Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 228
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
228. Übermenschen (4)
“Damn it, we’re being pushed back….”
After the Dark Night Barrier strengthened, Shin Chang and Fist King began to lose ground. There were precisely two reasons for this.
The first was naturally due to the skill restrictions. The movements themselves weren’t problematic, but everything felt sluggish.
I had my doubts.
It seemed like spear arts and hand-to-hand combat would be the skills selected, but if that were the case, would the information that entered my mind simply vanish?
-If a skill like swordsmanship is sealed, you must fight relying entirely on your body’s pure instincts.
Chun-bae provided the answer.
With swordsmanship, information flows into your mind when you acquire the skill. We train based on that foundation, refining and perfecting it.
But it doesn’t end there. Even with a Level 1 skill, you can imitate it immediately. When executing the movements that entered your mind, there’s magical flow assistance and physical support.
When a skill is sealed, all of that disappears, and you must fight using only the sensations your body remembers.
‘In a way, it’s not an enormous penalty….’
It’s not that we can’t fight at all, but the impact is significant. In battles between high-level Awakeners, even half a breath can lead to fatal wounds.
With a body different from usual, performing at full strength would be impossible.
It was like fighting without spatial awareness—much like my own predicament.
And the second reason we began losing ground was that the enemies targeted Shin Chang and Fist King first.
“Target Shin Chang and Fist King first!”
Because of the skill restrictions, they couldn’t display the overwhelming performance from before, and the enemies who had been targeting us instead rushed at Shin Chang and Fist King.
They were holding their ground, but it was more precarious than before. We had to save those two first.
“We need to break through! They won’t last long!”
“Mister!”
The two who had been freely weaving through the enemies—now with the barrier strengthened, they seemed trapped….
Thud-!
Before we could even move to rescue them, they made a powerful leap and flew toward us, landing safely.
‘They’re not trapped.’
Right. They’re world-ranked TOP 2 and 3 Hunters. Not alone, but two of them. One combat skill being sealed wouldn’t put them in real danger.
They’d sustained minor wounds, but they seemed unbothered. Healing magic flowed into them immediately.
“Are you alright?”
When Saebyeokbit’s Healer asked, Shin Chang nodded.
“….”
True to his taciturn nature, he gave no verbal response. He simply gazed at the battlefield with calm, composed eyes. His mind was clearly working.
Fist King, by contrast, smiled fiercely.
“Foolish tactics.”
The two raging warriors had rejoined us, but our encircled position hadn’t changed. The enemies approached, preparing to attack.
I had to think fast. I activated Swiftness.
Unable to replenish stamina in the Subspace now, I had to be careful with mana consumption, but I couldn’t hold back here.
‘Severance might be possible.’
The possibility I considered was Severance. I’d been quite surprised seeing Severance at S-rank. The skill’s structure hadn’t fundamentally changed much.
But the difference in how the skill functioned was unmistakable.
When I obtained A-rank Severance, I judged it to be a skill that separated space. I called it spatial severance, but it wasn’t quite at that level….
In simple terms, it meant severing enemies perceived through spatial awareness—a skill closer to physically cutting through matter.
‘But Severance at S-rank… it truly approached spatial severance.’
When using the skill, it didn’t feel like cutting through an object but rather like genuinely cleaving space itself. The difference was unmistakable.
It wasn’t about splitting an apple in half, but rather splitting the space where the apple existed in two.
When I’d used S-rank Severance at full power, space itself seemed to momentarily rupture. Twist, perhaps, was the better word.
If I used it on this barrier, I might be able to tear through it.
“Behind!”
“Hye!”
I swung my blade. There was little luxury for contemplation.
In any case, the Dark Night Barrier was an S-rank scroll. As a single-use item, its power was truly formidable—worthy of admiration.
Even with Hidden enhancement, an S-rank item that sealed one skill each from Shin Chang, Fist King, and myself? It possessed absurd value.
But that didn’t mean it was perfect.
‘The Secretary broke through it with coordinates.’
My Severance had also reached S-rank. It might be possible. Of course, it might not break through with Severance either.
But the situation was dire. Even with reinforcements, we were outnumbered. Shin Chang and Fist King’s skills were sealed.
I had no confidence we could hold out until additional support arrived. They were still swarming, and their condition remained excellent.
In other words, resolving this meant accepting risk.
Not enduring—but eliminating them.
I hadn’t set this trap just to hold out. Opportunities to reduce their numbers were few.
“Han Chul. Could you hand me that Secretary?”
“Yes.”
Mid-combat, Han Chul passed the Secretary to me without question, moving swiftly. I input new coordinates. Here.
