Possessing Nothing

TL: xLordFifthPR: Yul, GortEpisode 388: Invasion (2)

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______Lee Sungmin had just two days left. He spent those days in a lotus position, immersed solely in meditation. He minimized eating and sleeping, dedicating his entirety to the meditative state.This was to make the most of the brief two-day period. For Lee Sungmin, physical training or sparring was almost futile.A life-or-death duel? Facing a decisive battle with GenieLla, he couldn’t afford such hazardous folly.He reviewed all the martial arts he had mastered. He needed to utilize every technique available to him.Violet Qi, Dark Heavenly Storm Arts, Blood Phantom Demonic Art, Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, and Shadowless Steps.His internal energy and yokai essence were filled to the brim. He could also employ Dragon’s Roar and the Yokai PowersBut would these techniques work against GenielLa? Lee Sungmin’s full-powered Dragon’s Roar and Yokai Powers could kill even a Transcendent by shattering their heart meridians.But against Geniella? Unlikely. At best, it might momentarily constrain her movements. On a night of a full moon, Jenniela would achieve true immortality.Could the Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques make a difference? A spear technique so powerful it could extinguish even the Ascendants. If it struck correctly…‘Even a proper strike failed to annihilate the Queen of the Spirits.’He pushed his consciousness into a corner repeatedly. In his life-or-death duels, Lee Sungmin had survived and grown numerous times.His Black Heart had evolved his body repeatedly in moments of peril to save him.‘Perhaps that was a blessing from fate.’Back then, Lee Sungmin was a being that couldn’t afford to die. But now, things were different.The blessing of fate was gone. Ten years ago… he had benefited greatly from fate’s favor.Thinking back, he had only faced crises that he could overcome. He grew with every crisis, somehow escaping those he couldn’t.But not anymore. The blessing was gone. This was different from before. He could die.His consciousness continued its relentless pursuit.Death meant the end.He couldn’t fulfill his promises to WiJihoyeon, nor could he aid his comrades who had contributed their strengths to prevent the apocalypse.Powerlessness and fear. Desperation… At the edge of despair, he repeatedly revisited his past battles. Clinging to a sliver of hope, he wondered:Facing such dire straits, this continuous meditation… desperately recalling battles fought…Perhaps he might stumble upon some overlooked epiphany to undergo a complete transformation.If he could transform, maybe he could stand against Geniella. Balancing the disparity between his physical strength and martial skills through transformation…“It’s impossible.”He arrived at that conclusion.Lee Sungmin opened his eyes. Slowly getting up, he wore a bitter expression. A transformation through two days of meditation? Ridiculous.Unless one was an unrivaled genius among geniuses, such impossible miracles didn’t happen.For Lee Sungmin, mere mediocrity at best, such a miracle would not occur. No matter how desperately he pushed his consciousness into a corner, no matter the effort.Awakening, enlightenment, undergoing a radical transformation to become stronger than before—it wouldn’t happen.“The moon is bright.”The full moon reflected in the center of the lake. Oslo looked up at the full moon with a bitter expression. Lee Sungmin bowed slightly towards Oslo.“I’m sorry.”“I told you, fighting here is for the best.”“Where are the other fairies?”“In the lake.”It won’t be a pleasant sight to behold. Adding that, Oslo approached Lee Sungmin.She looked at Lee Sungmin’s pale face with sympathy, then raised her hand and placed it above his head.“I will bless you. Just like before, I’ll protect you from the Vampire Queen’s psychic attacks.”“Thank you.”“Don’t die.”Come here. Oslo opened her arms and embraced Lee Sungmin’s head.“Really, you mustn’t die. Understand? You are the disciple of Yang Il-Chun. I don’t believe he died for you, but… If you, who inherited everything from him, were to also die, I would be incredibly saddened.”

