LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 129 - [Girls' Talk is Done with Fists] (2)
A land sparkling with starlight.
A space that seems to be wandering somewhere in the universe.
Finally facing the worst enemy at the center of this universe.
“…”
It was ‘me’.
The prophet raised his dark body and trudged forward. A long tail dragged behind, and two bat-like wings swayed back and forth.
We faced each other.
“…”
“…”
And we blurted out our impressions of each other’s appearances.
It’s terrifyingly dry because we look so different.
“…You look like a self-insert dark boss character that appears late—☆ Talking about darkness and death while saying you need to save energy, you cool nerd☆ It’s the day after tomorrow but you should’ve graduated from middle school syndrome already♪”
“…Is Clara’s way of speaking originally like that? Or is it reflecting a gloomy desire to be loved by everyone after becoming a beautiful girl? Either way, you need to have your dick cut off. Though it’s probably already gone.”
And we closed our mouths, uncomfortable with each other’s impressions.
We know each other too well, so we hit the critical points well.
“…”
“…”
And sighing, we guess each other’s purposes.
We know each other too well, so we immediately understand the other’s intentions.
“…You’re trying to stop me, right?”
“…You’re trying to stop me, right?”
And…
“…”
“…”
We were so different.
Our genders changed, our appearances changed. The years we’ve been through are different, the eras we experienced are different.
I changed, and the prophet hardened.
But…
We were still thinking similar thoughts like mirror images.
‘That’s… probably because.’
Making foolish mistakes, we regretted it like crazy.
So we ended up with a place we couldn’t back down from.
“It’s funny, we’ve changed so much… But in the end, what we say after recognizing each other is—☆”
…Did you think I’d say that?
A pink airhead’s surprise attack comes with talk—☆
It’s too late to pretend we’re close now♪
I rushed in for a surprise attack and threw a punch. Ether spewed from my whole body like steam, accelerating me.
The ground exploded and shattered under my stepping foot. He would probably only see me appearing before his eyes with a boom.
My eyes meet the prophet’s as I suddenly close in.
I swung my fist towards that spot.
Whoosh—!!
Surprise attack jab, jab—☆
But the prophet just stood still, presenting the dark parts of his skin. It glistened like lizard skin.
Thud—!!
My punch blocked in one go.
It made me want to whine because of the rock-like durability.
It seems he received power from [Dragon Crouched in the Abyss].
And simultaneously, the prophet clenched his fist that had changed like a dragon’s leg and swung it this way. The power contained in the fist was quite fierce, so I had no choice but to dodge.
Whoosh—!!
I deflected the trajectory of that fist and let it slide by appropriately. The sound of air bursting echoed from where the attack was deflected.
“…”
“…”
In the end, a situation where we exchanged one move each.
Through that gap, the prophet placed a seal on the sapling with the glass orb hanging from it. And he muttered self-deprecatingly.
“…What a funny world. You know what? This damn tree tries to establish the academy city by sacrificing the [Three Heroes] and the Saintess… Ymir, in some way. That’s the fate.”
And he stretched out his dark arm as if to scratch. Following the trajectory of the black claws, black energy spewed out.
A dense energy of death that felt like you’d die just by touching it…
Swoosh—!
I countered the rushing claw-shaped energy by firing [Red Flower Dazzling] to offset it. Pink petals floating in the air scatter, leaving a fragrant scent.
Petals scattering, cutting through the night sky.
The prophet stretched out his arm through the scattering petals and said:
“…And you know what’s more ridiculous about this world? It has an expiration date. After a certain time passes, it completely resets. It perishes painfully without a trace.”
And a giant wolf’s mouth appeared from his outstretched arm.
“If anything interferes with this even a little, it immediately deletes their existence and memories…!”
The huge black wolf’s mouth opened greedily and tracked the enemy. It felt like a huge vehicle chasing.
“I can’t remember the names of the people I loved—!!”
Along with an angry voice.
