Yoo Joonghyuk opened his eyes in the dark. No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t darkness. His eyes were simply covered by a blindfold, so he couldn’t see.

A firm restraint gripped his limbs. No matter how much strength he put in, it didn’t loosen—judging by that, it was a restraint device made from at least story-grade metal.

“So it came to this.”

Yoo Joonghyuk clenched his lips and checked the condition of his body. From how it felt, at least a week had passed since he’d blacked out.

He steadied his breathing and traced the scattered memories that surfaced. Fortunately, the last moment before he lost consciousness was clear.

「[Hahahahat! In the end, you were abandoned even by your companions, Tyrant King!]」

Apollo’s vile laughter.

The moment the four story-grade Constellations’ attacks struck him head-on, his protective aura shattered and he’d lost his grip on the Underworld Crescent Blade. He even remembered the dazzling portal that opened in the warehouse—and Cheon Inho vanishing into it.

He didn’t know where Cheon Inho had gone. He might have crossed into another dimension, or he might have gone to the hidden warehouse the Blood Demon had concealed. Wherever he’d gone, Yoo Joonghyuk could only hope he’d survived.

Even if he had survived, though, Yoo Joonghyuk had an instinctive sense he wouldn’t be able to save him.

Because—

“In the end, I made it to the Ark.”

This place was the dwelling where the myth-grade Constellations of the “final scenario” resided.

It was the “Final Ark.”

Just breathing quietly was enough to feel the tremendous status of the myth-grade Constellations positioned somewhere beyond this room.

“So this is it.”

What happened if you failed a task in the Fear Authority? Yoo Joonghyuk had already undergone more than forty regressions, but even he didn’t know much about the Fear Authority.

Sometimes you simply disappeared. Sometimes you became a “fear” that lived within the Fear Authority. In particular, the stronger the incarnation, the more likely failure would turn you into a powerful “fear.”

If it was him now, he’d become at least a “disaster-grade fear,” or a monster above the level of a “natural-disaster-grade fear.”

If that happened, that bastard Cheon Inho might even mock him, saying, “My God. You really became a ‘natural-disaster-grade fear Tyrant King.’”

And if his luck got even worse, he’d end up being killed by the teacher who came to put him down.

Then this round would be over.

“Still… a lot happened.”

Once he thought it was the end, he felt regret. This time, he’d thought he might finally see the end of the scenario.

More than anything, it had seemed possible if that bastard possessing Cheon Inho was with them.

“That guy…”

The one who had suddenly appeared in the 41st round. The one who’d made him eat dirt, fed him dumplings, and kept spouting bizarre nonsense. The one who never revealed his name.

There were questions he wanted to ask him.

If you aren’t even Cheon Inho, then why did you come to this worldline?

What are you, exactly?

Why did you become his companion?

And what on earth is it that makes you always wear an expression like you’re atoning for something…?

It was then that he sensed someone’s presence.

Yoo Joonghyuk gathered his thoughts and spoke.

“Who is it?”

There was no answer.

All he could smell was a heavy, suffocating scent of alcohol.

After a brief silence, Yoo Joonghyuk asked again.

“Are you the god of wine and ecstasy?”

With a sharp alcoholic scent, someone removed his blindfold.

[Yeah. It’s me.]

Dionysus stood in front of him, grinning as he held a wine bottle in one hand.

[What a shame you lived, Tyrant King. It would’ve been better for you if you’d just died right there.]

“What are you here for?”

[What, do I need a reason to visit a friend?]

Friend?

Yoo Joonghyuk’s impassive brow twitched.

“I’ve never been your friend.”

Dionysus snickered. He lifted the bottle and chugged straight from it. Then, with a small hiccup, he belched softly and continued.

[There were a few friends of mine who liked you. They’re all dead now, though. A friend’s friend is my friend.]

Yoo Joonghyuk thought of the dead stars from <Eden> and <Emperor>. Perhaps among them there had been stars who were acquainted with Dionysus.

[Soon, Constellations will come barging in to dissect you.]

“Why tell me that?”

[Because we’re friends.]

“Looks like <Olympus> treats its friends like this.”

