episode_0473

The shadows that had engulfed everything around return to their rightful places.

Beneath the building’s floor, under people’s feet, beneath the streetlights.

The false darkness fades away, replaced by a subtle glow of streetlights and moonlight within the real darkness.

“Phew…, it feels like I can finally breathe now.”

Kim Dojin exhales deeply, feeling relieved.

Every time he inhales in his domain, a discomforting magical energy clings heavily to his lungs, making it feel like he hasn’t breathed properly even after taking a breath.

Finding some respite through clean breathing, he looks down at his body.

“…My physical condition is beyond words.”

Large and small wounds cover various visible parts of his body.

If someone were to see them, they would be alarmed.

However, what concerns Kim Dojin are not the external wounds but the internal ones.

‘Energy is boiling.’

If one were to summarize his current bodily state in one word, it would be ‘blast furnace.’

The haphazardly absorbed energies are causing chaos within him, boiling and churning.

Mixed with his efforts to somehow contain them, it has become a terrifyingly bubbling blast furnace.

Not just any blast furnace, but an unstable one that could explode at any moment.

‘I’ve taken in too much.’

It was the price for ignoring the warning messages.

His rational mind whispers that he should focus on stabilizing the energy quickly, but his heart resists.

‘First, I have to deal with that brat.’

Revenge must be exacted.

This belief has been deeply rooted in him since the days of Son Siwoo.

‘I cannot show weakness.’

He can afford to show weakness to allies.

But not to enemies.

A formidable opponent who can withstand any attack, no matter when or where it strikes.

To break their will thoroughly, he must present such a front.

‘It’s even better if I can kill them.’

He carefully adjusts the amount of his surging navy blue magic colliding with the enemy’s energy.

‘A bit weaker.’

As the clash diminishes, the heat subsides as well.

This was utilizing the principle of neutralization.

Balancing the colliding energies to eliminate the resulting shock waves.

Without having seen the end of the enemy, he cannot afford to spend much time stabilizing his body immediately.

So, he must temporarily regain stability in his body.

‘This should be enough to move without major hindrance for now.’

The body check is complete.

Confirming that there is no significant hindrance to immediate movement, his gaze extends beyond the long darkness.

There, in the direction where his location was compromised, the enemy who chose to flee upon being exposed is frantically running.

* * *

Realizing his location had been compromised, he propelled himself forward.

Thud!

He opens the door and rushes out towards the limousine, channeling his magic directly at it.

Kwaaang!

With a loud noise, the limousine is engulfed in bright red flames and melts.

Though it was an item he cherished dearly, custom-made solely for himself, there was no choice.

‘I need to erase the traces.’

As he had used it for every mission, the limousine bore his marks deeply.

If those fell into enemy hands, his identity might be exposed.

Tears welling up, he thoroughly erases his marks and swiftly moves along the elongated shadow under the moonlight.

‘He’s coming.’

Moving is the most bothersome thing in the world.

But he wasn’t ready to die yet.

The moment he dies, his fierce revenge against the world, his sweet dreams, everything will come to a halt.

“Cough, cough…!”

Breathless.

His limited stamina catches up with him, tripping him up.

Just like Yun Myungho, his growth in abilities closely resembled that of a magician.

Magic power sky-high, other stats low.

It was natural.

All that was needed to manipulate shadows was magic power and his will.

Yet, he did not stop.

‘Just a little further.’

Gasping for breath, he knew the Hexagram’s secret hideout wasn’t far away due to his frantic sprint.

That was his destination.

“If I can just make it there, I can escape…!”

Equipped with a life-saving device in case of emergencies, he believed he could survive once he reached the hideout.

With that in mind, he briefly lightened his heavy steps, moving through the shadows.

“I see something….”

Through sweat-soaked vision, beyond the haze, a dark building loomed in the darkness with its lights off.

As the hideout came into view, a slight relief washed over him, but in his mind, the face of the assassination target from earlier appeared vividly.

“A monstrous child.”

Deceiving everyone in the world.

Not only skilled in magical arts but also deeply versed in swordsmanship.

It seemed like a lifetime spent wielding a blade.

Up to that point, things were manageable.

He was exceptional beyond expectations, but not enough to kill.

The real issue lay ahead.

“What in the world was that power…?”

Devouring abilities granted by a deity, not any other power.

This was an ability far beyond the norm.

The power he had consumed still did not return.

At this rate, it might never return.

A profoundly painful loss, yet he chose retreat with tears in his eyes.

Killing had become more difficult, but something more important weighed on him.

“I have to inform them.”

He had to tell the boss about the extraordinary power Kim Dojin had hidden.

