The Harvester
The sky, blanketed in dark clouds, momentarily flashed with brilliant light.
The shimmering Divine Sense piercing through the darkness drew everyone's gaze.
Spiritual beasts fleeing for their lives and the humans hunting them alike stopped to stare blankly up at the sky.
Silence stretched.
It was a scene where time itself seemed to have ground to a halt.
Flash!
Once more, the world flickered,
—Rumble!
Only when the following clap of thunder shook the air did everyone snap out of their daze. The gears of time began to turn once more.
A moment later,
A man revealed himself amidst the Divine Sense that drifted like scattered cotton blossoms.
His aura was entirely different from the human Mother Jimjo had just defeated.
Pale pink petals were painted across the hem of his snow-white robe.
In his hand, he held a folding fan.
Though his face appeared expressionless at a glance, an air of profound annoyance clung to him. He let out a long sigh and swept back his long hair.
Mother Jimjo stared at the human who had appeared like a phantom, trying to gauge his strength.
Yet, she felt absolutely nothing.
He did not feel strong, but to say he seemed weak would be entirely wrong. She could not get a reading on him at all.
But one thing was certain.
She could never defeat him.
He was a man who seemed utterly detached from this scene of horrific disaster. He showed not even a shred of tension. A bizarre, suffocating pressure seemed to bind her body like chains.
The man looked around for a moment, then snapped his fan shut with a sharp clack! His expression remained steeped in heavy boredom.
"How troublesome. Why did you do such a thing? A beast of your caliber could have easily hidden. Had we not crossed paths, I would not have known, but now that it has come to this, I have no choice but to kill you."
Mother Jimjo chewed on his words.
He was right.
Mount Myeong was a land where Divine Sense could not penetrate. Had she hidden there, she could have easily preserved her life.
But it was already too late.
Yet, Mother Jimjo did not regret her choice. She had already realized that this was the right path.
Still, she could not stop her body from trembling. Only now did she truly understand the essence of 'sacrifice.'
Sacrifice is noble.
It is undoubtedly beautiful.
But the reality behind it is anything but.
Did my own mother also endure this terror when she threw her life away?
Now that she stood before it, an overwhelming urge to flee surged within her. Her survival instincts screamed, ringing alarm bells in her mind.
Run. Run right now.
The scent of danger radiating from the man was just that potent.
Mother Jimjo barely suppressed her instincts and answered the man.
「...I know.」
At her response, the man's expression shifted slightly. Curiosity replaced the boredom in his eyes.
"You stepped forward knowing that? Why? In all of this vast Gwisu Island, you are the only one who has crossed paths with the Shadow Chasing Unit and survived. Is there a reason?"
「I do not know either. It is just... just that I felt I had to.」
Though it was difficult to even stand due to the terror, her voice was surprisingly calm.
Mother Jimjo reflexively glanced in the direction where Dang Sobaek was hidden. Watching her, the man narrowed his eyes and followed her gaze.
"I see. Your chicks..."
「...」
"Maternal love is much the same, whether for humans or beasts. But still, is it not a waste? Seeing how you have awakened both Divine Sense and the Yo-language, you seem to have walked the orthodox path rather than relying on external, heretical tools. With more time, you might have even broken free from the shackles of Gwisu Island."
The man's voice carried genuine sincerity. He seemed truly regretful. To Mother Jimjo, this was incomprehensible.
"They are merely hatchlings who have not even awakened their spiritual nature yet. You know this, do you not? Your sacrifice will be forgotten. I understand your desire to protect your young, but do you truly believe that is a wise choice? The probability of survival is far higher if you alone live. You can always lay more eggs, can you not?"
It was a thought Mother Jimjo had already entertained.
But she had also realized that it was wrong—both as a beast and as a spiritual beast.
「I do not ask for them to know. And I, too, wish to live. However, I was once saved in the exact same manner. Even if I am forgotten, I believe that this will, in some form, be passed down. If so, then perhaps one day, we will be able to escape this place.」
As she exchanged words with him, Mother Jimjo felt her mind grow clearer instead.
「May I ask you one thing?」
"Your intentions are transparent."
「...」
"But very well. Speak."
「What kind of place is this Gwisu Island you speak of? Why is it impossible to escape this island?」
"To us, Gwisu Island is a sort of breeding ground. Of course, the island has a separate master. But we have a mutual contract with them. Does that answer your question?"
「Ah...」
"Your talent is outstanding. You are well worthy of being called a genius. Though that fellow Cheong-un is a useless parasite, he at least possessed the qualifications to walk the path of a Martial Immortal. You should be proud of having defeated such a man."
