episode_0456

Brain Washer.

His approach to dealing with him was simple.

First, he confronts Seoyeon.

“Haat…!”

Seoyeon’s movements and swordsmanship, short but powerful, were more agile than ever before.

It seemed like he had gained some insight in that brief moment.

Skakak!

With each flicker of light reflected off the sword, countless marks are engraved in the air.

No hesitation in his movements.

Occasionally, his excessive movements, surpassing his own skills, expose vulnerabilities.

Each time this happens, Brain Washer sharply exploits those openings.

A moment of imminent danger.

But it’s okay.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

Because I’m here.

“Lightning Spear.”

In an instant, a spear of lightning appears, filling the momentary gap exposed to Seoyeon.

“Thank you…!”

A subdued thanks as he doesn’t even look back.

The reason he can attack so fiercely lies solely in trust.

He believes in me.

The confidence that any opening that occasionally appears to me will be blocked is close to certainty.

This belief makes Seoyeon’s movements bolder and fiercer.

“Tsk…, like a rat…!”

Gray barriers surround Brain Washer as the rain of sword strikes pours down.

The same negative boundary displayed when blocking the meteor initially.

Normally, all attacks should dissipate before this barrier of will, but Seoyeon’s attacks were different.

Pakang!

“Oh no…!?”

The gray boundary pierced by Seoyeon’s sword declares its own territory.

Though just a small level, it was effective.

“My ability…”

As his unpermitted territory is encroached upon, gaps also open in his mind.

The tension that a wrong move could lead to the sharp sword turning against him.

“It seems your female sibling possesses a very dangerous ability.”

“….”

Handing the sword without a word, Seoyeon.

The sword he holds contains a deeply blue energy.

A stark contrast to his usual magic, a restrained power.

Kaboom!

Roaring and pushing back.

Overcoming the stark gap in power through sheer determination, they continuously clash.

Thick beads of sweat fall from Seoyeon’s forehead.

“Pant, pant…!”

Due to exerting full force from the start, it seems his stamina is nearing its limit.

Yoon Myungho, too, breathes heavily from his rather rough movements.

But Seoyeon is in a much better situation than before.

“Well, that’s enough for now.”

It doesn’t seem easy to continue fighting.

But it’s okay.

Thanks to Seoyeon’s fight so far, I’ve gathered plenty of information.

“…I’m starting to get a sense of it now.”

I roughly understand.

What kind of power Naetae has and where his strengths lie.

In a broad sense, Naetae is a power that negates.

The boundary drawn deflects attacks, even negating the results of those attacks.

At first glance, one might think of this as a deceptive ability.

“Well, that’s right.”

That’s correct.

There’s no doubt that it’s a deceptive ability.

“…at least in terms of defense.”

Naetae’s ability shines most in mental interference and defense.

By negating the opponent’s thoughts and beliefs, he replaces them with his own.

That’s the essence of what we have known as brainwashing.

“So that’s why he created cults like Gwangmyeonggyo.”

He established cults for that reason.

To establish doctrines, implant them in minds.

Fanatics absorbed in doctrines meant only for themselves.

Where else would you find a sword perfect for wielding as you please?

“Pant, pant…!”

Physical limits reached long ago.

Yet Seoyeon still points the sword.

“This arrogant woman…!”

The mask of the guy who was deeply engrossed in playing the role of the benevolent leader began to crack.

It was due to the battle that seemed never-ending.

Despite his movements noticeably slowing down compared to the beginning, Seoyeon was effortlessly deflecting his attacks.

“How ironic.”

Unintentionally, I found myself smiling.

As his strength waned from exhaustion, his swordsmanship became more stable.

Simultaneously, he filled the gaps created by his slightly sluggish movements with a bit of neglected magic.

Each time magic reached its limit, it produced a loud sound.

Boom!

Crack!

The power of restraint applied to both sword and magic without discrimination.

Step by step.

Driven by an unknown force, he pressed forward with heavy legs.

His determined steps headed towards the solid wall.

“It might be sooner than expected.”

It seemed imminent.

Until the number of S-rank hunters belonging to the Twilight Guild increased from two to three.

Sensing an ominous sign, Yun Myungho finally resorted to his last resort.

“What are you doing? Attack this woman immediately!”

Like puppets awaiting orders, they moved only when commanded, willing to die at a moment’s notice.

Following their leader’s orders, they charged towards Seoyeon.

Swiftly leaping, he embraced Seoyeon and soared into the air.

Noticing this, allies who had been observing swiftly sprang into action.

