### Chapter 365 – Room 205, The Cursed Room – ‘The Absolute Master’ (14)
—
– Lee Eunsol
Under the green moonlight, a bizarre structure slowly revealed its form.
Even though I knew nothing about architecture, I could instantly tell that that ‘tower’ wasn’t built for ordinary living purposes.
It resembled two serpents intertwined and stretched out.
“Hold on for a sec.”
It was inconvenient to have to relay everything verbally since Grandfather couldn’t join us.
Of course, we needed someone to control the soldiers at the barrier and to play it cool near the Emperor.
And let’s be honest, one of the reasons Grandfather stayed back was that Ija Seong couldn’t see the conversation tab anyway.
All eyes were now on me.
“The Baehwa cultists surrounding the tower haven’t spotted us yet, but if we move any further, we’ll definitely get caught.”
Ija Seong seemed a tad impressed.
“In this darkness, can you truly see those far-off figures so clearly? Your eyesight is quite remarkable.”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you’re suggesting we turn back here?”
“No way. I also agree with the Lord’s opinion that the Heavenly Tower is nearing completion. It’s time for a decisive action.”
“Hmm…”
“You understand the new plan, right?”
“You just want me to stop Jo Wonhong, correct? You all will handle bringing down the Heavenly Tower?”
“Exactly.”
“Makes me feel bad that my task seems the easiest. Let’s get moving.”
For someone to say it’s an easy task when the hardest job is stopping the head of the Baehwa cult, his comment left me speechless for a moment.
At this point, it was tough to tell if Ija Seong’s relaxed demeanor was that of an absolute master or just pure delusion.
Regardless of the reason, it was time to move forward.
Sanghyun gently raised his arm and tapped the shoulder of the teammate who had been silently ‘charging up’ with ominous energy.
“Now—”
“Get off! Do you think I’m deaf?”
“… Sorry.”
His voice was so intense it felt otherworldly.
In the process of concentrating to unleash those unsettling thoughts, Elena’s mindset was clearly twisted.
We were used to this by now, but Ija Seong, experiencing it for the first time, clicked his tongue and moved ahead.
Then—
With a fluttering cape, Elena spat out a curse.
“Darkness descends…. Tonight, a nightmare will descend upon everyone.”
A sinister aura spread out all around.
The next moment, it was as if a child had carelessly waved a brush, and reality began to be twisted beyond recognition.
It was definitely a dark night, but suddenly, a blue sun rose into the sky.
Next, a mix of murky ocean water began to wash over our legs, as if paint from a palette had spilled in.
Even though I was mentally prepared for it, the chaotic shifts in my senses sent a surge of fear through me.
When I summoned my flute to break out of the endlessly tormenting hallucinations, I couldn’t help but be amazed.
In a world twisted by the nightmare—only my flute stood out in its unique, antique form, seemingly ignoring all surrounding changes.
— Laaaaaaah!
The sound of the flute tickled my ears.
And then…
As the seawater receded, my feet again planted firmly on solid ground.
The blue sun vanished, leaving only a hazy moon hanging in the sky.
Sanghyun and Jinchul, who stood beside me, shook their heads as if waking from a deep sleep.
“Ugh, Elena’s power seems to misidentify everything…”
“Where did the leader go?”
Ija Seong, the Heavenly Leader, dashed ahead as if he didn’t need the flute’s help at all.
“He just went alone.”
“Is that okay?”
“If he could slice the magic tome apart, it’d be odd if he fell to a hallucination created by ominous thoughts. Let’s go.”
“… I’ll stay here. Just deal with it as quickly as you can.”
Nodding at Elena, who was drenched in cold sweat, I said, “Once you’re better, head back to the castle.”
No one stood to block our way until we reached the Heavenly Tower.
However, the chilling sounds of screams filled the world around us, echoing with fear and pain.
Elena had plunged hundreds of Baehwa cultists guarding the vicinity of the Heavenly Tower into nightmares with a single prayer.
“Did you hear Elena? Let’s wrap this up quickly.”
*
A sturdy man who, if he were fine, would surely have charged at us holding a spear, was now rolling around on the ground, screaming.
That wasn’t all.
An unfathomable number of Baehwa cultists were crying like children, some calling for a god, others searching for Jo Wonhong.
Watching this bizarre scene, the old man thought.
Perhaps it would be better if they charged at him bravely with swords drawn.
He recalled the earlier strategic meeting.
The means prepared by the royal family to destroy the Heavenly Tower had inexplicably vanished.
Without those long-range means to destroy the tower, they had to get closer.
However, getting closer would mean dealing with hundreds of cultists guarding the tower.
The Harmony Sect couldn’t afford to fight with every single one of those minions, so he had directed a hooded sorcerer.
But to his disbelief, that sorcerer’s true identity was a traitor from the Baehwa cult.
At this moment, Ija Seong let out a hollow laugh.
There was a cult on the other side that had lost faith in human strength and foolishly summoned a cursed god.
And on this side, greedy politicians drawn to the traitor of that cult were weaving their own despicable magic to cling to power.
“Ah…”
Amidst his sighs, he felt a poignant realization.
This war had no future, regardless of who won from the very beginning.
Because of this, Ija Seong solidified his resolve.
“I will, at the very least, stand on the side of humanity.”
At that moment, a familiar rugged voice rang out like thunder.
