Chapter: 976
In a chilling atmosphere, a man gazes at Black and speaks.
“Honey, choose.”
No answer comes forth.
What am I supposed to choose in this situation?
A question arises, but Black quickly figures out the answer.
Wooooow—!!!
‘What is this…?’
Something is creeping in from the hand that is gripping his neck, some energy is slithering into his body.
“If you say you will follow me, don’t resist—just accept it.”
Wooooow-!!!
“Ugh!?”
What kind of energy is this? It’s unfathomable.
It gradually penetrates from the outside in.
Like a bug gnawing away at flesh.
And it inflicts constant, relentless pain as if trying to rot the wound.
I feel like I’m going to vomit.
But I can’t even do that.
“If you don’t want it, then speak up. I will personally show some mercy.”
“Ugh—!!”
He asked me to talk, but no words come out.
I can barely exhale through the pain, so how am I supposed to decline?
I can’t utter anything, just grunting in agony.
“Silence means I can take that as a ‘yes,’ right?”
The man grins, as if he expected this outcome.
It’s only after hearing that that Black realizes.
‘This, this guy… He never intended to give me a choice from the very beginning.’
It’s as if fate had already been set in stone, and he only planned to push down this path.
In a belated realization, Black grits his teeth.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaa—!!!!
“Graaah—!!”
Gradually overwhelmed by the pouring energy, Black’s consciousness finally slips away.
*
Kwaddle—!!!
With a harsh sound, a tree crashes down.
It looks like a huge old tree, but it keeps toppling over without a break.
Boom—! Boom boom—!!
It’s not just the trees.
From trees to rocks, to flat ground.
Everything is prone to destruction and collapse.
Amidst such chaos…
Kwaaaaaah—!!!
For some reason, a beast’s roar echoes like thunder.
The wind pressure sweeps the sandy storm and shoots up into the sky.
Following that, a handful of debris that had lain on the ground rises.
The debris, suspended in the air for a moment, quickly succumbs to gravity.
Boom—! Boom boom boom—!!
Adding force to its weight, it crashes heavily to the ground.
Thud—!!
Thud thud thud—!!!
The floor becomes a mess as heaps of debris rain down.
“Hah… Hah…”
The one responsible for all this is busy gasping for air at the center of it all.
It’s not that he’s particularly tired or worn out.
The young man isn’t the type to fatigue from such things.
It’s merely an expression of anger.
His haggard breathing, scrunched face, and bulging muscles.
That’s all there is.
Just a means to vent one’s emotions.
‘Damn it.’
What did he do? The young man has to grit his teeth at the sight he witnessed at the banquet.
‘Damn it…!’
The young man venting his emotions like this…
He turns to glare at the back and says, baring his fangs.
“Stop staring! If you’ve got something to say, come out and say it!”
He shouts while seizing the large tree lying on the ground and hurls it. In that instant, his shoulders swell and he grows in size.
Whoosh—!!!
The tree soars through the air at breakneck speed.
At that moment…
Crunch—!
With a sharp sound, the tree splits in two and scatters.
Thud—!!
The split tree falls behind. Through the gap walks someone closer to the young man, Yusa.
“Your temper’s as peculiar as ever. Does causing a ruckus make you feel better?”
“…Kkeugh—!!”
Yusa’s face twists, looking like a demon. Her enraged visage is gradually fracturing, her pupils splitting apart.
The old man sees this, chuckles softly, and lightly shifts his feet.
Then, before realizing, the old man stands right in front of Yusa.
“Can you see this guy’s eyes?”
The old man, Shincheol, approaches Yusa and glares.
“Why? Want to take a swing?”
“This guy…!!”
“Hehehehe.”
Yusa immediately attempts to move her arm at those words, but Shincheol doesn’t flinch, merely watching.
He looks at Yusa with his piercing crimson eyes.
Yusa, seeing that, momentarily freezes.
“Why?”
Shincheol asks.
“Why not stretch out more? How can you just sit there?”
“…Sudden!”
Yusa bites her teeth at the sardonic tone. But still, Yusa doesn’t withdraw her outreached arm.
The reason is quite simple:
‘If I stretch out…’
If she were to extend her arm a little further here…
‘It would get chopped off.’
Her arm would be severed cleanly.
Yusa is perceptive. She prides herself on having the finest instinct in this realm.
She had used this intuition countless times to win battles and save her own skin.
This isn’t a mere expectation, it’s a certainty.
‘This damn guy…!’
Yusa narrows her brows, glaring at Shincheol.
Both hands are definitely clasped behind her back.
There isn’t even a sword visible at her waist.
‘Where…?’
Where the hell is this formidable pressure emanating from?
Even without any visible weapon, Shincheol exudes an overwhelming force.
A finely honed blade. A cutting edge that feels like it could slice upon contact.
Moreover, it’s something infused with the malevolent intent incurred from countless lives extinguished.
That peculiar essence resides within Shincheol.
“Hmm.”
For some reason, as Shincheol quietly observes Yusa, he clicks his tongue short.
“How boring. You still seem rather timid.”
