Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Awakening Amidst Despair
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From afar, magic beasts were visible.
They were all puny bastards that would go flying with one sword strike—no, one punch. There were several I'd never seen before, and the shoulder I'd injured during fights with magic beasts was creaking in protest with pain, but even so, how strong could those guys really be?
Even fighting without weapons, as some famous saying went, I was confident I could slaughter them all with a single Dragon Punch.
But I decided to call it quits.
Because I was too damn tired now.
A hollow shell without goals or will. A loser who couldn't endure life's endless torment deserved to exit this cutthroat world.
Thud. I released the sword from my hand. Not because my strength failed me, but by my own choice, letting it drop to the ground.
The magic beasts' red, bloodshot eyes turned toward me. Reacting to a human who'd lost the will to fight and abandoned life itself, they kicked off the ground vigorously in my direction.
Beast-type magic beasts barked and howled wildly, while humanoid ones dragged their massive weapons across the ground, clanging harshly.
――Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
With those distant roars behind me, I simply closed my eyes.
The main force had been pushed back all the way from the barricade at the entrance where the battle first began to a point where the buildings of X District were visible. The residential areas were now right in front of them.
Of course, all the residents of X District had already evacuated, so there was no worry about civilian casualties, but the heroes didn't want to dive into messy urban combat full of obstacles and distractions.
"Hup!"
――Kieeeek!
The magic beast that took Fergus's straight punch to the gut screamed as it collapsed. A gaping hole in the center of its navel spilled its innards in a gruesome sight that made one's eyes narrow involuntarily, but Fergus moved busily without sparing a glance for the beast's trailing guts.
"Uwaaaak!!"
A man whose arm was bitten by a beast-type magic beast screamed in agony, and magic beasts drawn by his cries tore into him all at once. The heroes rushing to help froze at the sight.
"...Tch!"
Aselrika clicked her tongue. At first, their numbers had been comparable to the heroes', but somehow the incoming waves of magic beasts kept growing, no different from when they'd been pounding on the barrier earlier.
Yoon Kang-woo surely would have thinned their numbers as much as possible before dying. Had he failed?
Squeeze...
Strength entered the hand gripping her sword.
In the end, this was a life bought with their sacrifice, time earned to gather more heroes.
For their sake, they had to win this battle.
If they lost, their sacrifices would be meaningless. Their deaths would lose all value.
"Haaaaap!!"
Aselrika simply swung her sword at the magic beasts in front of her.
She had to give meaning to their sacrifices. Prove it. That thanks to them, the magic beasts were repelled and people protected. That their sacrifices had value.
With her tattered one-handed shield forward, she endured the onslaught pouring toward her and swung her sword.
The magic beast's flesh sizzled, spreading an unpleasant smell through the air. Yoon Na-rin grimaced but didn't lower the flames' output. The sticky flames clinging to its skin tormented the writhing host with searing pain, burning it away relentlessly.
Whoosh!
――Krraaaaaaa-!!
Gazing at the flames rising over the melting magic beast, Yoon Na-rin thought of her brother.
The one who always silently supported her, enduring just one step behind.
What had his end been like? What kind of death?
"Uwaaaak!!"
Like that man over there, screaming in pain with his arm bitten, only to be swarmed and devoured miserably?
"......Cough."
Or like that guy in the corner, silently dying alone with a hole in his chest, unnoticed by anyone?
"Uwaa! Stay back! I said stay back!"
Or perhaps like that one, isolated and fighting magic beasts to the end before falling?
No one knew.
What his final moments were like,
No one.
"Then who the hell killed my brother!!!!!!!!!!"
One of those magic beasts locked in melee with the heroes over there?
Or mixed among the corpses already strewn across the ground, its life spent?
Or perhaps among the horde surging from afar?
Or one of those unknown demons or traitors somewhere?
She knew nothing. How he died, who killed him—nothing.
Nothing!!!!
Whoosh!!
――Krraaaaaaa-!!
――Krraaaaaaa-!!
The flames didn't die out. Laden with aimless hatred and vengeance, they blazed fiercely, leaping from the magic beast to the next, and the next.
They say vengeance leaves only emptiness and void. She didn't know who said it, but it was clear they were a fraud spouting nonsense without knowing a thing.
That emptiness and void were privileges only for those who succeeded in vengeance—those who knew exactly how their loved one died and who did it.
Unlike them, she knew nothing. She didn't know her brother's end, or even where his body was. She could only vent her hatred at all magic beasts indiscriminately, deprived even of the right to feel emptiness without a clear target for revenge.
Her vengeance lacked direction, her hatred abstract.
"―――!!!!!"
So Yoon Na-rin screamed as she spread her flames.
If she burned every magic beast and demon in existence, the one who killed her brother would burn too.
