SFRW-Chapter 256

Ch. 256 Sword God From The Ruined World

Kwa-rung!  

“…Ugh!”  

Every time Zillia clashed with Shinjo’s sword, she had to grit her teeth and endure the pain as the power of the Thunder God pierced deep into her bones. Unlike other vampires, as Vampica’s closest confidant, Zillia felt compelled to support her master and defeat the human before her as soon as possible.  

But…  

‘It’s not easy.’  

No, to be honest, Zillia was already struggling just to hold Shinjo back. Shinjo, wielding the power of the Thunder God, was an opponent too formidable even for a high-ranking vampire of the Iostem hierarchy.  

“Lady Zillia!”  

Dozens of vampires, following the light erupting from Romak’s nest, arrived one after another. Seeing Zillia blocked by a man and unable to advance, they immediately moved to assist her without hesitation.  

Despite the vampires joining the fight, Shinjo stood firm, as if declaring that none would pass him.  

‘No one will enter the nest.’  

Though he had failed to stop the vampire he assumed was Vampica, Shinjo trusted Choi Kang-soo and Grichuk to handle the rest. With unwavering resolve, he swung his sword.  

“Kill him by any means necessary!”  

At Zillia’s frenzied shout, the vampires charged even more fiercely. Each time, powerful lightning erupted from Shinjo’s blade, striking in all directions.  

Kwa-rung! Kwa-gang! Jjeo-jeok!  

With each terrifying slash of Shinjo’s sword, vampires turned pitch-black and collapsed. Yet, instead of thinning, their numbers only grew, pressing Shinjo harder. Among them, Zillia—who used other vampires to exploit openings—was Shinjo’s biggest headache.  

‘I need to take her down first.’  

As Shinjo’s gaze turned icy, Zillia, quick-witted, smirked and retreated, vanishing among the swarm of vampires. Shinjo let out a hollow laugh.  

“Sharp instincts.”  

Impressed by how quickly she had read his intent, Shinjo shook his head slightly and resumed swinging his sword. He remained patient, knowing an opportunity would come.  

“…This human is no pushover.”  

Zillia frowned at Shinjo’s unshakable stance and glanced behind him.  

From moments ago, deafening impacts, screams, and bursts of holy light strong enough to make one shudder had been erupting nonstop.  

Who was Vampica fighting?  

Was it the Transcendent who had killed the Himaid siblings and their allies teaming up against her?  

Was that why Shinjo was blocking them so fiercely?  

The thought made Zillia even more desperate, and she urged the vampires onward.  

“Risk your lives to wound him!”  

At her piercing command, the vampires flinched—then truly disregarded their lives as they lunged at Shinjo.  

***

While Shinjo held off Zillia and the vampires, Choi Kang-soo, Grichuk, and Rahf were pouring their all into restraining Vampica.  

“Damn it! Just take a hit already!”  

The divine power concentrated in Choi Kang-soo’s Divine Sword was a significant threat even to a Transcendent like Vampica. Knowing this, Vampica dodged his attacks at all costs, even if it meant taking blows from Grichuk or Rahf.  

“You slippery bastard! Try dodging this!”  

When direct strikes with the Divine Sword proved ineffective, Choi Kang-soo detonated his divine power in a single point.  

Bwoon—Jjeok!  

A blinding explosion of light erupted, and Vampica swiftly summoned a crimson blood mist to shield himself. However, the mist failed to fully block the divine power, dissipating as Vampica grimaced at the searing pain in his arms.  

Divine power was anathema to vampires. Even minor hits were dangerous, forcing Vampica to prioritize Choi Kang-soo as the greatest threat.  

He had intended to kill him first, but…  

“…Annoying pest.”  

Vampica clicked his tongue, glaring at Choi Kang-soo.  

Individually, he was nothing special, but his body, saturated with divine power, made him nearly impervious to ordinary attacks.  

Of course, had Choi Kang-soo been alone, he would have fallen long ago. But every time Vampica tried to deliver a decisive blow, Grichuk interfered with his dark portals or Rahf cast black magic, foiling his attempts.  

Vampica’s gaze shifted.  

“…Oh? Planning to kill me first now?”  

Rahf stepped back, hastily layering shields around himself.  

Vampica could shatter them instantly, but the brief delay would give Choi Kang-soo and Grichuk time to intervene. Still, Rahf wasn’t overly worried.  

With his target changed, Vampica struck at Rahf.  

Kwa-ja-ja-chang!  

A crimson spear shattered the layered shields in an instant, forcing Rahf to twist his upper body frantically.  

Pu-hwak!  

“Ghk!”  

A vicious pain shot through his left shoulder as he staggered.  

‘I—I can’t block this level of attack!’  

Rahf realized just how incredible Choi Kang-soo was for enduring dozens of such assaults.  

How many more of these beings would he have to defeat to avenge Barhaut?  

The thought made him realize how grandiose his revenge truly was.  

“Fall back!”  

Choi Kang-soo stepped in front of the wounded Rahf and swung his holy sword at Vampica, who had closed the distance in an instant.  

As the blade neared him, a dark portal appeared—and Grichuk’s sword stabbed into Vampica’s back.  

A flawless pincer attack. They were certain it would succeed.  

