Chapter 359.

[Baal’s Barrier — The Story of Chae Joochul and Heynckes]

Chae Joochul and Heynckes were walking together . Every time they moved, Heynckes’s armor clattered and Chae Joochul’s cane creaked .

The only thing missing from the symphony was their voice . Heynckes and Chae Joochul did not feel the need to open their mouths .

They had lived long enough to not be bothered by silence .

“…This barrier seems to be a labyrinth . ”

After a long silence, Heynckes finally spoke . The two of them had been walking for quite a while but were not getting any closer to Baal .

Chae Joochul stopped and nodded .

“You knew that already and didn’t tell me? My, aren’t you naughty . ”

Heynckes gave a playful smile . But his comment did not affect on Chae Joochul as he continued to walk in absolute nonchalance . Heynckes shrugged and followed after his friend .

“…It’s no fun being alone with you . ”

The two were swept away by Baal’s barrier, just like everyone else . When they opened their eyes they were alone, and there was no sign of anyone else nearby except for each other .

“Hmm . This situation reminds me of the old days . Do you remember the Leocrad Dungeon?”

Heynckes asked with a sigh . The upside and downside of being alone with Chae Joochul were that he couldn’t help recalling the past .

Back then, Chae Joochul was even more annoying than he was now . It was more than a hassle to deal with the frustration of a psychopath-in-progress who was slowly losing his ability to feel emotions . In that regard, Heynckes felt more comfortable around the present Chae Joochul, who had already lost 90% of his emotions .

“…”

Chae Joochul paused . Suddenly he thought of a way to escape from this labyrinth . He closed his eyes and raised his magic power .

But the source of Chae Joochul’s power was nature .

His Gift could not be activated in the absence of nature .

“Aha, so yours doesn’t work here either?”

Heynckes smirked . Chae Joochul spewed magic power once again without even looking at Heynckes . And then— some sort of miracle happened . ‘Nature’ transpired from Chae Joochul’s magic power .

“…Woah . ”

Chae Joochul’s magic power became golden soil that covered the ground of the barrier . In just 3 minutes, the entire scenery turned into a field, and a stream of water began to flow on its surface . The green field and the river continued to expand after Chae Joochul’s magic power .

Heynckes quickly grasped Chae Joochul’s intentions . The stream would split into several branches and analyze the labyrinth . The branches would serve as guideposts to not only Chae Joochul and Heynckes but also the rest of the Heroes inside the barrier .

“You… have the most beautiful power in the world,” Heynckes muttered in amazement, but Chae Joochul remained nonchalant . He continued to walk, expanding nature at every step .

It saddened Heynckes that Chae Joochul had lost all purpose and destination in life a long time ago . In return for acquiring the most beautiful power in the world, Chae Joochul lost what was most precious to him . He became Immortal without the ability to love .

“…Joochul, wait for me . ”

Thankfully, a man who lacked emotion also lacked the need for a purpose and a destination in life . Also, it was due to his lack of emotions that Chae Joochul couldn’t feel the loneliness of not being able to love . It was therefore pointless to pity him .

“Come on, let’s go together . ”

Heynckes followed after Chae Joochul . Nature continued to emerge wherever Chae Joochul went . Now other Heroes would be able to use this scenery as a guide to finding the correct path .

Green grass and tall trees .

Enjoying the sight of nature consuming the barrier, Heynckes walked on . For a moment, he felt as if a gentle breeze of wind had brushed his cheek .

**

Meanwhile, Kim Suho and others were following Shimurin’s lead . The grand magician was an excellent guide, and they could see they were getting closer to Baal with every step they took .

———!

Baal roared again . Kim Suho swung his sword almost immediately . The crescent mass of energy from Misteltein erased the demonic energy again .

“…Uuk . ”

Perhaps that last attack put too much strain on his body . Suddenly, Kim Suho felt dizzy . He got down on his knees and rubbed his temples .

