SFRW-Chapter 234

Ch. 234 Sword God From The Ruined World

KWA-BOOM!  

A section of the wall shattered into pieces, scattering debris everywhere. The subordinates lined up nearby trembled, their eyes darting nervously—afraid they might be next.  

“WHO DARES?!”  

Barhaut’s roar echoed as another intact wall exploded as if struck by a bomb. Without even lifting a finger, he had reduced the reinforced metal wall to rubble through sheer willpower alone.  

None of his hastily assembled subordinates dared to calm him. A single misplaced word in his current state could mean instant annihilation.  

“RODEONA!”  

At Barhaut’s call, a long-haired woman with dark locks hurriedly stepped forward and prostrated herself.  

“Y-You summoned me?!” She forced her voice steady, but the tremor was unmistakable.  

“YOU SAID THE DIMENSIONAL PASSAGES WERE SEALED!”  

“They were! I personally confirmed it! No one but the Administrators can forcibly open them now!”  

“THEN WHY HAS ANOTHER GUARDIAN PLANET BEEN LIBERATED?!”  

“Th-That’s…”  

—SPLAT!  

Rodeona, the esteemed dark sorceress who had earned Barhaut’s trust, burst apart in an instant—her life extinguished without hesitation.  

The remaining subordinates shuddered. This was the true nature of Barhaut, the ‘Planet Devourer’, a conqueror of dimensions who showed no mercy, even to his most loyal.  

After a long silence, Barhaut finally spoke again, his anger slightly cooled by Rodeona’s death.  

“Tell all Administrators: the moment they identify the intruders, they are to abandon their planets immediately.”  

Escaping a planet—just as Pope Alfrey had done on Bastlo.  

Barhaut would spare them punishment if they merely confirmed the intruders’ identities and numbers before fleeing.  

As his subordinates rushed to carry out the order, Barhaut turned his gaze to the only intact wall.  

Once covered in intricate, chaotic lines and symbols, the wall now bore far fewer markings—proof that seventeen of his Guardian Planets had already been liberated.  

Barhaut understood the fall of Planets 39 (Valitao) and 37 (Bastlo).  

Kusak, the traitor, and the human chosen by Mute’s Divine Sword had invaded recklessly. Though he failed to eliminate them, Alfrey’s escape had trapped them on Bastlo.  

But now, fourteen more Guardian Planets had been freed in rapid succession—completely at random.  

This was the work of a new enemy.  

Someone who could open dimensional passages at will, bypassing dozens of planets in a single jump—a feat even Barhaut, with his former Gem of Authority, had struggled with.  

“HOW DARE THEY CHALLENGE ME?!”  

Was it another conqueror? A Transcendent seeking fame by toppling his reign?  

Whatever the case, Barhaut swore to personally crush them.  

“If only the Gem hadn’t shattered…”  

Had he still possessed it, he wouldn’t be this helpless. The memory of his greatest failure haunted him.  

With no other choice, Barhaut retrieved a black crystal sphere from subspace.  

Gripping it tightly, he focused his mind.  

“Himaid.”  

***

Seo Do-jun’s Side: Seventeen Down, Twenty-Two to Go  

“Barhaut had 39 Guardian Planets, right?”  

“Yeah.”  

“So we’ve wrecked 17… meaning 22 left.”  

Choi Kang-soo grinned, imagining how furious Barhaut must be.  

“Bet he’s lost his mind by now.”  

Kusak smirked. “Might’ve even killed a useful subordinate in rage.”  

“Seriously?”  

“Barhaut’s that kind of trash. The moment his authority cracks, he lashes out to prove his power.”  

Choi Kang-soo cursed the fools who served such a monster.  

Nearby, a castle wall crumbled with a thunderous crash.  

Five days had passed since they began jumping dimensions, liberating planet after planet.  

After discovering Heavy Mountain’s mass production on Kantos (Planet 13), Seo Do-jun solidified his plan: weaken Barhaut by freeing every Guardian Planet.  

With Rahf’s dimensional abilities, they struck unpredictably—Barhaut couldn’t counterattack.  

“The fewer planets left, the harder it’ll get,” Kusak warned as they walked through the ruined castle. “Important ones like Kantos might be trapped.”  

“So what? Even without Uncle Seo Do-jun, we’re strong enough.”  

Kusak scoffed. “You and Grichuk? Please.”  

Choi Kang-soo laughed but then grew serious when Kusak added:  

“Barhaut has at least five subordinates on par with you two. Two might even be near-Transcendent level.”  

“Near-Transcendent?! Why would beings like that serve him?!”  

“Because he’s Barhaut. His reputation as a conqueror isn’t just for show.”  

Choi Kang-soo’s confidence wavered. Even with Seo Do-jun, they couldn’t afford arrogance.  

“I’ll warn Uncle.”  

Kusak shrugged as Veronica called them over.  

Rahf raised a hand. “Last warning: the ring’s magic is almost gone. One short jump left.”  

Seo Do-jun shook his head. “We’ll recharge at the next planet.”  

He couldn’t waste time.  

Earth was still in danger.  

Though they’d slaughtered Heavy Mountain’s kin on Kantos, one had already reached Earth.  

He didn’t fear for Jung In-joo or the Casselian Guild—but Barhaut’s next move was unpredictable.  

“We need to keep him too busy to focus on Earth.”  

Rahf shrugged and opened the passage.  

Seo Do-jun stepped through first, followed by Koroka and Kusak.  

Grichuk and Rahf brought up the rear.  

***  

“Kukukukuku!”  

A man laughed uncontrollably, spraying food across the table.  

“Disgusting pig!” A blue-haired woman glared, gripping a knife.  

The man—identical in blue eyes and hair—wiped tears away.  

“Sorry, sorry… but it’s too funny!”  

“What’s so hilarious about a request?!”  

“A request?! From him?! Decades ago, he’d have crushed us for fun!”  

The woman’s anger faded slightly. “…Fair point.”  

“Exactly! The mighty Barhaut, begging us for help? What’s more satisfying than that?!”  

She finally smirked. “So who’s liberating his planets?”  

“Who else? One of the many grudges he sowed.”  

“When do we start?”  

“Let’s wait a few more days. No need to rush.”  

“Won’t he get impatient?”  

The man’s grin widened. “Who cares? This proves it—without the Gem, Barhaut’s no longer untouchable.”  

The woman mirrored his smile.