Chapter 236
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: The Battle for Seoul
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“Father.”
A boy knelt before the pale man lying in bed and took his hand.
“Just as you did to me, I want to shatter every last piece of your happiness.”
Held in the boy's grasp, Tul Natra's fingers twitched.
“So, give me everything.”
The shadow at the boy's feet—Jin Natra's feet—stirred, moving at his will.
“Your kingdom.”
The Natra flag hanging on the wall was swallowed by the pitch-black shadow.
“Your throne,”
The king's chambers slowly sank into the deep, dark shadow.
“Your power,”
The black shadow, encroaching from all sides of the bed, closed in on Tul Natra.
“Everything.”
The black shadow engulfed Tul Natra.
*Thump!*
*Thump!*
The screen showed the bizarrely writhing shadow and Jin Natra's back before fading to black.
***
The camera, which had been focused on the knights guarding the door of the underground temple, followed their gazes as they sharply turned toward the stairs.
*Thump!*
Jin Natra's theme music began to play.
A pair of black shoes appeared on the sand-colored stone steps. The camera slowly panned up. The audience's heads tilted up with it.
*Thump!*
A cold-faced Jin Natra, dressed in a black military uniform, was descending the stairs. He was noticeably older than in the previous scene, indicating the passage of time.
Just watching him walk was enough to make one shrink back. Lee Miyeon swallowed nervously without realizing it.
The temple knights blocked Jin Natra's path. Their gazes were so cold that even the audience could feel it, reminding them of the scorn and discrimination Jin Natra had endured,
*Crash!*
but before they could even finish the thought, a knight was slammed into the wall.
!!
Did he just grab his ankle with a shadow and throw him?!
The audience was stunned by Jin Natra's merciless attack. Some viewers covered their mouths with both hands to stifle a scream.
Recognizing his clear intent to attack, the knights simultaneously manifested spears and swords from their shadows. Sharp, black blades pointed at Jin Natra. His own shadow surged over them like a wave. The knights' weapons, clad in thick armor, couldn't even reach him. *Crash!* Another knight was thrown against the wall.
Oh.
The audience members clasped their hands together without thinking, praying for the knight's safety.
After defeating the temple knights, Jin Natra walked toward an altar adorned with ornate carvings.
A pure white Timestone was floating there.
Jin Natra reached down, and his shadow shimmered, transforming into a sword. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he stabbed the brilliantly glowing white Timestone without a moment's hesitation.
“Ugh!”
The sword's tip barely pierced it, but the impacted white Timestone defensively erupted with pure white energy. Jin Natra's hair and cape whipped about in the blast.
Squinting against the fierce wind and dazzling light, Jin Natra did not withdraw his sword.
Though the force of the backlash threatened to push him back, Jin Natra took a step forward instead. His shadow braced his legs and back.
“Urgh!”
The temple filled with brilliant white light and the black shadow that drove into it like a wedge.
The battle between the two forces, though not a frenetic action scene, was sweat-inducing.
*Shatter!*
It ended with Jin Natra's victory.
***
The audience hall of the Natra royal palace.
Jin Natra looked down at the prostrating Natra people, then closed and opened his eyes. His jet-black pupils glinted sharply.
At his gaze, which felt like it could freeze you on contact, Park Sunga politely clasped her hands. He was frightening, but strangely, she couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
'He's a villain, but he has a certain... dignity.'
Park Sunga watched Jin Natra handling affairs in his office. Contrary to her expectation that he would immediately stir up trouble, he was living a surprisingly quiet life.
It was around that time that Bell Natra, who had been wandering the universe in search of the Red Timestone, arrived at the Natra royal castle.
“I'm back! Huh? Nanny. You look a little older since I last saw you.”
“Oh, Lady Bell! Please, come this way! A terrible thing happened while you were away.”
The head maid recounted the story of King Tul Natra's collapse and Jin Natra's usurpation of the throne. She claimed Jin Natra was also the reason she looked so aged now.
“I don't know how he did it, but it started right then.”
Bell Natra listened with a look of utter disbelief before summoning the captain of the guard protecting Tul Natra.
“Father collapsed? What do you mean Jin took the throne? There's no way the other candidates for succession would just let that happen!”
The captain's face now bore wrinkles that hadn't been there before. The strangeness of it unsettled Bell Natra. After a low groan, the captain revealed the true reason, known only to high-ranking officials.
