LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 109
Chapter 109: Tear. Let’s Tear.
The silver hair that once shone like it had absorbed the moonlight had fallen into a dull, rusty hue, and Shia’s eyes, which once gleamed with radiant gold like the sun, had turned pitch black, moving lifelessly like a doll’s.
As Shia’s head slowly lifted, black tentacles sprouted from her shadow, writhing in sync with her movement.
Even the color of the tentacles, which were usually a deep flesh tone, was different, and everything about them had changed.
The smiling saint who had once stood here no longer existed.
Bang!
“Hoo. Stop your pathetic tricks!”
At that moment, the one who leapt to his feet was Bai Weishen.
Though the suffocating pressure was unbearable, proving he was more than just an empty shell of an S-rank Hunter, he was the first among the Baiyun Battalion members to regain his senses and resist Shia.
“Kr, ugh…”
However, unlike his confident stance as he rose to resist Shia, blood was trickling from Bai Weishen’s mouth.
The physical enhancement hunter, who could lift boulders the size of houses with ease, had to focus desperately just to stand.
‘So, she’s no ordinary saint with standard healing powers. She’s a curse user, and not just any curse, but one of the most powerful and malicious types…!’
Although Wang Soyeong often called him a brainless pig or musclehead, Bai Weishen’s combat sense and instincts were not lacking in the slightest.
‘Don’t be thrown off by the change in her state. I can’t feel anything from her…’
An S-rank Hunter’s abilities transcend normal human perception, manifesting as a sort of sixth sense.
Some call it instinct, others refer to it as a feeling, or even a shiver that warns of danger.
It varies from person to person, but Bai Weishen’s particular sense allowed him to vaguely discern the amount and quality of mana his opponent was emitting.
Thanks to this sense, even though he wasn’t a hunter with detection abilities, Bai Weishen had navigated through countless dangers and won many battles.
He could predict his opponent’s attack based on the direction of their mana, release just the right amount of force to counter an attack, and conserve his strength, all while getting a rough idea of his opponent’s power.
And yet, Bai Weishen couldn’t detect any trace of mana from Shia.
It was as though she were a completely powerless being.
‘Is she like that Yujin person, using a debuff ability closer to illusions, hallucinations, or curses to weaken her opponents before hunting them down? I see… it all makes sense. If she lacked confidence in her own abilities, relying on cowardly ambushes, she’d naturally depend on such powers.’
Bai Weishen concluded that both he and the Baiyun Battalion had been placed under a large-scale curse by Shia, who stood still in her spot.
And the best way to break a curse that resembled an illusion was to bring oneself back to reality, through the pain of self-harm if necessary.
This was the fastest method to resist it, and Bai Weishen had achieved enough success to move.
‘The other members… tch, most of them are incapacitated…’
Although he didn’t intend to belittle his subordinates, failing to withstand a curse of this level was disappointing.
Once we get back, it’s special training, you weaklings!
“Yeah, I guess this is enough to be worthy of the Lord’s attention.”
Crunch!
“But I, Bai Weishen, the Shield of Shanxi, and the Lord’s firmest defense, will not falter here!”
He heightened the synchronization with the shard embedded within him.
The shard was trembling with fear?
‘Good.’
In that case, I’ll offer my body, so you won’t need to be afraid.
‘Give me more power! Give me the overwhelming strength to crush that lowly, cowardly woman!’
Bai Weishen’s mana fused with the shard embedded in his body.
As the shard lodged in his heart responded, the blood flowing through his mana-infused veins was consumed by malevolent energy.
The shard in his arm and right lung resonated, absorbing his breath along with the malevolence, while the shard in his spine devoured his mana, leaving the void to be filled with more malevolent energy.
The shards responded in kind.
They fortified each of his muscle fibers, making them stronger than steel.
Using his life force and mana as fuel, they ignited within him to unleash a power beyond human limits.
Bai Weishen’s fists and muscles swelled monstrously, yet he moved fluidly and swiftly, retaining his intellect.
“Uoooohhh!”
Confirming his amplified strength, Bai Weishen charged at Shia without giving her a moment to react or defend herself.
His fist, now larger than Shia’s upper body, plummeted towards her with the force to crush her entirely.
He had no doubt that this strike would bring him victory.
