Chapter 102

Song Hyuk-seo quietly exhaled.

His sinking head began to roll a bit more realistically.

‘Even if I succeed in kidnapping Si-ho here, if Juk-sim doesn’t help, it’s over.’

She is a constellation from the Heavenly Realm.

Going through all this trouble to kidnap just Si-ho, and now having to face a constellation from the Heavenly Realm, the chances of success are ridiculously slim.

Song Hyuk-seo only knows Juk-sim through the game.

She’s someone he only chats with.

No matter how long they’ve known each other, even Ha-chan hasn’t fully grasped her, so how could Song Hyuk-seo?

So, he had no idea what to offer her as a condition to save Se-hee.

The only constellation from the Heavenly Realm he knows, Erebus, doesn’t even feel human.

All he knows about Juk-sim is that she has some connection with Ha-chan in front of him.

Even if Se-hee gets her body back as promised, if she can’t be saved, the game is already over.

“…Domi. All I know how to do is fight and destroy.”

In the Gihang War, Song Hyuk-seo became a contractor of the Dueokshini to survive.

To him, both monsters and humans were enemies.

The only person he could trust was Ran.

But even Ran had to lose her life to human greed.

So, he couldn’t trust anyone.

Not the World Returner Association.

Not Giraseong.

Not even Si-ho, whom he’s clinging to now.

His eyes turned to Ha-chan.

The guy he consistently watched in the game somehow often reminded him of Ran with his stubbornness.

The first time they met in real life, Song Hyuk-seo said they couldn’t compromise.

Yet, despite it being none of his business, he went out of his way to find a way to revive Se-hee.

And now he’s here, proposing to revive Se-hee together.

Saying that no one has to be sacrificed, and Se-hee can be saved.

It feels like a dream.

Does such a world even exist?

But ironically, that guy has a dream-like thought of creating a place where Returners can return and be happy.

“Just once.”

Song Hyuk-seo wiped his face with his hand.

The chin that guy kicked was throbbing.

He wasn’t sure if this meant he had come to his senses.

“…Can I trust you a bit?”

Hearing that, Ha-chan’s face gradually began to flush.

Seeing that, Song Hyuk-seo thought of Se-hee.

Sometimes, there are things you can’t stop because they’re family.

After all, in the Gihang War, it was Ran, not Se-hee, who ultimately stopped him.

And this time, it’s Ha-chan, not Ran.

“If we can just save Se-hee, I’ll take all the punishment.”

“I’ll visit.”

“Why are you talking like she’s already imprisoned?”

Ha-chan and Song Hyuk-seo looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Let’s go back.”

As Ha-chan said that, Song Hyuk-seo sighed and raised his hand.

To release the shadow proclamation.

At that moment.

Something flowed through his shadow.

[The God of Darkness is watching you.]

At that moment, Song Hyuk-seo realized something had moved through his shadow.

His eyes widened as he noticed.

The God of Darkness.

Erebus.

Song Hyuk-seo made a contract with him when he joined Giraseong.

Not just him, but all the executives had made contracts.

But there was one thing he didn’t know.

He was the God of Darkness.

The constellation most closely related to shadows.

“Domi, take the horse and run away now!”

“Hyuk-seo hyung?”

Just as he didn’t trust Giraseong, maybe Erebus didn’t trust him either.

The guy was forcibly twisting the contract engraved on his body and moving the shadows as he pleased.

Song Hyuk-seo hurriedly tried to turn off the shadow proclamation.

But his shadow proclamation seemed to have escaped his control and wouldn’t listen.

Creepy!

Goosebumps ran through his body.

By the time he realized it, Song Hyuk-seo was already running.

With Ha-chan and Ha Si-ho in his arms, the moment he stepped away, shadow spikes shot up from beneath his feet.

A bit slow to react, his foot was pierced by the shadow, and blood dripped down.

But Ha-chan and Si-ho were safe.

“Damn it, Erebus that bastard.”

“Hyuk-seo hyung!”

Song Hyuk-seo tapped the shadow beneath his feet as he heard Ha-chan calling him.

Then, only a Shadow Greatsword was in his grasp.

The only shadow he could control now was this one.

The rest were being manipulated by Erebus through the contract.

‘I used too much energy suppressing Se-hee and in between.’

On top of that, the aftereffects of the electric shock Ha-chan delivered in the shadow were still lingering.

Those two factors combined caused him to lose control of the shadows to Erebus.

“Domi, I’ll create an opening. Get out when you can.”

