Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 688

Chapter 688

My jaw dropped and refused to close.

Ten to zero?

Seriously? He won a ten-to-zero contract against *that* Bihyung?

When I glanced upward, I saw Bihyung in the air, sweating with a deeply troubled expression. He seemed to be deep in conversation with someone, and it was obvious who that was.

—The discussion is finished. You know our split is ten, of course?

A disbelieving chuckle escaped me.

Right.

This was exactly the kind of person Kim Dokja was.

‘What in the world did you do?’

He had positioned me at the heart of the battlefield, reopened the Seoul Broadcasting channel, renewed the <stream contract>, and drawn constellations to this channel.

[A large number of constellations are observing your actions!]

[300 coins have been sponsored.]

All of this had transpired in under five minutes.

—Are you prepared?

I was reminded once more of exactly who I had made a contract with.

He was the legendary scam artist of the <Star Stream>.

The devil who had mocked, scorned, and ultimately saved constellations.

«Yes.»

I had five minutes left to live.

Once again, I felt no fear.

Now I understood why I wasn’t afraid.

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is by your side.]

Perhaps I had been waiting for this moment all along.

—Let’s start the return performance.

I sprinted forward with everything I had, my strength of 70 condensing, increasing my acceleration.

[The story ‘Persistent Martial Arts Master’ has begun its storytelling.]

With the story of the Ark enveloping my hands, my magic power, now more refined, drew a blue trail in the air.

The heads of the monsters were sent flying like toys along a straight path.

[The constellation ‘Goryeo’s First Sword’ nods in approval at your martial arts.]

Somehow, it felt like I had grown more accustomed to wielding stories than before.

Was this also my sponsor’s influence?

Oooooh!

In the distance, an enraged dragon roared and unleashed a blazing red breath.

[5th grade monster dragon species, ‘Variant Imoogi Bracky’ prepares its ‘breath’!]

It was a monster species that hadn’t appeared in the main story.

—It’s literally just an Imoogi. Technically, it’s not a true ‘dragon’.

But I had Kim Dokja.

—The breath pattern is vertical. Judging by the markings on its back, it seems to be a lower class of the Fire and Earth Dragons. Its breath probably has rock fragments mixed in.

[5th grade monster dragon species ‘Variant Imoogi Bracky’ uses ‘breath’!]

Indeed, large chunks of rock were hurled amidst the spewing flames.

As I watched the incoming fireball, Kim Dokja continued his calm explanation.

—The flames cluster around the boulders, so you only need to avoid the large ones. Keep your eyes open straight; have you ever played a rhythm game?

‘I get what you’re saying.’

—Treat this like you’re in the game now.

It sounded ridiculous, but I did exactly that.

I ducked just as the hailstones shot past, and I swung my [Unbreakable Faith] to shatter the smaller fragments I couldn’t dodge. Even as heat detonated right before my eyes, I refused to look away.

I believed I could do it.

—Okay, next!

The instant I kicked off the ground at his signal and leaped upward, my eyes met those of Jung Heewon, who was also evading the breath mid-air.

«Inho-ssi?»

Before a surprised Jung Heewon could say anything else, I pointed behind her.

«Heewon-ssi! Behind you!»

The tail of the 4th grade dragon, which had been seeking an opening, was shooting directly toward Jung Heewon. It was an attack with no clear way to evade.

—Don’t worry.

Simultaneous with Kim Dokja’s words, a brilliant aura erupted from Jung Heewon’s entire body.

[Incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ activates ‘Judgment Time’!]

A supreme skill that grants near-omnipotent combat power against monsters.

[Judgment Time, a power only the ‘Judge of Destruction’ can wield, has manifested its extraordinary capability.]

«Hold on!»

Jung Heewon, grabbing my hand, executed an impossible maneuver in the air and landed us on the ground.

As the monster’s tail barely missed us, Jung Heewon let out a sigh and shouted, still gripping my wrist.

«When did you wake up… No, more importantly, why are you here! Do you even know what’s happening—»

«We can discuss that later. Heewon-ssi, if it’s the you of right now…»

I continued, glancing at the 4th grade dragon that was retracting its tail and glaring at us.

«Can you handle that thing?»

Even with Kim Dokja guiding me, my current specs made hunting a 4th grade monster impossible.

But for Jung Heewon, it was a different story.

She was a specialist in taking down large monsters.

