The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Fwoosh—!

The light that radiated from Agony was the same power that drove Seol and Yurim to the very end of that winter.

Oof…

After taking a deep breath, Seol instantly closed in on Jamad.

PAANNG—

Hmm—!

Jamad momentarily hesitated at Seol’s sudden change in movement, but that didn't mean he was in danger.

TAANG—!

Jamad's expression darkened as he deflected Seol's sword.

BZZT…

Paaf…

Seol released his power.

'It's an incredible strength.'

His whole body was boiling. The storm energy swept through his body, and mana enveloped him.

However, the power Seol felt wasn't just the storm's energy but also Shin Yu’s power. When his power mixed with Yaksha's, it created an overwhelming synergy.

'I can keep up…'

The path Yaksha saw… The world Yurim sees…

Bzz…

As Seol tightened his grip on his sword, a powerful energy flowed out from the blade.

Jamad glanced at him once more before taking a stance.

Paaf—!

'I can see it!'

A blue line streaked midair, telling him where to go.

He swung his sword following the line.

Fwoosh—!

CLANG—!

However, his sword was immediately blocked.

'Why?'

Crunch…

"You're still inexperienced."

Paaf…

"Ugh…"

The path Yaksha could see wasn't only visible to Yaksha. Jamad, who had reached Supreme-rank, was fully capable of responding to that power.

Although he stepped back once, Seol wanted to clash with Jamad a bit more.

Seol moved, guided by Shin Yu. He no longer needed to focus on the hand holding the sword. By entrusting his body to Yaksha's flow, the sword he entrusted to Shin Yu naturally moved toward its optimal path.

"What's this?!"

Agony screamed.

The sword's movements were too perfect.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Even as Jamad’s gauntlet deflected his sword, he wasn't in danger.

CLANG!

CLANG!

When Seol swung his sword, aiming for Jamad's neck, Jamad blocked the strike with the back of his gauntlet.

Whoosh…

And when Jamad’s fist flew toward his face, he bent back and kicked upward.

Jamad smoothly avoided Seol’s attacks and launched a counterattack.

CLANG!

Paaf…

Clang!

Tsss…

Sweat and blood stained the ground.

As if it were a blank canvas, they endlessly splattered paint. Their minor wounds and broken bones quickly regenerated.

Although Seol's body was close to a monster's, Jamad's recovery speed was equally terrifying.

Their exchange of attacks didn't stop. At some point, Jamad's breaths began to quicken.

Tuunng…

Paang—!

"Ugh…"

Whoosh…

The battle flowed with tension.

'If I make even one mistake… I'll die for sure.'

Seol was now following Yaksha's path. However, he still couldn't easily gain the upper hand.

The strength behind Jamad’s fist was enough to make mountains collapse, and every shamanic spell was fatal.

Seol liked that—dancing on the razor's edge of tension. He found the precariousness exhilarating.

The opponent was serious, too.

Even if it was a fake, from a form from long ago, Jamad was giving his all.

PAAF—!

During that exchange, Jamad's fist struck Seol's face. Although he avoided being knocked out thanks to his preparations, his mind went blank for a moment.

Following Yaksha's path, he thrust his fist forward.

BZZT—!

PAAF!

Seol's fist struck Jamad's jaw.

Even as they exchanged blows, their eyes stayed locked on each other… because they understood what a fight was.

Whish—!

Paaf—!

Seol stepped back. He needed to recover his stamina.

"My jaw is broken, and my ribs are shattered."

With Blood of Origin boiling within him, it would only take a few seconds to recover, but he still needed to catch his breath and prepare for the next move.

His entire body was boiling. The burden from the Yaksha state was gradually accumulating in his body.

Standing on the battlefield and facing his past self made his whole body surge.

- Seol.

Shin Yu said.

- Isn't it cold?

Seol chuckled.

"Yes… It's cold."

They were already in the snowfield of that winter. The gazes they exchanged were now looking at the same place.

Crack…

Jamad had enveloped himself in a rock-like armor. He only used Shamanic Power when it was necessary.

Perhaps he was preparing for something big. After all, it was something he often did when he fought alongside Seol.

If Jamad were to release all that power at once through a Great Shamanic Spell…

'Can I block it?'

He began doubting himself—a disillusionment about his weakness.

Suddenly, he remembered a conversation he had with Shin Yu long ago.

- Kang hyung once said that he felt he became weirder upon encountering a wall.

Perhaps all this doubt had started from that.

- The path you have walked is proof of that. You aren't weak. You're strong. However, it's a different kind of strength than mine. Kang hyung always said that all paths eventually lead to a crossroads. The same must be true for the one you're walking.

'Could it be… I'm facing a wall?'

Seol's constant criticism and self-doubt had brought him to this point. Perhaps he hadn't even realized that there was a wall before him.

- Seol, how much longer can you hold?

