SFRW-Chapter 301

Ch. 301 Sword God From The Ruined World

“It’s definitely Seo Do-jun!”  

The moment she saw the meteor-like shower of triangular stars, Hyun Joo-yeon realized Seo Do-jun had arrived.  

Her heart raced.  

The man she had missed so dearly—each day feeling like a year, each month like a decade. The thought of seeing Seo Do-jun again, mixed with the fact that they had to face the overwhelming enemy Vipiens, made her heart pound as if it would burst.  

‘We have to run before meeting Vipiens!’  

She had watched him closely and knew.  

Though Hyun Joo-yeon had more faith in Seo Do-jun than anyone else, this time, the opponent was different.  

‘Kusak? Be honest with me. Hah… Let me say this very coldly and objectively. What are the chances Kassal can defeat Vipiens? Even 1%? If there’s any race that can oppose Gods, it’s Dragons. At least, that’s what I know. Dragons are the pinnacle of all lifeforms, the most perfect beings. No matter how strong Kassal is, Vipiens is a Dragon who stands out even among them. In some ways, he’s more dangerous than Barhaut.’  

She had asked Kusak just in case, and that was his answer. Veronica and Rakun agreed.  

Even if they combined all the enemies Seo Do-jun had faced so far, Vipiens was on a completely different level.  

Vipiens was an opponent even Seo Do-jun would struggle against.  

The best way to deal with Vipiens?  

‘The best option is for all of us to run. Of course, I don’t know if Vipiens would allow that. If not… then we’ll have to stake our lives to help Kassal. I don’t know how much help we’d be, but…’  

Running was the first priority.  

‘With Rahf, it’s possible!’  

They could open a dimensional portal and escape anywhere.  

Kusak had said their chances of escaping were as slim as winning in a fight, but they had to try.  

As Hyun Joo-yeon ran toward where the triangular stars had fallen, her entire body froze like a statue at the sight of a massive meteor crashing down.  

“…They’ve met.”  

The worst-case scenario had happened.  

No—from the moment Seo Do-jun revealed his presence, Vipiens must have sensed him.  

Perhaps the triangular stars had been an attack aimed at Vipiens.  

Then, a massive sword slash split the meteor apart, followed by an overwhelming display of magic and sword energy.  

It was a battle so intense it was hard to believe it was between a mere human and a Dragon, one of the greatest races.  

Hyun Joo-yeon bit her lower lip hard and forced herself to move again.  

Now, there was only one option left.  

She had to throw her life into the fight for Seo Do-jun’s victory.  

Just as she was about to sprint toward the battlefield—  

Whooooom—!  

A deep resonance filled the air as space began to tear apart.  

‘A dimensional portal?’  

It was slightly different from the ones Rahf created, but the sight of space splitting apart as magic dissipated was familiar.  

The tear expanded until it formed an oval portal over ten meters wide.  

The first to step out was—  

“Hmm. The stench of that wretched lizard is unmistakable!”  

A pale, flawlessly handsome black-haired man with an immaculate appearance.  

“Hm? A human girl?”  

Noticing Hyun Joo-yeon standing before the portal, the man smirked, sending chills down her spine.  

It felt like an invisible snake’s tongue was licking her entire body.  

She had never felt such a creepy smile before—her body stiffened instinctively.  

“Ketera, move aside.”  

A massive man emerged behind the handsome one, pushing him out of the way as if the space was too cramped.  

The man had pitch-black pupils and short, curly black hair in a unique style.  

“Hey! I warned you not to touch me!”  

“Then why are you blocking the way?”  

Ketera flared up, but the man—Yakya—ignored him, scanning the surroundings instead.  

Then—  

“So this is Barhaut’s first Guardian Planet?”  

A lanky boy covered in freckles stepped out, eyes sparkling with curiosity.  

A beautiful elf with a slender figure followed, her expression blank as she closed her eyes, seemingly sensing the forest’s energy.  

Finally, a man with long black hair down to his waist—Kael—emerged, and the portal slowly closed behind them.  

“Well? Can you feel it?”  

At Raten’s question, Pio, who had been keeping her eyes closed, nodded.  

“Qua and Ver are here. And…”  

Ratio was dead.  

She didn’t know who had killed her, but Pio felt a mix of emptiness and anger—even if she had killed Ratio herself, it wouldn’t have been satisfying.  

“Who’s this?”  

Kael turned to Hyun Joo-yeon.  

What should she say?  

While she hesitated, Raten cut in.  

“An ally of those humans, right? Hey, am I correct? You’re the ones who’ve been liberating Barhaut’s Guardian Planets?”  

Unsure if they were enemies or allies, Hyun Joo-yeon couldn’t answer recklessly.  

“Your silence says it all. What should we do? Kill her right here? After what happened last time, we owe them at least that much, don’t you think?”  

When Raten casually suggested killing her, Hyun Joo-yeon instinctively knew she had to escape.  

The aura radiating from the handsome man and the giant alone filled her with overwhelming helplessness.  

She couldn’t just stand there and wait for death.  

In a flash, she drew her sword and swung it.  

Whoosh—Crack!  

A bright light exploded like a flashbang.  

Knowing she couldn’t harm any of them directly, she used the power of the light spirit to momentarily blind them.  

Seizing the chance, she kicked off the ground and fled.  

“Should I catch her and skin her alive?”  

Yakya shook his head at Ketera’s suggestion.  

“She ran in the direction we’re heading. We’ll see her again. Besides, our priority is the lizard, not some human girl.”  

Ketera nodded in agreement.  

“Then shall we begin the lizard hunt?”  

