Enemies Cross Paths on a Narrow Bridge
Enemies Cross Paths on a Narrow Bridge
The initial awakener and mine, Mo Yeonggang, had originally been the boss of a Chinese Triad crime syndicate.
In a world ruined by mana encroachment, it was an opportunity for him.
With national systems collapsed, he killed freely and devoured mana compatibles and awakeners weaker than himself.
There was nothing to fear.
Who could stop him?
He gathered other mines, formed an organization, and even planned to dominate all of China.
Of course, his ultimate goal was world conquest.
Then, absurdly, China fell.
The Chinese Communist Party's ambitious plan to wipe out monster-dense areas with nuclear weapons backfired.
Beyond Elite Monsters appeared.
China became a world where even mines couldn't survive.
He had no choice but to leave.
Where to?
Displaced Chinese had two options: east or west.
Mo Yeonggang chose west.
Because of the population.
Mingling with countless refugees, he and his men settled in the European Empire.
He slowly built his foundation.
For the purpose of rebuilding the Triads in Europe.
They took any job that paid.
Mainly contract killings.
Europe was still in chaos, so work was plentiful.
Occasionally civilians, but mostly compatibles and awakeners.
How perfect.
Earn money and grow stronger by eating his victims.
He took contracts via the undetectable dark web.
He even traveled for jobs worldwide.
From nearby Amerian Republic to as far as the Samhan Empire.
Business boomed.
Until he met them.
The Black Mafia.
A fledgling organization only a few years old.
Conflict was inevitable.
War between organizations broke out.
And they were utterly crushed.
The Black Mafia were terrifying.
Especially the ones called elders—they transcended humanity.
An initial awakening mine?
Compared to them, he was mere trash.
In the end, they devolved into a subcontracting outfit doing odd jobs for the Black Mafia.
The reason they came to the Samhan Empire was on the order of Black Mafia elder Edward.
Eliminate Taehong Bio's Kim Taeju.
He already had all the intel on the target.
Handles poison well, uses short swords or hidden weapons for ranged attacks, agile movement...
There were suspicious points.
The guy wasn't an awakener.
Why so strong without awakening?
Two possibilities.
Like him, hiding the awakening tattoo. Or possessing some inhuman power entirely separate from awakening, like the Black Mafia elders.
But it didn't matter which.
Elder Edward had come along.
Kim Taeju was doomed.
The rapidly changing Paju New City.
This would be his grave.
Chik-chik!
A subordinate's voice through the in-ear.
"Got it. Keep tracking."
Masked up, but who couldn't tell?
Info on Kim Taeju was easy to get with minimal effort.
Travels with a cat, always glued to branch manager Jeong Yeonhui.
They controlled media and SNS claiming no publicity in the Empire, but it was futile.
Chik-chik!
"Not yet. Too many people here. If he slips into the crowd, it'll be messy."
Ideally, somewhere quiet.
Moments later,
"Follow slowly."
※ ※ ※
Taeju entered the pre-arranged construction site as planned with Jeong Yeonhui.
No one's here.
Jeong Yeonhui had handled it well.
Malevolent demonic energy from behind.
Taeju ascended exposed cement stairs.
Midway up,
"Chairman."
"Meow!"
"No one else here but us?"
"Yes, confirmed everyone's evacuated."
Jeong Yeonhui glancing at Taeju cautiously.
"Because of the mines?"
"Right. They're tailing me now."
"Then I'll stay too."
From their auras, one strong, the rest mediocre.
He'd take the strong one; Ilbaek and Yeonhui could handle the rest.
"Do that."
"Meooow!"
Suddenly!
Tatak! Takatak! Tatak!
Mines of various races leaping up the construction walls—ten in total.
Taeju addressed the strongest-looking one.
East Asian features; might be reasonable.
"All here?"
"...Not surprised. You knew we were following."
Good, he spoke Korean.
Likely initial awakener.
Strongest, like that Varun Mill Farm vice-chair.
"You know my name. Yours?"
Mo Yeonggang smirked.
"Stalling? We don't let our guard down."
"Really? I'm plenty relaxed."
"...What?"
"Feels like I can afford to be. Right, Samback?"
"Nyaaoow..."
Samback too, apparently.
Yawning daintily.
Mo Yeonggang's rage boiled over.
