Chapter 329:

The serene aura radiating from Yu-hyun spread in all directions, engulfing the entire area.

The frost giants all halted in their tracks, and the fainted guards began to open their eyes one by one.

The intense energy of the Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill pushed away the dark clouds, lightening the sky, if only for a moment.

In that fleeting gap, starlight shone down, illuminating the scene below.

[Wow, my goodness.]

[It's beautiful.]

The growing interest of the stars all focused on Yu-hyun.

With a pure beauty that seemed otherworldly, and a strength so powerful it widened eyes in amazement.

It was just that, yet everyone was captivated by the sight.

The same was true for the people of White Flower Management.

"That is…"

"Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill. It's a technique I taught him."

Despite Seo Sumin's explanation, Kang Hye-rim and the others could not help but feel more confused.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know. It was just that Yu-hyun's current display differed from Seo Sumin’s.

Seo Sumin’s energy was pitch-black darkness, but Yu-hyun's current display was pure white, untainted by anything.

It seemed less destructive, yet there was an unmistakable purity without any impurities.

"The color of that aura is completely different…"

"I don't know why his energy is white either. It might have something to do with his appearance."

"But where did he get such power from?"

"It's true that he exhausted all his strength. What makes this possible is ‘Mental Strength.’ The power of the mind that transcends the physical body. He's drawing external power with it."

"Then, that means…!"

Kang Hye-rim shouted with hope.

"In his current state, Yu-hyun can surely defeat them all, right?! Right?!"

"No."

Everyone held their breath at Seo Sumin's firm response.

Though he didn’t want to break the barely improved atmosphere, Seo Sumin felt it was necessary to correct the misconception.

"His body has already sustained countless injuries, and even though he's awakened his Mental Strength, it's only at the beginning stage. Using his power like this now is an act that surpasses his limits."

"That means…"

"It's like a newborn baby running on two legs. It's undoubtedly miraculous, but it won’t last long. At most, it will only be a minute. No longer."

No one knew better than Yu-hyun, who was using that power right now, how painfully aware he was of this.

Despite knowing this, Yu-hyun pushed himself because he chose to.

His will. His determination.

Although it was a world far away, Yu-hyun's heart was conveyed. Knowing this, Seo Sumin's eyes did not leave the screen showing Yu-hyun.

"Only one minute."

"That's too short."

Seo Sumin nodded at the negative words from everyone.

"Yes, one minute is indeed short."

Even enduring such power was a miracle in itself. No one could guarantee what would happen to his exhausted body after using up all his strength in that minute.

Still.

"That one minute… will be the most beautiful of all."

* * *

The frost giants halted amidst the falling petals.

Moving purely on instinct, the frost giants felt something for certain.

Touching those pure white petals would be dangerous.

However, they couldn’t leave Yu-hyun alone any longer. Once the sword in his hands was in Leanne's hands, it would all be over.

So they blocked him.

The frost giants formed a wall in front of Yu-hyun.

"Move."

Yu-hyun stomped his foot.

Simultaneously, a floral fragrance wafted as his figure vanished without leaving even a trace.

He pierced through.

As if embodying that determination, some of the pure white petals gathered into a giant spear and shot forward.

Piercing through in one point.

The frost giants touched by the petal spear melted away like ice in a spring breeze. The melted frost giants could not regenerate. The damage exceeded what their bodies could repair.

A massive path formed in the ranks of the frost giants.

Yu-hyun dashed through the opened path.

Roar!!!

Sensing the danger, Georn opened his mouth and roared. What came out was not just a cry.

A wind filled with white frost spewed forth like a storm, surging towards Yu-hyun.

The white spear that had been leading the way could not penetrate the frost wind and froze, eventually shattering into fragments.

Even though he had fallen, Georn was a Divine Spirit. His breath carried a terrifying chill that could freeze even tales.

Touch it and you die. Yu-hyun knew this yet didn’t dodge. If he dodged, it would be too late. He had to push through it.

Piercing through in one point wouldn't work. He lacked the strength. So, he had to increase it.

If one wasn’t enough, use two. If two weren’t enough, use three.

No, much more.

The petals behind him spread like wings, then reformed into spears. One, two, three, eventually forming nine petal spears rotating fiercely.

The first transformation of the Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill: Blossom Heaven.

Nine swirling streams combined into one and pierced through the space. As the two forces collided, Blossom Heaven grew stronger and extended further.

‘This is it.’

In that moment, Yu-hyun realized he had reached the level he had never before attained as he watched his technique unfold.

The true Blossom Heaven that Seo Sumin had shown him. This time, it was executed without a single error.

