Chapter 209

The air in the Holy Sanctuary froze.

The unexpected appearance of the Assembly’s forces and their alliance with the Apocalypse Society. At the center of it all, Taewoon exhaled quietly, gauging the enemies before him.

The difference in numbers was truly overwhelming, but there were not many who were threatening enough to be captured by Taewoon’s transcendent senses.

‘Those people…’

An aura with a different texture than Di Marte’s.

One was a middle-aged man whose depth was unknowable, like a still lake; the other was a woman possessing a clear aura, like a pure wave.

With no time to hesitate, Taewoon decided to move quickly and shake the tide of battle.

Taewoon’s form became a streak of red light, shooting forward like an explosion. His goal was singular: to suppress the movements of the two Independent Solvers.

The mere act of Taewoon sprinting caused the atmosphere to scream and tear apart, and those unable to react to his overwhelming speed collapsed, coughing up blood from the sheer shockwave.

“What kind of monster is this…”

“Scatter!”

The middle-aged man leaped quickly, aiming for Taewoon’s back, but Taewoon’s speed was already in a realm that far transcended their perception.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

With a low murmur, Taewoon completely seized the rear of the two individuals. Keshatus and Barata, held in his hands, each imbued with different energies, pointed toward their hearts.

It was at that exact moment.

A clear and pure, yet strange bell sound that pierced the deepest parts of the soul echoed throughout the Holy Sanctuary.

The moment the sound reached him, the fighting spirit and murderous intent boiling inside Taewoon vanished, melting away like spring snow.

The weight of the spears in his hands felt like thousands of pounds, and the very sense of purpose—the need to cut down the enemy before him—began to blur. It was a mysterious Authority that robbed one of their will.

“Well done, Philia.”

Confirming that Taewoon’s movements had stopped, the two Independent Solvers did not miss that momentary opening.

As the middle-aged man struck the ground with his palm, the entire floor of the Holy Sanctuary transformed into a giant canvas, filling with complex and grotesque patterns.

The patterns writhed like living snakes, binding Taewoon’s ankles and attempting to shackle his very existence.

However, that was all.

“…Is this it?”

A calm voice flowed from Taewoon’s lips.

Beneath the finally revealed Hunter’s Mask, Taewoon’s mind had already been forged into a steel-like will that exceeded human standards. Even the bell sound that suppressed will was nothing more than a breeze in a teacup.

With just a slight surge of power, Taewoon silenced all the inner turmoil. Every sense was once again sharpened, cold and keen as ice.

Soon, Taewoon lightly stomped his foot, spreading a wave imbued with his own Magical Power in all directions. It was a simple motion, but the pure force erupting from beneath Taewoon’s feet shattered the patterns filling the sanctuary floor like shards of glass.

“What…”

Philia, the woman holding the bell, her eyes filled with shock that her Authority had been dismantled so futilely.

Her bell that called for repose was a secret divine artifact capable of silencing all sorts of wicked beings, yet Taewoon stood before her composed, as if he had been unaffected.

“The Aberration Hunter of Tehesa… according to Di Marte’s report, he shouldn’t have been at this level?”

Philia muttered in disbelief. Beside her, the middle-aged man, McCoy, watched Taewoon with a cautious gaze and spoke.

“Do not be flustered, Philia. The black Cult Leader didn’t ask us to negotiate for nothing. It is best to act by regarding that man as a threat equal to the beings of the apocalypse.”

Their gazes crossed. It was a brief moment, but they understood everything. Further probing was meaningless; they had to pour everything they had into the attack from the start.

“I will focus on the resonance, so I leave the next part to you.”

“…Begin.”

Having reached a resolution, the two Solvers began to exert their full strength to suppress Taewoon.

Sound waves containing various energies flowed from the bell Philia shook, creating a strange current in the space, while McCoy carved patterns into the walls and ceiling of the sanctuary, manifesting a three-dimensional prison to trap Taewoon.

But to the current Taewoon, their full strength was no longer a meaningful threat.

‘Has the gap… widened this much?’

【Condition 1: Must be wearing the Hunter’s Mask】

【Condition 2: A hunting target must exist within perceivable range】

【Condition 3: Inflict a wound upon the hunting target while wearing the Hunter’s Mask】

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Hunter of Dawn Forest】

Taewoon’s form blurred for an instant, melting perfectly into the shadows of the sanctuary. He had manifested the Presence Concealment Effect contained in the skill in a form similar to that of The Red Man.

The current created by the bell could no longer bind Taewoon, and McCoy’s prison shackled only empty space.

