#42 Please Help.
Click-clack—click-clack. Slipping his hand into his pocket, Kang-ho felt something that resembled an ordinary accessory. He pulled it out and gazed down at it.
The Eternal Crystal. The item Mother Crypto had possessed in Daegu.
Kang-ho stared at it intently before slipping it back into his pocket.
'Those who can't handle it get devoured.'
The power lurking within had that kind of nature.
Krreung—
The bustling streets were unusually quiet today. Furball had used naturalization to blend seamlessly into the urban landscape.
Shwaaa—
Rare winter rain. In Cheorwon, it would have been snow, but here it fell as rain. Kang-ho extended his hand toward the rain he hadn't seen in a while. Seol-a, nestled in his arms, mimicked him by reaching out her own little paw.
Plip—
Droplets began to pour down one by one, soon soaking everything around them. Seol-a yelped in panic as the water touched her, frantically rubbing herself against Kang-ho's chest to dry off. She hated getting wet, which meant baths would always be a battle ahead.
Suddenly, in the distance. Furball's eyes widened at the sight of a woman walking under an umbrella.
Huff-huff-huff—
The beast was panting with his tongue lolling out. Kang-ho glanced casually in that direction. It was an ordinary back view. She held a black umbrella and had her face half-hidden behind a long scarf. Her lustrous long straight hair swayed at her waist.
Kang-ho eyed the black scarf ribbon Furball proudly displayed on his chin. Turning back, the woman had already vanished.
Darkness had fallen. Tonight, even the moonlight was shrouded by thick clouds, blanketing the world in pitch black. Rain began to patter everywhere, drenching the soggy landscape.
“......”
Kang Tae-hoon sat calmly in his room. It was a traditional Korean-style chamber, furnished with wooden pieces and protected by a mana barrier. Every furnishing and accessory adorning the space was exorbitantly expensive.
Now he turned his gaze inward. Rings caught his eye, along with gloves, combat gear, and a magic sword. Priceless artifacts adorned his body, their value astronomical.
All of it came from his father's amassed wealth. Thanks to his father, he had lived in luxury. Cold toward his untalented older brothers, his father had showered affection solely on fourth son Kang Tae-hoon and the youngest, Kang Tae-wang.
Still, he was grateful to his father. A father was a father.
His heart pounded ominously. Words like filial impiety and downfall flickered through his mind before fading away.
'Is this really okay?'
Conflicted thoughts swirled. But his father was wrong. Today, he intended to settle things.
“......”
He slowly left his room and headed to the guild master's office. Where had it all gone wrong? Why had his father made that choice? What was that strange power?
Thoughts tangled in his head. But one thing was certain: it had to be done.
Creeeak—
In the silent surroundings, the door to the guild master's office swung open.
Suddenly.
“......!”
In the darkened office, someone sat in the chair ahead.
“Tae-hoon, is that you?”
A chilling voice echoed. Whoosh—a gust of wind brightened the office lamps.
Sitting in the guild master's office was a man who appeared to be in his thirties.
“......Who are you.”
No. Kang Tae-hoon blinked in disbelief.
“Father...?”
His father's appearance had reverted to his thirties. The nearly ninety-year-old wrinkles were gone, replaced by flawless skin.
Kwaaa—
Mana rippled across his father's body.
“Father... what is this?”
Kang Tae-yong regarded Kang Tae-hoon. Coldness filled his eyes.
“You've been up to something suspicious.”
Those words pierced Kang Tae-hoon's heart.
“That youth... how...”
In response to Kang Tae-hoon's strained voice, Kang Tae-yong smiled faintly.
'That heart.'
Kang Tae-hoon sensed something bizarre at his father's heart.
“What... have you obtained?”
“The power of a new world.”
Kang Tae-yong rose slowly from his seat. It felt ominous. That wasn't his father.
“Father... you're wrong.”
“History belongs to the victors. Look—the world remembers the Hero 5, doesn't it? This filthy world clings to those scum! The process doesn't matter. You...”
Kang Tae-yong's eyes flashed.
“You'll see.”
“......Did you know?”
“Traces of an intruder lingered in the seclusion chamber.”
“The guild members... why...?”
Kang Tae-yong silently shed his jacket.
“......!”
At his heart clung something strange—a small, poker-chip-like stone rooted there, pulsing thump-thump.
“This is otherworldly power... Son, to surpass the limits of humanity, this was necessary. Perhaps this is the opportunity fate granted me.”
'What is that?'
Definitely from the Antharas raid. Something unnatural had happened then.
