Echoes of the Dream (1)
The video currently ranked #1 on YouTube's trending list was none other than a live news broadcast.
That made perfect sense. The World Boss was an existence that captivated not only the Awakened but every single non-Awakened person as well.
Thudududududu!
A broadcast helicopter hovered overhead, filming the scene, and one of the feeds it captured had claimed the top spot. Among countless channels, why had this one surged to number one?
“Ah, right now!? Right now, Kang Hae-il and Sagosul are clashing!! Professor, what’s your take on the current situation?”
Every news channel had paired a caster with an expert commentator, but this channel’s combination was especially unconventional.
“Ah, yes… It seems the warlocks originally intended to sacrifice the academy students, but they ended up getting caught in their own spell. That’s the nature of black magic. There are many reports about its inherent risks, you see?”
“Ah~”
The on-screen title beneath the speaker read:
S-University Economics Professor
Lee Suyeon’s Mentor
Awakener Ecology Researcher
Kim Yu-sik
Kim Yu-sik—the very professor whose top-tier Awakened student had been deployed to the scene.
His title even included “Awakener Ecology Researcher.” He had once been an E-rank Awakener himself and had written papers on how production-class Awakeners should structure their assembly lines.
“But… right now, the Awakeners led by Kang Hae-il are trying to kill the warlocks who became the sacrifices, correct? What’s the reason for that?”
Kim Yu-sik’s analysis was precise.
“They’re likely trying to cancel the summoning. If the sacrifices disappear, the World Boss can’t be summoned.”
Only now did the viewers begin to understand, and comments flooded in. That was how incomprehensible the situation had been to them.
Yet even after the explanation, one thing still didn’t make sense.
“If that’s the case, then why are Sagosul and… what should we call him? Gosul Girl? Why are those two stopping the Awakeners?”
“It’s simple. They want the summoning to proceed.”
“What!?”
The caster couldn’t comprehend it.
“W-why would they do that?”
“I don’t know the exact details, but if they delay this incident… it might erupt somewhere else instead, don’t you think?”
“Ah…”
“Right now there are no civilians around, and if the sacrificial ritual fails, summoning the World Boss here is the safest option for the public. An incomplete summoning would also make it easier to deal with.”
“Delaying the problem isn’t the best solution…! That’s their stance, correct?”
“Exactly. But that’s from the civilians’ perspective. The Awakeners see it differently. If they summon and defeat the World Boss here, every Awakener below level 30 will lose their powers. From the next chapter onward, the number of Awakeners might dwindle too far to handle the threats.”
“……You’re right!? So who’s correct?”
“Both sides have valid points. It’s a difficult issue. However, since both parties are Awakeners themselves……”
Kim Yu-sik gave a cold assessment.
“It will be decided by force.”
Kang Hae-il’s teammates attempted to approach several more times, only to be neutralized without even realizing what had hit them.
Shraaaak!
“Kugh……!”
Yu Jihun had pushed himself too hard; one of his arms was nearly severed, hanging by mere shreds.
“Heal!”
“Yes……!”
Lee Suyeon rushed over and rapidly cast healing magic, reattaching the limb.
Wooong!
Beyond the despair of his Constellations, Yu Jihun himself was drowning in it.
“Kuh…… What the hell? I can’t even see what I’m getting hit by.”
Sagosul stood in the center of the rooftop like a commander, merely swinging his arm, yet the allies attacking from every direction couldn’t even touch him.
It felt like they were being cut by something, but no one could tell what.
[Narrative Trick Hwando]
That sword was completely invisible to anyone within the story.
Only the Constellations could observe it.
And there was one more trick layered on top.
[Mana Blade - Extension]
It didn’t merely coat the blade to sharpen its edge—the mana extended far beyond the sword’s length, slicing through enemies like a extending staff.
Even that remained invisible thanks to the Narrative Trick.
Shraaak!
“Ugh……!”
Kim Ri-el’s arm was also sent flying.
“Ri, Ri-el!”
Suyeon dashed over and grabbed the severed limb.
She glared at Sagosul.
‘H-he really cut him.’
An Awakener killing another Awakener. This was a first for her. The feeling was completely different from being attacked by a monster. Rage surged within her.
‘That damn masked pervert……’
To Suyeon, the man was a fraud impersonating Moon Junil’s achievements. She already had every reason to despise him, and now he was casually slicing off people’s arms? There was no greater trash.
“Are you actually trying to kill them!?”
Suyeon demanded, voice trembling with fury.
“What? If I wanted you dead, you’d already be dead. Don’t get cocky.”
Sagosul flicked the blood from his blade and answered calmly.
Drip, drip……
The falling droplets reflected in Suyeon’s wide eyes.
‘Damn bastard.’
Sagosul’s words weren’t wrong. So far, he had only incapacitated their arms. His blade had never aimed for a vital point.
“So while I’m still going easy on you, just back off.”
“Shut up!”
That was when Kang Hae-il growled and cut in. While the others needed Lee Suyeon’s healing, he was regenerating on his own, flames wrapping around his entire body.
Fwoooosh!
“Canceling the World Boss summoning is the best move. You’re the one who should back down.”
Sagosul’s mask tilted slightly.
“Why is that the best move? Isn’t your goal to kill the World Boss as quickly as possible? Don’t you value ‘life’?”
“That’s……”
Kang Hae-il hesitated for a moment.
