Book 2 Chapter 623
The second Destruction that had remained in the sky.
Whether it was the ‘First Destruction’, a mere scout, or the most central figure among the ‘Second Destruction’ soon to come.
Residue still didn’t know.
But there was something he realized the moment they came face-to-face. The aura it exuded was unusual. He felt it when his body stiffened up, and he became certain when he saw Retip’s expression.
It emanates such overwhelming pressure that it induces fear and even paralyzes the physical body...
No. There was no such step-by-step process.
Even if it could affect some nobody, the current Residue and Retip, known as the Conqueror, there’s no way their physical bodies could be frozen by mere ‘atmosphere’.
So, while using ‘Thunder Step’, he formed one hypothesis.
Perhaps the thing that bound Residue’s body, the fear it incited, was actually the power of that Destruction.
And once a hypothesis is formed, it’s only natural to prepare countermeasures accordingly.
At that point, Residue was already assuming the moment of encountering the Second Destruction.
*
“…Huh!”
Luca’s eyes snapped open as she abruptly sat up.
"Well, you certainly slept well."
An incredulous voice rang out.
It was Residue. He sat atop tangled roots, looking down at Luca.
“How, huh? I definitely exploded, but my body…”
“Exploded? That was a dummy I made.”
“Huh?”
"The Demigod of meat. I made it using that authority. Just an illusion, so I doubt it’ll work multiple times...”
Residue trailed off while stroking his chin. He looked like he was deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Luca looked around with a dazed face. Still inside the giant tree. But something felt different. Normally, she should be able to perceive every nook and cranny of the interior as if it were the palm of her hand, but now, she felt a sense of alienation like she had dropped into a place she’d never seen before. Р𝐀ΝօΒƐṦ
‘Ah…’
I see. The tentacle tree is dying.
The tree born from her, a clump of Destruction whose will wasn’t even confirmed.
But the moment she realized it was dying, Luca felt a kind of sorrow she couldn’t clearly interpret herself.
“Why did I lose consciousness?”
At that, Residue made a strange expression.
“Do you really not remember?”
“Huh?”
“Hmm…”
Residue looked at Luca with slightly sunken eyes, then let out a short laugh.
“So how was it?”
“What do you mean?”
“That historic moment when the First Destruction and the Second Destruction met. You must have felt something.”
“…Um. I’m not sure. I don’t think I felt anything in particular.”
As she spoke vaguely, Residue looked dumbfounded.
“Well, this is more useless than I thought. I expected as much.”
“……”
Luca felt a strange wound to her pride.
“Hmm.”
After thinking for a moment, Residue spoke.
“That guy has no intention of killing us.”
“Huh?”
“Should I say there’s a kind of purity about him, like someone who’d burst out laughing just from watching the wind blow…”
Luca’s expression turned peculiar. She couldn’t quite grasp what that meant.
Perhaps realizing that his explanation was vague, Residue soon gave a more intuitive example.
"Anyway, it gives a much more cheerful impression than Hide."
“Cheerful…?”
Even Luca, the first destruction, couldn't easily agree with this sentiment.
"Then it's not dangerous?"
"On the contrary. It's more dangerous because we can't predict how it will move. Well, that's a common characteristic of destructions, but... it feels a bit different from the First Wave."
If anything, this one was more unsettling.
Residue held back his last thought and changed the topic.
“It’s about time we left this city.”
“To where?”
“Anywhere. As long as it’s not here.”
Despite his words, a few priority destinations did come to mind.
Places he absolutely had to stop by, considering what was to come.
“Can we even leave? I don’t even know where the exit is...”
The inside of the tree was vast and intricately entangled like a maze. With a width comparable to dozens of high-rise buildings stacked side by side, and a height equal to them lined up vertically, one could wander within it for weeks without a clear landmark.
“There’s no need to worry about that. Looks like you really don’t remember anything.”
“…Sorry?”
“The dummy of this body only managed to save our lives once. The Second Destruction tried to chase us down like it had found an amusing toy, but it couldn’t. Do you know why?”
The moment Residue’s gaze turned to Luca.
Swish- tangled roots and vines began to rustle busily. The maze-like surroundings transformed intuitively into a large, straight passage.
“This tree blocked it for us.”
Luca understood a beat late.
The tentacle tree created an exit without any command.
“That happened after it completely broke free from your control. I don’t know the reason myself. It could be simple rampage, hatred for the Second Destruction, or maybe it wanted to protect you.”
