[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 193: Persuasion (3)

Just as the floor gave way, Joo Hayun began preparing a spell.

She intended to use spatial magic to create invisible platforms midair and protect her companions.

However, the spell she cast unraveled into the air before it could be completed.

“…No way.”

Such occurrences were rare.

This only happened when a much stronger magic—similar in type to the one currently being cast—was already active in the area.

Hayun turned around to warn the others.

But they were gone.

Vanished.

That confirmed her suspicion without a doubt.

A spatial magic spell, far more powerful than hers, was already dominating this space.

And there was only one place in the world where such magic was possible.

“…Aeon.”

Hayun let herself fall into the darkness.

The descent wasn’t long—she landed gently on solid ground.

Raising her head, she saw a ceiling above. Even though she had fallen as if off a cliff, there it was.

Which meant she hadn’t fallen at all—but had been transported to another space entirely.

“Ahhh… owww…”

A pained voice groaned from nearby. Mei Hong had landed hard on her rear.

Rubbing her sore backside, she asked Hayun, “Where did everyone else go?”

“I’m not sure. Someone cast a spell that tore us apart—scattered us.”

Hayun’s face darkened.

Dealing with the Mei Clan was complicated enough. Now Aeon was involved too.

If those two forces had joined hands, something truly dangerous could be underway.

“First, let’s find the others.”

The two began searching the room they had landed in. Soon, they discovered a solitary door.

It looked highly suspicious—but they had no alternative. The two pushed it open and stepped inside.

“Oh my, you arrived faster than I expected.”

A woman greeted them as soon as they entered.

“I was going to give you both some space to gather your thoughts, but it seems that was unnecessary.”

Her voice was soft and serene.

But Mei Hong’s face was the opposite—drained of all expression, her pupils wide and fixed on the woman.

“…Mei Xiao.”

She whispered the name slowly. And with it, her face filled with emotion.

“Mei Xiao!”

Mei Hong grabbed her sword hilt.

At that moment, Joo Hayun shouted, “Mei Hong, stop!”

Even in her fury, Mei Hong hesitated. She looked back at Hayun with a face full of frustration.

“Unni, why…?”

“My, this is surprising. I didn’t expect you to sense the presence of our assassins. You really are the Witch of Hyukcheon.”

Two long swords pressed against their necks from behind.

At some point, assassin-bladesmen had crept up behind them with drawn swords.

“I understand how you feel, Mei Hong… but wouldn’t it be wiser to stay calm right now?”

Mei Xiao clapped her hands.

Dozens of armed Mei clan members appeared behind her.

Just the two of them—Hayun and Mei Hong—would never make it through. Grinding her teeth, Mei Hong reluctantly let go of her weapon.

“Bring them some chairs.”

Two of the assassins fetched chairs. Hayun and Mei Hong sat across from Mei Xiao.

“You both seem quite tense.”

A smile formed on Mei Xiao’s face.

Mei Hong snapped back at her, “What’s your game?”

“Mei Hong, try to relax.”

“Answer me. What are you after?”

“Hmmm.”

Mei Xiao gave her a sideways glance—clearly displeased.

“From your perspective, I must be your mortal enemy. But did you know? From mine, you’re someone I’d tear limb from limb if I could.”

“Oh, that’s new.”

Mei Hong smirked coldly.

“If you want to kill me, then do it. Why hesitate?”

“Always so perceptive. Keep that up, and I might actually kill you.” Mei Xiao grumbled, but her tone lacked real bloodlust. She clearly had no intention of carrying it out.

Mei Hong knew that—and thus didn’t hold back her hostility either.

“To be honest, I never intended to invite the Dark Shade Unit to this operation. My targets were always Kwon Myung-woo and the Hyukcheon Corps.”

She sounded exasperated.

“That’s why I asked Mohammad Chamkhani to push you all out of the city… but it seems he failed.”

“You were the one who moved the city’s ruler?” Joo Hayun asked, stunned.

Mei Xiao chuckled.

“Yes. He and I are quite close.”

She adjusted her seated posture.

“Well, it worked out in the end. I had something to say to Mei Hong anyway.”

Mei Hong frowned.

Mei Xiao, still smiling, asked calmly, “Mei Hong—have you ever considered becoming my successor?”

* * *

“Damn it. Where the hell is everyone?”

A dark corridor.

Bae Cheol-min cursed under his breath.

“If we stay separated like this, we’re in serious trouble…”

He rubbed his neck. Before he joined up with Kwon Hanul, Gu Eon had implanted a command into the geas on him.

If Kwon Hanul was in danger—or if they were apart for more than 30 minutes—the geas would activate.

“Goddamn it.”

Bae Cheol-min clenched his jaw. This cursed geas… it left him completely powerless.

“If I could just get rid of this thing, that bastard…”

“What do you plan to do?”

He instinctively turned around.

An old man was standing there, watching him. He had no idea when the man had even arrived.

“…Who are you?”

“I go by Azeth Hermes.”

At the name, Bae Cheol-min’s expression shifted.

“The head of Aeon? Why are you here?”

“Why else? I came to speak with you.”

“Speak…?”

The random remark left Cheol-min bewildered.

“Before coming here, I looked into you—and into the Iron Corps. The Hyukcheon’s punishment force, made up of its own criminals. The ones who clean up all the filth the Hyukcheon won’t admit to.”

