Faaah—
Sung Il-Hwan fully assimilated the mystical light flowing from his body.
"Phew...."
Though a deep breath finally escaped Sung Il-Hwan's previously tightly shut lips, a profound silence filled the living room. Everyone held their breath, marveling and astonished at his transformation. Just moments ago, Sung Il-Hwan's entire body was covered in dimensional cracks, looking as if it would shatter at any moment. But now, he had become a completely different being. Even Suho's family members, who weren't Awakened, could feel it; the aura emanating from Sung Il-Hwan had changed.
"Darling…"
Sung Il-Hwan turned his head to see his wife, Park Kyung-hye, approaching with a worried expression. A gentle divine power swirled within his eyes.
"Are you okay?"
At his wife's concern, Sung Il-Hwan smiled softly and nodded.
"I feel refreshed, for a change. After taking the good medicine my grandson gave me."
Though he spoke lightly, honestly, it was beyond his expectations. To the point where Sung Il-Hwan himself was surprised.
"To think my body could feel this light…"
Sung Il-Hwan looked at his own hand, slowly clenching and unclenching his fist. Even in that simple movement, he felt a power on a different level than before. This was definitely the divine power of the Outer Gods, yet simultaneously, it was an independent force that did not submit to them. Like starlight, resembling the sun but not the sun itself, entirely new. It was astonishing and wondrous. Especially for Sung Il-Hwan, who had always fought for his mission, having received an immense power that he found difficult to handle.
"That divine power, which always felt so unsettling, has perfectly harmonized within me. To think such a thing is possible…"
[There is no need for such surprise. For the Holy Water of Life, that much is fundamental. Its efficacy was already proven when Lady Hae-In gave birth to the Young Master.]
As if waiting, Beru abruptly popped his head out, stroking his chin as he recalled that time.
[In fact, it was far more critical back then. It was as if she harbored the dawn of a new universe within a human body.]
'The dawn of a new universe.'
At that most fitting expression, Cha Hae-In found herself nodding unconsciously. Suddenly recalling the labor pains from when she was pregnant with Suho, her stomach needlessly ached. It wasn't a joke or a metaphor; at that time, it truly felt as if a Big Bang was occurring inside her womb. What had alleviated that pain was the Holy Water of Life her husband had given her. But one bottle wasn't enough, and she had to drink more on several occasions.
"I see… I too feel as if I've been newly born."
It wasn't a metaphor. He sincerely felt as if some divine being had just newly created him. A vitality welling up from within his body, and simultaneously, a strange yet refreshing feeling, as if he had to learn to walk all over again.
'…I'll need training to get used to this.'
Motivation surged. Various ideas on how to use this unfamiliar yet natural power were budding in his mind. Realizing this, Sung Il-Hwan let out a soft chuckle.
"How absurd, all this motivation at my age."
Wasn't this like a child restless with excitement over a new toy? But as it happened, there was another white-haired old man in this very room who had recently become just such a child. Thomas Andre. The King of Giants, now the Monarch of Conquest, was leaning against the wall, his muscular arms crossed, and upon hearing Sung Il-Hwan's words, he grinned and retorted.
"Hehe. I know that feeling. Congratulations on becoming The Godless Apostle."
"The Godless Apostle?"
"Since you've reached the Apostle-level, serving no god, wouldn't a name like that suit you? Korean is a bit difficult."
'The Godless Apostle'
Wasn't it quite a fitting name? It showed that Thomas Andre had learned Korean really well.
"A-Apostle-level, you say?"
At those words, Adam White, standing beside them, was startled and looked back and forth between the two. Though their nationalities and races were different, these old men had now become humans possessing Monarch-level and Apostle-level power respectively. Unlike common Awakened, these two had truly, vastly transcended humanity. At Adam White's bewildered words, Thomas nodded and said.
"Yes. But he's different from ordinary apostles. Unlike the Outer God cultists we've dealt with so far, he purified the Outer Gods power and made it his own."
