Chapter 141 :

Chapter 141. Birth of a Hero (1)

I see it.

The form of Aged Kimchi.

Beyond the flare that’s about to burst forth.

Like a mirage at the edge of the square.

Yes.

A mirage.

An illusion born of hope.

A deceiver sculpted by desire.

What awaits at the end is only despair.

‘Get a hold of yourself, Jangcheol.’

Kim Jangcheol repeated to himself.

Now is not the time to cling to false hope. He had to believe in himself. He must not, must never, embrace or expect the delusion that Aged Kimchi would show up at such a perfect moment to help him.

Resolute, he pressed both hands down on the center of the statue’s chest.

Right toward the blast core, where the self-destruction flare was bursting forth.

…!

No sound, no tremor.

A fleeting moment of the world’s flicker.

Overwhelming, transcendent explosive force.

The moment he faced it head-on, the very moment he pushed down against it with both hands, he asked himself,

‘What am I trying to do…’

Yes.

Ding-dong!

[Mana Seed option skill, Nutrition Focus, has activated.]

[You have selected Stamina as the stat for Nutrition Focus.]

[All of your stats will be concentrated into Stamina.]

[Due to the influence of Mana Seed (Seed Stage Lv.5), all stats are amplified by 1.5 times.]

[Current applied stats:]

[Stamina: 572]

[Other stats: 1.5]

[Remaining activation time for Nutrition Focus option: 9 minutes, 59 seconds]

The message floated before his eyes.

But this wasn’t all he was aiming for.

Ding-dong!

[Since the Nutrition Focus stat has concentrated into Stamina, the trait bound to the Stamina stat, <Take it all>, activates automatically.]

[<Stamina Trait: Take it all> absorbs energy from the attack power and impact of incoming strikes. This passively replenishes your mana and restores consumed stamina by absorbing the energy.]

“........”

Yes,

this was it.

This was what he intended to do.

As long as this was active, he would be safe. No external blow could harm him. At least, not for the 10 minutes while Nutrition Focus was active.

"......."

Am I scared?

Am I afraid?

Yes.

To be honest, he was afraid.

He didn’t want to die.

He didn’t want to get hurt.

That was why. That’s why he made this choice. That’s why he thought of this method, to protect himself first and foremost.

………Tukwahak!

A flash surged toward him.

A terrifying explosion that seemed ready to blow his entire body away.

So massive.

Transcendent violence.

Yet, Kim Jangcheol remained unharmed.

Instead, he began to absorb the explosive energy surging from the statue’s chest.

Thunk!

A tremendous shock seized his entire body.

The explosion, enough to blow away half the city, contained too much energy for him to absorb alone.

" ......! "

His face twisted instinctively. The hands blocking the blast core, his arms, torso, and whole body trembled violently.

Such an enormous explosive force.

An unbearable amount of energy.

Of it, how much was he absorbing… barely one-hundredth?

Tukwahak!

The remaining explosive force, which he couldn’t absorb, burst madly between his fingers, through the gaps where his palms pressed.

Is this what it’s like to try blocking a firehose with bare hands?

Probably.

But at this rate…

‘No.’

He turned his gaze.

The explosion’s force surged outward, slamming against the first barrier from inside. He could see it colliding, and he felt it shooting upward through the hole he had deliberately made at the barrier’s crown, where resistance was lowest.

Two-fuhak!

The second barrier swelled as if about to burst. The expelled explosive energy flowed rapidly toward the direction of least pressure.

An intentionally opened spot.

Where the second barrier was suspended, not touching the ground.

The energy spread rapidly in all directions across the ground at 360 degrees.

Twhwahak!

The underside of the third barrier glowed red-hot.

The explosive energy struck the third barrier, then flowed once again toward the place of least pressure—toward the deliberately punctured crown of the third barrier.

Kuwhahahak!

The explosive energy soared skyward!

In that instant, a massive shockwave blasted across the entire square.

".....!"

People fell, covering their ears.

Shattering windows and flying rooftops.

Perhaps it was fortunate they had at least avoided a direct hit from the explosion.

‘No.’

The barriers wouldn’t last much longer.

Even though the three-layer structure dispersed the shock force, the explosion’s energy was simply too great. Soon, the barriers themselves would shatter.

Then, the explosion would engulf the square, and the people.

Zephyros and Tbong, Artanis too.

Asurat, Sirgi, and Baal as well.

In that situation, could any of them survive, except for him, who was absorbing the energy with the cheat-like skill Nutrition Focus? Could he protect them while only absorbing a manageable, safe amount of energy?

