Even with his mental enhancements, the fear of death was something Hindel could not overcome.

    To be more precise, Hindel’s mind had already been strengthened, but the fear of death was far greater than anything he had ever faced.

    This was his first encounter with such an inevitable death.

    He couldn’t resist it.

    He had to accept it.

    Born with a revelation and raised as a hero, Hindel had been taught that fear had no place in a hero’s heart and that sacrifice was part of the duty. But facing such raw, undeniable death was a new experience for him.

    Death was something to be accepted. The more one tried to overcome it, the more it became a glaring reality.

    No matter how much one struggled, there was no escape. In the end, everyone faced death.

    “Hoo....”

    He took a deep breath, attempting to calm his mind, but it still wasn’t enough.

    However, doing nothing would mean his end.

    Seong, too, had noticed something was wrong with Hindel.

    Not knowing what was going on made it even more difficult.

    ‘What’s happening?’

    As soon as the death seal triggered, Hindel had used his healing and buffing skills, but he still wasn’t settling down.

    Although the moment wasn’t long, Seong took a brief pause to observe.

    It didn’t seem like a trick.

    Had Hindel used all of his strength?@@@@

    No, from what Seong could see, Hindel’s demeanor still held strong.

    Seong didn’t fully understand, but his instincts told him it was a perfect opportunity.

    Hindel’s confusion and fear were Seong’s chance.

    Having known Hindel well, Seong knew how to move.

    Despite his fear, Hindel acted.

    A hero had no other choice.

    He had been taught that way.

    ‘He’s coming.’

    It didn’t take long for Hindel to close the distance. Perhaps the conflict was more internal than external, but now the blood-sword projectiles began to descend toward Hindel.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Swish—!

    Dozens of blood-red swords, like raindrops, fell toward the ground.

    The sight of blood raining down felt surreal, as if it were a downpour of blood.

    Still, Hindel gathered all his strength to steady his trembling sword.

    His eyes, now containing the essence of the galaxy, released a mysterious light, enveloping his entire body.

    With his body lightened from gravity’s pull, Hindel became even more nimble.

    As he moved, multiple afterimages resembling stars trailed behind him.

    The blood swords that rained down like a storm couldn’t follow his swift movements.

    Hindel evaded the blood swords and rose into the sky like a comet, trailing a long, starry light.

    His speed was tremendous, and it seemed as though he had become one with the stars themselves.

    The sight was beautiful, but Seong wasn’t about to stand still.

    Seong’s swift response called forth a swarm of blood swords, acting as a barricade, cutting off Hindel’s path.

    Boom—!

    A violent explosion shook the surroundings as the blood swords collided, but neither Seong nor Hindel paid it any mind.

    They were focused solely on their own battle.

    The blood swords formed a shield to block Hindel’s assault, but Hindel responded by summoning the power of the galaxy once more. The entire area around him was enveloped in cosmic energy.

    Clang! Clash! Clang—!

    Every attack from the blood swords was repelled by Hindel’s shield of starlight.

    It was a sturdy defense, but Seong felt something was amiss.

    The blood swords themselves weren’t causing high damage.

    Hindel must have realized this too.

    There was no need to expend so much mana on such a defensive skill.

    ‘Is he exhausting his strength unnecessarily?’

    It seemed Hindel was using more energy than needed.

    Despite realizing this, Hindel gritted his teeth, acknowledging his mistake.

    ‘I didn’t need to use the curtain of stars...’

    He knew the blood swords weren’t dangerous individually, but he had instinctively cast the barrier.

    There was only one reason for it.

    If he allowed five attacks to land, he would have to face the one behind them again.

    In his current state, gripped by fear, Hindel couldn’t notice that something was emerging from the cracked ground around him.

    His vision narrowed, and all he could focus on was Seong.

    As Hindel’s vision tightened, he felt the first traces of damage from the teal mist behind him, where Seong’s Aura of Death had spread.

    Though the damage was slight, a shadowy hand emerged and bound Hindel’s arm.

    But it didn’t matter.

    His Galaxy Collapse would activate soon.

    He was about to release the accumulated power that would destroy everything around him.

    Seong, however, raised a finger to his lips.

    At that moment, something appeared behind Hindel.

    ‘...Is it...?’

    It wasn’t the same presence he had felt before, the indifferent Reaper. This was different—there was malice, an overwhelming feeling of evil.

    ‘What... is this?’

    Hindel instinctively turned his head, sensing the presence behind him.

    There, in the air, stood a massive witch with hollow eyes, resembling a bottomless abyss.

    A cruel smile spread across her face as she gleefully approached with a teal needle in hand.

    She delicately stitched Hindel’s mouth shut with the needle, the teal thread trailing behind her as she worked methodically.

    Thrust! Ssss.

    Thrust! Ssss.

    Thrust! Ssss.

    The witch, giggling, raised her finger, bringing the needle to her lips and whispered:

    Shhiiit.

    ‘Ah, no...’

    [You are sealed for 5 seconds by the Lord’s Silence.]

    [Hindel partially resists.]

    [The duration is reduced to 2 seconds.]

    Just as the Galaxy Collapse was about to activate, Hindel lost all his remaining strength.

    The blessings of the galaxy and all other buffs disappeared instantly.

    All Hindel had left was his body and his sword.

    Even with those, he would have fought on, but his arms were bound by shadowy hands, and the undead rising from the ground ensnared his legs.

    The green mist was eating away at him.

    Then, the blood swords rained down upon him.

    More shadowy hands appeared, and the ominous presence returned.

    Hindel saw it.

    The death he had tried to avoid was coming for him.

    The undead held his legs, and the green mist flickered with lights, but all he could feel was the crushing weight of inevitability.

    Boom—! The earth shook violently as explosions and intense heat swept the area, melting everything in their path.

    Seong, still caught within the range of the explosion, used his extreme defensive skills to block the searing heat, his thoughts racing.

    “Surely he’s not dead?”

    Even with such a huge explosion, as a hero, Hindel couldn’t have been killed, right?

    If he were dead, it would mean the quest failed and they’d be sent back to the start.

    Judging by the lack of any message, it seemed like Hindel had survived.

    Seong breathed a sigh of relief, watching as Hindel’s necklace glowed faintly and then faded away.

    It must have been some kind of item preventing death.

    ‘Thank goodness.’

    As Seong felt relief, the following messages appeared:

    [You have achieved victory over the past 『Hero Hindel』!]

    [You have earned experience from the duel!]

    [Level Up!] [You are now level 79.]

    [You have been acknowledged by the 『Hero』!]

    [You have earned the title 『The One Recognized by Heroes』!]

    [For the first time in Eternal World, you have defeated a Hero!] [You have earned the title 『The Most Dangerous』!]

    [As an overwhelming victory reward, you have obtained a Unique-grade item, 『Random Skill Book』!]

    ‘I really only just won.’

    If Hindel hadn’t done anything strange, it would have been much harder.

    It was a relief it didn’t go that far.

    Seong prepared to head back as he saw Hindel’s party members running toward him.

    Hindel had attacked first, so it must have been self-defense, right?

    ‘We’ll figure that out later.’