The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

The White Whale came to a conclusion.

"Fine! I will help you!"

"What…"

"You came here because you need help, right?"

"How exactly are you going to help? We came here to retrieve the Tohyang and awaken the demonic spirit."

"I know. That's why I said I would help."

"We already retrieved the Tohyang, and the demonic spirit…"

Seol was about to say that the Dragon would recover the demonic spirit. But the White Whale mocked his judgment and said.

"To think think he can help you?"

"Helping you humans would cause a significant loss in Daoist Energy, especially for someone of his level. Even the slightest help would probably have serious consequences for him."

"That's…"

Spectre nodded.

"She's not wrong."

She then approached the Dragon and poked his side.

"You sly old man. You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"Haha… What do you mean by that?"

"You foresaw such a thing and set us up to fight the White Whale on purpose. Because you can't help us directly."

"Everything just followed its natural course. It's fortunate Little Kyung decided to help you. You can trust her.

Seol asked Spectre.

"But she's also a resident of the Celestial World, right? Isn't it the same for her?"

Spectre wagged her index finger.

"There's a way for her to help without losing Daoist Energy."

"…"

"Make her pay the price or stop being an insignificant being."

"Ah…!"

Upon hearing Spectre's words, Seol recalled what just happened. They had made a fair bet, and he had won.

In the end, the White Whale had no choice but to recognize Seol and hand over the Tohyang. To her, Seol could no longer be considered an insignificant human. She was now wary and conscious of him.

That alone allowed them to avoid a significant portion of the restrictions.

'Was this the Dragon's doing…?'

It seemed there was a reason the Dragon got the White Whale involved.

Up until now, the question has been whether the White Whale could help Seol's group. Now, the remaining question was why she would help them.

"Why do you want to help us…?"

"I have a condition too."

As expected, she had a reason.

Swoosh…

The White Whale used her Daoist Spell and took out a scroll, which she then handed over to Hamun.

Naturally, Hamun started to go through the scroll's contents.

The scroll listed the quantities of rare and almost impossible-to-find materials. Most were so rare that you might never see them in a lifetime.

"You'll have to stay in the Celestial World and make a few things for me. I was planning to ask Orgo when I met him. But I don't know where he is right now."

"You're being quite rude to Master Cha…"

"Be quiet! This is a fair deal."

"…"

Hamun rolled the scroll.

"Is it impossible?"

"It isn't, but… the materials are quite rare. There are some I've never handled before."

"Hmph! These are materials humans would struggle to find even if they devoted their entire lives. What do you think?"

He stood still as if he had fallen into deep thought. Seol approached him and said.

"You don't need to suffer hardships because of us. This proposal…"

"I think it would be a valuable experience for me as well. Hmph… Alright, let's do it."

The White Whale's face lit up when Hamun agreed so easily.

"Yes, gathering these materials was tough…"

Seol frowned.

He wondered if Hamun had been forced into this against his will because of him.

"Hamun, if you're doing this unwillingly because of me…"

"That's not the case. I'm doing this of my own volition."

- Don't go, vending machine—I mean, Hamun!

- We just met again! At least give me a peerless item before going… No, I mean, don't go!

- The sly intentions cannot be hidden. Could this be love?

Although the situation had taken a strange turn, they were still progressing.

The White Whale asked Spectre, "Is the one called Yaksha really that bad?"

"It keeps getting stronger. It swallowed the Barrier Stone, and if you clash with its sword, your power will be drained. On top of that, its condition is highly unstable. It's a problem in many ways."

"No wonder you came searching to retrieve the Tohyang."

"And you were stubbornly refusing to hand it over."

"I'm trying to help, yet you're treating me like this."

"Oops! My mistake! I apologize for my rudeness."

Spectre slyly replied.

The White Whale rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

"The Tohyang certainly has the power to drive out evil forces. It could solve the problems caused by clashing with Yaksha's sword. However, if everything I just heard is true, the real problem lies elsewhere."

The White Whale looked at Seol and said.

"The fact that it’s okay even after swallowing the Barrier Stone."

"Hmm…"

"The Barrier Stone is an artifact with an immense power. It can't be easily destroyed. And even if it were, the power sustaining the barrier doesn't disappear, but it should transfer."

