Clash of the Apostle and Divine Beast (2)
The Hundred Ghosts Night Parade couldn't track Eunhyeon's movements, accelerated to a higher multiple than usual.
Yet the fierce one-against-eight battle raged on. He blocked, parried, and dodged the relentless assaults from the four vanguard ghosts, teetering on a knife's edge like a high-wire act.
Shing.
He slashed down at the head of a spear-wielding ghost that had exposed an opening. The ghost barely caught his motion and raised its spear shaft to guard its head—but Eunhyeon's blade, momentarily supercharged with mana, sliced through both shaft and body with sharpened cutting power, cleaving the ghost in two.
Adding this to the battle-axe ghost—previously bisected at the waist after showing immense strength but sluggish movements that left it vulnerable—that made three ghosts dispatched in total.
"Hoo…."
Sweat poured from Eunhyeon's body like rain, even with six foes still remaining. The side effects of the heightened acceleration were kicking in.
Moving on a different time axis from ordinary humans, his physical exertion far exceeded normal levels. Stamina drain hit faster than expected.
The chicken game was tilting against him. Yet Eunhyeon grew colder, calmer, more calculated in his movements.
The ghosts knew he was pushing his body harder than it could handle. If they dragged it out, victory would be theirs.
Stay calm. Don't get hasty, no matter what.
Aware they were baiting him into overexertion, Eunhyeon steadied his mind. But his body, deprived of proper breaths and overloaded, ignored his will. His pounding heart pumped blood furiously through his veins.
My child….
Verdandi, no stranger to battle, could see Eunhyeon's stamina flagging early and the precarious situation. Helpless to intervene, she called out worriedly, fidgeting with her fingers, her anxiety plain.
Eunhyeon chuckled inwardly at her un-goddess-like concern.
Don't worry. I'm your apostle, after all.
Your apostle isn't done yet. He told himself that too.
Verdandi had given him boundless trust and love. He had to live up to it as her apostle.
Good boy.
Verdandi smiled, pleased by his resolve. She longed to stroke his hair and embrace him, but restrained herself—dulling his senses mid-battle was unthinkable.
Unaware of her joy, Eunhyeon eyed the remaining six ghosts.
The assassin's takedown was lucky opportunism amid chaos. The battle-axe brute and spear ghost were slower, easier to exploit.
Among the nine, only the three-sword fighter, swordsman, and archer could track his afterimages. Everyone knew it.
Watching their formation shift, Eunhyeon spotted it: a higher ghost issuing orders, like he had in the Arkys Great Labyrinth expedition with Princess Yuria and Alex—directing tactics, formation changes, attack timings.
Take out the commander, and I win.
Chaos from broken command would let him mop up the rest. That was the plan.
The commander was obvious: textbook party formation, centrally positioned to support front or rear, never attacking, just observing. The swordsman ghost with the longsword in the mid-line.
It stared back motionlessly, reading his intent in his eyes.
Raising a hand, it signaled the vanguard swordsman to resume. Javelins hurtled at Eunhyeon's head like cannonballs, massive and fast.
He bisected one mid-flight, but the swordsman ghost's blade surged in. Speed matched the three-sword ghost's initial charge, but precision was leagues superior.
Eunhyeon knew: his hunch was right. This was the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade's commander.
Crack!
His left-hand longsword, enduring the onslaught, finally cracked and shattered.
The ghosts pounced. The three-sword ghost slipped between him and the swordsman, lunging for his throat—but Eunhyeon had anticipated the textbook follow-up.
Spinning the broken blade reverse-grip, he deflected the thrust, twisting its path. It grazed his right cheek instead of piercing his neck.
Clinging close, the ghost's abdomen met Eunhyeon's right longsword—deep stab, then rip rightward. Fourth ghost down.
Halfway there, finally.
No time to dwell—he spurred himself onward, turning to the rest.
"Gone?"
He knew exactly what happened, but sold the feigned shock to lure them in.
