Chapter 83

〈Chapter 83〉 Part 1, Chapter 5 (16)

If you think about it calmly, there’s no way an S-Rank Hero would get drunk so easily from a mere drug.

But Seok Harang’s trust in Yun Yuhwa reaches the heavens. When such a Yun Yuhwa pretends to shake hands with me, Light Blade Heo Yoon-hwan loses his calm and makes a wrong judgment.

Suspicious dark ears. Ultimately, Light Blade ends up unleashing the power of Rusalka sealed within his heart.

Sssshh-!

The waves surge violently. The East Sea rises to immense heights at Light Blade’s will and crashes down on me.

I encase my entire body in spheres of flame. The blue protective barrier gets dragged into the seawater and begins to sink.

Since the battlefield is inconvenient for fighting, destroying it should suffice.

[Let’s evaporate everything!]

I spread my wings on my back. The wings that escaped the protection barrier continue to burn brightly despite being in the middle of the sea.

Chiiiiiiik——

Beneath the water surface, massive steam boils up. The seawater vaporized by the heat disperses into the atmosphere as steam.

■■■■!!

Light Blade roars while swinging his sword. In his right hand, he wields an iron sword infused with light properties, and in his left, a water-elemental magic-powered blade made from seawater, cutting through my wings swiftly.

PANG, PANG, PANG!

The iron sword of Light Blade strikes against my protective barrier. If even a small crack appears, seawater will soon seep in and drown me.

[Hmm, this is troublesome.]

If the field is inconvenient for battle, then destroying it should do.

[Let me evaporate all of this!]

I unfurl my wings. The wings, which were wrapped in a protective barrier, now burn fiercely without losing their azure brilliance even amidst the ocean.

Chi-i-i-ik——

Massive amounts of steam rise beneath the water surface. The seawater, vaporized by the heat, dissipates into the atmosphere.

■■■■!!

Light Blade lets out a roar and swings his sword. In his right hand, he holds the iron sword imbued with light, and in his left, the water-elemental magic construct made from seawater, swiftly cutting through my wings.

Puun. My right wing is cut off. Fortunately, the feathers detached from my main body retain the nature of Chang-yeom and don’t extinguish easily.

However, the opponent also possesses the power of spirits.

Fuuuushh–

The seawater churns again, but compared to before, only a tiny bit has vaporized this time.

The remaining feathers are torn apart by the surging waves.

‘It seems influenced by magical energy, but he knows how to fight.’

Even the method of cutting the wings was like that. Whether Light Blade knows it or if it’s instinctual due to the power of Rusalka, I’m not sure.

But Light Blade seems confident that water-elemental magic can deal damage to me. Since the moment he unleashed the power of spirits, he’s been thoroughly tormenting me with water-elemental magic.

Crack!

The protective barrier breaks. Seawater rushes in through the gaps.

[This won’t do.]

Not only does this guy have unparalleled combat sense, but his skill in handling magic of different attributes is also remarkable.

KOOOAAH! The protective barrier shatters. At the same time, seawater rushes in from all sides. Though I thought about creating a Flame Sphere and causing an explosion, it would be washed away by the waves before it could even form.

Then let me become the bomb. I released my magical energy outward.

BOOOOM!!

Inside the armor, flames explode, pushing the seawater away. For just a moment, a space is created where the seawater retreats.

And directly in front of that space, Light Blade slashes down with his sword.

■■■!!

With a yell, he horizontally slashes with his golden sword. I raise my gauntlet to block the blade, and though it cuts slightly, it’s only a minor scratch.

But that’s nothing more than a feint. The real threat is the seawater blade in his left hand.

Before slashing down with the iron sword, Light Blade had already positioned his left hand above his shoulder. And during the brief moment I blocked the blade with my gauntlet, he swiftly swung the seawater blade toward my stomach.

Swish!

It cuts. The seawater blade splits more than half of the armor covering my abdomen.

This is the first fatal wound I’ve received since coming to this world. A large amount of magical energy leaks out from the split in the armor.

[…Hmm.]

“KYAAAH!”

Light Blade laughs wildly, his mouth wide open like a beast. His pupils swirl with gold and murky blue, but gradually, traces of purple magical energy flow from the corners of his eyes.

[Is Light Blade also losing control and going berserk?]

If each type of magical energy has its own characteristic color, then that purple magical energy is corrupted Tera energy.

An ordinary human would go insane and commit suicide the moment they accept such influence. Though Light Blade is going berserk under the influence of this magical energy, his fundamental purpose remains unchanged.

To kill Chang-yeom and save Seok Harang. That must be the driving force behind Light Blade’s actions.

