SFRW-Chapter 241

Ch. 241 Sword God From The Ruined World

The Oktrals.  

Rixis, an Okstral from the now-destroyed planet Bertha, was once part of its ruling class—and is now the last surviving member of his race across all dimensions.  

The Oktrals were a race capable of matching the strength of giants, born with exceptional magic manipulation abilities and even possessing a third eye that granted them unique powers. They were one of the races Barhaut had sought to completely subjugate.  

In the end, however, Barhaut only managed to recruit a single traitor from the Oktrals—Rixis himself.  

Rixis glared at Shinjo with his third eye.  

A familiar energy.  

“There’s no way another Thunder God’s power exists… Did you kill Rooker?”  

The Himaid siblings, who had once been treated like dogs under Rixis’ command.  

Especially Rooker, who had been toyed with by Rixis, forced to endure endless suffering.  

Their dynamic had reversed only after Rooker obtained the power of the Thunder God.  

Naturally, the first thing Rooker did after gaining that power was seek out Rixis.  

Rixis had experienced pain so intense it turned the sky yellow, and from that day on, he had been desperately running from Rooker.  

How could Rixis ever forget the Thunder God’s power Rooker had wielded back then?  

Rather than answering Rixis’ question, Shinjo glanced at Seo Do-jun.  

His gaze seemed to ask, “Is it alright if I handle this guy?”  

Seo Do-jun nodded.  

“Where the hell are you looking—?!”  

Rixis raised his voice at Shinjo’s dismissive attitude, but then suddenly crossed his arms and raised them defensively.  

BOOM—!  

With a stinging impact on his forearms, Rixis’ body was sent skidding backward.  

CRACKLE—!  

Staring at the remnants of the Thunder God’s power lingering on his arms, Rixis slowly spread them apart.  

ZAP! CRACKLE!  

After lightly shaking off the residual electricity, Rixis smirked at Shinjo.  

“You call this the Thunder God’s power? You’re not him.”  

Unfazed by Rixis’ mockery, Shinjo charged again, as if the other’s words meant nothing.  

Though Shinjo had absorbed the Thunder God’s power, compared to Rooker—who had transformed into a being of lightning—he seemed undeniably weaker.  

CRACKLE—!  

The Thunder God’s power gathered at the tip of Shinjo’s sword before striking down at Rixis’ forehead.  

The attack looked so powerful it could almost make one mistake the blade for a bolt of lightning itself.  

But—  

“The Thunder God’s power is far greater than this!”  

BZZT—THUD!  

With just a punch, Rixis deflected Shinjo’s sword.  

“There’s no way a weakling like you killed Rooker. You just swallowed the Thunder God’s power he left behind without paying any price!”  

Rixis’ body left afterimages as he instantly closed the distance to Shinjo’s left side.  

BZZT—THUD!  

Though Rixis wielded no weapon, his body itself was tougher and stronger than any armament. A single punch sent Shinjo flying back uncontrollably.  

Even though Shinjo had blocked with his sword, the impact was so tremendous it slightly distorted his face.  

“The Thunder God’s power is wasted on a weakling like you!”  

Rixis’ face was filled with greed.  

When Rooker had absorbed the Thunder God’s power, no one had been more resentful than Rixis.  

‘If only I had the Thunder God’s power…!’  

He could become a Transcendent in an instant.  

Rixis believed that if he became a Transcendent, he would never have to bow his head to Barhaut like the others.  

Just as Rooker had once done.  

Especially—  

‘I’ll teach that damned dwarf, Rebley, a proper lesson first!’  

As if the mere thought delighted him, Rixis pursued the recoiling Shinjo and threw another punch.  

WHOOSH—!  

The air itself twisted around his fist, constricting Shinjo’s entire body.  

‘He’s strong. But—!’  

Shinjo released even more of his magic, pushing his body to its limits.  

CRACKLE—!!!  

Far more electricity than before erupted from Shinjo’s body, surging past Rixis like a massive lightning bolt.  

SLASH—!  

“……!”  

He got faster.  

Not only had Shinjo dodged his punch, but he had also slashed deeply into Rixis’ side. The Okstral’s brow furrowed in frustration.  

“You dare play with me?”  

Realizing Shinjo had feigned weakness to lure him into carelessness, Rixis erupted in uncontrollable rage.  