"Kill 'em all! Cat too, and that bitch."
Suddenly!
Pruddruk! Krunch, woodruk!
All ten mines beast-transformed simultaneously.
"Gruk! I'll devour your heart."
Then.
"Ah!"
Jeong Yeonhui's short cry.
Not from the transformation.
She pointed at the mine she'd been talking to.
"You..."
She hurriedly checked her smartphone.
Her face lit up.
Like seeing a dear friend.
"Finally met you."
"Grr? You know me? First time."
"I know you well. This isn't your first time in Samhan Empire."
"Kirik, came a decade-plus ago."
Jeong Yeonhui tossed her phone to Mo Yeonggang, drawing her Daera Divine Sword.
Whoosh!
Thud!
Mo Yeonggang caught it, tilting his head.
"Gruk? This is me."
"Yes, you."
"Aha!"
His beastly yellow eyes sparkled, remembering.
"Now I recall. Businessman, right? I killed him."
"My father."
"Daughter, huh? Met your dad's killer. Kikik, novel-worthy plot."
Jeong Yeonhui fixed on Mo Yeonggang, telling Taeju,
"He's mine."
"...You sure?"
"Please! Let me."
"..."
No choice.
Contracted already.
Hand him over.
"Got it."
Instead,
Shing!
Willow Leaf Dagger from Taeju's hand.
"I'll handle the rest."
A roar and blinding flash erupted simultaneously.
Tzupirit! Tzup! Tzupipipipipit!
Wriggling,
Yet too fast to track.
Dazzling lights flashed.
Lines slashed in the air.
Puk! Pupuk! Pupupupupuk!
Like painting.
Beams densely embroidered.
"...Wha?"
Mo Yeonggang hadn't even seen them fly.
Instead,
Thud, thud, thud...
Subordinates collapsing beast-formed, voiceless, helpless.
Mo Yeonggang doubted his eyes.
Why... all down?
De-dead?
Corpses riddled with dozens of wounds each.
Dozens, not one.
Mo Yeonggang half-dazed.
Wh-what the?
Nine down in one second.
Stitched through like sewing.
Even an elder couldn't...
Taeju retrieved the Willow Leaf Dagger.
Poison Spirit seed,
Not full Myriad Heavenly Rain, but could control several daggers freely.
To Jeong Yeonhui,
"Fight one-on-one. I'll watch from the side—"
Then.
Hm?
Sticky demonic energy clump in Taeju's senses.
One more.
But different scent.
Demonic, but not system mine or Heavenly Demon's—wholly new type.
Another new breed?
Location: rooftop.
Check it out.
Taeju to Jeong Yeonhui,
"Handle alone. Okay?"
"Yes! No problem."
To Ilbaek,
"Stay here. If Yeonhui's in danger... you know."
"Nyaang!"
"Good, counting on you."
Splat!
Taeju slipped out to the rooftop.
Left: two people, one cat.
Jeong Yeonhui slowly raised her Daera Divine Sword.
"You'll die here today."
Mo Yeonggang bristled, roaring.
"Grrruk!"
What luck.
Thought he'd die too.
But Black Mafia elder arrived.
Elder takes Kim Taeju; he gets the arrogant bitch.
"Rip out your heart like your dad's."
"Try it."
Simultaneously,
Tzurririt!
Lightning-fast strike at Mo Yeonggang.
Chaeng!
Mine Mo Yeonggang's qi-cloaked claws clashed fiercely with swordmaster Jeong Yeonhui's Daera Divine Sword.
※ ※ ※
Tadak! Tadadak!
Taeju scaled the wall to the rooftop.
There stood one man.
Red hair, blue eyes, pale skin veined visibly.
No awakening tattoo. Not hidden.
Ominous fellow.
What kind of demonic energy?
Ask?
With fists.
"You're Kim Taeju..."
Taeju's Escaping Life Dagger shot like light.
Tzupit!
"Huk!"
Black Mafia elder Edward flinched.
Dark Barrier
Sinister black translucent shield rose around Edward.
Jjaeng!
Jizijik!
Shield cracked from one hit.
Edward counterattacked.
Dark Spear
Sseung!
Black mana tendril flew at Taeju's face.
Flying Waterfall.
Puaak!
Blocked and burst by frontal iron orb.
