Chapter 219 - Episode 28. Rupture (13)
Chapter 219: Episode 28. Rupture (13)
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Kuwaaaaaa!
World Force erupted from the point of impact of Bash, shattering the air with a thunderous blast.
The aftershock swept through the area, sending enormous cracks racing across the sturdy ground of the Seventh Site.
Crack, crack, crack.
A cloud of dust swelled so thick it was hard to breathe. The Site’s entire surface began to break apart.
Someone screamed. Others vanished without even getting the chance. Nearby souls crumbled without leaving behind a trace of their forms, struck by the aftershock alone.
This was the power of Jerome, the strongest Great Lord.
A moment later, Jaehwan emerged from the dust cloud.
Strong.
The instant he collided with Bash, Jaehwan felt as if a massive hammer had struck him. He had barely managed to redirect Bash, but his entire left arm was numb, and his wrist hurt as though it had broken.
To reach this level of power through Adaptation.
He had vaguely sensed it once before, when he faced Samyeong Garam, one of the Generals.
Awakening and Adaptation were separated by only a thin sheet of paper.
Just as a soul could overcome its limits through Awakening, it could also reach the ultimate through Adaptation.
Jaehwan slowly looked around.
A single Bash had destroyed one-tenth of the Seventh Site.
Considering that one large Site was as vast as dozens of medium-sized Sites, its power was enough to shake heaven and earth.
A few nearby people had barely escaped Bash’s range or blocked the aftershock. They looked dazed. Even Yu Seolha and Imai were too stunned to speak.
“You were lucky.”
Despite unleashing such a powerful attack, Jerome’s World Force had not decreased in the slightest. He had the confidence to unleash an attack of that scale again and again.
“I did not know the System could grant this much power.”
“The System? You are still saying that?”
Jerome tapped the Ice Dragon Sword that had unleashed Bash with a sharp ring.
“Only through the 《System》 can one gain this kind of power. There is no difference in the essence of Awakening and Adaptation. We simply live in worlds with different types of Systems.”
Jaehwan had the feeling that the 《System》 Jerome spoke of was not merely the System of an Unique World.
It was a System with a broader, more encompassing meaning.
“Maybe you are right. I might be part of the System too.”
In truth, Jaehwan had held similar doubts for a long time.
If Awakening truly was a concept outside the System, then its foundations should differ from those of Adaptation and other concepts based on System interfaces.
Of course, Awakening clearly differed from Adaptation.
There were no visible numbers.
But that alone was not enough. Awakening still had “stages,” and though they were not expressed through obvious numbers, there had to be a total amount of Combat Power that could be measured if one truly tried.
If so, Jerome’s claim that Awakening was also part of the System was not completely baseless.
Jerome said, “You are already part of the System. There is nothing outside the System.”
“I cannot agree with that.”
“Hmm?”
“Just because someone has never left their planet does not mean there is nothing beyond it.”
“There is nothing outside the System. Even if there were, an ‘existence’ could not live there.”
Jerome’s declaration was firm and unshakable. It was conviction as solid as a weapon tempered over countless years.
It was not only Great Lord Jerome. Every Lord who used the System held the same attitude.
Why did they reject what lay beyond the System so fiercely?
Jaehwan could not understand it.
They had all lived for at least a thousand years, perhaps tens of thousands. They must have seen endless absurdities and witnessed the world’s flaws more times than they could count. They must have watched every kind of corruption the System had created.
Then why did the Lords not try to change this world?
Did those who had believed in one world for too long eventually come to accept it, no matter what shape that world took?
Jaehwan spoke slowly and clearly.
“I will find a way, somehow.”
Jerome gave a quiet laugh.
“Perhaps you could have, if you were not alone.”
Jerome’s figure began to multiply.
One, two, three, four...
Like someone creating doppelgangers, Jerome continued multiplying without end. When the number finally passed fifty, he stopped.
A skill that created doppelgangers.
Jaehwan knew its name. Like Bash, it was one of the support skills learned by beginners who entered the 《Tower of Nightmares》.
「Shadow Substitute」
Of course, this was not the 「Shadow Substitute」 Jaehwan had known.
Normally, 「Shadow Substitute」 created only a single doppelganger, and that doppelganger possessed less than ten percent of the first’s power.
But Jerome’s doppelgangers were different. Each one possessed roughly half the first’s power.
Jaehwan could not even imagine how long Jerome had trained 「Shadow Substitute」 to reach this realm.
Fifty Jeromes, all honed by years of training, spoke to Jaehwan.
“You cannot do anything alone.”
Their voices echoed across the entire Site.
As Jerome’s doppelgangers spoke at once, it felt as though the entire System itself were speaking. Souls trembled at the sheer pressure of it.
At least within this Site, Jerome possessed a majesty no less imposing than Catastrophe, one of the Three Ancient Gods.
Yet for some reason, Jaehwan was not afraid.
