The Formation Springs to Life

Nam Gyuil had refused the nation's protection, but the government dispatched people anyway.

"Mr. Nam Gyuil, we're here to protect you."

"I don't need it, so go back. I can handle this on my own just fine."

"But..."

"Even if that bastard ambushes me, I can take him solo. Please just leave."

Nam Gyuil was adamant. He waved them off dismissively, sending back the people who'd arrived at the Public Guild. But they didn't leave easily.

Nam Gyuil was the owner of a factory that produced weapons cleared for gate entry. The government had judged that he had to be protected. Of course, this fact was kept strictly secret.

The soldiers, police, and Hunter Agency personnel couldn't enter the Public Guild itself, but they set up in nearby buildings, planning to shadow his movements—discreetly, of course. Even if he refused protection, their superiors had ordered them to safeguard him somehow.

Nam Gyuil gazed out the window. He knew the people sent by the government were hiding nearby to protect him.

I'm grateful for the intention, but they might just make things worse.

If it was Sakaki Seito, the hunter who'd assassinated those from Japan, he'd undoubtedly use sword aura. Guns wouldn't work against that, naturally. Then the soldiers and police would have no means of attack or defense. The Hunter Agency was the same. National hunters were tied up closing gates and couldn't come. The HA team here to catch deserters were non-awakeners armed with guns—essentially no different from police. If combat broke out, they'd likely just die without playing any role.

Han Suyeong approached Nam Gyuil and asked,

"Why on earth is Sakaki Seito targeting you, Mr. Nam Gyuil? Did something happen between you two?"

"I have no idea."

Nam Gyuil shrugged with a straightforward answer. Honestly, he couldn't make sense of it. He had no connection to Sakaki Seito. So why was the guy gunning for him?

And he deliberately left my photo in the place where he was staying.

It wasn't a mistake. A killer making headlines wouldn't leave such an obvious slip. This was a murder announcement.

He's that confident. Confident he can kill me.

The bastard was enjoying it. Relishing the fear of his target.

Definitely not right in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the head.

It was revolting that such a monster was after him. Sakaki Seito probably saw killing as a game.

Otherwise, he'd have been more thorough.

His overconfidence and arrogance shone through. Sure, Nam Gyuil acknowledged the guy's strength. But,

That doesn't make me some pushover.

Nam Gyuil smirked. It had been ages since anyone had dismissed him like this; it was almost laughable.

I'll make him regret underestimating me and announcing his intent to kill so boldly.

As he thought that, his father's call came out of nowhere.

Ring ring, ring ring.

He'd asked the kobolds to make a weapon, and he was curious about the results. It would surely help against Sakaki Seito.

Nam Gyuil answered.

Nam Gyuil ended the call. He was grateful for his father's concern. But he hoped above all that his dad wouldn't get dragged into this extremely dangerous mess.

Well, at least there's some good news.

The sword made from the Sichuan Tangmen's hidden dagger, Hancheol, and Poison Knife was complete. And at the perfect timing, no less. It would be a huge help against Sakaki Seito.

Then Lee Chanu approached him.

"You staying at the guild tonight, hyung?"

"Yeah."

"Then we'll crash here too."

"Why?"

"Some bastard's targeting you—how could we just sit this out?"

Behind Lee Chanu stood the guildmates. Hwang Ilsu and Han Kangsu, even Hong Shinu. Their loyalty was admirable.

Nam Gyuil rubbed his nose, feeling a twinge of emotion. It touched him, their willingness to face danger by his side.

But,

"I'm heading home. I wanna live a long life."

Han Suyeong spoke of leaving without a backward glance. The mood deflated into silence. Everyone stared at her, the air thick with awkwardness.

But Han Suyeong had no reason to risk her life for the Public Guild. She'd only been asked to keep guild info from leaking; she shared no deep bond or history with Nam Gyuil that demanded such loyalty.

Click-clack, click-clack.

Her high heels echoed on the marble floor as she headed for the main entrance.

Han Kangsu pouted at his sister.

"C'mon, read the room."

He shook his head.

Before exiting, Han Suyeong glanced back at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her brother.

"Hey, Han Kangsu."

"What?"

"Don't do anything stupid—come home."

"No way."

"With that attitude... I'll report everything to Dad, so watch out."

With that, she left the guild. Han Kangsu smirked. Reporting to Dad? That just meant calling in Kangcheol Guild for backup.

Nam Gyuil's group held a strategy meeting.

"So, how do you plan to fight? Charging in without a plan will rack up casualties on our side too."

Hwang Ilsu directed the question at Nam Gyuil.

Nam Gyuil's lips curved up.

"We'll set a trap."

"What kind?"

"Don't we need a wide-open space to lay one?"

Hong Shinu chimed in.

