‘I can hear.’
The magical energy that bloomed on the ice opened up due to divine power and let out an internal sound.
The sounds of weapons clashing with each other, people screaming in fear, and even the sound of something falling.
‘I was here.’
Now it’s clear. Inside the barrier connected to this ice sheet, the Iron Squadron and the Demons of the Black Tower were fighting.
‘How did they create another space through a small gap in the ice?’
-It was done using a mirror.
Lars looked down at the ice and clicked his tongue.
‘mirror?’
-Since ancient times, humans have been afraid of mirrors. Living in another dimension in the mirror, he fears that he might pop out. Many spells and curses were created to take advantage of that fear.
I looked at the ice while listening to him. She was frozen in a dull color, but her face was reflected strangely, like a mirror.
‘So the Black Tower guys used this ice like a mirror to create a barrier?’
-That’s right. I used the magic of drawing people to the other side of the mirror using ice. It’s similar to how you guys create a barrier with a sword. The humans you are looking for will be in the world inside the ice.
Perhaps because Lars was aware of the urgency of the situation, he gave a serious answer for the first time in a long time.
‘Is it the magic of ice scent…? .’
The Black Tower’s stratum glaciers can manipulate cold energy at will. It seemed like she had created a barrier using this ice.
Raon bit his lip as he continued to hear the sounds of battle and screams.
‘I can’t believe you’ve held on until now…’ .’
I thought it was already too late for rescue when I reached the village and made a fuss, but I had no idea that the Iron Squadron was still fighting.
“Raon?”
“what’s the matter?”
“What’s going on?”
The Gwangpungdae prosecutors’ eyes lit up with concern as they saw Raon’s rapidly changing expression.
“I found it.”
Raon pointed down the ice with his finger.
“The iron squadron is fighting inside this ice.”
I concisely explained to the Gwangpungdae prosecutors the facts I had discovered so far.
“It’s down here?”
“oh my god… .”
“You’ve been fighting inside the enemy’s barrier… .”
“okay. Amazing. but… .”
Raon narrowed his eyes as he examined the magic inside the ice.
‘It is highly likely that he was kept alive on purpose.’
I don’t know if it’s either Ma Ryun or Binghyang. They both moved and even created a barrier, but it doesn’t make sense for the iron squadron to hold on.
It seemed like the Black Tower guys were trying to achieve a different goal inside the barrier.
‘Are you luring us in? No, that won’t be it.’
I wondered if he would use the Cheoljeondae to draw in himself and the Gwangpungdae, but if that was the case, he should have made it easier to find it.
Seeing that the barrier was achieved in such a difficult way, it was clear that there was work to be done in hiding.
‘Whatever is right. Now we have to break that barrier as quickly as possible.’
But how?
I knew there was a barrier, but I couldn’t think of a way to open it.
‘I can’t help it.’
Raon tapped Lars’ shoulder, who was floating dazedly.
-What.
‘How can I enter that barrier?’
-How would the king know such a thing?
‘Didn’t you know about this type of dimension?’
-I’ve said it before, but this king doesn’t know complicated things.
Ras shook his head, saying he did not know how to open and close the barrier.
-If you just hit it and break it, it will open and twist on its own.
The guy laughed at me, telling me to get stronger quickly, saying that barriers like compatibility can be opened as long as you have enough strength.
‘If only I had the power… .’
It is impossible for me now to forcefully twist open the barrier.
However, I was able to get a hint through Lars’ words a little while ago.
‘There is no power, but there is compatibility.’
Although he did not have the power to break open the demonic barrier at once, he had enough divine power to twist the space of demonic energy.
‘지금은 나중을 생각할 때가 아니야.’
한 번 들었기 때문인지 결계 안쪽에서 계속 소리가 들려온다. 비명이 난무하고, 시체가 쓰러지는 소리가 끝없이 흘러나왔다.
시간도, 낭비할 신성력도 없었다. 지금 결착을 봐야 했다.
라온은 광풍대 검사들을 돌아보며 빙판을 가리켰다.
“모두 모여.”
“예!”
광풍대 검사들도 상황이 심각하다는 것을 알았기에 지시를 받자마자, 조별로 전열을 갖춰 섰다.
“지금부터 결계를 비틀 거야. 오래 버티지 못할 테니까. 바로 움직이도록.”
“응.”
“무슨 말인지 잘 모르겠지만, 알겠어.”
