Chapter 132

Won Taebeom swallowed a hollow laugh as he gazed at the neon green sea.

It was a sight that reminded him of the trial he had been trapped in in the past.

It was not a sea, nor was it made of Neo.

However, it was the same in that it was a ruin formed of endless despair.

The system window that had appeared the moment he was soaked in Neo clearly displayed the current situation.

This was the first time something like this had happened since he was infected with the BT-DFH virus.

To think that giant tentacles had shattered the entire space of the trial, causing everything to plummet underground.

Even though he had experienced it firsthand, it felt like a dream.

Won Taebeom took out his Paladin’s Oath and put it on.

The moment he donned the silver gauntlet, he felt a slight sense of resistance.

It seemed that while the gauntlet had accepted the BT-DFH virus, it would not allow for Neo infection.

Since the residue wasn’t infected by his beliefs, in a way, its refusal was only natural.

However, it didn’t really matter.

After all, if he were to completely become dregs, the item would lose its meaning anyway.

Won Taebeom thought of the task he needed to perform first.

He had to find the Special Mission Team and join them.

‘I’ll have to find Trainee Han first.’

If possible, he intended to search for Han Goyo as his top priority.

While Je Hyun-oh and Kwak Hanmuk had sufficient means to respond in a situation like this, Han Goyo had nothing.

He was even brainwashed and not in his right mind.

The fact that he himself had played a part in it kept gnawing at Won Taebeom’s mind.

It was always he who had forced the minority to make sacrifices for the majority.

He had never once seen a minority like Han Goyo choose sacrifice of their own accord.

Perhaps he was even more concerned because it was an exception.

Given Han Goyo’s diminished physical capabilities, there was a possibility that he would be reduced to dregs by Neo even faster.

It would be best to search as quickly as possible.

It was when he was moving using floating debris on the sea, checking the immediate vicinity first…

He sensed someone approaching and turned his head.

A large black figure immediately filled his field of vision, accompanied by the sound of metal feathers folding.

With a thud, Je Hyun-oh landed on a piece of a building; for some reason, he had removed his goggles.

“Lieutenant Won.”

The first words that came out of his mouth were not about the current situation.

“Let’s agree not to report anything that happens from now on to Director Jang Seokyun.”

Je Hyun-oh, whose voice had changed due to infection, rarely spoke out loud.

While surprised by the fact that he was speaking at length, the content of his words was also unbelievable.

It was something a Lieutenant Colonel should not say.

Originally, Je Hyun-oh was someone who would not care at all what he did.

Je Hyun-oh was giving orders just to protect Han Goyo.

Like Kwak Hanmuk, the incomprehensible behaviors displayed during Han Goyo’s previous temporary disappearance seemed to have intensified.

What was it about Han Goyo that drew them in so strongly?

Won Taebeom slowly opened his mouth and asked.

“What happens if I insubordinate?”

“Then there won’t be a Trainee Han at the TRA.”

It wasn’t a threat to kill him, so he let out a hollow laugh.

He could feel that Je Hyun-oh knew him well.

There was a reason the TRA had appointed Je Hyun-oh as the head of the Field Response Headquarters.

Won Taebeom didn’t care which way it went, as long as he could keep Han Goyo at the TRA.

“I will obey your orders.”

As soon as he heard the consent, Je Hyun-oh snatched him up and flew away quickly.

“Lieutenant Won. I will start the boss battle within 20 minutes. Find the creatures and return to Trainee Han…”

Je Hyun-oh stopped abruptly in mid-air while briefing and looked up at the sky.

Then, he suddenly accelerated explosively and cut across the sea. The surface of the water split along his passing trajectory.

Je Hyun-oh, who had been flying unhindered, suddenly stumbled.

His wing feathers rustled with a metallic sound, and Je Hyun-oh landed Won Taebeom precariously on a piece of floating debris.

He nearly missed, but Won Taebeom had fully anticipated that and was able to land safely.

However, he wondered why Je Hyun-oh had wavered during the flight.

Why… suddenly…

Why… did…

"……."

His thoughts snapped abruptly. It was because a certain sensation was sharply cutting through his entire body.

It was the instinct for survival.

But he could not escape.

His body moved beyond his will.

He didn’t want to lift his head, but as if someone were pulling a rope, he found himself looking up at the sky on his own.

Something colossal existed in the sky.

A shape entangled in contradictions, as if mocking the laws of nature.

He wanted to look away, but he was not allowed.

Holded captive, he gazed up at the sky.

Hideous information, beyond the capacity of a human brain, surged in, shattering his retina and crushing his brain.

Too many. Eyes. Gazes. Eyes. Gazes. Eyes. Gazes. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. Tens of thousands. Hundreds of millions of eyes.

Please stop. Don’t look at me. Stop.

The. Eyes? Pupils? that were staring at me.

Light!

“…!”

He gasped for breath.

