novelraw Chapter 155: Further Progress (5)
Chapter 155: Further Progress (5)
Translator: Dreamscribe
The anomaly in Seoul was broadcast in real time to the entire world, and to Arsilan. The vivid footage captured through the Soul Glass spread rapidly and was still being aired.
It was pure shock.
Some experts had predicted that FS Games’ technology could only evolve AR games to a certain extent. However, what was unfolding before everyone’s eyes was more unbelievable than virtual reality.
The Reverse World.
The Reverse World seen through the Soul Glass felt so real it could easily be mistaken for reality. The scenes of buildings and objects being destroyed and collapsing were unbelievable even as people witnessed them with their own eyes.
How could all of this have been realized? Perhaps calling it magic would have been more appropriate.
Astonishment.
Those who viewed the Reverse World through the Soul Glass trembled with terror that went beyond mere admiration.
When Erosion touched their bodies, smoke rose as if it were real, and their souls took damage. It felt as though they were being corrupted by Erosion, and their vision turned ashen gray.
Taking off the Soul Glass would release them from the Reverse World, but instead, people wore their Soul Glass and rushed out into the streets.
The viscous Erosion continued to fall and began to cover the entire roads and buildings.
The building where Kim Hyun-man’s company was located was, without exaggeration, the center of the world’s attention. The number of viewers kept increasing, and the chat window exploded with activity.
It was because Ella had appeared.
Kim Hyun-man was overwhelmed. Seeing Ella’s holy light in reality brought him to tears.
“Please step back.”
“Huh? Y-yes!”
At Ella’s words, filled with kindness, Kim Hyun-man stepped back along with his employees.
Whether the Erosion felt threatened by Ella’s light, the thick, viscous liquid falling from the sky began to focus on the building where Ella was.
Pittar, patter!
The sticky liquid poured down the building and began to flood the floor where Kim Hyun-man was located.
The hallway darkened in an instant. The corridor lights flickered and then turned off. Since one could see the ordinary reality just by removing the Soul Glass, the Reverse World being a severed dimension from reality was vividly felt.
-Wow… that’s fucking scary!
-Wait, no light under the Soul Glass?
-I heard they implemented a vision correction technology. Said to be based on VR application tech.
The Creator God’s technological prowess is the best in the world!
Everyone just accepted it as such and moved on.
Rumble!
Ash-gray bones rose from the sticky liquid pouring through the window, and as the liquid clung to them, they formed muscles and skin. Thus, Erosion monsters were born, screaming as they burst forth.
“Uwah!”
“Ugh?!”
If it were a pure fantasy setting, the fear would be less. But with such scenes unfolding in a space familiar to them, fear swept over. The fact that one couldn’t use the power of a Hero in reality also played a significant role.
When Ella reached out her hand, a barrier made of light spread out, protecting Kim Hyun-man and his employees.
[Kyaaaak! Kyaaak!]
[Kyaaak!]
The monsters charged toward Ella. Their bodies, a grotesque mix of goblin and beast features, were horrifying. When Ella extended her hand, a wave of golden light surged forward and collided with the incoming Erosion. The viscous liquid stopped, blocked by the golden light.
Crash!
The monster disintegrated into ash and scattered. Kim Hyun-man clenched his fist tightly at the sight.
“Ella nim…!”
“Ooh!”
“That’s it!”
Our goddess is right here!
Within the swirling ash, Ella, wrapped in radiant golden light, was beautiful. However, the light that was blocking the Erosion around her began to dim little by little.
-Ah...
-Didn’t they say there were restrictions?
-She looks like she’s struggling.
Unless Arsilan and reality were fully connected, Ella couldn’t even bring out 1% of her true power.
That was information the Romance Heroes had obtained.
That information had spread throughout Arsilan Worlds, so most Heroes were aware. Kim Hyun-man also vaguely remembered hearing about it.
Ella looked at Kim Hyun-man and the employees, who were consumed with worry, and smiled at them. It was a warm, comforting smile.
It was at that moment.
Squirm, squirm!
The Erosion blocked by Ella’s light began to churn and then started to merge into a single mass. It formed into a massive sphere that filled the entire hallway. The surface squirmed as if it were packed with hundreds of millions of insects.
