Chapter 277: Awakening of the Eye (4)
mSZmj9JBeneath the wavering white space stretched an abyss devoid of a single drop of light.rGw
4tWpkaWithout light, there was no color. With no visible floor, there was no ceiling either.hNlT2
YlriI fell, overwhelmed by vertigo. The closer I got to that invisible ground, the more my malevolent impulses boiled to the surface.jOZ
R2EY‘Ah.’reZK0L
gzLFIt was intoxicating. Normally, the Blessing felt like a swamp of suffering I could barely crawl out of. But now, it felt like a saving rain.vjIu
Du2KcqI released all tension from my body. My arms and legs, already slack, hung limp like a corpse’s. From deep within, an inner voice whispered that I wanted to live in this darkness forever, to let it consume me. It was malice.Cy6og3
Zanb4gBlack smoke began seeping from my skin.kXpTRu
ogr‘Cut it all down.’ONvjwW
gBeP‘Tear it all apart.’IZaXeq
7t6t‘Kill it all.’ofS
v1SeKThe malice erased my human memories. How I got here, who I had just spoken to, what my name was… all those colorful memories were stained with black ink.qXT6u
RDdSkoNThe fragments of memory scattered, and malice gradually replaced them. Like a fetus before birth, the darkness of the world was reshaping me.uSa
GuW9XIt was then that someone firmly grasped my wrist as I plummeted to the depths.agb0FO7
kr0j2NI slowly opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be interrupted at this moment. A growing rage welled up in me.gVRgM
QKFC1xb『Kang Geom-Ma.』pJjgTvz
JNCrMy eyes, half-open, shot wide. I was so startled I nearly passed out, but the sound caught in my throat.FRgFm
Hz82Watching my reaction, he—no, I myself, Kang Geom-Ma—smiled faintly.47I
3YTJzbi『I thought I might see you at least once, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.』akW
egOtZKang Geom-Ma spoke to me. His body emitted a glow that illuminated the abyss like a nightlight.aLS
b2t44HHis figure was the same human size as mine, but the wave of light surrounding him was overwhelming.sH9B2v7
M33From afar, he would’ve looked like a beacon shining over the night sea. It was a radiant light, entirely separate from the abyss.c2i
NDw『If you’ve taken my body, at least sit up straight. You look like a bum.』QX14gD
AlxnLyHe grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.twKMm
CpEe2My body, which had been slumped, sprang upright.eQw
8yY7oIt felt like a boulder had been lifted off my chest. That invisible weight sank, bubbling, into the depths below.OUpoRBt
D7JDWe faced each other, and I was finally able to see his face clearly. His hair and eyes weren’t black, but pure white, like a blank sheet of paper.bp7Ek
i7WY『Still, you made it here.』nKI
MuqaxZHe spoke with pride. I simply looked at him silently, unable to speak.TG9z
0M4q『That means the moment is truly near.』Aw2MWH
nN80He stroked his chin and fell into thought. After a moment, he looked at me intently.JQKk
t2zSilence reigned. We were in an abyss so deep it was impossible to tell if we were alive or dead.APMKY
nwXD『Since we’re here, I’ll release all my power.』N8sTnA
ED7IJDAfter some time, he nodded as if having made a decision. Then he placed his thumb in the center of my forehead.ZZeQDM
0yHIPazzzzz…!14KR9mz
opfJust before he touched me, a blue spark crackled between his finger and my skin.4YB
xYACc8UAs soon as he made contact, a bright blue light burst from my forehead.fCZ
EiWpCrack!2irM
avAA bolt of lightning struck directly into my mind. It wasn’t ordinary lightning—it was a bolt of revelation.7tDNW
8zQI squeezed my eyes shut. A torrent of information tore through my head and spread throughout my body.Os2
RR7lYAs if an obstructed channel had been opened, magical energy flowed through every vein.HX6
iFNZW8Soon after, he withdrew his thumb with a smile. I opened my eyes too.N4AFn
iLtc『Do it.』Z8wHafO
s2YzI nodded, pressed my thumb and middle finger of my right hand together, and snapped lightly.2N2Uv
1CLt4XwTac.SzlAuyM
OJUPXEA rain of lightning fell over the abyss. Moments later, thunder roared in a deafening boom.pa2
5rF42Bang! Crack! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!rFei1