“With this, I'll rise again. My prime will return... and my youth will be eternal. Son! The era of Lebadon has arrived.”
“An era... has arrived...?”
“The age of the Hero 5 is over. Your father will forge a new world. Heh heh heh.”
Eerie mana surged from Kang Tae-yong's body. Kang Tae-hoon swallowed hard and stepped back.
But then, closing his eyes, he let out a long sigh.
'Sometimes you must go even knowing death awaits.'
No choice. He opened his eyes and stepped forward.
“I oppose that world.”
Ziiing—!
The magic sword he drew glowed.
“I'll stop you, Father.”
Shrieeeek—!
Mana erupted from Kang Tae-hoon, forming a shape. Water materialized everywhere—his awakening ability, water magic.
Shwaaak!
Water surged from all sides. Along it, Kang Tae-hoon burst out of the guild master's office toward the outdoors.
Shwaaa—the pattering rain intensified. The whole world poured down.
“Ho.”
Kang Tae-yong strolled out leisurely, smirking coldly.
“Using your head, eh?”
The rainy field favored him overwhelmingly. Kang Tae-hoon gritted his chattering teeth. Rain converged on him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Torrents formed massive fists hurtling at Kang Tae-yong. But he blocked them with a single index finger.
Ziiing—!
Winds gathered, shattering the fists and hurling shards back at Kang Tae-hoon.
Crack!
No time to dodge—winds slammed into him.
“Guh!”
Kang Tae-hoon flew back like a paper doll, tumbling across the ground before springing up, eyes wide.
'This isn't normal.''That's not Father.'
Pouring every ounce of mana, rain swelled into a colossal tsunami.
Shwaaaaa!
Kang Tae-yong didn't evade, merely extending a hand. The water split, winds rushing through the gap.
“A pity, son.”
He murmured coldly.
“The youngest would have understood me...”
“......I'm not him, Father.”
Mana clashed against mana. Wind against water—but it was utterly one-sided. Even with all his artifacts, he couldn't match his father.
His father had reclaimed his prime—and surpassed it.
Splash! Shrieek! Kwaaa!
Water and wind collided relentlessly. The magic duel was eerily silent, all the more terrifying. Mana drained from his mana hole ceaselessly.
As the clash hit the one-hour mark.
'It's over...'
His mana hole was spent.
“Urgh!”
Kang Tae-hoon turned and fled. He realized it.
'I can't win.'
He needed help. Alone, it was impossible. His father had grown too strong.
Help. Where could Lebadon seek aid? Perhaps that's why his father preyed on guild members in this isolated place.
Help me. Someone, stop Father.
Suddenly.
One person flashed in Kang Tae-hoon's mind.
Thud—thud—thud—water splashed with each footfall. Rain drenched the world, but his body grew unbearably heavy. By now, Kang Tae-hoon had escaped the grounds.
North. He had to head north, anywhere closer to Seoul.
His mana was long depleted. Squeezing the mana hole yielded barely enough to move.
Behind him. His father flew leisurely through the rainy sky. The gentle eyes he'd once shown his children were gone, replaced by madness.
Shrieeeek—!
A wind spear hurtled toward him. Kang Tae-hoon kicked off the ground, activating an artifact.
Pop!
Hermes' shoes activated, blinking him far away.
Boom! Kwa-gwang!
The wind spear pulverized where he'd stood moments ago.
'I'll die.'
One hit would kill him.
'Why.'
What had driven him to this?
“Huff... huff... huuuh...”
He halted abruptly. His vision blurred. Overexerting his mana had taken its toll. The world spun, strength ebbing from every limb.
Stumbling, he finally dropped to his knees.
'This is it.'
He'd expected death, but facing it brought unexpected peace. His racing heart steadied.
Kneeling still, he watched his father approach.
'Still.'
He'd once admired his father. His methods were wrong, but he'd been a good father to his children.
'Why like this.'
Gazing at his madness-glazed father, he bowed his head.
Ziiing—!
Winds howled around him. Shrieeek—a incoming sound.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Thud—!
But no pain came. Kang Tae-hoon realized the rain had stopped falling on him.
“......?”
Lifting his head, a massive white beast stood before him. Fur billowed across its body, like a giant fluffball.
Huff-huff-huff—
The beast turned, ruby eyes rolling playfully before curving into a grin. A black scarf ribbon adorned its chin.
“......!”
The beast whipped around to face ahead. The innocent, dopey look vanished, replaced by feral intensity. Blue mana cloaked its form—a glowing white-and-blue behemoth in the darkness.
Grrrrrreung—!
A chilling growl reverberated.