chapter_0078

Chapter 76: Isolation

“What was allowed to Jin Teze was only attack.”

The Snow Woman’s freezing might not be solid, but it regenerates infinitely.

‘There’s no need to waste my strength.’

This ice cannot kill Jin.

Unlike other seals, the maximum output that the byproduct of the snow flower can produce is just enough to hold Jin in place and prevent his escape.

For Siwoo, who had already consumed a lot of energy, maintaining this state would not be easy either.

‘Then what I need to be careful about is…’

That bullet.

Whirr.

The flames did not flare up as intensely as before.

There was no need for that.

No matter how great Jin’s skills were, he wasn’t foolish enough to try to fight head-on with something akin to an incarnation of destruction like that.

Though exhausted, this would serve as a decent enough penalty.

“Looks like you’re in bad shape too.”

“Yeah, I’m grateful you still rushed in despite being in that state.”

Siwoo responded while making the freezing even more solid.

The sword was raised. In the eyes that had regained their rationality, Jin Teze read the trajectory of the skills Siwoo had built up.

It wasn’t difficult.

For others, it might be hard, but Siwoo had already followed along with skills that others deemed impossible, just by watching them.

If it were a battle with only swordsmanship, Siwoo couldn’t defeat Jin Teze.

Even though Siwoo had been trained by Jeong Se-ah, the lack of experience was overwhelming.

Though he had fought in real battles, most of the techniques he had learned were abilities that used powers.

He didn’t expect any luck.

The number of times he had been betrayed after hoping for a stroke of luck was countless.

There was no chance of victory. This fact remained unchanged.

Whirr.

Therefore, Siwoo’s role right now was to create an opportunity for victory.

From his amber-colored eyes, black flames rose.

Even though he had learned how to control his anger, the hatred toward demons had not disappeared.

But unlike usual, Siwoo did not charge at the demon.

The murderous intent was still there, and the malice in the sword, burning with flames, was just as intense.

But he waited.

‘I can’t kill him now.’

Rather than letting his emotions explode like a newborn, Siwoo waited until he could unleash them fully.

With the light of reason, the flames of hatred blazed.

Jin, who observed this strange transformation, smiled as if satisfied.

“I must say, this is excellent.”

He had created a vessel capable of holding the malice that poured down like a torrential downpour.

A vessel that could contain the falling rain.

Even though it was just a small vessel for now, if it grew, eventually that small vessel would become a lake.

‘It’s a pity I won’t be able to witness that moment,’

But Jin was satisfied just by seeing that appearance.

“Of course, satisfaction and farewell are two separate matters.”

Jin’s gaze shifted toward the railgun’s bullet.

The railgun, now fully charged, seemed ready to fire at any moment.

However, Cheongha-rin quietly stared at Jin and, just like before, did not fire as soon as the charging was complete.

At this distance, adjusting the position should have been unnecessary.

“The attack is only meaningful if it hits.”

Jin chuckled at Cheongha-rin’s response.

“Quite the sound reasoning! If attacking blindly were the answer, then a swordsman could never defeat a mage!”

“You’re using a technique that failed once. If you use it again without proper thought, it will fail just as it did before.”

Ping!

Three bullets, stored in his pocket, were pulled out by the magnetic field and shot outward.

The original purpose of the railgun was to annihilate boss monsters.

It was designed to concentrate a single bullet or point of magic power to drastically increase its destructive power.

By focusing on a single point, it enabled a level of high-powered magic that would normally be impossible.

However, increasing the number of targets for such a railgun was not only inefficient, it also blurred the very essence of the magic it created.

The increased firepower meant for boss monsters was now being diluted.

There was no reason to use the railgun magic in the first place.

Crack-!

Crack-!!

Thus, Cheong ha-rin focused on the essence of the railgun.

She maintained the core of the attack — concentrating everything on a single point — while adding two more bullets.

The electricity that had been concentrated in one place now shifted continuously to the other two bullets, following Cheong ha-rin’s will.

The speed was like light itself.

Each time the electricity moved, its power decreased slightly.

