Raising Villains the Right Way

[Impressive. Star Eater.]

“.....”

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Descender’s voice, Alon silently stared at him.

Descender ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was still the same as before.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gaunt, dried bones, the two spears embedded atop his head, even the robes resembling those of a monk.

Not ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a single thing had changed.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍yet, Alon realized it.

He had clearly changed.

His voice no longer sounded like that of an old man.

Likewise, he no longer called Alon ‘brother’, and the tone that had once resembled that of a saint faithfully serving a god had twisted into cold cynicism.

[I admit it. You truly are worthy of drawing the attention of the high-ranking divine-bloods. But—]

The body that had regenerated in an instant and the completely altered atmosphere.

Because of that, tension once more settled across the faces of the bewildered divine-bloods.

[-So then, what do you plan to do now?]

In contrast to them, Descender displayed composure.

[You got the right answer. That the Fragment was merely bait, that what I truly desired was the extermination force itself, and above all, that I cannot ‘absorb’ someone unless I witness their abilities firsthand. All of those are correct. But if there is one thing you overlooked—]

Crack-!

The head of a divine-blood that had frozen stiff with tension until just moments ago exploded apart.

[-Unfortunately, the ‘conditions’ have already been fulfilled.]

Descender looked down at the divine-blood that collapsed with its head burst apart in vain.

Then he turned his gaze back toward Alon.

As though the other divine-bloods were not even worth his attention.

[Star Eater, do you know? Why divine-bloods that are merely at the first stage can only consume a handful of Fragments?]

Descender posed the question.

[There are dozens of answers. But they can all be summarized into one. It is an extremely simple answer. The truth is merely that a first-stage divine-blood is far too weak to accept more than one Fragment.]

“. . . . . . !”

He gave the answer, and within it, Alon sensed Descender’s intent while simultaneously witnessing it.

[In other words, if one is not weak, then absorbing Fragments becomes possible.]

At some point, a ‘Fragment’ in the shape of a spear had formed atop Descender’s hand.

[Ahh—]

Descender gazed at the manifested spear with an ecstatic expression as he caressed the tip of its blade.

[At first, there were two brothers loyal to Astarote. But that was insufficient.]

From the spear blade to the socket.

[Next came Astarote’s brothers. But even that was insufficient.]

From the socket to the shaft.

[That is why, afterward, I devoured the brothers who had recovered the Fragments, yet even then, it was still insufficient. However—]

At that moment, the divine-bloods instinctively moved.

Because they all knew it.

That they had to stop the being standing before them.

Descender, who now tightly gripped the fully completed spear with both hands.

The instant they realized it, the divine-bloods moved.

From the mouth of the divine-blood standing at the front burst forth horrifying blades.

Another divine-blood grotesquely enlarged its body, while the arms of the divine-blood beside it twisted into bizarre inverse pentagrams and spread out in all directions.

The abilities they had refrained from using until now out of concern for allies were all unleashed at once.

However.

[Now, at last, I can finally achieve the Great Design.]

Descender, overflowing with ecstasy, moved one step faster than the divine-bloods, and without hesitation brought down the spear he held—

KWA-A-A-A-A-ANG-!!

—but failed to drive it down.

Crackle!

Golden lightning scattered in all directions.

And through it could be seen—golden hair that had not lost its brilliance even amidst the violent dust clouds, and eyes shining more fiercely than anything within that radiance.

And—

“Rangchangrangchang—”

The descended Thunder God quietly muttered.

[It is nothing more than a pathetic struggle.]

Even after allowing Seolrang to land a horrifying direct blow too fast for the eye to perceive, Descender leisurely walked forward.

Crunch-!

The battle began.

***

Crackle!

Terrifying lightning exploded forth as Seolrang’s body vanished, and thus the curtain of the true battle rose.

KWA-A-A-A-A-!!

Brilliant golden lightning and heavy explosions erupted one after another.

Between them could be seen the divine-bloods rushing in to aid Seolrang and kill Descender.

However, the tide of battle did not look favorable.

Even while facing Seolrang and the divine-bloods simultaneously, Descender was steadily eliminating them one by one.

Yet despite the situation, Alon instead saw a small glimmer of hope.

‘As expected, it still wasn’t enough.’

Alon watched Descender, who was still killing divine-bloods even now.

Though he had ample opportunity to stab the Fragment into himself, he did not do so and instead continued slaughtering divine-bloods.

