Chapter 88

A space where the inside and outside of the barrier are severed by the Heaven-Piercing Net of the PaGyeSeung.

The barrier, thoroughly covered to not allow even the slightest gap, blocked even the sound of underground water flowing.

When Lin collided the fox fire with the barrier, for a moment the flames flickered and vanished. Even the fox fire, which could turn ordinary youkai to ashes, could not exert any power.

“Do you see? The talismans stuck to the walls? They’re a medium that greatly enhances the effects of the spell.”

The talismans were installed around the barrier. The PaGyeSeung, having anticipated Lin’s arrival, had set a trap and was waiting.

“Did you know?”

“Of course~ I told you, the PaGyeSeung is sinister. Ignoring you being a Gumiho and whatnot, he was thoroughly prepared.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“If you only pursue safe battles, when will you become a Gumiho? Times when you should grow quickly are the times to take risks.”

Lin never expected this childish Gumiho to hit the nail on the head. Moreover, Lin herself, having unconsciously accepted it, was also displeased.

Although she was displeased, she fully agreed that risks had to be taken. If she didn’t grow even a step faster, she couldn’t protect Carami.

“Your Majesty… I humbly beg, but I have another task to handle, so please forgive my rudeness…”

PaGyeSeung, who expressed that he needed to finish things quickly, began the real fox hunt.

With a click, he thrust the stone tablet into the ground.

The ring clanked.

“Chong.”

In front of the PaGyeSeung, the air rippled as if the space was condensing. Thwomp! A sudden gust of wind burst forth, and the priest’s robes fluttered violently.

Whissssss!

Something was coming. Although it was invisible, its destructive force was palpably felt against the skin. It wasn’t a push like a bug’s sting; it was an intangible spear rushing like a bullet. It was before Lin could even blink.

Lin swung her hand as if to spread a liquid, creating a curtain.

Thwump!

The shield she created just in time collided with the spear. However, perhaps due to its hastily made nature, the shield wasn’t as sturdy as usual.

It pierced through the shield effortlessly, like a needle through paper.

“Ugh!”

Lin held her breath briefly and instinctively tilted her head. The spear passed by, making a hole in her hair. If she had been just a moment slower, it would have made a hole in her face.

But it was too soon to be relieved. The PaGyeSeung was counting the beads in his other hand, muttering a spell.

“Nirvana Bead.”

At that moment, a huge bead fell from the sky. Without a moment to spare, Lin leaped from the ground.

Boom!

The bead that landed on the ground shrank suddenly. It was a binding-type spell. It was obvious that getting caught would leave her unable to move.

Moreover, she couldn’t afford to breathe easy thinking she had escaped, as every time the PaGyeSeung counted his beads, a gigantic bead was summoned, chasing after Lin.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Just as she thought she was distancing herself from the life of fleeing. Lin narrowly avoided the bead and began to run for the first time in a while. But it felt different this time. Fleeing felt awkward.

It wasn’t just because she hadn’t done it in ages. The awkwardness was most pronounced because of her enlarged body, and above all, her chest shaking was uncomfortable.

Lin’s rapid growth meant that the discomfort was even more pronounced. She didn’t have enough time to adapt to her suddenly changed body.

“Tch!”

Even while fleeing, Lin desperately shot fox fire at the PaGyeSeung, but it merely scattered harmlessly as he swung the stone tablet.

That attack had even failed against the Bear Ghost.

It wasn’t just because there was a gap in power between Lin and the PaGyeSeung.

‘This barrier… it’s suppressing my power…!’

The Heaven-Piercing Net was not just a barrier to trap the opponent. It was cursed to weaken the enemy within the barrier. Not only did it disturb the operation of spirit power, but it also drastically reduced the power of sorcery.

The barrier was sturdy, and her attacks didn’t work against the PaGyeSeung. At this rate, all Lin could envision was her own future as prey.

“Use your eyes! Why waste those good eyes?”

The Gumiho, quietly assessing Lin’s skills, finally spoke up in frustration.

“Lin doesn’t even know how to use them yet! I just learned I have abilities today!”

“Hah… I could use these just fine without anyone telling me. Is this what it means to be a Gumiho?”

“Stop being so annoying and just help me if you’re not going to keep quiet!”

Frustrated with the Gumiho, who couldn’t shake off its ghostly form and kept sighing in her head, Lin burst out in anger.

With another sigh, the Gumiho, acting as if it were providing a favor, said, “Such a powerful facing barrier comes with risks. To dispel the spell, you first have to remove the talismans.”

