Tududuk.
The sound of debris falling from the ceiling amplified the anxiety and tension in the air.
As Isaac and Marlin braced themselves, the giant, catching his breath, spoke to them.
"I can still hold on."
"…That is…"
Isaac didn't want to deny the giant's words. It was clear that without the giant's support, they would have been crushed to death.
But seeing the giant with only his upper body remaining, it felt like the issue wasn't about endurance anymore—his life was hanging by a thread.
It wasn't a situation where they could ask rashly.
Though his breathing was labored, the giant's voice remained calm.
Or perhaps he was just trying to appear calm.
"Find… a way to escape."
At the giant's words, Isaac and Marlin looked around. But even calling it "looking around" was a stretch—all they saw were piles of deep earth.
There wasn't much space to move, and even glancing around yielded nothing of value.
The only comfort, if any, was a few narrow air holes between the packed soil.
Tutuk! Tududuk!
Clumps of dirt falling nearby kept escalating their unease.
Even the usually stoic Marlin had fear creeping onto her face. Isaac explained calmly:
"Everyone knows the mine has collapsed. But the continent's most advanced Mage Tower is right nearby, so rescue shouldn't take long."
"Is that so."
"That's a relief."
"Yes, it is."
But the real problem was the depth of the mine.
Isaac knew it went quite deep, and being buried like this might pose serious challenges to the rescue effort.
They couldn't just dig mindlessly—they had to proceed cautiously, assuming survivors might still be alive.
...
The only food they had was a sandwich and some water Marlin had brought as a late-night snack.
It wasn't a situation where optimism made sense, but Isaac intentionally kept things positive and tried to change the subject.
"Earlier, perhaps…"
Isaac trailed off.
He wasn't sure how to put it into words, but the meaning was already clear.
"It was the Silver Clock…"
The giant was enraged by Isaac's question, though his broken body couldn't express the fury he felt.
"She must've learned I was still alive… and came to kill me herself."
"But the Silver Clock is a Star, isn't she? How could she—"
"Don't underestimate her so easily."
The giant clenched his teeth.
It was the only way he could express his fury now.
"She's the woman who destroyed an entire world. It shouldn't be surprising that she has something hidden up her sleeve."
...
It was frustrating.
Why would she go to such lengths?
When the silver light leaked from the rift, Isaac had also immediately thought of her.
He had once accepted the Silver Clock's magic, so he recognized the familiar light.
But while it had been a miracle filled with warmth for him, for the giant it was merely the relentless light of a merciless pursuer.
"Hhh… human…"
The giant, breathing heavily, looked down at Isaac.
The only reason he could still be alive despite being severed in half was due to one thing:
He was forcibly kept alive by the magic binding him.
Ironically, being the "Guardian" was the only thing keeping him breathing.
"Yes, I'm listening."
"…Do you believe in fate?"
It was a sudden question, but Isaac didn't bother asking why.
"I'm skeptical."
At the honest reply, the giant smiled.
"Why do you think so?"
"Because if I believed in fate… then losing my leg feels far too much like fate."
"Hh."
The giant wanted to laugh but couldn't muster the strength—he simply let out a bitter breath.
Then, looking down at Isaac, he spoke.
"Since I met you, I've kept wondering—was it fate that led me to you? Or just a cruel stroke of luck that found me after a long life?"
Eventually, the giant made his choice.
"This is fate. Hearing your words… I've decided to believe that this is fate."
"..."
"It has to be. I've decided to believe my life was destined."
It had to be fate.
There was desperation in his voice—as if he couldn't bear it otherwise.
"That everything was prepared. That my comrades dying, our world crumbling, and the current lives of our descendants who live in an age lit only by a silver star… were all fated. That it was beyond my control."
Things already past.
Things already done.
He couldn't do anything about them.
That's what he wanted to believe.
That it was fate—that no matter how hard he struggled, the outcome was inevitable.
Tears streamed down his face.
The hot drops from the giant's eyes soaked into the earth below.
"Even the reason I've lived so long… so long that I can't even remember my name… was all for this moment—because I was destined to meet you, Isaac Logan."
Overcome with emotion and a desperate heart.
Isaac and Marlin could feel it vividly, and so they simply listened.
"So, Isaac Logan."
The giant's gaze bore down on him, filled with earnestness and sorrow, as he made his plea.
"Strike me down."
"But—"
"Please. My endless time was fated only to bring you to realization. So let it be you… who ends it."
***
Still in the dark of dawn.
