Chapter 199 : Otherworld Stone
Chapter 199: Otherworld Stone
“······.”
Currently, a hole has been pierced through the dimensional barrier surrounding Earth.
The one who pierced it was the Otherworld God Abrasax, the pierced location was the Otherworld Lord’s torso, and naturally, the hole was connected to the Otherworld.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a connecting passage had been established between Earth and the Otherworld. The Otherworld Management Bureau wouldn’t have declared they’d pour in their full power for no reason.
In such a situation, what would happen if a jewel condensed with the power of the Otherworld was detonated in the Reverse World?
‘If we’re lucky, it becomes a Reverse Otherworld; in the worst case, a new hole will be pierced through the dimensional barrier already weakened by the existing hole.’
As far as Baek Woohyun knew, the Reverse World was a space created in the dimensional gap between Earth and the Otherworld. In other words, piercing a new hole wasn’t far-fetched.
Even thinking such a terrible thing wouldn’t happen was difficult, given the timing of when the jewel containing Otherworld power was discovered was far too coincidental.
“Crazy bastards···.”
“Power of the Otherworld, you say.”
Baek Woohyun explained his speculation, appropriately disguising it as experience from being Test Subject Lee Jun—since he had clashed with Otherworld power several times.
He vaguely glossed over how he learned about the hole in the dimensional barrier, but the Avengers members didn’t ask about that.
Among the Avengers’ rules was “questions probing into the past are forbidden unless voluntarily shared.”
This was because, given their pasts, no one knew when a trigger button might suddenly be pressed, and they understood the gap between happier times and now, so they showed consideration.
“Hmm.”
Baek Woohyun participating in operations to establish his position within the Avengers and gradually building rapport was also intended to comply with the organization’s rules.
If he forcibly dug into the past trying to find out why Jeong Beomu betrayed them, he risked being suspected as a spy sent by the research facility.
No matter how antagonistic his actions toward the research facility were, the Avengers wouldn’t overlook matters involving their cherished leader.
Anyway, according to Baek Woohyun’s explanation, the jewel condensed with Otherworld power—simply called the ‘Otherworld Stone’—was an extremely horrifying existence even from the perspective of former test subjects.
This was all the more true since even those burning with hatred toward the research facility knew they had to protect Earth from the Otherworld’s invasion.
Detonating one Otherworld Stone meant the dimensional war that had barely subsided would resume.
‘···Come to think of it, it’s really absurd.’
Test subjects burning with the will to achieve revenge somehow, yet never reaching for the forbidden power of the Otherworld.
Meanwhile, the research facility—the perpetrators who created test subjects through all kinds of biological experiments—not satisfied with that, even dragging in the Otherworld that caused tremendous damage to Earth.
Looking at it this way, such a bizarre contrast formed that Baek Woohyun inwardly let out a hollow laugh.
The research facility was even now creating various things at a pace that practically amounted to selling out Earth. To the point where one could believe the Otherworld established the research facility.
“Just what do those bastards want?”
Kim Youngjun said, deep furrows carved into his brow.
His usual cheerful smile was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a serious tone.
“Don’t tell me they think that because it’s a cooperative relationship, they’ll survive even if the Otherworld conquers Earth?”
Kim Youngjun spewed curses, asking what kind of shit they were trying to pull with such complacent judgment.
Even for him, who could be said to live solely on vengeance against the research facility, the lament of ‘why the hell are those bastards like that?’ inevitably escaped.
Just what about the Otherworld made them think they could maintain a cooperative relationship? Those were beings who waged war to conquer Earth without any dialogue.
“You shouldn’t try to understand trash.”
“Kill them all and it’ll be cleanly resolved.”
“You said something good for once. Right. If we kill them all, what’s there to worry about?”
“···Well, yeah. That’s right.”
Not only Seo Dain, who was gradually emitting flames from her body, but even Jang Eunsu, who had been staring at his own shadow, chimed in with his opinion.
Going round and round, they ultimately reached consensus on ‘absolutely kill the research facility!’ But meetings of vengeful spirits burning with hostility usually reached such conclusions.
