Chapter 294: ?-Rank - That Day, We Planted a Seed.
Chapter 294: ?-Rank - That Day, We Planted a Seed.
“Is it over?”
Hardly had Yumil taken her hand away from her ear when the Heavenly Sword thrust his words in like a blade.
Though those words carried neither physical force nor any special power, it was a strike capable of creating a fatal opening in an enemy.
In that brief moment as Yumil moved to react to the question—
Clang.
The Hwando rang out.
A flash of light, far exceeding Yumil’s perception, surged forward.
Its target: Yumil’s neck.
A strike devoid of emotion or technique.
A blow delivered purely to sever The Enemy.
To the Heavenly Sword, this was not even a Form; it was a simple, singular slash.
An attack he had swung so many times that it had become as natural as reaching out a hand for a handshake.
And yet, whether human or non-human, there were precious few beings on Earth who could withstand it.
Under normal circumstances, Yumil might have dodged or blocked it at least once.
However, the sudden, ambush-like question from the Heavenly Sword had dulled her reflexes.
Barely grasping the situation, Yumil threw her head back, praying for a miracle.
By tilting her neck back just a fraction—just a hair’s breadth—the silver flash only managed to carve away a portion of her throat.
Since the severed part did not exceed half the total circumference of her neck, Yumil avoided the catastrophe of being decapitated at the very start of the encounter.
Bubble, bubble.
From the severed cross-section of Yumil’s neck, black bubbles—not blood—flowed out, rapidly reconstructing the flesh.
She remained pressed against The Wall, bracing for the follow-up attack, but...
“…Hmm.”
Her opponent simply sheathed his sword, stroked his chin with his one good arm, and tilted his head.
‘What is he doing?’
Yumil watched him, momentarily puzzled.
But she soon realized this was an opportunity.
For some strange reason, the Heavenly Sword wasn't being aggressive. This was her chance to escape.
With that thought, Yumil began to manifest a teleportation hole in The Wall she was clinging to.
“That’s a nuisance.”
Whoosh.
Along with the sound of tearing wind, it wasn't a sword strike that flew toward her, but the entire Hwando, its blade bared.
Because she was mid-preparation for the teleportation, Yumil couldn't react.
She cursed her past, naive self for thinking a standard sword strike couldn't reach her at this distance.
She steeled herself to endure the pain and finish the teleportation even if she took the hit, but—
Whoosh.
‘Huh?’
An auditory hallucination created by vibrating force echoed in Yumil’s ears.
The Hwando flying toward her suddenly changed its trajectory and plunged into the black hole behind her.
“——!”
An indescribable beastly roar echoed through the archives.
The roar of a beast vanishing as a blade pierced its head.
And then, The Hole disappeared.
The beast required to perform the teleportation had been killed.
‘…What is this?’
As if unable to believe the situation, Yumil stared blankly as the Hwando flew back into the Heavenly Sword’s hand.
‘That thing… could be killed?’
Yumil didn't know the true identity of the black beast.
However, since it clearly inflicted pain to facilitate the magic, she had tried many ways to stop it.
She had tried armor to prevent it from biting her.
She had tried diving into the mud before the beast could latch on.
She had even tried attacking the black mud beast itself.
But none of it had worked.
Yumil had come to accept the beast as an immutable law of the world, a given.
Yet, that belief had just been negated by a single strike.
‘What do I do?’
She had already devised an escape plan in case the Heavenly Sword appeared.
The probability of encountering him was extremely low, but since it was a matter of life and death, she had prepared.
However, that plan was predicated on the use of short-range teleportation.
Even her most promising plan—to endure an attack with her regeneration and then teleport—had been rendered moot by that last blow.
Yumil tried to maintain her distance from the Heavenly Sword, searching for any way out.
The Heavenly Sword, however, seemed lost in thought, his eyes darting back and forth.
After a short silence—
“Are you… the Black Marauder?”
It was the Heavenly Sword’s voice, filled with doubt, that broke the delicate balance.
Yumil had no intention of answering and kept her mouth shut.
“Answer me.”
Whoosh.
Along with his voice, a silver flash erupted.
It was a sword strike with the exact same power and speed as the first one he had unleashed.
However, the result this time was different.
Yumil, her senses sharpened to a razor's edge, shifted her body just enough to slip out of the blade's trajectory.
Not a single part of her was cut.
It was a feat possible only because she knew the Heavenly Sword’s reach perfectly.
“As I thought. You know the exact range of my blade.”
The Heavenly Sword noted this and began to speak.
