“Berg!!!”
I heard Gale’s voice shouting my na.
But even finding his figure was difficult in this darkness.
“Cough…!”
Blood continued to pour from my mouth.
I wondered if it was even possible for this much blood to spill out.
“...”
The strength was gradually leaving the hand that held my sword.
From behind, Shawn shouted.
“Captain!!!”
I grabbed hold of Krund’s arm, the one that had pierced through my stomach.
At close range, our eyes t.
Krund asked .
“...Does it hurt?”
“...”
“Are you resentful...?”
“...”
“Or are you afraid?”
I struggled to steady my breathing.
Even in this mont, my thoughts wandered to Adam Hyung’s.
He had been in a similar situation once.
Hyung must have endured such pain back then, for my sake.
I let out a faint laugh.
“...This is bad…”
I spoke honestly.
“...I promised I’d co back.”
Krund responded to my words.
“...You will go back. Didn’t I say you wouldn’t die? You’ll live... and witness everything you love being destroyed.”
I thought of Ner, Arwin, and Sien.
I even thought of the child growing in Sien’s belly.
Was I really about to experience defeat at such a critical mont?
...In my heart, I couldn’t accept this reality.
-Slash!-
Krund pulled his hand out from my stomach.
Even more blood gushed violently from the gaping wound.
The strength drained from my legs.
I fell to my knees and collapsed onto the ground.
Krund wiped the blood off his hand and shouted.
“Everyone, give up!!”
A smile spread across his face.
“Your captain is mine!!”
I could hear the voices of my subordinates wavering, one by one, at Krund’s proclamation.
I knew I needed to find strength for their sake, but none ca.
Even though my spirit hadn’t wavered in the slightest.
If a miracle gave strength again, I knew I could rise.
I still held the confidence that I could defeat Krund.
But my eyes began to close.
My eyelids were too heavy to lift.
I could feel the once frantic pounding of my heart slowing down.
In the strangely tranquil mont, I asked myself.
‘...Hyung, what should I do?’
.
.
-KWAANG!!!-
A thunderous explosion reverberated, shaking the very ground beneath us.
The unsettling cries of the monsters were swept away in an instant.
Startled, my eyes flew open.
This ti, my eyelids didn’t feel heavy as they had before.
“...Huh?”
I looked around, trying to make sense of the unbelievable scene around .
A radiant light surrounded , enveloping completely.
It was a pillar of light descending from the heavens.
It took a long mont to grasp what it was.
And then, realization dawned on —this light was identical to the one that had shone upon Sien years ago.
“.................”
I blinked and looked down at my hands.
I felt an odd sensation, as though an unfamiliar strength was filling my body.
Even the blood that had been flowing stopped. Though the gaping wound in my stomach remained, strength was returning to my limbs.
The once-dark surroundings were now brighter than ever under the light.
I could see everything—the monsters, my comrades, all of them clearly.
I noticed the worried gazes of my comrades fixed on .
Still bewildered, I glanced around as Gale called out from behind .
“...Berg...?”
“...”
“Are... you alive...?”
His eyes were filled with confusion as he stared at , his gaze lingering on my wound.
Though I understood little of what was happening, I tried to explain.
“...I don’t know.”
“...”
“But ever since this light descended...”
“...Light?”
Gale’s expression was perplexed, as though he couldn’t see anything.
Behind him, Shawn, who was supporting Gale, appeared equally confused.
“...You can’t see this?”
I asked Gale.
He furrowed his brows in response, his face twisting in bewildernt.
“...What do you an, see what?”
“...”
“Let’s focus on stabilizing first—”
I blinked again and let out a helpless laugh.
At last, I began to understand what had been given to .
“...Ha.”
It was a truth I could no longer deny.
The Warrior of Solitude.
That’s what I must have been.
Yet, as the na suggested, no one else seed to recognize as the Warrior of Solitude.
The pillar of light appeared to be visible only to .
Only I could know that I had been chosen.
The absurdity of such a cruel god existing struck as deeply ironic.
-Step.-
“...Huh?”
I slowly stood up.
Shawn gasped in disbelief as he watched rise.
Even Krund clamped his mouth shut, his reaction visible to thanks to the light that only I could see.
I took a deep breath.
“...Everyone, get up!!”
I roared, my voice echoing across the battlefield.
The sight of moving stirred my comrades, and one by one, they gripped their swords tightly.