A blindingly white light filled his vision.

If the light hadn’t forcibly blocked his vision, his brain would have been crushed.

Won Taebeom felt the blood flowing from both of his eyes.

He realized belatedly that he was coughing up blood and his body was convulsing.

Blood dripped through his teeth as he lifted his head.

The white light that instantly turned night into daylight was the light created by CEO Cha’s Daeil Yeorae.

A semicircular white sword energy was soaring toward the sky.

However, the one who had leaped high and swung his sword was falling backward.

As if making a final desperate struggle, CEO Cha called out to Han Goyo in a voice choked with blood even as he fell helplessly.

It was almost simultaneous: Je Hyun-oh swiftly snatched something, and CEO Cha plunged into the Neo Sea.

A massive column of Neo shot up.

A moment later, CEO Cha, soaked in Neo, emerged onto the floating debris.

He pulled back the lower part of his mask and coughed up blood.

The hand gripping the Daeil Yeorae was trembling and convulsing.

CEO Cha, spitting up blood repeatedly, muttered in disbelief.

“That’s the boss? Ha…”

Won Taebeom felt the same way.

He had entered countless trials, yet no boss had ever displayed such a presence.

Even he, having already seen the bottom of hell, had never seen anything like this before.

However, that was not the end of it.

Won Taebeom watched as black figures began to emerge one by one from the Neo Sea.

The figures, appearing like filth, were the dregs.

Along with the creatures that originally inhabited the underground maze, the prison guards who had fallen into Neo had rapidly turned into dregs.

The black figures gradually increased in number.

It was a sight where it was obvious they would soon fill the sea.

An unidentified entity was gathering above, while the dregs were gathering below.

Cold sweat trickled down his face from the oppressive feeling of being trapped on all sides.

“Ah! So this is your burial site! Finally!”

Along with tinnitus, a throbbing hallucination tormented him with a high-pitched laugh.

Won Taebeom barely managed to ignore the hallucination and turned to look at CEO Cha.

He was adjusting his mask.

Judging by the fact that his hand was still convulsing, it seemed he, too, had suffered a significant blow from the entity of the heavens.

This was the result of merely looking once.

He didn’t even want to imagine what would happen the second time.

As he realized the vivid reality of death looming over him, he felt a force compelling him once again.

His head was forcibly lifted. Just as he was trembling with pain, like his brain might be crushed…

A golden streak shot out, covering the sky.

It was a meteor shower, trailing long tails of light.

Yet, the light did not fall; instead, it soared upward toward the heavens.

The moment it struck the celestial being directly…

A scream that felt like it was scraping against his brain rained down from all directions.

As blood flowed from his ears, he simultaneously saw the form of the celestial being, a form he had not even properly perceived before.

Countless eyeballs were packed inside its massive eye.

A meteor shower had struck its eyeball.

Hit directly by the golden light, the creature closed a portion of its eye.

As the eyelids of dozens of eyes closed, the oppressive weight pressing down on his body eased considerably.

With a dazed look, Won Taebeom watched Je Hyun-oh descending from the void, gracefully flapping his wings.

Je Hyun-oh placed something sparkling on the floating debris of the sea.

Won Taebeom involuntarily parted his lips.

Ah…

It was utterly flawless.

Shimmering with pure golden light, it was beautiful.

It was so radiant that it made him forget the moment his brain was nearly crushed by the presence of the heavens, so he stared at it in awe.

However, this was not salvation.

It was like the presence of the heavens, yet completely different.

A being composed solely of warmth and softness, designed to make one want to accept it endlessly, without ever feeling any resistance.

It evoked a pitiful protective instinct, yet it was a being that would immediately erode one’s mind the moment it touched it.

The moment he recognized this strangeness, a chilling sensation enveloped his entire body.

He reflexively stepped back, but he stumbled and nearly slipped.

But if only he could avoid that, falling into the sea would be fine.

He would rather just go inside Neo…

“…!”

A stinging pain shot through his forearm.

He saw a metallic feather scratching at his skin and returning.

As the golden light that had enveloped his entire mind slowly dissipated, he was able to distinguish his opponent.

Won Taebeom slowly closed and opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream.

The objects around him slowly came into view.

Je Hyun-oh was standing atop a large building fragment across from him.

And something was positioned beside him.

The moment he saw the eyes radiating brilliant glow, Won Taebeom realized that this was the golden light that had captivated him just moments before.

At the same time, a terrifying question was etched into his mind.

What on earth is this?

One thing was certain. It was not human.

Won Taebeom, who had been staring blankly at what he presumed to be Han Goyo, shifted his gaze.

Je Hyun-oh was in quite good condition.

Although he had stumbled during the flight earlier, aside from that, he appeared no different from usual, as if he had been unaffected by either the entity in the sky or the being right beside him.

Je Hyun-oh was even making contact with it.

Like a crow that has discovered the brightest thing, he gripped the wrist of the creature standing beside him tightly.

