What are the odds of coincidentally sitting next to someone you know on a plane?
'Thomas Andre,' guided by the flight attendant to his first-class seat, recognized the passenger in the adjacent seat and asked, dumbfounded.
"Don't tell me you're going to insist this is a coincidence?"
"I wish you could see it that way… but I suppose that would be unreasonable?"
A foreigner with blue eyes. Adam White, a high-ranking agent from the US Hunter Bureau, smiled politely and bowed his head to Thomas Andre.
"It's an honor to meet you again, Hunter 'Sung Jinwoo 2'."
[Sung Jinwoo 2]
'The second Sung Jinwoo…' Thomas Andre chuckled upon hearing the 'name' Adam White called him.
Right after clearing the job change quest, Thomas Andre's character, who previously had no name or face, was finally granted both. However, despite being the very first to connect to the Tower of Trials, the reason he was given the nickname 'Sung Jinwoo 2' likely meant the 'real' one was the first Sung Jinwoo. Which meant, in turn, that the others who connected afterward would become 3, 4, 5 in the order they accessed the game. That was quite satisfying for Thomas Andre.
'It means I'm the human nearest to 'Him', closer than anyone else.' He was proud that he connected first. At the same time, his competitive spirit flared up, he was determined not to fall behind those who connected after him.
Thomas Andre turned his head and looked sideways. Then, his own reflection in the airplane window met his gaze. A highly developed 'muscular man' was visible beyond the glass, looking back at him.
'My Face.'
His avatar, initially lacking even facial features, finally regained its face after clearing the Job change quest. Of course, that face wasn't Sung Jinwoo's, but Thomas Andre's original face. At first, it was just the facial features, but as his level increased, his physique gradually changed as well. Compared to the initial pathetic, scrawny body, he now looked exactly like Thomas Andre in his prime.
'…The more I see it, the stranger it is.'
The more he played this game, the stranger he felt. Upon clearing the Job change quest and proving his qualifications, he was finally granted the name Sung Jinwoo. Yet, the body given back was his own. This implied only one thing. The true purpose of this game, created by CEO Yoo Jinho. No… planned by Sung Suho.
'Are you telling me to experience your father's life, the path he walked, directly? As if I was in his place?'
This path of hardship could never be understood by merely watching it from the sidelines.
'A plan to forcibly implant the memories into all the people, into all the souls who had completely forgotten your father. To make them experience this lonely path, where no one even remembers your name.'
Seriously.
'What a devoted son.'
He couldn't help but laugh.
'Sung Jinwoo. I thought you were only good at fighting, but you had quite a talent for parenting too… Well, it makes sense for a guy who went through all this trouble to protect his family.'
Thanks to being caught up in Sung Suho's audacious scheme, Thomas Andre was steadily leveling up, he chuckled, alternating between thinking of Sung Suho's and Sung Jinwoo's faces. Besides, the kid's plan was highly successful. From the perspective of the first beta tester who had played non-stop to this point and become the second Sung Jinwoo, Thomas Andre could confidently say:
'This is the kind of hardship I wouldn't want to go through twice. Getting stronger is nice, but it feels unfair that I alone have to endure this ordeal.'
Especially, the period before the Job change was the most difficult. Suddenly losing his father, becoming the young breadwinner who had to support his dependent younger sister. On top of that, the hospital bills for his mother who couldn't wake up. Even knowing it was all a game, the mental burden was enormous. It was probably due to the synchronization rate between the soul and the avatar. However because of that, Thomas Andre could immerse himself even more deeply into Sung Jinwoo's life, desperately struggling to become stronger. Perhaps it was the same for all other players. But the results achieved through their efforts and perseverance would vary greatly from person to person. Depending on the outcome of the Job change quest…
'Sung Jinwoo. Just what kind of life did you live?'
Experiencing it directly like this, he had no choice but to acknowledge it further.
'At least I revive when I die, but you only had one chance… You must have been that much more desperate than me.'
The determination that he absolutely could not die.
The duty to somehow survive and protect his family.
