Chapter 100

Well, what can you do about it?

At the time I was chasing Hyuk-seo hyung, I only caught a glimpse, and this is the first time I’ve witnessed it right before my eyes.

For a Returner fanatic like me, Geumgang-ho is a living legend, and seeing him makes my heart race.

“Old man, are you going to interfere again?”

At that moment, Yong Cheon-sung, who had been flung into the air, stopped mid-air with a somersault.

She seemed to know Geumgang-ho.

“Tsk tsk, an old hag who can’t act her age. When will you come to your senses, causing trouble in places where kids like Giraseong play?”

“Huh? People should live young! If you stay cooped up in a room just because you’re old, you’ll age even faster!”

Geumgang-ho calling her an old hag.

I didn’t realize it because of her appearance, but it seemed there wasn’t much of an age difference between her and Geumgang-ho.

Meanwhile, Geumgang-ho gave Seolhyang a look from the barrier.

The look conveyed that he would handle Yong Cheon-sung, so Seolhyang nodded.

To deal with an S-class Returner, only an S-class Returner can stand against them.

That’s why he entrusted Yong Cheon-sung, who had a long-standing grudge, to him.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

Because in the distance, we all saw people kicking up dust as they madly climbed the building’s exterior.

They were none other than the Returners gathered by Giraseong.

Seeing them each wielding their weapons, it was chilling to think that they were all Returners capable of blowing up an entire city.

Giraseon had truly poured all their forces spread across the country.

“You’re underestimating the Association too much.”

Yet, even in such a situation, Seolhyang didn’t lose her smile.

Because as they appeared, Returners from the Association were emerging from the sky and buildings everywhere.

With just one call from Seolhyang, Returners from all over the world affiliated with the Association had come to support.

Boom, crash!

Soon, a real war between Returners began.

Light, fireballs, and ice weapons clashed madly, causing chaos everywhere.

Moreover, Dimensional Beings were attacking the city, and Hunters and Returners were seen blocking them.

Jung-gu, Seoul, was in complete chaos.

The only saving grace was that Seolhyang had contacted the Hunters and the government in advance, so civilians were quickly moving to underground bunkers.

‘What I can do here.’

Just protect Si-ho beside me.

Sweating cold sweat, I approached Si-ho, who was struggling to close the Dimensional Gate.

I can’t contribute in a real battle between Returners.

That sense of helplessness made me bite my lip again.

I want to get stronger.

I want to get stronger by any means to protect the people by my side.

Then, Baeksan tapped my shoulder.

Though he’s a spirit and can’t touch, it felt like he did.

“If it weren’t for you, brat, the place below would be even more of a mess.”

“If my efforts are insufficient…”

“You brat. If you push yourself more here, you’ll die. You’re pushing your body more than you think.”

Hearing that, I glanced at my hand, which had recently been bandaged.

Because I used Thunderbolt and Aura every day to master them, my hand had been constantly wounded lately.

I might be anxious.

“And… damn it! Baek Seolhyang!”

At that moment, Baeksan suddenly shouted.

When I looked up belatedly, someone was standing behind Seolhyang.

It was someone I had never seen before.

His eye sockets were empty, showing nothing, and his hair, reminiscent of the universe, was flowing in multiple colors.

Seeing him, I immediately sensed something was wrong and started running.

Because the person standing behind Seolhyang was holding something pitch black in his hand.

[ I’ll handle it. ]

As my body, filled with Aura, turned red and charged, I heard a voice in my head.

Realizing the voice came from behind, I saw Juk-sim stepping forward.

Somehow, she seemed taller than before.

Then, a flash ignited.

Boom!

With the echoing noise, I felt a ringing in my ears.

“Ugh, ugh.”

When I barely opened my eyes, I remembered that I had somehow grabbed Si-ho, who was closest, and shielded her with my body.

Si-ho, interrupted during her concentration, seemed unable to defend herself and was in shock.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem injured, but I was worried about the aftermath of her concentration being broken.

