Chapter 414:
Time flies.
Descent of the Sun God, D-1.
"Alright, is everyone ready?"
The Sun God Invasion Preparation Headquarters was bustling as ever.
Employees busily shuffling papers, heroes and villains alike, each with a stern look on their faces as they gave instructions.
"…Wow. Oh my God, tomorrow is the day…"
We, the members of the Egostream, were watching from a distance.
What they're doing now is having a final discussion with their neighbors about how to protect their countries against the Sun God.
It didn't matter that Korea was going to be handled by us and the Korean Association, but they were double-checking their instructions one last time.
All, from the top down. ‘On the day of the Sun God War, there is a high probability that all countries will be attacked by angels'.And, of course, it was I who gave those instructions as always, because it was said so in the texts and prophecies.
Anyway, I smirked at Seo-eun who was looking at me with a blank stare, and put my hands on my head.
"Are you nervous?"
"…I'm not nervous. On the contrary, I'm excited that the time has finally come… It's not just tomorrow… Fufu… It's finally the day I get to use the finalized form of my arsenal, the Deus Breaker."
Seo-eun, who was obviously nervous, laughed and said that she wasn't, and Ha-yul also laughed.
"That's right, it's like… It's like how I feel a few days before the SAT, if the SAT were today. I'm nervous, but…I can't wait for it to be over."
And that's what Ha-yul said.
All of us, the members of Egostream, started to say one thing after another.
"Yeah. When those assholes get here, we're just going to destroy them."
Choi Se-hee, her orange hair flying, fists raised, laughing hysterically.
"Haam…This is annoying. I just want it to be over."
Seo Ja-young, with her hands in her hoodie, says with a relaxed expression.
[Khahahaha! Finally, I can send my friends in the afterlife!]
The Death Knight says as he slaps on his thick black armor.
"Hah. The clan's destiny, at last."
Even Shinryong, with her eyes closed, mumbles something.
Really. The members of the Egostream were always reliable.
I'll be with them until the end.
…When we first got together, I never thought this day would come.
Just as I was thinking that someone took a step forward, looked at me, and said.
"Da-in."
"…Soobin."
As always Soobin smiled warmly at me.
Then, in a soothing voice, she said to me.
"We'll protect Korea, so don't worry, just do what you have to do. Do you understand?"
"…Thank you, Soobin."
As I replied, from up ahead, I heard a loud voice calling out to me.
"Egostic, you need to come in for a final inspection!"
Slowly, it was time to go.
"…Have a good trip. Okay?"
I nodded, listening to Soobin's words, full of affection and concern for me.
This will be the last time I'll see the members of the Egostream before the Sun God War.
…Hopefully, we'll return safely and see everyone smiling.
With that thought, I waved goodbye to everyone.
"Da-in, you must come back safely.”
"Da-in. Have a good trip. Don't die."
"Hmph…Da-in. Return safely."
[Da-in, you are a warrior I approve of. Return with honor and victory!]
…No, one would think I was fighting.
I smirked and waved my hand in acknowledgment but just before I left.
"Da-in."
"What?"
Soobin stopped me for a moment as I was about to leave.
Then, near me, she whispered something quietly.
"When you're done, and you're back, will you answer…?"
"Ah."
After saying that, she smiled a wicked smile that was uncharacteristic of Soobin.
With a wave, she left with a wry smile.
"Goodbye, Da-in~!"
"Haha. Yeah… I'll see you then."
With those words, I walked away with the staff escorting me.
Now, let's go to the final battlefield, where the final battle will be fought.
*** *** *** *** *** *****
Somewhere in America, on an open plain, I stood atop a massive cliff with the wind blowing in my face.
"Yes, it looks like we're ready to go."
"Thank you, Egostic!"
With that, the agent scribbled something on a piece of paper and disappeared into thin air.
I stood at the edge of the cliff, peering down cautiously.
"Whew…"
An expanse of orange grass, with a large circle in the center of it, with six giant Divine Moonlight Cannons.
That large space was where the battle with the Sun God would take place.
The control tower itself is farther away from here, in case of the aftermath of the battle, but it should be nearby.
"….."
My hands itch.
I shove them in my pockets and go over the plan one last time.
Tomorrow, here's what's going to happen.
First, the sun will rise highest here tomorrow and at noon, the Sun God will descend.
Afterward, the Sun God's armies will launch an all-out assault on the world.
Here, Stardus will fight the Sun God and win.
She did in the original, when she was much weaker than she is now.
And so the Sun God flees, and the world is at peace.
And then.
"….."
I haven't told anyone yet.
With the Sun God's power severely weakened and his influence submerged, the abilities of the world's superhumans will gradually fade away.
Though it will take decades before everyone's powers are completely gone…
Still, it's better than everyone dying.
Rather than a world like the original, where there are only a few people left to lose their abilities.
That's what I was thinking when.
"Egostic."
A familiar voice called me.
At the words, I turned around with a smile.
"Stardus."
"What are you doing?"
"Doing the final checks."
Wearing the same red and blue suit she'd always worn, from her early days as a hero to now. She had come to see me.
As Stardus, Shin Haru stood there, looking at me with her blue eyes, I found myself asking her.
"Stardus. Are you nervous?"
"Nervous? Mmm… Nervous, of course. But…"
She smiled wryly, and said to me,
"But I'm not that nervous because I have you, Egostic, and I know it's going to work out no matter what."
She says, rubbing her hands together.
I looked at Stardus as she said that, somehow differently than usual.
A hero who had just become a hero, a hero without fans, Stardus, an A-list hero, a hero who, aside from having blonde hair and being pretty, isn't really famous.
In fact, she was criticized for not being able to protect people while taking taxpayer money. She's even been outed and threatened by everyone and yet, despite that she always put the citizens before herself.
Even in the face of the most powerful enemies, she never crumbles.
Even when everything around her disappears, she keeps going, gets back up, and protects the world.
She is a true hero.
I used to love reading about her in comics, maybe because I knew that such a character could not exist in real life.
And even when, one day, suddenly, that world became real, when all was lost and I despaired, if there was one consolation was that Stardus had become real.
When I lost my life and despaired, I made a decision.
I will dedicate this life to Stardus.
She's weak, she's reviled by everyone, but she's still running ahead like a fool so instead of the thorny path of the original I will lay down a path of flowers.
Even if it means I have to be a villain, even if it takes my life to do it and so, now, I've come this far.
Stardus hasn't suffered any of the despair she should have. Instead of being reviled, she became the most popular hero in the country, and now she is the hope of mankind, the hope that the entire world depends on.
I suppose that my role is over now.
‘After dealing with Sun God, what will I do…?’
My powers will be weakened and the villains will be fewer in number. I'll be free to travel with my fellow Egostream members. I'll be able to have serious conversations with Stardus and Haru, and maybe even live with her. We can visit some of the vacation spots we've been too busy to visit. Get to know Haru and the others.
And I'll have to answer to the hearts of the Egostream members….Even though it seemed like a lot of work, I knew it would be the path to happiness.
And, now, they could be happy without me.
There was no more hesitation.
"Stardus."
"Yes."
"I trust you. Tomorrow, the Sun God or something else. We'll smash them."
"…Yeah."
I smiled at her, at the way she answered me so coolly, like it was a given.
That's right.
Now, it was time to end it all.
Another day passed, with one last check.
Finally…the fateful day dawned.
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