Chapter 55: Echoes of a Fallen Follower

Craaang!

Taehoo hastily raised his sword and parried Kiel’s attack.

“I’ve searched for over a hundred years. To ask just once why you abandoned us.”

Craaang!

He kept blocking the attacks without pause.

Kiel’s form grew larger as he launched continuous assaults.

His once slender, human-like body began to swell.

His skin cracked open, blood seeping through the fissures.

The blood that flowed out hardened, wrapping Kiel’s body with a solid shell.

Even at a glance, it was clear his strength had increased.

The relentless attacks grew heavier in force.

“Ugh.”

Grinding his teeth against the pain clenching his hand, Taehoo gritted his resolve.

[That rookie is actually asking me the reason.]

Ba’al watched the battle unfold, smirking at the situation.

In contrast, a bitter feeling welled up in Taehoo’s heart.

At this moment, Taehoo felt Ba’al’s emotions more clearly than ever before.

Longing. Regret.

That was how Ba’al felt looking at Kiel.

It was the first time Ba’al had shown such emotional turmoil.

And driven by that very feeling, Kiel spat out words filled with rage.

“If you truly mean more to him than we do… then prove it.”

It was the proof Kulran had mentioned.

The desperate cry of one who had been forsaken by his master.

Craaang!

They exchanged blows once more and created some distance between them.

Before Taehoo’s eyes stood a fully transformed Kiel.

There was no trace left of the human form he had worn moments ago.

“How much stronger has he become?”

The exchanged strikes were at least twice as heavy as before.

Taehoo raised the density of his Aura to the maximum.

This time, he struck first.

Kiel did not retreat and met Taehoo’s charge head-on.

Kwahng!

No more metal-on-metal clashing sounds rang out.

Instead, a tearing shockwave ripped through the air.

The ground beneath them overturned, and blood splattered from both fighters.

It was hard to believe these were the same two who had just exchanged uninjured parries.

Countless fresh wounds were carved into their bodies.

“Show me more! There have been many stronger than you! They all chased after that one person! What makes you better than all of them?!”

Kiel shouted, trembling with every wound.

Taehoo was almost overwhelmed by the ferocity.

But amidst the attacks, there was something else Taehoo could feel.

A firm belief in Ba’al’s power.

That conviction was unmistakable with every strike.

“So this is why you sought Ba’al.”

[Activating skill ‘Single Stroke Severance: Continuous’!]

Taehoo squeezed out the last of his mana.

He forced Kiel backward with explosive power.

Though his sword was always imbued with his spirit, Taehoo had nothing more to say in this moment.

The words that needed speaking were meant for Kiel, not Taehoo, and the reconciliation to be made was not Taehoo’s to bear.

Three consecutive strikes of Single Stroke Severance.

Kiel, drenched in blood, was pushed back several meters.

Layers of hardened blood covered his body, strengthening his defense further.

He was the kind that grew stronger the more he fought.

Even Single Stroke Severance couldn’t end his breath.

“Haa…”

Taehoo steadied his weakening body.

“Is that all you’ve got…?”

Kiel also gasped harshly, shouting with genuine emotion.

“So noisy.”

By now, curiosity about Ba’al’s circumstances grew in Taehoo’s mind.

He realized he had never once heard Kiel’s story.

Why had Ba’al hidden in the place where the Ancient Dragon was?

What had happened before?

Taehoo had never allowed himself such natural questions.

After his return, he only worried about whether Ba’al would discover him or not, and later focused solely on strengthening his own power.

‘Follower, huh…’

The demon Ba’al had turned Taehoo into before taking him as his follower.

“You follow that guy so obediently because he can’t move right now, right?”

Taehoo spoke directly to Kiel.

Ba’al sensed Taehoo’s feelings as they were.

He knew what Taehoo was about to do.

He was willing and did not add a word.

“So I’ll answer for you instead. Don’t worry. You don’t have to think my will differs from Ba’al’s.”

Taehoo suddenly felt fortunate that his grandfather’s power was not widely known.

Otherwise, he would never have dared to unleash this strength in front of other Hunters.

[Title ‘Giant Slayer’ power activates!]

[Authority ‘Delegated Authority’ activates!]

[Insufficient Follower power! Your body is too weak to receive full power!]

[Values adjusted! 5%]

[Duration: 10 seconds]

Taehoo felt his depleted strength flood back.

The power of Ba’al felt beyond anything he had imagined while fully conscious.

The surging force swelled within him, as if he might burst like a balloon.

Yet the duration was far longer than when he used it unconscious.

“That power…! That power!”

Kiel showed a moment of fanatic reaction.

He was witnessing the very power of Ba’al’s true self he had searched for so long.

It was a natural reaction.

But Taehoo could give no answer to Kiel’s feelings.

He had only one thing to offer.

• This was a creature with the traits of a demon etched into his bones.

He would consider it an honor to die fighting someone stronger than himself.

Taehoo had confirmed that through their exchange of blows.

Especially if it was death faced by the power of the one he had devoted his life to — there could be no doubt.

That was the least respect Taehoo could show as a follower of Ba’al.

Even the Fallen Flower Sword felt cumbersome.

He let go of the sword, wrapping Aura tightly around both fists.

“Where do you think you’re imitating him…”

Kiel spoke furiously, but Taehoo said nothing.

Thud!

