SFRW-Chapter 275

Ch. 275 Sword God From The Ruined World

“This can’t be real!”  

Choi Kang-soo couldn’t accept the sight of Shinjo, who had completely transformed in just ten days.  

“I… I…”  

Choi Kang-soo had barely stepped into the realm of Transcendence after drenching himself in blood while cleansing the corrupt papal forces and having his Divine Sword absorb the massive holy energy from five holy relics.  

Yet Shinjo had boldly become a Transcendent in just ten days—a reality Choi Kang-soo refused to believe.  

『Shinjo always had the potential to become a Transcendent. The Thunder God’s power is worth that much.』  

Though Shinjo had absorbed only a fraction of the Thunder God’s power initially, his recent enlightenment allowed him to fully make it his own, naturally elevating him to Transcendence.  

From this perspective, Veronica, who had absorbed the Water God’s power, was no different.  

“Even so… How in just ten days…?”  

『Let’s be honest. You’re not denying Shinjo’s ascension—you’re jealous.』  

Choi Kang-soo wanted to shout in protest, but the Divine Sword cut in first.  

『You barely dipped your toes into Transcendence by relying on my power, while Shinjo achieved it entirely through his own strength. Admit it—you’re ashamed of being a half-baked Transcendent propped up by gear, aren’t you?』  

Choi Kang-soo bit his lip hard, unable to refute the sword’s harsh criticism.  

Because it was true.  

He was indeed a ‘gear-carry’ half-Transcendent, while Shinjo had achieved perfection.  

Though not as overwhelming as Seo Do-jun, Shinjo had unquestionably earned the right to stand against the monstrous Six Seats.  

“No need to be disappointed. What you’ve accomplished is remarkable in its own way. If I had to choose who I need more right now… it’d be you.”  

This was sincere.  

Of course, the difference in ‘need’ was marginal.  

While Shinjo’s combat prowess was essential, Choi Kang-soo’s holy energy was irreplaceable.  

“You… mean that?”  

Disappointment, anger, frustration, helplessness—all these emotions swirled within Choi Kang-soo, but his lips twitched upward at Seo Do-jun’s words.  

“I do.”  

“So I’m really your first pick?”  

“Huh? First pick?”  

Seo Do-jun gave him a puzzled look, but Choi Kang-soo’s deadly serious expression made him nod half-heartedly.  

“Ha! I knew it! Yeah, whatever!”  

Choi Kang-soo’s earlier gloom vanished as he smirked triumphantly at Shinjo—who was now zipping around like ‘Lightning Man’ (as Choi Kang-soo saw him).  

‘What goes on in that head of his?’  

Seo Do-jun clicked his tongue and began preparing to move to their next destination.  

Only 12 of Barhaut’s guardian planets remained.  

They were getting closer.  

The thought made Seo Do-jun’s fists clench unconsciously.  

‘I’ll pay you back for that last defeat!’  

Barhaut had destroyed their world and now sought to annihilate their new one. This time, Seo Do-jun vowed to end him for good.  

***

“What’s the plan now?”  

Luam glanced at Allekuhi, who continued, “Vipiens refuses to step forward, so we’re stuck waiting again. And neither you, me, nor Ratio are managing any planets directly.”  

Only three of the Six Seats had been overseeing guardian planets.  

But Vampica and Gettis were dead, and Vipiens had declared he would simply wait on his own world.  

Of the remaining 12 guardian planets, Luam had artificially linked passageways between six.  

Excluding Vipiens’ domain, that left only five planets where their enemies could freely move.  

Luam believed this narrowed the odds—they would detect the intruders soon, if not immediately.  

“The gap between us is closing. We should stay together for now.”  

Allekuhi and Ratio both grimaced.  

“That sounds… unpleasant.”  

Allekuhi eyed the clattering skeletons roaming Luam’s palace with distaste.  

The strong aura of death here was naturally repulsive to the living.  

“I agree. This place is awful.”  

Ratio flatly rejected the idea.  

