SHK CH 721 (Patreon)

The atmosphere between had somehow managed to become even stiffer than initially but in the same way, by airing their grievance now, Sol was sure that there would be more room for reconciliation later.

He was already thinking about how fun it would be to see the two enemies become friends but something caught his attention.

Hum? What is happening?

“Sol?” Camelia asked, feeling the changes but Sol did not answer.

He simply focused and soon what he saw made him frown.

“We need to land.” His voice was cold, his anger barely held in as he immediately dived down.

—--

[A few moments ago…]

The sun shone high in the sky.

There was an alleyway lit only by primary-colored fluorescent lights and no neon sign in sight.

“Huff, huff…!”

A young man was running down the alley, gasping for breath. He was clad in leather armor with the crests of a black Snake.

Under the plain outfit was a peculiarity. His body was full of wounds, as if it had been cut by a sharp sword.

And those wounds were increasing as he ran.

Poof!

“Ah…!!”

The young man fell to the ground.

He reached out to his earlobe as he felt a stinging sensation and a hot liquid smeared his hand.

“Uh, ugh…!”

It was cut off.

The burning pain was stronger than any pain he had ever experienced in his life. This should not have been possible. After all, though he was but a humble squire, he was still a potential black knight.

But he couldn’t just stay still in this pile of trash.

“I need to run!! I need to relay the message!”

He gritted his teeth and continued running amidst the pain. His chances of success were low but simply giving up was not an option.

Rip!

No sooner had he cried out to encourage himself that the trash bag next to him split in half.

The flowing pile of trash inside looked like brain matter, and the young man swallowed hard, as if it was a glimpse of his own impending doom.

This feeling was immediately proven as his right leg was partially cut, making him fall helplessly on the ground.

“Uh, ugh…!”

He knew he shouldn’t scream. But the scream just had to escape.

Fighting against the growing pain and despair was simply too much.

There—

“Where do you think you’re running off to~”

—A woman in a fully red and gold kimono approached while humming a tune.

Her hair was black as the night and she had two foxes ear twitching above her hair while nine tails danced behind her.

Her eyes had hints of gold in them but the golden light flickered before getting replaced by an ordinary brown.

“You know, long long ago, this world was a space known as a separate world. The Heart of the Universe.”

For some reason, the woman started talking to herself while observing the man, as if she was a kid looking at an ant with curiosity.

“Therefore, the beings here were extremely restricted. Demigods not born in the Heart can hardly enter and goddesses have limited power of observation here. This is no different from a curse. A curse that prevents them from interfering with this world.”

Her voice was light but gentle. It was hard to imagine that such a voice belonged to a maniac like her.

“My stupid little sisters call them games and rules. But the reality is that they are simply hiding their own limitations. Those are laws.”

She scoffed, slightly amused as the boy tried crawling away from her. Laughing, she walked up to him and placed her heels on his back.

“You see, Dad has been gone for too long and now there is an opening. Although it’s called the Heart, it’s not a law made by the perfect god of creation but by Mother. In the process, part of the law was distorted.”

It is difficult to violate the laws made by the god of creation. Even the extraterrestrial beings couldn’t set foot in this world due to those laws.

Even the highest celestial beings could not exist if they broke the laws, as the backlash would be too great.

“But we are different. We were all reborn in the Heart this time. Therefore we can roam freely in this place. Isn't it ironic?” She laughed.

“Why, why are you telling us this!? What are you even talking about !?” The young man pleaded. He understood the words she was saying but their meaning eluded him completely.

“For one, I am bored. And Two, It’s a test. Brother told me that when a villain monologues, something happens.”

The fox woman smiled brightly, revealing her ugly and distorted heart. All of this was nothing but a game for her.

“And isn’t it unfair? Haven’t you ever thought about why you should die? Well, not that I have any intention of letting you live anyway.”

As she smiled brightly, her eyes were engulfed in pink. Her specialty, illusion magic, was activated. The young man, with dazed eyes, stood up and drew his sword.

In the crowd another woman holding a bloodstained dagger was approaching them, her eyes solely fixed on the man.

“Lyod, is that you?” She asked and soon the two of them lunged at each other.

Their focus blurred. The man called Lyod and the woman who appeared to be in her early twenties drew their swords. They weren’t the only ones.

“What is this, their feelings are mutual? Well, I guess this means you guys will reunite together.”

The vixen laughed wickedly.

Those who had once cherished each other, lovers, were now aiming their swords at each other.

“No!!”

“Stop, stop it!!”

Thus, the knights and the townsfolks fell one by one.

All that remained was malice.

The vixen felt and absorbed the people’s negative emotions with a smile.

Family members, lovers who had once loved each other, and best friends were killing each other. The most intense negative emotions were directed at her.

“More! Give me more! Dance for me, everyone!”

She danced a waltz alongside the macabre scene. Happiness filled her heart as the power of Despair grew.

All around them, blood was flowing as a massacre was occurring.

Parents killing their children and children killing their parents. Friends betrayed each other and lovers did no better.

All of this happening while showing large smiles but crying tears of blood.

As if it wasn't enough in the distance, one could see a group of beastmen ravaging the people with pure savagery, their eyes red with bloodlust as they lit the place on fire.

“Mortals are truly fun.” She laughed for a few seconds but soon lifted her head up, an enigmatic smile forming on her face.

“My. Seems like my brother was right. Monologues do bring the heroes.”

She giggled and licked her lips. A part of her wished to fight now. She had seen the files about the boy. But nothing like a good fight to truly understand him.

They needed someone to test him. There was a high chance that he was one of their brothers or sisters who had yet to awaken.

But now was not the time.

The boy seemingly possessed a way to cut contact between their avatar and main bodies. Even sacrificing an avatar was pointless if no information could be gleaned.

She knew that she was still not at her best. Just a little more and she would at least gain back some Divinity.

“Well this has been a good experiment.”

In the end, reason prevailed and a red vortex appeared behind her. She gave one last glance at the magnificent spectacle she created and finally left.

This was just a greeting.

The festivities were only starting.

She hoped he would like it.

***

Webtoon new chap out!