Chapter 203 - Extinction

The Statue of Liberty had exploded.

In other words, the current timeline was one where the world was ending. It meant that Ex Machina hadn't turned back time yet.

Realizing this, I immediately took action.

"Oppa?"

When I suddenly stood up while watching TV, everyone looked at me wondering what was happening.

I quickly took out the lethal capsule I had kept in my pocket, gripped it in my fist, and crushed it.

Then, the living room began filling with smoke.

"Da-in, what are you—"

"Hey, what are you do—"

"O-oppa? Ugh..."

The members staggered from the sudden symptoms before collapsing to the floor.

I'm sorry. Just sleep for a while.

The end of the world. All of this begins when, minutes after the Statue of Liberty's head explodes, all ability users worldwide suddenly attack cities as if possessed.

So I decided to put our members to sleep first. Even if this timeline would be erased, I didn't want to see my colleagues attacking others. Phew, they should all be asleep now.

As I looked around to check if everyone had collapsed properly, I made eye contact with Eun-wol, who was standing perfectly fine, blinking at me.

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence descended upon the living room.

Right. Magic circle. She must have unconsciously blocked it with one of her magic abilities.

As I froze in this extremely awkward situation, Eun-wol glanced at the others collapsed in the living room, then gave me a slightly sad smile and whispered:

"I trust you, Da-in oppa."

Then she took a deep breath in one moment.

After inhaling the smoke, Eun-wol collapsed to the floor as if crumbling.

I approached her, caught her, and gently laid her on the floor while murmuring:

"...I'm sorry, Eun-wol."

Just sleep for a while.

It's just a momentary dream that will be forgotten anyway.

After confirming everyone in the living room had collapsed, I quietly left.

...The drug's effect is limited, so they'll all wake up in a few hours. Naturally strong people like Ms. Shinryeong might wake up even earlier.

But it doesn't matter.

The world will end before those few hours pass, and time will reset anyway.

With that thought, I changed into Egostic's outfit that I wear for terrorist acts.

Mask, hat, cape. All checked.

After grabbing my camera and imprinting the image of my sleeping members in the living room in my mind,

I quietly left the house.

My members' mental health is now safe.

Now, I need to meet Stardust.

***

Destruction came overnight.

[Breaking news! The United States has launched nuclear weapons at Europe, China, Australia, and Egypt! Other countries are doing their best to intercept them and have launched their own nuclear bombs at the US in response!]

A sudden global nuclear war.

All the catastrophes began when the US President unexpectedly started firing nuclear bombs at all continents.

Just when I thought nothing worse could happen,

This was merely the beginning.

[Breaking news! The villain organization Etheria, led by America's S-class villain Celeste, has begun a massive attack! They're attacking the United States, turning the country into a sea of flames...]

[Breaking news! The US Hero Association is attacking its own citizens! Heroes are destroying cities, and the exact reason is unknown...]

[Breaking news! Supernatural ability user detention centers in the US, Europe, and Russia have all lost control and been destroyed! The S-class villains who were detained have been released, and nearby cities are being completely devastated...]

[Breaking news! The villain organization Atlas's armies from the North Atlantic have begun invading worldwide! Citizens living near coastal areas should evacuate quickly...]

[Br-breaking news! The Eastern Paranormal Detention Center, East Carceris, in the Republic of Korea has collapsed! All S-class villains have been released, so citizens should evacuate to safe places...]

[...Breaking news. Most cities including Seoul and Busan are all under massive attack. Haha, I think we're all doomed.]

"Everything's gone to hell."

On the rooftop of a high-rise building in the middle of Seoul.

I was there, listening to the news in real-time while looking down at the city below.

BOOM.

BOOM.

Explosion sounds coming from everywhere, and black smoke rising.

Destruction manifested in the present world. Is this what the word "apocalypse" would look like if visualized?

I just looked down with calm eyes.

...This situation was never something I could interfere with to begin with.

I don't know what the initial trigger for this crisis was, or what exactly made all ability users, governments, and associations attack their own citizens. I can only guess it might be a hypnosis ability user, or perhaps the work of a god. I'm not sure.

But what I know for certain is that all of this will become "nothing that happened." That I too will forget today's memories. I'll probably just be relieved when I see the Statue of Liberty not exploding and continue living my normal life.

In other words, everything that happens from now on is completely off the record.

It means I could reveal all my secrets and expose my identity without any problems. It'll all be erased anyway. That's why I came out without my recognition reduction filter.

"Sigh..."