“It seems certain you are a Clone Monster with Lee Ha-ram’s memories. However, there are two things that strike me as odd.”
Whoosh.
The Hwando swung again.
Yumil dodged.
Effortlessly, as if it were only natural.
“Your flow of power is completely different from the Black Marauder I met before. Even though your appearance and movements are almost identical.”
Whoosh.
The Hwando continued to swing.
The Heavenly Sword no longer placed any real weight behind these strikes. He simply didn't want to leave his opponent idle.
If he truly wanted to land a hit, simply taking a step forward would have been enough.
“Well, I suppose that could happen. Perhaps there’s a split personality, or maybe the monster known as the Black Marauder isn't a single entity.”
Thwack.
Perhaps bored of swinging the same way, the Heavenly Sword suddenly shifted his stance and lunged.
Because the power was concentrated, the thrust had a slightly longer reach than the slashes.
Unlike the previous swings, this one caused damage to the building.
Yet, the Black Marauder avoided the attack with ease.
The conversation continued.
“But the second reason… that, I truly cannot understand.”
Whoosh.
The sword strikes continued.
The Black Marauder evaded.
Under the Heavenly Sword’s indulgence, the exchange continued like a game.
It seemed like it would go on forever, but—
“Why is your power flow almost identical to Lee Ha-ram’s?”
Yumil whipped her head around, startled by the voice right in her ear.
The Heavenly Sword, who should have been over there, was right beside her.
Even though Yumil hadn't taken her eyes off him for a single second.
From behind her, the Heavenly Sword reached out toward the Black Marauder.
Crunch.
His grip tightened around Yumil’s head.
“Answer me. Who are you?”
The intent to crush her skull if she didn't answer was clear.
Yumil felt it through the steadily increasing pressure of his hand.
But Yumil didn't open her mouth.
She herself couldn't understand what the Heavenly Sword was talking about.
She understood the first point.
She hadn't expected to be found out so easily, but it was within the realm of comprehension.
‘But what is the second point?’
As her thoughts raced, the pain in her head intensified.
Soon, her skull would shatter.
Yumil realized this.
She opened her mouth.
To answer the Heavenly Sword’s question.
“Like I’d ever tell you.”
She stuck her tongue out slightly, wearing an expression that was the spitting image of her father, Lee Ha-ram.
The Heavenly Sword looked surprised for a moment.
But he quickly returned to a blank expression and spoke.
“I see. Then, farewell. I won't kill you, so our next meeting will be in a Management Bureau containment cell.”
His grip tightened.
Yumil’s consciousness began to fade.
In her fading mind, she thought:
So this is the end.
It was a decent run.
She probably wouldn't die here.
But her life afterward was predictable.
Either an infinite, empty boredom to ensure Baek Si-hyun didn't retire...
Or, one day, a strengthened Baek Si-hyun would face her to bring the Story to an end.
The fixed future she had seen in her father’s memories.
Ah, maybe he’ll come to save me.
Yeah, maybe…
Just as Yumil was about to lose consciousness—
Bang!
A familiar sound echoed in her ears.
The sound of gunpowder exploding.
The gunshot of her partner—that strange woman who hated Heroes despite being one.
It was a sound that shouldn't have been audible here, yet it rang in Yumil’s ears.
Through her blurred vision, Yumil saw a bullet glowing with a bright orange light streaking through the air.
‘I know that one.’
It was the item Chong So-rim had shown her once with a grin, saying she’d barely managed to get her hands on it.
A special bullet produced in extremely small quantities, with a price tag higher than the cost of building a skyscraper.
She had sworn she’d never fire it, that she’d keep it as a lifelong collectible.
Yumil had thought it would never be fired, so she assumed it was a hallucination conjured by her failing brain.
But the bullet was real.
The bullet streaking through reality...
Boasting the stealth granted by numerous techniques...
And influenced by the many spatial techniques bestowed by Seini...
It performed its function so perfectly that even the Heavenly Sword didn't notice it until the very moment of impact.
“Tsk.”
The moment the Heavenly Sword swung his blade to cut the bullet, it detonated.
A total void descended.
One of the extremes of physical force designated by the laws of this world.
A black hole that pulled everything in.
Though not exactly the same, a Pseudo-Black Hole Shell created using magic, technology, and everything in between opened up, dragging everything toward its center.
It remained open for only a fraction of a second.
But it swallowed everything.
The Heavenly Sword, who was closest.
And Yumil, who was caught in his grip.
