The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board-Chapter 412

Clang…

Clang…

The train emerged from the long tunnel. Everyone flinched and glanced around nervously as the light slowly seeped into its cabins.

No one had died…

Seol and Karuna hadn't killed anyone while passing through the tunnel.

Why was it?

It would have been a wise move for Seol to reduce their numbers under the cover of darkness, yet for some reason, they hadn't laid a hand on anyone.

Oof…

Tekon gasped for breath. The scene of him being brutally murdered inside the darkened Castrang raced through his mind.

Fortunately, what he feared hadn't happened yet.

Tekon hadn't lost his composure; the tunnel was already behind them, meaning there was no chance of being engulfed in darkness again.

That fact filled him with confidence.

"I don't recall inviting you here."

"I know. I'm an uninvited guest."

Someone showed up without an invitation.

The person before him was an uninvited guest.

Moreover, Seol made it clear that his intentions for seeking out Tekon were far from friendly.

The fact that he had placed Frina's corpse next to him was proof of that.

Swoosh…

Tekon opened his mouth.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I don't have such hobbies."

"What a pity. I was hoping we could have a conversation in a more relaxed state."

"A conversation… Sure, let's talk."

Seol was still looking out the window.

"Don't you think it's a bit late…? The order of things has been reversed."

He was referring to Tekon's one-sided attack. If Tekon wanted to talk, he should have done it before ambushing Ishi.

Tekon feigned ignorance.

"Haha… It was a misunderstanding. If I had known you were someone I could reason with, I wouldn't have acted that way."

Seol felt disgusted by Tekon and all his henchmen who had filled the Castrang; they were beings full of malice.

They reminded him of the Predator Guild that had taken root when the Transferees had arrived in Kongory.

People who, if left alone, would eventually try to block his path at least once. Seol instinctively felt that they were no different from the Predator Guild.

"There won't be any conversations."

"…"

With Seol's single remark, the atmosphere in the room froze over once again.

"Why's that?"

"You've crossed the line long ago."

Tekon heard one of his loyal subordinates whisper into his ear.

"We're going to handle him."

"He's the one who killed Frina."

"If we all step up, even Frina wouldn't be a difficult opponent…"

In this situation, stepping up meant being prepared to die.

Having already lost control of the situation, Tekon decided to rely on his subordinates. He always needed to maintain control of the situation.

"Fufu… These young folks are so full of trouble that it's exhausting."

Tekon's eyes gleamed.

"They don't even know their place. Why can't they see that things can be solved amicably?"

Tekon sank into his chair.

"Get off quietly at the next city. Then, I'll also forget about you."

"…"

"How about it? Isn't that a fair…"

"It seems you're clueless. Why do you think I came here?"

Did Tekon think Seol came here to ask for forgiveness? To talk?

Unfortunately, neither was the case. That left only one possibility… Seol was going to clash with Tekon here.

Yet Seol seemed eerily calm as he said this.

Tekon rolled his eyes and asked, "What do you want…?"

"Nothing."

He was the most troublesome kind of enemy.

Someone who wants nothing is capable of anything.

There was no other choice.

If he couldn’t persuade him, the only option left was to bare fangs.

After all, it was sharp fangs that made the wild dog a powerhouse ruling over the nights of the Federation.

But still, it was impossible not to feel his anger rising.

"Have you ever seen the true face of the Federation?"

"What are you talking about…?"

"There's a web of relations so complex that it's beyond your imagination. The moment you step into this spider's web, your insignificant life will be snuffed out in an instant."

Seol chuckled and stood up.

"You see? I have a lot of experience in simplifying complex things."

"You…"

"Karuna."

Swoosh…

Karuna, who had been sitting nearby, also stood up and followed behind Seol.

"Yes."

"Leave only the toad and the engineer alive. Deal with the rest."

"What about those who run…"

"There's nothing we can do if they jump off."

"Understood."

Jumping off a moving train to save their lives was a form of betrayal. So he could forgive that much.

Upon hearing the chilling conversation between the two, Tekon's subordinates drew their weapons.

Swoosh…

"It seems like…"

"A conclusion has been reached. Aren't you being too cocky after having taken down Frina by luck?"

Most of their weapons were rifles crafted in northern workshops.

Their rate of fire and performance left much to be desired, but they were weapons that allowed ordinary people to take down beasts.

Swoosh…

Karuna's attire changed.

[Karuna's Sociability deactivates.]

Clang…

The fancy suit transformed into knight's armor in an instant.

Seol only confirmed this much before heading to the upper level. The view where he had tea with Silvia was quite pleasant.

All that remained now was a brief, tedious wait.

* * *

Whoosh…

No one dared to attack Karuna, who was standing still.

Not even those involved knew the reason. Only Tekon was fuming.

"Shoot! Shoot! What are you doing?!"

"But…"

"What do you mean ‘but’?! Why are you leaving him alone?!"

Clank…

Clank… Clank… Clank…

As if Tekon's men were mimicking someone's actions, more and more gun barrels were aimed at Karuna.

