Chapter 51

Volume 3

Chapter 1. Conclusion (1)

On a tree far from the base of the Arang Gang, Yeonwoo stood, quietly gazing down at the gang's hideout.

Sssss—

Black fog spread thickly between the ruins, like ink dropped into water.

Over the dead bodies, over the sunken ground, and through the broken building debris.

It was evidence that the demons had finished their business and returned to their source.

Yeonwoo extended his hand in that direction, activating the Heat skill, and pulled a small spark.

And then—

Kwaang! Bang! Kwaang!

The spark spread along with the fog, turning into a sea of fire that engulfed the Arang Gang's base.

Flames shot up, and the earth was overturned.

It seemed as if everything related to the Arang Gang on this land was being obliterated.

Kwrrr—

The explosion continued for a long time before finally subsiding.

But even then, cursed flames still flickered in various places, igniting new sparks.

Only the charred ground and ominous ruins remained, telling the story of the Arang Gang that once dominated the Tutorial.

—Go... away.

—Thanks to you... I can rest now...

A voice seemed to come from somewhere.

Kwaa—

Yeonwoo swept his hand through his hair and looked up at the sky.

The night sky was thick with black ash and white smoke.

The moon was unusually bright tonight.

* * *

Yeonwoo returned to the ruins.

He wanted to check one last time to see if he had left anything behind or left any traces.

There, he found a charred corpse among the fallen building debris.

There were signs that it had tried to crawl out, perhaps in an attempt to escape.

Though the form was unrecognizable, the build was unmistakable.

“You said you wanted to die, but in the end, you were trying to survive?”

Yeonwoo couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

Indeed, people are fickle beings who can change their minds several times a day depending on the situation.

Yeonwoo expanded his sensory field to the maximum and thoroughly searched the ruins.

He carefully checked to see if there were any survivors he might have missed.

Fortunately, he found no signs of life. The firestorm had made it difficult to find even a mouse.

‘Well, surviving such an explosion would be strange.’

The Arang Gang was effectively destroyed.

Yeonwoo turned to leave, having no more attachments.

Then—

“Hmm?”

Pssss.

Yeonwoo turned his head reflexively at the sound of something crumbling.

The dead Build's corpse was being scattered by the wind.

And there, a purple stone was left behind.

The stone still emitted a sinister light, even more brilliantly than when he saw it underground.

“Didn’t it fly away?”

Yeonwoo thought the stone was quite persistent.

He had hoped it would have been destroyed in the explosion.

But just in case, he came to check.

Sure enough, the stone seemed to be more solid and intricately made than he had thought, despite being a failure.

He couldn't just leave it there.

Yeonwoo decided to collect it and deal with it later if he found a way.

A stone containing hundreds or thousands of souls and fragments.

Perhaps it wasn't a failure but an unfinished product, and there might be a way to complete it.

For a moment, he considered keeping it for himself.

But even if he desired power and wanted to exploit his enemies' weaknesses, he didn't want to hold such a sinister object.

‘At the very least, I shouldn’t be a disgrace to Jungwoo.’

Just as he reached out to pick up the stone—

Whoosh!

The purple stone burst into a blinding light.

Sssss.

It melted and was sucked into Yeonwoo's hand.

A sensation he had never felt before.

Yeonwoo tried to pull his hand back, but his body wouldn't move.

The purple liquid seeped into his skin through his pores and traveled up his veins toward his heart.

It felt like ants were crawling around inside him.

Yeonwoo tried to push the liquid out, but his mana circuits remained inactive.

In the end, he had to stand there, trembling, until the liquid fully settled inside him.

The liquid coiled around his heart, then condensed into a bead.

Paaah—

Only after the bead was formed could Yeonwoo break free from the invisible restraint.

He examined the 'stone' that had settled next to his heart with a tense face.

‘What is this?’

Thump.

Thump.

It felt like another heart had formed next to his own.

A completely incomprehensible phenomenon.

He tried to push the stone out with his mana, but it wouldn't budge.

Instead, his mana circled around the stone, protecting it.

