SFRW-Chapter 181

Ch. 181 Sword God From The Ruined World

Splash—!  

The moment Seo Do-jun plunged into the icy river, his mind snapped awake.  

Kusak!  

An ambush that had bypassed even his senses. And an explosion powerful enough to instantly breach Casserian’s defenses.  

[Kassal, look. This is a new spell I came up with… call it an aerial landmine? Haven’t settled on a name yet, but the firepower’s insane! At least against flying monsters, it’s perfect! Pffhahaha!]  

A flaming mine deployed midair.  

Though it had the drawback of only triggering when a flying monster directly collided with it, its effect and destructive power were undeniable. After all, Casserian had been instantly downed without resistance.  

Seo Do-jun felt relief that Casserian hadn’t sustained critical injuries despite the fall.  

Stay hidden. Don’t recklessly engage.  

If the opponent was truly Kusak, Casserian stood no chance. So instead of pointlessly losing his bird or letting it get severely wounded, Seo Do-jun decided to let it play dead until the fight was over.  

Sensing his intent, Casserian blinked its crimson eyes at him underwater before Seo Do-jun adjusted his posture and surged upward.  

Whoosh—!  

Seo Do-jun broke the surface first, followed shortly by Casserian, who then ascended high into the sky.  

As long as it didn’t interfere with the battle, Kusak wouldn’t target it.  

The sight of Casserian prioritizing its own survival made Seo Do-jun snort.  

This thing’s supposed to be the Sky Emperor?  

Shaking his head, Seo Do-jun scanned his surroundings for Kusak—who, unsurprisingly, wasn’t even hiding.  

The man stood a short distance away, casually waving as if saying, “Over here!”  

“…It’s really him.”  

That irreverent attitude confirmed it.  

Seo Do-jun exhaled sharply and closed the distance in a single leap.  

His heart pounded—whether from the mountain of questions or the sheer absurdity of this reunion.  

Kusak spoke first.  

“You’re fine?”  

He seemed genuinely surprised.  

“You… how…?”  

Seo Do-jun’s voice trembled despite himself.  

Even after seeing the photo, facing Kusak in the flesh was overwhelming.  

Yet Kusak’s demeanor was completely different.  

“Just a greeting. If you’d died from that, you wouldn’t be worth my time.”  

His cackling laugh made Seo Do-jun realize—  

He doesn’t recognize me.  

Kusak looked exactly the same, but Seo Do-jun’s appearance had changed entirely.  

“…What’s your name?”  

Kusak grinned, answering breezily.  

“The Great Pyromancer! Kusak! Kehahaha!”  

Even the title and laugh were identical. Nothing about him had changed.  

“Kusak… just how…?”  

The question ‘How are you alive’? lingered on his tongue.  

If this were his old self, he wouldn’t have hesitated. But now, the words stuck in his throat.  

“Just how? Oh! You mean why I attacked you?”  

“…Yeah.”  

“Kinda funny you’d ask when you’re the one who called me here.”  

Seo Do-jun laughed despite himself.  

How had Kusak so perfectly interpreted his signal?  

The man’s sheer straightforwardness was disarming.  

“What’s so funny?”  

“You’re precise. You read my intent perfectly. Didn’t expect that.”  

“Ah! I’ve got quick reflexes.”  

Kusak winked playfully—  

Clap!  

—then suddenly smacked his hands together.  

“Enough jokes! Let’s see how strong this world’s Irregular really is!”  

Seo Do-jun smirked, drawing his sword from subspace.  

“Oho! Subspace? Damn, that’s cool!”  

Kusak looked genuinely impressed.  

“If you’re shocked now, you’ll lose your jaw later.”  

“Looking forward to it! Just a heads-up—my hands are spicy!”  

Without even a chant, a dozen fireballs materialized above Kusak’s head.  

“Let’s start light!”  

“Whenever.”  

Seo Do-jun raised his sword—  

And the fireballs rained down.  

***  

“Whoa. Impressive.”  

Veronica whistled as Seo Do-jun effortlessly shattered Kusak’s fireballs.  

“His movements are refined. No wasted motion.”  

Rakun’s voice held rare surprise.  

“Most importantly, he handles magic properly.”  

“Right? Unlike some brute who leaks it everywhere.”  

