Chapter 228: EPILOGUE (2)

"Tashaquil! What happened?!" Tiyo expressed his frustration.

"Hoho, what an impatient gnome you are. Just wait..."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Anor asked Tiyo.

"I'm hungry, that's why!"

Tiyo, along with Anor and Tashaquil, stood right in the center of the Great Sea.

A few years had passed since the Ashen God’s attempted to destroy the world.

Tiyo was traveling the continent with Anor, continuing their journey to find his father, Hedoro.

"What were you doing that you just got here now?" Tiyo snarked at yet another person.

"I ran into a monster."

From beyond the bushes, another figure appeared, wiping the blood off his double swords.

It was Driden.

He had joined Tiyo and Anor on their adventure across the continent.

"Just some boring ogres."

Crockta had disappeared, but the legacy he left behind was still connecting the world.

Thanks to the efforts of the shamans, the north had been completely opened up. Under the cooperation of the Great Chief Shireuga of the north and Zelkyan the Apostle of the World Tree, the north started a trade with the continent.

Seeing races from the continent in the north or orcs from the north on the continent was not an uncommon sight anymore.

"That’s that, but..."

Driden was also just as impatient.

"Tashaquil, you mentioned something about a house, but I don't see anything like that. What's going on, Tashaquil?"

He glared at Tashaquil.

Receiving sharp glances from both the gnome and the dark elf, Tashaquil chuckled awkwardly.

"Things weren’t like this when Crockta was around..."

"Crockta is gone now, isn't he?!" Tiyo snapped again.

"If you want our respect, show us some results."

They had come to the Great Sea for only one reason.

The shaman who reached the realm of demigods, Antuak.

They came to meet him.

Following clues in their search for Hedoro, Tiyo and his group realized it all led to Antuak.

Since Tashaquil was the only shaman capable of tracking down Antuak, they asked him to help them find his master.

Thus, Tashaquil led Tiyo and his group to the Great Sea, where his magic indicated Antuak was.

It was definitely there, but neither his master nor the house were visible.

"All that talk about you being a great shaman but look at you. What a complete sham you are!"

"An empty wagon makes the most noise. How disappointing."

"Maybe it’s time for you to consider retirement?"

"..."

Back in the Basque tribe, even a dry cough from Tashaquil would make the apprentices burst into a reaction. But here, a gnome and a dark elf were treating him like some next-door orc. It was sad. Tashaquil missed the polite warrior, Crockta.

"Ehem! Just you wait."

Tashaquil closed his eyes and focused.

Antuak was definitely there.

Antuak had an understanding of the magic of space and time beyond even the gods, He must have created his own space by layering dimensions. He was there, but at the same time, also somewhere else.

Tashaquil initiated his magic. His power began to search the surroundings.

He was the falcon soaring the northern sky, the blue guardian of dawn, the pale blue knight, and Tashaquil, the shaman who guides the dark path. If he set his mind to it, nothing could remain hidden from him.

Tashaquil used his hand signs. His magical power slowly began to peel away the veils of the dimension.

A "Magic Unsealing" that would astonish other shamans and leave them in awe!

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

"What are you doing?"

Startled by the sudden call, Tashaquil opened his eyes.

"What are you doing there by yourself? Come here already!”

"Uh..."

A house had already appeared where there was nothing only a few seconds ago. Through the open door, Antuak was welcoming Anor and Driden.

Antuak had revealed himself.

Tiyo shook his head.

"Crockta told me you were a really great shaman, but..."

"..."

Not knowing what to say, Tashaquil decided to remain silent.

Antuak welcomed his disciple and the guests.

"It's been a while, Tashaquil."

"It's the first time since that day, Master."

That day was the day when Crockta defeated the Ashen God and saved the world from destruction.

"How is the lady doing...?"

"Ah, Aruna you mean."

Antuak smiled warmly.

"She's recuperating in the Goddess of Mercy’s temple. Seems like she'll have to soak in the holy water there for a while."

"Ah, that's good to hear."

It was all thanks to the Ashen God.

After falling into another dimension, she used Elder Lord as a means to return to this world, expanding her understanding of dimensions in the process.

Despite her sins, she was still a god and an essential being in the composition of the world. She was sentenced to imprisonment in Olympus, and Antuak, who had been recognized as a demigod, was able to meet her to seek her advice about Aruna.

