LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 455
Chapter 456
[Uh, ugh….]
A suppressed groan escaped from Moryo’s lips. Moryo’s body was in tatters, more than half of it torn apart, revealing the other side. Yet, somehow, they still clung to life.
But that wasn’t the main issue. Although it happened that pure force had overwhelmed them, Yeon-woo’s actual strategy was not that.
The starlight-infused aura mixed with Yeon-woo’s breath sparkled across Moryo’s dark body.
It was truly like stars. It felt like gazing up at the shimmering stars in the dark night sky above.
Like a balloon pumped to its limit, Moryo’s body started to swell.
The mana organs within the dragon designed for breathing were bursting, causing the power contained within to leak out.
Moryo’s body repeatedly shrank and then swelled, while Yeon-woo watched with the dragon’s breath still unleashed. Amid this, a conclusion dawned.
“…Wait a second.”
An astonished Yeon-woo spun around. Baek In-hwa, with a dumbfounded expression on her face, came into view.
With a serious demeanor, Yeon-woo pointed towards the passage they had come through.
Baek In-hwa, sensing the dire situation from his expression, turned and dashed away. Yeon-woo, typically not one to show grave expressions, meant something important was unfolding.
Inside the narrow passage, thin ice coated the ground. Yeon-woo, who allowed Baek In-hwa to take the lead, glanced back.
There was no longer a threatening dragon, and Moryo had inflated like a balloon, waiting for the moment to burst.
The shadows pouring from it gnawed at the world. That was certainly no trivial problem.
Those shadows were nanomachines devouring the world. Just their scattering across this realm would put Earth in peril.
It was fortunate that Tae-oh could control them; otherwise, everything they had achieved could have led to the world’s demise.
This battle had the potential to grow more dangerous and intricate. Being in this space meant they were constantly fighting against the nanomachines while dodging Moryo’s attacks.
Now, while all wounds had healed thanks to divine arts, the strain had definitely taken its toll. They had to unleash dragon breath, and although mana was slowly filling, it was still below half.
‘Do I really have to fight Hwayo in this state…?’
It felt maddening. With that thought, Yeon-woo raised his middle finger towards Moryo, feeling a desire to curse even more, but there was no time for that.
As Yeon-woo and Baek In-hwa emerged from the nest, they were warmly welcomed by the figures waiting outside. But instead of explanations, the pair shouted first.
“Everyone, get down!!”
Almost simultaneously, a tremendous boom erupted, followed by a gale.
*
“Seems like that side is done for.”
The clink of the sword sliding back into its sheath echoed. The dark-colored blade bore no traces of blood.
Despite the piles of bodies around him, the boy was remarkably clean.
“…Ugh, are you really going?”
“Of course. If you say you’re going, how could I not?”
Noel, now resembling a woman more than a girl, spoke, and Yuri smiled brightly. Both turned to face a single direction.
The Demon King of Fire. The presence of the world’s strongest demon king felt, even from this distance, like a matter of course.
Could they win? Who knows. If they could somehow solve the issue of its immortal flame, maybe. But at the very least, neither possessed the means to do so.
Yeon-woo might have some secret plan, perhaps he was considering resolving it through some higher principle.
Regardless, what mattered most was to stop Hwayo. Yeon-woo had bought time against the Archdemon, so wouldn’t they need to repay that favor?
“Then let’s go. We have to buy time and connect with Yeon-woo.”
“…Understood. But you must retreat if it becomes too dangerous, alright?”
“Hah, you worry too much. Just focus on your own concerns.”
Yuri playfully flicked her sword at Noel’s head. With a swish, her form vanished.
Though she acted nonchalantly, the knowledge that lives would be lost there must have been unsettling.
“…I really hope grandfather doesn’t die. I wish that would be understood.”
Sighing heavily, Noel followed suit, leaping behind her. In an instant, light flickered, and the two figures completely vanished.
Yuri, having reached Hwayo before Noel, drew her sword. The broad presence of her aura surveyed and relayed everything in the battlefield.
“…There it is.”
Hwayo was rampaging across the battlefield, with people being tossed around helplessly.
Up until a certain point, they had held their ground well, but it seemed that with Claire and the Elf Queen backing down, things had taken a turn for the worse.
However, it wouldn’t do to force those two to fight until death, so it was fortunate they had retreated safely.
Yuri steadied her mind and swung her sword into the air, the movement aimless in direction.
Yet, far away, as she wandered the battlefield, the soles of Hwayo’s feet were cut cleanly.