[Though I have no intention of dying…]

The waves that had receded fill the space again. Light Blade continues to swing his sword to prevent my escape.

I block the iron sword. The gauntlet wears down, but it’s no problem.

I dodge the seawater blade. Since water-elemental magic can even cut through Chang-yeom, I have to avoid it at all costs.

The brute-force style of martial arts called Hwakwon is displayed without reservation. However, we merely exchange blows without making any progress, and I cannot escape the advancing seawater.

■■■■■■!

Light Blade seems to have confirmed victory and smiles. Now, the golden light has disappeared, replaced by purple miasma.

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

Light Blade draws his iron sword diagonally. As usual, I grab the blade with my gauntlet.

Light Blade thrusts his seawater blade in reverse. At this point, Light Blade is completely berserk, not even aware of what ‘thrust’ means.

I raise my left hand and grasp the tip of the seawater blade.

Ki-gi-gik!

■■■■?!

Normally, the seawater blade would pierce through my hand and strike the core. But the blade is immobilized, unable to move in my grip.

A look of confusion crosses Light Blade’s face. It worked just moments ago, so why isn’t it effective now?

[I did nothing special.]

I merely blocked the attacks, dodged, and evaporated the seawater. There’s still plenty of seawater left within the barrier.

[You’re the one who changed, Light Blade.]

Light Blade’s eyes are dyed purple. The characteristic feature of those who have become servants of otherworldly gods—like shadows.

Infection.

If we analyze Light Blade’s magical energy pattern now, the result will likely classify him as a monster.

[The high-ranking members of the Dark Legion weren’t originally destructive monsters.]

My words cause a flicker of curiosity in Light Blade’s eyes. I take advantage of that moment, rushing forward and grabbing Light Blade by the collar with my right hand.

■■?!

Light Blade tries to stab me with the seawater blade in surprise. But the blade is still firmly gripped in my hand.

[Can you really defeat the power of spirits with just the remnants of Rusalka’s strength?]

Seawater churns and attempts to wrap around my legs like ropes. However, it moves incredibly slowly.

[There’s no need to fight in the sea when dealing with fish.]

I spread my wings and break through the seawater.

Light Blade tries to sever the hand gripping his collar with his iron sword, but the armor remains unscathed.

At the moment Light Blade attempts to stab me in the neck with his iron sword, we emerge from the waves. Once outside the water barrier, Light Blade is nothing more than a single mackerel leaping onto a fishing boat.

■■■■!

Light Blade goes berserk, summoning waves. But there’s no reason for me to yield to this desperate act.

[We’ve played enough in the sea. Let’s fight on land, shall we?]

I unleash the magical energy from my wings. The explosive release of magical energy from the joints of my wings propels my body forward like a gas explosion.

Naturally, Light Blade, who was clinging to me, is also pushed along. The explosion of my wings shattered the incoming waves, and taking advantage of the gap, I fly to land and pin Light Blade to the ground.

■■■■■■!

Light Blade crashes into the ground, kicking up dust. Coincidentally, the path he rolled over while breaking the mountain trail leads to Rusalka’s grave.

■■…?

Light Blade’s eyes waver. I land and surround myself with magical energy. The sliced wound heals, and the scratches on the armor repair themselves.

[From the moment you set up the barrier here, this was the predetermined process.]

Light Blade picks up a fragment of the broken tombstone with a disheartened expression.

For a moment, a golden light swirls in Light Blade’s eyes.

That instant.

[Tch.]

Light Blade plunges the iron sword into his own heart, spewing deep purple blood from his mouth as he collapses. I lift my head to the sky.

The barrier is still active. A golden light flashes from Light Blade’s body.

“Haa, haa, haa!”

The revived Light Blade pants heavily. This mechanism of resurrection is less about returning to life and more akin to regressing time to the moment the barrier was cast.

In other words, Rusalka’s power is sealed once again.

[You’re quite troublesome, truly. Hey, bring it out again.]

“What do you mean by that!”

Light Blade supports himself with the iron sword and stands up. For a moment, I ponder his face, trembling with agitation.

[What else could it mean? Bring out Rusalka’s power again.]

“That’s before! The leaders aren’t monsters!”

A flash of emotion crosses Light Blade’s golden eyes. Despair? Regret? Shock?

[Hmm.]

I momentarily transform my body into a humanoid form.

“Where should I start explaining? The fact that your power suddenly stopped working? Or the true nature of the leaders? They’re all interconnected stories…”

“Tell me quickly!”

Light Blade grows restless. Judging from his concern for Seok Harang even now, he’s undoubtedly a father.

