Chapter 128. In the Darkness (2)
Even after taking Brahmastra head-on, Kang Yujin did not die.
That was thanks to the extraordinary toughness of his body as a Vessel, along with the [Protective Aura] he had unleashed at full strength in that instant.
But he had not escaped unharmed.
Kang Yujin collapsed with injuries bordering on fatal and lost consciousness.
He was completely incapacitated before he could even activate his Constellation Armament.
Fortunately, Seok Taejun charged in at the risk of his own life, hurriedly loaded Kang Yujin onto Chimera, and escaped.
Thankfully, Keito did not interfere.
That was the only reason Kang Yujin barely managed to survive.
Beyond the flames of Agneyastra, which continued spreading farther and farther, Kang Yujin was transported to the rear.
There, he received intensive treatment.
His condition was so severe that he could have died at any moment, so everyone stationed in the rear threw themselves into treating him.
Even then...
Kang Yujin did not regain consciousness.
And while he remained unconscious, unable to rise...
the battlefield descended into despair.
“Damn it! The demons are gathering again!”
“Not just the demons! The Fallen Demons are regrouping too! Every servant of Pandemonium in this entire area is converging here!”
Screams rang out as enemies continued pouring in.
The allied forces had temporarily retreated to escape the range of Keito’s flame attack, Agneyastra.
They had intended to reorganize once the flames died down and then advance again.
But the demons that had been scattered throughout the area were now regrouping and attacking.
And that wasn’t all.
“These things aren’t demons! What the hell are these monsters?!”
“I heard about them earlier! This is called ‘Raudrastra,’ an Astra that summons monsters!”
“Saionji Keito summoned these things?!”
Alongside the demons, strange monsters had begun appearing and attacking as well.
They charged without any regard for their own lives, forcing the allied forces onto the defensive.
There was another problem.
“Wait, another one is coming...!”
“Move! Get out of the way!”
At regular intervals, unidentified ranged attacks flew from the fortress.
They took the form of arrow-like masses of energy.
Whenever one struck the ground, the surrounding area was devastated by overwhelming destructive force.
The only fortunate part was that they didn’t seem to be aimed at anyone in particular and were instead being fired randomly.
Even so, a considerable number of casualties had already occurred.
“Is this Saionji Keito’s attack too?!”
“Damn it! This one’s also the power of an Indian-type Constellation!”
One casualty after another appeared throughout the chaotic battlefield.
Lee Hyeonje bit his lip as he watched the situation.
Then Shin Minyu, covered from head to toe in blood, came running over.
“Lee Hyeonje!”
Shin Minyu frowned.
“Shouldn’t we just retreat? There’s no way we can hold out like this!”
“We can’t!”
Lee Hyeonje shouted desperately.
“If we retreat from here, those things will immediately chase us and flood into the Capital Region! What do you think will happen if those monsters, completely enraged and out of control, invade the Capital Region?!”
“That...”
“I absolutely cannot allow that! With Cheon Sangwoon gone, we’re the ones who have to protect the Capital Region!”
“You bastard...”
Shin Minyu’s eyes widened as he stared at Lee Hyeonje.
“Fine, Lee Hyeonje. I understand how you feel. But aren’t you overlooking something?”
“What?”
“If we die here, the Capital Region... no, all of Korea will fall into Saionji Keito’s hands.”
Shin Minyu’s expression hardened.
“The Eight Guardians already lost a lot of people during the last Scenario. Now imagine we die too. Who protects the Capital Region after that?”
He continued.
“Can Won Pilso defend it alone while staying behind in Seoul?”
"..."
“There’s no chance.”
Shin Minyu clenched his jaw.
“We’d have no choice but to hand everything over to the Tenka Restoration Association.”
He had a point.
Lee Hyeonje bit his lip and remained silent.
Then another voice came from beside them.
“This is a difficult problem.”
“Lord Jegal Geum...”
Jegal Geum was also covered in blood.
Originally, he had been responsible for the rear.
But because of the emergency, he had come to the front and joined the fighting.
“Shin Minyu has a point.”
Jegal Geum looked toward the burning fortress.
“But... I also feel that if we retreat here, the situation may become even more hopeless.”
“Lord Jegal Geum, why do you say that?”
“Saionji Keito’s true power is still unknown.”
Jegal Geum’s voice was grave.
“If that man truly is the same kind of existence as Kang Yujin... then there is a possibility he will grow even stronger.”
Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu both flinched.
He was already displaying this much power.
And he could become even stronger?
“The fact that the demons are beginning to respond to Saionji Keito bothers me as well.”
Jegal Geum continued.
“If we fail to defeat him here, the next time he appears... he may return as a true Demon King beyond anything we can handle.”
"..."
“And by then, the Tenka Restoration Association probably won’t send only the Four Heavenly Kings like they did this time.”
His expression grew heavier.
“They’ll send their main forces into Korea. Then it becomes a full-scale war between Korea and Japan.”
Jegal Geum sighed.
“The civilian casualties would be enormous.”
Both Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu bit their lips.
Looking at it that way, they needed to settle things before Saionji Keito formally declared war and requested reinforcements from Japan.
But...
“Still, Lord Jegal Geum.”
Shin Minyu spoke in frustration.
“What you’re saying ultimately means we have to kill Saionji Keito here.”
He frowned.
“How exactly are we supposed to do that?”
"..."
“Honestly, if Lee Hyeonje and I attack him together, we might have a chance. But Saionji Keito isn’t alone.”
Shin Minyu let out a sigh.
“He has the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings under him too.”
He scratched his head.
“I caught a glimpse of them fighting earlier. Every single one of them is around the same level as me or Lee Hyeonje.”
“So... you’re saying you don’t have confidence?”
“No. It’s not that I lack confidence.”
Shin Minyu sighed again.
“It’s just that they have three SS-rank fighters, while we only have two. The numbers don’t match.”
He roughly scratched his hair.
“Damn it. If Kang Yujin were still in fighting condition, I’d give it a try.”
"..."
“I know there’s no point saying this now, but even if Cheon Sangwoon weren’t here... if Yoon Miho or Choi Cheolmin were still alive...”
“That’s enough, Shin Minyu.”
“Sorry. I’m just frustrated.”
Shin Minyu sighed.
Lee Hyeonje, who had been standing beside them with a grim expression, slowly spoke.
“Sir, I’ll find a way.”
“Lee Hyeonje...”
“I’ll discuss it with Ma Taesu and Joo Minha and come up with a plan.”
His voice hardened.
“If we infiltrate their position properly and catch Saionji Keito with a surprise attack, we might have a chance.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“I’ll try.”
"..."
Jegal Geum stared at Lee Hyeonje with his lips tightly closed.
Then he sighed and spoke again.
“Lee Hyeonje... don’t rush.”
“No, I...”
“Wait just a little longer.”
With those words, Jegal Geum turned away.
“I’ll find a way.”
“Sir?”
“What are you planning?”
Even when Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu called after him, Jegal Geum did not answer.
He simply turned his back on them and silently walked toward the rear.
Once he made up his mind...
Jegal Geum’s steps somehow felt lighter.
As he walked across the barren, burning land, he thought about the past.
Ever since becoming a Contractor ten years ago, Jegal Geum had always taken on the role of a leader.
He had already possessed deep knowledge of martial arts before becoming a Contractor.
Because of that, he had learned martial arts-type Skills extremely quickly.
