Chapter 223 (End)

Beyond the boundaries of space, there existed only a pure, stark white.

An infinite white world without the distinction of logic, nor the boundary between beginning and end.

Taewoon stood alone in the center of that empty space. It was a state of perfect nothingness, where even the remnants of the Ticket he had held until a moment ago had vanished.

“…….”

Strangely, however, Taewoon felt no sense of emptiness.

Rather, his hollowed interior resonated with this pure white space, filling him with a sense of fulfillment he had never experienced before.

And at the end of his gaze, at a distance that felt far yet reachable with a single stretch of his hand, someone was waiting for him.

[You’ve come.]

Saint Kyurihi.

He stood arrogantly with his back to the pure white space, as if he had been a part of that place from the very beginning.

“…….”

Instead of answering, Taewoon stared at Kyurihi.

It was because he instinctively felt that this was the true final battlefield, the place where the cycle of their long-standing ill fate would finally be severed.

‘Kyurihi’s condition is…’

From a distance, he seemed to boast the same Divine Authority as always, but upon facing him up close, Kyurihi’s appearance was far from intact.

His entire body was covered in hideous cracks, as if a broken piece of pottery had been forcibly glued back together.

Beneath his skin, instead of red blood, a boiling golden radiance surged like veins, and Divine Power constantly leaked and scattered through those cracks.

[That look in your eyes… I don’t like it. Do I look ridiculous to you?]

Feeling Taewoon’s gaze, Kyurihi let out a self-mocking laugh.

[I admit it. I paid a price. To suppress the laws of the Theater of All Things with force and forcibly break the closed walls, I burned half of my flesh and soul. However…]

[Even so, there will be no anomaly. I have arrived here by breaking every wall that blocked my path; how could a penniless wretch with nothing to his name possibly defeat one who has stepped into the realm of the gods?]

Kyurihi was not wrong.

Right now, Taewoon had nothing.

The Magical Power that once commanded the world, the techniques that hunted gods, the Artifacts he had used as if they were part of his own body—even the memories that formed his identity had become blurred.

From a general perspective, the current Taewoon was no more powerful than a newborn infant.

However.

“I wonder.”

A faint smile spread across Taewoon’s lips.

There was neither anxiety nor fear.

Only a vague but firm conviction supported Taewoon’s soul.

The conviction that the path he chose—the choice to let go of everything and empty himself—was the path closest to the correct answer.

“It seems you think I ran away.”

[Enough with the bluffing.]

Kyurihi’s gaze sank coldly. Deciding that further questioning was meaningless, he slowly raised his right hand.

[Let us bring this to a conclusion. With this, our ties end.]

A streak of intense Holy Light erupted from Kyurihi’s fingertips.

It was Kyurihi’s Authority and the Spear of Mortality, a strike that erased the coordinates of space and annihilated the very existence of the target.

A blow that could neither be avoided nor blocked.

Soon, the golden spear surged at the speed of light and pierced Taewoon’s heart with precision.

The spear tore through Taewoon’s chest and exited through his back. Just as a smile of victory was about to grace Kyurihi’s lips, an anomaly began to occur.

“…….”

Taewoon did not fall.

Despite his heart being pierced, not a single drop of blood flowed, nor did he let out a groan of pain.

It was a strike that should have been fatal and burned his physical body to ashes, yet Taewoon simply stood there peacefully, as if he had been touched by a gentle breeze.

[What…!]

Kyurihi’s eyes were stained with shock.

In the moment Kyurihi spat out his bewilderment, Taewoon was finally able to perceive his current state with relative accuracy.

‘It doesn’t reach.’

It wasn’t because Kyurihi’s attack was weak.

The moment he derived the answer and reached the pure white space, Taewoon’s very existence had ascended to a level higher than the dimension where Kyurihi stood.

Kyurihi’s powerful force passed through him like a phantom, unable to touch Taewoon’s essence, and that revealed the clear difference that now existed between Kyurihi and Taewoon.

“…How tragic.”

Taewoon spoke slowly, and soon, his plain yet powerful voice spread like a resonating sound that echoed through the entire space.

“Despite going through the same process to produce an answer, our positions have ended up so different.”

[Haha, are you trying to mock me?]

An enraged Kyurihi spread both hands.

Thousands, tens of thousands of spears of light filled the void. An attack far more ferocious and dense than what he had shown in the Holy Sanctuary poured down upon Taewoon.

The pure white space was covered in golden explosions.

However, when the smoke cleared, Taewoon remained unscathed. Without a single singe on his clothes, Taewoon stared intently at Kyurihi.

[This cannot be… This cannot be. The years I have accumulated, the answer I derived could never…]

Kyurihi wanted to deny it, but the reality before him was cold.