As if it were a part of his original mana circuits, it was accepted so naturally.

The stone itself remained still, showing no reaction.

Yeonwoo frowned.

He was easily affected by psychological pressure when faced with phenomena he couldn't control.

This time was no different.

A strange and unsettling force had settled inside him, making him feel very uncomfortable.

Moreover, he had no idea what function or effect it had.

Still, he focused his will and examined the stone in detail.

Fortunately, more information was available than before.

[???’s Stone]

Category: ???

Grade: ???

Description: ???

* ???

It is in an inactive state. (Sealed)

**This artifact is ‘Unique.’ Only one exists in the Tower, and everything about it is a secret. No information about its material, grade, or options is available.

**It is an incomplete artifact. Complete the artifact to gain the right to view the sealed information.

‘So, this is all I can find out?’

Yeonwoo clicked his tongue.

At least one thing was clear.

This stone was not a simple failure or defective item but an unfinished product. It required a specific process to complete.

And until it was completed, it would remain next to his heart, having no effect.

Yeonwoo shook his head to clear his mind.

Focusing on it wouldn't reveal anything more. He had no intention of completing the stone.

‘I’ll just have to keep it for now, even though it’s unsettling.’

If he found a way to remove it later, he would do so.

As long as it didn't affect his body, it was fine.

‘Is everything finally over?’

Yeonwoo glanced around the ruined area one last time and lightly kicked the ground.

He had finished all his business here.

The longest and most intense day in the Tutorial was coming to an end.

* * *

Yeonwoo put on his mask and found a place not far from the ruins.

It was where he had hidden Khan and Doyle.

“Now that it’s over, come out.”

Khan and Doyle slowly walked out from between the rocks.

Grin.

Khan smiled broadly at him.

“You always operate on a different scale.”

“What do you mean?”

“You really made a big mess. I can understand why we did it, but why did you have to go to such lengths with them?”

Yeonwoo shrugged, implying that they should figure it out themselves.

The same attitude he had when he first saved them. Khan grumbled.

“Still, you and your mysterious ways.”

Then, Doyle asked.

“Bro, what about Build?”

“He’s dead.”

“Good. That’s good.”

Doyle smiled, but his eyes were cold.

He had wanted to kill Build himself.

He was secretly disappointed that he couldn't.

And his anger at the Blue Flower for causing this burned in his chest.

But Doyle didn't lash out in anger like he did at the Harugan's nest. Instead, he calmly buried it deep in his heart.

He had taken Yeonwoo's advice to heart and had a significant realization from this experience.

Courage without power is mere recklessness.

He needed power to unleash this anger.

Power that would never make him feel inferior to anyone.

Perhaps Doyle's thoughts were conveyed.

Khan looked at Doyle for a moment, then sat down on the ground as if to be heard.

“Ah, all the bastards are dead. We’re almost there, but my body is giving out. I feel sick just walking a little.”

Doyle snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Khan.

In fact, his body was at its limit due to injuries and lack of proper treatment and food.

It was surprising that he could move at all.

“Doyle.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I think we should stop here.”

Doyle nodded, understanding Khan's meaning.

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Ugh. It’s a shame to stop here.”

Moreover, with the Arang Gang completely wiped out, the tension had eased, and fatigue was setting in.

Khan scowled, scratching the back of his head, then turned to Yeonwoo with determination.

“Cain, where are you going now? You’re obviously heading to G-Sector, right?”

Yeonwoo nodded lightly.

“Hopefully.”

“Then take this.”

“...?”

Yeonwoo caught the bag Khan threw at him.

When he opened it, his eyes widened slightly.

Inside were the Harugan's crowns and emblems, piled up.

“Khan and I saved up everything we could, using as little as possible.”

Doyle nodded in agreement.

Yeonwoo frowned.

“If you’re trying to repay me, you can keep it. I didn’t come here to collect this kind of thing.”

Yeonwoo liked rewards, but he had no intention of taking them this way.

However, Khan shook his head.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“We’re retiring here.”