Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 269
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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An overwhelmingly massive door.
Kang Seol halted in front of it.
Looking back, Hye-myeong was frozen mid-sentence.
‘This must be the power of the mind that Watara spoke of.’
It wasn’t some grandiose ability to stop time, but a grateful force that allowed him to focus solely on this door.
Swish…
Swishhh…
Even the chains wrapped around the door felt oppressively heavy to Kang Seol.
‘Why is it so…’
It felt like facing a cruel ordeal, an irrationality.
How could someone as small as himself possibly open such a door?
Such thoughts crept in.
But different words escaped his lips.
“Wait, I’m just going to…”
Clang…
Clang…
It was like that stifling sensation of moving in a dream. Exactly like this.
Everything related to the door felt absurdly heavy, while the power welling up inside him was limited.
“Haa… haa…”
Just slightly pulling on the door’s handle made Kang Seol’s breathing ragged.
“Hoo… hoooo…”
No matter how much he strained and tugged, the door didn’t budge an inch. Even with the door he’d searched so desperately for right in front of him, he couldn’t open it.
Ssshh…
From the sky of the dark space, the face of a golden statue emerged. Far larger than life-size, big enough to devour most of his field of vision.
The golden statue opened its mouth and spoke.
“You are… not the Immortal…”
“…What?”
Another statue’s face appeared from the right this time.
“You are not the Immortal, so you cannot open that door.”
“Shut up! What are you talking about!”
“You can never become the Immortal… pitiful being…”
“No! I never tried to become the Immortal… I never…”
Ssshh…
This time from the left.
“This door can only be opened by the Immortal, for certain. You feel it too, don’t you?”
“……”
“The Immortal is stronger than you now. You’ll just chase his heels and end up in despair.”
Swoosh…
Kang Seol let go of the door handle with a slip.
“Your mind is weak.”
“You are ordinary.”
“They are greater than you.”
Kang Seol shrank greatly under the pressure from the golden statues assailing him from all sides.
No strength entered his hands.
“You can never sustain the power of the mind.”
Kang Seol bowed his head deeply.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I can’t open it now… so this time too, you…”
A voice flowed from beyond the door once more.
- Hmm… this time too?
There was no strength in Kang Seol’s pupils.
His will seemed to break.
‘This time too, asking me to break down my door?’
Kang Seol suddenly recalled the unfinished sentence.
‘No… that’s not it. I never wanted that!’
I, I… someday…
‘I have to surpass them.’
Kang Seol spoke to the being beyond the door.
“Wait just a little longer this time.”
- …….
“I will definitely open the door myself.”
The being beyond the door burst into mad laughter.
- Kuhahahahaha!
“……”
- Hey, Kang Seol.
The being beyond the door asked Kang Seol.
- Is that muttering Immortal guy you keep talking about really that great?
The Immortal was the founder of the Eternal Church and a legendary black mage. However, not everyone knew of him.
The being beyond the door didn’t know him either.
“…I don’t know.”
- What’s certain is, I’m waiting for you, not the Immortal.
“What?”
- So have some patience and wait a bit more. Delaying a fun event is no big deal.
As the golden statue’s face seemed to end the conversation, it asked Kang Seol.
“Why don’t you give up? You’re not qualified to open the door.”
“…I made a promise.”
“A promise?”
- I will become a god.
- Then you are qualified. Qualified to join this body on its journey to become the king of all things. I will let you join this body’s glorious journey.
He had definitely promised.
Ssshhh…
The golden statue’s face vanished.
Thud…
Thud…
The door receded once more.
The being beyond the door’s words lingered like an echo.
- Struggle all you want. I’ll be waiting.
Crash…
The pitch-black space shattered.
The situation where he’d just been talking with Hye-myeong remained the same, but something was different.
“What… just now…”
Hye-myeong spoke in a tone of confusion, as if he’d had the same experience as Kang Seol.
Whoosh…
Whish…
Kang Seol hurriedly looked around.
‘Damn…’
Then he spotted the writing on the ceiling.
Soon, the real golden statue spoke.
- Having crossed hesitation, return to your place.
“Ha…”
- Tame the weakness of the mind as well.
The frustration and humiliation he’d just felt were trials prepared in advance.
‘Right, there were no such phrases when we first arrived.’
Perhaps from the moment they arrived, he’d already fallen for Watara’s temptation.
Was everything an illusion?
Kwaaaaaang-!
“Damn, it’s getting closer.”