"Is such a thing possible? The chance of being enthralled by an Outer God again later on…"
[None. That I guarantee.]
Beru dismissed the slightest possibility.
[The main ingredient of the Holy Water of Life is a fragment of the World Tree. And that World Tree is a purification device created by the Itarim of this universe, who is now dead and gone. Since it has already been purified by the power of that World Tree, the master of the power has, in effect, changed. There is no possibility of being enthralled by other Itarim. In the first place, they invaded because they wanted to steal the mana of our universe in this manner.]
Hearing Beru's explanation, Sung Il-Hwan let out a sigh of relief, even the last vestiges of anxiety vanishing. He looked proudly at Suho and said.
"Thank you, Suho. Because of you, it seems I can continue to help you all in the future."
"Still, don't overdo it. If you do, Dad will scold me when he gets back."
"Hoho."
Sung Il-Hwan burst into a hearty laugh at Suho's playful exaggeration. It was then. Norma Selner, who had been sitting quietly in the back, slowly rose from her wheelchair.
"…!"
At that sight, Thomas Andre's eyes widened. While his attention was captivated by Sung Il-Hwan's transformation, Norma Selner had also drunk the Holy Water of Life Suho had given her. And its effect was instantaneous. Her stooped back straightened, and her trembling hands steadied. Strength returned to her legs, which had been unable to stand due to weakened muscles. It had breathed vitality into Norma Selner's old and frail constitution, who was considerably older than Sung Il-Hwan. As if water had been given to a withered flowerpot, vitality returned even to her age-spotted skin. The Holy Water of Life was fundamentally the power of the World Tree. It couldn't reverse aging against the flow of souls. But it was sufficient to breathe vitality into an aged body. Yoo Jinho exclaimed in admiration.
"Madam Norma, you look so much better…"
"…It's been a long time since I felt like this."
Norma Selner, who had been speechless for a long while, feeling as if she had become at least 10 years younger, finally managed to speak. And one step, then another, she carefully walked to stand before Suho on her own feet, for the first time in a very long while… And she bowed her head deeply with heartfelt sincerity.
"Thank you so much, Sung Suho. This gift… I don't know how to express my gratitude."
Norma Selner hadn't come looking for Suho today expecting something like this. No matter how great a prophet, one cannot foretell all futures. Amidst the great currents threatening the world, the future of her own frail body was of little consequence. Yet, unexpectedly, she had received such a precious gift. At the profound respect shown by an elder considerably older than himself, Suho answered humbly.
"It's alright. I merely did what was natural."
Suho already knew that Madam Norma Selner had a long-standing connection with his father. So, if his father returned to Earth and she had already passed away due to old age, wouldn't his father feel regret?
"Perhaps my father would have done the same if he were here."
"…Ahem."
Thomas Andre, watching their conversation, suddenly turned his head and cleared his throat. At his reaction, Laura, Thomas's long-time secretary who was beside him, suddenly looked up at his face. Strange. Thomas Andre, who had been grinning broadly just moments ago, was now glaring with his eyes wide, wearing an extremely fierce expression. Laura asked.
"Thomas, are you, by any chance, crying?"
"Hmph. Of course not."
Thomas gritted his teeth with an even scarier expression. To the point where even his ears turned red. Laura nodded indifferently.
"Well, it can happen. As one gets older, female hormones increase…"
"I said no."
"Madam Norma Selner is Thomas's one and only friend, after all."
"What? Only one? Then what about Laura?"
"Let's keep our professional and private lives separate, Master."
"…!"
At those words, Thomas truly almost cried. Norma Selner smiled gently, watching Thomas. The unchanging appearance of her old friend felt heartwarming. Then, she turned her head again, looked intently into Suho's eyes, and spoke politely.
"Sung Suho, would you mind if I held your hand for a moment?"
"My hand? Well, I don't mind, but why?"
