The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

A man was standing before a massive tree, so huge that it would probably take dozens of people with their arms stretched, holding hands to hands to encircle it.

"Oof…"

The man's name was Yoo Hyun, and he often engaged in seemingly pointless activities.

Although he had walked the path of the sword, no one knew his name. After all, he wasn't someone interested in fame. The only thing that mattered to him was surpassing his limits.

He was born with a weak body and was often ill because of it. That was why he grabbed the sword, to overcome his fragility. He didn't put his sword down even after becoming an adult.

Yoo Hyun looked up at the tree. "Take care of me today as well."

Yoo Hyun used to have a family. The reason it was in the past tense was because they were all dead.

After losing his mother, he was raised by his father, who ended up dying during a merchant caravan escort mission. Yoo Hyun had only heard the news and never learned the details of what had happened.

It was an expected death for those living in poverty.

This tree was exactly the same age as Yoo Hyun.

He didn't know where his father obtained the seed, but it was said he had planted it in the same year Yoo Hyun was born.

At one point, Yoo Hyun's father tried cutting down the tree. He thought Yoo Hyun was weak because the tree was taking all the nutrients.

- That cursed tree! One day, I'll chop it down for you, Hyun!

Although his father deeply loved him, by that time, the tree had already grown too large. Even if the entire village worked together, they couldn't get an axe to sink into its bark. This event led to the tree being known as cursed by the villagers.

In the end, Yoo Hyun's father couldn't keep his promise. He still remembered what he said while scratching his head embarrassingly.

- Well…Hyun, when you grow up a little more, you can chop it down yourself. Wouldn't it be great if you cut down that tree and shake off all your sickness and then step out into the world reborn?

Those words Yoo Hyun's father carelessly spoke became a significant guiding principle in his life.

He had to cut down that tree. He had to chop it down and move forward.

Even that day, Yoo Hyun was walking that path.

"Well! Then…"

He didn't recklessly swing an axe at the tree.

After all, an axe couldn't even penetrate the tree's bark.

Instead, he used the peculiar sword his father had obtained during his wandering days. Though the sword didn't seem particularly sharp or dazzling, it was incredibly sturdy.

No matter how many times he struck the tree with the sword, the blade barely showed any damage.

Perhaps he could continue this seemingly pointless task for such a long time thanks to this sword.

Oof…

Clang—!

"Thank you!"

Clang—!

"Thank you!"

He swung at the tree while making a ridiculous posture and repeated it until the sunset. His meals consisted of tasteless wild vegetables and mushrooms. Occasionally, he had meat.

Rumors that Yoo Hyun had lost his mind after his father’s death spread in the village.

"Am I crazy…?"

Seemingly bothered by rumors, Yoo Hyun would sometimes mutter that to himself.

It was understandable why an outsider would think that—a man who spent every day struggling to chop down a tree. Had it been someone else, even Yoo Hyun would have thought the same.

It all started from a stubborn resolve.

After being left alone in the world, he wanted to prove he could accomplish something to his deceased parents and to the people of the world.

And then, the following day came.

Oof…

Oof…

TANG—!

"Thank you… Huh?"

That day, something strange happened.

It might have something to do with a strange feeling he sensed a while ago.

Yoo Hyun looked up at the tree and felt the presence of a God. There was definitely a God watching down at him.

There was no other explanation.

His strikes now had more strength behind them. Although it was hard to describe, he felt like he was now beginning to understand what the sword truly was.

"Uhm… Did I do well?"

There was no response.

After all, there was no way the tree would answer to him.

"Please tell me I haven’t lost my mind…"

Yoo Hyun asked.

"Are you watching over me?"

What did a God's voice sound like? Would it be a voice as deep as the ocean? Or perhaps as high as the sky? If not, was he really going mad?

Yoo Hyun shook his head and muttered to himself.

"If I'd known you were watching… I wouldn't have slacked."

He stood up while staggering and struck the tree once more.

Whoosh…

Tang—!

"Thank you!"

Whoosh…

Tang—!

"Thank you!"

* * *

Somewhere in the lofty heavens…

"Snowman, what are you doing?"

