Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 689

Chapter 689

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

689 Episode 23 Fragments of God (4)
An immense amount of magical energy poured from my right hand, and a brilliant light manifested above my head. A wave of dizziness washed over me, accompanied by profound exhaustion. I could feel the gaze of the stars in the sky upon me. The severed head of the fifth-grade dragon mutant, Imoogi Bracky, stared up at me in sheer disbelief.

[You have defeated the 5th grade dragon species mutant Imoogi Bracky!]

…

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is astonished by your action!]
[The constellation ‘Goryeo’s First Sword’ praises your courage.]
[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ gives a thumbs up, saying he is also a descendant of the Korean Peninsula.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is interested in your fighting style.]
[Some constellations are interested in the proposal of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.]
[A total of 5,000 coins were sponsored!]

In the distance, I saw Bang Cheolsoo and the survivors from Geumho Station cheering toward me.

[30 seconds left until death.]

It crossed my mind that dying like this might not be so terrible.

[The synchronization rate with the sponsor increases.]
[The possibility of a new story germinates.]

—Youngest.

‘Yes.’

—You don’t truly wish to die, do you?

‘There are only 20 seconds left now.’

Was there any possible way to survive this? Honestly, I had no idea. Should I try to offer myself to the ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ again? Would that method work a second time?

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ refuses to prey on you.]

It wouldn’t work. Then there was no path left for me. Now, my only trust was in Kim Dokja.

—Let me see. It ought to be around here somewhere… Ah, there! The head!

‘The head?’

—The fallen head! Quickly!

Looking closer, I spotted items that had dropped near the monster’s head on the ground. One was the ‘core of a 5th grade monster dragon species’, and the other was…

«This…»

I was shocked and picked up the object from the floor. To be precise, it wasn’t a typical ‘item’. It was a fragment that resembled a rough collection of minuscule letters.

[Fragment of the story ‘For a reader, a reader’s life’ has been acquired.]

Why did this dragon have this?

—Phew, it was there after all.

No, why was this—

—Just feed it to him, now. If you hesitate, you will truly be finished.

‘You want me to feed it this?’

—That is also a ‘fragment of Kim Dokja’.

Just from the name, it was unmistakably a piece of Kim Dokja.

[5 seconds left until death.]

I was completely out of time.

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ is interested in the story fragment you have acquired!]

‘You want it?’

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ opens its mouth greedily.]

Immediately, a sound like biting into tender meat echoed, and smoke curled up from my palm.

[The time limit has elapsed.]

Had it worked?
Could I go on living?

A series of sentences flowed through my consciousness, as if answering my silent questions.

「 «It’s okay, Yoo Sangah.» 」

«Yes?»

«Even if you tell me about the app, it won’t change anything.»

The genre of my life now was definitively ‘realism’.

«Because readers have their own lives to live.»

And in this genre, I was not the protagonist, but the ‘reader’.」

This seemed to be a scene from the story fragment, ‘For a reader, a reader’s life’.

Finally, the soft sound of the story burping after its meal reached my ears.

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ succeeded in predation.]
[The status of the story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ has slightly increased.]
[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ is somewhat satisfied.]
[1 day time limit has been added.]

One day!
My life expectancy had been extended by a full day.

—See? I told you that you wouldn’t die here.

I was left speechless, staring into the air. How had Kim Dokja known this dragon species possessed a ‘fragment of Kim Dokja’?

«Is it possible this dragon species is also in Ways of Survival?»

—It does appear, but not like this. No matter what events exist within ‘Ways of Survival’, this monster cannot be here.

The monster before me was a ‘dragon species that should not be in this place at this time’.

—However, in this ’41st round’, an incident has occurred that was not present in any episode of ‘Ways of Survival’.

I understood immediately what Kim Dokja meant. In this world, there was only one type of incident disconnected from ‘Ways of Survival’. Me, and the existence of other readers who had read ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’.

I looked down at the dead monster’s head and muttered. «It can’t be…»

Perhaps this monster had consumed and erased ‘readers’ unknown to me. What if it had evolved beyond its original grade by absorbing the fragments obtained that way? If that was true, how many reader fragments existed in this world? And in the process, how many readers had…

—For now, don’t overcomplicate it. It might simply be a fragment it chanced upon and picked up from the ground.

‘Something like this wouldn’t just be lying on the street.’