“Are you all right?”

Rachel and the others approached Kim Suho worriedly . “I’m fine,” he said . But even as he said so, he felt nauseous, and his shoulders were way too stiff .

Kim Suho knew instinctively that he could do this only three or four more times at best . He raised himself, trying to contain his nervousness .

“Are you tired?” Bell asked suddenly .

Kim Suho smiled bitterly .

Bell shook his head with a broad smile .

“No, you’re not tired . ”

“…Excuse me?”

“Your mind thinks you are, but you aren’t . You can’t grow tired, at least not inside this barrier . ”

Kim Suho tilted his head, unable to understand Bell’s words, but Bell did not bother to add an explanation .

So they kept walking . Shimurin led them with her eyes closed . She was extremely cautious because one wrong step meant they would have to start from scratch .

However, when they reached a certain point in the labyrinth, everyone had to pause for a moment . They raised their heads with a stiff look . Looking up was the only way they could see clearly the enemy before their eyes .

“…Morax . ”

The devil suddenly revealed his huge presence to them . Jin Sahyuk looked up at him, feeling a sharp pain in her chest .

“It seems that he got caught up in this, too . ”

Shimurin gave a small smile . Within this barrier, Morax was like Baal’s bodyguard, whose purpose was to buy Baal time to reconstruct himself .

Claang—

Everyone drew their weapons . They aimed their spears and swords at Morax .

Guoooo… .

Facing them, Morax let out a low, dismal groan . Jin Sahyuk felt like he was crying for some reason .

“Get ready… . ”

Jin Sahyuk clenched her teeth . Morax was strong, but he was no match for Airun, Harin, and others from the first world . They were born with the inherent ability to resist evil .

“Everyone-”

“Wait . ”

Just before everyone rushed at Morax, Jin Sahyuk stepped forward .

Facing the many confused expressions, she announced, “I’ll take care of him . ”

Everyone turned to Jin Sahyuk, but Jin Sahyuk’s gaze was locked on Kim Suho . Their eyes met, and just from that, she knew what Kim Suho wanted to say .

“You mean alone, Knight Commander Shin Jahyuk-nim?”

“It’ll be a tough fight . ”

Rachel and Tomer objected, but Jin Sahyuk was resolute . She shook her head and went on .

“I can only say this is what I have to do . Above all, we’re running out of time . Your first and foremost priority should be stopping Baal . You shouldn’t waste time here . ”

There was a point in what she said . It was enough to convince Shimurin and everybody else .

“…Jin Sahyuk . ”

Kim Suho looked at Jin Sahyuk with eyes full of complicated emotions . She wasn’t the only one who remembered the fall of Plerion . Despite Kim Suho’s concerns, Jin Sahyuk crossed her arms and answered sharply .

“Who said you could call my name?”

Kim Suho’s lips curved into a smile at Jin Sahyuk’s arrogant comeback . He felt relieved by her unwavering attitude . It suited her .

“…Fine . ”

Kim Suho finally nodded . At this point, everyone else had no choice but to comply .

They passed by Jin Sahyuk, wishing her luck . Surprisingly, Morax did not disturb their departure . The devil’s gaze was locked on Jin Sahyuk .

Jin Sahyuk waited until everyone had left, and then approached Morax .

“We’re finally alone . ”

The moment she said so, a man approached her . Jin Sahyuk grimaced when she turned and saw his face .

“Why the hell are you still here?”

“…A little delay won’t cost me my victory . ”

“What?”

The man was Shin Jonghak . It seemed that he was trying to help Jin Sahyuk defeat Morax, even though she never asked him to repay her for arranging that meeting with his grandfather .

“I’m trying to help you, you idiot . ”

“Just shut up and leave-”

But before Jin Sahyuk could turn him down, Morax began to move .

Guuuuo… .

It was like the roar of a beast . Morax let out a dismal cry and swung his gigantic arms .

KOONG—!