“Are you here to pick a fight?”

“Haha, hardly.”

Azeit Hermes chuckled.

“You’re like hunting dogs raised by Hyukcheon. Useful—until you’re not. Disobedient ones are easy to replace.”

“So you are here to piss me off.”

Cheol-min cracked his knuckles. The sound echoed sharply.

“Come here. I’ll smash that smug face of yours—”

“Don’t you want out?”

He stopped cold.

Frowning, he glared at Hermes.

“I can remove the geas that’s binding you.”

“You don’t even know what it is. Don’t spew that crap—”

“It’s a curse composed of the Seal of Chastity, which brands the soul… the Arachne’s Sewing Machine, which imbues magic with will… and the Obsidian of Malice, one of the cursed relics. Isn’t that right?”

Cheol-min’s eyes shook. Hermes had described it exactly.

“H-How do you know that?”

“You underestimate Aeon far too much. Eon was created to uncover the secrets of this world. There’s no organization on Earth with more knowledge than us.”

Hermes spoke with conviction.

“If you trust me, I can lift your geas. What do you say?”

Cheol-min paused, then muttered, “…What do you want in return?”

“Just one favor.”

Cheol-min’s voice hardened again.

“A favor? So now that I’m free from Hyukcheon, you want me to become your lapdog?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I have no intention of using you.”

Hermes smiled, baring his white teeth.

“I just want you to take revenge on Hyukcheon… however you see fit.”

* * *

Kwon Hanul extended both arms outward. Four new arms burst forth from his back.

Excluding the right hand already holding a sword, the other five hands each took up a different weapon.

A spear, an axe, a whip, a bow—each gripped tightly in one of the hands.

—Haa…

A line split across his face, carving open a mouth on what had been a mask of crimson.

A long sigh escaped, releasing a thick, curling red smoke into the air.

—So this is what it feels like… to become Shura.

His voice did not ring through the air, but echoed as thought itself, directly inside the minds of all who heard it.

—My chest is ablaze, my mind dyed crimson. I want to cut down everything I see.

Kwon Hanul's gaze locked onto Mei Ji-peng. It was like staring into hell through a narrow opening—so chilling it made one’s skin crawl.

“H-Hah…”

The Flowing-Blade, Mei Ji-peng, stared at the sight before him in disbelief.

“That bastard was right…! You really do possess the Shura Bloodline, Kwon Hanul!”

He remembered the warning he'd received before coming here.

Kwon Hanul of the Hyukcheon Clan carries not only the Black Dragon Bloodline, but possibly another. There’s a high likelihood that among them… lies the Shura Bloodline.

“How dare you! A filthy child of Hyukcheon, possessing our sacred bloodline!”

Rage distorted Mei Ji-peng’s face.

“I’ll end your life right here and now!”

The Sword Formation of Spring Orchids and Citadel Blossoms

It was one of the more recent formations developed within the Mei Clan.

Though new, its power was proven. It had even been tested against Mei Rong, hailed as the Greatest Sword of the Central Plains.

This formation was created for one purpose: to face monsters far beyond the norm—so potent that even Mei Rong struggled to break it.

“Draw your blades! Unsheathe the soulblades! That thing must die here!”

Over dozens of swordsmen surged toward Kwon Hanul, blades flashing.

Their sword auras filled the entire space, pure killing intent crashing down on him. A storm of steel closed in to obliterate him.

Then, the hand holding the spear moved.

Gripping it in reverse, the spear was driven into the ground.

Activating Authority: Three Realms, Six Paths – Path of Humanity

Originally a defensive ability designed to automatically block long-range attacks, the Authority had changed—empowered now by his semi-divine state.

The energy of the Shura King radiated outward in a shockwave. The sword auras it touched twisted, reversing course—returning to their owners.

“Huh?”

“What—?!”

The redirected sword aura slashed into the swordsmen from all directions. One by one, they fell, blood spraying from their bodies.

“Agh!”

“Uwaaagh!”

Then, the hand holding the whip moved.

The whip extended—lashing violently through the formation.

“Gaaaah!”

“Nooo!”

Wherever it struck, bodies were severed like they'd met a guillotine. In an instant, the air was filled with screams and the stench of blood.

“Don’t retreat!”

Mei Ji-peng bellowed, channeling mana into his voice. The formation had taken a hit, but it hadn't yet collapsed. If they could just regain focus, there was still hope.

“Kill him! We must kill that monster!”

“The enemy of our clan!”

The swordsmen here were not ordinary warriors. Every one of them was a skilled fighter, their hatred for Hyukcheon binding them together.

With killing intent gleaming in their eyes once more, the swordsmen surged forward. The wavering sword formation reassembled, regaining its structure.

—So they won’t crumble easily.

Kwon Hanul tilted his head ever so slightly as he observed them.

—Then I suppose… I should respond in kind.

He gripped his sword in reverse.

Without hesitation, he plunged it into his own chest.

“W-What?!”

Even Mei Ji-peng couldn’t help but recoil in shock at that moment.

For a moment, it seemed as if Kwon Hanul had taken his own life. But then—an overwhelming burst of energy erupted from his body.

Activating Authority: Three Realms, Six Paths – Path of Hell

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]