Fanatics' Final Charge
When Han Dae-ho landed and his roar echoed thunderously through the entire building, the light enveloping his body suddenly swelled and intensified, eventually blanketing the entire first floor. It looked as if Han Dae-ho had unleashed a massive wave of light. The black-clad men, who had been creeping toward the falling Han Dae-ho with daggers drawn, froze at the sight of the wave and stumbled back in terror.
Han Dae-ho's figure resembled an angel descending on beams of light. His massive build and booming voice only amplified the divine aura.
"Well done, Ma Yu-hyeon!"
Han Dae-ho was speaking to Ma Yu-hyeon, who was watching from somewhere. The enormous wave of light surrounding him was Ma Yu-hyeon's handiwork. He was manipulating the blessing light flowing from the Fusion Blessing Circle and directing it all toward Han Dae-ho. The light instilled fear in the enemies toward Han Dae-ho and illuminated the darkness, revealing their positions.
Ma Yu-hyeon conducted the light like a seasoned maestro, waving his hands with precision.
Within that light, the enemies' forms were exposed. Kim Jin-seo crouched low, glaring at them. Her eyes darted ceaselessly. Relying on the fleeting light, she frantically memorized their positions.
Her frantic gaze locked onto one spot.
"No, why the hell is that here too…."
Kim Jin-seo muttered, gripping her portable spear tightly. She injected Divine Power into it, and it instantly elongated into a full spear. She held it in her right hand while drawing a Blessing Circle with her left. Light flowed out, wrapping around her body.
Tang—!
The sound was like a gunshot. Kim Jin-seo kicked off the ground, propelled by the condensed blessing's power. It was impulsive. Her body moved before her mind could catch up.
Because she had spotted Do Seon-woo in the darkness.
He stood alone in the heart of the enemy lines. In situations like this, he always stepped forward alone, trying to handle everything by himself. So it wasn't surprising.
She had no reason to worry about him. Do Seon-woo would survive just fine on his own—and he might even subdue all the black-clad men alongside Han Dae-ho. The ones who needed worrying were the other kids.
Yet Kim Jin-seo was charging toward Do Seon-woo.
It was an inexplicable emotion. Not simple worry or pity. A fierce sentiment akin to rage boiled within her.
"Takbīr—!"
Stab!
Kim Jin-seo regulated her breathing and thrust her spear into the black-clad man blocking her path. His rallying cry turned into a scream. The sensation of the spear tip piercing flesh transmitted vividly through her palm.
But the man merely rolled his eyes back and fainted—he didn't die. No blood flowed. She knew the spear in her hand wasn't a real one. She knew enemies struck by it wouldn't die. That's why she didn't hesitate.
Trampling the fallen foe, she turned to Do Seon-woo and opened her mouth.
"Hey."
Do Seon-woo didn't respond. He was looking elsewhere. He always looked elsewhere. She didn't know what he saw, but it was never this way.
Now she finally understood the feeling she got every time she saw him.
She didn't want to become someone better than him. Nor did she want to be a blind follower.
"…Come on, let's go together."
She just wanted to be his equal. Someone qualified to stand beside him. Only then would he look her way.
The black-clad men crept toward them like moths to a flame chasing the light. Han Dae-ho lowered his stance, readying for battle. Kim Jin-seo gripped her spear tighter.
*
"Wow, fuck… Ha… Seriously, these crazy bastards. Does Florence only have lunatics…."
Yeo Min-seo muttered as she watched Kim Jin-seo charge out. She had actually been planning to slip away alone when the chance arose.
But with Han Dae-ho, Do Seon-woo, and Kim Jin-seo diving headfirst into full-scale combat against the black-clad men, escape was impossible. A reckless dash might get her caught as a hostage, or worse, dragged into the fight and injured.
Breaking through the battlefield was an option, but it looked utterly impenetrable. The clash was that fierce.
Crunch—!
Han Dae-ho caught a dagger swung at him barehanded and bent it. Then he slammed his glowing fist into the enemy's solar plexus. The foe gurgled and collapsed. His comrades recoiled at the sight.
Stab!
Kim Jin-seo pierced enemies with her spear. Those struck rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness. Occasionally, she swung it to crack skulls.
Kim Jin-seo wielded the spear with the proficiency of someone born to it.
Crack!
Do Seon-woo grabbed an enemy's head and smashed it into the floor. Massive cracks spiderwebbed the ground each time. Monstrous strength. The Mighty Strength Blessing was no joke.
But even with that blessing, was strength like that normal? Who knows. Anyway, everyone was terrifying.
"…Hoo."
Yeo Min-seo caught her breath, weighing her options. Honestly, escape seemed impossible now.
Two choices remained: Hunker down with Kang Dae-man until things settled, or join the fray among them.
Hiding here was safest, but considering possibilities, fighting alongside might not be bad. Brave, proud Florence student and cleric—could earn her a commendation.
She was already screwed on exams and scholarships. A commendation or recommendation letter was just what she needed.
"Wow, I'm losing it too."
Yeo Min-seo marveled at herself for calculating money and gains even now. But she wasn't disappointed. She believed her pragmatic nature led to sound judgments.
"Fuck it."
She muttered, channeling Divine Power into both hands. Then she leaped into the melee where Han Dae-ho, Kim Jin-seo, Do Seon-woo, and the black-clad men tangled.
"…."
Yet Kang Dae-man still crouched, curled up.
It was when Kang Dae-man was trapped in a shoddily built collapsing building. He was young, small. Too weak to escape alone. No family in sight. They might have been crushed under the debris.
Kang Dae-man huddled, eyes shut, to avoid the crumbling structure.
'Like a bird escaping the fowler's net, deliver yourself.'
