[Constellation, ‘Terminator of War’, reveals strong hostility toward you.]

According to the transmission of tales, Vidar, the ‘Terminator of War’, was a constellation that took on an important role in ‘Ragnarok’.

The son of Odin, the ‘One-Eyed Father’, and a star that formed the core of <Asgard>.

Since he was that kind of guy, it must have been unpleasant for him that I brought up the ‘world tree’.

"Now I roughly get the lay of the land."

I smiled faintly as I slowly turned to look at them.

"So you’re saying you’re going to use me as fertilizer for this ‘tree’."

There are various methods for a fable-grade constellation to leap to ‘myth-grade’.

One is to diligently stack up big and small tales, pass through rise, development, turn, and conclusion, and reach the realm of myth.

However, this method took a long time, and there was no guarantee you could definitely reach myth-grade.

That was why some constellations preferred the traditional method.

It was to cause a ‘giant tale scenario’ and become the suzerain of destruction and creation.

For example, just like <Hongik> raised the Sindansu, and <Asgard> raised the world tree Yggdrasil.

「These guys are planning to use the Heaven-Breaking Sword Saint’s tree as the foundation of a new world.」

"Rather than devouring me right away, realizing a ‘giant tale’ through me would be more profitable for you."

Just by taking my fragment, they could increase their inherent rank.

But basically, the only one who can properly handle a ‘Kim Dokja fragment’ is the ‘Oldest Dream’, so even if they devoured me as-is, they wouldn’t be able to properly digest the tale of the ‘Oldest Dream’.

So they were planning to process me into a ‘tale’ they could digest.

"What else did my brother promise you? Did he say that if you ascend with this tree, he’ll acknowledge you as the new world’s myth-grade constellations?"

[That’s something you don’t need to—]

"Do Odin and Zeus know what you’re doing right now?"

[…….]

"Looks like they don’t."

If they stirred up something this big—big enough to raise the seed of a ‘world tree’ in a Lower Scenario—yet the Upper Scenario hadn’t even noticed, then the Upper Scenario must be undergoing a truly massive upheaval right now.

Most likely, a major friction had broken out between Great Nebulae, or collisions were occurring between myth-grade constellations.

[No need to listen further. Deal with him.]

With a rough explosion, a dozen or so constellations simultaneously released their rank toward me. Strikes ranging from late hero-grade to mid fable-grade.

If it were before, it would have been an attack intimidating enough.

"But it seems you’re misunderstanding something—"

As I slowly blinked, I felt the tales in my entire body spinning fiercely.

[I haven’t been just lazing around for eight years either.]

Along with the oracle, the tales inside me began their story.

[Fable, ‘Successor of the Eternal Name’, begins its story.]

[Fable, ‘Demon King of Salvation’, begins its story.]

Jet-black wings that burst out from my shoulder blades knocked away all the incoming attacks from the constellations. Blue-white lightning of Baekcheong Qi rippled from the red horns that sprouted above my head, and along with the sensation of my right arm writhing, the tale of the Demon King of Salvation manifested.

[Tale fragment, ‘Right Arm of the Swordmaster Who Was Backstabbed by a Comrade’, begins its story again.]

On the day the Star Ladder came down, the Demon King of Salvation operated a single tale fragment to the extreme and cut down the stars.

Now, I too could imitate that monstrous tale interpretation ability from that day.

「I am Kim Dokja.」

As the [Agitation] embedded faintly within me manifested, the White Azure Qi that surged up in an instant severed the necks of two nearby constellations.

Seeing late hero-grade and early fable-grade constellations collapse in a single slash, Apollo and Vidar widened their eyes as if in shock.

[You reached late fable-grade?]

I grinned and retorted.

[Why, is that not allowed?]

As the momentum of the constellations who had charged in confidently shrank rapidly, Apollo, who barely regained composure, spoke an oracle.

[Even if he is late fable-grade, nothing changes. He is alone. Keep your distance and shave down his strength little by little.]

With Apollo’s order, the constellations re-formed their ranks. Small bows appeared in the hands of the constellations who moved out of the range of [White Azure Qi].

「Mass-produced Artemis’s bow.」

It was an item I also knew. An item <Olympus> mass-produced at Hephaestus’s workshop in preparation for ‘Gigantomachia’.

Though it was a replica of a holy relic, it was processed through fable metal, so its power rivaled even an ordinary hero-grade constellation’s holy relic.

[Shoot.]