9Qb4qThe lightning flared without pause. Like divine punishment, it scarred the darkness.lD258n2
VyWKhThey were beams of light that cleaved the border between light and shadow.vl2zjWR
8TmpQYaAmong the branching bolts of light, shapes appeared and vanished—monsters resembling abyssal fish.BS5
JQpThe abyss, the malice, the false entities shrieked in torment.gwLvh5
OujjHgGraaaaaargh…!hUrSZpk
JCRnITAThe relentless lightning even shredded their cries.4dn54VY
0yfAWThe King of Gehenna. The 1st Corps Commander of the Demon Army. The Emperor of Lightning, Lycan.AfBtt
iqwOnly he mastered lightning magic.86u30
B7pHis catalyst wasn’t mana, but a brilliance brighter than anything else.A7Mn9AE
4ZWtj『Not bad for a first try.』WCL
jP4CKang Geom-Ma, watching the scene for a while, bowed his head and added.zfp02
9NFOfl『From now on, along with the “Inverse Demonic Eye,” this power will be yours too. I couldn’t surpass the speed of light, but you will.』fMXH
xet9WwTEven as a lightning storm shredded the darkness, his eyes remained calm.4Pm0
bdP5UH『Show those arrogant beings who claim to be gods why Balor Joaquin chose you.』aXDi
ZcgWith those words, my vision dimmed as if a candle had been snuffed out.JKmDbA
vapAnd yet, the thunder, mixed with screams, still echoed in my ears.bc2DqH
uYu28XeIt was a pleasant sound. Perfect for falling into a deep sleep. Like a lullaby.hIj8Gb
THiR***oqrJAS2
1EAY[Absorbing and releasing the abilities of 【Lycan】.]vygnS
v04[Additionally, the attributes of the “Blessing of the Sword God” have uniformly increased.]0mwO1
xYrp[Body Level increases drastically.]GOC
nuSbCRX[Spirit Level increases drastically.]ZgPc1ia
O7wa[Soul Level increases drastically.]E4P
GuI3F44[The synchronization rate increases significantly.]yLhiO
W7nOWhoooosh—vWZAy
lSur8[Synchronization is about to reach 100%.]Efj
IKg***avB
eyYWKuarne, who was meditating in a lotus position in the corridor, furrowed his brows slightly. Then, he slowly opened his eyes. A glint of madness flashed through his silver pupils.oBns6fe
50k9h“At last, the time has come.”c4wrrcf
YJNYKHerya, his escort and confidante, nodded. Standing next to her was Leon. His face twisted in unbearable pain, as if his guts were being twisted.iBL
AnWD“Geom-Ma… you… in the end…”LS4x
AvjYiLeon murmured, biting his lower lip so hard that his teeth marks remained. His tone was accusatory, as if blaming someone.ONB
1Sq“……”Ajn
AlUiHerya glanced sideways at him with disdain, then turned sharply.hn1v
V4LBefore her stretched a demonic army. From the elevated altar atop the hive to the horizon of the vast Demon Realm, it was filled with troops. It was the Demon King’s army.5J2Oi
rWYThe demons glowed with red eyes, filled with bloodlust and malice. Like chained beasts, they bared their fangs or drooled uncontrollably. Occasionally, low growls of bloodthirsty anticipation rang out.9Z3klLZ
WwF“The King of the Demon Realm and our God have returned.”d9DiWk
nzOHerya raised her voice.BxPJL
u8Xs“We will now march into the human world.”Th8h
ECxJFinally, the declaration of war was made. A brief silence fell over the area.LGA16
i4ZEThen a demon lifted its head and roared.svWY
YsavAuuuoooo…!7TF1
AqZ1wOOThat was the signal. They all began howling like wolves under the moon. The majestic roar seemed destined to reach the Black Sun.6KpbyIP
rSKLJ***9xzpMB
Upg7wSTwo weeks later.k7DvG
ZnLgHeadquarters of the Hero Association, Vice President Changseong’s office.XPQ
UdSuClang!bqJTSU
IJETThe office door burst open. Striding in was Director Sung. He seemed fully adapted to his prosthetic arm and leg, moving with no sign of imbalance. Even so, his expression was darker than ever. He was gasping, as if he might faint at any moment.aslvmEN
O2WOd“Vice President!”gUbJ
caE7Without pausing to catch his breath, Sung shouted. Changseong was momentarily stunned. It was the first time Director Sung—a man who valued protocol more than life—had barged in without knocking.49DlH1
LHF0C“…What’s going on?”TCLku
L5bdc1The surprise didn’t last. Changseong’s expression turned grim.lygm1P
