The Light Sword's Final Judgment
Thinking about it rationally, there's no way an S-rank hero would fall so easily to some drug. But Seok Ha-rang's trust in Eun Yu-ha pierces the heavens. When Eun Yu-ha, of all people, pretends to join hands with me, even Gwanggeom loses his cool and misjudges.
Suspicion demonized him.
In the end, Gwanggeom unleashes the power of Rusalka sealed in his heart.
Shwaaa—!
Waves surge like a frenzy. The East Sea rises to a colossal height at Gwanggeom's will, crashing down toward me.
I envelop my entire body in a sphere of flames. The blue barrier gets dragged into the seawater and begins sinking.
Gwanggeom dives into the sea. Transcending human limits, he borrows the spirit's power to move freely underwater—faster than on land.
Clang, claaang, claaaang!
Gwanggeom's iron sword hammers the barrier. One crack, and seawater would flood in to drown me.
If the field makes fighting difficult, just destroy the field.
Wings unfurl from my back. Even in the middle of the ocean, the wings breaking free from the barrier burn blue without losing their heat.
Siiiizzle——— Massive steam boils beneath the surface. Seawater vaporized by the heat scatters into the atmosphere as mist.
■■■■!!
Gwanggeom roars ferociously, swinging his sword. Iron sword infused with light attribute in his right hand, seawater sword solidified from water-attribute mana in his left—he slashes at my wings with blinding speed.
A blue flash strikes first, followed by a golden one.
'My wings feel heavy.'
I try to move them before they get cut, but seawater crushes from all sides, refusing to obey.
Slash.
My right wing severs. Fortunately, the feathers detached from my main body carry the azure flame's nature—they don't extinguish easily.
But my opponent wields spirit power too.
Pssshhh— Seawater boils again.
But unlike before, it vaporizes only faintly. The remaining feathers get caught in the rippling waves and tear away.
'He seems maddened by the demonic qi, but he knows how to fight.'
The way he cut my wings proved it. Whether Gwanggeom figured it out or instinctively grasped Rusalka's power, I can't tell.
But Gwanggeom seems convinced water-attribute mana can damage me. From the moment he unleashed the spirit's power, he's tormented me relentlessly with it.
Crack!
The barrier shatters. Seawater seeps between the orbs.
His battle sense is already top-tier, and his mastery of mana—even a different attribute—is impressive.
Kwaaa!
The barrier breaks. Seawater surges from all directions simultaneously.
Should I form a fireball and explode it? No, the waves would sweep it away before I could.
Then I'll become the bomb myself. I release mana from my body.
□□□□□□□!!
Flames explode inside the armor, repelling the seawater. For a split second, space opens.
And right in front of it, Gwanggeom swings down.
■■■!!
With a shout, his golden sword slashes horizontally. I raise my gauntlet to block the blade.
It barely nicks the gauntlet. But this is just a feint.
The real threat is the seawater sword in his left. Gwanggeom had already positioned his left hand over his shoulder before striking down.
While I blocked with the gauntlet, he whips the seawater sword toward my abdomen.
Slash!
It cuts. The seawater sword cleaves more than halfway through my abdominal armor.
My first fatal wound since arriving in this world. Massive mana leaks from the gash.
"Kyaaak!"
Gwanggeom laughs like a beast, mouth agape. His pupils swirl gold and murky blue like a taijitu, but purple demonic qi seeps from the corners of his eyes.
If mana carries attributes and unique colors, that purple is Terra's corrupted, polluted mana.
A normal human mind would go mad and suicide the instant it enters their organs. Gwanggeom rampages under its influence, but his core drive remains unchanged.
Kill the azure flame. Save Seok Ha-rang.
That fuels his body.
The repelled waves refill the space. Gwanggeom swings relentlessly to prevent escape.
Block the iron sword. Gauntlet scrapes, but no issue.
Dodge the seawater sword. Water-attribute mana slices even azure flames—must evade.
Even in kaijin form, Fire Fist's fisticuffs shine. But we trade blows without progress, unable to flee the encroaching seawater.
■■■■■■!
Gwanggeom laughs, convinced of victory. Gold light fades, purple miasma filling its place.
This moment—this instant—is what I waited for.
Gwanggeom slashes diagonally with the iron sword. Like before, I grab the blade with my gauntlet.
Gwanggeom thrusts the seawater sword reverse-grip.
