CHAPTER 53: THE DEMON'S AWAKENING AND THE FINAL PHASE
HORTEX – HOLY LANDS – INTERNATIONAL HUNTER COMMITTEE
Argus's voice cut through the heavy silence in the room:
"What the Five Elders want is... the Forbidden One... the Demon... "
The moment the word left his mouth, the air in the room physically changed. The maps on the table suddenly tore apart on their own, as if ripped by an invisible force. Pieces of paper flew through the air.
Gunn Lee did not move.
He just looked for a long time. Minutes passed, or maybe seconds, it was impossible to tell. Finally, his lips parted:
"Say it again."
Argus's voice did not tremble this time. It was clear, strong, and determined:
"The Forbidden One will be released. "
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Woli had begun to sweat from anxiety because of this unbearable silence. It was impossible to understand what Gunn Lee was thinking or feeling.
Then Gunn Lee stood up.
Even the sound of his chair scraping back became an element of fear that multiplied the tension in the room. The creak echoed off the stone walls.
"So things have come to this point, have they?" Gunn Lee's voice wavered between disappointment and anger. "I guess the Five Elders have completely lost their minds. They are not aware of the gravity of the situation. If the Forbidden One gets out of control... no one can stop him."
Argus swallowed. "Then... let's hope he doesn't get out of control, Sir."
Woli barely managed to speak: "S-Sir... are you really going to release him?"
Gunn Lee looked out the window at the peaceful view of the Holy Lands. But his eyes seemed to see a much darker future.
"Since that's what the Five Elders want... then yes. He will be released."
NEXAN – URUG – BATTLEFIELD
The sky had turned blood red. In the midst of the battle, two armies were destroying each other, commanders fighting to the death.
And at that very moment...
Captain Terex had gathered all his strength, his fist tearing through the air as it came. "NATURE FIST! "
Flower struggled in desperation. "AHH! DAMN IT! I CAN'T GET FREE FROM THESE VINES!"
The poisonous vines had wrapped around her from all sides, slowly draining her power. Flower's eyes widened. What do I do? What do I do now?
Terex's fist, with all the energy of nature, was approaching at deadly speed. Just moments before it would hit Flower...
BAM!
A spinning sword in the air stopped Captain Terex's fist at the last moment. The clang of metal echoed across the entire square.
Flower froze for a moment. She was saved. But the battle wasn't over.
Captain Terex looked at the figure that had stopped his fist. His eyes widened in surprise. "HA? And who the hell are you?"
Before him stood a being made of shadow, its red eyes glowing. Its sword was still locked onto Terex's fist.
"I am..." said the being, its voice metallic and hollow. "Ailian. "
In the distance, Morde had used his last strength to make this move from where he sat. He had spent part of the energy he had gathered to summon Ailian. He needed to rest more now.
Morde's whisper echoed in Ailian's mind: Ailian... attack. Kill him.
Ailian's sword moved instantly. "Wandering Sword. "
The shadow-forged sword suddenly began to extend left and right, up and down. It twisted like a snake and advanced towards Captain Terex at deadly speed.
Captain Terex stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "Is that so... Take this: PURITY VINES! "
He touched the ground with his hand. Instantly, ten large, thick vines shot up from the earth. Each one reached out to catch the sword.
But the sword suddenly changed direction in mid-air.
It slithered like a snake between the vines, slipping past all of them, and in an instant, plunged into Captain Terex's shoulder.
"AHHHH! " Terex's scream echoed across the entire square. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"
Terex's crew moved instantly. Yisun, Gusion, and the other eight crew members immediately formed a wall in front of their commander.
"CAPTAIN! Are you okay?"
"Captain, what's your status? Can you fight?"
Captain Terex gritted his teeth and straightened up. "Get out of my way, damn it! Do I look like a man who loses in one blow?" He touched his shoulder with his hand. "HEALING VINES. "
Three vines emerging from the ground instantly wrapped around Terex's shoulder. Within seconds, the wound on his shoulder began to heal.
