

Ariel tried to approach, but seeing the hatred in Yu-hwa’s eyes, she had no choice but to back away.

‘I should apologize and say I’m sorry…’

But Ariel hesitated as thoughts of Jong-hyun came to mind.

Meanwhile, Seol Yu-hwa headed toward the monster again, and Ariel could only sigh.

But her emotions would continue to be in turmoil all day.

Because that dinosaur monster revealed the truth after everything was over.

*

They planted a seed in me through those actions. With the intention of sending me back in time with their power before the second destruction.

However, the subjects of the loops are different.

Unlike the “second loop” (where I made contact with the monster summoning spirit), in the “first loop,” the monster side had it relatively easier—without any particular crisis.

The second loop ended with the same destruction. The only difference was that because it was a loose war, the power of the source wasn’t fulfilled as much as desired.

So the enemy restarted the loop. In other words, the first war began because the enemy wasn’t satisfied.

I wonder if I had a summoning spirit at that point? I’m curious, but there are no records of individual people.

In this situation, the second loop occurred. The power of the source was more fulfilled than before, but this time, the summoning spirit on my side caused the loop.

During this process, I lived through the second loop without a summoning spirit. That’s also why I didn’t have a summoning spirit despite the emergence of something called a card deck.

I died as a sacrificial pawn in a place where no one paid attention, just as they had guided me to.

[It’s not because you’re special, brother.]

Adult Jun-hoo’s words come to mind. Yes, it certainly wasn’t because of some grand prophecy or ability.

They simply chose someone no one knew or cared about and planted a seed.

The reason, as you know, was to send me back to the past.

As a result, I grew to slowly accept the monster as I regressed.

Why level up, and why is there evolution?

After evolving, there’s pain in the body, but why can I endure more pain the more I transform?

It’s because my body was changing to become suitable for monster transformation.

I was gradually changing to accept monster transformation and its mentality.

So even when I received fatal blows, the power of the “connected” monsters manifested as that chimera-like composite monster. Even my physical body withstanding that strange girl’s attack all led to one conclusion.

[We dragged you into a cruel fate of our own accord. About that—]

“Ah, yes. Whatever. Just change the screen back now.”

[…]

Anyway, I’ve resolved my curiosity now that I know the detailed circumstances.

“Do you think I’d be distressed about being forcibly given power I never wanted? That’s the same for both the second and first worlds. In the end, friends, comrades, and family died fighting. But would I be hurt by being given power to prevent that? Absolutely not!”

Yes, I’m actually happy because of this power. Even if some misunderstand and curse me, humanity is truly changing.

Why would I dislike it? Compared to my powerless former self, I can now change history.

[Is that enough for you?]

“Sad but unbending, hurting but not giving up. This is to prevent destruction? Such an important role? I’m actually glad.”

I’m sincere. Thanks to this power, I’ve formed countless bonds.

“I’m actually grateful, Monster Summoning Spirit. I understand the situation. Don’t worry. We need to end this crisis.”

[Is that so. I have seen you.]

The screen changes again. More precisely, my vision returns.

Before my eyes, I slam down the spiral goat and leap into the air to strike from above.

Fighting so ferociously. Truly like a beast. Fighting on instinct alone.

With insect jaws, it was tearing the spiral goat’s body to pieces.

Fast and strong.

The indiscriminate power of a monster that bites and slashes.

Considering the characteristics of the spiral goat, close combat is certainly the right approach.

But that’s only for offense. Defense is different.

This monster is attacking relentlessly without thinking about defense.

Even as the spiral goat destroys the surroundings with energy blasts, it continues.

It finally tears out the goat’s throat, but the monster is already staggering from severe wounds.

“Is it over now?”

No. If I’ve lost control…

I can still see through the monster’s eyes. It’s heading straight for the Academy.

No. Absolutely not!

I tried desperately to regain control.

Clutching the Awakening Card in my hand.

“Hey, Summoning Spirit. Will you return power to your contractor now?”

[Break us with your will. Endure the pain and seize it!]

Like a maxim, the action I needed to take entered my mind.

I looked at the glowing Awakening Card. So I need to subdue it and make it mine again?

Fine. I’ll do it.

Meanwhile, as the monster rushed toward the Academy, a fog-like substance blocked its vision.

That monster is the one I saw when I first opened my eyes! It was pushing this body with its fog-like form.

And here I confirmed that the monster’s attacks weren’t effective.

It’s because its fog-like body makes “conventional” attacks ineffective.

So I should use cards or traits? Is it difficult because there’s no rationality?

But the blades on the jaws were definitely damaging the fog.

It has a cutting attribute.

The problem was that the enemy’s fog kept restoring itself.

Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, this specimen is tired from charging in without thinking about defense.

It’s dangerous. The opponent is similar in nature to the monster I saw on the plane before.

Additionally, it has regenerative abilities. An enemy that recovers even when attacks connect.

To counter that, I need this.

Countermeasures come to mind, but first I need to regain control.

As this monster was about to collapse from exhaustion, I grabbed the Awakening Card.

I will control those that emerged from defensive consciousness.

“Give it back. I will control it.”

A tingling sensation from the Awakening Card feels like rejection.

Normally, I would give up, but not this time. Give it back. You control everything right now!

The moment I ignored that tingling, severe pain shot through my entire body.

“Arghh!”

The sound of beasts howling echoed in my head, and my whole body trembled.

It’s shaking. Like walking through a space where bombs are exploding. Dizzy and disorienting.

But I won’t give up! This is the body I need to use.

“Give it back. I’ll handle this.”

The light of the Awakening Card grew stronger. At the same time, their anger roared from all directions.

After all this passed, the light brightened as if I had gone through a tunnel.

I instinctively felt that I had regained my body.

Suddenly, the fog monster before me began to unleash attacks.

[Output Limiter Release Device]

My entire body was covered in armor, accompanied by a heavy pain.

I blocked it, but it still hurts this much? This fog is truly strong. It’s large enough to cover the school.

It gathers together to form a substance and launches selfish attacks.

But now it’s different. For the first time, I successfully evaded rather than attacking.

The fog hesitated momentarily. Be confused, that’s how gaps are created.

Simultaneously, my jaws sliced through it in one go. But as I saw earlier, it will “recover” and “return to its original state.”

Fortunately, I’ve already formulated a strategy while watching.

[Healing Aura]

My only healing card that can also heal others. The enemy returns to its original state even after being cut. This means not only regeneration but also restoration to its original form.

So I thought:

[What would happen if I healed it while it was in a destroyed state?]

Prevent it from returning to its original state.

The moment the healing aura was applied to the enemy, a small anomaly occurred.

The enemy’s body, which should have returned to its original state, began to distort as if colliding with itself.

Yes, this was how to deal with it.

After that, it was easy.

I deliberately cut the fog and healed it, preventing its “restoration to original state.” Since it was already different from the original formula at the point of healing.

The fog wavered and lost balance. I simply repeated this process.

The fog grew smaller and took on a clearer human form.

The person inside revealed themselves as the gilding peeled away.

I raised my foot and stomped down to prevent any more tricks.

I lifted my foot, which I couldn’t even feel, and received points.

[Byproduct of Ancient Species]

As expected, it’s a similar creature. Fortunately, I’ve finished everything, but I still have something to do.

I can’t hide anymore. At least Ariel and Seol Yu-hwa have definitely seen me, and Jo Sung-hee and Eun Se-rin know too.

As more people have grasped the truth, an explanation was necessary.

I released my transformation right there. My vision changed, and I returned to human form in everyone’s sight.

Hmm, judging by their looks, they’re all quite surprised.

All kinds of gazes were fixed on me in the silence.