Ch.214214. Reunion – [END]

Screams and pain are rapidly filling Shi-ae’s vision.

“Over here! Here!”

“Help us!”

So many. Endless.

When and where did it begin? I’ve been running to help at this scene of endless chaos.

Simply, there are too many.

Places already engulfed in flames, and people collapsing under continued attacks even after winning battles.

[Wait! Everyone fall back!]

Each time, I fought and moved on. This fusion power allows me to quickly traverse hundreds of kilometers.

“We’re saved!”

“It’s Do Jonghyun!”

Move and fight. Move and fight, then move again—a constant cycle.

Are we actually winning? The question flashed through my mind.

This fused body was feeling the sensation of fatigue and exhaustion.

Normally I would have released the transformation by now, but absolutely not this time.

We must win.

Humanity must triumph.

My sword was sweeping through hordes of monsters. Lower-tier monsters could be finished with just this.

The problem was the ancient species.

Even after defeating them, they were spread throughout the world.

No matter how much I moved, all I could see were these creatures.

“You really bet your fate on this.”

Though clearly exhausted, I was still winning with every move I made.

Wasn’t that enough?

Even if I was in pain, just a little more… just a little more…

Suddenly, I looked up at the sky. It must have been somewhere over Russia. Massive energy was falling from the sky.

Not lightning, but pure energy.

I knew what this was.

Mahanaga. The lightning this bastard used was similar to this.

I fired a Sub Card Annihilation Shot to counter it. A collision of forces that bloomed like a flower, exploding.

I blocked it. The aftermath of our powers erupted in the sky, but at least it didn’t turn the area into a desert like Australia.

I should definitely be happy about that.

I should be, but my energy was being completely drained.

“Huff…”

Just as I was thinking how difficult this was, lightning struck me from above.

“Kuk!”

I fell from the intense pressure that seemed to penetrate not just my body but everything around me.

[How pathetic. Is that all? I have come to finish this.]

Mahanaga was revealing his face, writhing his massive body in the sky.

Right, that bastard was hiding all along…

[Such pointless resistance. Shall I teach you something truly despairing? I’ll show everyone.]

Mahanaga’s magical power suddenly extended outward. Should I call it a band of magic? It covered the sky, transforming the entire firmament.

What appeared there was shocking. It showed countless monsters waiting in reserve.

We had been fighting desperately to protect everything, but apparently that wasn’t even the enemy’s full strength.

They had more reinforcements waiting.

Mahanaga was showing this scene to everyone, not just me.

[You’re exhausted. Do you think I’m being unfair? This is war. Why would I engage you on favorable terrain? Disappear along with this continent.]

Energy concentrated in Mahanaga’s mouth as the sky began to change color again. The attack I saw in Australia, and the one from earlier—this magical power surpassed them all.

It was about to fall directly on my head.

Could I block it?

A moment of weakness crept in, but I shook my head.

No, I must block it. No matter what!

This isn’t the time to worry about what comes after. Even if something happens to my body, I have to stop this attack first.

I desperately pulled out my cards.

[Output Limiter]

[Thermal Energy]

Using the Sub Card’s power, I was forcibly squeezing out all the magical power from my body.

If I clash with that…

Neutralization. And then? Can my body withstand it?

Fight and win, that’s all.

Just as I was pushing away hesitation in my mind, the moment Mahanaga and I clashed again, everything went white.

To the extent that no living being could be seen in the vicinity.

Did I block it? Barely surviving the aftermath of the collision, I heard Mahanaga’s laughter through the hazy sky.

[I’m showing your state to everyone. Despair is the best gift for those who refuse to give up. Look. The hope you believe in is now struggling beneath me.]

The world was being reflected in that sky. I heard Mahanaga could control consciousness even in a powdered state—is he showing this to the entire world?

A power on a completely different level.

If he had come out with this power from the beginning, it would have been even more incredible.

[Mahanaga. You’re a coward, aren’t you?]

Suddenly, my inner thoughts spilled out. Mahanaga froze for a moment.