「Cheong-un... So that was his name. But what is a Martial Immortal?」
"You do not even know something so basic? And yet you have reached the late stage of Qi Condensation... It is almost absurd at this point."
「...」
Had she been a spiritual beast of the outside world, she would have understood his words instantly. Out there, they possessed their own structured cultivation methods and demon arts, and some even built civilizations like humans.
Because of this, the outside world referred to them as the 'Yo Clan' rather than mere 'spiritual beasts.'
But none of this applied to Mother Jimjo, who had been born and raised on this island where all information was strictly controlled.
"Listen well. A Martial Immortal refers to those who walk the path of immortality through martial arts. In a way, they are not so different from your Yo Clan. Had it not been for the Alliance's orders, I would have spared your life and kept you as a tamed beast."
Mother Jimjo did not listen closely to his words.
She had only asked these questions to buy as much time as possible. Meanwhile, she was secretly preparing to launch a surprise attack.
Even if she could only inflict the slightest wound, it would undoubtedly increase her children's chances of survival.
Rumbleeee!
The demonic energy Mother Jimjo had been gathering burst forth all at once.
The technique she had used to defeat the Shadow Chasing Unit member unfolded once more. A tornado laden with deadly poison swept toward the man.
Everything in the vicinity was shredded by the wind and liquefied by the Jim-poison.
Snap!
With an indifferent expression, the man casually waved his fan, conjuring a translucent barrier.
The two forces clashed violently.
Mother Jimjo had infused the wind with the sharp property of a blade. It was no longer a simple poisonous gale; she had applied the profound principles of the sword-wind she had witnessed from the man named Cheong-un.
The ground cracked open, and heavy boulders shattered, raining down toward the man.
The man's barrier seemed to hold off her divine ability for a moment, but—
Screeech!
Mother Jimjo drew her demonic energy to its absolute limit. Her overloaded core instantly amplified her cultivation. A force far more savage than before raged wildly.
Until finally—
Shatter!
The barrier broke.
I can win.
Severed from his body, the man's arm fell limply to the ground. An entire shoulder had been torn away.
Hope flickered.
She even dared to think that she might not just buy time, but actually kill him.
Mother Jimjo wanted to overcome this situation somehow and cling to life.
Though I volunteered for sacrifice, if possible, I want to dream of tomorrow.
And, if by some miracle...
If it is at all possible...
I want to watch my chicks grow.
I want us to escape this island together.
She even thought of risking her life to seek out the master of the island for guidance.
If it is that being...
Perhaps they would know a way.
Feeling the emotions blooming in her chest burn far brighter and clearer than ever before, Mother Jimjo launched another attack.
Now, with him missing an arm, was her chance.
Just then, the man's voice drifted over.
"This is enough. Now I see why the Hall Master insisted on sending me, even though I refused. I was skeptical even after seeing what happened to Cheong-un, but indeed, most ordinary cultivators would have been slain by you instead."
As he spoke, the man partially covered his face with his fan. Through the gap, his gray eyes revealed a trace of complicated emotion.
"I am still reluctant to end the life of someone of your caliber with my own hands, but I cannot disobey the Alliance's orders. Blame your fate for being born on Gwisu Island."
Mother Jimjo ignored his words. Believing it to be mere bluffing—the desperate posturing of a cornered beast—she pressed her attack once more.
Rumble!
She mobilized the surrounding earth and stone, and even channeled an unfamiliar lightning ability to corner him.
In a span of less than half a quarter-hour,
the entire area was reduced to utter ruin.
It was nothing short of a cataclysm.
However, the thick dust made it difficult to discern the man's condition.
Yet,
With this much...
Even if he wasn't dead, he could not have escaped unscathed.
Since Mother Jimjo's demonic energy was finally beginning to run dry,
Crackle!
she had to finish it now.
She prepared herself to burn even her origin essence.
But the moment she attempted to detonate her core once more—
The man appeared before her in a flash and tore into her abdomen.
「Kyaaaah!」
A raw, agonizing shriek tore from Mother Jimjo's throat.
The man frowned slightly and spoke.
"It would be troublesome if your core were to be ruined."
Though she quickly twisted her body to escape his grasp, a gaping hole had already been carved into her belly.
The man watched her quietly, then pulled out a slip of paper and pressed it to his shoulder. Instantly, his severed arm regenerated. His other wounds vanished just as quickly.
Even on this island teeming with bizarre and mysterious spiritual beasts, she had never witnessed such an ability. It was on an entirely different level. It was an absurd, impossible power.
