Chapter 159 ·Hope

“Jyu ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Planet? Where is that?”

“Ah, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Area-39. The scenery there is nice. It's quite a livable place.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reality was that the name Area-39 had become far more familiar than the name Jyu.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Pure Land, once a sacred land, had shifted from that role to serving primarily as the capital of Jyu Planet. As a result, it became a hub not only for the Jyu people but for countless other races passing through.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍truth, it was inevitable.

Leaving ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍aside the fact that the Governor-General's Office was located there, after Jyu Planet had been fully civilized, most native corporations that had sprung up across the planet established their headquarters in the Pure Land.

“The land prices are ridiculously expensive, but what can you do? Even buyers from other planets stay in the Pure Land.”

“We can run our factories in the outskirts, but we can't afford to fall behind the other companies.”

It was much the same reason why major corporations concentrated their headquarters in Seoul.

Sometimes, saying, “Our headquarters are in the Pure Land,” accomplished more than ten lengthy explanations about the company.

Furthermore, Jyu Planet had a long history of cooperating with the Human Composite State, and aside from the destabilizing factor known as the Church of the Dawn, public security was relatively good.

...Yes, it had been.

KWAAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGANG!

BOOOOOOM!

That was true only until a few moments ago.

Gigantic skyscrapers rose among the Divine Trees scattered throughout the Pure Land.

Beyond the transparent glass windows, office workers of every imaginable race could only stare blankly at the unbelievable battles unfolding throughout the city. They neither went home nor continued working.

“...D-Do you think we'll survive?”

“...Who knows.”

On the streets below, soldiers under the Governor-General's Office moved swiftly while Public Security officers sealed off district after district, lining the roads with countless armored vehicles.

And that wasn't all.

The sight of giant Qiongqi clashing chaotically with serpent-headed generals—creatures so terrifying that merely looking at them inspired fear—made everyone question whether their own eyes were deceiving them.

“What the hell is this...? Fuck.”

“Those insane Church of the Dawn bastards...”

Some might call them foolish.

They might ask why no one simply abandoned work and fled immediately.

In fact, there were people who suggested exactly that.

With buildings collapsing from bombing attacks, there was no way the Church of the Dawn would spare corporations that had sided with the Governor-General's Office.

However, those thoughts disappeared the moment they witnessed the large-scale massacre taking place in the streets.

“Purge them all!”

“P-Please spare me! Aaaaargh!”

“You bastards! There was no need to kill even the children—! Gah!”

The soldiers generally maintained the upper hand against scattered Church of the Dawn followers, but whenever a Blessing-rank priest appeared, they were forced to abandon entire districts and retreat.

And once the Church of the Dawn seized control of those districts, they never spared the “collaborators” or the “apostates.”

Cries of rage, confusion, and terror echoed so loudly they reached even the upper floors of skyscrapers whose windows could not even be opened.

What could ordinary civilians possibly do while listening to those screams?

...Please. I want to live.

Ah... If I'd known this would happen, I should've quit my job and traveled instead.

All they could do was shut the doors of the building and desperately pray that this nightmare would end with the Governor-General's Office victorious.

“Urgh... Ugh...”

For convenience's sake, Gears were categorized into Single, Dual, Triple, Quad, Penta, and so on.

But those ranks were never absolute.

Depending on how abilities interacted—and more importantly, if one's skill and combat sense were overwhelmingly superior—it was possible, if only for an instant, to overwhelm a superhuman with a higher Gear.

However, that was only possible up to Quad Gear.

“Ghk... Ugh... Guh...”

To reach Quad Gear—and beyond that, Penta Gear—one had to overcome a wall.

That wall was neither the amount of Psionic energy nor the result of mere training.

It required a catalyst.

For some, relentless training became that catalyst.

For others, they crossed the wall only after surviving a battle fought at the brink of death.

The Gear shattered.

Then it reformed.

Kiiiiiiik—.

The three small, unimpressive Gears crumbled like burnt ashes.

Then, slowly turning once more, they reconstructed themselves into four complete Gears.

A miracle that had never been meant for Saun.

The birth of one of the few Quad Gear superhumans on Jyu Planet would normally have been a celebration worthy of a grand party hosted by the Governor-General's Office.

Yet paradoxically, the vitality and life force consumed to create that miracle dragged his exhausted body ever closer to death.

Please...

His head pounded violently.

A splitting headache surged through him.

His throat felt as though it would tear apart.

His intestines twisted.

His bones throbbed.

Feeling disappeared from his fingers.

Blood flowed backward from his mouth, soaking the black turtleneck around his neck, while the veins bulging across his forehead and throat pulsed as though they would burst at any moment.

“Ugh...!”

Saun opened his mouth, letting out an incoherent murmur that never became words.

The whites covering his teal eyes had turned crimson.

Curled up on the shattered asphalt, his fingernails dug so deeply into the ground that they seemed ready to break as he stared fixedly at the battle before him.

We have to win. We must!

It wasn't because of some noble sense of duty.

Frankly speaking, even if every Jyu person behind him died, he would only feel a little uncomfortable about it.

But his squad members were different.

He couldn't let every one of their deaths become meaningless.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!”

Qiongqi.

Its hooked claws tore apart the serpent-headed generals as though ripping flesh to shreds, while its saw-like fangs blocked their spears and swords.

That wasn't all.

Its wings, each rivaling a Divine Tree in size, generated violent shockwaves that whipped Saun's hair about wildly.

“Ah... Ngh...”

The incomplete Domain he had unleashed at the cost of his life.

The serpent-shaped generals created through 「Six Jia Secret Invocation」 tore into Qiongqi's body.

But it wasn't enough.

KWADEUDEUDEUK!

Heads were torn off, rolling across the ground before crumbling into ashes.

