Turning Chapter 722

“…Does the blood on your clothes also stem from that incident?”

"It would seem so," ca the nonchalant reply.

Kishiar, upon this remark, glanced briefly at the bloodstains on his garnt, acknowledging them anew. Though not a matter of great concern to him, Yuder rembered the intense pounding of his heart when he first saw those stains from afar, the mory still vivid.

As Yuder's gaze grew increasingly cold, Kishiar explained the recent events with a smile. "After dispatching my assistant, on my way back to the branch, the carriage suddenly lost direction and started shaking uncontrollably. Then arrows ca flying out of nowhere. Stepping outside, I was confronted by unfamiliar assailants."

It would sound odd to say that sudden attacks like blind arrows piercing his carriage were common, but for Kishiar, such incidents had beco almost routine. Ever since the previous Emperor's passing, attempts on the life of Emperor Keilusa and his entourage were nearly a daily occurrence.

Even while living inconspicuously in Peletta, Kishiar faced clever assassination attempts now and then. Known as a man marked for death, there were always those who desired to hasten his end.

Within the wildly shaking carriage, Kishiar sat quietly, maintaining his balance as if he were in another world, thanks to his subtle mastery of force, an almost unreal sight.

"My Lord Duke Peletta! Are you alright?" shouted the coachman, opening the small door connecting to the carriage's interior, his voice loud with concern and alarm. He suggested leaping out at a clearer spot, given the uncontrolled speed of the horses. Kishiar, unsurprised, nodded in agreent.

"That seems wise," he concurred.

"I'm sorry! I'll try to stop the horses..." the coachman began.

"No need. I'll get down first and deal with the enemies. That will divert their attention, and you can continue driving," Kishiar advised calmly.

"What?" The coachman, dodging arrows, was astonished, not having noticed that the arrows had been missing their target all along, thanks to Kishiar's push-and-pull abilities.

"It's too dangerous to abruptly stop the carriage, for both you and the horses. Why risk lives needlessly here?" Kishiar reasoned, still smiling.

"But...!" the coachman protested, still baffled.

"Just a bit further is the Cavalry branch. Break through at the first chance and call for reinforcents. A few might follow, but if you trust my words and don't delay, it's doable."

This suggestion of seeking support was unexpected to the coachman, who had thought Kishiar intended to flee alone. Yet Kishiar offered no further explanation.

The carriage door suddenly swung open with a loud noise, without being touched. Despite the perilously swaying door, Kishiar rose, stepping out as if about to descend comfortably.

"Not now... My Lord!" The coachman, thinking it wasn't the right ti to open the door, cried out in alarm. To his astonishnt, Kishiar landed lightly on the ground without any apparent impact. Amid the coachman's astounded gaze, the barrage of arrows ceased, and the faces of the mysterious assailants began to erge.

Thanks to Kishiar's foresight, the carriage, unnoticed by anyone, found its path surprisingly clear ahead. The coachman, realizing that everything had unfolded as Kishiar predicted, clenched his teeth and steered the horses towards the southern branch, speeding away as he caught a last glimpse of the assailants converging on the Duke of Peletta.

Watching the carriage disappear, Kishiar surveyed his surroundings with an inscrutable smile. There were about fifteen assailants in total. They seed too conspicuous for assassins, dressed not in battle gear but in ordinary civilian clothes, so cloaked in robes that didn't stand out much.

Most notably, they appeared to be Awakeners.

Their eyes shone with excitent and tremor, weapons at the ready. Yet, within those eyes, there was an unmistakable trace of fear and uncertainty, unfamiliar with the situation at hand. Surrounded by them, Kishiar, unfazed and smiling, kindly initiated the conversation.

"So many guests to greet in such a place. Shouldn't you at least tell where you're from?"

"We are...," soone began to reply.

"Don't answer him. Rember, the Duke of Peletta is an Awakener too! Get back!"

A woman interrupted, likely the group's leader.

“Sera…”

Kishiar pretended not to hear her na, muttered by the hesitant assailants, but he made sure to rember it.

Paying attention elsewhere while keeping his ears open for crucial information was one of his specialties.

They knew who Kishiar was. Their pursuit and attack indicated that this wasn't a spontaneous encounter but a preditated ambush, possibly connected to the untily death of the Second Prince of Herne and the fact that Kishiar might be absent from the southern branch.

It seed impossible unless they were behind the Second Prince of Herne's death.