Approaching the building entrance leading to the hideout, he swiftly moved away from the shadows.

He didn’t let his guard down.

He wouldn’t stop until he was absolutely certain it was safe.

Entering the dark office, he immediately opened a drawer on the opposite side and grasped a round object.

“It’s done…!”

A peculiar sphere covered in intricate patterns.

Referred to as the “Life Saver” by the organization for its ability to save lives in critical situations.

The effect was simple.

Apply force to the sturdy sphere and break it…!

Crack!

A rift appeared.

Not a dungeon filled with monsters but a rift leading to the Hexagram headquarters.

The real name of the “Life Saver” was the “Artificial Rift Generator.”

A cutting-edge invention crafted by Hexagram’s technicians who delved deep into rifts leading to dungeons.

Looking at the rift, the size of a single person, he finally cracked a smile.

“It’s done…!”

Now, if he could pass through this rift, he could shake off any pursuers.

Thinking this, as he prepared to step forward…

“Oh, you’re late.”

Kim Dojin, entering the building a step behind, looked at him with a smirk.

A small rift materialized before them.

Though he didn’t know how it was created, the situation was clear—it was an escape route.

No matter how quickly he moved, he would be too late.

With just one step, his opponent could enter the rift.

To conceal his identity, the Shadow Walker draped his face in shadows and turned away.

It was a first.

Failing an assassination attempt after giving it his all.

A blow to his pride.

Before stepping into the rift, he spoke to Kim Dojin.

“…Next time, I will definitely kill you.”

Hearing this, Kim Dojin smirked and retorted, “Will there be a next time?”

Recognizing a strange hint, he leaped towards the rift.

Floating as if weightless, he gazed out at the world beyond the rift with a dazed look.

What he wanted to see was Kim Dojin regretting letting him slip away, but that wasn’t the case.

Instead, he saw Kim Dojin’s confident expression.

And a spear aimed in his direction.

Kim Dojin’s mental shift was lightning-fast.

The moment he saw him standing in front of the rift, he abandoned the idea of catching him and instead raised his magical power.

The bastard’s azure magic and my energy split exactly in half.

“I’ve come up with a good plan.”

A groundbreaking method that not only resolves the unstable state within me but also leads the opponent to death or serious injury.

Growing with a wicked intent, it was a long spear.

A very sinister spear covered from tip to hilt with dark magic flowing down to the ground.

“His magic is viscous.”

Whether due to his abilities or not, his magic resembles a thick liquid with high viscosity.

Perhaps because of this.

It is much heavier and more cohesive than magic in a gaseous state.

One of the advantages of these properties is what?

“It has strong restoration capabilities.”

Even if cut into pieces and twisted, it can quickly revert to its original form if desired.

Kim Dojin planned to strike the opponent using this property.

The energy contained in this spear belongs to him.

If I throw this into him, wouldn’t the energy naturally return to its original owner?

“Even if you go, make sure to take care of things.”

Refining the shape of the spear.

Sharpening the end even more, carving two blades in the opposite direction of the elongated blade in the middle.

To inflict greater pain when pulling out the embedded spear.

Finally, he adds determination.

“This is a spear that will hit without fail.”

The weapon of Odin, the supreme god of Asgard in Norse mythology.

Known as Gungnir, the spear of sure-hit that pierces the opponent and returns to the owner when thrown.

“Gungnir.”

As Kim Dojin sends the ebony spear through the crack, he leaves his final words.

“Ah, your forgotten power.”

The ebony spear, barely passing through the almost vanished crack, fiercely follows behind the owner.

As he reaches headquarters one step ahead, exhaling the breath he had been holding, trying to calm himself.

Swish!

The ebony spear, emerging from the still-open crack, flies towards him like an arrow.

“Ah…!”

Shadow Walker confirms this, trying to dodge somehow by twisting his body, but in vain.

As if equipped with homing capabilities, the ebony spear twisted its tip as much as he turned his body.

And without giving him any chance to evade further, it rushes towards him, piercing his side.

Thud!

The spear deeply embeds with a gruesome sound.

“Aaargh-!”

Screaming in agony as the spear ravages his side, nearby organization members rush to him urgently.

“Shadow, sir!”

“You’re not in good shape. Straight to the infirmary…!”

Consciousness fades.

Thanks to the full-force defense barrier, his life seems to be spared.

Nevertheless, the severe injury remains unchanged, but thanks to the timely arrival of his subordinates, treatment should be possible without delay.

Feeling somewhat relieved by this fact, as he closes his eyes with a sigh, he senses it.

“Damn it…, bastard.”

That part of my power has returned.