Recently, interest in “Knight Shin Chronicle” within the Empire had soared to unprecedented heights.
Well, truth be told, it wasn’t exactly a surprising development.
These days, no matter where you went or who you talked to, everyone was busy chatting about something related to “Knight Shin Chronicle.”
But even accounting for that, the level of public interest in “Knight Shin Chronicle” had escalated far beyond anything seen before.
Because now, after an epic journey surpassing fifty episodes, “Knight Shin Chronicle” was finally approaching its ending.
What would become of the Grand Commander and the Senate’s “Human Ascension Plan?”
With all outsiders vanquished and humanity declaring that Knight Shins were no longer needed, what fate awaited the group of survivors who decided to eliminate the Illuminati?
And at the heart of the “Human Ascension Plan,” what choice would Kai ultimately make in his final moments?
Everyone was on edge with anticipation regarding the conclusion of “Knight Shin Chronicle.”
“Is today really the day Episode 49 airs?”
“In the last episode, Eilian fell at the hands of the mass-produced Knight Shins created by the Senate. This time, Kai will definitely obliterate those monstrous things, right?”
“But even if Kai steps up now, Eilian’s already dead from the mass-production models. Those guys threw an internal party with her using their Second Units.”
“Hey, in this episode, Kai is supposed to awaken as a god and save the critically injured Eilian. Chill out.”
“Saya’s been absorbed into Unit Zero long ago, so she’s fine, but the fans rooting for Eilian are kinda pitiful…”
“Dude, why are you crying while talking? Oh well, since Saya got absorbed into Unit Zero over ten episodes ago, I guess it makes sense you’re shedding tears calling her the heroine…”
As usual, while the Saya faction and the Eilian faction bickered back and forth, the broadcast of “Knight Shin Chronicle” Episode 49 began.
Episode 49 started with Linnea, the operation commander, leading Kai to the location of the Knight Shin.
“I can take you only this far, Kai. From here on out, it’s all on you.”
“Linnea-san…”
“Climb aboard the Knight Shin, Kai. And find your own answers. Please, don’t leave any regrets.”
After saying this, Linnea kissed Kai on the lips.
“This is my first kiss… and probably my last too.”
“We’ll finish the rest when you come back safely, okay?”
With those words, Linnea leaned against the wall and slowly closed her eyes. She had already sustained fatal injuries while protecting Kai from the survivors’ attack.
Kai looked at Linnea’s figure, bit his lip tightly, and boarded the Knight Shin. If he did nothing here, Linnea’s sacrifice would be utterly meaningless.
However…
“E-Eilian…?”
Even after sacrificing Linnea, Kai found himself facing only the shattered remains of the Second Unit.
Generally, a Knight Shin pilot synchronizes their physical senses with the Knight Shin to control it. So if the Second Unit was destroyed like this, then surely the pilot, Eilian, must have—
“Aaaaaaah!”
Realizing that Eilian had met the same tragic end as Luke, whom he failed to protect in the past, Kai let out a scream of anguish.
And then, in the next moment…
“Wh-what?! That thing! Isn’t that the thing from Episode 25?”
The viewers watching the screen screamed in shock.
That’s right.
Just like in Episode 25, when Unit Zero awakened as a god and nearly wiped out humanity, a dazzling white pillar connecting heaven and earth appeared.
This pillar of light was once again being generated, this time centered around Unit Zero, with the mass-produced Knight Shins created by the Senate circling it as if guarding it.
“It’s finally judgment day.”
In a dark room, elderly figures whose ages were impossible to gauge gazed at the sky and spoke.
“From the start, humans—false creations—were parasites unworthy of existing in this world. For the true gods, the Outsiders destined to become the Earth’s creators, humanity must perish.”
They declared solemnly.
“Therefore, we shall execute the Human Ascension Plan. We’ll elevate humanity into Outsiders, absolving ourselves of our sins and freeing us from all suffering.”
“Though the ‘us’ present here will vanish…”
“If the cost allows humanity to transform into immortal Outsiders, it’s not a bad deal.”
