Chapter 483

〈 Chapter 483 〉 Part 1, Episode 20, Section 15

“It’s finally come to pass as the prophecy said. The world will be covered by Chang-yeom and Earth will be destroyed.”

“That’s life’s charm. But hey, it’s not reality yet, right? So we’re good.”

The world is burning. Myself and Chang-yeom face each other, having prepared our hearts.

Synchronization.

A process where I and Chang-yeom become purely one. Unlike before, this time there’s a difference: while previously it was only in the spiritual realm, now it might be that Chang-yeom and I will truly exist together.

‘Of course, that’s assuming I can withstand the power of synchronization.’

Can I handle the divine nature that Chang-yeom possesses? Will I be able to maintain my sense of self after merging with Chang-yeom? Nobody knows what will happen.

‘This feels like a first.’

Whether moving as a Hero or a Villain…

I’ve never successfully synchronized with Chang-yeom. Had I been able to synchronize, perhaps Chang-yeom and I would have already been on our honeymoon.

“Then, to synchronize…”

“Fusion? No way. No incantations either. Let’s just softly go through the ceremony.”

“Ceremony?”

Chang-yeom grinned widely and raised her heels again. I bent down to meet her eye level. If this is the kind of ceremony, then it’s always welcome.

“…Let’s definitely meet again outside.”

“Let’s hope we’ll meet again in reality.”

Chang-yeom closed her eyes, and I kissed her lips once more.

A simple kiss, tongue-free, just lips pressed together lightly, but even this was enough for us to merge.

…And thus, I became one with Chang-yeom.

* * *

The world shattered.

The entire world burned blue, and the Earth exploded under the immense heat. Not a single living thing survived; all water evaporated and disappeared, the land melted into lava and scattered across the universe.

“Pity.”

In the middle of space, Seongju stood with his arms crossed, genuinely looking disappointed as he clicked his tongue. I—back in Cheongnyeon’s body—stood before him, aiming my TAT again.

“What’s so pitiful?”

“I wanted to see a bit more at the end.”

“To think you were watching our romantic moment. Never imagined you had voyeuristic tendencies.”

“Great educational material, so I couldn’t help but take notes. It’s an area I’m completely unfamiliar with, so thanks to you, I learned a lot… Phoenix.”

Seongju addressed me as Phoenix. Having seen the future relationship between Chang-yeom and me firsthand, he must know everything about our connection—not just the physical, but everything. Like Hwanryong.

“Is there anything you want to say to me, Lord Seongju?”

“Do I need words? If those extraterrestrial beings are indeed Them, they’ve already surpassed what I can influence.”

Seongju shrugged and gave a bitter laugh. Whether it’s Seongju or synchronization, we’re still puppets on a stage higher than us, unable to reach the same level as celestial beings like interdimensional gods.

“But Phoenix, if you cooperate, there’s something I can do. If you and Chang-yeom within you accept my proposal, this world won’t repeat itself.”

“…Like how you degraded Tera’s gods into spirits, are you planning to lower the status of the interdimensional gods too? To put them inside Yuna?”

“A perfect plan indeed. I’ll have Them right beside me, and I’ll show Them my love directly.”

“In that case, I refuse.”

Before Seongju could blabber on further, I infused my TAT with magic power. Though I exhausted all my magic in the fabricated future, that was merely a simulated consciousness world. In reality, I’m back in top condition, ready to fight Seongju.

“There’s something you’re misunderstanding.”

I tapped my temple with one hand.

“While it’s true I prioritize Chang-yeom, and though I wish for Chang-yeom’s happiness above all others, if Chang-yeom desires such a future, I’d follow willingly…”

Click. I pulled the trigger.

“But I don’t want to see Chang-yeom regret abandoning Yuna forever.”

Thunder roared. The magic bullet fired from the gun flew straight toward Seongju’s heart. Coated with my magic power, the bullet carried a spark of Chang-yeom’s flame. My target is the robe Seongju wears.

Only Chang-yeom’s “divine fire” magic power can burn the yellow robe of the interdimensional god. Even a slight touch will set it ablaze. Without warning, I launched my surprise attack, hoping it would succeed, and swallowed nervously.

Please hit. Did my earnest wish reach the heavens? Seongju didn’t flinch, his eyes wide open.

Screeeech!!

Just before the magic bullet reached Seongju’s robe,

“Huff!”

Seongju swung his hand with a shout. The magic bullet vanished instantly, and Seongju tightly clenched his fist as if catching a fly.

“Regrettable. All negotiations are off.”

“…Damn.”

Curses slipped out involuntarily. My desperate shot failed to harm Seongju. While Chang-yeom can disrupt magic flow and burn it, she couldn’t pierce his insane physical endurance.

“Your palm hurts, does it? Is that synchronization?”

“…Temporary synchronization comes with many restrictions.”

Thanks to merging with Chang-yeom, I can’t change my tone or body. However, I can certainly block the ‘mind control beam’ Seongju continuously emits.

“While Chang-yeom protects me, you can’t touch me.”

“That’s strange. Even if you’re an alien, shouldn’t I be able to brainwash your core directly?”

“That’s easy.”

I created a sphere of fire in midair. At its center lies my inner core, surrounded by a purple haze, and floating around it is vast magic power. This was my state before reaching mythic levels.

“With Chang-yeom, we’ve thoroughly erased every trace of Phoenix’s high-ranking status inside and out.”

Flare!

The purple haze surrounding my core dissipated in the flames. Simultaneously, radiant cyan-white flames began spreading their light from within. Now lighter and closer to white, almost sky-blue.

“Chang-yeom and I have mixed our powers. There’s no turning back now.”