He had felt the same way when he watched Jerome’s Bash destroy the Site.
He knew it was strong, but it did not feel extraordinary.
No, this was the kind of opponent worth fighting.
Jaehwan opened his mouth.
“I have Companions.”
“Companions?”
The fifty Jeromes.
The same sneer rested on every face.
“Who could you possibly have? That woman from 「Rupture」 who travels with you? That feeble Dream Demon? Or perhaps...”
At that moment, several of the fifty Jeromes vanished.
Jaehwan quickly stepped back and readied his defense again.
Bash flew from the dust cloud once more. This time, it was not just one strike.
It was too late to evade. Jaehwan gathered all his World Force and met Bash head-on.
Kwaaaaaang!
A heavy impact struck, followed by a chain of explosions that tore through his flesh. World Force burst like fireworks, splitting the sky as Jaehwan’s figure was hurled through the air.
“Or the vermin of 《Chaos》 you abandoned?”
Jaehwan flew through the air for a long time before coming to a sudden stop. He had redirected Bash’s impact through precise control of his World Force.
He was already in this condition after taking only three Bashes. What would happen if all fifty struck him at once?
Jerome sneered at Jaehwan, whose body glowed silver in the air.
“How ridiculous. Do you think those people are still alive?”
For the first time, Jaehwan’s expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
“You caused quite an interesting incident in Chaos. I did not expect you to know how to make use of Catastrophe as well.”
“I asked what you meant.”
A chorus of snickering laughter came from all fifty Jeromes.
“I heard you made a contract with Catastrophe. Was I mistaken? By now, you should know that contract has been broken.”
Jaehwan fell silent for a moment.
“What did you do in 《Chaos》? You would do well to answer properly this time.”
There was something he could guess.
Not long ago, right after obtaining 「Gestalt’s Eye」, Jaehwan had tried to restore his link with Catastrophe. Yet there had been no response from Catastrophe’s side at all. It was as if the link had been completely erased.
Or as if Catastrophe had ceased to exist.
Jerome’s laughter rang out again.
“Did you think we would let those who plotted rebellion against the 《Great Realm》 live?”
The declaration confirmed it. Jaehwan understood.
The Lords had attacked Catastrophe. Even if they had not killed Catastrophe, they had at least wounded Catastrophe badly enough to leave them near death.
If Catastrophe had fallen, 《Chaos》 was finished. 《Chaos》’s current forces would have a hard time handling even a few Generals.
“By now, the cleanup should be complete. There will be no one left to live in the world you dream of. You will die alone, in solitude. But do not think yourself too lonely. The residents of 《Chaos》 will keep you company on your journey.”
All fifty Jeromes smiled unpleasantly at once.
Jaehwan calmly assessed the situation.
I see.
He already knew that 「Rupture」 and the 《Great Realm》 had joined hands.
If so, their agreement must certainly have included provisions concerning 《Chaos》. They would not want 《Chaos》 to grow into a single force, so they must have decided to dispatch a joint army.
By now, 《Chaos》 would be in complete turmoil.
“It is a shame I cannot show you that sight.”
Jaehwan understood Jerome’s intention. Jerome wanted to watch Jaehwan die in the depths of despair. Jerome wanted Jaehwan’s soul to collapse from the very bottom.
Even without dramatic staging, it was the kind of scenario that deserved applause.
As if praising Jerome for it, Jaehwan carefully studied every one of the fifty Jeromes.
How much time passed?
The expressions of several Jeromes changed strangely.
They opened their mouths toward Jaehwan.
“Why are you smiling?”
Jaehwan was smiling.
* * *
《Chaos》.
Several groups of people appeared amid the darkness of the 《Palace of the Dead》, deep within the fortress 〈Carpe Diem〉. There had to be hundreds of them.
“Is this the place?”
“It has been a while since I came to Chaos.”
The crowd was divided into two distinct groups, their natures obvious from the World Force they gave off.
On one side stood a group of Awakened Ones wearing black leather cloaks.
“Nice to see you, you damned bastards of the Lords.”
“So the vermin of 「Rupture」 are here.”
The other side consisted of important Generals from each zone of the 《Great Realm》.
The men who appeared to lead the two groups frowned deeply and exchanged sharp words.
“We will tolerate this because it is a temporary alliance.”
“I wonder who should be saying that.”
They were mid-ranking officials from 「Rupture」 and high-ranking Lords from the 《Great Realm》, sent to clean up 《Chaos》.
One of the Generals spoke.
“Is this Catastrophe’s palace? It feels rather lacking for the home of the Sole King.”
They immediately began walking around the summoning circle in the 《Palace of the Dead》, examining the area for possible threats.
Other than its bleak atmosphere, nothing stood out. Relief slowly spread through the group. They had been tense because this was Catastrophe’s residence, but it seemed they had worried for nothing.
Then one of the soldiers screamed.
“Captain! Th-there is something here!”
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