Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 496 – Final Chapter (3)

-Ugh…

The Golden Heavenly King, who had lost all four limbs and both eyes, let out a groan of pain.

Even during the war a hundred years ago, he had never been injured to this extent.

The humiliation and pain were unbearable.

‘Damn it.’

He had tried to escape from him when his creation, Mok Gan, drew his attention.

He thought it was certainly possible since his attention was divided, but in that fleeting moment, not only did he gouge out both of his eyes, but he also stabbed his sword at the location of his core.

-Cough cough…

Perhaps it was to deal with him quickly to prevent future troubles.

However, there was one thing that he didn’t know.

Because of the damage to his core a hundred years ago, he had moved its location slightly lower than the center of his chest, just in case.

Thanks to this, although the upper part of his core was blown away, it avoided complete destruction.

However,

-Twitch twitch!

The damage to his core, which was already not fully recovered, made recovery even slower.

If it weren’t for that, he would have quickly restored his arms, legs, and eyes, but now it was overwhelming just to recover his internal injuries caused by his blade energy.

It was utterly miserable.

It would have been somewhat better if it had been the result of contending with the Demon King, but this was humiliation itself.

To end up in this state because of him, who had become human, not even of the demon clan.

But now was not the time to dwell on humiliation.

He needed to recover enough to move his body somehow and return to the Heavenly Realm with his divine artifacts.

-Twitch twitch!

-Ugh…

But no matter how much he tried to calm down rationally, it was painful.

It felt like this resentment wouldn’t subside unless he killed him and avenged this humiliation.

It was while he was consumed by such anger.

-Creep creep!

-Flinch!

He felt something approaching.

Normally, he would have noticed immediately, but having lost both eyes and with his core further damaged, he only realized something was approaching when it was very close.

-Whoosh!

That something enveloped him.

It was something sticky,

-What is this…

-Kuhehehehe. Even a creator is no different. When that arrogant pride crumbles, even if it’s due to anger, greed overflows.

-You?

From the transmitted will, the Golden Heavenly King could recognize what had enveloped him.

It was the being called the third eye that he had created.

It was Mok Gan.

-How dare an insignificant thing like you…

-To think you’ve become so weak that you can’t even prevent an insignificant thing from burrowing in. Truly pitiful.

-Ugh… You! Stop… Stop it!

-No. How could I? I’ve been waiting for this moment. An absolute being surpassing even the Six Demon Great Strength King has crumbled, how could I miss this chance?

-You bastard!

Even with severed limbs and damage to his core, he was still a being almost equal to a demigod.

There was strong resistance as he tried to burrow in to control his body.

It seemed the difference in will was too great.

However,

-Ah ah. You’re no longer an absolute being. Just a has-been king of the heavenly clan who could be defeated by a mere human.

-Aaaaargh!

It was a simple provocation, but it was effective.

The crack in his boundless pride was enough to create an opening due to that humiliation.

-Crack!

As the Golden Heavenly King’s forehead split open in agony, blood vessels grotesquely protruded from that area, weaving into a round shape.

It was becoming an eye.

***

-Whoosh!

The body of the Six Demon Lion-Grasping King turned to ash and scattered.

Jin Ye-rin’s pupils, who had planted her sword in him, had returned to normal.

Along with this, she saw the almost completely burned secret of the Heavenly Concealed Divine Path Swordmanship before her eyes.

With her mind returned, she looked at the secret with reddened eyes and spoke.

“Ancestor…”

The form of Jin Woon-hwi was faintly visible in the secret.

Seeing his brightly smiling figure, Jin Ye-rin shed deep tears.

There was a time when she had resented her ancestor, but now she was grateful that he had helped her and the world until the very end, even breaking some of the natural order.

-Whoosh!

As the secret of the Heavenly Concealed Divine Path Swordmanship was about to burn completely, Jin Woon-hwi’s form gradually became fainter.

Jin Ye-rin knelt before him and bowed.

“Jin Ye-rin, the last bloodline descendant of the Jin Clan, sincerely thanks…”

-Swoosh!