Kyurihi calmed his emotions and tried to sense Taewoon’s existence. In the process, he noticed that Taewoon’s state was stranger than he had thought.

[…You are not complete.]

Kyurihi’s eyes narrowed.

[Unlike me, who evaded the question, you chose the path closest to the answer. However, you too have not yet fully reached Transcendence. You are merely in the process of Sublimation; you have not yet fully solidified.]

Kyurihi quickly analyzed the situation. He began to derive what he had missed and how to break through the current situation.

Kyurihi’s gaze flashed sharply once more.

[Within you… there still exists a sliver of a gap and imperfection. Am I wrong?]

“…….”

He was right. Taewoon also did not believe that he had reached the perfect realm of Transcendence.

Rather, he felt he was in a dangerous state where he could lose everything by a hair’s breadth.

[Before you fully sublimate, if I dig into that imperfect gap and crush the core of your existence… the winner will ultimately be me!]

“Indeed, you are sharp.”

Taewoon did not deny it. Kyurihi’s insight was indeed worthy of being called a sage who had reached the heavens.

But as Taewoon looked at Kyurihi, he began to silently contemplate himself once more. And quite ridiculously, he realized that the conclusion had already been decided.

From within Taewoon’s empty interior, something began to well up.

They were the things Taewoon had let go of without lingering attachment.

The Overlord Path’s magical power of The Red Man, the brilliant Divinity of the Dawn Sun God, the Extreme of Nothingness engraved in his body through tens of thousands of swings, and his memories as a hunter.

[This, this is…]

Kyurihi was horrified.

The powers that had vanished were returning, taking shape around Taewoon’s body. But they were not the same as before.

Having assimilated with the pure white space, they were returning to Taewoon, sublimated into a purer and more fundamental form of power.

Because Taewoon had already stepped into the realm of Transcendence and ascended to a high place, it was possible for him to pull back the things he had previously laid down, one by one.

‘In the end… that’s how it is.’

Thinking about it, it wasn’t strange. Rather, it could be seen as an entirely natural principle.

As Taewoon reached out his hand, two spears of a familiar shape appeared and settled into his grip.

“I don’t think it will take very long for that gap you mentioned to be filled.”

[…How arrogant.]

Kyurihi roared and lunged forward. In essence, it was now a race against time.

Kyurihi, who sought to destroy him before Taewoon reached complete Transcendence, and Taewoon, who had to complete the process of Sublimation within that struggle.

The two beings clashed, and Kyurihi poured out every Authority he had hidden.

The Authorities of a god—tearing space, twisting time, and reversing causality—raged like a storm.

[In the end… only the one who can bear the burden will remain!]

Kyurihi’s body began to collapse.

As a price for forcibly drawing out power, the golden veins supporting his physical body burst, and black cracks covered his entire body.

But Kyurihi did not stop. He tried to stop Taewoon even if it meant burning his life, his soul, and everything he had.

By then, the power of The Red Man had sublimated and returned to Taewoon’s side.

The Vermilion Mist stained the pure white space, neutralizing Kyurihi’s Authority with ease.

Soon, the power of the Dawn Sun God filled Taewoon’s veins.

The brilliant light of dawn enveloped Taewoon, purifying Kyurihi’s destructive Divinity.

Taewoon’s Martial Arts, which had existed only as traces, began to sublimate into a new form.

Taewoon’s spear easily deflected Kyurihi’s attacks and relentlessly dug into the gaps that bloomed within them.

[Kugh…]

As time passed, Taewoon’s movements became more precise, and soon, the pressure emanating from Taewoon began to overwhelm Kyurihi.

Conversely, Kyurihi grew increasingly wretched. It was because he had sacrificed too much to forcibly intrude into the pure white space.

[Keuh-ugh…]

Kyurihi coughed up blood and fell to his knees.

His body was already half-collapsed, to the point where it was difficult to recognize its form.

Yet, his gaze remained unbroken, still staring straight at Taewoon.

[Do you truly believe… that you can handle the cold reality you will soon face…]

“I wonder.”

Taewoon’s spear pierced through Kyurihi’s defense and grazed his shoulder.

[Do you truly pride yourself in being able to become the shade that covers the world, after a journey of a mere few years…]

“I’ve already crossed too far a road to use someone else’s yardstick as my standard.”

Taewoon’s eyes burned red.

[It is arrogance. Do you think you can continue to find answers amidst that endless competition and conflict? You were a wretched existence. Today’s place might be the final stepping stone you could ever reach.]

“…….”

Taewoon shook his head firmly.

And Kyurihi, too, had a look in his eyes as if he already knew the answer Taewoon would give.

