Chapter 306

Crackle-crackle-crackle─!

As we entered the black fog that could be called the enemy’s domain, the Dark Devourer contracted its body, which had been scattered in all directions, and converged it toward the center where we stood.

“Ugh… I don’t think we can even hold out for three minutes!”

“As expected, we can’t block it.”

Each of us was using a defensive art while emitting as much Spiritual Power as possible, but even that wasn’t the solution.

It only bought us time while the creature devoured the Spiritual Power constituting the art.

But that was enough. Because from there, the counterattack would begin.

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

Following the newly evolved Phantom Body Trait, the shadows, receiving my will, spread out widely and began to surround the black fog converging at the center.

And as tested earlier during the escape process, the shadows of the Phantom Body Trait could exert a certain degree of physical force on the black fog.

“I’m going to gather all of its black fog like this.”

Originally, it would have been impossible with my power alone, but the creature was also concentrating its own body, targeting us positioned at the center.

Since it acted on simple instinct without intelligence, it couldn’t grasp the hidden intent behind it.

“Hoo…”

Even in its gathered state, the creature’s black fog still possessed a massive size.

Therefore, the task of enveloping it all was bound to consume an enormous amount of power.

“…Junior, will you be alright?”

“I think I can manage somehow. However, compressing the fog completely will only last for a moment.”

After painstakingly spreading shadows across all the ground, I finally detonated them, instantly swallowing up all the black fog.

“Now!”

At my command, the shadow that had trapped all the fog began to contract, and Seo Jian also assisted it using the natural qi of wind.

That series of actions was directed toward the central area we were holding.

Crsssh!

As the fog gathered, the combined defensive art of everyone was also rapidly consumed.

The time we could hold out was barely over 10 seconds, so we had to decide the outcome with a single strike.

“The responsibility is too great…!”

Even without explanation, it was understandable. If we failed, everyone would be swallowed by the black fog and meet their death.

In that situation, Sophia emitted her uniquely powerful Spiritual Power, further provoking the black fog’s appetite.

“Ugh! We have no choice but to try! I’ll pour everything out!”

Whooosh!

Simultaneously, the rest of the party, guessing her intent, also emitted their Spiritual Power as much as they could, pulling the black fog inside the shadow sphere even more toward one place.

And at that moment, a streak of blue light erupted from Cheong Joohwa, who had closed her eyes and entered a state of concentration.

“Nightmare Repulsion!”

Fwaaaat─!

Along with a blinding light, a clear energy enveloped the surroundings, and simultaneously, the black fog of the Dark Devourer trapped inside the shadow contracted greatly.

───!!

A bizarre scream akin to a wail from the depths of the underworld—the black fog emitting it began to vanish one after another, desperately struggling to break through the shadow and escape the light.

Trickle.

Due to the intense recoil, hot streams of blood flowed from my nose and ears. However, the evolved Phantom Body Trait could withstand even that, and as time passed, the creature’s resistance gradually lost strength.

“Nightmare Repulsion!”

Fwaaat!

From Cheong Joohwa’s hand, who had concurrently activated the art with parallel thought processing, another dazzling blue light flowed out, and eventually, the creature couldn’t endure it.

When all the light disappeared and the screams subsided, we could finally see with our own eyes the scene of the shattered and collapsed city.

“…D-did we exorcise it?”

“The creature’s energy has completely vanished. It must have been annihilated.”

As the life-or-death gamble ended in success, the party members each let out sighs and slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.

Those who had consumed Spiritual Power on the defensive art, me who had trapped the black fog, and Cheong Joohwa who had used the art filled with strong desire—all were completely exhausted.

The Dark Devourer was an enemy so eerie and powerful that calling it such was an understatement.

“To think such a Specter existed… If similar ones appear, I don’t have confidence in facing them.”

“…Indeed, it was an enemy of a form we haven’t encountered before.”

Since I agreed with everyone’s opinion, I also nodded while exhaling.

I truly hadn’t anticipated such a monstrous enemy would appear.

Compared to it, even the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter and the Dragon Abyss God felt like enemies of a mere ordinary level.

“What about the Busan side… Will they be okay?”

At Yoo Haon’s question, I and the party members recalled Han Seoa and Cheongil who had headed to Busan.

We couldn’t be sure, but since Cheongil had shown confidence, they were probably fine.

More than that, what I needed to consider was what came next.

‘The Black-White Twin Specters’ next turn is the Specter Mask King.’

However, what had revealed itself in the current world was the unidentified Dark Devourer.

So, now that we had defeated it, would the Specter Mask King, the final gatekeeper in the original game, appear?

But if not, then the next turn would be…

Lost in thought, I swallowed hard with a wavering gaze.

As far as I knew, after defeating the Specter Mask King, there were no more Specters existing inside the Oracle Bone Casket.

What remained was only the Polar Night, which had been the beginning of everything.

Suppressing the rising unease, as we returned inside the Great Barrier, we received a response from Seoa that they had defeated the Great Specter in Busan.

Hearing that explanation, the Great Specter that appeared in Busan was indeed the Specter Mask King, meaning the Dark Devourer we faced here was likely a Specter that appeared next due to the influence of Hell Difficulty.

