novelraw Chapter 224 : White Castle (7)
Chapter 224 : White Castle (7)
"Kraak!"
Do Sang-jun's chosen tactic was simple.
First, throw a big attack while approaching.
Second, bite my nape.
Having confirmed that he couldn't beat me in martial arts.
He had no need to attempt a difficult takedown, engage in dirty boxing from a clinch position, or attempt throws.
He just needed to grab me using his powerful strength and sharp claws, and bite me—that would be the end.
Even if he couldn't bite me, allowing him close combat with a lion's claws was no different than presenting your torso to an assassin with a dagger.
"Hook!"
Pretending to throw a left hook to draw my reaction, Do Sang-jun stopped his hand and immediately launched a hook with his back hand.
Though a simple feint, when combined with the distinctive athletic ability and reach of a feline predator, it became a deadly attack.
Normally, even a fairly skilled warrior would have had their neck broken instantly, but.
'I can see it.'
I wasn't about to allow the sluggish attack of Do Sang-jun, who wasn't in peak condition and had already taken considerable damage.
Bwoong!
I lowered my upper body to avoid the attack and struck his ribs with the sword handle.
Ppagak!
"Krheuk!"
Then I retreated with a backstep and delivered a concise front short hook.
Peoek!
The crisply extended fist made Do Sang-jun's face even more of a mess.
"Damn it!"
I precisely controlled the distance, struck and retreated with in-and-out movement, and delivered evasions and counters.
My superhuman dynamic vision, neural reflexes, and athletic ability enabled me to employ the same tactics as always, even against a powerful enemy like Do Sang-jun.
"Kreung!"
Unable to endure anymore, Do Sang-jun attempted to catch up with my backstep through a reckless charge, without thinking of the consequences.
Tadak!
I used a ghost-like footwork reminiscent of Min Hae-na's to circle widely and perfectly caught Do Sang-jun from behind.
"Kuk!"
Do Sang-jun swung his claws while turning around.
Seogeok!
But I avoided even that by lowering my body and slashed his torso with the Moonless Sword.
Puhwak!
Blood splattered on my mask.
'To think I feel such powerful resistance even when cutting along the grain.'
No matter how much his concentration and stamina had fallen, and how imperfect his technique was.
Do Sang-jun's skin was so tough and solid it was hard to believe it belonged to a living organism.
'If you hung it as a curtain, it would easily deflect even a sniper bullet.'
If I hadn't learned a new level of skill from Captain Ahn Byeong-jun.
I probably wouldn't have even thought about cutting that skin and would have had to adopt tactics to accumulate damage through striking power.
Or I would have had to use high-risk, high-return tactics with attacks using Chukji.
'My head feels like it's going to explode.'
Using Tachypsychia Mode ends here.
"Huu."
As I deactivated the mode, the headache tormenting me instantly disappeared, even giving me a refreshing feeling.
'No problem. I'm now familiar with your speed and patterns.'
Of course, the overload accumulated in my body and the mana consumed due to the overlapping use of Tachypsychia Mode and Liberation were not negligible.
But even that was a drop in the bucket compared to the damage Do Sang-jun had sustained.
But was it due to momentary carelessness?
"Got you!"
As if anticipating a sword strike from my shoulder and gaze, Do Sang-jun immediately thrust his body forward.
Puuk!
And at the cost of having his trapezius muscle cut, he grabbed the blade of the Moonless Sword.
"I'll crush your neck!"
Just as Do Sang-jun opened his mouth wide and thrust his sharp teeth forward.
'If that's what you want, I'll give it to you.'
Peoek!
I let go of the Moonless Sword and launched a right short uppercut to make him close his mouth.
Ppak!
Then I put a hardening shield on my head and headbutted his nose.
Ppagak!
And I firmly rotated my left elbow to strike his neck.
"Keok."
Then I immediately threw him away using my cheek.
Ppaaak!
I hit his face dead-on with a soccer kick, sending him flying nearly ten meters.
"Keuk, keoheok!"
Having taken massive damage, Do Sang-jun staggered as he got up.
'He's truly tough.'
"Unbelievable! How can you be so experienced!"
"Who knows."
Of course, from his perspective, he would think the experience difference is remarkable.
'Do you have any idea how many times I've fought with you?'
The end of the fight was coming into view.
"Let's end this. Your desperate struggle ends here."
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A little before the fight between the cadets and the Liberation Corps broke out.
