Seolhwarin's Ruthless Judgment
The cold energy emanating from Seolhwarin's hands grew stronger. The surrounding temperature began to drop rapidly.
"Traitors must die!"
As she raised her hand, a massive ice spear formed instantly. The sharp, transparent ice spear was aimed precisely at Eummugeuk's heart.
"Seolhwarin! Wait!"
Jinho tried to stop her urgently, but it was already too late.
"There's no time for explanations! We're already surrounded!"
Seolhwarin's eyes turned completely cold. She looked much more ruthless than usual.
"Sister or whatever—in the end, you still sold us out!"
The ice spear flew toward Eummugeuk.
"Argh!"
Eummugeuk desperately dodged using shadow movement, but the ice spear grazed his shoulder.
"Ugh!"
Blood poured out. The wound was quite deep.
"It hurts! Seolhwarin, why are you doing this!"
Eummugeuk clutched his shoulder in pain.
"Why? You betrayed us!"
Seolhwarin began creating a second ice spear. This one was larger and sharper.
"A 12-year-old sister? You think that's an excuse?"
"Seolhwarin, stop it!"
Jinho tried to restrain her.
"Eummugeuk had no choice!"
"No choice?"
Seolhwarin looked at Jinho coldly.
"Does that excuse justify betraying your companions?"
"Seolhwarin! You're being too extreme!"
Noejiun jumped between the two. His eyes were filled with anguish.
"Even if he betrayed us, it's not worth killing him! Let's at least hear why he did it first!"
"Reasons?"
Seolhwarin scoffed.
"What reasons does betrayal need? He just sold us out!"
"But he's still a person! His 12-year-old sister is being held hostage!"
Noejiun stood in front of Eummugeuk protectively.
"There might be circumstances we don't understand! Anyone would do the same if their family was in danger!"
Eummugeuk looked up at Noejiun. His eyes were filled with gratitude.
"Noejiun... thank you. At least you understand my situation..."
"Of course. We're companions, aren't we?"
Noejiun spoke warmly.
"Who could blame someone for wanting to save their family?"
But Seolhwarin's expression grew even colder.
"So you're taking Eummugeuk's side?"
"I'm not taking sides..."
"Then you're his accomplice too!"
Seolhwarin created a third ice spear. This time it was aimed at Noejiun.
"Seeing how you're protecting Eummugeuk, you were in on it from the beginning!"
"What? You're suspecting me too?"
Electricity began sparking from Noejiun's body. It was genuine anger.
"When did I ever conspire with Eummugeuk!"
"Then why are you defending a traitor? In this situation?"
Seolhwarin aimed the ice spear as she approached.
"We're surrounded right now, and you're still taking the traitor's side. Is that normal?"
"It is normal! When human lives are at stake, we can't make hasty decisions!"
Noejiun also gathered lightning in his hands.
"And I'm not taking anyone's side! I just want to know the truth!"
"The truth?"
Seolhwarin laughed. But the laughter was as cold as ice.
"The truth is simple. Eummugeuk betrayed us, and now we're surrounded!"
"Still..."
"Still?"
Seolhwarin's voice became even sharper.
"So you think everything is forgiven just because Eummugeuk mentioned his sister?"
"Stop it! Both of you, stop!"
Jinho jumped between the two. But the situation was already spiraling out of control.
"Why are we doing this to each other! We fought so well together in the tomb!"
Jinho's voice was filled with despair.
"Jinho, get out of the way!"
Seolhwarin shouted.
"Noejiun is in league with the traitor!"
"Seolhwarin's gone crazy!"
Noejiun retorted.
"She's trying to kill without even listening to reasons!"
"I've heard enough reasons!"
Seolhwarin replied coldly.
"A 12-year-old sister? Is that supposed to excuse betraying companions?"
"It's not an excuse! It's a legitimate reason!"
Noejiun reacted intensely.
"Anyone would do the same if their family was in danger!"
Jinho spread his arms to block both of them.
"Please... please stop. We're companions!"
But Seolhwarin and Noejiun had already completely recognized each other as enemies.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in Jinho's mind.
『See? These so-called humans...』
It was the Blood Heaven Emperor's voice.
『They're untrustworthy beings. The moment a little crisis comes, they stab each other in the back.』
"No... this is just a special situation..."
Jinho mentally argued back.
『A special situation? Hahaha... this is the true nature of humans.』
Ice spears and lightning collided in mid-air. Seolhwarin and Noejiun had actually begun attacking each other.
Boom!
Ice and lightning clashed, creating an explosive sound.
"Are they really fighting?"
Jinho looked at the two with disbelief.
『Companions you believed in trying to kill each other... how does that feel?』
The Blood Heaven Emperor's voice sounded even sweeter.
"Stop! I said stop!"
Jinho cried out in anguish, but the two didn't cease.
Crack! Sizzle!
Noejiun's lightning and Seolhwarin's ice continued to collide.
"I can't work with a cold-blooded person like you anymore!"
Noejiun shouted as he launched more powerful lightning.
"Cold-blooded?"
Seolhwarin scoffed.
"I'm facing reality! Better than someone who defends traitors!"
Larger and sharper ice spears formed.
"I'm not defending! I'm trying to understand!"
"Understand?"
Seolhwarin's attacks grew more intense.
"What understanding does betrayal need!"
Eummugeuk sat in the corner, clutching his wound and watching this spectacle. Complex emotions crossed his face.
'I never expected this... Noejiun trying to protect me...'
Jinho stood helplessly between the two.
"Please... please stop..."
Tears welled up in his eyes.
『Now do you understand? In the end, only power can be trusted.』
The Blood Heaven Emperor's voice rang stronger.
『Only I will never betray you.』
Then, movement in the forest became more active. The Shadow Society assassins were completing their encirclement.
"Now it's really dangerous!"
Jinho shouted.
"The enemies are approaching!"
But Seolhwarin and Noejiun were still focused only on each other.
"Even in this situation, you want to keep fighting?"
Eummugeuk stood up, clutching his shoulder.
"The Shadow Society is really coming! What I said wasn't a lie!"
Indeed, black shadows began appearing from the darkness.
"Encirclement complete!"
"Targets confirmed!"
The voices of Shadow Society assassins echoed from all directions.
"Capture them all alive! Especially don't harm the Death Blood Constitution and Thunder Constitution!"
Only now did Seolhwarin and Noejiun recognize the surrounding situation.
"This is bad..."
"We're really surrounded!"
But it was already too late. With deep mistrust between them, cooperation was impossible.
"What do we do now?"
Noejiun panicked.
"Every person for themselves!"
Seolhwarin said coldly.
"We can't cooperate anymore!"
"Seolhwarin!"
Jinho cried out desperately.
"We're companions!"
"Companions?"
Seolhwarin sneered.
"What companions with people who protect traitors!"
She created an ice wall and attempted to escape alone.
"Seolhwarin! What about Noejiun!"
Jinho shouted, but,
"I don't care! Everyone figure it out for themselves!"
Seolhwarin answered coldly as she disappeared to the north.
Noejiun also looked at everything with eyes filled with betrayal.
"Everyone... everyone is abandoning me?"
He muttered desperately.
"Fine... then I'll do it alone too!"
Lightning enveloped his body. It was the lightning of rage.
Crack crack!
Noejiun pushed back the assassins with lightning and fled in the opposite direction.
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