Beyond the Eternity

He was a disaster who had obtained a body made of Antimatter, becoming more of a concept than a living being. He He was free from human limitations like hunger, sleep, or fatigue. As long as he had access to antimatter, he could endlessly repair his body and essentially live forever.

It was comfortable to say he had obtained a power beyond humanity.

However, why was such a being showing such fear?

Was it the shock of seeing someone who should have been dead standing before him, or the fact that his supposedly invincible Antimatter Body had been damaged?

I twisted the Evil Breaking Sword inside his chest. At the same time, I activated one of my unique skills.

[Exclusive skill, Dimensional Transmission has activated.]

The skill was activated, but my body wasn't invaded by another soul. Instead, only a skill was transferred.

[The Transferred Skill, Judgement Flame has activated.]

[The exclusive Skill, Judgement Flame will be adjusted to align within the boundaries of the Fourth Fable.]

[The exclusive skill Judgement Flame will last for a duration of two minutes.]

"ARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!"

Keikoku Amane screamed as his body erupted in white flames. One of the worst pains to experience was burning to death and now he was experiencing that pain first-hand.

"IMPOSSIBLE!! THIS IS ABSURD! HOW AM I FEELING PAIN IN THIS BODY!! AAAAAACK!! DAMNIT! IT HURTS SO BAD!

MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!"

Keikoku pathetically rolled his body across the gravel, but his Antimatter body continued to burn.

Judgement Flame was the archangel flames of judgement. It judged the sins of the target and burned them according to the weight of their sins. The more grievous the crime, the fiercer and more relentless the flames became.

They were flames that purified demons and punished sinners. Keikoku Amane who had obtained the body of a demon was the ideal target of those flames.

Even if he was a disaster, even if he had obtained a body beyond humanity or gained the power to destory the world, he would still be consumed by the flames of retribution. According to the data I received from Keikoku's memories, he had destoryed approximately 9,999 worlds. That means he had killed millions of people and even more, and each life taken was attached to his 'soul records'.

All things considered, there was no way he would be able to escape.

"ARRRRGHHHH!!! SOMEE!!!"

The flames of judgement continued to peel away layers of Keikoku's Antimatter body one by one and his screams echoed through the air. He didn't have a physical body anymore but he felt the pain of being burned alive.

I stepped back and watched everything without saying a word. It was like I was watching a scene from a movie. The other party members were also watching the scene but I didn't look at them.

Even the messages of the constellations was not heard. To them, this must have been another story.

His body was a torch that illuminated the surrounding space. In the next moment, a stream of system notifications appeared infront of me.

[The seals placed on the disaster, Keikoku Amane will return.]

[The 100th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 99th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 98th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[...]

[The 78th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 77th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 76th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[...]

[The 55th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 54th seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 53rd seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

The seals placed on Keikoku Amane was returning one by one. The flames of judgement not only weakened Keikoku Amane, but also returned his body to its original state.

The fact that the seals placed on his existence were returning could only mean one thing.

"No! No! No! Fuuucccckkkkk!!!"

Keikoku Amane immediately realised the severity of the situation and attempted to run away. Due to the intensity of the flames, he could only crawl across the gravel like some kind of worm.

Despite killing so many people and destroying countless worlds for his own selfishness, he still wanted to live.

Of course, the laws of the universe was not that kind.

[The 33rd seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 32rd seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

[The 31st seal of the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

In the universe, there was something called Karma and it had appeared in the form of Kim Jakga.

"Kuheeok!"

Keikoku screamed as both of his legs was severed by the Evil Breaking Sword. I wasn't taking any chances.

"You... You jerk! Why are you bullying me like this?!!"

Bullying, huh? That was ironic coming from him.

Disasters. The most terrifying existences in Song of Nightmares apart from the constellations and witches. Among them, Keikoku Amane was the worst disaster.

"This... this can't be happening...!"

With his both of his legs severed, escape became impossible and Keikoku's last hope was crushed.

For a moment, I felt pity. I remembered the words of Keikoku Amane in the novel.

「 Really? I can really become a hero? 」

He was just sixteen when he was chosen as a hero. No one could blame him for accepting that offer. He was too young to become a hero.

He was so innocent that he wouldn't have imagined such a reality. In fact, if he saw his future self, he would be utterly disgusted.

However, he didn't become a disaster simply due to his failures; he became the Disaster of Storms because of the death of a single person.

He wanted to save the person he loved the most and was tricked by a witch into becoming a disaster. It was the only reason why he would want to become a Transcendent God so he could revive said person, but he failed even that too.

He was the protagonist who failed to become the protagonist.

All in all...

[Your understanding of the character 'Keikoku Amane' has increased significantly.]

... It was just a boring story with no uniqueness.