Both Si-ho and I lacked experience, so our response to such variables was slow.

“Seolhyang! Juk-sim!”

Holding Si-ho tightly, I immediately shouted towards the dust cloud.

The man who had appeared earlier had silently appeared despite the barrier being down.

Just that alone made it easy to tell how dangerous he was.

The dust cloud made it impossible to see, driving me crazy with frustration.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a sound echoed from within, and the dust cloud cleared in an instant.

Black hair, reminiscent of the universe, flowed with light.

Amidst that black hair, she, now much taller, was dressed differently.

Wearing attire reminiscent of an astrologer and a wide-brimmed hat, she was facing the intruder with a staff in hand.

“Juk-sim grew?!”

As I shouted in surprise, two storms collided, sparking heat and sparks.

Juk-sim and the intruder had started fighting again.

Turning my head, I saw Seolhyang retreating with Ju Seong-min.

She didn’t seem injured.

“Erebus.”

Baeksan gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Erebus.

The god of darkness in Greek and Roman mythology.

And seeing him, I realized that Eun-namu had referred to him as the boss.

At the same time, I understood why Baeksan had singled him out as the only person in Giraseong who could threaten the World Returner Association.

He was a transcendent being who could surpass even other Returners.

And it seemed only Juk-sim could stand against him at the moment.

But there was a problem.

According to Eun-namu and prior intelligence, he wasn’t supposed to be here.

In fact, he was supposed to be abroad.

Eun-namu had said she was still investigating and couldn’t say for sure, but there was a reason Erebus was tied up in another country.

Seolhyang had deployed overseas Returners to suppress him in this operation.

But the fact that he was here now meant…

‘Some variable must have occurred.’

Did he notice Eun-namu and deceive her, misinforming her?

I couldn’t tell right now.

One thing was certain: Erebus, the most dangerous person in Giraseong, was here.

“Damn it, if I knew that bastard would come personally, I should have stationed Cheonma here.”

“Can Ayu fight Erebus?”

“I told you. The greatest in the world on Earth is that guy. It’s tricky to kill him completely, but in a fight, no one matches him.”

Feeling Ayu’s strength again, Baeksan frowned.

“If only Kang Mari were here…”

“Unnie?”

“Yeah, that guy is practically a Dimensional Being. Kang Mari’s ability is his bane. In fact, Kang Mari was the one who killed him last time.”

Wait, that means…

“Baeksan, what about me…”

“Stop. If you go in there, your Aura will only last a few seconds, and you’ll die from the aftermath.”

“Damn it, there’s so much I can’t do!”

“Then get stronger. Now’s the time to hold your breath. You know a variable has occurred. From now on, the plans we set up are meaningless.”

Holding my breath feels like I’m going to suffocate.

Fine.

Whatever the plan, their target is Si-ho.

I decided to protect Si-ho in my arms and was about to return to Seolhyang when suddenly, arms shot out from the shadows below and yanked my legs.

I quickly realized those arms belonged to Hyuk-seo hyung.

Taking advantage of the barrier being broken by the battle between Juk-sim and Erebus, he had managed to sneak in.

“Damn it!”

Baeksan reached out to grab me, but his hand passed right through me.

For the first time, I saw Baeksan’s face crumble in despair.

The surroundings were a mess from the noise of Juk-sim and Erebus’s battle, and even Seolhyang was reacting belatedly, kicking off the ground.

“No!”

By the time Seolhyang’s voice reached me, Si-ho and I had already been swallowed by the shadows.

“Asura!”

As soon as Ha-chan disappeared, Seolhyang shouted with wide eyes, venting her anger.

If it were just Si-ho, it might have been different, but with Ha-chan involved, she had already lost her rationality.

Despite being cautious of Erebus as a variable, such a figure had created another variable.

And originally, Cheonma was supposed to be restraining Song Hyuk-seo.

Clearly, another variable had occurred there as well.

This is why Returners are problematic.

Each has abilities that are too erratic, making it hard to plan and prepare for variables.

