The Widow's Resolve
The man before her was incredibly powerful... huh?
The overwhelming aura of power that made one's entire body shiver with a terrifying chill.
An overwhelming sensation that was no different from comparing to the Heavenly Demon in the past, an impossible feeling of resistance.
At the same time as she clearly perceived it,
she slowly rose from her seat.
'I've suspected it was possible since Kali mentioned it... but I never thought it would be true...'
With that thought, she took step after step forward.
If anyone were to witness her this appearance and this aura, the scene that would come to mind from her actions would be only one.
The image of the Kunlun Sect's leader advancing resolutely towards death.
The final will of the noble lady facing a resistless disaster alone.
However,
separate from this outer appearance.
In this moment, in the heart of the person involved.
In Ha Sowol's heart, there was not a single speck of such negative emotions.
The vast feeling that swallowed the main hall of the Kunlun Sect with a domineering presence, yet terrifyingly so.
However, this feeling like the hellish abyss folded with killing intent was, to her, far too familiar...
No, more precisely.
It was creating an emotion of longing mixed with clear relief.
'It's really fortunate... to be able to see you again... in this condition, so healthy...'
The worry that had lingered in her heart since hearing about the Heavenly Demon's death.
At this moment, the familiar yet tragically overwhelming killing intent enveloping her was clearly showing that it was not mere apprehension.
And within that emotion,
she, now, began to advance forward resolutely, receiving that sharp killing intent as if being torn apart, yet unyielding.
With a smile filled with sincere expectation and joy on her lips, completely incongruous with this atmosphere.
The man standing before her radiated an aura that was utterly terrifying.
While witnessing the monstrous form of that being,
Kali began to be gripped once again by the fear of death that had been slowly fading away thanks to the rest of the past few days.
That thing releasing unrestrained killing intent right in front of her.
That which was releasing a power that could not be considered human at all,
a power like an endless black sea,
as she looked at it, a single word automatically began to surface in Kali's mind.
'It dies...'
A conclusion that was certain yet merciless, with not the slightest trace of hope or dream.
A finality of death that was perfectly predetermined,
with not even a shred of hope to beg for one's life.
While recalling that in her mind,
she automatically squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
However.
“....eh?”
The next instant, the terrifying aura of power that had been there just moments ago simply vanished as if it had never existed.
For a moment, Kali felt a chill as if an arrow had just grazed her neck, but at the same time, she could clearly feel one fact.
At this very moment,
the target that this insane killing intent was aimed at was not her...
the person this monster intended to finish off was not her...
but something else present here.
And immediately after,
the target that automatically surfaced in her mind.
It was right there...
! Se... no way?
The being that this monster in the heart of Kunlun was releasing such killing intent toward.
In this situation, the only person Kali could possibly be thinking of was one single person.
'Se... no way, that guy... is he here to target that woman, Ha Sowol?'
She didn't know what kind of relationship the author had with Ha Sowol or what kind of bond they shared,
but the mere fact that he had appeared here releasing such an enormous aura could never be for a good reason.
And at the same time as recognizing that fact,
Kali began to think that this was not the time to be trembling only from fear.
'Ah... no. No matter what, I can't just watch that woman die like this in front of that guy...'
Although she had once been an enemy she absolutely had to defeat,
even so, in this moment, Ha Sowol could be considered an benefactor to Kali no matter what, whether she was withering away or not.
Watching that person being torn apart and killed by the monster would be an act that could not be tolerated from the body that had received a favor, and also from someone who had once targeted her.
With her hands trembling, she tried to draw her dagger and pull it out.
However....
“Hah...!”
Despite all her efforts,
in the end, Kali failed to properly draw her dagger and failed to contain the killing intent within it.
Even though she had made some effort, her instincts were still screaming a desperate cry at this moment.
If she tried to face that monster, she would immediately run out of breath.
If she wanted to live, she should run away right now.
So, surrendering to the overwhelming fear of death that was far too heavy for her, she let go of her hand and fell into even deeper despair.
At that moment...
“...”
“Ah...”
The monster that had been striding forward abruptly stopped in place.
And at this moment,
right in front of that person stood the very one Kali had expected.
“...Oh... long time no see... Yang Soyu.”
“Ha... Subin...”
Ha Sowol spoke to him in a voice heavy with intense tension.
In response, the monster called out her name in a voice carrying a cold chill.
That person showed the appearance of a beast facing its prey right in front of it.
However, in response to that, Ha Sowol showed a demeanor as if she had accepted death even in the face of fear, and began to slowly and cautiously approach the place where that man was standing.
“I was a little surprised. I had been waiting for the day to meet you again for a while, but I never imagined you would appear so roughly like this.”
“Well... actually, I didn't plan to do it this way either, but something came up in the middle, you know.”
“Is that so? If it doesn't inconvenience you, I would like to hear the reason why Yang Soyu is so angry. If it's not too much trouble...”
“...So you haven't heard the news yet? Then I'll explain. In return, no matter how much of a subordinate you are, you must take full responsibility for it.”
“Understood. So? What exactly happened?”
In this situation where even a simple aura was clearly threatening her life, Ha Sowol continued to speak calmly in an unexpected manner.
While watching this appearance of hers, at this moment Kali automatically began to think that the woman called Ha Sowol was far stronger than she had imagined.
'Even I barely managed to endure without running away... how on earth can that woman be so composed in a situation like this?'
Her appearance was as unyielding as if she knew that the opponent in front of her would not attack her.
While watching her from right beside her,
Kali felt a strange sense of admiration for the woman in front of her along with a deep question in her heart.
However...
“...Is what you just said true?”
“It is true. The victims are my siblings who are right here.”
'Huh?'
The next moment after the explanation ended,
another feeling of intense anger suddenly gripped Kali.
However, at this moment, Kali was able to recognize that this sensation was not coming from the monster in front of her.
Although in terms of the scale of power it was not a match, the density of the emotion within it gave off a feeling that was in no way inferior to the monster.
And the source of this emotion that gave such a feeling of being completely overwhelmed was coming from Ha Sowol, who had been listening to the monster's story just moments ago.
“If that's true... then it's only natural that Yang Soyu is so angry. Although the person involved doesn't seem to have arrived yet...”
“In any case, we rushed here the moment we heard about the incident. So? What do you think, Subin? It's regrettable, but no matter how much of a subordinate you are, you can't just let this slide...”
“I can handle it by capturing them.”
“Huh?”
'Eh?'
Ha Sowol began to show a smile on her lips that had been folded with cold anger for a moment in front of the monster.
At this, Kali's heart began to quail at the face of her anger that she had never seen before,
and then Ha Sowol spoke to him in a voice dripping with coldness.
“No matter how much I've softened up lately... this situation can never be overlooked. Those who dared to commit such acts while bearing the name of Kunlun... even if I dealt with them in the middle realm, I wouldn't have anything to say.”
“Indeed... I knew you would respond like that, Subin. But are you sure? After all, you're still my disciple.”
“Please do not worry. If those guys are Kunlun warriors, I will hand over whoever they are without question. If necessary, I can even handle the aftermath on our side.”
“I don't need that much. Just send them back alive and well.”
“Yes, understood. If that's what you wish, I'll do it right away.”
Ha Sowol, who had suddenly become similar in feeling to that monster and began releasing killing intent, from the noble lady who had prepared herself for death.
While watching this appearance of hers, Kali felt her head in confusion about this situation she could not understand at all, yet somehow she felt oddly reassured.
'At least that guy isn't particularly dangerous, so I'm a little relieved... but what on earth is going on here?'