Nam Tae-hoon, who had returned to the hideout, was confused by the atmosphere where hardly any human presence could be found.
"What's this, why is no one here?"
Except for a few wounded or non-combat personnel.
Almost all combat personnel and executives had already left for White Castle.
"......."
Nam Tae-hoon, who had returned to his cold room, sighed.
'Really now.'
I understand their enthusiasm, but.
'Everyone acting like they have no intention of returning.......'
Those were truly years lived for this day.
No one was without a story.
'Uncle seems to be getting old, not like before.'
Though his uncle was also his fighting mentor, signs of aging were appearing in his physical condition and athletic ability, perhaps because he had been pushing himself too hard all this time.
Though he wished he wouldn't overdo it, Nam Tae-hoon knew he wasn't the type to hold back.
"No choice. My mission is over, so now I just have to lie down and wait."
Nam Tae-hoon said as he sprawled out.
'Hm?'
Feeling something rustling under his pillow, Nam Tae-hoon lifted it.
"A letter?"
Nam Tae-hoon, who had opened the envelope, read through the contents.
[Forgive me, Tae-hoon.
I probably won't be coming back.]
'......!'
Nam Tae-hoon's expression hardened.
Written below were regrets and lamentations about the years gone by.
And.
[......Eventually, the Captain chose to join hands with the [Sword of Belphegor].]
"What?"
Shock appeared on Nam Tae-hoon's face.
"What does this mean? Why join hands with those bastards?"
[It's difficult to explain the detailed circumstances, but that's how it turned out. However, I still think this operation will ultimately not succeed. Especially since we've joined hands with the [Sword of Belphegor], our justification and cause have already become worthless.
But I neither dissuaded the Captain nor persuaded my comrades.
I didn't even tell you this beforehand. There's never been a day when I felt such powerlessness and self-loathing as today.]
Nam Tae-hoon now read the letter silently without any words.
[The ruin of my life was my choice, so I have no one to blame, but I'm so sorry when I think of your life that was ruined because of me. You looked much happier when you were with your friends at the academy than when you were under me and with me as a comrade of the Liberation Corps.
For the first time, I felt you were truly alive. That's why I didn't want to drag you into this operation. But I couldn't even stop that.
If by heaven's grace we can meet again, it would be something to be grateful for, but if not.
There is no future left for this organization. Please don't be tied down and leave freely.
Tae-hoon, I couldn't be a good father or a good uncle to you in the end. I'm sorry.]
"Uncle."
Nam Tae-hoon, who placed the letter in his chest, bit his lip with a face that looked like he might cry.
"......You fool."
He put aside all resentment, frustration, and the desire to ask why he hadn't told him everything.
'I must save Uncle at least.'
What arose in his heart now was not the face of his biological father whom he had never met, but only the face of his uncle who had raised him.
"Damn it."
His mana consumption was severe, and his condition wasn't very good.
But he had to go.
Peet!
Nam Tae-hoon disappeared.
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Chaeng!
The final strike launched by Su-hyeon to finish Do Sang-jun stopped in mid-air.
"Stop."
"!"
Nam Woo-young.
Nam Tae-hoon's uncle was blocking his sword with a sword breaker.
'So this is Nam Tae-hoon's uncle.'
Su-hyeon's eyes narrowed as he recognized who he was.
Since Su-hyeon didn't hold very good feelings toward him either.
"Kuk!"
He threw Nam Woo-young away with a front kick and poured attacks on him again.
Chae-chae-chae-chaeng!
"Euuk."
Nam Woo-young's stance began to crumble under attacks that were on a different dimension in terms of speed, power, and technique.
'Damn it, he's disgustingly strong. No wonder the Captain couldn't win.'
Nam Woo-young, feeling a wall, clenched his molars.
'It's already over. I have to somehow get them to escape.'
The offensive endpoint came faster than he had anticipated.
He aimed to fulfill his mission by at least helping his comrades escape alive.
'I'm sorry, Tae-hoon.'
Recalling the face of his nephew whom he might never see again, he gripped his sword breaker tightly.
Kaang!
The next moment, his sword breaker flew into the sky.
'Damn it, is this as far as I go.'
Realizing there was no way out, he closed his eyes tightly.
Chaeng!
Nam Tae-hoon, appearing from between the shadows, blocked Su-hyeon's sword.
"Nam Tae-hoon!"
"Tae-hoon!"
