Chapter 175: Where the King Is (2)

    ***

    In the midst of their journey, Hikars sensed the corrupted death and began to guide them along the path. How deep had they entered the Beast Forest?

    -Setiria.

    Ruel furrowed his brow at the familiar voice that began to echo again.

    “Stop calling me! If you have something to say, just say it.”

    -Come this way.

    With those words, Ruel felt a powerful thump in his chest.

    ‘...?’

    “They’re approaching. The corruption is getting stronger!” Hikars warned, preparing his Black Wayfinder.

    “Wait,” Ruel intervened.

    Swish.

    “...!”

    The trees fell like a curtain being drawn, revealing a shocking sight that left Ruel gasping. It was a shadow, taking on a hand-like form, toppling the trees. Only one being could wield such darkness – ‘The Devotee of Darkness.’

    Whoosh!

    As Cassion swung his dagger, a sound like ripping air echoed through the space. Before Ruel could react to the shattered wood, a man’s figure appeared through the gap between the trees, and he hastily pressed Leo’s head down.

    Crunch!

    The man’s shadow appeared to be consuming something.

    ‘Crazy. This is crazy...’

    Ruel couldn’t believe his eyes – it looked like a fox.

    Thump, thump.

    His heart raced uncontrollably.

    ‘It’s a fox.’

    Looking again, it indeed was a fox.

    ‘It really is a fox.’

    Ruel tightly embraced Leo.

    —What’s wrong?

    Leo sensed Ruel’s tension and tried to peek out, but Ruel held him back, urging him to stay put.

    “It’s nothing, Leo,” Ruel reassured, though he knew it wasn’t just a fox.

    “Ruel-nim? Are you alright?” Aris cautiously called out to Ruel, noticing his startled expression.

    If he was unnerved by the sudden appearance of the enemy, Ruel must be in a worse state. He stood protectively before Ruel, facing the foe emanating a dark aura. It felt akin to facing a black-blooded man.

    Whoosh!

    As trees flew toward them and the wind roared, Ruel finally snapped back to reality. Now was not the time to be pondering.

    “Ruel-nim.” Hikars called out to him.

    Struggling to compose himself, Ruel turned to Hikars. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he admitted, perplexed by the unusual form before them.

    That guy was surely a Devotee of Darkness.

    Ruel paused, contemplating. “Did you mention he’s being controlled, Hikars?”

    Could it even make sense for someone to wield such power while under control? Was he truly dead?

    Hikars pointed at the figure.

    “Yes, he is dead. He’s being controlled by someone... just like the King of Kran.”

    “What did you just say? Similar to the King of Kran?” Ganien exclaimed, taken aback.

    —This body smells something out of natural order in this place, is it the black-blooded man?

    Leo, wriggling in Ruel’s arms, questioned.

    “It’s quite a chaotic situation,” Ruel responded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

    One could mistake the enemy for a mere peddler, considering not only was he a corpse, but he was also corrupted and controlled. From Hikars’ earlier words, it seemed that man was also being manipulated by the Great Man.

    “Ruel-nim, I don’t see any black water,” Cassion shouted as he chopped down trees, causing Ruel to furrow his brow.

    ‘Ah... wait.’

    “I don’t understand how his body is moving right now.” Hikars, who had been staring at the enemy, was at a loss.

    “What’s strange...?” Ruel trailed off.

    -Setiria.

    The voice echoed once more, this time coming from the man before them. It was crazy.

    “I thought he was definitely dead, yet he is using purification. However, the corrupted death persists.”

    Even Hikars, who spoke those words, let out a hollow laugh, seemingly incredulous.

    “...Ha. So, in other words, purification and corrupted death are happening simultaneously within this man?”

    “Is that even possible?” Ruel was dumbfounded. Was this situation even real? It was hard to believe, even when looking right at him.

    -Me.

    The enemy momentarily paused and looked at Ruel.

    -Stop me.

    ‘This again?’

    Ruel bit his lip.

    Crunch.

    The sound of something being chewed by the enemy’s shadow rang sharply in his ears.

    The fox’s body was severed and fell to the ground.

    “It’s unsettling,” Ganien murmured, watching as the man’s shadow expanded like wings.

    The man’ shadow had uprooted all the trees around it, making it more comfortable to fight.

