TDWAD 25

Chapter 25

The <Divine Territory Management>—a privilege of VIP accounts.
It was proof that one had been officially recognized by the System as a divine being.
But not everyone granted VIP authority was called a “Guardian Deity” of the nation.

• A deity must return the points generated by their divine territory for the sake of history and the future.

• Those who leech off their descendants’ lifeblood are nothing more than “Local Deities” or “Earthbound Spirits,” no more and no less.

• If they destroy their own nation, they will be branded as a “God of Ruin,” a failed entity, and depending on future developments, even bear the mark of a “Malevolent God.”

In that regard, Jimo was a true Guardian Deity.
He would generously devote a portion of his own points to invest in the <National Fortune> and <Talent> stats.
Perhaps it was because of this influence—
Mysteriously, whenever calamity struck this land, a peerless hero would rise to cut through the chaos and alter the course of destiny.

Baek Seol’s Saintess, Han Yeonha, was one such knight in shining armor.
One of the very few S-rank Awakeners of this era.
A divine-class healer whose reputation was so great that even mortal enemies of her family would treat her with the utmost respect.
In addition to her absurd healing skill, [Blessing of Radiance], she possessed the broken-tier support trait [Guide of Life].
Her S-rank skill and S-rank trait synergized to create explosive growth.

She hadn’t pioneered any brilliant strategy or training method like the regressor of the 4th round.
She was simply a runaway locomotive powered entirely by her own internal engine—
An overwhelming growth engine with unmatched output.

The problem was that her Achilles’ heel was just as pronounced.

• Fragile disposition

• Mentally delicate—Handle with care

• Freezes and slows down under pressure

Even now, she seemed fired up from the shame of not activating [Shield of Light] in time and her resolve to be useful at any cost.

But Doyun, who had engraved certain truths deep into his soul over countless years, knew:

…A person’s fundamental nature doesn’t change so easily.

“Han Yeonha, keep your head in the game!”

The moment a silver streak traced the air—

CRUNCH—

With the sound of bones being sliced apart, feathers and chunks of flesh scattered above Han Yeonha’s head.
Doyun’s Sacred Light Sword had split the combat demon bird clean in two.

Thud!
Its corpse crashed onto the asphalt.

“Aah…”
Han Yeonha swallowed a short gasp.
Every hair on her body stood on end.
Had the saving strike come even a second later, she would have been shredded by the beast’s talons.

“That’s the third time already.”
Doyun’s voice was low.
“I told you not to look it in the eye, didn’t I? Avoid its gaze and you won’t freeze up.”

Han Yeonha hunched her shoulders.
“S-sorry…”

“Enough with the apologies.”

“…”

“Mistakes happen, it’s your first Gate. But freezing up so badly you can’t even use your skills? That’s too much.”

W-what am I supposed to do if my mind freezes up too?
Han Yeonha’s lips trembled.
“When a monster rushes me, my mind goes blank… I’m pathetic, right?”

“Has beating yourself up ever helped your mental state? Hmph.”

Doyun’s consciousness split in two.
One thread wove together the memories of subjugation team members deployed to the Gimcheon Gate, mapping the ecology of the demon bird colony.
The other dug into the tragedy of the saintess—
Twelve repetitions of despair and guilt.

Burying the ones she couldn’t save in her heart…
Relentlessly whipping herself…
Saving countless more lives with those same hands…
Yet unable to sustain herself, in the end—

Doyun clenched his teeth.
“…It only backfires. A person’s core nature won’t change through self-hypnosis.”

But it can change—
Through extreme experiences.

“Han Yeonha.”

“Y-yes…?”

“I know what you need.”

“…?”

Doyun’s right arm slid around her waist.

“Kyah?!”

Her scream wasn’t just from the sudden contact.
It was because—

Doyun kicked off, channeling the inner force of the Heavenly Flower True Scripture.
City streets blurred past at a terrifying speed.

Th-the world’s spinning…!

Han Yeonha clung to his collar with both hands.
It was a lightning bolt cutting through the earth—
The wind howled like it was tearing apart, and even the scouting demon birds abandoned pursuit and turned away.

“Hold tight.”

In the next instant, that bolt of lightning twisted its path and sprang upward.

‘Summon.’

The Sacred Light Sword flashed into being.
Doyun stepped onto the blade suspended in midair, using it as a springboard.

Tap, tap—

With a series of bounding leaps up a building’s exterior wall, he soared.
When the rooftop came into view—

“Ever learned how to break a fall?”

“No… Why are you—”

“Perfect, first time then.”

“First time? What do you mean? Wait—”

His arm suddenly released her.

“I-I don’t need that kind of opportunity!!”

Without a word, Doyun hurled her.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

She plummeted toward the rooftop—

Thump.

Yet there was no impact.
It felt as if a cushion had caught her.

The ground was slick with green slime and feathers, the stench wrinkling her brow.
But the discomfort was nothing compared to—

“Grrrhh…”

—The monster before her eyes.

It was twice the size of a combat demon bird, and three times as vicious-looking.
Its killing intent made her mind go hazy.

[Sub-Quest begins.]
[Quest Name: Hunt the Enhanced Demon Birds]
[『…“Prosperity”… is our… mission….』
──『…“Protect”… the eggs….』──]
[Quest Details: These are chosen upper-class individuals of the demon bird colony, guardians of the “nest.” Exterminate all Enhanced Demon Birds.]
[Remaining: 5]

The enhanced demon bird bared its talons, its eyes glowing blood-red.
Not just it—
Every enhanced bird, every combat bird—
The whole flock turned toward the unwelcome guest in their nest.

W-what do I do?

