Nightfall
Nightfall. The word meant twilight, the end of the day. The black silhouette bearing that name was a divine soldier born from the Creator's hand. A harbinger sent down before the curtain fell on any planet. Hence its name, evoking the dusk when one day meets its close.
The forest reverberated with Nightfall's voice, hollow and devoid of emotion.
"All planets have a predetermined lifespan. The Creator knew that the Bryunak Continent's time had run out. Yet, for the sake of the lives dwelling here, it granted one final chance."
Krrrng!Kraaang! The Logaku tribe bared their sharp fangs at Nightfall, which advanced like a black tide swallowing the forest whole.
"It tasked the most influential race on the Bryunak Continent, 'humans,' with a survival game inside the dungeon. Had they destroyed the dungeon and won, this planet's life would have been extended. But despite a hundred chances, they failed."
A sinister aura rippled from Nightfall's body. The energy, rising like heat haze and spreading in all directions, withered everything it touched into ash. Life itself was being drained away. The Logaku tribe felt terror at the horrifying sight.
Then, the tribe's leader, Girus, stepped forward and let out a mighty roar.
Kraaaaaang!
His ferocious bellow, like a raging typhoon, swept away the fear budding in his kin's hearts.
Girus faced Nightfall bravely, but he already sensed it. Capturing the thing would demand no small sacrifice.
Nightfall gazed at Girus through its empty sockets.
"Even so, the Creator wishes to bestow one last mercy upon you."
Black energy seeped from Nightfall's body, slithering toward the Logaku tribe.
"Touch my flesh, and you shall meet a peaceful death, like falling into slumber. Refuse, and I shall grant you agony. Even if you somehow defeat me and survive, the impending continental explosion will claim you in torment all the same."
Girus ground his teeth. He knew of the Creator who had sent Nightfall. Not just him—all the Logaku tribe knew.
Eight years ago, on another planet, the exact same scenario had unfolded before the tribe. The Nightfall that descended then spoke the very same words, not a syllable different.
But not a single Logaku had died. Girus had opened a Dimensional Gate and led them all to escape. That's how they ended up on the Bryunak Continent.
This time, however, escape wasn't an option. The Dimensional Gate skill could only be used once every ten years. With two years left until reactivation, they had no choice but to fight—win or die.
Krrrng!
Girus snarled fiercely.
"Foolishly, you invite punishment upon yourselves."
The aura flowing from Nightfall turned savage. It was entering full combat mode. The Logaku tribe extended their claws and bared their fangs, ready for battle.
That's when a stranger—a human—suddenly appeared amid the pack.
"So, I just gotta take down that 'Nightfall' bastard, right?"
Killing intent poured from Han Ji-woo, who gripped his twin blades tightly, directed straight at Nightfall.
'This human...?'
Girus eyed Han Ji-woo. He couldn't yet tell if the man was foe or ally, but he seemed intent on facing Nightfall. No need to fight him, then—just stay wary. Still, why had he shown up here?
'But...'
The human's aura was potent enough, but nothing compared to Nightfall's. He clearly didn't grasp the gap in their levels. Girus pondered: Should he warn the fool to flee and spare himself a dog's death? Or ignore him in this desperate hour where every bit of strength counted?
In that brief conflict, the human—oblivious to how this could be his grave—spat out cocky words.
"Going all-out from the start."
'Pointless.'
An ant exerting itself before a human would still end up crushed. Just as Girus decided he couldn't ignore his conscience and moved to advise flight—
Pet Physical!
With total commitment declared, Han Ji-woo activated Pet Physical. All his stats surged in unison. Averaging over 1,300, they unleashed a tremendous power from his flesh.
Girus's eyes widened like saucers at the sudden explosion of presence.
'What the hell is this...?!'
Nightfall's gaze shifted to Han Ji-woo as well. In that instant!
Slash!
Han Ji-woo's black sword sliced through space like the wind. Whoosh!
One of Nightfall's feet cleanly severed, tumbling to the ground.
Visibly shocked, Nightfall tried to press its leg to the stump—seemingly able to reattach by alignment. Han Ji-woo gave it no chance, lunging for the other ankle.
Nightfall thrust out a hand to block, but it fell short.
Slash!
With lightning speed, Han Ji-woo severed the remaining ankle and leaped back to assess.
Thud!
Legless, Nightfall toppled backward, unable to support itself. The Logaku tribe stared at Han Ji-woo in stunned silence.
Nightfall's presence was beyond what any Logaku could handle alone. They'd all steeled for desperate resolve—yet this sudden human had toppled the untouchable foe with ease.
