Pick Me Up – Chapter 295 – Incarnation (3)
Golden flames erased the wheat field, covering the horizon and burning the sky.
In the center of the fire, Pryos stood, his cape billowing. As the flames passed, a new place emerged in the vanished landscape.
‘This place…’
He said it was a piece of land.
Is this really a place prepared for Pria?
“The empire’s throne… has been empty for eons.”
Where the wheat field disappeared, a vast plaza appeared.
The open plaza was adorned with marble, with rows of marble columns lined up.
At the end of the columns, there was a majestic golden and silver throne.
“Finally, it’s time to fill the empty seat.”
Pryos walked on the red carpet towards the throne and sat on it.
The crown on his head gleamed in the sunlight. The prince spoke.
“What do you think, oath guardians?”
Four strange beings in robes stood behind the prince.
The man on the far right took off his hood. Long black hair. A black crown on his head. The fierce-looking young man smiled.
“Can you say that? Who else would be qualified but that arrogant bastard?”
Above the young man, a name tag appeared.
[Dragon King]
[Halgion Siraos Lv.999]
The woman next to him removed her hood.
[Queen of the Waves]
[Deltari Asynis Lv.999]
The white-haired woman wearing a white crown looked at me with a cold expression.
“You’re late. We’ve been waiting long.”
The girl next to her removed her hood.
[Blue-Winged Queen]
[Sternberg Elstadt Lv.999]
“…”
Her sapphire blue eyes were vacant, but I could clearly feel she was staring at me.
Finally, the boy on the left removed his hood.
[Red-Winged King]
[Lantia Nior Lv.999]
In total, four people.
They looked at me with a piercing gaze.
As if they could see through me.
“So…”.
The prince looked around the plaza.
A smile of pleasure appeared on his face.
“What do you think, brothers? Can we really entrust everything to this man?”
I narrowed my eyes.
The vast plaza adorned with marble.
Golden particles gathered, and between the columns, numerous shadows emerged. Titles appeared above their heads.
[Blind Saint]
[Riane Lv.99]
[Sea Dragon]
[Cutaart Lv.99]
[Beast King]
[Kiadni Vikshavi Lv.99]
[Matriarch of Sternberg]
[Persephone Ridel Von Steinberg Lv.99]
[Master of Dark Magic]
[Kurushah Lv.99]
[Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Cult]
[Dosmech Karda Lv.99]
[Firstborn of the Asynis Family]
[Delphine Von…].
The light flowing through the plaza sometimes clustered and sometimes dispersed, filling the vast plaza with a crowd of people.
Hundreds of gazes were directed at me.
These guys are…
‘Heroes of the past.’
The monsters I encountered while ascending the tower, with whom I exchanged blows and took their lives.
From the patriarchs of the four great families to the leaders of each race, renowned brave warriors and great magicians who reached the end of their lineage.
“Why not the prince? Why do we have to entrust Taonier to this brat?”
The green-haired mage looked at me with resentment.
Persephone Ridel Von Sternberg.
Matriarch of the Sternberg Family and mage who once fought with me.
“Ha ha ha ha! What does it matter? This is how things turned out.”
The Beast King, Kiadni, laughed heartily.
His bold eyes were directed at me.
“I knew you would become this, mighty warrior.”
I laughed bitterly.
It was a ridiculous situation.
The creatures I killed with my own hands appeared before me, offering their power.
“If it’s for Taonier, I’ll accept it.”
The girl dressed in a white robe stepped forward.
Her closed eyes curved gently.
She was the priestess and leader of the Church of Tel Ikar.
“If you truly have potential… I will not hesitate to follow you.”
“Ha, ha, ha! Ignorant human, destroy those bastards as you destroyed my masterpiece.”
A hunched Lizardman waved his staff.
This guy… was the mage who controlled the Giant Golem.
I averted my gaze.
The golden flames extended beyond the plaza, infinitely filling the field with illusions.
Thousands and thousands of soldiers and colossal monsters, from ancient unknown races to mythical creatures. Everything I had imagined, and what I couldn’t imagine, from Taonier was present.
“Brothers.”
Pryos, sitting on the throne, opened his mouth.
Silence enveloped the field.
“This man is willing to walk the path we couldn’t. Long ago, I promised you freedom. But shamefully, I was unable to carry that burden. This man, of golden blood like mine, is a prophet who has witnessed the end of destiny. Moreover, he has overcome countless trials…”.
“Sorry for interrupting.”
“Huh?”
I raised my hand.
“Finish quickly. I don’t have time.”
“…”
“You talked too much.”
The prince opened his eyes wide and then laughed.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha! I’m sorry! I wanted to show off one more time at the end.”
“I understand.”
“Then, let’s begin immediately.”
Pryos stood up from the throne.
And in front of everyone, he pointed at me.
“This man, Israt al Ragnar, says he will revive Taonier!”
“…”
“Release the souls of your brothers!”
The priestess, Riane, bowed to me.
Her body transformed into a ray of light that shot towards me.
Boom!
I took a step back.
An impact like being hit in the solar plexus with a log.
‘This hurts a bit…’
I had experienced several syntheses before, but this time, the pain was incomparable.
It was natural. They weren’t using a synthesis medium. Their data was being transferred directly to me.
“Endure it!”
I pulled out Bifrost and stabbed it into the ground.
At the same time, the hundreds of heroes scattered across the plaza turned into light.
I tightly gripped the sword’s hilt.
The waves of light from the heroes rushed towards my body.
‘All… level 99.’
They weren’t few.
