I Login Alone

Episode 109.

The 73rd castle of Setnak had quite an unusual structure. At first, it seemed like a general building when looking at the narrow hallway, but as he broke the wall and went inside, the corridor widened, and the ceiling rose. Of course, the level of undead that appeared in it gradually increased, and Jung Si-woo didn’t focus much on killing undead unless it was an elite. Nevertheless, many undead died completely due to the aftermath of the destruction, and Jung Si-woo’s level was also raised by 1.

[Setnak’s 73rd castle destruction rate: 37%]

[Time remaining until the gate closes: 1:37:25]

Jung Si-woo’s destruction caused a greater collapse. Starting from the first floor, Jung Si-woo broke through the hallway and the ceiling above and below, and as a result, the lower floor of the castle was destroyed to the point where it was strange that it didn’t collapse completely, and it was standing there like a rough skeleton.

“Stubborn…”

“There are no pillars left to support the ceiling, but it’s not falling apart. What the hell?”

Nevertheless, it didn’t reach a decisive collapse. Physical common sense was ignored. What was the difference between this place and Laia’s temple? Architectural style? Was the castle too big? No, neither of them. The destruction rate of 37 percent wasn’t a lie.

“It’s the god’s mana. Mana from the upper floor of the castle is transferred to the lower floor, preventing the castle from collapsing. It doesn’t matter if there’s no pillar or wall. They just fixed the frame with mana and filled it with matter…”

If mana is a vertical ice frame, the material was the ice in it. Even if you take out the ice in the middle of it, it didn’t collapse. Even if Jung Si-woo tried to absorb it with his ability, he couldn’t collapse the castle unless he absorbed all of it. He was just tired of the unimaginable use of mana.

“That’s the kind of architectural engineering that the people of the earth should follow…”

“So you’re going to have to go upstairs and break everything down.”

“Yes, but…”

Jung Si-woo swung the hammer upwards and knocked on the ceiling on the fourth floor with an enigmatic smile. He felt that the materials and mana structure were different from the lower floors. If he tried to break them down one by one, no matter how much he could, he would have no mana left. From the fifth floor, he thought that the undead would also start jumping out of the shadows.

“I’m thinking about moving forward, not to the top. There might be stairs somewhere that goes up normally.”

“You’ve destroyed the stairs, you’ve destroyed so much that you can’t even identify where the stairs were…”

He ignored Soo Ah-rin’s comments as always. Jung Si-woo broke down several more walls and corridors and advanced by grinding the undeads that appeared with the ghost legion. He stopped only when there was no more wall left in front of him.

“This is…”

After destroying the wall, there was no ground to step on. Did he break the outer walls, not the inner walls of the castle, and finally connect with the outside world? That wasn’t it. This was the inside of the castle. It was the core of the castle. Jung Si-woo finally met with the true essence of the castle. No, maybe he was confronted with some of Setnak’s power. What he reached was the realm of space.

“Really…I don’t know if I should say it’s beautiful.”

“That’s a unique impression.”

He grinned and looked up at Soo Ah-rin’s words. There was nothing but a wide space; he had destroyed everything in the way and reached the end. The space was endlessly pierced up and down without any ornaments. It was overwhelming at first glance because it wasn’t easy to gauge the depth and width.

“There is a great library for beginners in Sky Castle, which is exactly like this. The central space is empty, and there are book-filled shelves that perfectly surround the space like the inner walls of the cylinder. But of course…”

“The walls we’ve been through are full of undead instead of books.”

Because the cylindrical space was wide open in the middle, there was a space on the other side that looked like it was the same floor. As expected, most of his destruction collapsed the space to the bottom, but the upper floor was untouched. He felt like he saw magic. Come to think of it; it was magic.

“But why is this space so empty? What is that group of lights?”

He said the space was empty, but it wasn’t empty. There was a lump of energy that glowed in five colors at the center of the cylindrical space, rotating slowly. Jung Si-woo’s enormous energy clumped together in the air a little higher than the corridor on the fourth floor that just broke through. Assuming that it resided at the center of the castle, the castle would be nearly ten stories high.

“Beautiful…”

It certainly looked very beautiful. However, it was quite surprising for Jung Si-woo that the sentiment came from Soo Ah-rin.

“But you already know the answer, don’t you? Can’t you see what that light is?”

“No, I hope it’s not what I think it is. Please tell me it’s not.”

“Unfortunately, what you thought is correct.”

Jung Si-woo firmly crushed Soo Ah-rin’s hopes.

“That’s a collection of ghosts.”

“Hooh.”

[Setnak’s…his servant…smells…]

As soon as Jung Si-woo defined their existence, the lumps of energy that had been clumped down a little with a brighter glow stopped where Jung Si-woo was located. It looked as if it was trying to make eye contact with him.

[He who rules the soul…]

[You cannot touch the master.]