As Nightfall struggled to rise, legless on the ground—
Slash! Slash!
Its arms, braced against the earth, were lopped off entirely, sending it sprawling again. The Logaku were dumbfounded by Han Ji-woo handling the massive bulk like a child's toy.
"I have no idea what I'm seeing right now," one Logaku muttered.
Girus shook his head in bewilderment.
"A human single-handedly blocking the being sent by a god to end the world... It's chilling."
Girus had expected Han Ji-woo to die without a scratch on Nightfall. Yet the reality was the opposite.
Han Ji-woo stood atop the fully prone, limbless Nightfall. Black energy rose from its body, coiling toward his leg—draining life from all it touched into ash.
But the Unicorn Steel Sword was faster.
Slash!
Shedding icy light, it cleaved the black aura. Stab!
The black sword plunged deep into Nightfall's abdomen.
Han Ji-woo ran across its body like a stage, blade embedded.
Craaaack!
The black sword tore through inky flesh, bisecting the upper body—then slash! vertically from neck to head.
Irreparably mangled, Nightfall's body twitched. Its hollow eyes stared in opposite directions.
"Resisting the Creator is futile..."
With those words, Nightfall dissolved into black smoke. Simultaneously, Pet Physical ended as its minute expired.
"Phew. That it?"
Having cleared the mission unscathed, Han Ji-woo felt heat on his nape and turned. Every Logaku stood gazing in awe.
As Girus, leader of the tribe, opened his mouth to speak—
A clear light bloomed before his eyes alongside the floating message. The surroundings froze like a paused screen. In this space, only Han Ji-woo and the shimmering light moved.
He instinctively knew this light was someone's soul. It communed directly with his mind.
"Thank you for overcoming the trial I prepared so splendidly."
"Who are you?"
At his question, the light drifted to the frozen Girus, illuminating his face.
"I am Girus, chieftain of the Logaku tribe and father to Brisong."
"I see. But what's this about a trial?"
"You must have entered Brisong's memories by the will of Ibelius, creator of the Hidden Space."
"That's right."
"On the day the Bryunak Continent fell to the Creator, my tribe met death entire—save Brisong, sealed in the Hidden Space by Ibelius."
Listening to Girus confirmed it. The Hidden Space was indeed a sanctuary for the young of doomed races.
"Ibelius said that if one from another dimension entered the Hidden Space and proved worthy through growth, it would release Brisong. But I wanted to test it myself—whether such a one could guide Brisong rightly. Ibelius permitted it, embedding a fragment of my soul in Brisong. You passed my trial admirably. I can entrust my child to you without worry."
Now Han Ji-woo grasped the trial's purpose.
"This is the memory of our encounter with Nightfall."
Girus imprinted every memory from that meeting onward—the tribe driven to the brink of annihilation. Through it, Han Ji-woo learned a crucial fact he'd missed.
The Creator granted doomed planets a chance before destruction: a survival game in the dungeon, up to a hundred tries.
'The people dragged in with me were the 27th Heroes.'
That meant abducting humans a hundred times for the game. Clear the dungeon, and the planet lives; fail, and it perishes.
Why offer the chance? Han Ji-woo couldn't fathom the Creator's twisted whims.
Fail all hundred, and it sends the divine soldier Nightfall—a "merciful" painless end before planetary doom... Bullshit, of course. Han Ji-woo doubted the planet was truly doomed; the Creator probably just toyed with contrived scenarios for kicks.
"I have a question."
Collecting his thoughts, Han Ji-woo spoke.
"My consciousness fades. I may not answer much more."
"There's a Dungeon Tree in the Hidden Space. It resembles the World Tree from your nest. What's the connection?"
"My tribe wandered dimensions, seeing much. I'd surmise Ibelius planted a World Tree seed in the Hidden Space before Bryunak's fall."
"Makes sense. I know the World Tree sustains worlds. Right?"
"Precisely. Thus, the Dungeon Tree is the Hidden Space's core guardian."
Han Ji-woo wondered what would happen if it grew to full maturity.
"Farewell draws near."
The light from the Logaku soul dimmed.
"You seem one who won't misuse Brisong's sacred Logaku power for selfish ends. The impure would have been expelled upon entry. And having vanquished Nightfall, I trust you'll protect him. Use my son's strength for a righteous future."
With that, the light flickered out, and the scene vanished.
At Han Ji-woo's feet lay a forearm-sized Logaku pup, curled asleep. Above its head floated the name Brisong.