Luam’s green eyes flared with fury.  

With two of the Six Seats dead and Barhaut’s wrath at its peak, he couldn’t tolerate their pettiness.  

“Then what do you propose?!”  

His roar froze the other two.  

“Easy, Luam. We’re your equals, not subordinates.”  

“Taking out Vipiens’ snub on us?”  

One wrong move, and their alliance would shatter.  

Under normal circumstances, Luam would’ve dismissed them outright.  

‘Damn it!’  

But Barhaut’s fury left no room for pride.  

“Fine. What’s your suggestion?”  

Allekuhi relented slightly. “We return to our domains but stay ready to move instantly. After Gettis, we can’t afford to lower our guard.”  

Ratio nodded stiffly.  

They agreed to check in daily—the bare minimum Luam could accept.  

As the two left, Luam finally exploded.  

“Those damn bastards! I’ll turn them all into undead slaves!”  

His rage shook the palace.  

***

Contrary to Luam’s hopes, Seo Do-jun’s group had luckily avoided the linked planets—this was their third unconnected guardian world.  

“…Ghk!”  

Shinjo’s blade pierced the Orc warlord’s heart, freeing another planet.  

For over half a month, they had fought relentless battles against the Orc tribes that ruled this world.  

Simple, brutal, reckless—the Orcs charged without fear, even when outmatched.  

“Disgusting savages.”  

Choi Kang-soo shuddered, recalling sleepless nights of endless combat.  

This time, Seo Do-jun and Grichuk had stayed out entirely, leaving Shinjo and Choi Kang-soo to fight alone.  

The goal?  

To refine Shinjo’s newfound Transcendent power and forcibly push Choi Kang-soo to his limits.  

The results were spectacular.  

Shinjo’s genius needed only experience to flourish, but Choi Kang-soo required extreme pressure to grow.  

“Step aside if you’re done.”  

Rahf licked his lips as he approached the dead warlord.  

The 2-meter-tall mutant Orc could tear ogres apart bare-handed, with speed and agility belying his size—a perfect candidate for a Death Knight.  

“━━. ━━━. ━━━!”  

As Rahf chanted, viscous dark magic pooled around the corpse.  

Crack! Squelch! Rip!  

Bones twisted, muscles split, skin tore—the gruesome process made everyone but Seo Do-jun grimace.  

“Is this how Grichuk became a Death Knight?”  

Shinjo shook his head sharply, warning Choi Kang-soo to shut up before he ruined the mood.  

Rahf then dumped a mountain of mangled armor from his subspace—enough to equip a hundred men.  

“Damn, you’ve been looting like a rat in a granary.”  

Choi Kang-soo whistled as Rahf compressed the pile into a single mass.  

The armored lump merged with the Orc’s liquefied body, reshaping into a suit perfectly fitted for the warlord.  

The most unsettling part?  

The Orc’s intact head now sat atop the armor.  

“…This is insane.”  

Even Seo Do-jun frowned at the grotesque sight.  

After anchoring the Orc’s soul, Rahf admired his new Death Knight.  

“Your name?”  

“Ghu. Me. Shu. A. Ka. Re. Tta.”  

Rahf simplified it. “From now on, you’re Akada.”  

“Just call him Curry,” Choi Kang-soo muttered, earning an eye-roll.  

Then Rahf made a request.  

“With time, I want Akada to absorb a Death Knight’s essence.”  

“Essence?”  

“I’ve harvested Orc souls to create one. Since Grichuk can’t benefit further, Akada should take it.”  

Seo Do-jun strode forward and seized Rahf’s throat.  

“Rahf.”  

“Ghk! Wh-why?!”  

“If you ever steal souls again, I’ll blow your head off.”  

Rahf’s eyes burned with defiance, but Seo Do-jun smirked.  

“Think I’m stupid? I know the dimensional paths between guardian planets have reconnected. Should I demonstrate now?”  

Drawing his sword, he watched Rahf’s confidence waver.