Suho extended his hand with a puzzled expression. Norma Selner's gaunt, dry hands carefully clasped his. Norma Selner closed her eyes and said.
"Though it's all an old story now, I once did this before your father as well."
'Upgrader.'
Now, Yoo Jinho, the CEO of the game company that was turning all of humanity into Awakened individuals, was called by such a nickname. But there was a time when Norma Selner was the one and only Upgrader in the entire world. The ability to draw out the potential of Hunters, enhancing the abilities of those who normally couldn't grow. However, unlike Yoo Jinho, Norma Selner's ability at that time only applied to those who were already Awakened.
"Back then, I dared to step forward, saying I would enhance Sung Jinwoo's abilities. Hehe…"
Looking back, it was a truly audacious situation, Norma Selner chuckled softly. And how surprised she had been? Her own dark history of almost fainting upon encountering the endless darkness emanating from Sung Jinwoo. But though the situation was similar to then, the current Norma Selner had no intention of stepping forward to enhance Suho's potential as she had with Sung Jinwoo. Quite the opposite.
"I had retired once, but after the Cataclysm, I awakened to the ability to see things others couldn't, just like before. And recently, my ability has detected an ominous gaze."
"A gaze, you say?"
"Yes. That gaze, which I feel even at this moment… I came here in person because I wanted to enable Suho to see it as well. Would you close your eyes and accept the energy I will share with you?"
"Yes. I will."
Though he didn't quite understand what she meant, Suho obediently closed his eyes. At that moment, Norma Selner opened her eyes again.
Flash—!
"…!"
Norma Selner's wide-open pupils had turned completely white. Simultaneously, Suho's vision, though his eyes were closed, expanded in an instant. In that darkness, centered on Suho, the living room walls disappeared, the house disappeared, the city disappeared. The boundary extended beyond national borders, beyond Earth, past the outer universe, leaping an unimaginably vast distance in a single moment. And there…
'An eye…?'
What Suho encountered was a giant 'eye.' An eye of unimaginable size, cold yet filled with curiosity, it was looking down upon the entirety of Earth. Like the eye of a scientist observing cells through a microscope. Suho instinctively realized. That this was Itarim. And that this giant entity was intently 'observing' Earth even at this moment. And that gaze…
'It saw Suho.'
…!
It wasn't just a feeling! That immense gaze, its emotions unreadable, had precisely found Suho. And it smiled widely. As if in greeting.
"The White Abyss… The Abyss shall see thee."
At that moment, Norma Selner's voice reached Suho's ears. The voice was different from usual, a prophetic voice carrying a strange resonance. At that instant.
Zap!
As if a spark had flown, the two simultaneously released their hands. And Suho's consciousness was instantly flung back from the outer universe to reality.
"Hah!"
With that, the giant gaze that had been watching Suho vanished as if it were never there. But the aftereffect lingered for a long time.
"That thing just now…"
Suho looked at his palm, carefully choosing his words. He had many doubts, but among the questions filling his mind, the most pressing one…
"Where is it now?"
Suho gritted his teeth. His eyes had transformed into those of a hunter tracking prey. At his question, Norma Selner's completely whitened pupils slowly turned north. And she murmured, breaking out in a cold sweat. With an expression full of confusion.
"Ah, it's already this far…! It's already begun!"
…!
At that single phrase, everyone in the living room tensed.
"Madam. What do you mean by that? What has begun?"
Adam White, unable to bear it any longer, asked urgently. Norma Selner answered as if screaming.
"The North Pole! We must stop them immediately! That eye is already this far…! Quickly, quickly…!"
Thump.
Thomas Andre's giant palm caught Norma Selner's back as she finally fainted on the spot. And Thomas Andre turned his gaze to meet Suho's eyes.
"What did you see?"
"Itarim."
Suho answered, his entire body blazing with fighting spirit.
"That thing… was not an Apostle."