Chapter 197
Chapter 197. At the End of the Land (3)
Thud!
A person from another world pressed their severely injured abdomen against the cold floor and kissed it.
As the number of fallen people from another world surpassed forty, monsters and more individuals from another world emerged from the entrance of the space distortion to replenish their ranks.
Rius grabbed the arm of a man who had just stepped out from the entrance and asked, “Still far off?”
“Just a bit more…”
“Damn it.”
Gritting his teeth, Rius glared at Yoo Ji-han and Kim Hyun-tae.
The two heroes were cutting down the opposing world travelers, competing against each other in their endeavor.
Because of their attacks, Rius and his long-time companions from Earth were being killed one after another.
“You can’t pass until you kill me!”
“For the glory of Ajesia!”
“Ajesia, may you live forever!”
Even amidst the chaos, the people from another world charged forward, shouting the name of their birthplace.
Despite knowing that the individual combat strength of heroes born on Earth was far superior.
They bravely blocked the way, risking their lives.
There was nowhere else to fall back to.
“I’m sorry…”
Rius silently apologized to his dying comrades.
As the commander on site, it was only frustrating that he could do nothing but watch.
What if they had hidden a hideout in an obscure location?
What if they had built a hideout over the sea, against all odds?
A wave of regrets and sorrow surged within him.
“Thinking back, everything was a mess from the start.”
After their initial plan of staying hidden from the IUPC crumbled.
The revealed individuals from another world took much bolder actions.
Aside from the IUPC, they launched preemptive attacks.
In an effort to obstruct the expeditionary force’s unexpectedly swift movement, they even sent spies disguised as civilians.
However, most attempts yielded less than satisfactory results.
It wouldn’t be wrong to call them failures.
“It’s all because of that jerk.”
Rius harbored deep suspicion against Yoo Ji-han, who was moving most flamboyantly on the battlefield.
The crucial role in all these long-prepared operations hinged on illusion magic.
A traditional magic of Ajesia that could turn the vast gap in combat power into a mere trifle when compared to Earthlings!
It had been deemed no threat since the Rank 1 Heroes of Korea had been removed.
But with Yoo Ji-han’s unexpected arrival, their scheme had become futile.
Whap!
As Yoo Ji-han struck the back of Kim Hyun-tae’s head, still entranced by the illusions, he immediately regained his senses.
Piercing through the disorienting illusions, he realized the truth.
Now, with just a gesture, he could dispel illusions cast on others, his very existence.
To Rius, he felt like a living nightmare.
“I should’ve been more wary of the spirits!”
Spirits did not exist in Ajesia at all.
Even considered an unknown existence on Earth, the people from another world had conducted separate investigations into Spirit Masters.
They had even compiled a list of all Spirit Masters that existed in Korea.
And yet, now he couldn’t shake the feeling of profound regret.
*
Whap!
Yoo Ji-han’s palm struck the back of Kim Hyun-tae’s head once more.
After having been hit over twenty times, feeling the heat rising from the back of his head was finally when Kim Hyun-tae realized he was being struck by Yoo Ji-han.
“Can you tone it down a bit?”
“I’ve done enough. If you don’t like it, then stay trapped in the illusion.”
“…Ugh!”
“If you don’t like it, just say so. I won’t intervene anymore.”
Unless Yoo Ji-han helped him, Kim Hyun-tae couldn’t move at all because of the illusion.
Shaking his head vigorously, Kim Hyun-tae charged at the enemies in front of him.
He vented the irritation caused by Yoo Ji-han onto the individuals from another world.
The enemies who perished merely as a venting outlet for his frustration were truly unfortunate.
“My magical power is still ample.”
Yoo Ji-han surveyed his own mana alongside that of the Sylph.
Having now grown to the point where they could communicate with spirits and share each other’s power.
He was able to accurately gauge how long they could continue battling in the current state.
The result indicated that with just stamina left, they could fight for at least another hour in their current condition.
“I can handle the monsters.”
The party members had pulled back a little from the frontlines but were holding out quite well.
Perhaps they sent all their troops, including the IUPC members, toward Seoul.
Though the monsters appearing at the end of the land were well-trained, their absolute numbers were small.
Unless another swarm of mosquitoes, like before, showed up, there was no sign of such a thing immediately.
“How long are you planning to just hold out?”
Rius kept his eyes fixed on Yoo Ji-han throughout the battle.
And yet, he maintained a safe distance, avoiding direct confrontations.
To anyone watching, it would seem like he was trying to buy time.
“Are you waiting for your captain?”
“How do you know that…?”
At the mention of the captain, Rius jumped in surprise but soon realized his mistake and fell silent.
He had inadvertently confessed information to Yoo Ji-han while probing hesitantly.
“Did Jerry tell you?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie! If that’s not it, then how the heck…?”
While trying to interrogate Yoo Ji-han for having seen through his plans.
Rius widened his eyes momentarily at Yoo Ji-han’s overly relaxed smile.
“No way…?”
Crash!
A bolt of lightning, invisible and inaudible, struck down from above Rius’s head.
The reason Yoo Ji-han mentioned the captain at that moment.
The reason why the hideout, not even well-known among the individuals from another world, was discovered by heroes.
The reason Paras, who looked no different from an ordinary citizen, was exposed.
And the reason for the existence of the people from another world finally being revealed.
“…It was you.”
