The rooftop trembled under the weight of two stories colliding.
One was written by the Star Stream.
The other had stepped into the narrative without permission.
Kim Dokja stood near the edge of the garden, watching the two figures facing each other across the cracked concrete.
"…This is the worst possible matchup."
Yoo Joonghyuk raised his sword.
Golden stigma energy pulsed along the blade like a living flame. The air around him vibrated with controlled power, each breath steady, each step measured.
Across from him—
Persephone stood calmly among the flowers.
The vines around her ankles shifted gently as if aware of the tension building in the air.
Above them, the massive geometric eye of the administrator burned brighter.
[Administrator Trial: Phase 1]
[Champion vs. Anomaly]
Dokja sighed.
"Yeah… the constellations are absolutely loving this."
The Star Stream exploded with reactions.
[Several constellations are placing bets.]
[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is shouting encouragement.]
[Probability tension increasing.]
Yoo Joonghyuk moved first.
The rooftop shattered beneath his step.
He crossed the distance instantly.
His sword cut downward toward Persephone's shoulder—precise, lethal, and impossibly fast.
The ground answered her.
A thick wall of roots erupted upward.
The blade struck the living barrier with a violent crack.
Splinters flew.
The roots shattered.
But the sword had lost momentum.
Persephone stepped aside calmly as the fragments fell.
"You are very fast," she observed.
Yoo Joonghyuk turned instantly, sword flashing again.
This time the strike aimed at her side.
Vines whipped upward like serpents.
The blade sliced through them.
Three vines.
Four.
Five.
But each one he cut was replaced by two more.
Dokja whistled quietly.
"…Infinite plant glitch."
Yoo Joonghyuk leapt backward, landing lightly across the rooftop garden.
His eyes had sharpened now.
Persephone still had not attacked.
She had only defended.
"You hesitate," she said.
"I am measuring your power."
"Have you learned anything?"
"Yes."
His grip tightened slightly on the sword.
"You are stronger than the system predicted."
Dokja coughed.
"That's the understatement of the century."
Above them, the administrator's voice echoed across the district.
"Champion. Increase output."
Yoo Joonghyuk did not argue.
His stigma flared brighter.
Golden light spread across his body.
The vines along the rooftop shuddered slightly as the probability pressure increased.
Persephone watched the transformation with quiet interest.
"You are forcing the story to strengthen you."
"That is how scenarios work."
"Interesting."
Yoo Joonghyuk attacked again.
This time he vanished completely.
Even Dokja almost lost track of him.
The sword appeared behind Persephone—
A horizontal slash meant to end the fight instantly.
The blade cut through her body.
Silence followed.
Dokja blinked.
"…Wait."
Persephone dissolved into petals.
Thousands of black flower petals scattered across the air where she had been standing.
Yoo Joonghyuk froze.
A vine suddenly wrapped around his ankle.
The real Persephone stood several meters away.
"I told you," she said calmly, "I do not wish to fight you."
The vine tightened slightly.
Yoo Joonghyuk's sword flashed downward.
The plant snapped instantly.
He stepped free.
"That is unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because the story demands it."
Persephone sighed softly.
The entire rooftop garden responded.
Flowers bloomed wider.
Roots pushed deeper into the concrete.
The building itself groaned slightly under the pressure of growing life.
Dokja raised an eyebrow.
"…Okay that's new."
Above them, the administrator reacted immediately.
[Probability Distortion Rising]
[Warning: Anomaly exceeding narrative parameters]
The vines now covered nearly the entire rooftop.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood in the middle of a living forest.
His sword gleamed in the darkness.
"You will destroy the district at this rate."
Persephone looked around the growing garden.
"I am only letting it grow."
"That growth will break the scenario."
"Yes."
Her dark eyes met his.
"Perhaps the scenario deserves to break."
Dokja groaned.
"…Please stop giving the administrators heart attacks."
The constellations were in chaos.
[Several constellations are shocked by the anomaly's growth.]
[A constellation believes the anomaly may rival a myth-grade entity.]
Yoo Joonghyuk stepped forward again.
But this time he did not attack immediately.
He looked at Persephone carefully.
"You are holding back."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Persephone answered simply.
"You are not my enemy."
Yoo Joonghyuk was silent.
That statement was… unexpected.
Above them, the administrator's voice thundered again.
"Champion. Eliminate the anomaly."
The command echoed across the entire district.
Yoo Joonghyuk's expression hardened slightly.
"I do not have a choice."
Persephone studied him for a long moment.
Then she smiled faintly.
"That seems to be the theme of your story."
The vines shifted again.
Flowers opened across the rooftop like a blooming battlefield.
The wind returned.
Dokja adjusted his glasses slowly.
"…Alright."
He looked between the regressor and the goddess.
"One of you needs to end this soon."
Above them, the administrator's eye burned brighter.
Because the trial was only beginning.
And the next phase of the battle would not be so restrained. 🌑⚔️🌸📖