◈ 490. [STAGE 23] You are like lightning.
《You’re being reckless, you’re a small creature.》
Medusa’s petrifying evil eye flashed towards Torkel, who stood up from her seat.
“It would have been easier if I had just lay down and pretended to be dead… !]
Kiyiyin!
The energy of petrification swept over the area.
But
< ... ... ?] Torquell was fine despite receiving this direct gaze. “What is it?” Medusa asked puzzledly. “How can you not be petrified... ?” “I don’t know.” After giving a short answer, Torkel stumbled and walked toward Medusa. "this... !] Thinking it was a mere coincidence, Medusa fired the petrification's evil eye again. Kiyiying! But kwajik kwaduk! Kwakwawang! While everything around him hardened into rock, nothing happened to Thorkell. just walk forward 《What are you doing?!》 “... I don't know how I can stand like this now.” slow. But sure. step by step. “But I think I know one thing.” Heading forward, Thorkel said. “... That your situation is similar to mine.” “What?” Medusa shouted in amazement. 《What are you talking about pretending to know, human!》 “... .” “The pain of having to live in the form of a monster like this since I was born because of a sin I didn’t commit... You speak as if you know something!》 “Why do you think you are the only one?” Thorkell slowly grabbed the helmet and took it off. "me too." 《... !” His leprosy-stained face was hideous. Even Medusa was startled and startled. “I was fed up with being treated like a monster.” "you... .] Torkell put on his helmet again and groaned bitterly. “I thought I was being punished for the sins I committed in my previous life. I thought I had to pay the price because being born was a sin.” 《... .》 “Because it is unfair and I hate the world. It was unbearable. It wouldn’t be strange if I became a monster like you.” Unbearable anger and resentment rose toward the world. He wanted to punch people in the face who were looking at him as if they were bugs. I just wanted to beat those who spit and cursed at me because they were lepers. There were many sleepless nights with resentment and sadness due to constant disrespect. Nevertheless, it was because of the same lepers that Torkell did not give up on being human. The people who lived together on a narrow island. Adults who taught me to study, saying that I had to learn at least letters so that I would not be persecuted for anything else. The children who always handed out the candy they had been finding with difficulty. It was easy to beat people to death who looked down on them. It was also easy to set fire to a village that bullied them. It was a sweet and delightful temptation to give up being human and become a monster. But if it did, everyone on the island would be in trouble. So Thorkel gritted his teeth and endured. I had to live as a mercenary because no work was given anywhere, but I earned money and sent it to the island. I did not become a monster like that, and I lived patiently, patiently, and patiently. But it was patience, not overcoming. It was just a life expectancy. I didn't live as a human being. But even in this terrible life... ... . - Welcome to Crossroads! Welcome, mercenary friends! Nice to meet you! There was a moment that shined like a star. Torkel remembered it as if it were yesterday. Ash's face, who had not been welcomed anywhere, greeted himself and his colleagues with a bright smile. In fact, money wasn't that important. Just by showing them an unfrowning expression, Thorkell decided to fight for Ash. The days on the monster front here were painful and devastating. It was a battlefield that was harsher than any human world, and death was always near. but... People here treat you as a colleague. A heterogeneous tribe, a defeated soldier, a refugee, a fugitive from the frontier, a mixed race, and a leper like himself. It was possible to live as a person on the front lines here. Torkel remembered. One day when a few people quietly came and laid flowers in front of the graves of my always desolate colleagues. The moment when people who came and went in front of the temple hesitantly greeted him, who had been silently sweeping the temple. and... . - Now, I'll hold your hand. The moment when the saintess held her hand and prayed for her. Torquell could remember more clearly than anything else in the world. “... I thought my life was nothing but pain.” It's like a dark cloud hung over my whole life. I just thought it was dark and gloomy. “But it wasn’t.” Sid, a newborn mixed-race baby. That moment when he innocently put a finger on his hand. The moment he felt the warm warmth of the child who had the same 'sin born into the world' as himself, Torkel realized. “Actually, the sun was always beating down.” behind the dark clouds. look this way The sun was pouring down toward the ground. Thorkell, who had closed his eyes from being in the shade for too long, was unaware. But now I realize. That the sun always shines here on Crossroads. That he was already walking in the sunlight. And suddenly I realized. Even in those dark clouds that I thought was hell in my childhood... ... That there was a sunny land. That the small, narrow island I always wanted to escape to was right in the sunlight. 《... So what?” Medusa laughed with her mouth wide open. 《You guys who are similar to me did not become monsters and remained human, so what should we do?》 Kiyiying! Medusa fired a series of petrifying evil eyes. Although Thorkel did not become petrified, he staggered from his seat whenever strong magical energy struck his body. 《I became a monster by my choice! Then, looking at the stars in the sky... ... I made a wish!》 