Solo Swordmaster - Chapter 1110
#Extra Story 79. The Beginning and End of Everything (2)
* * *
A parallel world.
Because it does not exist.
A world that contains all possibilities.
A world that spreads out endlessly like facing mirrors.
In it, even the flow of time called the past and the future is nothing more than a relative concept.
Therefore, it was speculated that the original regression known as the past was not so much a rewind of time as it was a movement to a parallel world.
From the moment he returned to the past and changed the future, it was no different from creating a parallel world with another possibility.
And Lemon thought it was quite plausible.
In fact, the soul of Joan of Arc transcended the parallel world and transcended the distant flow of time.
In that sense.
He should have predicted it sooner.
If there were those who had moved to a parallel world like Joan of Arc or Sir, there could also be those who had influenced from beyond the parallel world.
And…….
……It is also possible that it is Lemon Asphelt from a parallel world who chose a different fate from his present self.
“You are me who became a constellation.”
[To be exact, it is closer to the side of you who has fallen to the constellation.]
“Fallen…….”
A word that the constellations who transcended into a transcendent being by devouring all the possibilities of their world and considered it a great thing would find insulting if they heard it.
But that attitude of considering it trivial even though he was a constellation.
Lemon understood it easily.
Why did he become a constellation?
Because he easily realized the reason.
“I see. You are the ending I might have reached if I hadn’t gotten my hands on the Seven Arcs.”
– The power of the stars.
The power created by absorbing all the possibilities of a world that Lemon had absorbed every time he ripped out the constellations.
It was indeed a powerful force, but in essence, it was closer to a curse.
To begin with, the process of destroying all other advanced races and even devouring the future of the world to create power was no different from a black magic ritual.
That was why Lemon couldn’t even handle the weak power of the stars, let alone absorb it properly at first.
Fortunately, Lemon got a chance.
Seven Arcs.
Nine World, the great sacred barrier created by the Elf Queen with the help of seven dragons from the beginning of human history to thoroughly seal the stars.
Seven treasures containing the power of the stars, which were accidentally created as it collided with the constellations and shattered.
Of which, the black violin of Simheuk.
And Plato’s carving knife.
And Gangmado Dragon Sword.
Above all, the seven princesses.
By obtaining them one after another and consciously or unconsciously borrowing their power, Lemon was able to overcome and control the curse of the stars.
But what if he hadn’t gotten it?
What if he had only obtained one or two and failed to even break the seal?
The ending that Lemon might have reached was the other one in front of him right now.
Lemon, who had ripped out all the stars and was swallowed by the enormous curse of the stars, had become a pure constellation by force, with one arm missing.
[It is also the ending you might have reached if you hadn’t reached the end of the sword.]
“That could have been the case.”
That’s why.
Lemon readily agreed with the remark.
Even the majority of the Seven Arcs he had collected were not enough to handle the power of the stars, which was close to infinity.
Even if he had won the war against the stars with the Orow Blade.
If he had not accepted destruction first in order to prevent the destruction of the world, he might have been forcibly turned into a constellation by the power of the stars that wanted to survive.
Thus, at the end of looking at his one-armed self with heavy, sunken eyes.
Lemon asked softly.
“So, what’s the reason you did this?”
[Is a reason necessary?]
“It is necessary.”
With a curt reply.
Golden eyes that were closer to platinum deepened, and stared straight into the golden eyes that were closer to the morning star.
“No matter how different the world is and you’ve become a constellation, you wouldn’t have done this unless it was absolutely necessary.”
His power, which had devoured the curses of all the stars and was reborn as a unique constellation, was truly transcendent. It was truly close to being omnipotent.
Knowing that fact.
Lemon could be sure.
He couldn’t have given himself memories and the power of the stars for no reason.
And the constellation of the one-armed man did not bother to deny Lemon’s conviction.
Instead, he just opened his mouth softly.
[What if I just wanted to check?]
“What do you mean?”
[―Another possibility.]
Instead of asking for more details.
Lemon waited in silence.
The constellation of the one-armed man began to tell a story.
[For you, the war with the stars must have been more intense and grueling than any other fight you’ve ever had in your life.]