The Ashen God provided a way to save Aruna, and Antuak ultimately succeeded in rescuing her.

The day she awoke, every flower in the world bloomed, despite the unfitting season.

"I'd like to say hello to the lady as well."

"When you have some time, we'll go visit her together. She wishes to see you as well."

Tashaquil smiled. A beautiful bouquet lay on the bed where she had lain.

"So, what brings the friends of Crockta to me?" Antuak asked.

Tiyo, who was hastily eating the soup Antuak had served, wiped his mouth.

"Antuak! Do you know Hedoro?"

"Oho... Hedoro, you say... Now that you mention it, you do resemble him. Do you have a relation with Hedoro?"

"Hedoro is my father!" Tiyo exclaimed.

Antuak burst into laughter upon examining Tiyo more closely.

"Kekeke, so you are Hedoro's son. Indeed..."

He nodded.

"Indeed, you are his blood. The greatest adventurer I know is Hedoro. It's surprising his son was in the group of determined fighters that saved the world, what a coincidence, kekeke."

"Do you know my father?"

"I know him well."

Antuak looked at him with a peculiar gaze.

"If you were looking for him, you would have needed me."

"Do you know where my father is?"

"I am probably the only one in the world who knows where he is."

"Oooooh!"

After parting with Crockta after the final battle, Tiyo had been in a slump for a while but then decided to get up rather resolutely.

He decided to find his father, Hedoro.

Anor followed and Driden joined them. They wandered the world following the traces of Hedoro.

The trail that had been leading to Orcrox eventually led back to the Empire, and from there, it extended to the north, wandering beyond the world depicted on the map. Hedoro's whereabouts were utterly elusive.

And finally, they stumbled upon a clue named Antuak.

"Looks like we've finally come to the right place, Tiyo!" Anor shouted after completely emptying his soup bowl.

Driden nodded in agreement.

"What kind of bizarre gnome is your father, for him to have traveled so extensively? It's truly exasperating."

Hedoro, the adventurer who had explored the north before it was even open, was a true adventurer who had traveled across the continent and probably the entire world.

Where could he possibly be now?

"He...” Antuak started.

"He...?"

"Collected ancient relics and..."

"And...?"

Tiyo, Anor, and Driden focused their attention on Antuak.

Antuak smirked.

"... and then he crossed dimensions."

The three faces looked bewildered.

He was now traveling through dimensions.

They had scoured islands that were not even found on maps and breached mountains without names. They had fought monsters they had never even seen before. They had barely managed to get here after several near-death encounters.

And now, it was dimension traveling...

"My wife Aruna failed at it, but that gnome did it. He managed to gather the ancient relics, opened the walls of the dimensions, and left for a new world. I have no idea when he will return."

"A-a-another... dimension?"

"That's right."

"What kind of dimension are we talking about?" Tiyo shouted with a dumbfounded look.

Antuak only shrugged.

"Well... before he left, he mentioned something to me... that place is..."

"That place is...?"

"I think he said it was called ‘Earth’. I don't really know the details very well, either."

Everyone felt dejected.

Things have become way too grand.

The Great Adventurer Hedoro. What kind of gnome was he?

Tiyo, after banging his head on the table for a bit, lifted his head.

"Kekekekek..."

His laughter had never sounded so sinister. Anor and Driden looked at him with fearful eyes.

Tiyo's eyes were filled with madness.

"Now that it's come to this, we have no choice."

"S-surely you can't mean...?" Anor immediately expressed his concern.

"Hold on. Tiyo, calm down," Driden sensed what was about to come out of Tiyo’s mouth.

"Let's go!" Tiyo shouted.

"We’re going! To that other dimension!"

Anor and Driden tried to stop Tiyo.

But then, Antuak spoke again, "There's something I didn't know until I spoke with the Ashen God."

"...?"

"That place called ‘Earth’..."

Antuak smirked.

"Crockta is also there."

Crockta?

Their friend was there.

Anor, who had been covering Tiyo's mouth, finally let go, and Driden slowly released his arms.

At that moment, it was decided.

They were going to travel to a new dimension.

"However, if you wish to get there, you must find the ancient ruins and gather their relics. They are located in very dangerous places and move themselves around as if they’re living things. Even Hedoro had to overcome near-death situations many times to achieve it."

