Chapter 404

Seong Jihan's eyes sank deeply.

The entity before him, identical in appearance.

He could immediately tell who it was, feeling the faint power of the void.

"The Taiji's Lost Soul?"

"Yes. I have something to discuss."

The Taiji's Lost Soul, who confirmed Seong Jihan's question, sat down at the dining table with a familiar step.

"But before that, shall we eat first? Let's have a meal together."

He beckoned towards the dining chair, gesturing them to sit.

As if this were his own home.

"......Wow, is that a doppelgänger? What do we do, Uncle?"

"Let him eat a meal before he dies."

"Oh, alright......"

As Yoon Seah reluctantly placed the food on the table.

"Go ahead."

The Taiji's Lost Soul picked up the chopsticks.

"......"

Observing the opponent slowly savoring each bite.

Seong Jihan felt frustrated.

Why is he eating so slowly?

"Seah, did I eat that slowly?"

"No...... Uncle usually eats quickly."

Ignoring the comments, the Taiji's Lost Soul savored each side dish.

After taking a bite of all the side dishes, he finally looked at them.

"Aren't you eating?"

"You... you're not my uncle! How can you eat with us?"

Swish.

At Yoon Seah's words, the Lost Soul looked at Seong Jihan.

"Seah, let's eat together."

"Ugh......"

"If it's his last meal, we should let him have it properly."

"You don't have to sit."

Pointing chopsticks at him, the Lost Soul said at Seong Jihan's words.

"If Uncle doesn't eat, I won't sit."

"Then sit."

However, the Lost Soul put the chopsticks down again as Yoon Seah spoke.

Who was going to serve the last meal to himself, enough to be ground by the Taiji Sword in infinite regressions?

'This is getting tiresome.'

Should he just flip the table and be done with it?

Seong Jihan pondered but.

"Once we finish eating, call my sister."

"Sister? You mean Mom..."

"...Alright. Let's sit."

At the Lost Soul mentioning his sister, he sat down.

So began the awkward meal.

The two Seong Jihans ate the food while.

"Ugh, what is this...."

Yoon Seah couldn't focus on eating, worriedly looking back and forth between them.

Maybe that's why.

Thud.

As the Lost Soul put his chopsticks down, her face brightened.

"You finished... didn't you, Fake?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll clear the table!"

Shwip. Shwip.

She quickly removed the dishes from the table.

"......She's bright."

Watching Yoon Seah's back as she busily cleared the table, the Lost Soul said.

"She'll live well if she moves to another planet."

"Move to another planet?"

"Indeed. In this world, my role. No, our role is to prepare for escape."

"Escape, you say."

"The undeniable fact of this world's impending doom. Numerous deaths prove that."

The Taiji's Lost Soul touched his face.

From his face down his neck.

Thousands upon thousands of shattered pieces of Seong Jihan.

Each one had been killed by the Taiji Sword in the infinite regressions.

"And."

Suuu.

He turned his gaze towards Seong Jihan's back.

Where Yoon Seah, standing with astonished eyes, was.

"In all these deaths, Yoon Seah has never survived even once."

"......"

"Most times, she died before me."

"Wh-what are you talking about? This fake..."

Seeing her confusion, Seong Jihan changed the subject.

"How did you come out? Surely you were gathering strength to take over the body within the Taiji's Lost Soul."

"Yes. It's true that 'Seong Jihan' lacked the strength to dominate the Taiji's Lost Soul. But."

Suuuu......

A screen appeared before the Lost Soul.

On the screen.

Dongbang Sak was shown drawing Taiji on a giant's head.

"This is......"

"Dongbang Sak granted Taiji to me to ensure your death... During the process of reconstituting the body, I seized control of the Lost Soul."

"Dongbang Sak......"

"This has never happened before. The Absolute, the Martial God, is wary of you."

Ziiiiing.

The screen vanished.

With a settled face, the Lost Soul continued speaking.

"However, there's no reason I have to follow the Martial God's plans."

"......What are you planning?"

"I've gathered enough strength. Join me in escaping this world. With our family."

"Escape..."

"Your sister agreed."

As he finished speaking.

Swooooo......

A purple portal appeared behind the Lost Soul.

And from within it.

"......Mom?"

Appeared the petrified figure of Seong Jiah.

* * *

"Sis, is that true?"

[......Yes.]

In response to Seong Jihan's question, petrified Seong Jiah nodded.

[Do you remember? I said I would save you.]

"You said you'd evacuate us to a planet with similar human species."

[Right. This world is doomed. I wanted to save at least my daughter and brother. But... it wasn't easy.]

She then looked at the Lost Soul.

[The Abyss Owner was restraining me.]

"At that time, I hadn't fully controlled this body, so I couldn't communicate effectively. And the escape plan she attempted had already failed..."

Suuuu......

The screen displayed the scene.