Then he laughed again.

[Words of desperation don’t frighten me at all.]

Magic was concentrating in him again.

My energy is depleted and I’m struggling. Normally the transformation would have been released by now. The crisis was severe enough to force me to endure this far.

Eventually, magical power with lightning was falling toward me.

I’ll die if I’m hit.

[Awakening]

I tried to use the Awakening card as a last hope, but it didn’t activate.

[Awakening]

-Unevolved power of evolution

-More recovery needed.

I need to rest? When I barely have enough strength to keep fighting?

As the flash of light was pouring down on me and I was desperately trying to defend myself,

suddenly a rift opened before my eyes.

[?]

Through the spatial gap were Cho Seonghui, Eun Jiho, and Eun Serin.

[Everyone?]

“Well now, you can’t be struggling here like this.”

Starting from Cho Seonghui’s fingertips, Eun Jiho began releasing magical power.

Jiho is intervening here?

[Hyung, I said we’d play together later, right? If we survive, let’s do that.]

[You’ve completely returned.]

This is exactly the Eun Jiho I remember.

As Eun Jiho pushed back Mahanaga’s power with all his might, his body completely transformed into a snake form.

Jiho’s eyes sharpened as he became a long monster that far exceeded human size, and Mahanaga’s power was being pushed back.

“Has he grown again?”

Eun Jiho flew up toward the sky and began fighting with Mahanaga.

Can he win?

No, it doesn’t matter. I just need to conserve some strength.

[Traits]

-Special Output Increase

-Do or Die

-Embodiment of Endurance

My traits exist for times like this. Just hold on a little longer.

A very brief time passed.

During that time, several fierce battles unfolded in the air.

I hoped Jiho would win, but Mahanaga’s power exceeded our expectations.

“No!”

Beyond Eun Serin’s scream, Eun Jiho was falling, covered in blood.

*

Mahanaga had been waiting only for this moment.

[I am god. I lead.]

His power was already sufficient. While that terminal was focused on upgrading his small human body, he had been accumulating power in his primordial ancient species form.

[You’re quite strong. But I have won.]

Mahanaga celebrated his victory as he watched Eun Jiho fall after being struck by lightning.

Mahanaga’s trait was the ability to freely absorb energy.

Including the enemy’s energy. That’s why those who fight with magical power are at a disadvantage.

[How unfortunate. You were stronger than when the terminal controlled you, but that’s all.]

Just as Mahanaga was about to sweep everyone away, Jiho desperately lunged at him.

[Meaningless.]

Mahanaga absorbed Jiho’s magical power and converted it into his own.

It only served to replenish his strength.

He was mocking the meaningless struggle while taking the hits.

At that moment, light erupted from below.

[That’s!]

Mahanaga could see the Awakening card. There was a monster with a golden body color shining.

Mahanaga’s power was released, but the golden light became a single magical force and struck him.

[You!]

An incredible destructive power that stung his entire body.

But Mahanaga soon laughed.

[But in the end, you cannot defeat me who absorbs magical power.]

No matter how powerful the golden force was, it was still magical power. The current Mahanaga could handle an opponent several times stronger.

As long as he could absorb magical power, he would overwhelm his opponent.

He would only grow stronger.

At this point, the golden monster began to fly upward.

Yes. If ranged combat doesn’t work, you have to go in close.

Mahanaga was counting on this. He created bands of magical power and began accumulating them.

He layered them to create a kind of barrier.

The moment the barrier and Do Jonghyun collided, Mahanaga used his absorption ability to draw Jonghyun in.

This was possible because the barrier itself could freely absorb according to his will.

The magical power surrounding Do Jonghyun began to be absorbed by Mahanaga.

[Become my nourishment!]

Just as Mahanaga was shouting victory and trying to absorb Do Jonghyun whole, something strange appeared in his vision.

“Working with a monster, that’s a first.”

Before his eyes was Dokgo Jun holding a greatsword.

