Chapter 501

〈Chapter 501〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 33

The tentacles that had been forming the squid’s head suddenly began to flail about like a swarm of wasps following their queen.

…And each one was the size of a horse. Their numbers easily reached into the tens of millions.

“If we release the barrier now, all of these will escape. This is your last chance, so don’t interfere. That’s an order.”

I raised my hand high. Among the thumb-sized tentacles buzzing around like bees, one particularly large one loomed toward me, its maw wide open.

[Seongju…?!]

“See? These are poisonous. But I’m still standing, aren’t I?”

This Tera-possessed parasite treats even the creatures it enslaves as worthless tools, yet here it is trying to kill me and destroy Earth.

“You’re not acting very Seongju-like, are you?”

‘Not very human either.’

Possessing the body of a god, does it seek mutual destruction? Having lost the ability to speak, this monster is driven only by instincts of destruction and slaughter as it flies toward me.

“…Who would have thought I’d end up doing something like this?”

It was just some random joke in my head, but who would’ve guessed it’d actually come true? Glancing down, I noticed my body beginning to crumble into embers from my feet upward.

“This is the end, so I’ll do things my way.”

I’ve reached my limit.

‘Go ahead.’

The end has come.

“…Hmph.”

I pressed my thumb and index finger together. For the crispest finger snap ever, for everyone watching me, I forced myself to smile widely.

“The Final Blazing Phoenix Revival.”

My voice trembles. My heart races. Something wells up from below, and my mouth feels unbearably dry.

“That is…”

■■■■■■■!!

All the Tera-controlled monsters flew at me en masse. The countless beasts inside the barrier began moving purely on instinct, following Seongju’s final command—even Seongju himself.

As long as the barrier isn’t released, they can’t escape.

So, before dying, kill everything alive inside the barrier.

Using magic power, I could feel Seongju’s malevolent intent.

Should I escape?

Even now, if I just step back slightly, I could leave the barrier. Though mentally prepared, actually going through with it isn’t easy.

Still, I must.

The sunset looks beautiful too. Clearing my throat, I adjusted my voice. It feels too embarrassing to cry out like this—it is supposed to be my ultimate super move after all.

“Hmph. Again. The Final Blazing Phoenix Revival, that is…”

My voice stabilizes. Though I’m no Hero, I smile brightly at everyone in the world watching me, signifying that Earth is now safe.

“Hmph. Again. The Final Blazing Phoenix Revival, that is…”

I became the sun.

I became Chang-yeom.

The entire world turned blue, dyed in azure flames.

* * *

Every part of my body burns fiercely.

I am engulfed in flames.

After all those years of research and preparation for this day, everything has been reduced to nothing in just a single day.

Crackle, crackle.

Blue flames consume me from below. Despite having once tasted victory against this opponent, they brought someone unbeatable to secure their triumph.

I refuse to accept it.

I must survive.

I must live long enough to earn recognition from Her.

I did all this for You.

Countless worlds destroyed, the world offered to You, over 2 trillion lives sacrificed as offerings for Your sake—You must know this!

Are You listening! Are You watching! Your servant suffers greatly!

But the gods gave no answer. They never heard my voice. The hollow echo turned into a scream, and my throat tore apart as flames surged through my vocal cords.

Your servant burns! I writhe in agony under wicked and strange flames! Please save me, spare me!

But the gods made no movement. Do they even know how much I suffer? Do they realize I prepared this vessel for You and sacrificed countless lives?

Foolish.

Even in death, the enemy mocked me. Even as his magical power drained and his body collapsed, he flipped me off before gravity pulled him into the sea.

ROAR!!!

My whole body burned away. My flesh turned to ash, leaving only my eyes intact.

All I see is the sunset. The world bathed in crimson hues of twilight is all that remains.

The sun hasn’t set yet. Though I destroyed the moon, why does the sunset linger? Why does even a sliver of the sun remain?