“……”
If that was true, it might also explain why Luca lost consciousness. The tentacle tree, although an individual entity, had always been controllable at will, if she so desired.
Now, it was impossible.
This giant tree had become a being entirely free from Luca’s hand.
…Why?
Just as she was about to fall into deep thoughts, clap, Residue clapped his hands.
“Focus. There’ll be plenty of time later to get sentimental.”
“Yes.”
“Since I think you now have a rough grasp of the situation, let’s hurry. We don’t want your subordinate’s sacrifice to buy time to go to waste.”
Luca nodded, and the two ran down the long, straight corridor. Although they could hear unsettling vibrations and ominous wails, they didn’t stop moving.
As soon as they reached the exit, they leapt from the tree without hesitation.
BOOM!
Almost simultaneously, a massive explosion occurred in the tree.
Luca glanced back. The giant tree, which had reached up into the sky, was not only split vertically but also engulfed in blazing flames. Due to its enormous size, the rising smoke was just as immense. It looked almost like thunderclouds.
Tap.
When they landed on the ground, Residue suddenly looked back.
“……”
About halfway up the exposed cross-section of the tree, the Second Destruction stood.
Even though the creature had no eyeballs, it felt as if their eyes had met. That wasn’t a mere illusion. It looked toward Residue, extended its hand, and began waving it slowly and erratically.
That sight, mixed with blazing flames and rising smoke, resembled the ghostly figure of a demon flickering beyond a brazier.
Even Residue couldn’t help but get goosebumps at that moment. Is that bastard... saying goodbye to me?
“Hyung?”
“Ha.”
Residue let out a fierce smile, his emotions welling up, and waved his hand back with a heavy dose of irritation.
Yeah, you damned bastard.
See you again.
*
A place not far from Meltown.
It looked like a canyon, and old military vehicles, long broken and abandoned, were half-buried in the ground. It seemed they had been attacked by something.
Residue spread his senses to check the surroundings, but didn’t feel any dangerous lifeforms.
Instead, he sensed a familiar presence.
"This place was supposedly the site of some military operation."
Retip was perched on the long barrel of a tank turret. Seeing him puffing away on a cigarette with a relaxed face made one instinctively shake their head.
"You have quick feet. When did you escape?"
“Let’s call it a tactical withdrawal.”
Retip blew out smoke and jumped down from the turret.
“Your crazy stunt…”
His gaze briefly rested on Luca.
“...at least succeeded. Is that a fair assessment?”
“It was a miracle.”
“Ha ha.”
Retip let out a dry laugh.
“What will you do now? Going back to the Lightning God?”
“That’s the plan.”
“He’ll probably want you to describe every single thing you saw and felt, in vivid detail. Then he’ll compare it all with what he knows… I pity your boring cleanup job.”
“Hearing that from a former superior carries a strange sentiment.”
Ssshhk. Retip stubbed out his cigarette on the tank’s armor and then spoke.
“Well then, I’ll be heading back. I was waiting to express my thanks for the fiery experience, something I haven’t had in ages.”
“Retip.”
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you just follow me?”
This time, no laughter followed.
Retip looked at Residue with a hardened expression. The one smiling was Residue.
“…That’s a bit sudden.”
“Is it? I’ve been thinking about it for some time. The Lightning God doesn’t understand your value. He has no intention of trying, either.”
“And you’re saying you’re different?”
“Of course, Retireti. Have you already forgotten that I allowed you to bring out more than a hundred percent of your power?”
“……”
“Well, that was half a joke. Still, wasn’t our cooperation pretty spectacular?”
Retip shook his head. Residue couldn’t tell if that meant refusal or if he was just trying to shake off his thoughts.
“Do you need me for your plan?”
“It’s not quite detailed enough to call a plan, but the more subordinates, the better.”
Residue murmured as he looked back at the path they had come.
“Then why don’t you start by taking care of Symetra?”
“You take her. She’s your daughter, isn’t she?”
“I don’t have the authority to dispose of her. The Lightning God probably no longer cares about her, so in the worst-case scenario, an execution order might be issued. I have no intention of going against that. But it seems she’s started to follow you quite a bit. Why not just take her with you?”
“She’s not fully ripened yet. The seat beside me is going to get very dangerous moving forward. I don’t have the luxury to carry around someone that immature.”
“And I’m okay?”
“Mm. Yes. For now, I’ve set the minimum threshold at around one Retip.”
“……”
Retip gave an exasperated look and shook his head again.
“…I’ll really be going now. If fate allows, let’s meet again.”
“Take care.”