Nam Gyuil pointed at the floor.

"We'll fight right here."

"In this building?!"

Lee Chanu's eyes widened.

Nam Gyuil nodded, then shared an intriguing fact with his comrades.

"I'll teach you a new way to fight."

"What's that?"

"Formation."

Nam Gyuil declared it. His comrades perked up their ears, curious.

A silent rural village inhabited only by elders. The frogs that usually croaked endlessly at night were quiet today.

Flicker, flicker.

The single streetlamp on the unpaved road blinked uneasily. But the light was strange—blood-red. Crimson glow poured from the lamp painted scarlet.

A human corpse lay sprawled beneath it, and a man leaning against the pole wore an ecstatic expression.

The man's identity: Sakaki Seito. Today too, he couldn't suppress his murderous urge and had killed.

He tossed the corpse he'd toyed with like a plaything to the ground—like flicking away a cigarette butt.

As if possessed, he laughed in madness.

"Kikikiki."

The chilling laughter echoed into the night sky.

Sakaki Seito wiped the blood splattered on his face with the back of his hand, smearing it to his lips. After his spree, he spread his arms wide without a hint of regret and closed his eyes—as if savoring freedom in a stifling world, all his own.

It was incomprehensible. The brutal psyche of a killer lay beyond the grasp of ordinary minds. A mental world no normal person could empathize with...

Yes. It was the obsession of a psychopath fixated on murder.

Tap tap tap.

Rain from the heavens washed the blood from Sakaki ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seito's body. The blood from the corpse was swept away by the downpour.

After standing in the rain for a while, Sakaki Seito vanished into the distance. With all the villagers slaughtered, no one called the police. Only a surveillance camera recorded the scene.

Sakaki Seito had deliberately left it intact, wanting the world to know he'd killed. Additional charges were like medals to him.

He entered a cave prepared by his four followers in the mountains, pulling a burner phone from his pocket. He tried searching something, but with no signal in these rural hills,

"Tch."

One follower handed him a newspaper.

Flip.

He unfolded it, scanning for headlines on his murders. Instead, he found something amusing.

"Look at this punk."

Sakaki Seito was dumbfounded.

News of the photo from Sakaki Seito's hideout had spread across Korea. Yet Nam Gyuil acted unexpectedly. He wasn't hiding or fleeing. He declared he'd stay at the Public Guild and face Sakaki Seito head-on—boldly, resolutely.

Sakaki Seito didn't like it. This wasn't the scene he craved.

I wanted a game of hide-and-seek...

He'd wanted to chase Nam Gyuil, savoring the pursuit itself. But this? It robbed him of his sadistic thrill.

Sakaki Seito yearned to see faces twisted in terror. Desperate sprints. Backs turned in flight. Haggard features from sleepless nights. Especially the vibration in his fingers when stabbing bellies with his blade—it was pure ecstasy.

But now it's no fun.

Sakaki Seito ground his teeth. A strange stubbornness welled up. He wanted to make Nam Gyuil—who dared challenge him—suffer the most agonizing death.

This guy's gotta go.

Playtime could wait. He'd storm in now, show the power gap, then kill slowly, savoring the pain.

Imagining it sent unbearable pleasure surging through him. Veins tightening, brain ridges pulling taut. He couldn't hold back.

Tonight, I go kill Nam Gyuil.

As if reading his mind, his bloodsword hummed in resonance, urging him to murder now.

Sakaki Seito gripped it. No mask or disguise to hide. Getting caught didn't matter. No one in Korea could kill him anyway.

Thud, thud.

He left the building and headed toward Seoul.

Nam Gyuil stayed at the Public Guild with his comrades. Before him lay the sword.

Its blade glowed emerald, exuding an eerie aura. This was the sword forged by the kobolds from the fused items.

With Poison Knife, Sichuan Tangmen's hidden dagger, and Hancheol combined, the blade had grown impressively long. No longer a dagger—it rivaled a longsword.

Nam Gyuil gripped the longsword and drew a deep breath. Circulating internal energy in the Sichuan Tangmen style, the sword trembled in response.

Vrrr.

The resonating blade soon displayed a mystical sight: one became two. The sword had multiplied.

Two's my limit for now, huh.

Nam Gyuil wielded the pair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and swung. The jade blades traced sharp arcs. One gradually faded, then vanished.

The duplicated sword's duration depended on Sichuan Tangmen martial prowess. As a beginner, Nam Gyuil couldn't sustain it long.

But it'll be enough to strike vulnerabilities.

Plus, he'd set up the formation in the Public Guild—preparations complete. No worries.

Sakaki Seito. Come here. This'll be your grave.

Crackle.

In that instant, one of the formations activated. Sakaki Seito had infiltrated the Public Guild.