"Ah, SturdyPaulowniaTree."

"Huh? Is this piece a swordsman?"

SturdyPaulowniaTree was a God close to Seol.

He had also helped Seol when he was raising Gollun, the Grave Robber. He approached Seol and asked him a question, so he answered it.

"Yes, but it's a bit…"

"Huh? Ah… you picked the wrong card."

"…"

"Oh, right! You don't like the expression 'pick.' Hmm…"

After checking the status of the piece Seol was raising, SturdyPaulowniaTree covered his mouth.

"Hmm…"

"If you have something to say, feel free to do so."

"Can I say something harsh?"

"No. The piece will hear you."

"Hehe… Is that so?"

SturdyPaulowniaTree scratched his head and said, "Do you have a hobby of collecting beings with negative traits?"

"Ahem! It turned out like this due to circumstances of his life."

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"And you can't undo it… Haven't you considered abandoning this Adventure? It seems like a waste of time…"

"…"

Honestly, it wasn't that Seol hadn't thought about it.

This being called Yoo Hyun, who was endlessly striking a massive tree, was indeed weak.

If Seol’s pieces were ranked at their birth, Yoo Hyun would have probably been ranked lowest. Not only in terms of environment or talent, but he was also inferior to others in every other aspect.

"You're right. I should probably give up, but…"

"But Snowman, you never give up until the piece itself gives up."

"That's not exactly why I'm watching."

"Then…?"

"Because it's fun."

"Hmm? Fun? In what sense?"

"Why don't you watch with me from the side a bit?"

"Sure."

Thud…

SturdyPaulowniaTree sat beside Seol and quietly observed Yoo Hyun.

And after a while…

"Isn't this too much?"

"Yes? Ah…"

"He's hitting the tree all day! When will the Adventure start…?"

"The strange thing is his stats are improving quite well from just hitting the tree like this."

"What about skills…?"

"Those will appear in the future…"

"Did you take a glimpse into the future?"

"I asked Yoo Hyun directly."

Snowman smiled slyly.

"But why does he mutter to himself every time he strikes the tree?"

"It seems Yoo Hyun's fate is tied to this tree. He thinks of this tree as a God."

"Hmm… But what exactly is he thankful for?"

"Who knows? I also don't know… Anyway, he seems to be thankful for anything really…"

"The more I hear, the stranger he sounds. Hmm?"

The words Yoo Hyun said while looking up at the tree floated as a script.

[Thank you! How was it? Was it better than before?]

"Who is he talking to…?"

"The tree probably… and… me?"

"I see why you're so engrossed. Well, sometimes, it's good to have things like this."

"Yes. It feels like Yoo Hyun is listening to me… That's why I like him."

SturdyPaulowniaTree shook his head and left.

Even after that, Seol continued nurturing Yoo Hyun. The difficulty of raising him wasn't particularly harder compared to other pieces.

Gradually, Seol found it more and more interesting.

Strangely, Yoo Hyun became stronger. And at a very fast pace.

And finally…

Crack…

[You have cut down a Celestial Tree with your sword.]

[You have earned the special achievement 'I'm Recovered.']

[You have earned the special title 「One who Overcomes」.]

[Awakening! You awaken a new skill.]

[You awaken Exceptional Skill: One-Mind Cut.]

[Exceptional Skill: One-Mind Cut is born!]

Crack…

Crack…

The massive tree fell toward the forest.

Thud…

"Huh…?"

For some reason, a single tear trickled down Seol's eyes as he watched the scene unfold. His chest surged with emotion even though it wasn’t him who cut down the tree.

[Thank you! Thank you…]

Yoo Hyun had finally cut the tree that had tied him to this place.

He then set out into the world, taking only a few fragments of the Celestial Tree, two days' worth of food, and a single sword.

This was the record of Yoo Hyun before he became Yaksha.

The Night Crow fell into thought while seeing the form of Yoo Hyun, who had finally emerged.

- You weakling… Don't try to push me away.

"Shut up! Shut up!"

Crack! Crack!

Yoo Hyun once again hit Yaksha's mask.