“…….”
[But you’ll soon find out. That the fight with the constellation was just the beginning.]
Tutorial.
Before the main game starts.
It is a stage that is no different from the first step, which exists to teach the player how to play the game.
In that sense, even the fight with that powerful constellation was just a part of the tutorial, and the real war hasn’t even started yet.
Lemon’s expression grew heavy as he listened to the constellation’s story.
“……The end, is it.”
[Yes.]
The constellations are vigilant.
What they had tried so hard to prevent.
Speaking of the true end of all worlds, the one-armed Lemon spoke coldly.
[The power of the end is stronger than you can imagine. Even the dregs that can’t even reach the end have brought the stars to the brink of destruction several times.]
Yeah.
It’s not like the constellations have been invading from the beginning, devouring all the possibilities of other worlds.
For countless years, they fought, resisted, and resisted, but they couldn’t find a way to win, so they chose to survive.
[And no matter how strong you are, and how strong you will become in the future, you will not be able to end the fight with the end.]
“You’re pretty sure.”
[I was too.]
“…….”
Is it a trick of fate.
As a result of cutting all the stars and absorbing the curse.
He had become a single constellation, but he had gained power that was stronger than all the constellations that had existed individually combined.
The constellations have been through the ages.
It is the ultimate goal that they have tried to achieve by destroying countless worlds.
Lemon, who had destroyed them, reached the true complete form.
In fact, the power that was so complete was so powerful that there were few beings among the infinite forces of the end that could threaten him.
But despite that.
He had been in danger several times.
Even the powerful power of the stars, which was obtained by sacrificing countless worlds, could not handle the endless end.
In particular, those who were at the apex, beings that even the ends feared and were in awe of.
All he could do was run away and survive.
[It was a long time.]
“…….”
[It was when I no longer had to run away.]
Is it a miracle?
Or is it inevitable?
Even the transcendent will feel distant.
For a longer and longer period of time than all the time the constellations had from birth to destruction, he fought countless battles.
He finally became one of the best in the end.
Now, theforcesofapocalypseevenavoidhimandgoasfarasofferingprayersandmakingofferings.
[However, that’sallthereis toit.]
“…….”
[The’omnipotent andignorantLastOne’isstillstrongerthanmeformthemostpart,andthe’sacrednineraces’willbewareofme,butarenottafraid.]
Theproblemisthatheisaloner.
Evenifhemiraculouslydefeatsonelastone,it’simpossibletoeliminateallthelastones.
Thesacrednineraces,whohaveanabundanceofapocalypticweaponsthatcanthreatenevenTheLastOne,willtrytoexterminatehimbyjoiningforcesifhebecomesarealthreat.
Howmuchmoretimewillittaketogainenoughstrengthtofaceallofthem?
No,isitevenpossible?
Knowingtheanswertothat.
Hesaid.
[In theend, I candefeat theapocalypse, but I can’t end thisfight.]
“…….”
[And thesame will be true for you. No, rather, you will be forced into even greater suffering and adversity thanme.]
“Because I have something to protect?”
[Yes.]
Unlikehimself,whohadonlyfoughtandsurvivedalone,Lemonhadhumankindtoprotect.
Andtheforcesoftheapocalypsen’tletgoofsuchblatantweakness,soevenifLemonisstrong,itwillbedifficultforhimtoprotectmankind.
[So, you have two options.]
“What are the options?”
[One is tomake a contract withme.]
“…….”
[The other is…….]
He’s already a constellation.
Moreover, unlike the constellations that existed before, he is the only one who is the incarnation of a truly perfect star.
He said that if he made a proper contract with him and became his apostle, instead of the fraudulent contracts that the constellations used to make, he would be able to protect the world sufficiently.
The one-armed constellation did not wait for Lemon’s answer.
As if he knew that he would refuse anyway.
He simply revealed the next method.
[Fight me to the death, and the winner takes all that the loser has.]
“……That was your purpose.”
And only then.
Lemon understood.
He wanted to confirm another possibility that he had mentioned.
“To regain the sword you lost through me.”
[If it’s the Aurora Blade, there’s a chance it could even end the apocalypse.]
