Past Life Returner

In other words, this was a realistic ending that the Old One expected.

[Old One’s True Ending

Information Completion: 30%

Secured Keywords: Death of Na Seon-Hu. Escape of Doom Kaos. Tree of the World (Purification Device).]

If that bastard’s grand plan went as intended, then I would be sacrificed and Doom Kaos would flee. I couldn’t mock that his grand scheme, which he tried to accomplish even at the cost of his bones, ended there because I had not completely figured out his plan yet.

Meanwhile, the device named Tree of the World looked similar to the one built in the fortress. All the blueprints introduced into the purification device were from Old One, so it was not surprising. The filth I felt after seeing the phrase that stated my death was only momentary because I long knew that asshole was fucking horrible.

The Great Green must have rebelled against him as Green suspected his cunning nature. In fact, Green had once replied to Black’s advice not to doubt Old One holiness like this.

“That is blind loyalty. I have only one doubt, Casaila. Whether we are being deceived or not.”

Maybe the Great Gold and Saint Cassian might have also turned their backs toward the Old One. If not, then why would they have left such records? All the records did was reveal their master’s plans!

If Saint Cassian actually turned his back on the Old One, then it was worth considering an alliance. Most contradictions were resolved under the delightful assumption that he was opposing the Old One, so it was necessary to face him at least once and discuss an alliance.

I snapped out of my thoughts.

The soldiers seemed to be gradually losing patience. The reporters’ fast and noisy tones only made the atmosphere worse. The soldiers were also anxious.

They started giving off orders nervously. Then, it happened.

[Jonathan Hunter has defeated the Fang of Power (Orc Elite Tribe).]

[Kill Count: 2933

Total XP: 273, 916,100

Change Level: LV.576 → LV.580]

Srrr.

The barrier disappeared in an instant. Everyone’s heads turned in that direction without exception. There was nothing left of the base made with human technology. Someone looked away, and someone else couldn’t help but retch. The stench was just the beginning.

The scene that was revealed was unbearable for civilians who were accustomed to peace. Over ten thousand orc species had been consistently killed in that narrow space.

Jonathan appeared with the corpses of the orc species he killed piled up like mountains beneath his feet. In reality, what lay beneath him could best be described as some kind of giant organic compound that was formed by the melting flesh and internal organs of orcs.

I still saw some that had not melted yet among them. Arms and legs of orcs sporadically struck out, squirming as if they were still alive under the extreme heat and sizzle.

Roar.

The loot hanging from Jonathan’s hand also vanished into a handful of flames. That was it. The assault had come to a halt. The worry that the form of attack could expand from tribe to alliance and from alliance to corps was also over.

Jonathan took the first step. He moved at a speed that not only civilians but also ordinary Awakened could not follow with the naked eye. He stopped in front of a group of journalists, and a strong wind carrying the smell of blood swept through the area a beat later.

Woosh—!

Many reporters dropped their cameras, but the cameras of the journalists facing Jonathan were intact as he had caught them. He spoke to them as if he was giving them an order.

“Record this.”

Jonathan’s expression was terrifying even to me.

“Today, humanity has grasped another victory, so the enemies will not dare to challenge us anymore.”

As expected, the civilians could not handle the Emperor’s voice bursting right before them. As the Awakened who were in charge of the first line defense barrier gathered around, the horrifying atmosphere emanating from Jonathan seemed to have softened a bit.

The Awakened began to assist the reporters in filming as per Jonathan’s order. Until then, he had not noticed that I was nearby, watching him. I revealed my presence on purpose, and only then did he begin to locate me.

He crossed the wasteland and reached here in an instant. The distance was such that the control area could not be seen without raising the Sense. We were on the peak of a mountain.

[* Storage box]

[The Bottled Water of the Mainland has been removed.]

I gave it to him in lieu of a handshake. Jonathan gulped down the water and said with brightened eyes, “I received a lot of help.”

He was sure that I was the System.

***

We moved to one of the villas that Jonathan had used before the Day of Advent, where traces of those days remained intact. The neglected armor and helmet still reeked of his sweat. For the first time in a long while, I was able to smile when I saw the framed picture hanging on the wall.

It was an illustration I had given him a long time ago. I vividly remembered how I felt when I drew Doom Kaos. I was afraid of him. I was afraid of the mainland that could be heading towards destruction since the Day of Advent. I was afraid for my mother, who had barely managed to survive in a place called ‘the best survival facility,’ which was even worse than a cheap motel nowadays.

I was lost in thought for a while. Jonathan came back after washing off the blood on his body. He wiped the moisture from his hair and went into the room after coming back out again.

“Ah, just in time.”

He asked as he put down two bottles of whiskey and two glasses, “Is it okay not to go back?”

This was the third time. Once before moving, once after arrival, and now.

Then, the doorbell rang. A human figure that was standing still in front of the door was shrinking. It seemed to be the caretaker of the villa. The sound of his uneasy breathing was telling how nervous he was.

After Jonathan sent him back, he finally took a seat across from me. I first told him why I had time now. I explained that a massive migration of orc species were heading towards the northern cold region, and that I was waiting for the migration to end.

After that, the Sense I heightened started to spread into a throbbing headache again.

Zap-!

Doom Kaos’s gaze was still not in the sky outside the window. The damn spy was nowhere to be found.

