Chapter 217

As Taewoon turned and walked toward the broken entrance of the Holy Sanctuary, the massive doors, which had been tightly shut, swung open, and hundreds of Gwangseong Church followers poured out.

“Heretics! Execute those who dare defile the Holy Sanctuary!”

“For His glory!”

Eyes filled with madness, bodies grotesquely twisted. They were closer to aberrations consumed by Kyurihi’s power than humans.

However, Taewoon did not stop his pace, continuing forward without even drawing his spear.

“…….”

The moment Taewoon gave the signal, two shadows leaped out from his sides.

Immediately after, a giant Roulette began to spin in Yerin’s hand.

【Jackpot! The Goddess of Luck smiles upon you!】

A golden meteor shower rained down from the sky.

The small meteors falling upon the followers exploded with powerful Divinity, reacting violently against Kyurihi’s energy and dealing corresponding damage.

On the opposite side, Seoyoon drew her sword.

Every time Seoyoon’s blade sliced through the air, space itself was severed.

It was a strike combining the power of the sword—which had become an Artifact after being bestowed by the Cult Leader of the Apocalypse Society—and her own inherent swordsmanship.

Not only the bodies of the followers, but even the Barriers they deployed and the waves of Divine Power were all sliced clean in half.

Taewoon walked leisurely through the gap.

There were followers who rushed at him, but the moment they touched the Crimson Mist emanating from Taewoon’s body, they collapsed, screaming.

The Pressure Effect of a top-tier Artifact. Beings of a lower rank were no longer permitted to even approach Taewoon.

“S-stop! This is a sacred— gah!”

Upon entering the Holy Sanctuary, a priest showing a fairly strong presence blocked his path, but with a single gesture from Taewoon, he was slammed into the wall and lost consciousness.

An unstoppable force.

The elite forces of the Gwangseong Church, who had struck terror into the Allied Forces, were being swept away like autumn leaves by a single man.

“The powerful energy… I can feel it further inside.”

Taewoon quickened his pace.

From deep within the Holy Sanctuary, waves of a violent battle were being transmitted along with a faint vibration.

‘Choi Seoin and Hwang Heojae… and the Fingers, then.’

Taewoon’s transcendent sensing ability accurately identified the combatants even from this distance.

Taewoon’s party passed through the corridor and headed toward a massive underground hall. As they drew closer to the scene, the smell of blood and burning began to permeate the air.

As Taewoon broke through the final door and entered, a gruesome battlefield unfolded before his eyes.

The wide hall was already half-destroyed, and the corpses of numerous followers lay scattered across the floor.

And in the center, a familiar face lay collapsed with a snapped neck.

‘Paragon.’

The Fourth Finger and the administrator who oversaw the construction of the Central Sanctuary. There was a massive hole in his chest, and he had long since breathed his last.

‘I didn’t expect there to be casualties already… Since Kyurihi arrived in person, their power must have increased significantly. Are they truly South Korea’s top-level Hunters?’

But it was too early to feel relieved.

In one corner of the battlefield, Hwang Heojae was gasping for breath, drenched in blood. One of his arms was bent at a strange angle, and there was a deep laceration in his abdomen.

Before him, the one called the Second Finger was kneeling, but he too was in a wretched state, glaring at Hwang Heojae. It was clear that both had reached their limits.

However, the real problem was not there.

The center of the hall.

A battle of a completely different dimension was taking place.

“Urgh……”

The most renowned Hunter in South Korea, Choi Seoin.

Wrapped in blue lightning across her entire body, she was fighting desperately, wielding a longsword without a scabbard.

But her opponent was far too powerful.

A man wearing a pure white robe, with one hand in his pocket, was dodging Choi Seoin’s fierce attacks as if he were merely taking a stroll.

From his other hand, golden energy poured out incessantly, pressing down on Choi Seoin, while a massive, formless power continuously changed its shape and method, aiming for her throat.

The First Finger. Minos.

Boredom was etched upon his face.

“Disappointing. I had expectations since you were called the strongest of this land… but is this all?”

With a light wave of his hand, Choi Seoin’s sword strike was futilely deflected. Simultaneously, an invisible shockwave struck Choi Seoin’s abdomen.

“Cough!”

Choi Seoin spat out blood and was pushed back.

“With only that much power, you cannot even reach His toes. At this point, this is nearly a waste of time.”

“Don’t… talk… nonsense…”

The light in her eyes had not yet died, but the difference in power was evident.

Currently, Choi Seoin seemed to have stepped through the entrance of a Level 8-rank Hunter, but the power Minos possessed was stronger than imagined.

“Let us end this now. He is waiting.”