“C-Captain!”
Soone called out to anxiously.
I knew better than anyone that they needed words of encouragent—sothing to reignite their spirits.
And so, I spoke, my tone more resolute than ever.
“...This isn’t the end for us.”
For reasons I couldn’t explain, I believed the words I had just spoken.
Even though they were my own, I trusted them more than anyone else.
Despite the gaping wound in my stomach and the death that seed imminent, I was certain—I wouldn’t lose.
“I’ll take down Krund myself... so just hold on a little longer, everyone. Just a little more.”
I gripped my sword tightly and lifted it high.
I saw the change in Krund’s expression as he noticed the unexplainable transformation within .
“Let’s end this and return to our families.”
As if to support , a horn suddenly blared from sowhere—Baran blowing his war horn.
It was as if he, too, understood the need to rally the morale of our comrades.
With the sound of Baran’s horn, battle cries resounded from every direction.
The crumbling ranks began to reassemble, their spirits reignited.
At the sa ti, I lunged toward Krund.
For a mont, it seed like my renewed vigor had unsettled him.
“...H-How...?”
I didn’t respond—how could I, when I didn’t understand it myself?
Was this so divine reparation for all the suffering I’d endured?
Without lingering on the thought, I swung my sword with all my focus, determined to bring Krund down.
-Clang! Clang!-
Every clash of our swords forced Krund’s arm to tremble and falter.
It felt as though my entire body was imbued with a strength far greater than before.
I could sense the presence of my fallen comrades, fighting alongside .
Perhaps, standing so close to death, they were here to guide .
“Grrk!”
Krund began grunting, struggling to withstand my blows.
The sneak attacks he launched from the shadows seed to be his last desperate efforts.
The tide of battle quickly shifted in my favor.
Krund started retreating step by step, while I relentlessly advanced.
He had no idea that I could see everything in the darkness.
His stealthy and sharp attacks were glaringly obvious to now, each one easily countered.
Cuts and marks from my blade began to cover his body.
“Hup!”
Dodging one of his attacks by re inches, I thrust my sword into his shoulder.
-Thud!-
I felt the sensation of sothing severing.
At the sa ti, Krund’s arm went limp, his weapon falling uselessly.
“Ugh...!”
Reeling from the blow, Krund turned and began to flee.
I knew instinctively that my ti was running out.
Though my end was near, I couldn’t let him escape—not for my comrades, not for my family waiting in Stockpin.
Summoning every last ounce of strength, I chased after Krund as he disappeared into the horde of monsters.
Slashing through the creatures swarming from both sides, I pursued him relentlessly.
“Follow the captain!”
Even though the path ahead was unclear to them, my comrades rallied behind , offering their support however they could.
They began dealing with the encroaching monsters, clearing the way for .
Those on horseback lit torches and lifted them high, illuminating the path. So fired flaming arrows ahead, guiding our direction through the darkness.
For , who could already see everything, their actions were unnecessary—but their resolve brought a flicker of warmth to my heart.
-Slash!-
At last, I cut into the back of Krund’s thigh.
“Argh!”
His agonized cry echoed through the battlefield.
Krund collapsed, turning to face as he fell.
-Swoosh!-
In an instant, sothing sharp and spike-like shot out from his stomach.
It was the sa attack that had claid Adam Hyung’s life.
-Clang!-
The unexpected strike knocked my sword from my grasp.
Krund’s eyes glead as he saw my weapon fly out of reach.
“I’ve w—”
“—It’s not over!”
As always, the fight wasn’t over yet.
Abandoning my sword, I swung my fist and began striking Krund’s face.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!-
Each punch felt different from before.
I could feel undeniable strength coursing through my entire body.
Underneath , Krund’s body began to crumble.
He groaned and coughed up blood, trying to fend off, but his strength was draining fast.
“P-Please… stop…!”
Krund started pleading.
But I couldn’t hear him.
If Krund was a threat to everything and everyone I loved, then there was only one thing I could do—eliminate him from this world.
“Baran!”
As I continued pumling Krund, I called out the na of my most trusted subordinate.
I didn’t even know where Baran was, but I raised my hand as I shouted his na.
-Whoosh!-
From sowhere, a long sword ca flying toward .
Baran, reliable as ever, had answered my call.
A smile spread across my face.
-Thunk!-
I caught the sword mid-air.
“It’s over.”