“Charge!”

Regaining their composure, the paladins rushed forward with steel-clad determination, led by Angela.

Within a radius of 50 meters, Angela erected a brown shield of enduring patience.

“Do not step beyond the sacred domain!”

Apparently, that domain was nullifying the effects of sloth.

While Seoyeon and I held him in place, paladins who had regained their strength pushed back the enemies aggressively.

“Sacred Light’s Protection!”

As the faithful seemed to falter, Brainwasher intensified his powers with a snarl.

“Sloth’s Shelter!”

Gray magical energy enveloped hundreds of fanatical hunters.

Their abilities were evident.

“Our attacks aren’t landing!”

The paladins’ fierce assaults weakened and dispersed before the gray shield.

Counterattacks from the fanatic hunters with sturdy shields.

However, even those shields were not invincible.

“Our attacks aren’t working?”

Angela’s mace struck a fanatic’s shoulder with a resounding thud.

Crack!

“Kyaah!”

Followed by a fierce cry.

She roared triumphantly, effortlessly erasing the gray shield surrounding her target with each strike.

“If the attacks aren’t landing, hit harder until they do!”

A straightforward yet effective approach.

“Don’t retreat, fight!”

Even witnessing this firsthand, the paladins continued their relentless assault.

One by one, the gray shields weakened and vanished.

The fanatic hunters, now without their sturdy shields, fell one by one, wounded.

“Gah!”

“Ugh…!”

Considerable wounds inflicted, but lives spared.

They were mere puppets, moving solely at Brainwasher’s command.

In dire situations, unavoidable actions were necessary, but these beings did not deserve death.

“You useless lot!”

Amidst the chaotic battle, Brainwasher, Yun Myungho’s facade, finally crumbled.

Just a while ago, calling them “brother, brother,” and now suddenly referring to them as useless. Look at the audacity.

As the fanatic hunters fell, impervious brainwashing failed, and even their archenemy appeared.

Amidst various frustrations, the worst possible scenario unfolded for him.

“Gwangmyeong Gyoju, Brain Washer.”

Angela Lopez.

The apostle of patience who ruthlessly swept through the battlefield finally arrived in front of the guy, aiming a club where the followers’ blood dripped, continuing with his words.

“Release the followers from brainwashing and surrender. Then I will spare your lives.”

The final warning of the top predator whose territories overlapped.

In front of him, Yun Myeong-ho’s expression twisted.

“Damn it… Now I see. Who you guys really are.”

With a face of realization, he continued speaking.

“The 7th Generation… You bastards.”

“You knew about us?”

“I did. I also know that you are the biggest obstacle for me.”

As he spoke with a sneer, Angela calmly replied.

“You realized too late. You’re already stumbling over the obstacle, so just give up peacefully.”

Repeated persuasion to surrender.

Given her nature, she probably wanted to crush his skull with the club right away.

However, this was a planned move.

After losing in overwhelming strength, accepting surrender.

This plan was solely due to brainwashing.

There is no guarantee that brainwashing will unravel just because he dies.

Sometimes certain traits continue to influence even after the user’s death.

Hence, persuading surrender using life as a bargaining chip to let it unravel on its own.

Guardians tasked with protecting humanity and the world cannot take the lives of hundreds of innocent beings.

At this proposal, he tilted his head with a sardonic laugh.

“Heh… That’s not possible.”

When a mouse is cornered, it said it would open its mouth to the cat.

His scattered magic quickly gathers.

An extraordinary concentration.

Feeling the imminent danger, he urgently shouts.

“Angela! Just go!”

“…!”

Before the words could fully leave his mouth, she swings the club.

Truly a dazzling reaction speed.

With a loud roar, the club cuts through the air, about to shatter his bones.

“Stop.”

Just before that, at the brink of swinging, the guy’s voice makes Angela’s movement abruptly halt.

“…?!”

“Ah…?”

As a sinister premonition brushes past his mind,

Yun Myeong-ho’s trembling hand, instead of swinging the club, taps her shoulder, stopping her.

“It seems like the direction of your swing is off, Brother.”

Upon which she raises the club and respectfully bows.

“…I apologize, Leader.”

“….”

“….”

A tone of endless refinement.

The wildness that was rampant in her voice moments ago has completely vanished.

Standing upright, she turns around.

Instead of burning gazes, calm waves of looks now direct towards this side.

“I will eliminate those who challenge the Leader.”

“Uh, yes.”

The staunchest shield of the allies has shifted to the enemy.