Chapter 305

[This is dangerous. We haven’t even secured an effective means of attack against it yet.]

“But we can’t just keep retreating, can we? We’re already close to the Cheongsa, our last line of defense.”

Whether it’s sooner or later, if we can’t confront it here, the result will be the same.

In response to her resolute will, the Azure Dragon also nodded and revealed its true form from the Cheongsimok.

Whoosh!

“Huff, huff…!”

“You are… the Azure Dragon?”

At the appearance of the dragon, which had already regained its original power, the Exorcists behind trembled uncontrollably, casting terrified glances.

The overwhelming difference in power naturally oppressed their bodies and souls.

Seeing this, Cheong Joohwa felt a strangely subtle emotion and gave a bitter smile.

It meant that the beings who once seemed like demons in her childhood had now become such insignificant existences.

Swoosh!

Swoosh—!

The black mist, having detected multiple humans, swelled without hesitation and surged toward them. The Exorcists, feeling an instinctive fear, slumped to the ground, uttering sounds of despair.

The Azure Dragon, blocking the path in front of Cheong Joohwa, summoned a rain cloud and struck with thunder, but it wasn’t very effective.

The black mist, still boasting its overwhelming volume, slowly tightened its grip on the Exorcists’ throats.

[Grrk! As expected, that thing is different from ordinary monsters…!]

“Please step back. Even you, Azure Dragon-nim, won’t be unharmed if you touch that mist.”

After spending some time pondering repeatedly, Cheong Joohwa also couldn’t logically explain the nature of the black mist.

However, her EX-Rank Cursed Technique stat and genius senses were suggesting a clear answer even within that confusion.

That thing is an extremely primitive mass of thought, immensely powerful but not an untouchable existence.

‘Among the Cursed Techniques I can deploy, which one can repel that?’

Advanced Arts didn’t work. Grand Arts didn’t work. Even special types of arts like Binding Arts or sealing techniques were the same.

In a brief moment, Cheong Joohwa reviewed all the knowledge she had accumulated in her mind and continuously explored possibilities within it.

And, as if entranced by something, she could recall a technique lingering in a corner of her memory.

‘Will something like this… really work?’

There was hesitation.

But even so, Cheong Joohwa never hesitated to act.

Flick!

Infusing refined Spiritual Power into a single talisman drawn from her bosom, Cheong Joohwa quickly constructed and completed one Art Formula.

However, she didn’t fire it at the black mist before her. She intuitively felt that something was lacking.

‘…Like this, I can’t pierce that ominous mist.’

Why, of all things, did she recall such an insignificant technique at the final moment?

Not a systematically developed modern Grand Art, nor a mysterious law technique obtained from the World of Forbidden Techniques, but just a trivial technique anyone could use.

Following that train of thought and retracing the past, Cheong Joohwa eventually arrived at the memory of the day she first learned and used a technique.

And somehow, she knew. All the nightmares that tormented her in childhood and the black mist before her seemed, somehow, quite similar beings.

When she realized it, Cheong Joohwa was already speaking as if complaining to the past enemies slumped behind her.

“Back then, every day was gloomy. I couldn’t think positively or imagine good things, and just getting through the night peacefully was difficult.”

“Wh-what. More importantly, look ahead!”

The thick nightmares that visited every night.

And for Cheong Joohwa back then, the scenes in reality weren’t much different.

“After losing both my parents, my grandmother taught me one technique while I was sweating cold sweat and suffering every night. That day’s memory is still vivid to this day.”

“……”

As if utterly perplexed, the Cheong Family Exorcists listening contorted their expressions and trembled before the mist rushing in.

But it didn’t matter. She hadn’t expected any answer from them in the first place.

“Nightmare Repulsion, do you know it?”

“Th-that thing, of course…!”

“Then, how many times have you used it?”

No one answered that. Perhaps even if they searched their memories, they wouldn’t recall.

It was that unimpressive, a basic technique naturally forgotten over time.

But for the young Cheong Joohwa, there was no technique more useful and reliable.

“I’ve used it over thousands of times. Probably no one in the entire world has used this technique more than I have.”

Recalling that series of processes and the earnest heart contained within, Cheong Joohwa somehow felt the Spiritual Power within her talisman momentarily change color.

Whoosh!

Thinking of her parents, who are no longer here, and her grandmother who prayed for her, Cheong Joohwa finally thought of all the people in the world suffering from nightmares even at this very moment.

Surely their hearts were no different from her childhood self.

Swoosh—!

Finally, from within the black mist that had closed all distance and rushed in as if to swallow its prey, Cheong Joohwa, with an unwavering attitude, fired the talisman held in her right hand.

Flash!

“Nightmare Repulsion.”

At that moment, a clear light pierced through the darkness and soared.

Flash!

Piercing through the overflowing black mist, the blue light that soared made me feel I had found the right path, and I flew into its center through Black Yin.

