Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: No Escape
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Seo Woo-jin pushed himself to his feet.
His ragged breathing had steadied, and the trembling in his body had calmed.
The recovery speed of a body that had reached the superhuman realm was astonishing.
"No, what the hell? Why won't you tell me?"
Kang Byung-gyu grabbed Seo Woo-jin and demanded.
"I'll tell you later. I've got something to take care of right now."
Seo Woo-jin patted his barely alive friend's shoulder once, then turned away.
The Ancient Orcs no longer attacked.
They had realized from the sight Seo Woo-jin had just shown that he was a colossal being they could never hope to oppose.
But Seo Woo-jin didn't even spare them a glance.
There was something far more important than these worthless scum.
Seo Woo-jin activated his 'Divine Dragon Eyes.'
It had been a strain using so much chaotic energy in one go earlier, but fortunately, it activated without issue.
Far off in the distance, he could sense Kim Tae-jin fleeing.
He must have realized the plan had failed and bolted immediately.
'No, even faster than that.'
Considering the speed and distance, Kim Tae-jin had clearly started running before then.
He might have fled the moment he'd used his skill.
'You think you can get away?'
Seo Woo-jin's face hardened coldly.
He had no intention of letting the bastard go, nor any reason to.
Grinding his teeth, Seo Woo-jin stepped forward.
Boom-!
The ground cratered deeply as his body shot forward like a cannonball.
"Get out of the way!"
Hundreds of Ancient Orcs stood between him and his target, forming a wall.
But of course, they posed no obstacle whatsoever.
As Seo Woo-jin swung 'Ka Raaniel' horizontally, a slicing sound rang out, and a path cleared.
Hundreds of Ancient Orcs, their upper and lower bodies severed, collapsed in a heap.
Seo Woo-jin raced down the path paved with corpses.
His body wasn't fully recovered yet—each step sent shocks rippling through him.
But he didn't stop.
Feeding his rage with the pain as fuel, he pressed on.
A few seconds passed like that.
Kim Tae-jin's back came into view.
The bastard was running without looking back.
His frantic demeanor suggested he had noticed Seo Woo-jin in pursuit.
He must have used some skill—his speed was impressive.
But there was no way he could escape Seo Woo-jin's grasp.
Seo Woo-jin twisted his face and pushed even harder.
Kwaaang-!
Ancient Orc corpses exploded outward from under his feet.
Blood spurted from the severed cross-sections, splattering everywhere.
Seo Woo-jin didn't dodge it.
He was focused solely on catching Kim Tae-jin.
As a result, covered head to toe in blood, he looked every bit the vengeful demon.
"Hup!"
Kim Tae-jin, hearing the sound closing in, turned his head and gasped at the sight.
His trembling pupils revealed the depth of his terror.
Seo Woo-jin met his gaze and flashed a sinister grin.
His bloodstained teeth gleamed.
Kim Tae-jin whipped his head forward again.
He couldn't muster the courage to keep looking.
Squeezing out every last ounce of strength like a nursing infant, his speed picked up slightly.
But nothing changed.
No matter how exhausted Seo Woo-jin was or how far from his peak,
he was in a league Kim Tae-jin could never touch.
Catching a fleeing rat was as easy as breathing for him.
With one more powerful stomp, his body stretched forward.
And...
Thud-
Seo Woo-jin's hand seized Kim Tae-jin's hair.
"Got you."
He could feel Kim Tae-jin desperately drawing up mana.
"Where do you think you're going."
Seo Woo-jin didn't just watch.
He slammed the head in his grip straight into the ground.
Kwaaaaang-!
The impact of flesh against earth produced a deafening roar that beggared belief.
"Kraaaagh!"
A scream erupted.
His nose caved in, and all his teeth shattered and spilled out.
"Where you rushing off to, you piece of shit."
Seo Woo-jin looked down at Kim Tae-jin's mangled face and asked.
Of course, he wasn't expecting an answer.
"W-Wait...!"
Even writhing in agony from his facial pain, Kim Tae-jin raised a hand, trying to halt Seo Woo-jin's actions.
But Seo Woo-jin had no intention of listening.
With a chillingly sunken expression, he spoke toward Kim Tae-jin.
"It's time you paid for what you've done."
* * *
Briatt, supreme commander of the second expeditionary force.
He was a top-tier knight and a high-ranking priest holding the rank of cardinal.
A noble figure incomparable to the likes of Steorn, commander of the first force.
"Sir Oyen."
He called out to Oyen.
'Haa...'
Oyen sighed inwardly and stepped forward.
"You summoned me?"
"I won't ask why you decided to withdraw."
He was saying he wouldn't hold Oyen accountable for his actions thus far.
"...Thank you."