I cannot comprehend it.

Seongju quietly closed his eyes. The hemispherical barrier sank into the sea, and his vision was enveloped by blue flames.

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked hard.”

Finally…

The last thing he saw was a man in a yellow raincoat sitting atop a stone wall, munching on squid—

POOF.

* * *

The sunset fades.

As the beautiful red twilight disappears, I looked up at the sky.

“…When did someone create another moon?”

There it hung, a perfect replica of the moon that Seongju had sacrificed to summon an interdimensional deity.

“It’s Yuna’s work. It’s practically a Spirit of Durability. If she can make a moon, shouldn’t she?”

“Hmm, fair enough.”

Chang-yeom stood beside me, gazing up at the sky with a soft smile. Too weak to walk, we sprawled out on the sandy beach of White Phoenix Isle.

“I thought I’d just burn away and disappear.”

“Yeah, same here. Whoever this god is, they sure have good timing. Romantic, even.”

“You’re a god too.”

“A former god. Heh.”

Chang-yeom drew her knees up and turned her head toward me. Though her face was obscured by the setting sun behind her, I could clearly see her smiling at me.

“Do you know why the Spirit doesn’t return to its original divine form?”

“…Do I really have to say it?”

“Isn’t it because of you? You turned me into this form. Because of you, I lost my divine status, so it’s your responsibility.”

“…Fine, fine.”

If you put it that way, there’s no avoiding responsibility. Though embarrassed, if Chang-yeom wants me to say it, I must.

“Because I fell in love.”

“Correct. Once the emotion of love sprouted within us, perfect beings that we were, we lost our divinity forever. Heh.”

A god is impartial to all. They don’t favor anyone, merely observing earthly beings from a lofty height.

“At first, I was observing from my throne, but somehow it came to this.”

“Yeah, same here. At first, I was watching from behind the screen.”

From the moment those beings descended to meet eye-to-eye, the path back to their original forms was forever sealed. Chang-yeom must have known this all along.

Once you fall in love, you can never regain your original divine status.

And that person turned out to be me.

“Humanity wins! Hooray!”

“Yes, you must be pleased. Foodie.”

“No, wait a second. You can’t say that.”

“Turning a goddess into a woman and letting her vanish—might as well be food consumption, right? Heh.”

Chang-yeom teasingly poked my thigh and laughed mischievously. I had no response.

Pfft.

The sunset began to fade. As the sunlight dimmed, my body started dissipating into embers bit by bit. Shadows deepened, and my vision grew darker.

“Hey, can I ask one last question?”

“Nope.”

“How do you know what I’ll ask when you don’t even let me finish?”

Isn’t it obvious? Every time this moment approaches, Chang-yeom asks me the same question. And once again, despite knowing this, she asked me one more time.

“You’re not suggesting that I take your place so you can become Chang-yeom, are you?”

“That’s right. Though your physical form will permanently remain female, you’ll survive. Instead of existing as a half-baked Spirit, you’ll become a complete woman. I’ll become Chang-yeom. A goddess who fell in love and became a woman.”

“What do you think? With this face and figure, I think I’m pretty decent. And I’m untouched by anyone except one person.”

“Decent? You’re the best. And that one person is me, right?”

“Exactly. Heh. Technically already used goods, so no worries about losing virginity. …Though it hurt a little back then.”

“Figures.”

Chang-yeom shook a bead in her hands. I rummaged through my pockets but, alas, couldn’t find what I was looking for.

“I should’ve grabbed a Cube. Was it all real?”

“Of course. Cube FTW. Interdimensional Deity FTW. I devoured it all while you were asleep. Heh.”

“…Give me my memories back.”

“Nope.”

Chang-yeom popped the bead into her mouth and swallowed. The sole memory Chang-yeom hadn’t yet returned to me—if I wanted it, I’d have to become her.

“Woah, using my first experience as blackmail?”

