Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Zahard
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Zahard.
Shattering the silence.
Violet brilliance.
Thunder roared.
It smashed through the obstructing wall,
a primal bellow heralding a broader world.
In this world, they called it "molting."
Not born of enlightenment.
Just meeting the conditions.
Jin didn't care.
He had no clue what was happening to him right now.
As if he'd known it all along,
he drew forth the violet extremity as naturally as breathing.
And so.
Crackle-crackle-crack!
For the first time under his own will, he wrapped his entire body in violet lightning.
It had been a phenomenon that surged out uncontrollably when emotions ran high or in specific situations he hadn't even noticed.
He hadn't realized it back when blood rushed to his head,
lasting only moments at best,
but now the sensation was fully his own.
And even now, unfamiliar images burrowed into his mind.
Jin kicked off the floor hard.
No time to slowly process it all.
So, charge first.
Lightning trailing behind him, at the end of his path he spotted black-and-white flames twisting together.
A sight hard to believe even seeing it.
Apocalyptic flames, was it?
The massive blaze said to ignite on the day the world ends, unfolding right before his eyes.
Jin was genuinely shocked.
What he'd brushed off as impressive back when he knew nothing now hit him with a jaw-dropping gap.
A level of combat he'd never witnessed before.
But even there, superiority existed—
Boom!!
An explosion erupted.
At the same time, a familiar back burst through the smoke.
Jin reflexively spread his arms.
Eanna hurtled right up to his face.
He caught her from behind, kicking off the floor with his right foot.
Right after, the pop!! of air bursting echoed.
Jin, narrowly dodging the attack, spun a full turn in midair before landing.
As he released his hold on the arm around her waist.
Eanna naturally planted her feet too.
"I'm heading in first."
With those words, Jin charged again.
Crackle-crackle!!
Violet electricity surged wildly.
A glint flashed in the giant Killgit's eyes.
But only briefly.
Toward the oncoming Jin, he thrust a massive fist—
A shockwave burst in a circle along its path.
Sonic boom?
Thinking it crossed the line, Jin still managed to evade.
Not by sight.
He'd read the direction beforehand and moved.
The method was the same as dodging bullets, but now he pushed his whole body's senses to the limit.
Brain lightning poured from the violet extremity in streams.
Now Jin knew.
This wasn't mere visual flair—it was potent bioelectricity substantial enough to manifest.
His reinforced nervous system sharpened the world before him even further—
Still, that fist was absurdly fast.
Impossible to dodge seeing it.
So he anticipated.
Fleeting glances, subtle breath shifts, shifting center of gravity. Sensing it all in advance...
Now!
Jin ducked his torso sharply.
Simultaneously, a cannon-like blast diagonally left-upward.
His eardrums rang as if ruptured.
But evasion was key.
Distance closed that much.
Now he could counter with his own fist.
Boom! Lightning-clad lead hand smashed the giant's face.
Jin didn't stop.
Flowing like water, back hand into the side, then recovered lead hand to the opposite side.
The giant staggered back momentarily.
But instead of pressing, Jin leaped away full force.
Right after, a massive fist like a landslide crushed where he'd stood.
The ground exploded upward.
The shockwave lifted Jin's body afloat.
Within his vision, the giant loomed larger.
Midair, no good counters.
The foe knew it too, extending his fist to finish him.
In that instant, white flames rose between them, blocking the sonic-boom fist.
Jin landed amid the hefty blast.
Eanna touched down beside him.
Killgit emerged from the hazy fog beyond.
"Rookie, you're Zahard?"
Jin pondered.
Deny it? No real need.
Stay silent? Needed breather time.
So he squared his shoulders boldly.
"Can't tell by looking?"
In this moment, Jin decided to be Jin Zahard, not Jin Evernight.
His face unchanging boosted his confidence; even Eanna nodded knowingly beside him.
Jin grew bolder.
So what if it's impersonation.
They won't know anyway.
Strictly speaking, hard to call his claim false—family legitimacy stemmed from secret arts after all.
Secret arts weren't secret for nothing.
Powers seized only by the chosen through a thousand years of history.
Jin wrapped in blatant violet lightning? Convincing in itself.
So the question followed.
"Why's Zahard here?"
Almost blurting "Rum Pump Pump," Jin switched gears.
"Does it matter? What matters is you touched two families. Can you handle it?"
Know whose dad I am? Bam!
