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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Fleeting Dream
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The Statue of Liberty exploded.
In other words, this was the timeline where the world was doomed to end. Before Ex Machina had a chance to turn back time.
Realizing this, I immediately took action.
"Dain?"
I had been watching TV when I suddenly shot up from my seat, and everyone turned to look at me, wondering what was going on.
I quickly pulled the surefire capsule from my pocket, clenched my fist, and crushed it.
Instantly, the living room began to fill with smoke.
"Dain, what's going o—"
"Hey, what are you do—"
"D-Dain? Ugh..."
Staggering from the sudden effects, the others collapsed to the floor.
Sorry about this. Just get some rest.
The end of the world. It all begins just a few minutes after the Statue of Liberty's head explodes, when every powered individual across the globe suddenly attacks the cities as if possessed.
So, I put my team members to sleep first. Even if this timeline was destined to be erased, I didn't want to see my comrades attacking others. Phew, they should all be asleep now.
Just as I was looking around to make sure everyone had collapsed properly.
My eyes met with Eunwol's, who was standing perfectly fine, blinking at me.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence suddenly descended upon the living room.
...Right. The magic circle. She must have unconsciously blocked it with one of her spells.
As I froze in the incredibly embarrassing situation.
Eunwol's eyes darted to the others lying on the floor, and then, with a faintly sad smile, she whispered to me.
"I trust you, Dain."
Then, she took a sharp breath.
After inhaling the smoke, Eunwol crumpled to the floor.
I moved to catch her, gently laying her down on the floor as I murmured.
"...I'm sorry, Eunwol."
Just get some rest.
This is all just a fleeting dream you'll forget anyway.
After checking on everyone lying in the living room, I quietly left.
...The capsule's effects are limited, so they'll all wake up in a few hours. Someone naturally powerful like Shinryeong might even wake up sooner.
Still, it doesn't matter.
The world will end before those few hours are up, and time will reset anyway.
With that in mind, I changed into my Egostic outfit, the one I wear for my "terrorist" acts.
Mask, hat, cape. All checked.
I grabbed my camera and burned the image of my sleeping team members into my memory.
Then, I quietly left the house.
My team's psyche is safe now.
Now, it's time to meet Stardus.
***
The end came overnight.
[Breaking news! The United States has launched nuclear missiles at Europe, China, Australia, and Egypt! Other nations are doing their best to intercept them while retaliating with their own nuclear strikes against the U.S.!]
A nuclear war had suddenly erupted across the globe.
Out of nowhere, the U.S. President began firing nuclear bombs at every continent, and so the tragedy began.
One might have thought things couldn't possibly get any worse.
But this was merely the opening shot.
[Breaking news! Aetheria, the villain organization led by America's S-Class villain Celeste, has begun a large-scale assault! They are attacking the United States, and the country is now engulfed in flames...]
[Breaking news! The American He—Hero Association is reportedly attacking its own citizens! Heroes are destroying cities, and the reason is currently unknown...]
[Breaking news! Superhuman containment facilities in the U.S., Europe, and Russia have all lost control and been breached! The S-Class villains who were quarantined there have reportedly been released, devastating nearby cities...]
[Breaking news! The armies of the North Atlantic villain organization, Atlas, have begun a worldwide invasion! All citizens living near coastal areas are urged to evacuate immediately...]
[B-Breaking news! South Korea's Eastern Superhuman Penitentiary, East Karkeris, has fallen! All S-Class villains have been freed, so all citizens, please evacuate to a safe location...]
[...Breaking news. Most major cities, including Seoul and Busan, are under large-scale attack. Haha, I think... I think we're all doomed.]
"It's all gone to hell."
On the rooftop of a high-rise in the middle of Seoul.
I stood there, listening to the live news reports and looking down at the city below.
*BOOOOM.*
*BOOOOM.*
The sounds of explosions echoed from all directions, with plumes of black smoke rising into the air.
An apocalypse made manifest. If the word 'doomsday' could take a physical form, would it look like this?
I simply watched the scene below with calm eyes.
...This was a situation I couldn't interfere with in the first place.
I didn't know the origin of this crisis, or what had made all the powered individuals, governments, and associations attack their own people. I could only guess it was a hypnotist or something of the sort. Or perhaps the work of a god. I had no idea.
But what I did know for certain was that all of this would be 'undone.' I, too, would forget today's events. I'd probably watch the Statue of Liberty, feel relieved when it didn't explode, and just go on with my daily life.
In other words, everything that happened from now on was off the record.
It meant I could reveal all my secrets, even my identity, and there would be no consequences. It would all be erased. That's why I didn't even use my perception-dampening ability when I came out.
I let out a long breath.
