Beyond the Eternity

When I saw the item Angelica selected, I couldn't help but tilt my head like a penguin. If the other readers saw this, they would also be confused.

"Are you sure? I'll recommend choosing a better item."

"It's fine. I'll choose this item."

Surprisingly, out of all the items displayed here, what Angelica was not a offensive or defensive weapon. In fact, it was not even a weapon in the first place.

[??? – Replica] ??? Rank Artifact

Of course, it couldn't be an ordinary key since it was displayed in the reward hall of a hidden dungeon but it was a problematic key. In the original plotline, Kang Jaewon chose this key out of curiosity and regretted it later.

[If I had known, I would have never chosen that item.] That was the Kang Jaewon's despair.

The Key had no practical use in combat— no attack or defense features. More importantly, it possessed no support functions either.

It was just a normal key. Kang Jae-won questioned why it was here if it was just a normal key but he had no way of knowing its actual purpose.

In the end, he concluded the golden key was a worthless item.

But why would Angelica suddenly choose such a key?

She was at the same level as me when it came to mythology and heroic figures. Perhaps she saw something that Kang Jaewon did not notice.

I thought about something and then opened my mouth to confirm my suspicions.

"Did your support constellation tell you to choose that key?"

"It's a secret."

So my suspicions were correct. If that key was related to her support constellation, it was reasonable why she would choose that item.

With this, all necessary preparations were done.

Since we didn't return outside, then that would mean the librarian hasn't been defeated. Perhaps there was still a chance to save Soo Jinyoung before she reached the tenth floor. But we would have to pass through Kang Jaewon first.

What a complicated situation.

Since we were in the library dungeon, it was possible to defeat the regressor.

We quickly advanced to the next floor, the sixth floor. Of course, neither Soo Jinyoung or Kang Jaewon were on the sixth floor.

For the next story, we were summoned on a cruise ship. Our mission was to catch the killer. Fortunately, it was a familiar story. No, it was a familiar movie that used to be my mother's favourite.

Of course, movies were also stories. Since we knew the identity of the villain, we were able to complete the story quickly.

Puok!

The sword descended and pierced the villain's heart. It was a swift movement that showed no human emotions. It was Jung Yunhee who held the sword.

[The Librarian is satisfied with the changed ending.]

[Main actors: Kim Jakga, Jung Yunhee, Angelica, Lee Suhye.]

[500 coins will be given as a performance reward.]

[All actors will be teleported to the next floor.]

Jung Yunhee made an annoying expression and grumbled.

"I'm sick of this."

I agreed with Jung Yunhee. If the same scenario was played over and over, it was bound to become repulsive. I would have already left if it wasn't for Soo Jinyoung.

When we reached the seventh floor, we noticed that all the book shelves were broken. If they hadn't been repaired yet then that means Sung Jaewon had recently passed here. We were close.

"Let's hurry."

We had to catch up with that guy as soon as possible. Before he reaches Soo Jinyoung and creates a horrible conclusion.

Lee Suhye suddenly opened her mouth and asked.

"Kim Jagga."

"It's Jakga."

"Sorry, Kim Jakga. Why we are trying to stop that man again?"

"I was also wondering the same."

Hmm, how should I explain the situation. The story is rather long so let's keep it simple.

"He's going after Soo Jinyoung."

"Soo Jinyoung? Does that mean he's an enemy?"

"Not exactly."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"To us, he could be seen as either an enemy or an ally. However, to Soo Jinyoung, he is an enemy."

"Wait, if he's an enemy of Soo Jinyoung then doesn't that make him an enemy?"

I sighed. "It's not that simple."

Lee Suhye frowned as though she could not understand.

"I don't get it."

"Forget about it then, let's continue moving."

I didn't have time to explain. The conflict between Soo Jinyoung and Sung Jaewon was a long story.

The book shelves on the seventh floor was also broken. Sung Jaewon just recently passed. That bastard, why can't he move to the next floor like a normal person.

The shelves were not the problem. The real problem laid somewhere else.

Swish! Swish!

The books flapped their wings and crossed the air in an aggressive manner. Some of them flew towards us as if angered.

"Damnit, run!"

