Ch.119As It Is Spoken, So Shall It Be

The brothers’ kaijufication all follows a similar pattern.

While there were slight individual differences, excluding the blood from their different mothers, they all transformed in similar ways.

Usually, it manifested as black horns growing from their human form.

Beyond that, their arms, legs, chest, or various other body parts would become encased in black armor similar to their father’s.

But what on earth was this thing of Han Jaewon’s?

“Strength… plus speed and reflexes too…!”

CRASH!

“Urgh?!”

“You look quite surprised.”

“Tch! I didn’t expect you were hiding such tremendous power, brother.”

Was he swinging a sharp sword right now?

Or was it a blunt club?

Each strike felt so overwhelmingly powerful that it was hard to tell the difference.

This wasn’t so much swords clashing as it was like a giant hammer pounding against a blade.

And the speed was increasing with each moment.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Crack-crack-crack…

Claaang! Sizzle…!

‘My blade is gradually losing its edge…!’

Yujin had been taught that a swordsman could never defeat him.

That’s what he believed and what he’d been trained to think.

However, watching his body being rapidly worn down as time passed, he could only break into a cold sweat. Somehow avoiding a slash, he managed to place both palms against his opponent’s abdomen.

“Silas Edge!”

He attempted to create a slashing wave from his body.

CRASH!

But the only things cut by that impact were the surrounding cityscape.

“!!”

“The tables have turned. Your attacks can’t even scratch my body.”

“Such attack power and this level of defense too…! Did you really inherit everything from Father? You?!”

They had the same kaijufication.

Yet even though he seemed to have the upper hand when they were both in human form.

As soon as the battle of their father’s bloodline began, Yujin couldn’t deny the overwhelming gap that had opened between them.

Han Jaewon.

This was the son who could revive His Majesty’s neglected paternal affection.

He was truly the prince who should be in the imperial palace.

“Then I’ll finish this now.”

“Damn, I’ll be bringing shame to the Han surname that I just received… Well, I suppose it’s fine since I’m losing to a brother with the same Han surname?”

As the jet-black divine sword was raised high into the air,

Yujin simply closed his eyes in regret, knowing it would soon come down upon his shoulder.

Perhaps it was because he’d been lazy right after receiving the Han surname.

He felt a wave of regret for his past indulgence in idleness that had once been so enjoyable.

But at that moment.

“From now on, you are the world’s strongest projectile, capable of blowing away anything.”

A solemn voice, as if spoken right beside them, echoed between the two men.

Simultaneously, something flew toward Jaewon’s raised chest…

“A stone?”

An ordinary stone that could be found anywhere.

But what could the power of such a mere stone possibly…

“Kuhak?!”

Incredibly, it sent the kaijufied Jaewon flying backward through the air.

Thud.

“Cough! Cough!”

Jaewon, who had been instantly knocked away from Yujin, was getting up while coughing blood from the pain in his chest.

“W-what is this?”

He picked up the stone that had just done this to him.

Then he immediately crushed it in half.

It was nothing but an ordinary stone that could be picked up anywhere.

No matter how strongly it was thrown, it shouldn’t have been able to cause even a scratch on his body.

“Yujin. Why are you giving up so soon?”

“B-big brother?!”

“Though you received it last, you too are an imperial prince who inherited the Han surname. So even if you die fighting, never surrender.”

Han Jaewon then turned around after crushing the stone to powder in his hand.

There, walking majestically toward Yujin, who had fallen to his knees in shock, was the first imperial prince of the future Han Shinwoo Empire, a figure of black and white.

“Han Leon…!”

“Your name was Han Jaewon, correct? Your records are quite ambiguous. I don’t know which of us was born first, so I can’t properly call you younger or older brother, which is rather awkward.”

“Was that attack just now your doing?”

“If you mean throwing that stone, yes, that was me.”

“…!”

The first child officially recognized by Han Shinwoo.

This was the first time he had seen him in person.

And Leon’s mother, the empress, was none other than…

“Empress Lia…!”

His sworn enemy.

“I heard you had some unpleasant history with my mother.”

“Oh? Then you must understand why I naturally despise her son as well.”

“Well… considering someone like my mother was murdered, I understand. If I were you, I’d probably react the same way. No, perhaps even worse.”

Leon didn’t bother to refute Han Jaewon, who was grinding his teeth in his kaijufied state, as if his reaction was only natural.

After all, they were enemies before they were brothers.

“Where is Lady Sophia? Han Jaewon.”

“Who knows? If you mean Mother, she’s probably out enjoying some shopping somewhere.”

“That’s not even remotely funny. We know that since the moment the four of us invaded the past, you’ve been hiding the First Empress very carefully. And if I were to think of a place in this era where you could best hide a key figure…”

Snap!

