The World After the Bad Ending
Chapter 274

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Chapter 274

Demon Dungeon Breakthrough Unit.

Formed by all the students of the academy, this unit was created with the sole purpose of reaching the Demon Sovereign.

They advanced through the Demon Dungeon at a lightning pace.

But among them, unsettling whispers began to circulate.

“There are way too many Apostles, aren’t there?”

The number of Apostles was abnormally high.

Far more than what the Demon Dungeon usually held.

While they were aware of the Demon Sovereign's resurrection, the sheer volume of Apostles surpassed all expectations.

“Because there’s no reason to go down anymore.”

Sharin had already seen through the situation.

Apostles used to descend into the lower levels of the Demon Dungeon to gather power through the Demon Sovereign.

But now that the Demon Sovereign had emerged onto the surface…

They had no reason to head underground anymore.

“But isn’t a large portion of the Demon Sovereign’s sealed soul still underground?”

Hania’s question was a valid one.

That’s precisely why the Breakthrough Unit was so desperate to reach the Demon Sovereign.

“The soul—what matters isn’t its size, but its will.”

Sharin possessed Mirinae.

Because of this, she understood the correlation between soul and magic better than anyone.

“A soul can’t be split into two. In the end, what matters isn’t how much of it there is, but which part holds the will.”

Right now, the Demon Sovereign’s will resided not in the depths, but on the surface.

Thus, the Apostles drawn to the Demon Sovereign began heading to the surface instead of deeper into the palace.

Even the five separate paths within the palace had merged into one, all leading to the surface.

It was only natural that the Breakthrough Unit was overwhelmed by the increasing number of Apostles.

They were trying to descend, yet the Apostles kept getting in their way.

But soon, the Breakthrough Unit noticed something else—something that made them question everything.

“The Apostles…”

“They’re heading underground now.”

The Apostles who had been fiercely fighting to ascend were now turning around, heading toward the depths.

Isabel sensed a growing unease and called out.

“Rin.”

And as expected, Sharin’s expression had gone cold.

Everyone immediately understood what that look meant.

They were currently on the 7th floor—this was the deepest the Breakthrough Unit had managed to reach so far.

Thud—

From the edge of the horizon, a deep, weighty tremor rippled through the air.

One by one, everyone turned toward the source.

Thud—

Another impact.

And then—something appeared.

A grotesque figure emerged—massive in size, with Apostles grotesquely fused together in a twisted form.

Rather than just an Apostle, it looked more like a chimera—some terrifying fusion.

As soon as it spotted the party, it opened its gaping maw and let out a ferocious roar.

The ultra-low frequency sound damaged the eardrums of several students, who cried out in pain.

Just a single roar, and several were already incapacitated.

Shiver—

Everyone, including Isabel, felt chills run down their spines.

It was the same feeling they’d had when they faced that Apostle that once attempted to ascend.

Back then, it had taken everything Vikamon and the others had to barely bring it down.

And now, a similar-level threat had appeared once more.

But it wasn’t just one.

Beside the Chimera Apostle, another one emerged.

Just like the first—another Chimera Apostle.

And then another.

And another.

Chimera Apostles began pouring in like a plague of monsters.

The students stood frozen, stunned, as if watching a calamity unfold on its own.

Until a bolt of red lightning crashed down.

KWA-GAGAGAGAGANG!

One of the Chimera Apostles instantly melted and perished.

The spellcaster was Sharin.

Her hair fluttered in the air as sacred constellation magic enveloped her.

“What are you all spacing out for?!”

Seron, with her axe slung over her shoulder, shouted.

They had been ready for battle from the moment the Chimera Apostles appeared.

To them, there was only one path: break through, no matter what.

“The Demon Sovereign made a move.”

Golden light surged in Isabel’s eyes as she unleashed more of the goddess’ power than ever before.

“That means attacking the Demon Dungeon was the right answer.”

Nikita froze the surroundings with the power of a dragon.

“It’s the same. Just break through.”

Iris, known as the strongest princess, had her sword glowing with a sinister red aura.

The five of them stood firm, unwavering.

Their resolve sparked strength in the other students as well.

“Screw it.”

“They’re just Apostles in the end.”

“Let’s wipe them out.”

With a shout, they all charged forward in unison.

The Apostles roared back and rushed in.

A brutal clash erupted as students and Apostles collided.

Among them, four women stood out.

Isabel scattered radiant sunlight that even made Apostles cower.

Sharin’s single spells could evaporate Chimera Apostles.

Nikita’s dragon magic froze them to the bone.

Iris’ sword clashed head-on with a Chimera Apostle and cut its throat cleanly.

But there was one girl—though full of spirit—who wasn’t quite on par with the other four.

Swinging a flaming axe, she fought desperately against a Chimera Apostle.

Beside her, Eve supported her closely.

“Seron, you don’t have to push yourself to keep up with them.”

“I’m fine! This isn’t pushing myself.”

Seron shook her head and shouted back at Eve.

“I’m just doing the best I can!”

Seron had always quietly admired the four.

It was only natural—they were strong, each with their own beauty.

In popularity polls among the students, they were always at the top.

But what about Seron?