'Five minutes at most…'

After conveying his thoughts to Shin Yu, he soon received a reply.

- There's a way.

'What…?'

- This time, it's real. My hyungs told me. You can definitely… advance a step forward. Can you trust me?

Without a hint of doubt, Seol answered.

'Of course.'

He had once faced Shin Yu’s sword head-on—a sword that was even beautiful.

- Thank you…

Seol's gaze turned to Jamad, shaking his head, frowning.

'It seems he's thinking the same thing.'

- What?

'He probably wants to end it soon.'

Seol knew Jamad as well as Shin Yu, if not even more.

He could read his thoughts just by looking at his eyes and expression.

"Haha… What a pity."

"Is there a problem…?"

"The labyrinth's will is trying to intervene. It's endlessly nagging me to kill you. What an annoying bastard… Well, I guess this much fun was enough."

"…"

"Seol, do you remember? The memories of this day."

This place was both the frozen wasteland where he fought Shin Yu and the Pointy Mountains where he had met Jamad.

"Of course."

"I never told you. But I… sometimes recall the memories of that time."

Jamad shared his thoughts, which Seol was unaware of.

"You were a fool hiding behind that piece of scrap metal, fidgeting helplessly."

"I know, but that comment was a bit harsh…"

"Haha… You've done a good job…"

Jamad's eyes calmed.

"In having come this far. To think that clumsy kid from back then…"

"…"

"However, there's one important thing. I will lose control of my body soon, so pour everything you have into your next attack."

Crack…

Majestic Mountain Shamanic Power gathered around him—an honor given to only those who overcome trials.

"If you're going to die, die by my hand before that."

He overcame trials that seemed impossible, thanks to Jamad. However, it was now time to stand alone.

CLAP—!

Jamad's palms clashed, and he pulled his fist back.

Whir…

It was the final signal.

"Pour everything you have into me!"

[Jamad used Great Shamanic Spell: Stone Fist.]

[You create a large Shadow Hand covered in stone.]

[Stone Fist deals combined Mountain and Shadow damage.]

CRACK…

BOOM—!

The huge Shamanic Spell that started from Jamad's hand filled the whole world with rocks.

Seol was now facing the fear that Azanic felt.

Whoosh…

Yaksha, please show me the path.

'Damn…'

Blue lines converged into one point—the center of the massive stone fist.

Was the path not to avoid the attack and face it head-on?

In that case…

Slash…

Paaf…

Seol stepped forward without hesitation and without stopping

If he didn't trust Yaksha, if he didn't trust Shin Yu—the one he had fought for countless years…

He wouldn't have reached this place.

He asked Yurim if this path was the right one.

Of course, there was no answer.

His body felt light, but the weight of his hardships was heavy.

BZZ…

His sword cried.

A different energy flowed out from the sword.

- Seol, our ancestor, left this sword in his records unfinished.

Time flowed slowly.

Perhaps Shin Yu also felt the same thing.

If that wasn't the case, maybe those words were unfolding inside his mind as fast as his thoughts.

- According to the records, he was inspired while fleeing from an approaching storm.

Shin Yu's sword was undoubtedly a storm.

However, the storm he had experienced that winter had nothing except for fear—it was rough and desolate.

- I was a fool. This sword wasn't made from fear.

Shin Yu recalled the words he had heard from Shin Hyun.

- Our ancestor loved to play tricks. He probably twisted the important parts of the records on purpose.

His ancestor wanted his descendants to realize on their own.

- In those days, bandits were rampant. The farming village where our ancestor lived vanished overnight... Our ancestor wasn't running away from the storm. In fact, another record you haven't seen mentions that. I only found out from there.

A horde of bandits had likely chased him while their horses' hooves echoed like thunder.

So, there was no storm in the story?

- Are you disappointed?

How did such a great sword…

- Haha… There was definitely a storm. That much is certain. Do you understand what I mean?

Shin Hyun's words left a deep impression on Shin Yu.

- Seol, he wasn't being chased by a storm.

There was a storm.

- It was right in front of him. My ancestor… didn't flee from the storm.

At that moment, an incredibly bright flash and a thunderous roar erupted from Agony.

BOOM—!

- The bandits chasing after him and the traces of those trampled by them… My ancestor rushed toward that dangerous storm, swallowing everything.

It wasn't a sword of fear.

- It's a sword of awe.

BZZT—!

The sword cut through the stone fist. As the sword and shamanic spell clashed, Seol's mind went blank.

He was falling toward the abyss.

* * *

The place where he had regained consciousness was completely dark.

Right at that moment, a story started.

[A long time ago, a man arrived in Kongory.]

Soon, a scenery unfolded.

It was when Seol had just started to adapt to The World of Eternity after being transported.

[Although the man was weak, he gradually gathered strength.]

AAHH—!

A fierce battle took place in the Pointy Mountains.

[He defeated the leader of the Rock Molar Tribe…]

Countless incidents took place in The Great Silent Forest.

