Episode 656: Afterglow Reflection (回光返照)
“Dimensional Transfer Array…? But it’s a simplified version?”
Helena let out a light gasp and quickly crouched down. She brushed the red soil-covered ground lightly, rubbed her hands a few times, then opened her palms to reveal vivid crimson stains. The marks were far too bright and saturated to be mere traces of red earth; they had the thick, viscous quality of blood.
“This is… blood…”
Muttering softly, Helena suddenly jerked her head up as if she’d just realized something. Her golden eyes, which had been glowing brightly, returned to their normal hue, narrowing sharply.
“So it’s true… the dimensional transfer array isn’t just a myth. It definitely exists here.”
Indeed, right there in the wasteland was the dimensional transfer array Helena had mentioned—drawn not with ordinary materials, but with someone’s blood. Because the red soil was so similar in color, the array had blended into the terrain, making it nearly invisible.
Still squinting, Helena scanned the surroundings before slowly rising to her feet.
‘Someone put a tremendous amount of effort into this plan.’
After gathering information through her “Heavenly Insight,” Helena’s mind began racing. She couldn’t grasp every detail yet, but it was clear that someone had deliberately summoned the Hell Duke. Otherwise, there would be no way such an interference-laden summoning array could exist.
In fact, Helena’s suspicions were almost spot-on. The simplified dimensional transfer array, drawn by Satan using Lee Jeongpil—who had been infected by the demon seed—was the centerpiece of this entire scheme.
Satan’s interference had two effects.
First, it fixed the unstable coordinates of the official dimensional transfer array onto the human world.
Second, anticipating that the Hell Duke would be severely weakened due to the laws of causality, Satan had devised a way to partially restore its power. The fact that all users within the area melted and were absorbed by the Hell Duke was a direct consequence of this interference.
In other words, the Great Demons had activated the official array to send the Hell Duke here, while precisely predicting and exploiting the moment users entered the simplified array—a masterstroke of timing and planning only Satan could pull off.
So, with the Hell Duke summoned and the battle raging, the plan was working—at least to some extent.
But even the most flawless plans have their flaws.
There was one glaring weakness.
Among the Northern Continent expeditionary force, there was one user—or rather, one entity—who recognized the dimensional transfer array.
Of course, no data on the dimensional transfer array remained in the human world, and even if it did, no user possessed the ability to activate it. It was understandable that Satan overlooked this.
But what if there was a non-user among the Northern Continent expeditionary force?
And what if that being possessed deep knowledge of the dimensional transfer array, even the ability to apply it?
Then the story changed. Or rather, it could change.
“…Tch.”
After a moment, having pieced together the situation, Helena clicked her tongue heavily. She had reached a conclusion, but that didn’t change reality.
If anything, it only made the nature of the Hell Duke’s summoning and its true identity clearer.
Helena’s final verdict was that, under the current circumstances, there was no way to kill the Hell Duke. No matter how hard Kim Suhyun and the users tried, physically destroying such a being was absolutely impossible. This was an unbreakable law.
…Yes. “Killing” it was impossible.
But…
“Lizard?”
Just as she silently resolved this in her heart, a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
Turning around, Helena’s eyes caught sight of Sasha standing alone at the edge of the array. She must have arrived unnoticed. Judging by the strange look Sasha gave her, she had been watching Helena’s strange behavior.
Helena shrugged as if to say, “Why are you staring like that?” and crossed her arms. The moment Sasha hurriedly opened her mouth—
“You… now!”
“You came just in time.”
Sasha was about to ask, “What are you doing?” but stopped herself. It was strange—earlier, Helena had told her not to follow, and now she was saying she was glad she came.
“First…”
Suddenly, Helena stopped speaking and frowned, looking up at the sky. Sasha followed her gaze and gasped at the sight unfolding above.
The battle that had been raging moments ago had abruptly ceased. From the sky, a figure engulfed in flames was falling—like the tail of a comet plummeting through space. There was no need to rush to understand what this meant.
‘No time to explain…’
Biting her lower lip, Helena wasted no time and called out to Sasha.
“Sasha Felix! Go quickly and deliver this message: I’ve found a way to eliminate the enemy.”
“W-what?”
Sasha was stunned—not because Helena had finally called her by name properly.
“Get that being here… by any means, just bring it here. I’ll handle the rest.”
“You…”
“Hurry!”
“N-no…”
Sasha wanted to say something but instinctively realized the urgency of the situation left no time for explanations.
More than that, the atmosphere surrounding Helena was ominous. Her eyes shone with a solemn determination, as if she were prepared to face death.
“…Understood.”
Pressed by the unspoken weight of the moment, Sasha had no choice but to turn and run back the way she came.
After a few glances back, she disappeared into the distance. Helena let out a deep sigh, surveying the wasteland around her, then began walking slowly toward the center of the array.
‘There’s no other way.’
Her mind was already made up.
Killing the Hell Duke was impossible. But as she told Sasha, “getting rid of it” was possible.
Here.
In this world.
By reusing this array.
All the information was already here. But to send the Hell Duke back, two new conditions had to be met.
First, the simplified array had to be reconstructed into a full-fledged dimensional transfer array.
It was a complicated task, but not impossible. The array was already partially complete, and the one walking toward its center was no ordinary human. She was Helena’s true form—the Magna Carta, a dragon who had ruled this world after the giants in the distant mythic age, bearing the title of “The End.”
Second, a sacrifice necessary to activate the array had to be prepared.
“Phew.”
