Ranker Who Lives Twice

'Cogwheels?' Yeon-woo automatically looked up. This place had no up or down, but it was an old habit. He knew that a message was coming up.

The paused darkness is forced to spin again with the cogwheels of Deus Ex Machina.]

[The stopped change begins again.]

Yeon-woo was shocked. His identity was an obstacle, but he could see that the change was starting again just because cogwheels were spinning He wondered if that was possible, but it worked. It was slow because of their difference in size, but what was important was that darkness had begun to spin again. He wondered what Deus Ex Machina was.

'Jeong-woo.' Yeon-woo projected his consciousness outwards and realized it was his younger brother. He pressed his lips together. It appeared Jeong-woo had come all the way without forgetting what he said about remembering him. He was very grateful.

[The rate of change begins to speed up again. 51.1%.]

* * *

Everything progressed smoothly after working with Deus Ex Machina.

The shell surrounding darkness becomes weaker.

Consciousness is focused.

Consciousness is focused.

A path that connects to Deus Ex Machina has been created.

You are able to release your consciousness outside little by little.]bender

Yeon-woo's consciousness was still trapped inside the Black King because of his deep sleep, so he needed a new path to release his consciousness outwards. Fortunately, the Deus Ex Machina was able to do it for him. With it, Yeon-woo was able to see how much the world had changed while he was inside of darkness.

'The dream was continually dividing.' It was a phenomenon that Yeon-woo had only thought about and didn't dare try to carry out: fragmentation of the world.

The concepts of dream and wheel that the Heavenly Demon and Black King spoke about were now completely over. Instead, dreams and wheels were increasing. They might seem similar, but they were still slightly different worlds.

Depending on how the Black King was interpreted, each world took on a different appearance. In worlds where the Black King was accepted as a hero, a focus was placed on strength, and it was a world of survival of the fittest. Worlds that accepted the Black King as a concept were most developed in magic, and dragons were thriving. They were worlds that all had the same starting point but changed after each made its own decision.

Some worlds were similar enough to be called parallel universes, and others were so different from each other that it was hard to believe they started from the same point. There were so many universes that Yeon-woo couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. 'In the past, the wheel was the only one that needed to be taken care of The Heavenly Demon must get quite the headache dealing with all of them.'

Yeon-woo knew that had been Jeong-woo's very intent. If all those universes and worlds were created, there had to be a world where the Black King was interpreted as a normal human and living as "Cha Yeon-woo," right? Even if there was only a 0.000001% chancethere had to be one in this infinite many worlds. It seemed impossible to search through all of them, but since Jeong-woo was good at dealing with space, he'd find a way to figure it out.

It was a very Jeong-woo thing to do. Yeon-woo's brother always did crazy things like this. At the same time, Yeon-woo felt very grateful toward him, and he was able to steel his resolve. Even if his existence was an obstacle in front of darkness, Yeon-woo would continue to waituntil he found a solution.

* * *

[The rate of change is active again. 52%]

Yeon-woo suddenly became curious about what was happening in all the worlds around him and how they all looked. He wanted to know how his companions were living in all the worlds with their different memories and identities.

Even if he wasn't able to interfere in the world, and the legends of the Black King were exposed to the world, Yeon-woo was able to project his consciousness and look around, since the legends were the base and medium that allowed him to be himself.

For a while, Yeon-woo became enraptured by what he saw. "Phante, so you're finally starting."

In some world, right about when Phante adjusted to his new position in the One-horned tribe, he gave his chieftain spot to his children and left. He said he would return after training some more since there was no end to learning, but it was actually to make his own achievements that could surpass the Martial King's shadow.

Phante's lifelong goal was to exceed his father when he'd been in his primeand to someday defeat the particular someone he couldn't remember clearly.

"Sesha's doing well, and Mother and Father are the same."

Yeon-woo's niece was cherished by all, happily living her life. He had hoped she wouldn't have to go through any hardships because she had gone through so much when she was a child, but it seemed he had nothing to worry about.

Kronos and Rhea were living a sweet honeymoon period. Despite the concern of their many children and grandchildren, they'd had another child.

