SFRW-Chapter 288

Ch. 288 Sword God From The Ruined World

While the Antarian monsters were being summoned one after another, Luam began healing Allekuhi.  

Seeing Allekuhi, who had been severely injured after falling for Seo Do-jun’s provocation, Luam didn’t feel the slightest desire to heal him.  

‘But with the Seven Apostles here, Allekuhi needs to hold on, even if just a little!’  

The Seven Apostles were no pushovers.  

The Six Seats and the Seven Apostles.  

To Ophel, the Seven Apostles were beings on par with Barhaut’s Six Seats.  

In fact, when it came to loyalty, the Six Seats couldn’t even compare to the Seven Apostles.  

These two groups had clashed frequently for centuries, and as a result, they knew each other well.  

Objectively speaking, some members of the Six Seats would struggle against the Seven Apostles.  

It was only because Vipiens carried the weight of two or more that the Six Seats could stand on equal footing against the Seven Apostles.  

But now, with only Ratio present, facing three of the Seven Apostles was an overwhelming task for Luam.  

So even if Allekuhi wasn’t in perfect condition, he needed to stay on his feet to at least minimally restrain the Seven Apostles.  

“Ughhh…”  

As Luam began healing him, Allekuhi groaned in pain and regained consciousness.  

Outwardly, his injuries looked severe, but wounds of this level weren’t a major issue for Allekuhi.  

The real problem was the internal damage.  

‘It’s a complete mess.’  

Luam clicked his tongue inwardly.  

The destruction of Allekuhi’s core was far worse than Luam had anticipated.  

Even for a Transcendent, it would take decades of recovery to fully heal.  

‘It’s impossible to heal all his wounds right now…’  

For now, Luam only performed emergency treatments to keep Allekuhi standing.  

Even if this worsened Allekuhi’s condition, Luam honestly didn’t care.  

Allekuhi was the one who had caused this mess in the first place.  

“…Ghk!”  

As Luam forcibly repaired the shattered cores, Allekuhi writhed in unbearable agony.  

Yet, he gritted his teeth and endured.  

While healing him, Luam explained the current situation, so Allekuhi knew exactly what he had to do.  

While Luam tended to Allekuhi, the Antarian monsters summoned through the Top Ten Mercenary Captains began moving in earnest.  

The first to be summoned, Tulukas, spread its massive wings to the sides.  

With a wingspan exceeding 40 meters, the monstrous creature slowly rose, radiating overwhelming majesty.  

Its pitch-black pupils fixed on the Seven Apostles and Seo Do-jun’s group—tiny as insects—before its maw stretched wide.  

Fwoooosh!  

A jet-black fluid, resembling filthy bile, spewed from its mouth.  

The stench alone was unbearable, but worse was the highly corrosive acid capable of melting almost anything.  

Qua raised her arms, conjuring a barrier of witchfire to block the attack.  

“Uncle! I’ll handle this!”  

From Seo Do-jun’s group, Choi Kang-soo erected a small dome-shaped barrier using holy light.  

Even high-ranking Antarian monsters hesitated before Tulukas’s acid, but neither Qua’s flames nor Choi Kang-soo’s holy barrier were breached.  

Annoyed that its attack had been blocked, Tulukas let out a furious screech, folded its wings, and dove like a meteor.  

Qua and Choi Kang-soo exchanged glances mid-air.  

‘What now? Block it?’  

‘Should I? Would it just waste my energy?’  

While they hesitated, Tulukas was already upon them.  

‘Tch! How can I trust him? I’ll block it first!’  

‘Damn it! I never thought I’d end up helping the enemy!’  

Even if they were sizing each other up, letting Tulukas strike unchecked was too risky.  

Qua gathered her magic, and orange flames surged violently, swallowing the surroundings.  

Choi Kang-soo amplified his holy light, causing the dome barrier to expand rapidly.  

Surprisingly, the flames and holy light didn’t clash—instead, they harmonized, amplifying their power.  

Just then, Tulukas’s massive body collided with the barrier.  

BOOOOM!  

The shockwave forced both Qua and Choi Kang-soo to stifle groans of pain.  

They exchanged stunned looks.  

‘…This guy’s not bad.’  

‘She’s a witch—why isn’t she repelled by holy power?’  

While they marveled at each other, Tulukas, unable to break through, retreated with a frustrated screech.  

Covering itself with its wings, it appeared completely unharmed.  

Next to attack was another Antarian monster—a massive, four-legged beast resembling King Kong.  

“GROOOOAR!”  

Its roar shook the air.  

Qua’s face stiffened as she quickly vanished with Raten and Seil using Teleportation Magic.  

“Running away like cowards—Huh?!”  

THUD!  

Choi Kang-soo sneered, trying to maintain his barrier, but Seo Do-jun grabbed him by the collar and hurled him away.  

Seo Do-jun then teleported using a teleportation stone.  

CRACK-BOOM!  

A devastating shockwave tore through the area, flipping the ground itself.  

Burtilas.  

Like Tulukas, it was a mid-tier Antarian monster, and its sonic attack could penetrate most barriers.  

Knowing this, Qua had abandoned defense without hesitation, and Seo Do-jun, sensing danger, had thrown Choi Kang-soo to safety.  

Had Seo Do-jun left him there, Choi Kang-soo would have been grievously wounded.  

With both groups now scattered, the remaining monsters charged at their chosen targets.  

Matun, with a crocodile-like head and a porcupine’s body.  

Baterel, resembling a leopard but with three horns and small wings on its back.  

