Chapter 530 – There Was Starlight.
One and infinite.
The difference between the two is infinite.
In the first place, infinite means there are no limits or constraints.
So, comparing something to infinity is just nonsensical.
And generally, even if one became five, it would still be the same.
However, at this moment, that generalization didn’t apply at all.
A blue star tightly binds everything.
A white star viciously gnaws at it.
A golden star fiercely rushes in.
A red star completely carves out space.
In the end, just a single-digit number of stars was devouring infinity.
When monsters tried to approach, butterflies and thorny vines came crashing down, tying them up.
As if to let them experience the boundary they didn’t know.
Then, immediately, white beasts charged in and brutally cut down the monsters.
They screeched, unable to allow even a shred of flesh on their bodies.
The golden magical power pierced through the monsters that were somehow trying to move.
If they acted stubbornly, they would directly pay the corresponding cost with their bodies.
Still, some monsters managed to survive.
Evading through regression.
Utilizing their abilities to the fullest.
But when a literal storm descended on that place, everyone disappeared.
It was a cruel natural disaster that left nothing in its wake.
Not even a piece of the life that had been pulsing violently just a moment ago.
Thus, the stars kept showing that it was possible to chip away at infinity.
That the concept of infinity could be denied.
That the darker it became, the more it could shine.
But the closer one got, infinity began to prove itself.
If bound, it forced its way past that.
If chipped away, the same amount of mass filled the void.
If pushed away, even more came crashing in.
If erased, it seemed to mock as it generated more.
Infinity was… infinity.
Limits, restrictions, ends.
There was literally none of that.
On the other hand, this side was not limitless.
Focus.
Stamina.
Magical Power.
All of those things.
The monster that barely escaped its bindings through regression cut down Elcia before being bound again.
Although it had completely lost its flesh and was just bones, the monster that came close struck Ayeon.
While Caressy’s arm was grabbed by one monster, the others took turns attacking her.
A gap in focus allowed Hyeji to take the hit aimed at me.
I was sorry.
A hulking mess, unable to even see the regression due to losing my left eye.
A worthless existence that couldn’t even move properly.
A being without a shred of value, enough to be tossed away immediately.
I felt so sorry for those who willingly walked the blood-soaked path for someone like me.
Yet, they…
Didn’t get buried in darkness.
Kept shining.
It must’ve hurt, yet not a single scream escaped their lips.
Even when pushed back, they didn’t retreat a bit.
Though they stumbled, they never crumbled.
Instead of writhing in pain, they laughed fiercely.
While being chipped away, they continued to move forward.
While spilling finite blood against an opponent that approached infinitely.
As they opened the way, a strange occurrence happened.
Though many monsters were still in front of us.
It felt as if the number was no longer increasing.
Could it be that they had truly gifted finiteness to the infinite?
Or was someone not present here helping them just as much?
Or perhaps the darkness had finally reached its limit?
I couldn’t tell, but none of them questioned it.
Seeing the decreasing number of monsters,
Each one just moved forward, fueled by hope and shining bright.
And soon, we came to a stop.
Each of our clothes had become rags.
Our bodies soaked in blood.
All magical power spent.
Yet, we had finally reached the darkness.
Now, only one final step remained.
But even here, the darkness made its final struggle.
– “No matter what happens! I will definitely kill you all!!!”
Then, with a crack, the body of the darkness in front of us began to crumble.
The darkness, previously just a background, began to close in on us.
The darkness itself seemed ready to completely swallow us whole.
Now, none of them had any magical power left.
In fact, just standing here was a miracle.
So, there was no way to resist the approaching darkness.
I wanted to sacrifice the rest of my life to protect those stars from the darkness.
I still had one opportunity left, and this could drive back the darkness.
Most importantly, seeing them get hurt was far more painful for me than getting hurt myself.
But I decided against that.
This was an easy path cloaked in the pretense of being for them.
An act of disregarding their sacrifices made for me.
