Pick Me Up – Chapter 303 – Ragnarok (8)
I climbed the stairs with Sijel hanging from my waist.
"Ugh…!"
It had been 10 minutes since the end of the first battle in Eden.
I was heading to the top floor of a shopping mall I had destroyed. Every time I moved, Sijel let out a faint groan.
"Endure the pain. I have no intention of being considerate. You should be grateful I didn't kill you."
This being had already lost its divinity.
The overwhelming power I had seen on the Mobius liner was nowhere to be found.
What I had here was just a remnant of what had once been a deity. That's why Tel didn't hesitate to throw Sijel at me.
Thud.
When I reached the third floor of the mall, I carelessly threw Sijel aside.
She rolled several meters across the floor until she hit the wall.
Tack! Tacktacktack!
Sparks flew from the broken ceiling wires.
I pulled a chair from the middle of the hallway and sat in front of Sijel.
"The secretary of the game director of Pick Me Up, Sijel. Right? If that's correct, nod your head twice."
Sijel's shoulders trembled slightly.
Then, she nodded twice.
"Lo… Lo…"
She wanted to pronounce my name, but all her vocal cords and phonation organs were damaged.
Her voice was just a broken, incomprehensible moan.
[Ahm…]
Frey flapped her wings and landed on Sijel's shoulder.
I looked at her and spoke.
"Can you do it?"
[Yes, I'll try.]
Good.
I put my hand on Sijel's shoulder.
My interference power penetrated her reddened skin.
"I have temporarily blocked your nerves. You should be able to move a little."
"…"
"Now, Frey will synchronize your senses. Say what you want to say."
Frey closed her eyes.
Soon, her entire body began to emit a blue glow.
"I'll ask again. First-class secretary of Alpha Zero, Sijel, right?"
<…Yes.>
Frey's mouth opened.
The tone that came out was Sijel's soft, feminine voice.
I had heard it once. With a calm voice, she had given me options.
<Yes, I am…>
"Now we can communicate."
Sitting in the chair, I crossed my legs.
Sijel, lying on the floor, writhed.
<Thank you for… sparing me…>
"You're welcome."
I had no good feelings toward her.
The Mobius liner, the Pioneer. Back then, Alpha Zero and Sijel only informed me of the facts that suited them. They deliberately excluded that the game Pick Me Up ended on the 90th floor and that the world could not be restored.
‘I saved you because I need you.’
It wasn't enough to crush Tel and his company.
While fighting the fragments at the border, I needed someone who could restore Taonier. It wasn't an easy task and only someone with the right skills could attempt it.
‘In that sense… Alpha Zero is the best option.’
The main architect of this game's system.
Although she betrayed me, it was clear she wanted to restore Mobius.
‘I will use Frey as the main axis and Alpha Zero as support.’
The conditions for restoration were sufficient.
I would handle the conflicts with the fragments during the process.
"Do you know why I spared your life?"
<To gather information?>
"That's a secondary task."
<The director…>
"Yes. I need that old pervert."
With my power, I could easily control Alpha Zero.
Either through brainwashing or contracts.
<Lo… Loki.>
Sijel crawled towards me and grabbed my feet.
<Please save the director. He is still trapped in the company. Although he is resisting, soon that woman will devour him.>
"I know. I will go as soon as we finish talking."
<Thank you!>
"Don't say nonsense. Do your job."
I crossed my arms.
"I am going to destroy this city. Soon the dimension will disappear. So, what will be your part?"
<Evacuation.>
"Surely there are valuable personnel here. Although you were expelled, you were a high executive. Evacuate them by any means necessary. If you do this job well, I will lift the curse on you."
<No…>
She didn't care.
<No matter the reason, I deceived you and played with the fate of beings in this universe. You don't have to lift the curse. This torture is the mark of my sin, and I will carry it to the end.>
"Really?"
<Yes.>
I adjusted myself in the chair.
‘I don't understand these people.’
First, they betray me and now they want to redeem themselves.
<I sense great power in you.>
Sijel looked at me with her shattered eyes.
<Have you made a decision?>
"What decision?"
<…>
"It's none of your business. Just do your job properly."
Shing.
I pulled a dagger from the sheath on my belt.
I focused my interference power on the blade and threw it next to Sijel's head.
"Use this. It should be enough to move."
I reached through the display window of a clothing store.
A long coat on a mannequin was attracted to my hand.
I left the hooded coat next to the dagger.
"Put on some clothes. It's unpleasant to see you like this."
<…Thank you.>
I snapped my fingers.
The blue energy emanating from Frey disappeared.
The sensory synchronization broke.
"Good job."
Frey perched on my shoulder.
I briefly glanced at Sijel, who was lying on the ground, and turned around.
I started walking down the stairs to the lower floor.
There isn't much time.
Tel won't die easily.
He was clearly plotting something.
Whatever his plan was, I was sure I could crush his head.
‘But first…’
I reached the first floor of the mall.
The sign of a convenience store flickered next to the exit.
Although it was in ruins, I saw some items intact.
‘This is strange.’
I grabbed a sandwich from the refrigerator shelf.
A convenience store sandwich. An instant food that cost about 2,000 won.
[Can I have one too?]
"Why are you asking me that? Do what you want."
