Chapter 507 – The King of Trees (1)

“You… impossible.”

Color drains from her face, anxiety returns.
Caught between a whirlpool of strange emotions, Hanbyeol’s face crumples. She takes a step forward.

“Can’t be?”

The man seated on the throne bore the face of the one she had yearned for during the past three years.
A face that should bring joy, yet Hanbyeol’s countenance twisted subtly.
The man’s visage betrayed not even a hint of joy.

Se-Young and the ‘Hunter’ silently scrutinized his pallor.

“Hanbyeol, don’t move.”

Se-Young’s hand firmly grasped Hanbyeol’s shoulder.

“Se-Young, no, it’s him, right? That man.”
“He’s not. Not the one we knew, at least.”

It was indeed Lee Si-heon.
When he was twenty, he might have aged like that, gracefully.
The man, now just over forty, clenched and released his hand, his gaze fixed on Lee Se-Young.

– Thud. Thud.

Tension causes her body to tremble. Her legs wobble.

‘…It can’t be.’

If that truly was Lee Si-heon, then who was the King Mokryeong that she had seen?
Lee Si-heon of this world is alive. His unique aura, which always emanated from him, was present, albeit unsettlingly different.

【 It’s different. 】

I know.
Se-Young’s eyes widened sharply.

“Then… who? Who is it if not him? Despite his body being….”

Se-Young was unable to answer Hanbyeol’s question.

“What do you know?”

The man before her was indeed Lee Si-heon. His body was severely distorted and marred, yet there was an undeniable familiarity in his eyes.
Yet, a gut feeling told her not to approach, and it wasn’t just paranoia.

“Siheon.”

Between the gap of Se-Young and Hanbyeol, a figure emerged.
Clad in an imposing helmet and massive armor, not a single inch of skin visible, the ‘Hunter’ resumed speaking.

A parallel world. Lee Si-heon from another dimension.

– Screech.

The sword she unsheathed scraped the floor. Her blue armor emitted a menacing glow.

“Yellow?”

Hanbyeol, her demeanor as a commander crumbling, asked in a daze. The Hunter advanced further.

‘The Hunter’.

The reason Cornus had spent years studying the world and tirelessly seeking clues under the sage’s guidance.
Cornus extended her arm at a right angle, aligning the tip of her sword with his brow, she summoned her magic.

“He must be killed.”

Because it seemed that Lee Si-heon from the other world might possess the clue.

– Creak.

A disconcerting noise echoed from the throne.
The man, staring at the blue knight, twisted his hand and murmured a name.

“Cornus.”

– Flinch.

A slash appeared on Se-Young and Hanbyeol’s faces. The name of a maiden believed to be dead.
The familiar name had been directed towards the ‘Hunter’.

“The Hunter” displayed a stark contrast to Sansuyu, both in his countenance and physique. But if the one uttering these words was Lee Si-heon, the narrative took a different turn.

In the role of ‘the Hunter’, Sansuyu emanated a vibrant yellow magic. Her movements traced elegant, dignified lines.

-Phwam!

A sword strike beelining forward. The mana seeped into the ground, fluctuating, then Sansuyu’s blade was unleashed onto the man. A swordsmanship of dread-inspiring power, a level that Seyoung, who had been by Sansuyu’s side, and even the stars hadn’t witnessed before, was fracturing the world.

“Prepare for battle!”

The stars roared with strained faces, causing the hunters to arm themselves.

The maestros of the magical tower raised their voices in a chorus of incantations. Even the guild leaders, who could be considered at the pinnacle of their respective professions, were discharging their magic. The elite knights who had followed the papal decree pulled forth the power they had received from the divine.

“…..”

The man offered no reaction until their threats were almost upon him. His mouth opened, as did the teeth of the alabaster beast. His discolored tongue moved, each pronunciation carrying weight.

“You’re quite… resilient. It seems you’ve chosen your options well.”

Not just Seyoung, Byeol, and Sansuyu. The man, having appraised every power within his sight, wore a more grotesque smile than anyone else.

“Seize the opportunity. Hmph.”

A hollow breath.