    As the shadow shifted, Ganien raised his sword and brought it down on the ground.

    “Where do you think you’re going?”

    Slash!

    With a powerful swing, Ganien cleaved through the shadow, revealing the true darkness hidden within. The disoriented enemy’s gaze met Ganien’s, who returned the look with a confident grin.

    Crunch.

    The severed shadow attempted to consume Ganien’s sword, showcasing its insatiable appetite. Wasn’t this the same darkness that had devoured a fox resembling Leo?

    “Phew,” Ganien exhaled deeply, gauging the distance to his enemy – five large steps. A blue aura enveloped his sword, causing the shadow to gradually dissipate from its grip on the blade.

    With a resounding thud, Ganien made his move, the sound of cutting air preceding his swift motion.

    Boom!

    The clash of giant rocks echoed, prompting Ruel to cover his ears, a wave of nausea washing over him.

    “Ruel-ni...” As Cassion emerged from the shadows, he immediately fell silent. He was left speechless at the sight of Ruel, blood streaming from his nose. Dozens of monsters sat in silence with a bright light in their green eyes.

    “Hah...”Cassion sighed deeply.

    “I’m sorry,” Aris bit his lip. He couldn’t bring himself to stop Ruel.

    “Aris,” Ruel called out, wiping his nose.

    “Yes.”

    “Freeze that guy with your magic,” Ruel pointed to the First Setiria. It wasn’t that he doubted Aris’s abilities. When Aris attempted to attack the monsters, he heard their pleading voices. They begged him to stop. The power controlling the monsters seemed stronger, but how could he ignore such desperate cries?

    ‘Damn it.’

    His head throbbed.

    “Yes?” Aris looked at Ruel with wide eyes.

    “Keep him restrained. Can you do that?”

    “I-I can do it!”

    “I believe in you.”

    “I understand!”

    Only then did Aris realize that Ruel’s actions were not to protect himself. That was enough for him. Aris focused and moved forward.

    Squelch.

    With each step Aris took, the snow beneath him shifted. A golden light shimmered in his black eyes.

    “Can you hold on?” Cassion grabbed the staggering Ruel.

    “Let’s go,” Ruel said, placing his hand on Cassion’s arm, with Leo tightly holding Ruel’s hand.

    —This body will purify. This body can do it.

    “I know.”

    But how could he let Leo go?

    How could he say that a half-dead fox was a Great Purifier like Leo?

    “Hikars,” Ruel closed his eyes briefly and called out.

    “Yes, Ruel-nim.”

    “Take Leo with you. Cover Leo’s eyes.”

    —Why?

    Feeling Ruel’s anxiety and worry, Leo couldn’t refuse his touch.

    But it pained him.

    —What has this body done wrong?

    “No, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

    —Then why... are you trying to separate from this body?

    Leo’s eyes fluttered with confusion.

    Ruel reassured Leo. “Later, when I open my eyes, I’ll explain everything.”

    He prepared to faint, aware that controlling monsters and manipulating shadows had taken its toll on his body. He forced a smile, turning to Cassion for support.

    —...Ruel.

    Leo’s ears drooped.

    Ha.

    Ruel exhaled. Even though he could hear Leo’s sad voice behind him, he had to shake it off.

    “Are you okay?”

    “You came here knowing it was only ... me. I guess you couldn’t see the black water when you sprinkled the powder,” Ruel smirked, and Cassion took a deep breath.

    “Yes,” Cassion observed Ruel, who appeared on the verge of collapse. “Can you hold on?”

    “A little. No, I’m not sure,” Ruel stared blankly at his hands, feeling his senses fading and time was running short.

    Clang!

    The sound of a sword clashing with something drew closer. With trembling hands, Ruel inhaled Breath and focused on what lay ahead. A dense shadow attacked Ganien.

    A blue aura cut through the shadow, confidently advancing forward to sever the man’s arm. However, the arm reattached itself, and Ganien laughed as if in disbelief.

    “That guy. He’s insane. Nothing gets through to him, not the powder, not the aura.”

    “That’s why I’m here.”

    “Are... you okay? You look like you’re about to collapse...” Ganien trailed off, dodging backward to slice through the shadow charging at him again.

    “Yeah, I feel like I might collapse.”