-Don’t do that. I’m an incompetent ancestor who couldn’t protect many things for you. So please, from now on, live your own life.

With those words, Jin Woon-hwi gave a light bow to Sima Chak of the Moon Evil Sword, who was standing behind Jin Ye-rin.

Sima Chak also nodded slightly, bidding him farewell.

Although he didn’t know much about immortal techniques, he realized that once that secret was completely burned, they would never meet again.

Then Jin Woon-hwi looked somewhere with concern.

-I’m worried.

“What?”

-He finally gained a human heart, but losing a precious bond, I’m concerned and don’t know where that sadness and anger will be directed.

In the direction Jin Woon-hwi was looking, Mok Gyeong-un was in the distance.

Although he was watching the world through the secret, he was observing everything around, so he was concerned.

Then, recalling Mok Gyeong-un’s strength, Jin Woon-hwi shook his head.

Although their meeting was brief, he believed that man would surely overcome even this sorrow.

It’s regrettable that fate can sometimes be tragic.

To bring loss to a hero of the age.

-Whoosh!

As the secret was about to burn completely, Jin Woon-hwi bid farewell.

-Then, farewell.

But,

-Flinch!

The disappearing Jin Woon-hwi looked somewhere and hurriedly said something.

-Quickly dodge…

-Whoosh!

However, as the secret completely burned away, Jin Woon-hwi’s form disappeared completely.

No sooner had this happened,

-Boom!

With a thunderous sound that could rupture eardrums, a huge pillar of light shot up from the ground.

The pillar of light had a dark red glow as if contaminated, and as it surged up, the ground shook and the earth shattered.

-Rumble rumble rumble!

“How can this be?”

“H-He’s not dead yet?”

Everyone looked at the contaminated dark red pillar of light with dumbfounded eyes, and in the center, they saw the Golden Heavenly King rising with horrifyingly grotesque wings flapping.

This resurrected being was giving everyone a feeling of despair as if the sky was collapsing.

‘Young Master Mok?’

‘My Lord?’

‘Heavenly Demon?’

Everyone’s gaze turned to Mok Gyeong-un.

The only one who could stop this despair-inducing being was Mok Gyeong-un alone.

But he was consumed by sorrow and suffering.

However, no one could urge him to step forward.

That’s how much his sorrow, shedding tears while beating his chest, was conveyed to everyone.

Then the voice of the Golden Heavenly King resounded.

-Rise, our only worthy opponent. Let us have our final battle to determine the fate of the world.

“The end…”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un murmured softly.

My story has already ended in tragedy, losing my precious lover.

And at that end, even regret remained.

The fate of the world or anything else no longer mattered to him.

What meaning is there if she’s not in this world, even if it’s destroyed…

-Rustle!

At that moment, the only remaining fragment of ash gently touched Mok Gyeong-un’s cheek.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un’s closed eyes opened.

For the intangible fragment of her spirit body to touch his cheek.

Mok Gyeong-un looked at Wi So-yeon, who resembled Cheong-ryeong so closely, with his still reddened eyes.

[Become a grand master who embraces all.]

Cheong-ryeong’s wish.

He thought nothing remained, but her wish was still there.

-Swoosh!

Mok Gyeong-un slowly rose from his seat.

And he turned his head to look at the Golden Heavenly King, no, the deformed being that had become one with Mok Gan, who was spreading tremendous energy in all directions as if an absolute god transcending good and evil had been born.

Strangely, the two beings stained with madness had become even stronger by becoming one.

However,

-Shing!

Drawing the evil sword Evil Commandment Sword, Mok Gyeong-un calmly extended the blade with a smooth sword intent.

-Woong woong woong woong!

Then his blade was stained black with demonic energy.

Seeing this, the corners of the Golden Heavenly King’s mouth, who had become one with Mok Gan, rose as if about to tear.

The process was never important to begin with.

The one standing at the end is the true victor.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un took a stance as if about to slash him with his sword,

-Goooooo!

-Shudder!

At that instant, the face of the Golden Heavenly King, who had become one with Mok Gan, turned pale.

