Chapter 336

Words : 2284 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 336 “...” Se-Hoon stared at the scene before him blankly. While it was shocking enough that Eun-Ha’s all-out attack hadn’t left a single mark on the surrounding terrain, what stunned him even more was Eun-Ha’s expression. “Hmm!” Her shoulders were raised high and her lips were curled into a smile filled with pride—an expression anyone might make when things go their way. However, it was Eun-Ha, of all people, wearing it. She feels... almost like a fake. Although it wasn’t the first time Eun-Ha had shown emotions, the difference between then and now was immense. Previously, her emotions appeared only for a fleeting moment, flaring up like an emoji before vanishing. Now, however, her feelings flowed in real time, her expressions shifting dynamically. Dumbfounded by the unbelievable change, Se-Hoon just stood there. “Ahem...” Snapping out of it, Se-Hoon saw Eun-Ha glance sideways at him, as if anticipating something. But Se-Hoon was puzzled, not knowing what she wanted, at least until he suddenly recalled something she had said earlier. Ah, I see. In the past, she wouldn’t have thought much of it, but it was different with her emotions running wild as they were now. Smiling in understanding, Se-Hoon gave her what she wanted. “That was an excellent strike, Dean.” “...” At the praise, Eun-Ha’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and the corners of her mouth quivered faintly. She had been complimented many times before, yet it had been a very long time since she’d felt such a surge of emotion, making it hard to maintain her composure. This could be... a bit dangerous. While it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, the feeling was too exhilarating. To suppress the turbulent emotion, she had to remind herself that the situation wasn’t entirely resolved. However, having just released them moments ago, it was harder than expected to calm down, making her brows furrow in frustration. It’s not as straightforward as I thought... Meanwhile, as the battle between desire and reason raged within Eun-Ha, Se-Hoon was surveying their surroundings. “How did you pull off that attack just now?” How had she neutralized the enemies’ attacks without affecting the terrain? It was a technique he’d never seen, even before the regression, and his curiosity showed on his face. But his intrigued expression made Eun-Ha tilt her head in confusion. “Isn’t it because of the weapon you forged?” “...Excuse me?” “I naturally assumed it was your doing.” Se-Hoon’s expression became awkward. What on earth is she talking about...? The Primordial Ring he had forged—a weapon designed to help Eun-Ha control her overwhelming power—was indeed supposed to regulate her energy. He had created it to reduce the risks associated with her inability to hold back, often forcing her to fight alone in dangerous situations. But that was all; it had no mechanism for distinguishing targets to such a precise degree. The only explanation would be... ah. As he was pondering over it, Se-Hoon recalled the materials he’d used to forge the Primordial Ring. During the forging process, he had incorporated the shattered remnants of the Forgefire Hammer and mixed in flames from the Sin-Eclipsing Blade. It was possible that an unforeseen effect had arisen from the combination. In a way, the effect is similar to that of the Sacred Flames. I’ll need to investigate this thoroughly later. Putting his thoughts about Eun-Ha aside for the moment, Se-Hoon turned his attention to the area around them once again. The surrounding terrain was completely devastated. Even the underground labs were now a barren wasteland. Scanning the area, Se-Hoon’s gaze then shifted to the sky. No follow-up attacks? With the enemy’s attack having been repelled and their main combatant having been wiped out, it was natural for their side to hesitate. Growing more confident that the battle had truly reached its conclusion, Se-Hoon began contemplating Heaven Eye’s unexpected assault. Why did he suddenly attack us? At first, he thought it might have been due to a request from Succession, but that theory didn’t align with the Magi’s reaction of surprise. That left the possibility that Heaven Eye had simply learned of their situation by chance and intervened. And given that Heaven Eye was also known for its extraordinary sight, albeit not as much as Baek-Yeon's, such a conclusion wasn’t unreasonable. But what happens next? He had long assumed that Heaven Eye would occasionally interfere in situations like just now, given their association with the Ten Evils and Watchers. But what was puzzling was the complete absence of support from the