Chapter 99 – Pathfinder

Badurbarok disappeared beyond the gate. The force field faded away. Only the biological structures unique to the magical beasts that had been supporting the gate stood there lonely, having lost their light.

Se-min ran to the place where the gate had been and reached out his hand.

Nothing was caught.

“Damn it.”

Se-min spat out a curse.

“Dammit.”

Badurbarok finished preparing to invade various places across dimensions with his army from his own dimension.

He had been preparing for such a war since long ago.

Occupying two dimensions was merely a stepping stone for this.

“Dammit…”

He had to stop it, but Badurbarok had already crossed over. It was out of his hands. What was he to do?

Se-min could not know.

In a way, perhaps this dimension had obtained a reprieve. While Badurbarok was focusing on other dimensions, this place might be relatively safe.

However, in the end, it would converge into the same appearance as Badurbarok’s universe, that terrible place. That was an unavoidable tragedy.

Se-min stood blankly, staring at the space where the gate had disappeared.

He just wanted to rest.

Had he not worked hard enough?

But at the same time, the Tai Chi Wisdom dwelling in his body told him that he must not stop like this.

He knew all too well that if he did not kill Badurbarok, a hell where one could not die even if they wanted to due to overwhelming pain would open.

[What are you doing?]

Se-min turned around at the voice that suddenly reached him.

“Han Su-in.”

It was a pitch-black figure, Han Su-in.

Perhaps because the power he received from Badurbarok was leaving him, his original face kept shimmering in the darkness.

Se-min turned his gaze away with an effort, not wanting to see it.

“Aren’t you dead?”

[Badurbarok went to his own dimension.]

“I know.”

[But what are you doing?]

Se-min looked at him. In the fading darkness, Han Su-in’s face was faintly smiling.

[Kill Badurbarok. You can do it.]

“How? He has already left.”

[Do you not have the Primordial Core?]

“The Primordial Core…”

[The fact that Badurbarok could cross dimensions was also ultimately thanks to the Primordial Core. He studied it and eventually succeeded in replicating a power similar to the Primordial Core. He intends to conquer all dimensions with it. You must stop him.]

Se-min had absorbed the Primordial Core while fighting Badurbarok. It dwelt in Se-min’s body, reacting to the energy of the Cosmic Flow.

However, Se-min did not know how to use it.

Crossing dimensions, was such a thing even possible?

“Do you know the way?”

Since he had been Badurbarok’s subordinate for a long time, he might know the method to open a gate to another dimension using the Primordial Core.

However, Han Su-in shook his head.

[I do not know either.]

Se-min did not get angry. He just let out a sigh.

“Then how would I know?”

[But I can give you the coordinates to go there.]

“Coordinates?”

[Yes.]

Han Su-in reached out his hand toward Se-min.

After trying to avoid it, Se-min soon stood still and let his touch be. His fingertips touched Se-min’s chest.

[Go to this place.]

Incomprehensible information flowed in through his hand. Se-min felt the scenery of that place float before his mind’s eye.

Universe and universe, and the strange line leading beyond them.

Badurbarok’s world situated in the darkness.

Se-min struggled not to turn his eyes away from those terrible things.

“Ah…”

Se-min felt the coordinates of another universe located far away being engraved into him. It was a sensation connected to the formula of the Cosmic Flow.

Just as spell-like language and images had led him to a point in the universe, Han Su-in was transmitting to him the location of the world where Badurbarok resided.

That place entered Se-min’s mind.

“Han Su-in?”

Se-min suddenly called him.

Han Su-in’s figure was gradually fading.

“You…”

As Badurbarok’s world became clearer in Se-min’s head, Han Su-in’s appearance, on the contrary, grew faint. He smiled with a blurry face.

[Why? Did you think I could do this without any price?]

“…”

[It is a matter of overcoming the restriction. This much is only natural.]

Se-min did not shake off Han Su-in’s hand.

He merely raised his eyes and stared at Han Su-in’s disappearing figure. The darkness wrapping his body was receding.

Faintly, he looked like that face from back then when he saved people as a Raider.

Han Su-in spoke.

[I am sorry.]

“As long as you know, that is enough.”

[I am sorry for passing everything to you. Bearing all of this is just too…]

Han Su-in’s body wavered once.

[A terrifying thing.]

He spoke as if he understood Se-min. Se-min nodded. The him of the past must have been the same as Se-min.

[I am sorry for making you bear even me.]

“Who says they are bearing a bastard like you? I do not care.”

[I sincerely hope so.]

Se-min chewed over the information Han Su-in had sent. Now he could know where that guy was.

Han Su-in’s figure was on the verge of disappearing.

[Please…]

His lips twitched as he said something. Se-min could not hear those words. Now Han Su-in’s time was over. His figure shattered and began to scatter in the wind.

Se-min reached out his hand.

Han Su-in was not caught.

He disappeared completely, leaving a faint smile.

“Have you gone.”

There was no answer.

“He is gone.”

Without Han Su-in, would he have had the dream of becoming a Raider?

It seemed unlikely.

He had grown up watching videos of Han Su-in. He was a person who directly put into practice the proposition that a Raider fights not for wealth and honor, but to save people.

Although he had become Badurbarok’s subordinate and committed evil deeds, in the end, he returned to the Han Su-in he knew. Se-min mourned him.

“Farewell.”

Since Han Su-in had gone like this.

His life and even his end were entrusted to Se-min.