BOOM—!!!  

As Rixis stomped the ground, the earth split apart, sending boulders of varying sizes shooting upward.  

This was the true power of the Okstrals—a race capable of rivaling the giants.  

With a swing of his fist, Rixis hurled the shattered rocks toward Shinjo.  

BAM! BAM! BAM-BAM-BAM!  

The boulders flew at speeds impossible to track with the naked eye, but to Shinjo—who had absorbed the Thunder God’s power—they were nothing more than child’s play.  

CRACKLE—!!!  

Swinging his sword in a wide arc, Shinjo generated a barrier of lightning that reduced the boulders to dust, scattering them in all directions.  

“The real attack is here!”  

A deafening roar erupted above Shinjo as Rixis clapped his hands together with immense force.  

BZZT—CRASH!!!  

A crushing wave of magic, weighing dozens of tons, slammed down on Shinjo.  

This was the Okstrals’ signature magic wavelength attack—a fusion of giant-like strength and superior magic manipulation.  

Even Barhaut had been impressed by its sheer power and technique.  

“…Ghk!”  

Unable to properly counter an attack he had never experienced before, Shinjo gritted his teeth against the bone-shattering pressure and swung his sword—  

“Not a chance!”  

Rixis twisted his body to evade the sword’s energy, then clapped his hands together again.  

BZZT—CRASH!!!  

“Kuh—!”  

The overwhelming pressure forced Shinjo to one knee.  

“The Thunder God’s power belongs to me!”  

BZZT—CRASH!!!  

BZZT—CRASH!!!  

Moving so fast he left afterimages in every direction, Rixis continued his relentless assault.  

Unable to move, Shinjo’s body was gradually being crushed under the pressure.  

Unable to stand by any longer, Gloria raised her bow—  

“Gloria.”  

Seo Do-jun called her name and shook his head.  

This is Shinjo’s fight. Don’t interfere.  

Gloria looked at Seo Do-jun with concern, but his expression remained unreadable as he silently watched Shinjo’s struggle.  

Shinjo clenched his teeth, searching for an opening amidst the crushing pressure attacking him from all sides.  

‘Just a little… Just one opening…’  

Compared to the life-threatening agony he had endured while absorbing the Thunder God’s power, this pain was nothing.  

He could endure it.  

He would endure it.  

Though his face was contorted, his eyes remained calm, scanning for any weakness.  

“I already know exactly what you’re thinking!”  

BZZT—CRASH!!!  

Rixis sneered, clapping his hands even faster to intensify the pressure.  

“Die under the weight of your own body!”  

As Rixis shouted, Shinjo realized his mistake amidst the pain of his bones being crushed.  

‘Was there ever an opening to begin with? This is…’  

Why had he even thought of dodging?  

***  

“The Thunder God’s power is the most destructive force. Never forget—it is more tyrannical than any other power.”  

Seo Do-jun’s words from when Shinjo had absorbed the power echoed in his mind.  

A force that destroys everything.  

The most tyrannical power.  

As electricity surged from Shinjo’s pain-twisted eyes—  

“RAAAAAH—!”  

He released everything—every ounce of magic, every shred of the Thunder God’s power buried deep within him.  

CRACKLE—!!!!!!!!  

An overwhelming storm of lightning erupted in all directions.  

BZZZZT—!!!  

The invisible pressure of Rixis’ magic shattered in an instant.  

“……!”  

Rixis’ face twisted in shock.  

‘Ro… Rooker?!’  

This was exactly how Rooker had looked after absorbing the Thunder God’s power and coming for him.  

Though Shinjo wasn’t quite at Rooker’s level, what mattered was the value of the Thunder God’s power.  

“The Thunder God’s power must be mine!”  

Rixis’ eyes burned with greed as he launched another punch.  

The air exploded as condensed magic bullets pummeled Shinjo’s entire body.  

Though he had broken the magic pressure, Shinjo still hadn’t shaken off the physical strain.  

Helpless, he could only endure Rixis’ relentless assault.  

THUD! THUD! THUD-THUD! THUD-THUD-THUD!  

“Shinjo!”  

Choi Kang-soo called out in frustration, watching Shinjo get beaten down.  

If Seo Do-jun allowed it, he would’ve intervened immediately—  

‘What is Brother thinking?’  