‘Of course not.’

They would all die.

He might somehow survive.

But everyone who had trusted him, who had crossed into the human world with him, would die and be injured.

That, he could not allow.

".....Huff!"

He took a breath.

Steeled his resolve.

Clenched his teeth tightly.

‘Let’s do this.’

Crack!

He pushed forward with both hands.

Pressed against the statue’s chest, the blast core.

Fought against being pushed away.

He flung the Mana Seed wide open to absorb even more of the explosive energy.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

‘...Kh, haah...’

Kwaaaaa!

[<Stamina Trait: Take it all> is refining and absorbing the external shock energy. However, you are now intentionally over-absorbing beyond what you can handle.]

[Warning: Your Mana Seed is under overload.]

"......!"

His chest felt like it was going to explode.

As if dozens of unbreakable balloons were forcibly being inflated between each of his ribs.

Until his ribs were all broken.

Or until his spine was crushed.

‘Khh.....!’

It hurt.

No, even saying it hurt felt like a luxury.

…....Ding-dong!

[Your Mana Seed is forcibly expanding.]

[Mana Seed level has increased.]

[Mana Seed: Seed Stage Lv.6]

[Due to the growth of Mana Seed (Seed Stage Lv.6), all stats are amplified by 1.6 times.]

[Current applied stats:]

[Stamina: 610]

[Other stats: 1.6]

[Remaining activation time for Nutrition Focus: 9 minutes, 57 seconds]

“.........”

Only 2 seconds.

From the moment he first faced the self-destruction flare, only 2 seconds had passed until now.

‘Were 2 seconds always this long...?’

But there was no time to think.

……..!

He pushed his arms deeper into the blast core.

With the resolve of trying to stop millions of tons of dam water with bare hands.

Determined to shoulder even one more drop.

More.

Even more.

‘Just a little more!’

Ding-dong!

[Your Mana Seed is forcibly expanding!]

" ......! "

Did a bomb just explode inside my chest?

No, was it just a fleeting illusion?

The accumulated pain seemed to have hit its limit. The agony was so intense, it made my vision blur. Was I even alive? Was I still standing? Or had I already closed my eyes?

I couldn’t tell anything apart.

But one thing was unmistakably clear.

Every time the Mana Seed forcibly expanded, the amount of energy I absorbed and digested was increasing drastically.

“.......”

Had it been about 100 seconds?

Or had barely a second passed?

Maybe not even that.

Even so, I could see it.

The barrier, which had seemed like it would shatter immediately under the explosion’s pressure, was holding out. The red glow was fading, and bit by bit, its semi-transparent form was returning.

Thanks to that, I felt sure.

Because I’m absorbing more of the explosive force...

The pressure on the barrier was lessening. The barrier was holding!

…………Crack!

I clenched my teeth once again.

More, just a little more.

I pushed my hands in deeper.

………..!

A massive bell rang inside my head.

A message filled my blurred vision.

[Your Mana Seed continues to forcibly expand!]

[Warning: Your body cannot withstand the rapid growth and expansion of the Mana Seed. Severe imbalance between your body and Mana Seed is occurring. Excessive strain is being placed on your heart.]

[Clear signs of myocardial infarction have been detected.]

Thump!

"....!"

It felt like my heart was about to stop.

[WARNING!]

[Strongly recommend that you immediately cease the excessive absorption of energy.]

[If you comply, the temporarily expanded Mana Seed will revert to its original level, and the excessive strain on your body and heart will be alleviated.]

[If you ignore this warning, the consequences will be beyond our responsibility.]

Honestly, I wanted to stop this madness.

But I couldn’t.

A spirit of sacrifice for the people?

Was that why?

No.

‘I... I can’t... stop...!’

Like a truck hurtling downhill with the brakes gone. Like a baseball bat swung with all its momentum.

I couldn’t stop the surging flow of absorption that had gained so much inertia!

[Mana Seed has forcibly expanded!]

[Warning! Strongly recommend ceasing the activation of Nutrition Focus!]

I know.

I knew.

But I couldn’t.

It wasn’t up to me anymore.

And it hurt.

It felt like my heart was going to stop.

Like my chest was going to burst.

Like I was about to lose consciousness.

So please, everyone, don’t look at me with those eyes. Instead... take that time and move away, even just a little.

Kim Jangcheol turned his gasping gaze beyond the barrier.

Then he saw it.

Countless people looking this way.

