Chapter 681 – Even If I am Not There (3) #PART2

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“Are you really alright?”

The Crimson-Eyed Dune Clan.

Their leader, Shahin, posed the question to the restless barbarian, Nam Taemin. Despite the kindness in his tone, Shahin’s expression was far from pleasant—and understandably so.

‘Garmond, that pig bastard.’

Garmond Phil, the head of the Diamond Merchant Caravan.

Shahin loathed Garmond. Normally, he wouldn’t have felt betrayed—he never had high expectations—but the years they’d spent together in Antonium had softened him, changed him emotionally.

‘For someone with so much flesh, his convictions are awfully light.’

That’s right.

As the Holy War Alliance split in two, Shahin and Garmond found themselves on opposing sides once more. Though he was irritated, Shahin held it in—barely. However…

“Do I look alright to you?”

Nam Taemin wasn’t in much better shape.

‘…Damn it.’

Just thinking back to the argument with his brother that morning gave him a headache.

-“How could you do this, hyung?!”

-“Do what?”

-“You’re seriously just gonna sit around doing nothing? When the Demon World is out there?!”

-“I’m not saying we do nothing. I’m saying we wait for the right time.”

-“And waiting will solve anything?!”

-“At least we won’t die for nothing.”

-“What did you just say? Die for nothing?!”

Nam Taemin muttered bitterly,

“Yeah, maybe I seem reckless. But I thought you, of all people, would understand. Didn’t you lose someone too? To those demon bastards?”

“I see.”

“I’ve been holding it in all this time…”

Barbarian, Nam Taemin.

From the first impression, Shahin had liked him. His story, even more so. He decided to forget about Garmond altogether for now.

“We’ll get along just fine, Barbarian.”

The Crimson-Eyed Dune.

Their reputation had spread across the continent like wildfire. After all, it was they who had contributed the most to restoring order in the Imperial Capital, Antonium.

‘Though I’ve been too busy to see them in action myself…’

Nam Taemin recalled the rumors surrounding them.

-“Did you see that Crimson-Eye warrior clear a dungeon solo?”

-“Their combat power is on a whole other level, fr.”

-“They seriously felt like they were from a different world.”

-“Like a completely different dimension?”

-“No, more like their fighting style is just fundamentally different.”

A big shot. Get too timid and you’ll get eaten alive.

So instead, he asked boldly:

“Are you confident?”

“If you doubt me, I’ll prove it.”

“N-no, that won’t be necessary—”

“Come, Barbarian.”

The Crimson-Eyed Dune were a clan of integrity. Once they acknowledged someone, they trusted them to the end. As for Garmond—he was thoroughly blacklisted by Shahin.

As Shahin led the way, he continued ranting:

“So steer clear of that merchant. Unlike us, he’s got two faces—what’s in his head is nothing but coin. Forget honor!”

An endless stream of complaints about Garmond. It was getting exhausting. Nam Taemin made a mental note:

‘Whatever happens, I should never get on this guy’s bad side.’

Thankfully, he didn’t have to do much to earn Shahin’s favor. Soon, a sight so surreal it seared itself into his memory unfolded before him.

“…!”

It was a training ground.

From afar, some might say the Dune warriors were simply lined up before a match. But to Nam Taemin—who had reached the realm of transcendence—he could see it clearly.

“Shahin-nim, what… what is this?”

Though their bodies remained still, afterimages of the warriors flickered across the air.

Their feet were planted firmly on the ground, yet illusions of them danced at breakneck speed—sparring like it was real combat, exchanging deadly blows.

Slice.

He could hear the imagined sound of a blade cutting clean. One illusion’s head was severed—only for a new one to sprout as the battle resumed seamlessly.

Shahin spoke.

“Harkon once told me: the sword aura of Arcana grows sharpest at death’s door. I thought it was similar to our ‘sixth sense.’ The only difference is… we always live beside death.”

Gulp.

Nam Taemin swallowed hard.

‘So… it’s a full battle simulation?’

The Dune Clan.

They were feared not just for surviving Bael’s world-ending invasion. They possessed incredible mental resilience. And now Nam Taemin saw why.

Shahin gave a wry smile.

“Or maybe it’s more accurate to say… we’ve been marinated in death.”

The Dune weren’t born with crimson eyes.

Their mountains and seas had once run red with blood. As they wept and burned for vengeance, their eyes—stained by grief and fury—awakened the sixth sense called the Crimson Eye.

Shahin turned to him again.

“We run wild on the battlefield because we walk closer to death than anyone else, Barbarian. And you think that kind of people would fear the Demon World?”

“…No, sir.”

“Then do you think we would surrender to it?”

“No, sir.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Shahin offered his hand.

“Let’s do our best together.”

…Nam Taemin shook it, but he was skeptical. Isn’t he giving me a bit too much credit?

‘In a life-or-death mission like this, trust has to be earned.’

He wanted to be honest.

“Uh… Thank you. But truthfully, I’m not sure I’m good enough. There must be a reason my brother opposed this. Compared to the Dune warriors, our strength is—”

“Hmm.”

“But I am prepared to risk my life!”

He meant it.

‘It was Hoyeol who reopened Behemoth’s Maw.’

Nam Taemin knew it wasn’t just to prevent the collapse of the world. That’s why he had made up his mind. If he couldn’t catch up to Hoyeol, then he’d go ahead.

Hoyeol would enter the Demon World, no matter what. So Nam Taemin would enter first—even if he was caught up later, at least he wouldn’t be starting from behind.

‘Maybe hyung’s right and I’m rushing this… but still.’

He didn’t want to live in regret. But just for a moment, he did.

‘Should I have just stayed put?’

If he could face the Demon World with the Crimson-Eyed Dune, it would be a massive help. Even for the other alliance players who followed him instead of hyung Cheolmin—it could be the difference between life and death.

‘Did I just throw away a golden opportunity?’

He was seriously debating whether to backtrack—when Shahin tilted his head.

“You underestimate yourself.”

“I do. I mean, wait—underestimate?”

“You proved yourself just by seeing the illusions.”

“…!”

So it really was like sword aura?

‘Only visible to those who meet certain conditions…’

Even so, Nam Taemin couldn’t quite grasp it. He recalled how long it took him to understand Sword Aura, from first seeing it to finally wielding it.

‘The gap between us is still massive.’

What had he supposedly proven?

He wouldn’t find the answer—not until the day the Holy War Alliance entered the Demon World.

Why?

Because Shahin never brought it up again.

And “they”—well, they were always quiet.

.

.

.

A Crimson-Eyed Warrior stops a group from advancing.

“Who goes there?”

As the hood was lifted, silver weaponry gleamed. The warrior flinched. Is that the latest Arcana fashion?

‘No… that outfit’s a bit too extra.’

Then came an even more extra response:

“Curious about who we are?”

“?”

“If you wish, we’ll share our true name.”

“True name? Uh… not really—”

“Akshan.”

The Demon Hunters spoke, just as Akshan should.

“We are the ones who will lead you into the Demon World.”

 

 

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