“Ugh… what’s happening?”
“Wake everyone up, we have to run!”
Hye-myeong carried Mia on his back, and with Seol-hong on Chi-u’s back, they dashed alongside Kang Seol.
At that moment.
- You have overcome the heart demon, virtuous one.
“…What?”
Rumble rumble rumble…
The ruins transformed, unfolding a long passage before their eyes.
- Hurry, only Watara’s relic can quell the evil.
In this urgent situation where they couldn’t afford to hesitate, they had to hurry as the statue said.
Dash dash dash-!
Hye-myeong looked at Kang Seol’s body and said.
“Kang Seol, you…”
“Why?”
“There’s a strange light coming from your body…”
Like paint applied along his form, a faint golden light seeped from Kang Seol’s body.
No, everyone was the same.
Chi-u and Hye-myeong too, though weaker than Kang Seol’s, were clearly enveloped in a glow.
Kwaang-!
Kwaaaaaang!
The sounds of collapse drew steadily closer.
Geusandae couldn’t be properly navigating the checkpoints.
He was the kind of monster who would smash through if there was no path and carve a new one.
“Run!”
An immense pressure transmitted from behind.
It felt so close that if he looked back, Geusandae might be right there.
Seol-hong shouted.
“The path… it’s cut off!”
Just as she said.
From where the passage ended to the next platform, the distance was impossible to jump.
The path was severed.
“No, it’s not.”
Hye-myeong said, staring straight ahead.
Clearly, there was a path.
As if to affirm his words.
The golden statue opened its mouth.
- The path prepared for those who have awakened.
In that instant, Chi-u, Hye-myeong, and Kang Seol all leaped far ahead simultaneously.
But it was still far short of the opposite platform.
Seol-hong squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
Expecting the sensation of falling soon. But instead, a stable feeling like walking on solid ground came over her.
“We’re… flying.”
To Seol-hong, it looked like they were running through the sky.
However, those actually dashing through the air only looked straight ahead.
‘There’s an invisible platform.’
Kwaaaaaang-!
By the time they reached the next platform, the narrow passage behind exploded.
A child covered in tattoos like black lines etched across his body. But mistaking him for a child would be a mistake.
He was Geusandae, the ghost mixed of red and black malice.
“Finally, caught you.”
Rrrumble…
The child’s body swelled, and the evil spirit within the skin awoke.
A form like a structure or grotesque doll. A rhombus-shaped main body connected by vein-like lines to enormous hands.
Geusandae pursued them.
Whiiiiiing-!
“He’s coming!”
“Run!”
Kang Seol’s group realized they couldn’t even resist the ghostly energy pouring from Geusandae and focused solely on escape.
The familiar phrase was inscribed on the platform.
The golden statue spoke.
- Awaken that body and mind are not different.
Fwaaah-!
They leaped over the platform.
Body treading the ground, mind treading the air.
The world accelerated alternately.
The runners were shattering their own walls. A much faster self, a much lighter self.
Dashing at speeds that could hardly be called human.
Yet the evil spirit pursuing them was Geusandae.
“It’s useless!”
Kwaaaaaang-!
The platform where they had paused briefly exploded.
To Geusandae floating in the air, beasts bound to the ground were mere meals.
* * *
Taat!
“The path splits!”
Five branching paths.
Which platform should they head to shake off Geusandae—no, to reach the Wilderness Spirit?
[The path ahead splits into five branches…]
‘Shut up!’
No choices needed.
The suddenly glowing platform was already laid out before his eyes.
Fwaaah-!
Kang Seol’s group vanished beyond the darkness simultaneously.
“You think you can escape!”
The pursuing Geusandae took a different path from theirs.
Fwaaah-!
Fwaaaaah!
The farther they leaped across platforms, not only did the required distance increase, but the needed mental strength seemed to grow too—the platforms grew blurrier.
The golden statue said.
- Limits are merely inherited; surpass them, and they are but others’ limits.
Kwakwakwakwaaaang-!
In that moment, the side wall crumbled, and a crimson-black hand burst out. A hand like it wore gloves.
“There you are!”
Ghostly energy that could stop breath.
Whoooong-!
“Watara’s power will be used for Lord Hwagumu’s revival!”
His hand slammed down on the platform.
“The path bends.”
Kang Seol’s group’s course suddenly veered sharply.
Thanks to that, Geusandae’s hand only struck an empty platform, reaping no harvest.
“Rats!”
Kuuuung-!
