Chapter 713

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

713 Episode 26 Star Ladder (9)
You could either attack me and act like a fool, or you could stand with me and receive a ‘legendary story’.

[Your synchronization rate with the sponsor is increasing.]

Even though I sounded a lot like Kim Dokja, I wasn’t so naive as to think that would be enough to convince the constellations.

«Don’t listen to him! This is a matter the myth-grade constellations have already settled!»

After all, they were all part of a ‘Giant Nebula’.

If, as the ‘Gatekeeper of Thebes’ claimed, the ‘mythical constellations’ had truly reached an agreement, then a mere great-grade constellation would never dare to disobey.

«There’s no guarantee you’ll get a legendary story by siding with him anyway. The story you’ll earn by killing him is far more valuable.»

«I see, that makes sense.»

«Then let’s stop hesitating and just kill him.»

I bit my lip slowly.

I had to stall until Kim Dokja arrived.

It was clear these constellations weren’t fools.

«You’re all cowards.»

Hmm?

«Does having a giant nebula backing you mean you have to gang up on a single incarnation?»

There was one fool, after all.

Her red hair flowed as a woman stepped in my path, a Japanese sword etched with a calm flame held firmly in her grasp.

‘Asuka Ren?’

She was the leading incarnation from Japan. I wondered why she was helping me, until I noticed her gaze briefly settle on Yoo Jonghyuk, who was slung over my shoulder.

Now that I thought about it, I’d heard that Yoo Jonghyuk had helped Asuka Ren clear ‘Peace Land’ in the 41st round. Perhaps she was trying to repay that debt.

—Take the Supreme King and go.

Through [Telepathy], the Japanese incarnations, led by Asuka Ren, formed a protective line in front of me.

«Incarnations from the East? Do you have a death wish? Have you lost your minds?»

The Gatekeeper of Thebes smirked, but Asuka Ren’s expression remained deadly serious. A potent magic energy began to bloom around her. The earnest narrative she had built through relentless effort was palpable.

«You’re the one who needs to come to your senses. Did you join a giant nebula just to do something like this?»

«What—»

«I’m talking to the ‘incarnations’ here.”

Asuka Ren’s eyes shone intensely. Her words were not for the constellations, but for the incarnations they controlled.

«Alexander! Leila! We cleared the sub-scenario together. I remember you from then. Have you already forgotten your promise to survive to the end of this world and meet again?»

I was reminded once more of the person Asuka Ren had been in ‘Peace Land’. She was someone who had chosen the side of the ‘little people’ even when the easier path of ‘disaster’ was available.

«Remember yourselves. If you let the constellations rule you now, you will forever be—»

«The incarnation Naburaengi is the liver.»

The ‘Gatekeeper of Thebes’ made a sharp gesture, and three incarnations charged at her simultaneously.

An ancient sword, a shattered spear, a heavy club.

Judging by their chosen weapons, their sponsors were likely medieval knights or barbarians who had ascended to become constellations.

However, whether they were knights, barbarians, or anything else, once they became constellations, they were beings on an entirely different level.

*Coo coo coo coo.*

As the narrative of the great-grade constellation, its synchronization rate now higher, was unleashed, the wide-eyed incarnations surged forward, screaming and brandishing their weapons. It was a blow meant to shatter the limbs of any ordinary incarnation.

But ‘Asuka Ren’ was no ordinary incarnation.

「 She is one of the ‘100 strongest people’ in Ways of Survival. 」

Her blade flashed as she deftly evaded the swinging club. A strike reminiscent of a holy war. Her speed was, at a glance, comparable to Lee Jihye’s skill.

«Ugh—»

The incarnation whose club was severed staggered, clutching at its own neck. A geyser of dark blood erupted. The incarnation, frothing at the mouth, collapsed to its knees.

Asuka Ren looked down at the fallen figure and spoke calmly.

«I avoided a fatal blow.»

By then, faint sparks were already dancing around Asuka Ren’s body.

