Beneath a sky dyed deep blue, whipped by howling winds, Han So-young spoke quietly.
“Fast Face.”
A sharp crackle of static electricity sparked around the back of her hand as her tightly closed eyes slowly opened. Beyond her dark pupils, something began to glow with a deep violet light. It wasn’t her usual black crystal eyes. Within each iris, a circular magic seal was rising, shimmering like a yo-yo.
A low hum filled the air.
Then, with a clear resonant sound, the two magic seals that had emerged from Han So-young’s eyes exploded outward. In an instant, the seals expanded to dozens of times their original size, slowly overlapping and spinning in unison.
At first, the rotation was slow, but it gradually accelerated. Centered on the crown of her head, the magic seals began to rise calmly into the sky.
Han So-young knew. Or rather, she felt it—through her “extrasensory perception.”
What shone alone beneath the dark sky was something she was sensing for the first time. Of course, it was impossible to identify this presence with her “third eye,” which couldn’t read it. But her extrasensory intuition, her instinct as a mage, screamed a warning: Never approach that “Source.” You’re not qualified. If you let curiosity draw you in and approach clumsily, it will vanish without a trace.
It felt as if she were facing every mage in existence all at once… but she hadn’t given up. The word “give up” simply didn’t exist in Han So-young’s vocabulary. Even in the bleakest situations, there was always more than enough to do.
Besides, she wasn’t alone. Whether by chance or miracle, if she could just create the right situation, there was definitely a user among her comrades who could seize the chance for a comeback.
With that thought, Han So-young lowered her stance slightly—the final preparatory posture before casting the last of her three-step spell.
Her special ability, “Cocked Pistol – Queen’s Army,” manifested in two distinct ways. One was summoning the “Arcus Valkyries,” battle maidens who had been heroes in life and reborn as the personal guard of the rainbow goddess Flavius after death. The other was…
“Cocked…”
At that moment, in less than a second, the latent magic within her surged suddenly. In an instant, Han So-young’s magic not only explosively filled the vast, intricate circuits within her but also overflowed beyond her body, illuminating the surroundings brightly.
“…Pistol!”
Finally, she uttered the last incantation and simultaneously pushed off the ground with all her strength, leaping upward. The violet magic seals summoned in the air passed lightly through the crown of her head.
Then—
Crackling, sizzling electricity erupted.
In that instant, a blinding discharge exploded. As Han So-young’s body passed through the center, the overlapping magic seals suddenly flared and detonated. Their rotation accelerated momentarily, whipping around like a storm, sending brilliant sparks flying in all directions and distorting the surrounding space.
Moments later, from the glowing center of the magic seals, Han So-young’s fully transformed form began to emerge.
A sweet, fragrant scent wafted from the heart of the seals.
Before she knew it, Han So-young was floating in the air, her figure tinged with a faint melancholy. Her eyes remained a deep violet, devoid of any emotion, and the glow from the magic seals made her skin appear even paler. The newly formed magical armor shone brilliantly, illuminating the area, etched with metaphysical runes.
How should one describe this reborn Han So-young? A battle maiden? Or a goddess?
Then, a mysterious weapon appeared, as radiant as the armor. No, its form wasn’t fully revealed—only faint outlines barely visible through the tearing of space and intense electrical discharges.
One thing was certain: something was held in Han So-young’s right hand. Magic surged wildly, visible to the naked eye. The overwhelming, raw magical power summoned there distorted the space around her hand.
Had the “Source” underestimated this? Its indifferent gaze, which had been fixed on Kim Soo-hyun all along, finally shifted toward Han So-young. Yet she wasn’t looking at the Source. Gliding through the air, she didn’t hesitate for a moment before swinging her right arm with all her might toward the creeping mass of smoke below.
And then—
KRAK-BOOM!
A flash of light flickered and vanished, followed by a tremendous roar as the magic tore through the air and smashed into the ground. A lightning-fast attack no one had seen coming.
The result was unmistakable. A deep fissure about five meters wide had formed on the ground, dust swirling up from the impact.
The smoke? It vanished without a trace. It was almost as if it had never existed—no hint, no residue. The sheer destructive power was terrifying.
Everyone stood with their mouths agape, staring up at the sky. The figure in the air was so beautiful it made them forget they were in the middle of a battle—and yet, it was powerful. But despite her graceful appearance, Han So-young’s next moves showed no mercy.
Flash!
Another burst of light appeared and disappeared.
KRA-KAANG!
The violet magic plunged down like a carpet bombing, pounding and tearing the earth apart. It was as if a goddess had descended from the heavens to punish the insignificant creatures below.
The scene was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once. Where the devastating magic swept through, not a single seed of smoke or dust remained. Each time Han So-young swung her right arm, the innocent ground was engulfed in a flash and vanished along with the smoke.
The thick smoke that had once hung in the air was gone without a trace. The “Animate Mist,” born from a witch’s curse and demonic magic, had been extinguished with ease.
Then, the “Source,” which had been quietly watching Han So-young, finally spoke.
…Analysis of ‘Cocked Pistol, Queen’s Army’ complete.
Confirmed summoning of the rainbow goddess Flavius’s descent, the magical armor ‘Valkyrie Skirt,’ and the divine artifact ‘Spear of Longinus’ imbued with the power of annihilation…!
Crackle, crackle!
But the Source couldn’t finish its report. Suddenly, dozens of fiery swords appeared from nowhere, surrounding it from all sides and charging in. Though it responded immediately, the fiery swords tore through hundreds of defensive magic seals like paper, shaking the Source’s body violently.
Warning, warning! Unknown attack detected. Analysis will require significant time.
Damage rate: 29%! Self-repair… failed. Magic regeneration… failed. Attempting forced restoration by drawing from the astral dimension.