And yet, Shia stood motionless, as if she couldn’t even react to the overwhelming power and speed.
The malevolent mana that engulfed his fist, aimed to overwhelm her, had become a deadly force, poised to annihilate Shia.
Boom!!
The dull sound of impact and the definite sensation of a hit traveled through his fist, and Bai Weishen was certain of his victory.
With this kind of power, he was convinced he could even defeat the strongest hunter, Yeonseo, in a head-on battle.
It was that powerful.
It had consumed an immense amount of life force.
“Phew!”
“Huff, huff… huh?!”
“C-Captain?! Did the Captain win…?”
“Did we finish her?”
The Baiyun Battalion members, who had been paralyzed and unable to breathe under the curse, were released from its hold at that moment.
The fact that the curse was lifted indicated that its caster had suffered a critical blow and had been incapacitated.
“Hah, she acted so high and mighty, but this is all she’s got…!”
Just as Bai Weishen was smiling victoriously, he suddenly sensed something was off and stopped speaking.
‘Wait, why is there no reaction from the spot where my fist landed?’
Whether it was mangled flesh, spurting blood, or the aftermath of such a massive impact—shattered earth, gusts of wind—there should have been some visible consequence.
Bai Weishen’s enlarged fist was so massive that it obscured his vision, preventing him from seeing Shia’s state beyond it.
But one thing he did realize.
Like striking a massive steel pillar without any recoil, Shia hadn’t budged from the force of his fist.
“……!”
At that moment, sensing something was wrong, Bai Weishen tried to retract his fist, only to find that it wouldn’t move an inch.
“W-what…!”
It wasn’t a curse.
There was only one reason why he couldn’t move his fist.
‘Shia took no damage at all!?’
The curse returned.
He couldn’t breathe.
It felt like being in the middle of a peaceful countryside, yet that dreadful, alien sensation, as if being dragged into hell, surged through him.
He couldn’t breathe.
His tense muscles stiffened.
Even the trembling of his mouth was beyond his control.
He couldn’t do anything.
He couldn’t move.
Click!
Click!
Click-click-click!
Snap!
The tentacles that sprouted from the shadows slowly crawled up Bai Weishen’s body.
Hehehe.
Kyaahaha.
Ahaha.
Kikik.
Khrhrh.
At that moment, Bai Weishen’s eyes met the eerie gaze of the tentacles mocking him.
And the tentacles, their mouths stretched into wide grins, soon bound him tightly, locking him in place.
‘What… what the hell is happening…’
He had used power beyond his vessel’s capacity.
He had drawn so much power that even an S-rank Hunter’s body was overwhelmed, burning his life force to bridge the gap.
And yet, he had inflicted no damage?
[Are you done?]
“……….!”
The eerie voice pierced Bai Weishen’s mind, brief and cold.
The echoing sound was like the clear tolling of a bell announcing a death sentence.
Crack
“Kuuh!?”
Shia grabbed Bai Weishen’s arm and slowly twisted it.
His toughened muscles, his flesh, and his arm all rotated in the direction of Shia’s hand.
Pain flooded him.
His bones creaked under the strain of the unnatural movement.
His muscles screamed in agony.
“St… stop…”
What are you doing?
What are you doing right now…
Crack!
“Guh, A… Aaaaaaaaagh!!!!”
It didn’t stop with just one time.
Shia, with a slow and expressionless face, moved her hand mechanically.
Splat!
A fountain of blood gushed out from the torn skin, twisted in a grotesque direction.
But Shia didn’t stop.
Crack!
“Aaaaaagh! Stoppppppppp!”
Bai Weishen’s hardened muscles and flesh, which were crushed and shredded like meat forced into a machine, spilled blood fountains from the torn skin, which were licked up by the writhing tentacles.
It wasn’t pulling off his arm.
Nor was she cutting it off.
Like wringing out a rag, draining it of all water, Shia slowly twisted Bai Weishen’s arm, locking his body in place and twisting it in an unnatural direction.
“Guh, huh…ugh! Stooop!”
You need to squeeze the water out well.
If there’s too much water in the rag, it gets dirty.
A rag, a rag, a rag…
“Aaaaaagh! Guh, guh…”
Ah, it’s dirty.
