BRDM 152

chapter 152

Goh Jin-woo looked at Lee Hyun with a face full of dread before stepping back in a rush.

Lee Hyun pulled a staff from his inventory and slammed it against the ground.

Crack!!

The large amethyst embedded at the tip gleamed with an eerie light.

The Rune Staff of Stonehenge.

A national treasure of Britain that the Myungga Guild had originally intended to present to Peng Jinghao along with the dragon’s egg.

The light spilling from the amethyst was far brighter than when it had been used before.

Thanks to Lee Hyun’s rapid improvement in strength…!

Bzzzzt!!

And because of that—

The sealed functions of the Rune Staff awakened.

[‘Rune Staff of Stonehenge’ has confirmed the user’s magic coefficient and auxiliary abilities.]
[The sealed runes have been unlocked.]
[You can now cast Rune Magic!]

The kind of magic every mage longed for—

Rune Magic.

[Rune Magic]
Runes are ancient symbols, each letter tied to the primal forces of nature.
Their combinations and arrangements manifest entirely different effects.
-Origin: Tradition of the Elder Futhark.

Lee Hyun already knew the staff’s secrets from Dochul and Lee Gunsan.

Especially Lee Gunsan—being an alchemist, he had studied rune magic deeply, and Lee Hyun had learned quite a bit from him.

Now, instead of masking spells with skill combinations, he could wield true thunder magic.

―ᛊ.

The rune of the Sun—or of Lightning—shone upon the amethyst.

Flash!!

In an instant, white lightning spiraled around Lee Hyun, condensing into orbs of storming thunder.

Compared to the first time he had made them months ago, they were three to four times larger.

Five of them appeared, floating like small planets, revolving around him.

Through Rune Magic, my Thunder Orbs are more than ten times stronger. And if I overlay them with Cursed Script…

[‘Sacred Relic: Mask of the Golden Arhat’ activates, inscribing the Cursed Script.]
[It resonates with the Rune Staff of Stonehenge, overlaying the curse upon the rune.]
[The magic’s effects are amplified.]
[Cursed Script: Element Fixation, Mana Amplification, Explosive Condensation]

Rrrrrumble!!

The Thunder Orbs quivered as though on the verge of exploding, sparks leaping across their surfaces before being sucked back in.

It was the classic flare phenomenon—proof that tremendous heat and pressure were being compressed inside.

Power, stability, and versatility—it’s evolved by several levels at once.

“…H-hey, don’t tell me you’re actually planning to detonate that?”

Goh Jin-woo’s face twisted in shock.

Even after retreating to the far end of the rooftop, he could still feel the unbearable heat.

It was far hotter than anything he had ever seen on a battlefield.

And then—

…That look in his eyes!

When Lee Hyun turned toward him behind the mask, Goh Jin-woo felt his stomach drop.

He knew well enough that this was Lee Hyun.

But the atmosphere around him was utterly different.

If Lee Hyun was warm-hearted despite his fire, then this “Demon Thunder” was cold, merciless, and violent.

Could that mask be cursed…?

“You—you’ll hurt civilians if you lose control—”

“Hyung.”

The voice that seeped out from behind the mask was dark, heavy, merciless.

A voice shaped by the cursed script.

“Run.”

“…What?”

“I gave you a chance.”

“…!?”

At that instant, Lee Hyun twisted the staff lightly.

One Thunder Orb shot out and struck the club’s rooftop.

Rumble!!

“You crazy bastard!!”

For a moment, Goh Jin-woo’s thoughts had lagged, distracted by that unearthly voice.

Now he was certain—

This was Lee Hyun!!

He hurled himself off the far side of the building in panic.

At that very moment—

Flash!!
Krrrack!!

A colossal pillar of light burst down at the club entrance, unleashing a storm of lightning.

“Uwaaaaaa!!”

Save me!

Goh Jin-woo screamed inside.

* * *

Ten minutes earlier.

On Friday nights, the club streets were always jam-packed with people.

The same was true for Club Tronica.

Waiting times ran over an hour. But tonight, some people skipped the line and went straight through the fast track.

No one dared complain—not when even the staff and security bowed deeply to them.

“Wh-what’s with those people…?”
“Are they staff here?”
“The foreign woman in the middle—she’s insanely gorgeous. A model?”

The murmurs didn’t last long.

Soon, people began fanning themselves.

“Hey, don’t you feel like it suddenly got hot? Is it just the crowd?”
“Still, it’s not even summer yet… climate change or something?”
“Global warming, idiot.”
“Whatever. It’s seriously hot.”

Just then, someone shaded their eyes toward a rooftop across the street.

“Hey! What’s that?”
“A meteor?”
“Are you crazy? Why would a meteor fall here?”
“Then a UFO?”

