Chapter 356: Ironshield (6)


    After being pierced by Hals halberd, Ironshields chest swelled; soon, it went down, and the wound began bleeding ck fluid. It was because Gi-Gyu had injected Death into Ironshield through the halberd.


    Ironshields death wasplete and final. Gi-Gyu had destroyed Ironshields existence, so there was no wayno wayhe could ever be resurrected. The ck liquid spread all over Ironshield and ate him up.


    <em>Fshhh.</em>


    Soon, Ironshields corpse turned into dust and scattered in the air. When most of his body was gone, Gi-Gyu looked around in silence. Those who belonged to him were watching this event quietly, but Go Hyung-Chul seemed confused.


    <em>He wont understand, </em>Gi-Gyu knew why Go Hyung-Chul looked bewildered. <em></em>


    Wasnt thatGo Hyung-Chul finally opened his mouthtoo easy for him? You gave him such a quick and easy death.


    Go Hyung-Chul looked straight into Gi-Gyus eyes and continued, I mean, it wouldnt have seemed out of ce even if you had killed him a thousand times over. You have the ability to do that and then make him your ve. You couldve made him serve you for an eternity.


    Gi-Gyu had expected Go Hyung-Chul to say something like this. Go Hyung-Chul asked, So why did you end him so quickly?


    Gi-Gyu stared back into Go Hyung-Chuls eyes; his other creatures just silently watched the ck dust scatter. Gi-Gyu raised his palm, and some ck dust settled on it. However, it soon faded and disappeared as if someone had blown on it.


    Ironshield was no more. The 79th floor of the Tower was now his grave.


    Gi-Gyu looked up at Go Hyung-Chul again. Youre right. I resent him with all my heart, and he deserved a much worse death.


    ...! Suddenly, Go Hyung-Chul flinched as if in shock. There was only nonchnce in Gi-Gyus eyes and not a bit of resentment and fury. However, that didnt mean he looked relieved or satisfied.


    There was nothing in Gi-Gyus eyes, and that made Go Hyung-Chul shudder. <em>Its scary to see him like this.</em>


    In the past, I might have done the exact thing you suggested just now. Gi-Gyu used to dream about torturing Ironshield, killing him, reviving him, and then restarting the cycle from the torture phase. He had wanted to do that over and over and over againrelentlessly and brutally. Gi-Gyu might have also synced with him to enve Ironshield. After all, this might have been a satisfactory revenge.


    But he helped in death, Gi-Gyu added.


    Helped you? Go Hyung-Chul looked confused again.


    Unlike Mammon, Andras was controlling Ironshield till the very end, said Gi-Gyu. Mammon hadnt lied to himAndras had just fooled everyone with a n different from everyones expectations. Gi-Gyu hadnt remembered it at first, but the moment he had seen Ironshield earlier, he had remembered something. In this memory, Ironshield said, I didnt do this for you.


    ***


    Gi-Gyu was alone in some dark space. As time passed, the room became brighter.


    -Ackkk!


    -Help me!


    Creepy, reluctant souls swarmed toward him, screaming, looking like a white liquid. He tried to push them away, but there were too many of them, and their resentment was too strong. No matter how hard Gi-Gyu tried to push them away, their sticky form dug into him despite his power. Soon, he looked like a giant snowman covered with white souls of vengeance.


    <em>Dammit </em>Gi-Gyu was losing his mind. The more souls stuck to him, the heavier his mind and body felt. Even worse, he could feel every bit of their pain from being eaten alive and having their power and essence stolen. The screams of these victims were enough to paralyze Gi-Gyus mind.


    Suddenly, the souls began dropping. Gi-Gyu felt lighter and then used his power to push the rest of the souls away. The majority of these souls hardened and fell to the ground. When the white fluid covering his eyes finally disappeared, Gi-Gyu saw a man standing not too far away from him.


    The man looked familiar. Gi-Gyu tried to call out his name, but a lump of souls was still covering his mouth. The man began walking toward him, and Gi-Gyu summoned more power and waited.


    Gi-Gyu flinched when the man stood before him. He tried to use his umted power to clear the remaining souls on his body, but the man seemed uninterested. Then, and to Gi-Gyus surprise, the man yanked off the biggest ash-colored lump on him. It twitched in the mans hand, and Gi-Gyu noticed that this lump''s shape and color differed from all the others.


    Ironshield Finally free, Gi-Gyu whispered the mans name. Ironshield stood at arms length while still holding the ash-colored lump. He looked exactly how Gi-Gyu remembered.


    Ironshield remained silent and swallowed the ash-colored lump in one gulp.


    ... Nonplussed, Gi-Gyu watched him without moving a muscle. Finally, Ironshield spoke for the first time.


    Kill me.


    Ironshield continued, Andras wanted to live as a parasite inside your shell, but I ate him just now. If you kill me, you can eliminate both Andras and me.


    Ironshields voice had no resentment; instead, he seemed at peace.


    Kill me, Ironshield repeated when Gi-Gyu didnt move.


    Instead of doing what Ironshield had requested, Gi-Gyu asked, Why?


    He couldnt discern Ironshields motive. Before they could converse more, the soul lumps on the floor began crawling but not toward Gi-Gyu. However, unlike Gi-Gyu, Ironshield didnt push the lumps away.


    Ironshield answered with a smile, I hope you dont think Im trying to help you. I just


    Suddenly, Ironshields chest swelled up. He frowned as if in pain but quickly returned to normal and continued, I just hate him more. Thats all.


    Ironshield pointed at his chest.


