Beyond the Eternity

At least the executioners were dead, so there be any more trouble from them.

Now, there was only one thing left.

"W-what?"

A shocked voice emerged Infront of me.

Short hair, tanned skin and a slender figure. For some reason, her face was blurry like a glitch in a video game.

It was the same familiar phenomenon I experienced in my younger days when I used to view the people around me as mere background characters.

Why was this happening now? There was no definite answer.

The woman looked over her body with an expression filled with shock and disbelief. The revolver was fired, but there was no visible bullet wound. That was because the bullet landed on the ground besides her feet instead.

For the moment, I decided to spare her because she was still useful.

"Why was I spared? You killed the other man."

"Huh? You almost sounds as if you wanted to die."

"T-That not..." She stammered.

"Please don't think too much about it. I simply spared you because you're useful and the other guy was not. You can use detection. Yes?"

Her eyes opened wide. "H-how did you know?"

"I have my ways."

Truthfully, I had identified her along that man as black apostles because I checked their status window beforehand.

But why would I reveal such a secret?

"In any case, I need you to locate someone using your detection skill. As long as you prove your usefulness, I will not harm you. However, if you try anything clever, I won't hesitate to put a bullet into your skull. Understood?"

I said those words without emotion.

The woman nodded her head in understanding and replied. "Yes, I understand."

However, those words were not enough to raise assurance.

"Name?"

"Hmm..."

"I'm asked for your name."

"Ah, yes. I am Mary."

"Good. You'll help me find the master of this place, and I'll protect you. Do you agree with this conditions?"

"Yes."

In that instant:

[A binding pact has taken effect.]

Wheik!

Along with that system message, I felt a strange sensation wrapping around my heart.

Binding Pact.

It was a contract made between two parties, bound by harsh conditions. Should either of us break its terms, our hearts would be crushed instantly.

It was good to prepare for every possibility, and I felt secure enough with the Joker card on hand.

Mary rubbed her chest and frowned upon the eerie sensation. It seems she was expecting this much.

"Ughhh."

A faint groan broke the silence. Turning my head, I saw Angelica slowly opening her eyes.

I approached her. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Argghh! Don't touch me!"

Angelica slapped my hand away, with her face twisted with panic and fear. Terror was reflected within the depths of those blight eyes.

Have I ever seen Angelica like this?

It was understandable. Anyone would be traumatized after they were tortured, and Angell had both her arms and legs nailed to a stake. I couldn't even begin to fathom what she had endured, and that alone only deepened my guilt.

Perhaps I should have been more prepared or maybe I should have used Zero One as I initially planned.

Either way, the truth was that she suffered because of me.

I opened my mouth and said with a soft voice, "Angell, It's me."

"Jakga?"

"Yeah. That's right."

Her expression softened, with some of her hostility fading away. "Jakga, I'm sorry. I just..."

"It's alright. I should have found you sooner—this is on me."

Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. She had always been strong, from the moment the Stories invaded our world to her battles against the disaster. But even the strongest have limits if they were tortured long enough, and I had failed to reach her before those limits were shattered.

What am I even supposed to say in such a situation? Maybe I could apologize further but that won't undo the damage.

Angelica's eyes lip up and she opened her mouth.

"Ah, that's right. I have to go somewhere."

"Somewhere?"

"We've to save other players trapped in the prison clambers. C'mon."

Mary and I followed Angelica to the prison chambers, carefully freeing the trapped players one by one.

To be honest, I forgotten that these people were still here.

As we opened the cells,

"Thank Goodness."

"We're saved."

The trapped players surged from the cages like a wave, driven by the taste of freedom. But Angelica kept releasing them, as though she was looking for someone specific.

Was one of the party members here?

If that was the case, we might be able to defeat the master. Unfortunately, we didn't meet the party members.

"Angelica-nim!"

Two teenagers rushed out of the cell and hugged Angelica. I've seen those two before. They were the brown-haired twins that thanked me before we were transported to the past.

[A few constellations that likes liberation are smiling at the scene.]

[You have received 500 coins from donations.]

I looked at Angelica and asked. "So these are the two that you wanted to save?"

She nodded and replied with a "Yes."

I looked back at the twins with a complicated expression. Angelica's choice to sacrifice herself to save them could be seen as noble, even heroic. But anyone familiar with Song of Nightmares would know it was a reckless decision. In fact, I'm sure someone like Park Joonhyuk who choose to kill the twins altogether.

[Personal skill, Omniscient Wall has activated.]

The Omniscient Wall activated and penetrated the status of the target.

+

[Character Information]

Name: Yoo Rin/ Yoo Jinsung (Twins)

Age: 16

Star Constellation: None (A few constellations are interested in taking the twins as their incarnations)

Main Attribute: Striker (Rare)/ Assassin (Rare)

Unique Skills: Twin Soul Resonance Lv. 5 (Sealed)

Skills: Collective Synergy Lv. 7 (Sealed), Fast movement Lv. 7 (Sealed), Will to Live Lv. 7 (Sealed), Self-discipline Lv. 7 (Sealed)

Divine Authorities: None

Overall stats: Physique Lv. 30 (Currently Lv .1), Strength Lv. 30 (Currently Lv. 1), Agility Lv. 30 (Currently Lv. 1) Magic Power Lv. 20 (Currently Lv. 1)

Description: Two siblings with the potential to survive the Apocalypse to the end. However, some psychopathic tendencies are beginning to come to the surface. But you can manage your psychopathic tendencies if you become a parental figure for the twins.