Those who trailed behind, surprised by the scene, glanced curiously at Hwayo, who turned his gaze as if he already knew.
[Another meddling fool has appeared.]
His expression showed neither annoyance nor the fury of a predator. The boy was evidently filled with hope.
Thus, the two transcendent beings, both taking the form of young boys, confronted one another. An indescribable air surrounded them, and in an instant, the very fabric of space seemed to shatter.
With space torn asunder, sword light and paths fractured. Hwayo’s limbs were severed, and Yuri’s body shattered.
Both of their eyes witnessed everything. Yuri responded quickly.
Hwayo hadn’t any intention of countering. If his limbs were to be severed, he would simply unleash attacks up until that very moment.
The nature of their attacks shifted slightly with each passing second. The way they read each other’s movements and responded differed entirely.
That was the difference in their conditions. One who knew he wouldn’t die and one who understood the gravity of a single brush that could lead to their demise.
Thus, the method of their exchanges was bound to continuously change.
Though their styles were opposed, it wasn’t as if Hwayo fought without thought. Yuri understood this better than anyone.
‘…Impressive.’
Huyo’s martial skill was undeniably profound, especially their ability to read attacks was remarkable.
It wasn’t about merely responding to their own attacks; it felt as if they were using their own moves as points of offense.
‘It’s fortunate the current head of the Namgung family isn’t here.’
Facing someone so straightforwardly aligned with the path of the sword would surely lead to severe injuries.
A style that disrupts opponents by sticking to nonsensical methods… It felt more like it had developed inadvertently through life rather than being deliberately crafted.
“Tsk.”
[…Quite remarkable.]
Hwayo praised, which wasn’t a sentiment Yuri welcomed. It was unpleasant to receive compliments from an opponent she couldn’t kill.
“I told you not to engage first…!!”
From behind Yuri came Noel’s voice. Light flickered, and Hwayo was sent flying a distance away.
In any case, her strength was unbelievably formidable, our disciple.
*
“Is it over…?”
Yeon-woo and the children looked up. The raging storm had ceased. The shadowy ceiling that had covered the sky disappeared, and the ominously dark sky began to clear into a bright white.
Their party let out a collective sigh of relief. The immense mana had sent chills down their spines.
It was thanks to the barrier set by Tae-oh and the light hastily conjured by Ilucia that they survived. Without it, they wouldn’t have made it through safely so close to the epicenter.
The group decided to drop down and take a moment to rest. After all, they needed some time to recuperate before facing Hwayo, and Tae-oh also required time to recover the shadows he had expended.
Returning to gather them after battling Hwayo could have led to a situation where the nanomachines would have dispersed into the winds far and wide.
[Hey….]
With such thoughts, as Yeon-woo lay flat on the ground, Ilucia cautiously approached. Noticing someone nearby, he lifted his upper body.
“Oh, Ilucia. What brings you here?”
[You can keep lying down. I have a rough idea of the situation, but I wanted to ask how Kai died.]
Despite her cautious demeanor, Ilucia brought up a subject that was somewhat uncomfortable to discuss.
It was known that Yeon-woo didn’t harbor fond feelings for Kai; however, for Ilucia, Kai was her only kin.
Moreover, their bond ran deep, making it burdensome for her to convey his death to her.
And how could she even bring up the fact that he had taken a near-suicidal action?
[Hmm, seeing that, I can guess how it went.]
Ilucia smiled sadly. Yeon-woo struggled to find words.
“I-I’m sorry.”
[It’s alright. He made his own choice, after all. Didn’t he say anything specific?]
With a lonely smile, Ilucia asked. Yeon-woo carefully recalled what had happened. He hadn’t said much there, but….
“He said to take good care of Ilucia. I intend to honor that promise as well.”
[…I see. Then it seems I must assist you well, Yeon-woo.]
“If you do that, I’d be grateful.”
As Yeon-woo said this, he silently watched Ilucia’s back as she turned to return to her place, feeling a sense of melancholy.
That deity had done nothing wrong. And yet, she had ended up alone.
Overwhelmed by guilt, Yeon-woo spoke to Tae-oh.
‘Sorry to bother you, Tae-oh. Could you talk to Ilucia for a bit?’
[Hmm? Got it, Dad! Just a sec!]
Tae-oh was the closest person to her akin to kin. Yeon-woo simply hoped that Tae-oh’s naturally bright nature could provide her with some comfort.
(To be continued in the next chapter)