Geusandae crashed into the wall at full speed but, true to the master of immense power, his pursuit only slowed slightly with no real damage.
Kang Seol’s group swiftly headed to the next platform.
Kwaaang!
Kwaang!
“I’ll tear you limb from limb!”
Sounds of the ruins’ sections collapsing continued from behind. A situation where losing one’s wits to the approaching terror wouldn’t be odd.
‘Geusandae has been breaking through like this all along.’
Then he wouldn’t have felt it.
The wonder of the path guided by Watara, his teachings.
The golden statue said.
- Seize freedom, swim the earth and walk the skies.
A wall suddenly blocked their path.
“Damn it, I can’t see from here!”
Chi-u showed signs of staying behind alone to face Geusandae any moment.
Whirlic-!
“Ugh!?”
Kang Seol wrapped Chi-u and Seol-hong with Shadow Hand.
Fwaaah-!
Then leaped toward the obstructing wall.
“We’ll crash!”
Swoooosh…
But they entered the wall without major impact.
Shaaaaaaaak-!
Sliding down the steep incline like a slide.
Kwaang-!
Kwaaaaang!
Geusandae was smashing the wall they’d passed through. They’d barely widened the gap.
At the incline’s end, darkness loomed.
Chi-u and Hye-myeong bit their lips.
“Can’t see…”
Now even Hye-myeong couldn’t see beyond.
As time passed, the golden light emanating from Kang Seol’s body grew denser.
Whirlic-!
Shadow Hand wrapping even Hye-myeong and Mia.
“Jumping.”
The inscription left on the incline.
The golden statue said.
- If you seek all, awaken all.
Hwaaaaaak-!
“We’re fallingggg!”
Bouncing off the incline, a pitch-black space welcomed them.
Likely a space where the unseen would end in a fall.
But Kang Seol’s hair rippled gold for a moment like waves.
A flood of Watara’s teachings poured in.
An invisible statue in Watara’s form gazed at the sky with mouth agape.
Kang Seol flew toward that tiny gap.
Kwaaaaaaaaang-!
Riding that gap, Geusandae appeared in the space.
But Kang Seol’s group had already vanished into the statue’s mouth.
Rumble rumble rumble…
The space began fully reconstructing.
Kung-!
Kuuuung-!
Not content with a massive whirlwind, ruin fragments the size of hills flew at Geusandae, binding him. He was soon encased in fragments.
“I’ll kill you for sure!”
Kuuuuwuuung-!
Paaaang!
Leaving Geusandae buried in the ruins behind, they reached the end of the suffocating chase.
Ssshh…
Kang Seol’s group stepped onto the continuing path.
The golden statue said.
- Awakened one, advance. Watara’s power awaits.
“It’s a passage! We’re almost there!”
“Then the Wilderness Spirit is just beyond…”
Chi-u, Hye-myeong, Mia, and Seol-hong couldn’t hide their excitement and tried to rush forward.
“…Kang Seol?”
Hye-myeong turned and saw Kang Seol standing alone, rooted in place, silently gazing at him.
“What are you doing… you…”
Passing through that path, Hye-myeong had gained something more precious than the Wilderness Spirit. The true power of the golden statue.
And it wasn’t Kang Seol’s.
“Advance, Hye-myeong.”
“…You?”
“I stay here.”
“Why?”
Kang Seol said.
“I’ve already obtained it.”
Kung…
Kuuung…
“Go on.”
“I can’t… I’ll fight too…”
“Go! Listen to me! Seol-hong! Chi-u!”
Chi-u and Seol-hong nodded at Kang Seol’s shout.
“We have to go, Hye-myeong! Hurry!”
“But Kang Seol…”
“We have to trust him!”
The trust between Kang Seol and Seol-hong was absolute. To Seol-hong, Kang Seol’s resolve was akin to truth.
“Let’s go… Hye-myeong… he’s coming…”
“Kuuk…”
Even Mia grabbed Hye-myeong’s hand, and he could no longer hold out.
Dash dash dash…
They hurriedly left the spot.
A moment later.
Step…
Step…
A child appeared in the passage.
“Have you given up on running now?”
“…I never ran.”
“It’s pointless. Watara’s power can simply erase and take your existences.”
Whoooo…
Geusandae’s ghostly energy overwhelmed Kang Seol’s aura. It vividly proved what true immortality’s power was like.
While Eoduksini hadn’t even unleashed half that power, Geusandae fully displayed the might of the ghost general who rampaged in Hwagumu’s era.