**

[Yi Yeonjun’s Barrier]

Chae Nayun swung Balmung downward . The gigantic sword unleashed fiery magic power that flew right at Yi Yeonjun . Balmung aimed at Yi Yeonjun from the front and her flying swords attacked him from the sides and the rear . As such, there was no physical way to avoid her attack .

But Yi Yeonjun managed to fend off Chae Nayun’s attack with his psychokinesis . Kiiik— Chae Nayun’s magic power collided with an invisible wall, and was lost due to friction .

“That was pretty cool . ”

Chae Nayun muttered calmly .

“Let’s see how long you can last . ”

She could repeat the previous attack a dozen times more . Her Gift was [Sea of Magic Power] . It was named so because her magic power capacity was as big as the sea .

When fighting, she never lacked magic power .

It was by no accident that her specialty was a prolonged battle . She was well known for her endless stamina .

Woosh—

At that moment the barrier began to move . Yi Yeonjun tried to crush Chae Nayun by shrinking his barrier . But Chae Nayun managed to push the walls away, and Kim Hajin fired the Desert Eagle in a brief moment when Yi Yeonjun was off guard .

Kwagwagwagwa—!

Countless Venomous Basilisk Bullets flew at Yi Yeonjun . He dodged the bullets and glared at Kim Hajin .

“…”

Yi Yeonjun could feel anger boiling up inside him .

Before his eyes were the creator of this world . Sadly, Yi Yeonjun was disappointed with him . He hated the fact that his creator was a human, just like himself . The creator was neither graceful nor elegant nor radiant .

Kwaaaaa-!

‘What have I lived for?’ Yi Yeonjun wondered, blocking Chae Nayun’s sword smashing down on him from all sides .

Because he was born into this world without anything to call his own, he desired everything .

He wanted to rule Pandemonium and everything else he could see .

In a pit of despair called life, only his possessions gave him meaning . Greed and obsession helped him to survive . Had it not been for them, Yi Yeonjun would have lost his meaning in life and died a long time ago… .

It was then that Yi Yeonjun recalled the face of the most precious treasure he had ever owned . Her jewellike eyes and long black hair that swayed like waves— he remembered them all .

The treasure’s name was Yi Byul .

But that treasure was no longer his . She used to be in his hands, which was where she should have stayed forever, but… the man before his eyes stole her from him .

Such a trifling man robbed him of everything .

Yi Yeonjun’s rage turned into tears that streamed down his cheeks . He aimed at Kim Hajin .

He planned to blow up his own barrier, the space itself . It would mean double suicide, but Yi Yeonjun felt his life was meaningless anyway . His life was nothing but a story in a novel .

But Kim Hajin’s life was different . His life had a real meaning . So if Yi Yeonjun could bring about Kim Hajin’s death, then it would be his first and last meaningful action .

“——!”

Yi Yeonjun roared . He then tried to detonate the barrier using the remainder of his magic power . He reaped the fruits of his efforts when the barrier began to crumble . There was only a little left until everyone in the barrier had a painful death .

However .

Yi Yeonjun suddenly realized that he could not move his body as freely as he had hoped . The shrinking of the barrier paused, and Yi Yeonjun’s vision became blurred .

He fell down . Black blood spurted out of his body and soaked the ground .

“Ah… . ” Yi Yeonjun muttered .

His body lost the ability to breathe . His limbs became limp .

‘How…?’ Yi Yeonjun wondered . ‘What kind of trick is this?’

Kim Hajin hadn’t moved an inch, so how was this possible?

It was then .

Yi Yeonjun’s eyes reflected the treasure that once belonged to him .

The treasure—Yi Byul—was much more beautiful than he remembered .

Yi Byul was looking down at him with cold eyes . Yi Yeonjun stared at her with his half-shut eyes . He tried to contain every fragment of her beauty in them .

And she… was too good to be the last thing he saw .

Yi Yeonjun never blinked to his dying breath .

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