Nam Tae-hoon, who had rushed here passing through the otherworldly battle between Asura Seong Ji-cheol and Captain Son Ji-gwang, and even passing through the fight between Battle Maniac Jang Su-il and Captain Kang Ji-min, looked into Su-hyeon's eyes with a tired face.
"......So you came."
"That's my line."
Nam Tae-hoon, looking around at the scene that seemed like a vision of hell, gave a bitter smile.
"Why are you all here anyway?"
"It's all because of you. You got your tail caught."
As Nam Tae-hoon was about to respond to Su-hyeon's cold words.
"Nam Tae-hoon!"
Choi Min-a, who had defeated her opponent, flew to Nam Tae-hoon's front.
"!"
Nam Tae-hoon made a surprised expression.
"Min-a?"
"I guess everything Su-hyeon said was true. That you were a spy, that you opened the gate, that you were a pawn of those who attacked this prison."
"......You knew in such detail."
Nam Tae-hoon gave a bitter smile.
"Even now, come back."
"Go back where? My place was here from the beginning."
Nam Tae-hoon, changing his expression to a cold one, refused.
"Then why were you nice to me?"
"......."
Nam Tae-hoon, who bit his lip tightly, avoided Choi Min-a's gaze and said.
"I was confused for a while. I thought I could live like you guys."
"......."
"I'm sorry. But for my father, and for my uncle, I had no choice but to make this choice."
"Even now......"
"It can't be undone. Even if I tried to turn back, could it be undone?"
Nam Tae-hoon stated with a resigned face.
"This is just the path I chose. I bear the responsibility for my choice."
"Is that your answer?"
Su-hyeon asked.
"Yes. And I'm sorry, but I'll save at least my uncle with my own hands. I'm sorry for being selfish until the end, even after causing such an incident."
Nam Tae-hoon looked at the executives being subdued one by one by the cadets, then sent a glance to Nam Woo-young and Do Sang-jun.
"I'm sorry, everyone. It seems I can't save all of you. But I must at least save my uncle. The moment you joined hands with the [Sword of Belphegor], your cause took a different path from mine."
"What else can we do. It's too late for blame."
Do Sang-jun, who was in tatters, smiled bitterly.
"Go. I'll use my remaining strength to help at least you and Woo-young escape from here."
"What are you saying, Captain!"
Nam Woo-young shouted.
"Tae-hoon! There's no need to save someone like me! Take the Captain with you at least! No, just you alone should...!"
"Enough."
Su-hyeon, uncharacteristically emotionally agitated, cut off their words.
"None of you are leaving here."
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'Goddamn it.'
I was in a very bad mood.
My chest felt tight.
Was it at Nam Tae-hoon? Nam Woo-young? Do Sang-jun?
No.
My mood was sinking endlessly with irritation at myself.
'I didn't think it would come to this. It's because I didn't act first to prevent this from happening.'
I know Hwang Won-jae's plan that will unfold after this incident, and the timeline afterward.
That's why I didn't doubt.
'......Letting what would happen, happen.'
In other words.
'I stood by even though I knew.'
That was my strategy.
But looking back now, it might have been because I was anxious about not letting events I knew about unfold as they should.
......Even though many things had already diverged from my memory.
'Perhaps I was a coward.'
That's why I was angry.
'Was this really the best course of action.'
I don't know.
Of course, one can't always choose the best option in life.
However, the experience accumulated through hundreds of rounds might have made me arrogant.
Thinking that because I know everything and have experienced everything, the choices I make are the best.
Is that really true?
This situation unfolding before my eyes.
Was this really the best option?
......Maybe it wasn't.
There might have been a better way.
But.
'I can't undo what's already happened. This is no longer a game.'
What's even worse is stopping here in confusion.
Not taking any action.
I couldn't give up just because the situation had deteriorated more than expected.
I had to somehow choose the second-best option, or if not, the lesser evil, and struggle.
'This is already my world.'
A world I've loved for a long time.
So to prevent this world from being destroyed.
To prevent all these people from dying and disappearing.
I had to do something.
'Nevertheless, I'm just doing what I believe is right.'
Isn't that much needed to call it conviction?
"Let's put aside the grand talk."
I raised the Moonless Sword.
"Right now, all that matters is stopping the massive terror that you and the Sword of Belphegor have committed together."
"Yes. In the end, it's just about carrying out our individual choices."
Nam Tae-hoon, having sorted out his emotions, held his dagger in reverse grip and lowered his stance.
"Here I come."
"Come."
Now another battle begins.