Perfect Ones. They’ve always been cold, but... they should’ve helped in some way if they had the leeway. Baek-Yeon, in particular, had long taken the responsibility for overseeing Heaven Eye. Her lack of involvement was suspicious, no matter how he looked at it. Mulling over it, Se-Hoon quickly narrowed the possibilities to two explanations. The first was that a major incident had prevented Baek-Yeon and the other Perfect Ones from providing support. And the second was... A personal reason or value conflict prevented them from intervening. Although the first explanation seemed more likely, the second couldn’t be entirely ruled out. After all, even if Baek-Yeon proactively fought the Ten Evils, her actions inevitably aligned with her personal standards. If something fell short of her criteria, she could just as easily stop aiding or even oppose him one day. I should stay on guard for now. He cut off his spiraling thoughts. If he were to mull it over any more, suspicion could inadvertently breed hostility toward the Perfect Ones, which was best avoided. Moving on, Se-Hoon reached for his phone to check the situation outside, only to sense a distortion in the distance. Whoosh! Far away, the air rippled, and moments later, figures appeared above the crater. “That’s...” “The people from the Heroes Association.” Investigators approached in full armor. Seeing them, Se-Hoon raised a hand in a casual wave. However, that only caused them to flinch and hesitate briefly. Just then, Seon-Woo stepped forward from the rear. “Lee Se-Hoon. Can you explain what happened here?” Keeping a safe distance, Seon-Woo’s cautious tone made Eun-Ha scowl slightly, but Se-Hoon paid it no mind. That’s a reasonable reaction. With defectors colluding with the Ten Evils cropping up everywhere, lowering one’s guard—even with a familiar face—was unwise. As always, Seon-Woo adhered strictly to principles, which Se-Hoon found reassuring. “Let me summarize for you guys...” He explained that while investigating the Heroes Association branch, he happened upon Rachel. Then, upon seeing her suspicious behavior, he had followed her to their current location, where he’d engaged in combat with enemies. Of course, Se-Hoon intentionally omitted mentioning that he had been waiting in Yuriel’s solitary confinement cell beforehand to avoid unnecessary complications. No need to give Succession more reasons to be wary of me. While some Watchers might have pieced things together by now, it was still better to deny anything unnecessary officially. Besides, with all witnesses dead, it was entirely possible the secret would remain buried. “Rachel, you say...?” “How could she...” The investigators were stunned by Se-Hoon’s explanation. A colleague who had worked diligently as an investigator for the past ten years had been colluding with the Ten Evils? It seemed so far-fetched that they couldn’t help but wonder if Se-Hoon was deceiving them. However, that, too, felt implausible. Hesitant, the investigators were struggling to decide their next move when Seon-Woo nodded after a moment of contemplation. “I see. In that case, could you accompany us to the Washington branch?” “Of course,” Se-Hoon replied without hesitation, his calm acceptance easing some of their doubts. Still, some investigators glanced at each other with unease. If Se-Hoon himself were a collaborator with the Ten Evils, bringing him closer was a significant risk. Tsk... Noticing, Seon-Woo activated his unique skill, Enhanced Vision, and conveyed a telepathic message to his team. “If it happens that these two are traitors, we’re dead, no matter what.” “...!” The investigators’ eyes widened as they glanced at Se-Hoon and the red-haired woman following closely behind him. Eun-Ha, whose sharp gaze and furrowed brows betrayed her irritation, radiated a menacing aura. Among the elite S-rank heroes, she was near the top—a force capable of annihilating them in an instant. Gulp. The investigators swallowed hard, realizing the futility of resistance. I guess it is... pointless to doubt them right now. If they turn on us, we’re dead anyway. The investigators relaxed their guard, resigned. And upon sensing their shift, Eun-Ha eased her visible irritation as well. Satisfied by the development, Seon-Woo cautiously asked, “If I may ask, when was the last time you checked external communications or updates?” Se-Hoon immediately grew serious; he had caught the weight in Seon-Woo's tone. “Did anything happen out there?” There was no reason for such a question unless something significant had occurred. Seon-Woo's expression turned grave. “A few hours ago, the Black Sea landed in the South Atlantic. An intense conflict broke out between the Ten Evils