My child! That's…!
Verdandi stiffened, about to scold him for reading her thoughts—but the enemy moved faster.
Pfshk!
"Cough!"
My child!
Verdandi's horrified cry rang out as a hand pierced Eunhyeon's back and gut. He vomited blood.
Behind him: a familiar, heartbreakingly beautiful girl's face—Erin's. The Gumiho wore a pitying expression.
"Impressive."
The Gumiho murmured.
"Apostle or not, your speed, strength, judgment—they transcend human limits."
She admired him openly. Weakened to a tenth her power, her nine ghosts should have overwhelmed any human. His prowess deserved highest praise.
Yet it made her regret all the more. Once allies protecting humans and this mad world, now she had to kill one with her own hand.
"I'll atone for slaying you later—after ripping apart that kingdom-founder's bloodline. Then I'll follow you upward. For now… give me your power."
With that, she activated her ability.
Gumiho Unique Ability
Energy Drain
Mana and vitality surged from Eunhyeon's body into hers.
This is…
The Gumiho reeled inwardly, speechless. An apostle's reserves were one thing—but this was inhuman. Absorbing it all would restore her nearly halfway. Enough to topple a kingdom.
What is this guy?
Peeking at his profile, her face hardened.
"Smiling?"
Eunhyeon grinned through the gut wound and draining life force, blood dribbling from his mouth.
"You… this was your goal?"
Pieces clicked: his physicals outmatched her ghosts, yet he'd "missed" her stealthy backstab in a one-against-many?
No way.
Sensing the trap, she yanked her hand free—but
"Where do you think you're going?"
Eunhyeon clamped her arm tight.
"Finish what you started, why don't you?"
"Ngh…!"
Once triggered, Energy Drain couldn't stop without breaking contact—or death.
"What are you—?! Urk?!"
His vast mana flooded Erin's body, carrying memory fragments.
My child. I'll say it once more—if you refuse, that's fine.
I, Verdandi among the Norns' three goddesses, bestow upon Eunhyeon—my apostle—the authority of Time Manipulation, to edit the 'present.'
I'm sorry. So sorry. Someday… hate me if you must.
Hyun-ah. It's okay. Even dying like this, I'll never resent you.
To the end, I never drank with you. Take care of our Hong-i….
Doesn't matter! Don't break! Just kill that bastard! Never crumble!
Don't forget. You're my only hope in this mad world.
Run! Don't get caught! Survive to the end! Protect my baby!
Don't you dare go anywhere again, you bastard!
"Ugh… urk!"
The flood of memories overwhelmed the Gumiho, sowing chaos in her mind. Undeterred, her ability kept draining mana—and more fragments poured in.
What are you…?! What the hell are you?!
Monster bastard!
Why… why didn't you save my sister?!
If you're gonna half-ass it… you shouldn't have saved her at all!
I hate you. I really, truly hate you.
Die, monster.
I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Inconceivable karma crammed into one body and soul: endless goodwill—expectations, aspirations, respect, admiration, pity. And opposite: hatred, despair, terror, madness.
"What… is this…?"
Gazing up at the man's calm face, peering into fragments of his life, the silver-haired figure before her defied humanity.
"What are you?"
Eunhyeon stayed silent. The longer it dragged, the more anxious she grew.
"How can such a cruel journey exist? How does a mere human bear this vast karma without madness…? Ah."
The final memory hit. She sighed softly.
I will pursue only my child's happiness, think only of my child's future, and never care for other humans, no matter the harm.
Please don't choose regret that blames and breaks you anymore.
I'll be with 'you' forever….
Unconsciously, she stared at the empty air humming with divine power. A mortal couldn't sense a god, but as a near-demigod Gumiho, she did.
Not watching from above, but walking the same path beside him—that god kept him sane amid the karma.
She was there, by his side.
Not a god of equality for all, but one devoted to a single human—comforting, mending a shattered soul.
The 'Blessing of a Goddess for One Human' enveloped him.