"Then…"

"If Yaksha is using the power of the Barrier Stone as it is, it means it withstood the collapse. Whether it can control it or not, the fact that it can use it is the biggest concern."

The Barrier Stone was something that upheld boundaries, but it also had the power to cross them.

Once someone obtained that power, the tension holding the space together would snap—Yaksha could go anywhere.

"It isn't easy to deal with someone who can cross boundaries. There’s no way to stop them if they run away."

Seol nodded.

"There are two solutions. Either follow Yaksha or prevent it from leaving."

"Can both be done?"

"It's possible. For the former, you would have to swallow the Barrier Stone, just like Yaksha did."

Upon hearing that, everyone turned to Seol.

Seol frowned.

"Of course. Your body would explode. After all, you aren't Yaksha."

"…"

"Let's go with the latter. I can smell the scent of strong Shamanic Spell around you. Am I right?"

Whir—!

Swoosh…

When Jamad materialized, the White Whale looked at him.

"Now I have a better understanding of what kind of being you are… No wonder. Good! I'll teach him how to lift the Barrier's curse. A few days should suffice. Using it might be a bit inconvenient, but Yaksha won't be able to go on a rampage as he pleases."

Jamad was surprised by the White Whale’s words.

Although she was a Phantom Beast who used Daoist Spells, it seemed she was also proficient in Shamanic Spells.

"Oh… You can use Shamanic Spells?"

"Daoist and Shamanic Power share essentially the same body… A simple conversion formula won't take long. But more importantly…"

"Hmm…?"

"Stretch out your hand."

Clank…

Without being suspicious, Jamad extended his hand, and the White Whale leaned in and sniffed it.

Sniff.

"Ah… A solid scent."

- She's dangerous.

- She's dangerous!

- I just saw the whites of her eyes!

- Jamad is stepping back, hahaha.

With a flushed face, the White Whale said.

"Your energy is overflowing! And you've maintained it well!"

"Hmph, at least you have an eye for things."

"The management of divine relics is…"

The White Whale and Jamad kept talking about the Mountain Fists for a while. Conversations with the White Whale often veered off course like this, as she had a deep love for weapons.

After coming back to her senses, the White Whale said.

"Ah! To be honest, I'm not really interested in Yaksha. That's why I got a little sidetracked. Anyway, Boundary Shamanic Spells should only be used in very specific situations and are extremely inconvenient. You'll have to hold the boundary throughout the battle. And you won't be able to participate in it actively."

"I guess I have no choice…"

"Hmm… First, let's start dealing with the demonic spirit or whatever it is."

* * *

Agony lay on a stone altar at the mountain’s summit.

The sight of the droopy round creature made Seol's heart hurt. It looked as if it were in a deep sleep.

"This is a… demonic spirit?"

"Technically speaking, it was a demonic spirit."

"What does that mean? It isn't one anymore? But anyway, it doesn't seem evil at all."

After meeting Frannan, part of the evil energy had been removed. And after encountering Santos, Agony had found a reason to live. It now resembled a human heart too much to be still considered a demonic spirit.

"Well… A lot of things happen… What are you doing?"

The White Whale poked at Agony’s body.

"Let me look at its belly…"

"Yes?"

"What is this texture? I've never felt anything like this before…"

It was from that moment that the White Whale's eyes lit up.

"D-does this thing talk? It does, right? It's a demonic spirit, after all."

"Yes."

"It must be revived immediately! We cannot let such a rare being be asleep even for a moment!"

- She's suddenly motivated.

- Huh… Could it be a weapon?

- A talking weapon? I can't hold back!

While the White Whale continued touching Agony, she turned to Seol and asked.

"What if it falls in love with me after it wakes up? Will you allow our love?"

"That seems unlikely…"

After pondering for a brief moment, Seol replied nonchalantly.

"Well… Maybe."

- Evil!

- This guy is the Demon!

- Don't toy with the heart of a sword otaku!

- Doctor, if you save the patient, I'll allow the marriage.

"Falling in love with a talking weapon… I see… Then, let's start!"

- I see what? Hahaha.

- She's starting right away, lol.

- I'm coming to see you!

-Agony! See you soon!

Whoosh…

Swosh…

The Tohyang floated in the air, and thin threads resembling veins extended from it, connecting to Agony.