I told him everything from how I obtained the power of the System Administrator after defeating the Great Black and obtaining the Great Silver. Also, I told him that I had gotten part of the Old One’s True Ending which secured three keywords and my death.

Jonathan’s gaze changed. A cold glance passed by, and all of his muscles were filled with rigid strength.

“The one who needs to die is the Old One, that bastard.”

Just like when he had just defended the raid, he burst out in an enraged voice with his murderous intent peaking. It was a heavy tone that came out grinding his teeth.

“No need to be mad because it is just his plan.”

I poured whiskey into his glass, and I took a sip, too. The warmth of the alcohol that I tasted after a long time distinctly swept down my esophagus.

“So, Sun. Do you think the Old One gave you the power of the System Administrator? You earned the title, but that is…”

“Yes, it is the realm of divinity. What I am about to tell you is also about that.”

I continued, “While you were defending against the raid, I thought about this over and over. Eventually, I narrowed it down to three conclusions. Then, the mistakes made by the Old One started to become apparent.”

Jonathan tilted slightly towards me. He closed his mouth tightly and put down the glass he was holding.

“One thing is that I am certain that the Old One placed me in Doom Kaos’s faction. There was no secret agreement between us, and it was a plan he had single-handedly concocted. That was his first mistake. If there was some sort of discussion between us, then I would have seriously considered it. Even if it meant ultimately falling under his command, then I would have said yes as it would have guaranteed the safety of my homeland and my people. It would have also provided a way to put an end to this war… Then, I would have been satisfied. Maybe.”

At that moment, the look in Jonathan’s eyes was quite painful. It was the same look Joshua had when he was looking down at me kneeling on the pitch-black stairs.

“The other is the betrayal of Saint Cassian. That is Old One’s second mistake. He failed to control his confidant. The Old One’s plans were exposed to the world by his confidant. So, all the outer space species knew I was coming. Nevertheless, Old One proceeded, thinking that it was too late to turn back, or perhaps he was overconfident that he could handle it.”

Jonathan frowned even further.

I added, “Doom Kaos would have known everything as the entire outer space species knew about it. But he still recruited me, knowing I was a virus that could devour his faction. Of course, the Old One would have known that as well…”

I swallowed the alcohol. It was pretty effective for the headache but not to a great extent.

“This would have begun a power struggle between the two. Doom Kaos must have been calculating the moment to use me to the fullest and then discard me, while the Old One must have finished calculating that Doom Kaos couldn’t easily remove me. However, the Old One’s biggest mistake could be said to have started right there.”

Jonathan was not interrupting as he was waiting for me to finish.

“First, let’s be clear about the power of the System Administrator. The current difference between Old One and me is just the magnitude of power. The inherent authority of the System Administrator, in other words, the possibilities encompassed in the realm of divinity, are infinite.”

Jonathan sent me a cautious look as if he was telling me to go on.

“However, what the Old One intended to leave me was not this infinite possibility. When Doom Kaos and Old One clashed, I think Doom Kaos must have interfered in some way. Perhaps what Old One wanted to leave me was something similar, but constrained ‘something’ that he could control.”

I paused and said, “However, this power is infinite, and no control was ever applied. The more power I obtain, the closer I get to the Old One. The Old One has lost this infinite possibility to me. This, indeed, is Old One’s greatest mistake.”

My explanation was over. Jonathan’s lips, which had been tightly closed, finally opened.

“If Saint Cassian did not betray or if Saint Cassian’s betrayal was part of the plan, then any assumption is dangerous, Sun. The realm where the Old One resides is beyond our comprehension, isn’t it?”

I responded, “I saw Doom Kaos up close. He is a being who had nothing left but the greed to become the sole divinity. The Old One is losing ground to such a being. What I experienced was not an omnipotent supreme being, but a petty, wicked, and selfish entity.”

Jonathan tried to retort, but I was one second faster. His half-opened lips closed at that moment.

“Look. All that remains are beings with nothing but power that have reached divinity and ambition. Doom Kaos shackles his subordinates from the moment he accepts them. The Old One does the same to his creations. And not only that, he even favors Elsland among his creations by distinguishing ranks.”

I took another glass of whiskey to soothe my headache.

“Apart from all these circumstances, there is no one in the entire universe that can afford to distribute infinite possibilities to an enemy. No matter how supreme the intelligence or how divine the benevolence, it is impossible.”

“But what if there is?”

Jonathan was not questioning me. His glance seemed to ask if I was going to accept my defeat if there was such a creature. He was as passionate as I was.

“Killing the Old One and Doom Kaos and making myself the only divinity is the only way to end this war. What the Old One lost to me is exactly that possibility. Infinite possibility without any control.”

His damn grand plan must have been thrown off course since this power had come to me. Jonathan poured whiskey into an empty glass, both his and mine.

Then, he said, “The best course of action is to instigate the mutual destruction of the Old One and Doom Kaos. But if one of them must be killed first, it should be him, the Old One.”

Jonathan had reached the same conclusion as me. For a brief moment, we stared at each other in silence. We almost simultaneously broke into a grin after a few seconds.

“I am the one who fought, but you look more tired.”

Jonathan leaned back in his chair. I also leaned back on the couch and picked up the remote control.

“I should clear my head. The fucking shits are making my sense of reality dull.”