[Okay.]
[Would you like me to drive?]
[No thanks, I'll get there on my own. Let's close the shop early today.]
The person reflected in the mirror was a different man from before. But it didn't matter. As long as someone other than Han Yi-gyeol appeared, the plan could proceed as intended.
The mirror item created by Samael and Azazel displayed the dreams unfolding inside Han Yi-gyeol's mind exactly as they happened. Furthermore, those dreams were influenced by Samael's mind control abilities. This was thanks to Han Yi-gyeol drinking the liquid mixed with Samael and Kali's blood.
[I'm fine. Sorry I'm leaving early. Could you please clean up the shop for me?]
[Yes. Don't worry.]
"Hold him back."
Upon hearing Samael's whisper, a change occurred in the scene present in Han Yi-gyeol's mind. Just as Samael had instructed, Go Dong-ju grabbed Han Yi-gyeol in the dream, as he tried to leave.
[Hyung-nim.]
[What is it?]
"Check if he's really Han Yi-gyeol."
[Is your name Han Yi-gyeol, hyung-nim?]
[What?]
"Check if the name Han Yi-gyeol appears in the book."
[Does Han Yi-gyeol appear in the book on the table?]
[… How did you know that? Did you read it behind my back or something?]
So, Han Yi-gyeol appears in the book, too. Samael, having run his hand along the corner of his mask, turned to look at Azazel. However, it seemed even she couldn't figure it out, and she shook her head a couple of times.
If that book, which had emerged from Han Yi-gyeol's mind, was a passageway connecting the two worlds, the name Han Yi-gyeol could not possibly appear in there. Then exactly who on earth was this Han Yi-gyeol standing before me? Was he perhaps a different person who shared only the same name as the 'Han Yi-gyeol' in the book?
More details were needed to be certain.
"Ask for his name."
[What is your name, hyung-nim?]
Just as the man in the mirror opened his mouth, following Samael's lead,
Crack!
A cracking sound erupted, and a crack appeared on the surface of the mirror. Azazel, who had been looking up at the item, soon turned his gaze to Han Yi-gyeol.
This can't be right. It was nearly impossible to destroy the item while our minds were connected.
'Wait….'
Could it be… is the item unable to withstand Han Yi-gyeol's energy? His measly A-rank energy?
Once minds are connected, even an SS-class individual cannot easily break free. What Han Yi-gyeol consumed was a liquid mixed with the blood of none other than Kali and Samael. The only ones who could fight it and break free were the twin brothers who govern the world, so why…
"Find out the identity of the one who gave him the book."
Samael also seemed to realize that the item wouldn't last much longer, so he brought up the most important question.
[Who gave you that book?]
"...No."
Han Yi-gyeol muttered, his eyebrows twitching. The muscles between his brows tensed, and his tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly.
[Do you know what that book truly is? Please tell me about the child who gave that book to you, hyung-nim.]
Crack, crack–the mirror split further, and the wind flowing from Han Yi-gyeol's body rapidly grew more intense.
[Who the hell are you?]
The moment the man reflected on the mirror's surface was grabbed by his collar, a deep crack appeared in the center of the mirror and it was then filled with black.
A strong wind and tremendous energy burst forth from Han Yi-gyeol like an explosion.
Crack, crack!
Just like the mirror item that was completely shattered beyond recognition, the red gem floating behind it also could not withstand the energy and cracked open.
"Uh, ugh!"
"What the...!"
With a sharp cracking sound, the mirror item and the red gem shattered into pieces and fell to the floor. Unable to withstand the aura emanating from Han Yi-gyeol, the cult members hurriedly turned their backs and fled.
Samael, who had been holding onto Han Yi-gyeol's hair, hurriedly let go due to the intense pain. Bright red blood flowed from his hand, which had been slashed all over by the wild and sharp gusts of wind.
"Lord Samael."
Azazel broke out in a cold sweat as she blocked Samael's path. As she took the blows head-on from Han Yi-gyeol at close range, she could feel the pressure seeping into her skin.
"All the items have been destroyed. For now, we should…"
"Wait."
Crack, Han Yi-gyeol's wind brushed past Samael's face. Feeling the crack on his mask beneath his right eye, Samael pointed his finger forward.
"Look, it's changing."
"...!"
Han Yi-gyeol's brown hair, which was swept up in the wind as he floated in the air, slowly began turning black.
The wrists exposed beneath his sleeves had thickened, and his hands were covered in scars. His face, visible beneath the hair which was now completely jet black, had become more defined, and his jawline had become thicker.
Han Yi-gyeol, with his pure white and gentle appearance, vanished, and was now replaced by this black-haired man with a sturdy physique.
The eyes of everyone in the vicinity focused on Kwon Se-hyun. Amidst that, Kwon Se-hyun slowly opened his eyes.