At that moment, Helena stopped at the center of the array and looked up at the sky.
“I don’t exactly regret this…”
She muttered something cryptic, her eyes flickering with countless emotions. She seemed somewhat relieved, yet also deeply wistful.
Then, as the complex emotions settled, Helena gave a bitter smile.
“I really wanted to visit the Azure Tower at least once…”
The fiery figure plummeting from the sky slammed into the ground.
Thud!
A cloud of blood-red dust billowed up with a tremendous roar. Then, someone lightly landed on the still-vibrating earth.
“It’s been a while since I’ve taken a hit like that.”
As the Hell Duke wiped the blood from his lips and muttered, the nearby users’ faces twisted with mixed emotions. The battle in the sky had ended before they could even regroup.
But that wasn’t the important part.
At a glance, the Hell Duke’s condition was far from normal. The graceful figure from before was gone, replaced by a battered, wounded form.
Still, the one standing was the Hell Duke. That meant the figure who had just crashed to the ground was Kim Suhyun.
“Anyway, now…”
The Hell Duke spat blood-tinged saliva with dignity and quietly spoke.
Suddenly, through the thick dust, Kim Suhyun struggled to rise from the ground.
Silence fell. Even the Hell Duke seemed at a loss for words. One wing was broken, his entire body drenched in blood, ragged and torn—but Kim Suhyun was getting up, steadying himself.
“Still…”
The Hell Duke’s face twisted in rage. Like a guardian beast, he lunged forward, whipping Kim Suhyun’s chest with a brutal strike.
Crack!
The sharp sound echoed as Kim Suhyun’s body twisted violently. He swung his Suramachang spear, but the attack lacked the strength and precision of before—just a reflexive swing. The Hell Duke easily dodged. Blood spurted from Kim Suhyun’s mouth and chest as his body began to collapse.
No—just as he was about to fall—
“……!”
More than half bent, Kim Soo-hyun’s leg suddenly froze in place. Then, very slowly—almost painstakingly—it began to straighten again. As his foot planted firmly on the ground, his collapsing body found its balance once more.
In other words, Kim Soo-hyun stood up again. Like a roly-poly toy that refuses to fall.
“W-what…?”
“Soo-hyun!”
At that moment, both Hell Duke and Kim Yoo-hyun shouted out simultaneously as Kim Soo-hyun regained his stance.
Had he actually responded to his brother’s words?
Suddenly, Kim Soo-hyun’s body twitched. Then, his arm, limp and barely controlled, lifted weakly and slowly waved through the air.
It was a meaningless gesture—just a faint flick of the wrist.
Yet Kim Yoo-hyun, no, every user watching felt an unexpected surge of emotion welling up inside. Somehow, they understood what that feeble movement meant. Even in his near-death state, Kim Soo-hyun was telling his friends to run away.
Then, his arm dropped again, trembling as it once more pointed toward Hell Duke. Receiving that unwavering, focused gaze, Hell Duke’s expression faltered, as if at a loss for words.
What on earth was happening?
This wasn’t a half-hearted fight. Since Kim Soo-hyun’s awakening, Hell Duke had been giving his all—holding back only enough to avoid killing him outright. The whip strike just now was delivered with utmost care. Any normal human would have been utterly destroyed without a trace.
But, yet…
“Is it true… that the only way is to kill him?”
Hell Duke swallowed hard, confusion swirling within him. He fell into a heavy silence, staring intently at Kim Soo-hyun. The deep crimson flames flickering around him—the manifestation of his Flame Transformation ability—were fading, signaling that its duration was nearly over.
Still, Kim Soo-hyun did not give up. His eyes revealed it all. Though the momentum he had barely grasped was slipping away, he clung desperately to the hope of victory. Even on the brink of losing consciousness, he gathered his remaining strength, preparing for one last strike.
Suddenly, an inexplicable unease washed over Hell Duke’s entire body. Despite clearly dominating the battle, he found himself gripped by tension.
Driven by this rising anxiety, Hell Duke abruptly raised his right hand. He refused to admit to himself that he was nervous.
Kraaaash!
His clenched fist was instantly engulfed in vivid crimson flames. With a sharp swing, the hellfire coalesced into a spear-like shape and shot straight toward Kim Soo-hyun.
At that moment, a rattling sound—like a heart dropping—echoed. But whose heart was it?
Just as the fiery spear was about to strike Kim Soo-hyun’s chest—
“Angelus!”
A sudden, youthful voice rang out across the battlefield.
Whoosh!
A soft white glow tinged with gentle blue light spread wide, enveloping Kim Soo-hyun’s entire body.
In the next instant—
Thud!
The hellfire, formed from the flames of hell itself, failed to penetrate the radiant barrier and veered off diagonally.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Fortunately, I was able to post this about 50 minutes earlier than promised. :)
There are two main things that need revision in this part.
First, I need to recheck Jegal Haesol’s stats (thanks to a kind reader who pointed this out). Second, there’s the matter of Blue Dahlia. You can think of Blue Dahlia as a miraculous evolution, but the message hints that a completely new unique ability might have blossomed. I’ll update you once the revisions are complete.
Also, the next chapter will be a Q&A session. Why a Q&A all of a sudden? Well… I’ve been wanting to do one for a while, and besides, the next chapter marks the end of Part 3. (Technically, it’s Part 2, but it’s the final chapter of what I originally planned as Part 3.) So if you have any burning questions, please ask away.
That said, I won’t be answering every question like last time. I’ll pick just five questions that I think are okay to answer and respond to those. :D