“……Yes.”“If the worst comes to pass, you can run away. After all, the Vampire Queen cannot kill me. It doesn’t matter if this place becomes a ruin. As long as I am alive, this forest will infinitely revive.”“Understood.”Oslo felt a genuine sense of gratitude. She had helped Lee Sungmin, even at the cost of breaking a long-held promise.If they couldn’t change the outcome, everyone, including Lee Sungmin, would simply die. But not Oslo.Being an Ascended being, she couldn’t die, and for the price of breaking her promise, she would suffer agonies for an eternity.Lee Sungmin glanced at Aine, who was behind Oslo, entangled in tree vines, still with her eyes closed. And she would never open them again.“……I know.”Oslo slightly nodded her head, sensing Lee Sungmin looking at Aine.The group had gathered outside the lake. Scarlett, with deep dark circles under her eyes, was wearing a flamboyant robe.She held a staff she hadn’t used before, and five magic books were orbiting around her. Earrings, necklace, bracelet, ring, belt, shoes – she was wrapped in extravagant items, reminiscent of a Frau adorned in jewels.It was not just about being lavish. The ornaments Scarlett wore were all highly valuable artifacts.Looking at her overly extravagant appearance, Scarlett lit up with mock defiance in her eyes and said, “I might die, so I dressed in pretty clothes.”“Is that what you call pretty clothes?”“It doesn’t seem like it’s for a graceful death in a coffin. I’ve never dressed up like this, so I went all out. How is it?”“Over the top.”“Since it might be the last time, dress up nicely, look pretty. Would it kill you to say that?”“I don’t think it’s the last time; that’s why I didn’t say it.”At Lee Sungmin’s words, Scarlett wore a complex expression and chuckled while pressing down her robe’s hood.“Right. It’s not the last time.”Baek Sogo was wearing her usual uniform.Her cheeks were stiff from tension, but her eyes gleamed not with fear but conviction.Lee Sungmin recalled the conversation they had two days ago. The declaration to not run away. He envied Baek Sogo’s strength.“Did you find anything?”The Spear King asked. Among the group, he alone seemed to hold excitement and anticipation. Lee Sungmin shook his head in response to the Spear King’s question, delivered in an upbeat tone.“It seems there is still no contact with Yana.”“Yes.”“She’s not likely to have run away.”“That’s not possible.”Black Dragon stood pale-faced, clutching a rosary next to Teresa, who had grown notably close to him since their last drinking session days ago.“……They’re coming.”Teresa murmured in a whisper, her voice so soft. Right to their doorstep. Swallowing hard, Teresa added those words.“Do not leave this place, Miss Teresa. Please do your best to maintain the barrier.”“Yes… Yes.”“Where is Lloyd?”“He’s checking the magic near the barrier. I need to go soon, too.”Scarlett gripped her staff tightly. She already knew what needed to be done.Kwoooong!The entire forest shook. Teresa gasped and staggered. The Black Dragon quickly reached out to support her.“They’re here…!”Rejecting the support of the Black Dragon, Teresa knelt down on the spot. This was the center of the barrier she had erected.With the rosary in both hands, Teresa closed her eyes and murmured a prayer.A dazzling light enveloped her body, brightening the night’s darkness. Lee Sungmin took a few steps back from the light.“I’ll hold on, I must… I have to…”Teresa murmured with desperate conviction. The light intensified. A bright radiance exploded from the outskirts of the forest. The sanctity of the barrier was amplified. Despite it being a night with a moon, the outside of the forest was as bright as midday.“Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay here as well, Rubia?”[I’ll stay with you.]Rubia answered without hesitation.“Staying with me won’t guarantee your safety.”[I know. You think I won’t be of help, right? Well, I might not be much help in a fight, but there are things I can do.]Rubia responded with a trembling voice. It was time to go. Scarlett abruptly turned around.“When this fight is over….”“Don’t say things like that. It only makes the heart go lax. In novels, whenever such words are spoken, someone always dies.”Scarlett said, lifting her body with levitation magic.“I’ll go.”She didn’t say she would return. Accelerating her levitated body, Scarlett moved towards the brightly lit area. The Spear King stood up, clutching his spear.“Today is a splendid day.”The Spear King said with a smirk, stomping on the ground. The Black Dragon looked with awe at Teresa, who knelt in prayer. He bowed respectfully to Teresa before turning his body.“Honestly, I don’t want to fight to the point of risking my life.”“Will you run away?”“It’s too late for that. I would have run if I were alone… but now, I have a reason I can’t run.”“Consider your age.”In the past, he would have dismissed such concerns, but the Black Dragon did not do so now. He smiled wryly at Teresa and nodded his head.“I’ve gotten too involved to worry about that.”“Speaking of which… I’m curious about something.”“What is it?”“Are half-dragons impotent?”At that, the Black Dragon looked at Lee Sungmin with an incredulous expression. Just as he was about to speak, tightening his lips, he composed his face and then shook his head.“Not at all.”“I see.”“Why would you ask such a thing?”“Because a mule is impotent…”“Do I look like a mule to you?”“It was Scarlett who was curious, not me.”“Magicians, I swear…!”The Black Dragon turned away in annoyance. With him gone, only Baek Sogo remained. She reached out with both hands and grasped Lee Sungmin’s shoulders.“Nobody will die.”Lee Sungmin did not respond.“Don’t try to bear everything alone. We are here… and I am here. I’ll finish this as quickly as possible and come to help you. So… you understand, right? Don’t push yourself too hard.”“I understand.”He had to push himself. Without pushing the limits, he couldn’t navigate through this crisis. Every possible means had to be employed.No matter how dangerous, it had to be done. Luckily, Oslo was here.Oslo could even temporarily suppress the mutation of the yokai in his body.Having Oslo here was fortunate.Two days of meditation did not produce a miracle. So, they had to create a miracle themselves.By drawing GenialLa here, the negotiations turned into a trap since they did not flee. Genialla knew this and thus invaded the forest with her legion.Baek Sogo also left. Lee Sungmin walked around the lake, away from the praying Teresa.There, Oslo was waiting. Lee Sungmin exchanged looks with Oslo and approached Aine.He saw Aine bound in vines. He felt no emotion for her.A sense of kinship for having the same heart? Even that was no longer present. Aine was a monster. Since birth, she had always been a monster.How many beings Aine had consumed up until now was unknown. And he would not think about it in the future.Lee Sungmin extended his hand towards the monster bound in vines.Now, he had to become a monster.