Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Gerald's Intrusion
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#91
"Rest for a bit."
Seo Woo-jin laid Ailin down on the bed.
It was the best he could do for her, whose body had stiffened from the influence of the demonic energy.
Ailin desperately tried to stop him, but her body wouldn't obey her.
"Ah, no...."
"It's fine, so don't worry too much."
He turned away, leaving her trembling behind.
'Gerald.'
It was a truly chilling aura, something he felt anew.
Even Seo Woo-jin, who found demonic energy comforting, felt goosebumps rising all over his body.
He opened the door and stepped out of the room.
The corridor was silent.
And it had every reason to be.
Even mid-rank knight Ailin had barely managed to hold onto her consciousness.
There was no way the Grand Duke's Castle servants could endure it.
'At least they're not dead. That's a relief.'
As he walked, he checked on those collapsed around him.
They had passed out with their eyes closed, but they were still alive.
"To render people half-dead with sheer presence.... Just how strong is he?'
He prided himself on being incomparably stronger than before, but Gerald was still a being above the heavens.
A monster who had reached the superhuman realm, like the Sword Sage or the Grand Duke he'd encountered recently.
Seo Woo-jin sighed and headed toward the source of the demonic energy.
'Can I do this?'
Impossible.
It wasn't a matter of low odds or difficulty.
No matter how hard he tried alone, it was utterly impossible.
Even unleashing all his hidden skills wouldn't change that.
He might hold out for a moment, but that was it.
"It's okay."
Yet Seo Woo-jin didn't stop walking.
It wasn't bravado.
He had something to rely on.
'The Grand Duke.'
In this castle was Grand Duke Briana, who had reached the same superhuman realm as Gerald.
If he could assist her even a little, he might be able to land a huge blow on Gerald today.
'Maybe even kill him.'
That monster was a grave threat.
As a follower of the Demon King, and someone who knew something was off about Seo Woo-jin.
If possible, cutting off his head was the best course.
'If the Grand Duke falls by some chance, things could get even worse.'
Just as he'd sensed Gerald, Gerald might sense him too.
So, sorry as he felt for Ailin worrying about him, he couldn't miss this golden opportunity to fight alongside the Grand Duke.
Step- step-
His footsteps echoed through the silent corridor.
"It's just ahead."
Seo Woo-jin swallowed dryly.
The closer he got to Gerald, the more terrifying the aura became.
But he couldn't stop.
As he steeled himself to move forward—
Gwooooong-!!!
A massive explosion erupted ahead.
No, it wasn't an explosion.
Space itself was warping, twisting, and shattering.
"Ugh!"
Even without touching it, Seo Woo-jin felt a pain like his body was being torn apart.
'Spatial... ability!'
It was the technique Gerald had shown before.
But incomparable to then—this was destructively terrifying.
Instinctively, Seo Woo-jin leaped back.
Getting caught in that would pulverize him beyond recognition, not even leaving bone fragments.
'What about the Grand Duke?'
Even amid the chaos, he thought of her safety.
But there was no need to worry.
Red hair fluttered before his eyes.
"You filthy spawn, time to die and return to your master!"
Crack- crack-!
What had she done?
The space distorted by Gerald began to shrink in scale.
What had squeezed an entire room soon reduced to the size of a pinhole, then vanished.
'Space... ability?'
Only now did Seo Woo-jin realize the Grand Duke's power.
Incredibly, it was the same ability to dominate space as Gerald's.
Not magic, not a skill.
Pure supernatural force.
Even the massive iron bars she'd moved in the reception room had been via this power.
"Why are you here?"
Briani, standing ahead, asked as Seo Woo-jin stood dazed.
"T-To help...."
Startled, he stammered a reply.
Hearing that, Briani chuckled softly.
"I admire the sentiment, but this isn't your place yet."
He knew that.
He'd come anyway, hoping he might help somehow.
Then—
"A familiar face."
Seo Woo-jin whipped his head around.
Gerald's sunken eyes fixed straight on him.
"Yes. It was you that day."
Red hair blocked the space between them.
The suffocating pressure vanished in an instant.
"Have you seen this zealot before?"
Briani asked.
"...We crossed paths during the goblin village subjugation long ago."
"Ah, I've heard. Dariel said he finally moved his heavy ass to save the heroes."
As if recalling now, she nodded.
"Forget it from your memory. Better to erase any ties to a dirty lunatic like that."
Briani kept provoking Gerald.
Words from her beautiful lips were unbelievably crude.
Of course, Gerald showed no sign of being affected.
He simply gazed at Seo Woo-jin and continued.
