Chapter 439
The National Research Institute on the outskirts of Chongqing, once China’s largest research facility, had security measures befitting its formidable reputation.
In particular, the most famous measure was the barrier encasing the entire institute that stood twenty meters tall and seven meters thick. Its purpose was to protect the containment facility Li Kenxie built during his era as an S-rank hero but had since been repurposed.
Still, the functions remained and had two features that were publicly known: dispersion of impact across the entire barrier and automatic regeneration that repaired damaged sections using supplied mana.
They were simple functions, but together, they were formidable. With those, the barrier had withstood even a bombardment from Heaven Eye for over ten minutes.
Protected by such a shield, it was no wonder the heroes dispatched to protect the research institute believed they were in the safest place possible.
Rumble-
However, that belief had taken only a week to shatter completely.
“It’s going to collapse soon...”
“Yeah, no doubt...”
Despite its reputation, the entire barrier was riddled with cracks like fractured glass. Even a gust of wind would make it groan and crumble, scattering a few fragments to the ground below. Anyone would be able to tell—it was about to collapse at any moment, with no chance of withstanding another assault.
“...Did you hear about how they’ve given up on repairs?” muttered a woman on guard duty to the man beside her.
“What? Seriously?”
“Apparently, the auto-repair function broke during the last attack. Even when supplied with mana, it won’t regenerate.”
“Damn.”
They had been so certain when they first arrived, believing the barrier could hold for at least another month. Who would have expected it to be in such a state after just two attacks in one week? If the two hadn’t witnessed everything—every detail—firsthand, they knew they would’ve brushed it off as nonsense..
Honestly... it’s a miracle it survived twice.
The Mad Dog, wreathed in a ball of flame as massive as the sun at the tip of his spear.
The Blast Dog, nullifying all spells with a single incantation and countering with another.
The Frost Dog, appearing without a trace and freezing everything in sight—the barrier, heroes, and anything else.
Recalling the three who had effortlessly fought against even S-rank heroes, the man’s eyes drifted up to the top of the barrier.
If that person hadn’t been there...
If he hadn’t, wouldn’t the barrier have collapsed during the very first attack? While the man was lost in thought, the woman beside him continued her chattering.
“You know, the more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Isn’t it better to join forces with the other fronts than stay here, barely holding on?”
“Hm... maybe it’s because they’ve pinpointed the location of the Earth Weaving Loom?”
“They’re really scattering the troops and risking getting picked off one by one just for that...? That’s ridiculous.”
Even if they gathered the forces from across all of China into one spot, victory would still be uncertain. Just why were they spreading out to buy time? Early on, she would have dismissed it as their misjudgment, underestimating the power of the Three Dogs. However, the fact they were clinging to the same strategy even now was suspicious.
“I mean, maybe they’re planning something... but I doubt it’ll work...”
Tap, tap.
Feeling the man lightly nudging her side with his elbow, the woman looked forward and saw a man in an elegant uniform silently watching them.
“You seem quite dissatisfied with the party’s decision.”
Hearing the question from the man—Seven Saint Wu Lei—the woman’s expression briefly stiffened before she relaxed and calmly responded, “We were simply discussing possible contingencies. Just in case.”
“I see. Then, should I take it that this is the Heroes Association’s official stance?”
The woman flinched at Wu Lei’s cold tone. Biting her lip, she bowed her head.
“...I apologize.”
“Focus only on your assigned role. The issue isn’t a matter for someone like you to comment on.”
With that warning for the two Heroes Association-affiliated heroes, Wu Lei resumed walking. And not long later, once he had moved away, he could hear a faintly irritated voice behind him.
While he couldn’t make out the words, it was obvious they were complaining about him.
Tsk, their discipline is seriously slipping.
Even if they were from the Heroes Association, for an A-rank to speak back to him and openly show dissatisfaction.... Such a thing was utterly unthinkable just a week ago.