「Ah...」
From the very beginning, she had never stood a chance.
What she had believed to be hope melted away like spring snow.
Had he wished, he could have killed her in a single breath.
Yet, there were two reasons why the man had humored her until now.
First, he respected her noble will.
Second, he held a measure of respect for one who had achieved such a realm in a barren wasteland like Gwisu Island.
"It is a pity."
As the man finished speaking, he waved his fan.
*Rumble!*
Dark, heavy clouds filled the sky, painting the heavens in pitch black.
Seven bolts of gloomy, dark lightning rain down from the heavens.
Seven bolts of lightning, thick with a gloomy, ominous energy, rained down upon Mother Jimjo.
A boundless despair poured over her.
Even in that final moment, she did not let go of her resolve, raising a barrier of surrounding boulders.
*Boom! Crash!*
But it was entirely futile.
The barrier was swept away instantly, and the lightning struck her directly.
Her consciousness began to fade.
「...」
An overwhelming sense of defeat and helplessness washed over her.
Ever since she had learned the secret of this island, she had constantly yearned for freedom.
She had wanted to see a wider world. Even if she were to die, she had wanted to draw her last breath outside this place.
「But in the end, like this...」
Born on this island, she was destined to die on this island.
She resented the heavens.
What meaning had there been to her life?
Was this truly the fate, the destiny, assigned to her?
It was utterly cursed.
Just before she closed her eyes for the last time, Mother Jimjo looked toward the nest where Dang Sobaek lay.
A dull, throbbing pain spread from her abdomen. A human hand dug deep inside, pulling out her core.
「...Please.」
"I am Yu Danryong, Deputy Hall Master of the Biseon Hall of the Honwon Alliance. You have done more than enough. Out of respect for your will, I shall spare your chicks. Rest in peace now."
Her thoughts ground to a halt.
As her awakened spiritual nature collapsed, Mother Jimjo's red eyes lost their focus.
The human's voice grew faint, fading into nothingness.
Only...
「Ah... thank goodness... truly, thank goodness... thank you, thank...」
Her unfinished words drifted uselessly into the empty air.
*Pitter-patter.*
The rain began to fall.
A young man in a blue robe looked down at a wounded bird. It seemed to have been crushed by a boulder while trying to escape a collapsing cave.
"You don't even seem fully grown yet, but you are terribly hurt."
Its left wing was crushed, and its breathing was faint and weak.
After a moment's hesitation, the young man placed his hand on the young bird's head. Soon, a clear, pure energy flowed from his fingertips, entering the young bird's horn.
*Crack! Snap!*
With a sickening sound, the broken wing bones snapped back into place. Having regained consciousness, the young bird let out a sorrowful cry.
"...What should I do with you?"
The young man fell into thought, idly touching the sword at his waist.
Meanwhile, the young bird, now able to move, fluttered up onto his shoulder.
"Do you intend to follow me?"
Though he had merely muttered to himself, the young bird seemed to nod ever so slightly. Perhaps it was just a coincidence.
"Peep!"
But then, was this not also a twist of fate?
Normally, taking a living spiritual beast out of Gwisu Island was strictly forbidden, but—
It should be fine.
It is merely a beast that has not even awakened its spiritual nature.
Besides, the young man had been feeling rather regretful that he did not possess a single tamed beast.
Moreover, for some reason, this young bird carried a scent similar to his close friend.
Its noble yet slightly prickly attitude was a dead ringer for him.
"Very well, let us go. If you stay here, your future is already decided anyway. Stay inside here for a moment."
The man opened his storage pouch and placed the young bird inside.
Just then,
"Are you finished cleaning up?"
Another man emerged from the thicket.
It was Yu Danryong, Deputy Hall Master of the Biseon Hall of the Honwon Alliance and Commander of the Shadow Chasing Unit.
"Ah, you have arrived, Commander. But..."
The young man's eyes swept over Yu Danryong. His robes were torn in several places, stained heavily with blood.
Since Yu Danryong normally detested getting even a speck of dirt on himself, this appearance was highly unusual.
Did this mean there was a spiritual beast on Gwisu Island strong enough to push him this far?
It was hard to believe.
The Yu Danryong he knew was a powerhouse who had no rivals on this island, save perhaps for the island's master itself.
However, the commander seemed to have no intention of answering his unvoiced question.
"Danwu. My clothes have been soiled. We have secured enough cores, so let us withdraw."
*Snap!*
Yu Danryong snapped his fan shut, thinking,
...So the connection continues. A promise is a promise, after all.
He quietly stared at the pouch hanging from the young man's waist.