“Die.”
At Geusandae’s command, his grotesque hands emerged from the black space.
Whooong-!
A sensation like time slowing.
Kang Seol, rippling with golden light, had returned here once more.
Hwaaaaaaaaak-!
Heaven and earth turned black, and he stood before the door again.
* * *
The world of the mind was a place only he perceived.
He reached the door in an instant.
The door of nothingness still proudly stood firm.
Kang Seol placed his hand on the door.
“I’m back.”
No reply came.
Had it grown tired of waiting and left?
- If you seek all, awaken all.
Enveloped in mysterious power, Kang Seol placed his hand on the handle.
- Awakened one, advance. Watara’s power awaits.
With Watara’s power before him, he turned back.
Because it belonged to Hye-myeong.
Tzzzzzzt…
Experiencing mental acceleration, Kang Seol advanced. Finally, the imbalanced equilibrium aligned.
“I’ll open the door now.”
Inhale-!
Creak…
Creeeak…
A different sensation from before.
The door clearly stirred.
Suddenly, a hazy black doll-like figure appeared on the door.
- You are not me.
Likely the form of the Immortal that Kang Seol had conjured.
Veins bulging, Kang Seol gripped the door and replied.
“Yeah, I’m not you…”
Creeeek… creeeak…
Rrrrrumble…
Crack…
Crack…
The chains were breaking.
Rumble rumble rumble…
The door vibrated madly.
“So what!”
Creeeeek!
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Creeeak!
A slight gap from Kang Seol’s power.
Creeeeeeeak!
He poured out all his strength.
“Open, you bastard!”
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
For an instant, immense pressure burst from beyond the door along with its energy.
Thud…
Thud…
The once massive door swung wide open to both sides.
Hwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!
Tremendous power poured from the void, tousling Kang Seol’s hair.
“Ha… haha…”
Kang Seol had opened the door.
And the one standing before the fully opened door.
“……”
A majestic physique.
Skull rings of a kind he’d never seen adorned both his upper arms, each emanating a unique energy.
The blue glow from his pupils was nothing short of ominous.
The great sorcerer, Jamad, looked at Kang Seol and said.
“Ahh…… Is the boredom over?”
[Forcibly opening the Door of Nothingness.]
[The forsaken paradise, Nothingness, welcomes a new master.]
[The paradise of summons and creations, Nothingness, promotes their growth.]
[Nothingness grows on its own.]
Suddenly, the black space shattered.
Crackle…
Crack crackle…
They returned to reality.
Clearly, Geusandae’s grotesque hand looked ready to crush Kang Seol. Until just now, even Geusandae had been certain of that outcome.
But…
“…What?”
The hand was blocked by something, failing to reach Kang Seol.
By a black monster of majestic build.
Creak…
Creeeak…
Geusandae reluctantly withdrew his hand.
“…Where did you come from?”
Jamad looked quite different from their last meeting. His body gleamed with luster, and not only the dangling ornaments but also new items covered him.
Above all, what had changed most was his aura.
A black, ominous energy unlike any felt before billowed thickly from Jamad’s body.
- Ooh! I see it! It’s visible!
- Look at that, we said opening from outside, right? Forcing it from inside would’ve been disaster!
- Got it, well done. Can you hear us? Hear me? Master?
- Hey, can you hear?
[Nothingness pulses.]
Karen and Ur’s voices rang out.
- Guess not?
- No way?
Ignoring them, messages continued to appear.
[The myriad forms’ Jamad takes position in the shadow space.]
[The shadow space fills up.]
‘…Immortal?’
Jamad had become immortal while residing in Nothingness.
Whiriric-!
Shadows clung to Kang Seol’s body.
A shadow stickier than any he’d felt before.
Patsuzuzuzuzut!
“What! You…”
An immense power gathered on Kang Seol, enough to fluster Geusandae.
Pazut…
Pazuzut…
Not just the fang pattern, but various patterns engraved on the primal bones.
Patterns of lightning, sulfur, and mountain each.
And one more hard-to-discern pattern.
[Sorcerer ‘Jamad of the Myriad Forms’ takes night raven form.]
[Absorbing stats of ‘Jamad of the Myriad Forms.’]
[Job: Sorcerer state.]
……
The following messages proved how Jamad had transformed in the interim.
“Step aside now, scrap metal.”
Jamad, forming the night raven.
The fang pattern writhed.
“This is my place.”