In conclusion, that meant Descender was not yet prepared to absorb the Fragment.

In other words, at the final moment when Alon uncovered his objective, Descender had desperately squeezed his brain for a solution.

To force the divine-bloods into using their abilities by instilling unbearable crisis in them, and absorb them afterward.

‘There’s still time.’

Alon calmly assessed the situation and reached his conclusion.

Having already absorbed the divine-bloods that followed him as well as the previous extermination force, Descender was undoubtedly powerful even in his current state.

After all, he was withstanding both Seolrang’s and the divine-bloods’ attacks without being pushed back.

If he absorbed all the divine-bloods, stopping him would likely become nearly impossible.

Which was why they had to stop him now.

During this remaining time before he became strong enough to absorb the Fragment.

“Huu—”

Alon confirmed the ‘preparations’ that were now nearly complete, while at the same time considering two new deductions he had gained while watching Descender.

‘When he fights with his full power, he cannot summon the divine-bloods he absorbed.’

If merely witnessing a divine-blood’s abilities and absorbing them allowed him to summon them, he would have already done so. No matter how weak the summoned beings might be, numerical superiority could not be ignored.

Thus, it was correct to conclude that at this point in time, he could not summon the absorbed divine-bloods.

‘Judging from what he said, his power probably increases according to how much he absorbs.’

Recalling Descender’s words, Alon turned his gaze toward Seolrang.

In the past, he could at least barely follow her movements through afterimages, but now even that was impossible due to her overwhelming speed. Even now, despite the assistance of other divine-bloods, she continued battling a second-stage divine-blood.

—Though in truth, she was merely buying time.

For a fleeting instant, Alon caught sight of Seolrang’s blurred figure.

Though she was wrapped in brilliant golden lightning, her condition looked far from good. A long slash had carved through her right arm, blood scattering through the air, while wounds covered the rest of her body as well.

And finally, even Alon could clearly see the exhaustion in her eyes. It vividly showed that she was nearing her limit.

Naturally so.

No matter how much stronger she had become, no matter how much aid the divine-bloods provided.

The opponent she faced now was a second-stage being that had absorbed dozens of divine-bloods.

The moment he recalled that, Alon noticed Seolrang’s gaze turning toward him.

Still seeming like Seolrang.

Yet also no longer seeming like Seolrang at all.

Toward the woman staring at him with such a face, Alon nodded.

Nod—

And at Alon’s permission, Seolrang nodded as well.

***

A horrifying sound came from Seolrang’s forearm.

Crunch-!

“Ughk~!”

Suppressing the scream bursting from her lips, Seolrang stared at Descender.

‘I can’t win.’

She couldn’t win.

Seolrang coldly evaluated the divine-blood before her.

The judgment she reached would not change, not even by one chance in ten thousand.

Because it was the conclusion reached together with all the successors who had inherited the essence until now.

However, even if victory was impossible, Seolrang had no intention of giving up this battle.

To begin with, victory had never been her goal.

Seolrang’s objective had always been—

Bang-!

—to buy time.

Nod.

And now, there was no longer any need for that.

Crackle!

After confirming Alon’s nod, Seolrang unleashed lightning once more.

And the lightning that wrapped around her this time was not golden lightning, but crimson lightning.

The moment the lightning once wielded by the 13th successor among those who inherited the essence enveloped her—a lightning that temporarily pushed physical abilities to their absolute limit—

[Finally.........!-!!?]

In that brief opening, Seolrang dealt with yet another divine-blood and slammed herself into Descender’s shoulder while he wore a deep smile.

KWA-A-A-A-A-A-ANG~!!!

Alongside the deafening explosion that erupted instantly, red blood spewed from Seolrang’s lips from briefly using the lightning of wrath, but she paid it no mind.

Because with this, everything she needed to do was finished.

Seolrang’s gaze turned toward Descender.

Descender, who had been slammed into the ground by her attack, froze in surprise for only a moment.

Then he raised the black Fragment he had been holding moments earlier, intending to stab it into his own head—

[!]

—and stopped.

[What—!]

For perhaps the first time, panic clearly surfaced across Descender’s face.

And alongside it.

Stars began appearing across the sky that had been covered in dark clouds until moments ago.

One became two.

Two became four.

Four became eight.

Eight became—

In an instant, countless stars too numerous to count appeared.