He's so rampaged he doesn't even register the "thrust" as an action.
I raise my left hand, seizing the seawater sword's tip.
Kiiik!
■■■■?!
Normally, it would pierce my hand and stab the core. But the seawater sword is pinned in my grip, immobile.
Confusion flickers across Gwanggeom's face. It worked moments ago—why not now?
Just blocked, dodged, evaporated seawater. Plenty remains inside the barrier.
Gwanggeom's pupils dye purple. The trait of those enslaved by otherworld gods, like shadows. Infected.
Analyze his mana pattern now, and it'd register as monster.
Curiosity flashes in Gwanggeom's eyes at my words. I charge, seizing his collar with my right hand.
■■?!
Gwanggeom startles, trying to stab with seawater sword. But it's still gripped tight.
Seawater surges like ropes toward my legs. But agonizingly slow.
Wings spread. I rocket straight, piercing seawater.
Gwanggeom tries severing my collar hand with iron sword, but the armor takes no scratch now.
As he aims for my throat, I burst from the waves.
Out of the water barrier, he's just a marlin flopping on a fishing boat.
■■■■!
Gwanggeom flares, summoning waves. Futile thrashing—no need to indulge.
Wing mana explodes. Gas-like thrust from the wing membranes propels me forward, dragging Gwanggeom along.
The blast shatters incoming waves. Through the gap, I fly to land, slamming Gwanggeom down.
■■■■■■!
Gwanggeom craters, kicking up dirt. Coincidentally, his roll crushes the mountain path to Rusalka's grave.
■■...?
Gwanggeom's eyes waver. I land, mana surging through my body.
Wounds heal, armor mends.
Gwanggeom lifts a shattered gravestone fragment, face hollow. Gold flickers briefly in his eyes.
That instant.
Gwanggeom stabs his iron sword into his heart.
Purple blood spews from his mouth as he collapses.
I look skyward. Barrier holds.
Gold flashes from Gwanggeom's body.
"Haa, haa, haa!"
Revived Gwanggeom pants fiercely. Revival isn't true resurrection—more like time rewind to barrier activation.
Rusalka's power resealed, effectively.
"What... do you mean?!"
Gwanggeom rises, leaning on his iron sword. His wavering face gives me pause.
"Before that! The cadres aren't monsters?!"
Emotion flickers in his golden eyes—despair? Regret? Shock?
I briefly shift to human form.
"Where to start? Why your power suddenly stopped working? Or the cadres' true nature? It's all connected anyway...."
"Tell me now!"
Gwanggeom grows impatient. Even now, worrying for Seok Ha-rang—true father.
"Usually, this leads to a flashback. But I'm here to kill you, not chat."
"Tell me now!"
"Say it, and I'll release you? Puhuhu."
Gwanggeom bites his lip. Blue water mana seeps into his eyes, awakening Rusalka's power.
"Uaaah!"
He's upon me, swinging seawater sword. Purple miasma fills his eyes—he rampages again.
Iron sword pins my hand, seawater sword severs forearm. I kick Gwanggeom flying.
Crunch!
He crashes into a tree, tumbling dirt. Impatience turns his eyes purple already.
Past tales unnecessary. Severed arm regenerates instantly.
Gwanggeom can't kill me.
Pillars of fire erupt from the ground. Gwanggeom burns, revives.
Sane again, he glares with shaken eyes.
"...No, impossible. I've watched her over 20 years!"
Gwanggeom denies. Plausible, yet stubbornly rejected hypothesis. I drive the wedge.
Gwanggeom's eyes purple again. I raise my hand, igniting flames.
And it's not Gwanggeom.
My flames consume him again.
Blue Sky's Desdinus—Why did the cadres target Korea, where the protagonist resides?
1999. Seven initial dimension gates open worldwide. The prelude to invasion: the castle lord finishes brainwashing all spirits and dispatches them to Earth simultaneously.
December 25 to 31, 1999. Cadres rampage for a week, then slumber.
Like humans suffocating in space from oxygen depletion, cadres exhaust mana, hide, and recover.
Earth's thin mana forces sleep until recovery. Over 20 years pass; they awaken one by one, conquering from their lairs.
No cooperation, but they sense each other's invasions naturally.
One absence: only six active worldwide; the seventh cadre sleeps in the Far East—Korea.
