novelraw Chapter 271 : Draw Him Out (11)
Chapter 271 : Draw Him Out (11)
'I can't retreat gracefully.'
Su-hyeon pulled out the card he had been saving.
Woooong.
Dozens of Mana Shields were created around Seong Ji-cheol.
'Hmm?'
Seong Ji-cheol's eyebrows twitched.
'Chukji.'
Shusuk!
Su-hyeon moved incessantly between dozens of points using Chukji.
'This is!'
It was a mystical maneuver that could never be tracked by the eyes.
'I must see with the mind's eye.'
Seong Ji-cheol quickly amplified his spiritual sense to substitute for vision.
That response itself was close to the correct one, but...
Shwook!
The moment Seong Ji-cheol detected Su-hyeon and extended his attack, he had already disappeared from that spot.
Shwaaek!
The spear pierced the air, and...
Chaeng!
After blocking the sword strike aimed at his ankle with the sickle...
Bwoong!
He swung his sword immediately, but it was already too late.
Ppak!
The moment he blocked a kick flying from the left with his axe, a thrust targeting his eyes came in.
'Where!'
He tried to block the thrust with the spear he had somehow recovered, but...
'A feint!'
Su-hyeon's figure had already disappeared from sight.
Clash clash clash clang!
'Thinking and reacting will be too slow.'
Facing a maneuver that was difficult for thought to follow, Seong Ji-cheol resorted to defensive reflexes.
'Damn it.'
And the result was unsatisfactory.
Despite responding with six arms and five weapons, Seong Ji-cheol couldn't even launch a counterattack and had to suffer several abrasions.
"Indeed. This is a technique only you can use."
However, after blocking dozens of exchanges, Seong Ji-cheol finally found a countermeasure.
Kwaaang!
Seong Ji-cheol, who caused a massive mana wave by stepping into True Stance, swung his five weapons and tore apart all the Mana Shields.
"!"
"Now, how about this?"
"Who knows? I can just make them again."
Su-hyeon said as if it were no big deal, but...
"Nonsense. This must be consuming a lot of mana, right?"
Seong Ji-cheol sneered as if he knew better.
"If that's what you think, that's good for me."
Chukji used with reduced output was something Su-hyeon's increased mana tank could easily handle.
Wooooong!
As Su-hyeon waved his hand, dozens of Mana Shields were created in the air once again.
"Trying to use the same technique twice."
Seong Ji-cheol spoke as if disappointed.
Though he acknowledged it was an ingenious technique...
In the end, it had only been broken without inflicting a fatal wound on him, hadn't it?
"You lack skill at the critical moment, is this your limit?"
But there were no blind spots before Seong Ji-cheol's superhuman spiritual sense, reflexes, and six arms.
'Come on!'
Seong Ji-cheol raised his spear at Su-hyeon's presence finally felt behind him.
'I'll block and then skewer you!'
Seong Ji-cheol's response was exquisitely perfect—raising the spear shaft to block the attack while simultaneously swinging the axe and sword up and down to cut off Su-hyeon's retreat.
However...
Su-hyeon had no intention of moving as he expected.
'Chukji.'
The massive kinetic energy that started from under his feet transformed into Su-hyeon's sword strike, targeting Seong Ji-cheol.
'This!'
Seong Ji-cheol, realizing Su-hyeon's intention a bit late, hastily strengthened his grip on the spear shaft, but...
His resolve and posture were insufficient to block Su-hyeon's full-power slash.
Kaaaang!
With a tremendous impact sound...
Chwaaaak!
Seong Ji-cheol's spear shaft was split in two, and blood spurted from his chest.
"Kughk."
The S+ rank Ma-in's hard skin and steel-like muscles were helplessly sliced by Su-hyeon's sword.
"You bastard!"
An axe strike filled with rage cut through the air.
"Huu, huu!"
Su-hyeon, who retreated using the last Chukji with his remaining strength and breath, exhaled heavily.
'That was close. I almost got chopped by that axe and finished right there.'
Both mana and stamina were now nearly depleted.
'I pushed too hard.'
With barely enough strength left to escape, Su-hyeon still smiled despite it all.
'In exchange, I slashed Seong Ji-cheol's chest, so it's worth it.'
"You, I can't forgive you."
Seong Ji-cheol's expression twisted like an evil demon with humiliation that made him forget even the pain in his chest.
"Why are you so angry? Isn't this also fate?"
Seong Ji-cheol spat at Su-hyeon's mockery.
"Fate refers to you, who has used up all your strength with that attack, becoming minced meat before my spear and sword."
"Then I'm sorry."
Su-hyeon shrugged.
"If I retreat safely like this, you'll feel terrible even after chasing me away."
"!"
Seong Ji-cheol, realizing that Su-hyeon still had strength left, gripped his weapons tightly.
"Who said I'd let you go!"
"Do whatever you want with the cabinet. It's not like your wishes will be fulfilled immediately just by opening it."