And in those many eyes, the emotion welling up.

“.......!”

The king unconsciously swallowed dryly. With trembling eyes, he looked at Kim Jangcheol inside the barrier.

He couldn’t believe it.

From the moment the first explosion began, nearly 10 seconds had passed, and yet that man was still holding it back. That man, shouldering a sacrifice no one else dared to bear, with such a noble resolve.

‘How can you…’

Even though you are of the demon race, how can you be so magnificent?

And himself?

For the kingdom.

For the capital.

For the many people living here — could he do the same?

Could he willingly throw his own body forward?

No.

I am far from it.

Though he had called himself the king of the kingdom, though he had enjoyed all the power, he knew he could never dream of making such a decision or sacrifice.

Tears flowed down the king’s face.

Unable to contain the self-reflection toward himself and the gratitude toward Kim Jangcheol, his eyes grew wet.

The same was true for the archbishop.

“......!”

Following Kim Jangcheol’s instructions, he had designed the complex three-layered barrier structure and was desperately maintaining it.

Thanks to that, he felt it more clearly than anyone.

The power of self-destruction from the statue of the Archangel. The impossible act of Kim Jangcheol, who faced that explosion from the closest distance.

‘If not for him... the barrier would have already broken…’

No matter how much effort he put in, that was something he couldn’t stop.

But the barrier was holding.

Thanks to that man, Kim Jangcheol.

Thanks to the Saint of Ten, who was holding back the explosion’s force from the closest distance.

“...........”

This was a miracle.

There was no other explanation.

An imperfect humanity granted the seed of perfection from the heavens. That seed, manifested in the form of a creature, must be him — the Saint of Ten.

‘You are... truly…’

The archbishop looked at Kim Jangcheol, his heart overwhelmed.

So did the many people gathered in the square.

Everyone could clearly see it.

What Kim Jangcheol was accomplishing inside the barrier. How much danger, pain, and sacrifice he was enduring for everyone here.

They felt it.

Realized it.

And at last, with hearts stirred,

“.......!”

They prayed.

They wished.

Which made things absolutely maddening for Kim Jangcheol.

‘All of you... move away... please...!’

A hero?

Nonsense.

He had simply chosen the safest route for himself in this situation. And while he was at it, he had just tried to protect a few others too.

No.

To be honest, not just a few others — he had been trying to protect his people, those who followed him. That selfish desire had now brought him to this shameful breaking point.

‘So... all of you... dig a hole, or do whatever you can.’

Instead of cheering me on, take even one step further away, please.

If he could, he would have shouted it.

But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t even breathe anymore, let alone shout.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong-dong!

[Mana Seed is forcibly expanding!]

[Warning: The imbalance between your body and Mana Seed has reached a critical point!]

How many expansions was this now?

He didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

He couldn’t endure anymore. His consciousness was fading. And the explosive force he had been suppressing while absorbing was now starting to surge out rapidly.

‘I can’t... hold on... anymore…’

Thump!

As Kim Jangcheol’s heart writhed in agony, as his consciousness blurred and his eyes began to close—

The Mana Seed’s energy absorption forcibly ceased. The explosive energy he had barely managed to suppress until now burst outward. And it struck the inner wall of the barrier.

Churrrk!

A crack appeared in the first barrier.

The second barrier began to collapse.

The third barrier shattered into fragments.

At last, just as the unleashed explosive energy was about to burst through the barrier and erupt in all directions—

Churrrrk.

At that moment, Aged Kimchi appeared beside Kim Jangcheol.

So swiftly.

Without any presence or sound.

Only sharing a fleeting glance.

“..........”

Aged Kimchi’s gaze met his.

A look filled with sincere respect.

Thanks to that, Kim Jangcheol let out a hollow laugh.

There it was again.

The figure of Aged Kimchi.

Blocking the bursting flare.

Like a mirage etched into his heart.

Yes.

A mirage.

An illusion born of hope.

A deceiver sculpted by desire.

So he shouldn’t cling to such empty hope. He had to believe in himself. He mustn’t — must never — embrace or expect the delusion that Aged Kimchi would come at such a perfect moment to help him.

And yet, why was it that—

Even in this moment, as he was losing consciousness—

…...!

That was as far as he got.

Kim Jangcheol’s consciousness was severed.

Immediately after, within the shattering barrier,

As the fragments blocked the view from the outside,

While no one knew what was happening inside—

Aged Kimchi’s strike, meant to crush and suppress the entire explosion, was unleashed.