The so-called Jade of Destruction, heralded as the final battle, shattered in vain. It ended so abruptly that it was almost laughable—an anticlimax too miserable to deny.
Leopold felt the denial fade swiftly, replaced by a bitter acceptance.
I still haven't reached it.
The truth settled coldly in his chest—it had always been unreachable. Everything from the start had gone wrong.
No, from the beginning… it was all a mistake.
He had called himself emperor, but that had been arrogance. The title belonged to another—someone like Behemoth in the past… or the man standing before him now, Lee Seong-jun.
The throne was not something seized through desire alone. It demanded the trust and faith of others—something Leopold had never earned.
It was a position I should never have claimed.
Too late, the realization came as the flames of Asura devoured his body and soul alike. His regrets surfaced with a dying breath—
"Ice… coffee…"
A meaningless murmur as his body turned to black ash, scattering in the inferno.
Ding!
[You have created a new science that will be recorded in history.]
[It's a great achievement.]
[The battle with Leopold, Chairman of the World Returners' Union, has been recorded in the special quest 'The Emperor's Path.']
[Quest progress exceeds 50%. Bonus rewards granted.]
[Experience points gained. Level up!]
[Your level has increased to 270.]
[Congratulations! You've reached the 6th Job Advancement stage!]
Lee Seong-jun turned away from the glowing holographic window. The victory notifications flickered before his eyes, yet he didn't linger.
"It was the best decision I ever made."
Frederick exhaled in relief, leaning against the charred remains of a wooden beam. The explosion had torn the battlefield apart, and if he had tried to move before fully recovering, he would have been swallowed by flames.
He was alive—barely. But even that survival carried a shadow.
"I never thought… Leopold would fall."
Julian and Theodore had been right. It wasn't conviction Leopold lacked—it was vision.
"Everything was wrong from beginning to end."
A bitter smile crossed Frederick's face as he replayed the blinding explosion in his mind. The sheer destructive power that Seong-jun had unleashed was beyond human comprehension.
And yet, even that might not have been his full strength.
He's only been back on Earth for a year… and he's already reached this level?
Even with system-assisted growth, it was excessive. Frightening, even.
"Monster," Frederick whispered, goosebumps rising along his arms.
Lee Seong-jun would soon reach heights unseen—beyond the sky itself. Even with all his accumulated knowledge, Frederick couldn't imagine the man's limit.
With everything I know… I can't even glimpse the end.
It was humbling. And terrifying.
The future—one Frederick had once thought predictable—was beginning to warp.
Something has changed… the timeline itself may be twisting.
He clenched his fists. This new path might bring peace for now, but such calm would not last. Greater trials awaited—dark and unrelenting.
"We must prepare," he murmured. "For the storm that's coming."
But for now, he could only recover and wait.
In a quiet underground lab in Paju, Anna leaned back in her chair, smiling faintly.
I thought I understood everything… but I didn't.
Through her contract, she had sensed Lee Seong-jun breaking past his limits. She had assumed she could face Leopold alongside him. She had been wrong.
It wasn't a match… it was domination.
Leopold hadn't even grazed Seong-jun's collar. The final strike—an enormous red sword nearly a hundred meters long—had torn the world apart. Just recalling it sent shivers through her veins.
But instead of relief, unease stirred in her chest.
Twice now, I couldn't do anything for him.
Even if she knew Seong-jun wouldn't cast her aside, the thought of being a mere burden was unbearable.
I want to stand beside him. I want to see his every expression, every thought.
It wasn't simple admiration anymore. It was something deeper, stronger—something she could no longer suppress.
To stay by his side, she needed strength.
The dragons possessed more than power—they held wisdom that transcended ages. She would use it.
Closing her eyes, Anna envisioned him—calm and composed, yet terrifyingly fierce when battle demanded it. She needed to fight like that: fluid, unpredictable, decisive.
Her thoughts accelerated, pushing her mana to its limits. Pain split her head, her heart pounded violently, but she didn't stop.
Then—clarity.
"I did it…!" she gasped, sweat streaming down her face.
A new method formed in her mind—ways to fight efficiently, to stabilize her weakening heart, and reclaim her strength. Mana from the air surged toward her in waves as her eyes opened, glowing blue.
"We can stay together… always."
Her smile shone brighter than ever.
"Is everyone watching?"
Lee Seong-jun lounged on his living room sofa, flipping through TV channels and online articles.
To the public, nothing had happened. The massive clash between the World Returners' Union, the Overlord, and himself remained a secret. The world carried on in blissful ignorance.
But the powerful knew. Politicians, hunters, world leaders—all whispered the same name. His fame and Korea's influence had reached new heights.
It's quieter this way, he thought. No politics, no clean-up. Just peace.
He exhaled slowly, opening the hologram window before him.
Sixth Job Advancement… let's see what's next.