"Shoot!"

Bang—!

Bang—! Bang—!

Bullets were fatal for flesh-and-blood humans.

But for Knights clad in special armor, they were even clumsier than magic-infused arrows.

Of course, that was if the bullets actually managed to hit the armor.

Whoosh…

An inexplicable black energy formed a semi-transparent barrier around Karuna.

Ziinng…

"The bullets…"

"How could this be…"

The black barrier stopped the bullets.

Karuna had reached Supreme-rank, and Black Wave had undergone a transformation as well. However, his changes didn't end there.

[Escape! You have broken free from the limits of a shadow.]

[You can now define your own entity.]

[Karuna, the Flowing Moon has been born!]

[Karuna, the Flowing Moon has reached the complete Supreme-rank.]

[Karuna, the Flowing Moon has not chosen the path of the General.]

[A new path opens.]

[He can now create Fantastic Exceptional Skills.]

[Fantastic Exceptional Skills cannot be passed down.]

[Fantastic Exceptional Skills have better effects than normal Exceptional Skills.]

[Those bound by servitude cannot use Fantastic Exceptional Skills.]

[You cannot create Fantastic Exceptional Skills. Instead, the cost, cooldown, and activation time of Exceptional Skills have been significantly reduced.]

[You cannot create Fantastic Exceptional Skills. Instead, link abilities are now usable independently.]

[You cannot create Fantastic Exceptional Skills. Instead, Moonlight Sword reaches a new stage.]

[You cannot create Fantastic Exceptional Skills. Instead, if you fulfill certain conditions, you can exercise power comparable to them.]

[Black Wave has become more refined.]

[Black Wave has awakened Low Tide and High Tide.]

[Low Tide pulls and High Tide pushes.]

[Karuna, the Flowing Moon's party members are protected by Black Wave except under specific circumstances.]

[Black Wave nullifies all projectiles below a certain destructive power.]

[Moonlight Sword is a sword art specialized in slashing. Its destructive power and range have increased.]

[You are a swordsman who has reached the peak. Improvisation can give birth to new sword techniques.]

[Your resistances have been increased by 20%.]

[Knights possess a robust physique.]

[Your Physical resistance has been increased by 30%.]

[Your maximum Constitution has increased by 20%.]

[Soaring Moonlight has been removed.]

[A second moon will rise over the battlefield where Karuna stands.]

…

Seeing the bullets being effortlessly blocked, Tekon hurriedly hid behind his subordinates. He even crossed train cars to distance himself from Karuna.

"Kill! Kill that guy!"

Even amid this, he didn't forget to give orders.

Bang—!

Baanng—!

The barrage of bullets was all blocked by Karuna's barrier.

Tss…

"Huh…?"

Slash—!

The bullets halted by the barrier were all sent flying back at the enemies.

It was the power of High Tide, which pushed things away.

"Agh—!"

"Stop shooting! It's useless!"

Although firearms had recently become more widespread, this was Pandea—a power without history couldn't exert great force.

CLANG—!

"I'll thrust my blade into that shell of yours."

Upon realizing this, some of them fearlessly swung their swords and hammers at Karuna.

[Egnar used Twin Axes.]

[You wildly swing blunt weapons and spears.]

[The damage dealt is proportional to the target's current Constitution.]

[Isilva uses Glass Sword.]

[When the sword pierces a target, it shatters from within.]

…

Whoosh—!

Tang—!

Karuna dodged the horizontally flying blade by crouching, then struck the wrist of the one wildly swinging a hammer, causing them to drop their weapons.

His movements were textbook.

BOOM—!

Karuna's kick sent the burly man flying backward.

"Cough…"

The problem was the strength contained within them.

Once again, it was the power of High Tide.

BOOM—!

Crash…

In an instant, those crushed under the burly man's weight were flattened, and the man who had been kicked had become unrecognizable.

"Th-There's no way…"

It was a strength they were helpless against.

There was no other way to describe it but just strong.

Clack…

[Yoi used Superheated Bullet.]

[Upon explosion, it releases a massive heat.]

BANG—!

A glowing red bullet flew toward Karuna.

Tss…

Naturally, the bullet was halted by the Black Wave. However, Yoi had a plan.

Creak…

"…!"

BOOM—!

FWOOSH—!

The halted bullet exploded, unleashing a surge of heat intense enough to melt part of the train's ceiling. It was a dangerously lethal attack.

Hope flickered in everyone's eyes except Yoi's.

"She got him!"

However, Yoi leaped back, retreating.

"Step back!"

When the heat dissipated, the knight was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did he…"

Yoi shouted.

"Above!"

BOOM—!

The ceiling above them shattered, and the heavily armored knight descended from it.

Crash…

Those whose heads were crushed died instantly, and those who had successfully retreated drew their swords, preparing for the next strike.

Creak…

Something had just happened.

Anyone present could sense it.

Slash—!

"Agh!"

"He's a monster! Run!"

However, only Yoi had cleanly seen the movement.