and the Perfect Ones over there.” *** Huascaran was once a renowned tourist destination as the highest peak in Peru. But now, its once pure white glaciers were stained black with demonic aura, the air thick with the roars of monsters echoing from every direction. “It’s over.” At the mountain’s summit, a long-haired man lowered his jet-black longbow. Caspar was dead, and the Heavenly Phantom Barrage he had unleashed at the last moment was extinguished from existence by mysterious flames. Displeased, the archer—Heaven Eye—furrowed his brows, displeased by the realization that his intervention hadn’t been enough to change the outcome. “Is this what you wanted?” His voice was sharp as he addressed a figure sitting on a nearby rock—Doppelganger. “To an extent,” Doppelganger replied, its face concealed by a swirling mass of black energy. “If you hadn’t gotten involved, this might’ve gone differently. Now Succession will have complaints.” Regardless of their best efforts, those absent from the battlefield would always suspect foul play when the outcome was unfavorable. Known for their paranoia, the Watchers might even distance themselves as a result. “That doesn’t matter. Those who remain are only focused on their goals.” “You speak as if you’re relieved Caspar is dead.” “Can’t say I’m not. You feel the same, don’t you?” Heaven Eye’s expression darkened at the remark. It was true. Despite often cooperating with Succession, neither of them had been particularly fond of Caspar. Holding power within the organization, he had consistently prioritized his own schemes, often being a nuisance in their plans. “With him out of the way, you’ll finally get what you’ve wanted. Will you target the Visionary’s kin next?” “We’ll see. That old fox should already be aware we’re coming.” Heaven Eye had long coveted the Enhanced Vision possessed by Seon-Woo, but he had never made a move. Whenever he tried, Baek-Yeon’s arrows always somehow cut through every aspect of his plans. There wasn’t a viable method before, but now... Heaven Eye began plotting his next steps, but then Doppelganger interrupted his thoughts. “Do whatever you want, but don’t you dare touch Lee Se-Hoon.” Hearing the tone that bordered on a threat, the red eyes embedded in Heaven Eye’s cheeks flared with menace. “And if I refuse?” Though they had cooperated due to similar goals, they were fundamentally strangers. Undeterred by Heaven Eye’s evident hostility, however, Doppelganger rested its hand on the hilt of its sword. “Then we’ll settle it here,” it declared in a flat voice. With most people, such a clear threat might have been seen as a bluff. But with Doppelganger, even the smallest motion could herald an immediate attack. “Tsk.” Knowing that, Heaven Eye clicked his tongue, closing the red eyes on his cheeks. And in turn, Doppelganger released its grip on its sword, as if nothing had happened. Then once the tension subsided, Heaven Eye frowned in confusion. “Is he worth that much to you?” A blacksmith with the unparalleled talent to wield the powers of Perfect Ones—an extraordinary gift, to be sure, but one Heaven Eye had little interest in. Without the ability to forge weapons for his specific needs, Se-Hoon was irrelevant to his goals. It doesn’t seem like they want him to forge their sword, so why...? While Heaven Eye’s thoughts trailed off, Doppelganger recalled a memory from days earlier. A stage, a duel. Se-Hoon wielding a sword against Aria Myers. The brilliant Celestial Infinity Blade emanating from his hands. “We’ll see what he becomes,” Doppelganger said quietly. And at those words, Heaven Eye’s eyes widened briefly before letting out a reluctant sigh. “Fine. I’ll stay out of it for now.” With a nod, Doppelganger turned its gaze elsewhere. “What about the others?” “The others?” Heaven Eye shifted his sight toward the South Atlantic, activating his Cursed Eyes. Swish. His many eyes shimmered, their colors shifting and blending, before settling into a deep blue. His enhanced vision zoomed in on the battlefield. There, a white whale, bloodied and enraged, roared across the Black Sea. Looking further, Heaven Eye saw figures retreating toward the African continent. “We’re just here to take out this monster instead of the Perfect Ones, but they still interfered.... Damn hypocrites!” On the mangled remains of a chimera cobbled together from sea beasts, Tuner was screaming in frustration. Beside him lay the Beast King, barely conscious, and nearby, Puppeteer shook her head in quiet disdain. The sight of defeated remnants fit the term “scattered forces” perfectly. Heaven Eye let out a bitter laugh. “It seems they’ve failed.”

Chapter 336

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