Crackle—

The arm holding Eternal Bind collapsed. Noya’s body was crumbling. Seeing it, I immediately rushed forward.

Whoosh—!!

Flames burst as I dashed in and caught Noya in my arms. Without delay, I pulled back and examined his body.

“Noya...? Noya!”

“Oh...”

Noya looked down at his shattered body and reacted.

“Well, this is... troublesome. Haha.”

Seeing him laugh made me scowl. Had this old man lost his mind?

“You're laughing... at a time like this?”

“Haha. It just slipped out.”

“Damn it... Why is this happening...”

Ignoring his response, I frantically examined his ruined body.

The arm that had held Eternal Bind was gone. Glancing back, I saw only the blade rolling on the ground. The arm that once gripped it had turned to dust and scattered into the air.

“This... this is...”

*If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net, it has been stolen.*

Words wouldn’t come. What should I do? Hastily, I tried to channel energy into Shin Noya’s body, but the moment my hand touched him, I realized—

“Hah...”

It was no use.

This wasn’t a matter of energy.

‘The body...’

I understood. This was not a real, living body. The difference was unmistakable when I sent my energy into him.

A shell. It was nothing more than an empty shell.

A shell housing only soul and energy—that was Noya's body now.

“This is...”

As I trembled, realizing the truth, something gripped my hand.

It was Noya’s remaining hand.

“You should see your face. Shocked, are you?”

“...”

“Well, what did you expect? A dead man walking—did you think the body would be intact?”

“But... this...”

“Be grateful for this much. Isn’t it a bit greedy to expect perfection... from a fleeting dream?”

Noya rose. I tried to stop him—

“Let go. Tch, you’re a grown man—why are you clinging to me like that?”

“Noya.”

Ignoring my call, Noya moved forward. Then, he stretched out his remaining left arm.

Suddenly, the Eternal Bind, which had been lying on the ground, trembled and soared toward him.

Shiver—

Yet, the blade hesitated mid-air. I understood.

It felt the same as I did.

It was telling him—Stop.

The hesitation of Eternal Bind felt like a plea, urging him not to continue.

“You... and this damn blade... Why are you both hesitating? Hurry up and come here!”

Annoyed, Noya snapped, and with his command, Eternal Bind finally flew into his arm and coiled around it.

“Tch. Can’t you see the opponent’s waiting? What kind of pathetic behavior is this?”

Opponent. At that word, I shifted my gaze.

Before us stood Taechon—his face stiff, his eyes locked on Shin Noya.

“Oh, my apologies. Seems these two lack a bit of tact,” Noya said, smirking.

Taechon tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment. His expression had changed from before.

“A shame.”

There was disappointment in his voice, laced with a sharp edge of emotion.

“You’ve broken through the boundary... but your frail vessel cannot endure it. And so, it collapses.”

Hearing him, I understood what Taechon meant.

Noya had transcended his limits. In that moment, he had broken through—but...

‘His body cannot withstand it.’

And so, his vessel was shattering.

His soul was already damaged from being bound to me. Now, with this breakthrough, his collapse had only accelerated.

But...

Even so...

‘He’s going to fight more?’

With that body—What more can he possibly do?

That was—

‘Suicide.’

It was the same as throwing his life away. I wouldn’t allow it. Immediately, I flared White Flame and moved to intervene.

“Ga—!!”

“...!”

Noya shouted at me. His voice—so fierce, so absolute—made me release White Flame without realizing.

“What... what are you doing?”

“Noya...?”

“Don’t you dare interfere.”

“No... What... What are you trying to do? You know, don’t you? If you keep going...”—

You’ll die.

If you continue—it could end here. What more do you hope to achieve?

But Noya... He knew better than anyone. And still—

“Stay out of this.”

His cold, sharp eyes warned me.

“But...”

“I said—stay out of this.”

His voice, laced with killing intent, left no room for argument. After that, he gripped Eternal Bind tightly.

Shhhhaaaa—

Energy gathered once more along the blade—Plum Blossoms.

“Stop this madness. What’s done is done—why insist on dragging it out?”

Taechon’s voice had shifted—now devoid of excitement, only cold disinterest.

The moment he realized Noya’s body had collapsed, all amusement in his eyes faded.

“So be it. Out of respect for your effort, I will make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

The word piqued Noya’s interest.

“What is it?”

“Come with me.”

“Oh? But I already refused that, didn’t I?”

“You did. I rarely extend an offer twice... but you’ve impressed me.”

Taechon’s body had fully regenerated. In fact, it was questionable if he had even taken damage.

Looking utterly unscathed, he continued, speaking to Shin Noya with ease:

“You’ve reached beyond your vessel’s limit. Your body may be crumbling, but if you accept my offer—”

“If you give up your body... you can ascend beyond. Let your brilliance serve me, and I will grant you a new body.”