“…Shut up.”
Kwaaaah—!! Yusa swipes her outreached hand through the air.
The gathered pressure bursts forth and explodes into the atmosphere.
It’s an impressive display of destruction, yet, Shincheol remains unfazed. He simply continues to converse with Yusa.
“How about it? Seems like there’s been enough time for you to ponder.”
“…”
“Thinking is free, but soon enough, you’ll need to give an answer.”
“…What answer should I give?”
“What do you mean ‘what answer?’”
Shincheol flashes a bright smile. Yusa instinctively flinches at it.
Clearly, he appears fine on the surface, yet that grin feels oddly menacing.
“Stop with the antics and just say you’ll join hands with us already.”
“…Hah.”
Having heard that, Yusa snorts lightly.
“Join hands…? Me? With you?”
“No, not you. Yusa. That’s not it.”
“What?”
“Not you, it’s us.”
“…”
Yusa’s expression briefly turns blank at the not-so-subtle correction. ‘Not you, but us?’
What does that even mean? Yusa gives it a thoughtful scan before understanding.
“…What? You mean to say to collaborate with the Volcano Sect that you’ve founded?”
She’s almost about to laugh out of sheer disbelief.
“What difference does it make to partner with something so trivial—”
“Don’t you want to be a lord?”
“…!”
At Shincheol’s words, Yusa pauses.
Simultaneously, her eyes widen dramatically.
“You’ve lost your mind…! Where do you think you are to speak so carelessly?”
Yusa roars angrily, looking around.
Her behavior is understandable. Currently, the mysterious master is wandering in the underworld.
If ever the master hears those words…
“That’s the day the underworld will face its demise.”
If such a means were to occur, it would take only a few gestures to make that happen.
As if casually enjoying a pastime.
With a mindset like that, the master could dismantle the underworld.
She is that kind of entity.
‘Damn it.’
Yusa grimaces at the thought, while Shincheol remains unperturbed.
“Either way, your main body is stuck underground, unable to move. Are you afraid of just that shell?”
Essentially, the master’s true form is powerless to act.
If they were to stir even slightly, calamity would ensue. To prevent that, they’d be utterly immobile at this moment.
In that situation…
“This must be an opportunity for you, right?”
In light of the current circumstances, it’s fair to argue that this is indeed an opportunity for Yusa.
“Isn’t it? Not only can you solidify your status as General… but perhaps even achieve what you originally desired.”
“Hah… You think you know what I’ve originally sought?”
“Didn’t you dream of being a lord?”
“…!”
At Shincheol’s resolute words, Yusa momentarily shuts her mouth.
“Among the current generals, you’re the only one who has lived as long as the lord, and you’re the only one of pure Moonshadow descent.”
Crack!
Shincheol takes a step forward.
At that moment, a plum blossom petal drifts down from somewhere.
“I heard you originally dreamed of being a lord but couldn’t achieve it. Are you not regretful?”
“…I’m satisfied with the current position granted to me by the lord. Don’t play with nonsense.”
“Is that so? How strange.”
Grin.
Shincheol raises the corners of his mouth.
“I don’t see it that way. So, you’re just maintaining that state, aren’t you?”
“…What did I do?”
“What did you do? You held a banquet and wasted time joking with mere leaders.”
As Shincheol strides closer, he approaches within Yusa’s personal space.
Maintaining direct eye contact, he adds,
“You didn’t say a word about the information you possess.”
“…!!”
Shincheol’s statement makes Yusa’s eyes widen.
How does he know? She certainly didn’t sense him during the banquet. Did he keep an eye on her?
Caught off guard, Yusa fails to react hastily.
“Guess that was the right answer.”
Shincheol states confidently.
It’s then that Yusa realizes he was testing her.
“This damn guy…!”
“Why did you do it? You know what’s happening in the underworld. And moreover, you’re aware it’s tied to the Volcano. How could you not have mentioned it?”
“…”
“Not speaking neither contradicts satisfaction with your current place, nor is it because you’re merely hoping for possibilities to change.”
Leaning on the prospects of change.
These words pierce deeply into Yusa’s heart.
Yusa lingers in silence after Shincheol’s words.
“…What exactly.”
She asks Shincheol with a voice twisted in frustration, as if grinding her teeth.
“What do you desire from me….”
Finally, Shincheol narrows his eyes slightly.
He said what he wished for.
Now it begins.
“Do you truly believe that the current underworld is right?”
Shincheol spits out the words he prepared, aimed at Yusa.
Upon hearing Shincheol’s words, Yusa remains silent. Is the current state right? No.
At least not for her.
“That is incorrect. Therefore, we will correct this twisted underworld alongside that individual.”
“That individual…?”
“Yes.”
It felt like thorns were pricking his tongue, but Shincheol must withstand.
“A truly great presence that will confront the current ruler of the underworld.”
Flick!
As Shincheol turns his back, the white robe he wears billows dramatically.
“Yarang. She is the true lineage of the underworld, unlike anyone else.”
“What?”
Yusa’s eyes widen at the following declaration.
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