Now that [Judgment Time] was active, she stood a chance against a 4th grade monster species.

«Against that one alone, winning is impossible.»

«The other one is the issue.»

I said, looking at the approaching 5th grade monster.

«I’ll take the 5th grade. Heewon-ssi, please keep the 4th grade occupied.»

«Wait a minute, that’s arrogant—»

«Heewon-ssi, you know what’s more critical right now. If we don’t kill those monsters, everyone here will die.»

At my words, Jung Heewon swiftly looked behind her.

Sergeant Kim had retreated to the rear with Jung Eunho on his back. Bang Cheolsoo’s group was also visible, forming a protective circle.

Jung Heewon, her brow furrowed, released my wrist and spoke.

«I have a lot of questions for later.»

She charged directly at the 4th grade monster. An Earth Dragon swung its massive front paw down at her as if it had been waiting.

An earsplitting roar followed. For a normal incarnation, it would have been a crushing blow.

But Jung Heewon held her ground.

Oooooh!

Her physical stats had greatly improved after passing through the seventh scenario. Combined with the buffs from [Judgment Time] and [demon slaying].

As she was now, she wouldn’t lose even if her opponent was the Yoo Jonghyuk of the 41st round.

I called out to Kim Dokja in my mind.

‘Hey, Kim Dokja-ssi.’

I knew the fight was so thrilling he wouldn’t want to look away, but he still had a job to do.

—Oh, sorry. It brings back memories.

Old days.

It wasn’t hard to imagine what Kim Dokja, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’, might be feeling while watching Jung Heewon.

‘But I only have three minutes left to live now.’

—Don’t worry. You won’t die here.

‘Do you really have to say it like that?’

The 5th grade dragon species, having prepared its attack, rushed at me once more.

A 5th grade was a level we couldn’t have killed even with a combined assault from my readers and me 45 days ago.

I had used the ‘Labyrinth Watcher’ to buy time, and we only managed to hunt the monster after Dansu ahjussi died once and I staked my own life.

Could I kill such a monster alone now?

—Strictly speaking, it’s not a major entity. At least it can’t use techniques like ‘total annihilation’. That only activates in disaster scenarios.

‘Even without annihilation, it’s still strong.’

—Didn’t you say your specs are sufficient for now? We’re out of time, let’s move.

I nodded.

I had a clear plan in my head, even without being told.

—Sylphide’s Leaping Boots.

[The special option ‘Leap’ is activated.]

I shot up the dragon’s body in a single bound.

—Now.

I activated the ‘Blade of Faith’ through ‘Thoughts’. The sword strike, sharpened further by the acceleration from [Leap], pierced the creature’s spine.

The feeling of the blade sinking in was distinctly different from the fourth scenario.

I guessed my physical stats had improved significantly.

Ahhh!

But this single strike wasn’t enough to finish it.

A more certain blow was needed.

—Use [Incite] and [Sentence Enhancement].

A combination of [Sentence Enhancement] and [Incite] that reinforced behavior. It was one of my few talents that [incited] me to embody a specific character and harness that character’s power.

‘Can I imitate Yoo Jonghyuk?’

—How could you imitate Yoo Jonghyuk at your current level?

‘There were times I managed it.’

It was true.

It had been brief and not very successful.

—The enemy is a monster species that evolved from an Imoogi. Isn’t it obvious who you should imitate?

‘Ah.’

I nodded.

This was the seventh scenario.

I possessed three stories.

Considering one of them was ‘semi-mythical’, there was a character I could attempt to incite even at my level.

Especially since the opponent’s body was an Imoogi.

Ahhh!

The tips of its sharp claws grazed my thigh.

Suppressing the pain, I activated [Sentence Enhancement].

[The sub-skill ‘Sentence Enhancement’ is activated!]

[You may enter your actions.]

[The actions you enter will be reinforced.]

…

[An error has occurred!]

[You cannot activate ‘Sentence Enhancement’ at this time!]

[All probability required to strengthen sentences has been exhausted!]

I belatedly recalled the last time I had used the skill.

Back then, I had expended all my probability when signing the contract with the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ to kill the ‘Founder of the Absolute Throne’.

‘I think we’re in trouble.’

—It’s fine. You can still use [Incite]!

‘[Incite] can’t even mimic the character’s skills.’

—It doesn’t matter, trust me! Hurry!

[Exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.10’ is activated!]

«I am—»

In my mind, the pages of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint began to turn.