[Many incidents happened in The Great Silent Forest near Nobira.]

[The world the man had experienced was filled with denial and sorrow.]

- Heroes are lazy. They didn’t save me. They… They…

- I'm a villain…

[He wandered in search of light.]

- Kid, don't give up until the end, alright? And if you can… make sure to do good deeds in your life.

- Please kill my brother, Jamad. Please kill… that cursed body…

- Ebony, it's okay to fail. You're a Magician. And Magicians are beings who always fail.

[He must have been tired. No, he was tired.]

[There was no light anywhere.]

[The man walked through a world of despair alone.]

Seol walked slowly.

Suddenly, he felt a presence around him.

[Look around you.]

He saw familiar faces.

Toki, Kiri, Ziliac—each of the pieces he had experienced was walking around him.

Seol walked blankly as if he were entranced.

[Everyone is the same. No matter how much they’re trampled in life, they have no choice but to push through.]

[The man steadied his worn-out heart and moved forward again.]

[Trials were always placed before him. Ah, it's the Library of All Knowledge.]

- I will banish them from the Library of All Knowledge.

[Yes, something like this happened too.]

- You… Really came…

[This is… Yaksha? Oh, let's save this story for later. After all, it's quite a long one.]

- I have returned from hell.

[Who would have thought that the bond formed in the Library of All Knowledge would overturn the North?]

[Besides these, the man experienced many other things. Being chased by a ferocious Dragon, and the complicated story entangled with the Empire's princess.]

[From his first Adventure to where he stood now, everything exhausted him.]

After a brief silence, words flowed again.

[Please, look around you again.]

There was nothing. No one was around him.

[The path the man walked was faster and rougher than anyone else's. So perhaps, it was only natural for him to stumble.]

- Yes… From here on, I have to walk this path by myself.

[It's okay to stumble once in a while, right?]

[After all, stumbling is proof that one's walking.]

Whir…

It suddenly got colder.

[To such a man, something unexpected happened.]

- You scared me! Seol, what were you thinking about?

[He met a girl in a dream.]

[The girl changed many aspects of the man.]

[Their encounter sparked countless flames.]

[And… It also hurt.]

- Let's go back, let's go back together…

- I'm Yaksha…

[That's right. She was the owner of the terrifying mask you saw earlier. Isn't that surprising?]

[Her existence represents the cruelty of the world.]

- Sob… I can't make it as if it had never happened, Seol. Everything we went through… Everything that happened to me… I can't just let myself forget it.

[Even though she was such a gentle being.]

[Huh? Up to where had I talked?]

Step…

Step…

Seol realized where he was. He knew it was the place he had been longing to reach.

[You're already here? Then, let me ask you.]

[You're standing at a crucial crossroads. You've already come this far.]

Seol stopped.

He hadn't stopped once ever since arriving here. But now, upon facing the light, he had no choice.

Because she was there—no, Yoo Hyun and everyone else were there, watching him.

[Is the girl smiling?]

Yurim, who wasn't wearing her mask, smiled brightly at him.

"Yes…"

[I see. Then, what are you going to do?]

[Will you stop here?]

Seol shook his head.

He began moving forward.

Slowly… Very slowly.

He began walking toward the light.

[This is the crossroads.]

[Where all paths intertwine.]

[You are currently in that place.]

This was the tunnel that Jamad and Karen had encountered before, where light seeped out.

Another name for this place was Crossroads.

[Run.]

Tap…

Tatatap…

He began sprinting.

"Oof… Oof…"

His breath quickened.

He felt as if his head were about to explode.

No sound reached his ears except his breathing and the sound of his feet hitting the ground.

Soon, that became music.

[You must not forget.]

[That you are free.]

[That you are infinite.]

[Crow of the Veil, it's time to soar.]

He ran through the endless runway.

Faster than anyone.

Stronger than anyone.

He took a step.

Tatatap…

"Oof… Oof…"

And finally, he emerged from the long tunnel.

As he stepped into the light, familiar faces appeared.

Although they were blurry, they were his summons.

Karen and Karuna, even Jamad and Ur—they were all waiting for him there.

[This is the story of a man…]

[No, it's your story.]

At that moment, the world disappeared.

Thud—!

He could feel his sword plunged deep into something.

"Ha… Haha… So this is how it ends."

"…"

His sword pierced through Jamad's chest.

Seol met Jamad's gaze with shining eyes, then grinned.

"Serve me…"

[Your story will continue.]

[Your footsteps are the era.]

"Ah…"

[Rule the world beneath your feet, Era's giant.]

[Darkest light…]

Jamad's head slowly tilted downward.

"Those are nostalgic words…"

[An Era's Giant is born!]

[You have reached Supreme-rank!]

[Legacy Adventure, 'The Darkest Light,' has been successfully completed.]

[The transfer of power is starting.]

…