The devil... ... It was as the demon king said. In fact, the young Medusa was looking at the stars and wishing. “I hope everyone in the world becomes ugly like me! My sister, the villagers, and all humans— I hope they become monsters like me!” Although he lied that he never wanted anything like that. In fact, Medusa turned her two older sisters into monsters with her own will. Even though she regretted and regretted and regretted again - at that moment, it was Medusa herself who made such an evil wish to the stars. And at that moment, Medusa truly became a monster. The girl who could have lived as a human under the love of her two older sisters became a monster of petrification that truly cursed humans. “... okay. That would be the difference between you and me.” Receiving the pouring mana in succession, Thorkel took a step. “I was born with such an ugly face... what did you choose Will you live as a human or a monster? That must be the decisive difference between us.” "No way. It doesn't suit such an ugly man. ... I just realized.” Torkel, self-deprecating, raised his head. “Because I’ve endured countless collapses all my life... . I was able to come to the current conclusion. So thank you.” To myself who endured this painful life. To myself who did not cross the line of becoming a monster in the end. After expressing his gratitude, Thorkell took a step forward. Kyaaaaaaa-! Medusa shot out sound waves when the magic eye didn't work. Rocks poured out and morale spewed out. “My ugly appearance doesn't change. The prejudices of the world do not change. But now I know.” However, Thorkel did not budge and stood in front of Medusa. and declared “There is no such thing as a sin born in this world.” 《... !》 “I am neither punished nor cursed by the gods in my previous life. So I will struggle in this life with my own will. By my own will... ... I will live as a human and die as a human.” Medusa, who gave up on her own will and became a monster, took a step back without realizing it. “My name is Thorkel. I am a mere human who is in charge of the finale of the monster front here!” 《Uhhhh... ?!” “Come on, monster. I will stop you with my life.” Thorkell lowered his stance, raised his shield forward, and gripped his mace tightly. “That is where I am... It will be the way to repay the debt owed to the sunny land... ... !” The next moment, Thorkel roared and charged at Medusa. *** Torquell unburdened himself. He overcame the original sin, the sin born in the world that had suppressed him all his life, and awakened. In doing so, he was able to use his ultimate skill and was able to withstand Medusa's attack with that power. But its power was not infinite. When the suspended time was over and the not long fight was over, Torkel had to fall on his knees in a puddle of his own blood. 《You pretended to be proud and ended up like this?》 Medusa smirked, flicking her tongue. “It was a long talk, but so? Even if you include the time you were talking about it, is it 10 minutes at the most? Are you Yang-kun, who is so great that he only blocked me for this amount of time?》 “... .” “The sun was always beating down? haha! So, where is your sun right now?” Medusa screamed, pointing at the dark sky full of dark clouds. “Come on, human! Now, if you have no more means to spend, beg the gods for mercy! Just like I did!” “... .” “And realize! Even though there are plenty of demons in this world- there is no God who can save you!” “I don’t know about God,” Thorkel laughed while vomiting blood. “There are humans who are the masters of this land.” 《What?》 Kung... ... ! At that moment, the rock wall that Medusa had raised shook greatly. thud! thud! thud! rumble! A series of crashing sounds followed, and the north side of the rock wall collapsed. There stood the regular soldiers of the Crossroads. Carrying defensive weapons such as cannons, they pierced the wall built by Medusa with crossfire, and ordinary soldiers with determined faces raised their mirror shields and approached in line with each other. To stop the kaiju on the front lines here. Following the heroes, ordinary soldiers also risked their lives. 《... Yes, it should have come out like this a long time ago.” Medusa, who had a laugh through her long, torn mouth, screamed evilly, with the demonic eyes of the petrified flower flashing. “I’ll turn you all into stone! I won't leave anyone behind, and I'll become a stone statue forever and make you regret your choice now!》 “... .” 《Your god who put you here in the petrified hell! your king! Let them grumble and curse for eons of time!” “I neither resent nor curse.” Thorkell sighed calmly. “Because this is our choice.” 《... under. He really pretends to be virtuous to the end.” Kiyiying! After invoking the evil eye of petrification right in front of him, turning even the kneeling Thorkel into a stone. Medusa looked up at the sky and sang in a terrifying high-pitched voice. With ridicule, contempt, and ridicule. έλεος έλεος Επουράνιε Θεέ! Mercy, mercy, God of heaven! Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεί Βοήθει! King of kings, help the king! “Look! Foolish humans, you should see it with your own eyes!” Medusa roared as she charged the demonic eyes of petrification at the soldiers. “Where is your king while you are sacrificing like this to maintain the front line!” It was at that very moment. coo cooo coo... ... . the sky trembled The air rippled and dark clouds vibrated. Medusa looked up and looked at her in confusion. And hwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Tearing the dark clouds to shreds and turning their backs to the dazzling sunlight- a gigantic emptiness appeared. It was the flagship of the imperial family, Alcatraz. Embarrassed Medusa opened her mouth, but a clear voice came from Alcatraz. Commander of the Monster Front. Third Prince of the Empire. It was the voice of Ash “Bonehater” Everblack. “Here you are, motherfucker.”