The true protagonist of this world stepped forward to deliver the final blow. Before she could completely draw her sword, I stopped her with my hand.

"Don't."

"Huh? You want to spare that person? I don't know what you're trying to do but that person must die here."

"I have no plans on sparing him. In fact, that person will die even if you don't do anything."

"So? What's the difference if I kill him now?"

"Nothing, really. You can even kill him if you want. But there are a few things I need to say to him before he dies. I feel obligated to do this, so will you grant me this wish?"

"..."

Soo Jinyoung stared at me as if she was trying to figure out what I was thinking. Regardless, she unsheathed her sword and stepped back.

It seems she had decided to put her faith in me. I nodded and approached Keikoku Amane.

He showed no signs of movement or even resistance.

He had completely accepted his fate and his lower region has already disappeared in colourless mist.

It was pitiful. He was in such a state that he would die if he tried to move. Indeed, It was truly pitiful. For a tragic character like him to have such a shallow death left a bad taste in my mouth.

I needed to give him a better conclusion. There was no need for me to do anything. In fact, It would be completely reasonable to kill him and be done with it.

Even so, I felt It was my duty as a writer to give him a proper conclusion rather than a hollow death written by the <Storyteller>

I crouched down and murmured something to get his attention. "Do you see it now? The cost of your ambition."

In response, Keikoku Amane looked at me with dull eyes.

"I never wanted this... I just wanted to save a single person..."

"And this is the result. Now you'll face the consequences of your sins."

"T-That..."

He trembled beneath my words. His Antimatter body crackled with flames in each passing second. Even at the face of death, there was still defiance in that body instead of despair.

"No. This can't be the end. I'll make it right! I'll become strong again! I'll—"

"Shut up!" I cut him off. "The person you want to save is already dead. Nothing you can do will bring her back or the people you killed. You need to accept your past before you can move forward. Only then can you seek redemption."

For a moment, he seemed lost. His demon-like eyes flickered with doubt. "Redemption? For someone like me?"

"Yes. Death is too good for a bastard like you. In fact, some people will be dissatisfied with this ending.You need to suffer more, despair more, pay for all the sins you have committed by living. You'll never be forgiven even if you apologize a thousand times. The world will not be moved by your death and you'll slowly be forgotten like the rest of those Nameless stories.

I'm sure someone like you wouldn't want to be forgotten."

"You... You mean, I can still live? How? No, why... are you doing this?"

"Just listen to what I have to say and you have no right to refuse, Okay."

I conveyed everything to Keikoku by transferring my thoughts directly into his mind. If souls and skills could travel through space and time, then surely the same principle could apply to thoughts and mana as well.

Keikoku's dying eyes widened as if he couldn't believe it.

"Are you serious? Is such a thing possible?"

"Yes. Although it might take a while so you have to patient."

"Ah, I see. Is that so?"

Keikoku laughed after hearing my words. It was a laughter filled with genuine happiness despite being at the death's door. Most of his body has already disappeared yet he still continued to laugh as if thanking me from the bottom of his heart.

"In that case, I'll accept. I don't know your story personally but If you can really do what you just said, then I don't mind spending a thousand years in Hell. But please make sure to do it properly, okay? I have a huge amount of resentment for that person so must sure to make them suffer even if it's just a bit. Only then will I rest in peace."

Leaving behind those words, the rest of his body turned into ash and scattered around. His entire body along with his stories and suffering had dissipated into pure white mist as if it didn't exist.

The white mist left a trail as it disappeared into the sky. It was as if it was announcing the end of a long story.

[All seals placed on the player Keikoku Amane has returned.]

I looked at the faint trail in the sky. In the next moment, another system message filled that empty space.

[You have successfully killed the Disaster of Storms.]

[The Nightmare Scenario has ended.]

[The Fourth Fable has reached its conclusion.]

[Contributors: Kim Jakga, Soo Jinyoung, Angelica and Park Joonhyuk.]

[MVP: Kim Jakga.]

[You have received 250,000 coins as a clearance reward.]

[You have received the right to a special reward.]

[Due to the Administrator's absence, there will be a delay with the special reward.]

The clearance reward after Keikoku's death came as expected. But that was not the end.

[You have killed a newly awakened being.]

[You have achieved an non-existence achievement.]

[Your story is being recorded in the <Most Ancient Fable>]

[The <System> is calculating a suitable reward for such an accomplishment.]

[1,000,000 coins will be given as additional compensation.]

[You have received your First Divine Fragment.]

[Your soul is evolving...]

[The fragment 'The Flame That Cleansed the Storm' has been born.]

[You have become a new possibility in the story.]

[The title 'Calamity King Slayer' has been obtained.]

I hadn't anticipated this outcome, but with it, I've taken the first step toward reaching the end of all stories.