“Typically, in scenes like these, it transitions into a flashback.”

I ignite flames on my palm. The blue flames take the shape of butterflies and settle on my index finger.

“I came here to kill you, not to chat.”

“Tell me now!”

“What, will you undo this if I tell you? Puhehe.”

Light Blade bites his lip. Traces of blue water-elemental magical energy seep into his eyes, awakening the power of Rusalka.

“Uaaaaah!”

Before I know it, Light Blade swings the seawater blade close by.

Purple miasma fills his eyes instantly, and he begins to lose control.

[You’ve lost your composure.]

The iron sword is blocked by my hand, and the seawater blade slices through my forearm. I kick Light Blade away with my raised leg.

Craaaack! Light Blade collides with a tree and rolls across the muddy ground. Agitation and anxiety have already turned his pupils purple.

[But I’ll tell you this.]

There’s no need to recount the past. The severed arm quickly regenerates. Light Blade cannot kill me.

[Rusalka transferred all the remaining power in her body to you, sealing it in a core just before she died. But…]

A pillar of fire erupts from the ground. Light Blade burns to death and resurrects. Returning to his senses, he glares at me with trembling eyes.

[Rusalka’s nickname was Seoyea (Snow Night). Although her foundation lies in water, the techniques she used were ‘ice.’ Haven’t you ever felt something was off?]

“…No, that can’t be. I’ve watched her for over twenty years!”

[Because you always watched closely, some things remained unseen.]

Light Blade denies it. While it’s plausible, he has obstinately refused to consider this assumption. I drive the final nail into the coffin.

[Since Seok Harang is your daughter with Rusalka, it’s natural to assume she inherited Rusalka’s power, right?]

Light Blade’s eyes turn purple again. I raise my hand and ignite flames.

[It’s useless. The one who can kill Phoenix in this world is only one person.]

And that person isn’t Light Blade. My flames engulf him once more.

* * *

The Death Dinass in the Blue Sky – Why did the executives specifically attack Korea, where the protagonist resides?

In 1999, seven initial dimensional gates opened worldwide.

It was the prelude to an invasion where Seongju completed the brainwashing of all spirits and simultaneously sent them to Earth.

From December 25, 1999, to December 31, 1999, the executives destroyed the world for about a week and then fell into slumber.

Just as humans suffocate from oxygen deprivation in space, the executives, drained of magical energy, hid their bodies to recover. Due to Earth’s sparse magical energy, they inevitably fell into sleep until recovery was complete.

About 20 years passed, and the executives woke up one by one, beginning world domination from where they had slept.

Although they didn’t collaborate, they naturally became aware of each other’s existence by observing mutual acts of aggression.

However, one place was missing. Only six executives were active worldwide, and the seventh remained asleep.

The reaction of that executive was in the Far East Peninsula, South Korea.

– “I shall awaken my sleepy sister!”

Penril landed in Incheon and was defeated by the protagonist.

– “Hmph! It’s absolutely not to avenge my siblings!”

Subsequently, Azidahaka was repelled by the protagonist in Jeju Island.

Thus, like candy, executives were consecutively defeated by the protagonist, and when the fifth spirit, Gaechonkwang, was also repelled, everyone took a rest.

When Light Blade died, the sixth executive awakened.

Precisely, Light Blade, who had stepped back from frontline duties, had the power of <Seoyea's Rusalka> sealed in his heart, which was liberated upon his death. Filled with Tera’s miasma, that power naturally sought out its other half and settled within her.

Princess Seohwa, Seok Harang.

While stopping Seok Harang, who was driven mad by the influence of the miasma, the protagonist uncovered the hidden family history.

Seok Harang is the daughter of Light Blade, and her mother was Seoyea, Rusalka, who had died and vanished. Originally meant to destroy the world, the evil organization’s executive Rusalka fell in love with Light Blade instead of sleeping, and miraculously conceived a child after their union.

A human born inheriting the power of a Dark Legion executive.

That was the truth revealed about Seok Harang by the protagonist’s group.

When this whole truth was appropriately adapted and disclosed, Yun Yuhwa strongly opposed.

– “Then why do we necessarily have to kill Light Blade to awaken Seok Harang as a spirit?”

Without even looking for another way!

So, the answer was given.

Eventually, Light Blade would commit suicide.

As the activities of other executives intensified, the power of Rusalka sealed for over 20 years began to run rampant. On the verge of madness from being consumed by Rusalka’s power, Light Blade stabbed his heart with the iron sword and died.

Never imagining that his death wouldn’t erase Rusalka’s power but rather affect Seok Harang through its remnants.

