Chapter 307

“Long time no see.”

“……”

At those words, which were an odd choice for a first greeting, Polar Night tilted her head and sent an emotionless gaze my way.

It probably wasn’t that she didn’t understand the meaning. By now, she was likely already slowly connecting with all the Specters in the world, stealing their power and knowledge.

That guess seemed accurate, as Polar Night soon showed a faint flicker of interest and spoke to me.

“Do you know me?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

At this enigmatic exchange, I could feel the Exorcists inside the Barrier swallowing nervously and tensing up.

Since the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis, there had been a few high-ranking Specters who could speak human language, but Polar Night exuded an aura different from even them.

Paying no mind to the Exorcists’ reactions, Polar Night continued briefly.

“So the world has become like this. An interesting affair.”

“Much time has passed. The era when the Pyeong Clan existed is now but a distant past.”

“……”

An implication that I knew about Pyeong Eunha, whom Polar Night had used as a vessel for her resurrection. However, Polar Night showed no sign of caring about that.

Well, from her perspective, it might ultimately be a matter of no consequence.

“I cannot stand by and watch your Strong Desire be fulfilled.”

“…You know that much?”

“Now, it is time to end this.”

I didn’t explain the details, but as if that alone was enough, Polar Night gave a small nod.

Time to end this.

In that regard, her thoughts likely weren’t much different.

“Very well. Let us see how much power the accumulated history of humanity possesses.”

With those words, Polar Night vanished from the spot as if turning into a mirage.

Simultaneously, the unique spiritual sense of Exorcists began detecting unusual hostility from all directions.

“Junior, this is…”

“The Specters under Polar Night’s control. They will gather from all eight provinces of the country and surge into Seoul.”

Perhaps it wasn’t just that. High-ranking Specters from all over the world might all be heading here as well.

And there was only one thing we could do.

Defeat them all, and at the same time, find Polar Night who would be beyond them and annihilate her.

“…Seems we have no choice but to try.”

“Hmm, let them come, however many there are!”

The group brimmed with confidence. Even though they had just reconfirmed that Polar Night was an immensely fearsome existence, they had already guessed all these facts and were prepared.

And I was no different.

“We will break through and face Polar Night once more to settle this.”

From the moment I bid my final farewell to Hochoong in the World of Forbidden Techniques, or from the moment I surpassed Ciel and acknowledged myself in the final trial of Cheonghongyeong.

All resolutions had already been made.

As I reaffirmed my resolve, the Exorcists of Seoul inside the Barrier also began stepping out one by two, loosening up their bodies as if preparing for the upcoming battle.

Even if there might be a gap in power now, their desire to end it all likely wouldn’t fall short of ours.

Nodding at that, everyone skillfully headed to their respective positions.

All around, Specters of various kinds, emanating eerie auras, were already awaiting us.

Whoosh—!

“…Any guess where Polar Night is hiding?”

Seo Jian asked, having approached my side after casually cleaving through the torso of a Specter that had erupted from the ground.

And that was something I had been continuously concerned about as well.

“Not far. She’s been staying in one place continuously since earlier.”

I don’t know if it’s to invite us, or if there’s some special reason.

Also, whatever it is, what we must do won’t change.

“Then that means we just need to deal with these things first!”

Cheong Joohwa swiftly scattered Talismans, and Azure Dragon, who had already soared into the sky, summoned dark clouds and thunder, shooting down numerous flying-type Specters.

Yet, despite that, the number of Specters filling the sky and ground kept increasing, becoming difficult to even estimate.

“Ugh, there were still this many left?”

“Government agencies in various countries aren’t functioning properly. Specters that were hiding in areas evacuated by citizens, as well as in the seas or rugged terrains, are probably swarming in.”

And from the Specters that existed in locations close to Korea, to those situated farther away, they were arriving in Seoul sequentially.

While no Great Specter-level adversaries could be found, the number of Specters corresponding to S-Rank and their overall quantity were something we had never faced before.

Strictly speaking, the final battle in the World of Forbidden Techniques was similar, but Polar Night’s power of domination in the present world clearly surpassed that.

“Heavenly Thousand Rotation Wave!”

“Trust Shattering Shade!”

Kwaaang!

Jjeojeojeojik—!

Sophia and Yoo Haon fired their respective Grand Arts towards areas densely packed with Specters, and the Elders of the Three Great Noble Families also deployed their clans’ Grand Arts, showcasing their might.

However, even if dozens of Specters fell because of that, the hundreds and thousands following behind were making the Exorcists feel an unknown fear.

“This number is truly absurd!”

“…It’s the end times. Even this old man’s time to die must have come.”

If the end of the world were to come, wouldn’t it be in this form?

It was such an outrageous and overwhelming spectacle that even Cheong Kilyeong, who possessed strong self-esteem, uttered words of weakness.

Seeing the Exorcists beginning to be pushed back from their respective areas, Arietta frowned and thrust her hand into the ground.