“Ija Seong!”
“Leader, it’s been a while.”
“You! What trickery did you use? How did you plunge over 600 disciples into delusion all at once?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“What kind of excuse is that?”
“… Jo Wonhong. Do you really think I could pull off such a trick? We are not strangers.”
The baehwa cult leader, Jo Wonhong, who had dashed over like lightning, scowled at those words.
“Fine. You’re likely too uninformed to engage in such sorcery, so you didn’t directly intervene. But to make excuses for being present with those who use magic seems quite absurd, doesn’t it?”
The old man, Ija Seong, let out a deep breath.
“Ah… that point is valid. What kind of excuse could I give—”
— Paah!
The next moment, a bizarre wave, entirely incomprehensible, swept the surroundings.
It felt like wind at first, yet if you thought about it differently, it could be likened to a wave.
The realization, gained through the late-life wisdom of the old man, told him.
A mysterious power was twisting the entire world.
Feeling heavier in heart, the old man drew his sword from his waist.
The leader’s eyes flickered with violent intent.
Finally, the two absolute masters standing on the ground clashed.
*
– Lee Eunsol
After the final flash had vanished, we started pondering about other means to destroy the Heavenly Tower.
The conclusion came swiftly.
How on earth could a spear and sword destroy an ‘edifice’?
When even Ija Seong, who feared nothing under the heavens, seemed flummoxed at the thought of slashing the tower with a sword, it raised our concern.
The answers lay in ominous visions or star fragments, but since Elena’s power had been used to neutralize the Baehwa cultists guarding the Heavenly Tower, all that remained were the star fragments.
We entered the Heavenly Tower, stepping over the fallen Baehwa cultists, and Jinchul immediately began seeking the target to destroy.
“Did you find something?”
“I’m not sure! Do you see anything?”
“I have no idea! We’re out of time, so just whack something ‘important’ with the star fragment!”
“Where exactly is the ‘important’ spot?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Then how should I know? I’ve never seen a summoning spell for a god before!”
“Should we just try to bring the entire tower down?”
A dumb conversation that raised blood pressure for both of us passed.
Neither of us had the slightest clue about ‘spells,’ so it was no wonder we didn’t know how to break it.
Ija Seong, meanwhile, seemed to start viewing me as some satanic magician.
At that moment, Sanghyun’s voice rang out.
“This way! Over here!”
Rushing in a frenzy, we discovered a spot where glowing blue patterns were engraved in the wall.
Moreover, with seven others sprawled around, I felt a strong conviction that this was an important location.
“Is this it?”
“Oops!”
— Scrape!
At that moment, Sanghyun, who had entered first, quickly grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back.
Just in time, a cold blue blade whizzed right past me.
“Stop!”
A cold expression, a tall figure around 190cm, with features reminiscent of Western descent.
One of the thirteen captains of the Baehwa cult. His alias was—
“Ghostblade Mage!”
“… It’s an honor to be recognized by the Emperor’s advisor. A fine face like yours should taste the earth after a drink or two.”
“Hey, you talk pretty well, huh?”
Suddenly, sounds of rattling were heard from behind.
Jinchul had also engaged with someone.
Had Elena’s hallucination completely failed to affect them?
Judging from the lack of resistance until we reached the tower, it didn’t seem that way.
However, these were much stronger individuals than normal Baehwa cultists, so they had likely woken up faster from the hallucination.
With no intention of stalling, Sanghyun lunged forward like lightning with his spear.
“Cheolhon! Your reputation precedes you—”
— Bang!
And the Ghostblade Mage’s head exploded.
In that moment, I was left at a loss for words.
“Wait, weren’t you just about to fight with a spear?”
“I saw Muksung do it; pretending to fight with the spear before pulling out a gun works great.”
“Did the Grandfather lend you the gun?”
“Oh, he did. Just wait here.”
Soon, a few gunshots rang out from the back, and a rather empty-faced Jinchul appeared.
“Not even a match for a single pistol, huh…”
“It won’t work on the leader. They most likely have some protective energy or something.”
Shaking his head, Jinchul moved towards the glowing pattern.
“Everyone step back for a bit.”
— Pah!
A wave of energy burst forth, pressing down like a force against the skin.
It was truly the power of a star fragment, imbued with malevolent intent, shattering the mystic energies of the Heavenly Tower.
…
The holy being from above, the eternally burning Prince of Blue Flame, cried three times.
The first cry empathized with the fleeting lives of humans suffering in the mortal world.
The second cry was due to the pure spirit’s failure in its quest to save humanity.
The third cry foresees the unfortunate fate awaiting the ignorant.
I saw a vision.
The last mercy bestowed by the Blue Flame Prince, whose descent was thwarted.
I caught a glimpse of myself.
I saw me, pierced by a sharp blade, choking on my breath, struggling with the brutal reality.
I witnessed myself, unable to even receive the grace of a peaceful death, merely groaning in agony.
…
When I finally regained my senses, I realized that Sanghyun and Jinchul wore identical expressions.
It was as if, without saying a word, we understood each other.
Just moments ago, we had witnessed ‘our own deaths.’
“… Could it be—”
“Stop.”
“…”
“It seems Kardamoth shows us strange visions to rattle us.”
Neither of the two replied.
And I, too, could hardly believe the words that had escaped my mouth.
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