Ailian tilted his head slightly. "Hmm. Interesting. But not enough."
On the other side of the square, Kai was advancing towards Flower with all his might. But Flower had already freed herself from the poisonous vines and stood up.
Kai's eyes blazed with hatred. "You... you were the one who helped Morde escape from Ashura."
A mocking smile appeared on Flower's lips. "Yes. I was also the one who helped Morde kill Fizz and wound King Arthur."
Kai's fists clenched. "The only thing you deserve..." The hatred in his voice made each word heavy. "DEATH. "
His right hand began to glow with white light. He gathered all his strength.
"SOUL FIST! "
The fist tore through the air towards Flower. Flower's eyes widened.
Damn it! If that hits me, I'll definitely lose consciousness. Normally I would have dodged it easily, but those damn vines drained half my power! But still... I'll keep fighting!
"GLACIAL STEP! "
Ice sheets formed beneath her feet and she slid sideways. The fist passed through empty space just as it was about to hit her.
But Kai already knew this.
He stopped his fist mid-swing. His left hand was ready for a new technique.
"SOUL SHOCK! "
White energy shot from his left fist.
Flower's eyes widened like saucers. "What is this? How did he know where I would dodge? This is impossible! I have to escape immediately!"
She tried to move her leg but couldn't. She looked down. Two soul soldiers were gripping her legs tightly.
Kai spoke with a cold voice: "You and your friend... are exactly the same."
Flower screamed: "NOOOOOOOOO! "
BOOOOMMMM!
A massive white light exploded. Everyone fighting stopped for a moment and closed their eyes.
When the light faded, Flower had stepped back but had taken no damage.
There was a figure blocking Kai's fist.
Morde.
HORTEX – HOLY LANDS – INTERNATIONAL HUNTER COMMITTEE
SECRET DUNGEON
Gunn Lee, Woli, and Argus began descending underground beneath the castle. They went down for miles. Corridors stretched endlessly, stairs seemed never to end.
And finally, they reached the secret dungeon.
On the door of each cell were dozens of seals and symbols. Each one was an ancient spell designed to keep the being inside under control.
But the cell at the very end... was many times larger than the others. Its door was unlike the others. There were so many seals and symbols on it, it was impossible to count.
The three figures walked hesitantly towards the door. With each step, their footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
Argus's voice trembled: "S-Sir... Are we really going to do this?"
Gunn Lee didn't answer. He just looked at the massive dungeon door. The door... seemed to be breathing. Its stone surface rose and fell slightly.
Gunn Lee took a deep breath. "Yes."
Argus's eyes widened. "Sir... did you hear that? Something seemed to breathe."
Gunn Lee's face darkened. "Unfortunately, I did."
At that very moment, a whisper came from behind the door. But it was no ordinary whisper. It was a whisper that made the walls tremble, the bones ache, the soul freeze.
"Who... called... me... "
Gunn Lee forced himself to compose himself. "The World Government."
A moment of deathly silence.
Then, a sound arose. But it wasn't laughter. It was... the sound of a grave opening. Heavy, creaking, eerie.
NEXAN – URUG – BATTLEFIELD
Kai looked at the figure that had blocked his fist. His eyes widened in surprise.
Morde.
Kai stepped back. Morde had gathered some of his strength and stood tall before him.
Kai's voice was a mix of surprise and hatred: "Morde..."
Morde spoke without taking his eyes off Kai: "Not yet, Kai."
Then he turned to Flower: "The rest is up to you, Flower."
And suddenly, Morde moved away quickly, heading towards where King Task was.
Kai froze in place. Not yet? What did that mean? What was he trying to say?
"Hey! Look here!" Flower's voice brought him back. "GLACIAL DEATH! "
An ice-formed sword was plunging towards Kai's forehead. But Kai, as if seeing the attack in slow motion, suddenly slid left. The sword hit empty air.