“…….”
[What will you do, ‘me’?]
The one-armed constellation of the Aurora Blade, which is needed to end the endless war by eliminating all the apocalypse and cutting down all creation.
Lemon, who needs near-infinite stellar power in addition to the Aurora Blade to protect humanity from the forces of the apocalypse.
As long as what each other needs is in the other person’s possession, this is a fair deal.
Whether they make a contract and cooperate.
Or if they fight.
In the end, the victor will get what they want.
After hearing his proposal, Lemon replied after a brief silence.
“I refuse both.”
[Is that so.]
“Yes.”
And surprisingly.
The one-armed constellation was not that surprised.
Maybe… no, rather, he accepted it calmly, as if he had expected it.
[What lies ahead of you is an unimaginable, arduous, and desperate battle.]
All the forces of the apocalypse will never leave Lemon’s world, which suddenly appeared with the disappearance of the stars’ concealment, a world flowing with milk and honey.
Especially if they learn that the descendants of the Platinum Royal Family, the ‘powerful race’ that had already disappeared in the distant past, still exist?
And if they discover the possibility of two new races, the ‘mysterious race’ that had been dormant for a long time?
Lemon and his world will soon be embroiled in an endless battle with the sacred nine races, and even the Last One.
[It will take an eternity to gain the strength to keep the world safe in that battle.]
Maybe as much as himself.
No, perhaps even longer than himself.
Fighting, fighting, and fighting again and again.
[And no matter how strong he becomes, there will be no end to that fight.]
Even if he becomes strong enough to fight all the Ends, the forces of the Ends will continue to seek an opportunity to defeat him because he has become too strong.
He will have to be on guard against them forever, fighting and protecting the world.
[Even so, will you take that path.]
Holding his hand.
Or by defeating him.
If he were to gain his power, he could solve everything more easily and quickly.
Even so, he asks if he will just silently walk that endless path, one step at a time, until he dies.
Lemon replied calmly.
“Of course.”
[…….]
“Originally, that is the law of life.”
It’s not just the swordsman who risks his life at the tip of the sword.
A newborn baby who desperately sucks on its mother’s milk as soon as it is born, a young man trying to unite with his lover, a parent who works hard to feed their family, an old man who lives with a rattling body.
As long as you are alive.
There is always something hard to do.
Life is pain and struggle.
Knowing that fact, we still walk and run bravely, sometimes we fall, and even with regrets.
In the end, getting back on your feet and finding happiness is what life is all about.
Lemon smiled broadly.
“More than anything, I have something to do today.”
Today is the happiest and happiest day in his life, which will last for eternity.
He stared intently at himself, who calmly said that he had no intention of doing anything useless.
He nodded.
[If so, let’s do it well.]
“Thank you for the words.”
He didn’t try to persuade or hold him back, or ask anything else.
He closed his eyes quietly.
Lemon also turned around right away.
That was enough.
Even though they lived in different worlds and different lives, they were themselves.
So…….
Leaving behind the god of destruction who had to live to end everything after losing even the world he had to protect.
The guardian who still had something to protect and loved ones to fight for forever stepped forward.
Where he should be.
It took a year.
I’ve been preparing for this day.
To return to the side of his beloved brides and promise eternal love.
* * *
“Hmm, is oppa still sleeping?”
“No matter how tired you are, it’s really peaceful until this day.”
“That’s Lee’s charm.”
“I think you must be tired from preparing the food. Should we let you sleep a little longer?”
“I think it’ll be okay since there’s still time.”
“Don’t forget the flowers. We’ll regret it for the rest of our lives if we lose what we’ve grown ourselves now.”
“Don’t worry, I checked all eight of them.”
“Well, those sisters are amazing. How could you act like nothing happened so calmly…….”
“……It seems that the daughter who found out about it is also amazing.”
[Hey, can’t I have a drink before dinner?]
“Hoho, you can enjoy it at the after-party, so please be patient.”
“I will guard the concubine’s side until the concubine wakes up, so please rest everyone.”
“Sleepy, I’ll sleep with Master too.”
“Ah, no stealing birds!!!”
―END.