Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 709

Chapter 709

As the voices from <Asgard> faded, the heavens above Ginnungagap were once more enveloped in a deep quiet.

A sky where not a single star dared to gleam.

It was not just that the shroud of ‘Ginnungagap’ concealed the stars. Past that veil existed a presence that seized the radiance of every last one of them.

Kim Dokja let out a soft, breathy laugh.

«See, you can’t pull that off.»

The mighty constellations stayed silent, offering no retort to his statement.

They had to have sensed it as well.

Just moments ago, a being from <Asgard> had been cast down from beyond the sky of ‘Ginnungagap’. Its modifier or true name was unknown. But from the reaction of the great constellations, it was clear this was no minor entity.

That constellation had fallen in an instant.

‘Is Yoo Jonghyuk over there?’

Kim Dokja gazed upward without replying.

Whatever Kim Dokja could perceive, I could perceive as well. Yet Yoo Jonghyuk was not visible in his eyes. All that was there was a vista resembling a sheer black curtain.

—He is there.

Even so, we could picture it.

The fragments Kim Dokja had reclaimed were speaking to us.

「 «Kim Dokja. Are you there?» 」

A voice from a time long past.

Words his companions had once used to search for him.

「 «Dokja-ssi.» 」

「 «Ahjussi! Can you hear me? Ahjussi!» 」

Because this world-line prevented communication with them, their voices were merely illusions born from Kim Dokja’s memories.

Still, we understood. Even if the voice was not the same, even if the tone and words were different, <Kim Dokja Company> was seeking Kim Dokja beyond this stage.

Because this is ‘that sort of story’.

—In the end, all we have is the story.

This story belongs entirely to Kim Dokja.

‘Do you miss them?’

The feeling of unrest came and went like a faint ripple.

—I already said. That isn’t my duty.

Suddenly, my own feelings surged.

I wanted to say to the Demon King of Salvation.

You don’t need to be that person. There’s no rule saying you must be the sole ‘Kim Dokja’ in that way.

Yet, part of me also understood his meaning.

His story was declaring.

「 This is the path of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’. 」

He can only say that. From the moment he was born, he was fated to live that life.

Just like that obstinate Yoo Jonghyuk.

In that instant, a thought came to me.

If every ‘Kim Dokja’ has a part to play. If each lives a story fitting for that role.

Then what is my part as ‘Kim Dokja’?

[‘Kim Nonggaf’ will be withdrawn shortly.]

The jet-black sky began to tremble.

My initial feeling was relief that we had survived.

Once this ‘stage’ vanished, the constellations would lose their ability to harm us.

Even in a scenario where probability was a factor, even against <Asgard>, one of the three great ‘Nebula’ powers, they couldn’t have sustained a greater loss than this.

However, the great constellations showed no sign of surrender.

[Do not bluff. No mighty being can cross that veil now.]

The words of Valkyrie’s daughter held truth.

For the Yoo Jonghyuk I know to descend here, a myth-grade constellation would need to appear to balance the scales.

But there was no chance that ‘Odin’ would come here just to capture us.

«That means no constellations can arrive to aid you.»

[We require no assistance from other constellations. We are sufficient to hunt you ourselves.]

«Three of you were just torn apart.»

Hearing this, a furious roar emanated from ‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’, who bore the status of the seven great constellations.

[I am familiar with the ‘former you’.]

The old Kim Dokja?

[I have witnessed it many times in the tales of the myth-grade constellations who pursued you. It was so captivating I found myself watching it repeatedly. In that narrative, you were truly magnificent.]

A doubt formed.

Was Kim Dokja’s true nature truly as they asserted?

Even preserved as a ‘story’, there was no guarantee the events were factual.

In some stories, the truth is polluted by false propaganda.

‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’ continued, her voice icy.

[You mimic God quite well, wearing the skin God discarded.]

Those words struck me in a peculiar way.

«Mimic.»

The Demon King of Salvation laughed, offering no denial.

The atmosphere around us started to hum. The seven constellations, led by ‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’, were advancing with their full power.

‘Ginnungagap’ was not yet finished.

‘What is the plan?’

Three constellations had already departed. The remaining great constellations would now attack with their lives on the line.

‘If I use that skill again—’

—Then you will die.

I know. But there is no alternative.

—There is a way.

‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’ soared and hurled her spear, emitting a deadly chill. A violent gust of wind slammed into my side as if the very space around us was being crushed.

The power is immense.

Even if it’s not a myth-grade strike, an attack of this caliber would kill me instantly.

Even then, Kim Dokja continued to smirk.

«Seven of you assaulting a single, flawed individual? If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to summon our own allies.»

[You have no allies here—]

Kim Dokja reached into his chest and flung something forward.

Pungent smoke billowed out with a soft pop.

‘Poison bomb.’

It was loot obtained from dealing with the Misreading Association in the Star Labyrinth.

Naturally, it was an item incapable of harming constellations.

[With this pitiful trick!]

«Pitiful trick?»

The constellations, startled by Kim Dokja’s words, halted momentarily.

Instead of charging ahead, they began generating wind pressure to disperse the poison bomb’s smoke.

They suspected Kim Dokja might have laid a trap.

But that was precisely the effect Kim Dokja intended.

«Anna Croft.»

Anna Croft, standing further back, shuddered at Kim Dokja’s call.

Kim Dokja reached his hand out toward her.

«The heart.»

The processing of the ‘Lesser Dragon’s Heart’ I had requested earlier was now complete.

Valkyrie’s daughter, witnessing this, issued a warning.

[Prophet! What do you think you are doing!]

Anna Croft froze at the bloodthirsty tone.

[Surely you do not intend to betray <Asgard>.]

Hearing this, Anna Croft, Selena Kim, and Christina Page beside her all paled.