Rakun ignored the jab, too focused on the fight.  

Kusak’s opening barrage was being dismantled with ease. Worse, Seo Do-jun was exploiting the pyromancer’s critical weakness—close-quarters combat.  

“Oh? Kusak’s pissed.”  

Veronica feigned shock, but her eyes gleamed with mischief.  

Five flaming vortexes spiraled around Kusak, scorching the air into heatwaves.  

“This one’s not easy to block.”  

The vortexes suffocated anything in their path—monster or human. Panic usually followed, disrupting defense.  

But then—  

“…What? How’s subspace blocking—”  

Veronica’s smirk vanished.  

Rakun’s fists clenched.  

The flames… disappeared.  

No—they were swallowed.  

“BULLSHIT! HOW CAN SUBSPACE BLOCK MY—?!”  

Kusak’s scream cut off as Seo Do-jun closed the distance in a step—  

Clang!  

A crimson barrier barely deflected the sword aimed at his throat.  

But Seo Do-jun didn’t flinch.  

Clang! Clang-clang!  

Sparks flew with each strike, the barrier straining under icy-blue magic.  

“Huh. Didn’t expect that.”  

Veronica’s playful tone was gone.  

“The Irregular who gave Rebley trouble.”  

Rakun slowly drew his axe and shield.  

“Intervene?”  

“Call it teamwork.”  

“Kusak’ll throw a fit.”  

“Our mission isn’t a duel—  

Rakun’s words died as he hurled his shield—  

BANG!  

—blocking Seo Do-jun’s blade mid-swing at Kusak’s back.  

Then, inhaling deeply—  

“ROOOOAR—!”  

He charged, his battle cry forcing Veronica to cover her ears.  

“Ugh. That idiot.”  

She glared at Rakun’s reckless charge but smirked.  

“Fine. Tear each other apart. Let’s see whose skull cracks first.”  

***  

Mages were, without exception, an eccentric breed.  

And Kusak was special even among them.  

Once a prodigy of the Mage Tower, he’d obsessively pursued only pyromancy.  

Though capable of mastering any school, he’d stubbornly focused on fire—earning the title Grand Pyromancer through sheer monomania.  

By results alone, his choice was justified.  

But that confidence had curdled into arrogance.  

That’s what doomed him.  

Seo Do-jun’s lips curled as he watched Kusak’s playfulness vanish.  

“Laughing?”  

Kusak’s eyes narrowed.  

“Beware foes who walk through fire.”  

“What?”  

“If an enemy closes the gap without fear of flames—create distance.”  

“You little—!”  

Kusak’s body erupted.  

Or so it seemed.  

Flames wreathed him like a fire spirit incarnate.  

“Let’s see if you keep mocking me while burning alive!”  

Though his tone was light, his eyes were murderous.  

“Burn your body if you must, but keep your mind cold. Observe your enemy!”  

Kusak’s grin twisted.  

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU YAPPING ABOUT?!”  

Flames lashed like whips—  

Yet Seo Do-jun advanced, untouched.  

“You—?!”  

Kusak’s eyes bulged.  

The fire should have clung—  

But Seo Do-jun’s azure magic repelled it entirely.  

“Do you remember nothing?!”  

His blade split the inferno like paper.  

“Ghk—!”  

Kusak staggered back, his flaming armor sheared open.  

“I said—!”  

Another slash—  

“GAH—!”  

—raked his ribs.  

Boom! Boom-boom!  

Kusak retaliated with chain explosions, but—  

“What part of my words ignited you?!”  

Seo Do-jun walked through unscathed.  

His sword lunged for Kusak’s shoulder—  

WHOOSH—CRACK!  

An axe intercepted it mid-air.  

“Boring. Play with me now.”  

Rakun emerged from the flames.  

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO INTERFERE!”  

Kusak’s pride was wounded, but Rakun shrugged.  

“Too late.”  

“Goddammit!”  

As Kusak cursed, Rakun yanked his axe back—  

Then froze.  

Seo Do-jun’s gaze had shifted past him—to Veronica, watching with crossed arms in the distance.  

“Rakun… you’re alive too? And… Veronica?”  

“…You know our names?”  

Rakun and Kusak exchanged glances.  

Seo Do-jun exhaled through gritted teeth.  

“Goddamn… this is fucked.”