The blood is splattering.
It’s dirty.
Squeeze it more.
Squeeze harder.
Crack!
“Look. The filthy malevolence, the disgusting malevolence is overflowing.”
It’s a rotten-smelling malevolence.
You are a coward.
Were you too scared to face me?
Did you hide cowardly, sneaking between human bodies?
You were clinging to the bones and tendons, reinforcing them, weren’t you? You seeped into the gaps between muscles, making them tougher, didn’t you?
“Like a parasite.”
Don’t worry.
I am here.
I am here to guide your young evil.
I am here to guide your young evil into pain.
You don’t need to pray.
Crack!
“Guh…a…ack…”
Prayer is enough when I do it alone.
And so, Shia squeezed meticulously.
Like wringing out a rag.
Delicately.
A lot.
With all her strength.
To squeeze out the malevolence lodged between Bai Weishen’s arms, legs, waist, neck, shoulders, ankles, toes, fingers, head, pelvis, and knees, Shia crushed his body again and again like wringing out a rag.
Each time the juice of malevolence flowed out, his flesh screamed.
The fountains of blood sang, and the harmony of torn muscles and shattered bones created a beautiful orchestra.
Drenched in blood, Shia smiled.
Ah, how fragrant.
And the Baiyun Battalion members, who witnessed their leader and guild officer, Bai Weishen, being crushed alive like a rag, were quick to make a decision.
“Run away!”
“Get out of here!”
No, you can’t escape.
“Don’t run away!”
“You can’t run anyway. Fight back!”
“There’s only one opponent!”
No.
That’s not it either.
Crack!
I told you, didn’t I?
Smack!
I prayed, didn’t I?
Crunch!
I declared it, didn’t I?
“Aaagh!”
“My arm…”
“It’s twisted, my leg, my body, my body is being twisted… ugh…”
“Ugh, guh…”
“Guh…ughhh…”
[No one here will die.]
“Don’t tear…”
The voice echoing from the abyss didn’t reach human ears but reverberated directly in their brains, and the sensation was anything but pleasant.
If anyone screamed under these circumstances, their brain would surely explode horribly.
“Save me…”
[No one here will escape.]
“Guh, guh… I… here…”
But the price is horrific.
There is no forgiveness.
“Kill me…”
“Please, kill… me…”
The Saintess of Death clasped her hands together in reverent prayer.
“Guh, guh…”
“Ugh, guh…”
“Please, kill me… please… ugh…”
Was her prayer a plea to Death for permission?
Or was it a prayer offered to the nameless god who had made her a saint?
[No one will die.]
But one thing was certain.
[For death is mercy. All present shall be led into suffering!]
One is skewered to become a chrysalis.
One is skewered to become meat.
One is skewered to become a chunk of flesh.
One is skewered to become torn flesh.
Rip and crush.
Pierce. Cut.
Chew. Bite.
Slice. Disassemble.
Eat. Swallow.
Tear. Crush.
Grab. Press.
Wrap. Burst.
Tear again.
Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear. Tear.
Still alive?
Tear again.
Tear. And tear again.
■■■■
The blooming flesh flower was as magnificent as a blossoming flower.
Shia tore, again and again.
The tentacle flowers drenched in blood grinned with joy, their mouths stretching wide.
Teeth clashed in the feast of flesh and organs.
Like serving a meal, Shia hung the human bodies on the tentacles, desecrating their souls.
And no one died.
[Do not worry! None of you shall die on this land!]
Shia, smiling deeply as if she were a conductor, waved her hand.
In response, the tentacles, smeared with flesh, moved in sync, creating a grand symphony and painting a picture with blood.
Blood flowers bloomed.
Bloody meat formed, and the harmony of flesh satisfied everything.
Yet, no one died in this place.
They couldn’t die.
Because Shia had not permitted it.
Because the Saintess of Death had not allowed it.
As she repeated countless deaths and desecrations, a quiet voice tickled Shia’s mind, filled with joy.
“Child.”
Who is calling me?
Ah, I’m playing such beautiful music, and you’re interrupting? Can’t you hear it?
Don’t disturb the sound.
“Shia.”
What’s the problem in a place where no one dies?
No one dies.
I’m simply doing what must be done.
Let’s make blood flowers bloom.
