Chapter 91

Chapter 90. Rechallenge (1)

Seohui's body was as stiff as ice.

Despite having used every move she could, her opponent did not fall, and she had lost her fighting spirit.

Perhaps because of this, she just stood there, motionless, even as her opponent made a reckless move.

"……!"

However, Igyeong's attack was blocked from an unexpected direction.

Surprisingly, it was the squad leaders who blocked him.

Squeak-!

The hidden weapon thrown by the lieutenant fell in front of Igyeong.

Her second hidden weapon followed in quick succession.

Startled, Igyeong leaped backward urgently.

"Got him!"

At that moment, a man sprang up from the ground and grabbed him.

It was Eummoji. Even with his neck pierced, he squeezed out his inner strength to stop the bleeding and poured his last spark of life into this moment.

Igyeong's flustered face was briefly visible.

"Hurry!"

With a pale face, the lieutenant's shout was followed by Yaolin's release of a powerful energy attack from the opposite side.

He had created a spear energy with his remaining arm and thrust it at Igyeong.

Zing!

As a powerful wave of energy erupted from where Igyeong stood, those watching thought it might be the end.

But as the energy dissipated like smoke, the person lying on the ground was not Igyeong, but Eummoji.

His neck had already been severed, and he lay on the ground.

"Just a bunch of insignificant brats I had forgotten about for a moment..."

Judging from the situation, he must have eliminated them right before Yaolin's energy attack could take effect.

"Is this how you repay me?"

Yaolin's attack was not a complete failure, however.

Blood was flowing from Igyeong's shoulder.

"Alright. This time, I'll definitely cut off your breaths!"

"…Lieutenant!"

Yaolin shouted when he saw Igyeong's sudden leap.

But Seohui still stood there, dazed.

Then, after a brief tremor, Seohui's gaze turned toward Yaolin.

"Run. I'll buy you some time. I don't know how long I can hold on, but I'll try my best."

"…?"

"Captain! We don't have time!"

Seohui's eyes showed a small ripple at his shout.

Yaolin seemed to finally feel relieved and smiled firmly.

"Please, strive to see a broader world..."

Those were his last words.

Pap.

Yaolin chose to fight first before Igyeong could attack.

Holding a spear with his remaining arm, he charged recklessly.

Clang!

There were a few exchanges.

A completely defensive attack.

Despite the ferocious assault, Igyeong's hesitation was only brief.

Swoosh-!

Igyeong's fierce sword skills quickly cut through Yaolin's spear shaft.

Swish.

After that, he easily decapitated Yaolin.

"Clack. Clack. Clack."

The sound of blood dripping from the sword.

Igyeong finally smiled, seemingly satisfied.

"Now, all the troublesome ones are gone."

Seohui's eyes wavered.

All his subordinates were dead.

Looking at their cold bodies, Seohui's mind was in turmoil.

'Why did they go this far...'

Frankly, Seohui couldn't understand their actions.

Life ends with death.

Why did they sacrifice themselves so thoroughly?

Compared to himself, they only had one life, didn't they?

"When dealing with the disgusting demons, I found one thing to envy."

Igyeong spoke to Seohui.

"The more they are enveloped by demonic nature, the more blindly loyal they are to their leader. It's quite enviable. You can prune a few at the right time, can't you?"

"..."

"However, it also looks a bit sad. The captain is so scared, yet what noble value are they trying to protect until the end?"

His taunts were different from before.

Strangely, each word felt like a stab to Seohui's heart.

His subordinates had burned their lives until the very end.

In contrast, Seohui had four lives but didn't resist properly.

Confronting the ugliness of the result, his emotions came alive again.

'I wasn't afraid.'

He had always fought for survival.

Even in the face of death, he never cowered and always tried to break through.

But when did it all become so passive?

To prevent the number of lives he was given from decreasing, or to prepare for the next life if it did.

He had been living like that.

Thoroughly calculating.

"Don't let the system consume you."

The voice of AI Seohui, who had shouted at him just a moment ago, rang clearly in his ears.

If the system wasn't a stroke of luck but a terrible poison, should he drink it?

Or should he avoid it?

Pap.

Igyeong moved.

He seemed to have decided not to give any more time, closing the distance in a single step.

But Seohui was no longer standing idly by.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A rapid exchange of blows.

However, it only lasted a few moments.

Once Seohui was hit by his sword skills, Igyeong's merciless attacks began.

"Ugh! Ah! Ah!"

Seohui couldn't resist properly.

The elegance and sharpness of the Huashan Sword Technique were beyond his ability to counter.

Igyeong, a formal disciple of Huashan, had accumulated countless sparring experiences.

There was a gap that couldn't be overcome by mere determination.