“Blood Boundary Formation.”

A red energy that spread out explosively soon covered all directions.

The Grand Art of Bloodrot was being deployed through Arietta’s hands, transcending eras.

“…If it were me, I could use it a bit better.”

Whether she had made some modifications within it, Arietta’s Blood Boundary Formation definitely had a different feel from Bloodrot’s.

And the Specters that entered the domain instantly scattered their Spectral Energy and vitality into the void, weakening or collapsing.

“Leave the 9 o’clock direction to me!”

Cheong Joohwa’s Azure-White Sword shone, and following the Grand Art Purification Formation she deployed, dozens of Specters vanished on the spot.

With the two of them supporting both sides, the Exorcists from each affiliation who had been steadily pushed back also regained a bit of breathing room.

“Ugh, at this rate, there’ll be no end to it…!”

Sophia, who had been wildly firing Cursed Techniques with her uniquely vast Spiritual Power and vanquishing numerous Specters, also had her limits.

And I, too, was harboring the same thought upon seeing the scale of the swarming Specters.

‘More than I thought. If this continues, we’ll be stuck here until all our strength is exhausted.’

On top of that, there’s no way to know right now what Polar Night, who left the battlefield alone, is plotting.

Frankly, it was a situation that couldn’t help but make one anxious.

“We need to split up! While a few stay behind to guard the Barrier, the rest of the group must defeat Polar Night!”

But at the same time, the bombardment of numerous Cursed Techniques pierced through the gaps between the Specters, and I sensed a not insignificant number of presences.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Those who appeared were Cheong Soha and Haekaram, who had parted ways with us earlier and headed to other regions, along with Ban Soyae and numerous other Exorcists following behind.

‘Did they leave only the minimum personnel behind and gather everyone else in Seoul?’

Including the Three Great Noble Families, several High-Ranking Exorcists belonging to the Headquarters also revealed themselves.

With this much combat power, they could certainly form a proper Defensive Formation against the swarming Specters.

“Don’t really get it, but they said only you guys can do it, so we have no choice but to back you up!”

Finishing his words, Haekaram jumped onto the roof of a relatively intact building and blocked a group of Specters.

A white-haired old man who had approached Arietta’s side stroked his distinctive beard and smiled.

“One never knows how the world works. Who would have thought the mind and body I retrained after meeting you would be used like this.”

He was Myeongyool, a hero from the first Night Parade of One Hundred Specters era and also Arietta’s protector.

After undertaking rehabilitation following the incident with Shin Dohoon, he seemed to have regained a fair amount of the robustness of his prime.

“Master…”

“No need to struggle alone anymore. Leave this place to us.”

As other familiar faces appeared one after another, helping the Seoul Exorcists and forming a Defensive Formation, we were able to leave in pursuit of Polar Night with peace of mind.

Polar Night’s location had been consistently pointing to one spot.

What lies there, we will soon find out.

“…Is it over there?”

“Right. No one’s aura is felt there except Polar Night’s.”

The Oppressive Aura felt during our first encounter was no longer present.

However, even so, her uniquely bizarre aura was something that couldn’t simply be ignored.

“…We have no choice but to accept the invitation.”

A small forest slightly removed from the city center, a bit lacking to be called a mountain.

As we pushed into it and moved, before long, we could face Polar Night, who was quietly gazing at a specific part of the ground.

“…You’ve come. Faster than I thought.”

“What is this place? A place related to you?”

At first, I thought she might have just chosen a suitable battlefield, but the moment I saw her eyes, I instinctively knew that wasn’t it.

Clearly, this place must hold special meaning for her as well.

“How much do you all know about this being called me?”

“A Cursed existence that is neither human nor Specter, a certain phenomenon itself born from a specific Strong Desire, isn’t it?”

Hearing that, Polar Night gazed at me with a profound look for a very long time before opening her mouth.

“I didn’t expect you to recognize it that far. You all are truly mysterious beings. Of course… even so, the result won’t change.”

Soon, Polar Night lightly turned her head and, carefully caressing the part of the ground she had been gazing at, began to mutter.

“Nothing remains now. Not the traces of the past, not anything.”

“……”

“As you guessed, I am the Strong Desire itself of someone who existed in the past. Can you guess how such an I can dominate all Specters?”

Frankly, until now, I wasn’t certain. I had only thrown out a few conjectures and gauged their veracity.

But in the process of facing and conversing with Polar Night of the outside world like this, I was finally able to predict the true answer.

“Ultimately, you all share the same origin, is that it?”

“Yes. Exactly. They were, from the beginning, essentially included within me, and within the one who gave birth to me.”

In other words, what was being discussed here was the very background of Specter birth that forms the foundation of the Exorcism Academy Series.

Swallowing hard at that monumental fact, I voiced the conclusion I had drawn in my mind to her.

“You, and the first Specters, all originated from a single being.”

At those words, Polar Night revealed a faint, profound smile.