The black mist contracted sharply as if undergoing a chemical reaction, shrinking over 10 meters, and within the space revealed, I could discover a group of Exorcists enveloped in a bright halo of light.

“Didn’t you definitely go in a different direction…?”

“While fleeing, somehow… More importantly, the situation?”

“Nightmare Repulsion works. The reasons are uncertain in many ways, but perhaps…”

Nightmare Repulsion, I hadn’t considered that.

Perhaps that primitive mass of power, the Dark Devourer, was born from that kind of negative thought (nen).

But apart from such speculation, I could be certain that Cheong Joohwa had succeeded in manifesting a primitive Cursed Technique by borrowing the power of a Strong Desire.

‘Nightmare Repulsion is a technique with a clear purpose, a clear wish. Also, being one of the most basic techniques, it can be seen as close to a primitive form of Cursed Technique.’

Combined with the instinct of Cheong Joohwa, who possesses EX-Rank Cursed Technique stats, it must have derived the result most effective against the enemy at this moment.

Although I hadn’t anticipated this form, if there was anyone who could make it possible, it was undoubtedly Cheong Joohwa.

And my prediction was splendidly correct.

“I’m changing the plan. I’ve already sent a communication Shikigami toward the Cheongsa.”

“Huh? What are you planning to do?”

“I need your help.”

A detailed explanation wasn’t necessary. Cheong Joohwa immediately nodded and climbed onto the neck area of the Azure Dragon, which had landed on the ground.

“You all, you should be able to move now, right?”

“…Y-yeah. Somehow.”

“Take shelter inside the Great Barrier. We’ll try to handle this mist somehow.”

Even until the situation was sorted out like that, the Dark Devourer only writhed its massive body and couldn’t charge at us like before.

Perhaps the damage was that significant, or maybe it was in the process of recovering from that damage.

But what was certain was that the current Cheong Joohwa could definitely pose a threat to it.

“So, where are you going?”

“A high place. I need to accurately confirm its domain.”

Thus, with the help of Black Yin and the Azure Dragon, we flew up, ascending to an exceedingly high sky and taking in the city’s panorama.

And, we couldn’t help but gasp at the sight we encountered.

“I-it’s this huge?”

“It might be continuously growing in size even at this moment, devouring nutrients.”

Already, including the Black-White Twin Specters, several Exorcists had been sacrificed, and similar events likely occurred in places beyond our sight.

It wouldn’t be strange if it had amassed this much power.

“How on earth do we… handle this?”

It’s not unreasonable to utter weak words. Cheong Joohwa’s Nightmare Repulsion definitely showed excellent effect, but it was an overwhelmingly massive and enormous existence.

I wasn’t even sure if repeating the same process hundreds of times could defeat it.

“It lacks any decent wisdom or intelligence. Its behavioral principle is simple, and it’s uncertain if something like a soul or will exists. It probably doesn’t have a part that could be called a core.”

“…Then, there’s essentially no method, isn’t there?”

“It’s difficult, but it’s all a matter of perspective.”

It is a lifeform with extremely bizarre yet simple and clear Traits.

And among them, the clearest characteristic is that it takes the form of black mist.

“If we can just gather all the mist you see down there in one place, we can deal a fatal blow through your Nightmare Repulsion technique.”

“The mist… how do we gather it?”

“There’s bait here that it definitely reacts to, right?”

To attract its gaze and concentrate all its body in one place, we have no choice but to become the bait ourselves.

At that one-sided conclusion, Cheong Joohwa made an expression as if disgusted but also smiled faintly.

“Let’s try it, I guess. At worst, what more can happen than dying?”

As the plan was decided, the party members who had likewise received communication began gathering in the sky through their respective means of flight.

However, no distinct reaction came from the black mist.

The distance was too great, and its attention was likely stolen by the aura felt from the direction of the Great Barrier.

“Oh dear, seems the result is different from the expectation…”

“Junior, do you have a plan?”

Time was urgent, so I couldn’t explain in detail, but I had considered this possibility long ago.

And it didn’t matter.

Because a simple method existed to elicit a definite reaction from it.

“We have to go in, into the mist.”

“…You’re joking, right?”

Sophia asked as if denying it, but there was no other way.

To realize the precondition of driving it into one place, this was the best option.

“I’ll explain the method. It’s definitely dangerous, but not impossible.”

At my serious demeanor, the party members listened attentively, each steeling their resolve.

And the moment all plans were finalized, we all climbed onto the Azure Dragon’s back, emitted Spiritual Power to the maximum, and descended toward the very center of the black mist covering the city.

Swoosh!

Swoosh—!

As we entered its detection range, the black mist surged up and engulfed the party. We sent the Azure Dragon back into the Cheongsimok and, floating in the air, all gathered at one point, activating maximum Defensive Spells.

Crash—!*

The place we descended to was within a darkness where not an inch ahead was visible.

Now, the moment of the final decisive battle with the Dark Devourer had begun.