This was the final battle Seol had long awaited.

Seol felt his heart tearing at the sight of Yoo Hyun's skin showing through the cracks of the shattered Yaksha's mask.

'Yoo Hyun…'

Swoosh…

Yoo Hyun naturally took his stance.

Seol recognized it. That was the most used skill of the Sword of One Heart.

Although there were two or three other skills, those weren't frequently used by Yoo Hyun. The true power of the Sword of One Heart came from One-Mind Cut—a movement with such destructive power that it cut down a Celestial Tree with a single strike.

If one tried to confront it, they would most likely end up broken.

'How should I…'

Swoosh…

Karen also took her stance.

"I'll give it a try."

"…"

"Watch me."

Fwoosh…

Agony, Karen, and Seol focused all their senses.

'It's coming!'

Whoosh…

They felt as if the entire space was being torn apart by Yoo Hyun's sword.

'Now!'

[Yaksha used Exceptional Skill: One-Mind Cut.]

[Cut your target.]

WHOOSH—!

Was the distance right? Were the steps okay? Was his breath steady? Did he properly distribute his strength?

Yoo Hyun's sword flew in like a beam of light.

Slash—!

Fwoosh…

"…"

Unable to confront that power, the Night Crow instead evaded it, which resulted in the Night Crow losing an arm.

Yoo Hyun's sword transcended what Bones of Origin and Incomplete Combustion could absorb; that was why one of the Night Crow's arms was severed.

"Ha…"

"Hahaha…!"

"Haha…"

Karen and Seol could feel the pain.

Although the thrill of the battle allowed them to endure it somewhat, the pain was still real.

Yet they laughed—at the absurdity of the power and in honor of the one who wielded it.

Slash—!

Blood of Origin reattached the severed arm seamlessly as the Night Crow brought it close.

If Yaksha… No, Yoo Hyun was a monster, then Seol was no different.

"Amazing…"

"We won't be able to dodge it again, right…?"

"It might be possible…"

Karen's expression hardened.

"But then we won't win."

Seol nodded at Karen's words.

They needed to make a decision. Just like Spectre said, perhaps they would have to escape and wait for another opportunity.

However…

"Crying… That guy is crying…"

"Agony?"

"Agony wants to save it."

"Kyahaha! For once, our minds are in sync, aren't they?"

"Will you help?"

"Hmm… I'm not sure. Master…?"

Seol answered with a stiff expression.

"Let's end this here."

"We have to put everything on our next move… If you're scared, you can step back. There will be another chance. You have a lot to lose, don't you?"

Seol shook his head.

"I've always put everything on the line, so it's fine."

"…"

"You know that doesn't mean I don't care if I lose, right?"

"Haha… Right!"

Karen replied with a smile.

This was a fight they couldn't lose.

Paf—!

Maegu, who had been struggling with Seol Hong and Chi Woo, charged toward Yaksha.

"Yaksha! The situation isn't good. We should fall back for now and…"

Slash—!

"…"

"This can't be…"

Maegu's head was sent flying.

Confusion lingered in Maegu's eyes before dying.

"Ah… scary… scary…"

Yagwanggwi clutched its head in fear, trembling at Maegu’s gruesome death.

Now, the only one who could stop Yaksha's rampage was Seol.

Oof…

Oof…

Seol heard Yaksha's heavy breaths. Then he remembered it… Yoo Hyun's every breath, every motion, all of it.

" Seol, whatever you plan to do, do it quickly. We don't have much time…"

Jamad looked severely injured, blood seeping from his mouth, most likely from the repeated dimensional shifts.

Seol nodded.

The Night Crow took its stance.

It wasn't much different from Yoo Hyun's.

Whoosh…

The fire the Night Crow had gathered was absorbed into Agony.

[Incomplete Combustion has reached its peak.]

Oof…

Oof…

The air felt suffocating.

It was a contest of power.

He needed to end things with his next move.

Although he didn't want to imagine himself losing, after witnessing Yoo Hyun's strength, the vision of himself losing kept creeping into his mind.

If they failed, this moment could be their last.