Moreover, his stamina and inner strength were almost depleted.

When his attacks paused for a moment,

Thud. Thud.

Seohui's clothes were dyed a deep red with blood.

His injuries were so severe that it was hard to find a spot that wasn't hurt.

If he hadn't been wearing clothes, the wounds from the opponent's sword would have been terrifying to see.

"Do you know why I'm not killing you right away?"

Igyeong, now somewhat appeased, smiled and spoke.

"Those eyes. The despair and helplessness in those eyes excite me. It's really enjoyable."

Seohui didn't collapse despite his severe injuries.

He still raised his gaze, gritting his teeth and facing him.

Did that fuel his amusement?

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. No matter how much you struggle, you're just expendable. The higher-ups are already moving quickly to change the world. Some are colluding, and others are betraying."

"..."

"There's no place for scum like you here. So, die peacefully now."

Igyeong's brows furrowed as he watched Seohui.

He thought Seohui would understand, but he was making incomprehensible sounds and sobbing.

Just as he was about to end it,

"I finally understand a little."

Seohui lifted his head.

"Why I have to fight like this. Why I have to desperately seize opportunities and move forward."

"…?"

"It's to struggle. To see how much you can wriggle against the fate set by the system, how much you can fight back."

"What are you saying?"

Seohui bared his teeth and smiled exaggeratedly.

Then, with a baffled expression, he spoke.

"Think about it. If there's no gap... I can create one... I have to create one."

"I can't listen to you anymore."

Ignoring Seohui's words, Igyeong infused his sword with inner strength and delivered a final warning.

"The path to the underworld. Now..."

He moved simultaneously.

"…!"

Igyeong's sword pierced Seohui's abdomen like a flash of lightning.

Seohui couldn't respond at all.

He just grabbed the sword with his trembling hand as it pierced his body.

"It's over."

Seeing Seohui still glaring at him, Igyeong's expression finally relaxed.

But then,

As he tried to withdraw his sword,

Seohui was moving slowly.

At first, it seemed he was about to collapse, but then he leaned his head forward and reached out.

"Idiot."

It was a futile gesture.

His opponent's dantian was already broken.

With his abdomen pierced, he couldn't do anything, Igyeong judged.

That was his big mistake.

Seohui's final move in the Wind God technique.

He had ignored the move where Seohui leaned forward and grabbed Igyeong's sword.

"That's how."

Seohui's short words meant nothing to him.

Boom!

The moment Seohui's hand touched the sword, a formidable energy current spread through Igyeong's sword and hand.

It penetrated Igyeong's body and quickly covered his entire body.

"Aaaaah!"

The pressure was something Igyeong couldn't suppress.

Wind God Palm.

He had received a full-on attack of an energy technique powerful enough to shake the earth.

Boom!

In the end, Igyeong's body exploded in a burst of sound, unrecognizable.

"I won't be consumed anymore."

Seohui slowly fell to the ground.

His face was filled with indescribable solemnity.

[Your combat power has increased.]

[You have obtained the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.]

[Would you like to put the Yeohu Sword in your inventory?]

[Would you like to put Jinchaohui in your inventory?]

The precious sword and shoes he couldn't afford to lose.

He was grateful that he could put them in his inventory with just a touch.

That was his last task.

[The Yeohu Sword has been safely stored in your inventory.]

[Jinchaohui has been safely stored in your inventory.]

The text slowly appeared.

And almost immediately,

<You have three lives remaining.>

How many lives remained and the choices were there.

* * *

Seohui had three saved lives.

□ Year 95, Chapter 2-1. The three lives Gonma offered

■ Year 97, Chapter 5-9. Squad leaders' trust successful, Eummoji recruited for 9 months

□ Year 95, Chapter 3-8. [Core Warrior Success] Storm Growth Period (Bonus Story) 1st year

The life Gonma offered.

Seohui had no intention of going back.

The life on one of the forks needed to be resolved somehow.

The third, the Storm Growth Period 1st year.

He had no intention of going back here either.

He had worked so hard to gain the trust of his subordinates.

Seohui's choice went to the second one.

As a precaution, he had saved his life every month before going to bed.

So he returned to the night before he was about to set his schedule for January 98, just before receiving a mission from the Yin Ying Hall instructor.

"……"

Even after confirming he was back in his quarters, Seohui stood there for quite a while, dazed.

The deaths of his subordinates.

Their cries as they tried to protect him until the last moment had made him forget the terrible pain he had suffered at Igyeong's hands.

"They should still be alive now..."

That's right.

Since he had returned to the past, his subordinates who had risked their lives should all be alive and well.

"But, what is this feeling..."

A heavy, nostalgic feeling.

It was a new emotion that kept Seohui's mind in turmoil.