Patates, a centipede-like monster with 24 legs.  

Even Raten, Qua, and Seil—who had never faced such creatures—were forced to draw their weapons.  

As half the monsters lunged, Seo Do-jun summoned his sword from subspace.  

‘They’re above Heavy Mountain or Desperaoh.’  

Tulukas’s strike and Burtilas’s sonic attack alone surpassed those high-tier monsters.  

The others seemed equally formidable, and Seo Do-jun couldn’t help but tense.  

Now he understood why the Seven Apostles had stiffened and why Luam had been so confident.  

Even Seo Do-jun’s sword slashes only left faint scratches on Patates’s carapace.  

He had assumed even a casual strike would cleave through it effortlessly.  

The only consolation was that Choi Kang-soo, Grichuk, and Shinjo could handle themselves.  

As Transcendents, they fought cautiously.  

However—  

Perhaps due to numbers, two of the five monsters targeting the Seven Apostles suddenly switched to Seo Do-jun’s group.  

‘This is chaos.’  

Seo Do-jun had only intended to capture Mercenary King Joi.  

Cleanly eliminate the planet’s administrator, free this place, and move on.  

The Six Seats waiting for them was unexpected, but they would have clashed eventually.  

But then the Seven Apostles appeared, and now they faced these monstrous foes.  

‘What a damn mess.’  

And an infuriatingly chaotic one at that.  

***

While Seo Do-jun’s group and the Seven Apostles battled the monsters, Mercenary King Joi regained consciousness.  

“…Ah, in the end…”  

Tears streamed down Joi’s face as she saw the monsters.  

She knew where they came from—and how they had arrived.  

‘Your sacrifice is necessary. I will use you to summon Antarian monsters. All of this is to protect this planet—and for Lord Barhaut’s sake. Accept it with joy.’  

Luam had appeared suddenly, demanding the Top Ten Mercenary Captains’ lives.  

For Joi, it was an unacceptable demand.  

These were the very people who had stood with her since she first picked up a sword.  

When Barhaut waged his conquest, Joi—by chance—learned the truth and tried to save as many as possible.  

Her efforts led her to swear loyalty to Barhaut, becoming the planet’s Administrator.  

Some might brand her a traitor who sold out the world, but Joi didn’t care.  

If it meant fewer lives lost, she would bear any infamy.  

The Top Ten Mercenary Captains had hailed her as the Hero King, cementing her legend.  

This world had been saved because of them.  

Without them, she could never have done it.  

And now, their lives were being demanded.  

“…All of them… because of me…”  

‘The planet’s Administrator is said to have a direct force. I… want all of you to be mine. With that power…’  

‘Why the long speech? It’s obvious! Why do you think we bowed? To protect our world! If it gives us power, why refuse?’  

‘Hanker’s right! Joi! We’re practically one with you anyway! With greater power, we’ll make sure no one dares threaten this place again!’  

‘This is huge! Maybe we’ll surpass even them! No—we MUST surpass them!’  

They had accepted without hesitation.  

The Top Ten Captains became her force, receiving Barhaut’s power.  

Even if it was tainted, it was enough if it protected their world.  

But now, that power had led them to meaningless sacrifice.  

“I’ll never forgive this.”  

Venomous hatred filled Joi’s eyes.  

Spotting Luam healing Allekuhi, Joi slowly rose, ensuring no one noticed.  

Luam was a lich.  

Even if his skull were crushed here, he wouldn’t die unless his phylactery—his Life Force Vessel—was destroyed.  

Silent and undetected, Joi crept closer, a dagger in hand.  

Luam remained entirely focused on Allekuhi’s wounds.  

Finally in range, Joi lunged like a cat pouncing from a wall.  

“Die—!”  

Her dagger aimed straight for Luam’s skull.  

“…!”  

Caught off guard, Luam twisted instinctively, barely dodging.  

Screee!  

The blade grazed his cheek.  

“You stupid bitch!”  

Enraged, Luam prepared to shatter Joi’s limbs—  

But Joi smirked.  

Her real target hadn’t been Luam.  

Squelch!  

“Guhk!”  

Joi’s dagger plunged deep into Allekuhi’s right eye.  

Even a Transcendent couldn’t regenerate such direct damage.  

‘Just a little deeper!’  

Joi pushed harder, but—  

THUD!  

Luam blasted her aside.  

Already crippled, Allekuhi now lost an eye. Luam’s fury peaked.  

He wanted to crush Joi’s skull, but—  

“You’ll regret this!”  

“Spit! I’ll never forgive YOU!”  

Joi’s enraged scream was met with Luam’s grinding teeth before a brutal strike knocked her unconscious.  

Luam glared at Joi’s limp form, then turned to Allekuhi.  

“Keh… keh… Pathetic…”  

Allekuhi trembled, his remaining eye twitching with madness.  

“If the others arrive, all is lost. We must kill him before the Seven Apostles do.”  

“Agreed. But can you?”  

Luam knew Allekuhi wasn’t mocking him.  

“What are you suggesting?”  

“I’ll finish it.”  

Allekuhi’s calm tone betrayed his intent—he would stake his life.  

“Luam, your power can restore me to peak condition for half a day, right?”  

“Longer. But… it’ll cost your life.”  

“I owe this much.”  

Allekuhi couldn’t live with this defeat.  

“…If that’s your wish.”  

Luam didn’t hesitate.  

Barhaut’s will came first.  

“Then begin.”  

Allekuhi fixed his remaining eye on Seo Do-jun, and Luam unleashed his final gambit.