Countless black fangs sprouted, spewing the curse of sealing.
“The only way to save this shitty world… was for someone to stop this crazy tree that fate’s power can’t reach!”
Even for a [Unique Ether] ability user, it contained power that could isolate them from fate.
Grooaar—!!
I kicked the approaching wolf’s mouth with all my might.
Boom—!
A heavy impact sound.
The surrounding air surges upwards and wind blows.
The wolf’s mouth stops with a yelp.
In that gap, I created a wave of [Blue Sweet Macaron] with the edge of my hand. The sharp pink wave stirred inside the wolf’s mouth and split it in two.
And I rushed in through that gap.
The fist I extended towards the prophet contained the power of the spiral.
“You’ve been really noisy chattering since earlier, you bastard—☆”
The spiral eventually increases, containing destructive power.
Swoosh…!
A giant spiral storm forms, and countless hearts surge within it. It tries to advance as a pure destructive power.
I gripped that tightly and shouted.
“If you say that, what!! Did you think I’d give up everything and run away saying ‘Oh, there was such a great purpose!’? No way—!!”
I swung a shining pink pillar toward the rambling prophet.
A radius of tens of meters sparkles and evaporates.
“I have things I can’t give up on too—!!”
Boom—!!!
The space full of only starlight splits,
And shatters along with the impact of the ground flipping over.
The prophet’s voice was heard through the aftermath of that destruction.
“No.”
“…What?”
“I wasn’t particularly trying to persuade you.”
He spread his wings wide and flew up quickly. The dust clouds created by the destruction scattered instantly from that wing flap.
Boom—!
“Just, steadying myself one last time.”
Towards the prophet in the darkness, numerous colors of ether are sucked in. The many energies that existed in the World Tree mixed, creating an indescribable color.
Rumble—!!
“I.”
And under his wings gathered the power of all the beast gods that had existed until now. All the rules and authorities that had ruled the world became one and vibrated.
“This world.”
Pseudo-beast gods each over hundreds of meters in size formed and looked this way.
A black snake head raised its head.
A black wolf opened its mouth and howled.
A black hawk moved its wings and created wind.
A black dragon roared, scattering the energy of death.
“I will save it.”
“…?!”
I hurriedly tried to offset or defend but—
I was swept away by the wave of darkness coming faster than that.
Like a giant sea.
Like a giant universe.
Such an unstoppable force.
An overwhelming… power.
Darkness.
Boom—!!!
My vision was filled with darkness.
…
…
…
When I could finally see again.
I was in a state where I couldn’t move a finger.
Whether it was hundreds of meters…
Or tens of meters…
Anyway I had flown very far, becoming a complete mess of a pink airhead.
My hair faded, and there were wounds on my breasts and neck…
‘Ah, was this originally here?’
Then was I originally a reverse pink airhead?
I couldn’t get up.
“…Damn it☆”
Step…
Step…
And I heard the footsteps of that guy slowly walking from far away. It wasn’t an urgent sign of trying to finish me off, but… heavy footsteps as if to do something that really needed to be done.
“…”
I need to get up quickly.
It was too overwhelming to face that guy who received dragon multiplied by World Tree buffs. No matter what, that bastard using infinite MP cheat seemed bad.
Anyway, it’s all that bastard’s fault.
Hmph☆
“…”
Now that I’m facing the cause of all this…
Now that I’m the only one left to face that guy…
‘…I’m screwed.’
My eyes gradually closed.
Hazily…
Gradually…
Step—
“…!”
I felt that guy’s presence right in front of me. But he didn’t attack me, and gently stroked my head.
“…?”
What, am I being treated as female?
I opened my eyes again out of bewilderment—
There was a hazy Kang Jinsu there.
-Hey, after all my dedication. Did you forget the most important thing in the final boss battle.
What dedication.
Always making weird Three Kingdoms jokes…
I wonder what outdated cliché this is based on.
-Anyway… Did you forget where this is?