"You wielded the Ineffable Power that day. I owe you a great debt."
His heart sank with a thud.
'That damn bastard....'
He'd been anxious Gerald might reveal his abilities.
Fortunately, Gerald didn't mention it here.
Heh-
Gerald smirked.
"Not in the plan, but crushing an imperial pillar and snuffing out a spark of hope at once isn't bad."
He meant to kill both Seo Woo-jin and Briani.
"Got a surprisingly sharp tongue? Crawling alone in the sewers must've left you craving conversation."
Snap-!
Briani flicked her fingers.
At the same instant, Gerald swung his axe.
Kwaaaang-!
Space clashed against space, unleashing a massive explosion.
Part of the Grand Duke's Castle blew away entirely, revealing the night sky.
Demonic energy and supernatural force intertwined, raising an ominous purple aura.
'This isn't a place for me to intervene.'
He'd thought himself strong enough not to get beaten everywhere now.
It wasn't a wrong assessment, really.
By any measure, current Seo Woo-jin belonged among the strong.
Yet their battle transcended imagination.
His evolved body, his endless magic power.
Getting swept up would erase him without a trace, not even dust left.
'How much stronger do I need to get?'
To reach the superhuman realm....
Level 50? 100?
He didn't know.
Current Seo Woo-jin couldn't even guess.
His past self, thinking level 30 would match half a Slaine, seemed laughable now.
'I need to get stronger, fast.'
To avoid dying pointlessly anywhere.
And to win the war.
He needed power incomparable to now.
Then—
"At this rate, my house is done for."
Briani sighed, looking down at the wrecked Grand Duke's Castle.
Playfulness was gone from her expression.
Dozens had lost their lives in this latest blast.
Thinking of them, she couldn't manage her face.
Briani turned to Seo Woo-jin.
"Kid, can you do me one favor?"
He nodded solemnly.
"Move this clumsy fellow somewhere safe."
She snapped her fingers, and an unconscious knight appeared before Seo Woo-jin.
It was Megas.
"Understood."
Seo Woo-jin didn't ask about the unfamiliar knight's identity.
He simply lifted him up.
"Thanks."
She smiled brightly, then glared back at Gerald.
"Let's change venues. Fighting here will kill all our people."
Flash-!
Briani and Gerald vanished simultaneously.
The demonic energy faded too.
'No, it's not gone?'
Far from the Grand Duke's Castle, demonic energy and hostility rose together.
'Toward the sea.'
Briani had moved there to minimize casualties.
"Woo-jin!"
Then, Ailin's urgent cry came from behind.
He turned to see her charging toward him, sword drawn.
With Gerald's demonic energy gone, her paralysis had lifted.
Ailin approached quickly, then froze at the surroundings.
"No way?"
Seo Woo-jin nodded.
"Gerald showed up. The Grand Duke is handling him."
"How...."
Ailin had suspected as much.
She'd experienced body-stiffening demonic energy before; she couldn't miss it.
Biting her lip, she spotted the knight in Seo Woo-jin's arms.
"That's... Sir Megas."
"Megas?"
"The Grand Duke's guardian knight. Fortunately, he hasn't fallen."
Unconscious, but breathing steadily.
No visible wounds.
Seo Woo-jin handed him to Ailin.
"Woo-jin?"
She furrowed her brow.
His expression looked grave.
"No."
Ailin shook her head firmly.
It felt like just before, when he'd left her in bed and rushed off alone.
"I have to go, Ailin."
Seo Woo-jin sighed.
He knew he couldn't help much.
But he couldn't leave the Grand Duke to fight alone.
Above all, Gerald intended to kill both her and him.
'If the Grand Duke falls, I'm next.'
That's why he had to aid her.
Even if she didn't want it.
"Run."
Sensing his resolve, Ailin said.
"The Grand Duke is strong. She won't lose to Gerald. Even if she can't win, it won't end quickly."
They had to flee in that time.
That's what she meant.
But Seo Woo-jin's expression didn't change.
"Flee? From that monster?"
Impossible.
"Don't worry too much. I don't plan on dying pointlessly."
Trying to lighten the mood, he smirked.
"Ailin, take him somewhere safe. And request aid from the Empire. They might've been contacted already, but they may not know it's Gerald."
The distance to the capital was great, but not an issue.
'Sky Tower.'
With their magic....
Gates or teleportation spells.
Reinforcements could arrive soon.
"Please."
Ailin grimaced.
She knew he wouldn't listen.
And it stung that she couldn't help him.
But she accepted.
"Got it."
"Thanks."
Seo Woo-jin smiled and turned.
Toward the seaside.
Where the battle raged.