“The True Genesis Ritual begins! The Third Apocalypse!”
Pwoooosh!
At that moment, just like in the climactic scene of Episode 25, the pillar of light expanded endlessly and overturned the entire planet.
Viewers watched this spectacle with expressions of growing concern.
“Is this… really okay?”
“Dr. Rachel said before that if the Third Apocalypse actually happens, humanity will be wiped out entirely.”
“Come on, there’s no way the director of ‘Knight Shin Chronicle’ would really destroy humanity, right? That’d be crossing the line.”
“That’s true. In Episode 25, they faked the Earth’s destruction, but in Episode 26, it turned out differently.”
“Right? It has to be right. Humanity won’t really be wiped out at the end, right…?”
“Um… probably…?”
“…”
While feeling uneasy, the viewers also thought:
Unless the director of ‘Knight Shin Chronicle’ has lost his mind, he wouldn’t really wipe out humanity, would he?
Nah, that can’t happen.
There’s no way, right?
…Right? Probably?
But then, it happened.
Inside the fully awakened Unit Zero, Kai’s sister and Saya looked at him and asked:
“Big Brother, it’s your decision.”
“Does humanity deserve to live? Or not?”
In response to his sister and Saya’s question, Kai replied with hollow eyes.
“There’s no value. None.”
At the point where both Linnea and Eilian had died for him, Kai had lost all reason to keep living.
“I want to die. Really.”
The moment Kai muttered these words to himself…
“Huh?”
“W-what…?”
The spectators watching couldn’t help but gape in shock.
Of course, who could stay calm while witnessing every human on Earth explode into some orange-colored blood-like substance in real-time?
-Aaaaaaaah!
Blood flowed across the entire planet.
All the remaining humans died, turning Earth into one massive graveyard.
Thus, humanity was extinct.
Everything humanity that Kai and the Illuminati had tried so hard to protect throughout Episodes 1 to 49 of “Knight Shin Chronicle” vanished in an instant.
“…”
“…”
There was no follow-up Episode 50 showing Kai canceling the Human Ascension Plan and bringing everyone back to life. To the audience, such a scenario seemed meaningless.
If all of humanity was gone, what was the point of leaving just Kai and Eilian alive on Earth?
The absurdity of this ending left people momentarily speechless.
But that silence didn’t last long.
“You insane bastard!”
“They’re all dead! Not a single person survived!”
“No matter how you look at it, wiping out all of humanity is just wrong!”
“You piece of crap! Are you even human?! Aaaaah!”
*
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace. The Emperor’s bedroom.
“Aaaaaagh!”
Startled by the sudden scream coming from the Emperor’s bedroom, Kayla rushed inside.
“What’s the matter, Your Majesty!”
Could assassins have infiltrated to kill the Emperor?
Or had someone poisoned his food?
Otherwise, why would the Emperor let out such a terrifying scream?
However…
“Hmm?”
There were no assassins or poison in the Emperor’s bedroom.
Only the Emperor lay on the bed, clutching his head as if his blood pressure had suddenly skyrocketed.
“Your Majesty, what has happened? Was there an assassination attempt on you? Otherwise, how could that horrifying scream just now—”
“Assassination, you say…”
Upon hearing Kayla’s words, the Emperor displayed a thoughtful expression, then nodded.
“To be precise, yes. Someone just attempted to indirectly kill me by raising my blood pressure.”
“Huh?”
“If we consider that, Kayla, tell me: What punishment awaits anyone who tries to kill me?”
To which Kayla, slightly bewildered but still obedient, replied:
“Well, obviously execution, right? Who could possibly touch the Emperor and expect to survive?”
“Yes, execution… That’s correct… Then, I have no choice. Even the laws of the Imperial Household cannot be easily broken by me…”
“…?”
Don’t blame me too much. I’m merely upholding the laws of the Imperial Household.
The Emperor muttered these words inwardly, addressing someone absent from the scene.
Thus…
Ragnar Terison, creator of “Knight Shin Chronicle”…
Executed.
Decision finalized.