“드디어 방법을 찾았나 보네.”
버렌과 마르타, 루난은 질문조차 하지 않고, 믿는다는 듯 고개를 끄덕였다. 다른 검사들 역시 준비를 끝내고 검을 다 잡았다.
‘믿음직스럽네.’
백련대와는 전혀 다른 광풍대만의 의리를 느끼며 빙판에 손을 얹고, 어둠에서 피어난 신성을 운용했다.
고오오오오!
신성력을 얇게 저며 마기가 흘러나오는 빙판 안쪽으로 밀어 넣었다.
마기가 고통을 느끼듯 찌그러지는 순간을 놓치지 않고 단전에 남은 신성력을 모조리 쏟아냈다.
빠지지지직!
그 순간 얼어붙은 호수에 밤이 찾아온 듯 빙판이 시꺼멓게 물들며 거미줄처럼 갈라지기 시작했다.
쪼개진 빙판의 틈에서 마기가 마구잡이로 솟구치더니, 검게 젖은 결계의 틈이 억지로 벌어졌다.
아쉽게도 결계 자체를 부수지는 못했지만, 그 틈을 비집어 열 수는 있었다.
“아….”
혈운겸이 그 모습을 보며 가는 신음을 흘렸다.
“마, 마기의 결계를 억지로 열었다고?”
그는 마기의 결계에 대해 눈치채고 있었는지 벌어진 결계의 틈을 보며 턱을 부르르 떨었다.
“어떻게 이런….”
“너희들의 처우는 일을 끝낸 뒤에 정하겠다.”
혈운겸과 백경의 무인들이 움직일 수 없게 제압한 뒤 뒤를 돌아보았다.
광풍대 검사들이 준비되었다는 듯 나지막하게 고개를 끄덕였다.
“가자.”
라온이 만화공을 극성으로 일으켰다. 어둠을 태우는 적염의 불길과 함께 결계의 틈 속으로 뛰어들었다.
“이번에는 우리가 빚을 갚을 때다.”
* * *
“허어억….”
철전대주 트레빈이 가슴팍을 움켜쥐며 거친 숨을 내뱉었다. 내상의 통증을 참기 위해서 입술을 깨물고 싶었지만, 이미 다 헤져서 더이상 씹을 곳도 없었다.
‘이러다 정말 죽겠군.’
어렸을 때부터 죽는다면 전장에서 싸우다 죽고 싶다고 생각했지만, 그게 이런 전장은 아니었다.
이곳은 신념과 신념 그리고 힘과 힘이 부딪치는 무인들의 전쟁터가 아니라, 학살의 장이었으니까.
“후욱.”
트레빈이 천천히 시선을 들어 올렸다. 핏물로 차오른 붉은 웅덩이 위로 흑탑의 마인들과 놈들이 납치한 사람들이 보인다.
피이이익!
바람이 부는 듯한 소음이 들리자, 가장 앞에 있던 노인의 목이 툭 떨어졌다. 생을 잃은 시체에서 검은 기류가 피어나 결계의 천장으로 솟구쳤다.
우우우웅!
천장 위에서 일렁거리는 마기의 뭉치가 더욱 어둑한 빛으로 물들었다.
“다음.”
그 말에 노인의 뒤에 있던 젊은 청년이 앞으로 끌려왔다.
“지금까지 들었으니 알겠지?”
마인은 두려움에 떠는 청년의 눈을 보며 사이한 미소를 흘렸다.
“너희가 죽는 이유는 라온 지그하르트 때문이다.”
그 말과 함께 아직 어린 청년의 왼쪽 가슴에 시꺼먼 구멍이 뚫렸다.
“아아….”
청년은 본인의 죽음을 믿지 못하는 듯 눈을 크게 뜬 채로 쓰러졌다. 그의 도드라진 안구에서 원한의 기류가 피어나 천장에서 출렁이는 마기로 스며들었다.
“크윽….”
트레빈이 어금니를 바드득 씹었다.
‘지옥이다. 여긴 지옥이야.’
마륜과 빙향이 만들어낸 이 결계는 악마들의 세계와 다를 바가 없었다.
놈들은 미리 납치한 백여 명의 사람들을 이용하여 이 결계를 유지하고, 라온을 향한 원한의 저주를 만들고 있었다. 말 그대로 인신공양이었다.
이곳에 있는 모두가 알고 있었다. 원망할 사람은 라온이 아니라, 저 흑탑의 마인들이라는 것을.