As Park Taesang’s horn whistle struck Mahanaga’s entire body, Dokgo Jun’s greatsword was lodged in one of Mahanaga’s eyes.

[Useless struggling!]

“We’ve mostly finished cleaning up our side. This is our victory.”

[Did you not see! We have that much more force in reserve!]

Mahanaga released energy to try to shake them off.

But he made the mistake of letting go of Do Jonghyun whom he had just caught.

As Mahanaga was gathering magical power to finish off those who had fallen, he heard an unpleasant popping sound.

Mahanaga realized he had suddenly taken a major hit to his body.

[What is this?]

There was a hole in his body. Precisely at the moment when Do Jonghyun was about to be absorbed.

Looking at the state of his body, Mahanaga realized something.

No, he couldn’t fail to recognize this power.

[Impossible. There’s no way ‘that one’ could be here…]

[It’s very possible.]

At that moment, Do Jonghyun smiled and flicked his hand.

The energy accumulated in Mahanaga began to burst out all at once.

Spiral Goat. Mahanaga’s rival with a power diametrically opposed to his own.

Do Jonghyun was using that power.

[How…]

[Sub Card]

-Copycat

A Sub Card that allows using the traits of opponent monsters. What Jonghyun had asked the staff to get for him was the Spiral Goat’s corpse.

In other words, Jonghyun had chosen the Spiral Goat as Mahanaga’s counter.

The power Mahanaga absorbed was the Spiral Goat.

That’s why it wasn’t being properly accepted by Mahanaga’s body.

Emission and absorption.

The moment Jonghyun with his opposing power approached, Dokgo Jun and Park Taesang had somehow moved through space to attack from behind.

In an instant, a massive collision of powers occurred, and the Spiral Goat began to grind away at Mahanaga’s body with its absurdity.

[Impossible! For me to…]

Mahanaga’s anguished scream didn’t last long. The power of the Spiral Goat began eating away at his body like a curse.

With a massive explosion in the air, Mahanaga died from the trait of the dead Spiral Goat.

*

With Mahanaga defeated, nothing could stop us. Of course. A powerful pillar had fallen.

However, recovery was urgent. Humanity was battered and in shambles from this great war.

The casualties and damage were at a level that was impossible to even begin tallying.

Moreover, giving the enemy a reprieve in this state would be just as bad.

I met Eun Serin at the hospital.

“How is Jiho?”

“He can’t maintain his current form.”

Eun Serin spoke weakly. As a result of throwing himself to save me, Jiho had not only shrunk but remained in a comatose state.

“He’ll definitely get better.”

After comforting Eun Serin, I moved on to the next operation. The battle to determine whether we could stop the enemy’s second invasion force.

Such concerns were prevalent at the global conference as well. After all, this was a great war that had destroyed a third of the Earth.

But we overcame it. What remained was the enemy’s second force. Even if not, the problem would be if they were holding out as Minwoo had feared.

So I planned to handle this situation with the help of adult Junho and Cho Seonghui.

“I have a proposal for everyone. Jaegers, please become sponsors for these beings. There will likely be a conflict with the summoning system, but this will allow us to reduce secondary damage.”

I persuaded them. If not, we would have to endure this situation again.

Using the coordinates to the enemy that adult Junho had provided, I crossed over with Cho Seonghui’s power.

The screams of nature, rage, and slaughter echoed through this place.

A continent of monsters adorned with massive volcanoes and giant trees.

I pulled out my Awakening card for the monsters waiting for the second invasion.

[Now it’s time to resurrect.]

Yes. I resurrected numerous silhouettes waiting to evolve me—species with the power of primordial species.

Their power is temporary. But it can be maintained only at certain times.

What is that?

[Summoning System]

“I’m counting on all of you!”

What adult Junho brought that day wasn’t just DNA. He connected the consciousness of all dormant primordial species with the summoning system, just as he had connected me.

And the Jaegers support this summoning. As entities that supply and maintain magical power to the monsters.

Though our bodies are separated, our fighting spirit is one. The alliance of humans and monsters now brought down the hammer on their ambitions.