Step…

Step…

Plaf—!

They began running.

There was no turning back now.

Yoo Hyun's sword began moving.

- Wait! I…

While ignoring what Yaksha was saying, Yoo Hyun unleashed his sword, which was the result of his greatest enlightenment.

Fwoosh—!

It felt as if their entire body was being drawn into that sword.

Yoo Hyun's sword gleamed like a shooting star.

That's how it looked.

Swoosh…

It felt like time was slowing down.

The star looked differently to each of them.

For Agony, it was someone crying.

For Karen, it was Lain, standing like an unscalable wall.

And for Seol, it was Yoo Hyun, smiling brightly.

Although their paths were different, their destination was the same.

The three paths had to converge into one.

"AAAHHH!"

With Yoo Hyun's war cry, a slash was unleashed.

[Yaksha used Exceptional Skill: One-Mind Cut.]

[Cut your target.]

Whoosh…

The wall surged forward.

There was a shock so intense that it felt like their insides would be poured out.

WHOOM…

A wall they had to overcome.

A person they had to save.

And Yoo Hyun.

Though they each started from different points, their destination was the same.

All three of them let out a cry that matched Yoo Hyun's.

"AAAHHH!"

"AAAAAA!"

"AAGGHH!"

Fwoosh…

An explosion.

For a moment, it felt like Agony was exploding. The Night Crow's flames gathered into one, forming a massive blade.

The flame that had Agony's shape pushed Yoo Hyun's sword aside and drew a vertical line.

They could see it. Beyond the shining star, the last step that remained.

- See? You can do it if you try.

The Black Sun of Montra, Lain.

- So you came…

The crying Yaksha.

- …

The similing Yoo Hyun.

And so, they arrived in a new world.

[Night Crow: Trinity has been completed!]

[A great step forward! Karen’s rank has improved to Supreme!]

[A Meteor Shower is raining down! Once the battle is over, a great enlightenment will come.]

[Awakening! Karen has awakened a new ability.]

[Exceptional Skill: Sunset Draw has changed to Complete Combustion.]

[Exceptional Skill: Complete Combustion is born!]

Fwoosh—!

"…"

"…"

Yoo Hyun and the Night Crow looked at each other.

"Thank… you…"

Yoo Hyun was the same as always.

Crack…

A fissure ran through Yaksha's mask.

Fwoosh—!

Yoo Hyun's body was split in half. His upper and lower torso were severed.

- No… NOOO!

Yaksha desperately tried to reattach the body. Disgusting fluids came out as it clawed at its upper and lower halves.

Seol approached the fallen Yoo Hyun.

He could see Yoo Hyun's shining eyes behind the hollow eye sockets of the dark mask.

"Thank… you…"

"Yoo Hyun…"

"My name is… Yoo… Hyun…"

Yoo Hyun fumbled his chest.

He pulled something out and reached it toward Seol. He gripped it so tight that it was hard to tell what it was.

"This…"

It was a crude wooden figurine.

What was peculiar was that the figure had no facial features. It was as if it was made while thinking about someone whose face you don't know.

This was a figurine that had been carved out of the Celestial Tree.

Upon realizing this, Seol began tearing up.

"You… really came…"

"What…?"

"I'm… going to… save you… So, wait for me…"

"…"

"Wait… Wait…"

- I'm going to save you! So, wait for me…!

- Please… Wait…

These were the words Seol had said after losing Yoo Hyun to Yaksha.

"Did you really hear me…?"

"I waited… You're late… but still… you came…"

Yoo Hyun's breathing grew fainter…

"Thank you…"

Until it stopped.

Shoosh…

Seol took Yoo Hyun’s mask off. Beneath it, the twisted flesh of his face was revealed.

Seol gently closed Yoo Hyun’s eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Seol stared blankly at the figurine of him made of the Celestial Tree.

[You have defeated Yaksha.]

[You have earned the inaugural achievement 'A Great Step Forward.']

[You have earned the inaugural title 「Supreme Stage」.]

[A mid-point settlement of the Great Journey is being calculated.]

[You have obtained Yaksha's memento.]

…