The battlefield stung with cracks and craters scattered across it. The ground seemed to cry in pain at what the Kings had made of it. Boulders lay smashed, grass was tainted red, and massive holes marred the earth where two men now lay... unconscious.
Gongseob's chest rose and fell heavily with each breath. His bare torso had almost turned blue in color, yet the man smiled. His iconic, confident demeanor returned as he flashed his trademark grin, sticking out his tongue in a cocky gesture.
In front of him lay one of the Kojima brothers — the same ones who had been pressuring all three of them — embedded deep in the ground. Gongseob had winced when he heard the loud crack from the attack landing.
He was pretty sure Jichang hadn't just broken something... he had broken a lot.
However, that small flicker of empathy vanished almost immediately, replaced by a giddy satisfaction — the feeling of besting an opponent who had once made him feel useless.
In his usual vulgar fashion, Gongseob opened his pants and started emptying his bladder onto the downed figure of the Kojima.
Jichang turned away from the scene, though a small twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his mood.
He was happy.
I guess... I really have grown stronger.
Still, he didn't forget his real reason for fighting. Approaching the kid who remained paralyzed nearby, he glanced down at his own hands. Hot blood clung to them, dripping down his fingers toward the ground.
Using the rough bark of a tree to wipe them off, Jichang looked at the boy again.
"What is your name?"
The boy couldn't have been older than ten. His figure was gaunt and fragile. Standing near him, Jichang noticed the twitch in his fingers, the way he tried to cover his private parts... the way his eyelids dropped in shame.
Taking off his jacket, Jichang handed it to the kid.
The boy hesitated at first, switching his gaze between the jacket and Jichang. Finally, he accepted it, wrapping himself tightly in the peach-colored fabric.
Jichang noticed the trembling in the boy's hands had stopped.
He's relaxed now, he thought.
He was kind to his brother, but if someone asked whether he was good with kids...
No... I don't even know what to say right now.
So while he wanted to comfort the boy, all he could do was stand there, staring awkwardly with his slitted eyes.
Vin Jin, who had just barely stopped trembling, finally gathered enough courage. His voice stammered,
"I-I am... I am really thankful for your help."
Jichang, unsure of what else to do, defaulted to what he used to do for his younger brother — he rubbed the boy's head gently.
"No worries."
Hearing footsteps approaching, Vin Jin turned toward another figure.
Taesoo looked down at the young boy, then shifted his gaze toward Jichang.
"Now what? Was this what Apollo was talking about?"
Just as he spoke, they all heard the sound of more footsteps — people were approaching.
Two, Jichang noted instinctively.
His head turned toward the source of the noise. Apollo appeared, supporting an unfamiliar man beside him.
Apollo's clothes were damaged, torn in places, and he limped slightly on one foot.
Looks like they fought, Jichang observed, glancing at the other man — who had tied up his injured arm with a makeshift cloth-and-wood splint.
Apollo walked toward the scene of carnage, his eyes widening at the sight of the downed Kojima brothers.
His gaze shifted toward the trio standing proudly.
This... I didn't expect them to defeat them so easily.
He had thought they would at least need his and Seonji's help.
Were they really cannon fodder like they seemed in the manhwa?
I expected them to at least have mastery...
He approached Jichang.
"So, how did this happen?"
Jichang nodded and began explaining how they found the boy, the villagers... and the aftermath of the battle.
When he finished, his eyes flicked toward the unfamiliar man awkwardly standing there.
"Who is this?"
Apollo coughed, a bit embarrassed at the situation.
"This is Seonji. As for who he is..."
He smirked.
"You can call him the King of Cheonliang."
Apollo's gaze dropped back to the ground, searching for something — or someone.
"Where is the Shaman?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"The old guy?" Taesoo spoke up. "He ran off somewhere during the fight, I think."
Apollo nodded grimly.
Typical of that disgusting man.
His black sclera gleamed darkly.
"These brothers were just his lackeys," he explained. "The Shaman is the real monster here... He's kidnapped children, raped women, and committed atrocities you can't even imagine."
As if by instinct, the three Kings subconsciously gathered closer together — Gongseob flanking the left, with Taesoo and Jichang forming the center.
Apollo didn't show it outwardly, but a small, proud smile tugged at his lips.
I guess I did succeed after all. We're never joining a crew, my foot... These idiots don't even realize how close they already are.
His thoughts were interrupted by Seonji's determined voice.
"I will find him," Seonji said, his left arm hanging limply, but his posture steady.
Seeing the state of the Kojima brothers — the very ones who had tormented him throughout his childhood — left a deep mark on him.
They did what I couldn't for so many years.
His hand stung from the wood tied too tightly around his injury, but that didn't matter.
The fact that I let it happen...
His eyes dipped momentarily, then burned with new resolve.
I have to be the one to clean this mess up.
He straightened his back, strength pulsing through a body he had long neglected.
"Thank you for your help," he said. "But I will be the one to end this — for my village."
The end of the Shaman was near.
Of course, Apollo himself had another objective brewing in his mind — something darker.
The red paper... I must have it.
......
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