Despite Pyo Hye-Won’s efforts to try to hold me back, I still went ahead. She knew that it was my life goal to crush this gate and the reason that I was still alive.

At the end of that long battle, the pointy-ear guy pierced his spear through my heart. Death came to me without question. I died, as I thought about his strangely distorted expression.

My memories up until here were really vivid. Could it be that I had actually miraculously survived and fell into a coma state that I returned to this place as a delusion? Was all this just a part of my imagination?

But even so… everything here was too real.

I clenched my fists so tightly to the point that my fingernails dug into the meat of my palm. Of course, the feeling of wind that brushed against my cheeks, and the sound of bugs that cried could always be replicated. The possibility is there if I had received illusion therapy or got hit by an attack skill. But –

The unique skill, ‘Spatial Interference.’

As I lightly performed the skill, that familiar feeling started to spread from my toes up. Ah, how could anyone recreate a feeling like this?

Information about the space that I created was drawn out like a blueprint in my mind. Could a manipulative illusion that detailed all the vast amounts of data exist?

Well, it did not really matter if this was reality or a delusion. If I’m back here, it meant that my mentor would be here too. And regardless if this was all a delusion or reality, I could not bear to see my mentor dying before my eyes for the second time.

My dear mentor, to save you in this place could be my path of atonement.

As long as I could see you alive and well again, I would gladly accept and immerse myself, even if this was just a delusion.

However, I had to focus on the assignment on hand. It would be best to save as many of them. Since I had another option for a change, it was clear that I could do as I deem fit. I would first lead this group towards the indoor sports stadium and check if that person was there. If that person was there…

My eyelids started to close slowly as I made my plans. Was I mistaken when I saw the twinkling stars look down and smile at me?

***

The following day, two-thirds of the group decided to leave with me. Those who spoke with me yesterday had decided to follow me. Though it was not my intention, my mature and confident tone must have left quite an impression on them.

I packed ample supplies and headed out. Technically speaking, I headed towards the crumbled wall covered by vinyl, lifted it slightly, and stepped outside. Tension could be felt in the stale air as the view of the mart in complete ruins unfolded before me.

“Ugh…”

Someone from the group gagged. Mutilated bodies were scattered all over the place. It was the remains of whatever the monsters had. Body parts with lesser meat like the limbs and heads were rolling across the floor. Though it was a repulsive sight, it was familiar to me as well.

“These traces indeed show that this was the Wind Rakers’ territory.”

The scratches on the walls were evident, and the concrete wall crumbled like soft tofu. Everyone turned pale at the evidence before them.

Thankfully, the monsters were not in the mart, so we did not meet any of the Wind Rakers when we made our move out of the mart. It was clear that everyone had their guards on just in case we met any monsters. Though Wind Rakers could turn themselves transparent, they are unable to hide their sounds.

It would be impossible to hide the sounds they made while on the move since the mart was in ruins, and the floor was full of things lying around.

“Gosh…”

“Just what is this…”

The situation turned to the worse as we stepped out of the mart. It looked as if a massive storm had swept up the area. Buildings were half-destroyed, trees uprooted and rolled on the floor. Though bloodstains could be seen even though we tried to ignore them.

Whing- Something caught my eye as I heard the sound. A thin wing wrapped in a red layer. It was a unique characteristic.

The world seems to have been destroyed.