SFRW-Chapter 291

Ch. 291 Sword God From The Ruined World

“What… the hell is going on here?”  

Upon arriving at the Khetalu Plains, Kael shook his head in disbelief at the unimaginable situation before him.  

The Six Seats and the Seven Apostles were never on good terms, but he had believed that, at the very least, they would understand their priorities.  

But now…  

“Seems like I expected too much.”  

Given Pio’s personality, Kael had anticipated that she wouldn’t leave Ratio alone. Considering the relationship between High Elves and Dark Elves, no words could ever stop them from fighting.  

That was why Kael had even considered excluding Pio from this mission from the beginning. However, doing so would have risked damaging his relationship with her, so he couldn’t leave her out.  

Thus, the bloody battle between Pio and Ratio was entirely expected—nothing surprising about it.  

The real problem was Felts and Allekuhi.  

They weren’t as hostile as Pio and Ratio, but at the very least, they were on terms where they could distinguish reason from impulse.  

Yet, the current situation was…  

“Allekuhi’s condition is strange.”  

At Ver’s words, Kael turned to her with a questioning look.  

“His life force is continuously draining. There’s only one explanation for this.”  

Ver slowly shifted her gaze toward Luam.  

“What do you mean? Are you saying Luam used some kind of dark magic with Allekuhi’s life as collateral?”  

Even as he said it, Kael found the idea absurd.  

Who was Allekuhi?  

One of the Six Seats—a Transcendent. No matter how powerful Luam was, he wouldn’t dare use dark magic that consumes the life of such a being unless he had gone completely mad.  

No, Allekuhi wasn’t the type to fall victim to Luam’s dark magic in the first place.  

“Allekuhi’s internal core has been severely damaged.”  

Even from a distance, Ver could accurately assess Allekuhi’s condition. Such was her skill as a healer.  

“Even if his internal core is heavily damaged, it’s the kind of injury that can be recovered over time, right?”  

“Correct. But for some reason, it seems like he’s given up on recovering.”  

Even Ver couldn’t understand the situation, but one thing was clear—Allekuhi had abandoned his own life.  

“Why on earth has it come to this?”  

Kael let out a deep sigh at the chaotic state of the Khetalu Plains.  

“Kael, it’s them.”  

Even without Ver’s words, Kael could sense the extraordinary presence of Seo Do-jun’s group—their target.  

Amid the fierce battles raging across the Khetalu Plains, Seo Do-jun’s group was the only one maintaining an air of leisure.  

Having already hunted down all of Antarian’s monsters, they observed the surrounding fights like predators eyeing their prey.  

“What do you think?”  

“They won’t be easy opponents. Especially… that man. Even if you and I fight together, it won’t be simple.”  

Kael wasn’t surprised by Ver’s words.  

He, too, had sensed an unprecedented tension emanating from Seo Do-jun—an opponent unlike any he had faced before.  

“Ver, handle Luam.”  

Ver immediately understood Kael’s intent.  

“Understood.”  

She swiftly pulled out a small figurine of a goddess from her robe.  

Closing her eyes, she softly recited a prayer, and a radiant white light began to emanate from her entire body.  

***

“What the hell are they up to now?”  

Choi Kang-soo frowned in irritation.  

Yet another group of Transcendents had appeared.  

Just as they had finished off Antarian’s monsters and were finally catching their breath, Kael and Ver showed up, adding to their mental exhaustion.  

“Stay on guard, everyone.”  

Seo Do-jun kept his eyes fixed on Kael as he spoke.  

Ver, clad in pure white priestly robes, was predictable in her abilities, and her power wasn’t particularly threatening.  

But Kael was different.  

Among the Transcendents gathered on the Khetalu Plains, he possessed the strongest power.  

The question was whose side these newcomers were on—and they soon made it clear.  

『That’s genuine holy power!』  

The Divine Sword reacted first as divine energy manifested from Ver’s body.  

『I haven’t felt holy power this pure in ages. Not even Palaresta in the past reached this level…』  

Choi Kang-soo also sensed that the holy energy radiating from Ver was far purer than that of Gettis, the corrupted paladin.  

『That’s the result of true, unwavering faith over a long time. Not that a half-baked guy like you would understand, even if you died and came back to life.』  

“Are you insane? Why would I die and come back just to stick with you? My role model is Uncle.”  

The fact that a supposed Holy Knight of Mute proudly declared Seo Do-jun—not Mute—as his role model left the Divine Sword speechless.  

Meanwhile, the holy energy radiating from Ver coalesced into a massive sphere, rising into the sky.  

Flash—!  

A blinding light of divine power enveloped the entire Khetalu Plains.  

“It seems the balance is about to shift.”  

As Shinjo had predicted, the evenly matched battle between the Six Seats and the Seven Apostles quickly tilted.  

The divine light covering the Khetalu Plains first struck Luam’s undead monsters.  

Despite their resistance to holy energy, the undead began melting away at an alarming rate.  

The Dragonbone Knight, mid-swing at Raten, saw its greatsword drip away like wax, while the massive, rotting skeletal monsters dissolved into foul-smelling sludge.  

“Ver—!”  

While the undead were the first to suffer, the biggest victim was Luam himself.  

His appearance was pitiful.  

His robes, likely affected by Ver’s holy power, had turned to tatters, exposing his skeletal frame grotesquely through the torn fabric.  

Luam’s green eyes flared as a sphere of dark magic formed above his head, shooting like a missile toward the divine sphere in the sky.  

Kwa—BOOM!  

A deafening explosion shook the heavens as the divine sphere shattered, scattering radiant fragments in all directions.  

Yet Ver showed no regret.  