"Aa."
"Eum."
New skill to Taeju.
Chanting aloud was silly.
Maybe not even a skill.
Edward's face grew grave.
Small dagger cracked 7th-class black magic Dark Barrier.
A shield that deflected even mana blades.
"What the hell are you?"
This one spoke too.
Perfect.
Some questions.
"Who are you? Not a mine."
"Asking my name?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"Only I ask questions here."
Edward indifferently raised a hand at Taeju.
Demonic Binder
Wooong!
Sususu...
Demonic tendrils rose from Taeju's feet.
Huh?
Creeping up legs, binding whole body tight.
"Dare attack me first?"
"..."
"I'll scramble your brain."
Taeju tilted his head.
Curioser by the minute.
His techniques so far,
Definitely magic,
But uses demonic energy, so black magic?
If martial multiverse exists, fantasy one must too.
Then he's a soul linker or associate.
Zombies, death knights next?
Fun.
But weak for soul linker.
Weaker than Heavenly Demon.
Even Earth's.
Play a bit.
Might die quick; go easy.
Taeju spun his poison core.
Whiiiing!
Intense poison qi from core.
Ujikkeun!
Binding tendrils snapped powerless.
Simultaneously hudududuk!
Pouring from infinite space,
Swoong, swoong...
Hidden weapons floating around Taeju.
"This'll sting a little."
"...Wha, no way?"
Edward's face twisted in shock.
Floating weapons aside, target moved freely.
Demonic Binder broken so easily?
Not even masters could...
Suddenly!
Tzupit! Tzupipipipipipit!
"Huk!"
Projectiles tearing air.
Charging shield with ferocious momentum.
"Damn! ...D-Dark Barrier!"
Weapons hammered shield mercilessly.
Tadadadatak!
Cracks forming each hit.
Jijik! Jijijik! Jijijik!
"Dark Barrier! Dark Barrier Dark Barrier..."
Layered barriers hastily,
"Th-this!"
Shattered instantly.
Jjaejang! Jjaejaejang! Jjaejaejaejjaeng!
"Da, Dark Barri..."
Projectile storm raged.
Blade gale destroying all.
Squeezing through, one Willow Leaf Dagger,
Spit!
Grazed elder Edward's side.
"Keuk!"
Coated in advanced synthetic mana-removal poison from MRC development,
Far beyond mosquito toxin.
※ ※ ※
Celestial Realm.
Multiplex empty of celestials, only immortals left.
Secret meeting in Dang Gunak's top-floor residence.
Only trusted immortals.
Taeshang Patriarch sent away.
Still dubious ally.
"Jongri, know where Heavenly Peach is?"
Celestial immortal Jongri Seonin freed recently from house arrest for failing Peach Garden management.
Not fond of Queen Mother of the West.
"In Peach Palace inner garden, obviously."
"How to enter?"
"Can't. Fortified since monkey stole some."
"Hmm."
Realm's greatest treasure, Heavenly Peach.
Hard to approach, naturally.
"Queen Mother must open the door..."
"Shamelessly ask?"
"How?"
"Just once, please."
"..."
Yeah, right.
Juseon proposed.
"Beauty trap—no, immortal beauty ploy?"
"Immortal beauty?"
"Seduce Queen Mother, get inside Peach Palace."
Once in, easy.
Pick from inner garden.
"Good idea. She's a woman after all."
"No average looks. Needs handsome, dignified immortal."
Geomseon bristled.
"Me seduce Queen Mother?"
"...When did we say?"
"Handsome and dignified? Only me! No, sworn to sword for life."
Immortals' dubious faces.
"..."
"...Jeez."
"Even shameless has limits."
"Such confidence from where?"
"Face not even plastic surgery could fix."
"Knows he's a dried squid?"
Galhong Seonin suggested.
"Call that monkey? In Bhur-loka, still troublemaking."
"Nah, he'd cause chaos here. No burning house for flea."
"Right, Geomseon fits monkey role. Looks the part."
"..."
Dang Gunak shook head, continued.
"We want Heavenly Peach, not trouble. Too risky... mull over time. Collective wisdom will find way."
Must give Taeju the Heavenly Peach.
For peace of mind.
Enemies Cross Paths on a Narrow Bridge End
ⓒ Kkucchi Kkucchi