Chapter 697: Let’s Prepare The End (6)
“I’ve lost a precious friend.”
Immediately, my voice spread throughout the continent. Perhaps everyone was looking up at the giant Goddess’s Mirror in each area. It was predictable without having to check it with the telescope.
The timing was a little too sudden, and the speech that started much earlier than the initially scheduled time made many people puzzled. The staff surrounding me couldn’t hide their disconcerted faces.
Light Kiyoung, who had enough divinity to make the expression holy, too little to describe him, could be seen in their eyes.
I was worried that it might look shabby for a moment, but the light that seemed to bear all the pain in the world was showing off a visual that suited the place without needing any other preparation.
‘I guess it’s better that I didn’t pretend that I’m sick. It’s natural.’
I was feeling absolutely determined, and my eyes were saying that I would never fall.
I thought no one wouldn’t know that the day of prophecy, the day of the end, was about to begin.
I slowly looked around with the telescope, and I saw crowds gathering. Everyone looked at the sky silently, preparing for the prophesized day.
After hesitating a bit, I slowly continued. “We… We have lost our precious ones.”
“…”
“Perhaps many of you are like me. I think everyone living on this continent has experienced losing a loved one. I think you’ve lost your precious ones to demon worshipers, demon summoners, demon legions, their servants, to war, to pain to hatred and anger.”
“…”
“We survived. On the continent that our companions, our friends, and our lovers have kept safe, we survived thanks to the blood and sacrifice they gave. Under the trees, they have rooted in, under the skies, they have guarded.”
“…”
“We are not the only ones who have developed the present continent. The heroes who lived and breathed in the painful history, the warriors we hear about in the adventurer’s guild, the people who live the hard life day by day, and the many who want to fight to protect this continent are the heroes of the present continent.”
“…”
“The land we stand on is our history and our hometown. There is no difference between the continental people or the foreigners or different races. Our dear ones shed blood for our future and sacrificed themselves to get us to this point. They said goodbye smiling.”
“…”
“It was thanks to their sacrifice. We got to this moment because they were with us. They made us one. It is the people who are not here now that have united us, the Republic and the State, the United Kingdom and the Federation, the neutral nations and the different races, who thought of each other as enemies.”
I saw some who began nodding slowly. Soldiers from the Republic and the State were looking at each other. Those who called each other enemies just a few years ago patted each other on the shoulders with slightly awkward faces. That was a good thing.
“It was thanks to their sacrifice. Because of their sacrifice, we can now prepare for battle against mighty enemies for the Day of Prophecy. They made us stronger. We suffered a lot from their death and sacrifice, but as a result, they made us more powerful.”
Those who had ever lost a colleague nodded. On the battlefield where only gray was visible, they began to remember their former companions.
A priest who sacrificed himself for a party, a warrior who faced enemies to give his colleagues time to flee from the dungeon, or a swordsman who was hit with an arrow to protect his comrade’s back…
There are many stories. I didn’t know all the stories they had, but they were common on the continent.
They simply bumped into each other’s shields or swords, or lay their hands on their chests, and mourned their fellows who had allowed them to stand alive at that moment. I was no different either.
‘Song Jeong-wook of the Small Rock Guild.’
I suddenly remembered the guy who died for his comrades in the most avant-garde at the Castle Rock Monster Wave event. We weren’t close friends, but the guy’s desire to protect Castle Rock was sincere.
‘Federal heroes.’
At the time of the Belial summon, some sacrificed themselves more than anyone else, like the heroes who blocked Donovan with their weak bodies to send the main unit led by Kim Hyunsung to Limur’s nest.
‘Han Sora.’
Would she feel the same, choosing to seal herself in order to protect the continent?
There were probably many other unknown people besides her.
Multiple warriors headed to the most dangerous areas in countless battles in the past, knowing that they had a high probability of dying. I couldn’t help but be grateful to them. It’s because of their existence that the continent could continue to prosper.
“It was thanks to their sacrifice. They were the ones who gave us the correct values ??and lighted the right path. By their sacrifices, they showed us what was right, what was wrong, and that’s how I can talk about the right values with you all. The lessons and stories they gave us became a lamp that guided us on the right track.
“…”
“Of course, there were some who didn’t. There were certainly some who made the wrong choice by selling their souls to the demon. But we learned from them too. They taught us which side to stand on, the left or the right, with light or with darkness. The history of this continent has made us strong.”
“…”
“And just like that! We are standing here. We have grown and are in this position now, bypassing the pitfalls of death continuously.”
“…”
“We, who had been shaken by the temptations and desires of many demons, are now standing here firmly reflecting on the beliefs and values ??we have.”
“…”
“We, trembling with fear and terror, stand here with the courage and indomitable will they gave us.”
“…”
I couldn’t guarantee how effective my words would be. I felt as if they would still be afraid and scared. But that’s why I was certain it could help.
Those who wanted to fight had to decide once more. Those frightened had to get rid of their fears. As I looked around, I noticed that the soldiers’ trembles were decreasing. People who had the belief that they could do it and overcome it had begun to emerge.
Just as fear was easily transmitted, so were hope and courage.
“We didn’t know what freedom and hope were back then, but we now have the hope to face the final fight.”
Of course, each person’s thoughts were different.
It would definitely be different.
