Turning-Chapter 855

With the next step, the ground beneath his feet subtly shifted, solidifying just enough to bear his weight. It looked strange, like stepping on invisible stepping stones, but it kept him from sinking into the mud as he advanced with careful stealth.

As he stepped into the range of Hosanra’s power, the hail within reacted violently. He had no strength left to form a shield—but he knew one thing for certain:

Even that hail was part of nature.

And no matter how drained he was, nature always treated Yuder gently.

Earlier, when Kishiar’s strike had hit him, a memory had surfaced. That time he’d fought a monster, lost all his strength, and fallen into a river—yet even then, the water had gently carried him to shore, cradling his broken body.

Even when the way ahead seemed impossible, if he knew this one truth, moving forward was no longer difficult.

Yuder clenched his teeth and ran across the solidified path. As soon as he moved, the Cavalry’s attacks shifted. They realized he was going in for the kill and began switching to support-type abilities to clear his way.

Thanks to that, he made it quite far without being struck by any of the damned hail. External and internal forces working in sync—pushing through the eye of the storm. Amid the immense pressure that felt like it would crush his body, he started to hear Hosanra’s murmurs carried on the wind.

“...The young master wouldn’t know. Long ago... someone said to find her if he ever came to the Southern Nation... I knew the place too... a place I stayed as a child... a good place...”

“I thought she might be the young master’s mother... I should have sent him long ago... even if it wasn’t what he wanted... I should have gone... Why am I always like this... so stupid... always regretting...”

“But still... not yet... I still... have a use... not yet... it’s not over...”

“......”

Yuder, who had thought himself unshakable, hesitated for a moment at those last words.

Not yet? What isn’t over?

At the end of Hosanra’s crawl lay Naham’s body, lying peacefully amidst the storm as though none of it touched him. The vicious hail and energy spiraling around Hosanra avoided that one spot completely.

His body was stiff, bloodied, motionless. After using the last of his strength in his rampage, there was no way he could still be alive.

And yet Hosanra crawled desperately toward him—not just to stay near him, but repeating his goal over and over again.

“I’ll send you there... I can do it... I can...”

Come to think of it, Hosanra had been muttering something similar just before Yuder and Kishiar’s first strike failed.

...Don’t tell me...

Could Naham still be alive?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Yuder’s mind spun violently. His memories rewound at high speed, examining every detail he might have missed. After Duke Hern’s death, Yuder had only confirmed that the aura around Naham had disappeared. He hadn’t been able to check if he’d stopped breathing—because Hosanra had appeared.

It was more likely that Hosanra had lost his mind and was spewing nonsense.

But... if by chance Naham was still alive?

His ability was... that horrifying illusion magic, designed to deceive perception, senses, awareness.

Goddamn it.

Cursing for what felt like the hundredth time today, Yuder gripped his sword. The pain blanked his vision white, but he didn’t stop.

Hosanra was # Nоvеlight # now just a little distance from touching Naham. At this rate, Yuder wouldn’t reach them in time.

He inhaled deeply, ribs flaring with pain, and shouted with all his strength:

“Cavalry! Full barrage!”

He didn’t care what happened to him—he just needed them to fire. He launched himself forward without restraint, hailstones like boulders slamming against his body, but he didn’t blink. His eyes were locked on Hosanra’s exposed nape as the man crawled.

Hosanra stretched out his unsevered hand.

Yuder kicked off the ground again.

Hosanra’s trembling fingertips were about to brush Naham’s clothing.

Yuder raised his sword.

Too slow. I’m too slow.

Whenever his body failed him, there was only one thing he desperately called for. A part of him now more than flesh—his power, his Awakener ability.

He had nothing left—but he knew the root of his power was still within. Flowing through his veins, at the core of his chest, in the empty mana hole inside his belly—the source born of the Red Stone’s power.

It was dangerous, but that power had always opened a path when he called for it. It was the only thing he could rely on now.

Please. Now!

He swung his blade with a desperate cry.

Through the arc of that swing—

Veins of deep crimson rose under Yuder’s glove, pulsing. They surged up his arm, his shoulder, his jaw, his face, his eyes, his chest—stretching without pause into the empty mana hole buried deep in his core.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

A wall of resistance. Pain that felt like his body might rupture.

Yuder chose to go beyond it without hesitation.

—FWAHHHH!

Crimson fire erupted along Yuder’s blade, instantly melting the hail in its path as it flew in a blazing line, piercing straight through Hosanra.

With a gasp, Hosanra’s outstretched fingers just barely brushed Naham’s coat.

Moments later, a massive explosion erupted from where Hosanra lay.