Facing the surging shadows, Song Hyuk-seo said that and gripped the greatsword.

It seemed like the time had come to face the Dueokshini, the true master of the shadows, once again.

Bang bang bang bang!

The greatsword in Hyuk-seo’s hand moved amidst the flying shadows.

The shadow attacks pouring from all directions were so intense that it was barely manageable.

It felt like giant black spikes or concrete chunks were being swung from all sides.

‘It’s getting fiercer.’

Is Erebus approaching?

Despite Hyuk-seo trying to suppress the shadows by squeezing his energy, the shadow’s onslaught continued.

The shadows surging from all sides and pounding his body gradually turned him into a bloody mess.

But his legs firmly held their ground, not retreating an inch.

Finally, he had accepted everything.

Because he knew well that the moment he crumbled here, it would be the end.

But contrary to his resolve, Hyuk-seo’s body was gradually reaching its limit.

His shadow was damn strong.

Hyuk-seo’s eyes briefly turned to Ha-chan.

Ha-chan had already fired several Thunderbolts at the shadow walls.

But the bullets only sparked red briefly without destroying the shadows.

The firepower was insufficient.

“…Hyuk-seo hyung.”

At that moment, Ha-chan called him.

“You saw what I shot into the sky, right?”

He did.

The power to blow away Dimensional Beings in one shot was something even he found overwhelming.

And he had felt it firsthand.

When Ha-chan unleashed the electric shock in the shadow, his mind nearly went blank.

“I’ll shoot that one more time. Then take care of Si-ho and me.”

A glint of madness flashed in Ha-chan’s eyes.

Seeing that, Song Hyuk-seo split a shadow.

“I know what you’re trying to use. Don’t.”

There’s not much energy left in Ha-chan’s body.

Having fired that level of output multiple times, it’s natural that there’s no Aura left in his body.

Now he’s trying to use his life force.

The moment he fires that output again, Ha-chan’s body will likely overheat and die.

He had no intention of seeing that.

“Domi.”

Hyuk-seo called him, gripping the Shadow Greatsword tightly.

“Get ready to leave.”

The following words made Ha-chan’s eyes widen.

Is there a way?

Seeing him like that, Hyuk-seo chuckled.

That guy probably doesn’t want to suffer and die either.

Because he’s human.

No one likes pain or wants to die.

But he’s the type who hates seeing someone else sacrificed more than his own suffering.

So, he might have to do something most regrettable to Ha-chan.

But this is entirely his responsibility.

Ha-chan is just caught up in his responsibility.

“Although I’ve lost control, the shadows are still connected to me.”

Song Hyuk-seo and the shadows are one.

Even though much of the control has been taken by Erebus, the foundation is still himself.

“If I die, the shadows will temporarily disappear.”

So, the moment he dies, it will greatly affect the shadows.

Even if he dies, Erebus will control some shadows.

But it won’t be enough to stop Ha-chan from escaping.

“…Hyung, are you trying to make me angry?”

A brief flash of anger passed through Ha-chan’s eyes.

That guy really seems to want to save Se-hee and even himself until the end.

“It’s my fault, as you said.”

“That’s putting the cart before the horse! Why did I persuade you like that!”

“Yeah, thanks to that persuasion. That’s why I can make this choice.”

Hyuk-seo’s eyes shone brightly as he split another shadow.

The sweat on his forehead indicated he didn’t have much left.

“Juk-sim said she can save people.”

Juk-sim.

If what she said is true, Hyuk-seo can be saved.

He knew well that Ha-chan, as stubborn as himself, wouldn’t listen.

So, he played the card Ha-chan had shown.

Saving people isn’t easy.

But the premise that it’s possible makes accepting sacrifices easier.

Whether he can survive or not doesn’t matter.

As long as it makes it easier for Ha-chan to accept.

Hyuk-seo smiled broadly.

He’s only done regrettable things to him.

He doesn’t think this can make up for it, but he smiled to ease Ha-chan’s burden a bit.

I wish I had listened to you earlier.

Sorry for my dull mind and stubbornness.

I’ve only been a burden to you.

He didn’t say those words out loud.

He just smiled.

“Take care of Se-hee until the end.”

Entrusting not himself but Se-hee.

His Shadow Greatsword was gripped in reverse.

“Hyuk…”

The moment Ha-chan’s voice briefly echoed.

Hyuk-seo’s head flew into the sky.

His face, flying high into the sky.

Smiled apologetically until the very end.