Chapter 197. The Road Not Taken (3)
The final trial began the moment they set foot in the Wailing Forest, which they cleared without much effort.
“This place seems dangerous, so I’ll head toward the forest!” Ji-Eun shouted.
“Yes! Unnie!” someone answered back.
Chunks fell from the sky like shooting stars, while debris billowed upward. Every now and then, they could hear the screams of enemy soldiers who failed to dodge and were crushed beneath the rubble.
“Keugh...”
“Help me!”
The wall that had separated the winter forest from the summer desert crumbled away, allowing a monstrous typhoon to slam against the entire forest.
Swoosh—!
“Aaaah!” someone screamed.
“Everyone, grab onto a tree!” Ji-Eun shouted.
The convection of two seasons froze in place for an unimaginably long time, the suffocating heat and the biting cold that once produced white exhalation swirling violently together.
[You have been exposed to extreme cold.]
[You have been exposed to extreme heat.]
[The cold is subsiding.]
[The heat is subsiding.]
...
As a consequence, a torrential downpour followed, soaking the forest and the desert beyond the fallen wall alike. There was no escaping it. The vast expanse of sand hardened akin to soil setting firm after rainfall.
It wasn’t hard to imagine the state of those trapped beneath the debris.
“Sir! We’re trapped!” said one of Heo Gong’s subordinates.
“Q-quickly, get us out!” said another.
The ground solidified before they could pry their legs out of the sand.
“Huh?”
“Sprouts are coming up?” Jae-Hyuk muttered.
From the freshly hardened earth, grass-like shoots pushed through. They sprouted, grew into saplings, and stretched out branches and leaves. In the blink of an eye, there were a bunch of towering trees. At last, a dense forest was born, every inch alive with raw vitality.
“Uncle! Look at this!” On the softly piled snow, Yul pointed at a patch where the snow was quietly melting away. “Here! And here too! Ah, over there as well!”
The fluffy snow melted like cotton candy. Following that, fresh, vibrant green spread outward, covering the Wailing Forest.
“It’s spring!” Yul exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Eun-Ho said softly. “It really is spring.”
Spring was finally reclaimed by their own hands. Well, actually, they had made use of the enemy’s weapon, but the details didn’t really matter.
“Everything went exactly according to plan huh, Eun-Ho?” Ji-Eun asked.
“Yes,” Eun-Ho replied. “Thanks to them for following through so reliably.”
An unnaturally frozen forest lay on one side, and a scorching desert on the other. Between them rose a towering wall, standing like a partition that divided the world itself. From the moment he saw it, he knew what the final trial was going to be.
[The Last Trial has begun!]
[Destroy the wall and restore the seasons.]
The real question had been how to bring the wall down. Apparently, they had their work cut out for them, all thanks to the enemy.
The moment Eun-Ho read about the divine weapon in Sarah’s message, he had decided to make use of it. After all, it was literally a chance to get paid without working.
“Still, weren’t you scared?” Ji-Eun asked as she approached. “I mean, what if you get hit by a rock?”
Eun-Ho watched the group as they climbed down from the massive bed and reorganized themselves. “I wasn’t scared.”
“Wow, aren’t you a little too bold?” she teased, despite having flawlessly pulled off a chase scene straight out of an SF movie herself. She was the one acting timid for no reason.
If something wasn’t true, it wasn’t true. Hence, Eun-Ho plainly stated, “Because I trusted you.”
“What?”
He gave her a faint smile and said with certainty, word by word, “Ji-Eun. Your driving skills.”
“Oh.”
Eun-Ho had once seen her drive while they went grocery shopping during a workshop. He still remembered how she slowed down at every speed bump, driving smoothly and carefully. Back then, he had been impressed.
In any case, they had completed all the trials of the forest. The desert’s oppressive heat was gone, and no more pretty trash would fall from the sky every morning.
“But it’s not over yet,” said Eun-Ho.
The rockfall had stopped, but enemy forces still remained. Once they finished pulling their comrades free from the hardened ground, swarms of pitch-black insects would surely pour out.
“So buy me a little time,” said Eun-Ho.
Just a little would be enough.
As Eun-Ho rapidly weighed the coming battle against the cards he still held, Ji-Eun who was quick on the uptake asked him, “You’re going to summon the Skeletons again, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he answered.
Eun-Ho knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy fight. The team could either come at them in vengeance, or switch tactics and focus on the leader once they realized their numbers were dwindling.
“Summon,” he said.
A card meant to create a gate appeared above his palm. In the next moment, the compass in his pocket hummed and spun violently.
Woooong—!
Whiiirl—
Ah right. I had this, Eun-Ho thought.
