Chapter 263

〈 Chapter 263 〉 Part 1 Chapter 12 Section 9

Suborof’s mind was swirling with countless thoughts.

He couldn’t fathom how they had pinpointed his daughter’s location, nor how they managed to evade the watchful eyes of so many special ability users and guards to search the side palace.

Most of all, when he saw the numerous spirits floating on either side of the bridge leading to the side palace, Suborof’s mind raced with various ideas.

‘Do they not intend to kill?’

So far, no reports of fatalities had reached him. Yet, he couldn’t just sit idly by while these intruders attacked his family.

‘Wasn’t it mentioned that it’s the Blue Wind Sect?’

Before becoming the nation’s lapdog under the name Hunter Guild, they were a villain organization centered in Seoul.

The fact that three of them had come all the way to Russia must mean that SS-rank special ability user Phoenix is involved.

‘Could those rumors about my daughter really be true?’

Kadak.

Suborof recalled the rumors surrounding his daughter.

Dandong.

On the day Chinese special ability users marched south under the banner of Pyongyang conquest, his daughter encountered the villain Phoenix at Dandong upon Round Table’s request for support.

Afterward, her behavior changed strangely.

She stopped drinking daily,

Became openly interested in Korean culture she had secretly enjoyed,

And even scoured real estate in Busan, a coastal city, looking for a place to live.

‘Could that young man possibly be Phoenix?’

Suborof wondered.

Phoenix, judging from their appearance and actions, exuded strong masculinity, and Oracle had testified that Anastasha mediated between Phoenix and Gawein.

‘Even if that’s true, how can it be! A hunter and a villain falling in love?!’

With the power gap of an SS-rank special ability user, Phoenix likely suppressed his daughter.

Phoenix, who allegedly killed the Korean SS-rank special ability user Light Blade, would have treated his daughter like a dog without any hesitation.

‘No, the timing doesn’t match. Phoenix was elsewhere when the video was recorded… but being SS-rank, perhaps…’

Tok.

As Suborof’s head began to ache, he saw the young man standing before him and instantly felt clarity.

“Ah. There’s actually a very simple answer.”

The blond young man bowed his head toward him. Up close, his appearance was strikingly handsome, and Suborof could approve of his looks and aura.

Already, after watching the video, he had given up on approving.

“You know what? I don’t care who you are. Just…”

Kadak.

Suborof raised both fists. As a former special forces member with an A-rank special ability, he was one of the strongest in Russia.

“I cannot give my daughter to a man who treats her like a dog!”

“…I apologize.”

The blond young man, Light Blade, stretched out his hands and slowly began to summon magic power. The previously calm lake water began to ripple with golden waves.

“But even though you’re Rusalka’s father, I cannot step back.”

“You, you! Don’t call her by her pet name!”

By adding ‘Rusalka’ as a nickname, Suborofovich had essentially allowed only this man to call her that, fueling his anger and jealousy.

“It’s decided! I won’t acknowledge you until dirt gets into my eyes!”

“…I understand your feelings.”

Being a father himself, whenever Phoenix teased him about Seok Harang, it made his insides churn.

“As a father, I am trash worthy of death. However…”

Light Blade gathered his momentum and raised dual swords.

“Since I’m already trash, I’ll take my wife with me. Sorry.”

“Noooooo!!”

Suborof rushed toward Light Blade with full strength. Light Blade glanced at the tower briefly, took a deep breath, and unleashed his magic power.

“Let’s have a private talk, father-in-law.”

“Who said you’re my father-in-law?!”

Light Blade and Suborof disappeared.

* * *

A terrorist attack occurred at the Vladimir household.

Hooded assailants moved like ghosts, knocking out the residents of the side palace and moving them outside, and the situation became widely known when one was discovered.

– Their goal is the abduction of Undine.

Their movements clearly indicated they were searching for Undine, causing people to worry she might be kidnapped.

– Even so, isn’t Undine part of the Round Table? Isn’t she an S-rank hero? Could she really be kidnapped?

– Isn’t Rasputin staying with the Vladimir household due to engagement issues?

– Aren’t these just people harboring grudges against the Vladimir family attacking as usual?

People anxiously monitored the situation, having learned of the terror attack well past midnight. Then they were startled by the appearance of the SS-rank villain <Phoenix> in the Moscow sky.

– Phoenix is trying to kidnap Undine!

The blue phoenix in black armor performed a free fall from hundreds of meters in the air, shattering the glass windows of the tower.

And <Enmity> Suborof, rushing from the main palace to protect his daughter, vanished immediately upon encountering a mysterious young man.

– What? What exactly is happening here?

The public was confused by the rapidly unfolding information: Phoenix suddenly breaking the side palace’s windows, the presumed party involved in the <Undine Scandal>, a blond Korean youth confronting Suborof while wielding a sword.

They began to entertain a terrifying suspicion.

– Could this be someone coming to forcibly arrange a marriage and abduct the bride?

The truth behind the veil dawned on the people. They sought a hero to thwart the kidnappers’ plot.

– Where is Rasputin?!

There was no response from Rasputin anywhere in the main palace.

* * *

DD merely erected a barrier; most attacks towards Hwakwon were hand-to-hand combat.

Pow!

DD’s punch jabbed at Hwakwon’s waist like a bee. Hwakwon slightly twisted his waist to deflect DD’s punch and simultaneously swung his fist using the momentum of the twist.

“Heheh, nice waist work.”

“……!!”

For a moment, Hwakwon almost lost focus, but he clenched his teeth and threw a punch imbued with white flame forward. With a sharp sound, a streak of white fire shot forward and scorched DD’s upper body.

“Haaah!”

Taking a large step back, DD shook off the white flames with a yell. His black priest robe, darkened by the flames, burned away entirely above the waist, and DD tightly wrapped the remaining fabric around his lower torso to prevent it from slipping.