Swoosh!
A giant hand burst out from the sphere and pierced through Ella’s golden light.
Grab!
It seized Ella’s body just like that and dragged her out through the window.
The giant hand swelled as it was hit by the falling Erosion from the sky. Tentacles began to shoot out from the wrist, which resembled a severed stump, and they started to form a body.
“Ugh!”
Ella tried to escape by releasing her light, but instead, the grip on her body tightened even more. Kim Hyun-man and the employees watched the scene helplessly, not knowing what to do.If they had the power of a Hero, they would have fired an attack skill or leapt into the fray immediately. But this was merely reality.
-This is bad
-Do something, someone!
-Aaaah!
The hand gripping Ella hurled her forcefully toward the ground. Her body fell rapidly and crashed into the Erosion-covered earth.
“Manager! Let’s get downstairs, now!”
“Huh? Oh! Right!”
Kim Hyun-man’s subordinates dashed off and grabbed the elevator. The elevator was packed with employees wearing Soul Glass. As Kim Hyun-man and his team entered, someone quickly hit the close button.
Perhaps a Gate of Souls had been installed in the elevator as well, because the screen shook and the lights flickered. Through the Soul Glass, the sound of steel frames twisting could be heard.
Kim Hyun-man clenched his fist tightly.
Even knowing it wasn’t reality, he was sweating from fear.
[First floor.]
The elevator doors opened.
Kim Hyun-man and everyone inside the elevator were left in shock. A thick ashen swamp was rushing in, and swirling, squirming gray smoke was blocking their vision.
“Ugh!”
“This is insane.”
Kim Hyun-man pushed through the Erosion and stepped outside.
Once outside, a scene of despair spread before his eyes. From the building just in front, a crashing noise rang out, and it tilted to one side. Glass and debris rained down onto the ground.
From the Erosion falling from the sky, monsters began to rise and wreak havoc in all directions.
-Wow...
-It’s the apocalypse.
-This whole area must be part of the Reverse World?
Outside the Gate of Souls area of influence, reality resumed. At the boundary between the Reverse World and reality, intense sparks were flying, making it easy to identify the separation.
Boom! Thud!
The hand that had thrown Ella to the ground had now transformed into a massive monster and landed with a crash. People wearing Soul Glass froze as they watched the scene, while ordinary people passed by freely, completely unaware.
“Huh?”
As the people wearing Soul Glass turned pale and stared in one direction, the passersby also stopped and looked, but naturally, they could see nothing. They were looking at completely different worlds.
“Twin Head Ogre...”
Kim Hyun-man identified the monster.
It wasn’t an ordinary Twin Head Ogre. It had appeared in the form of a World Boss, and its size was at least twice as large.
The Twin Head Ogre lifted a massive club. Ella struggled to her feet and released her light.
Boom!
The Twin Head Ogre swung its club at her. She barely managed to block it by creating a shield of light, but the shield shattered and she was sent flying backward.
“Kh!”
Kim Hyun-man and the others rushed toward Ella to support her, but their hands passed right through her. Ella gave a strained smile and steadied her posture.
Thud! Crash!
Ella shot forward toward the Twin Head Ogre. With a fist full of light, she struck its body, causing it to burst.
Ssshh...
It was no use.
The energy of Erosion covering the ground gathered and rapidly regenerated the Twin Head Ogre’s body.
Ella and the Twin Head Ogre clashed. Dodging the club, she fired light into its body.
Was it because of her injuries?
As time passed, Ella’s speed began to slow. Particles of light streamed from her wounds, and her body gradually started to fade.
[Kraaaaaaah!]
The Twin Head Ogre went berserk, wildly swinging its club. Cracks formed on the ground, and the shockwaves shattered building windows, causing shards to rain down like a storm.
-A single World Boss is enough to wipe out an entire city.
-Ella nim....
-It’s a strong one, but... if I were in there, I could kill it in one shot!
Sensing that she couldn’t dodge it, Ella urgently crossed both arms in a defensive stance.
Crash!
Struck by the club, Ella was sent rolling across the ground, sliding far until she slammed into a wall and collapsed to the floor.