Having realized that far, I recalled in my mind the form of an existence I could no longer ignore.

Polar Night.

We were truly going to face it.

[The sky in the northwest is still chaotic. The final battlefield will likely be there.]

Leaving only those words, Cheongil conveyed his intention to join us here with Seoa.

Regarding the ominous energy still lingering throughout the world, we forced ourselves to rest and strove to maintain the best possible condition.

And when several hours had passed, the final anomaly finally revealed itself before us.

“What is that… just…”

Baek Yongha, the 11th Elder of the Baek Family guarding the focal point of the barrier, let out a sigh with a look of disbelief.

That reaction was understandable.

What was now opening in the skies above Seoul was a massive gate, as if it belonged to the heavens.

Whooosh.

Creeeak.

The gate enveloped in a mysterious energy was cracked and broken here and there, and its condition was also poor.

Simultaneously, I could intuitively recognize that it was the divine artifact Oracle Bone Casket, having exhausted its power.

‘…It’s already in a state close to annihilation.’

It was only natural. The phenomenon that occurred due to the passage of countless years and its power being exhausted was precisely the series of Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crises.

And from within the half-open, crumbling mysterious gate, an extremely ominous energy began to seep out and dominate the surroundings.

Swoosh.

The word ‘ominous’ alone couldn’t possibly express its true nature, and the sensation emanating from it was something I had never experienced before.

A warning echoed in the instinctual realm—this was an existence we must not face.

Soon, a small figure walked out from the gate, stepping on the air and arriving on the ground, and until then, we exorcists, including us, showed no reaction.

Only much later did Cheong Kilyeong, the Elder of the Cheong Family, click his tongue loudly and speak to the headquarters exorcist in charge of communications.

“…Reinforcements?”

“Y-yes, we’ve already requested them. They will arrive in order from the nearest regions.”

Thanks to the earlier announcement of the appearance of Cheongil, the past hero of the Cheong Family, from the Busan side, we could gather most of Korea’s military forces to Seoul with his help.

However, it would take time for them all to arrive, and looking at the current Polar Night, it was unclear how much help that would be.

The place where Polar Night revealed itself was quite distant from here, but everyone present guessed that it would head toward the Great Barrier.

Simultaneously, the soul of Kwimae mixed into my right arm conveyed a message.

[It’s certain. That is indeed Polar Night resurrected from Pyeong Eunha’s body. However… it’s also a completely different existence from the one you or I saw.]

That was understandable, as it was Polar Night from the original history, not the World of Forbidden Techniques.

It wouldn’t remember our encounter, and its power was undoubtedly far more immense.

“…What should we do?”

Yoo Haon asked, but no one could give a clear answer to that.

Frankly, we also didn’t have a definite plan.

Twitch.

My senses, having become more sensitive due to the Trait’s evolution, signaled danger, which also meant Polar Night was slowly approaching this Seoul’s Great Barrier.

And soon, the exorcists gathered inside the barrier could see the form of the ominous existence approaching from the edge of their vision.

“A humanoid… Specter?”

“…There’s no overwhelmingly oppressive energy.”

But that was foolish talk. It wasn’t concealing or controlling its energy; it was simply on such a different level that we couldn’t perceive it.

Could mere ants, looking up, fully take in the form of a human or a massive building?

So to speak, that was the extent of the disparity.

“It’s creepy. I don’t really know, but…”

“Rashly attacking… doesn’t seem like a good idea either.”

Just staring at it made us unable to lift our feet from the spot.

Such a bizarre presence emanated from it.

Soon, Polar Night, having approached close enough to be visible to the naked eye, clearly took on the appearance of Pyeong Eunha seen in the World of Forbidden Techniques.

In a situation that could no longer be overlooked, Cheong Kilyeong, who was like the representative here, stepped forward to face it and soon uttered wary words.

“Further approach is not permitted! What is your identity?”

Cheong Kilyeong must also know. That the girl before his eyes was by no means normal or benevolent.

Nevertheless, due to the sensation so different from any Specter seen until now, he couldn’t help but voice the question.

“I ask once more. You are…”

Just as he spoke that far, the girl’s hand slowly moved forward.

And knowing what that meant, I moved a shadow to throw Cheong Kilyeong backward, barely managing to block the creature’s attack.

Scccrunch─!

“Kgh… Attacking out of nowhere like this!”

Cheong Kilyeong, who complained about Polar Night’s sudden ambush, soon fell speechless at the overwhelming devastation engraved on the asphalt ground.

It was as if a giant’s hand had swept across the earth, and the strange thing was that despite such destructive phenomena occurring, no corresponding impact could be felt.

Realizing that, Cheong Kilyeong seemed to feel terror, submerged in a profound sense of incongruity.

And I wasn’t much different either.

‘…I can’t even guess how much power it possesses.’

I had already tried the Appraisal function. But as in the World of Forbidden Techniques, it didn’t work on the creature.

Because the creature was closer to a Cursed Technique phenomenon, not a living being or Specter.

Before Polar Night, who simply sent a gaze with tranquil eyes, I opened my lips as if shaking off the surging fear.