Though she still didn't know what his true end was, or what took his final breath.
"Kwaaaak!!!"
A hero pinned by a magic beast let out a scream of agony.
Bzzzzt-!
――Kraaa!!
A belated bullet pierced the magic beast, sparking as it fell. But the man, half-eaten and slammed to the ground, couldn't be saved.
"Kuh..."
Watching the man die before his eyes, Han U-sol withdrew his outstretched hand.
He couldn't save him. Even though he was within reach.
He'd become a hero to save and protect people, but reality was brutally harsh. It offered no ideals, only cruel choices: kill magic beasts or watch the dying.
"Kyaaaak-!!"
Another scream echoed. Han U-sol blamed himself again for failing. In that instant, his eyes met the fallen hero's.
The hero died silently once more. The frantic battlefield showed no mercy. No one noticed or cared about her sprawled on the dirt.
Not just her—all the fallen heroes and magic beasts were the same.
In this chaotic field where mana whirlwinds raged afar and magic beasts swarmed nearby, barely enough to protect oneself, worrying for others made Han U-sol oddly unique.
Before long, the main force retreated into X District's buildings amid the growing magic beast horde. Countless beasts spread through the slum's winding, complex streets in an instant. Tall walls and rundown apartments blocked sightlines, pushing heroes to the brink.
"Uwaaaak!!"
Another scream from an unseen alley. Han U-sol bit his lip hard.
He whipped his head around, scanning.
Where were Yoon Na-rin, Reisi?
Anis—where was she?
Thump.
His heartbeat quickened.
Anxiety surged at the thought that his precious ones might already be too late.
At the same time, he felt his own powerlessness against the endless magic beast tide. He'd sworn to be a hero, save people, protect the dear ones—yet he saved no one and couldn't confirm their safety.
Magic beasts filled X District's streets. Soon they'd spill into other districts.
Despair shadowed the heroes' faces. Sensing the end, morale crumbled as heads bowed.
No hope in sight for anyone.
So, should he give up?
Thump thump. His heart kept pounding.
Suddenly, Anis's face flashed in his mind.
"........."
Han U-sol clenched his teeth, squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them.
He wouldn't give up. He'd find a way somehow.
He wouldn't let magic beasts escape X District to attack civilians, waste heroes' sacrifices, or allow more deaths.
And he'd protect her, still fighting desperately somewhere.
Thump thump. Heart racing, mana surged madly through his body. Like fanning a spark into a blaze, Han U-sol pushed his mana circulation to the limit.
Bzzzzt-! White sparks flew before his eyes, breath choked, breathing labored. Muscles creaked. But he accelerated without stopping.
To protect, to not waste meaninglessly.
Without giving up.
Transcending his limits.
That was the romance she'd nagged on about endlessly.
Fwosh-! The white light blinding his vision flickered out.
Finally, Han U-sol's Authority fully awakened.
Bzzztztztzt-!
A blue barrier enveloped all of X District.
Not the weakened city barrier from before, but a complete one flowing with barrier mana.
――Krrrrrrrr!?
――Krrraaaa!!
Magic beasts about to leave X District crashed into the sudden barrier.
But blue sparks flared, repelling them outright.
Bzzzzt-!
――Kaaaaaaa!!!
The magic beasts flailed in agony and retreated.
Han U-sol took in the sight, guessing Anis could pass through.
Though vague, the sensation from his Authority assured him. It functioned by his will, adjustable as needed.
So even a magic beast like Anis wouldn't be affected. He recognized her as human.
"That’s...!?"
Aselrika gasped at the barrier suddenly enclosing X District.
"Everyone, retreat outside the barrier!! As long as magic beasts can't approach easily, falling back to regroup behind it isn't too late!!"
Aselrika shouted her quick judgment upon seeing the beasts' difficulty, and heroes retreated en masse as her words fell. The magic beasts, hampered by the barrier, couldn't pursue.
"Hah... huff... cough."
Han U-sol clutched his throbbing chest, searching for Anis. His vision shook, dizziness hit.
"Hey! You okay!? You did this barrier, right!?"
He looked up at the familiar voice—Reisi. Relieved she was safe, his eyes still sought Anis.
Where is she? Nothing bad happened, right?
"H-Hey! Snap out of it!"
Vision blurring, darkness encroaching.
Stabbing pain in his chest blocked breaths.
Thud!
His stepping foot twisted, sending him crashing down. He fought the oncoming darkness and exhaustion to stay conscious, but it was futile.
Pushing back the weakness, Han U-sol closed his eyes.
Hoping Anis heard Aselrika's call and escaped safely.
"...Looks like he succeeded in drawing out his Authority."
Yeriel, arriving just before X District, murmured while gazing at the unfolded barrier.