Chapter 329:

Chapter 329:

The serene aura radiating from Yu-hyun spread in all directions, engulfing the entire area.

The frost giants all halted in their tracks, and the fainted guards began to open their eyes one by one.

The intense energy of the Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill pushed away the dark clouds, lightening the sky, if only for a moment.

In that fleeting gap, starlight shone down, illuminating the scene below.

[Wow, my goodness.]

[It's beautiful.]

The growing interest of the stars all focused on Yu-hyun.

With a pure beauty that seemed otherworldly, and a strength so powerful it widened eyes in amazement.

It was just that, yet everyone was captivated by the sight.

The same was true for the people of White Flower Management.

"That is..."

"Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill. It's a technique I taught him."

Despite Seo Sumin's explanation, Kang Hye-rim and the others could not help but feel more confused.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know. It was just that Yu-hyun's current display differed from Seo Sumin’s.

Seo Sumin’s energy was pitch-black darkness, but Yu-hyun's current display was pure white, untainted by anything.

It seemed less destructive, yet there was an unmistakable purity without any impurities.

"The color of that aura is completely different..."

"I don't know why his energy is white either. It might have something to do with his appearance."

"But where did he get such power from?"

"It's true that he exhausted all his strength. What makes this possible is ‘Mental Strength.’ The power of the mind that transcends the physical body. He's drawing external power with it."

"Then, that means...!"

Kang Hye-rim shouted with hope.

"In his current state, Yu-hyun can surely defeat them all, right?! Right?!"

"No."

Everyone held their breath at Seo Sumin's firm response.

Though he didn’t want to break the barely improved atmosphere, Seo Sumin felt it was necessary to correct the misconception.

"His body has already sustained countless injuries, and even though he's awakened his Mental Strength, it's only at the beginning stage. Using his power like this now is an act that surpasses his limits."

"That means..."

"It's like a newborn baby running on two legs. It's undoubtedly miraculous, but it won’t last long. At most, it will only be a minute. No longer."

No one knew better than Yu-hyun, who was using that power right now, how painfully aware he was of this.

Despite knowing this, Yu-hyun pushed himself because he chose to.

His will. His determination.

Although it was a world far away, Yu-hyun's heart was conveyed. Knowing this, Seo Sumin's eyes did not leave the screen showing Yu-hyun.

"Only one minute."

"That's too short."

Seo Sumin nodded at the negative words from everyone.

"Yes, one minute is indeed short."

Even enduring such power was a miracle in itself. No one could guarantee what would happen to his exhausted body after using up all his strength in that minute.

Still.

"That one minute... will be the most beautiful of all."

* * *

The frost giants halted amidst the falling petals.

Moving purely on instinct, the frost giants felt something for certain.

Touching those pure white petals would be dangerous.

However, they couldn’t leave Yu-hyun alone any longer. Once the sword in his hands was in Leanne's hands, it would all be over.

So they blocked him.

The frost giants formed a wall in front of Yu-hyun.

"Move."

Yu-hyun stomped his foot.

Simultaneously, a floral fragrance wafted as his figure vanished without leaving even a trace.

He pierced through.

As if embodying that determination, some of the pure white petals gathered into a giant spear and shot forward.

Piercing through in one point.

The frost giants touched by the petal spear melted away like ice in a spring breeze. The melted frost giants could not regenerate. The damage exceeded what their bodies could repair.

A massive path formed in the ranks of the frost giants.

Yu-hyun dashed through the opened path.

Roar!!!

Sensing the danger, Georn opened his mouth and roared. What came out was not just a cry.

A wind filled with white frost spewed forth like a storm, surging towards Yu-hyun.

The white spear that had been leading the way could not penetrate the frost wind and froze, eventually shattering into fragments.

Even though he had fallen, Georn was a Divine Spirit. His breath carried a terrifying chill that could freeze even tales.

Touch it and you die. Yu-hyun knew this yet didn’t dodge. If he dodged, it would be too late. He had to push through it.

Piercing through in one point wouldn't work. He lacked the strength. So, he had to increase it.

If one wasn’t enough, use two. If two weren’t enough, use three.

No, much more.

The petals behind him spread like wings, then reformed into spears. One, two, three, eventually forming nine petal spears rotating fiercely.

The first transformation of the Seven Demons Black Sky Divine Skill: Blossom Heaven.

