Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Brutal Ga Do-in
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Brutal Ga Do-in.
A noble from Sion.
A man of such outstanding talent and skill that he could rival even the Northern Sword Ghost.
Seventeen years ago, he vanished for unknown reasons.
Ten years ago, he reappeared as a follower of the Demon King.
Six years ago, he launched a terrorist attack on Sion's capital, claiming countless lives.
He clashed with the Sword Ghost at the time but escaped while wounded.
Since then, he has been linked to four more incidents, resulting in a total of 1,822 deaths.
No. 6 recalled the information on Brutal standing before him.
'A red-rated threat.'
He was not one of the 13 Apostles.
But he was one of the worst enemies, possessing strength on par with them.
He had even escaped after facing off against Ban Slane, who was said to match Guardian level prowess.
Of course, he had been injured, but so had the Sword Ghost.
A considerable amount of time had passed, so his exact strength was unknown, but judging by the aura he exuded, he seemed no weaker than Ban Slane.
"Traitor..."
Brutal opened his mouth with a strange glint in his eyes.
"You're still clinging to hope."
"Shut your mouth!"
Ban Slane bellowed once more.
He drew his sword as if ready to charge at any moment.
"Fool. Do you still think you can stop Him?"
No. 6's eyes sparkled.
The "Him" Brutal referred to was undoubtedly the Demon King.
He perked up his ears, hoping for any scrap of information.
"I said shut it, Brutal."
"Heroes? Don't make me laugh. Do you really think those mere brats can stop His descent?"
"...Just as they have until now, they will succeed."
"Kekeke-"
Brutal let out a mocking laugh at Ban Slane's words.
"How foolish. To entrust the world's fate to foreigners based on some outdated records."
It had been proven seven times already.
Even in far more dire and uncertain situations than now, the heroes had slain the Demon King.
So it would be the same this time.
Moreover, hadn't a hundred heroes been summoned?
They could wield power incomparable to before.
Impossible?
No, he couldn't comprehend Brutal's lack of faith in the heroes' strength.
"You don't know, Ban. What heroes truly are, or how they end. They're never mentioned in all those records."
Brutal clicked his tongue with pity, gazing at his old comrade.
"Mark my words—this time, they absolutely cannot stop it. Whether there are a hundred heroes or a thousand. It's an unchangeable, predestined future."
"Is that what you think? Is that why you betrayed Sion and took the lives of those you fought alongside?"
"That pains me too. But it was unavoidable. A small sacrifice for the greater cause. Still, those who died that day should thank me."
Brutal's smile deepened.
"They left this world without experiencing the hell descending upon it."
"You bastard!"
Ban Slane could no longer tolerate his ravings. He roared and kicked off the ground.
Kwaaaaang-!
The earth shattered, unable to withstand the force.
At the same time, Ban Slane's form stretched like a beam of light, shooting straight at Brutal.
"In the end, we're just talking past each other?"
As always.
He drew his sword with a regretful expression.
Kiiing-!
Sword clashed against sword.
Mana collided with demonic energy, shaking the forest.
* * *
His breath came up to his throat.
'This fucking...'
Ruonbali hadn't attacked.
The bastard had only defended while Seo Woo-jin did all the attacking.
To the point where he was too exhausted to move anymore.
Yet Ruonbali hadn't a single scratch.
His body was goddamn tough.
'Ban Slane?'
Quite some time had passed since the signal flare.
But Ban Slane still hadn't arrived.
The Crusiel agents fighting in the rear had fired another flare, but nothing.
'Something's wrong?'
Otherwise, reinforcements would have come by now.
"Huu-"
He regulated his breathing.
'Eileen.'
Ever since arriving in the Forest of Death, she had quietly stood behind Seo Woo-jin, doing only her duty without interfering.
She knew her skills were lacking compared to the other knights and had stayed back to avoid getting in the way.
But now, she was panting, covered in demonic beast blood.
Her breathing, which she had emphasized so much, was in disarray.
'No wonder.'
Hundreds of demonic beasts lay dead.
And several times that number still remained.
Even Eileen had to be exhausted.
'No more.'
Not just her—the White Silver Knights and Crusiel agents all showed clear signs of fatigue.
Only Ronain seemed to have some leeway.
Even he was rushing around saving others.
At this rate, they'd hit their limit soon.
'Somehow before that.'
He couldn't kill Ruonbali.
What if he used 'Celestial Wing'?
He could overwhelm it for a few minutes, but he wasn't confident he could finish it off in that short time.
There was one surefire way to escape this crisis and kill Ruonbali.
'Demon King Transformation.'
'But no.'
Use 'Demon King Transformation' with the Empire's 1st Knight Order and Crusiel here?
He couldn't keep up the hero act anymore.
Hell, he'd be lucky not to get chased out.
Of course, if it was a do-or-die situation where he himself was about to die, it would activate regardless of his will.
