NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32
“Is this…?”
Jung Seong-min gazed at the [Beautiful Figure] before him.
The part severed by the sword was regenerating as if time were rewinding.
This phenomenon occurred simultaneously with Kim Min-seong’s death.
“[Anomaly-Eating Abnormality]?”
A term used in the [Alliance] to refer to Han Yu-seong in the past.
The appearance she showed now was similar to that phenomenon.
‘So, the [Streamer] is ultimately a minor copy of Han Yu-seong.’
Just like when Lumi used her [Skill], the features of the [Streamer] are also possessed by her.
The properties of the [Streamer] and the abilities of the [Faceless Beautiful Figure] combine…
She bypasses the absorption process that originally required the [Broadcasting Station] and directly absorbs the [Abnormality] with the [Beautiful Figure]’s stealing characteristics.
The subscribers and points accumulated by Kim Min-seong.
A collective of thoughts akin to a quasi-religion gathers around her.
“As long as we keep slicing until it can’t regenerate, we’ll be fine.”
Kim Min-seong’s sword slashes at the body of the [Beautiful Figure].
Blood and flesh scatter in all directions.
Yet, she still does not fall.
‘Is it getting faster?’
The speed of regeneration increases.
Eventually, when the speed of regeneration surpasses the wounds inflicted by Jung Seong-min, she moves her hand.
“Damn it!”
As Jung Seong-min hastily retreats, vibrations begin to resonate in the spot he just occupied.
Crash—!
A tree breaks through the ground, growing skyward without restraint.
“This is….”
[A Soul-Eating Ancient Tree].
An [Abnormality] like the [Picture] that devoured Lumi’s stronghold.
Though it appears transient, quickly fading and disappearing, the mere fact that it manifested here is problematic.
That [Picture]’s original form must have vanished along with the disciple who attacked the stronghold, right?
“Ah—”
The [Beautiful Figure]…
No, the [Painter] opens her mouth.
“Yeah, so this is how it feels.”
A beautiful smile that seems to enchant all of humanity rises on her face.
She bears Lumi’s visage but is different.
The imperfections a human should have vanished, leaving a stunning face that proclaims itself an incarnation of beauty, enchanting the world.
As if painted with the utmost beauty.
“This is how [God] feels.”
Jung Seong-min’s hands become damp with sweat.
This feeling…
Is akin to the sensation he felt from the two wolves the Alliance Leader kept.
“[Divine]?”
It’s absurd.
The essence of the officers belonging to the [Artist] mimics the [God].
Through the medium of [Art], they spread madness, increasing followers and gathering base faith.
An [Abnormality] not destined to be a [God] simply by forcibly accumulating thoughts.
Yet that woman has surpassed that limit.
“What did that crazy human spread…?!”
Jung Seong-min understands.
What has transpired now.
[Streaming System].
A system that absorbs and accumulates the emotions of love, affection, expectation, joy, fear, and anger from viewers, which should have been spread throughout the world, funneling them into the [Broadcasting Station].
Some are filtered and returned to the [Streamer] in a form harmless to humans, allowing them to collect strength more stably.
The process of raising warriors to counter the flooding [Abnormalities].
Pure entities of thought filtered through this process.
Unlike the ugly clumps of ordinary thoughts, they gather pure strength.
Resembling [Divinity]…
‘It’s a horde.’
In that moment of confrontation, Jung Seong-min understood.
By merely being in the same space, one can feel it.
The reason numerous heroes in ancient times submitted to [God].
The disparity of existence.
‘Weak.’
A minuscule [Divinity] one cannot properly feel unless focused.
But the difference in the presence of that speck of power decided victor and vanquished here and now.
It is a dreadful incarnation, one that humans dare not resist…
Splash—
“Huh?”
Ink etched into the body of the [Painter].
*
Tada-dat—
The sound of footsteps echoes through Ewha Womans University, now silent with all the [Painter]’s disciples dead.
Lumi, supported, somehow managing to move her body.
At that moment, she began to feel a strange energy approaching from the destination getting closer.
A bizarre sensation that seemed to press down on her soul, not her body.
“W-we need to go over there, right?”
The woman supporting Lumi stopped, seemingly frightened.
Not because she is a coward.
In fact, she is quite brave.
Having seen all the ugly sights after being captured by Kim Min-seong, she found the courage to help Lumi reach the battlefield.
While the other hostage women turned away, she alone dared to assist Lumi.
“It’s okay, I’ll go on my own from here.”
As Lumi stood up from the support, the woman tried to dissuade her, thinking it dangerous, but Lumi smiled once before moving forward.
In the end, it became a situation where she left it to Jung Seong-min, but this is originally her fight.
So she must see it through.
The system that had been stolen by the [Painter] could no longer exert its power.
From a superhuman body back to an ordinary person’s body.
Lumi returned to an ordinary body, robbed of strength, and although the pain coursed through her body, the counterintuitive feeling made it difficult to maintain balance while walking.
Yet even so, there are still things she can do.
She tightened her grip on the [Brush] in her hand.
[The Brush That Paints Pictures].
Now an [Abnormality] once held by the deceased [Painter].
