55 – The Vain Darkness
“…… “
Yes, that’s right.
Ryu Chae-hwa died in vain like this.
She was not able to make a proper tomb nor was they able to honor her death.
What did you think about her end?
Were you sad?
Were you angry?
‘No…’ ‘
I remember that she inadvertently thought it was a good thing.
It must have been from the time she first came to see her and gave her a look of envy, saying, ‘It is an honor to serve you from today.’
I felt strangely uncomfortable with this woman imitating her Ohana.
Perfume, clothes, hair, way of speaking, hobbies, and even the loving gaze that wants you to look at it one last time.
The feeling that she was like a grave robber humiliating the deceased remained deep in her heart.
“…… “
Then now… ?
Is this still the case?
She meets Ryu Chae-hwa’s gaze as she rolls on the floor.
Inside the two eyes that did not even recognize that he was dead, there was a young and tender love waiting for an answer.
A bubbling sound is heard.
Something deep inside my heart began to stir.
The core of complex, indefinable emotions heated up my body.
I wanted something that would explode at any moment to come out of my mouth.
On the contrary, her mind sank even colder than the middle of winter.
I had to think.
I had to make a decision.
I had to prepare.
The enemy does not wait.
Even with the slightest hesitation, you lose everything in vain.
Choi Si-woo.
He had to do what he had to do.
‘First of all… !’
I shouted at the remaining two people.
No, I wasn’t going to do it.
Tuk-!
You can see Moon Himchan holding on to himself.
I threw it away with all my might.
While flying, our eyes meet each other.
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Himchan Moon smiled brightly and gave a brief salute.
“Buy it. Leader! “No, hero!”
Once again, space splits.
The body, cut from the crown of the head to the legs, spread out to both sides, exposing the five internal organs.
“Quaaa!!!”
Ye Dong-tak runs forward.
Enraged at losing his comrade so quickly, he thrust forward the shield and sword he was holding.
“Die -!”
He also couldn’t speak.
The split head rose into the sky, and yellow liquid, presumed to be brain fluid, soaked the floor.
“…… “
▶Master! 45 Degrees left. The attack is coming right away!
I know.
Even though Kei doesn’t tell me, I can already feel it with my own skin.
This damned body watched the deaths of his subordinates, but acted more sensitively than anyone else in his own crisis.
With his knees bent, he lightly drew his sword.
Sereung-! A sound rang out, and the magic dividing space was cut in reverse.
A large number of runes that were difficult to interpret along with a creepy tinnitus disturbed my vision.
I got on her knees and stood up.
A crazy light is heard above the sky.
A white muscle mass was gliding above.
A large amount of demonic energy stirs from the disgusting tendons.
From the magic written all over the body, it was clear that it was an artificially modified body.
Within a small head, the face of a man who can be said to be truly ordinary stands out.
One thing that stood out about her was that she had squinted eyes so thin that it made you wonder if she could see.
“Oh my, that’s too bad. I was going to let her go with her men without any pain. Hmm? Does that expression make the world’s hero angry? “For these idiots?”
“… “After all, you were the closest person.”
“Of course. I’m a guy who always takes chances. A man who survives at any time. “Didn’t you know that the Fourth Rank was behind the Association from the beginning?”
Yes, I knew.
The association’s idiotic behavior.
The reason for insisting on the useless lineage system.
The fact that those who are now called villains and driven out were originally heroes of the old world who risked their lives to fight.
At the time I realized that, everything was already over.
“Ken Ichimaru… “
The man made an exaggerated gesture and lowered her waist like a gentleman greeting.
“I can’t believe you remember the name of a lowly being like me. “It is truly an honor.”
A top executive of the association and a man known as a powerful figure.
And… He was a traitor to humanity.
* * *
The two looked at each other.
Everyone had a lot to say.
As we have known each other for a long time, this was the worst moment of meeting, but it was also a time for honest conversation.
But I don’t do it.
For Ken Ichimaru, that was nothing more than old jealousy, and for Choi Si-Woo, he was nothing more than a ghost of the past.
“… Let me tell you one good thing. Choi Si-woo.”
Ken Ichimaru’s narrowed eyes have completely cleared up.
A demonic energy so thick that it makes you vomit spreads out, along with the demon’s eyes shining in black light.
[Ken Ichimaru activates ‘Silky Eyes Open’ (SSS).]
[Use all abilities to 100% or more without restrictions.]
“Currently, I am not just a member of the household. “I have inherited part of his body.”
“I guess 4th place isn’t the top either.”
“Yes, the hero Erina’s strike. “It succeeded in preserving her life, but it was enough to continue to undermine his existence.”
“That means… “
“Yes.”
Ken Ichimaru raises his hands up.
A magic circle with an elaborate, beautiful, and at the same time violent structure is drawn.
It is an absurd size that could easily be 1km in diameter.
“If you defeat me, the 4th place will soon disappear. Third place was already dead long ago… The only ones left are the 2nd, 1st, and Demon God, but I heard that the 1st was killed by the 2nd. Then there will be two people left.”
“There is so much left.”
“Yes. There was indeed a lot left. No Face, ranked 2nd in the Six Demons, is said to be comparable to a demon god in pure force. And even the ‘demon god’, the ruler of ‘outside’ who has the power of disaster. Even if we defeat these two, this world, which is already on the path to destruction, will show no signs of recovery.”
“What do you want to say?”
Ken Ichimaru quietly held out his hand.
“Do you have no intention of becoming a true ancestor like me? If it were you and me, we would transcend species and enter the supreme realm that even the gods feared… -“
“-Stop the damn thing and let’s get started right away.”