Her goal had already been achieved—melting all the undead monsters, damaging Luam, and forcing him to expend a massive amount of magic on his dark magic sphere.  

Of course, Ver had also expended significant energy, but compared to Luam’s losses, it was hardly a disadvantage.  

“Well done, Ver!”  

Raten grinned broadly and resumed his assault on the monsters.  

With the undead gone and Luam’s interference eliminated, hunting down Antarian’s monsters was only a matter of time.  

Now free to focus solely on the monsters, Qua and Seil also unleashed even fiercer attacks.  

Watching this, Luam gritted his teeth in frustration.  

This was the worst possible scenario.  

He had anticipated Kael and Ver’s arrival, but their timing couldn’t have been worse.  

‘If this continues…’  

Seo Do-jun’s group might end up captured by the Seven Apostles.  

He had to ensure they escaped—immediately.  

[I won’t forget today! Every last one of you will die by my hand!]  

Luam transmitted his words to Seo Do-jun through magic, ensuring only he could hear.  

Startled, Seo Do-jun turned to look at him.  

[Your goal is to kill that Administrator bitch, right? Kill her and get the hell out of here!]  

Luam, in an unexpected act of ‘kindness’, hurled the unconscious Mercenary King Joi toward Seo Do-jun.  

Catching her reflexively, Seo Do-jun stared at Luam and asked:  

[What’s your game?]  

[You bastards must die by my hand!]  

Though Luam seemed to have more to say, he only spat those words.  

Seo Do-jun glanced subtly at Kael before asking again:  

[Who are they?]

Luam hesitated before finally replying:  

[…The Seven Apostles of Ophel.]  

[The Seven Apostles of Ophel?]  

[That’s all you need to know! Kill that Administrator and leave! If you don’t, every one of you will die here…]  

[If the Seven Apostles kill us, Barhaut would be in quite a predicament, wouldn’t he?]  

Instead of answering, Luam’s green eyes flared as he glared at Seo Do-jun.  

Regardless, Seo Do-jun woke the unconscious Joi.  

“…Ugh, who are you?”  

“Originally, our plan was to kill you and liberate this Guardian Planet under Barhaut’s control.”  

“Liberate? You mean our planet can be freed from Barhaut?”  

Joi’s eyes widened in shock at Seo Do-jun’s words.  

Though she had gained Barhaut’s trust and become the Planetary Administrator, she never imagined her death could lead to the planet’s liberation.  

She had assumed the title alone protected her from Luam and others—never realizing her life held such significance.  

“If that’s true, then kill me now!”  

Without a second’s hesitation, Joi offered her neck.  

Her resolve made Seo Do-jun, Choi Kang-soo, and the others grimace.  

“If you’re bluffing because you think we won’t kill you, you should stop—”  

“If I kill myself, will it still lead to liberation?”  

Joi cut off Choi Kang-soo’s words with her question.  

“Uh… I guess?”  

Honestly, there had never been a case of an Administrator committing suicide, so even Choi Kang-soo wasn’t sure.  

But whether by suicide or execution, the result—the planet’s liberation—should be the same.  

“Then lend me a sword. I’ll end this filthy life myself.”  

Her sincerity left Choi Kang-soo at a loss for words.  

“Uncle, what should we do?”  

In the end, Choi Kang-soo stepped back, leaving the decision entirely to Seo Do-jun.  

Having only seen Administrators who betrayed their kind and sold out their planets for personal gain, he never imagined one like Joi could exist.  

‘Was she really a Hero?’  

Recalling how people revered the Mercenary King Joi, Choi Kang-soo studied her with newfound respect.  

Her beauty—flawless enough to be called a peerless beauty—and her clear, bright eyes were nothing like the repulsive Administrators he had encountered before.  

‘How could we kill someone like her? I can’t do it! Never!’  

If anything, he felt pity for her and wanted to stay up all night hearing her story.  

What would Seo Do-jun decide?  

‘Even Uncle might not have a choice. To liberate this planet… Huh?!’  

Suddenly, a name flashed in Choi Kang-soo’s mind.  

“Pope Alfrey! That’s it! Uncle! Pope Alfrey!”  

At Choi Kang-soo’s sudden mention, Seo Do-jun, Shinjo, and even Grichuk immediately grasped his meaning.  

The Administrator who abandoned his planet and fled.  

The one whose departure had liberated the planet of Bastro.  

Choi Kang-soo was reminding Seo Do-jun that killing Joi—who seemed far from evil—wasn’t the only way to free this planet.  

“Guild Master.”  

Even Shinjo agreed with Choi Kang-soo this time.  

Killing Joi here would be a lifelong regret.  

“What’s with you guys? Who said anything about killing her?”  

Seo Do-jun looked at Choi Kang-soo and Shinjo with a disappointed expression.  

Had Joi acted like other Administrators, he would have killed her without hesitation to liberate the planet.  

But even Seo Do-jun was reluctant to kill someone like her. Instead, he planned to convince her to abandon the planet and flee.  

“Choi Kang-soo, you explain.”  

“Got it, Uncle!”  

With a brighter expression, Choi Kang-soo began explaining the situation to Joi.  

Meanwhile, Seo Do-jun raised his sword toward Kael, who was subtly pressuring him.  

‘If they’re the Seven Apostles of Ophel, this must be all of them. I should gauge their strength.’  

Somehow, Seo Do-jun felt they would clash again.  

And so, he decided to test the power of Kael—the strongest among the Seven Apostles.  

As Seo Do-jun pointed his sword at him, Kael smirked and drew his own blade from subspace.  

Watching them, Luam cursed under his breath.  

“I even handed over the Administrator so they could escape—what the hell are they doing now?!”  

Furious, Luam began racking his brain for a way to prevent the worst-case scenario.