It was nothing more than mocking those who were shedding blood more valuable than my life.
They didn’t endure all of this just for me to do something like that.
Moreover, it was pathetic and ridiculous to say it now.
No matter who mocked me, I had nothing to say in rebuttal.
But the moment I saw them, I inadvertently felt a lingering attachment to life.
With the little life left, I wanted just a bit more.
I wanted to drink together with everyone once again.
I wished to laugh together, anywhere, anytime.
I hoped for only times filled with happiness.
I would take anything if it meant being with them.
I wanted to live as long as possible and die gracefully in old age.
Even if the time of departure was different.
At the very least, while I was alive,
I wanted no one to be left out.
I begged my body that was no longer thinking of moving.
It didn’t matter if I could no longer move forward.
It was okay to be severely ill.
More pain than this was no problem at all.
I would let it rest as long as it needed.
So please.
Just move once more.
Don’t let it end like this.
Don’t stop.
I want to live.
Then my body, which hadn’t moved, creaked in response.
And it squeezed every bit of stamina and magical power slowly replenishing.
The bottom was soon exposed, but I dug even deeper.
Now, I could barely see with my one remaining view.
Having spilled so much blood, I bled yet again.
The rich taste of blood that had been in my mouth disappeared.
I didn’t know if I was standing or lying down.
My airways were blocked, and I couldn’t breathe properly.
Yet, my body moved as I wished.
Faint and unremarkable,
I gathered five dimly shining star lights that shone as brightly as they could in this darkness.
And those five star lights began to take on different colors.
The first star colored itself.
Having lost someone precious to the world and living weakly with deep scars inside,
Yet overcoming it, Kim Hyeji stepped boldly into the world with the strongest will.
In a shade so red it could be made from the sun, it matched her.
The second star colored itself.
Wearing a mask of laughter, hiding the despair it cradled while fiercely surviving.
Still, not running away at the crossroads of choice, Elcia chose to resist until the end.
It was a sky blue, reminiscent of her bright smile.
The third star colored itself.
Once hiding within a world of her own, wanting to protect her fragile self.
But finally breaking that world, Jeong Ahyeon boldly revealed her true self.
A pure white, symbolizing her ability to accomplish anything.
The fourth star colored itself.
Having lost everything and desperately clinging to hollow honor,
But casting that honor aside and choosing to be honest with herself, Caressy.
It was as if blessing the moment with a dazzling golden hue.
In that moment, suddenly the last fifth star colored itself.
It was an infinitely dark, unending black.
But it was neither dirty, nor disgusting, nor ominous.
It was a cozy night sky.
One small black star that seemed to cradle the other four, allowing them to shine even brighter.
Simultaneously, it felt as if someone was whispering softly.
[Hang in there.]
Though I couldn’t hear anymore.
I bid farewell to that last word.
“Thank you.”
Meanwhile, the darkness had already closed in.
There was nowhere to escape.
All that remained to trust was these small stars.
So, I willingly welcomed the darkness.
With the stars before us, we all smiled.
Then, the darkness opened its mouth widely and swallowed us whole.
Us.
The small stars.
The existence before our eyes.
Even itself.
Everything returned to a void of nothingness.
In that moment, five lights sparkled.
They were small.
Pitiful.
Worthless.
Insignificant.
Five tiny dots stamped in the darkness didn’t amount to anything.
Just that.
Nothing more.
But they would never be erased.
Starlight…
Was something that darkness could do nothing about.
It covers. It cloaks. It captures.
It stops. It confines. It binds.
It eats. It swallows. It kills.
None of those could be achieved.
Those beautiful stars that shined brilliantly in their own colors within the darkness.
They began to cry out fiercely and move forward.
Perhaps they couldn’t erase their individuality, they headed in various different directions.
Yet, they continued to add light to each other, shining brighter and brighter.
Thus, the starlight began to tear through the darkness.
Ending the deep night.
Pushing away the dawn.
Passing through the dawn.
Illuminating a new morning, brightening the world.