He was a being who could easily subdue the Imoogi before me.

The constellation who defeated Yamata no Orochi in the ‘sixth scenario’ of Peace Land.

«I am Kim Dokja, the one who defeated the ‘Eight-Headed Snake’ in ‘Peace Land’!»

[‘Incite’ is being pushed to its limit!]

With the activation of [Incite], a powerful conviction surged deep into my cells.

“I am Kim Dokja. I am the very Kim Dokja who hunted Yamata no Orochi.»

Suddenly, the dragon species before me seemed insignificant.

That’s right, I had hunted Yamata no Orochi.

Why should I fear a mere 5th grade?

I swung my sword at it with overflowing confidence.

I can win. I can kill it—

Kagaga!

The ‘Blade of Faith’ was effortlessly blocked.

The creature’s enormous maw opened wide before my eyes.

Quaaaaa!

I screamed, frantically dodging the torrent of breath.

If that had hit me directly, I would have died.

I would have been finished for good.

—Are you insane? Charging in like that?

‘No, you told me to believe it!’

—You can’t win with just [incite]! Give me 20,000 coins. Now.

‘Okay—wait, how much?’

Kim Dokja didn’t answer. And then.

[Sponsor contract provisions are activated!]

[Your constellation is appropriating a portion of the donations scheduled for you.]

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ has acquired 20,000 coins.]

No, this guy.

Kim Dokja spoke, sounding satisfied.

—Good. Let’s begin.

Let’s go.

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ uses 20,000 coins.]

In that moment, I understood what Kim Dokja intended to do.

He had now paid the directing fee.

20,000 coins was the minimum probability required to place my ‘fake performance’ onto the ‘real stage’.

[The story ‘The One who Hunted the King of Disasters’ begins its storytelling.]

The One who Hunted the King of Disasters.

Kim Dokja’s legendary story, earned by slaying Yamata no Orochi, an entity possessing the power of an Outer God.

That story saturated my entire being.

[「Staging」 begins.]

The stage before my eyes began to shift under the story’s influence.

A section of Gwanghwamun’s scenery momentarily transformed into ‘Veronica Castle’, the stage of ‘Peace Land’.

[The current reproduction level of ‘Staging’ is low.]

Even though the reproduction level was low because the opponent wasn’t ‘Yamata no Orochi’, this was sufficient for now.

Grrrr—!

As proof, the 5th grade dragon species’ momentum clearly changed. Its eyes now showed a distinct sense of fear.

It was only natural.

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is astonished by your story!]

This was the story of the murder of the ‘King of Imoogis’.

[The constellations of the Balaur lineage are questioning the probability of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’!]

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’’s eyes sparkle at your performance.]

I charged forward, embodying Kim Dokja from ‘Peace Land’.

The 5th grade dragon species opened its vicious maw wide, ready to bite down on me.

—Jump in!

On Kim Dokja’s signal, I executed the mimicry of [Leap] and ‘Thoughts’ simultaneously.

‘Change into the Everchanging Stealth suit.’

[The effect of the ‘Everchanging Stealth Suit’ is activated!]

Just like when I entered the ‘Star Jewel Dungeon’, I used the ‘Everchanging Stealth Suit’ to shrink my body.

The moment the panicked monster dragon opened its mouth, I shot into its maw like a tiny meteor. As soon as I passed the uvula and entered the esophagus, Kim Dokja gave the signal.

—Now.

I removed the stealth suit and reached into my chest. There lay the real ‘Unbreakable Faith’ left behind by Han Sooyoung, who had vanished there.

‘Help me, Han Sooyoung.’

I gripped the sword’s hilt as if in prayer.

I can’t do this alone.

I also made it here because of the story you wrote.

[The story ‘The One who Hunted the King of Disasters’ roars!]

Shamelessly, I needed the power of that story one more time.

Giiiiiiing!

Light erupted from ‘Unbreakable Faith’ and a formidable ‘Blade of Faith’ materialized.

The trait of [Circulatory Retardation] activated, and magical power poured out like a waterfall.

Stronger, faster.

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ nods in approval.]

I could never be the Kim Dokja who killed the King of Disasters—but if I possessed any qualification to be ‘Kim Dokja’ at all.

If I was still permitted to use that name.

「 In that moment, I will not doubt that I am Kim Dokja. 」

The deep blue, white-hot magical power carved a brilliant path.