Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Kang Inhyeok (3)
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Thud thud thud thud!
Lightning crackled from Kim Gunja's left hand as he dodged the barrage of rocks raining down.
Kaboom!
The Dragon Slayer Spear shot forward, vaporizing the air in its path, and clashed against Kang Inhyeok's blood-red sword.
A deafening roar and blinding flash erupted.
By the time the light faded, Kim Gunja was already there, Crimson Moon in hand.
Slash.
A chilling sound accompanied it.
Kang Inhyeok's fingers, still gripping the blood-red sword, were severed clean like dry twigs.
"Gaaahhh!"
Blood gushed from the severed fingers, bubbling as it began reconnecting them.
But not just his fingers—Kang Inhyeok's entire body was already a mangled wreck.
Slashed by Crimson Moon in places, charred by the Dragon Slayer Spear's lightning in others.
New wounds formed far faster than his self-regeneration could keep up.
"Damn it all!"
Kang Inhyeok's Master Ring erupted with intense light once more.
"Die! Just die already, you monster freak!"
Rumble rumble rumble—
The ground trembled and rose like a massive maw.
Kim Gunja, who had opened his domain, wasn't about to miss that shift.
With Illya's support, his form lightly retreated.
Krunch!
Sharp rock fangs snapped at empty air.
"Why won't you just get hit! Why?!"
Kang Inhyeok's face twisted in demonic fury at his repeated failures.
Kim Gunja merely stared at him with a look of utter pity.
Kang Inhyeok undoubtedly wielded great power. His unique trait was beyond reproach.
But.
Poor control over strength.
His nature of looking down on others.
The habit of unleashing violence based on his whims—it all showed in battle.
A fighting style that sought only to crush foes with brute force.
It might work on monsters... but.
To Kim Gunja, it was laughable.
And that flaw stood out even more when relying on the Master Ring.
Unlike Kim Gunja, who used Illya as support, Kang Inhyeok poured mana into it, depending on the ring entirely.
Trusting the Master Ring over his own abilities.
Foolish beyond measure.
That was why.
The gap between them had widened even further than at the start.
Overwhelming.
No other word fit.
Barring some freak accident, Kim Gunja wouldn't lose.
Even without going all out.
Yet his expression wasn't pleased.
"......"
—Bro. If I really push myself to the brink... think I could land even one hit on that bastard before I die?
When he first learned he'd become an Awakener.
That was the first question he'd asked his brother Chunduk.
Ever since that day, he'd run toward this moment.
To make Kang Inhyeok and the Hero Guild pay for their crimes.
That was the plan.
He couldn't know the exact situation outside, but Infinite Guild and Geum Jinung were surely executing it flawlessly beyond the artificial island.
And yet.
Why is that...
It didn't feel satisfying.
The first few blows had been exhilarating.
But now, that thrill had faded sharply.
He didn't know the reason.
Maybe Kang Inhyeok was more pathetic than expected.
Or perhaps vengeance was inherently like that.
Kim Gunja gazed steadily at Kang Inhyeok.
His ragged breathing and sluggish healing told the tale.
Unlike Kim Gunja, his stamina and mana drain were enormous.
Another reason Kim Gunja, master of efficient resource management, couldn't lose.
Kang Inhyeok, reduced to weakness.
Two voices echoed in Kim Gunja's mind as he looked at him.
—Uproot them completely. Make sure they never even dare to meet your eyes again.
One was his grandfather's words.
—It means becoming a hope everyone can look to and rely on. Like the stars in that night sky.
The other was his father's words, long forgotten.
Just how far did his father's "everyone" extend?
Kim Gunja's mouth slowly opened.
"Half a year ago. Remember the group of men who asked for your signature in that alley?"
Kang Inhyeok's glare faltered.
"What bullshit is this?"
"That day, you assaulted five civilians."
"Fuck off! Not like it was just one or two. You think I remember every worthless punk?"
Kang Inhyeok spat dismissively.
"Why did you do it?"
"What do you mean why, you punk! To blow off steam, obviously!"
He didn't remember his victims, but the reason was clear.
Always had been, probably.
"Yeah. Figured as much."
"What the hel—"
Kang Inhyeok froze mid-curse.
His presence... changed?
It was the first killing intent Kim Gunja had ever shown another.
He didn't know the exact line his father meant by "everyone."
So he set his own.
At least those worthy of being called human.
That was the bare minimum.
Kang Inhyeok fell short of even that in Kim Gunja's eyes.
"Kang Inhyeok. I don't know why you live like this."
He didn't know his backstory.
His reasons.
Didn't want to know, couldn't know.
No matter what it was, it couldn't excuse his evils.
Vmmm—
Crimson Moon resonated coldly in sync with Kim Gunja's intent.
"Pay for your crimes, Kang Inhyeok."
He wouldn't kill him.
Just sever every tendon in his limbs.
Fry his mana circuits with lightning.
That was the plan.
So he'd never trample another soul.
"Let's end this."
Not a Homunculus or Slayer.
Someone who'd forsaken humanity.
Kim Gunja's form shot toward Kang Inhyeok in that instant—
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause echoed through the rock dome stadium.
Both men's gazes turned upward.
Atop the dome stood a figure.
Baek Jincheon, the White Flame.
He clapped with a deeply satisfied smile.
"Impressive resolve."
Whoosh—
Riding a wave of heat, Baek Jincheon descended slowly.
Scorching air filled the dome.
He landed gracefully and fixed his gaze on Kim Gunja.
Then urged him on with a gentle voice.