"You bastard! Offer your neck before you leave!"
Bwoong!
Seong Ji-cheol, whose pride was deeply wounded, launched a slash, but...
'Eye Power activated.'
Keeeing!
With the help of Eye Power, Su-hyeon narrowly avoided the three slashes launched by the sword, axe, and sickle.
"Fewer weapons make it easier to dodge."
"Jeong Suhyeoooon!"
Shwook!
Su-hyeon disappeared from the underground passage, leaving one last taunt.
"Kraaaak!"
Seong Ji-cheol, severely wounded by a youngster he had underestimated, raged in anger, but...
The target of his anger had already vanished from this place.
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"Jeong Su-hyeon!"
All eyes turned to Su-hyeon as he emerged from the underground passage.
"Su-hyeon!"
"Su-hyeon."
Vampire Queen Song Yeonhui narrowed her eyes at the wounds covering Su-hyeon's body.
'...What happened?'
Did he lose and run away?
"I failed to defend the cabinet. 'Asura' Seong Ji-cheol joined with a teleporter's help."
"What!"
Seol Ji-yun was shocked.
"You, you came back alive after facing that guy?"
When the opponent was 'Asura,' the problem wasn't stopping the enemy but whether one could come back alive or not.
"Yes. I couldn't win, but I succeeded in slashing his chest."
"Haha."
Song Yeonhui laughed upon hearing this.
Against none other than Seong Ji-cheol?
'Indeed impressive.'
"...That's amazing."
Seol Ji-yun nodded in admiration.
"More importantly, Captain Seol Ji-yun."
"Huh?"
"Please burn the underground passage with maximum output."
"...Will that kill them?"
"It won't kill them."
Su-hyeon shook his head.
"But won't it be very hot?"
"Kuk!"
Seol Ji-yun laughed in disbelief.
"Well, it'll be fucking hot."
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[Time is running out. Hurry.]
[I know.]
Seong Ji-cheol, who cut through the barrier that had blocked No Seonggwang in one stroke, easily opened the cabinet by entering the secret code Hwang Won-jae had provided.
"So this is..."
"We've finally obtained it."
The three Ma-in marveled at the ancient document inside the cabinet.
"Mission accomplished. Now let's break through the retreat path."
Suppressing his anger at being struck by Su-hyeon, Seong Ji-cheol put the ancient document inside his garment.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
It was right then.
"Hmm?"
Seong Ji-cheol's sharp spiritual sense detected something ominous, and...
The very next moment.
Hwarlrlrlrlruk!
He gritted his teeth at the sight of ultra-high-temperature flames, capable of burning everything, rushing in like a tide.
"Fire!"
"Crazy! Are they trying to burn everything down?"
It was undoubtedly the flame shot by 'Flame Emperor' Seol Ji-yun.
'Jeong Su-hyeon, you again!'
Kwaaang!
Seong Ji-cheol, who stepped into True Stance to push back the flames, gritted his molars and drew up mana from his entire body.
"We'll break through like this! Don't die and follow me!"
"...Damn it!"
No Seonggwang clicked his tongue as he lowered his posture, and...
"That's impossible... Aaagh!"
The Ma-in, who had no special protective measures except teleport ability, fell, engulfed in flames.
"Damn it."
But he had no time to look back at his dead comrade.
"Jeong Su-hyeon, I will definitely get compensation for today's debt with your neck."
Succeeding in the mission yet feeling endlessly foul...
That too was Su-hyeon's talent for making the game dirty.
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On this day, the Sword of Belphegor's attack on B&S headquarters, led by the three top executives—Seong Ji-cheol, Song Yeonhui, and Jang Su-il—ended in a narrow victory for the Ma-in side, who successfully retreated despite losing more than half their forces.
"Damn it."
Dozens of Ma-in and underworld figures subdued by Execution Force members caused self-destructive riots, and...
The Vampire Queen opened an escape route with a giant blood golem created by gathering all the blood remaining on the battlefield.
For the heavily exhausted and injured Execution Force side, they could only capture the stranded Ma-in, but had no choice but to let the three core executives escape.
"...We lost."
4th Unit Captain Ahn Byeong-jun murmured dejectedly, and 2nd Unit Captain Son Ji-gwang patted his shoulder.
"It couldn't be helped. After doing our best, it's heaven that decides, isn't it?"
"...Then has heaven abandoned us?"
"Even if that were so."
Weariness appeared on Son Ji-gwang's wrinkled face.
"We must struggle as much as we can, mustn't we?"
"...That's right."
"And in my opinion."
His gaze turned to Su-hyeon, who was receiving treatment among the cadets.
"It seems we have plenty of hope too."
When the Execution Force, having roughly contained the situation, looked for Hwang Won-jae, he had long since disappeared without regard for his interview schedule.
[This is Hwang Yong-jae.]
The day after the incident.
