The Chronicle of the Beginning and Climax

Chapter 24 – The Battle Between Two Readers

A deafening silence settled over the ruins of the collapsing library. Dust and golden embers floated through the air, remnants of the vanishing books. The air crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on.

Yoo Jihwan tightened his grip on the golden book. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs, his body reacting to the overwhelming presence of the figure before him.

A perfect replica of himself.

Yet, something about it felt... wrong.

Its eyes were devoid of emotion, its posture unnaturally stiff, like a doll that had been given life but never learned how to be human. Its presence made the very air around them distort, as if rejecting its existence.

Jihwan took a slow step back, his gaze unwavering. "Who are you?"

The figure tilted its head slightly, mirroring his movement. Then, it spoke.

"The Reader of the Beginning does not belong in the Middle."

The words sent a chill down Jihwan's spine. They were the same words from before—words that felt like a verdict. A sentence he didn't remember receiving.

Then, the figure moved.

A blur of motion. Faster than Jihwan could react.

His instincts screamed at him to dodge. He twisted his body just as the figure's palm sliced through the space where his chest had been a moment before. The air split apart in its wake, a sharp force carving through the library's already fragile walls.

Boom!

The shockwave sent Jihwan flying backward. His back slammed against a fractured pillar, pain jolting through his spine. Gritting his teeth, he barely had time to recover before the figure was upon him again.

A crimson light flickered at its fingertips—energy, raw and unrestrained.

Jihwan's mind raced. He couldn't fight blindly. He needed to understand what he was facing.

The golden book in his hands trembled. A string of text appeared across its glowing pages, forming words in real-time.

[Analyzing the opponent…]

[The Reader's Reflection: An existence born from the path of the Climax.]

[Warning: This entity cannot be reasoned with.]

Jihwan cursed under his breath. That didn't help.

The Reflection lunged again, its hand aiming directly for his throat. This time, Jihwan reacted faster. He ducked, rolling to the side before flipping the book open. The golden glow intensified, and the words within shifted.

A page turned.

[Skill activated: Narrative Barrier]

A translucent golden wall erupted between them just as the Reflection's attack landed. The force sent cracks through the barrier, but it held.

For now.

Jihwan exhaled sharply. He couldn't afford to stay on the defensive. He needed to counterattack.

His mind whirled through possibilities. Every book he had ever read. Every battle he had ever imagined. He had no sword, no weapon—but he had something else.

Stories.

Another page flipped on its own, and a second golden glow emerged from the book, wrapping around Jihwan's hand. This time, when the words formed, he felt their weight.

[Skill acquired: Conceptual Blade – "Cutting Through the Unwritten."]

Jihwan's fingers curled, and suddenly, there was something solid in his grasp.

A sword—no, not a sword, but the concept of one.

It shimmered, undefined yet absolute, an extension of the story itself.

The Reflection hesitated. For the first time, its empty eyes flickered.

Jihwan took a steady breath. His stance shifted, and he raised the blade.

"This is my story," he muttered.

And he charged.