Continuing to walk away, Wu Lei glanced at the expressions of the other heroes from the Association and repeatedly saw frustration, annoyance, and suspicion. If they, the lower ranks, were already acting like that, then it wasn’t difficult to imagine what the Heroes Association’s leadership had to be thinking.
...Was Caden right after all?
Perhaps they really didn’t have that much time left until the entire situation went out of control. With that stark realization, Wu Lei checked the time and kicked off the ground to get on top of the barrier.
Rumble-
Despite watching his landing to minimize the impact, the barrier still groaned ominously.
“...”
Glancing down at the crumbling frontier, Wu Lei started walking slowly until he eventually spotted a woman with red hair standing alone atop the barrier: Eun-Ha.
He stopped a short distance away.
“...”
“...”
Eun-Ha didn’t even glance at him, her eyes fixed on the area outside the barrier. Remaining silent as well, he turned to face the same direction. As far as the eye could see, the ground had been scorched and devastated by the battles with the Three Dogs.
For a while, they both silently watched the grim landscape—until Wu Lei finally broke the serenity.
“Do you happen to know the true identities of the Three Dogs?”
“...”
“Not planning to answer anytime soon, huh? Then I’ll just be talking to myself for now.”
Unfazed by her silence, Wu Lei calmly observed the traces left behind by the Three Dogs.
“Most people think their leader is someone who excels at casting barriers. But I think... that he’s a blacksmith.”
“...”
“You’ve faced them yourself, so you must’ve noticed. Their weapons aren’t ordinary—they rival even my sword, a piece of Sacred Equipment.”
While it wasn’t that there were no Legendary weapons except for Sacred Equipment, few and far between could match their craftsmanship and completeness.
After all, what blacksmith could possibly rival the Sacred Craftsman, Li Kenxie, himself? Wu Lei knew only one person who fit the bill.
“The only person other than Li Kenxie who could make such weapons... is Lee Se-Hoon.”
“...”
“Therefore, the Three Dogs must be his subordinates—or allies whose identities he concealed and enhanced through some unknown means.”
The theory that because the Three Dogs all wielded weapons on par with the Sacred Equipment, which only Se-Hoon apart from Li Kenxie could craft, made him the one behind the Three Dogs was, in truth, still largely speculative. However, despite that, Wu Lei believed it wholeheartedly.
After all, it was his almost prophetic intuition that earned him Li Kenxie’s recognition—and, ultimately, his position among the Seven Saints.
“Isn’t it incredible? A young man no one had heard of before entering Babel gained that much power in just one year.”
Not even Aria, the youngest S-rank hero, or Eun-Ha herself, who held the second-fastest record, had grown that quickly.
Just how exactly had Se-Hoon done it? What kind of mindset must he have had to grow so explosively?
Wu Lei’s mind swirled with thoughts—
“Are you afraid?”
Eun-Ha had broken her silence to ask him that one question, all without turning her head.
“...What?”
“I asked if you’re afraid of him.”
The unexpected question that cut off his thoughts took Wu Lei completely aback.
Afraid?
He, one of those chosen by the Sacred Craftsman who ruled China for decades, was afraid of some brat that was barely an adult? Humiliated, Wu Lei clenched his fists so tightly his veins bulged.
But then he just let go, as if nothing had happened, and looked forward again.
“...Yes. I’m afraid.”
“...”
“I’m afraid that the war against the Demon Force, which I thought would never end, is finally coming to a close. I’m afraid that... the one standing at the center of it... is Lee Se-Hoon.”
The fear that all Seven Saints shared but none dared to speak aloud was finally voiced by Wu Lei, who believed they were in the final moments and held nothing back.
“When the war ends, the world will change again. And at that time, the one who leads that change will undoubtedly be him. When that happens, do you really think he’ll leave us alone?”
Se-Hoon’s genius and heroic image was one that all knew. But Wu Lei, through various channels, had found out what lay beneath.
