NOVGO.NET Book 2 Chapter 648
Book 2 Chapter 648
Come to think of it, pursuing such a goal was directly connected to reaching the state that Residue desired.
To choose both sides in a situation where only one could be saved, Residue would have to be able to exist in different places within almost the same timeframe. Even if it wasn’t entirely possible in a conceptual sense, he had to be able to move in a way that made it feel that way consciously.
Wasn’t that exactly aligned with the “ultimate speed” Residue was aiming for?
─That is the wrong choice.
‘…….’
─You will not be able to save both.
'You, who are you?'
Residue shot back in a sharp voice.
At first, he thought the owner of this voice might be Lukas, but the more time passed, the more he was convinced that it might not be.
There was something about the tone, oddly persuasive, as if forcing a choice. That wasn’t something Lukas would do. Of all people, Lukas was the one who most often went for a third option when faced with binary choices.
Moreover, this voice was objecting to “Residue’s current decision”. Just like he had initially guessed, it wasn’t simply a recorded voice being played automatically.
This voice had consciousness and judgment. Based on that, it was trying to interfere with Residue’s actions.
…An unpleasant sensation. Like spotting an impurity floating inside one’s veins.
But the moment Residue retorted in a twisted manner, the voice shut its mouth again. The fact that it showed up only when it pleased and disappeared after talking nonsense, it was irritating beyond measure.
However, there was nothing to be gained by digging deeper, so Residue focused on the scenery once more.
…….
…….
…….
…The aggressive method of directly channeling lightning into the mental body,
Even though it carried great risk, it was the most certain way to develop in a short time.
But soon, Residue began to sense the limitations of this method. At some point, his level of consciousness stopped rising.
It was like hitting the tensile limit of metal. As if he had entered a stage where no amount of tempering could make him any stronger.
‘Still far too lacking.’
Thinking that, Residue took in the scenery once again.
Now, he could see landscapes other than the death of Beniang. He realized why the Blue Knight Pale had come here and witnessed Luca fighting her. He also saw Yang In-hyun and Michael leaving for the Underground City without waiting for Residue.
But still, everything remained a collection of fragmented scenes. Unless he could perceive this scenery not as “photos” but as “videos” he could not say he had gotten close to the speed he sought. At the very least, he had to be able to completely interpret these endlessly repeating scenes…….
If that wasn’t possible to begin with, he wouldn’t even be able to escape this state.
‘…Training.’
The words spoken by that voice resurfaced again.
There was no need to take them at face value, but fine. He would admit one thing. Residue had never once in his life done something like training.
Once he accepted that, curiosity arose.
If he were to train, what method would suit him?
What kind of training would be most effective in this situation?
If the training succeeded, what changes would occur in him?
‘Hmm…….’
Shall I give it a try, this thing called training?
Residue grinned.
First came the direction.
The current problem was that Residue’s mind could not fully perceive the massive amount of information in the scenery that passed by in an instant.
If that was the case, he just needed to practice with things that contained less information than those scenes and that moved a little slower.
And where would he get the information for that training, from Residue’s own memories, of course.
Despite appearances, he was a former Ruler.
He couldn’t even be compared to mere mortals, and he had seen more than thousands, tens of thousands of Absolutes who had lived longer than the stars combined. ŔåℕO͍ꞖƐṢ
Compressing part of those memories and manipulating them to flow rapidly inside his head was not a difficult task.
─Then let’s begin.
Should he try feeling 1,000 years of memories in 30 seconds?
***
What flashed through Residue's mind was the history of a certain star.
About 1,000 years, 10 centuries.
A time during which dozens of civilizations would collapse and re-emerge.
The images of those living fiercely on that star flashed by rapidly.
─Without any effort at all, Residue fully understood and digested the information. It ended so easily that it left him feeling deflated.
So next, he raised the difficulty level several times.
He experienced 2,000 years in the span of 15 seconds.
It was indeed more difficult than the previous one, and it took him two attempts to fully understand it.
Residue gradually increased the difficulty in this manner, step by step.
He increased the amount of information to be processed, while gradually reducing the time limit.
…….
…….
…….
And not long after, Residue realized one thing.
Ah. Training is absurdly boring and tedious. It was exactly the sort of method that would suit someone like Lukas, completely opposite of someone like Residue.
To put it simply, it didn’t suit his temperament. If the situation weren’t so dire, he would’ve quit a long time ago.
…But for now, it was the most effective way to raise his level of consciousness, so he had no choice but to persist in silence.
─When he became able to interpret a few tens of millions of years within less than a fraction of a second.
Residue suddenly furrowed his brow.
‘Maybe this method is slightly off?’
The direction itself wasn’t wrong. In fact, this kind of training had gradually elevated Residue’s consciousness level.
But ultimately, it was different from actual combat.
What was different, the texture of the information.
No matter how vast the information used in training was.
‘It’s information I originally possessed [memories].’
In other words, information he already knew.
'On the other hand, what must be experienced in actual combat is not things known in advance but things [first] encountered at that moment.'
