I am very familiar with this frozen world.
<The current level of the Eye of Omniscience is 3. The viewable secret level is Grade B.>
<The selected condition is ‘The secret between Arald Mohan and Dianne Mohan.’>
When Trail uses the Eye of Omniscience, time comes to a stop.
So no matter how long I sit and stare at the Eye of Omniscience, no one around me senses anything unusual.
But this time, I didn’t activate the omniscient window to uncover a secret.
I looked beyond the screen.
‘Just as I thought.’
Space split apart.
And from within that crack, a slender, beautiful arm emerged.That arm was exactly 1 millimeter away from the Gem of Corruption.
Just about to grasp it—at that very instant, time had frozen.
[That was close.]
Cold sweat ran down my back as I nodded.
‘Thanks. You timed it perfectly.’
[After all that practice, missing the mark would’ve been unacceptable.]
I gave a faint smile and recalled last night’s conversation with Trail.
Last night.
[You want to develop a new technique?]
‘Yeah.’
[What, and you think that’s something you can do in a single night just because you want to?]
‘All my techniques so far were completed in a day.’
[No wonder the names are so dumb.]
‘Hey, I spend at least two days thinking up those names after the technique’s done.’
Trail sighed.
[So what kind of technique are you trying to develop?]
‘Time freezes when I use the Eye of Omniscience, right?’
[Yeah.]
‘Then what if I could move my body and attack while in that state? It’d literally be faster than light. An insane technique.’
Trail burst into a laugh like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
[Oh come on. Seriously?]
‘That laugh means… you think it’s possible, don’t you?’
[It means it’s not!]
‘Why not?’
[Because when you use the Eye of Omniscience, the time stop applies to you too.]
I already knew that.
When I peeked into secrets using the Eye of Omniscience, I couldn’t move a single part of my body.
All I could do was look at the window.
But still—
‘You don’t know unless you try. That’s why I said we should train tonight.’
[You’re crazy. I don’t care how skilled you are—you can’t defy time! No one can be free from time.]
‘I know someone who can stop time and even rewind the past.’
[…I’m special.]
‘So am I. I will pull this off.’
Trail tried seriously to dissuade me.
[Whether it’s possible or not isn’t even the issue—what it would do to your body is no joke. This is on a completely different level from all your previous techniques.]
‘Idria can tear through space and appear anytime, anywhere. From what I remember before the regression, she was dozens of times faster and more stealthy than the assassin Offense. It all happened in an instant.’
[…]
‘Even aside from the current situation, that means she can easily abduct or kill me and my companions in the dead of night.’
Trail went silent.
I continued.
‘Even before the regression, I racked my brain to figure out how to stop her. Developing a space-tearing technique was part of that. Sure, it was also for completing quests, but still.’
[Hmm. Sounds like you did a lot of research before the regression. Was that all because you were worried about your party members?]
‘Partly, yeah.’
[Aw, you’re being shy.]
‘Phew. Fine, yes. Even back then when I was just a party member, I cared. And now I’m the Hero and the leader. I have to make this work.’
Trail fell silent again, then let out a deep sigh.
[Whatever happens… don’t blame me.]
‘Don’t worry. You’ve only got one job.’
[…]
‘When Idria tries something with her spatial powers, activate the Eye of Omniscience automatically. I’m asking you to freeze time for me.’
[Hmm.]
‘You can do it, right? You sensed Idria’s presence and woke me up even when we didn’t know where she was.’
Trail is extremely sensitive to Idria’s presence, for personal reasons.
Maybe because he’s the real Hero.
Anyway, with Trail’s Eye of Omniscience—his time-stopping ability—we can develop the ultimate combo technique.
[Fine. Let’s try it.]
‘Thanks.’
[Yeah yeah. But if you’re gonna use the Eye of Omniscience, don’t you have to view a secret? Does it matter which one?]
‘Use the one about Arald Mohan and Dianne Mohan by default whenever we use the technique.’
[Mohan… wait, aren’t those—]
‘My parents. I already know what the secret is, so I don’t need to look at it. It’s best if I can focus entirely on the technique.’
Trail tilted his head.
I could tell because the screen window tilted about 15 degrees.
[What’s the secret?]
‘If you’re curious, you take a look.’