Epilogue

On the 50-inch wall-mounted TV, news of the victory commemoration ceremony was playing.

[It’s been two years since the final war, right? The heroes of that time are appearing.]

On the TV, Dokgo Jun in a wheelchair appeared. This man aged rapidly after the monsters disappeared. He’s not old enough to be called elderly yet, but he seems quite weakened after giving his all.

My “wife” approaches from the side.

“Still, his expression looks happy. That smile. Chaerin unnie complains that she has to take care of everything, but she looks happy.”

“I guess she’s worried because the former chairman suddenly became frail? Is that man going to die so easily?”

Seol Yuhwa with her hair in a ponytail was beside me. She’s more mature and beautiful than two years ago.

Above all, her full belly contains the life that Seol Yuhwa and I created.

“Yes. The world is peaceful again. Though some remnants remain.”

“That’s why I thought the summoning system would disappear… but it’s still there. Just that no new Jaegers will appear anymore.”

Ah, except for occasional monster remnants appearing over the past two years, the summoning system no longer functions.

This means our generation is the last.

“It really feels like a dream that the long war is finally over.”

At that moment, the sound of the door opening was heard.

“But you must take responsibility properly, right? Do Jonghyun?”

There was Aerial with my child on her back. Her impression was softer than before, even cheerful.

It must be because time has passed. Aerial picked up the child and threw her phone.

“You need to be excellent as both a husband and father. Steel yourself. It will be three times harder than other families.”

“Of course. I experienced that especially well when meeting with your parents.”

Dealing with in-laws is always burdensome.

When the child was about to cry, Aerial quickly held him and smiled.

“Still, I was the fastest among us. Well, I am the legal wife after all.”

“Are you still saying that? You said yourself it doesn’t matter.”

Seol Yuhwa clicked her tongue. Anyway, they still occasionally showed the same comforting behavior from their high school days.

“By the way, I need to go to the hospital.”

“For Eun Serin, right?”

Aerial asked knowingly.

“Yes. ‘That child’ is being discharged today.”

I moved with my two wives to meet my last remaining lover.

As I was passing by to meet Eun Serin, I saw Geum Dohyun, who was organizing a security team and appearing in advertisements.

“He’s starting to look like a proper CEO now.”

Dohyun had established a young Jaeger security team with Minwoo and Sangheun.

Surprisingly, Han Minwoo was the first to get married, to Aerial’s friend Jia.

The combination of talkative Jia and quiet Minwoo was unexpected, but they seemed happy.

Minseok and other junior class friends were scattered among various guilds as the last Jaegers.

A world becoming peaceful after two years—it’s almost hard to adapt, but it’s the era we wanted.

Arriving at the hospital, I saw its white color and green mark.

“Jonghyun?”

“You came? Serin.”

Eun Serin, with a thinner face than before, approached.

Still in her usual formal attire, but her belly couldn’t be hidden.

But more important than the pregnancy was the small child clinging to Eun Serin’s leg.

“Jiho. Do you remember hyung?”

With a much smaller frame than before, Jiho who woke up after two years was feeling shy.

“Jiho was regressing after fighting excessively in the battle two years ago. We barely saved him. Thanks to Guild Leader Cho Seonghui’s help. She’s still an active person.”

“That’s good. Jiho. Now we can go play together as promised.”

“Can I… now? Mom? Can I be around people now?”

Eun Serin brightly smiled at Jiho’s question and stroked his head.

“Yes, now you can play with daddy.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, from now on.”

Eun Serin naturally took my arm and picked up Jiho.

The moment Jiho and I made eye contact at eye level, we smiled without anyone needing to say anything.

“Shall we go then? My parents are waiting too. We should properly introduce you instead of hiding you like Uncle Taesang did with his girlfriend.”

“Your parents will be surprised. Their daughter’s teacher becoming her husband.”

The results of our efforts to prevent the same sadness from returning are visible. Restored streets, vibrant people.

And happiness.

We moved forward, enjoying these results that we fought for.