The fact that Seo Do-jun—who cared for Shinjo more than anyone—was simply watching meant he saw no need to step in yet.  

Though his heart burned with impatience, Choi Kang-soo could only trust Seo Do-jun and wait.  

Meanwhile, Seo Do-jun clicked his tongue as he watched Shinjo fail to counter, defend, or even evade properly.  

‘If he can’t handle this much, he doesn’t deserve the Thunder God’s power.’  

Rixis was a formidable opponent.  

But with the Thunder God’s power, Shinjo should have been able to fight him evenly.  

The problem?  

Shinjo still hadn’t fully mastered the power.  

Staggering under Rixis’ assault, Shinjo barely kept himself upright by driving his sword into the ground.  

CRACKLE—!!!  

Using his sword as a crutch, another surge of violent electricity erupted from his body.  

At the same time, Shinjo trembled uncontrollably.  

Seeing this, Seo Do-jun clenched his fist.  

“Endure it. If you can’t dominate the Thunder God’s power, you’ll never truly possess it!”  

Absorbing the power was only the first step.  

Shinjo had stored the Thunder God’s energy throughout his body, but to truly control it, he had to withstand its rampage and suppress it.  

Originally, he would’ve adapted gradually, but there was no time for that now.  

He had to leap forward—no matter how painful or life-threatening the process.  

Seo Do-jun believed Shinjo could endure it.  

‘Shinjo, prove your worth.’  

Seo Do-jun wanted Shinjo to wield the Thunder God’s power properly.  

Had his wish reached him?  

Shinjo began straining even harder to suppress the power.  

“What the hell are you doing?!”  

Rixis frowned at Shinjo, who was suffering from both his attacks and the Thunder God’s power.  

But he didn’t stop punching.  

His third eye told him everything.  

Shinjo was desperately trying to fully control the Thunder God’s power.  

‘So he’s still incomplete? Then I’ll finish him here!’  

Rooker had been the same.  

Unlike Scal, who had easily absorbed the Water God’s power, Rooker had struggled for a long time to control the Thunder God’s energy.  

It wasn’t a power that could be tamed easily.  

Rixis was certain Shinjo would never gain control while being pummeled.  

This was a heaven-sent opportunity.  

‘Kill him, take the Thunder God’s power, and escape!’  

Whoever had killed Rooker was beyond Rixis’ current ability to face.  

‘That dwarf must be preparing something too…’  

Leaving Rebley to handle the aftermath, Rixis planned to make a swift exit.  

But as time passed, his expression hardened.  

“H-how?!”  

Despite the pain from both his attacks and the Thunder God’s power, Shinjo wasn’t collapsing—instead, he was gradually stabilizing.  

At some point, Shinjo’s overwhelming electricity had begun dispersing all of Rixis’ attacks.  

Realizing he couldn’t defeat Shinjo like this, Rixis used his third eye to manipulate the flow of ambient magic.  

By controlling and assimilating all nearby magic, he could trigger a catastrophic explosion—a unique attack of the Okstrals.  

Its effectiveness varied by situation, but right now—  

‘Erasing a runt like you without a trace is nothing!’  

Rixis was confident.  

This attack would disintegrate Shinjo completely, leaving the Thunder God’s power ownerless once more.  

All he had to do was seize it and escape.  

Even if it earned him Rebley or Barhaut’s wrath, it didn’t matter.  

Obtaining the Thunder God’s power was his top priority.  

He would become a Transcendent.  

Though it was a shame that, as the last pure-blooded Okstral, his race would die with him, he could at least dream of a new form of revival.  

‘But for that… I need the Thunder God’s power!’  

Rixis’ eyes burned with hope, anticipation, and insatiable greed as he glared at Shinjo.  

“Eh?!”  

“Wha…?”  

Kusak and Gloria were the first to notice—the flow of magic had suddenly stopped.  

Naturally, Seo Do-jun sensed it too.  

He knew Rixis was preparing something—something that could be extremely dangerous for Shinjo.  

For a moment, he hesitated.  

Should I step in?  

Just as even Seo Do-jun was torn—  

“Die—!”  

Rixis’ scream echoed as the stagnant magic detonated.  

And at the same time—  

“GRAAAAAAAAH—!”  

An apocalyptic surge of lightning erupted from Shinjo’s body, a colossal pillar of thunder tearing through the sky.