No matter how much you prepare, problems always arise somewhere.

And in such a situation, Ha-chan was kidnapped right in front of her.

At that moment, a crown had already formed above her head.

Even if she didn’t want to use it, the situation forced her hand.

Ha-chan’s life was more important than her own will.

At that moment, something flew, and her body momentarily floated into the air.

Startled, Seolhyang quickly looked down and saw an unexpected figure.

“Ma, Mari unnie?”

Where did she come from?

The elusive woman suddenly appeared, holding Seolhyang, who was confused by her presence.

“Don’t use it.”

Hearing Kang Mari’s voice, Seolhyang’s eyes widened.

What she meant by “don’t use it” referred to the crown.

What did she know to say that?

“Unnie, but Ha-chan!”

But now, the important thing was Ha-chan.

He had been kidnapped by Asura.

To save him, the crown was the only answer.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.”

At that moment, Kang Mari spoke as if she knew something.

As Seolhyang was about to question her, Kang Mari whispered something in her ear.

Hearing that, Seolhyang’s eyes widened in shock, and Kang Mari placed a finger on her lips, shushing her before disappearing just as she had appeared.

Watching her disappear without a trace, Seolhyang slumped onto the building’s rooftop.

“…How?”

What Kang Mari had told her was an unbelievable and shocking story.

After being swallowed by the shadows, I gasped for breath as if drowning, struggling to breathe.

The situation had unfolded so quickly that there was no time to react.

Unable to catch my breath, my consciousness began to fade.

But I bit my lip hard, feeling the warmth in my arms.

In the shadows, with no light, I couldn’t see Si-ho, but I knew I was holding her.

If I lost consciousness here, I didn’t know what would happen to the unconscious Si-ho.

‘This is Hyuk-seo hyung’s shadow.’

Which means that even if I get out of here, I’ll have to face Hyuk-seo hyung.

In that case, I can’t use all my Aura at once.

I don’t know how to control my Aura properly.

I always use it all or nothing, so I’m always a glass cannon.

But now, I had to break free from being a glass cannon.

‘Half.’

I had to somehow split my Aura in half.

With that single thought, I began to draw out the Aura within me.

Crackle!

Red sparks began to fly around my body.

Worried it might affect Si-ho, I carefully held her while desperately suppressing the Aura threatening to go out of control.

‘Listen to me!’

The Aura within my body is mine, and no one else’s.

There’s no way I can’t control my own Aura.

‘Listen! Listen to me!’

With a desperate cry inward, the suppressed Aura spread through my body.

And as the output began, I desperately held on, not letting it drag me away.

At that moment, the released Aura exploded in red sparks, scattering in all directions.

The explosion was so intense it ignited the shadows with red light, distorting them.

Whoosh!

As the light faded, I rolled on the ground, holding Si-ho.

“Ugh.”

“Cough, cough, damn you, brat…”

Groaning as I got up from the impact, I saw Hyuk-seo hyung coughing, his head on the ground.

“You, brat, how much Aura do you have to… even my shadow…”

It seemed that my Aura explosion within his shadow had an effect, as Hyuk-seo hyung looked in great pain.

Facing him, I quickly checked my condition and got up.

‘It’s still there!’

About 30% of my Aura remained.

My control had somehow worked.

Realizing that, I immediately released Si-ho, wrapped my body in Aura, and kicked off the ground.

Hyuk-seo hyung isn’t in normal condition due to my Aura’s rampage.

The fact that he couldn’t move properly was proof.

Moreover, he must have faced Eva unnie to stop him.

No matter how strong Hyuk-seo hyung is, it wouldn’t have been easy to subdue Eva unnie without using significant strength.

‘So now’s the time to finish him!’

Knowing that well, I swung my leg at his head, recalling the sensation from earlier.

Thud!

“Ugh?!”

With a precise impact sound, Hyuk-seo hyung’s body floated up.

I felt bad for him, but I mercilessly swung my leg with full force.

This is payback for not listening to me.

---