Oyen bowed his head, though he kept sighing inwardly.
He had followed the justification that he couldn't let soldiers of the same kingdom slaughter each other, but the massive threat of the 'Black Existence' still loomed.
Whether it was truly an enemy now was uncertain...
But one thing was clear: if they kept marching on the Empire like this, the 'Black Existence' wouldn't sit idly by.
"Thus, you must stand at the vanguard and prove your devotion to the Lord God and His Holiness the Holy King."
In the end, it meant pay the price for his mistake.
"Understood."
Oyen nodded readily.
It might even work out for the best.
Better that he, who had some rapport, be the first to face the 'Black Existence' than someone else.
It was an opponent he could reason with, after all.
If he stepped up and talked it out well, maybe they could pass without major losses?
Oyen chuckled wryly at the thought.
'You think he'd just let it slide?'
Ridiculous.
The 'Black Existence' had made it clear.
This was the only chance.
If they persisted with the war, there would be no mercy.
And from what Oyen had seen, he was the type to keep his word once given.
"Then proceed with the troops and continue the march."
Oyen acknowledged the order and left the command tent.
'What am I supposed to do now.'
Outside was dark.
Torches blazed throughout the camp, but they weren't enough to dispel the gloom.
It was like a mirror of his own heart.
"Are you alright, sir?"
His loyal holy knight, who had followed him to the end, approached and asked.
"Does it look like I am?"
Oyen shook his head.
How could he be, with what lay ahead?
"How far to the city where he appeared?"
"Two days at most."
Two days.
Far too short to devise any countermeasures.
"What do you think?"
Oyen asked.
The question came out of nowhere, but the holy knight understood instantly.
"We can't stop him."
Whether 50,000, 130,000, or a million.
Ordinary soldiers could never block the 'Black Existence.'
No matter the numbers, it wouldn't change a thing.
Before overwhelming power, they'd just scatter like dust.
"Cardinal Briatt doesn't seem too worried."
The supreme commander hadn't witnessed the 'Black Existence' himself.
He didn't believe the accounts from the soldiers and holy knights who'd faced him.
He seemed to think they were exaggerating to justify their retreat.
He was undoubtedly competent, unlike Steorn...
'But that's only in normal circumstances.'
With an irregular like the 'Black Existence' involved, Briatt's abilities were useless.
"And that's not the only problem."
The holy knight glanced around cautiously before continuing.
"The mood in the neighboring kingdoms is off."
Oyen recalled what he'd forgotten amid the chaos.
That this war was unwelcome to everyone.
Starting a war when the Demon King's descent was imminent was a huge issue.
Still, they'd trusted the Empire and stayed quiet so far.
But now was different.
50,000 and 130,000 were worlds apart in scale.
"They're even talking about joining in to end this war quickly."
The three kingdoms surrounding Aier.
Leninstang, Trian, Brobaison.
They had declared they could no longer tolerate Aier as a continued threat to the world.
Leninstang was pushing the hardest.
They were belligerent and had long had poor relations with Aier.
"What's the homeland doing?"
"That's..."
The holy knight hesitated, then answered with a resigned expression at Oyen's urging.
"They're conscripting troops under the pretext of border defense."
Oyen couldn't even laugh.
'What in the world is His Holiness thinking?'
This was tantamount to declaring war on the entire world...
As that thought crossed his mind, the 'Black Existence's words flashed through.
'No way.'
Oyen shook his head.
It couldn't be.
Suspicious, yes—but it must never come to that.
'Could His Holiness be one of them?'
The 'Black Existence' had suggested there might be Demon King followers among Aier's high ranks.
Oyen didn't want to believe it, but doubt lingered.
Yet he'd never once considered the Holy King himself.
No matter the circumstances.
Harboring such suspicion went against his loyalty.
But now that things had reached this point, he couldn't shake it.
"Was that an order directly from His Holiness the Holy King?"
"Yes. Under the banner of the Lord God's will, they're forcibly conscripting soldiers nationwide."
A throbbing headache came with growing certainty.
"Aeron."
Oyen called the holy knight's name.
"Yes, sir."
Aeron was his devoted subordinate.
More loyal to Oyen than even Aier's ruler, the Holy King.
Knowing this, Oyen gave him one command.
"Return to the homeland."
"...Alone?"
"Without anyone noticing."
That meant desertion.
Dishonorable for a holy knight like Aeron.
But he nodded without a second's hesitation.
"What must I do?"
"Gather intelligence. Uncover everything about the Demon King's followers within Aier."
"Understood."
Aeron accepted without knowing the reason, asking no questions.
"And..."
Oyen lowered his voice.
So no one else could hear.
"See if they're connected to His Holiness."
Aeron's eyes widened.