"It doesn't matter!"

Tiyo stood up abruptly.

He had shouted to Crockta during their farewell.

‘I’ll see you again.'

He wasn't like Crockta, who had left without keeping his promise like a dweeb. Tiyo was a man of his word, he always kept his promises.

He would find his father and meet Crockta again.

In the dimension called 'Earth'!

"Let's go! Is everyone ready?"

"Yes!"

"I guess I have no choice."

Everyone joined hands.

It was a heartwarming scene.

Tashaquil looked on with pleasure.

Youth was indeed splendid.

"What do you think you’re doing, Tashaquilllll!" Tiyo barked.

Tashaquil was startled.

"W-what? What is it?"

"Hurry up and put your hand here! We're going!"

"N-no, I was just here to help out for a bit..."

"We’re going to another dimension! Are you also a dweeb? Surely not! Come on, bring your hand in! It's an adventure!"

Tashaquil reluctantly put his hand forth with a sullen face.

And so, the

Dimensional Expedition Team

was formed.

"Let's go!"

"We're going!"

"I owe that guy something."

"No, this is... for me, this is a bit..."

They were leaving for a new world to meet Hedoro and Crockta.

"Kiyoooooot!"

* * *

"Hmm... who is that?"

"Why?"

"No, just... that face looks really familiar. Do I know him?"

Yi-An tilted his head in confusion.

A short man had just passed by him. Though small in stature, he was a foreign gentleman dressed in fine clothes. He seemed familiar, but Yi-An couldn't place him.

"Hmm, who could it be?"

Yi-An smiled awkwardly as he looked at Yeo-Ri, who was smiling brightly beside him.

It was the same face he had always seen, but when she looked up as she was stuck so close to him, it made him uneasy. It was a feeling of his heart fluttering and his face turning red.

"You don't know very many people, do you, Yi-An?"

Yi-An's social circle was indeed small. That was a fact.

However, when she pointed it out, he felt somewhat displeased and pouted.

"I do."

"Oh yeah? Like who, Yi-Yoo?"

"Well, there's Ha-Yeon..."

"......"

Ah, he had said something he shouldn't have.

Yeo-Ri's expression turned noticeably stiff. Yi-An put his hand on her shoulder and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha. It's cold, isn’t it? Must be autumn already, huh? Don’t you think so?"

"... take your hand off of me this instant."

"Got it."

He continued to try his hand at clumsy humor in an effort to lighten Yeo-Ri's mood. Finally, Yeo-Ri laughed.

"You laughed. You're not mad anymore, right?"

"Wrong. Ha-Yeon must enjoy these lame dad jokes, huh?"

"We're just friends."

"Then I should go see my ‘just friends’ too. Min-Chul, Ji-Sung, and Kyung-Hwan have been messaging me a lot lately..."

This time, Yi-An's face stiffened.

Unlike Yi-An, Yeo-Ri didn't panic. She smiled and hooked her arm through Yi-An's.

"Yi-Annnn. What’s wrong? Are you upset?"

He couldn't resist when she acted like this. Yi-An ended up laughing.

"How's Yi-Yoo doing?"

"Same-old, same-old. She's been really busy going to interviews. She even got herself into one of those interview prep schools. It seems like it’s pretty tough to find a job these days."

"That must be hard. My friends say the same. Well, I'm doing fine because I met a good boss."

"Oh, so you do know that, huh?"

"I know it best."

They smiled at each other.

[How cute.]

Yi-An furrowed his brow.

A year had passed since the Elder Lord Crisis broke out. People had tried to find out who the user behind the legendary orc warrior Crockta was, but Yi-An never revealed himself.

As time went by, the Elder Lord Crisis gradually faded from memory, along with the fact that countless lives had nearly been lost. The world began to move on again, as it always has.

But one thing remained unchanged.

[I'm bored.]

The Ashen God.

His connection with her was still there.

For some reason, she was able to converse with Yi-An. According to her, she had meddled too much in trying to return to her original dimension, which might have loosened the boundaries between dimensions.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Ashen God was very pleased. She was confined in a prison in Olympus and had nothing to do, so she talked to Yi-An whenever she was bored.

Yi-An sighed and whispered.

"I'm on a date, so leave me alone."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Just talking to myself. What movie did you say you wanted to see?"