The forgotten memory, the Kang Jinsu before my eyes was not dark.
He was smiling with a tired expression in neat formal wear.
Kang Jinsu nodded with a playful smile raising one corner of his mouth. There, countless stars were undulating and twinkling towards me.
-Spoiler alert, those stars. They’re all failed souls. I’m a failed soul too.
“…?!”
-Now you know what I mean, right?
As if giving a hint because he couldn’t bear to watch, he disappeared from view like mist.
-Read Three Kingdoms again. It’s fun.
Crazy bastard…☆
At least he’s persistent…♪
“…”
I staggered to my feet.
In the distance, the dark prophet was approaching with all the beast gods, certain of victory. Behind him, countless starlight was twinkling much more than before.
‘Not just starlight…’
Come to think of it.
Urd also introduced herself as an ‘incompetent starlight’.
‘Not just a metaphor…’
When all the souls of this world earnestly wish, they become starlight and watch over their loved ones.
Echoes are just like shadows shining under starlight.
The starlight twinkling most desperately far away was… yellow and silver.
“Ah…”
No, perhaps it might be ruby. Navy blue and orange were twinkling no less. Numerous colors were vibrating and flowing.
Creak—
To repay that love.
I straightened my twisted knees, gritted my teeth and stood up.
“Huff…!”
But the prophet flew up into the sky again and prepared a second attack. A black sea begins to rage between the faces of the giant beast gods.
“…Rest.”
“…”
No technique name.
Not an ether skill.
Using the World Tree’s authority in its entirety…
A power that can only be called the power of a god.
But.
That’s power received from someone.
Not built up with those you truly love.
Power scraped together from here and there to support yourself.
“Haha.”
I now knew the prophet’s true wish.
So I could laugh even in this messed up state.
“You don’t want to save this world.”
“…What?”
“What you want to save… isn’t it just yourself?”
“…”
The prophet hesitated for a moment before answering.
“No.”
“Then why don’t you admit that you yourself have changed?”
“I haven’t changed. I preserved my memories with the dragons’ secret technique. To grasp hatred ceaselessly for 1500 years…!”
-I can’t remember the names of the people I loved—!
I chuckled remembering those words.
“Frida, Selma, Nina… Those I loved but who disappeared from this world.”
“…What did you say?”
“I remember. Even now that I’ve become one again after having two souls… I remember.”
“…”
“The World Tree’s oblivion is ineffective on us at least.”
I spoke looking at the prophet flying in the air.
“Because we’re beings from outside this universe…? Though we can discard our own souls.”
We cannot be taken away by the World Tree.
Hearing those words, the prophet’s face contorted.
“…No. I… couldn’t have…”
“You. Just wanted to be with the person you love again. Didn’t you throw away even your important memories and past life memories? Because it’s comfortable to blame the World Tree and the world… Didn’t you roughly throw them away?”
“…No, that’s not true!!”
He raged but broke out in a cold sweat.
I threw one question at him like that.
“Then I don’t remember so let me ask one thing—☆”
Three Kingdoms.
Do you remember anything?
The prophet’s face moves back and forth in confusion. It seemed like part of the thoughts he had believed without doubt until now had cracked.
“…?!”
“…I see, you threw them away too.”
The past.
You too.
While believing you wouldn’t change.
In the end, you kept changing ceaselessly to support yourself.
“Just like this pink airhead Clara—☆”
We…
Indeed like mirror images.
While completely different… In the end we were completely alike.
But there was one decisive difference.
‘I… wasn’t afraid of changing…’
Snap!
I clenched both fists and extended them forward.
I straightened my back, stretching my creaking knees.
‘I… didn’t use others as excuses…’
So the stars look at me.
The history stored in the World Tree looks at me.
It affirms that the 3 years I’ve lived as Clara were not wrong.
“Huff…!”
I call out to those stars with the power of [Bifrost].
Asking to borrow their power.
Daring to ask for the power to decide your fates.