Without even a moment to savor his satisfaction, Yu-hyun dashed through the center of the splitting frost wind.

The frost giants, strengthened by the frost wind, lunged at Yu-hyun.

‘It’s heavy.’

Though his body felt like it was flying, it was still heavy. It felt as if the whole world was pressing down on him.

The frost giants, Georn, the key sword in his hand, the expectations of everyone he carried on his back.

All of them became shackles that weighed down his advancing body.

This was the world Leanne faced and the weight he bore.

‘Still, I can’t stop.’

Break through.

If there was a wall, break it down and keep moving.

Slashing his sword held in his right hand, the white energy exploded in all directions. The frost giants touched by it shattered into pieces. Even the massive frost giants couldn't withstand a single clash and crumbled into powder.

Realizing that it wouldn’t work like this, the frost giants took a different action.

They clustered together more closely. Both small and large giants alike.

The massive frost giants merged into an even larger form. Though smaller than Georn, it was comparable in size.

Crack! Crackle!

Even for frost giants, maintaining such a size was challenging, and their bodies cracked with every movement. All they could manage was one punch. After that, their imperfect bodies would collapse.

But for the frost giants, that was enough. If they could grab their opponent’s ankle for just one moment, it would be their victory.

Yu-hyun also knew this. If he retreated now, or even slightly fell back, it would be the end.

Blossom Heaven had exhausted its power piercing through the frost wind. In his current state, he couldn’t fully break through that last frost giant.

So, he had to suppress it with even stronger force.

"Get out of my way!!"

This time, the technique he deployed was not the second transformation, Black Lightning, but the third transformation, Dark Dragon.

The third transformation of the Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill: Dark Dragon. Transformational technique: Sky Pressure Dark Wave.

A pure white wave burst forth from Yu-hyun’s body, spreading out in concentric circles. As soon as it touched the frost giant, an immense pressure crushed its body from above.

Unable to withstand the pressure, the frost giant collapsed to the ground. Its barely maintained, imperfect body began to disintegrate.

Yu-hyun leaped over the fallen frost giant and soared high.

"Leanne!"

Did he hear his voice?

Leanne, clutched in Georn’s left hand, opened his eyes.

He saw the giant holding him and Yu-hyun rushing toward them.

“Keira!”

The moment he called her name upon seeing her.

The frost giant under Yu-hyun disintegrated, and the smaller frost giants leaped up towards him.

It was the frozen world’s desperate desire to keep Yu-hyun from reaching Georn.

At the same time, Yu-hyun poured all his strength into the sword in his right hand and swung.

Georn’s eyes widened. He crossed his remaining right arm and left arm, protecting his chest where the crimson ruby was embedded.

Yu-hyun’s white slash cut through Georn’s two forearms, but that was it.

The slash did not reach the ruby. The frost giants clung to Yu-hyun’s ankles, calves, and arms, disrupting his swing. Thus, the force was insufficient.

There would be no next time. Yu-hyun exhausted his Mental Strength with that last attack. The intense power enveloping his body dissipated, dissolving into the air.

[Oh, my goodness.]

[If only he had a bit more!]

The Divine Spirits watching the scene let out regretful sighs.

Though his arms were cut off, Georn smiled at Yu-hyun. His eyes were filled with derision, as if to say that this fight was ultimately his victory.

As Yu-hyun, held by the frost giants, slowly descended, he watched that smile.

And laughed.

"From the beginning, your opponent was not me."

Georn's severed left arm. Leanne, who had been held by it, was now free.

Leanne's body slowly fell. He reached out towards Yu-hyun, who was looking at him.

Yu-hyun also extended his hand towards Leanne.

The sword in his right hand broke, unable to withstand the earlier strain.

But it didn’t matter. He still held a far more important sword in his left hand.

"Your turn."

In the slowly flowing time, Yu-hyun threw the key sword towards Leanne.

Leanne caught the key sword. Yu-hyun, entangled by the frost giants, fell below. There was no time to grieve.

The moment he grasped the key sword, Leanne felt a multitude of flashes explode in hi mind.

A tremendous power. It was an explosive torrent so overwhelming he nearly thought he couldn't control it.

Leanne endured. If he had grabbed this sword with a half-hearted resolve, his entire body would have been torn apart by the power. But now, it was different.

‘Thanks to everyone, I finally made it here.'

Amidst the pain, his determination became clearer.

His mind, swept by the torrent, discarded all unnecessary dross, refining and polishing until it became a single, radiant gem.

‘I won’t fail anymore.'

He held the sword and drew it.