"’The Return of the Gentleman.’ The lead actor is Lee Jung-Min. Ah, I'm going to feast my eyes today. Lee Jung-Min is really handsome."

The Ashen God kept talking.

[Yi-An, I actually have something to say.]

"I'll go get the tickets for us. Wanna wait here?" He said to Yeo-Ri.

"Let's go together. Why go alone?"

"I have to use the restroom, anyway."

"Uh, okay. Get caramel popcorn. Oh, and coke!!"

"Got it."

Yi-An seated Yeo-Ri at a table in front of the theatre’s concession stand and entered the restroom.

He went into a toilet stall and spoke to the Ashen God.

"Why are you doing this to me? What’s going on?"

[Don't be mad.]

"I am going to be mad."

[Then I won't say it.]

"Stop being so annoying and just tell me quickly because I don't have time for this."

Ever since being confined, the Ashen God seemed especially talkative as if she was feeling lonely.

The Ashen God hesitated, then continued, [You know, after I fell into your world... I tried a lot of different things to get back home, right?]

Yi-An's face became serious.

The Ashen God rarely talked about those times. It wasn’t a pleasant memory for her either. Yi-An got an ominous feeling.

"So?"

[So... I checked again, and the walls between dimensions have loosened more than before. It seems like someone has been tampering with them, too.]

"What do you mean?"

[There's a possibility that a third dimension could open. I can't exactly explain it, but it means there could be problems for your world. I mean, us talking like this isn’t very normal either, is it?]

Yi-An was puzzled. It sounded serious, but it was still unclear what the threat was.

So, Yi-An decided to keep his mind off it.

"Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. Now, leave me alone. I have a movie to watch."

[A movie? Oh, I want to see it too. You have to tell me about it afterward.]

"Don’t even think about it. Just behave and serve your sentence in prison."

[Who's the protagonist?]

"Lee Jung-Min."

[Woow, lucky. He's really handsome.]

Yi-An ignored her.

He watched the movie with Yeo-Ri.

‘Return of the Gentleman’ might not have had the best plot, but the lead actor's brilliant performance was impressive. He was in no way inferior in visual appeal and presence to the protagonist of the previous work. He truly carried the entire movie on his back.

The credits rolled. They, along with other people in the audience, streamed out into the street.

"That was a decent movie. It's dinner time, do you want to eat something?"

"Sounds good. What should we eat?"

"Let's think about it while we walk."

They walked side by side through the bustling district.

The screens that once broadcasted Elder Lord on the streets were now showing news, having lost their prime content.

—It's been over a year since the Elder Lord Crisis was averted. However, it seems the victims' wounds have not yet healed completely. There are still people who complain of symptoms, mostly of seeing a ‘status window.’ Reporter Park Ki-Dae reports.

The virtual reality game Elder Lord, which had enthralled the world, was completely terminated.

Officials from Elder Saga Corporation were also detained. They, who did not fully understand 'Albino,' were all punished under the pretext of using an unverified artificial intelligence system.

And with that, it was thought that the crisis had been completely resolved.

However, even as time passed, there were some ex-users who complained of the aftermath. The symptoms they described were all the same.

They said they ‘could see their status window’.

Yi-An thought these were merely psychological issues caused by trauma. But after hearing what the Ashen God had just told him, a bad premonition crept up on him.

What if it was happening because of the loosening of the walls between dimensions? What if it wasn't an illusion but a real status window?

"Yi-An?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking for a moment."

"It seems like you have a lot going on in your head. What's on your mind?"

"You..."

"Ah! Stop it, I’m serious. I hate that."

"Alright, alright. How about some stew and rice for dinner?"

"Yeah, because that’s a really romantic meal, right?"

"You hate pasta anyway."

"Is pasta the only romantic food in the world?"

They bickered as they walked down the street.

Then, Yi-An suddenly halted in his tracks.

Yeo-Ri, who had been crossing her arms, looked puzzled.

"What’s wrong?"

"Step back."

"What?"

"Go! Stay back! "

Yi-An clenched his teeth.

A bad premonition never failed.

Yi-An could see it.

It was wavering.

The space-time. It was wavering.

"Step back!"

People who sensed something was wrong began to scream. The crowd dispersed.

The urgent voice of the Ashen God was heard.