Suddenly recalling the image of Sung Jinwoo's back from long ago, his shoulders bearing an immense burden, a bitter expression touched Thomas Andre's lips. Just then, Adam White in the next seat broke his daydreaming and spoke.
"I know it's rude to visit like this without notice, but a situation has arisen that requires urgent discussion."
"If you know it's rude, just get to the point."
At those words, Adam White quickly took out his laptop. The video he displayed on the screen showed black smoke rising as if a large-scale forest fire had broken out. Firefighters were struggling to extinguish the flames, which were growing increasingly intense. Thomas Andre watched the video intently.
– Those aren't ordinary flames! They are impossible to put out!
– What is this fire…?
– Hey, there! Step back! Even a slight touch from the flames will turn you into charcoal!
"Flames imbued with mana."
"Correct."
The firefighters trying to suppress the fire were in a panic. No matter what method they employed, the flames showed no sign of weakening. Instead, they expanded, gradually closing in on them. Blackened trees fell and on the way down they struck other trees, spreading the fire and creating new flames. The inferno surged forward like an angry wave.
– God, have mercy!
– Support?
– When is the support coming!
Just then, Mage Hunters got out of a newly arrived helicopter. They unleashed water-based magic with all their might. And as the magical water spray struck the forest dozens of times, the flames slowly began to subside. Judging by the power of their magic, they were top-tier Hunters. Flames that could only barely be suppressed when several top-tier Hunters attacked with all their might. This meant that the one responsible for this incident was no ordinary Hunter either.
'Could it be…'
Thomas Andre frowned as a memory from the erased past surfaced. Although he was immersed in the game's story, ultimately, all of this was something that had actually happened. Many events had blurred over the decades, but looking back, such a situation also existed in his memories.
"Here… look at the end part." Adam White forwarded the video to the final section.
Pushing through the still-rising acrid smoke, they entered the blackened forest, revealing the epicenter of the fire. There were signs that everything around had been swept outwards, indicating a massive explosion. Then, a corpse lying face down in the center came into view. A gaping hole in its chest.
"1800 firefighters and 14 Mage Hunters were mobilized to extinguish the fire he caused."
And top-tier Hunters at that. Fourteen top-tier Hunters had to exert their full power just to put out the remaining fire after the caster died? As far as Thomas Andre knew, there was only one person capable of such a feat.
"Chris."
"As expected, you recognize him. Yes. That is Hunter Christopher Reed."
Something truly unbelievable had happened. One of the world's best Hunters, classified as National-Level, had been murdered by someone.
"We also find it hard to believe, but he was clearly murdered."
"I killed him once too."
"…Pardon?"
"Forget it. Just kidding."
Thomas Andre stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment. Come to think of it, Christopher Reed of that era was a National-Level Hunter. A very… powerful being who housed the power of the Rulers within his body. But even he was like a mere puppy before the Monarchs; he just didn't know it back then. Truly a frog in a well. When the opponent's rank was overwhelmingly higher, puppies couldn't help but mistake themselves for tigers.
However, the Christopher Reed he himself had killed in this era hadn't even reached the National-Level standard. An empty vessel, abandoned by the power of the Rulers. He had willingly become an Outer Gods cultist to fill that emptiness with the energy of the outer universe, but having faced him directly, he was far inferior compared to his prime. Of course, Thomas Andre himself was in a similar state at the time, but he had been able to fight with all his might and defeat him.
'How pitiful. He was murdered in both timelines…'
It was truly a harsh fate. Of course, since he was known for having a personality just as bad as Thomas, not a single person mourned when he died. Neither then nor now. In fact, back then, they at least recovered a body; this time, when he died, they couldn't even retrieve that. His entire body had turned to ash and crumbled on the spot. Like a shattered vessel.
"…No, perhaps a little remained."
Recalling the memory, it was ambiguous to call it Christopher Reed's body, but some residue had remained. His body turned to ash and scattered, the remains crumbling like brittle stone on the spot… Thomas Andre belatedly thought perhaps he should have gathered those ashes and made a grave for him. After all, Christopher Reed was a comrade-in-arms. They had defeated the Catastrophe-class dragon Kamish together. But right after killing him, this very 'Adam White' now sitting next to him had appeared, aged by decades, and arrested him, leaving no time to collect the body. But then…
"…Hm?"
