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 "I really can't match up to Father. I thought I might have a chance since our ages are similar now..."

"I can't lose to my son yet. I have my pride too."

"You say that in the future too."

"Really? Seems my wall is high. You have an amazing father, don't you? How lucky."

"It's great, but almost too amazing... From a child's perspective, it's always troublesome being compared. When on earth will I be able to beat Father?"

"You should ask that to the future me, not the current me."

Future Yu-seong gives a bitter smile.

He looked somewhat cowed.

Eun-ha patted his shoulder to encourage him.

"Even if it's impossible now, you'll be able to win someday. There's plenty of room for growth."

"Do you really think so?"

Future Yu-seong asks self-deprecatingly, seemingly lacking confidence in himself.

Eun-ha expressed strong affirmation on his behalf.

"Of course! You can do it. I wasn't as strong as you at your age. If I were your age, I probably couldn't have fought like this. You're much stronger. I guarantee it."

"...Then could I defeat Maegu in just two years?"

"Why is Maegu suddenly coming up?"

"Because Father defeated it at twenty-six."

"Hmm, that's right. You can do it too..."

You'll be able to do it.

If you have good companions, probably...

Eun-ha deliberately swallowed his last words.

There was no need to dampen his spirits unnecessarily.

Thanks to that.

"Is that so... Hearing that gives me strength. Thank you."

Future Yu-seong's expression brightened.

Only then did Eun-ha decide to let go of his worry.

The two shook hands.

"Right, hang in there. Work hard. Though you're probably already working hard without me telling you."

"Yes, of course!"

"What are you going to do now? It seems there are more people waiting, will you continue sparring?"

"Hmm... No. I'm sorry to those who waited, but I think I should wrap it up for today. I'm exhausted from fighting with Father."

"I see. Then let's go in and wash up, and later we can eat..."

It was then that they sensed an anomaly.

Not just Eun-ha and future Yu-seong, but everyone present couldn't help but flinch.

"..."

Suddenly.

A large-scale ubiquity was detected.

And it was in the airspace above the clan hall.

* * *

Seoul is protected by the Cocoon.

Moreover, the rate of ubiquity occurrences in Korea had started to decrease after conquering the <Dungeon of the Abyss>.

So for a large-scale ubiquity to occur without any warning signs was not something to take lightly.

It was clearly an abnormal situation.

"No, how could this..."

"..."

To assess the exact situation.

Everyone who came out to the clan hall rooftop couldn't help but be shocked.

A massive ubiquity was swirling in the sky that was turning bluish.

The center of the ubiquity was writhing as if about to spew out monsters at any moment.

In fact, parts of their bodies were occasionally visible.

'For a ubiquity of this scale, there should have been signs detectable in advance... No one noticed?'

Eun-ha couldn't help but have doubts.

Others felt the same way.

However, it wasn't the time to be dazed.

Soon, the area would be in for a tough time due to the ubiquity.

Not only would administrative functions be paralyzed, but there would be property damage, casualties, and possibly additional ubiquities.

There were also concerns about various crimes that might occur amid the chaos.

So.

"Move to your patrol areas and prepare for area defense. I'll leave the command to the area leaders."

To minimize damage, there was an urgent need to act.

Eun-ha instructed the clan members.

They came to their senses and responded, immediately taking action.

Leaving them behind, Eun-ha soon found On Tae-hee and Sun Mi-ye who were analyzing the ubiquity on one side.

"Tae-hee, Mi-ye, how is it? What's the current status?"

"The Mana Management Organization didn't notice it either. They seem to be quite confused because of that. They say they're hurriedly assessing it now... but it seems difficult to expect information from them."

"We've completed measuring the ubiquity danger level. Fortunately, it's not intensifying further, so it seems to converge at minimum 4th tier, maximum 4th tier over-rank."

On Tae-hee and Sun Mi-ye reported.

Eun-ha nodded.

"I see. Please continue the analysis. Let me know if there's anything to report."

"Yes, Clan Lord."

With this, all immediate measures that could be taken were done.

Deciding to leave the rest to Jeong Ha-yang and Han Seo-hyeon, Eun-ha quietly gazed at the ubiquity.

'My role is to stay here and prepare for additional support. Hopefully, it will end before I need to step in...'

He wished good luck to the clan members who would be heading to their patrol areas.

Soon.

Screech!

As the center of the ubiquity shook violently, monsters started to appear.

From then on, the navigators and telepathists began to move busily.

They identified information about the monsters and relayed it to clan members who would be defending the areas.

In the midst of this.

Whoosh...

"..."

A monster presumed to be a legion commander revealed its face from within the ubiquity.

An old man's face with a lump, fangs protruding from the mouth, skin covered in dark green.

And curved horns rising from both sides of the head.

Earrings dangled from the drooping earlobes.

'...If the head is that big, its body must be enormous.'

The creature struggled with its body stuck in the ubiquity, trying to come out into the world.

Soon one hand popped out.

As if using that hand as support, it grasped the air and then pulled out its other hand.

It gradually pushed out its upper body.

"It's not registered in the Player Library, but... judging by its appearance, it might be a variant of the 4th tier monster, Lump Ghost. The tier is... estimated to be 4th tier over-rank."

"I think the same."

On Tae-hee and Sun Mi-ye informed.

There was tension in their voices.

'If it rampages with that size, the damage to the surroundings will be great. It might be better to strike it before it fully emerges...'

Should I step in right now?

Eun-ha placed his hands on the two sword sheaths, lost in thought.

Just then.

"It's because of me."

"What?"

Future Yu-seong, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

Eun-ha turned to look at him.

"■■ and Professor Memory told me. That space-time distortions might occur because of me, and ubiquities might happen."

"..."