Countless branches shot out from behind him. A wild tempest occurred simultaneously as enormous trees sprouted from the ground, entangling them.

-Kwa-jik!

Magicians in the rear were pierced by the pointed branches descending from the ceiling, like fish skewered. The ground gave way, preventing knights from approaching. Sansuyu’s sword, the only one that had managed to get close, failed to reach him.

“…!”

Lee Si-heon, locking eyes with Sansuyu, murmured with a wearied face.

To seize the opportunity.

“We have no choice but to overturn everything, again.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Apparently…”

Baekyang’s voice trembled.

“In this dimension… the only ones who can face him…”

Either someone who could wield the crown on an equal footing with him, or… the only other way was for the oldest World Tree to appear.

Those were called the Three Disasters. They were modern calamities that were deemed insurmountable. It was a struggle against just the three of them – Lerad, who boasted a colossal form like a bead, Aori, who absorbed the power of others, and the most ruthless one among them…

Then how should this monster be evaluated?

“That power…”

The bark of the tree shimmered with bright yellow energy.

Baekyang muttered, his voice colored with fear.

【The World Tree of Justice. It is his dominion.】

Perhaps he had been violated, or he had tasted the edge of a blade. Not only that, he must have torn countless World Trees out by their roots.

Therefore, it was not surprising that he could not be defeated. After all, he was quite literally the man who had slain a deity.

‘…What should I do?’
【The wisest course would be to flee. The tower that held us captive appears to have reopened its doors. However…】

Baekyang halted mid-sentence.
It felt as if the unsaid words were already known.

‘If that monster were to get out, what havoc would it wreak?’

His impassive face seemed to regard human life as less significant than that of an ant.
Each time he wore such an expression, a corner of my heart ached immensely.

What kind of trials had he endured to become so indifferent to such heinous acts?

‘He wasn’t always like this… He used to be someone who struggled to adapt to this sort of environment.’

In the society of the World Tree, human lives were gambled like chips in a game.
Regardless of the circumstance, people dying due to some disaster was an everyday occurrence.
Lee Si-heon had always been hesitant when it came to killing. He was the kind of man who couldn’t forget the faces of those he had killed, even if he tried.

But now, that Lee Si-heon seemed utterly numb to murder.

-Kwaang!

Cornus was pushed back by Lee Si-heon. Only a few Guild Masters and Knights, and the Stars, were barely able to withstand him.

The majority of the others had been killed. This was an unprecedented loss.

【……】

Words of astonishment failed to materialize.
Baekyang had once seen that regret-filled face.
It was brief, but I still remembered the cruel heart filled with infinite desire that he had shown in the past, the same heart that had relentlessly assaulted Hong-Yeon.

Even an ordinary man could turn cruel to protect something.

‘…However.’

Heaven, White Peach, Zodiac, their rage had not lasted long.
As he realized he was becoming stronger, the feeling of being pursued naturally dwindled.

What then, was driving that Lee Si-heon from another world?

[Dad, hang in there♡]

The sight of the round paper necklace hanging around his neck caught Baekyang’s eye.

‘Si-heon as well.’

Se-Young, having retreated from the front for a moment, was wiping the blood that flowed down her forehead.

‘Did he also… change like this?’

Baekyang had no words to offer.

【It would be best not to dwell on that now. However…】
‘What is it?’
【If he is as damaged as that man now. That would be…】

It was at that moment.

-Thud!

Something pitch-black came hurtling at an incredible speed within the extensive white space.

His body inclined forward as if he was crawling on the ground, his fist shot out like a bullet, surging with a coarse magical power.
Baekyang chuckled.

【That would likely be your doing.】

The jet-black Black Dragon cloth fluttered in the wind.

The man who shattered all the sharp branches sprouting from the ground and advanced, charged at Lee Si-heon.

Se-Young’s pupils trembled subtly. Shrouded in magic, her face and body were hardly discernible, yet it took no time to recognize who it was.

‘Lee Si-heon.’

At the sudden strike of the newly arrived man, the monster’s body swayed once.

“Escape.”