I activated [Wind’s Path] and avoided the arrows flying in. The arrows I couldn’t dodge in time, I knocked away using tales. Each time I struck away an arrow, a strong load built up on my right arm, but it was still bearable for now.

「That flame is the driving force that moves the sun chariot.」

Perhaps thinking this wouldn’t do, Apollo, who had been watching the situation the whole time, intervened for the first time. When Apollo’s tale began its story, the artificial sun behind him, which had been emitting light, spewed flames.

I deliberately evaded his flames around the tree that was the main body of ‘Impossible Chivalry’. In an instant, the air in the area boiled, and the forest began to scream.

Unable to stand it, Vidar shouted.

[Apollo, stop! Are you going to burn down the whole world tree?]

Their goal was to give me as fertilizer to this tree. As long as that constraint existed, even if I was somewhat disadvantaged in overall force, there was still a chance.

Besides, contrary to what they were saying, I wasn’t alone either.

"Heewon!"

With a sound like thunder striking somewhere, the head of a constellation that had been firing arrows was cut off.

[Kuaaaagh!]

Jung Heewon, with the trait of the ‘Butcher of Madness’ manifested, was rampaging freely between the stars.

[Fable, ‘Disciple of the Heaven-Breaking Sword Saint’, continues its story.]

Was it because this space was made of the Heaven-Breaking Sword Saint’s tale? Jung Heewon was displaying combat power on par with me, who had reached late fable-grade, even without using [Time of Judgment].

[The Mad Sword Emperor! It’s the Mad Sword Emperor!]

The constellations who belatedly noticed Jung Heewon began to respond, but in that brief moment, their forces were already cut in half.

[Almighty Sun! You didn’t say he was with her!]

[How can a mere incarnation—]

It’s a fight we can take. If we steadily reduce their forces ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) like this one by one, until only Apollo and Vidar remain—

[Tamra! How long are you going to just watch!]

With Apollo’s oracle, the southern sky shone with bright light.

Damn it. As expected, things weren’t going to go that easily.

[Nebula, <Tamra>’s constellations are watching the battlefield!]

This was the territory of <Tamra Heavy Industries> even within ‘New Murim Earth’. The constellations who originally held this region finally began to intervene.

[You crawled in first like rats, and now you look pathetic.]

Along with a chilling sensation, light flashed in the firmament. When I lifted my head, I saw more than fifty stars falling.

A tremendous festival of light that filled an entire direction of the sky.

Along with the contents of Ways of Survival brushing through my mind, I immediately recognized who they were.

「The ‘Five Hundred Generals’.」

<Tamra>’s myth-grade constellations—descendants of Seolmundaehalmang of the ‘Pregnant Island’, and the main forces that enabled the mid-small nebula <Tamra> to stand against Great Nebulae.

The one leading them was a long-haired goddess with a waist so long it was eerie.

[Constellation, ‘Owner of Baekrokdam’, reveals its rank.]

Owner of Baekrokdam. One of <Tamra>’s great generals who led the Five Hundred Generals.

「Hallasan General.」

At last, one of <Tamra>’s great generals who represented the Korean Peninsula along with <Hongik> revealed her true form.

Apollo narrowed his eyes and reproached her.

[Halla. Why are you so late?]

Was it because a portion of the Five Hundred Generals, <Tamra>’s main force, had descended? A strange current of plausibility was flowing through the sky of the area.

"Dokja."

Jung Heewon beside me spoke in a tense voice. After exchanging a light look with her, I looked at Hallasan General.

Hallasan General was also a star that ate my brother’s flesh and blood. I’d thought it was about time she showed up. And the fact she had descended here bringing part of the Five Hundred Generals meant she was serious about this matter too.

[Hallasan General. I have long heard of your reputation.]

I deliberately spoke to her once. Unlike other constellations, the ‘Owner of Baekrokdam’ hadn’t shown me a purely hostile gaze until now.

As if proving it, Halla stared at me with deep eyes and answered.

[Little star of the peninsula, things have become regrettable.]

As expected.

Halla knew I was from the peninsula like her.

Maybe she had heard it from other constellations like the Number One Sword of Goryeo or the War God of the Seas.

[Is the fact that you came here now something <Hongik> also agreed to?]

[We <Tamra> do not seek <Hongik>’s permission.]

[Then why are you involving yourself in this? Wasn’t <Tamra> a lofty nebula? Surely a constellation like you isn’t aiming for Seolmundaehalmang’s seat.]