[No thanks. Doesn’t sound like something I want to know.]
‘Heh. Well then, shall we start the training?’
Trail hesitated briefly, then said:
[Don’t die.]
I smiled faintly and replied:
‘I plan to live a long life.’
That late-night special training with Trail—
That night, I had to use up all the highest-grade potions in my bag.
Because moving alone in time frozen by the Eye of Omniscience wreaked havoc on my body.
I can’t even count how many times I coughed up blood or broke bones.
Muscles tore, organs twisted.
But I didn’t give up.
As the dawn broke and the morning sun rose, we succeeded in completing a new technique.
[Don’t say “we.” It’s your technique.]
‘It wouldn’t be possible without you, so it is ours. Let’s call it a combo technique.’
[…]
‘But I’m naming it.’
[You said it’s a combo move, you jerk!]
‘If you think of a good name, let me know. I rushed this one out, so I still need to think it through. It’s going to be my trump card—I can’t just slap any name on it.’
[Absolute Sword.]
‘Pfft. What a name.’
I ignored Trail’s ranting and slowly shifted my stance.
Crack. Pop.
Ugh. The pressure’s no joke already.
My whole body creaked and groaned unnaturally.
Huff, huff.
I slowly drew my sword.
Like a child struggling to lift a sword far too big and heavy for their body.
Like that moment I first picked up an axe to chop wood.
Grit.
Blood suddenly streamed from my nose.
My vision went red—my eye vessels must’ve burst.
[Hang in there! Just a little more!]
‘I know…’
Step by step, I advanced.
The pain from the twisting of my body intensified, but thanks to last night’s training, I could endure.
I summoned every last ounce of strength and raised the sword high.
This sword—one given to me by the false Hero.
Almost certainly tampered with by Idria.
“How does it feel to be cut down by your own creation, Idria?”
I brought the sword down with all my might.
Slice.
The blade cleanly sliced through Idria’s wrist.
But her hand didn’t fall or separate.
Time was still frozen.
[That’s enough! Any more and you’re seriously in danger!]
‘Yeah… I felt it go through cleanly, so it’s fine.’
Snap.
The screen vanished.
Time resumed its flow.
Thunk.
Idria’s wrist fell to the ground.
The rift she had opened in space disappeared without a trace.
The only sign that something had happened here—was her severed wrist.
And my own wrecked body, I guess.
‘The gem?’
I quickly looked toward Neril.
She was frozen in shock, but hovering in front of her was the unmistakable Gem of Corruption.
I grinned and muttered:
“God, that hurts like hell.”
Thud.
Then I coughed blood and collapsed.
Neril screamed, almost a cry.
“Xenia!!”
“O divine god of the heavens! Grant us your merciful hand!”
Soon, a warm golden light enveloped me.
Xenia really is something else.
My body, which was practically shredded, started to recover rapidly.
Neril grabbed my face and examined me frantically.
“What the hell? What happened? What the hell just happened?!”
“I feel dizzy.”
“Why do you suddenly look like that?! What’s with that severed hand?!”
“Calm down. This isn’t like you to get so—”
I suddenly gasped.
Because I saw it clearly—tears welled up in Neril’s eyes.
She let out a tiny gasp and quickly wiped them away.
“What are you looking at?!”
“Your tears.”
“I wasn’t actually asking a question, you know?”
“Either way, don’t cry. I’m fine now.”
Everyone let out a sigh of relief at my words.
“Hyung. What the hell just happened? Ah, sorry, but Beyond-nim, could you step outside for a second? I need to talk.”
“But I’m curious too…”
Adwin separated Beyond’s soul and said,
“It felt like time stopped for a moment. I blinked once and suddenly the result was just there without any transition.”
“An accurate way to put it.”
“So whose wrist is that? And why is it over there?”
I calmly explained.
“It’s Idria’s wrist. You know she has authority over space, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“She tried to use that to snatch the Gem of Corruption. I caught on fast and cut off her wrist.”
“No matter how amazing you are, Hyung, is that kind of speed even possible?”
“I wasn’t exactly fine afterward either. That technique puts a lot of strain on the body.”
Offense interrupted with a deep breath through his nose.
“So when you fought me, you were holding back quite a bit.”
“Not really. I hadn’t developed this technique back then.”