Finally, Taewoon reached the realm of complete Transcendence.

The light emanating from Taewoon’s entire body was so brilliant that it made even the pure white space seem fleeting, and it seemed more than enough to fill the world.

Kyurihi stared blankly at the sight. Even amidst his collapsing body and fading consciousness, the image of Taewoon was vividly engraved.

For it was the image of a true Completer, something he had longed for so desperately but could never reach.

[…….]

A short sigh escaped Kyurihi’s lips.

Kyurihi no longer resisted.

Leaving his collapsing body as it was, he simply met Taewoon’s gaze in silence.

The madness and obsession that had been contained in eyes etched with the depth of ages vanished, and in their place, a deep void and a sliver of relief seeped in.

[…Is the end, truly this sudden?]

Kyurihi smiled bitterly.

[What I feared… might have been my own helplessness.]

Those were the final words of the man called the Saint.

There was not a single anomaly, nor any resistance. Kyurihi’s physical body turned into light and shattered, and his soul scattered and was absorbed into the pure white space.

Thus, Saint Kyurihi, who had plunged South Korea into terror, fell into an eternal sleep.

‘…A fleeting end.’

While fighting the decisive battle with Kyurihi, Taewoon was finally able to clearly realize one of the laws hidden within the origin of this space, the Theater of All Things.

Question and Answer, Selection, and Sublimation.

‘Normally… other viewers who challenged the Theater together would have reached this place.’

Viewers who had grown in their own ways through numerous trials would have faced each other in this pure white space, fighting a final bloody battle while competing with the answers of Transcendence they had each obtained.

‘No, actually, the word “selection” isn’t even appropriate.’

A system where only one person remaining after a fierce struggle absorbs the possibilities of all competitors to ascend to the complete realm of Transcendence.

However, Taewoon felt a strange conviction that no matter who had reached this place, he would have been the one remaining in the end.

That must have been the true ending the Theater of All Things prepared.

‘But…’

Due to the situation before him, Taewoon had chosen Kyurihi as his companion and used the Transcendent-grade Ticket, and Kyurihi had reached the pure white space through a loophole while rejecting the Theater’s question.

He did not follow the laws of this space, he could not empty himself, and in the end, he failed to reach Transcendence.

Ultimately, from that moment, the final winner had already been decided.

Kyurihi was merely the final sacrifice for Taewoon’s growth, a supporting actor to fill the empty stage.

‘How hollow.’

Staring at the remnants of Kyurihi who had crumbled into a handful of dust, Taewoon let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

He had been such a powerful enemy, but before the great cycle of fate, he too was nothing more than a mere component.

Taewoon turned his head.

In the void beyond where Kyurihi had vanished, a new change occurred.

The pure white space split open, and a single, brilliantly shining door revealed itself.

As if the door had been waiting for Taewoon, it quietly revealed its gap, emitting only a fleeting light.

“…….”

Taewoon shifted his gaze and looked at it.

What would be waiting beyond that door?

Would he return to his original world, or head toward somewhere else entirely?

He didn’t know. But one thing was certain: the moment he stepped inside, he would become a completely different being from the Taewoon of before.

‘There is… no hesitation.’

Without hesitation, Taewoon moved his steps, opened the door, and stepped inside.

All memories of the past and remnants of bygone days flashed by, and behind them, the hidden sides of events that Taewoon had not known began to be added one by one.

Suddenly lifting his head to look forward, the world came into view.

He saw Taewoon’s house, he saw the place where he lived, and then he saw the Earth.

Even the things beyond that.

“…….”

In that moment, Taewoon felt countless gazes directed toward him.

Some came from outside the world, but some belonged to his compatriots who stood on the same ground as he.

Those who possessed the spiritual nature of Transcendence; Taewoon seemed to be the furthest ahead among them, but on the other hand, it felt as if he wasn’t.

And he could vaguely realize what he had to do from now on.

‘…I’m going to be busy.’

But it was fine.

Because that was the path Taewoon had chosen, it was part of a long journey, and it was where his heart had always been heading.

Taewoon was a Hunter.

From the day he made an immature decision without any particular desire, until now.

And it would be the same in the future.

“…….”

The future was still filled with dark clouds, but that wouldn’t change Taewoon’s calling, nor would Taewoon ever give it up.

As always.

Until the moment all his strength is spent and his steps naturally come to a halt.

Because he was the parasite of Hongsim Hall and the eternal apprentice, and now the great Master of the Theater of All Things—the South Korean Hunter, Seo Taewoon.

【Congratulations! You have cleared the Transcendent-grade Theater!】

【Would you like to move to the Theater entrance?】

“…Yeah.”

The Movie-Watching Hunter (End)