“Hahaha...”

At those words, Noya laughed.

“I’m grateful for the offer. But... I have one little problem—”

Shhhiing—

Eternal Bind spun lightly in his hand.

“—I despise being beneath someone else.”

“I refuse.”

“Mm. I thought as much.”

Taechon nodded, unsurprised. As if he had already known the answer.

And then.

Saaaaaa—

As Taechon raised his hand, the sky changed. The ashen sky, still fractured by the lingering traces of plum blossoms, began to shift.

It churned, twisting into a vortex before slowly drawing itself toward Taechon’s hand.

The surrounding barrier condensed into a sphere, compressing as it coalesced within his grasp.

Before long, the dull, lifeless gray was overtaken—transformed into a brilliant, resplendent blue.

“So be it. It is a pity, but I shall respect your will.”

“I appreciate it.”

“But as a token of gratitude for the sight you have shown me, I shall grant you a gift of my own.”

The compressed energy in his palm began to change.

A spear. No—a trident.

It resembled the one he had wielded before—yet it was unmistakably different.

‘That...’

I trembled at the sight.

No, it was not my body that shuddered—it was my soul.

“This is a place you might have reached under different circumstances. What do you think?”

“...Hmmm.”

What lay within that small, glowing sphere?

A world?

I could feel it. The presence of a world, vast and infinite, bound within.

The ashen sky had been erased, revealing the original sky beyond. Night had already fallen.

A realm where two moons welcomed the night.

And beneath them, Taechon held the world within his grasp.

“A terrifying thought, isn’t it? That you were meant to wield such a thing. When even a single tree feels beyond your reach.”

“No. You would not have feared it. You would have endured it—of that, I am certain. And that is why I wonder.”

The faintly glowing spear trembled, and at its tremor, my very soul quaked alongside it.

“Do you know of the Dragon Lord?”

The words left Taechon’s lips—Dragon Lord.

At that, Shin Noya’s eyebrow twitched.

“I do.”

Of course, he would. He had faced the Dragon Lord. He had fought against the Blood Demon himself.

“Your reaction confirms it. So—you are from that world. The world that brought down the Dragon Lord. Then... are you the one responsible?”

“No. Not the one. But one among them.”

“......Hmmm.”

One of the five who had stopped the Blood Demon.

At those words, Taechon tilted his head slightly.

“Not the only one, you say... Yet if the Dragon Lord still exists, that means you failed to stop him.”

“We didn’t stop him. Couldn’t. That bastard... was disgustingly strong.”

Noya chuckled, shaking his head, but Taechon’s expression remained unchanged.

“With the strength you wield now, stopping the Dragon Lord should be no great challenge. So why, then?”

“...What?”

Shin Noya’s eyes narrowed.

“That is strange. The Dragon Lord was strong—but he was never this strong.”

“......What do you mean by that?”

“No. Never mind. It is of no relevance now.”

Taechon shook his head slightly—then, tightening his grip, he clasped the spear firmly.

Kugugung—!!

The ground trembled.

“It seems difficult to make this a long conversation. Since the seal has been erased, it looks like news will soon reach him as well.”

“......”

At those words, Noya tightly grasped the Eternal Bind with his remaining arm.

“Cherish it. After the descent, you are the first to use this.”

Taechon said those words and lightly threw the spear.

The movement was light, but the result was far from it.

The spear flew toward Shin Noya, and seeing this, Noya hastily raised the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Eternal Bind to block it.

Kugugugugugugugugung—!!!!!

The ground shook as if it would break apart.

“......!”

Noya blocked the spear with his remaining arm, but it seemed like he couldn't withstand it, as he began to be pushed backward.

“Ugh!”

He bit his lip, trying to block it. He was doing everything he could to stop it. But the spear did not stop.

Kkirik—!

The spear slightly rotated.

Kuuuuung—!!! Kwagagakang—!!!

With an explosive pressure, something broke. It was the Eternal Bind.

It should never break.

The Eternal Bind, with its unique characteristics, broke.

And then, as if it were an explosion, it pierced through Noya.

Kwaaa—!!!

The spear, having pierced Noya, flew through the air.

Kwaaaaaaaaa—!!!

The spear shot up into the sky, and it immediately exploded, spreading across the heavens.

A tremendous wind pressure struck.

Trees were ripped up and uprooted by the wind, and I could see hills collapsing.

As a beam of light spread widely across the sky...

“Aah...”

Even amidst all this, my gaze was fixed solely on Noya.

“Kkeul-kkle...”

Noya chuckled softly.

“Such... what a shame.”

With a bitter smile, Noya’s upper body had been completely pierced through.