[The incarnation ‘Asuka Ren’ increases her synchronization rate with her sponsor.]

The expression on the ‘Gatekeeper of Thebes» face changed abruptly.

«It can’t be, her sponsor is—»

[The constellation ‘Goryeo’s First Sword’ is interested.]

Her constellation was Japan’s most powerful swordsman.

[The constellation ‘Two Thousand Top Masters’ is glaring at the constellations of the giant nebula.]

The master of a thousand styles, ‘Miyamoto Musashi’.

As a chilling, murderous aura radiated from Asuka Ren, the expressions of those facing her stiffened in fear and they began to retreat.

Even among the ‘great-grade’, there were levels of rank. Some were near the peak of the grade, while others had only just entered it. The ‘Master of a Thousand Styles’ was decidedly the former.

«Step aside, gatekeeper.»

Then, a voice came from behind the group of incarnations.

«A warrior from the East. The swordsmaster who caused quite a stir. I’ve wanted to test myself against her.»

As the Gatekeeper of Thebes hesitated and fell back, a man with bronze-red hair and an imposing aura stepped forward. This constellation clearly possessed a status far more powerful than the Gatekeeper.

[The constellation ‘Sorrows of Troy’ increases its synchronization rate with the incarnation.]

Behind him, another giant figure began to radiate a formidable pressure.

[The constellation ‘Wrath of Ithaca’ makes an interested expression.]

The ‘Sorrows of Troy’ and the ‘Wrath of Ithaca’.

They were ‘Achilles’ and ‘Odysseus’, the heroes of the 『Iliad』.

Even within <Olympus>, they were great constellations of a distinctly higher rank.

Asuka Ren’s expression grew taut.

—Take the Supreme King and run. I can get away whenever I need to.

It seemed Japan had already secured constellation support for the ‘Star Ladder’.

—Now!

«I’ll handle you.»

On Asuka Ren’s signal, a flash erupted from the temple, breaching one side of the encirclement.

«He’s getting away!»

Miyamoto Musashi and Achilles clashed, their collision triggering an explosion of magical energy.

I ran with everything I had, carrying Yoo Jonghyuk on my back, dodging blades flying from every direction.

But without any useful mobility skills, I couldn’t hope to outrun them for long.

«Cheon Inho! Over here!»

With the screech of tires, a sports car skidded to a halt.

Without a second thought, I threw Yoo Jonghyuk into the back seat and jumped in.

As Anna Croft, who was behind the wheel, slammed the accelerator, Christina gave a curt nod in greeting.

«Selena was sent up; her injuries were too severe.»

«What about you?»

It was a question that didn’t need asking. They had delayed using the ‘star ladder’ to save me. I have to admit, I was touched. They were incarnations of <Asgard>, after all.

«If you help me here, <Asgard> won’t let it slide.»

«We’re already doomed because of you,» Anna Croft gritted her teeth in response. «Because of the story you revealed…»

It occurred to me then what I had done by revealing the events of ‘Ginnungagap’. Inside that place, Anna Croft had processed the ‘Lesser Dragon Heart’ for me, and with her aid, I had eliminated the constellations. She had helped believing in ‘Ginnungagap’s’ characteristic of leaving no records, but by making the story public, I had exposed her actions to the entire <Star Stream>.

«It’s not just that they suffered losses. They probably gained plenty of benefits thanks to you, too.»

«You’re bringing that up now—»

Anna Croft snapped. She seemed genuinely furious, and I felt a pang of guilt.

«What did Asgard say?»

«Nothing yet. They seem to be preoccupied themselves right now.»

Thunder continued to crash relentlessly from the sky. The meteor shower had been falling for several minutes now; they likely had no attention to spare for us.

«Why didn’t you use the star ladder? You must have met the requirements—»

«There weren’t any constellations willing to send one.»

«Surely you’ve made some friends among the constellations of the ‘Recycling Center’?»

An arrow shot from behind, embedding itself in the trunk with a loud thud.

Anna pressed the accelerator harder.