“Got you now, you bas—huh?”  

Choi Kang-soo’s triumphant shout faltered.  

Vampica grinned mockingly.  

A chilling sensation ran down Choi Kang-soo’s spine—and in an instant, Vampica vanished. He reappeared, driving a crimson spear straight toward Grichuk’s skull.  

His true target had been Grichuk all along.  

Pu-uk!  

Grichuk’s body trembled violently as the spear pierced his skull.  

“I—I won’t die that easil—!”  

“Danger! His magic is scattering!”  

Rahf’s panicked shout made Choi Kang-soo look at him in confusion.  

“I don’t know either, but it’s bad! If this continues, all his magic will disperse—even his soul might vanish!”  

“…Fck!”  

Not fully understanding but realizing he might lose a vital ally, Choi Kang-soo charged at Vampica without hesitation.  

“Kik. Now that you’re alone, think you can handle it?”  

Vampica’s taunt sent a shudder of fear through Choi Kang-soo, but he couldn’t back down.  

“Why would I handle you? Someone else is meant to kill you!”  

Yes, holding out this long was already enough.  

Choi Kang-soo unleashed the most powerful burst of divine power yet directly at Vampica, who still had his spear lodged in Grichuk’s skull.  

“Eek! How terrifying. Let’s meet again later. Next time, I’ll crush your skull. Wait for me. Kikiki!”  

As if satisfied, Vampica yanked his spear free and vanished into the depths of the nest.  

Killing Choi Kang-soo now would be trivial, but the presence of another Transcendent inside the nest nagged at him. He’d only rest easy after eliminating that one first.  

With Vampica gone, Choi Kang-soo immediately checked on Grichuk.  

“Damn it! Grichuk! Hey! Snap out of it!”  

Grichuk’s body trembled uncontrollably—his near-limitless regeneration and recovery nowhere to be seen.  

“Wh-what kind of power is this…?”  

Rahf frantically examined Grichuk, pulling something from subspace and stuffing it into his armor.  

“How is he? Will he be okay? He’s not really going to vanish, right?”  

Rahf could only repeat that he didn’t know, doing everything he could to prevent Grichuk’s dissipation.  

“H-how did he do this? How do you even reduce Grichuk to this state?!”  

Choi Kang-soo wanted to pour divine power into him, but it would do no good. All he could do was stand guard.  

“Uncle… will you be okay?”  

Gritting his teeth, Choi Kang-soo stared into the depths of the nest.  

***

Bolikos and Twek remained by Seo Do-jun’s side.  

Their mission was to guard Seo Do-jun, who stood motionless, enveloped in an unknown light.  

“What is that light?”  

Twek couldn’t understand why Seo Do-jun, a Transcendent, was frozen, or why an unknown radiance emanated from the petrified forest spirit. Everything was a mystery.  

“I don’t know either.”  

Did Bolikos know?  

The important thing was that Seo Do-jun had discovered something they hadn’t.  

‘Did he obtain the relic’s power?’  

Or was this part of the process?  

Bolikos stared uneasily at Seo Do-jun, wondering how long this would last.  

Then—  

“Well, well. You hid all the way here.”  

A voice they could never forget made Bolikos and Twek turn in shock.  

As expected—Vampica.  

“Th-the others…?”  

Twek’s voice trembled as he asked. Vampica chuckled.  

“Don’t worry too much. I haven’t killed them yet. Though once I finish you two, the rest will follow.”  

Relieved they were still alive, Twek exhaled.  

“But that guy—what’s he doing?”  

Vampica narrowed her eyes at Seo Do-jun.  

Aside from the light surrounding him, nothing stood out.  

He didn’t seem like the Transcendent who had killed the Himaid siblings—no overwhelming aura, just frozen in place.  

Was he hiding something else?  

Vampica scanned the area but sensed no other presence.  

“Did you find the relic? Of course you did. You fought so desperately to stop me.”  

His tone was confident as he eyed Bolikos. He assumed he had claimed the relic.  

“Relic? There wasn’t one. We came up empty too.”  

Vampica laughed.  

“You expect me to believe that? Your lies are too obvious.”  

He pointed at Seo Do-jun, convinced the relic’s power was responsible for his state.  

“Sh-shut up! There’s no relic!”  

Twek’s shout earned him a crimson spear conjured midair and hurled at him.  

Pu-hwak!  

“GAAAH!”  

Twek screamed as the spear pierced his thigh, dropping him to the ground.  

“What relic did the forest spirit leave? What’s he doing now? Bolikos, your answer determines whether his skull gets pierced next.”  

Vampica tilted his head expectantly. Twek shouted that he was fine, but Vampica saw the hesitation in Bolikos’s eyes and waited smugly.  

“Th-the relic…”  

“Lord Bolikos!”  

Twek yelled, not wanting Bolikos to be swayed because of him.  

“Too slow. Should I pierce his skull to speed up your answer?”  

As the crimson spear spun menacingly, Bolikos spat out his words.  

“There is no relic!”  

With that, he kicked off the ground and charged at Vampica.  

Buying time was all that mattered now.  

“Begging for death? I’ll oblige.”  

With a cruel smile, Vampica flicked his wrist—and the spear shot toward Bolikos.