Flash—!
Countless stars twinkle in response.
“…”
I closed my eyes receiving that twinkling.
You.
Me.
Us…
The Milky Way was flowing.
All starlight enters under the slightly faded pink.
All fates intertwine and fill into my fist.
My hair gradually bleaches white.
Flash—!!
-I’m so glad to meet you!
Coming to the academy city.
Climbing the rainy hill.
Starting the fight while waiting for spring.
Wandering around with memories all summer.
Realizing loss as autumn passed.
Overcoming loneliness enduring winter.
I came to know love.
Being loved.
Loving.
Living in love.
Eventually I came to love this world itself.
And this world loved me too.
Yellow.
Silver.
Ruby.
Navy blue.
Orange.
…
…
…
Countless stars shine like the Milky Way.
When twinkling stars filled the sky, even without having to stand up with weapons anymore… The universe was already complete.
I raise my fist.
Wuji.
The ultimate technique that completes myself.
I pull my fist to my chest.
Taiji.
The ultimate technique that reads and discovers true names.
And the ultimate technique finally reached.
Huangji.
The center of the universe.
I stand at the center of the world I created.
I simply strike the universe.
All the starlight condensed in my fist resonated and shone.
Everything containing everyone’s dreams and love intertwines.
Into a spiral.
My life flows as a spiral.
My universe is completed with spirals and spirals.
‘A spiral turns, but reaches more surely than any line.’
The universe I want to reach is…
“The future.”
I opened my eyes.
Urd and Verdandi raise their hands and bless. Alvit was thrusting her sword into the weakened dragon’s heart. Kara and Rota help that with everyone’s support.
Where all Valkyries want to go is not a dream.
“Tomorrow.”
I am Skuld, goddess of tomorrow.
I command with the power of the last Norn…
Simply so that we can move towards tomorrow.
“[Path to the Azure Sky]—!!”
The one and only path to the blue sky.
I threw my punch.
A Milky Way of colliding spirals was fired.
Boooooooom—!!!
Like my shining hair.
A white spiral is fired.
It’s feeble compared to the black beam the prophet fired at some point.
But…
Crackle!
Crackle!
The spiral cuts through darkness. The spiral absorbs light.
It collides and grows countless times, swallowing the black.
Boom—!!!
It was a strike that shook the heavens and shattered the earth. And it was engulfing everything from the center of the World Tree.
Boom—!!!
Just.
A field of vision filled with light.
The entire world was dyed white.
Black and white endlessly collide and clash.
We both screamed until our throats were hoarse.
“…!!!”
“…!!!”
Silence.
Colorless.
Thoughtless.
We simply collided, containing everything.
And then…
In the place where the storm had passed.
I was standing.
The Prophet was lying down.
And I was about to bring my fist down towards him.
At that moment.
The World Tree spoke to me.
『O Divinity that has reached next after darkness, what kind of world do you wish to create?』
* * *
All those who had fought the dragon witnessed the World Tree glowing.
And the tomorrow that seemed would never come, arrived.
Even after half a year had passed.
Clara still hadn’t appeared in the academy city.
Tl/note:
Wuji: This term literally means “without ridgepole” or “ultimate nothingness.” It represents the primordial state of the universe before the creation of all things. Wuji is often described as a state of formlessness, emptiness, or infinite potential.
Taiji: Often translated as “Supreme Ultimate” or “Great Extreme,” Taiji emerges from Wuji. It represents the state where yin and yang begin to differentiate but are still united. The famous Taiji symbol (often called the “yin-yang” symbol in the West) represents this concept visually.
Huangji: This term is less commonly discussed than Wuji and Taiji. It can be translated as “Royal Ultimate” or “Supreme Pole.” In some philosophical contexts, it represents a state of balance and harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity.
The relationship between these concepts is often described as a progression: from Wuji (undifferentiated void) emerges Taiji (the potential for differentiation), which then gives rise to the myriad things of the manifest universe.