Chapter 203 – Doomsday
The Statue of Liberty exploded.
In other words, the current timeline is the one where the world is about to be destroyed before X-Machina reverses time.
Realizing this, I immediately took action.
“Da-in?”
When I suddenly stood up from watching TV, everyone looked at me with confusion.
Quickly, I retrieved the secret capsule from my pocket, clenched it in my fist, and activated it.
Suddenly, smoke filled the living room.
“Da-in, what’s happening…”
“Hey, what are yo…”
“Da-in? Ugh…”
Caught off guard by the sudden phenomenon, my fellow members stumbled and collapsed.
I’m sorry. They were just sleeping.
The world’s destruction. All of this started a few minutes after the Statue of Liberty’s head exploded, causing all superpowered individuals worldwide to go on a rampage, attacking cities like they were possessed.
So, I first made sure our team members were safe and asleep. Even if it’s a timeline that will be erased, I didn’t want to see my comrades attacking others. Phew, now they should all be asleep.
As I looked around to check on everyone,
I made eye contact with Eun-wol, who was standing unscathed, blinking her eyes.
“……”
“……”
The sudden silence filled the living room. Right, the magic circle. It seemed like Eun-wol unknowingly activated one of her magical abilities to protect us.
In the midst of this bewildering situation, I hesitated for a moment. Looking around at the fallen members in the living room, Eun-wol gave me a slightly sad smile and whispered.
“I believe you, Da-in.”
Then, in one breath, she inhaled the smoke, and after finishing the spell, she collapsed to the ground.
I approached her and held her gently, as she lay on the floor. Quietly, I murmured, “I’m sorry, Eun-wol.”
Just sleeping for a while, it’s just a momentary dream that we’ll forget anyway.
After checking on everyone lying in the living room, I left quietly. The effect of the magic would wear off after a few hours, and everyone would wake up. Those with strong innate abilities like Shinyeong might wake up earlier, but it doesn’t matter. Soon, the world would be destroyed, and time would reset.
With those thoughts in mind, I changed into the outfit I wore during our terrorist activities.
Mask, hat, cape. Everything check.
I took the camera and memorized the sight of our sleeping members in the living room. Then, quietly, I left the house.
Our members’ mental states were now safe, and there was nothing more I could do here. Now, I have to meet Stardus.
***
The catastrophe struck in the blink of an eye.
“[Breaking News! The United States has launched nuclear missiles toward Europe, China, Australia, and Egypt! In response, other countries are deploying countermeasures and retaliating with nuclear strikes on the United States!]”
A sudden global nuclear war broke out. Out of nowhere, the US President initiated nuclear attacks on multiple continents, and the world plunged into chaos.
But little did we know, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Even worse events were yet to unfold.
[Breaking News! The villain organization “Etheria,” led by the S-class villain Celest, has initiated a large-scale attack! They are targeting the United States and turning the nation into a sea of flames…]
[Breaking News! The national hero association of the United States is attacking its own citizens! Heroes are smashing the cities, and the exact reason remains unknown…]
[Breaking News! Superpower detention centers in the United States, Europe, and Russia have all lost control and been destroyed! As a result, the S-class villains held in isolation have been released, causing nearby cities to be reduced to ruins…]
[Breaking News! The armies of the villain organization Atlas in the North Atlantic have begun invading the world! Citizens living near the coast are urged to evacuate immediately…]
[B-Breaking News! The superpower detention centre in the East of South Korea, East Carceris, has collapsed! All S-class villains have been released, so citizens are advised to evacuate to safety…]
“This is crazy.”
On the rooftop of a high-rise building in downtown Seoul,
I was watching the city below while listening to the news in real-time.
Boooooooom.
Kaboooooooooom.
Explosions and billowing black smoke were heard and seen everywhere.
The apocalypse that had descended upon the present time. If the word “doomsday” were to take form, would it be like this? I simply looked down below with a calm gaze.
…This situation was never something I could interfere with in the first place.
I have no idea where the initial trigger of this catastrophe came from, or what caused all the abilities users, governments, and associations to attack their own people. I can only guess it might have been a hypnotist or something like that. Or maybe the work of a god. I really don’t know.
But what I do know for certain is that all of this will become a “non-existent.” I, too, will forget today’s memories. Perhaps after seeing that the Statue of Liberty didn’t explode, I’ll be reassured and just continue with my daily life.
In other words, everything that happens from now on is like an off-the-record story. I can reveal all my secrets here, and even expose my true identity without any consequences because it will all become a ‘non-existent’. So, I didn’t bother with any identity concealment when I came out now.