What else—nothing to do but…

Han Yeonha realized what Doyun intended.

Like a lion pushing its cub off a cliff. He wants to make me stronger.

If that was his deep purpose, then—

“SKREEEEE—”

“Kyaaa!”

She fell on her butt.
Demon birds swarmed from all sides.

O-okay, status window, quick—!

Her vision blurred, her fingers went numb, her lips refused to move.

It’s over…

All she could do was squeeze her eyes shut.

But the death she anticipated never came.

BOOM!

Doyun dropped into the nest with a shockwave.
The Sacred Light Sword was now glowing blue—
Proof of one who had reached the peak of the first-rate and was stepping toward a higher realm.

Sky-blue sword energy, channeled through the Heavenly Flower True Scripture, cleaved the enhanced demon bird in two.

[Protect Han Yeonha]
[Honor Points gained: 500]

Here we go.

[Honor Points 5,000 reached! Skill rank up.]
[‘Guardian’s Sword’ (D) → (C)]
[‘Sacred Light Sword’ evolves into ‘Blazing Flame Sword.’]

The silver blade slowly turned red.
Flames coiled around the edge, dancing with a life of their own.
Crimson patterns blazed along its surface, radiating heat—

Fwoosh!

A burst of flame erupted.

“SKRAAAGH!”

Doyun swung the flaming sword in a wide arc, burning demon birds to ash.
With his left hand, he sent out inner force that wrapped gently around Han Yeonha.

Huh?

It felt… comforting, like a warm hand patting her back.
The strange energy became a tailwind pushing her forward.

…That was Doyun.

But the feeling didn’t last—

He released another surge of energy, this time without mercy.

WHOOSH!

“W-why are you doing this again?!”

She shot through the air like a bullet—
And looked up to see the shadow of another enhanced demon bird falling over her.

I-I’m scared.

Her whole body stiffened, her heart constricted.
She fumbled at her status window with trembling fingers—

The monster’s talons came down.

CRASH!

A golden dome flared up, blocking the beast.

“I-I did it!”

Panting, she turned to meet Doyun’s gaze.
She was about to shout “See?!”—when her face went pale.

“Grrrhh!”

Another enhanced bird was charging from behind.

She’d designated a target properly, but her range was wrong—

Only guarded the front. Idiot!

Just as her pupils froze—

Crunch—

Doyun appeared like lightning, smashing its skull.
Dark blood pooled on the rooftop.

“H-how…?”

It was unbelievable.
He was over there… how did he cross that distance in less than a second?

Doyun smiled.
“Interesting. This feint works.”

It was entirely possible—thanks to one of the two martial arts he’d gained from a random box:
[Heavenly Flower True Scripture], and—

[‘Lightning Burst Movement (Hero)’]

• A movement art that surpasses mere speed, blending “illusion” and “reality.” Lightning-fast steps leave afterimages to confuse the enemy.

“Doyun…” Han Yeonha’s voice trembled.
“I’m hopeless. No matter how I try, I just keep making mistakes… I’m not climbing cliffs, I’m just a sack of rocks rolling down.”

“What cliffs?”

“You know, the lion thing—”

When she explained what she’d assumed, Doyun shook his head.

“Completely wrong myth. Doesn’t happen in nature. And you’re a precious S-rank healer. You think I’m insane enough to gamble like that?”

“T-then why?”

“By now you should see it. You’ve had a safety net under you the whole time.”

“…?”

Without further explanation, he raised his flame sword.
Wings beat all around them—
The demon birds roared and attacked.

“This time, watch with eyes wide open.”

Slash!
A combat bird’s head flew.

Another dove for the back of his skull—
But struck only an afterimage.

He was already across the space, moving like lightning.

Another lunged for Han Yeonha—
Only to be sent tumbling away, bleeding.

“W-what is—”

It was an impossible scene, over and over.
Feathers torn out, bones snapped, wings set ablaze, beasts falling from the sky.

If I stay with Doyun, I’ll never have to be afraid again… ah?

Something clicked inside her.

The safety net that always caught her.
Even when she made fatal mistakes.
Even in pitch-dark moments.
He would protect her, no matter what.

So she could let her shoulders relax.
She could be at ease.

The enhanced demon bird circling above spread its wings and dived—
As if vowing to avenge its kin through her.

No need to panic. No need to freeze.

[‘Blessing of Radiance’ (S)]
└ [Healing Touch]
└ [Shield of Light]

Shield of Light.

[Select your target.]

Strangely, she felt no tension.

“SKREEEEEE!”

Even locking eyes with the roaring beast,
The anxiety in her heart melted away.

Activate.

THUNK!

The hemispherical shield repelled it with a shockwave.
She’d succeeded.

“You can see it now.”

Crack—
Doyun broke the beast’s neck with his flame sword.

“Yes. Finally.”

“Even if you fall, the net will catch you. But I’ll bet you won’t miss a step from now on.”

“…Thank you, Doyun. No matter how many times I say it, it won’t be enough.”

She smiled from the heart—
Just as a new window appeared before them both.

[Sub-Quest ‘Hunt the Enhanced Demon Birds’ complete.]
[Rewards granted:]

• Agility +1

• 5,000 Points

• Rare Equipment: ‘Wings of Jet Black’

“I got rewards too? But I didn’t do anything.”

“You got the quest too.”

But that wasn’t all—

Beep!
A warning flashed with a sinister chime.

[All combat guardians of the ‘nest’ have been exterminated.]
[The enraged ‘Mother Demon Bird’ moves to face the intruders.]

In the deepest shadowed corner of the rooftop—

A dark crimson shape unfurled its wings, shaking the nest with an ear-splitting ultrasonic cry.