SFRW-Chapter 75

Ch. 75 Sword God From The Ruined World

“…Huff! Hah! Huff!”  

Kang Young-pyo ran desperately, gasping for breath.  

Never since becoming an S-rank Hero had he been in such dire straits.  

Even fleeing Brazil hadn’t been this bad.  

“…Tch!”  

The wound from Takashi was deeper than expected.  

Without proper first aid, it would continue sapping his life force.  

He needed shelter immediately.  

Where to go?  

Kang Young-pyo had already decided.  

A Gate.  

One rarely visited by other Heroes where he could enter alone.  

‘If I reach Bam Island Gate, I can buy time!’  

Nicknamed ‘Snake’s Den’, the unpopular Bam Island Gate was perfect for hiding.  

Entering a Gate would leave records, alerting authorities to his location.  

But Kang Young-pyo carried three different Dark Knight IDs to avoid suspicion.  

‘Just need to buy time inside.’  

The gate offered safety to treat his wounds and rest.  

Distance wasn’t an issue either – just 13km straight ahead, normally a five-minute trip.  

The problem?  

“Hey! Isn’t that Kang Young-pyo?”  

“Wow! It’s really him!”  

“That bastard’s on the international wanted list! Report him for the bounty!”  

In Seoul’s dense population, stealth was impossible.  

With a bounty on his head, even sightings earned rewards.  

Gritting his teeth, Kang Young-pyo ran toward the Han River to erase his trail.  

Those 10km felt endless.  

Suddenly, someone blocked his path.  

Most citizens kept their distance while filming, but this person stood firm.  

“Move!”  

Killing one civilian meant nothing to Kang Young-pyo.  

He prepared to strike if they refused.  

The figure slowly turned – a hooded man over 180cm tall.  

Beneath the hood, Kang Young-pyo saw:  

Pale skin.  

Horrific scars.  

Blonde hair.  

‘Damn foreign labor trash!’  

Kang Young-pyo had always despised foreign workers in Korea, regardless of origin.  

As a Hero, he’d secretly killed many who ‘annoyed’ him.  

One more wouldn’t burden his conscience.  

“I said MOVE, you beggar!”  

Kang Young-pyo swung at the motionless foreigner.  

Thud!  

“…Gah!”  

An invisible barrier repelled his fist, sending him flying.  

His broken wrist shocked him more than the fall.  

“You…you’re a Hero?!”  

Some Association-hired hunter?  

Kang Young-pyo glared while reassessing.  

This was no ordinary foe.  

‘He’s strong! Who is he?’  

As an S-rank, Kang Young-pyo knew most top Heroes.  

This scarred face was unforgettable – yet completely unfamiliar.  

‘An unofficial Hero?’  

Many unregistered Heroes hunted bounties rather than monsters.  

All were highly ranked.  

‘A-rank…no, possibly S-rank.’  

Blocking an S-rank’s attack so easily?  

Kang Young-pyo’s mouth went dry.  

Escape seemed wisest, but…  

“Insignificant insect.”  

The foreigner’s voice and anger froze Kang Young-pyo’s blood.  

‘Impossible!’  

Just words shouldn’t affect him like this.  

His legs trembled uncontrollably.  

Instinct screamed:  

This opponent couldn’t be beaten even at full strength.  

‘Damn it! First Seo Do-jun, now this bastard! Where do these monsters keep coming from?!’  

Before Kang Young-pyo could react further, the foreigner chanted unfamiliar words.  

Whoosh!  

A pillar of fire erupted where Kang Young-pyo stood moments ago.  

“…What the hell?”  

He’d seen magic-wielding Heroes, but nothing like this.  

“Missed?”  

The foreigner’s voice grew colder.  

Another chant.  

Crash!  

Stone spikes shredded concrete where Kang Young-pyo rolled away.  

The foreigner’s expression shifted – like finding an amusing toy.  

“Cockroach-like resilience.”  

This prey showed surprising reflexes.  

Attack after attack followed:  

Wind blades – Kang Young-pyo sacrificed limbs to avoid fatal wounds.  

Falling ice – evaded by rolling.  

Air pressure – minimized damage by curling up.  

“Hahaha!”  

The foreigner laughed as Kang Young-pyo struggled.  

Each desperate survival attempt amused him more.  

Finally, battered beyond movement, Kang Young-pyo faced the end.  

Seven black fire orbs materialized around the foreigner.  

“P-please…spare me…”  

Kang Young-pyo begged pathetically.  

He’d survived so much – he couldn’t die here!  

The foreigner observed indifferently.  

Just a bug to crush.  

A finger twitch sealed Kang Young-pyo’s fate.  

As the orbs flew –  

Whoosh! BOOM!  

A sword intercepted, detonating the black fire.  

The blue greatsword spun midair before returning to its owner’s hand.  

Seo Do-jun caught it smoothly.  

“Daring to interfere?”  

The foreigner’s expression frosted over.  

Six remaining orbs redirected toward Seo Do-jun.  

Swish! Boom!  

One slash detonated all six.  

“…So it’s you.”  

The broadcasted ‘Hero’ who pulverized Deambsi.  

The insect others called ‘world’s strongest’.  

Seo Do-jun’s face hardened.  

“Seo Do-jun!”  

“Over here!”  

“Kang Young-pyo too!”  

“Who’s that other guy?”  

Dozens of Heroes arrived before Seo Do-jun could speak.  

“Annoying gnats.”  

The foreigner frowned and muttered.  

A light pillar engulfed him – then he vanished.  

“Hey!”  

“Where’d he go?”  

“Kang Young-pyo’s gone too!”  

Chaos erupted among the Heroes.  

“Hero Seo Do-jun, who was that?”  

Min Hong-gi approached, his usually pristine suit torn and hair disheveled from battling Gwak Jung-cheol.  

“……”  

Seo Do-jun remained silent, his expression the most severe Min Hong-gi had ever seen.  

‘Who the hell was that?’  

***

An unforgettable face.  

Seo Do-jun recognized him instantly from their midday encounter.  

Not just the face – even the magic was identical.  

But how?  

That man had fallen bleeding from Seo Do-jun’s sword years ago.  

“…Come to think of it, I never confirmed his death.”  

Back then, Seo Do-jun had left as the man clutched his impaled stomach.  

Injured himself, Seo Do-jun couldn’t stay.  

For years afterward, through countless battles until the end, he’d never reappeared.  

Seo Do-jun assumed him dead.  

“Same situation as me?”  

Seo Do-jun shook his head.  

The magic similarities troubled him.  

Back then, despite betraying humanity, that man had still used human magic.  

Today’s magic felt different.  

Almost like…a monster infused with dark magic.  

“What the hell is going on…?”  

Seo Do-jun rubbed his face, frustration mounting.  

His chest felt heavy, mind in turmoil.  

Never did he imagine meeting that man again in another world.  

“Vaitel…why are you here?”  

The name brought bitter memories.  

Once his closest friend.  

Then his most hated betrayer.  

If Vaitel came to Earth willingly, unlike himself…  

Was that even possible?  

“…No way.”  

The rift zones. The monsters.  

“It’s different this time…right?”  

Seo Do-jun desperately wanted to deny the creeping dread.  

But unease had already taken root.