Chapter 228
The Sky Horse devoured the clouds. *Crunch, crunch,* the sound reminiscent of chewing kimchi quietly spread through the sky.
“You want to learn how to manipulate clouds?”
“Yes.”
“Why can’t you do that?”
It didn’t seem such a remarkable thing to create clouds. Thor’s expression seemed to say just that.
– Thor, lol, what a vibe, lol
– Doesn’t he get it?
– Such a condescending attitude, lol
– But why clouds?
To Thor, it appeared to be the most natural thing in the world.
Lee Suhyuk considered asking how he did it but decided against it.
‘Well, this guy’s age…’
After all, the person in question was Thor.
The God of Thunder. The future king of Asgard, Odin’s son.
His years lived far surpassed human longevity. Though players had longer lifespans and aged slower than ordinary people, the gap between divine beings and humans was insurmountable.
Moreover, Thor had dedicated his life to mastering thunder.
No matter how much time Lee Suhyuk spent as the Lightning Lord, he could not easily bridge that gap in time.
“You hit where it hurts.”
“… I didn’t mean to dismiss it.”
“Just dismiss it. If you want to laugh, then laugh.”
“Pfft.”
Thor struggled to hold back his laughter. He restrained it so blatantly that it was almost less irritating to allow himself a hearty laugh.
After finally swallowing his laughter, Thor spoke.
“Ahem. Yes, right. Being able to control clouds is truly the beginning of mastering thunder.”
Thor’s shoulders were tense with emotion during his feigned cough.
He appeared somewhat different from the first impression. Where he was perceived as reserved, he now came across as straightforward and even childlike.
Lee Suhyuk, momentarily bewildered, soon understood Thor’s feelings.
‘True. He’s spent a lifetime mastering thunder.’
Thor’s life began with thunder and continued until now.
Even before he was born, Odin had designated Thor as the master of thunder. Following his father’s will, Thor spent his childhood striving to control thunder.
In doing so, he was consumed by thunder, even to the point of facing death.
Now, having passed it onto Lee Suhyuk, he had lost what defined him.
‘And yet, it was put to good use.’
His shoulders felt reinvigorated, as if his life’s work had been acknowledged again.
“But isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“Why is knowing how to create clouds necessary? Is it because of the Sky Horse?”
The conversation was mystifying. The Sky Horse?
It sounded as if Thor was suggesting the creation of clouds was akin to creating a resting place for the Sky Horse.
“Is it, perhaps, to wield thunder?”
“Precisely, to wield it better.”
“…?”
Thor had a puzzled look.
Was he not understanding this?
Observing the manipulation of clouds, it seemed that Lee Suhyuk handled thunder far better than he did.
“So, using clouds makes thunder’s power amplify, right?”
“And how exactly do clouds amplify thunder’s power?”
“What?”
-???
-What in the world is he saying?
-They both sound like a pair of clueless fools
-They seem unable to communicate
Questions exploded within Lee Suhyuk’s mind.
‘Isn’t this obvious?’
Something felt off.
Lee Suhyuk knew how to amplify his power using clouds ever since he first wielded lightning.
It wasn’t a matter of realizing; it was an instinct picked up as naturally as breathing.
But Thor couldn’t do it.
‘Come to think of it…’
As Lee Suhyuk contemplated the reasons, he understood the difference between himself and Thor.
‘I was originally dealing with lightning.’
Lightning and thunder.
Their powers were similar, almost to the point where it seemed they might be different names for the same thing.
Yet, regardless of their similarity, they were fundamentally different.
‘Was that the difference?’
It felt as if thunder had struck Lee Suhyuk’s mind, and his lips curled into an involuntary smile.
Thor took amusement from the sight of Lee Suhyuk’s expression.
“It seems you’ve already grasped thunder better than I do.”
Lee Suhyuk didn’t know what Thor knew. Conversely, Thor didn’t know what Lee Suhyuk knew.
However, if he could learn to create clouds, Lee Suhyuk would be able to wield both powers.
– If he learns how to make clouds, that’s totally OP, lol
Lee Suhyuk had already proved his abilities in a stormy environment.
During the Counter-Fight preliminaries, the stage was filled with dark clouds and heavy rain.
On that day, when Lee Suhyuk stood upon the spire, conjuring bolts of lightning, there were those who would have believed him if someone said the real deal had returned.
『DementedBaby” donated 100 points.』
『As long as the weather permits, he’s still Lee Suhyuk, ㅇㅇ』
How dare they.
Daring to compare the two Lee Suhyuk was the talk in the chat.
– It might actually be true, lol
– Come to think of it, he’s already on the 8th floor
– Oh… indeed?
Now, no one could deny those words.
“Alright, I’ll help you.”
Thor said with a hearty laugh.
“What’s so difficult about that?”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I’m curious too.”
『The hidden scenario begins.』
Thor smirked.
“To see what you’ll look like, releasing thunder from within the clouds.”
『Create the clouds.』
* * *
Five days had passed since the stream began.
Ten days remained.
“Hmm…”
Yerang, who had set up camp and lit a campfire, was watching the stream, resting her chin on her hand as she tilted her head.
“Why do you look so grumpy?”
Shiwoo approached, handing Yerang a wooden bowl filled with steaming food.
“What’s displeasing you?”
“It’s boring.”
“The stream?”
“Yeah.”
Yerang accepted the bowl without even looking and began eating the rice soaked in soybean paste soup, her expression turning even more displeased.
“The food doesn’t taste good either.”
“If you’re going to complain, why don’t you make it yourself?”
“Rock-paper-scissors if you’re dissatisfied.”
