Chapter 310

‘…It seems there’s nothing more.’

The reason I hadn’t been able to use Shikigami in the battles against Polar Night until now was simple. They, too, were highly likely to be affected and controlled by Polar Night’s power.

However, now that I had stolen Polar Night’s Strong Desire using the power of the Phantom Body Trait and separated it into the shadow space, I could sufficiently withstand its influence.

“…Burn it.”

[Groooar!]

Kongsami and Keuseundae unleashed their energy, and the remaining Shikigami also began to calmly position themselves around Polar Night.

Moreover, within that, I continuously summoned Verdi from the Sun-Moon Stone.

“Can you lend me your assistance?”

[For about five minutes, yes.]

As my combat power rapidly increased, Polar Night slightly furrowed one eyebrow as if annoyed.

And so, the final battle finally began.

Screeeech—!

“Do you know? Even though you’ve isolated me like this, your comrades outside are still facing the rest of me.”

“…….”

“I don’t think they’ll be able to hold out for very long. The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for you.”

Her words were undoubtedly correct. What I had drawn into the shadows was merely a lump of Strong Desire temporarily separated from Polar Night; the rest remained intact outside.

If the trial space within Cheonghongyeong and Cheongil fail to hold out, Polar Night would eventually return to reality and engage in a fierce struggle with the rest of the group.

But.

“The fact that you’re saying such things means your situation isn’t very favorable either, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

At my words, Polar Night simply fell silent. She had implicitly acknowledged that she, too, was in an unexpected crisis.

“Even so, the outcome won’t change. It’s merely a difference in order.”

Swoosh!

The wind blades Polar Night created instantly pierced through the entire body of the Right Guardian.

Watching the Right Guardian vanish without even a chance to react, I lightly bit my lip.

‘Even weakened, she’s still this formidable…’

I had succeeded in noticing the attack in advance and attempting to defend, but even the wind blades she unleashed in that instant contained several high-level dangers.

Thus, I had no choice but to abandon the Right Guardian rather than continue with a clumsy defense.

Crackle!

Booom—!

“Observing repeatedly, I can see several facts. You probably can’t maintain this space for very long, can you? Weren’t you already near your limit just to create the situation up to this point?”

Polar Night, who had regained her composure at some point, smiled faintly and spoke to me.

Under normal circumstances, I would have meticulously exchanged moves and tried various methods, but as she said, I, too, was not in a position to buy time.

And even weakened, the total amount of power she possessed far exceeded my imagination.

Swoosh!

Screeeech—!

In the ensuing exchange, the Giant Strength Guardian was destroyed, and Sorisoe suffered a critical injury.

Moreover, Hwabaek, who had tried to protect the other Shikigami, also unleashed power at her limit and roughly collapsed.

“The composure is fading from your expression. Don’t you think the conclusion is being decided?”

I had to admit that the situation was indeed gradually turning unfavorable.

If things continued like this, I would be cornered and meet my end at her hands without accomplishing anything.

‘In the end, there’s no other choice but this…’

As I sighed and clenched my fist tightly, the sensation of the yellow crystal held within it was transmitted directly.

Simultaneously, I couldn’t help but recall a single phrase left by the prophet Woonyeon a very long time ago.

The prophecy that the future me would meet true death at the hands of someone I loved.

For a while, I had taken it in its literal meaning, but now my thoughts had changed slightly.

‘I may have some fondness, but there’s no one I love yet. And it doesn’t seem like that will change anytime soon.’

Even if my current feelings deepen into a more profound relationship, that would be a story for the distant future.

However, if it’s something I truly love, it clearly existed even back when I heard the prophecy.

I love this world, which I shaped with my own hands and which became the object of all joys and sorrows.

As I’ve said many times, I’ve devoted my entire life to the Exorcism Academy Series, which is merely a game.

Thus, that prophecy might have been targeting my current feelings all along for a very long time.

‘…….’

If I use this final means, there’s a high probability I will meet eternal death.

I won’t be able to return to reality to meet the other comrades or envision future plans together.

Even so, my resolve was already firm.

Thud!

With the help of Black Yin and the Black Birds, I instantly soared into the sky, then immediately used the Eight Trigrams Star Sky Art to conceal myself and charged toward Polar Night from complex angles.

“Do you think such petty tricks will work?”

Swoosh!

In the ensuing attack, several Black Birds aiding my flight were destroyed, and shortly after, one of Black Yin’s wings was severed by an invisible strike.

[Kreeee—!]

As Black Yin and the Black Birds screamed and fell, the distance to Polar Night was now merely three meters.

Facing me as I leaped down from the air and deployed an Art Formula, Polar Night calmly countered.

The sharply launched Art Formula scattered in the wind, and simultaneously, I blocked the rising black thorns with Barrier Technique.