“Remove the talismans?”

“No, no, I said there’s a risk! That means you can’t leave until you dispel the talismans yourself. And I keep emphasizing how sinister the PaGyeSeung is.”

The PaGyeSeung was not like typical youkai. A human born who chose corruption. Even if he became a youkai, the unique nature from his human days did not vanish.

“Would a guy who even sets talismans against a mere Gumiho not think about what would happen if he lost? A monk scared of death devouring his fellow disciples? There’s no way he would!”

“Then….”

“You need to find the weakness of the barrier.”

Lin immediately activated her Eye of Destiny. Sunlight settled in her pupils.

“The fragments of fate are only visual elements that can be seen through the Eye of Destiny, yet there are countless ways to utilize them depending on the wielder’s intention.”

The first way to use the Eye of Destiny.

“Melt your mind into the sun. From now on, you will become the sun that illuminates everything, even the heavens.”

It was an ambiguous sentence.

When she was already busy avoiding attacks, it was not the time for leisurely brainstorming.

Thus, Lin did not attempt to understand. The more she tried, the more confused she felt, so she stopped thinking and shifted her consciousness toward her instincts.

It was truly a wise decision.

Through countless ages, even if the memories eroded and new personalities were born, the souls remained one. Their souls took the form of the same Gumiho.

Even without exchanging words, there was something understood; the instincts engraved in her soul awakened her abilities as a Gumiho.

Lin’s eyes widened. She began to illuminate the hidden things as if she became the source of light herself.

The subtle movements of the PaGyeSeung.

The spirit power flowing within him.

Even the spirit power that composed the barrier.

Lin discovered it.

Underneath the PaGyeSeung’s feet.

That part alone had a notably weak flow of spirit power.

No wonder he hadn’t moved an inch from his spot. Did he think he should maintain some monk-like elegance, but someone like the PaGyeSeung could think that way?

The opposite.

It was a filthy ruse to hide his own petty nature.

The task was simple.

“Then I need to clear him out from that position?”

Realizing the method to break the spell, Lin crouched down and then in a moment, shot out like a slingshot, flames swirling around her hands.

Her opponent was a spellcaster. He would be weak in close combat, and it was a well-informed guess that if they were in the same position, the Nirvana Bead wouldn’t easily strike.

“Oh, that’s only half-right.”

Lin could directly confirm what that meant. The PaGyeSeung pulled the stone tablet he had planted in the ground. A dark purple, ominous spirit power wrapped around the stone tablet’s pillar.

Fwoosh!

The PaGyeSeung thrust the stone tablet like a spear. The dark purple flash pierced through Lin’s collarbone like lightning.

“Ugh!”

The PaGyeSeung pressed his empty hand against Lin’s abdomen.

“Shatter.”

Voooooom──!

“Cough.”

With a sound that resonated through the air, a massive shockwave erupted against Lin’s abdomen. After spitting out blood, Lin’s body bounced and eventually slammed against the barrier before stopping.

Lin, who dropped to the ground, tried to stand but couldn’t gather strength. The vibration spread throughout her body, shaking her brain. Her head spun.

The Gumiho squatted in front of the fallen Lin and chuckled as if it were a fun spectacle.

“The monk is different from typical mages. Perhaps you could call him a battle mage? In comparison, he would fit that category. He can even exchange blows with decent warriors, right?”

“Why keep bringing up such important things…”

“I was going to say it? You dashed out before I could.”

It was absurd, yet there was no luxury to argue now.

Lin wrapped fox fire around herself like donning clothes. It was the healing method she had learned from Yu Hwa after Carami had been gravely injured by the Blood Wolf before.

Even so, it seemed healing completely required time, as her body still trembled. The Gumiho, seeing Lin, asked in confusion.

“You caught a Bear Ghost, right? How in the world did you do that? To me, it seems impossible.”

That was thanks to Carami. Due to the suspiciously perfect strategy she had completely penetrated, it had been possible to deal with it without a hitch.

But this time, she had no such assistance. She had recklessly come to catch the PaGyeSeung, confident she could win without help.

“There is one way, though…”

“If you have any ideas, say them quickly.”

“Just lend me control of your body for a moment.”

Even with the same body, and sharing the same power, the outcomes could vary immensely based on the pilot. In other words, it meant that if she entrusted it to him, he would seize the PaGyeSeung with the true power of a Gumiho.

The Gumiho whispered into Lin’s mind.

“Well? Doesn’t it sound enticing?”