“I knew that would happen.”
The sky is ringing.
The shaking that could only be described as that spread in all directions.
The same magic circle is added above one magic circle.
Soon, call out the number.
A total of 12 [Red] Circles.
In addition, the [Blue] And [Green] Magic circles also increased in number like the Towers of Hanoi.
Kugugugugugu-!
Space is shaking.
The clouds fluctuated, and the earth began to split.
A disaster that can no longer be called a mortal power has appeared in the sky.
Total, 60 magic circles.
One by one, the power of the 10th rank or higher magic, which only an archmage can cast, amplified its power.
Magic focused solely on firepower and power.
I can feel Ken Ichimaru’s intention to press down with force, as if he was not going to use any tricks.
It took only 1 second to get here.
Choi Si-woo admitted it to himself.
The Ichimaru Ken in front of me has become the best mage, surpassing even Yuen Joun, who is also called the Great Mage.
In line with that, Ichimaru Ken also lowered his gaze.
A short time of 1 second.
That was enough time to give up his life.
Sure enough.
Choi Si-woo had already grabbed the sword and taken a stance.
The black energy began to grow stronger.
He seemed not to know himself, but Ken Ichimaru knew.
That black color is not simply a concentration of magical energy or a secret weapon acquired by reaching a certain state.
‘Power.’
The power of ‘nothingness’ and the realm of extinction that completely destroys everything in the world.
Of course, he is ranked 4th in Yukma Yeokcheon, which he serves.
A mere human was barely able to obtain the power that even the leader ‘Demon God’ could not obtain.
‘…… ‘
How much jealousy did you feel about that power and talent?
How much despair has there been?
But it doesn’t matter now.
Ken Ichimaru, because he also obtained the supreme piece.
Pajijik-!!!
The magic circles interlock and turn.
A total of over 60 magic techniques created elaborate harmony, amplifying each other’s power.
Magical words, like a beautiful orchestra, echo throughout the world.
Soon it coalesced into one and brought about the new four elements beyond.
[Ken Ichimaru uses the 13th rank ‘Light of Transcendence’.]
Just like that, he struck Choi Si-woo with the power of ‘judgment’ that only a demon god can use.
* * *
Choi Si-woo looked at the pillar of light coming towards him.
The structure that has not even been touched disappears atomic by atom.
The sky was torn apart, revealing a space of emptiness.
A power so vast that it even distorted the laws of time.
The weeds on the ground bloom and fade in an instant.
An absolute power that distorts even space and time.
A blow that can be shown because one has truly reached the level of being called a god.
Choi Si-woo thought.
How did you resist this blow at this time?
‘…… ‘
The answer is fixed.
‘Just cut it.’
I bowed my back and tightened my grip.
I don’t think much about it.
Do not force your emotions on fire and hope for an amplification of your magical power.
Because even if you did not do such a thing, your will was soon revealed to the world.
Three doors open.
The lower part of the lower abdomen opens to the middle part of the heart, and finally the upper part of the brain opens simultaneously and connects to each other.
A unique image that only Choi Si-woo can recognize unfolds, and a sword takes on a blurry shape behind his back.
[Part of the power… ]
Hold the sword.
Gives strength.
The right leg was half a step forward, the left leg was half a step back, and the sword held in the right hand was raised above the left shoulder, covering half of the face.
Boom!
I stepped on the slope.
My hand was torn and blood was pouring out.
I didn’t look back.
I didn’t think about the future.
Durability and sustainability were not considered.
For just one moment of explosion.
All of the body’s remaining power was pushed beyond its limits just for this strike.
The body split from the extreme blow, making a creaking noise.
It turned red like the blood before my eyes.
I swung my sword at ‘God’.
-!!!!!!!!!!
An indescribable flash of light filled the city.
A swirling storm swept through the surrounding area indiscriminately.
Cracks are drawn even beyond the sky.
The dark clouds colored with magic split in half and cast a twinkling star.
60 Magic circles split in half and soon turned into powder and scattered.
* * *
“It looks good.”
Choi Si-woo looked at the piece of meat dying before his eyes.
“… Kukukukuku, is that right?”
I make eye contact with Ichimaru Ken, who has only part of his upper body remaining.
He twitches his mouth.
However, in the end, he remained silent and did not say anything.
Choi Si-woo also looked at his body disappearing without a word.
After a while, a fragment of the key filled with black cracks remained in the place where it was completely scattered.
[Obtain a fragment of nightmare.]
I picked it up carefully.
Jeok-! The world collapses with a crashing sound.
The power that filled my body gradually disappeared.
I looked back for a moment.
The head of Ryu Chae-hwa, who was looking at him blankly, caught her eye.
“…… “
Look away.
Because it was just a daydream where everything had already ended.
* * *
▶Master. Master! Master!!!
“… !”
I opened my eyes at Kay’s shout.
I could see a strange place, like the inside of a human body, where darkness and light were strangely harmonized.
‘The realm of fantasy.’
I held on strongly to the fragments in my hands.
With a small vibration, I instinctively sensed the location of other debris.
“K. “Let’s hurry.”
▶Yes. Master.
I ran forward.
As I was following the energy I felt, I felt a figure approaching beyond the pillar.
“… !”
I strengthened my lower body and threw out my legs like lightning.
Boom!
Food.
The remains of the pillar collapse.
A man with a familiar face appears there.
“… What are you trying to do if you get hit? Cadet Siwoo Choi.”
“… Instructor Kang Han-seong?”
“It’s been a while.”
Kang Han-seong looked at Choi Si-woo with a smile.