Kim Hyun-man felt a surge of rage.
If he were in his Hero form, he could literally have killed that thing. A creature like that had wounded Ella nim so badly. Even some onlookers tried to charge the Twin Head Ogre, but their hands passed through in vain.
“Huh?”
“It’s a real monster?”
“Wait? The Goddess...?!”
Even passersby could now see the Reverse World through their smartphone cameras. FS Games had released a "Reverse World Observer" app for those without Soul Glass. Though limited, it allowed them to observe the Reverse World through their phone screens.
People started gathering in large numbers.
Ella barely managed to rise to her feet, breathing heavily.
“Ella nim!”
“Run!”
“Ahhh! Fucking Erosion bastard!”
Everyone cheered Ella on with aching hearts. As if mocking their support, the Twin Head Ogre roared loudly, raised its club, and charged at her.
Ella steadied her breath, brought her hands together, and released a surge of light.
Boom!
The explosion of light blew away the upper half of the Twin Head Ogre’s body. However, Ella’s expression remained grim.
Splatter!
Erosion fell from the sky once again, merging with the Twin Head Ogre and instantly restoring its form. On top of that, it had grown even larger.
It was a completely hopeless situation.
[The power of Erosion is intensifying.]
That message appeared, and then even reality began to change. People viewing the Reverse World through their smartphones looked around and gasped in shock. Holograms floated in the air and the space visibly distorted.
“Gasp!”
How was this even possible?
Kim Hyun-man, lowering his Soul Glass just slightly, was also horrified. It felt like not just the Reverse World, but reality itself was under invasion.
“Ella nim!”
“No!”
Everyone present wanted to help Ella, but they couldn’t. The even larger Twin Head Ogre swung its club, now infused with the energy of Erosion, toward Ella.
Ella quickly deployed a shield of light.
Clang!
The powerful club shattered the shield with ease. It continued forward, heading directly toward Ella.
She looked as if she had no strength left to block it. That club was about to strike her body any moment now.
It was in that moment of despair for Kim Hyun-man and everyone else,
Boom!
The club stopped.
It hit something in front of Ella and came to a sudden halt with a loud crash. The shockwave shook the surroundings, but the club didn’t advance any further.
“Huh?”
“No way....”
A magic circle filled with starlight had appeared.
The club, having touched the magic circle, didn’t budge as if time itself had frozen. As the thick Erosion aura settled down, the being that had blocked the club became visible.
“W-W-Wait, Helby nim?!”
“Woooaaaah!”
-Kya!
-It’s Helby nim!
-Helby nim has descended to Earth.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Kim Hyun-man also clenched his fist and shouted in joy, even hugging the people around him. The sensation of something long blocked bursting open sent chills down his spine in an electrifying rush.
Our guardian dragon has descended to Earth!
When Helby twisted her hand, starlight burst from the magic circle and blasted the Twin Head Ogre backward. As it tumbled across the ground, benches were destroyed and streetlights toppled.
Helby looked at the crowd chanting her name, let out a small smirk, and folded her arms.
[Kreeh! Kreaaaagh!]
The Twin Head Ogre, its entire body torn apart, began to rise again. It let out a maddened roar and charged straight at Helby. Helby simply stood and stared at the creature in silence, then slowly opened her mouth. In front of her lips, starlight swirled, forming a small vortex.
Kwaaaah!
Brilliant starlight shot forward in a straight line, sweeping through the Twin Head Ogre. Its entire body disintegrated, turning to ash and vanishing.
“B-Breath!”
“Never thought I’d see this in real life!”
“This is insane...”
Helby’s breath tore apart the road and everything nearby. The opposite road was also completely annihilated, but since it was the Reverse World, there was no actual damage in reality.
Rrrrriiip!
Just then, a tearing sound came from the sky.
“F-From the sky...”
“Insane...”
“What the hell is this...”
-No way...
-This was doomed from the start.
-Now I get why Arsilan struggled so badly against them.
The cracks in the sky ripped open, and globs of Erosion fell like hailstones. Slowly, as if unaffected by gravity, they spread across the sky, descending in a suffocating display that resembled a cosmic horror.
“Hm.”