Lumi recalled the message sent from the administrator.
A way to resolve the current situation.
[Abnormalities] are not fundamentally absolute.
There is always a way to counter any [Abnormality].
No matter how strong the fire, it can be extinguished with water.
Even ice that seems eternal melts over time.
Though the [Abnormality] may temporarily seem to deviate from the world’s principles, it’s ultimately an entity belonging to it.
The essence of [Abnormality].
“I can see it.”
In the distance, Jung Seong-min faces a woman resembling himself.
Lumi swung the hand holding the brush.
There’s no need to blindly attempt to draw something.
Just one stroke is enough to ruin the completed [Picture].
*
Beautiful appearance too.
The power that felt absolute vanishes into nothing.
The essence of the [Picture].
No matter how beautiful a painting, the moment it’s repainted, that work is ruined.
Let alone if it’s painted with black ink…
“Ahhhhh!”
The [Painter]…
No, the woman who was the [Painter] screams.
[From God] to [Abnormality],
[From Abnormality] to [Picture],
[And from the Picture] to that which is no longer anything.
It all drifts away.
“Lumi?!”
Jung Seong-min sees Lumi collapsing with all her strength drained from her.
He rushes over to catch her but…
‘This is serious…!’
Her wounds are one thing, but her previously fine left arm is turning black.
The contamination of the [Abnormality].
The reason the [Alliance] strictly controlled the export of the [Abnormal Entity].
If one uses an [Abnormality] surpassing their personal limits, the body experiences a phenomenon of transformation into an [Abnormality].
A phenomenon similar to the way ordinary people caught up in [Ragnarok] transformed into shadow monsters.
“That’s….”
The [Painter]’s [Brush].
The moment he laid eyes on it, everything became clear.
That man again.
To deal with the newly formed [God], he handed her the [Brush].
Knowing full well this would happen…!
“I’m okay….”
Hearing Lumi’s words makes him even angrier.
There’s no way she could be okay!
Crunch—
Teeth grinding.
What does that man think of humans?
He knows the Alliance Leader was wrong, but isn’t that man the same?
In the moment of burning anger—
“Ahhhhh!”
The woman’s scream echoes once more.
Black ink begins to spread over her body, and the dying momentum grows stronger.
“What the hell is this….”
As Jung Seong-min stares in horror, the woman recalls memories from just hours ago.
“What, I wish you two good luck.”
The [Clown]’s last words before departing.
The seeds given by the [Clown] devour her deteriorating body.
“You damn clown…!”
With that final thought, her consciousness fades away.
The ruined [Picture] devours the seed left by the [Clown].
Swish—
It falls silent.
The woman’s body, transformed into a puddle of black, melts like ink, forming a dark pool on the ground.
Just lying there, the pool.
Yet no one present dared to move.
Overwhelming presence that dominated even the [Painter], who had briefly ascended to [God].
From the pool, black ink rises, taking on a single shape.
The figure is….
“Devil?”
The black figure smiles.
And…
Boom—
“What the hell is this filthy thing.”
Something flies in and shatters it before it even has a chance to act.
“W-what…!”
A man suddenly reveals himself.
A familiar face.
Of course, it’s the face he’s been thinking about since that day.
The man who killed the Alliance Leader and brought down the [Alliance].
Undoubtedly, perhaps the strongest individual in the current era.
“Han Yu-seong!”
“Ugh, damn, my ears are ringing. Why are you yelling? Do you know me?”
Han Yu-seong says while digging at his ears.
Seeing him, Jung Seong-min seethes with anger.
“You, what do you think of people?!”
“What are you talking about?”
Han Yu-seong looks genuinely puzzled and then, seeing Lumi in Jung Seong-min’s arms, beams happily.
“Oh, you’re Lumi! Thank you! Thanks to you, it’s easier to break the barrier.”
At the moment Lumi swung the [Brush] at the [Painter], the thoughts that had been continuously supplied were cut off.
Actually, it would have taken longer, but thanks to that, he was able to break the barrier and come out without delay.
Isn’t she basically the MVP of this battle?
“What do you mean you’re helping someone dying because of you…!”
“Huh?”
Only then does Han Yu-seong understand what Jung Seong-min is saying.
Ah, she came from the [Alliance] too.
I suppose it was a situation that could be misinterpreted if one had some knowledge about [Abnormalities].
“Umm… Sorry, but could you take a look at the girl you’re holding again?”
“What do you mean…?”
Jung Seong-min had no choice but to trail off.
The color returned to Lumi’s complexion in his arms.
The contaminated left arm and the once twisted right arm were both back to normal.
However….
“I told you I’m fine….”
She murmurs, avoiding Jung Seong-min’s gaze.
Hiding her face with her dainty hands.
Yep, with her dainty hands.
“Eh—!?”
Jung Seong-min froze, letting out a strange scream.
It was a scene that looked dangerous in many ways, as if an adult were holding a 10-year-old child tightly.
Looking panic-stricken yet frozen in place out of fear that if he dropped her, she might get hurt, Han Yu-seong thought.
“Did I unintentionally break up a couple?”
It seems like those two shouldn’t be dating, right?
Visually, it’s a bit awkward…