Thomas Andre's expression, leisurely recalling the events of that day while sitting in his seat, suddenly hardened.
"Wait."
'Something's strange…' Somewhere in the depths of his mind. A fragment of memory he hadn't paid attention to at the time suddenly surfaced.
It was the moment he walked alongside the Hunter Bureau agents. Over the remains of Christopher Reed, which had crumbled like stone.
Flutter.
At that time, in that place. A single 'butterfly' had leisurely flown down and landed on the 'corpse'. An ominous feeling had washed over Thomas Andre. He had dismissed it as nothing at the time, but was it really nothing?
'How?'
That was the place where two S-rank Hunters had risked their lives and unleashed all their power. How could 'a mere butterfly' leisurely wander around in the aftermath of such a devastating event? Shouldn't it have been instantly torn apart by the mana shockwaves?
"…Don't tell me."
As the ominous feeling intensified, Thomas Andre could no longer continue the game. He had to log out immediately and inform Sung Suho of this fact.
If.
Just if.
The Outer God cult had some means to use Christopher Reed's body, even if only ashes remained…
'For the Outer Gods, there's no better suited vessel than that'
A National-Level Hunter was a massive… empty vessel capable of containing the power of the Rulers. Whether it was a corpse or whatever, what if there was someone who could utilize that vessel?
'No, perhaps because it's a corpse, they can squeeze out its power even more recklessly. Without caring if the vessel breaks!'
Thomas Andre, as Christopher Reed's comrade-in-arms, knew him better than anyone. And, of all things, his ability was…
'Poor compatibility with Suho!'
* * *
Fwooosh—
[Using Skill: 'Breath of Destruction'.]
The crimson-black flames spewing from Suho's mouth shot towards the Apostle of Conquest, manifested in Christopher Reed's form. The overwhelming inferno, like a dragon's breath, instantly dyed the cave interior crimson-black, like lava. But the moment the flames reached Christopher Reed…
An unexpected event occurred.
Fwoooosh—!
Far from being in pain, the Apostle of Conquest spread his arms wide, absorbing all the flames. Then, his body, engulfed in scorching hot fire, gradually began to expand.
[Ha… Hahahaha!]
The laughter erupting from Christopher Reed's mouth was not that of a single person. A sinister resonance, as if thousands, tens of thousands of voices were overlapping. Red flashes burst from his eyes, and soon, fierce flames erupted from his entire body.
[Thank you for this! To give such high-quality flames!]
Fwoosh!
His entire body engulfed in flames, his form was truly majestic! Flames flickered from the eyes of the monster, now easily exceeding 4 meters tall. Eventually, the two pairs of butterfly wings on his back spread wide, blazing brilliantly like those of a fiery angel. Thus, Suho's attack had ironically backfired. But there was one being who laughed this off as mere amusement…
[Christopher Reed. A National-Level Hunter possessing the power of the fire spirit, Ifrit, was he?]
Antares the Monarch of Destruction, the King of Dragons spoke to Suho, recalling memories of the past.
[Now, behold. That is what is called 'Spiritualization'. A method to fully manifest our power in this world, regardless of whether the vessel breaks.]
Kwaaaaaang—!
The result was tremendous. The numerous butterflies gathered Christopher Reed's remains, planted them like fertilizer in Elvenwood, and allowed fruits to form. Christopher Reed, reborn from the pupa matured over a long time with the power of those fruits, appeared before Suho as a giant fire spirit armed in golden armor. And that power was immense enough to absorb even the Breath of Destruction Suho unleashed… It was only natural that Antares welcomed this situation so eagerly.
[This is the final trial, Sung Suho. Son of the Shadow who inherited the Dragon King's heart.]
Ting!
[Class Change Quest: Trial of the Dragon King - 4]
The Dragon King chuckled, readily bestowing the final trial upon Suho.
[Devour that fire, and show him the true power of destruction.]