“We have to show it. We have to show our fellows, lovers, and families that we have grown this way. We have to be able to confidently say that we are able to stand here and that we are able to overcome it because of them. We must strive not to let their sacrifices, their legacy, be in vain. Stand up. Prepare for battle.”
I watched the troops deployed at the forward base moving slowly. They took their weapons and lowered their raised helmet visors.
Other places were no different. Some adjusted their quivers, and warriors were patting on the backs of comrades that would fight together. The commanders were encouraging the members, and the priests were praying. With eyes full of conviction, they were preparing to die for the continent.
Each person’s thoughts were different. But wouldn’t everyone have the same feeling to fight for the continent? I had to turn my head to see if others were ready as well.
-This is fun.
Cha Hee-ra was smiling. She was equipped with random armor and held her weapon tightly. She had already crossed the wall once, and she opened the large door with confidence as usual.
There was a vast battlefield for her to fight. She muttered as she looked from the stage, which was designed entirely for her.
-I can be stronger.
Cha Hee-ra nodded.
I turned my head once again, and that time I saw Lee Jihye.
-Don’t you have to tell me at least? Oppa? You should have scheduled this and tell me if there were any changes. Well, in fact, it doesn’t matter whatsoever, but… I think this is the beginning, so it feels fresh. It seems like we came really far, but if you think about it, we haven’t, right?
Lee Jihye was holding a glass and looking at the window. Her expression was hard to explain. Was it finally over, or was it the beginning? I couldn’t figure out what kind of expression it was, but she seemed to be looking forward to it.
-Oh. I’m telling you just in case, but if Noah’s ark is initiated, don’t leave me. I mean, just a reminder. Really.
Not far away was Oscar. She had been sending determination as she looked in the Goddess’s Mirror and watched the countless soldiers that followed her.
-I’m Oscar. I… I’m Oscar.
Park Deokgu, who always got in a mess, also looked a little nervous. Ahn Ki-mo was staring at the battlefield quietly, and Kim Ye-ri was patting Park Deokgu’s back.
-I can do it…
-You can do it. Because you have done well so far, uncle.
-Yes. Of course, you can do it well. Haven’t you always said that?
-I know. That murmur. When hyung-nim does it, it always…
-I… I can do better.
-Right. That.
Park Deokgu laughed. As if some of the doubts left inside him were resolved, he tapped his chest, reminiscing what someone had told him.
Sun Hee-young didn’t seem nervous. Like any other priest, she was praying silently with a face that she was just doing what she had to do.
-Please… make him overcome it.
Elena, who was a coward, seemed to have made up her mind that time.
-Elune… Elune. Look over us. Please give me the power to protect the future of our race. I mean this continent.
Yoo Ah-young spent time with Kim Chang-ryul while organizing the arms, and the guy whose thoughts I still couldn’t read was brushing the head of a new guild member who was confused.
There were also people who couldn’t overcome it. Raphael still hadn’t gotten up. Unable to move, he couldn’t come back from his unconsciousness.
Cho Hyejin was quietly wiping her tears. As she looked in the mirror over and over again, she was wiping away tears that were constantly flowing. Although I was suspicious of whether she was ready to fight, she walked out with a spear lying on one side of her room.
-I can protect it.
I didn’t know if she could get what she really wanted. Yuno Kasugano was in a similar situation. She was looking at something, shedding tears endlessly. Maybe that was the process of checking if the future had changed.
Seeing her tears not stopping, appeared in the future she saw. Oscar said it wasn’t a fight for sacrifice, but someone had to sacrifice everything anyway.
-Please… please…
Jung Hayan began to walk through the darkened place, raising her body with a smiling face after she grabbed Han Sora’s hand tightly.
-Let’s go together, Sora.
I heard her chanting the spell. Soon, she generated magic, looking at the enormous light. I thought I could tell what she was thinking.
Maybe she was trying to pull that door that was slowly opening. Of course, there was no reason to stop her. Humanity was ready to fight, after all. It’s not those demons’ job that pulled the trigger, but the Army of Light’s.
When I turned my head slowly once again, I looked at the one who had the most mixed feelings at that point. In a dark room, the image of Kim Hyunsung looking at the mirror reflected outside. It was pretty hard to read what the dark-red-eyed guy was thinking.
-Responsibility.
I didn’t know if responsibility had come back late or if he’s trying to abandon us. He spread his black wings wide and hung his sword on his waist. Kim Hyunsung went outside. I heard a bustling sound.
-Get ready for battle! All troops, prepare for battle. Get ready for the final fight!
Kim Hyunsung nodded at someone’s voice.
-The time has come to protect the continent! There is no vain death, for we will win. Remember what we are fighting for.
At the voice of one of the commanders, Kim Hyunsung took a step further.
-We fight for the continent. We fight for the goddess who looks over us!
Staring at the rising pillars of light that seemed to burst, he was trying to tie his own beginning and end.
The soldiers prepared for death, priests prayed to the gods, heroes did their best in their respective positions, and some of the young soldiers tried to overcome their fear. Every warrior looked back and watched what they had to protect.
As the voices continued to grow, looking at the humans who were gradually starting to mix up… Kim Hyunsung began to whisper quietly.
-Just…
‘Huh?’
-Just screw you.
‘No… Don’t do that, you bastard. What the hell? Why are you suddenly becoming Doom Hyunsung again?’