I whispered as I looked at Krund.
“Don’t—”
Krund tried to say sothing, but my hand was faster.
-Slash!-
I brought the sword down, cutting through his neck.
Skin, muscle, bone. Then muscle and skin again.
I could feel the blade slicing through each layer with perfect precision.
The sensation of my sword completing its task was sharper and clearer than ever.
-Thud…-
Krund’s head rolled free from his body.
The once nacing figure was now silent in death.
“...Haa... Haa...”
A profound silence enveloped the battlefield, as if ti itself had stopped.
-Grip!-
I grabbed Krund’s head and held it high for all to see.
My comrades, who had been lost in the darkness, began cheering one by one as they saw the severed head.
“The Captain won!!”
The monsters, sensing Krund’s death, scattered in all directions.
-Rumble!-
They fled, shaking the ground as they ran.
The comrades who had been fighting the monsters looked around in confusion, watching the enemy dissolve into chaos.
Then, seeing holding Krund’s head, they began lowering their swords one by one, the realization sinking in.
“It’s... over!”
“We survived!”
“Captain!!”
“...Haa... Haa...”
Amid their cheers, I looked down at Krund’s lifeless head.
I could feel it now—it truly was my destiny to kill Krund.
A sense of peace washed over , as if everything was finally over.
There was relief in knowing that Krund would no longer threaten Stockpin.
Our land would no longer be plagued by his shadow.
Other issues, like the bandits, would still need to be handled, but I trusted my comrades to manage them.
Through Arwin, we had resolved the farming crises.
Through Ner, we had conquered the plague.
With today’s events, perhaps perceptions of the human race will begin to change, even if only slightly.
Adam Hyung’s vengeance had been fulfilled.
Krund was no more.
“...Haa... Haa...”
Was it relief, or was the miraculous strength leaving ?
The world spun around .
The strength drained from my body.
Unable to resist the overwhelming dizziness, I began to collapse sideways.
-Thud!-
“Berg!”
Before I hit the ground, Gale rushed to my side and caught .
“Captain...!”
Baran, his voice trembling, appeared as well and knelt beside .
-Drip...-
The blood that had stopped began to flow again.
To everyone else, it must have looked as though I had endured this pain and kept fighting.
Baran tried to staunch my wound, but it wasn’t sothing that could be stopped.
I knew death was approaching.
But I didn’t feel fear or regret.
Instead, I felt relief—relief that I had taken care of Krund.
...There was, however, a lingering guilt.
It seed I wouldn’t be able to keep my promises to my wives.
“Captain...! Please... you can’t do this...”
Baran pleaded with , tears streaming down his face.
“You need to return... It’s over now...”
Gale, too, whispered softly, even as he bore his own severe injuries.
“Don’t do this, Berg. Don’t leave us like this...”
Oddly, their words brought a smile to my face.
The situation mirrored what had happened with Hyung.
Was this how Adam Hyung had felt back then?
More than fear of his own death, he must have worried about those he’d leave behind.
Now, I felt the sa way.
I worried most about my wives.
Without , they would grieve deeply.
Regret began to surface.
For Sien, for Ner, and for Arwin—if only I had done more to fulfill their desires.
If only I had embraced them when they asked, kissed them when they wanted.
In this mont, I finally understood Adam Hyung’s dying words.
At the ti, he had asked about my dreams and left with the words, “I trust you.”
Perhaps he wasn’t asking to fulfill his dreams but instead wishing that I live happily, without being bound by his death.
No—he was wishing for that. I could see it clearly now.
Just as Adam Hyung had wanted to be happy, I now wanted the sa for those I would leave behind.
The cold seeped into my body, but I had no strength left to shiver.
Through my dimming vision, I looked at Baran.
Gripping his tear-streaked hand, I whispered.
“...My family.”
“Berg... please...”
For the first ti, Baran didn’t call “Captain” but used my na, desperately trying to hold on to .
mories of our friendship flashed through my mind.
Next to Hyung, Baran was my closest friend. To him, I entrusted my final request.
“...Take care of my family.”
-Thud.-
And then, I closed my eyes.
The deep darkness swallowed whole.
****
-Screech!-
“.................”
Arwin froze as she looked at the leaf of the World Tree resting in her hand.
It was Berg’s leaf, now severed in two.
“...That’s... not true.”
But the aning was clear.
Berg had t his end.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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