Chairman Hwang Yong-jae held a press conference in front of the partially destroyed company building.
[...Ma-in Hwang Won-jae was like an original sin for our family.]
The always dignified and relaxed demeanor of the conglomerate chairman had vanished, and the face of Hwang Yong-jae, who stepped forward as an older brother apologizing for his younger brother's crimes, was filled with sorrow and solemnity.
[My father was a giant in the business world, but he wasn't a good father. He was strict and cruel. My younger brother Hwang Won-jae couldn't endure and conform to such a father's abuse like I did. I've always felt guilty about that.]
"......"
The reporters listened attentively to Chairman Hwang Yong-jae's words, even stopping their questions.
[That's why, when my brother came to his senses after long wandering, I was so happy. I even thought my sincerity had gotten through to him. But it was all my delusion. I failed to realize that my brother had already become a monster full of rage, intending to devour his brother, sister-in-law, and nephews, and destroy the world.]
Chairman Hwang Yong-jae looked around the ruined headquarters briefly and continued.
[This is neither an excuse nor an evasion. It's just an honest expression of the sorrow I feel and a pledge to contemplate the atonement I can make. Although I no longer consider that heinous criminal my brother, I am acutely aware that I too bear responsibility for this situation.]
Therefore...
[I take this opportunity to apologize to everyone.]
Hwang Yong-jae bowed deeply.
Of course, strictly speaking, this was not his sin.
But it was also true that people who had lost their families and property couldn't help but resent him, so...
He bowed his head without making any excuses.
Whatever criticism and resentment came his way...
For him, there was no choice but to accept it all and atone.
"Hwang Ji-su."
Su-hyeon approached Hwang Ji-su, who was watching her father from a distance.
"......"
Hwang Ji-su turned her head to look at Su-hyeon.
Complex emotions were intertwined—her eyes were welling with tears, her lips tightly bitten, and her nose twitching as she held back tears.
"Don't look."
Hwang Ji-su, who didn't want to show such an appearance, slapped Su-hyeon's hand away.
"This is absolutely not your fault."
"I know."
"Don't be too distressed."
"I said I know. That's how it should be."
Hwang Ji-su turned her back to avoid Su-hyeon's gaze.
"...But many people died. Because of my uncle."
"Yes. Because of your uncle, not because of you."
"......"
Hwang Ji-su sighed with complex feelings.
"Right, now there's a bigger problem. The end is coming, you say."
"We have to stop it."
"Is it possible?"
"If I wasn't confident we could stop it, I wouldn't have retreated from there."
I would have sacrificed my life and died there, Su-hyeon said.
"You."
Hwang Ji-su bit her lip.
"You always seem to have a plan. You always look so confident."
"If that's how I appear, then I've succeeded."
Su-hyeon smiled bitterly.
"But it's not true. I feel the same frustration, the same burden, the same fear. I just don't show it because nothing changes by doing so."
"If you don't show it, endure it, and work hard, will something change?"
"It will change."
Su-hyeon asserted.
"Because I'll make it change."
"...Jeong Su-hyeon."
Hwang Ji-su turned around again to look up at Su-hyeon.
"What?"
Fidget fidget.
Ahem.
Hwang Ji-su fidgeted with her fingers and cleared her throat.
"You know, I've wanted to say this for a long time."
"What is it?"
"Thank you. I think you're kind of cool."
"...Uh..."
Su-hyeon blinked, confused by the unexpected compliment.
"...Thank you."
"That's probably why I fell for you, right?"
"...Huh?"
Su-hyeon's mouth fell open.
"...What did you just say?"
"......"
Looking at the flustered Su-hyeon, Hwang Ji-su's face turned strawberry red.
"Hey, you really didn't know?"
"...Uh."
"Dense bastard."
Hwang Ji-su turned her head away sharply.
"Anyway, since the end is coming, I thought I should at least say it so I won't have regrets."
Hwang Ji-su said gruffly.
"And who knows? Maybe after we stop the end, as you said, then we could be normal..."
Hwang Ji-su couldn't finish her words and lowered her head.
"Oh, I don't know. Anyway, that's it."
"...Right."
Su-hyeon nodded.
"I'd like that day to come."
"Isn't that why we're going through all this trouble? That's why you're so busy like there's no tomorrow."
"Yeah. That's right."
Su-hyeon laughed softly.
'This world has already been my world for a long time.'
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[You failed to stop Hwang Won-jae's plan. The countdown to the end begins!]
[Execution Force Commander Ju Taeyang has decided to entrust the future to you. An unknown opportunity awaits you.]
[Cadet Hwang Ji-su has finally acknowledged her affection for you. Congratulations?]
'What's with the question mark?'
Su-hyeon, quietly reading the status window, mentally questioned.
[Cadet Lee Yu-jin will remember this.]
"...Ah."
Su-hyeon let out a sigh.
'After the end comes catastrophe.'
It was literally one mountain after another.