With a tearing sound, the cloth wrapped around the key sword ripped, revealing its dazzling form.

A brilliant golden light to drive away this winter.

Seeing this, Georn’s eyes widened to the limit. The warriors watching from afar, the Divine Spirits watching from the sky, even Fiold, who stood unsteadily with half her body shattered.

All took in the resplendent sight.

"Aaaaaah!!"

To end this relentless hell, Leanne swung the key sword vertically.

From the bottom to the top, the force surged as if reaching towards the sky.

A golden line cleaved through Georn’s body from side to side. The crimson ruby embedded near his heart shattered explosively under the golden slash.

The slash didn’t stop there, continuing on. It pierced through Georn and beyond, slicing through the dark clouds in the sky.

With a cracking sound, white light poured through the rift in the clouds.

That light marked the end of the 32-year-long hell.

* * *

Leanne stood in a white space with no one else around.

No, it wasn’t completely empty. There was a middle-aged man standing in front of him.

“Thank you.”

As soon as he saw Leanne, he spoke.

Golden beard and hair. Steady, unwavering eyes and a massive build.

Recognizing his face, Leanne’s expression hardened.

“Georn, sir?”

“You still call me sir.”

“That’s…”

“Yes. I know. What I did was horrific. Even though it wasn’t my will, it was ultimately my negligence that caused all this.”

Please, have a seat.

Georn said to Leanne, sitting down himself. Suddenly, he was sitting on a large rock.

The white scenery disappeared, replaced by another. A vast cliff, not the icy cliff Leanne remembered, but a beautiful coastal cliff filled with countless plants.

“Can you see it?”

“It’s the landscape of the old Northern Continent.”

“Yes. The most beautiful and proudest world to me.”

With eyes filled with mixed emotions, Georn looked down at the waves crashing against the shore.

“I wanted to have children.”

Georn’s sudden confession left Leanne at a loss for words.

Seeing Leanne’s confusion, Georn stroked his beard and laughed warmly.

A demeanor far removed from the great warrior’s reverence, appearing instead as a benevolent figure.

“I understand your confusion. To you, I am a god. Even though you know about the Divine Spirits, hearing about them having children is unheard of. It used to happen in the past, but now it’s forbidden.”

Despite knowing this, Georn wanted to have children of his own.

Though he couldn’t continue his bloodline, he wanted to pass on everything he had.

“Yes. I wanted a family. The warriors of the Gard celebrated the birth of their sons and daughters, asking me to bless them to become great warriors. I always watched, thinking how envious I was of those earthly children.”

So Georn decided to select candidates and pass his power to them, using most of his strength.

Although he couldn’t marry and have children through love, the children who received all his powers would be his own.

Except.

He hadn’t anticipated that someone would exploit his weakened state.

A fragment of the Book of Genesis.

With that embedded in his chest, Georn was corrupted against his will. Consumed by negative emotions, he fell to Earth and ruled as a disaster.

“It was a torturous time. Horrible. I had to watch the world I cherished being destroyed against my will.”

That wasn’t all.

The five sisters he created took up swords, and four of the candidates they were supposed to train died by his hands.

The children who might have inherited everything from him, those he could have called his own.

They turned into cold ice under his hand.

“You saved me from that.”

That was why.

Georn was so grateful and deeply sorry to Leanne for freeing him from this dreadful fate.

In the end, Leanne stood there, scarred from the pain and suffering.

Even when everything was over, the agony he had gone through in the past didn’t disappear.

“I’m okay.”

To comfort Georn’s regret, Leanne spoke with a slightly relieved voice.

“It was certainly difficult and painful, but it’s because of that journey that I am who I am now. And I can become even better in the future. Georn, you don’t need to feel sorry.”

“Really… I see…”

Georn laughed contentedly. If that child said so, then it was his worry that was foolish.

“Please take good care of this world in my stead. With you now, you can be much stronger than I ever was.”

Georn said as he stood up.

“Are you leaving?”

“My body was already destined to disappear. I just stubbornly squeezed out my last strength to have this conversation. But now it’s over.”

Although he still had regrets, Georn didn’t lament.

In the end, he would be remembered as the main culprit who ruined the world, slowly fading from everyone’s memory.

All he felt was a deep sense of apology towards the children who would live on Earth.

“I will take my leave.”

Georn’s body slowly turned into shining letters, disappearing from his toes up.

Watching this, Leanne hesitated, as if to say something.

Making up his mind, he bowed deeply to Georn.

“Goodbye, father.”

“…!”

Georn, who was gradually disappearing, widened his eyes at those words, then smiled with gratitude and nodded.

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