“Where did he—”

The moment McCoy looked around in alarm, a chilling spear tip suddenly thrust out from the shadow behind his back.

“Kugh!”

The Lightning of Destruction dwelling in the tip of Keshatus pierced through McCoy’s defense and penetrated his shoulder. Simultaneously, on the opposite side, Philia’s bell shattered into pieces, unable to withstand the projected energy.

“…….”

A single exchange. Taewoon perfectly broke the coordination of the two Independent Solvers and demonstrated an overwhelming gap in power.

“Unbelievable.”

“What on earth is this…”

The Bishops of the Apocalypse Society, including Aphrasia, also looked at Taewoon with grim expressions, desperately chanting Incantations of curses to bind Taewoon’s movements.

However, before the overwhelming aura emitted by the Hunter’s Mask, their wicked energies simply lost power and scattered.

‘…It seems there are no problems on the other side either.’

Despite the severe difference in numbers, even the First-Class Solvers of the Assembly seemed unable to exert much power against the current Yerin.

The Branch Leaders of the Ark firmly maintained the front line, blocking the alliance of the Assembly and the Apocalypse Society, and the battle fell into a stalemate.

“…….”

Honestly, he didn’t feel like he was going to lose.

There were only two true variables: the Cult Leader, who sat upon the throne observing everything, and the future Jain, who remained silent on the opposite side.

‘The Cult Leader must have known it would turn out like this. What exactly is his plan?’

From the beginning, what Taewoon cared about was a direct confrontation with the being who lent power to the Cult Leader. Other than that, there were no elements that posed a practical threat to him.

Was the reason for bringing in the Assembly simply to buy time? But time for what?

Just as complex thoughts continued to swirl in Taewoon’s head, the Cult Leader, who had been sitting on the throne, finally slowly stood up.

[…In the end, it has come to this.]

The moment his voice resonated, the entire sanctuary was engulfed in a flash of light.

Along with a light that seemed capable of blinding, a mysterious energy that seemed to warp the very senses of time and space began to encroach upon everything.

Taewoon instinctively drew upon the power of the Hunter’s Mask to protect himself, but he could not shake off the alien sensation sweeping over his entire body.

And when the light finally cleared, Taewoon doubted his eyes.

Behind the Cult Leader, the empty space was torn open, and something strange began to writhe beyond it. Soon, an indescribable, massive entity slowly began to reveal its will from within the darkness.

‘What happened?’

An immense presence. A pressure that felt as if it were freezing his heart.

Taewoon intuitively realized that the being who had lent power to the Cult Leader was now attempting to descend directly into this place.

But it was impossible.

The End of Dawn had not yet arrived, and until the boundaries of the world were completely collapsed, the descent of a being of that magnitude should not have been permitted.

As if reading the questions of the confused Taewoon, the Cult Leader began to provide the answer in a strangely distorted voice.

[There is no need to find it so strange, Holy Follower. For what purpose do you think this secret space exists? If one prepares sufficient sacrifices and preparations, it is possible to deceive even the memories of the world for a short while within this place.]

“Good heavens! Everyone, get back!”

Drael, a Branch Leader of the Ark, shouted in alarm, and Taewoon also bit his tongue slightly.

That meant he had to face one of the worst Calamities that would arrive at the End of Dawn right here, right now. If that thing manifested in a form close to completion, victory could not be guaranteed even with their current strength.

The worst-case scenario he had originally feared had become reality.

Jain, who had been silently observing the situation, spoke softly.

“Does this mean… we were merely bait?”

[You state the obvious.]

Even while facing Jain’s sharp gaze, not a hint of fluster could be felt in the Cult Leader’s voice.

[I had no expectations for you from the start. The current Assembly is utterly mediocre in every way. The same goes for you.]

Jain let out a sigh with a grim expression. The Cult Leader, who was gradually transforming into a half-inhuman form, began to let out a chilling laugh while looking up at the ceiling that blocked the sky.

And Taewoon, who had read his essence and finally grasped his true intentions, spoke to reveal the Cult Leader’s goal.

“…From the beginning, you weren’t even interested in something like equal repose.”

[…….]

“You intend to sacrifice everyone in the world to be reborn as a new existence alone at the End of Dawn. Am I wrong?”

[Correct. However, you realized it too late.]

Using the Cult Leader’s body as a vessel, the entity behind him finally began to reveal its hideous form to the world. Space screamed, and the entire sanctuary vibrated violently as if it were about to collapse.

In that urgent moment when everyone held their breath before the desperate situation.

A single sword, which no one had noticed, flowed with a sharp Keen Edge and pierced through the Cult Leader’s heart.