#106 Everyone's Dream
Kwaaaaaaang!
A gale tore through the world.
Baal writhed in agony, clutching his sword.
[Uwaaaaaah!]
A fragment of memory etched into his mind resurfaced. One day, conversing with a familiar yet nameless man.
I have a dream.
This abnormal power was gnawing at his sanity. With each battlefield, the dark force lurking in his heart grew stronger.
I'll build a big house, and we'll all live together.
A simple dream. But at some point amid the endless wars, he realized it—or perhaps he'd known all along. It had become an impossible one.
Zzzt!
[Kuaaaak!]
Baal couldn't keep his wits amid the memories flashing through his skull. It felt like sharp needles stabbing his brain over and over.
Kill. Kill! Kill!
The colossal ego dominating his mind whispered.
Papapapapap!
Baal charged. The Peerless Heavenly Sword in his grip gleamed black.
There—rushing toward him—was the enemy. Eerily familiar, in a strangely intimate way.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Sword clashed against sword. And with it, more memories surged.
Kang-ho, when the time comes, kill me with your own hands.
Zzzt!
[Kuh!]
Baal grimaced. The man's face across from him was utterly impassive. Somehow, it felt like he'd heard that voice long, long ago.
You mad bastard, talking shit.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
In this eerily silent battlefield, two absolutes danced their sword ballet. Each clash transferred Kang-ho's mana to Baal's demonic energy—and vice versa.
Whooooosh—
Eternal Crystal hearts, owners of those powers. Every transfer brought excruciating pain.
Baal's opponent's body trembled violently, blood erupting from his skin. Yet he showed no hesitation, as if pain were unknown to him.
Zzzt!
At the same time, fragments of an unknowable past began piecing together in Baal's mind.
Kwaaaang!
He parried the downward slash perfectly, as if anticipated. The man before him felt like déjà vu incarnate.
Suddenly, Baal recalled a scene from the past. A rainy day. The day this man had cut him down.
Pouring rain, and that strangely relieved feeling. In the moment he thought his life had ended, a voice flooded his mind.
I can't just let you die.
It was the voice of the Eternal Crystal that had stolen his will.
After going through all that to save you...
Kuh, kuhehehe!
The dreaded moment had arrived. Baal hurled himself into the gate's center.
As the gate vanished and sealed shut, the interior warped. The boundary rift collapsed, revealing a vast cosmos.
Falling! Endlessly plummeting through the universe's heart, his eyes caught nine radiant nebulae of multicolored stars. Among them, a pitch-black abyss rushed toward him.
Kuhehehe...
The voice was chilling, primal, burrowing into his brain.
From now on, your body is mine.
He tried to resist, but it was futile. Baal realized he couldn't withstand that immense power. Desperately, he clung to his last thread of sanity.
Any last words?
Suddenly, what surfaced was a dream shared with a friend amid the battlefield long ago. A modest, perhaps insignificant dream. One he yearned for desperately.
Peace. And happiness.
But to achieve it...
"Exterminate the demons..."
Excellent.
And they arrived in the demon realm, a barren wasteland!
Baal snapped back to reality.
Kwang! Kwang!
Kill! Kill him!
The command from the voice in his head felt alien now. With each sword clash, memories pieced together. Friends from long ago, met on the battlefield. Faces sharpened, conversations resurfaced fragment by fragment.
Kwaang! Kwang!
A roundhouse kick slammed into Baal's waist! Like a mirror image, Baal drove a ferocious one into Kang-ho's heart.
The thick black fog in his mind seemed to thin.
Kang-ho charged fiercely. The sharp Oerblade gleamed.
In that instant, a memory: This is called Tiger Claw. What if we made gear like this? With magic stones, we could adjust the blade length.
Of course. Baal realized he had suggested that weapon to this man.
Papapapap!
Kang-ho thrust, spun, and smashed his heel toward Baal's crown.
Kwajijik!
Yes, like that. Body techniques are extensions of the sword. Every move must connect seamlessly.
Whoosh! A brutal stab targeted the heart.
Strike vitals when attacking. No hesitation.
Chyaak!
Baal deflected the Oerblade, but Kang-ho spun, aiming the other blade at his heart.
Sharper!
Every strike honed in on vitals with eerie precision. Baal parried like a god possessed.