Bluffing away, Jin gauged Killgit's reaction.
Maybe he'd back off?
Mutter something like "Shit, bigger than expected, trouble."
No such luck.
"For perfect flames, gladly."
Killgit replied.
His faint smile even seemed delighted.
Damn, no dice.
As Jin clenched his fists sensing the fight ahead—
"Mind if I ask one favor?"
Eanna stepped forward, adding slowly.
"If you won't run in the end... handle that empty shell first? Don't want him dishonored more."
"What?"
"Please."
With that, she clashed with Killgit again.
Jin whipped his head around.
"Arrrrrrrrr!!"
Far off, Walter howled beast-like, relentlessly pressing Eric.
Jin frowned unwittingly.
The mercenary's 180-degree shift in moments.
Mouth torn to the ears, gleaming fangs within, grotesquely swollen limb muscles ending in razor claws.
Even the black flames engulfing him threatened Eric and scorched his own flesh.
Then a faint voice from his feet.
"...Pathetic failed trash. Pumped you full of cash for body mods—what good if you can't handle black flames? Told you, don't invest in lowly scum. Right?"
The meat lump on the floor giggled.
Jin stomped its skull instantly.
What the hell. Bastard.
Wanted to grind it repeatedly, but couldn't.
Eric was in danger now.
Jin kicked off.
Before claws severed Eric's throat, he slammed his shoulder into Walter full force.
Crash!!
Reeling as if head-traumatized, Walter shook his head wildly.
Jin followed instantly, instep rocketing toward the groin.
Not sure if still a weak spot, but effective—Walter's torso buckled.
Steel knee greeted the dropping head.
Crunch! Black blood sprayed; Walter's head snapped back.
Face utterly pulverized.
Yet he swung both arms wide.
Black flames scorching even him carved claw marks in an X across the air.
Jin seized the falling wrists.
Right hand on left wrist,
left on right.
Then headbutts.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
How many times?
Suddenly Jin snapped his head up.
Felt power drain from the gripped arms.
Eric approached.
Face visor cracked, text illegible.
Guessing thanks, Jin booted Walter away.
"Let's go."
Eric nodded, drawing a new dagger from his belt.
No more words needed.
The two charged the tangled blaze.
The basement was long a hellish inferno.
Ordinary folk would flay skin and boil blood dead in seconds amid the madness.
Two figures clashed ceaselessly.
Perfect if balanced,
but sadly, Eanna lagged in raw power.
Inevitable.
Unripe superhuman vs. longtime city legend monster—outcome obvious from start.
Jin thought.
Shit. How's this easy?
But fleeting thought.
He cleared excuses from mind.
Questioning irreversible choices changed nothing—just admitting solo this world's a game.
So, mind blank, he roared inwardly.
I'm alive.
I'm here.
I'm alive.
I'll survive no matter what!
Next instant.
Jin slammed full-tilt into the black flames.
Fists, knees, elbows, triggers—whatever needed, no hesitation.
All supporting Eanna while assuming victory, killing blows.
Eric too.
Max acceleration, slicing through flames with daggers. Blades couldn't pierce steel flesh, but he relentlessly sought gaps.
Eanna, regaining breathing room from their join, burned white flames with all she had. Cursed black flames yielded to her will momentarily.
At the center, Killgit smiled.
As if relishing it all, he stood alone, taking every assault.
Time stretched—one second like ten minutes.
First to fall: Eric.
Massive fist hammered his visor.
Solo flew like truck-hit, back slamming wall into flames.
Didn't rise.
Sudden gap. To shore crumbling balance, Jin surrendered to self-destructive impulse.
Mana Rampage
Violet electricity overlaid with crimson aura
By now Jin barely knew his own movements.
Just bought time—Eric's share, maybe more—alone.
A few solid hits maybe.
Regaining senses, face planted on floor.
How long out?
Irrelevant.
He rose.
Stepping toward lone-fighting Eanna afar—
Periphery: heavy footsteps.
Thought Eric, turned—unexpected face.
Face mangled, inching forward: Walter.
Jin couldn't pass.
Staring blankly ahead, dying eyes swirled incomprehensible emotions.
Next instant, flames erupted from Walter.
Not self-scorching black flames.
Holiest heat.
Flames his life denied.
White flames.
They blazed.
Soon mingling with black.
Transparent flames kindled embers from despair.