Just as everything was about to be crushed—
A boy made of light appeared and pulled Yumil away.
Only the Heavenly Sword was swallowed by the void.
Silence fell over the Public Archives.
The only sound was the bubbling of Yumil’s body as it regenerated.
Before long, Yumil opened her eyes.
“…Seini?”
“You’re awake? Then please, teleport us quickly. I’ve used up all my strength…”
Seini spoke with palpable relief that Yumil had woken up so soon.
“…What about the Heavenly Sword?”
“He was swallowed by Chong So-rim’s special bullet. For now… it seems he’s been neutralized, but…”
He had expected that even while being swallowed by that void, the man would manipulate his energy to prevent his body from collapsing.
After all, didn't Lord Lee Ha-ram, who was in the same tier, endure such things?
However, taking advantage of the fact that he would have to stop moving to prevent his body from disintegrating, they had flung the Heavenly Sword to some distant corner of the Earth.
That was what Seini thought, but another part of him was uneasy.
Was he really neutralized?
An inexplicable anxiety.
Having spent his life running away, Seini did not turn away from the anxiety he felt within.
He knew that in truly critical moments, such anxiety was a warning signal ringing from the depths of his instincts.
And that anxiety became reality.
Whoosh.
The sound of wind being sliced reached them.
“…A Pseudo-Black Hole Shell. It’s been a while. I believe the last time I saw one was during the subjugation of the Yellow King?”
As if opening a door...
The Heavenly Sword stepped out from between the severed seams of space.
“…How…?”
Though he knew his enemy wouldn't answer, Seini asked the question unconsciously, overwhelmed by the situation.
“Cutting through space, you mean? Normally I couldn't, but thanks to that bullet just now, space was momentarily compressed. In such a state, it is possible.”
Of course, he hadn't done it easily.
There was likely an unspoken "but" following that statement.
The Heavenly Sword’s current physical condition was far from normal.
Purple spots, perhaps from internal bleeding, had appeared all over his right arm, and his eyes were hazy.
“If only my left hand were intact, I could have handled this more cleanly. But it can't be helped.”
The Heavenly Sword spoke with utter composure.
Hearing this, Seini thought:
‘I’m asking how you did that, you monster.’
He wanted to shout it back, but he bit his lip and remained silent.
He knew from Hero Lee Ha-ram that it was pointless to expect common sense from such beings.
Therefore, Seini pushed aside his doubts and reached out, trying to draw the Heavenly Sword’s attention.
Even though he had no strength left to do anything...
He did it to buy time, because he still had allies.
Unaware of this, the Heavenly Sword raised his Hwando.
The moment their focus was locked on each other—
Squeak.
With a sound similar to a mouse’s cry, a rat beastman holding large nails in both hands appeared behind the Heavenly Sword.
He intended to drive in the cursed nails.
The Heavenly Sword had not noticed him.
The only one who saw the rat appear was Seini, who was facing the Heavenly Sword from the opposite side.
Just as the ambush was about to succeed—
“When performing a pincer attack, you must first deceive yourself.”
A silver flash surged.
A circular flash of light enveloped the area around the Heavenly Sword.
It included both Seini and the rat who had appeared behind him.
“Your eyes drifted toward your ally. Be more careful next time.”
The Heavenly Sword offered this advice to the beings he had just cut down.
Thud.
The two figures collapsed.
As the two beings, now hovering near death, began to fade, their talismans automatically activated to send them back to the location Elder Li had first marked. However—
“I don't think so.”
Whoosh.
With another strike that severed space, the teleportation was halted.
Who could have predicted this outcome?
That their own most powerful attack would end up strangling them.
Under normal circumstances, even if space were slightly distorted, it shouldn't be possible to cut it.
They were simply unlucky.
Yumil stared blankly at the two fallen Mutants.
Thinking this must be a dream.
“This is a dream, right?”
She muttered to herself.
“No, it can't be real. This is a dream.”
She continued to mutter, as if dredging up her unstable psyche.
“Damn father. Shut up. I said this is a dream.”
She spoke as if conversing with someone, but there was no one there.
“Reality? There’s no way this is reality. I’m going to die. Everyone’s going to die.”
Step.
In sync with her words, the Heavenly Sword took a step forward.
“Then, let us continue the questioning. What are you?”
Ignoring the others, the Heavenly Sword approached Yumil and looked down at her with a cold gaze.
As if his own physical condition meant nothing.
But Yumil, the recipient of the question, was merely whispering to herself.
The Heavenly Sword’s hand reached for Yumil’s head.
