Shattering the Illusion Dream
Whoosh. Cecilia executed a ghostly landing, her face lighting up with intrigue.
"…Oh ho, so that's the new power you've acquired."
Choi Siwoo silently stared at the centipede—no, the Ōmukade.
"Chirrrk!"
There was no hint of hostility toward him. It felt like a loyal retainer.
Was the new power from the Arhat's Contract Document the ability to subjugate the contracted target…?
He shook his head at the thought.
…The feeling is different.
Choi Siwoo had witnessed countless powers and abilities in his previous life. He could sense that the Ōmukade before him was entirely different from a mere summoning skill.
Rather than being perceived as a separate entity, it felt intimately connected, like an extension of his own body.
Decisively, there's zero mana consumption.
It was baffling where it drew its energy from—the Ōmukade was resuming its independent activity without any apparent source. Theoretically impossible. How could a machine move without power?
He wanted to take the time to analyze its structure, but against this opponent, he had no such luxury.
▶Master. Incoming.
No sooner had Kay spoken than Cecilia raised her sword toward the sky.
Rumble—!
Dark clouds gathered in an instant, unleashing a massive thunderstorm. Thunder roared, fierce winds howled. A bolt of lightning streaked straight down at Cecilia like a single beam of electric light.
Choi Siwoo watched her emerge from the deafening roar.
Step by step.
Her body reconstructed from the lightning, Cecilia's eyes gleamed with a fierce blue glow.
Flash Thunder Martial…
A cheat-level skill, one of the top five he knew, akin to Erina or Seol Garam's unique abilities. A buff that amplified the user's speed and overall power, elevating her already monstrous strength to another level—an ultimate technique.
Crackle—!
With a flash of blue light, Cecilia's form vanished. The sonic boom followed a beat later. Sound couldn't keep up.
Sensing her approach beyond the speed of sound, he swiftly swung his sword. In that instant, Cecilia effortlessly dodged the blade right before his face and drove her fist into his abdomen.
His organs twisted from the impact, spewing chunks of viscera and a mouthful of blood.
If that had been a sword instead of a fist, he'd be dead on the spot. Pain furrowed his brow.
No time to writhe. He had to adapt to her speed, which left no afterimages.
As he struggled to respond, the Ōmukade moved.
"Chirreeek!"
"I understand your loyalty to your master, but… I have no need for a beast that can't discern its place."
Cecilia gathered lightning into a spherical orb in her hand and casually hurled it at the Ōmukade.
Boom—!
Its upper body vaporized entirely, and the Ōmukade's body crumbled away pathetically.
Watching, Cecilia tilted her head in mild surprise.
"Hm… For a new power, it's less impressive than I expected."
"It's just that you're too strong, Master."
After his reply, the exchange of blows continued. Pushed back relentlessly by her overwhelming speed and power, Choi Siwoo suddenly felt an odd sensation.
It should be dead for sure, yet the connection to the Ōmukade hadn't severed. The charred corpse looked undeniably dead, but it brimmed with vitality, as if ready to spring back to life any moment.
On a hunch, he flicked his fingers. Two shadowy tails formed from darkness surged from both sides toward Cecilia's back.
That’s…!
Undoubtedly the Ōmukade's shadow clones. Startled by the sudden manifestation, he barely had time to react before Cecilia casually tore the clones apart with her bare hands.
"Another new trick you've learned?"
"…No."
"Then this must be the true power of that contract document. Indeed… So it's not just about theft. The more I see, the more mysteries pile up about your Arhat's Contract Document."
Lightning surged through her body and shot skyward. The thick dark clouds swirled around her, churning violently.
"We'll explore your new abilities after we leave this place. For now, I want to confirm that Mystic Realm of the heart you've supposedly attained."
"……"
On the surface, it sounded like advancing to the next phase. But Choi Siwoo knew better. She had reached her limit.
She was gathering all her remaining power for a final strike.
Their eyes met. In her fierce blue gaze, he sensed her master's desire to witness her disciple's growth.
Accepting that intent, Choi Siwoo quietly regulated his breathing. He confronted the calamity before him head-on.
The swirling dark clouds enveloped her sword, invoking a power that warped gods and shattered the unnatural.
She slowly assumed her stance. Gripping her sword, she channeled her strength. Right foot half-step forward, left foot half-step back. Her right hand clutched the blade, raised to her left shoulder in the one blade posture.
Behemoth's Pupil (Lv. 25) activated.
His eyes, dyed violet, emanated vast killing intent. He naturally guided it into his sword. Supplementing his deficient power with murderous aura, he contemplated his inner self.
He recalled once more.
The demonic beast Blazer Scorpion, immortal beyond words.
The authority of the demon god unfurled in the hands of Ichimaru Ken, who could only be called a god.
A catastrophe transcending disaster, an apocalypse. He projected himself against that immense power.
Grind—!
A bursting force surged from beneath his skin through his muscles, from muscles to veins. It filled his entire body, raging hotly.
In the euphoric tension of near-explosion, his master's voice rang in Choi Siwoo's ears.
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes."
They locked eyes. The origin was always one. Both master who taught and disciple who learned recalled it.
Without deciding who moved first, they charged simultaneously, clashing in a single exchange.