They rose within the night sky where the Milky Way no longer existed.

And at the place where all the divine-bloods’ gazes converged—

[Star, Eater............!]

—stood Alon.

Standing high in the sky, forming hand seals as he looked down below with calm dignity.

Above him—

!!!

Alongside a horrifying piercing sound, a pillar of pure white light devoured the black clouds and revealed itself to everyone.

Even the gazes of the divine-bloods, who had been steadily swallowed by despair moments earlier, were consumed by that pure white light.

Soon after.

Six arms formed behind Alon’s back, and he began forming the seals of

Water-Freezing Seal,

Sixfold.

At the same moment, the stars hanging in the sky fired forth in pure white light.

DRRRRRRRRRRRGH~!!!

And began twisting its structure.

From a mere pure white pillar.

Into the shape of a spiraling arrow.

And that twisted arrow—

“Sniping of Regret”

—Modified.

Before Descender could do anything, the moment Alon muttered those words, it began descending.

And Seolrang immediately—

“!”

—failed to dodge from her position.

Thud-!

Her body tilted and collapsed, and when she turned her gaze downward, she saw it.

A black hand created by Descender that had not existed moments earlier was gripping her, even while being crushed apart by the swelling mana.

“Ah.”

Without realizing it, Seolrang let out a faint gasp.

Because instinctively, she understood.

She could not break free from this hand.

If it had been the usual Seolrang, perhaps she could have done it.

Unfortunately, however, the current her had exhausted most of her strength.

And that was not all. Not only had she suffered severe injuries from battling Descender, but after using the crimson lightning, Seolrang was now effectively unable to use her strength at all.

To the point where she lacked even the power to sever her own leg trapped by the black hand.

Seolrang looked toward the sky.

The arrow was still descending there.

If that thing fell, she would undoubtedly die together with Descender.

“Ah.......”

Death.

At that unfamiliar yet familiar word, fear stained Seolrang’s gaze.

And after that, despair gradually consumed her thoughts.

Because she knew.

That Alon would not stop that attack.

Seolrang knew he was a kind person.

But she also knew very well that did not mean he was foolish.

If Alon stopped the attack here in order to save her, then that would be stupidity.

If he halted the attack, she would live, but Descender would use the Fragment.

And then there would no longer be any way to stop him.

Meaning everyone here would die.

The people he had to protect.

Seolrang shifted her gaze into the distance.

There she could see Basiliora, Blackie, Evan, and Penia.

The beings who always stayed by Alon’s side, incomparably precious to him.

The ones he had to protect somehow, even at the cost of his life.

Compared to them, what was she?

Alon already knew about her.

That she was no longer the person who had built a relationship with him.

That she could no longer even be called by the same name.

He knew all of it.

That she was no longer Seolrang.

The precious things that absolutely could not be lost, and the thing that was no longer precious.

The choice of which should be saved was obvious.

Seolrang watched the black hands before her gradually transform into spears.

Malice preparing to pierce forth and certainly claim her life, as though refusing to allow anything living to remain.

Watching it, Seolrang sensed the end and closed her eyes.

Wondering if things might have been different had she remained the true Seolrang she once was, indulging in an impossible fantasy that could never come true again. Alongside the horrifying screech of metal, she simply closed her eyes.

And then, what reached Seolrang’s ears next—was not the tearing sound she had anticipated.

Nor was it the ringing echo heard when hearing itself had ruptured.

Nor the thunderous roar of the world exploding apart.

It was merely—

Crunch-!

—the sound of sharp metal shattering.

And when she opened her eyes once more at that sound, Seolrang saw it.

“Ah.”

The hem of a coat that absolutely should not have appeared before her eyes—yet one she had still wished would appear—fluttered before her.

“Are you alright?”

And the voice she thought she would never hear again reached her ears once more.

She could do nothing but swallow her breath.

However, only for a moment.

Soon afterward, Seolrang stared at Alon with trembling eyes.

Because she knew what consequences his choice would bring.

Seolrang looked at Alon, who had now turned his gaze toward her.

“!”

And she could not help but be startled.

Because the corners of Alon’s normally expressionless lips had curled ever so slightly into a smile.

As though trying to reassure her.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

And then.

Tap—

Silently placing his hand atop Seolrang’s head, Alon—

“It’s alright.”

Simply—

“Because there is a way.”

Muttered those words and began to concentrate.

In order to use the law that had been granted to him.