Heavy.
Suffocating.
The leader's finger tightened on the trigger.
"…Die."
Click.
A split second passed—
BOOM.
The gun exploded in his hand.
A violent surge of force tore outward—
Engulfing him—
And the two men beside him.
The blast swallowed everything.
Sound.
Light.
Air.
Then—
Nothing.
Where they had stood—
A crater remained.
Deep.
Blackened.
Identical to the one left behind by the goblins.
Fragments of armor lay scattered.
Burnt.
Broken.
Still.
Kael stared.
"…Damn…"
His grip tightened slightly.
Not fear.
Not regret.
But something unfamiliar.
"…We really just…"
He didn't finish.
Arin said nothing.
But his gaze lingered on the crater—
Cold.
Calculating.
No hesitation.
No guilt.
Only confirmation.
A brief pause.
"…Flashback," Kael muttered.
Earlier — On the Way to the Monolith
The wind howled across the rocky terrain.
Footsteps echoed in rhythm.
After nearly half an hour of walking—
Kael edged closer to Arin.
"…I think I can use my power again."
Arin's eyes flickered slightly.
But he didn't turn.
"…Come closer."
Kael stepped in, a faint grin forming.
"…What are you thinking?"
Arin leaned in.
His voice low.
Controlled.
"…They're not right."
Kael's smile faded.
"…Yeah… I felt that too."
Arin continued—
"…So we prepare."
"…How?" Kael asked.
A brief pause.
"…You'll summon that gun."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…The one that killed the goblins?"
"…Yes."
"…And give it to the leader."
Kael blinked.
Then slowly—
He smiled.
"…So he shows his true colors."
Arin nodded faintly.
"…If he betrays us…"
A pause.
"…we let him use it."
Kael let out a quiet breath.
Then chuckled.
"…That's messed up."
Arin's expression didn't change.
"…It's necessary."
Back to Present —
The smoke slowly cleared.
The crater remained.
Silent.
Final.
Kael exhaled.
"…You really called it."
Arin didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed ahead.
"…People like him don't change."
A pause.
"…They just wait."
Silence settled between them.
Then—
Faintly—
Something rose.
Kael's eyes shifted.
"…Wait…"
Above the charred remains—
Translucent figures began to emerge.
Souls.
They hovered quietly.
Drifting.
Unstable.
But not peaceful.
They trembled.
As if resisting.
As if they didn't want to disappear.
Kael swallowed.
"…So… what now?"
"…Our mission was the Monolith… and now it's broken."
Arin observed them carefully.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
Analyzing.
Understanding.
"…First," he said calmly,
"…we absorb them."
Kael frowned.
"…You're serious?"
Arin stepped forward.
"…It's the only option."
Without hesitation—
He reached out.
The nearest soul recoiled.
As if afraid.
Then—
It collapsed into him.
Arin's body stiffened.
A surge of energy exploded through him.
Not just power—
Fragments.
A man swinging a blade.
A scream.
A battlefield.
Fear.
Instinct.
Gone in an instant—
But felt.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…What the—"
Arin exhaled slowly.
For a moment—
Even his breathing wasn't steady.
"…Do it."
Kael hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
He reached out.
The moment he touched one—
It forced itself into him.
"…—!!"
Kael staggered.
Grabbing his head.
"…This is insane…"
His fingers trembled.
"…I can feel it…"
He clenched his fist.
"…Their experience…"
Arin nodded.
"…Weapons. Combat. Techniques."
Kael looked at his hand.
Moved it slightly.
Natural.
Too natural.
"…I… I know how to use a sword…"
A beat.
Then realization hit.
His expression darkened.
"…So that's why…"
"…They wanted to kill us."
Arin's voice remained calm.
"…The benefits are too great."
Silence followed.
Heavier than before.
Because now—
They understood.
Then—
Something changed.
A strange mist began to rise.
From the Guardian's remains.
Thicker.
Darker.
Heavier.
It didn't drift.
It pressed.
Kael frowned.
"…That's different…"
Arin's eyes narrowed.
"…A higher-grade soul."
But even as he said it—
He knew.
This wasn't just stronger.
It was dangerous.
They moved toward it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The air grew dense.
Each step—
Heavier.
Just as Kael reached out—
The ground trembled.
A low hum filled the air.
The broken Monolith—
reacted.
Cracks along its surface began to glow.
"…Wait—" Kael muttered.
Before they could act—
The Monolith pulled.
A sudden force—
Dragging the Guardian's remains toward it.
"…It's absorbing it?" Kael said.
The body disintegrated—
Turning into streams of light—
Feeding into the Monolith.
The soul began to destabilize.
Breaking apart.
"…Now!" Arin snapped.
They moved instantly.
Reaching out—
Grabbing what remained.
The moment Kael touched it—
Something pushed back.
Hard.
"…It's resisting!"
The soul twisted violently.
Like a living thing.
Arin stepped in.
Grabbing it as well.
"…Don't let go."
It pulsed—
Heavy.
Violent.
Then—
They forced it in.
The moment it was absorbed—
Everything shattered.
A massive surge exploded through them.
Kael gasped.
"…!!"
Pain tore through his body.
Then—
Vision.
A towering knight.
A massive blade.
Endless battles.
Precision.
Power.
Weight.
His hand moved—
Unconsciously.
"…Greatsword…"
Arin stood still—
But something about him changed.
Sharper.
Faster.
More precise.
Like everything unnecessary—
had been cut away.
The last fragments vanished.
And then—
Silence.
The Monolith stood still.
No longer broken.
Restored.
Whole.
Ancient symbols glowed faintly across its surface.
As if—
Nothing had ever happened.
Kael stared.
"…It repaired itself…"
Arin stepped forward.
"…It was never just a structure."
A pause.
"…It's a system."
Kael exhaled slowly.
Then—
He reached out.
And touched it.
The moment his hand made contact—
A sharp pulse shot through both of them.
A voice.
Cold.
Absolute.
Echoed in their minds—
"Second Mission Complete"
End of chapter
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