We burst into a tremendous sprint. It was a strange twist of fate. We had killed monsters earlier yet we were fleeing from nothing more menacing than books.

The stairs to the next floor was close. If we continued at this pace, we can reach the next floor without completing any stories.

Of course, a book had to hit us with a screening ray.

"Fuck..."

Once we were captured, the surrounding space distorted and the background changed.

My head shook a little but I slowly recovered. Despite experiencing it numerous times, I couldn't get used to the strange sensation.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The background was noisy. We were teleported to a battlefield of sorts. It was different from the first story where there was a city. The battlefield was an open plain.

Whoooosh!

Suddenly, I heard a strange sound. It felt like something was parting the air as if approaching rapidly.

The moment I looked skyward, my eyes widened and I screamed.

"Everyone, get down!"

"W-What?"

"Get down now!"

Everyone reflexively got down and I raised the shield. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The arrows continuously shook the shield as if lamenting missing its targets.

The soldiers besides me were a different story. The arrows penetrated the exposed area of their armour and blood flew.

"Charge! Charge! Charge!"

"Hold the formation! Don't let them cross the wall!"

Sparks flew endlessly as soldiers clad in red and blue armour clashed into each other. The uneasy atmosphere washed over me.

Strangely, I found myself familiar with the setting, the soldiers' equipment, their armor, the flags and the chosen battlefield of the war.

Finally, I remembered why this story setting was so familiar. This was the first Peloponnesian War between the Spartans and the Athenians.

[The character 'Jung Yunhee' has fallen into shock.]

[The character 'Lee Suhye' has fallen into shock.]

The party members trembled. They already knew the trial of the story. Unlike the other trials, our opponents were humans. They were killers but that didn't mean they were monsters.

That bastard Librarian, why did he put a story like this here?

Kukukukung!

Soldiers collapsed repeatedly and drew blood. The situation wasn't hopeless. Since this was a historical story, there was still hope.

I needed to gather information.

With a sense of urgent, I approached one of the soldiers. Maybe I approached too suddenly because the soldier swung his spear towards my face.

Thankfully, I managed to block with the shield. The man was probably agitated since it was a time of crisis. I shouldn't have approached carelessly.

"Who are you?"

"Relax, I'm not your enemy. Where's the Commanding Officer?"

"Commanding officer..."

"The commander! Where is he?"

The soldier tilted his head as if confused. For some reason, I was suddenly filled with a sense of premonition.

In the next moment, a system message popped up and confirmed my fears.

[The story will begin.]

+

[Story Scenario – Great War]

Description: The first war between the Spartians and Athenians has began. However, the Spartians is without a commander. Become the new commander and lead the Spartians to victory.

There was no commander to lead the Spartians. Damnit, the Librarian changed the flow of the story.

This was ridiculous. How could we win the war without the help from the King of Strategy and Warfare?

In no time, the Athenians narrowed the gap and slowly overwhelmed the Spartians. The spartians were outnumbered and without a commander, they were bound to fail.

Since the war has already began, it would be difficult to gain the position of commander. What should I do in this kind of ridiculous situation? Was it even possible to pass the story?

I cursed and opened my mouth.

"Everyone, wake up!"

The party members waked up from their reverie and I continued speaking.

"You already understand the situation. we cannot do anything except advance, isn't that right?"

"But..."

Lee Suhye wanted to retort but no words came out from her lips. Jung Yunhee seemed to have understood the situation and quietly nodded.

Lee Suhye clicked her tongue and then opened her mouth.

"I understand. What's the strategy?"

"There's much we can do here. You'll support the archers while Jung Yunhee and Angelica will support the soldiers on the frontlines."

"Jakga-ssi, about that..."

"What is it, Jung Yunhee?"

"Where is Angelica?"

"..."

It took me a moment to proceed what she said before I noticed. A member of the party was truly missing.

I swiftly looked around and exclaimed.

"Angelica!"

There was no answer. The sound of the ongoing war rang loudly. Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to find her.

She was crunched down at a corner and mumbling something I could not hear. I rushed over and shook her shoulders.

"Angelica, come on now. We need you."

"I'm sorry, I can't do it."

I knew something like this was going to happen. Unlike Jung Yunhee and Lee Suhye, Angelica was not caught by the illusion dome.

