Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Kankun VS Adora
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Trigger.
The decisive cause that sparks change.
For Kim Byung-han, his encounter with the Prophet had become an irreplaceable turning point in his life.
'I need to get stronger. In this world, the only one I can trust is myself.'
Not friends, not family, not even the comrades he'd shared thick and thin with for years.
Inside the Abyss, he'd learned with absolute certainty that no one could be trusted.
In the end, humans were creatures that changed based on their circumstances.
To survive, he had no choice but to hone his own power.
'I won't trust anyone anymore.'
When the Abyss began right after arriving at the office and he was sniped.
When the Creator who opened the Abyss pointed to his death, Kim Byung-han instantly became prey.
No one opposed it or tried to save him.
Not even the friendly teammate from his department he'd been close with, nor those he'd always looked after, nor the innocent rookies he'd thought were like angels.
They all glared at him with bloodshot eyes, thrusting blades toward him.
All of them thirsted only for Kim Byung-han's death.
'Never again... I never want to go through that again.'
If there was such a thing as living hell, that had been it.
Just recalling that day made his legs tremble.
He'd desperately fled to survive.
Crawled across the floor, drenched in blood.
Trembling with betrayal, he prayed over and over that at least one person would take his side.
But not a single exception existed.
Everyone there had been demons.
From that day on, Kim Byung-han became even more selfish.
He strived desperately to grow stronger.
Because he'd realized the truth that no one in the Abyss could be trusted.
He never stepped forward unless it benefited him.
He moved with thorough calculation.
But.
There was one single exception where his principles didn't apply.
'It's the Prophet!'
The one Lee Hyuk-soo called the Prophet.
The Archmage who conquered the Abyss!
Especially the scene against the Death Knight—he could never forget it.
He'd remember it for life.
It had been that overwhelming.
The Prophet for sure.
Even if his appearance had changed a bit, how could he forget?
The moment Kim Byung-han recognized him, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
The Prophet had saved him. Gifted him a new life.
To him, the Prophet was like a god—equal to the Creators, or even greater.
"...The Prophet?"
"That mage?"
However, Im Chang-yeol and the union members, unaware of this, just tilted their heads.
The sole man accompanying the Death Witch Adora.
Kim Byung-han was revering him as the Prophet.
But he'd never seen him before.
They'd collected data on all the top powerhouses in Korea, yet there was zero info on a mage dressed like that.
Much less if he was called the 'Prophet'—he had to be extraordinary.
"Kim Byung-han. Do you know who that is?"
Im Chang-yeol, leader of the Seoul Union, asked.
At that moment, Kim Byung-han snapped his head up.
Then, eyes blazing like a volcano, he roared.
"You fools! You stand before the great Prophet and keep your heads held high? Bow your heads right now!"
"...?"
Im Chang-yeol openly tilted his head.
He thought he'd gauged Kim Byung-han's personality, but this was unexpected.
Kim Byung-han was suspicious, greedy, and selfish.
People like that usually didn't trust anyone.
Yet here he was, showing blind faith in that man.
A zealot couldn't have done better.
'Who the hell is he?'
The one who'd outshone rivals to become Adora's closest aide.
But Im Chang-yeol's interest ended there.
'Even so, he's just a mage at best.'
He wasn't much interested in mages who didn't wield swords, especially since after the Abyss appeared, magic users hadn't shone.
Mages weren't well-received.
Magic took time to cast and often failed to react instantly amid the Abyss's countless variables.
The destructive power wasn't impressive, and they were frail, lacking stamina and endurance.
And more than that.
They could barely do anything alone.
For ages now, communities and SNS had shunned 'mages'.
—Never pick a mage-related class.
—Mages are dead weight. Useless in team fights.
—Why bother learning magic? Just use a lighter if you want fire from your fingers.
—All show, no substance. Better to swing your sword one more time.
It sounded like mockery, but it was all true.
Currently, swordmasters like Lee Hyuk-soo, Han Shin, and Im Chang-yeol dominated the world.
And that hierarchy wasn't likely to change anytime soon.
'Looks like he uses some unusual magic.'
Kim Byung-han might've been fooled by that.
Above all.
'...This is Kankun vs. Adora. No room for humans anyway.'
The fight in the Tower of Pride left no space for human interference.
The upcoming clash belonged solely to Kankun and Adora.
Im Chang-yeol lost interest in the mage.
"......"
"......"
It was hard to focus on anything else.
Kankun and Adora.
They now faced each other.
Silent, but the chill between the two monsters had already surpassed human endurance.
"Fall back... as far as we can."
Im Chang-yeol whispered quietly.
Stay too close, and they'd get caught in it.
