Chapter 54: Flashing East, Flashing West!

The destruction of the greatest modern terrestrial force—the aircraft carrier.  

Not just one or two, but all five aircraft carriers stationed along the East Coast sank. 

An unbelievable event.  

It was an unexpected victory for the Republic of Korea.  

However, before this miraculous news could spread to the public, there were those who pierced through the dim dawn.  

“Sshh!”

Their swift movements resembled a legendary divine bird.  

Naturally, such speed was beyond that of ordinary humans.  

Awakeners.  

Those advancing through the sparsely populated area were all Awakeners who had awakened Traits.  

What was astonishing here was the sheer number—nearly 500 Awakeners gathered for a single mission.  

Judging from their speed and precision, they were no random Awakeners.  

Five hundred Awakeners known by name and renown were united and heading toward one goal.  

The one at the forefront raised his fist.  

“Stop.”  

In response to the signal, all movement ceased.  

Though it was still twilight, their eyes could pierce the darkness as if it were broad daylight.  

“We are about to enter the borders of the Republic of Korea.”  

Currently, they stood near the DMZ, close to North Korea’s barbed wire fence.  

This place was heavily guarded. 

No matter how stealthily one moved, a commotion would be inevitable.  

Yet, the North Korean soldiers stationed at the outposts showed no reaction upon spotting them.  

They couldn’t.  

The top brass had already been briefed.  

They had orders to allow the 500 Awakeners to pass through safely.  

“Our orders are clear.”  

The leader spoke in Chinese.  

A little-known fact: the United States and China had formed an alliance.  

Shortly before, China had received reports that the Republic of Korea was attacking the United States and the aircraft carriers stationed on the East Coast.  

Of course, this wasn’t entirely unexpected.  

With the Republic of Korea’s recent surge in power, they wouldn’t simply tolerate the U.S. forces dominating their waters.  

Thus, the special security forces were dispatched immediately upon receiving intelligence.  

After coordinating with North Korea in advance, they managed to cross the northern fence without incident and now stood just before the Republic of Korea’s fence.  

“While Kim Si-won is occupied dealing with the U.S., we take this golden opportunity to strike the Republic of Korea.”  

The mission was simple.  

Using the current forces, by any means necessary, inflict damage on the Republic of Korea.  

That included soldiers guarding the fences.  

“From now on, we execute the mission.”  

With that from their leader, silent as a shadow, their traces vanished completely.  

Movement?  

No.  

They moved perfectly, without a hint of disturbance.  

Eunhyeong — A Trait that emits a shield reflecting light to conceal one’s presence.  

At the center of the group, an Awakener capable of activating group stealth ensured all traces were wiped away flawlessly.  

Such stealth was nearly impossible to detect without an advanced Insight Eye or equivalent ability.  

So they marched on.  

“Tap tap tap.”  

Without interference, they crossed safely beyond the Republic of Korea’s fence.  

The first sight: A Republic of Korea soldier guarding a nearby outpost.  

A young man in his twenties, in the prime of life but forcibly conscripted by the call of his country.  

Of course, these sacrifices meant nothing to the Chinese Awakeners present.  

Their sole intent was simple.  

‘Kill them.’  

Kill everyone affiliated with the Republic of Korea here.  

Create chaos and sway public opinion negatively against the current regime of Hosik Jeong and Kim Si-won.  

Though they were winning now and could get away with harsh tactics, the story would change once the casualties accumulated.  

Make it impossible for them to stand within their own country.  

That was the purpose of this invasion.  

If Kim Si-won were still fully present, it might have been difficult.  

But, he was entirely preoccupied with the United States.  

No matter how strong he was, destroying all aircraft carriers took time and effort.  

Besides, closing the distance from the East Coast to Cheorwon in one leap was impossible.  

They would use that time to inflict as much damage as possible.  

That bow in hand—  

Not an ordinary bow but one adorned with a sun emblem.  

A treasure called an heirloom.  

One of the rare relics only a few Awakeners ever acquire.  

He was drawing the string of a bow known in myth for piercing the sun itself.  

But there was no arrow nocked.  

Why?  

Because it wasn’t necessary.  

“Fwoosh!”

Flames erupted from the bowstring, shaping into the form of an arrow.  

Tae-yang-si—   A very special technique combining the heirloom treasure and the Noble Bow Trait.  

A blazing arrow imbued with powerful explosive energy shot toward the outpost ahead.  

In a split second, the Republic of Korea soldiers at the outpost only realized the incoming arrow at the last moment and tried to react, but it was too late.  

“Uh…?”  

Flare!  

The blazing Tae-yang-si engulfed not only the soldiers but also the outpost and nearby area in an explosive inferno… but failed to detonate.  

“Pshk ssshk.”  

“Eh?!”  

“W-who?”  

***  

The one who extinguished the flames of Tae-yang-si.  

“Chiiiik!”  

The figure that controlled the flames with bare hands—  

Flash!  

A presence emanating blue aura from within a jet-black helmet.  

“Whoosh!”  

Emitting an absolute chill that even froze the air around him, I stared beyond the fence.  

‘As expected!’  

My theory was proven true.  

Not only the United States, but China, Russia, Japan, and indeed the entire world was under the Demon Clan’s control.  

The proof was right before me.  

Stealth?  

Such illusions don’t fool one who has awakened the Soul-Reading Mind’s Eye.  

I could see a group wearing black masks.  

Five hundred Awakeners, judging by their appearance.  

Judging geographically, they were likely Chinese.  