Knowing that it was incomparable in terms of its size and density, the ghost legion popped out like lightning and sat in front of Jung Si-woo’s eyes. The low-level ghosts had been recalled one after another, and now there were only about forty left, but as such, they were all high-level spirits exceeding level 130. Of course, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t jab against that group, but he didn’t have to fight from now on. The ghost group was interested in Jung Si-woo.

“How can you stand like that? All of them are independent souls, so how do they stick together?”

Jung Si-woo questioned the way they existed. Although the power of the soul force he dealt with wasn’t the beginning, the skill was completed under the influence of Setnak. Perhaps he could get a hint from his subordinate souls to strengthen skill’s ability, he thought.

[Independent Souls…? You’re under the illusion that we have individuality.]

“What…?

Jung Si-woo raised his eyebrows at the reply. He couldn’t understand for a moment. However, there was no time to dwell on the meaning.

[Maybe once, we had individuality…but if he doesn’t want it, we abandon ourselves. If he wishes again, we get our individuality back. At the time of dependency…the word independence loses its meaning.]

“…”

[This conversation…happened because he wants to speak. We are the mirrors, the shadows, the power to do the will of God. To be united and to be scattered, all according to his will.]

When Jung Si-woo heard that, he blankly searched for his ghost legion. They faced him with no thoughts in their eyes. Certainly, they were loyal subordinates who would do anything if Jung Si-woo ordered them. But that’s why they didn’t have their personality or individuality…? It wasn’t easy to understand. That’s why…the soul must be like a trail of life and records.

[Of course, if he wants, we will be born a new being.]

At that time, it spoke as if he had read Jung Si-woo’s mind. A mass of possibilities that could change into anything according to the owner’s will. But the word ‘possibility’ meant he hadn’t tried it yet.

“Are you saying that spirit or ghosts…are already separate from the existence of life…?”

That’s exactly what it was. The soul was just a vestige of the death of living things. Jung Si-woo asked in confusion. The idea that they were already his enemy was erased from his mind.

“So, where is the essence of the dead heading?”

[We don’t know.]

“Even if you’re a god?”

[He rules over death and undeath.]

The lump of energy stretched strangely on both sides. For Jung Si-woo, it seemed as if he was laughing at himself.

[Beyond death is not within his jurisdiction.]

“…”

What did Setnak want? Did he want to tell Jung Si-woo the weight of his power? Perhaps he gave some kind of enlightenment as a way to set up the work to bring him under his command. However, Jung Si-woo couldn’t take it as it was.

‘Ghosts weren’t the only souls I met.’

In the dungeon, where Soo ah-rin and Yong Se-ha entered, they were very close to the players’ ghosts. Of course, some of them were filled with resentment and anger, but others lamented their situation and hoped for help from Jung Si-woo at the same time. Some regretted not being able to protect their group members but still wanted to be helped by Jung Si-woo, who could free them from the dungeon. And you’re saying that you have to beat those who have such distinct feelings with just a single word, ‘trace’? He couldn’t do that.

“Even if they are completely separate beings from the creatures of their lives…they were determined in their appearance and will. Then that alone is worth respecting as an independent being. He’s no better than a son who inherited his father’s will. It’s never just a ‘trace.’”

Finally, Jung Si-woo opened his mouth, determine that the soul mass was a target of his destruction. He felt like he couldn’t stand his current feelings without saying anything, although he had to beat him to death without refuting it.

“Even if they are subordinate to me, they are clearly present. They are persons with a unique personality that can be distinguished!”

It became clear as soon as he spoke. He truly thought so. At that moment, the mark of the soul force on the back of his hand began to shine brighter.

[Soul Force Skills have become Lv3. You will be able to handle the energy of your soul more freely. The synthesis and decomposition of soul energy will be possible, and the understanding of the soul will be increased. You are allowed to reap souls that don’t match its wavelength. However, this requires superhuman concentration.]

It was really ironic. The very moment he realized what the soul really was and decided to respect it as an independent entity, he could synthesize soul energy? Jung Si-woo couldn’t help but laugh.

[That’s interesting.]

When Jung Si-woo was confused as his voice was heard again, it was the voice of Setnak himself, not the ghost collection. Unlike Laia, it could definitely appear without having to go through a cumbersome process. Setnak had said something surprising to Jung Si-woo, who was deeply impressed.

[That’s correct.]

“What?”

[Without understanding the soul, without acknowledging their existence, we cannot treat them as we please. No one who sees only the cross-section of the soul or the core can get the answer. As expected, you are a good match with me.]

“This bastard’s talking nonsense.”

Setnak spoke in a neutral tone.

[It’s as if you’re looking at me before you. I wonder if you will reach the end.]

“That’s it…?”

[Now, then prove to me your qualifications.]

The soul-group was silent, but it was like a clear foreshadowing of a storm.

[Giiiiii…giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…]

“Oh, Oppa, that…”

“Hyeong-nim, I suddenly realized that he didn’t put ghosts together for no reason…”

“I know.”

Jung Si-woo answered calmly. Shortly after, the energy exploded and devoured his body.