The shattered Timestone.
Jin Natra's increased power.
And the other succession candidates, who had parts of their shadows stolen and had become ordinary people.
“I fear His Majesty Tul was subjected to a forced successio—”
“There's no way Jin would do that!”
Unable to believe it, Bell Natra rushed to the king's chambers. There, she saw Tul Natra lying pale and still. Wan and colorless, he was no longer the imposing king of the past.
Could Jin really have done it?
Seeing her father receiving only the most basic treatment to keep him alive, Bell Natra's faith began to crack.
“...Nanny. Help me.”
“Yes, Lady Bell.”
After loading Tul Natra onto her spaceship, Bell Natra glanced at the royal castle for a moment before departing. Soon after, Natra spaceships began to pursue her. Under the barrage of attacks, Bell Natra bit her lip.
“...Father. What do we do now?”
Gazing at Tul Natra lying in the medical capsule, Bell Natra swallowed her tears.
Watching Bell Natra's ship speed across the blue sky under the high sun, Jin Natra spoke, his eyes still fixed on the window.
“If you can't catch her within two hours, return.”
A short while later, dozens of spaceships rose into the sunset-streaked sky and attacked Bell Natra's vessel.
Jin Natra watched with a smile as the ships attacked Bell Natra's spaceship—attacking the former king's daughter.
'Our little Jin is gone...!'
The audience, who had come to love the adorable little Jin Natra while watching the *Shadowman* series, wept inwardly at the sight of the now-villainous Jin Natra's cynical smile.
Tul Natra and Bell Natra fled the pursuing Natra forces and hid on Earth. The only person the father and daughter could rely on was Shadowman, Mac, who lived in a small apartment.
The three of them tried to ease the awkwardness. While treating Tul Natra's condition, Bell Natra remained vigilant. Then one day, just like any other, an alarm blared.
“It's a Natra warship.”
A Natra warship, its presence concealed in stealth mode, was heading toward Earth.
“Where is it?”
“I don't know. The comms are down...”
Shadowman and Bell Natra were on high alert. On the screen, smaller ships began to pour out of the massive warship.
Whether it was due to Bell Natra's skill or because 'someone' wasn't trying to stop her, she easily pinpointed the Natra fleet's destination.
Looking at the destination displayed on a large holographic globe, Shadowman spoke.
“It's France.”
Soon, Bell Natra's spaceship ascended. Tul Natra, now able to walk, saw the two of them off.
***
Paris, France.
A Natra warship appeared over the green Champ de Mars, with the Eiffel Tower in view.
“Jin Natra!”
“You've come, hero.”
At the hero's arrival right before him, Jin Natra smiled gently. Black, branch-like markings that looked like veins covered half of his cheek.
Huh? What's that?
The audience noticed the black marks on Jin Natra's cheek. But before they could ponder what it was, Shadowman and Jin Natra clashed.
Shadowman was purely on the defensive against Jin Natra's attacks. The occasional close-up on Shadowman's face revealed his anguish.
“William.”
“I believe I told you. My name is Jin Natra.”
A wind blew between them.
The distant spaceship descended closer to the ground. Its hatch opened, and knights emerged, surrounding Shadowman. Jin Natra placed the spear he was holding into his shadow and turned away.
The knights, who looked ready to attack, remained motionless, as if guarding the wormhole generator.
“Jin Natra is on the move! Let's follow him!”
“...Right.”
Shadowman boarded Bell Natra's ship. About to let out a heavy sigh, wondering what would happen next, he froze when he met the eyes of a stranger.
“...Who's this?”
“A scholar who was with Jin. He was next to the wormhole generator, so I brought him along.”
“...Lady Bell dragged me here against my will.”
“We need to figure out what Jin is planning.”
So that's what she was up to.
It was a move typical of the brazen Bell Natra. Shadowman chuckled softly and sat down. Once again, Bell Natra breached the security that 'someone' had deliberately weakened and began to pursue Jin Natra.
“So, what is William planning to do?”
“Will...iam?”
“...I mean Jin Natra.”
At Shadowman's question, the scholar scratched his chin and explained.
“Lord Jin intends to use the wormhole generator to make Earth and Natra collide. Once the wormhole exceeds a certain size, Earth and Natra will affect each other's gravity. Chunks of the planet with weaker gravity will be pulled toward the one with stronger gravity.”
