Chapter 97

Hangeun (Hwang Re) property change: Black (Hei)

[Ultimate Flame]

Kwaahhhhhh!!!

A black flash that eroded everything filled the entire cave.

Craig's tattered body was swept away helplessly in the immense heat that seemed unbelievable for a human to wield.

The dark radiance that split into hundreds of strands filled and destroyed every visible space.

The magic power that began to run rampant outside the domain filled and exploded throughout the cave, shaking and twisting the unstable underground space.

Kwaahhhhhh!!

The main base of Palshion, as complex as an anthill. As the lowest level began to shake, the upper corridors started to crumble helplessly.

Renok repelled the falling rocks with a shield spell, gathered his magic power, and took a deep breath.

There, in a state where even his true form could no longer be recognized, was Craig.

Slowly lifting his face, with his eyes crushed, he looked in Renok's direction.

"I wanted to change the world."

A voice flowed out, incredibly calm.

"I wanted to transcend the limits of a mage and see the scenery beyond."

Craig, who had been looking down at his body, which was crumbling piece by piece, said.

"But it seems that qualification was given to someone else."

"......"

"I've come to realize. It was fortunate to have glimpsed it, even if only for a moment...."

A small whisper came from beyond the body that had turned into a pile of ashes.

In this world, someone who burns their entire body for a grand ideal can easily be extinguished.

What kind of human can rise higher?

Renok didn't know.

The only one who could survive and look forward to the next step was not the black mage who had thrown everything away, but the one who struggled disgracefully.

Suppressing his complicated feelings, he lifted his head.

The quarry, which had been collapsing since the hole in the ceiling, was now shaking uncontrollably.

Although they needed to escape immediately, there was something more important.

Renok immediately approached the spot where Craig had vanished and picked up the hardware stored beneath the cave floor.

A database originally created to contain artificial intelligence through necromantic rituals.

Although it had already been destroyed by the previous domain deployment, if he could extract the remaining data, it would be a significant help.

Ban

"......Damn it."

Zaun, who had also been after that hardware, clicked his tongue and stepped back as Renok picked it up.

Only then did Chan and Hina, who had been stubbornly clinging to him, slowly step back.

There were no further casualties, but everyone was covered in blood, as if no one had stopped Zaun from attacking.

The state of the allied forces, breathing heavily, clearly showed their limits.

A brief lull. But the cave was still collapsing.

Zaun sighed deeply as he looked at them.

"What a dog's life."

"......"

"I thought that bastard Craig would at least destroy the 50th sector, but I didn't expect it to end without even getting started. Human affairs are truly not easy."

"Is this the time to spout such nonsense?"

Klang!

Hina, as if unwilling to give up the fight, raised her blade.

"Righteous messenger, huh?"

Zaun replied indifferently, meeting her sharp gaze.

"If I had failed to control the fragments of the Cataclysm, I would have no more business here. I don't like clinging to a failed plan. Let's part ways here."

"Who said I'd let you go?"

Chan, limping, stepped forward and raised his curved sword, but received only a mocking laugh in return.

"That's not your decision, cripple. I'm talking to the mage standing behind you."

Everyone fell silent, unable to refute his unexpected but undeniable words.

Among all the people gathered here, only two could claim to have done their part.

Zaun Odys, who had successfully tied up the feet of dozens of people single-handedly.

And Renok, who had entered the lower part of the cave alone, killed Craig, and shattered his plan entirely.

Zaun was bluntly revealing that only Renok had the right to discuss what came next.

In practice, no one could move forward without the agreement of these two powerful individuals.

".........."

Renok silently took the cigarette from his mouth.

'My remaining magic power is not much.'

Under normal circumstances, this level of battle wouldn't deplete his magic power, but the problem was the significant amount he had used to interpret and reverse-deploy the domain, and to cancel Craig's necromantic rituals.

After using the unique magic [Ultimate Flame] to implement a property change inside the domain, even Renok felt a considerable burden.

It would recover with time, but continuing the battle immediately was out of the question.

Especially against a skilled ritualist like Zaun.

After a moment of deliberation, Renok slowly nodded.

"Let him go."

"Ban?"

The freelancers, still excited from the battle, would find it hard to accept psychologically.

But in the end, Renok and the agent had completed their mission by toppling Craig.

Forcing a confrontation with Zaun here would benefit neither side.

"Prudent decision."

Zaun nodded and took three gems from his pocket, slipping them onto his fingers.

One of the freelancers, watching this, muttered in disgust.

"To use so many rituals and still have extras left...."

Considering that the number of freelancers who had initially stormed in had been reduced to less than half, it was clear that he still had considerable strength after such a prolonged battle.

Continuing the fight in this collapsing cave would only increase unnecessary losses.

Zaun Odys was certainly not an ordinary terrorist.

After crushing the gems in his hand and scattering the powder on the ground, a portal glowing with a deep blue light opened.

"What a shame. If I had killed you here, it would have been a clean finish."

Zaun, with one foot in the portal, turned to Renok and smiled.

"Money wasted, and all my underlings dead.... I must have bad luck to meet such strange people. I never imagined someone could interpret and mimic an artificial domain."

".........."

Indeed, it seemed Zaun perfectly understood how Renok had shattered Craig's plan.

This was evidence of his keen insight and discernment, despite his frivolous words.

He was clearly an enemy not to be underestimated.

Would they meet again? It wouldn't be a pleasant thought, considering his unpredictable combat style.

But it seemed Zaun felt the same way, as he chuckled and shook his head.

"Well, whatever. It's none of my business now."

"..........."

"Let's never see each other again. Eat well and live well in that rotten city. Don't come out unnecessarily...."

Zaun said this and turned away without hesitation, throwing himself into the portal.

Renok watched him disappear in an instant.

He had thought he had met many crazy people, but few were as unpredictable as Zaun.

He talked about money being the highest priority, then thought about avenging his friend, and suddenly changed his mind and fled.

Was it just that he didn't reveal his true intentions, or did he enjoy lying for no reason?

His combat style, which involved lying as easily as eating, matched his personality perfectly.

He was a type of person who didn't fit Renok at all. The feeling of not wanting to see him again was mutual.

Kugugugu...!!

The collapse worsened as they conversed.

Now, the rocks piling up around them filled half the cave.

"We should escape before it collapses completely."

Someone said this, but no one took it seriously in this situation.

Whether by chance or not, the freelancers who had survived so far were all masters of magic manipulation.

If they were in danger of being buried by mere rocks, they would have long since fallen to the terrorists.

Hina, with a determined look, said,

"I will stay here and investigate the remaining database before escaping. I can't return until I find the ledger detailing Rayson's slush funds."

"I originally planned to interrogate that crazy old man directly, but since he's dead, there's nothing I can do."

Chaysha pouted and chimed in.

"There's no need for that."

Renok took out the hardware he had recovered from his pocket.

"I found the database Craig used personally."

"This is....!! Thank you!!"

Hina's face lit up as she looked at the hardware, and Renok nodded.

"Let's go. If we don't escape quickly, we won't be in a good position."

"What do you mean?"

"By now, the Rayson-side freelancers must have realized this is the main base."

No one in this place failed to understand Renok's words.