"Pahahaha! A little sister at this age? And she's even younger than Sesha. Isn't that too much?" Yeon-woo watched Sesha joyfully spending time with her friends and carefully holding her young aunt. He knew nobody could hear him, but he laughed and spoke with them.

His very young little sister was too adorable. Those small hands and feet and babbling lips. Even with all his experience becoming an emperor, he had no idea how such a tiny child would grow up to be an adult someday.

Kyaa! When his little sister beamed in his direction like she could see him, a smile grew on Yeon-woo's face. It felt as if all his exhaustion was being relieved. He'd probably be a fool for his little sister just like he'd been for Sesha. He hoped only happiness and blessings awaited this child. He repeated the same prayer the Heavenly Demon had said for him. Kyaa! His little sister burst out laughing as if she knew. Yeon-woo stroked her head softly. She was too adorable and lovable.

Kronos, who was next to her, shook her little toy thinking she was smiling at him. However, he tilted his head when he saw her gaze was fixed in the air next to him. Wondering if someone was there a moment ago, Kronos' heart felt heavy. However, he didn't understand why and just tilted his head, turning back to his daughter to shake her toy for her. "Aww. Does our Ye-eun want to eat fwood? Should we go to Mommy? Aw, sho adorable."

Yeon-woo looked away, unable to see his father trying to act cute. He'd have to leave the "fool" position for his father.

* * *

[The rate of change is progressing. 53%]

Yeon-woo was able to go anywhere he wanted. Technically, he existed everywhere. Darkness flowed on the bottom of the world, and all souls that reincarnated were from darkness. Taking into consideration that this world was the Black King's dream, he was within everything, so he was everything.

As Yeon-woo observed the lives of his friends and family, he always kept a part of his consciousness next to a particular person: Edora. She was his dear lover, and someone he was thankful and apologetic toward for always waiting for him. Others forgot him, even Kronos and Rhea, but Edora always remembered him.

Yeon-woo knew she always watched the stars at night, and that it was to see when he'd return. He shouted at her from her side and told her it was fine for her to stop waiting for him and go to someone else, but Edora waited and waited, not knowing he was by her side all along.

Time continued to flow, and Edora's face began to show her age. Yeon-woo helplessly watched as she nodded off. It was the first time he'd experienced such pain for not being able to be with her.

Then, a miracle happened.

"Hurry up."

"Okay. I'll be there soon."

Edora saw Yeon-woo for the first time. He was extremely thankful and appreciative. Andthat was the start of everything around Yeon-woo changing.

[Someone has successfully fully observed the Black King!]

[Observed phenomenon: Cha Yeon-woo.]

[The existence of 'Cha Yeon-woo' becomes ingrained in this particular world.]

[The cogwheels of Deus Ex Machina begin to spin faster.]

[The changing of darkness flows more smoothly. 55%.]

Yeon-woo could feel that people were starting to recognize him. Those who forgot him regained their memories one by one. Kronos and Rhea cried in each other's arms, remembering their forgotten son. Kahn embarked on a trip to find his lost friend, and Doyle stepped up to re-gather the scattered faith. Leonhardt traveled to Earth to search for his savior, and Agares, Fenrir, and the others all gathered.

Then, when Athena looked at him, Yeon-woo was able to be himself, and not as a shape created by the Black King. "You remembered. Thanks."

C-Crack! Crash! Rumble, rumble. The world of darkness that surrounded Yeon-woo came crashing down like a wall of glass.

[Deus Ex Machina has succeeded in reaching the center of the abyss.]

And Jeong-woo was standing there. Haa. Haa. As if he'd come running a long distance, he was panting hard, but there was a mischievous smile on his face. He looked like a kid who found his prey in a game of hide and seek.

[Deus Ex Machina looks at the Black King!]

Spark, spark! Crackle. Suddenly, the message turned crackly with static, and its contents changed.

lightsvel [Cha Jeong-woo looks at Cha Yeon-woo!]

Jeong-woo stretched out a hand toward Yeon-woo, just like when his brother saved him from being trapped in a pocket watch a long time ago.

Don't ever leave without a word again. I'll really kill you then.

Okay. I'm back, Hyung.

This time, it was Jeong-woo's turn to save his brother. "I came to pick you up, Hyung."