“Phew…”
I leaned against the rooftop railing for a moment and watched the collapsing city below.
And then I heard the news in my ears.
[Breaking News. Lee Seola from YuSeong Enterprise has started firing missiles toward the entire country. It seems to be random, but unfortunately, it’s headed in the direction of this broadcasting station. So, well, this seems to be the last broadcast. Goodbye, everyone.]
And the news ended.
Hmm. Something seems to be exploding, and missiles are flying around. It’s truly a catastrophic situation.
…Well, I didn’t really have any strong impressions. After all, these are all meaningless scenes. It’s like watching a movie. These isolated events won’t have any significant impact on my daily life or future, considering they will all disappear from the timeline. Even I won’t remember these scenes.
…Still.
I took a moment to recall the original story. The struggling Stardus, unaware that all of this would become an ‘non-existent’, desperately working and suffering alone.
Yeah, no matter what, I can’t stand to see her in such a state.
With that thought in mind, I smiled briefly and activated the camera I had brought with me using telekinesis.
Alright, the broadcast should be transmitted to all TV channels by now.
Now, I can only hope that Stardus will hear this.
With that tiny hope in my heart, I opened my mouth and started speaking to the camera.
“Ahem, ahem. Hello, this is Egostic!”
“Wow, the world is quite a mess right now, isn’t it?”
“Well… There might not be much I can do, but I do know something about this situation.”
“So…”
“Stardus, could you please come over here?”
I said with a hopeful smile.
***
In just one morning, the world collapsed.
Shin Haru couldn’t help but think that way.
“Emergency, we need to declare a state of emergency!”
“America has launched another nuclear attack. We need to stop it! Activate the missile defence systems!”
“Where is the president?”
The control center of the Association was in complete chaos, as the remaining staff tried their best to control the situation.
Despite the lack of salary.
As Stardus watched the rapidly changing situation in foreign countries with a blank expression, almost screaming-like sounds kept coming from one corner of the Association.
“The Detention Centre in the East suddenly broke open! The villains are all escaping in droves!”
“Reports are coming in that villains have suddenly appeared all over the country, including Seoul, Busan, Gyeonggi, and Jeonbuk! They are rampaging like it’s some kind of planned event today!”
“….”
Stardus felt like her soul was about to leave her body.
This situation now made her doubt whether it was just a disturbing dream.
However, the cold air against her skin confirmed that it was indeed reality.
“Whoa. P-President Lee Seola fired missiles! It seems to be missiles hidden by YuSeong Enterprise!”
“What did you say?”
After momentarily freezing, Stardus regained her composure upon hearing the news and quickly tried to call Lee Seola.
[Currently, the person you are calling cannot be reached. Please leave a message after the beep…]
But all she heard was the busy tone.
Lee Seola always answered her calls no matter how busy she was, but today seemed to be an exception.
“I’ll head outside for now.”
“…Sure, please do. Well, it seems like there’s nothing more we can do…”
Passing by the murmuring staff, Stardus stepped outside.
A chilly wind blew, and the sound of explosions echoed from all directions.
“Oh…”
Shin Haru’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. Where should she start, and what should she do?
She had already received all the reports from the association. The sudden news that all superpower holders, including heroes and villains, were going mad. And even world leaders had gone corrupt.
The entire world was now hurtling towards destruction in just one morning.
In such a situation, how on earth should she handle it?
She had roughly flown around and dealt with visible villains, but it felt like an endless loop. As soon as she subdued one another appeared, an endless cycle. Under this overwhelming wave, Shin Haru found herself on a psychological cliff.
…It seems there’s no answer. It’s likely the end.
The world is already in ruins, and what could she possibly do alone?
And in that situation.
Suddenly, an idea popped into her head, from none other than…
It was a villain, a certain man.
“…Egostic.”
In the middle of this psychological turmoil, she realized something. She had relied on Egostic more than she thought. Even in this situation, she thought of him first.
…But there’s no way he can help. It’s almost certain that he, like the others, has gone mad.
As she flew away, leaving everything behind, a broadcast was playing on a billboard next to a collapsed building.
And on that broadcast.
A man’s appearance, something she didn’t expect.
No, she had thought of it, but she couldn’t bring herself to hope for it.
The image of one man was coming through.
“Whoa, this world is in a bit of a mess, isn’t it?”
His playful voice echoed from the large speaker. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
And he continued to speak.
“Well… there might not be much I can do, but I do know something about this situation.”
“So, Stardus.”
“Could you come over here, please?”
Looking as if he was looking directly into her eyes, he gave a cheerful smile.
Checking the background behind him, she found herself unconsciously flying towards that place.
Only to see him.