Honestly, she likely wouldn’t receive many votes.

Her personality was rough, she lacked social grace, and she’d scowl if you made eye contact.

No one really liked badgers.

Eve might vote for her out of loyalty, but Seron was the kind of girl others didn’t pay much attention to.

That’s why she admired them so deeply.

And being by Vikamon’s side—the one they all loved—only made her feel even more inadequate.

Yet, despite all that... here she was, fighting alongside them with all her might.

Yes, there were times she had such thoughts.

But whenever she did, Vikamon would scold her gently and say:

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"Is the man you love really someone who would prioritize based on something like that?"

No, he wasn’t that kind of man.

Seron remembers how Vikamon always looked her straight in the eye.

A foolish man, perhaps, but that was exactly why he was the person she loved most in the world.

The beauty those women possessed was something she could never hope to match.

A crow tit trying to keep up with a stork would only end up tearing its legs.

Seron knew that well, and so she only looked at herself.

She focused on herself because she knew Vikamon looked straight at her.

Seron’s flame burned ever more precisely.

Compared to the other four, Seron certainly lacked in talent.

But though her talent may have been lacking, her passion was never in short supply.

Right after Vikamon became the Demon Sovereign, Seron looked deep within herself solely to bring him back.

A chimera apostle howled.

Seron’s axe clashed against the creature’s arm and bounced off.

But she didn’t stop.

Again, and again, and again, she swung her axe.

The apostle, who had been trying to withstand her relentless strikes, gradually began to falter.

Kaang!

And finally, as Seron’s axe pushed the apostle back—

It landed squarely on its neck.

Ka-ga-ga-gak!

The chimera apostle’s neck didn’t sever easily.

But the flame on Seron’s axe blazed even more fiercely.

The fire she had inherited from Vikamon—

It roared wildly within her heart.

Crack!

Seron’s arm, empowered beyond its limit, delivered the final blow.

Clang!

And at last, the chimera apostle’s neck was severed.

Its body collapsed to the ground.

“Huff, huff.”

Seron gasped for breath and hefted her axe.

“Prince Sweet Potato, just hold on. I’ll be there to save you soon.”

Her eyes burned with fierce determination.

Eve looked at Seron with admiration.

“That’s what love is,”

She murmured.

And she felt something strange—wonder.

Seron, who once seemed like a badger, became dazzlingly steadfast whenever it was about Vikamon.

Seron glanced at Eve and grinned through sweat.

“There is such a thing. The best thing in the world.”

Eve let out a half-laugh.

Her eyes watched the students defeat the chimera apostle together.

All the former academy students had joined forces in battle.

Not a single casualty had occurred against that terrifying creature.

Who would’ve thought a day like this would come?

Watching it unfold stirred something inside her.

Even she—known as the “Unyielding Azure Flame”—felt another fire light within her chest.

It was a flame sparked by a certain man.

Eve ignited her azure flame.

“Seron, you were right.”

She, too, belonged to the generation of the Golden Flame.

“Let’s save him.”

The chimera apostles continued to fall.

Though they kept multiplying and multiplying, the students didn’t back down.

On the contrary, their combat abilities only grew stronger.

The generation of the Golden Flame was growing—every single one of them.

Supporting one another, they pressed ever higher.

Their breakthrough speed increased, while the number of apostles dwindled.

Beyond the 7th floor—onto the 8th.

The Apostle Skyscraper of the 8th floor.

Even the named apostles that appeared there couldn’t block their advance.

Normally, a five-person team was required for such a level.

But here too, chimera apostles emerged, rendering such team formations meaningless.

In the past, the chimera transformation of named apostles had been a thunderclap of despair.

But now, against the boys and girls who had repeatedly surpassed their limits, it wasn’t enough.

The Saint and Saintess fought desperately to heal the children.

The young warriors, bearing the blessings of the goddess, fought tenaciously.

They were becoming true veterans of battle.

With a mission to protect the world—

That mission made them shine brilliantly.

And at last, they arrived on the 9th floor—Heaven’s Domain.

Isabel drew a deep breath and lifted her head.

The sky and stars poured down from above.

Beneath the black starlit sky, a golden field stretched out.

She remembered how, long ago, she had fallen into this place with Vikamon.

The overwhelming despair and looming death they had faced there.

Yet Vikamon had never once allowed her to succumb to fear.

By her side, he had become her strongest pillar of support.

Isabel opened her eyes, remembering that day.

This time, it was her turn to be his strongest pillar.

Boom—

The apostles on the 9th floor merged and formed a complete chimera apostle.

Shaped like a massive serpent, its body shimmered with starlight.

The sheer pressure radiating from it was so overwhelming, it was hard to meet its eyes.

A new tension ran through the children’s faces, unlike anything before.

Compared to this, the previous chimera apostles seemed almost trivial.

But they had come this far, overcoming countless trials.

Conquering fear and tension, they raised their blades and stepped forward.

“Let’s go.”

The goddess’s warrior spread their wings.

At the same time, the children sprinted across the starlit field.

And within that field of stars—

Rustle—

“I found you.”

A cat, completely unexpected, had slipped in unnoticed.

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