eKzaGDirector Sung had remained calm even during the invasion by the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush. Though not a fighter, his composure was such that even Changseong respected him.UtsatI
XvfIf this same Sung was reacting like this, something truly serious had happened. And not just anything.kiI
bu5euf“Huff… huff…”ESwvH
TilPDirector Sung suddenly sobbed. In complete panic, he held his artificial head in his hand and tore out clumps of hair between his fingers.QrGCpHA
i9G“The… the… the Demon King’s Army…”rcS
KD0NNHis teeth chattered. It almost seemed like he’d bite his tongue, but he managed to speak, brokenly.7w6
kbu“…The Demon King’s Army has assembled!”VfKa
ercjChangseong’s face cracked. Every hair on his body stood up, and his pupils constricted until they nearly vanished. Even he, a symbol of bravery, blinked hard.JF2Q9
R0VJ4bV“W-what are you saying?”STRD
IZ5CSung responded after swallowing. His jaw was wet with sticky saliva.fH9
z6Zv“…We received an urgent telegram from Hawaii. The behavior of the Gehenna Gate was suspicious, so we sent a recon squad to the Demon Realm… and there, the Demon King’s Army was gathered…”hywyhZJ
MMFsuThen Changseong rushed over and grabbed Sung by the shoulders.0luaqHg
9GfUQ“Get a hold of yourself!”mVQIKbE
fymJWith that resounding shout, Director Sung’s eyes blinked. His lost gaze regained some clarity. He lifted his head and saw Changseong looking at him with firm eyes.rX7n4
UOpZf4“This is something we anticipated.”pkR
PFVT6BWChangseong said.NkZaB
1vV8O“It’s just… the timing is sooner than we thought. But we can’t panic. The civilians might, but we can’t.”YQ65O1
AJhCHe lightly patted his chest with his rock-solid fist.hdsCP
o6rZ“You may not be a hero, but you have the guts of a warrior. So cut the hysteria. Finish your report. Before you bite your tongue.”iq65US
jkAChangseong was scared too. He was human, after all. Even with noble lineage, he was still a being ruled by emotion. No one is free from fear.XLCZ
2PK5But courage and fear are two sides of the same coin. True courage blooms in the depths of despair. The greater the despair, the more precious courage becomes.KcUAVt
krB“Hyungnim…”3Fl7AK
p01ZuX“That’s the second time you’ve called me that since you started working here. Last time, you were drunk, remember? The boss scolded you like never before.”aB50D
u3ViuChangseong let out a hearty laugh. Sung’s trembling ceased. The oppressive energy in the office lifted.3fuk
zHN8“I’ll proceed with the report.”1FRAXb
xii76“Good. That’s more like it, dongsaeng.”cj8BQ3L
tiB8pYYDirector Sung straightened. His prosthetics moved with precision.MMUTd
7r4DZuJ“It’s confirmed that the Demon King’s Army is mobilizing toward the human world. It’s estimated they’ll arrive in about two weeks. Factoring in the destruction of the Gate, we have exactly fifteen days.”XCiM
xVfprK“I see. At least we’ve been preparing. And their target?”2QZy3MR
BiMZ“Still unconfirmed. But by tracking their route, we’ve determined their destination.”TsvlV3m
SGGwm“Tell me.”6Rk
6K9JQBefore speaking, Sung swallowed. A face flashed through his mind. His heart calmed at once.amp
LHhOmeh‘How did I not think of it sooner…?’KQyCiK
QzNHe smiled bitterly. Humanity was no longer weak. The days when the mere name of demons could make one wet their pants were over.YS9W1
MKh‘Changseong, Swordmaster, the Sage, the Absolute Archer, and…’JdF7eax
ITMRubThe heroes of the old guard. And the new guardians of this era.4KGIpEN
ussHumans and demons were now equals. Just like seven hundred years ago.Lj2rPiN
FIRVKSuddenly, he felt stronger. Though he wasn’t old enough for andropause, his emotions surged like a roller coaster. He recalled his mother’s scolding as a child, “If you cry and then laugh, you’ll grow hair.”wjnh
OD38lW‘I’ll end up like a bear…’YxsrZ
s16Sung smiled.6G5
AItqv5“The Demon King’s Army’s target is Joaquin Academy.”4Wj
n0SGYbAnd he continued his report.uPdIw6
3G5NU“That’s where the Heavenly Sword is.”av3
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