The swelling power rampaged around the island.
Kaboom—!!!!!
The sky tore asunder. The split sea evaporated in chunks and vanished. A battle from myth unfolded.
A momentary silence fell.
In the end, what remained was… Cecilia collapsed, cradled in Choi Siwoo's arms.
In his grasp was a formless heart sword, fragments of an undeniable Intangible Sword.
Yet Choi Siwoo felt no joy at transcending the realm.
Gazing at his master with her massive wounds, he wore only a sorrowful expression.
"…You've nearly reached it. The Mystic Realm of heart instant kill."
"…Thanks to you, Master."
Cecilia suppressed her urge to praise him, deliberately stern.
"Do not grow arrogant. This was only possible because we're in the realm of the heart… Your heart may have attained it, but your flesh cannot yet withstand it."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"…Good."
They quietly gazed at the fading scenery.
"…Copy my memories with the contract document."
"…What blasphemy is that?"
"The me out there won't trust you right away. She'll be shocked by your swordsmanship, but it'll take years of bond to aid you. That's the kind of woman I am."
"…True, with a body that tiny, your narrow-mindedness matches."
"Meeow! Useless words to the end!"
She shattered. The Cecilia before him began to dissolve bit by bit. Her heavily cracked body left only her neck and face.
"…Did you copy it all?"
"…Yes."
"Good… When we meet, slam it into her head. It'll be easy—she's probably posturing outwardly while gorging on cup ramen right now."
"…We bonded first when I helped her escape debt collectors."
"Tsk tsk… How does someone who's lived so long crave material things so much… I'm a fool too."
Her words dwindled. Choi Siwoo forcibly smiled, barely containing his churning emotions.
"…Sleepy."
"…Rest. I'll… visit again."
"…Good."
Her eyes fully closed. Nothing remained in the pure white space.
Choi Siwoo gathered the last fragments. Kneeling toward where she vanished, he paid his respects to his master.
Having honored her, the disciple turned and walked back to reality.
"Urk!"
Erina let out a rough groan. The berserk empress unleashed monstrous strength.
The light sword in her hand cracked faintly. No mana left.
Siwoo-ya…
Pushed to her limit, Erina never doubted. Her precious little brother would surely handle everything.
That faith was rewarded before her eyes.
"Guh… Ack?!"
"…?"
The empress spat blood and staggered back. Accompanied by cracking sounds, she shook her head in disbelief.
"Wh-what! I hid them so meticulously… You recovered them all?! Every fragment?!"
Screaming in agony, the empress separated from Cecilia's body.
The limp flesh puppet tilted toward the floor.
Thud.
Carefully catching her, Choi Siwoo opened his mouth with complex emotions.
"You've been disgraced."
"……"
Cecilia's body, eyes closed, began crumbling into dust.
Watching until the end, Choi Siwoo lifted all five fragments and slammed them into the ground.
Rumble—!!!!
The realm of illusion trembled. Cracks spiderwebbed everywhere. Countless trapped souls ascended in spiritual form and escaped outward.
The Dream Empress of Illusion's authority has been extinguished.
Six Demonic Transcendent and Demon King's Throne have been stripped.
"Th-this is impossible!"
The empress screamed, clutching her face. The 'Demon God' emblem on her body faded. Her youthful beauty withered. Glossy skin shriveled, hair turned white to the roots.
As her end approached, she desperately gathered her remaining power in one final outburst. She planned to forcibly detonate the realm, taking those still trapped with her.
"!!!"
But it couldn't happen.
Having seen through everything, Choi Siwoo gripped Cecilia's cherished sword, preparing his final strike. Erina at his side infused her last strength into the light sword.
Its form distorted. The greatsword had become a true holy sword, manifesting when the hero truly desired it.
"N-no!"
Terror-stricken, the empress turned her grotesque form. Pounding the crumbling walls, she flailed for survival. Her trembling body rejected the death looming before her.
But bereft of all authority, she had no way to escape.
Collapsed, she reached out trembling hands toward the two.
"Pl-please… spare… me."
Kaboom—!
Swept away. Without a word, the two strikes shattered the empress into pieces. All that remained was a scrap of black cloth, presumably from her dress.
The Demon King who once drenched the six continents in fear.
Sixth of the Six Demonic Transcendents.
The Dream Empress, ruler of all nightmares, met a pathetic end.
"…Is it… over?"
"…Probably."
At Choi Siwoo's words, Erina finally sighed in relief.
Watching, Choi Siwoo chuckled softly.
"You didn't say, 'We got her, right?' Good thing."
"Th-that's a resurrection spell… I'm not that clueless."
"Yeah, yeah, good job. Sis."
"Haaah~!"
Erina's face flushed red. Hearing 'sis' from her precious dongsaeng felt so taboo(?) and sweet.
If only it changed to 'honey'(??)… perfection.
As Erina lost herself in happy fantasies—Ahn♡ Siwoo-ya. Not yet. Save this for after we're adults…—twisting her body,
Choi Siwoo walked silently to where the empress had vanished and extended his hand.
True Arhat's Contract Document activated.
Collecting 'Dream Empress Eclipse'.
The will of Arhat smiles in delight.
"……"
In his hand was a crimson-black scroll he'd never seen before.