Now, to him, “Lee Se-Hoon” was a man who pursued a stricter order than Gregory, who had tolerated their existence. He was someone who, once he deemed someone an enemy, would uproot them entirely and leave nothing behind.
Would such a man ever tolerate the existence of people like them? Deep in their hearts, Wu Lei and the other Seven Saints were certain he wouldn’t. That was why they had accepted Caden’s proposal.
RUMBLE-
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Simultaneously, the Shadow Flame Blade hanging at Wu Lei’s waist also began trembling faintly.
So it worked.
Feeling the power of the Sacred Flames flooding in through the ley lines, just as planned, Wu Lei turned to Eun-Ha.
“Won’t you join us?”
For the first time, Eun-Ha turned her head.
Seeing that, Wu Lei proceeded, his expression grave as he met her gaze. “We’re not betraying humanity. All we want is to gain the strength to ensure that our rights are acknowledged even after the war against the Demon Force ends.”
Although he had joined hands with Caden, Wu Lei had no intention of fighting for the Demon Force. What they, the Seven Saints, wanted was to continue living as they were—not as monsters in a world drowned in demonic aura.
“Fighting for your rights... is that what this is about?”
“For decades, we’ve fought against the Demon Force for humanity’s sake. Don’t you think that’s enough to earn us some privileges?”
All are born free, dignified, and equal—a belief that Wu Lei, too, believed. However, he also believed something had to be added.
“We see ourselves as chosen beings.”
“...”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the Towers of Heroes, the gods, or some strange ring—we were recognized as beings fundamentally different from the insignificant masses.”
Having risen above them all, why should they be suppressed under the absurd notion that they’re all just “humans”? To Wu Lei, there was nothing in the world more unjust than that.
“If you side with us, I’ll make sure you’re treated properly, just as you, too, rightly deserve. Whatever you want—I can give it to you.”
“...Anything?”
A gleam rose in Wu Lei’s eyes at her question. If he could recruit Eun-Ha right now, their victory was practically guaranteed.
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, Wu Lei looked at her.
“Of course. What do you want?”
“I want a weapon.”
An expected answer; Wu Lei inwardly rejoiced.
Perfect...!
If she was asking for a piece of Sacred Equipment, it could be arranged through Caden without problem.
Overjoyed, Wu Lei opened his mouth to agr—
“One that tastes like a hamburger.”
“...What?”
Had his ears failed him because of the tension? Wu Lei stared in confusion.
And upon seeing that, Eun-Ha’s lips barely lifted into a smile, and she added, “Preferably one of bacon cheeseburger flavor.”
Seeing the first ever expression on her face, realization dawned on Wu Lei as his face twisted in frustration.
“Pheeeew... I see.”
He gently closed his eyes.
“Then I guess we have to end our discussion here.”
Drawing his Shadow Flame Blade, he activated the spell within the ley line.
Boom!
The Sacred Flames compressed deep underground surged to the surface all at once, engulfing the city’s civilians and the heroes stationed at the research institute.
“ENEMY ATTACK!”
“It’s a special kind of flame...! Evacuate now!”
Although the civilians didn’t even have time to react before they were consumed, the high-ranking heroes, with stronger mental defenses, did—just barely.
They all rushed to escape the institute.
Too late!
But before they could get out, Wu Lei kicked off the barrier and launched himself outside. The leap, empowered by his full S-rank strength, shattered the already crumbling barrier.
At that moment, a red glow exploded from within. The barrier’s failsafe—drawing in all nearby mana to fortify defenses—had turned it into a trap, locking the heroes inside.
Whoosh!
Absorbing more and more Sacred Flames, the barrier increased the intensity of the heat within until, finally, even the high-ranking heroes were being consumed one by one by the flame.
In the meantime, Wu Lei had been channeling the surging flame and countless souls into the Shadow Flame Blade.
WOONG!
Immeasurable power filled the weapon, naturally also enhancing its wielder.