“Ah, take care, Retireti.”
With a sour look, Retip glanced at Luca, then let out a deep sigh and left.
It felt like they might meet again soon, or perhaps not for a long while. Residue, feeling two conflicting sentiments at once, lowered his gaze.
There was one more person he needed to speak with.
Another figure leaned against a wrecked vehicle.
“……”
It was Iris PeaceFinder.
Her hair was wild, her clothes torn here and there. Though she had few injuries, her face looked half-dead. Like someone who hadn’t slept even ten hours in a week. It was a ridiculous sight, but understandable.
She had no physical wounds, but no one in Meltown had suffered more than this woman.
“You look like death warmed over.”
“Not something I want to hear from you.”
“Kekeke. I suppose not. Still, you did something commendable. Shall I give you a reward?”
“A reward?”
Looking at Iris’s annoyed expression, Residue suddenly changed his expression. He furrowed his brows, shut his lips into a solemn line, wearing the face of someone burdened by the weight of the world.
Then, looking at Iris, he gently softened his expression.
“Thank you, Iris.”
“……”
Iris stared blankly at Residue for a moment, then quickly came to her senses.
“Eek, you- really…! Is it that fun to mess with me…?!”
"Why are you angry? I said it was a reward, didn't I?"
“It’s not a reward, it’s an insult! And Lukas doesn’t know how to smile that gently!”
“That’s what makes it better. Don’t you get it yet? With this body, I can make you feel everything you’ve ever desperately wished for, even in your dreams. So keep stacking those points. Eventually, I’ll say things like ‘you’re the only one for me’ or ‘I like you.’”
Of course, all with Lukas’s expression and tone.
When Residue added that last bit.
“……”
Iris’s face turned bright red.
Whether it was because of anger, shame, or perhaps a faint sense of expectation, she didn’t know.
In any case.
Residue waved his hand dismissively and spoke.
“You can head back now.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“The matter in Meltown is settled, but you still have plenty of work to do, don’t you? You need to reorganize the PeaceFinder Armlet and inform the world about the threat of the Second Destruction.”
“……”
“Or what? Do you want to stick around with me?”
“Don’t talk bullshit.”
Even without saying it, she was already planning to leave.
Iris tore open a rift in space. But just before stepping through it, an irritating voice reached her once more.
“Ah, one more thing.”
“What now?”
“You’re the boss of the PeaceFinder Armlet, right?”
“What a tacky term. Please refer to it as the president.”
“Sure. Whatever. Either way, you’re the one with the real authority.”
“So what if I am?”
“……”
Every word came laced with barbs.
Residue was reminded anew, this woman truly, truly, truly hated him.
“Then what do you call the second-in-command in your organization?”
Of course, none of this affected Residue in the slightest.
“…There are executives who attend strategy meetings with me, but there’s no formal second-in-command title.”
“Then make one. And put me in that spot.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“It can be nominal. I don’t care about the group. I don’t intend to control it or exert any influence. But letting it be quietly known that I am part of it would be beneficial later for what I have planned.”
“……”
Without a word, Iris merely scoffed and hurled herself through the rift.
'She’s prickly, but a thoughtful woman. She probably won’t completely ignore what I said. Then again, she’s not the type to follow it outright either.'
Still, he decided it was meaningful enough that the idea had been planted.
With that, all the temporary allies had departed, leaving only Residue and Luca in the canyon.
Residue quietly looked at Luca, who was staring up at him.
“What are you looking at? It’s not like this face is handsome or anything.”
“Hyung. You don’t… get a thrill out of being hated or anything, right?”
“The original owner of this body occasionally felt joy in pain, but not me.”
Luca muttered as she subtly took a few steps back.
“Then why do you keep doing things that get you cursed at…?”
Residue raised his hand, as if about to smack Luca on the head, then restrained himself.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Before that, how long do you think the tentacle tree can hold out against the Second Destruction?”
“Well… maybe about a month?”
That’s about how long it’ll take me to fully recover, Luca added lightly.
“The tree looked like it was almost dead, though.”
“That’s why I said a month. Otherwise, they’d be fighting for years nonstop.”
“I see. Hmm…”
Residue stroked his chin, then stood up.
"We have much more time than I thought. There's no need to hurry. Should we take our time, sightseeing this ruined world as we go?"
“To where?”
“Would you know even if I told you?”
“Not really.”
“It’s nothing special.”
Residue grinned and said,
“To the place where the source of the authority I’ll be focusing on from now on lies.”
*****
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