“Hohoho. Your attacks now are quite sharp. But unless you hit me directly, they’re useless.”

“……Damn.”

Though greatly irritated, Hwakwon couldn’t argue. The opponent was an S-rank special ability user on par with him, and their fighting styles were similar—both relied on physical enhancement for close combat.

Gurgle, gurgle.

His bronze-colored upper body shimmered in the white flames. Beneath the priest robe, DD concealed more than just a third leg. Boasting a physique that even muscular Hwakwon would admire, DD proudly caressed his abs.

“Hohoho, this is the body blessed by God. How does it look? It’s not too late to join me and follow God’s word.”

Hwakwon regulated his breathing and gathered his magic power. No matter how many punches they exchanged, DD either deflected or easily countered them, while Hwakwon grew increasingly exhausted.

“Hmph. Is God some kind of steroid? Huff.”

“Tsk. Be careful not to blaspheme the deity I serve. He possesses divine power far beyond mere steroids. If you receive God’s grace, you’ll feel different too.”

DD enveloped his fists in black magic power and exhaled excitedly.

“Hohoho. This unrestrained release of magic power hasn’t happened in a long time… Haah. That I stand before an SS-rank within reach is all thanks to His grace.”

“……Are you saying you’re nearing SS-rank?”

“That’s right. Since you’re an S-rank, you have sufficient potential. He will deepen the darkness in your heart. By confronting the shadow within you, you might even reach that level… SS-rank!”

DD’s body vanished momentarily. Realizing he had merged with the darkness, Hwakwon surrounded himself with magic power, but DD had already begun moving freely within his barrier.

“Hohoho!”

Suddenly, laughter echoed from the darkness. Understanding he would be hit if he stood still, Hwakwon refined his gathered magic power and swung his fist.

Swish!

A streak of white light split the thick shadows like a comet. Though Hwakwon’s punch flew like a bee, it failed to pierce DD’s actual form.

Thud!

At that moment, DD grabbed Hwakwon from behind. Though Hwakwon feared DD’s abilities, the touch of DD’s body on his shoulders and lower back genuinely sent chills down his spine.

“Aaaaagh!!”

Hwakwon released all his magic power. Heat intense enough to burn skin erupted around him, yet DD did not let go of the captured Hwakwon.

“Hohoho.”

In fact, DD pressed his foot into Hwakwon’s knee, forcing him to kneel. Despite his skin turning bright red and sweating profusely, DD maintained his grip on Hwakwon.

“Resisting is futile… This is already my domain.”

In a gentle voice, DD whispered to Hwakwon. Their magic powers continuously pulled against each other in an endless struggle, and Hwakwon gradually freed himself from DD’s grip.

“Let go of me! Aaaaaa!”

“Cough, you’ve got quite the strength…!”

DD attempted to pin Hwakwon down by leaning over him, but Hwakwon fiercely expelled magic power, preventing DD from making contact.

“This feels just like wrestling at the Olympics, doesn’t i-”

“Haaaaaaaaaa!!”

Hwakwon summoned every ounce of strength, releasing magic power explosively from his entire body. White flames erupted violently from Hwakwon’s body, and eventually, DD gave up the tug-of-war and retreated back into the darkness.

“Huff, huff!”

Having used up nearly all his magic power, Hwakwon shakily rose to his feet and cautiously guarded against all sides. He was terribly afraid DD might sneak up behind him again.

“Don’t be scared. You look just like a little kitten.”

“……!”

Hwakwon barely restrained his trembling fists. While the opponent relaxed, he needed to recover even a bit of his magic power. Fortunately, DD acted as if he had completely secured victory and relaxed.

“Why resist so fiercely? Just accept becoming one of the new humanity peacefully.”

“Shut up! You’re not even human!”

Hwakwon realized the eerie feeling he sensed from DD. Setting aside the disturbing sensation of DD clinging to his back, the ominous aura emanating from his magic power was something he had felt from previous opponents.

“You’re a monster!”

“……”

Caught off guard by the sudden declaration, DD was momentarily speechless.

“Monster, monster… Indeed, to those blind fools who haven’t received God’s blessing, we may appear that way. Hohoho.”

DD spread his arms wide again. Hwakwon raised his fists to eye level and readied his stance. He prepared his magic power in case the opponent disappeared from sight and vowed never to be caught from behind again.

“Did the Hero Association decide to call us ‘monsters’? Tsk tsk, that’s unfortunate. Our Lord wishes to call us ‘Children of the Night.'”

“……Who is this ‘Lord,’ and what is this ‘new humanity’?”

Suppressing his boiling rage, Hwakwon removed his tinted glasses. The man before him was undoubtedly a Russian S-rank special ability user, but upon calm reflection, he understood what the man truly desired.

He had discarded his identity as the hero Rasputin and become ‘the monster DD.’

“When did the Hero Association decide to call us that? Hoho, it seems my eyesight wasn’t mistaken. I believed you’d make a good comrade.”

“I’m not considering being your comrade. Are you trying to convert people to your religion like this?”

Hwakwon deliberately provoked DD. At the insult directed not at himself but at his god, DD’s demeanor abruptly cooled.

“It seems I need to have a more physical conversation with you.”

DD plunged his hand into his chest. Watching him stab his own heart, Hwakwon bit his lip.

“As expected…!”

“Hahaha! Witness the grace of our Lord with your own two eyes, hero!”

An enormous amount of magic power began to fill the air from the core embedded in DD’s heart.

“Magic Dark Opening (魔暗開闢)!”

“Of course you’re a monster!”

There could be no other explanation for such shameless boasting except that they were monsters. As soon as Hwakwon began gathering his magic power again, the monster DD revealed his true colors.