He carefully took it out. Expecting a burst of light, he turned his head away and clicked it open. Screams erupted from both sides.
“Aaaaah! What is that?!”
“It’s blinding!”
Inside the snow-white compass, the final empty slot filled itself. A golden image, identical in hue to the others, etched itself into place.
“Is that a wall?” he muttered. “Leaves, desert and a wall...”
The symbols looked like simple icons, well within his expectations—until what came next.
Fwoosh—!
The compass erupted with light so intense it nearly stole his sight.
[The Trial Compass has been completed.]
Then, it turned as translucent as a ghost.
[The Compass has been bound to the Ruler of the Trial.]
“Ugh!”
The compass lodged itself straight into his chest, catching Eun-Ho off guard.
“Y-Young Man! What in the world is that? It’s flashing like crazy!” asked the cleaning lady.
“Are you okay, Hyungnim?!” asked Jae-Hyuk.
“Holy shit! Is he Steel Man or what?!” asked Swear-Master.
A golden sigil spread across his white shirt. The circular frame of the compass, its needle, and the three symbols burned themselves into his chest.
What the hell...
He barely had time to process it before a low, resonant drumbeat echoed across the forest. Their skin crawled at its oppressiveness and absoluteness.
Then, a voice followed.
[The Wailing Forest acknowledges its new ruler.]
The ground rumbled. Grass and trees rooted in the soil rustled their leaves, swaying as if waving, like children delighted to see someone they knew.
[The Forest’s Guardians are freed from abyssal corruption.]
From beneath their feet came the clattering roar of something massive, like an old train rattling over tracks.
Roots tore through the earth, splitting it open as they writhed. Branches from towering trees intertwined, twisted, and fused together. They hardened into a colossal head, torso, arms, and legs. Finally, an ancient giant of solid wood emerged.
“W-what is that thing?!” someone said.
“Daddy! M-monster! I’m scared!” said Yul.
“It’s okay, Yul. Come here,” Han-Wool said gently.
It was no wonder Yul burst into tears. There weren't just one or two tree giants, but dozens of them.
“There’s no need to cry,” Eun-Ho said calmly.
After all, it was a happy event.
“They’re on our side.”
“Huh? They’re on our side?”
[The Guardians regain their towering intellect and unwavering loyalty.]
Thud!
The giants, tall enough to blot out the sky, knelt as one.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom...
The impact sent tremors through the earth like a localized earthquake.
[The Forest Guardians bow before you, their ruler.]
“This is insane! That’s a whole army!”
“I know!”
“H-how the hell did this happen?! Those monsters are really on our side?!”
There was no time to be stunned. Even forcing everyone to their knees wouldn’t have satisfied the sheer pressure radiating from them. The space itself felt crushed beneath their dignity, presence, and overwhelming might.
Thanks for all this generosity.
Three trials and several days of struggle were rewarded with gains so immense that they felt almost unfair.
“All Guardians, hear me!” Eun-Ho shouted.
Creeeak—
At his single command, the tree giants bowed their heads even lower.
His voice followed, firm and resolute. “Annihilate all enemies that threaten the sacred forest!”
“As our master commands!”
“As our master commands!”
“As our master commands!”
The forest rose to its feet.
***
“S-Sir! Aaaaaah!”
Even the last remaining telepathic transmission was cut off. It was obvious why.
From the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, the subordinate was crushed flat like paper by a horrifying giant.
[Void Convergence has failed.]
[You have insufficient stamina.]
“Kuk!”
Dark red blood burst from Heo Gong’s mouth. Fighting barehanded had drained far too much stamina.
Is this the end for me too? Heo Gong thought.
There was no helping it anymore. He had wasted his remaining cards on a pointless fortress entrance and its walls. Still, had those giants not appeared out of nowhere, it could have been a battle worth fighting until the end.
However, not only did Void skill not work, those monstrous Guardians made the fight impossible. After all, they simply regenerated whenever they were cut down.
I should’ve brought a fire user... Heo Gong thought.
Since the operation zone had been limited to the desert, he hadn’t brought along a fire-type ability user. That decision had doomed them. It was a total annihilation, brought about by their ignorance and weakness.
I have to warn them. Seriously? Backwater hicks from some fringe universe, greenhorns and a newborn team made up of nobodies?
Every one of those assessments had been dead wrong. They were monsters including Eun-Ho, and his abilities alike. Everyone had to know that the reports, and the evaluations were catastrophically incorrect. That was the real reason for this crushing defeat.
If we leave him alone, he’ll swallow up the Personnel Bureau... No, the entire company.