A girl whispered from behind Se-Young. Jet-black hair, porcelain skin. The girl, clutching a wooden sword, tugged at Se-Young’s robe while casting her gaze on the women ahead.

“You…?”
“Please. The Master requested it.”

Master.
Could she possibly be a disciple of Lee Si-heon?

“Don’t you already know?”

The fact that the king is Lee Si-heon. Unbeknownst to others, only Lee Se-Young was privy to this fact.

Ebony met Se-Young’s gaze and respectfully bowed her head.

【 What should we do? 】

Se-Young’s decision was swift.

‘…Do it.’

Once again, time came to a standstill.

* * * * * * * * * *

There was no sense of vitality. The hunters of a mere guild were not even worth the exertion.

Even I would have struggled against this raiding party. The possibility of being subdued was not to be dismissed either. If I weren’t wearing a crown, even Sansuyu would have been beyond me. I didn’t understand why she didn’t use ‘liberation’, but I had no choice but to intervene.

– Bang!

The punch I had drawn back struck his neck harshly.

Like a colossal mountain crumbling, the gathered soil and roots dispersed in an instant. A heat signature was etched into the space. The raw magical energy shimmered, stretching out in a straight line.

“…You.”

As our bodies intertwined, we locked eyes.

Yes, it’s me.
The one I was battling was none other than myself.

– Creak.

The punch failed to tear off even a single layer of his skin, but I was fortunate that the compatibility was rather favorable.

If equal physical prowess was the criterion, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat me.

‘Of course…’

For now, I would be at a disadvantage.

– Bang!

The erupted magic engulfed the king’s body, hurling him back. Whether Ebony had been successful in persuading them, I could no longer see Byul and Se-Young engrossed in the fight.

“Si-heon…?”

Was there still one left? At the sound of the familiar voice, I turned my head. Someone clad in massive armor looked at me, eyes widening in surprise.

I recognized her the moment I saw her. It was Sansuyu. She recognized me instantly, as if she knew it couldn’t be anyone but me.

“Back off.”
“…!”

Sansuyu hesitated but eventually vanished from my sight. Thankfully, Lee Se-Young made her move. It’s all right. I couldn’t kill that creature, but conversely, it couldn’t kill me either.

“No crown, I see.”
“Yeah. Undergoing a trial.”

“…Ah.”

We shared a brief conversation. The sensation of conversing wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“I wish to ask how it came to be this way.”
“……”

No response was forthcoming.

Well, it is indeed the truth that all my physical capabilities have been diminished due to the theft of the King’s power. A vessel once expanded by the King does not contract.

If I exert my full power, I can persevere.

‘Furthermore.’

His crown was already teetering on its limits.

‘It’s shattered in half.’

It appears to be my otherworldly counterpart, who seems to have dealt quite harshly with the crown. Perhaps the crown needed a level of power exceeding its capacity. Or it’s probably due to a similar reason that the power of the King can no longer be adequately harnessed.

He is stronger than I, but he holds penalties greater than my own.

‘It’s to be expected.’

If that fellow had arrived in this world in his complete form, oh. The mere thought sends shivers down my spine. My jaw trembled.

Fortunately, it seems that the power possessed by the tower has its limits.

“……”

I extend my hand, aiming my fist at him. The King stares at me unblinkingly, slowly raising his magic.

-Boom!

We exchange blows. The dark magic and the King’s power collide, fists targeting each other’s vital points. Despite the clash, no resolution was achieved.

-Thump.

The retreating King murmured, leaning on the backrest of the throne.

An unusual heat emanated from his body.

“There’s no reason to engage in a battle that won’t result in victory or defeat.”

-Growl!

The nature of the rising magic was immediately apparent.

Spatial magic. The opponent is me. Naturally, he would be endowed with a deep understanding and profuse experience in magic. Furthermore, this fellow must have accumulated at least two decades more experience.

“Madman.”

Startled, I made an urgent attempt to dismantle the magic, but he was too quick. The King vanished before my eyes. I swiftly decipher the coordinates.

The place we reached at the end of our pursuit is…

“Huh.”

The dimension of the World Tree.

A nuclear bomb has fallen in what was once a relatively peaceful place.