    Gi-Gyu asked knowingly, You mean Andras?


    Yes. That bastard is inside me right now. Ironshield looked at Gi-Gyu again. You look like you need an exnation Well, youre the only one who can solve my problem, so I suppose I owe you one. But I dont have much time. If we miss this opportunity, Andras will be free. Personally, I dont care, but


    Ironshield sniggered and added, You certainly wont like whatll happen after.


    Gi-Gyu waited quietly.


    Ironshield looked a little relieved. Im sure you have realized by now that Andras has a secret n.


    Ironshield seemingly knew that Gi-Gyu had seen part of his memories. Ironshield looked ashamed as he continued, That asshole fooled everyone and tried to take everything for himself He used me like a tool. Fucker even knew about my n to escape and ruin his n.


    Take everything?


    Thats right. That bastardIronshield pointed at Gi-Gyu and announcedtried to take you.


    ...?


    Andras nned this whole situation. He released me to lure you, and he had been waiting inside me. He was nning to


    Force sync with me Gi-Gyu muttered.


    Thats right. He knew the souls would restrain you, and he would take that chance to force a sync with you. Normally, this would have turned him into your ve, but


    Andras had apparently discovered a way not to get enved after syncing with him.


    Ironshield continued, It looks like you figured it out too. Thats right. Andras wanted to use me to escape the syncs bounds after syncing. He ate me to be one with me. With this, there were two souls and minds inside my body. If he synced with you in this state, then


    Andras could have separated the two entities and be free. Gi-Gyu hadnt expected such a solution. A simr thing had happened with Paimon and Min-Su, but they had taken different steps. Paimon and Min-Su had synced before beingbined, while Andrasbined himself with another being before attempting to sync with Gi-Gyu. He was nning on separating himself afterward.


    Andras was going to detach himselfter on and eat your body. Of course, I would have been destroyed in the process, Ironshield exined. Andras had nned on using the tool named Ironshield till its death.


    Luckily, I was able to escape much of Andras influence. I believe eating his physical body helped me. And thats how IIronshield thumped his chest, which twitched visiblyruined his n. I certainly resent you and that bitch Lucifer, but


    A cold smirk appeared on Ironshields lips as he added, I choose to get Andras instead. I can barely contain him right now. The only reason I havested this long is that the other souls are helping me.


    The ash-colored lump and the white lumps had apparently targeted Ironshield for this very reason. Perhaps that was also why they had targeted Gi-Gyu at the start.


    Now, is that reason enough for you to kill me? asked Ironshield. Gi-Gyu knew Ironshield wasnt lying. They were inside a shell, so it wasnt difficult for him to tell if Ironshield was being truthful. Just as Ironshield had exined, Andras was nning to take Gi-Gyus body.


    <em>But I guess Andras will be annihted because of Ironshield now. </em>It looked like Andras n would fail after all.


    Gi-Gyu asked hisst question, Dont you have any regrets?


    Regrets


    Gi-Gyu wasnt asking about the choice Ironshield was making right now. He wanted to know if Ironshield had any regrets about anything he had done in his life. Ironshield had given his all to create his reputation and guild; in the end, he had be the worlds enemy.


    And now, he was about to disappear from this worldpletely.


    No, I regret nothing, Ironshield replied firmly. I didnt make all my choices willingly, but I have done the same to others in the past. I have forced many to make choices they didnt want, so Im ready to ept it all.


    A smile bloomed on Ironshields face as he added, Of course, that doesnt mean I dont want revenge.


    Youre right. Gi-Gyu asked, So how do I kill you?


    He was currently inside Ironshields shell. Gi-Gyu needed a special way to kill both Ironshield and Andras here.


    Leave this ce and give me Death. Ironshield didnt provide a long exnation. And just like that, Gi-Gyu left Ironshields shell.


    ***


    Just as Ironshield had requested, Gi-Gyu had given him Death.


    <em>This is what he wanted. </em>Whatever happened in the past didnt change the fact that Ironshield had helped Gi-Gyu just now. Gi-Gyus resentment toward him was still immense, but Gi-Gyu had to admit that Ironshield had helped him greatly.


    <em>If Andras attached himself to me without me realizing that, then </em>Andras could have stolen his body, and things could have gone very badly.


    In the past, Andras various schemes had tormented Gi-Gyu. Based on what Gi-Gyu knew, Andras was the type to carry out ns he had deemed had a good chance of seeding. But this time, it looked like Andras didnt realize how much Ironshield resented him. Andrasst n failed miserably.


    So thats what happened, Gi-Gyu exined to Go Hyung-Chul. Just as Ironshield had wanted, Gi-Gyu had given him aplete death. Both Andras and Ironshield were gone from this world.


    <em>Now, there is only Kronos. </em>Kronos was like the final boss monster Gi-Gyu needed to kill.


    Haa Haa Just then, Kang Ji-Hee came up to him, all out of puke but panting heavily. She hade with all the Ang Guild members, so Gi-Gyu guessed she wanted to talk to him.


    Gi-Gyu and his creatures were watching the Ang Guild yers when suddenly, Kang Ji-Hee turned and gasped. She was staring at the second survivor.


    <em>I think Ironshield said he could escape Andras thanks to that yer. </em>Gi-Gyu remembered Ironshield referring to this second survivor. He was an unknown yer who was absorbedst. Ironshield had exined that because of this yer''s power, he could escape Andras grasp. This yer was one more variable Andras had never anticipated.


    Staring at the second survivor, Kang Ji-Hee suddenly eximed in disbelief, Deputy Guild Master Lim Hyun-Soo?!