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“……!”

Euna returned to Area 1 and looked around, but the gap had already closed. While coming back was free, crossing over to Area 2 meant having to break through the plaza again. It’s not certain, but what if the executioner appears? A 100% guaranteed death awaits.

‘Sword Demon…’

Despite the seemingly reckless attitude, the calmness in his eyes clearly belonged to someone who had prepared for death.

‘…It’s not over yet.’

Alpha’s words now held a different meaning than before. Surely, Alpha wouldn’t have left Area 2. There was bound to be more lurking in the shadows, apart from the wizard and the flesh monster. This ominous feeling still lingered.

“Sunja. Let’s quickly join the attack team.”

At Kim Joo-seop’s insistence, Euna nodded after a moment of contemplation.

***

“—You’ve arrived?”

Kang Tae-ho, who had been casually sitting on a rock, stood up. Stretching his neck, as if feeling stiff, he yawned lazily, prompting Kang Hoon to ask.

“Why didn’t you run away?”

“Well, I thought I’d show some filial piety for a change.”

The pattaek sword scraped against the ground. Although he said it lightly, Kang Hoon couldn’t take his eyes off Kang Tae-ho. —Just like long ago, he wore the look of someone prepared for death. With determination in his eyes, Kang Hoon felt no words were needed between them. The outcome was painfully clear. The fight wouldn’t last long.

As Kang Hoon swung his sword, the flame of the spear danced violently. With each clash of their blades, a strange chill filled the air. Pushing back the roaring flames, Kang Tae-ho swung his sword with all his might. —Perhaps, it could be the power that makes him the strongest of humanity. Such strength was not something Kang Hoon could view lightly.

Just as he aimed to kick, Kang Hoon had already stepped on his foot and held him down. Regardless, Kang Tae-ho lifted his foot with sheer force, breaking his balance. Convinced he had a chance, just as he pushed forward, the blazing flame erupted, making Kang Tae-ho click his tongue and channel more magic power.

Give flesh, take bones. The magic armor surrounding Kang Tae-ho was being gnawed away by the flames. Before that, Kang Tae-ho charged in with his shoulder. As Kang Hoon turned to evade, the force of his momentum scattered the flames. Although the magic was uncertain, his physical abilities were close to that of the legendary heroes in their prime. However…

“You’re clumsy.”

At least, that’s how it appeared to Kang Hoon. Fundamentally, their understandings of the sword differed. Though the roots may be the same, not all trees become the same. That was the most glaring difference between the two.

“Damn…”

It was shallow, but his abdomen had been cut. The skills he held would gradually aid in healing, but they wouldn’t grant him any leeway. The moment their swords clashed again, they both distanced themselves simultaneously. Between them, a huge explosion resounded as a massive foot slammed down onto the ground.

“――――――!”

The enraged White Lion roared, shaking the earth. The master of Area 2, Snowell had barged into the battlefield, chasing Kang Hoon. Reacting, Kang Tae-ho clicked his tongue and grimaced.

“……”

Kang Hoon chose not to chase after Kang Tae-ho, instead leaping through the dimensional gap, causing Kang Tae-ho to grind his teeth. Choices had to be made. Would he chase Kang Hoon into Area 1? Or would he heroically fall fighting the monsters until the dungeon was sealed? The situation was different, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought that he might end up alone in Neverland, just like Kang Hoon had before.

“Get lost.”

Of course, he would do everything. He would stop that senile old man and all the monsters crawling out. Without hesitation, Kang Tae-ho hurled himself towards the dimensional gap, swinging his sword infused with magic power. At least to keep the bastards from following too closely. As the gap split open, the frenzied monsters howled at the sight of Kang Tae-ho vanishing.

***

Crossing the dimensional gap, Kang Tae-ho rolled immediately.

“……!”

As if waiting for him, a sword came crashing down. —They were coming after him. In a hurry, he tilted his pattaek sword to the side to defend, but the strong impact tore through his muscles.

“You seem awfully busy.”

“It won’t last long anyway.”

Kang Hoon swung the great sword, and Kang Tae-ho received it. While his wrist tingled from the shock, what worried him more was the condition of the pattaek sword. It had gone beyond cracking; he doubted how long it could hold out. Likewise, Kang Hoon was persistently aiming for the center of his sword. When their blades collided, the moment he couldn’t hide his despair, he bit down hard.

‘When the hell is this going to close? Or has it already closed?’

—I don’t know. There’s no way to know if the dungeon has sealed here. All he could think about was doing his best to stop Kang Hoon, to keep his father from escaping. That sentiment was not lost on Kang Hoon. In reality, it would be no longer than a minute. Within that time, the outcome would be decided. Either the pattaek sword would break, or Kang Tae-ho would dive in— Kang Tae-ho chose the latter.

A destructive charge. The moment their swords clashed, he hurled himself forward. Landing on top of Kang Hoon in an instant, he poured magic power into his fist and struck down. The plaza floor shattered with impact. Just as the armor was destroyed, Kang Tae-ho’s eyes sparkled.

‘This is the chance!’

It was the golden opportunity that might never come again. Pulling back his arm behind his shoulder, Kang Tae-ho quickly retreated after catching sight of something emerging from Kang Hoon’s armor.

“Of the 3rd Area…!”

A Shade. A monster that erodes the mind, showing horrific illusions. For some reason, Kang Hoon was wrapped up in them. He had thought he had evaded it, yet his vision was clouded.

‘Damn it…’

He hadn’t avoided it. The Shade itself had permeated into his armor. Kang Tae-ho gritted his teeth at the thought that he might have deliberately allowed himself to be hit by the punch.