In other words, unknown information.
What is known and what is unknown.
The speed at which one perceives those cannot be considered the same.
Moreover, real combat is full of unpredictable variables that can’t be calculated.
‘I see. That’s it. So that’s why it was called training?’
No matter what he did within this phenomenon, no matter what he gained.
It would never exceed the 'product of training'.
Compared to the experience gained in actual combat, it was all insignificant.
‘Kuhuhuhu……’
Residue let out a laugh.
It felt as though the tangled threads in his head had unraveled. In a good way.
Yeah, in that case.
───There is nothing more to gain here.
Bzzzt!
He drove his consciousness into overdrive.
He had already prepared the conditions long ago. This “infinitely continuing phenomenon” could no longer bind Residue.
The moment lightning pierced through his entire body, the countless sceneries that had flashed by until now swept over Residue once more.
‘……!’
It felt as though magma was boiling in his head. His whole body tingled, and it seemed like his nerve bundles were snapping one by one.
But amidst the flooding pain, Residue smiled,
And “accepted” all those scenes.
Whoosh!
They were no longer partial fragments, but were engraved in Residue’s brain like a single video.
Thus, Residue came to know everything that had happened around here and even the “events” that would occur had he not intervened.
“……”
─Thanks to that, when he returned to reality, Residue was able to act without a moment’s delay.
Though his body’s regeneration was still incomplete, and the remnants of the lightning that had pierced through his mental body remained.
His judgment was swift. Yes. Now, Residue could reach decisions faster than anyone.
Bzzzt……
A lightning stronger than ever before surged through Residue’s body.
Before his body accelerated, first his consciousness sped up.
Residue naturally entered the Minimal Time Zone.
The speed of thought did not stop even after the colors of the world changed.
Faster, more intense, more vivid.
Rumble!
Thunder and lightning roared inside his head.
Residue spent a long time contemplating the name of this technique.
What should he name it?
When ordinary humans create an incredible technique, they tend to give it an arrogant name. Among the words they particularly favor are Heaven (天), King (王), and God (神).
Residue, of course, was a being far greater than all of those combined, so he had no intention of naming it after something borrowed from somewhere.
So simply and intuitively, let's call it this.
[One Step Through Time and Space].
Because now a single step was enough to traverse time and space.
Pop!
Residue used One Step Through Time and Space and first headed to the Outside of the Top Universe.
The moment he became aware, his body had already arrived Outside─
And he caught sight of Pale with a twisted expression, Luca with a flustered face, and a man radiating a familiar presence.
None of their consciousnesses had yet detected Residue.
Pop!
Before their eyes could register him, Residue wrapped them all in an embrace and moved together with them to the Inside of the Top Universe.
That is, to the location where Beniang was bound.
There, not only Beniang but also the Red Knight, Yang In-hyun, and Michael were present.
Was he not too late?
Residue flung the forcibly accompanied individuals in that direction.
“……!?”
Those who had been Outside and only now realized the change widened their eyes in shock. Judging by their dumbfounded expressions, they had clearly failed to notice Residue’s movement. Naturally, this was only possible because their abilities were not above Residue’s and they had let their guards down.
In any case.
Thus, Residue had successfully forced together two separate events occurring in different places into one.
“……!?”
"What!?"
"What on earth......"
“…What did he just do?”
Six different gazes turned toward him.
There was wariness, anger, and killing intent. Even setting the others aside, the looks from Yang In-hyun, Michael, and Luca were less than friendly. Only now did he realize the reason.
His physical regeneration wasn’t yet complete.
Residue’s entire body currently resembled a lump of charred coal. No wonder they didn’t recognize him.
He collapsed on the spot. It would take some time to regenerate and regain composure.
He had successfully used One Step Through Time and Space in real combat, and its result had exceeded expectations, but the backlash was just as significant. Until he fully mastered it, every use would leave his body in ruin.
─And a moment later, once he had recovered enough to speak, Residue opened his mouth.
“Ahem, ahem, hem. Greetings, Four Knights, former Ruler, Twelve Void Lords, and various others.”
Clearing his coarse throat, Residue continued.
"First, I'll speak thinking you all know who I am. Somehow, a number of individuals with considerable influence in the current world have ended up gathered in one place. I’m not particularly fond of the word ‘destiny’, but I can’t help but feel that there must be some reason behind such a dramatic convergence.”
“…….”
“So, I have one suggestion. It’s clearly not easy for individuals this unique and distinct to gather in one place─. Don’t you think it would be a waste to leap straight into a bloodbath?”
“…….”
“Of course, I do not avoid combat. But at the very least, before we jump to killing and being killed, wouldn’t it be wise to attempt a conversation first? What say you?”
Even while speaking, regeneration continued moment by moment, and by the time he finished, Residue had returned to his original appearance.
Residue ended his speech with a gentle smile for the occasion.
Swaaak!
And in response, blades rushed toward that pleasant face.
'Damn it guys.'
Residue drew up his lightning.