Helby looked up at the sky, nodded, then turned to face those wearing Soul Glass. She reached out her hand, space rippled, and a small fragment appeared.
The fragment, wrapped in golden light, was all too familiar.
“It’s a Fragment of the Holy Sword I borrowed from Leon.”
Helby walked toward Kim Hyun-man. As his body flinched, she frowned slightly.
"I'll borrow a bit of power. Stay still."
“Y-Yes!”
Helby shoved the Holy Sword Fragment into Kim Hyun-man’s chest. At that moment, golden light burst forth and connected to those nearby.
Flaaash!
When Helby pulled the fragment out again, it flickered even more brightly as if finally activated. Particles of golden light flowing from everyone nearby gathered into the Holy Sword Fragment.
The fragment gradually grew, forming a long blade. Helby looked over to Ella, who was barely holding herself together, then tossed the Holy Sword toward her.
“I don’t like it, but... there’s no other choice this time.”
At Helby’s curt words, Ella gave a faint smile and caught the blade. In that instant, the radiant Holy Sword was completed and became her strength. The wounds covering Ella’s body healed.
She walked over to Helby’s side and stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing up at the sky.
“A bet?”
"...No more bets."
Helby’s expression darkened as if recalling trauma. Ella let out a soft laugh, and Helby sighed before releasing starlight.
Kwoooosh!
Their divine forms began to blur as they shot into the sky, trailing long streaks of starlight and golden light.
-Kya!
-Ohhhh!
-Helby nim and Ella nim joining forces...
-It’s a miracle!
-Wow! This is real life!
-No, if this were reality, we'd all be dead.
-I’m proud to be a Hero from Arsilan...
Boom boom boom!
The chunks of Erosion were engulfed in starlight and golden light, exploding one after another. The sky, stained by Erosion, was purified, and the sky of Seoul was revealed once more.
Helby and Ella didn’t stop there. They pierced through the Erosion, advancing toward the crack. Helby unleashed her breath, and Ella gathered all the light and swung the Holy Sword.
Standing before the crack of Erosion, Helby and Ella looked at each other. Helby reached out her hand and formed a magic circle of starlight, and Ella gripped the Holy Sword with both hands and leapt into the circle.
Fwaaaaah!
As Ella’s golden light fused with the starlight, the Holy Sword pulsed and roared with explosive brilliance.
Golden starlight.
A golden star rose into the skies above Seoul.
“Goddess Slash!”
Ella shouted as she swung the Holy Sword toward the crack.
Kwooooom!
The sunset-drenched sky was bathed in radiant golden starlight as it poured into the rift. Like washing away filthy sludge, it flooded the entire sky, purifying all traces of Erosion.
“It’s closing!”
“The rift is disappearing!”
-Wow, this is seriously badass.
-What even is this production?
-It’s not production. It’s real....
-Goddess Slash! Goddess Slash!
The rift gradually began to close, and the Erosion that had been pouring down was pulled back into it. When Helby and Ella released one final burst of power, the rift sealed shut.
Helby and Ella descended from the air and landed on the ground.
[Erosion is retreating. The Reverse World is closing.]
Once again, the ordinary scenery of Seoul came into view. Amidst that normal landscape, Helby and Ella sat down on the ground, looking exhausted. When Ella reached out her hand to the side, Helby looked at it for a moment,
Tap!
and gently smacked it, like a cat tapping a paw.
Kim Hyun-man and everyone who had gathered covered their mouths at the sight. It was an incredibly moving moment.
-Scene of the year, for real
-I cried...
-Seoul looks beautiful all of a sudden....
-Is this like the prologue to Episode 4?
However, the rift wasn’t completely closed. A black line remained, marking its trace. When Ella raised her hand toward the sky, an information window appeared beneath the rift.
[With the power of the Goddess and the Guardian Dragon, the Rift of Erosion has been sealed.]
*A Great Rift is opening.
*25 days remain until the Great Rift reopens.
*For the next 25 days, the Goddess and Guardian Dragon will do their utmost to maintain the seal.
The Great Rift...!
All the Heroes of Arsilan felt a sense of crisis.
Time was running out.
They had to open a Dimension Gate from Arsilan to reality, no matter what, before it was too late!