—Well, that’s a pity.

In the distance, the fourth-grade monster could be seen locked in a mortal struggle with Jung Heewon.

—That one over there has a ‘larger fragment’.

‘Really?’

—I’m certain. I can sense it now.

A larger fragment. Meaning, if I defeated that monster, I could live longer.

[4th grade Earth Dragon species ‘Earth Python’ activates ‘Annihilation Footprints’!]

The entire area quaked violently, and a massive seismic wave erupted from the creature’s feet. Bright red lava seeped through the fissures splitting the ground.

Soaring into the air using [Leap], the bloody battle between Jung Heewon and the fourth-grade Earth Dragon species became visible through the clouds of dust and steam. Jung Heewon was wounded in her thigh and shoulder. However, the Earth Dragon species had also suffered; both its wings were severed and one ankle was grievously injured, severely hampering its movement.

Intense magical power shimmered around Jung Heewon’s blade, poised to decide the match.
Ether Blade.
The blade of pure magical energy, honed through relentless training, extended, and in a flash, Jung Heewon’s form vanished.

[Incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ activates ‘Kendo Lv.10’!]

Jung Heewon, appearing from above, slashed a horizontal line toward the monster’s neck. Even for a fourth-grade entity, such an injured state should make the blow unavoidable. It seemed like Jung Heewon’s inevitable victory.

However.

—Naturally, it isn’t a typical fourth-grade monster.

With a sound like a rush of air, the form of the fourth-grade Earth Dragon species dispersed like mist. Jung Heewon’s expression shifted to one of shock. Before I could shout a warning, the Earth Dragon species, now behind Jung Heewon, struck her down with its massive tail.

*Crash—*

With a heavy sound, Jeong Heewon plummeted to the earth.

The cunning Earth Dragon had saved its ultimate move for the final moment.

«Heewon-ssi!»

I used [Leap] repeatedly with all my strength, catching Jung Heewon as she fell. Dark red blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

«Heewon-ssi! Stay with me!»

She seemed to cling to her fighting spirit, the aura of [Judgement Time] and [demon slaying] still faintly emanating from her body. But I could tell just from her pulse. Jung Heewon was in no condition to continue fighting.

I glanced back toward the rear lines, which had been somewhat stabilized. Fortunately, this scenario had no penalty for retreat. She needed to escape now. While the fourth-grade Earth Dragon species was still hampered, we should flee immediately—

—No. Kill that thing.

Those were Kim Dokja’s words.

—You don’t know when you’ll find another fragment. This is your only opportunity.

I knew that. I knew this was the chance. But could I do it? Could I defeat that monster when even Jung Heewon had failed?

—There is a possibility of victory. [Staging] is not yet complete.

As the dusty haze cleared, the brilliant eyes of the fourth-grade Earth Dragon species were revealed. Kim Dokja was right. A faint trace of fear was reflected in its gaze. It was now afraid of me.

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is watching your courage.]

—Fight with everything you have, youngest. If you wish to become the true ‘Kim Dokja’ you aspire to be.

At that moment, I saw Bang Cheolsoo and Dayoung’s mother running from behind.

«Hyung! Heewon-ssi!»

Ignoring Bang Cheolsoo, who was carrying Shin Yoosoung, I looked at Dayoung’s mother.

«Please, take care of Heewon-ssi.»

Dayoung’s mother didn’t hesitate, immediately taking Jung Heewon from me. Jung Heewon, who seemed barely conscious, widened her eyes. I offered her a slight smile before addressing my companions.

«From now on, focus everything on getting everyone away from Gwanghwamun.»

«Hyung! You should come with us—»

«Bang Cheolsoo. I’ll find a way to save myself. Your first duty is to protect the people who have put their trust in you.»

Bang Cheolsoo, his eyes reddening, finally bowed his head. He also knew there was no other choice.

«Withdraw! Everyone, withdraw!»

Once Bang Cheolsoo and Dayoung’s mother had retreated, I turned back to face the Earth Dragon. It was also watching me, emitting a low growl, prepared for our final confrontation.

[The time limit for ‘Staging’ is approaching.]
[The power of ‘staging’ weakens.]

This was bad. We couldn’t let the stage end already.

«I am—»

As I prepared to use [Incite] once more, I heard Kim Dokja’s voice.