Ketera licked his lips with a crimson tongue, his pupils narrowing like a predator’s, exuding a chilling aura.  

***

Hyun Joo-yeon ran like never before in her life.  

She didn’t dare look back.  

How long had she been running?  

“Hyun Joo-yeon!”  

Startled by the familiar voice, she whipped her head around.  

Choi Kang-soo waved at her, pretending to be friendly, with Kusak, Rakun, and Veronica gathered together.  

“Where’s Gloria?”  

Hyun Joo-yeon shook her head at Veronica’s question.  

“Seo Do-jun is here, right?”  

“He’s fighting Vipiens head-on. We’re on our way to help Kassal.”  

“Another group just arrived through a dimensional portal.”  

She quickly explained what she had seen.  

“Kael’s here!”  

Qua was the most delighted at the news.  

Though silent, Ver also wore a faint smile.  

“Damn it! So the Seven Apostles have all gathered now?”  

Choi Kang-soo couldn’t hide his nervousness, shifting like a dog that needed to pee.  

Facing Vipiens alone was overwhelming enough—now the Seven Apostles had returned.  

The only silver lining was that there might still be room for negotiation…  

‘But that’s only possible if Uncle is here! Who among us can negotiate with the Seven Apostles? Should I do it?’  

Choi Kang-soo figured he’d do a better job than the stoic Shinjo or Grichuk.  

Kusak and the others had never met the Seven Apostles and weren’t on equal footing in terms of strength, so they couldn’t take the lead.  

‘Should we politely return the hostages and ask them to leave? Or propose teaming up to kill Vipiens?’  

Neither option seemed even remotely possible, so Choi Kang-soo tugged at his hair, wondering what to say to turn things in their favor.  

“You’d better let us go now. If Kael finds out you’ve captured us, he won’t let you die easily.”  

Qua cackled as she spoke.  

Choi Kang-soo scowled and snapped back.  

“Kill us? Let me make this clear—I’ll kill you first before I die! So if you want to live, shut up!”  

Well, it was do or die now.  

Choi Kang-soo decided to throw caution to the wind.  

“First, let’s get to Uncle! Who knows? Maybe Vipiens will kill the Seven Apostles for us like last time.”  

Remembering how the Six Seats and Seven Apostles had turned on each other in the Khetalu Plains, it might be better to stay back and watch the show.  

Shinjo and Grichuk nodded in agreement.  

Meeting the Seven Apostles without Seo Do-jun was far too risky—it was better to regroup.  

“We need to hurry.”  

Shinjo’s gaze turned toward the direction Hyun Joo-yeon had come from.  

Terrifyingly, the powerful presences were getting closer.  

“Let’s move!”  

Choi Kang-soo slung Qua and Ver over his shoulders and broke into a sprint.  

“You bastard! Let go! Put me down!”  

Qua thrashed, and Ver hurled curses, but Choi Kang-soo ignored them, running straight toward the storm of lightning ahead.  

***

Vipiens didn’t move even as Seo Do-jun closed in, despite being wounded.  

How long had it been since he last took damage?  

Vipiens frowned, dredging up distant memories—ones he’d rather forget.  

Meanwhile, Seo Do-jun had narrowed the distance to within twenty meters.  

Every swing of his sword left trails of energy, solidifying into razor-sharp slashes that flew toward Vipiens.  

Even Vipiens couldn’t ignore attacks from such close range.  

The result?  

Slash! Slash-slash!  

Vipiens’ shoulder and thigh split open, blood spraying into the air.  

Though he managed to distort the sword’s trajectory with a last-second shield, he couldn’t fully block or evade.  

“Vipiens—!”  

Luam shouted, as if snapping him out of it, conjuring black spears and blades of darkness.  

“I told you not to interfere!”  

Vipiens exploded in anger, shattering Luam’s constructs.  

At the same time, he summoned a storm of lightning, bombarding Seo Do-jun with thick bolts.  

Kwa-rururung!  

Even with his lightning affinity, Seo Do-jun couldn’t withstand Vipiens’ raw power barehanded.  

He quickly swung his sword, forming a dense barrier, and was forced back.  

All that effort to close the distance, and he’d only managed two cuts.  

The bitter taste in his mouth wasn’t just from exhaustion.  

“I never thought I’d be the first to bleed. No—I never thought I’d bleed at all. Thanks to you, I’ve recalled memories I’d rather forget.”  

Vipiens smiled, but there was nothing pleasant about it.  

He stared at his wounds and muttered:  

“Recovery.”  

A violet light enveloped him, and his injuries vanished without a trace.  

The flawless regeneration left Seo Do-jun laughing hollowly.  

“Since you dared wound me, you’ll pay the price. And as thanks for dredging up unpleasant memories…”  

The moment he finished speaking, the magic around Vipiens went wild.  

Then—chain explosions.  

Boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom—!  

Every space filled with magic detonated, annihilating everything within.  

Seo Do-jun swung his sword desperately.  

Vandeyan Family Swordsmanship

Fourth Form: Cergel Selado Duhart!  

-Sealing Power of the Unyielding Circle-  

Sword energy spiraled out, weaving into a perfect sphere around him.  

The relentless explosions battered the barrier, forcing Seo Do-jun to reinforce it further.  

“Hiding in a shell like a turtle.”  

Vipiens sneered and raised his right hand to the sky.  

“Let’s test its durability.”  

Whoooosh—!  

A condensed sphere of magic—the same attack that had once obliterated 80% of China’s territory—descended upon Seo Do-jun.  

Kwa-kwaaaaaa—!  

The ground beneath him cratered from the force of the explosion.