Getting dragged into those monsters' battle meant certain death.
All the union members on Kankun's side quietly retreated.
Meanwhile, Kankun spoke first.
"Death Witch. I no longer fear your death."
Witch Adora.
Neither the death she wielded nor the black magic she commanded.
Kankun had overcome it all.
The first battle had nearly annihilated him, but now that he'd awakened to the Heart Sword, nothing scared him.
"Here, I will kill you."
Even if it killed him, he'd kill her.
Orc Master Kankun slowly raised his greatsword.
His eyes burned with one sole intent: to kill his foe.
Kurrrung!
As Kankun stomped, wild mana shook the earth.
The instant the aura of death dispersed, Kankun seized the opening.
Kwaduk!
He thrust his right foot forward, slamming the ground again, and plunged his greatsword straight down.
Kwarrrrng!
Sword energy erupted from the blade's tip, surging toward Adora with ferocious force.
The sword energy tore the earth just by grazing it, shaking the ambient energy and warping the terrain itself.
A dizzying sight where direct impact would pulverize without a speck of dust left.
Everyone stared, entranced.
In that instant, Adora raised her hand.
Death mana coalesced, forming a thick shield of darkness.
Nine layers stacked seamlessly, enveloping her body without gaps.
Jjeeeerung!
The moment sword energy clashed with the dark shield.
A deafening roar echoed, and the sword energy vanished.
It couldn't pierce Adora's shield.
But then.
"Blocking won't save you, witch!"
Sheeeek!
Kankun's greatsword followed.
It slipped through the tiny gap the sword energy had pried open.
Jjeok!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the nine-layered shield.
A single tiny breach was enough.
Kankun clasped his hands.
Gathering all his energy to forge a Heart Sword.
Quick and decisive.
He knew prolonged fights favored her.
"Th-that's...!"
"A sword in thin air...!"
Above Adora's head.
Energy swirled, birthing a sword of radiant light.
Not just one.
Hundreds, thousands appeared.
Countless light swords filled the air, charging at Adora.
Kwaduk! Kwaduduk!
The dark shield shattered.
One, two, three...
Up to eight, then Kankun extended his hand again.
His greatsword returned to his grip, and for the final blow, he stepped forward, folding space with blinding speed.
Closing in at unprecedented velocity, he poured power into a strike to cleave the last shield—and Adora—in two.
Kuuaaaang!
An explosion and flash erupted; onlookers shut their eyes against the glare.
One thing was clear: the final shield had broken.
That was the last sight they witnessed.
At the same time, they were convinced.
'No way anyone survives that.'
'Kankun's victory!'
Kankun's overwhelming triumph.
Their victory, for choosing his side.
They couldn't even imagine the rewards awaiting.
...However.
When they opened their eyes again.
"...!"
"Wh-what?"
They faced a scene utterly unlike their expectations.
Kankun's greatsword aimed precisely at Adora's forehead.
Frozen just short of contact—sword and all.
Billowing clouds of inky energy from Adora's body had ensnared him entirely.
Even Kankun's eyes brimmed with disbelief.
Having overcome death, awakened to the Heart Sword, reborn a perfect warrior.
Nothing could withstand his blade.
He'd surely cleaved death and black magic.
Yet...
He was caught.
In other words.
...He hadn't cut through.
Adora had merely pretended to be struck.
Luring him into her domain.
Right up close, at death's doorstep.
To grant him inescapable demise.
"You... bitch...!"
Kankun barely forced out words.
Mocked utterly.
But he couldn't comprehend.
Last time they'd fought, the gap wasn't this wide.
It had been even.
What caused this overwhelming disparity?
"Su... per... ior... being...!"
A being who could toy with Kankun, now enlightened in Heart Sword.
Only a Transcendent could do that.
Those who'd surpassed rank 10 into rank 11 were called Transcendents.
Just as Kankun had awakened and grown stronger.
So had Adora.
But such a dramatic shift overnight? Impossible.
Kankun rolled his eyes, shifting gaze.
To the human in mage garb, not far away.
Just as that human warrior had enlightened him.
Had that mage enlightened Adora?
A witch who bestowed death just by approaching.
Keeping him so close meant he was that vital.
'Then...!'
Kankun poured his last heart force.
Squeezing every cell for mana.
And activated his final Heart Sword.
Smaller than before, but meticulously concealed from notice.
Soon, a Heart Sword formed behind the mage.
Adora and the mage hadn't detected it yet.
Kankun traced its sword path with all his might.
And then.
'Taste it yourself. The despair I felt.'
Puk!
The Heart Sword pierced the mage—Park Chan-woo's—heart.