* * *

Caw…

Caw…

Flap…

A flock of crows flew by. In most villages, a gathering of black birds would be seen as an ominous sign. But here, it was a common sight.

This was a place where the dead outnumbered the living—after all, it was a battlefield.

Agony became trapped here the moment it clashed with Yaksha.

It sank into an inescapable fear.

【This place… I’ve been here before.】

While Agony muttered to itself.

Squish…

A corpse with bulging eyes crawled across the ground.

The air was filled with evil energy.

Agony was startled and shouted.

【Master! Hey…!】

But there was no answer.

【Ugh…】

The corpse's eyes locked onto Agony, making it freeze

Although it was a place that should be familiar to it, it felt foreign.

It was scared.

【How strange…】

It was weird to think a demonic spirit would fear corpses.

They were its parents, after all.

So why was he so scared?

After returning to its hometown after a while, it was in agony.

【I-I want to go back.】

Tap…

At that moment.

Someone lifted Agony's head.

【Let me go! Who are you?! Eek…】

When it turned its head, it saw a figure wearing a grotesque mask staring at him.

It was a mask that could change expressions.

Agony had definitely encountered it before coming here.

"…"

【…】

It was Yaksha.

Agony and Yaksha stared at each other. Neither moved an inch. Then, Yaksha's robe flared open.

Inside, there were souls crying out in agony—those devoured by Yaksha.

"Help me…"

"Please… Save me…"

"Don't leave me behind…"

Agony covered its mouth.

【Ugh…】

For a moment, it found it disgusting—it found those souls hideous and repulsive.

At one point, Agony stopped liking such cruel things. There was a time when it considered them a form of entertainment.

Yaksha asked, "Why are you avoiding this…?"

【Let me go! Let me go! Agony will go back to its master!】

The black-haired human was Agony’s place of comfort.

Right now, it felt uncomfortable.

"But… We’re the same…"

Agony suddenly remembered when it was with the Black Knight.

- Let's kill more lives! I want more blood!

Was there truly a difference between itself and the Yaksha before it? Agony began to doubt it.

【N-no. Agony is…】

Agony is—what was Agony?

"Come here. Just like when you were born, let's make more people scream."

It was at that moment.

- …ony!

"Eek!"

- …Agony!

Someone was shouting, like they were trying to interrupt.

Yaksha said, "Don't worry about it. No one's looking for you. After all, everyone hates you."

【No! Agony… Agony is…】

- Scream louder! There's a response!

- Agony! Come back!

Agony's ears perked up.

【Master!】

- It's moving! Keep shouting!

- Agony! Here! Over here! You must come back!

Agony's head turned around. It definitely heard a voice coming from that direction.

"You… Must stay here."

【Agony doesn't like this place anymore…】

Where you were born didn't determine everything about you—even flowers could bloom on a battlefield.

BZZT—!

Agony’s body sprouted spikes like a pufferfish.

"Ugh…"

The sharp sensation made Yaksha let go of Agony.

Seizing that moment, Agony rolled across the ground, heading toward the direction where the voice had come from.

"…"

Yaksha didn't stop it.

Instead, in a voice that could be barely heard, it said.

"Save me…"

Just as Agony was about to take its last step fleeing toward the sound, it suddenly stopped and shouted.

【Just wait! I'll come back to save you!】

"…"

【Wait for Agony, the Great Sea Urchin!】

Return…?

"Wait for Agony…?"

【Yes! Anyway, Agony is leaving! See you next time!】

"Wait for Agony."

Swoosh…

Yaksha nodded.

"I'll wait. Here."

While standing still.

"The Great Sea Urchin, Agony."

Crack…

At that moment, the battlefield ripped apart, and reality rushed back in.

【Agh! Oof… Oof…】

"Agony! Are you okay…?"

Paf—!

Agony jumped into Seol’s arms the moment it woke up. The comforting weight made Seol smile.

【It was scary! Agony was scared! But Agony resurrected!】

"Agony, are you okay?"

【But Agony has to return.】

"What?"

【That's…】

Agony felt like someone was staring intently at it, so it turned around.

There stood the White Whale, with her arms wide open, looking devastated

"Huh?"

[Holy+Abomination: Agony absorbs Peerless: Tohyang’s energy.]

…