***
“The research facility’s purpose really is unclear.”
-ㄹㅇ(for real)
-Seems like something went wrong after the Otherworld got involved
-Original purpose was creating a Transcendent, right ㅇㅇ
-Are they trying to make a Transcendent who can even handle Otherworld power? Really don’t know
Jeong Nayeon’s impression wasn’t hers alone, as the viewers’ chat showed similar reactions.
Certainly, the story Baek Woohyun was progressing through was about ten million light-years removed from the original story content they had played.
Originally, the research facility was a subordinate organization of the Corporate Alliance, a place with the purpose of creating a Transcendent through Project: Transcendence.
Meaning nothing more or less than what Baek Woohyun had confirmed on ‘that side’.
‘StoryJoa’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[The reason for making a Transcendent is to drive out the Otherworld, but teaming up with the Otherworld is weird;]
“Exactly. Just looking at what they’re doing now, it’s like they’re trying to sell Earth to the Otherworld.”
-The research facility is totally the axis of evil ㅋㅋ
-In other stories too, they were bastards who justified means for the end
-??? : Anyway, if we make a Transcendent, everything’s solved~
-The Corporate Alliance sponsoring such a place··· hmm···
However, now the research facility spread Otherworld power to Hunting Dogs and Hellhounds, and created Doppelganger bodies for the Otherworld God Abrasax to use as terminals.
Was that all? They even cooperated in piercing a hole in the dimensional barrier to open a passage between Earth and the Otherworld.
Truly content that could be accepted as Earth’s betrayer, humanity’s enemy.
The original purpose of creating a Transcendent by stepping on sacrifices to drive the Otherworld from Earth couldn’t be found anywhere!
“Hmm.”
The Otherworld unilaterally invaded Earth and started a war, which was the dimensional war that occurred before the development of isolation space creation technology to contain dimensional erosion phenomena—Reverse World/Reverse Planet.
Unable to understand why the research facility, an Earth force that got unilaterally beaten like that, would cooperate with the Otherworld, Jeong Nayeon tilted her head with arms crossed.
The Otherworld’s purpose was to devour Earth, and if Earth was conquered by the Otherworld, not only the research facility but also the sponsoring Corporate Alliance would clearly suffer massive losses, making it all the more puzzling.
“Oh, let’s flip our thinking. What if Earth being conquered by the Otherworld isn’t a loss for the research facility?”
Chloe, who had been pondering something, interjected at that moment.
Receiving the gazes of Jeong Nayeon, Cha Seongcheol, and tens of thousands of invisible viewers, she calmly continued her explanation.
“It feels strange because we think of the research facility, an Earth force, as having a cooperative relationship with the Otherworld.”
“Yes. Right.” “That’s correct.”
“But if the research facility and Otherworld have a thorough superior-subordinate relationship, everything’s cleanly explained.”
-That’s plausible?
-Maybe it wasn’t cooperation but being devoured from the start
-Thinking of Project: Transcendence’s original purpose, this seems right ㅇㅇ
-Isn’t this actually worse ㅋㅋ
If it was a superior-subordinate relationship rather than cooperation, everything the research facility had done until now was explained. The question ‘what makes them trust cooperating with the Otherworld?’ was also answered.
Moreover, the Otherworld certainly had such ability. They were beings with a history of waging dimensional war against all of Earth.
With the Otherworld Lord and even the Otherworld God Abrasax involved, there was no reason they couldn’t turn a force like the research facility into puppets.
“Wait, hold on. If the research facility was devoured, then maybe the corporations too···?”
-What
-Gasp
-No way···
-Ah ㅋㅋ
Cha Seongcheol’s suddenly voiced speculation was somewhat valid. The research facility and the sponsoring Corporate Alliance were usually treated as a package.
The problem was that unlike the research facility, which users couldn’t enter, users who left the Otherworld Management Bureau could enter the Corporate Alliance.
Additionally, Otherworld Management Bureau vs Corporate Alliance was a structure reminiscent of the two factions that existed in older games.