In that momentary exchange, Polar Night ultimately emerged as the final victor.

Thud!

Splatter—!

Polar Night’s slender hand pierced through my abdomen, and blood splattered in all directions.

A fatal wound—in a battlefield where a single mistake determined victory or defeat, it was an irreversible injury.

“…It’s over. In the end, it comes to this.”

“Cough!”

A hot stream of blood gushed from the corner of my mouth, and inside, it felt as if I were burning with pain.

Even as my consciousness blurred and my vision crumbled, I steadfastly carried out the final steps like a puppet executing a planned task.

At some point, finely crushed crystals were flowing from my right hand, and as Polar Night withdrew her hand, I lost my support and collapsed into the dark space.

Thud!

And so, all consciousness was severed. And then.

Thump.

Thump.

It sounded like a heartbeat, yet also like something pulsating.

Thump.

At some point, my body, which had risen from its place, gazed at Polar Night before it with a strange gleam in its eyes.

Perhaps sensing wariness, Polar Night also distanced herself to observe my condition.

“Why… No, you’re different from before…”

She was right.

The current me differed in appearance and aura from before, exuding a presence as if the contents had completely changed.

In reality, it wasn’t me.

“…….”

Recalling the memories I had transmitted using the power of the Phantom Body Trait, he seemed to be analyzing the current situation.

And once that was done, he let out a small sigh and spoke.

“I understand the situation, but this is still troublesome. This isn’t the battlefield I was asked to assist with.”

Simultaneously, beside him, who gave a faint smile, a strand of shadow pulsed and instantly began to form a body identical to his.

That was me, who had chosen a different form of resurrection by utilizing the traits of the shadow space.

“Your descendants are in danger. Will you help?”

“Hah… Complicated. Honestly, I don’t understand. Have many things become twisted within this distorted flow?”

But.

“If a descendant who unraveled the secret of Solitary Shadow seeks salvation, there’s no reason for this Golden Radiance to refuse.”

As those words implied, his identity was the soul of Hwang Family’s founder, Golden Radiance, which had been contained within the Soul Anchor Stone obtained earlier in Solitary Shadow.

Having kept it clenched in my right hand all along, at the moment I met death at Polar Night’s hands, I summoned Golden Radiance’s soul to take over my body.

“I’ve roughly read the memories you transmitted. To create such a situation before that unreasonable existence… My descendant possesses quite impressive skill.”

Due to various constraints, I couldn’t rely on my comrades’ help within this shadow space.

Thus, worried about lacking power, I had kept one final move in reserve until the very last moment.

Having my body summon Golden Radiance, the ancestor of the Hwang Family, I resurrected in the form of a spiritual entity to focus on maintaining the space and supporting Golden Radiance.

That was the final step of the plan to defeat Polar Night, its destination.

“…But you know, don’t you? Once this space vanishes, you, too, won’t be able to maintain your soul in that form. You’ll scatter and disappear.”

“I know.”

Golden Radiance hesitated briefly, then gazed at me with a serious expression and continued.

“If I use my power, we could swap positions, but the probability is extremely slim, and it’s highly likely to end in mutual destruction. Moreover, as someone who must fulfill a significant promise and duty, I have no intention of risking mutual destruction for that thread-like probability.”

“…I know. I had already prepared myself for it.”

Rather, the fact that there was still a method worth attempting even in such a situation was proof of Golden Radiance’s prowess as an Exorcist.

Having accepted all those answers, Golden Radiance scratched his head and let out a sigh laden with multiple meanings.

“Then it’s settled. In return, I, Golden Radiance, will ensure your final wish is fulfilled, no matter what.”

Although a brief respite was given during the conversation, surprisingly, Polar Night did not attempt to seize that opening.

Perhaps, in her weakened state, Golden Radiance’s presence posed enough of a threat.

“Unbelievable. To resort to such tricks even at this point…”

“Enough with the pretense, young lady. I understand you’re an unreasonable existence, but in your current state, you’re not that fearsome. You’re aware of that fact, aren’t you?”

Now, Polar Night, too, was in no position to maintain composure.

She was weakened and had consumed a considerable amount of power through repeated battles.

Moreover, the final groundwork I had laid was also about to reveal itself.

Sluuurp.

Squelch!

“This is…”

“A Curse. I offered it using my life as a medium, so in your current state, you won’t be able to shake it off easily.”

The most vicious form of Curse, which I had also used in the previous battle against Cheong Woondo, the former Elder of the Cheong Family.

Since I used my own life as a medium, Polar Night, who took it, would inevitably face considerable backlash and expend power dealing with its side effects.

Considering all circumstances, Polar Night’s expression noticeably twisted as she finally realized she was in a position to be hunted.

And before such a her, Golden Radiance and I slowly gathered power and took a step forward.

To bring an end to this prolonged battle.