[If Hermes’ team shows up, you’ll definitely die. You’ll be dismantled into pieces. They’ll break you down thoroughly, right down to your soul and even a fragment of your story. So—]

Dionysus stopped there. He guzzled more alcohol in great swallows, then clasped his hands behind his back like a philosopher and wandered around the room for a moment.

[Explain why I should save you.]

“What?”

[I’m giving you one last chance. Your last chance to live.]

Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t understand.

He already knew the “god of wine and ecstasy” was considered an oddball even within <Olympus>.

But he brought up something like this out of nowhere? Was it a trap?

And yet, was there any reason to bother laying such a trap?

“Why would you do that? Are you planning to betray <Olympus> or something?”

[I got bored.]

Dionysus shrugged with his usual bored expression, then leaned against the wall Yoo Joonghyuk was bound to.

[Honestly, don’t you think it’s pathetic, even you?]

“……”

[The stars have no intention of clearing the scenario. They don’t even want to confirm the Final Wall, and they forgot their curiosity about this world a long time ago. All they’re doing is figuring out how to board the Ark and run to another worldline. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Because they’re terrified of the destruction that’s coming.]

Dionysus murmured while staring into the distant void.

You couldn’t see the sky of <Star Stream> inside this room. Maybe that was why he could say things like this.

[Everyone’s scared. They’re scared this ‘stage’ we enjoy will truly end. They’re scared that all the history we’ve enjoyed, our status, will vanish emptily just from tearing down a single wall.]

Was it because it was the first time he’d seen Dionysus this honest? Yoo Joonghyuk listened in silence.

[But you were different. Honestly, when I saw you a week ago, I was impressed.]

Hearing that, Yoo Joonghyuk recalled Cheon Inho’s words.

「“Even if nothing changes inside the story, it means the person reading that story can still change.”」

Maybe Dionysus in front of him now was like that, too.

A strange heat flickered in Dionysus’ eyes.

[No matter how I looked at it, it was a fight you couldn’t possibly win. There was no chance at all.]

“……”

[Tell me. Why were you trying to fight that hard?]

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at Dionysus and thought.

「If it were that guy, how would he answer?」

After hesitating for a moment, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke as if he had become that guy.

“To save the world.”

[The world? What even is a world? Humanity’s already dead, isn’t it? Your companions, the people you cared about, they’re all dead. Regressor Yoo Joonghyuk. Why haven’t you left this worldline yet? What are you still here for?]

“Dionysus. If you’re curious about ‘the end of everything,’ then untie me right now.”

[What?]

“The end of this worldline is already decided. You bastards are going to lose anyway. And the one who survives to the very end is that damn ‘Deceiver of the Stars,’ Cheon Inho.”

Truthfully, Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t even know what the end of this worldline really looked like. Even so, he talked out of his ass like that.

Because it felt like that guy would’ve said it this way.

[What do you mean by that?]

And his tactic worked perfectly.

[Hermes has said something similar before. That the end of this worldline is already decided. Speak clearly. What does that mean?]

“If you want to hear the details—”

He hadn’t finished when a commotion sounded outside the door.

[Damn it. I’ll have to hide for a bit.]

Dionysus’ body changed into a rough wine bottle, then was placed on a nearby table. It was perfect concealment—even hiding the status of a star.

After that, a group of stars entered. They were hero-grade Constellations under Hermes.

The Constellations were carrying a rectangular table together, and at the center of the table lay Hermes’ head, wearing a black blindfold.

How much time passed like that? Hermes finally opened his mouth.

[A strange matter. Are you truly the ‘Tyrant King’?]

Hermes kept questioning him from a distance.

[By the mechanism of ‘regression’ that I know, you cannot return here using ‘summoning the dead.’ We tried countless times and failed. Who are you, really? What soul are you, and where did you come from?]

“I am Yoo Joonghyuk.”

At that moment, a faint mechanical sound rang out, and sparks ran over Hermes’ head. Then Hermes’ expression shifted subtly.

[Remarkable. You truly are Yoo Joonghyuk.]

It seemed he had activated some sort of skill to verify that Yoo Joonghyuk’s words were true.

[Then at last, will we be able to learn about ‘the end of everything’?]

“The end of everything? What do you mean?”

[The prophecy of the three Moirai sisters. Have you forgotten already?]

At those words, fragments of memory flashed through his mind.

Faint prophetic words surfaced over the traces of memories erased by “story engraving.”

「Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk. Everything in this universe will end forever in your ‘next regression.’」

He had definitely heard a prophecy like that.

But why he’d heard it, and what it truly meant, wouldn’t come to mind.

Hermes continued.

[Cooperate with us, Yoo Joonghyuk. Every star in this sky has a duty to prevent the destruction of everything. We must know why that prophecy was delivered, and what it means.]

“Unfortunately, I don’t know what that prophecy means either.”

[Don’t lie. Back then, you knew. You definitely—]

“I lost my memories.”

Once again, that faint mechanical sound rang out. After confirming the truth, Hermes let out a shocked gasp.

[What in the—]

“Didn’t I tell you? I don’t know anything.”

[Then it can’t be helped. I’ll open your head. We’ll find the memories ourselves in your subconscious.]

“Wasn’t that your plan from the beginning?”

Yoo Joonghyuk added with a sneer.

“Even if you open my head, you won’t find the answers you want. My memories aren’t passed down through my brain—they’re passed down through my soul.”

Hermes smiled slightly.

[I already know that much. Don’t worry. This time, I plan to borrow the power of the constellations and extract your entire soul as well.]

“What?”

Up to now, he had never experienced having his soul captured by anyone. A giant nebula had never been so determined to capture him—not even once.

Soul extraction.

Was that even possible?

If it really was possible, then maybe he could find a way here to make his regression stop.

But if that happened… what would become of his 41st round?

“Wait.”

Before Yoo Joonghyuk could stop them, Hermes’ subordinates moved.

[Open his head and extract the soul.]

A scalpel made of story-grade metal drew a clean trajectory toward his head.

And the next moment—

Clang!

With a pleasant metallic screech, the story-grade metal scalpel snapped in half.

[Exclusive attribute, ‘Stone Head,’ is currently activated.]

[Your head cannot be destroyed by physical force.]

Astonished, Hermes opened his mouth.

[Tyrant King. What on earth did you do?]

“I didn’t do anything.”

Yoo Joonghyuk murmured, not even realizing a small laugh had slipped out of him.

“It’s something the guy who makes dumplings well did.”

[I don’t know what kind of trick you’re pulling, but.]

The room’s view slowly dimmed. Centered on Hermes, Yoo Joonghyuk could feel the massive amount of stories stockpiled inside the Ark gathering together.

[Playtime is over. The myth-grade Constellations are watching.]

Yoo Joonghyuk mulled it over silently.

No matter how tough his head had become, if myth-grade Constellations added the plausibility of a giant nebula, there was no way it wouldn’t be split apart.

And then.

—Hey.

Dionysus, still transformed into a wine bottle, spoke to him.

—Something pretty interesting just happened outside.

Right after that, with a heavy thud, the Ark shook violently. Hermes let out a groan, and emergency lights lit up all over the Ark.

[Who is it! Who dares—]

It was obvious who had done it.

And because he knew who had done it, Yoo Joonghyuk felt even more uneasy.

“He can’t do it alone.”

No matter how incredible that guy was, even if the Ten Evils were with him, attacking the Ark with that lineup was basically suicide.

—I don’t know where you dragged those things in from. Seriously, this is why <Star Stream> is fun.

In the next moment, a screen the Constellations could watch floated up in front of Yoo Joonghyuk.

—Is that your ‘world’ you were trying to protect?

What was going on?

Beings that could never exist in this “time stratum” were there.

Familiar voices came through faintly.

“First time the commander-class all possessed at once, isn’t it?”

“That’s unexpected. There was still an incarnation body this intact?”

There were transcendents whose faces he only knew by sight.

“This is ridiculous. I don’t even know what kind of trouble I’m in because I took a disciple like you.”

There was a vicious-faced man who had once been his goal.

“If you take on a useless disciple, the teacher suffers for it.”

There was a small man who possessed a strength he couldn’t help but acknowledge.

And at the center of them stood a massive existence.

The moment he saw that face, Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest swelled without him meaning to.

Her brightly shining Clear Mirror Eyes stared at him from beyond the screen.

“But no matter how useless the disciple is…”

Transcendent Alliance, 2nd Unit Commander, Breaking Heaven Sword Saint Namgung Minyoung.

“Once a disciple, a disciple forever.”

His teacher had come to save him.