Though slower and weaker than before...
It was still a hand capable of crushing a Mutant’s skull.
Yumil, lost in her own world, didn't notice.
But soon, Yumil’s illusion was shattered.
It wasn't pain or a human grip that broke it.
‘…Run. Yumil.’
A single sentence echoed in Yumil’s head.
Transmitted through the telepathic network.
Seini’s voice.
Yumil, whose mind was unraveling, couldn't quite grasp it.
‘If I squeeze out the last of my life, I can stop him for a moment. So…’
Can I survive?
Hearing Seini’s words, the thought flashed through Yumil’s mind.
And Yumil’s psyche began to reconstruct itself.
Finding hope in a place filled with death.
Her stalled thoughts began to branch out.
The gears of her ego, which had been frozen by despair, began to turn again.
A glimmer of light appeared in the distance.
In response, Yumil lowered her head and spread a black pool beneath her.
To survive.
And just as everything was about to turn toward Yumil’s survival—
‘What do you know? It can't be helped. I can't win.’
Yumil suddenly began talking to herself again.
Even though no one was listening.
She just let the words out.
‘So you’re telling me to just stand and fight? Seini and Elder Li are dead. I have no intention of letting their deaths be in vain.’
Her thoughts continued as if in a dialogue.
‘They’re still alive? That’s impossible…’
Yumil raised her head.
Her eyes met Seini’s, who was reaching out with the last of his strength.
And Elder Li, who was crushing his own entrails with his hands, drawing something with the fluid.
Looking at them, Yumil’s pupils trembled.
The goal she had believed in vanished with the trembling of her heart.
Yumil grit her teeth and stood up.
With that choice...
Yumil stepped into the wasteland.
A wasteland devoid of life, where all vitality had withered away.
“…Do you intend to fight?”
“I’m not running.”
Yumil spat out the words.
Her thoughts.
A vain delusion leading to death.
“At least, my original would have.”
“…I see. Then.”
The sword swung.
A movement different from the simple strikes he had used until now.
A Form.
A massive power that the current Yumil could never block was contained within the sword’s path.
Yumil recognized this as well.
But she didn't dodge; she grit her teeth and raised her hammer.
There was no possibility of anything happening.
Unless there was external intervention.
It was a certainty.
The Gaze of The End looked down.
To watch the finale.
Upon that stage...
A white Pillar of Light descended.
【Re-weight. Ma (麼)?】
【Hey. You, look at me too. Every time something happens, it’s always me, you bastards. And whoever descended, come out. Now.】
….
….
【No one?】
A power that shouldn't exist within her body took root.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
She reached out.
To grasp a weapon.
What appeared there was a Silver Hammer.
Different from the black one she usually held, it was a hammer of silver.
The Heavenly Sword, sensing the power within it, leaped back a great distance.
Clank. Clank.
The Hammer began to transform rapidly.
Devouring the newly descended power, seeking to unleash it.
“If it were Father! If it were him!”
Crossing the line, becoming an entity of imagery that we cannot read—words born from a certain thought.
Yumil, having become an unknown existence, opened her mouth.
Vriiiiiiiiiing.
The engine sound from The Hammer in her hand rose endlessly.
A massive heat radiated from it.
The Heavenly Sword thrust his blade forward to stop the process, but—
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Black Particles fluttering in the air became black hammers, parrying all his attacks.
Finally, The Hammer reached its critical point.
Signaling its state by turning a deep crimson.
However, swinging it was another matter.
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
The Hammer, glowing crimson with heat...
Began to break Yumil’s body apart.
The price for craving power beyond her reach.
No, it wasn't a price.
It was simply that Yumil lacked the strength to hold that hammer.
That hammer was a weapon with the power to destroy the world.
To swing it required a different kind and direction of immense power.
Like its original owner.
Even if one obtains power, using it requires a massive force of a different nature and direction.
By manifesting it in any form, Yumil had stepped into the realm of an Ascendant.
By doing so, she drew the resentment of the remnants shouting in eternal pain, those who had failed to ascend and now wandered the void.
But swinging The Hammer was impossible with that alone.
No matter how many gazes fell upon her...
One cannot make the impossible possible.
For this was not a distortion.
Whoosh.
It was swung.
The Hammer.
Sucking in everything from its master.
Collapsing the hands that held it.
Opening a possibility that shouldn't exist in this place.
Blowing everything away.
The light of the heavens shone brightly.
Driving away the darkness of the night.
And so, everything came to an end.