‘You slippery old man…’

Seeing illusions and hallucinations meant he couldn’t fight Kang Hoon. In retreat after retreat, Kang Tae-ho eventually found his abdomen pierced.

“……It’s over.”

At the voice announcing the end, he twisted his lips. —In every way, Kang Tae-ho was inferior to Kang Hoon, except for one thing: sheer brute strength. His terrifying gripping power wouldn’t let go of Kang Hoon’s great sword. Pulling back with all his might, he thrust his fist forward, unleashing his magic power.

‘I’ll finish this now…!’

The all-out strike was, as expected, caught.

“Damn it…”

The blazing flame turned out to be a frost fire laced with extreme cold. In an instant, ice bloomed from his pierced abdomen, chilling his entire body. At such a time, it was impossible to exert the same power as before. Just when he thought it was over, a spear shot in from somewhere, forcing Kang Hoon to withdraw the sword that had been buried in Kang Tae-ho’s abdomen. As time was bought, Kang Tae-ho glared.

“Why, why! I told you to go!”

Thanks to that, he managed to save his life, but Kang Tae-ho shouted in frustration. No matter how much she helped him, the outcome wouldn’t change. It would only result in a foolish death— didn’t she know that? As Euna reached out her hand, the spear that had bounced back returned to her grasp. Watching that, Kang Hoon showed a hint of surprise.

“…I see. A disciple of Chang-seon.”

Kang Tae-ho shouted at Euna, pushing her shoulder.

“Go! I said go, now!”

No one else could die anymore. The honor of his father, who had remained a hero, and the rightful responsibility he must bear as his blood. The senile old man and that bishop lady were already dead. No one else could die on his watch. Clenching his teeth, Kang Tae-ho saw Euna shining with a strange determination.

“Don’t worry. You’re not alone.”

Footsteps echoed behind her. Breaking through the mist of the maze, someone revealed themselves in the plaza. Seeing the silver sword dangling from that figure, Kang Tae-ho murmured in disbelief.

“…Hyung?”

—As she was heading back through the maze to join the attack team, she had teamed up with the Dawn members. Kang Tae-jun’s gaze briefly turned to Kang Tae-ho before settling on Kang Hoon. With chilling, icy eyes, he looked at the one who had once been his father and lifted his sword.

“Surrender.”

In that cold utterance, Kang Tae-ho glanced around. His brother and himself. And the tardy Baek Gun-tae. The members of Dawn, including Sunja and Ha Yeon, gathered around. No matter what they did, escaping this encirclement wouldn’t be possible. Kang Tae-ho was convinced the fight was over, and a hush fell over the plaza as Kang Hoon’s voice was heard softly.

“Have you forgotten something?”

—At that moment, a voice began to echo in the plaza.

{Эми тест тапшыруучу келгендиктен, тест башталат!}

There was still one person in the plaza who hadn’t yet paid the price, who hadn’t undergone the test. Kang Tae-jun frowned. Does that mean the plaza operates normally even in chaos? Monsters like Taurus and the pursuers began to emerge one after another from the wall of the plaza.

{Өзүңүздү кан жана өлүм менен далилдеңиз!}

Judging that there was no time left to hesitate, Kang Tae-jun surged toward Kang Hoon. As he closed in with lightning speed, he deflected Kang Hoon’s sword, becoming enveloped in flame, forcing Kang Tae-jun to retreat. Meanwhile, as Kang Tae-ho fought alongside the members of Dawn against the plaza’s monsters, he clenched his teeth. The dimensional gap he had severed was beginning to reform, and through it, monsters were beginning to appear.

Realizing that overpowering Kang Hoon wouldn’t be easy in this shifting situation, Kang Tae-jun ground his teeth. The closure was imminent. If that’s the case, it would be better to retreat first and block the entrance. If he could prevent Kang Hoon from escaping Neverland…

“Retreat!”

At that command, Kang Tae-ho, who had stabbed Taurus with his broken pattaek sword, clutched at his pierced abdomen. Though frozen, blood didn’t flow, the pain was undeniable.

“A-are you okay?”

“You little brat. Do I look okay?”

With Lee Gi-jun’s support, Kang Tae-ho chuckled. He had been trying to die alone… after a moment’s thought, he hurriedly pushed Lee Gi-jun away. Gripping the handle, he barely held off a gray slash with his wrist but coughed up blood.

“Damn it, the executioner…”

The boss of Area 1. The head of the goat tilted its head as it looked at them. Just as Kang Tae-jun was holding Kang Hoon, a massive White Lion emerged from the maze as everyone attempted to escape the plaza.

“…Snowell?!”

What was it doing in the maze? Just like the wolf that had fallen into Area 2, the dimensional gap filled with Baphomet’s magic had ripped open, resulting in the White Lion falling into an absurd location. The slash that Kang Tae-ho had made to buy time did so momentarily, but instead dropped Snowell into the maze. The returned White Lion roared as it blocked the boundaries of the maze.

“――――――!”

In front lay the White Lion. Behind them, the executioner. The worst dungeon. With the bosses of Neverland at their front and back, an endless swarm of monsters converged. The chaos between monster and hunter had begun.

“There’s no escape…!”

The moment the swordsmen clashed, the White Lion stomped its foot, pushing them onward. As the encirclement began to tighten, the hunters gritted their teeth. —They were now trapped, unable to move forward or retreat. They thought this would be their grave.

“……Is that fog?”

Slowly, the venue began to darken. Driven by an instinctive, chilling aura, as Kang Tae-jun turned his head, he saw his glasses— the masterpiece of the square that allowed him to use D-grade emotional powers filled with magic— shatter into pieces.

―[The Swallower]

That was all he could read in the information he possessed.

 

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