«I’m heading for the edge of the dome. Use the valuable portal there. If you can return to Korea, you might evade their pursuit.»

«Is that why you’re helping us like this?»

«I hate to admit it, but I need you to see the end of this world.»

Anna Croft still believed I was ‘Cheon Inho of the 40th round’. But that alone didn’t explain everything. No matter how formidable Cheon Inho was in that round, he was a villain. Even with my promise to help Yoo Jonghyuk, would the prophetess Anna Croft truly trust me based on something so flimsy?

«Please be calm, Cheon Inho.»

«What do you mean?»

«Exactly which scenario did you reach in the last round?»

I was taken aback.

What was she talking about?

«I know you didn’t die, even after Yoo Jonghyuk regressed.»

I remembered seeing Anna Croft’s [Future Sight]. The final confrontation between Yoo Jonghyuk and Cheon Inho in the 40th round. The last scene where stars fell from the sky and the world hurtled toward destruction.

«How many scenarios did you experience after that? In that world where all other incarnations had vanished, you…»

Goosebumps prickled on my skin. That memory wasn’t the final scene of the 40th round? Thinking back, Cheon Inho’s death hadn’t been clearly shown in that recollection. Did that mean Cheon Inho had continued to live even after Yoo Jonghyuk’s regression?

«Celestial—»

Anna Croft’s words were cut short. A bolt of lightning fell from the clear sky and struck the car’s hood directly.

My body was thrown into the air with a deafening roar, a shockwave of agony feeling like it was tearing my bones apart.

I tumbled across the dirt, holding onto Yoo Jonghyuk tightly.

When I managed to stand up, coughing dust from my lungs, I saw Anna and Christina lying motionless.

‘Constellation-nim.’

Instead of an answer from Kim Dokja, all I heard was the violent crackle of lightning. It was continuously forking across the darkened sky. A far greater cataclysm than what we had witnessed in ‘Ginnungagap’.

The fire gods chasing us halted their advance, daunted by the sudden, deafening shift in the weather. The number of falling meteors was increasing in real time. At this point, even I felt a tremor of fear.

What in the world was Yoo Jonghyuk doing over there? Was he planning to tear the <Star Stream> apart like this? Was this an attempt to summon an Outer God?

A question surfaced in my mind then. Yoo Jonghyuk had intervened in this world line. This was only possible because the giant nebulae were expending equivalent probability on the other side of the scale. But ‘Ginnungagap’ was already closed. Although pursuers had found us, only great-grade constellations with high synchronization rates had appeared here.

So where exactly were the giant nebulae spending all that ‘probability’?

My heart began to pound with a dreadful, ominous feeling.

Sentences started forming in my mind.

「 The giant nebulae know. 」

<Asgard> knew.

「 What kind of being the Demon King of Salvation is. What kind of stories he has built. 」

The distant heavens split open, and lightning struck once more.

My breath caught in my throat. Something that should not be happening was unfolding. It felt like a distant distortion of causal time, as if the entire world was turning its gaze upon me.

[The constellation ‘Goryeo’s First Sword’ shouts in anger!]

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ warns you!]

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’…]

Indirect messages from the constellations echoed in my ears, distorting the air into a swirling vortex.

Only then did I understand what the ‘Giant Nebula’ had done.

[The giant nebula <Asgard> has announced a new ‘fate’. ]

An order that could not be resisted. The probability of the stars, an inevitability that no mere mortal could escape, no matter how hard he fought.

「 …It is. 」

My [fate] was being written.

「 …I will die. 」

The absolute certainty of the stars was branded onto my soul, accompanied by a wave of nausea.

—Youngest.

I felt a tremendous pressure shove against my very soul.

—I’m resting now.

I screamed as I felt the world’s pressure vanish, because I realized what was about to happen.

This can’t be.
Not this time.
You are—

—Because I’m good at this.

In that final moment, I thought I saw Kim Dokja’s face, smiling brightly.

「 The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ will die in the story he loved. 」

Destiny was decided.