The battle continued with all its brutality. Everywhere there were screams, blood spilled on the ground. The sky was painted with the color of death. People were tearing each other apart, no one showing mercy to anyone.
King Task and King Swain watched the events from a high point.
Task thought to himself: This war is almost over now. But I won't let my guard down. I cannot experience another disappointment like in Layern Valley again.
Swain was also deep in thought: How did Amper get taken out in one hit? He was a commander known for his defense. This is not good. The situation of the war is heading towards a point I never wanted. I don't want to use that power but... I may have no other choice.
And suddenly, Swain moved.
"CROW COMMAND! "
At Swain's command, thousands of crows in the sky instantly mobilized. Obeying an invisible command, they all headed towards a single target: Morde.
Morde was just pulling Ailian back, gathering his power. While Captain Terex and Ailian were fighting with all their might, Ailian suddenly retreated at the speed of light and all his power flowed into Morde.
Morde's eyes flashed. He had finally regained his power.
At that very moment, the crows were coming at him.
"BLACK SWORD. "
A sword of darkness appeared in Morde's hand. He countered the crows with attacks that could pierce the air. Each slash killed hundreds of crows. But the number of crows seemed endless. Finally, they all surrounded Morde and attacked.
Morde smiled within the darkness. "Incredible. Truly a magnificent power. But I have my own response."
"BLACK DEFENSE. "
His body was enveloped in a dark energy. The crows' spiritual attacks could not penetrate this barrier. They bounced back one by one and dispersed.
But Swain had no intention of stopping. He pulled the crows back, regrouped them. Then, he raised his left arm into the air.
He removed his glove.
The arm beneath... was not human. A black-red arm, veins pulsing, demonic.
"DEMON ARM – DARK CONTRACT. "
Swain's physical power instantly multiplied many times over. An energy wave spread through his entire body. And with all his might, he swung that demonic arm in a punch.
Morde's eyes widened. "This... is powerful. The first worthy opponent since Po."
He gathered dark energy in his hand. He responded with all his strength.
"BLACK SHOCK! "
The two fists met in the middle.
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!
A massive black-red explosion illuminated the entire battlefield. Both armies immediately stopped fighting. Everyone began watching the clash of these two titans.
Captain Terex looked around in surprise. "Hey! Where did that shadow go all of a sudden? We had just started!"
Kai and Flower had also stopped fighting and were watching the duel between King Swain and Morde.
King Task narrowed his eyes. "Swain... So you've finally entered the field, huh? This is the power I expected from you. It couldn't have been any less."
The battle had now truly intensified. Perhaps it had reached its final phase.
HORTEX – HOLY LANDS – INTERNATIONAL HUNTER COMMITTEE
SECRET DUNGEON
One of the seals on the large dungeon door cracked.
The symbols began to disperse, one by one.
Argus screamed: "SIR! CAN'T WE STOP THIS?"
Gunn Lee, though his voice trembled, stood firm: "I know..."
The door creaked open.
From within, a dark energy suddenly gushed out. It was so intense that all three men had to close their eyes for a moment.
The sound of chains falling to the ground echoed throughout the dungeon. Metallic clattering reverberated off the stone walls countless times.
Gunn Lee, Argus, and Woli, all three looked inside the dungeon.
One figure stepped out of the darkness.
Then another.
And from within, a single red eye appeared. Just one eye, glowing in the darkness.
The figure began to speak. The voice was cracked and deep, as if awakening from a thousand-year sleep.
"Finally... after a thousand years... finally I am free. "
Argus collapsed to the ground from fear. His legs could no longer carry him.
Woli held onto the wall. He was on the verge of losing consciousness.
Only Gunn Lee remained standing. But even his hands were trembling.
Gunn Lee barely managed to speak: "W-Welcome... Forbidden One. "
The red eye in the darkness turned to him. A moment of deathly silence.
Then that voice, this time clearer, more threatening, more deadly, asked:
"Who... will die? "