Color slowly returned to the gray-stopped world. This means the world’s time, halted by Seongju, has started moving again, and my comrades will rejoin the final battle against Seongju.

“…Phoenix Lady?”

Yuna woke up first. Seeing Seongju and me still locked in combat, she jumped in surprise.

“T-this is…”

“Such a pity. We could’ve built a happy future for everyone.”

Seongju glanced at the spirits regaining consciousness one by one and began ascending into the sky. My magic bullet, Yuna’s concrete beam, and the ice spear thrown by Seok Harang who recovered first were all blocked by Seongju’s defense shield.

“How?!”

“…Cubes.”

At the moment he caught my magic bullet, Seongju had been wearing what looked like a bead bracelet filled with cubes. There were easily over ten, and I was astounded by his use of every last resource.

“You, did you collect so many already?! What ARE these?!”

“They aren’t real Cubes. Those are scattered across Earth, and we haven’t found them all yet. These are… his allies.”

“All of you who participated in my grand design are appreciated. Each one may only be SS Rank cores in your terms…”

When Seongju raised his arm, a yellow storm erupted from his robe.

“If their numbers exceed 100, or even 1000, covering Earth with monsters, what then? Even if you’re strong…”

Seongju smirked cruelly.

“If Earth is destroyed, will things remain the same?”

Rustle.

Seongju’s body disappeared. His very existence vanished, leaving us staring helplessly at the sky.

“…Phoenix, is this the end of Seongju’s attack?”

“No. This is just the beginning. The opening salvo.”

We looked up at the drill-shaped ship descending and gathered our magic power.

“…If this hits, it’ll pierce straight through to my core. We absolutely must stop it.”

Seongju’s planetary destruction weapon, the Pluto Drill, pierced through the ozone layer and began falling toward us.

Toward here.

* * *

“Their clothes cannot be defiled.”

Seongju quickly ascended to the moon and gazed down at Earth. Chaos spread worldwide, and Seongju enjoyed the screams of people as music while extending his hand.

“Let’s begin the main battle now.”

Seongju lifted a staff from his room. A skull-topped staff emitting purple mist looked ominous.

“Open, Tera.”

Seongju opened dimensional gates across the entire planet.

* * *

Seongju challenged Earth.

His first move was to plunge a ship directly into Earth.

It came in the form of a drill, which would descend directly to the core upon touching the surface.

“Don’t rush everyone. Everything has an ‘order.'”

I grabbed Kim Penril, who was about to soar into the sky. He had intended to ride the wind after synchronizing with Aruel, but his tail got caught.

“Meow?!”

“Julpung rushed ahead with overconfidence, and you’re doing the same.”

Apparently, old habits die hard. After pulling Kim Penril back down, I adjusted my magical gear and called Hikari.

“Hikari, analyzing the shield pattern, right?”

[Sure thing. As expected, it’s stacked seven layers deep. Resetting to original if the sequence goes wrong—a nasty setup.]

“Understood?”

Everyone else’s expressions stiffened at my words. Information about Seongju’s ship had already been announced, including details about the shields guarding it, which everyone had memorized. That’s why Kim Penril took the lead.

“Phoenix, didn’t you say wind element first?”

“Yeah, but will Seongju just sit there? He’ll adjust randomness and change the shield pattern. Plus, we need to destroy the actual ship at the end. While Hikari finishes analysis, let me explain…”

[Analysis complete.]

“Already?”

[I finished long ago. I’ll give a quick summary instead of waiting for you.]

My chance to explain was stolen. Although Hikari uncovered a lot, I was slightly disappointed since I wanted to elaborate during this critical moment of humanity’s extinction.

[From the outermost layer, it’s Water-Ring-Light-Earth-Dark-Wind-Fire pattern.]

“…He aimed perfectly.”

Calling it a perfect aim isn’t an exaggeration. Seongju must have observed Earth while flying from Pluto’s orbit. Hence, the order turned out like this.

“Hey. Is this him calling me the weakest again?”

Genuinely annoyed, Seok Harang, whose turn came first, complained. Just like during the Nuclearian incident when he was labeled the weakest, he seemed frustrated that he had to break the shield first.

“Not really. It’s the opposite. He fears you most.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The shields were cast in the order of full awakening of the spirits. Seongju is incredibly calm, so he designed the shields to prevent them from being broken. He figured the longer a spirit has been awakened, the better they can use their power—”

[In short, blocking the strongest person’s attack makes the rest easier.]

Caught again. Hikari’s concise explanation certainly summed it up, but I felt some elaboration was necessary.

“So, Seongju thought you’d be the strongest and made the shield accordingly.”

“…Then shouldn’t the durability be placed outermost?”

“Basic elemental strategy is standard, but Seongju isn’t stupid. To avoid being pierced by weak points, he improved the shield. Since he used part of the energy extracted from creating the lieutenants’ personalities, pure strength is needed now.”

[Meaning we need to fight within the same elements.]

…Maybe I should just give up. Observing everyone nodding after Hikari’s conclusion while scratching their heads during my explanations, assigning Hikari to explain seems like a decent idea.

Grind, grind!!

By now, the Pluto Drill had begun spinning and falling. Visible even to ordinary human eyes, the drill was getting closer, its momentum terrifying.

“Let’s start soon—”

[Wait! Strange reaction from the ship!!]

As Hikari spoke, we all sensed fluctuations in the magical flow. Did he read our moves? Seongju immediately altered the ship’s form on the spot.

Click, click.

With joints separating, the ship split into eight parts. Caught off guard by the sudden change, I was utterly flustered.

“…My goodness.”

Seongju… broke the ship apart.