Chapter Text
Clang—!
Two swords clashed with each other, as aura and fire fought one another. Both powerful forces clashed with one another—causing the owner to stumble behind.
"You—!"
Rage oozed out of his body as White Miru slowly engulfed his sword.
With a final blow, Choi Jung Soo landed a hit on White Star's mask.
Crack—!
The mask on White Star's face slowly started to break. Moving backward as his hands slowly trembled–he touched his falling mask in shock.
"How—"
The mask was gifted to him by the God of Despair– how was it that it got cracked so easily? Confusion lingered in his mind–he needed answers as to how this human cracked the God of Despair's divine item.
"You–"
White Star turned towards Choi Jung Soo–rage filled his body as his ancient power grumbled through the sky.
The ground was shaking–as destruction appeared more vividly in Perthle City.
The gust of wind fluttered his hair as his fire sword pointed towards Choi Jung Soo.
Clang—!
The brunette haired male dropped his sword–eye widening as he looked towards White Star.
"...Why—"
His eyes trembled slightly–his knees felt weak. The face that was in front of him, the face that man had–
"....Rok Soo?"
His voice began to waver as a sharp pain stung his head.
"I'm going to be a rich slacker."
"Why would I call you hyung."
"This is how you get free food from the team leader."
"Ha.. ha ha hahahahahahaha"
The shock inside his mind causes him to laugh uncontrollably. His laughter grew louder and louder and for those who heard it–they could tell it was not out of mockery, but sorrow.
The longingness that his body displayed–the sword that fell from his hand–stayed abandoned.
"Neph—"
"HOW COULD YOU!"
Choi Jung Soo couldn't listen to his parental uncle. No–the outside world was cut off for him. Rage filled his body–now knowing who he had to kill.
"..Why?"
His voice started to become weaker–his emotions were mixed causing him to yell and break at the same time.
"...Why did you have to get Roksoo's face"
The memories of Kim Rok Soo–cradled in his arms–cold. Not a single heartbeat–nor the rise in the stomach to show his dongsaengs breathing.
His sly maknae died in his arms–it was all his fault.
The guilt crept under him–yet he was the one who got another chance. A chance to meet his only family, Choi Han and a chance to relive.
"...I can't–I–I can't."
He couldn't do this anymore.
"I'm tired."
Exhaustion filled his body–his knees causing him to drop to the ground. His body was shaking.
"Just why does it have to be him?" His voice was weak as he couldn't comprehend the situation. "Why did it have to be Rok Soo, out of everybody else!"
He... he couldn't do it.
He can't move forward anymore.
"...I can't kill him."
Choi Jung Soo slowly spoke–looking at his uncle's face with a beaten look.
"I can't kill him when he has that face."
He couldn't get himself to do that–as his memory won't show him killing White Star. Instead, killing Rok Soo would play in a loop in his mind.
Call him weak.
Call him a coward.
Choi Jung Soo couldn't kill Kim Rok Soo—
Not again.
As they say–love can be one's weakness. For him, Kim Rok Soo was his weakness.
No matter how much this world's story was written.
Birth of a Hero–or any new name it receives.
The world was fated to fall into despair.