INFINITY

114

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

The lifeless body of Kim Dokja was shrouded with a mysterious force of power, it's tangled in his limb serving as a casket of warp. The latter person sitting with him has long flown above the world's atmosphere, leaving nothing but a trail of gold dust in its wake. 

*

Alyona has been mindlessly flying over the horizon for some time now, and only one thought remains. She must master the power of the stones to stop the three calamities from hitting this world. She mustn't delay any longer when her life span and the destruction of this world are

But how long does it take before her body fails and succumbs down turning her into something far from human? Now, her greatest enemy is time. She forced her way through the sealed jump points and rushed out of Star Stream. 

Soon enough, countless jump points showed and I traveled amongst them until I could find a clearing to leave this reality. I used my remaining power and opened a new portal to a different reality using the power of space stone and the reality stone.

This is gonna be one long heck of a distance, you go Alyona pop off bitch.

***

KIM DOKJA'S POINT OF VIEW

I was guided by the judge towards the exit of the Underworld. The exact location wasn't known because I was wearing a special eye patch. We seemed to go up and then down. After a long walk, the judge took off my eye patch.

[Follow along this path.]

I opened my eyes and saw a dark and narrow road. Perhaps this was the exit that didn't require going through Charon, the ferryman. A cold nipping feeling shrouded my mind, my hands missing the warmth of Alyona's.

[You should look in 'front'.]

"What does that mean?" I looked around but the judge had already disappeared. If only she were here, I wouldn't be that lost. I had no choice but to start walking along this path. The light faded and darkness settled around me. It was initially possible for me to determine the direction using the walls but it soon disappeared. 

The place I relied on disappeared and I felt like a ship floating on the ocean without buoys. The myth of Orpheus suddenly popped into my head. What would happen if I looked back? Then a faint light appeared in the darkness. It was a message from Persephone.

[You are afraid of what is behind you. That's why you are a pitiful child.]

[Keep this in mind. To find the 'front', you must know where the 'back' is. It is because the front can only exist when there is a rear.]

Speaking of which, the judge had said something similar. However, just because I heard plausible words didn't mean I suddenly gained enlightenment and could make enormous changes.

[It looks like you need some motivation...]

The stream of light in the air stretched out like it was hesitating.

[Okay. I can't bring you to the beginning of the world labyrinth but this much should be possible.]

I suddenly felt something. The string of light disappeared and a small firefly appeared in front of me. It was a distant light. It was a very fragile and shimmering light. Nobody told me anything but I knew what this light was.

-You...

It was Shin Yoosung of the 41st regression.

-Ah, ahh...

I could tell how long she had been waiting just from her voice. If she was already at the beginning of the world labyrinth then the concept of time would be different. It wasn't long by my standards but it might've already been a few years for Shin Yoosung. The small light shivered a few times before speaking in a hesitant voice.

-A-Ahjussi?

Perhaps she was influenced by the memories of the young Shin Yoosung.

-...C-Can I call you that? No...? Where is that nice U-unnie?

The way she called me was a bond. It was a wish to be tied somewhere. Perhaps 'Ahjussi' was the last lingering attachment of the 41st round Shin Yoosung. I smiled softly, even though she was looking for Alyona. "You are currently older than us. Is it still okay?"

The soft light once again trembled. The light gently touched my face. There was warmth in that gesture... It reminds me of Alyona's warmth. My heart felt pained. She must've been waiting for a long time. Even so, this child had to wait longer. This was why Alyona wished not to do that then. "I'm sorry but I can't save you now." The light moved up and down as she understood.

-Don't overdo it. My story now...

"It isn't over yet," I spoke without giving her time to finish. "You have suffered for so long and it can't end like this." Perhaps, if I just listened to what Alyona had to offer, we wouldn't be in this predicament... Shin Yuseung won't have to suffer.

-Why...

"We will never let that happen."

The light stared at me. She trembled in a confused and pathetic manner.

-I got to know Ahjussi and Unnie through the memories of this world. But Ahjussi... why are you so good to me? Does Ahjussi know me? Why is Unnie trying hard to save me?

I didn't answer. We got to know each other through different means. Just as the 41st round Shin Yoosung knew me through the memories of her younger self, I knew her through Ways of Survival. Nevertheless, I couldn't explain this.

-I feel strange. I definitely don't know Ahjussi but when I'm with you, I feel like I understand everything about you. As if you are a 'god'...

If I was really a god then I would be the most incompetent god in the world. The most helpless god in the world who knew everything but couldn't explain anything. Shin Yoosung's light was rapidly fading away. I couldn't see her but I seemed to know what she looked like.

-Please save me, please... remember

"We will." The tail of the light shaking in the air became smaller and I reached out toward the light. I felt like my heart had been imprisoned. I could feel Shin Yoosung's despair. The long wait, My heart ached with indescribable grief. Little by little, Persephone's words made sense. There must be something behind in order to go ahead. This was my 'back' and at the same time, the 'front' that I had to face.

Maybe this was how Yoo Jonghyuk felt. He constantly returned to the past but was only able to move forward. The moment I was certain of my direction, the environment stabilized. A string of light appeared in the scattered darkness.

[I held her for a while with my power but you don't have much time left if you want to save her.]

I remembered the faint warmth of Shin Yoosung. Persephone continued speaking.

[Please keep this in mind. Humans are 'stories.' By the time you get her back, no one knows how much of her story will remain.]

After that, I was pulled somewhere. The cries of ghosts receded and the sensations of my body returned one by one. I could feel the warm sunlight on my eyelids. I felt a dampness and opened my eyes to see a familiar face.

"...Ahjussi?" The young Shin Yoosung was watching me. The child's clear eyes reassured me. The wildly beating heart slowly subsided. I had returned. I breathed slowly and the muscles of my body regained their function. But Alyona was nowhere to be found, my breath hitched as soon as I realized she wasn't there. 

***

I accidentally publish 115 first before this, sorry. Just got back from writing ;[