Turning
chapter-718

"What have you done? Speak," demanded Nathan Zuckerman, thrusting his sword into Aton's shoulder without hesitation. Blood splattered, soaking the earth a dark crimson. Aton's body instinctively twisted in agony, yet instead of screaming, he returned a chilling gaze to the two men.

"This land harbors all the conditions for endless imbalance. Those targeting you are not only us, and what we did was merely add to the inevitable repercussions of imbalance that would have occurred someday with them. Today was the day it all came together, earning the right to be called the land of the black moon. If you're curious, go see for yourself what has become of it!"

Before he could finish, Aton's head was violently smashed into the ground as if trampled by someone. Unsurprisingly, it was Yuder, his hands wrapped in the force of the wind.

"Augh...!" Aton struggled desperately to lift his head buried in the dirt. No matter how much he pushed with his limbs, the invisible pressure of the wind was overpowering, feeling like being crushed under the foot of a giant. The sensation of the earth mangling his face, filling his nose and mouth, was no less intense than the pain of the sword biting into his shoulder blade. His consciousness began to blur.

"Huh...!" Moments later, Aton finally escaped the crushing pressure on the back of his head. Yuder Aile, wearing a glowing ring, appeared in his blurred vision. Blood streaming from Aton’s broken nose and injured eyes.

Contrary to what Aton expected, Yuder's face was expressionless, not showing any sign of the tremendous power he had just exerted. It was all the more unnerving how inhumanly impassive he seemed, as if he had no heart at all. Slowly, Yuder opened his mouth.

"This is too uninteresting for me to indulge. Don't even think about using such rhetoric to deceive anyone again. I would never fall for it."

Thump. Once again, a tremendous pressure crushed Aton's entire body. He felt his limbs shatter and lost consciousness.

Nathan Zuckerman spoke up beside Yuder, who had just subdued Aton.

"I've just twisted my bracelet to send a signal from our side. There's no significant change yet, but you should try as well, Sir Aile."

"Understood."

Yuder removed his ring. During the time he listened to Aton's nonsense, the ring's vibration had ceased, now as quiet as if its previous response had been a dream. He studied the tiny magic circle inside for a moment and then brushed it with his fingertip.

Once, twice, and then a third time.

Gold light briefly flared from the magic circle on the ring, then faded. Nathan Zuckerman, having observed Yuder's actions, began to tend to the unconscious Aton.

"You know, the Duke has the power to surpass us both if he so wishes. So, there's no need to make hasty assumptions just because our two magic tools reacted simultaneously."

"Yes. I share the same thought."

Despite his heart still racing with unease, Yuder knew just how formidable a person Kishiar was.

Kishiar had told Yuder to use the ring as a means of rescue, but that didn't necessarily mean Yuder had to use it for that purpose.

"It seems certain something has happened at the Cavalry branch, but such a situation might also pose a threat to us. So, we chose the quickest way to assess our situation, considering it might be the same here."

The fact that both Yuder's ring and Nathan Zuckerman's bracelet, two magic tools, had reacted simultaneously bolstered their speculation. It was a distinct possibility. Nathan Zuckerman nodded silently in agreement and responded.

"Or, it could be due to the use of magic. Magic tools are designed to respond to the innate magic power inherent in all humans, however slight, making them extremely sensitive to magic forces. I have heard it's quite common for magic tools to malfunction in the presence of large concentrations of magic power."

"I see. I wasn't aware of that..."

"In that case, I will follow after taking care of things here. Sir Aile, please go ahead."

Yuder hesitated for a moment.

"Is that alright?"

"You possess the power to move faster than me, don't you? And if it's related to the Cavalry, it would be better if Sir Aile goes."

Nathan Zuckerman, too, must have been eager to rush to Kishiar's side. Yet his words carried a clear intention of consideration, beyond a cold assessment of the situation.

Perhaps he had stepped back to allow Yuder to go first, even though their lord, Kishiar, might be in danger. The significance of this gesture struck Yuder with an intense and unfamiliar force.

"..."

It was a trust different from what he shared with his comrades. Yet, in matters concerning Kishiar, it felt even more profound and weighty.

Yuder looked intently at Nathan Zuckerman and then bowed his head.

"Understood."

"I'll follow shortly."

Yuder stepped onto the wind and leaped from the ground. In just two or three bounds, he soared over the high walls of the Conche estate, disappearing onto distant rooftops. Nathan Zuckerman watched his retreating figure and then turned around.

Without taking a breath, Yuder leaped twice into the air, bounding towards the temple spire. Chimneys that blocked his path were leaped over effortlessly, and he ignored the screams of someone hanging laundry on a rooftop. Even when his foot nearly slipped on the broken edge of a roof, he kept his eyes fixed forward.

Having arrived at the Conche estate by carriage, he wasn't exactly sure how far or in which direction the Cavalry branch was located, but he didn't need to ponder. The moment he started running wildly, stepping on the wind as if mad, a thin thread appeared before him, just like that time.

That thing that always appeared whenever Yuder Aile wished to find Kishiar La Orr.

The thread, wrapping around Yuder's body and extending into the distance, seemed fragile enough to break with a breath. Yet, it was more distinct than when he first saw it, and instead of a single strand, there were now several.

The existence of this thread meant Kishiar was still alive.

At the end of it, Kishiar would surely be there.

'No matter what has happened, as long as he is there... I can handle it.'

That was enough. He thought so, but while his mind tried to remain calm and rational, his heart continued to race with unease. His nerves felt unbearably sharp, as if wringing his brain.

Thus, Yuder decided to contemplate Aton's words while running.

‘This land harbors all the conditions for endless imbalance. Those targeting you are not only us, and what we did was merely add to the inevitable repercussions of imbalance that would have occurred someday with them.’

Then there was the mention of the 'Land of the Black Moon'.

The southern people were known to still hold the belief in the Black Moon, chased away by the Sun God. But this was the first time he had directly heard that name from them.

‘Imbalance... What does it mean for the land to have been imbalanced from the beginning? Does adding an aftereffect imply making the already unbalanced land even more so? And then, what happens?’

Finally, the distinctive, worn rooftop of the Cavalry's Southern Branch came into view, not too far away. Yuder, following the swaying threads as if they were leading him, ran faster. Suddenly, he halted, noticing something.

"There it is..."

The sounds akin to explosions near the Cavalry's branch didn't bother him.

Neither the sight of people gathering nor those fleeing was of concern. After all, he had no great fear when it came to dealing with humans.

But,

What was that jet-black line hanging in the sky?

It looked like a cracked vessel, its endlessly split mouth agape.

Yuder had seen something like this before.

"...A crack in the sky."

It was akin to the crack he had witnessed in the Great Sarain Forest in the West, now floating in front of the Cavalry's branch.

In his previous life, a crack was often seen just before a great calamity struck. And the first time it was noticed by people, in Yuder's memory, was...

‘The Great Southern Earthquake.’

Suddenly, Aton's words about the aftermath of an imbalance flashed through Yuder's mind.

A chill ran down his spine, feeling as if his blood had turned cold.

Yuder, who had paused momentarily, started running again. With more speed and greater force, responding to his desire to exert more power, the energy surged like a small whirlwind.

With the whirlwind lifting him from below, Yuder finally reached near the top of the Cavalry's branch. Up close, the rift seemed even more vast and ominous.

And then, the figure standing below it.

The very person he had been searching for was there.

A man with golden hair, holding a long sword, seemed to notice Yuder's approach and lifted his head, meeting his gaze precisely. The threads that had led Yuder ended right above his red irises.

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching me?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

Check out the new project 2:

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'