Se-min closed his eyes.

“Damn it.”

He had to cross dimensions.

However, he did not know such a method.

Se-min mobilized the Cosmic Flow. The Primordial Core was now completely absorbed into Se-min’s body, functioning together with the Cosmic Flow.

However, the method of crossing dimensions still could not be known. It was the same even though he searched through all the formulas of the Cosmic Flow.

He had to find a way.

If only someone could guide him.

It was the moment Se-min prayed so earnestly.

Lupus began to tremble.

***

‘…Everything has an end.’

Se-min heard a voice.

It was a somewhat familiar tone.

Se-min remembered its origin.

It was when the magical beasts took the wolf tribe hostage and demanded Lupus from him.

Se-min tried to hand over the sword, but Lupus refused it. Because of that, the wolf tribe was annihilated.

Among the numerous images Lupus had shown at that time, there was this voice.

‘…But that is not now. A day will come when your end will be used greatly. So, until then…’

Se-min looked down at Lupus. In the memories he saw while obtaining the Primordial Core, there was a white wolf that was with the Heavenly Demon.

A wolf was a being that found paths.

The wolf was already staring at the place where it must arrive.

“You…”

A brilliance slid over Lupus’s white blade.

Se-min lifted Lupus. Lupus vibrated. Before long, vitality drained from Lupus, turning it into an ordinary iron sword.

Se-min realized that a wolf was standing in front of him.

“Lupus.”

It was the wolf he had seen in the memories of the Primordial Core.

He said nothing to Se-min. No, he could not. Over the course of repeated battles, Lupus’s power had been worn down. Creating language was a luxury right now. There was a more important task remaining.

Se-min asked.

“Can you send me to Badurbarok?”

The wolf glanced at Se-min and turned around.

Then, a path rose.

Space began to open.

Space was torn apart, and a small, narrow path emerged through the crack. Nothing could be seen beyond it.

In front of the passage leading to the vast darkness, the wolf bristled its fur.

It seemed to be struggling.

Se-min wanted to help it, but he did not know what to do. He only watched the sight of the wolf desperately opening the way.

At that moment, Se-min suddenly.

Felt someone approaching.

It was a familiar outline. It was a man Se-min knew well. Seeing him approach, Se-min did not know how to react.

The only words he managed to come up with after worrying were barely these.

“It’s been a while. You’re alive.”

“Yes.”

It was Gulad, the last of the wolf tribe whom he had parted with in the past.

“How did you know to come?”

“Because I am of the wolf tribe.”

Gulad nodded while looking at Se-min, then turned his head toward the wolf. The path created by the wolf was fading again.

“I have not forgiven you.”

“I understand.”

“But what must be done must be done.”

Gulad approached the wolf.

“A wolf is a being that opens paths. And I am the last of the wolf tribe. As the last wolf, I am the only one who can help the White Wolf.”

Gulad approached the wolf. A strange light began to flow out of his body. It soon connected to the wolf, and the two of them radiated brilliance within a single cluster of light. The path began to rise before them once again.

Gulad spoke.

“Kill Badurbarok. Then, I will forgive you.”

The last of the wolf tribe stood beside the wolf in accordance with the fate given to him.

The earth shook.

The white wolf howled.

The pathfinder.

Following the fate given to him, and according to the contract made with a human long ago, he opened the final path prepared for him. Tearing apart space and joining together the connections hidden by the world, he paved the way leading to Badurbarok.

Se-min stared at the passage opened in front of him.

It was completely different from the gates he had seen so far. Just a path as long as eternity was open. Beyond it, a terrible darkness awaited Se-min.

“Go.”

Gulad spoke with a strained voice.

“Badurbarok is over there.”

Se-min held Lupus tightly and walked out. The wolf and Gulad stepped aside to the left and right, clearing the way.

Se-min stood in front of the path. There was nothing. Only a single stretch of an endless path was visible.

Se-min looked back.

He saw the white wolf.

The White Wolf, that was the true identity of the power dwelling in Lupus. That being, which had sometimes helped him and sometimes shown him the way, was now about to enter rest after completing the final mission given to it.

“Is it the last?”

The wolf nodded. The beast’s expression could not be read, but he could tell it was smiling. Se-min also smiled for it. This would be the proper courtesy to a comrade-in-arms who had been with him for a long time.

Se-min turned his gaze to look at Gulad. His face looked exhausted. He must have run for a long time.

“Thank you, Gulad.”

Gulad also nodded.

Se-min turned his eyes again, looking at the entire sky and land.

It was a world he had crossed over to in order to save Earth. He had thought it was an evil place that sent out magical beasts, but in the end, this place too was a dimension sacrificed to Badurbarok.

He had met countless people here, and fought against Badurbarok alongside them. The faces and names of everyone he had met flashed by one by one.

Would he be able to see them again?

Se-min closed his eyes and opened them.

He gripped Lupus tightly.

He could not feel the same vitality as before from the sword. Since even the White Wolf that had dwelt in Lupus had departed, he truly had to go forward alone now.

Gulad spoke.

“Never stray from that path. If you do, it is over. Do not doubt, and only walk the path given to you. There is no time.”

“I understand.”

“Good luck.”

Se-min nodded and stepped onto the path.

Lifting his heavy feet, he took one step, and then another step forward. He was now walking in the darkness. The path continued on.

A single path leading to darkness.

Se-min advanced along that path.