A sense of duty made his blood boil, only for it to cool again as the fear of imminent death crept back in.
[Recipients - All Personnel Bureau Personnel]
[Please enter your message.]
With that, he opened a message window addressed to everyone.
Okay, so first...
Heo Gong began typing about the abilities of Lee Eun-Ho and that stupid-looking woman. Of course, he also didn’t forget to write about the terrifying giants hidden within the forest.
That should be enough.
Knowing he had failed, he didn’t want the bastard to walk away unscathed. If they ever met again, he was ready to win next time.
Thuck—
Just as he was about to send the densely packed text to everyone, a long shaft pierced straight through his heart.
“Huh?”
It wasn’t made of wood, metal, or gemstone, yet the arrow shaft gleamed brilliantly. Its feathers were elegant, as though imbued with sunlight. He instantly recognized the divine arrow that relentlessly pursued its designated target and pierced it without fail.
His pupils dilated, and he collapsed. “Why?!”
Thud—
[You have died.]
[Message transmission has been canceled.]
Even the text he had prepared vanished, making it empty and meaningless.
***
[You have defeated Heo Gong.]
The enemy commander’s heart, Eun-Ho thought.
The Brahmastra reported the completion of its task. As expected of a divine weapon, it was fast, which made it all the better.
Before, he’d waited patiently for the rockfall to tear down the wall. Now, there was no need.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The battle was already nearing its end. With the Forest Guardians mercilessly crushing enemy heads and bodies, everything went faster than expected. Having them on his side was immensely reassuring.
“Seems like things are mostly wrapped up,” Eun-Ho said.
“Y-yeah, it kind of ended all of a sudden,” Jae-Hyuk replied.
“Collect all the weapons and items.”
“Yes sir!”
“Even if they don’t look useful, take them anyway. We’ll stash everything in the team’s shared storage.”
“Understood, Team Leader!”
The fight, which had felt both long and short at the same time, finally ended. What remained was the settlement phase, which was Eun-Ho’s favorite part.
“Aren’t you picking anything up, Hyungnim?”
“Ah, right. I should.”
He wasn’t interested in the small stuff, but was looking for something big just like another divine-tier weapon.
[Brahmastra has been retrieved.]
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained Restored Parvatastra!]
***
It was a vast yet elegant space, steeped in its master’s personal tastes. The director of the Personnel Bureau remained seated on a chair befitting a throne.
Upon a soft red carpet seemingly woven from clouds, a man knelt like a condemned criminal. “D-Director... I sincerely apolo—”
“Silence!”
Clang!
The chandelier that shattered at his feet, accompanied by a roar that shook the entire hall, cut his words short.
Without even lifting a finger, a force imbued with the director’s will surged forth, tightening around the man’s throat. “Was I unclear? I told you to uproot those irritating pests!”
“Keugh!”
“Did I tell you to tear out my children instead?”
“I can’t believe you were defeated by insignificant trash with not a shred of decorum!”
“Keugh!”
“It seems my command was insignificant to you.”
“P-please... Forgive me!”
Clear handprints darkened the man’s neck. Having his vitality drained in an instant, he looked like an entirely different person. The fiery confidence he had shown during his reports was nowhere to be found. What remained was a frail old man, barely distinguishable from a corpse.
That should have served as sufficient warning. After confirming the aged appearance of the division chief, the director clicked his tongue and withdrew his energy. “So you failed to retrieve the weapon as well?”
The old man, so weak he looked like he would collapse at a touch, bowed his head deeply. Strands of hair that had turned stark white fell to the floor. Of course, keeping his breath was far more important than holding on to what little hair he had left.
“I-I will send a communiqué!” he answered hastily, his voice rasping like grinding metal.
“A communiqué?”
They sometimes used a formal communiqué when making official requests to other departments, rather than relying on simple speech or messages. It functioned as an internal official document.
“Yes yes! No matter how ignorant that rookie team leader may be, if it’s an official directive from you, Director, he won’t dare refuse!”
However, the director’s question was not born of ignorance.
Thud—!
Once more, black energy burst forth, taking the shape of a massive palm that sent the frail body flying. The old man slammed into the red wall, bones cracking with a sickening crunch.
“You fool! Are you planning to announce to the entire company that this assault was carried out on my orders?”
The old man struggled to bow again despite his mangled limbs, forcing the words out. “I-I mean...”
However, the director’s gaze was no longer on him. “Secretary.”
“Yes, Director,” the secretary responded calmly, as though the gruesome scene unfolding before them was nothing out of the ordinary.
The director thought only of the new employee who had caused all of this. “Bring him to me. I should see his face at least once. ”