하지만 사람의 심리상 어쩔 수 없이 라온을 향한 원망이 만들어질 수밖에 없었다.
“아아악!”
그사이에 또 한 명의 중년 여성의 목이 잘려 나갔다.
저주가 많이 모였기 때문인지 놈들이 사람들을 죽이는 시간이 이전보다 훨씬 빨라졌다.
“젠장….”
트레빈이 검을 쥔 손을 떨었다. 당장 달려 나가 모두를 구하고 싶었지만, 갈 수가 없었다.
자신 역시 정상이 아니었고, 뒤에 지켜야 할 인질들이 있었기 때문이다.
“이젠 버러지들이 죽을 때마다 그만두라고 외치지 않는군.”
비쩍 마른 노인이 비웃음을 흘리며 다가왔다. 손에는 두 자루의 륜이 들려 있었는데, 투명한 날이 온통 끈적한 피로 젖어 있었다. 이 노인이 바로 흑탑의 층주 마륜이었다.
“하긴 본인들의 걱정을 하느라 바쁘겠지.”
마륜이 발밑에 쓰러져 있던 철전대 검사의 시체를 걷어차며 코웃음을 쳤다.
“이놈이….”
트레빈이 피나도록 주먹을 말아쥐었다. 동료의 시신이 모욕당하는 모습에 참고 있던 분노가 들끓었다.
“이해한다. 인간은 본래 자기만 생각하는 짐승이니까.”
마륜이 서커스를 하듯 륜을 던졌다가 받으며 입꼬리를 말아 올렸다.
“라온 지그하르트를 원망해라. 너희가 죽는 이유는 그놈이 본탑을 건드렸기 때문이니까.”
“끄으으윽….”
“빌어먹을….”
“망할!”
철전대 검사들은 동료의 시체가 짓밟히고, 죄 없는 사람들이 죽어가는 것을 지켜볼 수밖에 없는 무력함과 마륜에 대한 공포로 얼굴이 창백하게 질렸다.
트레빈이 수하들의 얼굴을 살피며 탁한 숨을 뱉었다.
‘어쩔 수 없겠지.’
살아서 돌아갈 길이 보이지 않는 이 상황에서 라온을 원망하지 말라는 건 무리다.
본인들이 하고 싶지 않아도 자연스레 머릿속에 떠오를 수밖에 없을 것이다.
‘하지만….’
그건 모두 저놈들의 계략이다. 라온을 모르는 인질들과 달리 그에 대해 알고 있는 철전대를 통해 지독한 저주를 완성하려는 게 분명했다.
‘놈들의 술수에 넘어간 채 죽을 수는 없지.’
이건 지그하르트와 흑탑의 싸움이다. 라온을 원망해서는 안 된다.
쿠우웅!
트레빈이 거칠게 발을 구르며 검을 들어 올렸다. 강맹한 오러가 일순간 마기를 밀어내고 상서로운 빛을 일으켰다.
“설마 지금 라온을 원망하는 멍청이는 없겠지? 흑탑의 추잡한 수에 넘어갈 놈이라면 지금 당장 검을 던져버려라!”
음성에 오러를 담아 외치자, 시간이 멈춘 듯 결계가 고요해졌다.
“당연하죠!”
“그 괴물을 원망해서 어디에 씁니까!”
“적은 저놈들이지. 라온 님이 아닙니다!”
Cheoljeondae raised his sword, curling his mouth as if he had lost his mind at some point.
“Support is not coming. but!”
Trevin flashed a bright smile on his silver blade.
“We fight! Just as the Gwangpungdae that protected the Aryan family for five days did, establish Sieghart’s will in this hell!”
“yes!”
The will of the iron squadron was knitted together and a blue-black momentum rose.
A clear will appeared in the eyes of the swordsmen who were holding on, and a mysterious light burned above the blades they held.
“Umm… .”
Ma-ryun frowned as he felt the energy wave of the steel belt, which had become stronger than when he first entered the barrier.
“Ah, I told you to deal with that guy quickly, right?”
A sharp voice was heard from behind the wheel. She was a white-haired woman lying diagonally on the floor, and there was not a trace of humanity in her gray eyes.
That witch was Binghyang, who maintained this barrier.
“It’s becoming a nuisance.”
Binghyang trimmed her nails and twisted her mouth.