Let’s let go of reason.
Let’s savor the flesh.
Ah, just one bite.
Shall I eat it?
Just one bite and…
It will be so delicious…!
“Come to your senses, my child.”
“…Ah…”
As Shia opened her eyes again, she could see Yeonseo half-embracing her.
Why is Yeonseo unnie here?
How did she know?
No, how much time has passed?
What was I doing…?
But that wasn’t the only thing.
Late to realize, Shia’s eyes widened at the metallic taste in her mouth—the fragrant yet sweet taste of blood.
“…Ah… Ah…”
Yeonseo’s hand was bitten into Shia’s mouth.
Yeonseo’s eyes, seemingly unfazed by the pain, stared straight at Shia.
“Were you thinking of breaking your own taboo?”
“Where has your conviction gone?”
“Wasn’t your belief, as the Saintess of the Dead, to preserve your humanity and not abandon your dignity and ethics?”
It’s okay now.
It’s enough now.
Though Shia was about to collapse, Yeonseo supported her, preventing her from falling.
“Open your eyes, child.”
“…Ah… Ah…”
“Don’t cry. It’s enough that you’ve opened your eyes.”
Though Shia didn’t know how or when Yeonseo had arrived, or how she found out where Shia was, Yeonseo seemed to quickly grasp the situation and gently soothed her, helping her up.
As Shia, regaining her reason, opened her eyes, the darkness that had enveloped the place disappeared, and Shia’s pitch-black eyes returned to their usual radiant golden hue.
…What have I done?
“Child, we must go find your mother now, don’t we?”
“Yes…”
No more words were needed.
[Miracle – Great Healing]
With the miracle, the land where death had been banished saw the blood flowers wither.
Everything in this place returned to its original form.
Blood flowed back, and the torn flesh and chunks of meat came together like pieces of a puzzle, and even the bite marks on Yeonseo’s hand disappeared as if washed away.
The vast white miracle purged the blasphemous curse. Shia’s once-dulled silver hair returned to its bright and radiant state.
As all those who had once been human returned to their original forms, Yeonseo gazed straight at Shia.
“Don’t worry about what happened here any longer.”
“…Thank you.”
“I’ll send you to where your mother is.”
“Yeonseo un—”
“Stop talking. Now isn’t the time for that, is it?”
You can apologize and give thanks when it’s all over.
“Don’t be late like me. Don’t regret it later like I did. Go bring her back.”
“…Yes.”
If there’s a misunderstanding, resolve it with words. If there’s a grudge, resolve it with words.
“Go now.”
Snap!
With that, Yeonseo adjusted the space, sending Shia to where Yoon-jung was.
It wasn’t difficult for Yeonseo to pinpoint Yoon-jung’s location.
On the first day of Shia’s return, when she had clashed with Shia due to a misunderstanding, Yeonseo had roughly remembered the resonance of Shia’s holy power.
Thanks to that, when the pendant made from Shia’s holy power shattered, Yeonseo was able to track Yoon-jung’s location based on the intense holy power that leaked out.
“Guh… Ugh… Ah…”
“K-kill me…”
“Ugh… Oh…”
“Huh… Guh… Ugh…”
Though none of those who had experienced a suffering worse than death and desecration at Shia’s hands had regained their sanity, Yeonseo already knew exactly how to deal with them.
Yes… didn’t they say you weren’t from this land?
All official records show you arrived at the airport and departed.
Whatever happens here won’t be considered an event that occurred on Korean soil, right?
“You were the same 50 years ago, and you’re still unchanged now.”
“Ugh… ah… Y-Yeon…seo…”
Though Bai Weishen appeared unscathed, with no visible injuries, he was drooling foam from his mouth and begging for mercy.
Yeonseo, now looking at the restored Bai Weishen, gazed down at him with a cold and contemptuous look.
Her eyes seemed even more merciless and colder than Shia’s.
“This old woman has no interest in having a friendly chat with the likes of you.”
Shia. This old woman owes you a great deal.
You saved Yeonhwa.
And you so easily forgave me for the unforgivable mistake I made.
“So, fare thee well.”
Yes, there’s no need to dirty Shia’s hands any further.
[Space Partition]
Crack!
It’s enough that this old woman dirties her own hands.