"So this ubiquity that just appeared is probably because of me. I should have told you earlier, I'm sorry."

Walking towards Eun-ha.

Future Yu-seong apologized sheepishly.

He gave a bitter smile.

"This is my responsibility, so I'll handle it."

"How are you going to do it alone..."

It's too reckless.

Eun-ha was alarmed and tried to stop him.

But as if to say not to worry, future Yu-seong shrugged his shoulders.

"It's okay, Father. Trust me. And you said it earlier too. That I'm stronger than you were at my age."

"No... That doesn't mean you need to take responsibility alone..."

"This is perfect timing. I wanted to show you anyway."

"Listen to your parents..."

Nevertheless.

Future Yu-seong disregarded him and walked past Eun-ha.

He drew his sword with his right hand and manifested his internal mana.

Right after.

────!!

The atmosphere changed.

An unapproachable aura burst forth from future Yu-seong.

It felt as if the world was vibrating.

Eun-ha's eyes widened.

'This is...'

The phenomenon when manifesting a myth.

Which means, in other words.

"Yu-seong, you... were a myth holder?"

"I told you before, didn't I? That in the future, many people in this country come to possess myths, besides Father and Mother Yeon-hwa. Thanks to the arrangements of Father's generation, who are revered as living myths in the next era."

"..."

"It was an unavoidable choice to counter the coming calamity, to raise the rank of Father and Mother ■■'s myths. And in that process..."

I achieved a myth too.

I wanted to lessen Father's burden and protect our family.

Future Yu-seong smiled.

"But as Father knows, myths inevitably lead to extinction. Because of that, in the future, Father became in a state where it wouldn't be strange if you became extinct at any time due to repeated calamities. The same goes for others."

"..."

"That's why I came here."

Including Father.

To delay the extinction of those who will achieve myths in the future as much as possible.

"How can we reduce the burden caused by myths."

Future Yu-seong extended his sword-holding hand horizontally from the ground.

"Future myth holders pondered and pondered again. And after much consideration..."

"..."

"We found the best answer. Like this."

At that moment.

"Instead of manifesting the myth in the world."

The aura swirling around future Yu-seong...

"We manifest it in weapons."

Began to gather into the sword in his hand.

<Myth Ceremonial Equipment - A Thousand Fruits>

The sword was enveloped in a mysterious light.

'...He's forging the weapon with a myth.'

Eun-ha couldn't take his eyes off that scene which unconsciously mesmerized him.

Yet in a corner of his mind, realization exploded like a flash.

Meanwhile, future Yu-seong, holding the sword imbued with myth, continued speaking.

"I was always compared to Father, and I strived constantly to catch up to Father."

Future Yu-seong took his stance.

He stepped forward with his left foot, twisted his waist, and pulled his right shoulder holding the sword as far back as possible.

The light dwelling in the blade swelled gently as if responding.

"If once wasn't enough, then ten times. If ten times wasn't enough, then a thousand times. If a thousand times wasn't enough, then more than that."

"..."

"To the point where others called it foolish, I chased after Father's sword until I succeeded."

The achievement gained that way, the myth he finally accomplished...

"I'll show you now."

Future Yu-seong declared.

He swung his sword, the light dwelling in the sword, the light of myth.

The light that flew at lightning speed struck the legion commander emerging from the ubiquity.

And so.

Slash!

Kiheeeek!

It carved a long, deep wound across its face and chest.

Blue blood gushed from the wound.

The legion commander screamed in agony.

But the light didn't extinguish.

───!

Scattering into dozens, hundreds, a thousand large and small branches.

Kieeeeek!

It slashed the legion commander to pieces.

It couldn't escape death.

It oxidized into mana particles.

Future Yu-seong turned his gaze away and consecutively shot the light of myth at the visible monsters.

They couldn't even resist and instantly transformed into particles, scattering.

"What on earth..."

Is going on?

Eun-ha, who witnessed future Yu-seong's myth, was dumbfounded.

He couldn't properly continue his words.

To him.

"A myth where once becomes a thousand times."

Future Yu-seong answered.

He smiled with a satisfied face while sheathing his sword, now devoid of light.

"That's my myth, Father."

* * *

Thanks to future Yu-seong's efforts, the situation was safely resolved for now.

Those who encountered his myth at the scene or heard the news couldn't help but be amazed.

However, Han Seo-hyeon was an exception.

"Why are you trying to take responsibility alone? Did someone force you to? It seems you've taken after your father even in parts you shouldn't have. Of all things... And even if using the myth differently reduces the burden, it's not completely gone, is it? Yet you still had to use the myth? Even in a situation where you didn't necessarily need to use it."

There are no parents in the world who don't worry about their children.

Han Seo-hyeon scolded him sternly while pinching and stretching future Yu-seong's cheeks.

Because he understood her feelings.

"M-Mother, I'm sorry..."

Future Yu-seong silently accepted his punishment without talking back.

He had to apologize over and over until her anger subsided.

Meanwhile.

'Forging weapons with myths... Certainly, that method could reduce the burden caused by myths.'

Eun-ha organized his thoughts.

The new approach to myths gained from future Yu-seong seemed applicable to himself as well.

The problem was that ordinary level weapons couldn't contain myths.

Of course, the Dawn Sword made as a national treasure of Taeguk grade would be possible, but...

"No, it won't work with the Dawn Sword."

Unfortunately.

The Dawn Sword had lost all its power during the conquest of the <Dungeon of the Abyss>.

As a result, it was now nothing more than a slightly better sword.

In fact, although better than the Dawn Sword, the Twilight Sword was in a similar state.

Therefore.

"It would be nice if there was a sword that could replace the Dawn Sword..."

Eun-ha wished.

Now that he knew this peace would end someday and calamity would come in the future.

He couldn't remain complacent like this.