Cadres' eyes turn to Korea.
Fenrir lands in Incheon, repelled by protagonist.
Azidahaka follows to Jeju, repelled.
Cadres fall like candies: fifth, Heavenly Light Karna defeated. All rest—then Gwanggeom dies, awakening sixth cadre.
Precisely: Gwanggeom's death, frontline retirement, liberates Snow Night Rusalka sealed in his heart.
Miasma-saturated power seeks its split half, possessing Snow Flower Princess, Seok Ha-rang.
Protagonist restrains rampaging Seok Ha-rang, uncovers cause and hidden lineage.
Seok Ha-rang is Gwanggeom's daughter; mother, deceased Snow Night Rusalka.
Rusalka, Dark Legion cadre meant to shatter worlds, fell for Gwanggeom instead of sleep—miraculous child from love.
Human-born inheritor of cadre power. Protagonist reveals Seok Ha-rang's truth.
Eun Yu-ha fiercely objects to the dramatized reveal.
I answer: Gwanggeom suicides eventually.
As other cadres activate, 20-year seal breaks; Rusalka's power rampages. He stabs his heart, mad.
Never dreamed remnants would affect Seok Ha-rang.
Gwanggeom dies anyway. Preempt: awaken Seok Ha-rang as full spirit, not Dark Legion cadre.
Production cruelly rigs: if rampage deepens, kill her.
Save: ally spirit Seok Ha-rang. Kill: comrade inherits power.
Either-or. Kill Gwanggeom now to save her? Or persuade, defuse time bomb?
After debate with Eun Yu-ha, choose kill Gwanggeom, save Seok Ha-rang.
One survives: profit for Eun Yu-ha is her.
So I kill Gwanggeom. Shortest route to awaken her as spirit—my best judgment.
"......Is that so?"
Gwanggeom lies spread-eagled, laughing. I plop beside him, nodding.
"Yeah."
Sun rises outside barrier. Six-hour marathon battle.
Gwanggeom rampages with Rusalka; I kill, nullify.
Each revival, sanity returns—he demands truth.
108? 109? Stopped counting midway.
Minimum that many deaths forced all truths from me.
Finally annoyed, I pinned him and spilled.
"Fought like a demon."
"Told you—can't kill me."
We battered to wrecks. Yet I never permitted his death; he never wounded me fatally.
Gwanggeom changes topic.
"So I must die for Ha-rang—my daughter—to live?"
"Pretty much. Depending, could suppress rampaging Ha-rang, rip heart...."
"Stop. Enough. No more."
Heavenly barrier shakes—his will cracking.
Clang.
Gwanggeom offers his iron sword. Teeth gone, half-blade missing, tip still sharp.
Deep sigh. Red blood trickles his lips.
"Hated her. The child who stole Rusalka from me. Loved yet loathed. Couldn't kill myself."
"So orphanage dump?"
Eyes close—silent yes.
"Heh, why seek after 12 years?"
"......Time."
Gwanggeom pauses, then pours decades' resentment like sobs in laughter.
"Time dulled the hate. Missed Rusalka to death. Only after 12 years could I face the child properly."
"Aigoo."
I stand, pick tossed sword. Blue flames reform broken blade.
"Breakfast time—end this. Scary ghost at home."
"Sister-in-law's no romantic."
"Shut it."
Reverse grip sword. Gwanggeom smiles at heart-tip, skyward.
"One last promise? Tell Ha-rang I love her, sorry."
"Knew you'd pull this. No phone calls, remember?"
"Stingy. Haha."
Gwanggeom laughs, all burdens shed. I sigh, raise sword.
"Fine. I'll tell. You tell Rusalka hi."
"Gladly."
Stab.
Sword pierces heart. Rusalka-infused organ screams against azure flame, rampaging.
Purple surges Gwanggeom's eyes. But fists clenched, he fights for sanity.
"Tell her... sorry...."
Light fades from eyes. Rusalka remnants burn away.
Wooong— Barrier scatters in sunlight.
Island ruins exposed.
Pluck sword from heart, plant beside.
"Wha—what's that?!"
"Eek! The park suddenly?!"
Passersby spot park carnage. Near 7 AM.
I close Gwanggeom's lids, soar skyward.
May 9, 7:13 AM. Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan found dead at Haeundae, Busan.
Shattered gravestone beside from battle aftermath.