Anyway, Light Blade would die.

Therefore, preemptive measures needed to be taken to ensure Seok Harang awakened as a complete spirit rather than raging as an executive of the Dark Legion.

The production team had installed a cruel device: if timely action wasn’t taken as the rampage worsened, Seok Harang would have to be killed.

If Seok Harang survived, she would join our side as a spirit. If Seok Harang died, a fellow ally would inherit the spirit’s power.

Ultimately, it boiled down to a binary choice.

Should we kill Light Blade now to save Seok Harang?

Or should we spend time persuading Light Blade and search for a way to defuse the unknown ticking bomb?

After a heated debate between me and Yun Yuhwa, we decided to kill Light Blade and save Seok Harang.

Among the two, saving Seok Harang was more beneficial to Yun Yuhwa.

Thus, I resolved to kill Light Blade.

That was my best judgment; killing Light Blade was the shortest route to awakening Seok Harang as a spirit.

* * *

“……Is that so?”

Lying flat on his back, Light Blade laughs. Sitting heavily beside him, I nod.

“That’s how it is.”

Already, beyond the barrier, the sun is rising.

A long, six-hour battle.

Light Blade went berserk using Rusalka’s power, and I eliminated it by killing him. Every time he revived and regained consciousness, he demanded the truth from me.

108 times? 109 times? I gave up counting halfway through. Through at least that many deaths, Light Blade forced me to spill every truth. By the end, I was so annoyed I just laid him down and told him everything.

“We fought to the bitter end, didn’t we.”

“That’s what I kept telling you. You couldn’t kill me anyway.”

Both of us were utterly battered from the fight.

However, I never allowed him to kill me, and he never managed to harm me.

Light Blade changes the subject.

“So, it means I have to die for my daughter, Harang, to survive?”

“That’s right. Though, depending on the timing, there’s also the method of subduing the berserk Seok Harang and extracting her heart…”

“Enough. That’s fine. No need to say more.”

The sky barrier trembles. It’s proof that Light Blade’s resolve is beginning to falter.

Ding.

Light Blade extends his iron sword toward me. Though most of its teeth are gone and half of its edge is missing, the tip retains its sharpness. Light Blade sighs deeply. A trail of crimson blood flows from the corner of his mouth.

“I hated her. The child who took Rusalka away from me. She was lovable yet utterly detestable. But I couldn’t bring myself to kill her with my own hands.”

“So you abandoned her at the orphanage?”

Light Blade closes his eyes. That silence itself is affirmation.

“Huh, why did you suddenly go after her after twelve years?”

“…Time.”

Light Blade pauses before continuing. Pouring out decades of pent-up resentment, Light Blade reveals his feelings with laughter tinged with tears.

“As time passed, that hatred faded. I missed Rusalka so much, and after twelve years, I could finally look at that child straight.”

“Hooh.”

I stand up and pick up the iron sword he threw. Azure flames burn, reforming the broken blade.

“I need to eat breakfast, so let’s finish this. There’s a scary ghost waiting at home.”

“My sister-in-law lacks romance, doesn’t she?”

“Enough with the nonsense.”

I grip the sword in reverse. Looking up at the sky with a smile, Light Blade places the sword tip against his heart.

“One last promise, can you deliver this? Tell Harang that I loved her and I’m sorry?”

“Look, I knew you’d say something like this at the end. I told you I wouldn’t facilitate phone calls.”

“You’re too stingy. Haha.”

Light Blade laughs, letting go of everything. I exhale deeply and raise the sword.

“Alright. I’ll deliver it. In return, you send my regards to Rusalka.”

“Of course.”

Thud.

I plunge the sword into Light Blade’s heart. The Rusalka-infused heart screams and rages as it meets my Chang-yeom.

Purple energy surges in Light Blade’s eyes. But Light Blade clenches both fists tightly, trying desperately to maintain his sanity.

“Certainly… Sorry… Please convey…this…”

The light fades from Light Blade’s eyes. All remnants of Rusalka are burned away in the flames.

Woooom—-

The barrier of Light Blade dissipates into the sunlight, exposing the devastated island.

Thud. I pull the sword from Light Blade’s heart and plant it beside him.

“Hey, what’s that?”

“Kyaa! Did the park suddenly…?!”

People passing nearby begin to discover the horrors of the park. It’s almost 7 o’clock.

I close Light Blade’s eyelids and take off into the sky.

At 7:13 AM on May 9th,

Light Blade Heo Yun-hwan was found dead in Haeundae, Busan.

Beside him lay a small broken tombstone, damaged by the aftermath of the battle.