Three hours had passed since Isaac had been buried in the collapsed mine.
With a voice full of bitterness, the Grandmaster looked at the entrance of the buried mine and spoke.
"Never thought the day would come when I'd think I should've picked up a shovel instead of a sword."
Hearing this, Mu-myeong sighed beside her.
"Haa… You feel like running in there with a shovel yourself, don't you?"
"If I were allowed, I would. But I hear the mages are preparing their magic."
"…He'll be alive."
At Mu-myeong's words, the Grandmaster smiled bitterly.
Considering the way the mine had collapsed, hoping for someone's survival might seem heartless.
"He must be alive."
Even so, the Grandmaster clung to that hope.
Just then, Sharen came running toward them, tears welling in her eyes.
"Sis can't calm down. She's still crying."
"She's strong in body, but not in this kind of situation, I suppose."
Liana had shouted that she would go in herself, crying. Thankfully, the silence magic kept her cries contained.
Otherwise, the Magic Tower would've echoed with her wails through the night sky.
"Did you cry too? Your eyes are red."
"…Yeah. Sniff."
Sniffling, Sharen answered honestly. Seeing her like that, the Grandmaster suddenly realized—
She'd rarely seen the little girl cry, even during hard times.
She had endured so much, but this time, it was just too much for her to bear.
"He'll be safe."
She patted her head gently. It was a reassurance to both her and herself.
"What kind of disgraceful disciple closes his eyes before his master?"
At the Grandmaster's words, Sharen nodded while holding back her tears. Then, she raised her fist into the air and shouted:
"Just wait till you come out! I'll give you five fire blasts straight to the face!"
"Heh, do that."
"I better practice then! Crimson Flame Wave! Crimson Flame Wave! Crim— hic, Crimson Flame Wavvve—!"
Sharen mimed casting a spell into the air, but her voice trembled.
Tears finally spilled down her cheeks, and the Grandmaster embraced her gently.
"Waaaah! You idiot! Why are you still down there at this hour?!"
As she held the sobbing Sharen, the Grandmaster too felt her eyes begin to moisten.
"To make so many women cry… You really are a sinful man."
With a painful smile, she silently prayed for Isaac's survival.
Just as the atmosphere was sinking into deep sorrow, another worried figure approached.
Reian Leviath.
Like Isaac, his younger sister was also trapped in the mine, and his expression was equally dark.
"Haa…"
A short sigh escaped his lips.
Usually full of smiles, even his vibrant hair now hung lifelessly.
"Such a pitiful situation."
None were free from grief. While the mages were doing everything they could to rescue them as fast as possible—
Crack—!
"…!"
The sky above began to split.
It was a scene they'd seen several times before, yet one that never became any less terrifying.
A thick, heavy air leaked from between the cracks and quickly polluted the surroundings.
What appeared beyond was a dark void.
The Grandmaster's eyes widened as she reached for the sword at her waist and shouted:
"Mu-myeong! Run!"
"…!"
Mu-myeong was already running, but it was too late.
"Ghhhkk—!"
The curse upon her neck activated, violently choking her.
As she fell to her knees, a wrathful voice echoed toward her.
"Running away at the sight of your master… how beast-like of you."
A red-haired man, missing his left arm—
Helik, scattering crimson energy all around, had returned to the world, seething with hatred.
"But fear not. I came today to see an old friend I thought I'd lost."
Behind him were several other Primordial Transcendents.
"These are no ordinary enemies…"
Each exuded overwhelming pressure. The years they had lived were on another level entirely.
Among them—
The Grandmaster spotted a familiar face.
A massive figure in black robes.
Muscles that seemed alive with tension.
At his waist hung a greatsword larger and thicker than that of the Grandmaster or Mu-myeong.
The horn on his forehead had been severed and covered by a hat.
His dark, cloudy eyes were fixed only on the Grandmaster.
"You—"
She never imagined this one would still be alive.
Back then, she was sure she had killed him.
Or maybe… she just wanted to believe that.
"It's been a while."
Crimson Valley.
The hidden valley where ten half-blood disciples once trained.
There, they had learned the way of the sword.
There, they had been shaped by the teachings of a single man.
And from those teachings—
Inevitably, unavoidably—came their Master.
Now, standing before the Grandmaster once again, that very man spoke:
"To see you again like this… brings me no small amount of joy, my disciple."
The one who had once trained the ten half-bloods in Crimson Valley.
The swordmaster whose presence loomed like a mountain.
Mugan—
Had returned.
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[TL Note]
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