Above them, a blazing orb of light hung in the night sky.

It swelled, growing so bright it outshone all the neon signs.

And then—five orbs floated, glowing like miniature suns.

It was as bright as noon.

“Argh, my eyes!”
“What the hell? Why won’t it go away?”

As the muttering grew louder, the security staff sensed something wrong and rushed outside.

“W-wait, that’s… mana!? That’s magic!!”
“No way! Who would cast that here, in a downtown district!? Unless it’s terrorism—”
“Damn it! Run!!”

With that shout, the waiting crowd broke apart, bolting in every direction.

Meanwhile, the orbs swelled larger and larger.

Hummmm!!

“That bastard—what the hell is he!?”
“Go! Grab him now! Lady Camila just arrived! Move if you don’t want your heads on the block!!”

The City Cartel’s security scrambled toward the building where Lee Hyun stood.

Today of all days, there could be no trouble.

Camila Duarte.

One of the highest-ranking executives, even by headquarters’ standards, had come to the club on business.

And yet—above them hung orbs that blazed like suns, filling the sky with waves of mana.

Crack-crash!!

Glass shattered across the street, neon lights sparked, and the district fell into blackout.

Given that modern civilization ran almost entirely on mana and magic stones, the sheer power was staggering.

Rrrrmmmbl!!

The ground itself shook, sending people fleeing in panic.

And then—

Flash!!

The blazing orb struck the club building.

“Wha—what!?”
“Damn it! Stop it!!”

The guards went pale, but it was too late.

BOOOOM!!

The blast shook the streets, shattering what glass remained, a storm of dust rising.

But—

Bzzzzzzzt!!

There was no fiery explosion.

Instead, a pillar of light shot into the sky, from which countless lightning bolts spread like spiderwebs, wrapping around the building.

Hundreds—thousands—of tendrils of lightning crawled across the walls, burrowing inside.

Like the grasping limbs of some colossal monster.

And they targeted only the cartel’s guards.

“Ghhk!”
“Aaargh!!”
“W-what is this!?”

Those who had rushed in to seize Lee Hyun, those guarding the entrance—lightning skewered them all.

Hunters fired off skills to defend themselves, but the sharpened bolts ignored them, piercing hearts and cores alike.

Even those who tried to run—if they strayed too far, the tendrils lashed out, dragging them down.

[‘Sacred Relic: Fire-Eyed Golden Compass’ activates, detecting all who carry demonic energy. Ginkgoa assists in processing.]
[Your understanding of Thunder Magic increases drastically.]
[The Thunder Orbs have dominated the building—it is now your domain!]

Criminals who only spread harm in Korea… better to root them out entirely.

Lee Hyun never touched civilians without mana, nor hunters free of demonic taint.

Ordinary clubgoers who had come for music were even aided by his spirits, ushered out safely.

And then—

Crackle! Szzzt!

Once the time was ripe—

―ᚱ.

A new rune shimmered on the amethyst.

Electricity tangled in the air, weaving a glowing path.

Flash!!

As soon as Lee Hyun set a foot upon it, he blinked from the rooftop to the club entrance.

[You have acquired a new spell: Trail of Radiance.]

Whoosh!

His platinum coat flared in the wind.

“U-uwaaaa!!”
“Die!!”

To the guards, the sight was ghostly.

A demon’s mask, platinum coat whipping, staff raised high.

White thunder raging without end, air burning hot, oppressive force crashing down—

It was nothing but terror.

They lunged with weapons, but—

BOOM!!

Lightning tendrils lashed out, smashing heads and chests.

No blood spilled—bodies burned black before that.

“U-uwahh!! D-demon thunder…!!”

One higher-ranked guard screamed.

The phantom they had hunted in vain—now revealed, here of all days, before Lady Camila herself!

Or—did he plan this? Did he wait for her arrival!?!

The officer’s thoughts turned white with shock.

There’s a spy for Demon Thunder inside the cartel!!

It was vital to report this.

But no escape route was in sight.

And then Lee Hyun turned toward him.

The officer’s heart dropped.

From beneath the mask, those eyes shone—gold and white mingled, piercing straight through his soul.

“I see you know me.”

The chilling voice beneath the mask.

It carried the force of a spirit, binding the soul with terror.

“Th-that…!”

“Then you also know I came for Camila Duarte.”

Lee Hyun growled.

“Go tell her this.”

The officer wanted to faint.

“Because she broke her promise—
I’ll tear her head off.”

“…!!!”

Without looking back, the officer bolted underground.

At this point, obedience was the only thought in his head.

And meanwhile—

Shhh—

Lee Hyun stepped again upon the radiant path, floating inches above the ground.

Tonight, he would slowly tighten the noose around their throats.