Turning
chapter-742

‘Until this moment, everything had been proceeding smoothly,’ Yuder mused, his eyes lowered as he read about Ever's quick and appropriate decision to subdue the Star of Nagran.

Ever's opponent, an Awakener with the ability to create invisible spaces, used this power for both protection and imprisonment. It seemed beyond doubt that this same individual had played a key role in isolating the disturbance at the Sun Palace from the outside world during the intrusion.

Despite adeptly wielding his power, the enemy had a weakness. If the user himself was attacked and rendered combat-incapable, the space he created became unsustainable.

Ever, understanding this flaw perfectly, had effectively thrashed her adversary. She was the best in the Cavalry with the ability to control her power so precisely that she was able to attack just enough to destroy weapons but not destroy the human body.

While Ever was dealing with him, Hinn was not idle. She single-handedly held her own against three others and nearly captured the sage just as Ever was emerging.

The hindrance to both Ever and Hinn was the seemingly weak sage, who alone appeared incapable of striking down a single person.

Yuder swiftly skimmed the following passage:

"Just before I emerge, the sage fled towards the Duke of Diarca with only one Awakener. Although we attempted to follow, those we thought we had subdued rose again, ignoring their injuries and relentlessly pursuing us. Even after being struck down repeatedly, they disregarded their own bodies and charged madly."

The Awakeners guarding the sage, despite broken bones and regaining consciousness from unconsciousness, relentlessly charged at Ever and Hinn. The letter suggested that their insensitivity to pain only added to their surprise.

The enemies, screaming in excruciating pain with each defeat, yet rising again to engage in a frenzied attack. The situation was vividly portrayed in the letter.

"Brainwashing truly creates troublesome foes," murmured Kishiar, gazing in the same direction as Yuder. Yuder nodded slightly and spoke.

"It would have been easier to subdue mindless enemies. But in a situation where the priority is to overpower without killing, fighting such adversaries is challenging, even for the more experienced."

"Indeed. What would my assistant have done in that situation?"

"If I were there..." Yuder pondered his response.

"I would have immediately sealed the area to prevent them from escaping their shield as soon as Nipollen located the enemy."

If they had created an invisible space for protection, Yuder would have countered with a greater force, sealing the outside to block any escape route. This method, only possible with Yuder's incomparably great and overwhelming power, was also the quickest.

Kishiar laughed silently at Yuder's response.

"A tactic of advancing the general's badge to its limit for encirclement and capture. Truly my assistant’s approach."

This was a metaphor drawn from a strategy game they had played together.

Though Yuder wasn't there with his comrades at that time, they had once again found a way to overcome the situation. It was Gakane who had appeared just in time to assist Ever and Hinn, caught in a tight spot.

"Gakane!"

"Sorry, Ever. I intended to help covertly as instructed, but it seemed unnecessary in this situation. Let Hinn and me handle this. Go after the sage!"

Thanks to Gakane, Ever could leave the battle against the brainwashed Awakeners to him and Hinn, and pursue the sage.

However, this time, the last one by the sage's side hindered Ever. A diminutive man with a timid appearance and a long scar on one ear, he was a Diemon capable of duplicating others' abilities in a degraded form.

‘Why doesn't this forest seem to end? It's near the Duke of Diarca's spot, isn't it? It feels too long, even considering my pace...!’

Ever slowed down, scanning the surroundings sharply.

‘No people in sight. No traces either. That means... a mental power?’

Ever recalled that she had once made eye contact with the man who fled with the sage. He had sunburnt skin and a torn scar on one ear. It was since that encounter that she had lost sight of them, and the path seemed to repeat itself.

‘If this is a mental power, running blindly is futile. I must break out from within.’

Ever coolly recalled the mental power counter-training from the Cavalry. The most effective method in such a scenario was to find a weak spot from inside and break through.

But where to break through? The surroundings looked no different from an ordinary lakeside walk, making it hard to pinpoint.

As Ever cautiously surveyed the area, a rustling sound startled him, and she turned, fists clenched.

"...Nipollen?!"

But it wasn't an enemy that appeared, rather a small cat. Ever's heart settled as she saw Nipollen jump down from a branch.

‘Lucky I didn't attack first.’

Ever wasn't sure why Nipollen was here, but she might be better at finding a way out of this situation.

"Nipollen, do you know the way out of here?"

The cat just stood there, making it unclear whether it understood or not. Ever changed her approach.

"Elle... Hmm. Shall we go back to see your brother?"

At that, the kitten meowed softly and started running in a certain direction. Ever followed without hesitation.

As they ran, the scenery began to warp, revealing a distorted gap between the trees, like a misaligned puzzle. Without hesitation, Ever gathered strength in her hand and lunged towards it.

Feeling something catch in her hand, she pulled back and struck again. The world crumbled with a thud, and it seemed like the trees were breaking.

On the third strike, she saw a blurry shadow, resembling a person fleeing from her. Instinctively, Ever knew it was her target and continued her assault.

Boom, thud. The sound of the world breaking grew until finally reaching its limit.

Thud!

Everything shattered, and the world around Ever changed color in an instant. She closed and opened her eyes, feeling the fragments of an unknown illusion flow chaotically.

"Aaargh!"

With someone’s tearing scream, Ever finally escaped back to reality.

The first thing she saw was the shattered tree brushed by her hand, and the man who had locked eyes with Ever earlier. The man, bleeding from the mouth, writhed in pain and quickly averted his gaze upon seeing Ever.

Ever caught the man's murmuring as he wiped away the blood.

"As expected, that Nahan's ability, isn't strong at all... If it weren't for the sage's command, I would've maintained my previous power instead of using this weak one... Ah, what a waste... Such a waste..."

'Nahan? Did he just say he used Nahan's power?'

Ever, having heard from Kanna about the abilities of those who remained with the sage, easily deduced the man's power.

'It was said that there is one who could mimic others' abilities in a degraded form. So, he copied Nahan's power to create a repeating illusionary path, buying time for the sage to escape...!'

It was strange that the illusion, indistinguishable from reality, was broken so easily. If he had been the real Nahan, it wouldn't have ended so simply.

Realizing the sage was not with the man, Ever bit her lip and turned his head. During the illusion, she had unwittingly reached near the lakeside where the Duke of Diarca's people were.

Everyone was looking at Ever and the man sprawling in front of her with surprise. Among them, Ever noticed an unfamiliar knight looking at her with the most shocked and worried expression.

'Luckily, Pruelle hasn't been discovered yet. Not much time has passed.'

However, the plan to capture the sage's party without revealing themselves had collapsed. As Ever felt a faint sense of disappointment, someone emerged from the opposite bushes and prostrated before the Duke of Diarca.

"I, Ajihen Toom, humbly present myself before His Highness the Duke of Diarca."

He was the sage, revealing his face after removing the pilgrim's robe.

[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.'

[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."

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