“If we kill it now, there won’t be a next time. There are still many talented people who haven’t reached level 30 yet. Even if we push through here, it won’t matter.”
“Talented~ people? If they were truly talented, they would’ve already hit level 30 on their own~?”
Junil openly mocked him.
“The World Boss is coming either way. Right now the civilians have all evacuated—it’s safe. We can even summon it using the warlocks as sacrifices with zero civilian casualties. Killing the boss in that state is the optimal choice, isn’t it?”
By Kang Hae-il’s original logic, every word was correct. That was why he couldn’t answer easily.
“That’s……”
He knew it too. Canceling the summoning was nothing more than postponing the problem.
“You people will end up sacrificing far more civilians in the future.”
Every word Sagosul spoke was being broadcast live. The viewers watching the stream all agreed with him. No non-Awakened person wanted a World Boss suddenly summoned in their neighborhood one day.
Of course, opposing opinions existed as well—mostly from Awakeners.
Wiping out large numbers of Awakeners now would indeed cast a dark shadow over the future. That was also a valid point. Yet no one knew what other sacrifices this choice might demand.
The news chatroom erupted into heated debate.
‘There’s no predetermined answer.’
Junil knew it too. This was a question without a right answer. But his target was solely Kang Hae-il. When it came to pointing out his contradictions, the conclusion was obvious.
So Kang Hae-il, deep in thought, finally asked Sagosul.
“Then you’re saying you want to force the summoning here and kill the World Boss?”
“That’s right. If we do that, no one has to die.”
“……”
No one has to die.
That single statement shook Kang Hae-il to his core. No one else would have to become a second version of himself—or his father.
Then it happened.
“U-uhihihihihi!?”
The Pollak-ers’ leader suddenly burst into laughter.
“You people……”
He laughed as if he were about to choke, barely managing to speak.
“Do you really think you can kill the Judge? Shouldn’t you figure that out first? U-uhihihihihi……!?”
“U-uhihihihi!? How arrogant can you be!? You can’t decide anything…… Every decision belongs to Him…… U-uhihihihi!?”
He yanked harder on the chains binding him.
Clatter……!
“I-I will become one with Him…… And I! Will watch!”
Thud—
He leapt toward the source of the chains on his own.
Toward the crimson passage.
“The normalization of real estate! I will witness it from within Him!!”
That was when it happened.
“Ignition Drive.”
Fwoooosh!
Kang Hae-il launched a surprise attack. His figure shot forward at comet-like speed and power.
‘What?’
Junil missed it for an instant. It was over in a flash. Kang Hae-il’s blazing fist pierced straight through the Pollak-ers leader’s stomach.
KABOOM!
“As expected…… the summoning can’t happen.”
He had snatched the man out of midair.
“……Kuh, kuhak!?”
The Pollak-ers leader couldn’t even leave a proper last word. He burned to death, feeling his organs boil from the inside.
“Kuuuuuuuurgh……!?”
Thud—
The body with a gaping hole slumped over Kang Hae-il’s arm. One sacrifice had been eliminated.
Junil’s eyes twitched.
‘He didn’t hesitate at all?’
There had been a reason Junil missed Kang Hae-il’s movement. He reacted based on prediction, and this decision had been far too unexpected.
“Is that really your choice?”
“Yeah. We’ll delay it for now. Then we’ll find another way.”
“……Huh? What if you can’t find a way by then?”
“……”
Kang Hae-il gave no answer. He had chosen the path of potential civilian casualties. He had claimed no one would die, yet here they were. What was going on?
「There are still many talented people who haven’t reached level 30 yet.」
An F-rank porter not reaching level 30? Was that really the reason? Did that justify this level of resolve?
But there was no time to think. He had to protect the remaining sacrifices.
“Ignition……”
Fwoooosh!
Kang Hae-il was aiming for them. Junil’s eyes moved rapidly—his hands moved even faster.
Shring!
[Mana Blade - Extension]
Junil extended his Mana Blade once more. Kang Hae-il was rocketing toward the next sacrifice. His blade strike landed precisely on Kang Hae-il’s side.
CLANG……!
It failed to pierce and bounced off.
‘Huh?’
Suyeon had her palm outstretched. It was her protective barrier skill, layered over Kang Hae-il.
‘She shouldn’t be able to see it.’
Lee Suyeon shouted.
“I figured it out! That guy is using an invisible sword!”
She had seen the shape of the falling blood droplets earlier and deduced they outlined a sword.
“Ha?”
Already figured out. There was no time to feel annoyed. A chilling killing intent rose from beneath his feet, making his bones ache.
[Ice Ghost]
Crack crack crack!
His feet froze solid. At the same time, steam formed above him.
[Hail]
Shraaaaar!
Countless shards of ice rained down on Junil. It looked like one of Yu Jihun’s techniques. His arm had already been reattached.
“Now’s the time! Kill him!!”
Yu Jihun shouted to Kang Hae-il and Kim Ri-el. Kang Hae-il flew between the warlocks while Kim Ri-el began chanting something.
‘This is getting annoying……’
Neither killing the opponents nor protecting the sacrifices was proving easy. It was infuriating.
“Tsk.”
Junil clicked his tongue and decided there was no helping it. He reached behind him and pulled something from his inventory. It was a beautiful, small perfume bottle. He gently pressed the nozzle.
Psst—
A whisper reached someone’s ears.
Whiff
In that instant, the sky was swallowed by darkness.