“The Hunter Association building that still exists seems the only logical choice. Am I wrong?”

“Tch! So you knew all along…”

“W-what?! Then Lady Sophia has been in that building-like structure?”

Yujin was shocked by himself.

Meanwhile, Leon helped his incompetent brother to his feet and boldly stepped forward.

“Yujin, I’ll capture Han Jaewon. Use that opportunity to enter the building and bring Lady Sophia.”

“Aha! A diversion tactic, brother. But do you know where Lady Sophia might be?”

“Probably on the top floor. Lee Jin-ah should still be alive in this world, and that yokai woman would certainly keep important people right by her side.”

“The top floor, you say? Got it. I’ll bring her right away.”

After assigning his brother a task he could definitely handle, Leon slowly walked toward Jaewon.

“Then I’ll be going first!”

“You think I’ll let you pass?!”

Jaewon tried to stop Leon, who was attempting to skate past by turning the ground beneath his feet into blades.

“In the space visible to my eyes…”

Shiver!

At that moment, Jaewon felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

“Air cannot exist.”

The next moment, Han Jaewon, who had been reaching out toward Yujin, fell to his knees, struggling as he suddenly couldn’t breathe.

“Kuhub?! …hub?”

“No matter how strong a living being is, it cannot survive without air. But don’t worry. I’ll release you just before you’re about to die.”

“You… bastard…!”

Just as he said.

Despite having a strong body, there wasn’t much Jaewon could do in a space where air had disappeared.

He could only clutch his throat and suffer terribly.

What kind of absurd ability was this?

As Han Jaewon was becoming completely powerless, he suddenly remembered.

“In the space visible to my eyes…”

“Air cannot exist.”

The recent events flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope.

Not only that, but when he was hit by the stone that made him cough blood…

“From now on, you are the world’s strongest projectile, capable of blowing away anything.”

…he seemed to have heard those words.

‘Could this bastard’s ability be…?’

At this rate, he would pass out from oxygen deprivation.

Rather than letting that happen, Jaewon decided to try something. Using the strength remaining in his body, he quickly leaped behind Leon.

And then.

“Hup… Haah!”

“Have you already figured out my ability?”

“Honestly, I thought of it but couldn’t believe it. Is your ability really that whatever you say becomes reality?”

“…It’s not quite as omnipotent as that.”

Jaewon could breathe again.

He quickly deduced Leon’s absurd ability, and although Leon himself was downplaying it as if it weren’t much…

Swish.

“?!”

As he pointed his palm toward Jaewon again.

“The air before me gains elasticity and captures my opponent.”

After giving such a command.

Squeeze.

“Urgh?!”

This time, he pulled out a flashlight from his pocket.

“Hmm?”

“The light from this flashlight…”

“?! You can’t mean…!”

He pointed the bulb part of the flashlight at the kaijufied Han Jaewon like a gun barrel and said:

“Becomes a mighty flame that can burn everything, and fires.”

WHOOSH!

***

“Well then, I’ll use this opportunity to go in and get Lady Sophia.”

“No, you won’t!”

“M-madam?”

“Even if you are my grandson, I cannot simply stand by and watch you take my daughter away like that.”

Yujin was trying to quickly complete his mission while his older brother dealt with Han Jaewon.

However, his movement was blocked by Rolling, who was standing right in front of the Hunter Association entrance.

Perplexed, Yujin briefly scanned the body of Madam Rolling, their grandmother, with his extremely sensitive senses enhanced by kaijufication.

And he couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘…! There’s hardly any part of her body that’s intact!’

In terms of abilities, she wasn’t someone who could be easily defeated by him, even in his current kaijufied state, let alone when in human form.

However, that was assuming her body was in perfect condition.

Throughout her powerful physique, there were several permanent damages that seemed impossible to heal.

‘In her current state, even Yurian or Shina could probably defeat her, not just me.’

But a tiger is still a tiger, even with missing teeth.

Just like with the Jaewon brothers earlier, he couldn’t predict what kind of battle beyond common sense she might show.

“Madam, I’m family too. Please let me see my other mother.”

“Oh my… If you were just going to look, I wouldn’t be doing this. But you’re openly trying to kidnap her—how could I just let you go, grandson?”

“G-grandson…! Ahem! W-well, that’s certainly true…”

His face reddened at the unfamiliar word “grandson,” but he couldn’t argue since it was true.

Just as Yujin was feeling awkward, it happened.

Ding.

“Huh?”

“Oh?”

The automatic door at the first-floor entrance of the Hunter Association.

That door, which should have been locked, opened wide before Yujin as if inviting him in.