That's when Han Dae-ho arrived to save him. Muttering cryptic words, he pulled Kang Dae-man from the ruins. Clearing debris effortlessly, striding forward to rescue others—Han Dae-ho was a true hero.
Growing up, Kang Dae-man learned those mutterings were a verse from Proverbs. Despite poor memory, he memorized that one. He started training. Wanted to be big like Han Dae-ho. Strong.
Time passed, and he truly grew massive. Strong enough no one called him weak.
"Ah…."
Kang Dae-man sighed, eyes closed. The sounds of Han Dae-ho, Kim Jin-seo, Do Seon-woo, and Yeo Min-seo fighting rang out. Chaotic.
But here, utter silence. He felt pathetic, insignificant, unable to join them.
In training or practicals, he could play brave. Act the fearless warrior. No real death there. Teachers guaranteed safety.
But now, death was real. Kang Dae-man huddled in fear. Body grown, but still weak inside. Solid outside, soft core.
Shoddy building. That's how he rated himself.
"Kang Dae-man."
Someone called. He looked up. Han Su-ryeon gazed down at him, hands on knees.
"…Han Su-ryeon, why are you here?"
"Huh? Just came down."
She replied casually.
"Stairs were crawling with enemies."
"Nah, from here, jump over there. Then slide down from there."
Han Su-ryeon pointed around. From the second-floor railing to a pillar, pillar to pillar, down to here. A path only she could take.
She sat beside him, knees up, chin resting, head tilted, staring.
"Everyone's fighting. I'm too scared to do anything."
"Me too."
Kang Dae-man nodded. He understood her fear best.
"…I must look pathetic."
He said, rubbing his dry face.
Han Su-ryeon tilted her head.
"Nah? This is normal."
"…."
"Kids like Do Seon-woo are the weird ones, right? Logically, jumping into this…."
Her words—"special"—struck deep.
"…Yeah."
Kang Dae-man was ordinary. Always envying the exceptional. He strove harder to be special. And finally gained the specialness of diligence.
"They're special."
He envied Do Seon-woo's courage. Overcoming even fear of death—the strongest, most special bravery. To match that as an ordinary guy, he needed exponentially more effort. Steeled will.
Crouching like this wouldn't get him what he wanted.
"Truth is, I've been jealous of Do Seon-woo."
Kang Dae-man uncurled and stood.
"Staying put like this just breeds inferiority."
He channeled Divine Power. His crude Blessing Circle emitted faint light. But it deepened, wrapping his body. He sucked at blessings, but his body maximized their efficiency.
"But acting turns it into aspiration."
Blessings filled him as he walked. Faster. He charged the battlefield.
"Deliver yourself—!"
Splat!
His massive frame slammed a black-clad man, sending him crashing into the wall. Kang Dae-man's stride was prouder than ever, chest broad and firm.
*
Crack.
I seized an approaching black-clad man's head and smashed it into the floor. A gruesome sound. Preservation's power overflowed in my body. Even controlling it, they crumpled limply.
"Hah."
The problem: No matter how many I downed, their numbers didn't dwindle. Just when I thought we'd cleared them, more appeared with daggers.
I caught my breath. Preservation or not, it was exhausting. Or rather, tediously boring.
"Takbīr!"
A shout from somewhere. Whoosh!
A dagger hurled at me. I didn't dodge. Instead, Bade's power.
Whoosh—!
The dagger lost momentum in the wind, clattering harmlessly. Bade's gusts pinpointed the thrower.
But I didn't need to act.
Stab.
"Coward."
Kim Jin-seo beat me to it. She dispatched foes effortlessly, spear a blur.
"Fight smart—safety first! Retreat if it's risky!"
Han Dae-ho yelled. He twisted daggers barehanded, striking solar plexuses precisely non-lethally.
"Go, Kang Dae-man!"
"Raaagh—!"
"Yeah, rampage so I can rest!"
Late-joining Yeo Min-seo and Kang Dae-man fought capably. Yeo Min-seo seemed idle but finished off foes the others half-subdued.
Five against hordes. Yet we held. Han Dae-ho and Kim Jin-seo were anchors. Enemies hesitated, backing away.
"Don't overextend! If you get hurt, it's like I'm—!"
Han Dae-ho stopped. His eyes fixed on a point.
I followed his gaze. Something small gleamed in the dark. Ominous, eerie light.
A goat sigil. On a man's neck, glowing. Red, spectral light spread circularly.
A Black Magic Circle completed.
The man wasn't casting directly—just triggering it as a tool.
Hiss….
Demonic energy seeped out. But thin, faint—weaker than against Gu Jun-hyeok.
"Demonic energy! Cover your mouths!"
Han Dae-ho shouted. But demonic energy doesn't stop at sealed lips. Only Purification Blessing could halt activated Black Magic.
Now was the time.
I drew my thorn fragment.
"Seong Ha-yeon, now!"
I signaled her instantly.
Whoosh—!
Brilliant light poured from the museum's corner, slashing the darkness. Purer, whiter than standard blessings. Purification Blessing.
The creeping demonic energy melted away, banished to corners, vanishing futilely.
"…."
The man directing the black-clad men froze. Guns ruined by Ogoun. No chance in open fight. Black Magic, their last resort, nullified by Seong Ha-yeon's Purification.
No victory left for them. Bold charges faltered; black-clad men stared blankly, daggers lowered, refusing first strikes.
Silence fell.
"Allahu Akbar—!"
The lead commander shattered it. His voice boomed through the museum.
"Allahu Akbar—!"
"Allahu Akbar—!"
"Allahu Akbar—!"
Starting with him, all foes chanted in unison. Like primitives in ritual. They dropped daggers, pulled guns from hiding, tossed them aside.
Flutter.
They shed clothes. Something wrapped around their bodies. In darkness, like bandages or vests.
I realized too late what they wore.
Bombs.