I leaned against the rooftop railing for a moment, watching the collapsing city.

And the news content reaching my ears:

[Breaking news. Lee Seol-ah of Yu-seong Corporation has begun firing missiles across the country. It's random, but coincidentally, looking outside, one is heading toward our broadcasting station. So, well, this seems to be our final broadcast. Goodbye everyone.]

And the news ended.

Hmm. It seems missiles are also hitting among all the explosions. A truly catastrophic situation.

...Well, I didn't feel any particular emotion. These are all meaningless scenes anyway. It feels like watching a movie. Events disconnected from daily life or the future that won't have any impact. Since this timeline will disappear anyway. Even I won't remember these scenes.

...Still.

I recalled the original story for a moment.

Stardust, who was running around frantically without knowing all this would be erased. Her suffering alone, making futile efforts.

Yeah, no matter what, I can't bear to see her like that.

With that thought and a slight smile, I levitated the camera I brought with me using psychokinesis and turned it on.

Alright, this should be broadcasting on all TV channels through signal hijacking.

Now, I hope this reaches Stardust.

With that small wish in mind, I opened my mouth and began speaking to the camera.

"Ahem, ahem. Hello everyone, this is Egostic!"

"My goodness, the world is quite a mess, isn't it?"

"Well... there's probably nothing we can do, but I do know something about this situation."

"So."

"Ms. Stardust, could you please come here?"

I said with a slight smile.

***

In a single day, the world collapsed.

Shin Ha-ru couldn't help but think so.

"Emergency, we need to declare a state of emergency!"

"America launched more nuclear weapons. We need to block them! Activate the interceptors!"

"Where on earth is the Director?!"

The Korea Hero Association Control Center was in frantic motion.

The remaining staff there were doing their best to control the situation.

With little success.

As Stardust blankly stared at the rapidly changing international situation, screams kept coming from one side of the association.

"The Eastern Detention Center has suddenly been breached! Villains are all escaping and pouring out!"

"Reports are coming in about villains appearing all over the country—Seoul, Busan, Gyeonggi, North Jeolla! It's like the villains coordinated to run wild today!"

"..."

Stardust felt like her soul was leaving her body.

...At this point, she was questioning if this was just a bad dream.

But the cold air on her skin told her this was reality.

"Whoa, Lee Seol-ah has fired missiles! They seem to be missiles that Yu-seong Group had hidden!"

"What?!"

Stardust, who had been in a daze, finally came to her senses upon hearing this news and hurriedly tried calling Lee Seol-ah.

[The person you are calling is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep...]

But the call wouldn't connect.

Lee Seol-ah always answered her calls no matter how busy she was, but today was an exception.

"I'll go outside for now."

"...Yes. Go ahead. Not that there's much more we can do anyway..."

Passing by the association staff who were muttering in resignation, Stardust went outside.

A cold wind blew.

And bombing sounds came from all directions.

"...Ah."

Shin Ha-ru's eyes trembled aimlessly.

Where should I even start?

She had already received all the reports from the association.

News that suddenly all ability users except herself, both heroes and villains, were going berserk. And that world leaders had all fallen.

The entire planet was suddenly hurtling toward destruction.

Overnight.

In such a situation.

What was she supposed to do?

She had dealt with villains she spotted while flying around, but it was an endless situation—catch one and another would appear, with no end in sight.

Faced with this overwhelming wave, Shin Ha-ru was pushed to a psychological cliff.

...It seems there's no answer.

This looks like the end.

With the world already collapsing, what could she alone do?

And in that situation.

What suddenly came to her mind was none other than.

A certain man who was a villain.

"...Egostic."

Only when pushed to this psychological limit did she realize.

I've been relying on Egostic more than I thought.

Enough to think of him first even in this situation.

...But there's no way he could help.

He's almost certainly gone mad like everyone else.

As she was about to give up everything and fly somewhere else,

On an electronic billboard next to a collapsed building she was passing, a broadcast was playing.

And in that broadcast.

Someone she never expected.

No. Someone she had thought of, but hadn't dared to hope for.

The figure of a man was appearing.

[My goodness, the world is quite a mess, isn't it?]

His playful voice coming from the large speakers.

At that sight, she fixed her eyes on him as if entranced.

And his words continued:

[Well... there's probably nothing we can do, but I do know something about this situation.]

[So.]

[Ms. Stardust.]

[Could you please come here?]

His face smiling slightly as if looking directly into her eyes.

After confirming the background behind him,

Without even realizing it, she was already flying toward that place.

Only to see him.