—Repeating the same scene continuously loses its effectiveness.

I know.
I knew that. A stage recreated through 「Staging」 did not impact the constellations with the same force a second time.

[A very small number of constellations ask if you are telling the same story again.]

In other words, I couldn’t confront it this time just by borrowing the power of ‘Kim Dokja who hunted Yamata no Orochi’.

‘I know.’

But it didn’t matter.
Because-

«Because the person I intended to recreate this time was not ‘Kim Dokja’.»

Even with the same story, a different protagonist makes it a new tale. If it’s another person, it’s a different narrative entirely. The protagonist I would embody now was—

«I am.»

In some aspects, that protagonist even surpasses ‘Kim Dokja’.

«I am ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ who defeated the ‘Eight-Headed Monarch’ in ‘Peaceland’.»

As the pages turned in my memory, the image of Yoo Jonghyuk battling Yamata no Orochi appeared in perfect clarity.

[Fragment of the story ‘Crazy Soldier Yoo Jonghyuk’ squirms.]

In response, the unfamiliar story of Yoo Jonghyuk, which I had acquired at some unknown time, began to stir within me.

[The story ‘The One Who Hunted the King of Disasters’ responds to the story fragment ‘Crazy Soldier Yoo Jonghyuk’.]

I felt I could do it.
This was Yoo Jonghyuk in the midst of his fight against Yamata no Orochi.

*Gooooooo!*

The aura of Yoo Jonghyuk’s mentor, infused with the power of stories, was carried upon the blazing, pure trail of Unbreakable Faith. The Earth Dragon, startled by this overwhelming force, hesitated and drew back.

This thing.

I leapt into the air, slashing my sword again and again in a desperate struggle. The wave of magic imitating Yoo Jonghyuk’s [stage transformation] coalesced around ‘Unbreakable Faith’. It was tremendously difficult. Even giving my all, matching Yoo Jonghyuk felt impossibly distant.

—I!

‘I am.’

But at least now, I wasn’t the only one shouting these words.

—I am Yoo Jonghyuk!

‘I am Yoo Jonghyuk.’

[The synchronization rate with the constellation is increasing!]
[The reproduction rate of the story increases slightly!]

The yellow pupils of the Earth Dragon species narrowed into vertical slits. The creature was genuinely shocked. It was so overwhelmed by the narrative that it began to believe the spectacle before its eyes more than the actual damage it was taking.

Finally, when the monster’s fear peaked, its form scattered into the air once more. The same technique it had used against Jung Heewon.

[Fog ability.]

—You took the bait, you bastard.

[The special option of ‘Unbreakable Faith’ is activated.]

The weakness of fog is ‘elemental attacks’.

[Ether attribute is converted to ‘Flame’.]

Holding my breath using [Nagak Breathing], I spun like a top, swinging the flaming blade. The particles making up its form began to melt and crumble upon contact with the fire.

*Fwoosh!*

The Earth Dragon species, forced back into its true form, crashed to the ground, its body half-scorched. Simultaneously, I too fell, *thud*. I vomited up the contents of my stomach. It was the price for enduring my sponsor’s story for too long, on top of repeatedly using [Incite].

[「Staging」 ends.]

The stage concluded, and the actor departed.

[The story ‘The One Who Hunted the King of Disasters’ ends its storytelling.]

I barely lifted my head, my hands pressed against the ground. The Earth Dragon species that had collapsed was already stirring, pushing itself back up. This was it. It could no longer use [Fog], but it was still very much alive. I felt the atmosphere around it shift. It was gathering its energy for a final [Breath].

[Fragment of the story ‘Crazy Soldier Yoo Jonghyuk’ looks at you pitifully.]

Yoo Jonghyuk’s scorn jolted me awake. I would not fall. I could not die here. I had to protect the people. Jung Heewon, Jung Eunho, Sergeant Kim, and the people who had saved me. I had to buy enough time for them to escape.

[The synchronization rate with the sponsor is increasing!]

At that moment.

—You’ve done well, youngest.

A comforting warmth began to circulate from the depths of my heart.

[The coordination rate with the sponsor has reached a certain level.]
[A new ‘stigmata’ has been acquired.]

The power of my constellation flooded through my entire being.

[The stigma ‘Sacrificial Will Lv.1’ is activated!]

Finally, Kim Dokja’s first stigmata bloomed.