Sera, the apparent leader, didn't strike Kishiar as exceptionally skilled or powerful, leading him to wonder who truly orchestrated this group. With a seemingly vacant gaze, Kishiar's mind worked rapidly, drawing near-accurate conclusions that others might miss.

Before Kishiar could identify the 'real' leader within the group, the assailants, deciding they couldn't delay further, charged again.

"You three, follow the carriage! The rest, proceed as planned! Block the path so he can't escape!"

Three were chasing the carriage. Kishiar hoped the coachman rembered his instructions and didn't look back.

As Sera gave the order, the attack comnced in a sowhat coordinated manner. Lacking the finesse of professional assassins or the refined strength of Cavalry mbers, the Awakener assailants made up for their inexperience with their extraordinary abilities.

They showed signs of training, albeit unorthodox.

Kishiar, using his mastery of push and pull forces, moved swiftly, dodging the attacks. He could move faster but deliberately moderated his speed to narrowly evade, provoking his adversaries further.

"D*mn it! How does he dodge like that?"

"My arrows can't reach him!"

"Fools. That must be the Duke's power. Don't get entangled! Keep attacking!"

Even as she spoke, Sera's face contorted in response to the unexpected turn of events.

The Duke of Peletta, arrogantly alone and without even drawing the sword at his waist, was an impressive figure. Despite rumors of his frailty, his tall stature and solid build were initially startling. They thought him no serious threat, assuming his ability to rely evade attacks was the extent of his power. Yet, frustratingly, they couldn't land a single blow on him.

The plan was straightforward: swiftly strike a blow at the Duke of Peletta and the core of the Cavalry, then retreat. Lingering in combat within the city, even in its outskirts, was not advantageous for them.

"Sh*t."

Beside Sera, a comrade fiercely launched a sharpened twig like a dagger at the Duke of Peletta. Kishiar, however, evaded this and other simultaneous attacks with eel-like agility, his fluttering clothes getting nicked and torn by the sharp assaults, almost gracelessly.

How could he so effortlessly dodge the attacks of over ten assailants? And as ti passed, it seed increasingly as if Kishiar was getting better at predicting their individual moves, an impossible thought that, in fact, was true. Kishiar was deliberately observing their attacks to gather information, a concept beyond Sera's understanding.

As the notion that they might be overpowered by the Duke of Peletta dawned on Sera, she, gripped by anxiety, unwittingly glanced towards the collaborator who had suggested this assault and revealed the opportunity. One of the Southern rchants, cloaked in a robe and aiding in the attack, felt her gaze and turned his head, signaling not yet ti to retreat.

They had said once the Duke of Peletta was taken down, they would create an escape route for the Southern rchants. With the plan not going as expected, Sera wondered if it was ti to deploy that thod.

However, the rchant, catching Sera's look, firmly shook his head, indicating it wasn't yet ti to fall back.

Just as Sera was about to bite her lip and order a change in attack pattern, she locked eyes with Kishiar's piercing red gaze, which had been watching her all along. Feeling as if her thoughts and emotions were laid bare, she flinched, and in that mont, Kishiar spoke up cheerfully.

"Found you. You're the real 'head' leading these people."

The identified Southern rchant stiffened montarily. Before he could react, Kishiar, who had been evading until then, charged at him with incredible speed, a stark contrast to his previous movents. The rchant struggled, flailing his weapon as Kishiar grasped his throat.

Another Southern rchant shouted sothing in an unfamiliar language and began rummaging for sothing in his clothing.

Before it could be recognized, whatever it was, an unseen force exploded from Kishiar, pushing everyone back with imnse pressure.

Sera and her comrades, caught off guard, scread and tumbled backward.

"Ah!"

"What is this...!"

They spat out the dust, trying to steady their dizzied heads.

Through the settling dust, they saw the Duke of Peletta, now wielding a silvery sword.

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenonon Managent Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a ga that's already ssed up? ...Anyway, the next round will co, so this ti, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is soone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each ti. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he beca completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he cos to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that mont, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a ssed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his na has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching ?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for so ti now. However, Leonardo's answer was sothing that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Sa author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality ga was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected etings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was soone like you born into this world to make so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no ti to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a mont, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long mont of floating in space, he rembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last ti.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you beco the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the sa, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had co to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly rembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this ga, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that mont, sothing that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to co when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I ant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that mont.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

Check out the new project 2:

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenonon Managent Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a ga that's already ssed up? ...Anyway, the next round will co, so this ti, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is soone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each ti. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he beca completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he cos to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that mont, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a ssed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'