Far from fearing the non-human being, ecstasy flowed in Je Hyun-oh’s eyes.

It was a joy as if he had been waiting for this very moment.

It’s strange that Je Hyun-oh is showing this much emotion, but…

How can he not be afraid?

His behavior, treating it without a shred of resistance, was truly astonishing.

He looked to the side, wondering if he was the only one feeling this primal fear.

Although his face was hidden by a mask, it was certain that CEO Cha was also deeply disturbed by it.

Won Taebeom opened his trembling lips.

"What is it?"

It was a cut-off question, but the subject was clear.

He asked, daring not to name him presumptuously, but the answer from Je Hyun-oh was anticlimacticly simple.

"It’s Trainee Han."

"……."

To think that is Han Goyo.

A strong sense of defiance arose at the words that defined his existence without hesitation.

At that moment, CEO Cha sprang to his feet and leaped over the floating debris in an instant.

He approached Han Goyo in a flash.

It looked as if he was about to grab him by the collar, but a metal hand blocked his approach.

CEO Cha glared at Je Hyun-oh and spoke in a sinister voice.

“Explain.”

The smile that had been hanging over Je Hyun-oh’s eyes deepened.

If he had been wearing goggles, he probably would have flashed an emoticon.

“Explain what?”

“Explain what is going on right now, Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh.”

Han Goyo, beyond the metal hand, stared up at CEO Cha.

Having been hit directly by that golden gaze, CEO Cha immediately calmed his menacing aura.

It was an even more of a dangerous presence precisely because it did not provoke hostility.

However, CEO Cha looked slightly more flustered than him.

He knew the reason.

Originally, Han Goyo used to show a very friendly reaction toward CEO Cha.

But the Han Goyo of today seemed like a completely different being, despite the same outward appearance.

His golden eyes held only indifference and a slight doubt regarding the figure blocking his path.

Je Hyun-oh, who had been watching the scene, replied with a look of annoyance.

“Is CEO Cha my superior?”

At the retort implying there was no reason to explain, CEO Cha gritted his teeth and spoke again.

“Then just tell me how to return him to his original state.“

At that moment, Won Taebeom read the thought that flashed through Je Hyun-oh’s eyes.

Was there really a need to do that?

Since he had revealed his thoughts completely without any intention of concealing them, CEO Cha couldn’t possibly be unaware.

The very moment he placed his hand on the Daeil Yeorae…

Han Goyo opened his lips.

He seemed to be saying something, but for some reason, not a single word could be heard.

However, Je Hyun-oh seemed to be able to hear the voice, and he simply replied.

“Just the two of us? It would be better if there were more.”

Throughout their conversation, Han Goyo’s gaze remained fixed solely on Je Hyun-oh.

Je Hyun-oh, who had been speaking like he was humoring a child, soon relayed Han Goyo’s words on his behalf.

He wants us to kill the one floating in the sky. CEO Cha, are you going to cooperate?”

Won Taebeom felt as though he were losing his mind at the sound of such nonchalant chatter.

However, Je Hyun-oh spoke as if discussing a routine operation.

“If that thing dies, he might return to normal.”

CEO Cha remained silent for a while. He opened his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on Han Goyo, not Je Hyun-oh.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je.”

Veins bulged on the back of his hand gripping the sword hilt. Then, a chilling voice fell.

“You’d better take responsibility for the words you’ve spoken.”

And CEO Cha immediately drew his sword, Daeil Yeorae.

Won Taebeom, watching the scene, couldn’t help but have doubts.

But how?

The sea teemed with dregs, and the entity in the sky was unseen.

Because the moment he met its gaze, his brain would be crushed.

The pressure transmitted as its eyeballs closed under the golden meteor shower had lessened, but it hadn’t disappeared.

Even now, when it wasn’t facing them, it felt as though his body was being crushed.

Since even breathing was a struggle, everyone except Je Hyun-oh—who was unaffected—had to be considered incapacitated for combat.

It was just when he concluded that death was the only answer.

A system window of a form he had never seen before appeared before Won Taebeom’s eyes.

The choices that appeared alongside the incomprehensible content were a spectacle.

There was no option to refuse.

Won Taebeom chose the final option as if entranced.

At that moment, a cheerful fanfare rang out, and the oppressive weight that had been pressing down on his entire body vanished.

It was as if he had escaped the influence of a celestial being and entered the influence of another.

The tinnitus and auditory hallucinations that had tormented him so relentlessly also vanished completely.

It was a silence he had been allowed to experience for the first time in a very long while.

hope everyone enjoyed this one!! last one til monday!

lately, i’ve been really trying to link this to novelupdates, but every time i submit a group, nothing happens, so i can’t link it…if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know…

i also deleted the ao3 work, so if you see someone on social media asking for the translation, feel free to link this one, as long as its in private, i dont wanna get my shit rocked