The sudden, unidentified assault caught the Source off guard. It hurried to initiate repairs but failed. Then, a brilliant flash shot into the sky, illuminating the clouds as dozens of arrow-shaped beams of light rained down.
Analysis of ‘Twilight Priestess, Shamanic Chant’ complete.
Damage rate: 33%!
But that wasn’t all.
“Bring down divine punishment!”
At An Sol’s shout, several white bolts of lightning crashed down like spears onto the Source. Though unspoken, they instinctively understood each other. While Han So-young fought the smoke alone, the rest focused their firepower on the strange entity.
Analysis of ‘Radiant Priest, Divine Punishment’ complete.
Damage rate: 38%!
Of course, the Source wasn’t just standing still.
Prioritizing reactivation of defensive magic seals to protect the body.
Morning Star Pierce.
As the magic seals rose once more, the Source unleashed a dazzling beam of light toward the ground.
“Morning Star Pierce.” The name was odd, but the magic that emerged from the Source was nothing to underestimate. It resembled a beam of light about fifty centimeters in diameter.
The Source, for the first time, targeted not Kim Soo-hyun or Han So-young, but the other thirteen. A rational choice, in a way.
Just before the slanting beam of light could engulf the ground, a milky-white shield blossomed, colliding with the beam.
In the end, the beam didn’t disappear. Instead, it was forcibly deflected as if reflected by something, twisting its trajectory and ultimately failing to hit its target, shooting back into the sky. Baek Han-gyeol and Kim Han-byeol barely managed to redirect its path with all their strength.
Goooooo…
The Source’s eyes remained indifferent.
Analysis of ‘Divine Shield, Aegis System’ complete.
Reversing calculations on the Aegis System… success. Searching for optimized counter-magic… success.
Based on calculations and search results, unlocking magic against the Aegis System.
White Dragon’s Breath.
With a calm final word, Geunwon unleashed another massive beam of light. No—this time, it was more like a pillar, easily over a meter in diameter. Instinctively, Baek Hangyeol and Kim Hanbyeol’s eyes flickered with despair, sensing it was too much to handle.
At that moment, someone with wings suddenly swooped in from the direction the beam was descending.
Boom!
The sound of two immense forces colliding echoed through the air. Yet, once again, Geunwon’s newly forged attack failed to break through. The powerful pillar of light was halted by a crimson barrier, unable to advance any further. Not only did it fail to push forward, but it scattered into a fountain of light, spraying helplessly in all directions.
“Damn it…”
A low curse slipped from a deeply furrowed brow.
That defender was none other than Kim Suhyun.
The breath of the white dragon was undeniably beyond the limits of even Kim Suhyun’s magic resistance. But his defense wasn’t just about magic resistance. The instant his anti-magic barrier was breached, the “Gehenna’s Protective Fortress” sprang into existence.
No matter how vast the knowledge or laws encompassed by the “Source of Magic,” it was nothing but a newborn infant before the Hell Archduke. Had Gehenna been nearby from the start, the entire dimension would have been utterly shattered within ten seconds.
Unknown defensive ability detected. Analysis will require significant time.
Analysis failed.
However, it is estimated to possess defensive power comparable to the legendary “Sky Fortress.”
If this hypothesis is correct, there is currently no means to penetrate user Kim Suhyun’s defense.
“Fire Formation!”
At that moment, Geunwon’s voice overlapped with Kim Suhyun’s.
Once again, dozens of blazing swords materialized around Kim Suhyun, and with a single gesture, they surged toward Geunwon in unison. These blazing swords, which even startled Gehenna, were among Kim Suhyun’s finest abilities—second only to his “Flame Transformation” skill. Of course, such power came with a drawback. Though improved since his stamina increased, it still demanded a significant toll on his energy.
And Kim Suhyun’s stamina had been steadily declining ever since passing through the Misty Forest. The fatigue shadowing his face made that clear. Yet, the stubbornness of the blazing swords was an unavoidable choice. To break through that overwhelming barrier, continuous strikes powered by the Fire Formation were essential, and nothing suited the task better than the blazing swords.
Fwoosh, fwoosh!
The dozens of strikes hammered relentlessly against the crimson barrier. Though new magical seals formed to patch each breach, the blazing swords melted them away faster than they could regenerate. Layer upon layer of magical seals were pierced like holes punched through metal, and the witch’s slender body was tossed about mercilessly like a leaf caught in the wind.
Warning! Unknown attack detected!
Damage rate exceeds 50%!
Regeneration and repair failing!
Prioritizing reactivation of defensive magical seals to protect the body…
At that moment—
Thud!
Through a gap in the broken magical seals, a sharp object crackled with violet electricity and plunged deep, piercing Geunwon’s back. As it protruded from her abdomen, the witch’s back arched like a bent bowstring. Glancing over, Kim Suhyun saw Han So-young in a throwing stance, her right arm extended with force.
Moments later.
The witch’s body twitched awkwardly, like a puppet with its strings cut, before her head finally dropped.
Penetration by the Spear of Longinus confirmed… Fatal wound assessed.
Damage rate: 73%…
Then, the light that had been leaking from the witch’s eyes abruptly extinguished.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Ah, I had a really enjoyable time yesterday. I met many readers from Joara, and even got to meet the author Akaneia. They left a truly good and kind impression, making it a pleasant and comfortable experience. Personally, the story about the strongest-looking Kang xx’s one-day trip (?) still sticks with me. Hahaha.
Anyway, today’s update is posted, and as I mentioned, I’ll be adding the parts I couldn’t upload yesterday as a supplement. It might be a bit difficult to update immediately, but I’ll make sure to get it done by the end of the day.
Wishing all readers a peaceful night. :)