[Alright!]
Frey flew over and brought a banana shake, inserting the straw.
Slurp. As Frey sipped, the yellow liquid disappeared from the bottle.
I smiled at that and bit into my sandwich.
Between the bread were ham, ketchup, lettuce, and dressing.
I didn't know when I would enjoy such luxury again.
I…
"Frey."
<Yes?>
"Take this."
I handed her the half-eaten sandwich.
Frey tilted her head and then stuffed it into her mouth, filling her cheeks.
‘I see.’
I didn't feel any taste.
The texture of the bread. The crunch of the vegetables. The taste of the ketchup.
"Yuck."
I spat out the piece of sandwich.
I opened the glass door and stepped outside. A sharp wind swept the street.
"The weather here…"
<Eh?>
"It's cold."
<Like Loki said, it's a bit cold.>
I wrapped the cloak over my shoulders.
I began walking down the road leading to the headquarters.
‘I feel nothing.’
Not the taste of the sandwich.
Not the cold of the night wind on my cheeks.
Not the firmness of the asphalt under my feet.
Zzz.
Suddenly, my vision blurred.
The countless colors that harmonized were torn into black and white.
‘Black and white.’
I couldn't perceive other colors.
As if I were watching a black-and-white movie.
Crack.
I squeezed the statue in my pocket tightly.
I stroked it several times, recalling its texture.
It wasn't long before my senses returned.
"…"
Already like this?
Not yet. I have things to do.
I clenched my toes and jumped with all my strength.
Boom!
Every time I stepped on the ground, nearby cars were sent flying.
There were a few hundred meters left to the headquarters. I ran at full speed along the convoluted overpass.
<No one is here.>
The buildings and streets were empty.
It must be due to the evacuation recommendation.
‘It seems they won't send more small fry.’
That suited me. I didn't want to waste time.
In the middle of the street, I jumped 10 meters into the air and ran up the building wall.
Finally, I reached the entrance of the headquarters, the plaza.
[Mobius Inc.]
[City Guard Lv.99] x 317
Hundreds of guards armed with heavy weapons were stationed behind barricades.
<Warning! Master Loki! Disarm immediately and…>
I threw a punch into the air.
Boom! The several-meter-high steel barricade flew to pieces.
"Aaaah!"
"Don't they get it already?"
I clenched my fist.
Crunch! Dozens of soldiers were crushed beyond recognition.
It wasn't worth using the Dragon Scale Sword.
"Just a little more and reinforcements will arrive…"
"Move aside."
I swiped my finger through the air.
The crowd of hundreds at the entrance of the building scattered.
"Re-retreat! Retreat for now!"
They began to flee in a panic.
In the opposite direction of the headquarters.
A wise decision. They didn't want to be dragged into this.
I opened the revolving door and entered the headquarters.
[Mobius Inc.]
[1F]
The interior of the building was dark.
After a few steps, the lights turned on and revealed the interior.
"You've arrived."
Behind the information desk on the first floor.
A middle-aged man in an immaculate suit was watching me.
"Are you the reckless hero who intends to challenge the company? I saw your power a moment ago, but it would be a mistake to judge our strength by that."
"Who are you?"
"Forgive my discourtesy. I am a deity of the universal assembly, recognized by the president and granted the position of director…"
I passed the metal detector.
The place was immense, but there were no other employees in sight.
[�∇文G!!#絶Z Lv.999]
"As you can see, I work for a noble cause. For the poor beings of our universe. For thousands, millions of years, we have worked diligently, observing the creatures…"
"…"
"And yet! We, superior beings, spend so much effort on insignificant beings… while these pests dare, dare to rebel!"
The man's eyes elongated horizontally.
A fiery power spread through his eyes.
"I'll kill you!"
Clang.
I grabbed him by the neck and lifted him.
"Stop spouting nonsense."
"Kuh, hahaha! You'll regret it, insect!"
He stared at me.
A blue flame enveloped my body.
"I am Hartkent of the Primordial Flame. An incarnation of fire from time immemorial. Do you know why Sijel ended up like this? Haha, it was my work! Burn. Burn and repent forever…"
Woosh!
My skin melted instantly.
"Kikikikiki! My fire never goes out. It penetrates the heart and burns eternally… Eh?"
"Eternally?"
"What…?"
I looked at my right arm.
Beneath the melted skin, the black scales of a dragon shone.
‘Listen well, Han.’
Halgion's voice echoed in my head.
‘The skin of a dragon is invincible. No sharp blade can penetrate it. If you truly understand my power…’
I took it as nonsense.
But now I understood.
"What…? But…"
Crack.
I broke his neck.
And pierced his chest with my hand.
"Wait! Wait!"
I found it.
I clenched my left hand.
At the same time, his body trembled and vanished in a flash.
My cloak fluttered and the wave of light was absorbed into my body.
[Phew! That was close.]
Frey flew towards me.
Well, she had quickly hidden when he appeared.
[Loki, you really… did it.]
"Do you think I would fake it?"
The first of the 32.
Judging by the concentration of his interference power, he was the weakest among the directors.
They only sent him to buy time.
‘Do they think that will work?’
I extended my right hand.
Woosh! A blue flame burned in my hand.