“There aren’t many sacrifices left now, so what are we going to do? “If you have a problem, go to the head of the building!”
She waved her hand as she watched the Curse of Vengeance flutter from the ceiling.
“surely.”
Ma Ryun ignored Binghyang’s irritation and glared at Trevin.
“I had to deal with you first.”
He glanced at the prosecutors of the Iron Squadron who were looking at Trevin’s back with trusting eyes, arousing fierce murderous intent.
“I didn’t know that it would be a disruptor rather than a medium that speeds up the curse.”
“It’s good to know now.”
“I’ll have to deal with you here.”
“Anyone wants.”
Trevin raised his eyebrows and adjusted his sword. Her fatigue and pain made her dizzy, but she couldn’t die without a fight.
“You can’t fall until I cut your head off.”
“It’s a shame.”
Ma-ryun leaned back on the wheel he held in both hands and licked his lips.
“If I had entered the Black Tower with that strong will, I could have become the floor lord.”
A pair of wheels held in his hand flew out.
Wooooow!
Although the speed was not very fast, the demonic energy wrapped around the wheel was so intense that it could not be ignored.
“I would rather bite my tongue and die than eat together with you guys!”
Trevin gritted his teeth and unleashed the power of the Iron Crown Sword. Even though the blade was broken, he added sharpness to his sword as if he knew the will of the sword owner.
Haha!
The season of the Iron Crown Sword roughly pushed away the ring, but there was still a second ring left.
“Aaaah!”
Although Trevin was coughing up blood due to internal injuries, he slashed his sword towards the center of the second wheel.
Kya gya gya gya!
Even though I am wearing a strong flag, my fingertips are trembling and my stomach is pounding due to the impact from the rotating wheel. But he couldn’t break down.
Quaaaaaaaaaaa!
I raised my head after smiting the demonic wheel with a sword, not an aura or a sword technique.
‘Damn… .’
I really have no strength now.
At first, he tried to save the hostages, but he overexerted himself, and was angry at the death of his colleague, so he used excessive force.
In particular, I was unable to use my full strength due to the barrier made of demonic energy, so I no longer had the energy to lift my sword above my waist.
“It’s such a shame.”
Contrary to what Demon Ryun said, the demonic energy he recovered bloomed to the point where it was breathtaking. The gray blade of the wheel was gradually turning black.
‘Black wheel… .’
They say that when Ma-ryun becomes sincere, the color of Ma-ryun turns black, and from now on, it seemed like it was real.
“I will end your life with this demon wheel.”
With the man’s sneer, two wheels fly again. When I saw Ryun tearing up the space and crushing me, a chill ran down my spine.
‘Even if it were normal, it would be difficult to bear. but… .’
Hold on until the end.
Since I knew how Raon Sieghardt fought in the Aryan family, I couldn’t give up first. Without teeth, he had to fight with his gums.
“Aaaah!”
Trevin screamed and unfolded the Dead Sea Chamil of the Iron Crown Sword. Although only a small amount of aura had permeated, the sword’s thrust was sharper than ever.
Piaaaaaaa!
The blade, thinly wrapped in aura, struck away the ring filled with demonic energy.
‘Is this enlightenment? but… .’
late.
It seems that the level of the Iron Crown Sword has grown, but there are no auras or stamina left. The second wheel was rushing in front of me, but there was no way to stop it.
Trevin lowered his sword and spread his arms. It was his last will as a great lord to protect his subordinates and hostages behind him and die alone.
‘I won’t close my eyes.’
It was when I was watching the black wheel approaching, thinking that I wanted to die as a warrior.
Absolutely!
A sound like an egg shell breaking was heard in the air. The strange sounds erupted one after another, and huge cracks appeared in the ceiling that had never shaken.
Quaaaaaaaaaaa!
The ceiling, which was shaking with demonic energy, collapses and a storm of red-hot flames pours down.
But Ryun had already reached her uvula.
The moment I bit my lip while thinking of death, red eyes darker than flames flashed in the storm of heat.
Raon. He, who I had never imagined would appear here, descended as a red thunderbolt.
Hahaha!
The wheel filled with demonic energy is crushed and thrown away, and the darkness containing the curse melts.
Raon turned his back on the center of the collapsing barrier. The Black Dragon Cannon, which had not yet sunk, trembled as if roaring.
“Thank you for your patience.”
Unlike Raon’s smile, a shimmering light flashed over his red eyes.
“Now leave it to me.”