An exact circle…

The Knight's sword precisely carved out everything within that circle.

Neither swords nor equipment could withstand that power.

Tekon's fate had been sealed.

That single move had determined the future.

But Yoi envisioned a future where at least she could escape.

Coincidentally, they were crossing a railway bridge over a lake. Below was water; even if she fell, it would only mean broken bones.

Then, she could survive.

Crash…

Yoi quickly made up her mind; she smashed the window and threw herself out.

No one else in the Castrang had a body as special as hers. That's why she could attempt such a bold move.

Whoosh—!

"Damn it…"

Suddenly, a horrifying sensation came over her body.

Karuna had sliced her body in half as she threw herself out of the train.

But it was fine. Although it would take time, her body had already started generating.

"So it's that person…? If so…"

A clear voice came from inside the train.

Yoi looked up at the sky as she fell.

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Even though it was midday, a large moon loomed in the sky.

Flinch…

"Cough… Th-There's no way. Right?"

Swoosh…

"N-No! This… This isn't it!"

Yoi's body stopped falling.

Instead, she began floating back toward the train.

"This… This is telling me to die…"

Slash—!

And so, the life that should have continued even after being split into two met its end upon being divided into three.

Her body stopped regenerating.

* * *

"L-Let me go!"

While being held by Karuna, Tekon crawled on the floor.

"What are you doing?! Hey!"

Tekon's finger pointed at Seol, who was calmly drinking tea.

It was a meaningless gesture.

As he heard no sound around him, Tekon glanced around.

"E… Eek…"

Dozens of corpses were spread across the floor.

Who was this lunatic calmly drinking tea in a blood-soaked space?

"You crazy bastard…"

He had committed many evil deeds.

Evil deeds and cruelty were inseparable.

He had fed living humans to dogs and countless other unspeakable acts.

He lived proudly, believing himself to be a demon.

But… he wasn't.

Demons didn't take pride or satisfaction in their evil deeds.

Because it was only natural.

Yes, just like that guy.

"I-If there's something you want…"

"There's one thing…"

"I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you all! What do you want?"

Seol looked down at Tekon with an expressionless gaze.

Their positions were worlds apart, yet they were now at a comfortable eye level.

"Shut up for a bit."

"…"

Tekon understood an unchanging fact—he would die here. Because he had done what Seol hated the most and thus crossed the line.

The problem was that now, that tiny spark would spread elsewhere.

"You don't know anything. Who we are… Who's behind me! Even now…"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"What…?"

Seol's eyes met with Tekon's gaze.

"I hope there’s plenty more scum like you behind you."

The Dragon Blood Eye extracted Tekon's memories.

"AAGGHH!"

Tekon flailed like a fish out of water before finally becoming still and meeting his death.

After reviewing all his memories, Seol shook his head.

"This is bigger than I thought. And their methods are filthy."

"Do you plan to clean them up?"

"We'll see… For now, we'll have to warn them."

Seol wanted to send a warning… a signal flare announcing the arrival of a force that could shift the balance of power in the North.

A few days later, in Shirlen's station.

"KYAAAH!"

"Wh-What the…"

"Oh my god…"

Three men in bowler hats inspected the interior of the recently arrived Castrang.

"Hurry before the Federation's investigators arrive."

"Got it. I hate those bothersome people, too."

It was a hellish scene.

The Castrang was filled with corpses. However, it wasn't the result of a large-scale attack on the train.

The victims’ common identities would soon be revealed once the investigation began—and the Federation would take credit for it as a successful operation.

What mattered was the information these men would take with them.

"There he is."

"Our poor Tekon. He won't be able to attend the meeting."

Tekon was a fat man adorned with expensive items.

There was no way such an incident had happened without a warning. So, the vultures had to look for traces.

"Found it…"

However, what they saw wasn’t a trace…

It was a warning.

There was a neatly placed note in Tekon's pocket.

And the message written on it.

- We're going to meet soon.

Oof…

The man who had been adjusting his glasses and smoking a cigar held up a small button emblem to the light.

"A crow…"

At that moment, his ears caught the incredulous voice of his companion.

"Damn it… Edric! Come here!"

Edric responded to his companion's call.

"What is it?"

"Here…"

He saw the body of a pale woman wearing a bloodstained fox scarf.

"This corpse… it's Frina. She's been taken down, too."

Edric took a drag from his cigar.

Then he locked eyes with the dead Frina and blew some into her face.

"See? I was right."

The large-scale bloodshed that happened inside Castrang… its audacious culprit had taken the train from Cherije to Shirlen.

What was almost concluded as a simple massacre took on a different light as the identities of the victims were revealed, bringing both terror and hope to the Federation.

Terror for the corrupt and hope for the oppressed.

It was an ironic situation where the perpetrator received praise from the citizens despite the numerous deaths.

It was an event with two sides, like a coin.

Three days later, the incident was named 'The Iron Coffin'. It was the first incident Seol caused upon arriving in Shirlen, a Federation territory.