The man who had just been locked in a fierce battle with a higher being, as Ryu Seoha had been certain of monts ago, now stood before her, wearing a cynical smile. Even before the shock had fully settled, suspicion arose—how did he manage to evade three transcendents and co here?
It was impossible that Choi Kanghu, who had resolved to confront the enemy head-on, would have fled now. Even if he had noticed a breach in the escape prevention barrier, he wouldn’t have co running to Ryu Seoha with the danger of a higher being on his tail.
Moreover, the unique magical pattern of [Spatial Leap], which her body had beco accustod to, was nowhere to be felt. This ant the man who suddenly appeared had used a space-related skill or item to move here. In conclusion, this person was not Choi Kanghu.
"Choi Kanghu!"
Despite her inner judgnt, Ryu Seoha brightly smiled and ran into the man’s arms, as if he were her lover. The instant the man flinched at the unexpectedly tight hug and raised his arms to embrace her in return—
Click—a small sound accompanied by the snap of a manacle-like magical restraint clasped around the neck of the man whom Ryu Seoha was holding. His body, which had been floating in midair, began to plumt as the mana that had powered his flight was cut off.
“Ugh.”
But before he could fall, Ryu Seoha threw an S-rank binding item that wrapped tightly around him. Gripping the thick ropes that ensnared the man, she simultaneously used items that induced paralysis, slowing, weakening, exhaustion, and petrification—all aid at incapacitating him.
Instead of risking applying the [Sanctification] debuff to the apostle, who could borrow powers from a higher being, she opted for an all-out offensive using items. Since his appearance had shifted to a completely different face, she didn’t feel any guilt for attacking what was clearly not her lover.
"The 4th Apostle. So, it was you after all."
As soon as the man’s transformation was undone, thanks to the interference of the restraint blocking his mana flow, the familiar face of a golden-haired young man was revealed—soone Ryu Seoha had seen before, now looking as though he had grown a few years.
"How... how do you always...?"
Ryu Seoha had no intention of explaining why she’d known he wasn’t Choi Kanghu. She also didn’t care how the 4th Apostle had found his way to the island. The only thought crossing her mind was that her task had just beco a little easier.
After all, she still needed to find a way to reopen the black hole that led to the higher dinsion. And since she wasn’t about to sacrifice innocent people like the cult did, killing the apostle was her only option. Conveniently, this individual had co to her on his own.
“Do you like , by any chance?”
The 4th Apostle, now tied up and sprawled helplessly, spouted nonsense. Ryu Seoha clenched her teeth as she pulled out the S-rank weapon she’d kept for ergencies, determined to erase any hesitation.
—“That serial killer’s child?”
—“Wow, they seed nice... but, I guess blood runs true.”
Killing soone. It was sothing she’d always tried to avoid, even in imagination, where she had no power to change reality. The re thought of hating soone enough to want to kill them had always filled her with agonizing self-loathing—scars left by her father in her past life.
‘I can do this.’
But at this mont, Ryu Seoha willingly chose to kill, to save the one most precious to her.
‘I have to.’
Resolute, she aid the S-rank weapon directly at the 4th Apostle's heart, now unable to move. But instead of the anticipated sensation of flesh being pierced, a sharp, tallic clash echoed in her ears, sending a jarring vibration through her arm. She had even placed the mana restraint, so why...?
“I could kill you with my own hands right here, right now.”
Suppressing the confusion that bubbled within her, Ryu Seoha feigned nonchalance, as though she had intended to hold back. After that single attempt, she had already calculated that it would be impossible for her to kill the 4th Apostle imdiately with her current power.
“I’ll give you a choice.”
The 4th Apostle's puzzled expression deepened as Ryu Seoha, as if toying with him, calmly continued speaking. His face hardened more with every word.
“We were... deceived?”
His reaction was that of soone grappling with an unbelievable truth. The higher beings had probably promised a paradise where values like environntal protection, gender equality, and erasing wealth gaps would be fully realized—ideals that apostles held dear, to manipulate them.
But in reality, the higher beings' plan for humanity’s downfall wasn’t about creating a beautiful world free from suffering. It was about gathering pure energy for their own purposes.
“If you’re willing to join my side now,”
Ryu Seoha resolved to fully exploit the 4th Apostle’s lust and affection for her.
“Open the door to the higher dinsion.”
She had no qualms asking him to prove his loyalty by betraying his fellow apostles, knowing full well that the 4th Apostle wasn’t as attached to his comrades as the 8th Apostle had been when they had died for him in Venice, nor as loyal as the 2nd Apostle.
“…Then, will you treat
as kindly as you do that scary man?”
After a pause, the 4th Apostle quietly responded. It seed he hadn’t fully committed to betraying the higher beings, but was rather entertaining the idea that the task at hand would be simple enough to pull off. Whatever his reason, it didn’t matter to Ryu Seoha, who smiled sweetly.
“Shall we start by holding hands, just like I did with Choi Kanghu?”
Of course, the offer of an alliance was a lie. Regardless of whether they had been deceived, the apostles had already forced countless innocent people to sacrifice themselves. She had no intention of forgiving those who had crossed the point of no return.
Without showing any of her true feelings, she extended her hand toward the 4th Apostle, who nodded enthusiastically. If not for the restraints, he would have eagerly grabbed her hand. How could he so easily accept that they had been deceived?
“I’ll go kill the 11th Apostle first!”
“Give
the spatial coordinates.”
Seizing the scroll item the 4th Apostle had, Ryu Seoha imdiately teleported to a state park not far from Tis Square in New York.
What greeted her was complete devastation. The large lake had dried up completely, the once towering mountains had beco flat plains, and the famous road, lined with trees and a popular drive, had turned to dust.
It was the aftermath of a fierce battle. The lingering traces of dark mana made Ryu Seoha’s stomach churn and her head throb. After the 4th Apostle swiftly killed the 11th Apostle, her dizziness intensified.
Unable to maintain her composure, Ryu Seoha donned the pendant-shaped item, imbued with Choi Kanghu’s mana, that she had saved for ergencies. Only then could she open her eyes properly. She shrunk her body using the pocket ring and, together with Ruby, moved toward the black hole that had appeared.
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