Which meant.
‘ManagementBureauSpecialAgent’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[I knew it, these money-crazed bastards are trying to sell out Earth to the Otherworld]
‘CorporateEmployee’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[Ah ㅋㅋ It’s just a subcontractor organization but you’re forcing hate again, this is why leaving the Bureau is for low-IQ people]
-If your IQ is low, stay in the Bureau and get ground up ㄹㅇㅋㅋ
-So you escaped and went to a place selling out Earth? ㅋㅋ I wouldn’t go, thanks
-Don’t you understand research facility ≠ Corporate Alliance
-Ah~ The Otherworld used your sponsorship money so well~
War breaking out between Otherworld Management Bureau users and Corporate Alliance users was truly an inevitable conclusion.
The hypothesis that the Corporate Alliance was devoured by the Otherworld was a massive bomb dropped between them, who had been constantly fighting over which side was better from the start.
Usually in these situations, the Otherworld Management Bureau, which had nothing but honor, was pushed back, but this time the Corporate Alliance’s subcontractor organization research facility had caused too big an incident.
“···They touched something they shouldn’t have touched.”
“No, this wasn’t my intention!”
“Oh, in Korea too, Management Bureau users and Corporate users fight! Amazing!”
-It’s war! Burn everything!
-I knew those Hunting Dog bastards would be like this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Management Bureau agents who only surveil civilians running their mouths ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I just want to see the chat burn <- Most malicious ㄹㅇ
‘ManmulsangPartTimer’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[People live here too!!]
Jeong Nayeon shaking her head, Cha Seongcheol flustered by the situation that arose from a thoughtless comment, Chloe admiring the fighting scene identical to overseas—
Viewers got even more excited by the panelists’ reactions and set the chat ablaze, while the newly opened third faction Manmulsang users also subtly asserted their presence.
This was a rare chaotic scene in ‘Hack Tour’ content.
“But, if even the Corporate Alliance fell to the Otherworld, they would’ve caused bigger trouble. For now, it’s better to see it as just the research facility falling.”
-You Hunting Dog bastards better know you’re lucky
-The moment evidence appears, instant arrest ㅉ
-LeavingBureauIsLowIQ~
-Chloe officially certified it’s not, but still so much blabber, sheesh
‘BureauTeam2’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[“For now” ㅋㅋ Let’s wait and see]
At least Chloe sorting out the situation brought the Otherworld Management Bureau users vs Corporate Alliance users war to a close.
Though who knew what would happen afterward, anyway.
***
“So how do we handle this?”
“”······.””
At Kim Youngjun’s question about disposing of the Otherworld Stone, silence descended on the underground parking lot.
Baek Woohyun, Seo Dain, and Jang Eunsu all just stared blankly at the jewel, unable to open their mouths. Because no plausible method came to mind.
Just trying to detonate and destroy it was impossible since everything within a radius of several hundred meters would be blown away, and disposal in the Reverse World was the same.
As mentioned earlier, with the Otherworld power contained in the Otherworld Stone, at minimum it would cause Otherworldification, and at worst, a new passage connected to the Otherworld would open.
“Can we only secretly hide and manage it?”
‘Rather, what if we go to the Otherworld and detonate it there.’
Baek Woohyun looked down at the Otherworld Stone and recalled the [Lord of Storms] raid coming up soon.
Since a passage to the Otherworld was pierced through the Otherworld Lord’s chest, what if they threw in the Otherworld Stone through there and shattered it?
Whatever the Otherworld looked like, the massive amount of power contained in the Otherworld Stone could be sufficiently utilized as a bomb.
The aftermath of Otherworld power being released wouldn’t be a concern if it was inside the Otherworld, making it perfect.
‘Worth trying once.’
Having made up his mind, Baek Woohyun said he might have a method of disposal and received the Otherworld Stone.
Even without giving a precise explanation, Kim Youngjun and the other Avengers members handed over the Otherworld Stone to him, apparently having guessed he had something.
Well, he had already made a fuss about his speculations regarding the Otherworld Stone, so it was understandable.