"Continue. I'll take responsibility for everything."
Kill Kang Inhyeok.
His eyes said it plainly.
As expected.
Baek Jincheon had abandoned Kang Inhyeok.
He'd come here to handle it himself, just as anticipated.
The only surprise was how soon he'd arrived.
His decision was swift.
Kim Gunja met Baek Jincheon's stare calmly.
"I have no intention of killing him."
"Soft. Scared of becoming a murderer, even for an enemy?"
"No. He's not even worth death. I plan to make him live in hell."
Deprived of power, paying eternally.
That was Kim Gunja's message.
Baek Jincheon smiled deeply at that.
"Pain worse than death... I prefer that myself. But."
He shook his head slightly.
"Kang Inhyeok alive is a problem. So kill him."
Baek Jincheon stated it flatly, as if it wasn't worth debating.
Without a shred of doubt that Kim Gunja would obey.
Kang Inhyeok wasn't a complete idiot.
He sensed the twisted turn.
"Guild Master! What the—!"
Fwoosh—
"Gaaahhh—!"
The curse mark activated fiercer than in the conference room, sending Kang Inhyeok writhing on the floor.
Baek Jincheon eyed Kim Gunja, still unmoving despite his words.
"What are you hesitating for? Afraid of becoming a killer?"
Kim Gunja found Baek Jincheon's attitude odd.
He could dispatch Kang Inhyeok with the curse anytime—why force him?
Baek Jincheon smiled faintly at Kim Gunja's puzzlement.
"You're still young. This is for your sake."
"Killing is for my sake?"
"Yes. The first is always hardest. You'll learn step by step."
"I have no desire to get used to murder."
"Everyone thinks that at first."
"What do you...?"
Kim Gunja's incredulous look prompted Baek Jincheon to chide gently.
"Kill one man, and the world calls you murderer. Slay dozens, you're a maniac. But tens of thousands?"
Baek Jincheon's smile deepened.
"Yes. The world calls them heroes. Like the Radiant Kim Gongja who doomed tens of thousands on Bloody Day. That's the way of the world, Kim Gunja."
He continued with utter conviction.
"Not half-baked power, but absolute power chooses all. So."
His tone turned final, no more explanations.
"Kill Kang Inhyeok. It's your first step to stand by my side. Unless you want to burn to ash with him right here."
Don't forget the curse mark.
That was Baek Jincheon's point.
"......"
Kim Gunja's pupils quivered faintly.
Not from the curse.
From Baek Jincheon invoking his father.
Radiant Kim Gongja.
True, Pentagram's choice on Bloody Day led to many deaths.
But.
He saved even more.
It was unavoidable.
Baek Jincheon had to know that.
So why twist it so? Kim Gunja couldn't comprehend.
Just that he was profoundly warped.
As Kim Gunja opened his mouth to refute—
"Aaaagh! Damn it! Damn it all! Baek Jincheon! You dare...!"
Kang Inhyeok couldn't contain his rage at the order to die.
Baek Jincheon frowned irritably.
The curse-marked Kang Inhyeok posed no threat.
"Shut up... Hm?"
Rumble rumble rumble—
Rocks in the dome floated and rained toward Baek Jincheon.
"Tch..."
No hesitation from Baek Jincheon.
Burn.
Fwoosh—!
"Guhhhh..."
Flames so fierce even screams died.
Kang Inhyeok's body began melting like sludge.
The curse fulfilled its purpose.
Total incineration.
"Useless to the end."
As Baek Jincheon spoke with regret—
Something unexpected happened.
The rocks targeting Baek Jincheon veered toward Kang Inhyeok.
And.
Boom! Crash! Kaboom!
Forced the flames out.
"Ho...?"
Interest sparked in Baek Jincheon's eyes.
Kang Inhyeok's blood and rocks fused grotesquely.
Half-man, half-rock.
No Homunculus or Slayer.
A monster in truth.
Illya whispered to Kim Gunja then.
Kim Gunja had heard from Illya before.
Exceeding limits forced the body to yield to the Master Ring's entity.
Of course.
—Not an issue with master-servant contracts.
It didn't apply to him.
Baek Jincheon eyed the entity emanating an alien aura, distinct from Awakeners.
"Who are you?"
[Rock Spirit King. Kamun.]
"A king, huh."
Crack crunch. The face that was Kang Inhyeok shed rock fragments in a grotesque grin.
[I owe you thanks. Thanks to you, I could emerge. Now send me cleanly to—]
Before Kamun finished.
Blinding white flames, eye-searing, erupted from Baek Jincheon.
"One king is enough."
[......!!]
The mana-shrouded rocks melted like pus.
[How... can this...?]
The self-proclaimed Kamun vanished in an instant.
Not even ash remained.
Clink.
Kang Inhyeok's Master Ring hit the ground.
It flew to Baek Jincheon's hand at his gesture.
"Hm. Mythic grade..."
As Baek Jincheon turned with interest—
Kim Gunja's Crimson Moon was aimed at him.
"What does that mean?"
Baek Jincheon's question evoked the day he'd killed Jin Garyul.
—What does that mean?
When Kim Gunja had reflexively drawn his sword amid extreme yang energy, Baek Jincheon had asked the same.
As if foreseeing this moment.
He'd passed out then, but today was different.
Kim Gunja smiled faintly.
"Does pointing a sword at a murderer need explanation?"
You're no hero—just a common killer.
That was Kim Gunja's declaration.
Baek Jincheon's face slowly lost its smile, fully grasping the meaning.