Shiwoo growled silently. Yerang took another spoonful of soup and started to gag.
Annoyed by her actions, Shiwoo also tasted his own portion of the soup.
It was, indeed, not very tasty.
“… He’s still at it.”
Glancing at the stream Yerang was watching, Shiwoo muttered.
Lee Suhyuk was holding Thor’s hammer in his hand, maintaining a motionless stance.
“Creating clouds, he says.”
“Is that supposed to be the method?”
“Apparently. But, is it possible? Not even Suhyuk managed that.”
“Well, he never got this far.”
Lee Suhyuk had perished attempting to conquer Hydra. To be precise, he had faced trials only up to the 7th floor.
So, from this point on, he was treading on unexplored paths, ones even his past life hadn’t ventured into.
“But this guy isn’t stronger than Suhyuk, right?”
“It’s a matter of time.”
The levels accumulated with time couldn’t be ignored.
The time spent by Suhyuk on the 8th floor to conquer Hydra far exceeded the total time streamer Lee Suhyuk had spent ascending the tower.
“Well… It shouldn’t take too long either.”
“Agreed.”
Yerang nodded at Shiwoo’s words.
“In some ways, he’s more impressive than Suhyuk was.”
Though said with an evident fan’s pride, it wasn’t untrue.
The streamer Lee Suhyuk’s progress was indeed extraordinary, even as observed by the two of them.
‘To think he’d truly have more talent than Suhyuk,’ remarked Falcon Eye, a streamer close to Lee Suhyuk.
At that time, everyone had laughed it off. As time passed, one by one, people recognized and reevaluated Lee Suhyuk, but opinions still remained divided.
However, his companions could distinctly state that the streamer Lee Suhyuk possessed even greater talent than Lee Suhyuk in his prime.
Moreover, “Can he really do it?”
Mumbling as she chewed on the tasteless food, Yerang wondered.
“Create the cloud.”
“… He can probably do it. He’s succeeded at everything so far.”
Whatever the means, it didn’t matter.
When discussing possibilities, it was uncertain.
Yet, Lee Suhyuk had reached this point by overcoming what was deemed impossible.
Lee Suhyuk would succeed. It was only a matter of time.
“I wonder how much stronger he’ll get.”
There was a hint of longing in Yerang’s voice.
This stream might be their last. Though Lee Suhyuk would continue his streams, they wouldn’t be around to watch anymore.
Only ten days remained.
After that, they might not be able to watch the stream anymore.
With a pout on her face, Yerang quickly turned her head and asked, “Do you remember? Back in the day, when Suhyuk used to fly around.”
On overcast days, Lee Suhyuk was truly amazing.
Shiwoo nodded.
“…… I couldn’t keep up back then.”
Lee Suhyuk had always been ahead among them.
He was the most outstanding and often fought in the most dangerous positions. Consequently, the others often ended up chasing after him in battles.
Still, they managed to chase after him because each of his colleagues was equally exceptional.
However, “How could we keep up with him?”
When the weather favored him, Lee Suhyuk became even more extraordinary.
You could almost say he was flying.
Back then, neither Gyuseong nor any guild member could keep up with Suhyuk.
“He wasn’t human.”
“He could be a bit arrogant, knowing how skilled he was.”
“Agreed.”
“Right? Isn’t that true?”
The two shared a laugh as they talked about it. This was why they watched Lee Suhyuk’s stream.
His stream took them back in time. It was the vehicle through which they could share old stories without pain, only teasingly.
The meal ended quickly.
After finishing her meal, Yerang curled up her body and rested her chin on her knees.
Since the same scenes were repeating, the number of viewers had steadily decreased.
It was understandable.
Unlike other times, this one wasn’t entertaining.
However, “…… I can’t help but cheer for him.”
Now, beyond entertainment, she hoped he would surely succeed.
Yerang got lost in the stream again. Although it repeated the same scenes, she was more focused than ever.
Hearing the clatter of dishes being cleared, Shiwoo momentarily paused and glanced up.
Stars twinkled in the sky.
Such a damnably clear day. On any other occasion, it would have been delightful, but not today.
‘If only it had rained that day…….’
Would their fate have been different?
Shiwoo shook his head, chasing away the thoughts. These weren’t questions he could answer alone.
Perhaps only Suhyuk, who was now gone, knew the answer.
* * *
Suhyuk sat holding a hammer.
For five days straight, Thor watched him without resting.
‘Of course, it wouldn’t be possible already.’
It was commendable he hadn’t given up. Maintaining unwavering resolve for five sleepless and foodless days was not easy, even for gods.
However, effort didn’t always guarantee results.
‘It took me years just to create clouds.’
Even after telling Suhyuk this, he chose to challenge.
He hadn’t expected Suhyuk to be so persistently foolish.
“Huaaaa.”
*Crackle.*
“Hmm?”
The yawning Thor turned his head.
In that moment, his eyes widened with surprise.
‘That guy…….’
For days, Suhyuk seemed motionless like he had lost his way.
A sly grin spread across Suhyuk’s face.
After a long while, light slipped in between his slowly opening eyelids. Through the hazy vision, he saw a single cloud he had created.
*Clench.*
Suhyuk clenched his fist tightly.
More than the joy of success, a sense of regret filled him first.
‘If it had rained that day…….’
He knew there was nothing as meaningless as pondering ‘what ifs’ about the past.
The past couldn’t be changed, and hypotheses about past events were endless.
But no human refrained from engaging in these meaningless acts.
The more profound the regret, the more likely one was to indulge in them.
‘…… It would have been different.’
Yes.
It surely would have been different.
Therefore, ‘Now, things will change.’