By becoming one, they could temporarily draw out all their divine power as the core recovered, but the capability emanating from Mok Gyeong-un now was surpassing even that.

It was truly supreme capability.

‘No.’

Instinctively, the two united beings realized.

This was already a being that had almost transcended the natural order.

No matter how much they combined their strength, it wasn’t something they could contend with.

At this, the Golden Heavenly King who had become one with Mok Gan hurriedly tried to open a gate to the Heavenly Realm, but at that very moment.

-Whoosh!

In an instant, Mok Gyeong-un reached in front of him.

-Y-You?

“I cut everything that exists. This is the ultimate sword I can wield.”

-Slash!

A single black line was drawn from the sky to the ground.

Along with it, space was cut, and a red line appeared from the top of the head of the Golden Heavenly King who had become one with Mok Gan, straight down along with the pillar of light.

‘!!!!!!!!!!’

Everyone watching was astounded by this tremendous sword that cut heaven and earth.

Has there ever been a more perfect and ideal sword throughout history?

-Crack!

As space was cut and distorted, the Golden Heavenly King who had become one with Mok Gan, about to be split in half, used his last strength to speak.

-A sword… that cuts… everything… that exists? This is…

“The Peerless Heavenly Demon Sword.”

-Whoosh!

As those words ended, the body of the Golden Heavenly King, which was being split in half, twisted into the cut space and was sucked in, then disappeared along with blood-red dust.

-Swish swish swish!

As if nothing had happened, the space that had been split from the sky to the ground reconnected, and the world became clean again.

-Waaaaaaah!!!!!

All who had been watching anxiously cheered with joy at this sight.

Finally, everything had ended.

Despite these joyful cheers, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes were tinged with emptiness and sorrow.

Although he had saved the world from crisis and ended all resentment, nothing remained.

Except for fulfilling her wish.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes suddenly noticed Wi So-yeon on the ground regaining consciousness.

Her complexion was brighter than before.

Although her body had been incomplete without the spirit, now that the soul had become one, it was no different from a complete rebirth.

‘Ah…’

Seeing her, who resembled Cheong-ryeong so closely, he becomes sorrowful again.

Now they’ll never meet again.

Mok Gyeong-un, who had been staring at her, then descended to the ground and approached her.

Wi So-yeon, who had regained consciousness, spoke with confusion.

“Young Master Mok?”

Mok Gyeong-un approached her with a sad smile and embraced her.

-Thud!

And gently stroking her head, he said,

“I’ve learned what the most painful things are since becoming human.”

“……”

Although she was bewildered, Mok Gyeong-un continued.

“It’s the loss of losing someone precious and the regret of not being able to fulfill what that precious person wanted.”

“Young master…”

“You may no longer remember, hear, or speak in there, but I want to tell you this one last thing. I love you.”

-Grip!

Mok Gyeong-un bit his lip tightly, closed his eyes, and embraced Wi So-yeon tightly.

Her pupils and lips trembled at Mok Gyeong-un’s voice and body heat, full of intense emotion.

She didn’t know why, but the moment she heard Mok Gyeong-un say “I love you,” her heart trembled and her chest ached so much.

But at that very moment,

-Swish!

A soft light flowed from Mok Gyeong-un’s body and seeped into Wi So-yeon.

A voice echoing in her ears.

-The beautiful… and shining story… of So-wol… and me… ended then. Now… it’s the story… of Cheong-ryeong… and you.

Along with this, numerous vivid memories flooded her mind.

[…Yes. We’ll be together. Even if it’s just for a fleeting moment.]

[She was beautiful… So beautiful, like a single red peony.]

[I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go. Cheong-ryeong is already my life.]

[It was all me.]

-Drip!

Wi So-yeon’s eyes reddened, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

As Mok Gyeong-un tried to detach himself from her after conveying his final words,

“Mortal.”

Mok Gyeong-un’s pupils wavered at that voice from Wi So-yeon’s mouth.

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes quickly reddened at her face, smiling through tears as if she had missed him so much.

When something that can never be achieved is realized through earnest desire.

We call that a miracle.

The two embraced each other without hesitation and then kissed.