“Want to know? Become me~”

“But then you’d die, right? No thanks.”

“Not exactly. It’s more like eternal rest.”

“Same difference.”

I will become Chang-yeom. The remaining 1% stake in her spiritual realm will entirely belong to me.

Eventually, Chang-yeom will lose her anchor and merge with me. I will inherit her memories, knowledge, and everything, thus becoming her.

That is the Blazing Phoenix Revival.

I will truly transform into the real Chang-yeom.

“Don’t you think we’re quite similar?”

“Falling in love makes people alike.”

People willing to sacrifice their lives for each other. Perhaps that’s why we opened our hearts to one another. Loving each other so deeply that we were willing to die so the other could live, stealing memories, killing, and fighting until the other gave up.

“Just stubborn. If neither of us backs down, we’d fight forever.”

“Marital spats are like cutting water with a sword. Thanks for giving in. You’re the better person.”

The winner of this long battle is me. While I dissolve—Phoenix style—Chang-yeom sticks out her lower lip and grabs my hand.

“Thanks for dying. Hmph. Do you really think I’ll maintain my dignity after you’re gone? This is my world now.”

“I never thought you would. With all the women around, would a sparrow pass by a grain store?”

“…Watch your mouth.”

Chang-yeom shifted closer, pressing her hips against me. I reached around her back and pulled her close.

“Heh, getting excited?”

“Shut up. I’m saying I’ll become promiscuous. You, Mr. ‘Haven’t Tried Heroine 17P,’ watch me do what you couldn’t.”

“Ouch. Good luck succeeding.”

I fondled Chang-yeom’s chest while leaning my head to the side. Since it’s the end, maybe I can indulge in a little childishness.

“Alright.”

I rested my head on Chang-yeom’s thigh. What a perfect angle to see both her chest and face.

“Hey, shouldn’t our last time be a farewell sex scene?”

“Or a kiss?”

“Sex while kissing. Watching the sunset on the white sand, making a baby. How does that sound?”

“…Trying to drain me so I die faster, huh?”

I poked Chang-yeom’s cleavage. The first few times, my fingers sank in, but now they’re turning to embers and scattering.

“…Getting tired.”

My vision starts to blur. Unlike being sucked into the spiritual realm by Chang-yeom, the sensation of my body disappearing begins creeping up from below.

“Let me nap for a bit. When I wake up…we’ll meet again.”

“Where?”

Chang-yeom smiled. Even in our final moments, she tries to send me off with a smile, though tears well up in her eyes.

“Don’t cry. You’re Fire Attribute. Water shouldn’t come out of your body.”

“Then shouldn’t vaginal fluid count as water too?”

“…You counter that, and I’m speechless. Sigh. Seriously.”

Who turned that noble sun into such a lewd woman?

Me.

“I lived a good life.”

“Idiot.”

“What’s idiotic? We said we’d meet again…”

Speaking itself is now exhausting. If there’s such a thing as a flash of brilliance, then this is the one message I must convey.

“We may part now, but we’ll meet again. Whether in the past or future…or maybe in a different place altogether.”

I stretched out my hand and pulled Chang-yeom’s toward me. Though my body had already turned to embers and lacked the strength to pull, Chang-yeom placed her hand on my face, following my fading traces.

I kissed her ring finger.

“We will definitely meet again. See you later…doesn’t the sun rise every day?”

“…”

The sunset vanished completely. The twilight disappeared, and the night sky darkened, dotted with twinkling stars.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“When we meet next time…I’ll greet you first.”

Chang-yeom placed her hand on my forehead. Though the night breeze was cold, her touch was warm.

“Whether in the past or future, or in a different place…this time, I’ll greet you first.”

Chang-yeom’s hand covered my eyes. The gentle blue light enveloped me. Why cover my eyes at the end? I felt something drip onto the back of her hand.

“…Is it raining?”

“…”

I closed my eyes peacefully.