Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Spendthrift Necromancer (174)

Han Sia looked at Lucas.

Their first reunion in eight years.

Yet not a single word passed between them.‘He's the same.’When she was young.

And now.

Lucas's eyes were still so cold they felt icy.‘Like a snake.’She'd resolved herself long before meeting him, but the fear engraved into her body wasn't something she could control.

Memories of horrific pain in front of an incomprehensible machine.

The countless eyes of family members surrounding her, always watching.

More than ten years of memories erupted all at once.

The world around her turned pitch-black.

Her hands began trembling before she even realized it.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded.

Cold sweat gathered on her palms.

Her breathing quickened and her vision blurred.

It was something like trauma.

Han Sia gritted her teeth.

She felt as though she'd lower her head in submission beneath that merciless gaze.

That was when.

A large hand suddenly grabbed hers.

A callused hand, yet slightly soft.

She turned her head.

Kim Minwoo was already looking directly at her with a gentle smile.

As though telling her she was doing very well.

Warmth instantly flowed through her cold body.

Her senses gradually sharpened again.

Within that clarity, she thought as though making a vow.‘……

Right. Not anymore.’She wasn't Griff's tool.

She wasn't material meant to complete Lucas.

She didn't belong to Griff, the family that had tormented her for her entire life.

The Korean guild that had protected her.

Accepted her as a companion.

And opened her eyes.

That was where she belonged.

More than anything, it was a solid breakwater.

Her world brightened.

Her gaze no longer shook.

Lucas, who had been watching her with interest, spoke.

“You look much healthier. Did you enjoy your little vacation?”

“No. I'm going to keep enjoying it. Today will be the last time I ever see your face.”

Lucas answered with a cold sneer.

“No. In the end, you'll return. My daughter.”

Daughter?

What nonsense.

If he'd ever once thought of her as a daughter.

As his own flesh and blood.

Lucas should never have done those things.

She turned away.

Kim Minwoo's face came into view.

At that moment, she realized.

Pointless worry.

Anxiety.

Those things weren't important.

The best thing she could show Kim Minwoo right now was.

“I believe you'll win.”

Unshakable faith.

Kim Minwoo quietly nodded.

“I will. Just like always. Today too.”

The two entered their vehicle.

The Griff vehicle followed the car that began moving ahead.* * *Lucas's eyes gleamed as he watched the scenery pass beyond the window.

Han Sia.

The final puzzle piece that would complete him.

When she was born and first cried.

That radiant memory remained vivid even now.

Talent so brilliant it was almost impossible to look at directly.

He could say it with certainty.

This child would become his most perfect masterpiece.

For the first time, he had felt love.

He had no choice but to love her deeply.

Even the most beautiful jewel in the world couldn't compare to his daughter's talent.

A treasure beyond price.

That was why he wanted it.

Every drop of that beautiful talent.

So he took it.

He coveted it like a beast that knew no satisfaction.

Until his belly should have burst and spilled its contents outside.‘Unfortunately…….’Even with the High Priest's help, he only managed to steal eighty percent of her talent.

That was Lucas's limit.

Han Sia was left with less than half.

Less than even a single slice of an apple.

And yet her remaining talent still shone.

It was like a tree that gave endlessly.

Perhaps that was why he'd grown careless.‘When did it begin?’When had that talent, once so brilliant it hurt to look at, started losing its light?

That was the first time Lucas panicked.

He'd assumed it would always shine.

That the light would remain.

At least until he absorbed all of it.

Every time he saw Han Sia growing thinner by the day, Lucas fell into fear.

What if she died before he absorbed the rest?

What if that glorious talent ended in an incomplete state?

That would be an unbearable ending.

That was why he'd released Han Sia from the family like livestock turned out to pasture.

Why he'd attached her mother to her.

Why he'd made the woman whisper love to her so thoroughly.

Yet even after all that.

Even after becoming so careful.‘The light never returned.’As though death had merely been postponed, the flame simply began extinguishing a little more slowly.

That was why Lucas had devoted himself to closed-door training.

He needed to digest the enormous talent as quickly as possible before he could absorb the rest.

But…….

“Truly beautiful.”

At the final moment.

His daughter had turned away with a sneer.

Then spoken to Kim Minwoo.

A brilliant radiance flooded Lucas's eyes.

Just like long ago, when she'd cried with all her strength after birth.

Drool spilled uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth.

The hunger was impossible to suppress.

He wanted to absorb that talent into himself immediately.

Then he would become complete.

That radiant talent would dwell within his body.

He could look beyond merely being a ‘Priest’ of Shadow.‘I need to hurry.’Judging by the situation, her talent seemed to have begun shining because she became entangled with Kim Minwoo.

If he killed Kim Minwoo in today's Duel, there was no telling when that light would begin fading again.

If Lucas had his way, he would've changed the Duel condition immediately.

Instead of killing him.

Something else.

If he took Kim Minwoo hostage, extracting Han Sia's talent would become incredibly easy.

But that too was difficult.‘The High Priest is watching this matter.’―You know him as well. Kim Minwoo. That wicked and cunning creature.

The High Priest's perception of him was extremely poor.

Naturally, he'd want Kim Minwoo disposed of cleanly in this Duel.

He wouldn't want any variables.

So Lucas had no choice but to kill him.

Then, after the Duel, he would have to transport Han Sia back to Germany as quickly as possible.

“Once it's over, we're returning immediately. Prepare in advance.”

“Understood, Family Head.”

His people answered loyally.

Their unwavering eyes were certain of victory.

Lucas was no different.* * *Countless broadcasting vehicles and media workers followed behind.

Their destination was the Ilseong Training Center.

Korea's finest training facility.