The ground shook as Taehoo’s foot stomped down.

Kiel’s sight blurred for a moment as Taehoo disappeared.

The next moment, Taehoo appeared right in front of him.

Kiel was unable to react.

Taehoo struck his jaw with a solid punch.

Kwahng!

A deafening sound echoed.

Kiel’s jaw shattered, and he was thrown into the air.

Blood poured and clung to his body, but Taehoo’s movements were faster.

Leaping up, Taehoo grabbed Kiel’s face.

“H-h… hhh…”

• Despite having his face gripped, the creature was laughing.

But Taehoo could clearly feel tears flowing from the palm of his hand.

[Remaining duration: 5 seconds]

After gripping his face, Taehoo slammed Kiel to the ground like a ball.

[Duration: 4 seconds]

A countdown rang in Taehoo’s mind.

Ba’al said nothing more.

Taehoo added one more wish in his heart.

Believing it was a story he would someday hear, he slammed down on Kiel with all his might.

He blew Aura into his feet and continuously emitted his magical energy to accelerate.

Breaking the earth beneath them, Taehoo’s blow landed atop the barely submerged Kiel.

Kwoaaang!

A massive crater formed where Taehoo had landed.

In the hollowed earth, a small mound rose, on which Kiel lay.

Taehoo stood over him, crushing his heart beneath his foot.

“Haa…”

The dust that had surrounded them settled.

“Truly… incredible power. I still can’t reach even the tip of his feet.”

Kiel, bleeding from his crushed heart, spoke with difficulty.

His body, having absorbed Ba’al’s full power head-on, was gradually turning to ashes.

“I’ve always felt sorry for not being strong enough. So I struggled to grow stronger. After gaining power, I chased after his traces.”

He spat out a handful of blood.

“Maybe now you don’t need my power anymore. I thought maybe I could be of some help.”

When Kiel needed strength, he had been nothing more than a demon just beginning to awaken.

So he couldn’t support Ba’al when needed.

For Kiel, that was an unmatched humiliation.

Unable to bear it, he even abandoned his name.

Afterwards, he sought power, but was granted very little.

He couldn’t even come close to Ba’al, let alone other archdemons or high-ranking demons.

“But now, it seems my power won’t be needed anymore…”

A brief silence followed.

“I’m glad I could at least be your nourishment.”

Kiel had no regrets about his death.

[Tsk…]

Taehoo clicked his tongue.

No — it was Ba’al, speaking through Taehoo, who clicked his tongue.

They had been granted a brief moment.

[Duration: 2 seconds]

The remaining time was short.

[I thought you’d resent me.]

Ba’al laughed playfully as always.

It was a smile visible only through Taehoo’s face.

[Thank you.]

Ba’al’s farewell ended there.

Kiel’s pupils dilated and lost focus.

[Authority ‘Delegated Authority’ duration has ended!]

[The Nameless Commander falls!]

[Final Wave cleared!]

[The Nameless Commander’s name has been revealed!]

[Hidden Event cleared!]

[Rewards granted!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

A long message continued.

Taehoo was too drained to even check it, collapsing where he stood.

At that moment, the Twins approached and supported him.

They could hardly believe the battle they had just witnessed.

Compared to Taehoo, they felt they weren’t even worthy of comparison to divinity.

“You did well.”

Suppressing those feelings, Woobin spoke.

“You were incredible.”

Woojin followed up.

Jiho only looked at Taehoo with sunken eyes.

Taehoo’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Fittingly, he had handled everything alone and perfectly.

None here could deny that fact.

Their hearts intertwined in that moment.

The twins helped Taehoo out of the crater.

Soon, villagers hurried toward the four.

All had witnessed the fight, just as Taehoo had intended.

Their eyes were filled with countless emotions.

Though it couldn’t be seen, Taehoo’s resolve reached them clearly.

A life-risking fight and the words within it had been enough to erase all doubt.

Though Taehoo focused on something else, the villagers sensed his thoughts of someone far away.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Voices blurted out, spreading like waves.

At once,

Everyone placed a fist over their heart.

Then bowed deeply.

It was the salute knights gave their lords in their world.

The most respectful greeting Taehoo could remember.

Completely unlike the times when they knelt to offer tributes.

Taehoo smiled at the sight.

[All villagers now recognize you as heroes!]

[You have transformed the village!]

Their despair turned to hope, and the vague idol called ‘god’ became something tangible before their eyes.

Another message sounded.

[Dungeon cleared!]

[Achieved an unmatched completion rate compared to other players!]

[Additional rewards granted!]

Taehoo had a few more messages.

[Hidden Coming-of-Age Quest of Namjin completed!]

[Return to the Half-God to claim your rewards!]

Uniquely, the rewards had to be claimed personally, but that didn’t matter.

There were many things Taehoo wanted to ask directly.

Ever since entering the dungeon, he had only been able to make vague guesses about Namjin.

Anyway,

[The dungeon collapses!]

[Hunters who entered are summoned outside the dungeon!]

Taehoo didn’t know whether the dungeon collapse time would continue or not.

But if their flow would continue even without them,

He hoped the villagers would have a better future.

Taehoo looked at the backs of those who had bowed to him one last time.

His vision soon shifted to the scene of the Small Village of India where the Gate had first appeared.

The Coming-of-Age Ceremony had safely concluded.