'A way to save myself and them without dying?'
Ban Slane arriving was best, but he had to give up on that and think.
'None.'
He could hold out now, but if Ruonbali started attacking, he wouldn't last long.
"Huh? Done already? You're weaker than I thought?"
The bastard sneered.
Its pure demeanor was gone, replaced by murderous intent and demonic energy.
A bad sign.
"Then it's my turn now? Time for you to die?"
The horrific demonic energy writhed again.
The barrier held back by vast mana began to give way.
"Kuh, kuugh!"
Seo Woo-jin groaned under the pressure crushing his body.
'I need to find a way.'
Ruonbali gave him no such time.
It seemed ready to abandon defense and go on the offensive.
'No choice?'
Seo Woo-jin's eyes darkened.
He'd have to use 'Celestial Wing' after all.
Even if the odds of catching Ruonbali with it were slim...
'I can't die without trying everything.'
He'd try everything possible.
No matter how low the chances.
"Time to die now?"
Ruonbali took a large step forward.
Hwaaak-!
It appeared before Seo Woo-jin in an instant.
A speed that outpaced even Seo Woo-jin's 'Swift.'
"Hup!"
Startled, he raised his sword to block.
But the bastard was faster.
Uduk-!
As its palm struck his chest, pain like all his ribs shattering exploded.
'Kehek!'
Pain so intense he couldn't even scream.
Seo Woo-jin spat blood and flew backward.
Kwa-gwang-!
He crashed into the demonic beasts behind, turning them into bloody messes as they collapsed.
"W-Woo-jin!"
Eileen cried out in shock at the sight, and Ronain rushed over with wide eyes.
But Seo Woo-jin raised a hand to stop them.
"I-I'm fine."
Honestly, he wasn't.
If not for his body toughened by absorbing the Earth Dragon's heart, that blow would have punched a hole through his chest.
And he'd be dead.
Fortunately, he'd avoided the worst.
His body was a wreck, but he could still move.
Seo Woo-jin forced his trembling body to stand.
Excruciating pain wracked him.
'Internal injuries?'
It felt like broken ribs were piercing his organs.
A serious wound.
To end up like this from one hit...
Seo Woo-jin felt hollow.
He'd prided himself on getting much stronger lately.
Not quite Guardian or Apostle level, but enough not to get pushed around anywhere.
Yet every enemy he faced was a monster.
Hollow and self-loathing washed over him.
'I need to get stronger.'
This wasn't enough.
Apostles or whatever.
He had to become strong enough to crush them all.
First, he had to survive this crisis.
"Ptooey-!"
He spat out the blood rising in his throat.
"You're alive? Alive? Impressive? You're tough too?"
As if surprised, Ruonbali looked at Seo Woo-jin with curiosity.
"...Yeah, you bastard. Let's see you try to kill me."
'Celestial Wing.'
Black wings unfurled.
Immense power surged forth.
'Not full power.'
Three minutes wouldn't solve anything.
So he chose three times his base.
About six minutes total of 'Celestial Wing.'
Thanks to heightened recovery, the pain subsided slightly as he gripped 'Karaniel.'
He said nothing.
With a time limit, he had to minimize waste.
His wings flapped, and Seo Woo-jin charged.
Like a hawk snatching prey.
No sound, no killing intent, no presence.
Flutter-
A small wingbeat echoed, and Seo Woo-jin appeared above Ruonbali's head.
At the same time, 'Karaniel' swung down.
'This time, I cut for sure.'
The blade, infused with unprecedented power, plunged toward Ruonbali's crown with world-splitting momentum.
Cheeeeng-!
The clash produced a roar so massive it halted the battles in the rear for a moment.
'...Blocked?'
Regrettably, 'Karaniel' was stopped by Ruonbali's arm.
But...
"Aaaah! Aaaah! It hurts? It hurts so much!"
The bastard screamed.
Unlike before when not even a scratch appeared, black blood flowed from Ruonbali's arm.
'It works!'
Its arm dangled limply.
Meaning he'd severed not just skin but bone.
Seo Woo-jin yanked out the half-embedded 'Karaniel.'
Without giving it time to react, he swung again.
'Swift,' 'Earth Dragonization,' 'Berserk,' 'Sky Sword,' 'Twelve Heavenly Swords.'
What was impossible due to mana limits, he now achieved.
Simultaneous skill activation.
Normally two, three at most if pushing it.
Now, five.
'Karaniel' wailed.
Channeling endless surging mana, this time from below upward.
Like a black dragon ascending.
'Karaniel' sliced through Ruonbali's body and soared toward the sky, ripping it apart.
Kwa-gwagwagwang-!
Heaven and earth trembled.
Its diamond-hard skin parted like tofu, twisting Ruonbali's red smile.
"Aaaaaah!"
Its scream shook the Forest of Death.