[Have you forgotten whose incarnation you are?]

The strength of ‘Zarathustra’ was built upon the support of the nebula <Asgard>.

Aiding us in a direct conflict with <Asgard> would be tantamount to betraying the Nebula behind her.

The red in Anna Croft’s ‘Eye of the Great Evil’ flickered intensely.

Tszzt.

Anna Croft staggered, wincing as sparks crackled in the air.

She had tried to use [Future Sight]. Judging by her expression, it had likely failed.

Anna Croft looked at us for a long moment, then lowered her head and spoke.

«I am indeed the incarnation of <Asgard>.»

I understood.

From the seventh scenario onward, the cost of betraying a top-tier giant Nebula was obvious.

Helping us now would mean ruin for Anna’s group. Her current judgment was therefore perfectly rational.

«But.»

Anna Croft slowly lifted her head, looked directly at ‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’, and finished her thought.

«I am not certain you can claim to represent <Asgard>.»

In that moment, seeing the look in Anna Croft’s eyes, I felt a chill run down my spine.

I had forgotten for a second.

That she is a ‘Las Vegas gambler’.

[What are you implying?]

«This stage, ‘Ginnungagap’, from the very start—events here are not recorded. Since nothing is passed on, no one outside can know what transpired here.»

Anna Croft had just placed her bet.

«If all of you perish here, who will remember my actions?»

[What absurdity are you speaking, prophet!]

A gamble with terrible odds.

A situation where the usual ‘Anna Croft’ would never intervene.

And yet, now, Anna Croft had staked everything on the conman she despised most.

«Cheon Inho. Can you manage?»

I had no idea if Cheon Inho could manage. But it wasn’t Cheon Inho who answered.

«It is possible.»

The constellations, realizing something was amiss, shouted.

[Attack!]

In that brief window, we received the ‘Refined Lesser Dragon Heart’ from Anna Croft.

I wanted to ask her.

Why did you choose to help us?

In a situation with no visible future, what could you possibly have believed in to bet on us?

«In no round was I ever acknowledged as a ‘companion’ by the Supreme King.»

Anna Croft’s gaze was fixed on the fallen Yoo Jonghyuk.

«If a king of such immense power recognized you as a comrade, there must be a compelling reason.»

Anna Croft sensed that this round was the finale of the world-lines. Perhaps she, too, was making her final wager.

«Jonghyuk has a good eye for people.»

The constellations, having cleared the poison fog, unleashed their weapons.

The first to arrive was again the spear thrown by ‘Valkyrie’s Daughter’.

The thunderous force contained within the weapon tore across the ground.

[Kill them! Recover the fragments!]

Kim Dokja evaded the spear and immediately consumed the ‘lesser dragon’s heart’.

[‘Refined Lesser Dragon’s Heart’ is being used.]

My heart hammered violently and my body shook. The magical energy from the dragon’s heart merged with my own. Like a chrysalis transforming into a butterfly, I felt my body breaking past its limits.

[Your body is evolving!]

[The story of the ‘Braqui Clan’ takes root in your heart.]

But our opponents were constellations.

Merely absorbing one ‘lesser dragon’s heart’ to boost magical energy wasn’t enough to overcome their defenses.

The weapon that had missed us was already arcing back across the vast sky.

The area covered by the discharged lightning was larger than before; dodging by luck seemed unlikely.

This time, we had to meet it head-on.

—Youngest.

‘Yes.’

The moment my heart thundered, the dragon’s heart sent coursing magical energy throughout my body.

As pain flared from tearing blood vessels, pages began to turn in my mind.

[The exclusive skill ‘Bookmark’ is activated!]

We are Kim Dokja.

Readers fight in the manner they know best.

—The person we require now.

‘Is a monster capable of facing seven great-grade constellations.’

—That alone is difficult. Our physical scale is mismatched; the cost of the class is too high.

‘Even a broken sword won’t suffice.’

A character who could defeat seven great constellations.

Many names came to mind, but it was hard to conceive of one who could overcome them without excessively disturbing the balance of probability.

—There is one.

But will it work? That person is a ‘constellation’.

Originally, [Bookmark] only functions with ‘characters’.

In fact, within the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Kim Dokja never once used a ‘constellation’s’ power as a bookmark.

—Perhaps, because we also obtained the ‘Dragon Heart’.

But it wasn’t impossible.

Understanding of bookmarks for ‘constellations’ had definitely increased.

‘Then let’s proceed.’

An existence at the very limit of what my current body can withstand and what the probability allows.

「 «This guy was born to be a merchant.» 」

As the pages ceased turning, his history flooded my ears.

「 «I was born with the blood of a dragon.» 」

In the original story, there was never a chance to borrow his power as a ‘bookmark’.

Understanding was insufficient.

[You possess the ‘Dragon Heart’.]

[Your body’s specifications are similar to the target’s specifications.]

But what about now?

[Bookmark number 21 is activated.]

My heart pounded erratically and my vision warped.

The onrushing constellations shouted as if straining.

[Whatever you are attempting—]

[Kill him! At best, he can only wield great-grade power!]

At best, a great-grade.

However, even among great-grade, there is a hierarchy.

[Exclusive skill ‘Three Swords Lv. ???’ is activated!]

He is the most powerful constellation.

A being who has never needed more than three swings of his sword against any single opponent in his life.

A warrior who felled a thousand with one sword, leveled a mountain with two, and split the sea with three.

[Bookmark number 21 ‘Goryeo’s First Sword Cheok Jungyeong’ is activated!]

A constellation at the rear, realizing too late, cried out.

[Wait, halt! Valkyrie’s daughter! Something is amiss! Now he is—]

Before the words could fully leave its mouth, the entire landscape before us was ripped asunder.