The collision of Earth and Natra.
Shadowman and Bell Natra gulped.
The audience also swallowed nervously at the unexpectedly grave turn of events.
“Eventually, the weaker planet will be torn to pieces by the wormhole, and the stronger one will be devastated by the massive chunks of land pouring out of it. Like a meteor shower.”
“Is that even possible?”
“It's possible if there's enough energy to expand the wormhole. And Lord Jin has that energy source.”
“...The Timestone!”
The scholar nodded at Bell Natra's scream-like reply.
“It may be fragmented, but it's more than enough.”
“Why would he create something like that?!”
At Shadowman's words, the scholar, who had been speaking in a light tone, let out a heavy sigh.
“We didn't know at first either. Once we found out, we tried to stop him, but Lord Jin was holding the lives of the Natra people hostage. We had no choice.”
“How do we stop it?”
“There are three wormhole generators to be installed. You either have to remove the energy source... or destroy the machines.”
The scholar's voice trailed off at the end, but Bell Natra and Shadowman didn't notice.
“Alright. The next destination is here!”
The destination appeared on the holographic globe in the center of the ship.
A glowing peninsula next to a familiar continent came into view.
[KOREA]
At the caption, the audience members gasped, covering their mouths. It's finally happening!
As Bell Natra's ship pursued Jin Natra's, the soldiers who spotted her grew restless.
“Lady Bell is better than Lord Jin, the Earthling.”
The soldiers and lower-ranking knights aboard the ships rebelled against the high command's order to attack Bell Natra. The high command had despised Jin Natra for being an Earthling, so they couldn't understand this. Unaware of the Timestone situation, the junior knights tried to turn their ships to join Bell Natra.
“Attack.”
At Jin Natra's command, the senior knights gritted their teeth and aimed their ships at their subordinates'.
The sky from France to Korea became a battlefield.
The ships that had sided with Bell Natra and Jin Natra's ships attacked one another. The black spaceships destroyed and were destroyed, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
The audience stared blankly at the screen, captivated by the spectacular battle scene with explosions erupting everywhere.
Bell Natra's ship swiftly navigated through the chaos. *Boom!* A ship exploded right next to them. Another, hit by an attack, plummeted into the sea. Watching it on the monitor, Bell Natra bit her lip.
“Should we go back?”
“No, this is more important.”
Bell Natra didn't stop. Upon reaching their destination, her ship rapidly descended.
The camera, focused on Bell Natra's determined expression, followed her gaze forward.
A city came into view, with a wide, straight plaza, two statues, and tall buildings.
*Gasp!*
At the long-awaited appearance of Korea, the audience involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
It was Gwanghwamun Square.
The Gwanghwamun Square on screen was both familiar and strange. As everyone was marveling at the sight,
*Crash!*
A spaceship zipped past Bell Natra's and slammed into a building.
!
One audience member clasped their hands together. It was their office building. Every Monday on the way to work, they had secretly wished for an alien invasion, and it had actually happened.
The two factions continued their fight in the sky above Gwanghwamun Square. Falling ships crashed everywhere.
Buildings were destroyed, and smoke billowed up. The audience, who had been watching the spectacular battle in the familiar location in a daze, suddenly widened their eyes.
Oh, oh...!
Seeing a spaceship falling toward the statue of King Sejong the Great, the audience clenched their fists. They watched its descent without breathing, without blinking.
*KABOOM!*
A loud explosion kicked up a cloud of dust. The audience, who had been staring hard enough to pierce through the dust, collectively sighed in relief. Thankfully, the half-destroyed ship had crashed right next to the statue.
'This... is not good for my heart...!'
Lee Miyeon and Park Sunga slumped limply against their seatbacks.
Bell Natra avoided the battlefield and headed for Jin Natra's ship. It was hovering over Geunjeongjeon Hall.
At the sight of Gwanghwamun Gate and the palace behind it, the audience gulped. The image of a spaceship floating over the familiar Gyeongbok Palace was both strange and fascinating.
Bell Natra's ship landed with a crash, crushing the ticket booth inside Gwanghwamun Gate.
“Damn it...!”
A blue light shot up from above Geunjeongjeon Hall. The wormhole generator had activated. Bell Natra and Shadowman leaped out of their ship.