***
The moment my consciousness cleared, I noticed Kwon Se-hyeon's energy emanating from my heart and could not hide my bewilderment.
'Why…'
Why does it feel so strong? As it is an unclassified ability, the magnitude and power felt from the energy was much stronger than that of SS-class Ha Tae-heon's. It was on par with Cheon Sa-yeon, who has lived through many repetitions of time.
But now… it has become even stronger than that. I simply could not contain the energy leaking out of my heart. Controlling it was no easy task.
'I can see…'
Even in the midst of my confusion, my intervention ability functioned without a hitch.
My field of vision expanded endlessly. Like a bird soaring high into the sky, the streets of Seoul unfolded vividly in my mind. It was an experience I had every time I used Kwon Se-hyun's intervention ability.
Previously, I would seek out the threads of energy extending from Samael or Abel, but this time, my goal was different.
The red transportation item that kept spewing out monsters. I had to stop that to resolve this situation.
The energy of the transportation items could be felt all throughout Gwanghwamun Street. At that moment there were a total of seven. Only seven remained thanks to Lee Ju-ha's quick report, which allowed them to be destroyed immediately upon discovery. Originally, there were well over ten, so the number of monsters pouring out of them had been staggering.
The threads of energy I'd seen during previous battles were now extending from the transportation items and stretching all the way to the horizon. The seven red threads were likely all connected to the transportation item inside the gate from which they came.
The threads served as a conduit linking the items to the gate, and they were the source of the energy emanating from the items. If I severed them, I could halt the monsters' transportation function without necessarily destroying the items themselves.
"Haa...."
A cold breath escaped between my lips. Like water overflowing from a broken dam, Kwon Se-hyun's energy surged from my heart.
The seven threads were severed very easily with just a little energy. Judging by the fact that they were also red, it was certain they were items made by mixing in Kali's blood, yet I felt no unusual sensations when I cut them.
It was different from when I severed the mind-control thread mixed with Kali's blood inside the space created by Abel. Back then, the energy drain I'd felt was much greater than right now. I had felt a pain so severe that I could barely breathe back then, it was as if my heart was being crushed.
Of course, the amount of energy I'd used now was much lower than back then as well, but even so… I couldn't shake off this uneasy feeling.
Having confirmed that the items were completely destroyed, I opened my eyes. I couldn't understand the changes in my body, but figuring that out would have to wait.
Turning off my intervention ability, I saw Azazel, Samael, and the disorganized group of Praus followers right before my eyes.
"Ha… haha! Hahaha!"
Samael, whose eyes met mine, suddenly started bursting out in laughter. Bending over at the waist while laughing uncontrollably, he suddenly turned his gaze toward Cheon Sa-yeon.
"Damn it, Cheon Sa-yeon! You've been hiding this all this time?"
Even though all the items and plans they had prepared had fallen apart, Samael didn't seem to care at all.
"With this much power, you must be an unclassified ability user, aren't you? Right, that's why my mind control didn't work on you."
"...."
"So, what do you say, Han Yi-gyeol? Want to join our side? I've had my eye on you ever since I first laid eyes on you, but I never imagined you'd be hiding such an entertaining side to yourself."
I let out a sarcastic laugh at the audacious proposal that I could've never expected. After all, just moments ago, you were manipulating my past memories however you pleased—what?
"You'd better think this over carefully."
Samael took off his blood-stained, torn gloves, received a new pair from a follower, slipped them on, and then continued.
"I've gotten everything I could from you, so there's no need to keep you alive anymore."
"That's great."
My head grew cold, while my heart burned fiercely. I answered with a carefree smile, without hesitation.
"I'm actually glad, since I don't have to worry about that headache anymore."
I had no choice but to step back to hide my true self and abilities. Watching people die, I struggled with which choice would be the better one, and eventually, I ended up weighing human lives against the future.
"You said there's no need to keep me alive anymore, right?"
That's why I actually felt much more at ease now. Since I'd been exposed anyway, just like when I fought the Doctor and Abel.
"That goes for us too, Cheon Je-heon."
When I deliberately mentioned his real name instead of Samael, his fingertips, now clad in new gloves, trembled for a moment.
"Let's see this through to the end."
As soon as I set foot on the ground, I swung my arm. The strong wind that had been swirling around my body crashed forward like a wave.
At the same time, a familiar aura surged from behind me. Feeling it, the corners of my mouth curled up.
There was no need for an explanation. I believed without a shred of doubt that everyone was waiting for me and that they would immediately understand my signal.
With me in the center, Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon rushed out on either side. Woo Seo-hyeok, who had transformed into a giant wolf, along with Park Geon-ho and Kim Woo-jin, followed behind. Finally, watching Lee Ju-ha, Alice, and the surviving Roheon, and the Requiem Guild members clash with the Praus cultists, I directed the wind towards all of them.