Chapter 338:

Chapter 338:

"Oh, who are you?"

The Fragment owner from Russia was a large man with a bear-like appearance.

A huge scar crossed one of his eyes, and his forearms and other exposed parts of his body were covered in scars of various sizes. He looked more like a ferocious bear that had lived fiercely in the wild for many years than a human.

He smiled slyly at me.

"No, I can tell without you answering. You're the one who was gathering the golden light in this land, right? This is surprising. I never expected you to come out to meet me."

"What about the others?"

His four pupils emitted an intense glare as he tried to oppress me, but I dispersed it all with a light scoff. alone. From the beginning, I didn't think I needed companions."

"Did you take all the Fragments from the others?"

"Of course! And I killed every one of them who owned them!"

He boasted about his actions as if they were something to be proud of, widening his single eye.

His smile, stretched so wide that his lips nearly reached his ears, resembled a wild predator, sending chills down my spine.

"I didn't spare anyone, even if they begged for their lives and cried. No matter who it was, even if they gave me this golden light unconditionally, I wouldn't have let them go. Do you know why?"

"I'm not really curious."

"It's because I'm a chosen predator."

The owner spoke without listening to my words.

"Why did I gain this power? I know. This power is not just simple strength. Awakeners? Collectors? They are nothing compared to me, much more pure and powerful. Yes... this is what you can call divine power. And I obtained it."

If a god must exist in this world, there should only be one.

If someone who received divine power and gathered all that power could become a god,

It had to be him.

So he killed them all.

"Taking and taking and taking again, I was able to reclaim everything around me. The more I did, the stronger I became."

He looked at me. Despite seeing me wearing the Mask of Aporia, he showed no signs of fear. Instead, he licked his lips with anticipation for the upcoming battle.

"I wonder how powerful your golden light is. I'm really looking forward to it."

"You came here to gain power. Is that it?"

"Of course. Why else would I come to this small piece of land?"

"Who put you up to this?"

"What?"

The owner frowned at my words, as if he found them nonsensical.

"Who? Put me up to this? Me?"

He burst into laughter, finding it absurd.

"Ha ha ha! That's ridiculous! Who could manipulate me? If there was such a person, I would have torn them apart first."

"So, you came here of your own will?"

"You're asking the obvious. While gathering power, I felt it. There are others like me in different places. And I realized one more thing. If I came here, I could gain even more power. There might be others with similar thoughts."

"You were aware of other owners besides yourself."

"Even if they were on the other side of the world, they emitted the same intense wavelength as I do. How could I not notice? So, this is a competition. The one who gains power first can become stronger faster, and with that, they can reach the true position of a god."

"I see."

Thanks to his words, I was able to understand a few uncertain things.

This owner claimed that he came to Korea of his own will, and that others did the same. However, it seemed highly unlikely that they all coincidentally arrived on the same day at the same time.

That could only mean one thing.

They were being manipulated so subtly that they didn't even realize it.

"If there's nothing more to gain from you, then there's no need to prolong this pointless conversation."

"What?"

The owner's already fierce face twisted even more menacingly.

Did he think that I was being presumptuous because I hadn't killed him immediately and had exchanged words with him?

‘What an arrogant fellow.'

I knew that the menacing mask I wore wasn't ordinary, but that was all.

Seeing him look down on me and assume I was weaker because I indulged in a few words of conversation, I felt the need to show him the true gap in our power.

And, he would painfully realize who he was being so presumptuous to.

How much mercy he was being shown just by standing here.

"Yes. Come to think of it, there are a few more owners of golden light in this small peninsula besides you."

He sensed the presence of other Fragments far away. The real deal was in front of him, but there were four more, presumed to be his subordinates or followers.

He must be the leader, and the others his subordinates or companions.

"I've decided. I won't kill you right away."

The owner smiled wickedly, baring his teeth at me.

"First, I'll cut off your limbs. I'll keep you in a state where you can't live or die, dragging your body around and bringing all your subordinates before you. And in front of you, I'll tear them apart alive."

"..."

"No matter how much they beg for their lives, you won't be able to do anything. Even if you want to die, you won't be able to. And when all their golden light returns to my hands, then you'll shed tears of blood and regret your arrogance now..."

"I've been thinking for a while."

I cut off his words, flicking my fingers.

Srrng.

The Fragment owner drew daggers in both hands. Since she had been discovered, a fight was inevitable. Her emotionless gaze fixed on Kang Hye-rim.

Kang Hye-rim also stared at her, sword in hand, with a gaze that could freeze anyone.

There was no need for words between them.

The two figures simultaneously launched off the ground and collided in mid-air.

* * *

Five people appeared in the waters off the coast of Busan.

They moved swiftly upon landing, checking for any witnesses and identifying the direction of the nearest city.

"No one within a 3km radius."

"This place is quiet and good for moving stealthily."

"Let's move quickly and eliminate the golden light owners."

The five had worked together as a team for this task. As a special team of a private military company (PMC) from the United States, the golden light was both an opportunity and a blessing for them. They realized there were others like them and killed them, absorbing their power.

Having absorbed all the ones in America, they aimed to seize the remaining ones in Asia.

At that moment.

Bang!

A bullet from somewhere pierced the head of one of the five team members.

Before the body hit the ground, the remaining four quickly took cover.

"What's going on! You said there was no one within a 3km radius!"

"I checked three times! There was no one!"

"Then what is this!"

"Everyone shut up. Did you hear the shot?"

"The sound? No."

"Damn it."

The leader of the group, a black woman, clicked her tongue.

"This insane attack came from beyond 3km."

"What?"

As expected, Yoo Young-min, who had been watching their actions from a great distance, lifted his eye from the scope.

"They reacted quickly even after a surprise attack. They're not ordinary people. From their gear and uniforms, they must be mercenaries used to rough situations."

This was troublesome.

The opponents weren't just simple Fragment owners; they were specialists in warfare.

For Yoo Young-min, who handled firearms, they were the worst possible opponents.

In fact, they quickly assessed the distance and direction from which the initial shot had come and began calmly approaching, coordinating their movements.

Even so.

"It doesn't seem like we'll lose."

Yoo Young-min grinned as he pulled the trigger.

* * *

While everyone was plunged into war.

Kwon Jia stood on a mountaintop overlooking the city of Gangneung.

‘What's this? It's about time they passed through here.'

She didn't care whether there was one opponent or many. The only thing on her mind was how quickly she could finish this and return.

Failure was not an option. She didn't deny the possibility, but she was confident. Even considering that, she didn't think she would lose.

‘I feel unusually good today.'

After casually adjusting her sword, she turned her head.

She sensed an approaching presence. Finally, they had arrived. Kwon Jia drew her sword and waited for the opponent to appear.

‘...There are many of them. I'm surrounded.'

She sensed over fifty presences. Narrowing her eyes, she realized they were clearly targeting her.

Had they discovered she was waiting here? But fifty was too many, even if there were a lot.

As she pondered, one person stepped in front of her.

"...You."

Recognizing the man, Kwon Jia's mind grew even more complicated.

"The leader of Unleashed, Jin Cheong-woon..."

"We've met before, haven't we?"

Jin Cheong-woon waved at her with a smile, like he was greeting an old friend. Kwon Jia couldn't fathom what he was up to.

No, it didn't matter. Once she recognized the enemy in front of her, her course of action was clear.

"It's a pity Kang Yu-hyun isn't here."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I avoided him on purpose."

"What?"

"The person I wanted to meet is you, Mad Dog Kwon Jia. Or should I call you this?"

Jin Cheong-woon grinned and pointed at her.

"Owner of the Codex ‘Bookmark'."