At least, thousands.
A tide of incalculable information began to burn my brain.
“…”
My vision turned white.
Beyond the blurry sight, their pasts emerged.
Chaotically mixed, it was impossible to distinguish who was who.
Like a whirlwind.
Like a dirty mire.
Like a distorted chaos.
‘Is this why they crumbled?’
I clenched my teeth so hard I almost broke them.
If I let go of the rope of reason for a moment, my own existence would vanish.
[Hero Han (★★★★★★★) levels up].
[Hero Han (★★★★★★★) levels up].
[Hero Han (★★★★★★★) levels up].
[Hero Han (★★★★★★★) levels up].
Alongside the blurry vision, countless level-up messages appeared.
My level was 99 before coming here, so I had surpassed the limit.
‘But this is not…’
Enough.
It’s far from enough.
To face them.
To tear off their heads, squeeze their guts, and rip their bodies apart, much more power is needed.
Boom!
I stabbed Bifrost into the ground.
A large crack spread from the embedded sheath.
[Warning].
[Hero Han (★★★★★★★) has reached the level limit].
[Error code 0413 – Further growth is not possible].
“Han Israt!”
Behind the throne, Halgion took off his robe.
He wore black armor covering his entire body. His eyes glowed red.
“Will you really stop here? We haven’t even started!”
“Are you serious?”
I spat out blood mixed with saliva and straightened my sword.
“It’s not enough. Give me more.”
[Warning]
[Error code 0413 – Further growth is not possible]
[Error code 0413 – Further growth is not possible]
[Error code 0413 – Further growth is not possible]
I drew the sword.
Crack. Something in my head broke.
[Unknown error].
[Unknown error].
[Unknown error…].
Once again, a wave of light overflowed.
The heroes and monsters that once filled the plaza and the field had already disappeared.
Four ancient beings rose towards the sky. Each emitted a black, white, blue, and red glow, merging into a single light.
“Han Israt.”
Asynis’s voice.
“Sternberg and Lantia are already corrupted. If you wish, these will be eliminated…”.
“Bring them too.”
“There is a risk of corruption.”
“Anyway, I will eventually have to overcome it, right?”
Eating heroes and NPCs has its limits.
To be truly ‘infinite,’ I must consume the fragment itself.
“Ha, ha! Of course, Asynis. Han is much stronger than you think.”
“Why are you boasting? It should have been me, not you, the first contractor of this kind.”
“Hmph. Insolent. I won’t trade it with you.”
I sighed.
Even here, they kept arguing.
“Anyway, here I go. Receive it well!”
“As you wish.”
“It’s been long and tortuous. Now, I can finally rest.”
The four lights began to spin.
I closed my eyes. Finally, an immeasurable wave of power slowly infiltrated my body.
It was a tremendous force, but I didn’t feel pain. It was like being in a hot bath. I exhaled slowly, not letting a bit of power escape.
<Goodbye. It was fun.>
“...”
<Playing with you was quite enjoyable.>
Those were Halgion's last words to me.
And after everything ended,
I opened my eyes.
“How does it feel? Do you notice any changes?”
Pryos, sitting on the throne, looked down at me.
I clenched and unclenched my fist.
I could feel something had entered my body, but I didn’t notice any significant changes.
“You’re like a chick just hatched from its shell. You won’t be accustomed to it. Take your time to adapt to this power.”
“Is it over already?”
“Yes. Only I remain.”
I looked around.
The plaza, once filled with people, was now empty.
The numerous heroes and the four ancient beings were no longer there.
“What about those I devoured?”
“Their existence has been extinguished. Even if Taonier is reborn, no one will remember these beings. They will be forgotten by all.”
“...”
“Don’t worry. They did this because they wanted to. All of them were willing to sacrifice their lives for Taonier.”
“Will you also be forgotten by Pria?”
Pryos said nothing.
He didn’t stop smiling.
‘I see.’
Even if I win and everything returns to normal...
There will be no place for these beings in Taonier.
‘Fools.’
I laughed bitterly.
“Can I ask you one last favor?”
“What is it?”
“Please, save Pria…”
Pryos whispered.
And his body began to be enveloped in light.
“Save Taonier…”
“...”
“Can I trust you?”
Pryos’s voice broke.
For the first time, his always steadfast eyes trembled slightly.
That was clearly an emotion of fear.
‘At this point, showing weakness.’
It doesn’t suit you.
After playing with me for so long, leave with the same arrogance.
It’s annoying.
“By the way.”
“By the way?”
“I planned to take revenge on those bastards anyway. They are miserable. If I have time on the way, I’ll do it.”
“...Thank you.”
Pryos closed his eyes with satisfaction.
Then, the prince’s body turned into a small light and merged with me.
With that, I was left alone in this place.
“...”
In front of the throne,
A dimensional door connecting to the Lobby swirled like a vortex.
‘Is this the beginning?’
If I go through this door, there will be no turning back.
Either I will die, or they will die.
There will be no other outcome.
“Haa.”
I took a deep breath.
Everything starts with the first step.
Slowly. Very slowly.
I sheathed Bifrost and strapped it to my belt.
I stretched and rotated my stiff shoulders.
‘What should I do first?’
I will be quite busy once I get out.
I slowly walked towards the dimensional door.
<Friend>.
A faint voice.
I looked to the side.
<You forgot something>.
Flutter!
I instinctively caught the object thrown to me.
A cloak made of white wolf fur.
“...”
There was no trace of that person.
I laughed and wrapped myself in the cloak.
‘The wait…’
Is over.