Turning
Chapter 842

Chapter 842

"But still, I will clear the path to Nahan for you. I can manage that much, so don't refuse this offer."

The weight of emotion in those red eyes oppressed Yuder's heart. Swallowing down the sensation, he nodded silently, his lips sealed shut.

"...Yes."

"I think I've found Nahan's location...!"

As Yuder struggled to break the silence as he and Kishiar gazed at each other, fortunately, Gakane's strained voice drew everyone's attention.

"Did you find it?"

"He's much further than before he was trapped in this space. And it seems he's still moving."

Gakane's eyelids, tightly shut in concentration, twitched incessantly.

"I'll send signals through the shadows."

Opening his eyes, Gakane drew out a thin shadow from his fingertips and wrapped it around Yuder's wrist. It clung like a bracelet made of black thread, stirring faintly, giving an odd sensation.

"As this is my space, I can send signals through it. Keep moving to the right... The shadow will react more as you get closer to Nahan, so you can follow it."

"Got it. Thank you, Gakane."

"No, I should thank you. I never thought it would work, but I did it, all thanks to you..."

Gakane, his eyes open, smiled tiredly but with a renewed vitality.

"I did what only I could, right? Enough to be of help to you?"

"Yes, exactly, well done."

"Haha."

Encouraged by his own achievement, Gakane looked proud and happy, prompting Kurga to shake his head.

"You really are like a terminal case of the Cavalry disease..."

'Cavalry disease?'

Yuder, intrigued but restrained by the situation, didn't inquire further. He flexed and swung his shadow-wrapped hand, testing its resilience, then turned to Kishiar.

"Let's depart now. Is that alright with you?"

Kishiar nodded and reached out his hand. Yuder felt an invisible force envelop him and Kishiar more densely.

"Let's go."

"Be safe, Commander!"

"Yuder. I'll help you from here through the shadow curtain, somehow. So, be careful and don't get hurt...!"

Leaving behind Kurga and Gakane's farewells, Yuder started to run. Soon, the voices of his companions faded as if cut off.

All that was left to feel was the warmth of Kishiar close by, the ominous and gloomy aura engulfing everything else, and the darkness of the black shadow veil.

Shapeless, ghostly apparitions swirled around the running Yuder like the wind. They lunged, trying to penetrate the barrier of Kishiar's energy, but none could break through, repeatedly being repelled.

Despite repeating the same futile attempts dozens of times, the apparitions showed no signs of fatigue. The increasing number of phantoms as he ran indicated Nahan must be nearby.

-Woo... Woo-woo...

-Useless Omega Cavalry Commander...

-Kill that traitor...! Behead him and display it on the Seventh Wall Street...!

-Yudrain... Yudrain…

Amidst the chilling wails and screams, occasionally, the voices of those he had encountered in a previous life mingled in. Yet, Yuder paid them no mind, focusing solely on his wrist bound by the shadow and on Kishiar beside him.

Kishiar, too, ignored the faint apparitions clinging to him, his gaze fixed ahead. Though outwardly calm, his complexion had turned even paler than before.

Judging by the way the voices of the apparitions clinging to Kishiar only sounded like a hum, it seemed he couldn't hear the voices of the apparitions attached to Yuder. Despite having no secrets left from him, Yuder felt relieved.

Knowing something and experiencing it as reality were, after all, two different matters.

Suddenly, the shadow wrapped around his wrist writhed and trembled, pointing in a slightly different direction than before. It seemed Nahan was on the move.

"Has he moved?"

Kishiar, turning sharply, asked.

"Yes. He seems to be moving continuously. The speed... suggests he's regaining his senses. Be careful."

Yuder changed direction. The vibration of the shadow around his hand grew stronger, eventually allowing him to know the way without looking.

As they continued, the number of surrounding apparitions increased to the point where it became difficult to see. So many overlapped that the black shadow curtain blurred, creating a misty, whitish haze before their eyes.

The sensation of a rampaging, tremendous power constricted their breaths.

A quiet, unfathomable depth of hostility surged around them.

Every nerve in Yuder's body tensed as he felt all the anger Nahan originally harbored, now twisted and amplified dozens of times, filling the air.

Even having experienced rampaging Awakeners countless times in a past life, Yuder couldn't help but frown at the intensity.

'It's severe...'

Yuder realized that if he had come this far without Kishiar's abilities, it would have been incredibly difficult to proceed, a thought he reluctantly acknowledged.

As Nahan's energy intensified, the power Kishiar used to protect them grew stronger. Sweat began to form on the brow of the man who had maintained his composure until now, as his unseen force strongly repelled the apparitions.

"How much further to Nahan?"

"Very soon. He seems close."

In this ominous darkness, a few steps were enough to lose sight of each other. Now, with Nahan's rampant energy fiercely overwhelming them, it was even more so.

Yuder, scanning the darkness sharply, spoke up.

"From here on, I'll handle it. Please step back, Commander."

"..."

"Commander?"

When no response came, Yuder turned to see Kishiar, who had just pushed back an apparition that nearly broke through, exhaling a long breath, his eyebrows relaxed.

"There's no need to rush. But... would you grant me the chance to be stubborn just this once?"

"What?"

Before Yuder could finish, golden magic surged from Kishiar's hand.

"What... Commander!"

As Kishiar muttered something indistinct with complex hand movements, around ten magic stones – from the bracelets he wore, the brooch on his formal wear, and even the jewels embedded in his ceremonial sword's scabbard – shattered all at once.

Simultaneously, a fully-formed golden shield enveloped Yuder like a cocoon, then turned transparent as it emitted light.

Yuder felt the oppressive sensation that had been weighing on him disappear, replaced by a feeling of liberation as his breath became easier. A faint golden light enveloped and protected his body. Though not well-versed in magic, he could distinctly sense that this was something extraordinary.

However, Kishiar's complexion told a different story. This was the first time Yuder had seen him looking so perilous since the incident in the Cavalry's underground, where he had used complex magic to counteract the explosion of a Red Stone during an experiment with Thais Yulman and Alik. A feeling of dizziness washed over Yuder.

"Don't do this! There's no need to go to such lengths...!”

"If I wasn't certain that this would make things even slightly safer, I wouldn't want to move from here either."

The man, having completed his task and letting his hands fall, smiled with an indiscernible expression, lifting the corners of his lips.

"...So that's why."

"..."

"If you're angry, I'll accept your protest after all this is over."

With those words, the magic power dispersed like dust, fading away swiftly.

Perhaps it would have been better if he had simply ordered Yuder not to get hurt and to return safely. But this was different. Even if the words sounded similar, the feelings behind them were vastly different. The sincerest, most vulnerable, and secretive emotions that the man had been suppressing throughout their journey overwhelmed Yuder, mixed with that smile.

Ah.

It was then that Yuder truly understood the meaning behind the words he had spoken earlier.

How could he not grant permission after hearing such words?

As if breaking a long silence, his lips finally parted.

"How could I..."

How could I possibly protest after hearing such words.

Only upon hearing Yuder's faintly uttered voice did Kishiar truly smile with sincerity.

Unknowingly, Yuder felt a strong urge to reach out and gently caress Kishiar's cheek.

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching me?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

Check out the new project 2:

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'