Was it because I mentioned Seolmundaehalmang, <Tamra>’s myth-grade constellation? Hallasan General answered with a subtle expression.

[Child, I have heard rumors of you. Just as I heard, you move your three-inch tongue well. I too want to watch your story more, but regrettably, this world’s time does not permit it. Though your tale will end here, your conviction will be inherited through the Sindansu.]

[Shut up, Halla. This tree will become the world tree.]

Halla glared at Apollo with a face that seemed slightly irritated, then smiled gently at me and continued.

[We will send you off comfortably, so you need not worry. We have specially prepared an ending for you.]

When Hallasan General raised her sword toward the air, I saw plausibility gathering in the void like dark clouds.

[‘Fate’ is recorded.]

Fate. Nebula <Tamra> had directly moved the Recorders.

「Kim Dokja will be absorbed by the end-of-the-world-grade horror—‘Impossible Chivalry’.」

Along with massive plausibility, a sentence of [Fate] was written. It seemed the Recorder group called the ‘Afterglow Archive’, which had granted me [Fate] before, had joined hands with <Tamra Heavy Industries> this time.

[Halla, don’t let your guard down. He has twisted ‘Fate’ before.]

[There is no need for such worry. In this ‘Fate’ this time, our <Tamra> has also staked our survival and destruction.]

As if confident I couldn’t change [Fate], I saw a momentary pity flicker in Hallasan General’s eyes.

[Your fate meets its trigger for realization.]

The tree’s shadow began to creep and grow. The dark shadow covered the area and was sucking everything in.

「This [Fate] cannot be avoided.」

The fact [Fate] erupted this quickly likely meant that <Tamra>’s giant tale had been sacrificed to realize my fate.

All directions were surrounded by <Tamra>’s Five Hundred Generals, <Olympus>, and <Asgard>’s constellations, and my [Fate] was on the verge of realization.

I thought of my brother, who would have foreseen all of this, and my other brothers who would be watching all of this.

If it were them, if it were Kim Dokja, how would he respond in this situation?

What action right now would be the most ‘Kim Dokja-like’ action?

[You’re telling me to become the offering now. Right?]

The answer wasn’t hard.

[Fine. I’ll do it.]

As if understanding my words, Hallasan General smiled brightly.

[Child of the peninsula, <Tamra> gladly accepts your sacrifice—]

[But if we’re going to offer a sacrifice anyway, wouldn’t it be better if the number is big?]

I took off my coat. Then I tore even the dress shirt I was wearing. Tales dripped from the wound on my chest that hadn’t healed yet. I could see the gazes of the constellations in the distance change as they recognized my tales.

[I’m curious how far your patience goes.]

Gripping ‘Unbreakable Conviction’, I made small wounds across my bare upper body. As far more tales began to flow out than before, soon the area was filled with my blood-scent.

A star took a step toward me.

[Wait. What are you doing!]

I heard Apollo’s flustered shout, but the stars were already coming toward me as if bewitched.

When a story you covet is right in front of you, there aren’t many stars who can turn the page. That is why they are called constellations.

I smiled at them and said,

[Do you wonder why you like ‘stories’ that much—]

Constellations.

They immerse themselves in the stories of incarnations they’ve never seen before, get angry, become sad, become happy, and willingly shine their light for that existence—

[Don’t you wonder why?]

Existences that, in the end, want to become ‘one’ through a contract.

「The stars that caught the scent of tales suddenly changed and began to rush in.」

Hallasan General, Apollo, and Vidar belatedly moved to restrain them, but the situation was already beyond control. Rather, desire had taken root even in their eyes.

[Exclusive skill, ‘Agitation Lv.???’, activates.]

They would find it hard to suppress desire. Because—

[Halla. Apollo. Vidar.]

Those guys had already tasted this ‘story’ once.

[Come again. Here, there are tales you want.]

As the tree’s shadow spread across the area, the tales my brother had given them were reproduced on the stage.

[Fable, ‘Star Banquet’, begins its story.]

In an instant, the constellations that rushed in sank their teeth into my bare upper body like beasts. Even as I felt the tales being torn away, I didn’t let my mind go, keeping a smile on my lips.

[Since you ate my flesh and blood.]

The eyes of the constellations, belatedly regaining their reason, were wavering. Stars intoxicated by the story were groaning, unable to cry or laugh.

Looking down at them, I said,

[Now, we will share fate together.]

Soon, the tree’s shadow, spread pitch-black, swallowed all starlight.

[Your ‘fate’ is realized.]