Nine swirling streams combined into one and pierced through the space. As the two forces collided, Blossom Heaven grew stronger and extended further.

‘This is it.’

"Aaaaaah!!"

To end this relentless hell, Leanne swung the key sword vertically.

From the bottom to the top, the force surged as if reaching towards the sky.

A golden line cleaved through Georn’s body from side to side. The crimson ruby embedded near his heart shattered explosively under the golden slash.

The slash didn’t stop there, continuing on. It pierced through Georn and beyond, slicing through the dark clouds in the sky.

With a cracking sound, white light poured through the rift in the clouds.

That light marked the end of the 32-year-long hell.

* * *

Leanne stood in a white space with no one else around.

No, it wasn’t completely empty. There was a middle-aged man standing in front of him.

“Thank you.”

As soon as he saw Leanne, he spoke.

Golden beard and hair. Steady, unwavering eyes and a massive build.

Recognizing his face, Leanne’s expression hardened.

“Georn, sir?”

“You still call me sir.”

“That’s...”

“Yes. I know. What I did was horrific. Even though it wasn’t my will, it was ultimately my negligence that caused all this.”

Please, have a seat.

Georn said to Leanne, sitting down himself. Suddenly, he was sitting on a large rock.

The white scenery disappeared, replaced by another. A vast cliff, not the icy cliff Leanne remembered, but a beautiful coastal cliff filled with countless plants.

“Can you see it?”

“It’s the landscape of the old Northern Continent.”

“Yes. The most beautiful and proudest world to me.”

With eyes filled with mixed emotions, Georn looked down at the waves crashing against the shore.

“I wanted to have children.”

Georn’s sudden confession left Leanne at a loss for words.

Seeing Leanne’s confusion, Georn stroked his beard and laughed warmly.

A demeanor far removed from the great warrior’s reverence, appearing instead as a benevolent figure.

“I understand your confusion. To you, I am a god. Even though you know about the Divine Spirits, hearing about them having children is unheard of. It used to happen in the past, but now it’s forbidden.”

Despite knowing this, Georn wanted to have children of his own.

Though he couldn’t continue his bloodline, he wanted to pass on everything he had.

“Yes. I wanted a family. The warriors of the Gard celebrated the birth of their sons and daughters, asking me to bless them to become great warriors. I always watched, thinking how envious I was of those earthly children.”

So Georn decided to select candidates and pass his power to them, using most of his strength.

Although he couldn’t marry and have children through love, the children who received all his powers would be his own.

Except.

He hadn’t anticipated that someone would exploit his weakened state.

A fragment of the Book of Genesis.

With that embedded in his chest, Georn was corrupted against his will. Consumed by negative emotions, he fell to Earth and ruled as a disaster.

“It was a torturous time. Horrible. I had to watch the world I cherished being destroyed against my will.”

That wasn’t all.

The five sisters he created took up swords, and four of the candidates they were supposed to train died by his hands.

The children who might have inherited everything from him, those he could have called his own.

They turned into cold ice under his hand.

“You saved me from that.”

That was why.

Georn was so grateful and deeply sorry to Leanne for freeing him from this dreadful fate.

In the end, Leanne stood there, scarred from the pain and suffering.

Even when everything was over, the agony he had gone through in the past didn’t disappear.

“I’m okay.”

To comfort Georn’s regret, Leanne spoke with a slightly relieved voice.

“It was certainly difficult and painful, but it’s because of that journey that I am who I am now. And I can become even better in the future. Georn, you don’t need to feel sorry.”

“Really... I see...”

Georn laughed contentedly. If that child said so, then it was his worry that was foolish.

“Please take good care of this world in my stead. With you now, you can be much stronger than I ever was.”

Georn said as he stood up.

“Are you leaving?”

“My body was already destined to disappear. I just stubbornly squeezed out my last strength to have this conversation. But now it’s over.”

Although he still had regrets, Georn didn’t lament.

In the end, he would be remembered as the main culprit who ruined the world, slowly fading from everyone’s memory.

All he felt was a deep sense of apology towards the children who would live on Earth.

“I will take my leave.”

Georn’s body slowly turned into shining letters, disappearing from his toes up.

Watching this, Leanne hesitated, as if to say something.

Making up his mind, he bowed deeply to Georn.

“Goodbye, father.”

“...!”

Georn, who was gradually disappearing, widened his eyes at those words, then smiled with gratitude and nodded.