“Haha. I’m not complaining. On the contrary, I like it. It proves my eyes weren’t wrong about you.”
I simply let out a short chuckle.
Then Xenia spoke up.
“Looks like your treatment is finished… but are you still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
“I’m fine. You’re amazing, as always.”
“No, I’ve still got a long way to go. If only Serein were here at times like this…”
“But Serein isn’t here. You are. That difference is important.”
She gave a soft smile.
Neril helped me up.
“You sure you’re really okay?”
“Yeah. More than that, you don’t need to support me. You can’t even handle my weight.”
“You’re light as a feather.”
Shouldn’t I be the one saying that to Neril?
Step, step.
We walked toward Idria’s severed wrist.
As I reached out to pick it up, everyone flinched and stopped me.
Xenia quickly grabbed the end of the wrist with a towel, as if picking up something dirty.
Neril spoke.
“Hand it over. I want to analyse it later.”
“Sure. Ugh…”
Neril stuffed the wrist into her bag.
While she was at it, she wrapped the Gem of Corruption in mana and placed it in the bag too.
With a sigh, she asked,
“Isn’t there a chance Idria might come back to get her wrist?”
“Hmm. Who knows.”
At that, Trail chimed in, as if waiting for the moment.
[No. If anything, she seems intrigued.]
‘Somehow I figured. That insane Demon King.’
[But her curiosity seems to have gotten way deeper.]
‘What do you mean?’
[You should take a look outside.]
I tilted my head in confusion.
Just then, Adwin shouted while looking out the window.
“Hyung, noonas, mister!”
Offense grumbled.
“Who’s a mister here?”
“You are, Mister Offense.”
“I even gave you a chance to take that back.”
“Everyone, come look! Something’s weird!”
We all rushed to the window and looked up at the sky.
“…Huh?”
The bright sun. The pure white sun.
Just like always, it was still hanging in the sky, warmly illuminating the land.
But next to it…
“A black sun?”
The very same black sun we had fought so hard to stop was now rising again.
Even though the Gem of Corruption is here?
What the hell is going on?
Clap, clap, clap.
Idria clapped with genuine admiration.
Which meant, in other words, she had two hands again.
The arm that Mide had severed moments ago with that bizarre technique now had a newly grown hand.
“My, my. How disgraceful this looks.”
Despite saying that, a smile formed on Idria’s lips.
‘That man’s not Bion Kunze. So how could he use such a divine technique?’
She’d only thought of him as some stand-in chosen by Bion Kunze.
But the moment her wrist was cut, Idria knew it instinctively.
That man named Mide—would be the greatest obstacle she has ever faced.
Possibly even more than Bion Kunze himself.
“Humans have a term for that, don’t they? Nemesis.”
She stroked her chin like an old sage.
If it were possible, she would’ve liked to sit across a table, share a drink, and have a heart-to-heart… but—
‘As long as Bion’s attached to him, that’ll never happen.’
So what now?
She was far too worked up to just back down.
Pacing back and forth in the sky, she finally snapped her fingers.
“Well, guess I’ll just proceed with the original plan.”
The original idea was to steal the Gem of Corruption and forcibly trigger its rampage.
But Mide had utterly crushed that attempt. Now she had no choice but to pick a different route.
Though, that route wasn’t exactly complicated.
“I’ll just make one.”
She activated her authority.
Stretching out her hand, she clenched a fist.
A red glow seeped out from between her fingers.
Then she flipped her hand over and opened it.
A small, round orb had formed—a mass of swirling black smoke.
“Hmm. Something like this? The 3rd Demon King’s gem doesn’t really have a fixed shape, so this is tricky”
One of Idria’s powers:
She could create fakes of any object.
Just like how she had once made a fake Hero’s sword.
“The power will be far weaker than the real thing… but it should be enough to test Mide.”
She threw the black sphere with a flick.
As it flew farther from her body, its size rapidly expanded.
Whoooosh.
Eventually, it became a sun in the sky.
A black sun.
“If the Demon King of Corruption saw this, he’d probably be mortified at how sloppy it is. But hey, I did my best. Hope he understands.”
She stretched her arms wide.
And shouted with all her might:
“Now, let your authority rain down! Turn every human in this capital into my army!”
Read advance chapter on Patreon. Click here.