[Yi-An! That's what I was talking about. So...]

Yi-An watched the road closely.

The dimension was opening up. A black hand burst out, tearing through the walls of the dimension, starting to widen the gap. From beyond, the growling of a beast resounded.

It was a monster.

A shape of a beast unlike any they had ever seen.

It looked like a demon that had crawled up from hell itself.

"What is that?!"

"Oh my god!"

"Call the police!"

People screamed.

It was an unbelievable scene.

This was not Elder Lord. It was Earth.

Yet a monster had appeared.

"Is this a movie shoot?"

"Do you think that makes any sense, you idiot!"

"Then do you think that thing makes any sense? Call the police—no, the military!"

"Aaaaahhhhh!"

The monster fully revealed itself.

In terms of the world of Elder Lord, it was about the size of an ogre. But it was dripping a black, sticky liquid all over. Its eyes were red. It looked like a giant insect.

It looked around and, then, it smirked.

As if it had found amusing prey.

"Kiiiiiiii!"

It screeched and attacked its surroundings. Cars were thrown into the air. Its destructive power was overwhelming. Flames erupted on the road.

Yi-An turned around. Yeo-Ri was still there, frozen in fear. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tried to hurry away.

Then, he heard something.

"Mommyyyyy!"

A child's scream echoed.

Yi-An looked back.

A child was caught in the monster's pincers. The child cried and screamed for their mom, beneath whom a woman, presumably the mother, was screaming in panic, not knowing what to do in this bizarre situation.

The monster's mouth opened.

The child's head was inches away, about to be devoured.

The monster rolled its eyes toward them, smirking. It was a mocking gaze.

Anger surged through Yi-An's head.

But he was Jung Yi-An, not Crockta. He had neither the power nor the ability to destroy such a monster. This was the real world.

Yet he couldn't turn away.

"Yi-An!"

Then, he realized.

He was already running.

"Run away first!" Yi-An shouted.

Yeo-Ri called after him desperately, but his legs didn't stop. He was running toward the monster.

He couldn't stop because...

'Are you alive?'

They were watching him.

‘You might die. But just because you’re not dead doesn't mean you're alive.’

That’s what they were saying to Yi-An.

He ran at full speed. The monster noticed him. With its other hand not holding the child, the monster aimed at Yi-An.

A premonition of death flashed through his mind, but it was too late to turn back.

The monster's pincer came crashing down on him.

A premonition of death raced up his spine.

At that moment, something blurred in front of his eyes.

[Status Window

'Northern Conqueror, Empire Nemesis, Godkiller, Great Warrior Crockta' Jung Yi-An, Warrior

Level: MAX

Achievement Score: MAX

Synchronization Rate: MAX

Abilities

Divine Power (Mythical)

Regeneration (Mythical)

Body and Sword (Mythical)

Combative Spirit (Mythical)

Divine Eye (Mythical)

Tattoo (Mythical)

Roar (Mythical)

Monster Annihilation (Mythical)

Magic Sensitivity (Mythical)]

Tattoos were emerging on Yi-An's body.

His body heated up intensely. The world slowed down. Time and space repeated cycles of deceleration and acceleration at his will. The realm of extremes was in his grasp, and causality was repeatedly reversed by his will.

Suddenly, in his hand, was a comrade he had not seen in a long time, the God Slayer.

He had no idea how it happened.

Whether it was someone's arrangement or the fate of the world testing him again, he didn't know.

It didn't matter.

The wind blew in his ears. Within it, he heard the whispers of the world.

‘Is there meaning to the sufferings we endure?’

He didn't know.

‘In a destiny in which we will ultimately sink, do we have value?’

He didn't know.

There was no need to know.

It was just that...

In the world we belong to,

With all our might,

We fight in the present

To be alive!

Yi-An leaped and roared.

"Burnnnnnnn————!"

* * *

One year after the termination of the service of the virtual reality game Elder Lord.

Monsters started appearing from the rifts between dimensions.

The only ones who could stand against these beings, impervious to modern weaponry, were those with the same other-dimensional powers, the former Elder Lord users.

They became known as the ‘Hunters’. They were monster hunters.

"Mommy, what's this?"

"Yes, my baby."

"I see something weird. What's this? A status window?"

"What did you say?"

Planet Earth,

The Age of Great Monsters

begins!