But that didn’t matter.

It was enough to kill that demon.

The three bullets rotated, with the electricity constantly shifting between them. Prediction was impossible.

The electricity, moving like a spirit of lightning, shifted rapidly, as though it were a living creature.

All Jin could do was watch and judge.

“Come. I will counter that technique as well.”

“100% charge. Firing.”

With the trigger, the three bullets were fired.

The bullets, fired at a much closer range than before, moved and shifted to different bullets even as they were being shot.

Even while this was happening, Jin’s red eyes moved relentlessly.

He would cut them down again.

Failure was unimaginable.

His life had already been wagered.

If he were to die from that attack now, he would have no regrets.

However, he had no intention of dying easily.

The pressure from the bullets could have made him furrow his brow, but Jin continued to focus on the bullets.

Even in this slowed-down world, it was still difficult to react to the bullets, which carried electricity.

They weren’t even moving in a straight line, shifting erratically.

‘I thought I had lived a long life, but this kind of magic is new to me.’

He swallowed nervously and shook off his tension.

With the single thought that he could do it, he swung his sword.

Normal swordsmanship wouldn’t work here.

Just as he had wagered his life, Cheong ha-rin had also fired the magic with the same determination.

He would break her will.

According to Jin’s resolve, violet flames bloomed.

The petals of the flame, which had sprung from the tip of the sword, scattered into the air.

The three bullets were now right in front of him. He gripped the black sword tightly.

Even though the bullets were getting closer, he still couldn’t read the flow of energy within them.

But,

‘I can cut it.’

The violet flames traced a single line.

The other two bullets were disregarded.

No matter how fast Jin’s speed was, he couldn’t cut all three bullets at once as they flew toward him.

So, he focused on one. The single bullet, full of electricity.

“Ah.”

A sigh escaped from someone’s mouth.

The one bullet collided with the petals and shattered into two fragments.

—!!!

With an impossible deafening sound, a storm surged.

The bullet, imbued with electricity, once again failed to reach its target.

Crack-

The ice that had been holding Jin’s ankle in place shattered.

This wasn’t the aftermath of the explosion.

In the center of the Coliseum, where dust was rising.

Tap!

He dashed forward.

“Coming, are you?”

Jin wasn’t flustered.

As if he had predicted this attack would fail, Siwoo’s movements were swift.

Now, he drew out the faint violet flame once more.

The emotional burden he had been holding inside was being relieved, and the violet flames had lost their fuel to burn.

Comparing it to the flames of the petals from earlier, it was a meager and insignificant fire.

“That’s enough.”

Before even thinking, the sword was already swung.

Even in the chaos of the explosion’s aftermath, where not even a single inch of the front could be seen.

Whirrrk.

The black flames rising, aimed at Jin, were sharp and clear.

The flame-wreathed sword was gripped tightly.

The strike, one that had been unseen due to the anger consuming him, was now embedded in his mind as he rushed forward.

The sword was in his hand.

His arm moved.

Then, his mind would issue the command.

The blazing malice screamed.

‘Kill the demon.’

Reason shouted.

‘Break that knight.’

This was stubbornness and pride.

Emerald light flickered.

Ignoring the command to kill the demon.

Siwoo swung his sword for his own goal.

‘Just a little more.’

He wanted victory.

A bit more than the death of the demon.

He deeply wanted to win, from the bottom of his heart.

For the first time, a competitive spirit stirred inside him, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile.

The swordsmanship he had learned only for killing monsters now seemed faintly interesting.

At the same time, Siwoo’s flames scattered.

Watching this, Jin spoke with sincerity.

“Beautiful.”

—!!

The sound of the cut didn’t reach.

However, blood began to spill from the corner of Jin’s mouth.

“…It’s severance.”

“Did you realize?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

It wasn’t another’s technique.

It was a technique he had created himself.

“Ah, really. It’s been a satisfying life, one that doesn’t even suit a demon.”

Even though he was cut by the black flame sword, the demon smiled brightly.

Despite his body collapsing and failing to hold on, still…

The demon didn’t even let out a single scream.