ushernet Chapter 396
Chapter 396
In a place called the Void, beings who had reached Supreme-rank had gathered together and brought down the Pitch Black Labyrinth.
The birth of a new faction...
The phrase felt familiar.
He had definitely seen it before.
It was the message that appeared when the Church of Eternal Life was created.
[You are beings bound by ties.]
[A secret society is born!]
[A new faction is born!]
[Your achievements are being measured.]
[Order or chaos...]
[The measurement of the scales is completed.]
[The nature of the secret society has been determined.]
[The faction's alignment is chaotic good.]
The birth of a secret society.
To be more precise, it could be seen as a faction.
Seol had amassed such immense power that he could no longer be considered an individual. He had become a walking faction.
[The Era's Might possessed by the secret society is being determined.]
[The Era's Might is determined by the stories held by the existence.]
[The secret society has been granted Era's Might.]
[A bounty has been set. If a member of the secret society dies, a portion of the Era's Might will be transferred to the killer.]
[The name of the secret society must be declared to the world.]
[What is the name of this great secret society you belong to?]
After a moment of contemplation, he smiled. He'd thought of something funny.
Grin...
It was a name he missed.
A name that would never exist again...
[Veil... The name is Veil.]
[The secret society has been named 'Veil.']
[The secret society 'Veil' generates a certain amount of Era's Might simply by existing.]
[The Veil can acquire more Era's Might based on its activities.]
[A mid-journey settlement is being made.]
[You have obtained Pitch Black Treasure.]
[Pitch Black Treasure is being stored in the Void.]
If it was something he obtained after breaking through the Pitch Black Labyrinth, it would probably take an entire day to examine.
Perhaps they were worried that a treasure so valuable would be stuck inside the Void's vault, left to collect dust.
The labyrinth handed one item directly to Seol.
[You have acquired Pitch Black Seal.]
[Pitch Black Seal embraces Flagellant’s Seal.]
The pattern of the Flagellant’s Seal started to change.
Whoosh...
A pattern with the shape of dark mist.
[[Wonder: Pitch Black's Seal]
Rank: Wonder
Recommended Level: N/A
Resistance: N/A
Durability: 400/400
Weight: 0.1kg
A seal given to those who have overcome the Pitch Black Labyrinth. It has absorbed the Flagellant's Seal.
Basic Effect: It doesn't occupy an equipment slot. This item’s durability recovers over time.
Bonus Effect: Ignore curses from Abomination-quality items. The basic stats granted by Abomination-quality items are doubled.]
Along with the acquisition of the seal, an achievement message appeared.
[You have earned the inaugural achievement 'The one who broke Darkness.']
[You have earned the inaugural title「Pitch-Black」.]
...
'First? But Shin Kang... Ah!'
Shin Kang had left without completing the labyrinth. Therefore, Seol was the first to conquer the Pitch Black Labyrinth.
Well, to be more precise, it was closer to destruction than clearing it.
Lucia, Belian, and Beldre didn't receive the seal.
Lucia and the sisters approached him.
Thud...
Lucia buried her head and muttered.
"G-God..."
"..."
She had completely lost it.
He finally understood what Shin Yu was trying to do.
It was an act performed during ceremonies for the deceased.
There was a superstition that if you burn a piece of paper with words left unsaid to the deceased, it will reach those who have already departed.
- I'm done... could you...
"Burn it?"
Shin Yu hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Psst...
The edge of the paper began to char.
The words written on it burned away and turned to embers.
- Shin Rip, Shin Hyun, my hyungs. Are you at peace in that place you've gone ahead of me? Everything here is new, so I'm feeling a bit anxious. But I think I'll get used to it soon. Everything feels good.
Along with the burning paper, the days spent in the Pitch Black Labyrinth also emitted smoke.
- And... because Seol is by my side, I feel that I might be able to fly even further than Kang hyung. For now, it's just a feeling...
Shin Yu remembered everything that had happened here.
- My hyungs, I was too young to accept my death and yours. But I think I understand now. And... that it doesn't mean that our story has ended.
When it's time to leave, someone should leave.
- Our path continues. With my sword, Shin Kang hyung-nim's sword. If the farewell is long, the regret will be long, too. So I'll keep it short.
It was the second death faced after the first one.
- I will always miss you.
Shin Yu's words echoed back.
- Goodbye, my hyungs...
He honored them the best way he could.
His hand swayed left and right.
He sent off the departed.
[The Pitch Black Labyrinth is collapsing.]
[The Pitch Black Labyrinth disappears into history.]
WHOOM...
As they exited through the glowing door, leaving the collapsing labyrinth behind, the Federation's personnel fell into chaos upon seeing the collapse.
"It's collapsing!"
"Step back!"
There had been no news for two years, so this change must have been a huge shock for them.
Everyone took a breath of fresh air.
Oof...
A breath escaped.
The weather was cold.
In fact, it was too cold.
- Since he's specialized in leather, wearing cloth will only result in him getting pierced, hahaha.
- Is Shin Yu wriggling, asking him to be put in the pocket?
Whir...
And... it was snowing.
A winter noon that would never end.
- Seol, it's snowing.
"..."
- It's snowing...
Seol smiled.
Contrary to the cold weather, he could see Shin Yu's heart becoming warmer—and so was his.
It was the snow he wished would never stop—yet it was the same snow that had already stopped once.
"Yes... it's winter."
When it snowed, it felt like she was by his side. That alone made Seol feel better.
Now, his old comrades stood beside him.
Jamad, who was covered in a large cloth, said.
"So, where's the Veil headed now?"
"More importantly, can you call that covering your body?"
"I'll pass on petty nitpicking..."
"No, it isn't petty at all. Please, I'm begging you. Haven't you left something in the Void? For example, your conscience..."
"Quiet, you're drawing attention."
"That's why I'm saying you're too eye-catching... You're like a walking mountain."
Once again, the elf and the troll were discussing.
Seol enjoyed that pleasant noise as he caught the falling snow with his right hand.
Shin Yu savored the cold.
.bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
He exhaled and said.
"We're going back."
Seol clenched the snow tightly, feeling it melt into water. It was just like him, who had changed entirely.
At the end of the crossroads, a crow takes flight—bound to fulfill a promise that had yet to be kept.
Once again, the change of seasons had started.