It showed Seong Jihan and Seong Jiah cramped in a refuge.

The small sphere soaring towards the sky.

It seemed to be escaping Earth but exploded in the air just before leaving the atmosphere.

Just before the explosion, Seong Jihan saw the Taiji pattern.

The Taiji Sword had persistently driven him to death.

"A total of seven times I've died like this. We needed a new way to escape."

"...What is it?"

"Changing species and opening the Void Gate to escape."

The Lost Soul twisted the corner of his mouth.

"We'll warp to a place beyond the Taiji's reach."

"......."

"We've already found a candidate planet. A world of similar human species... There, people live are very much like humans."

[That world has no BattleNet and is peaceful. Of course, there's different races and beings like demon kings? But they're so weak even Seah could catch them.]

"What is this... another world?"

Abandon Earth and escape to a new one?

'...Surprisingly, not a bad idea?'

Seong Jihan thought initially.

Seeing the Taiji granted to the Lost Soul by Dongbang Sak.

It seemed his memory hadn't returned.

So even if he defeated the Taiji's Lost Soul, he'd have to fight Dongbang Sak.

Then the Martial God awaited.

And the Martial God had the power to control the Golden Wheel that could turn back time.

If things didn't go right and reset.

Or if he lost to Dongbang Sak, everything would be over.

'Considering the Martial God's nature, he'd probably start the next regression by killing me or heavily restricting me.'

More fittingly comparable to a cautious snake than a Martial God.

Even if the situation was inevitable, it was clear he wouldn't give Seong Jihan the same opportunities in the next regression.

The fact that he possessed such strong power in this world truly made this the last one.

Instead of preparing for the unlikely.

No, honestly improbable victory against the Martial God.

The escape plan presented by the Taiji's Lost Soul was enticing.

Meanwhile.

"...What about humanity? This world? If we escape, if Uncle disappears, can humanity overcome BattleNet?"

Yoon Seah asked seriously but.

"Family is more important than humanity."

"That's true."

The two Seong Jihans said in unison.

"No...! What will I do if Uncle, too, says that?"

"I've seen you die countless times... I want to save you at least once."

"Through his method, it's promising. That's why sister agreed, I suppose."

"A fine answer... Will you join me then? If we act together, we can escape within a week."

The Lost Soul extended his hand towards Seong Jihan.

Saving family over humanity.

This proposition was undeniably attractive.

Especially to Seong Jihan, who knew how formidable his remaining adversaries were.

'Yes, let's accept.'

Rather than challenging a highly improbable chance, focus on saving family.

Thinking so, Seong Jihan reached out to clasp the hand, but.

"......"

Stopped halfway.

"Hesitating?"

[Jihan....]

"We are mere individuals. You don't have to worry about the fate of this world. This is an unavoidable end. If so... shouldn't you at least save your family?"

The Taiji's Lost Soul persuaded Seong Jihan, who had paused mid-action.

Their cooperation would make the escape much easier.

Leaving a doomed world, starting anew in an isekai with human-like beings.

It might weigh on his conscience.

Considering that Seong Jihan held the only possible chance to stop the doom.

But.

'Haven't I already failed countless times?'

The proof of failure was the Lost Soul before his eyes.

Though having uncovered the infinite regressions of the Martial God now.

The conclusion was clear, the difference was monumental.

Now was perhaps the optimal chance for escape.

The cooperative stance of the Taiji's Lost Soul should not be missed.

But.

"I have a bad feeling."

"Bad... feeling...."

In the midst of the grave atmosphere.

Yoon Seah asked incredulously as Seong Jihan mentioned his bad feeling.

He agreed with everything the mosaic Seong Jihan said, so why suddenly bring up a bad feeling?

"...You doubt me?"

"No, I think you're trustworthy."

As the Lost Soul frowned, displeased at the 'bad feeling' comment, Seong Jihan shook his head.

He genuinely believed in the proposal.

Logically, he thought they should accept the offer.

But.

"If I go, it won't work..."

"Wh-what are you saying, Uncle! You have to come if we're going!"

Yoon Seah retorted, but.

"......"

The Taiji's Lost Soul stood silent, watching him.

"I've already attracted too much attention."

[That's......]

"I have the red Administrator's hand. The Eye of Light is installed on my BattleTube. After escaping, is staying hidden really possible?"

"You can just hand it over to the Sun King or the Dragon Lord, who sponsored a lot! And stop watching BattleTube."

"No."

To Yoon Seah's retort, Seong Jihan, seemingly having organized his thoughts.

Spoke with a clear expression.

"It won't play out that way. There's already multiple Administrator powers intertwined; extricating myself alone from this chaos isn't feasible."

"So what... you're staying behind... surely."

"I'll stay. You'll have to take responsibility and get everyone to safety."

"....You."

"I'll eliminate the Martial God and call you back."

Seong Jihan smirked.

"Take a temporary trip to another world."