Naturally, its training hall was also top-tier.

But they couldn't enter the interior.

“Sorry. From here onward, only authorized personnel may enter.”

“Ugh…… are they really betting their lives? Is there any chance the conditions might change……?”

“None. Not at this time.”

The guards answered firmly.

A Duel with lives at stake.

No matter how common bloody combat had become, footage like that couldn't be aired on public television.

Naturally, this Duel would be private.

That didn't matter.

Plenty of heavyweight figures would attend as witnesses.

“This is reporter Seo Younggil from SKS News. We are currently outside the Ilseong Training Center, selected as the Duel venue. As witnesses, the Minister of Awakening, Sword Immortal, Divine Spear, Fist King, and Poison Demon are…….”

“France has sent Miss Isabella as a witness…….”

“The Griff family has also called in Awakened from allied nations…….”

“Breaking news says America and China are also sending government representatives…….”

Amid the reporters diligently delivering updates, one man holding a phone carefully passed through.

Seeing the guard staring at him behind sunglasses, he swallowed.

“Uh, I was invited…….”

“Do you have an invitation?”

“Yes, here…….”

NewTuber Kkamuk.

Real name Lee Manho.

He politely handed over the invitation.

The guard examined it and nodded.

“Confirmed. As written on the invitation, filming is permitted only until the Duel begins. Do you understand?”

“Yes, of course!”

“Go in.”

Lee Manho slipped inside.

Before long, heavyweight international figures began entering the training center one after another.

Kim Minwoo and Lucas did the same.

The watching reporters swallowed.

Even though they were broadcasting live, it still felt unreal.‘They're really doing it?’‘This?’At this point, backing out was nearly impossible.

World-famous Awakened from across the globe had already been sent as witnesses.

The names gathered in the audience alone could probably overturn an average nation.

That showed just how much impact the Duel between Kim Minwoo and Lucas carried.

If only Korean and German figures had gathered, maybe there would've been room for suspicion.

But more than twenty countries had now sent ‘witnesses.’

The possibility of manipulation had practically vanished.

“Ah! Breaking news says the Duel begins in two minutes…….”

The reporters parroted the updates they received.* * *Sword Immortal, Divine Spear, Fist King, Poison Demon.

The four transcendent masters.

Isabella, who was still in Korea.

Ambassadors from various countries.

All of them were participating as witnesses to this Duel.

The unusual part was that one NewTuber had also been invited.

After speaking with people he knew, Kim Minwoo smiled and approached Kkamuk.

“I'm counting on you for the filming today. You know the line, right? Stop exactly there.”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

Kkamuk bowed gratefully as he accepted the handshake.

Public television couldn't broadcast the Duel itself live.

But it would be useful if someone recorded evidence from inside.‘Otherwise people will say all kinds of bullshit.’Just look at Sword Immortal.

He was extremely close to Kim Minwoo.

Even long retired, he stood far above Lucas as a ranker.

Would it really be strange if people suspected they'd secretly dealt with Lucas inside the training center?

Of course, with heavyweight representatives from so many nations present, that kind of claim would already be ridiculous nonsense…….

‘Still better to leave clean evidence that I beat him through the Duel.’Kkamuk had been selected for exactly that role.

Once the Duel began, white energy would rise around them and both fighters would be moved to their starting positions.

He only needed to film up to that exact moment.

Then all the nonsense would disappear.

Kkamuk had the self-control to stop filming there.

That was why Minwoo had invited him.‘I like him personally too.’He watched Kkamuk's analysis streams fairly often.

Either way.

Inside the enormous training hall, Kim Minwoo met Lucas's gaze.

There were already more than enough impartial B-rank-or-higher witnesses.

They no longer needed words.

“I, Kim Minwoo, challenge Lucas here to a Duel.”

“I, Lucas, accept this Duel.”[‘Duel’ activates!][Please configure the detailed conditions!]

“They say a promise is worth more than gold.”

“On that, at least, we agree.”

Lucas answered calmly before stating the condition.

“Defeat occurs when one of us loses his life. Until then, the Duel does not end. Do you agree?”

“Of course.”

Kim Minwoo nodded with a smile.[Condition set: ‘Victory upon taking the opponent's life’!][The Duel arena is limited to this training hall!][Until the victory condition is achieved, no one may enter or leave the Duel arena.][There are more than five witnesses!][The Duel is established!]

At that moment.

White energy flowed across the training hall, moving Kim Minwoo and Lucas to opposite ends.[The Duel begins in 10 seconds!]

Regardless of nationality.

Regardless of whom they believed in or supported.

Everyone swallowed.

The die had been cast.

“Old man, you know there's no going back now, right? You're still a world ranker, so surely you understand that much.”

“If I were you, I'd spend less time talking and more time summoning. Not that it would matter.”

Lucas answered coldly.

“What a shame.”

“……?”

Kim Minwoo drew the Necromantic Sword and twirled it.

“Using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken would be wasteful. I think one sword is plenty for you.”

Lucas sneered and slowly began gathering Mana.

There was no reason to respond to nonsense.

“What a pathetic last will.”

Lucas spoke coldly when only one second remained.[The Duel begins!]

He immediately extended a hand.[Heart Seizure(SS)

acti…….]

He intended to burst Kim Minwoo's heart.

Kim Minwoo merely stared at him.

Lucas had begun laughing inwardly at the sight of Minwoo not even reacting properly when.

Not only was the invisible magic rushing toward him cut cleanly in two.

Slash!

One arm flew through the air amid a fountain of blood.

A wrinkled, shriveled arm.

Sword Immortal shot to his feet when he saw it.‘……

Mind Sword?’His pupils had widened as far as they possibly could.