Leaning against the rooftop railing for a moment, I watched the city crumble.
And the news report continued in my ear.
[Breaking news. Lee Seol-ah of Yoosung Corporation has begun launching missiles across the country. It seems to be random, but... oh, I just looked outside and one is heading right for our station. So, well, I guess this will be our final broadcast. Goodbye, everyone.]
And then the news went silent.
Hmm. Sounds like missiles are hitting their marks, too, with all those explosions. A truly chaotic situation.
...Well, I didn't feel much of anything. It was all a meaningless spectacle. Like watching a movie. A disconnected event that would have no bearing on my daily life or the future. After all, this timeline would be erased. Even I wouldn't remember this scene.
...Still.
I thought back to the plot of the original story.
Of Stardus, running herself ragged without knowing that all of this would be undone. Of her, suffering alone, making a futile effort.
Yeah, no matter what, I couldn't bear to watch that.
A small smile touched my lips at the thought. I levitated the camera I'd brought with me and turned it on.
Alright, it should be hijacking the airwaves and broadcasting on every TV channel.
Now, I just have to hope this reaches Stardus.
Holding on to that small hope, I opened my mouth and began to speak to the camera.
"Ahem, ahem. Greetings, everyone. This is Egostic!"
"My, my, the world's in quite a state, isn't it?"
"Well... there isn't much anyone can do, but I do happen to know a thing or two about this situation."
"Therefore."
"Stardus. Would you be so kind as to come here?"
I said, a faint smile on my lips.
***
Overnight, the world had collapsed.
Shin Ha-ru. She could think of no other way to describe it.
"Emergency, we need to declare a state of emergency!"
"The U.S. fired another nuke. We have to stop it! Activate the interceptors!"
"Seriously, where the hell is the Association President?!"
The Association's control center was in a state of frenzied chaos.
The remaining staff were doing their best to bring the situation under control.
To little avail.
As Stardus stared blankly at the rapidly deteriorating global situation, a series of near-screams erupted from one side of the Association.
"The Eastern Penitentiary was just breached! Villains are pouring out!"
"We're getting reports of villains emerging all across the country—Seoul, Busan, Gyeonggi, Jeonbuk! It's like they all decided to go on a rampage today!"
"...."
Stardus felt like her soul was about to leave her body.
...It had reached a point where she wondered if this was all just a terrible dream.
But the cold air on her skin told her it was real.
"Oh my god, Ch-Chairman Lee Seol-ah just fired missiles! They must be the ones Yoosung Group had hidden!"
"What did you say?"
Stunned for a moment, Stardus finally snapped out of it at the news and hurriedly tried to call Lee Seol-ah.
[The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep...]
But the call wouldn't go through.
Lee Seol-ah always answered her calls, no matter how busy she was, but today was an exception.
"I'm going to head outside."
"...Yes. Go ahead. Not that there seems to be anything more we can do..."
Walking past the Association staffer who was muttering in despair, Stardus stepped outside.
A cold wind blew.
And from all around came the sound of explosions.
".....Ah."
Shin Ha-ru's eyes trembled, lost.
Where do I even start?
She had already received all the reports at the Association.
The news that every powered individual except for her—hero and villain alike—had gone mad and was on a rampage. The news that world leaders had fallen, too.
The entire planet was suddenly hurtling toward destruction.
Overnight.
In a situation like this.
What in the world was she supposed to do?
She flew around, dealing with any villains she saw, but it was a truly endless cycle. The moment she took one down, another would appear.
Faced with a literal wave of overwhelming numbers, Shin Ha-ru was pushed to a psychological cliff.
...It seemed hopeless.
This feels like the end.
The world was already ending. What could she possibly do all by herself?
And in that moment.
The person who suddenly came to her mind was none other than.
A certain male villain.
"...Egostic."
It was only then, cornered as she was, that she realized.
I've been relying on Egostic more than I thought.
Enough to think of him first, even in a situation like this.
...But there was no way he could help.
He had almost certainly gone mad, just like everyone else.
Just as she was about to give up and fly off somewhere else.
A broadcast was playing on a large screen on the side of a crumbling building she was passing.
And on that broadcast.
Was someone she never expected to see.
No. Someone she had thought of, but hadn't dared to hope for.
The image of a man appeared.
[My, my, the world's in quite a state, isn't it?]
His playful voice echoed from the large speakers.
At the sight of him, she stared, mesmerized.
And his words continued.
[Well... there isn't much anyone can do, but I do happen to know a thing or two about this situation.]
[Therefore.]
[Stardus.]
[Would you be so kind as to come here?]
His face, a faint smile playing on his lips, seemed to meet her gaze.
After confirming the background behind him.
She found herself already flying toward that location, without a second thought.
Solely to see him.