KUGUGUGUNG!

Abdomens were pierced through and collapsed.

KWAAAAAAANG!

Entire stone statues were blasted away, becoming disasters themselves as they disintegrated together with surrounding buildings, leaving not even a trace before scattering across pools of blood.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!”

Qiongqi's body was clearly wounded.

Blood flowed freely.

A stone spear remained lodged in one eye, while the severed head of a serpent clung stubbornly to its abdomen.

Yet even as every stone statue collapsed, shattered, and crumbled into pieces...

The only one still standing...

...was Qiongqi.

“Grrrrrrrrrr...”

It let out a low growl.

It wasn't a magnificent roar.

Nor was it a cry filled with murderous intent.

Precisely because it was neither, Saun realized the truth all the more painfully.

...We lost.

His eyes closed.

Then he collapsed.

Thud.

Sharp fragments of asphalt cut into his ruined cheek.

He breathed in rough, ragged gasps.

Seeing him fall, several people rushed desperately toward Saun.

But the moment Baihong's crimson-white gaze turned upon them, they instinctively shuddered.

“...God damn it.”

“Fuck...”

Those white pupils swept indifferently across them.

The only time any interest appeared in her eyes was when she looked at the fallen Saun.

Everyone else—whether Jyu, human, or any other race—received exactly the same gaze.

Indifference?

...No. Rather...

It was the gaze one cast upon an inanimate object.

A thing devoid of meaning.

Something to use when convenient, and crush when it no longer served a purpose.

There was neither attachment nor hatred in those eyes.

That absence of emotion made them even more terrifying.

Those who had tried to recover Saun found themselves retreating step by step.

No...

They had no choice.

If we don't move... we'll die.

The survival instinct possessed by every living creature screamed desperately within them.

Abandoning the man who had sacrificed himself for others.

Their reason had been defeated by the instinct to survive so completely that they could no longer even consider anything else.

“Heavenly Immortal.”

Meanwhile, Myo Seol-rin lowered her head respectfully toward Baihong behind her, silently seeking permission.

“Do as you please. I've lost interest.”

At some point, Baihong had reclined upon a throne woven from tree roots, resting her chin lazily upon one hand as she answered indifferently.

Though unlike her words, a faint smile remained upon her lips as she quietly observed Saun writhing on the ground like an insect.

To her...

It was nothing more than entertainment.

The Sa Clan... Sa Hyeong-rang. It would be quite amusing to behead him in front of that man.

A brief struggle.

The growth obtained through it was touching enough.

But only that.

After burning away his life...

All he had earned was a fleeting sliver of hope.

It was so pitiful...

So laughable...

That she casually took out white powder from her waistband, brushed it across her tongue, and murmured,

“Hope... There is nothing as fleeting, or as effective at making the Jyu people weak.”

Within Baihong's white eyes, Myo Seol-rin's back came into view.

As if intending to join in her amusement, Myo Seol-rin swayed her black tail as she approached Saun, tree vines extending to bind his body.

No...

She was about to bind him.

At that very instant—

KUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUNG!

A deafening explosion that shook both earth and air.

An overwhelming gust.

The lingering aftershock of crushing violence brushed across their faces.

“...What is this?”

Myo Seol-rin turned her head.

And not just her.

“Saun! Huh?”

“S-Seol-rin? Why are you...?!”

Lang Wei and Myo Seol-ah had just arrived at the battlefield—the very center of the chaos.

The instant they spotted the mangled Saun, they too turned toward the source.

“...What is this?”

With his expression stiff, the muscles unique to his massive physique twitching, Recom Ging, who had leapt urgently into the battlefield, narrowed his eyes at the crimson streak carving a perfectly straight line across the ground.

KWAAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGANG!

The crimson streak pierced effortlessly through buildings, bridges, and even trees without slowing in the slightest.

At last, it reached the center where Myo Seol-rin and Saun stood.

“Tch!”

For perhaps the first time, Myo Seol-rin abandoned her usual sly smile and leapt backward as the impact exploded like a falling meteor.

Taking advantage of that brief opening, Lang Wei threw himself forward, gathered Saun into his arms, and rolled across the ground.

“...Lang. Ah... hyung.”

“Fuck. They completely ruined you. Don't talk. More importantly... that's...”

Then...

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

The crimson streak crashed directly into the already devastated asphalt.

No...

The man in the crimson military uniform coughed violently within the cloud of dust.

“Kuhk!”

The lower half of his face was horribly scarred by burns.

The Staff Sergeant insignia embroidered on his crimson uniform stood out prominently.

His shaggy red hair was stained with blood as he spat another mouthful onto the ground.

Before anyone could even process what had happened, he forced his creaking body into motion and desperately rolled away.

CLANGGGGGGGGG!

At that exact moment, a black chain descended through the air, smashing apart the place where Ean Jung had been lying only a second earlier.

“Huff... Huff... Ugh!”

Without caring about the countless eyes upon him, Ean Jung hurriedly pulled something from his coat and stabbed it into the burn-scarred back of his neck.

“Ghhh...”

His hunched shoulders instantly straightened.

Only after pushing every last drop of Pentacle from the syringe into his body did he finally seem to regain his senses.

Then he screamed.

“JIN CROW!!!!!!!”

No.

It was closer to a desperate wail.

The anguished cry of someone whose entire existence had just been denied.

At that very moment...

A voice echoed throughout the battlefield.

Calm.

Irritated.

Yet paradoxically so quiet that it carried through every ear present.

“I've told you over and over.”

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

And what greeted their eyes was—

“You're too loud.”

A man in a black military uniform.

His hair, usually kept neatly groomed, was now disheveled and swept back.

He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

His eyes...

Colder than anyone had ever seen before.

“So shut that mouth.”

It was Jin Crow.

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