Rius believed that Yoo Ji-han was at the center of it all.
Though he wouldn’t be able to uncover the detailed circumstances surrounding it.
There was no other explanation.
“It was all because of you.”
“Well…”
Yoo Ji-han shrugged his shoulders with a nonchalant expression.
Yet to Rius, it felt as though he was mocking him.
“O Ajesia! Why have you bestowed such trials upon us…?”
How could there exist such an annoying hero in this world?
Had he known that such a nonsensical human existed in Korea.
He would have eliminated him first, above any other Rank 1 Hero.
“Ugh! Ugh, ugh ugh~”
Jerry, drooling while listening to the two’s conversation, was trying to say something.
But no one at the scene paid her any attention, fearing her.
“Now that we’re here, what we learn won’t change anything.”
“Yoo Ji-han, I should have gotten rid of you long ago.”
“If I could’ve, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Truly unfortunate, so unfortunate…!”
[Wind Cutter]
Yoo Ji-han lamented and directed magic toward Rius, who was striking his chest with his fist.
Thanks to the usage structure that entrusted all necessary calculations for magic manifestation to the Sylph and handled only the final outcome, the magic had become swifter and stronger.
However, the individuals from another world surrounding Rius dove to block the magic.
To which Yoo Ji-han remarked, “You’ve got a lot of sniveling lapdogs.”
“Lapdogs again?”
“How dare you treat us like lapdogs?!”
The individuals from another world rushed forward as if all at once.
Just then, a large sword appeared from somewhere and struck their upper bodies.
Thud!
“Cough!”
“I- I can’t breathe…!”
Even the relatively elite individuals from another world desperately defended.
Yet they could barely fend off the slicing of their bodies into two halves by the blade.
The force contained within still coursed through their bodies, bending their waists like a bow.
“How arrogant.”
Kim Hyun-tae displayed his displeasure at being blocked.
He then turned to Rius and stated, “You seem to be the top dog here.”
“…”
“Scram, you trash and come out quickly.”
“Why should I comply with your request?”
“Ha! Are you scared?”
Kim Hyun-tae threw a sideways glance at the camera while reciting his prepared lines.
As he sent a covert signal, the cameraman got into position to shoot.
Rius clicked his tongue loudly. “Tsk tsk! Ignorant fool.”
“What did you say?”
“You don’t even know how you got here.”
“That’s…”
Having just followed Yoo Ji-han’s party from Haenam County Office.
Even then, he had stayed silent while suspiciously tagging along with Yoo Ji-han, who he had been bickering with.
“Kim Hyun-tae. I love heroes like you the most. Do you know why?”
“…?”
“If the world had only idiots like you who rely solely on brute strength, everything would’ve gone much smoother!”
“Is he insane…!”
“Of all times for such a character to appear! The whole plan has gone to ruins!”
Rius snorted, displaying a great deal of anger toward Yoo Ji-han.
At that, a small wrinkle formed on Kim Hyun-tae’s forehead.
Even the enemies fighting back didn’t feel inclined to seek out Yoo Ji-han.
It appeared that his presence was overshadowed by Kim Hyun-tae as a hero.
“Now!”
As Kim Hyun-tae and Rius were about to engage in another discussion.
Yoo Ji-han sprang up high in a surprise attack.
[Wind Bomb]
Whoosh—!
A condensed gust of wind propelled him forward.
Repeatedly using [Wind Bomb] above the heads of monsters and individuals from another world.
Dodging the flying birds by moving in a zigzag pattern, he headed toward the entrance of the space distortion, which the individuals from another world had unknowingly been blocking.
“Don’t let him through!!”
“Block him!”
The individuals from another world, who had been taking a moment’s rest, rushed after Yoo Ji-han in a panic.
Thus, a fierce resistance ensued near the entrance, completely disregarding their own safety.
Even with the late assistance of Lee Mi-a, the human barricade was established around the entrance, forcing Yoo Ji-han to retreat.
“Try to buy time appropriately.”
At this point, they must be exerting effort to recover their captain from within the distorted space.
Rius’s actions of revealing his emotions toward Yoo Ji-han were merely attempts to buy time.
“Phew…”
The threat from the heroes had reached a critical point.
Glimpsing over his companions, Rius still remained unmoved.
“Not yet.”
Even if all the people from another world here were to be sacrificed.
He firmly believed that if the captain was revived, those left behind in Korea would succeed him.
But then, it happened.
Bang!
“…!”
Yoo Ji-han suddenly felt an overwhelming heaviness envelop him.
It felt like his entire body was being pulled downward, from his head and shoulders to even his limbs.
It felt as if gravity or weight had increased several-fold, a force was being brutally exerted on him.
“This is… mana?”
A dense, powerful mana pressed down from above.
Kim Hyun-tae and the other heroes seemed to be feeling the same force, struggling to keep their knees and backs straight.
Yet for Rius and the other individuals from another world, there was no change whatsoever.
“Yohoo!”
Finally, a voice came from above, captivating the ears of those listening with a unique laugh.
“Aha…!”
“Finally!”
The individuals from another world collectively voiced their excitement.
Yoo Ji-han lifted his now stone-like heavy head to gaze at the sky.
He tightened his grip around his sword.
“Have you waited long?”
A middle-aged gentleman wearing a red bowler hat.
The root cause of the situation that had made the Rank 1 Hero disappear.
Their captain had awakened.