Minos snapped his fingers.

Then, a massive golden Barrier was created in the air, and it instantly began to warp the laws of the surroundings.

Words that sounded like a command passed through, and a powerful Authority crushed Choi Seoin, beginning to choke her breath to the limit.

“Ke, hugh……”

Even in that situation, Choi Seoin tried to find a breakthrough by pulling her fallen longsword with Magical Power, but even that attempt was blocked by Minos, leaving her in a position to quietly await death.

“…Let’s wrap this up.”

Just as intangible blades were about to pour down like rain.

The ceiling of the Holy Sanctuary turned red, and a single bolt of dark red lightning struck down between the two.

With a massive Explosion, the transparent blades were all neutralized and vanished.

Minos, who had failed to perceive the concealment of The Red Man’s presence, stiffened his expression for the first time and stepped back.

In that single moment, he realized that Taewoon was an extraordinary existence.

“You are……”

“You looked quite amused. That won’t be the case anymore.”

From within the rising smoke, Taewoon slowly walked out.

Having already assumed a combat stance, Taewoon held Keshatus and Barata in both hands, and Mitra’s Wings were emitting a brilliant radiance behind his back.

“I didn’t expect to meet you like this… but I’ll take it from here.”

Taewoon gave a short nod to Choi Seoin, who was looking at him with surprised eyes.

Then he turned his head and gazed at Minos, who was staring at him with wary eyes.

“…….”

“I see.”

After examining Taewoon’s appearance, Minos met his gaze with a frowning expression.

A moment ago, Taewoon had torn through his Authority as if he were taking a stroll. Not only that, he had neutralized an overflow of immense power with a single bolt of lightning.

“…….”

For the first time, a light of interest flickered in Minos’s eyes.

“The Hunter Seo Taewoon, who was called the Divinity of Baran. I had heard reports that you possessed something unusual… but I didn’t know it was to this extent.”

Minos slowly scanned the armaments Taewoon possessed. A spear swirling with dark red lightning, another spear embodying the energy of the earth, and wings emitting divine radiance from his back.

Each one was a top-tier Artifact with a rank capable of shaking the world.

“However, you shouldn’t have possessed this much power. Just what trick did you use?”

“Who knows. Is there any reason for me to answer?”

Taewoon answered calmly and blocked the path in front of Choi Seoin.

While still gasping for breath, Choi Seoin quickly grasped the situation, returned the nod, and joined Hwang Heojae.

Taewoon’s gaze remained fixed on Minos.

‘Rather, I’m the one who has something to say… Was the First Finger this strong?’

Scanning Minos with his transcendent senses, his energy was far from ordinary.

He was an omnipotent powerhouse capable of wielding power close to an Authority, exercising Divinity bestowed directly from Kyurihi.

But there was no fear. Because within Taewoon’s heart, a far greater and more fundamental power was writhing.

“An interesting situation.”

Minos curled the corners of his mouth in a sneer.

“The time for Him to truly descend upon this land is not far off. At one time, He wished to take you in… but there is no need for that now. I shall personally break that arrogance with my own hands.”

Minos raised his right hand. Then, dozens of transparent spheres were created in the air, and strange ripples began to shimmer within them.

They were not ordinary magic bullets. They were spheres of destruction created by compressing and distorting space with Divine Power. It was clear that the moment a normal Hunter touched them, they would meet their death without leaving a single shred of flesh.

“Receive it. My heavenly punishment.”

The spheres rushed toward Taewoon at a ferocious speed. A high-speed attack where not even a trajectory was visible. However, Taewoon didn’t even feel a sense of crisis.

‘…This isn’t even a proper greeting.’

【Condition Fulfilled】

【Cinema Skill: The Red Man】

Taewoon’s form blurred and melted into the shadows. The spheres pierced through the spot where Taewoon had been, absorbing all the energy in the surrounding area, but they had no effect on Taewoon.

“Hmm……”

The moment Minos looked around with a composed face, Taewoon appeared from behind and asked in a chilling voice.

“A toy-like strike like that doesn’t constitute a match. Have you forgotten that you yourself mentioned wasting time?”

“…….”

After a brief silence, Minos slowly changed his expression, turned around, and faced Taewoon once more.

His face, now quite serious, seemed to contain a hint of surprise and pleasure.

“I suppose that is true. My apologies. At first, I thought it was a delusion or a Deception… but how did you reach this level of mastery in such a short time?”

“Let’s end this quickly. I don’t have time.”

“…The one who decides that is me.”

As Minos raised his hand, fragments of several types of Authority began to swirl and circle around Taewoon.

Immediately after, his immense Divine Power seized control of the space in an instant.