No, it was almost certain.  

Now to consider this:  While the U.S. was under attack, China was also launching an assault?  

That meant they were allies.  

It was almost impossible for these two to unite unless driven by one cause.  

There was only one answer.  

‘That bastard. Salmora’s brainwashing and suggestion.’  

The Demon King’s Legion’s strategist.  

Salmora, the Plague Legion Commander, was known for using brainwashing and suggestion.  

A strategy to pit humans against each other without Demon sacrifices, weakening and conquering them.  

‘Demon transformation, the seeds of demonic power, and brainwashing.’  

All clues led back to Salmora.  

Of course, I wasn’t 100% certain.  

There were multiple possibilities.  

Perhaps the Plague Legion Commander had been resurrected.  

Or maybe another entity had mastered his tactics and strategy.  

One thing was clear.  

‘I will eliminate that bastard.’  

He was the only one capable of hindering my path in this world.  

Having identified that presence, I would eliminate it.  

For the sake of my peaceful days to come.  

For the peace I had finally found.  

And the same applied to the rats hiding beyond the fence.  

“Huh, Dark Knight?!”  

A soldier who had been knocked down shouted.  

He must have recalled the Dark Knight who had once defeated Japan.  

Makes sense.  

Few could match the image of a figure clad in jet-black armor with a chilling sword.  

Identifying him as the Dark Knight was only natural.  

“Don’t mind them.”  

Though my emotions had worn thin, I still retained respect and courtesy.  

These young men in their twenties had been called by their country, and they deserved respect.  

Therefore, I offered a faint consolation, “This will be a brief disturbance.”  

I turned my back.

“Chatterboxes,” I confirmed the noise before stomping the ground.  

“Swaaak!” 

Like an arrow shot, I closed the distance in an instant, as if folding space.  

Our eyes met in midair.  

Perhaps surprised at my speed, he widened his eyes, but he wasn’t ordinary.  

“Bastard!”  

An Awakener whose body moved as soon as his will arose, and who had reached a fairly advanced level.  

That bow!  

Rapidly drawing the string, he unleashed a barrage of arrows.  

Of course, that was just his plan.  

I had no intention of letting him attack.  

“Swish.”  

A blade bloomed.  

“Slash! Thud!”

Flesh and bone were torn apart, and something fell.  

It was—  

“Ahhh!”  

His entire hand had been severed at the wrist.  

Blood sprayed from the stump, dyeing the ground crimson.  

And then—  

“Slash!” 

Simultaneously with the magical bow, I sliced his waist in two.  

“Eek!”  

“Damn it!”  

In an instant, their leader was lost, plunging them into crisis.  

Cursing, they drew their weapons.  

Yet—  

A strange silence followed instantly.  

The tension from before felt distant now.  

The reason was clear.  

‘Demon transformation.’  

Until a moment ago, they had been humans.  

But with eyes filled entirely with jet-black color, they had been consumed by demons.  

They must have all taken the Demon Transformation Potion to awaken and house demons within.  

“Whoosh.”  

Their bodies began to swell.  

“Crunch, crack!”  

Bones twisted grotesquely as their forms completely changed.  

These were no ordinary demons as last time.  

They had transformed into mid-tier demons—Death Knights, Liches, Medusas.  

This attack had been carefully planned.  

But it was no threat to me.  

Rather, I welcomed the situation.

“Good.”  

“Pathetic humans…” The Death Knight snarled, intending to belittle me.  

But before he could speak, a step stomped, summoning an area of intense cold.

‘Fimbulvetre.’  

“Zzrrrrr!”

Surely a powerful ability.  

If these were low-tier demons, they would freeze instantly and be trapped in eternal frost.  

“Where do you think you’re going!”  

“No chance!”  

They resisted the biting cold of winter.  

Driving out the cold seeping from the ground, they closed their encirclement around me.

“Tap tap tap.”

‘Weak.’  

To be stopped by mere mid-tier demons was unthinkable at my prime.  

The weakness made me sick, but this was not the end.  

Fimbulvetre, the bitter winter, did more than freeze.  

Suddenly, a harsh, biting wind swept through the area.  

This bitter wind was more than just wind.  

“Whooooo!” 

It carried a blizzard.  

In the blinding snowstorm, hidden fangs appeared.  

“Thud!”

A Death Knight twisted as if hit by something.  

Not only him.  

“Pa-pa-pa-thud!”

All demons surrounding me swayed like ships caught in a storm.  

Within the snowstorm I summoned transparent ice shards which struck them.  

Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands!  

Relentless attacks turned their bodies into tatters in an instant. 

Raising my hand and slashing down,  the snowstorm that had dominated the area vanished as if it had been a mirage.  

Only remained—  

A black aura, the crystallization of demonic energy.  

“Swoosh!”

All of it absorbed into me, nourishing my demonic power.  

Though after recovering about 30% of my demonic power, the rate of increase slowed, the portion gained from mid-tier demons still restored about 1%.  

I had dealt with the Chinese Awakeners who attempted to attack the Republic of Korea—or rather, the demons.  

But this was not over.  

“Clang!”

The harsh sound of metal echoed as figures gathered around me.  

Blansia Bellamin and Agamemnon Slayer, clad in red and blue armor, along with Malice Ahman, who had just destroyed the U.S. aircraft carriers.  

Three Knights assembled here under my command for one goal.

Judgment against North Korea, which, allied with China and acting under the demons’ orders, had allowed 500 Awakeners to pass through unharmed.

“Let’s go.”