Hahaha. You learn fast.
Baal smiled unwittingly. Kang-ho faltered at the sight.
Don't let your guard down.
Baal exploited the gap, thrusting his sword. It hurtled toward Kang-ho's heart—
Creak!
His grip slackened unconsciously.
[......!]
In that split second, Kang-ho's Oerblade pierced Baal's heart.
Pajijijik!
A roar echoed. The blade tore through skin, surging toward his core.
No! Damn it! Resist! Move!
The colossal ego screamed in his mind.
Move! Now!
Baal's memories built layer by layer. Shattered pieces formed masses. Faint but dearly missed faces sharpened vividly.
Whooooooo—!
Baal felt immense, alien mana flooding his heart. The power this man infused felt strangely warm, comforting. His body grew languid. A high-pitched whine rang in his ears; strength ebbed.
No! No!
The dominating voice faded. In that moment, Baal recalled a spring day under gentle sun.
...
"What're you doing?"
"Huh?"
Kang Jun-seok startled, turning. There stood Kang-ho, canned beer in hand.
"Want one?"
"Sure."
He cracked open the tossed can. Cool refreshment slid down his throat.
Seoul, atop a ruined skyscraper. Half-collapsed buildings everywhere, yet the city buzzed with life.
"Cheol-bae says,"
"Yeah?"
Kang-ho pointed to a building. "He's starting his guild there."
"A guild, huh."
"That's his dream."
"Not bad."
"So Jun-woo and Ho-young are doing the same. Can't lose to the musclehead, or whatever. Buncha idiots."
"Hahahahaha!"
Kang Jun-seok chuckled. The war neared its end.
Kiiing—
Beside Kang-ho lounged a massive fox. He stroked Seolhwa's brow with a soft smile.
"Min-ah wants marriage. Back in her hometown."
"Marriage?"
"Dunno. It's her dream."
"Fair enough."
Kang Jun-seok stretched languidly. Winter's chill yielded to spring.
The biting winds that froze the world were gone. Even this wasteland would bloom someday.
Suddenly, he spoke. "What's your dream?"
"Me?" Kang-ho glanced at Seolhwa, then grinned at Jun-seok. "Dunno."
He pondered, sheepish. Shrugged. "Someday."
Jun-seok listened.
"Once the war ends and our dreams come true."
Kang-ho coughed awkwardly. Clumsy guy.
"We'll gather, friends all, share drinks. Rowdy house, laughing, chatting."
"Yeah?"
"And a flower garden out front, maybe."
"Flower garden?"
"Yeah. Where Hwa-rang's kids—or Hwa's—can play."
Kang-ho shared his humble dream.
"Nothing special, right?"
Jun-seok smiled, lying back. Amid cracked concrete atop the building, nameless wildflowers bloomed beautifully.
"Nah. It's a great dream."
A memory from a sunny spring day.
...
Shaaaaak—
Baal vomited blood.
Kraaaaaak!
The screaming ego in his mind grew fainter.
Aaaak...
Soon.
So frustrating...
With those final words, the eerie voice vanished.
The foul fog in his head cleared completely.
Suddenly, he looked around. Memories of his actions under stolen will remained crystal clear. Time lived as Baal.
And before him stood Kang-ho, Oerblade buried in his heart.
Feigning stoicism. But he knew this guy well. Clumsy with emotions. Hid behind impassivity—when sad, joyful, pained, or despairing. He swallowed it all alone, pretending it was nothing.
Cold exterior, tender heart.
So he grinned.
"Kang-ho."
Kang-ho nodded silently.
"...Yeah."
"My friend, Choi Kang-ho."
Clang!
Kang Jun-seok dropped his sword. The Peerless Heavenly Sword hit the ground with a sharp ring.
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!
His orbiting weapons spun, lost power, and plunged into the earth.
Now the world sharpened into focus. His head felt clear for the first time in ages; his body relaxed.
Come to think of it... had this world always been so bright?
The black clouds that choked the sky were gone. Vibrant flowers bloomed everywhere. The acrid demonic energy had become a gentle spring breeze, caressing all.
Kang Jun-seok eyed Kang-ho, teeth gritted, blood spilling.
Yet he smiled brighter than ever.
"You did it in the end."