*All stats has been restricted due to the current Fable

*All skills has been sealed due to the current Fable.

+

Twins.

According to Song of Nightmares, twins were the equal division of a single soul. For instance, Yoo Rin and Yoo Jinsung were seen as the same person despite being completely different identities, which means they practically share the same status window.

The Administrators questioned this strange error in the System and tried to correct it multiple times. But that error never changed despite their status.

This made any twins in the Apocalypse a dangerous threat—especially when the twins in question were bloodthirsty serial killers who reveled in the taste of violence.

That was the story of Yoo Rin and Yoo Jin-Sung. But It seems they were still tame at the moment.

If I remembered correctly, It was the death of their parents that made them turn to the dark path. Although the fate of their father was unknown (mostly likely dead), their mother was still alive. But I couldn't be sure for certain that she would survive the Fable that she was transferred to.

If she died, the twins would likely spiral, just as they had in the novel. But what if I became someone they could look up to instead?

They also seem to have taken a liking to Angelica so It was possible for her to become a mother figure.

Wait, hold on a minute... Why did I suddenly want to obtain the parential role?

Mary, who was watching the scene in silence, cleared her throat hesitantly. "I assume, we're working together then?"

"Yes. Locate the master with your detection skill, and we'll handle the rest."

"Alright."

She nodded her head and begun leading us to the cult leader's location.

* * *

We moved through the dark passage with Mary leading the way. She was leading us to the eighth clamber using her detection skill, which could be used to locate anyone as long as their presence could be traced.

In short, she was the perfect guide.

As we continued under her lead, I explained the situation to Angelica using private communication.

Since I hadn't spoken it aloud, Angelica understood it was important. She focused intently on my words while walking with the twins behind her.

–Unlike the other black apostles, the cult leader is...different. He doesn't have the System's blessing like players do, but he's able to wield black magic.

–Black Magic?

–He went through the Witch's baptism ritual, so he can tap into curses tied to that witch. But this particular witch is...troublesome.

I frowned and continued explaining.

—The witch in question is known as the Witch of the Night, though the black apostles refer to her as the Witch of the Void. This means she wields magic connected to the void (0) itself, and the cult leader can also wield the same magic. You know what that means, right?

–What? How are we supposed to defeat someone like that without any skills? Isn't that beyond unreasonable?

–You're right. But don't worry. That person can't abuse that magic without consequence. The mana of the void (

0

) cannot be contained by humans. The ritual just connected to the grimorie containing the Witch's magic, and he won't be able to use it continuously without drifting into madness.

–So if we seperate the grimorie from him, we'll be able to win?

–Yes. The cult leader himself is not that strong. That person is just like any other human, so he will be defeated if we gang on him. However, that magic of his will be problematic. I'll try to block one of his attacks at least once, but I might be out of commission for a while.

–That's why you have the important role. Make sure to take out the cult leader before he is able to use his magic again.

–Alright. I understand.

"We're here."

Mary spoke out as we finally at a firmly shut black iron door.

From the aura excluding out of that iron door, It was obvious that we had arrived at the right place.

The current party members looked tensed and someone gulped. It was understandable for tense to be tense.

The cult leader was an opponent who obtained a power beyond humanity without losing his sense of self. The scenario was similar to fighting an overpowered mid-boss designed to always defeat the players by the development team.

How could we defeat such an opponent?

We could only hope that the Goddess of Misfortune doesn't turn her gaze our way.

Mary spoke again, "I'll found the cult leader just as you asked. I don't have to fight the cult leader, right?"

"No. You've done enough."

It was good she was mindful for her own survival. It was possible the cult leader would be able to control her since she was a black apostle.

Either way, It was time to put an end to this whole ordeal.

I looked at the twins and said. "Only Angelica and I would fight the boss. You two sit this one out." .net

"What?! Why can't we fight?" The twins protested in unison.

"Listen, I know you both want to help, but right now, you don't have the strength to make a difference. The enemy behind that door wouldn't hesitate to use you as leverage to bring us all down. This is the kind of opponent who will exploit any weakness. Do you understand?"

"This Ahjussi... are you looking down on us? Aren't you in the same situation?"

"Yes. But..."

"No 'buts'. We're tired with just watching. Let us act at well. We won't be a burden, I promise."

Those were genuine words that came out from Yoo Rin, and Yoo Jinsung's eyes seemed the same as well.

I looked at Angelica, hoping for an answer, but her eyes told me that I should let them come.

I sighed.

"It can't be helped then. But if things becomes dangerous, make sure to hide. Do you understand?"

"Yes. We understand."

Both of them nodded. Turning around, I approached the black iron door.

The handle of that door seemed to be taunting me as if saying 'enter if you're brave enough'.

I took a deep breath and gentle turned the door handle.

Kukuku!

The iron door made a sound as it creaked open. At the same time,

[You have entered the cult leader's hideout.]

[Four challengers has been detected.]

The game of death begun at the fullest.