“So this... this is true power...?”
Eyes glowing red with Sacred Flames, Wu Lei looked back at the research institute. Even though the flames were growing stronger and stronger with each hero that fell, there was no massive eruption yet.
How is she still standing...?
Eun-Ha, too, still remained. And unless she was defeated here, the struggle would never end. Knowing that, Wu Lei didn’t wait. Instead, he compressed even more of the incoming flames into his sword.
WOONG!
The transparent flame gathering along the sword’s edge grew larger, covering it to create a massive blade of fire capable of cleaving the entire institute in one strike.
Then, without hesitation, Wu Lei brought the sword down with all his might on Eun-Ha.
BOOM!
It was like a meteor strike. Watching the flames scatter everywhere, even Wu Lei was in awe at the overwhelming power.
And after a pause, the blaze around the institute grew fiercer.
I definitely got her!
He was sure of it. The Sacred Flames flaring up in power, fueled by Eun-Ha’s body, was a telltale sign. Grinning, Wu Lei stared into the roaring inferno with glee.
Step- Step- Step-
However, contrary to what he thought, Eun-Ha—blazing in Sacred Flames—emerged and grabbed the Shadow Flame Blade.
CRACK!
Wu Lei’s eyes slowly dropped, hearing the ominous sound of something shattering.
The sword granted by Li Kenxie, a piece of Sacred Equipment that was later imbued with millions of souls, had broken—in just one blow.
“How...?”
Before his brain could process what was going on, Eun-Ha clenched her left fist.
“Your ignorance is the exact reason you’re going to lose here.”
BOOM!
With a flash of crimson light, there was no longer any trace of Wu Lei left in the world, thus concluding her task.
Eun-Ha straightened up and scanned the surroundings.
Woong-
The souls freed from the Shadow Flame Blade were instantly drawn back in by the Offering Ritual, where they burned anew in the Sacred Flames. Watching, Eun-Ha turned her gaze toward where Se-Hoon was.
I leave everything else up to you.
She whole-heartedly believed Se-Hoon could stop even the catastrophe unfolding now.
Meanwhile, in another location, Aria had just cleaved a Seven Saint in two with her weapon still sheathed.
“I guess Sacred Equipment isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be,” she remarked.
And in a third, Jake gazed down at the Sacred Equipment he had crushed with his bare hands, having taken it when he severed a Seven Saints’ head with the power of Premotion.
“It broke...”
Their actions, along with Eun-Ha’s, had not gone unnoticed. The entire time, they were quietly observed from the summit of the snowy mountains.
“They’ve all become pretty strong...” Baek-Yeon quietly murmured.
Their weapons did not wield them, and they weren’t putting their everything into them either—the reason the three could defeat the Seven Saints and destroy their Sacred Equipment was simply because of that.
Is the end really near...?
Gazing over the Offering Ritual encompassing all of China, Baek-Yeon focused on the four remaining Seven Saints. She was lost in thought, gripping her White Night Bow—
“...Hm?”
Just as she had been hesitating, spatial ripples appeared before three of the four remaining. From each ripple, one of the Three Dogs appeared.
“Lukewarm.”
The Mad Dog’s flame consumed a Seven Saint along with the Sacred Flames.
“All you did was play power games. No wonder you’re weak.”
The Blast Dog’s invisible fangs tore another apart.
“Hmmmmmmm... Freezing Sacred Flames feels quite nice.”
The Frost Dog froze an entire city and shattered it, taking the third with it.
Now, only one member of the Seven Saints remained.
“...”
Baek-Yeon watched the sole remaining Saint’s face turn ghostly pale.
“Ha ha ha... so... it’s already begun.”
Watching the events, Baek-Yeon finally understood how pointless her doubts had been and drew her White Night Bow.
Zip!
Crossing thousands of kilometers in an instant, an arrow pierced through the skull of the final remaining Seven Saint.