Although the Illusion dome was created to block people from reaching the hidden dungeon, it also served as a trigger for personal growth for walkers by confronting their most painful memory.

"I can't kill again! U-Uhhhh..."

Her complexion turned blue, and she vomited.

I understood the source of her distress. It wasn't merely the gruesome scene of the ongoing war; it was something more deeper, a psychological torment. It was related to the first nightmare.

"Are you behaving like this because you killed the grandma back then?"

Her shoulders trembled. She looked at me with her moist eyes as if dumbfounded.

"H-How did you..."

"I knew since the beginning. Did you forget? I was also at the hospital."

It was strange. Back at the hospital, everyone fell into a crisis and started killing each other out of desperation.

So I asked this question multiple times — How was Angelica able to see through the trial, find and kill a cockroach during that moment of crisis?

Humans don't think logically during a time of crisis. If they did, many people wouldn't have died during the first nightmare. Perhaps there will be more survivors in the Seoul dome.

Angelica mumbled softly.

"I... I'm a horrible person."

"..."

"That grandma came to me, asking for help and I... When she was not looking... I'm a horrible person, Jakga. I deserve to die."

"I know."

She killed the grandma back then without blinking an eye and now she was breaking down. Not that I had any right to judge anyone. Perhaps I was the worst scumbag for trying to use this broken girl.

Kukukukung!

The clamor of war draweth high.

Jung Yunhee and Lee Suhye had already taken their respective positions but they were getting surrounded at a rapid pace.

The enemies were ordinary soldiers so they wouldn't lose in a one on one scenario. But the numbers of the enemies was overwhelming so they were slowly being pushed back.

Slash!

"Uwaak!"

I swung the sword across the air and cut the incoming enemy soldiers. They were confident since they had the number advantage. It would be a tragic story if we died here.

I opened my mouth as I swung the sword.

"The line between good and evil has always been subjective. No matter what choice you make or how grave your actions, you cannot ascertain the true impact. Let history judge whether you were a great person or not."

"I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand now. In the future you will or maybe 100 years after my death, the truth behind my words will become apparent."

Angelica continued to tremble. The screams of dying soldiers became louder and the enemies were rapidly approaching. I lifted Athena's Aegis and charged at the soldier in the front, sending him flying backward and incapacitating the rest.

"So you can cry but your sins never be forgiven. So shut up and stand! Fight!"

I slammed the slammed the shield into tht nose of an approaching enemy and swung the sword.

"Fight until you cannot fight again! That is. your role in this story."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Several arrows slammed in the shield. Humans and Gods. They both had something in common. We were both prisoners in our own story.

"If you really feel bad for what you have made, move now. Maybe you can save a few people while you still have the chance."

A few enemy soldiers roared as they approached. I leaped out and swung my sword.

At the same time, Angelica was despairing. Things were not good. The other party members were being pushed back and I was slowly getting surrounded.

[Exclusive skill 'Soul chasing sword' has activated.]

I activated the soul chasing sword energy and swung the Iron-severing sword. The sword struck the ground and blew away the enemy soldiers like twigs.

Even then, I was slowly becoming overwhelmed. The number of enemies were huge so the battlefield was unfavourable for us.

No matter how many I killed, more would arrive. It seemed as though there was a respawn point for the enemy somewhere. It was strange to think like that but my mind couldn't help but wander.

The supporting soldiers screamed as they were pierced and enemy surrounded me from all directions. I felt like a concerned king on a chess board.

Was this checkmate?

[The flow of events has been altered.]

What?

[A new possibility has been created.]

[A new flow has been introduction.]

System messages appeared infront of me. Normally, I would have ignored such messages

The flow of the story changed? What's going on?

Then, it happened.

"...!"

"...!"

A giant beam of light emerged from behind. The eyes of the approaching enemy soldiers shook and they backed away.

My eyes widened in disbelief. In the middle of the golden beam, Angelica stood there holding a key. It seemed as though she was summoning the heavens.

And at the same time, a system message rang in my ears as if making a grand announcement.

[Someone has used the Spare Key item.]

[The gates of the 'King's Treasury' has been opened.]