Shadowman and Bell Natra cut through the charging knights and soldiers, passed through Heungnyemun Gate, crossed Yeongjegyo Bridge, and entered through Geunjeongmun Gate.
Geunjeongjeon Hall.
On the steps stood Jin Natra and the wormhole generator. A spaceship had crashed into the pond of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, sending up a huge splash.
“JIN NATRA!!!”
Shadowman's voice echoed through Geunjeongjeon Hall. While the knights engaged Shadowman, Jin Natra opened the wormhole.
Above Geunjeongjeon Hall, the image of a cold, icy desert appeared within the shimmering blue flames of the wormhole.
Jin Natra and Shadowman clashed. In the blink of an eye, their shadows shifted forms—from spears to staffs to swords.
The audience, mesmerized by the fiery battle, had their attention forcibly diverted.
The scholar, who was examining the wormhole generator, shouted in alarm.
“...There's no Timestone.”
“Then... how in the world is that thing working?”
Bell Natra's voice trembled as she stared at the wormhole displaying its might above the oriental palace.
“Stop it, now!”
“Well. Even I would have a hard time with that.”
Two sharp swords met.
“Let's go to our parents, right now.”
“...”
*Clang!*
“I'll explain everything.”
*Crash!*
“Our parents will be waiting.”
As the distance between them grew, the swords in their hands naturally became spears. Jin Natra, holding a long spear, swung it at Shadowman.
“And... Tul Natra misses you very much.”
The fight between Shadowman and Jin Natra grew more and more intense.
The rank stones set up in the courtyard were swept away, but Geunjeongjeon Hall itself stood firm without a scratch. On its steps, Bell Natra and the scholar were struggling to destroy the wormhole generator.
In the middle of their fierce exchange, Jin Natra suddenly staggered.
As if waiting for that moment, Shadowman's troublemaking shadow struck.
*KABOOOM!*
Unable to dodge the attack from Shadowman's sentient shadow, Jin Natra was sent flying.
!!!
First by the shadow's sudden attack, then by the sight of Jin Natra being mercilessly flung away. The audience was so shocked they could only stare at the screen with their mouths agape.
Jin Natra crashed into the palace wall. The blow was so powerful that the stones and tiles of the wall shattered. Eventually, the wall collapsed. Jin Natra's body fell to the ground with it.
“Jin!”
“William!”
A shocked Shadowman and Bell Natra rushed toward Jin Natra.
It was then.
From the unconscious Jin Natra's body, a pitch-black shadow spread out like a wave. The surging black shadow rapidly expanded, growing so immense it covered most of the battle-scarred courtyard and sky. The pressure it exuded was so overwhelming it made one instinctively step back.
The audience was just as overwhelmed by the shadow. They could only stare blankly, without even blinking. The darkened theater felt like an extension of that shadow. The captivated audience stared at the screen, entranced.
Jin Natra, having regained consciousness, boarded his spaceship and returned to the warship.
“...Lady Bell. I've figured out a way to stop the wormhole.”
The scholar, now on Bell Natra's ship, spoke up.
“It seems Lord Jin has absorbed the fragments of the Timestone.”
“He can absorb it?”
Bell Natra looked puzzled. The scholar nodded.
“Natra people can neither break nor absorb the Timestone, but Lord Jin is an Earthling.”
“...I see.”
“The reason he was resting his hand on the wormhole generator must have been to inject it with energy.”
“What were those marks on Jin's face?”
“...Lord Jin's body can't withstand the Timestone's energy. His physical form is cracking. If the cracks spread all over his body, eventually...”
Shadowman, who had been listening quietly, shot to his feet and approached the scholar. He bared his teeth and asked.
“So what's the solution?”
“...I don't know. But, His Majesty might know! There's a library that has been passed down through the royal line for generations!”
Shadowman looked at Bell Natra, who was searching for the final wormhole generator's location.
“Did you find it?”
“No. It doesn't look like he's heading there now. I guess that last attack did a lot of damage.”
At her words, Shadowman stomped on his shadow. Sensing its master's mood, the troublemaking shadow went limp and stuck to the floor.
“Then let's go to Father.”
“Okay.”
While she was happy to hear Shadowman call him 'Father', Bell Natra couldn't help but sigh at the news of Jin Natra's perilous condition.