“Why the Secretary!”
Saebyeokbit’s vanguard asked.
“I might have a way.”
As I spoke amid fierce defense, all eyes turned toward me. Though heads couldn’t turn during combat.
“What is it? Speak quickly.”
Thanks to the interpretation skill, Fist King could understand me too. He thrust his fist forward powerfully as he spoke.
“I don’t know if it’s possible or impossible. We’ll only know by trying. It could be dangerous for all of you.”
I looked beyond the barrier. I could see nothing, but it was certain something had happened to the reinforcements. They were later than promised.
There was definitely something outside. Or perhaps the enhanced barrier prevented entry and exit from the outside as well.
“Dangerous? This is already dangerous enough.”
Fist King laughed sharply.
“Do whatever. Don’t explain.”
Right. Time was critical. I held the Secretary in my hand.
“Then I’ll step out briefly.”
“Huh?”
Fist King, who’d been laughing sharply, was startled. He’d said to try anything, not to explain. I tore the Secretary.
“Hold on for a bit.”
* * *
Han Hye had two options: breaking the barrier from within or attempting it from outside. Both had their merits and drawbacks.
Breaking through the encirclement from inside would be difficult. Of course, there was the option of flying out on Yong-yong.
But that was impossible. Our allies were barely holding on as it was. If I left and took Yong-yong with me, the Dragon Knight would lose his strength too. For now, it wasn’t a viable choice.
‘I have no choice but to leave.’
I had to go out and handle the problem. Fortunately, the saved coordinates weren’t far away. I needed to resolve the issue outside first and get reinforcements inside.
If the barrier was blocking us, I had to destroy it.
I also needed to recover my mana. To break the barrier with Severance, I’d need to expend all my mana completely.
That’s why I’d accepted the Secretary from Kim Han-chul. Just in case I couldn’t break the barrier, I planned to return to full condition.
‘When I re-enter, the Subspace seal might be lifted by then.’
Going out and coming back would help in multiple ways. Of course, the condition was that nothing could go wrong with our allies in the meantime.
-You have escaped the Dark Night Barrier. The seal on the skill ‘Subspace (S-rank)’ is being released.
As I stepped out of the barrier, my spatial sense returned. Regaining a sense I’d lost felt incredibly fulfilling.
An Association Staff member was waiting at the designated coordinates. He was startled by Han Hye’s sudden appearance.
“A-are you alright? What about inside!”
“It’s still manageable for now. What’s the problem out here? Are enemies guarding the outside?”
“No, sir. The barrier grew denser, and we attempted entry, but couldn’t get through. We’re currently waiting at the front.”
Just as I thought—the barrier had been reinforced, different from Chun-bae’s intelligence. It hadn’t shown up for far too long. There was no other explanation.
Then I’d proceed as I’d planned.
-A deep rumble echoed.
First, I needed to open the Subspace and rest. I had wounds and had expended considerable mana.
As soon as I entered, I immediately asked for sleep. After several hours of sufficient rest, Han Hye used Leap to move near the barrier.
“You’re back? What about inside!”
“Is everyone alright?”
Seo Seung-yeon, Saebyeokbit, and Iron Wall hunters waiting outside the barrier bombarded Han Hye with questions.
“They’re holding on. I came to destroy the barrier.”
Seeing Han Hye’s face, everyone grew quite serious.
“What’s the situation?”
“Shin Chang and Fist King’s skills are sealed. We need to break through this quickly.”
“Can you destroy it?”
“We’ll have to try. If it doesn’t work, I plan to go back in.”
That was all the situation sharing that needed to happen. Saebyeokbit and Iron Wall fell silent. As veteran hunters, they understood that talking wouldn’t change anything.
Hadn’t they themselves failed to break this barrier for quite some time?
I should have gone in much earlier, but the delay had been so long that most of the additional reinforcements had nearly arrived.
‘Will it work?’
Han Hye concentrated. Even Chun-bae couldn’t guarantee success. There was no way to know until trying.
The barrier was solid. I focused on the spatial sense that had returned to me.
Severance, now at S-rank.
I had no intention of splitting it in all directions like when piercing with a sword.
‘I need to destroy the barrier, or at least create an entrance large enough for reinforcements to enter.’
This first attempt was a test. Could I cut through it or not? I concentrated all my mana into Severance. My sole focus was destroying the barrier before me.
I placed Eshirel inside as well and brought my hand close to the barrier. Then, I activated Severance.
-Screeeech!
A sound of something tearing echoed through the air. The barrier hadn’t cracked—instead, a thin line appeared on its surface as if a groove had been carved into it.
“What?”
“Insane.”
The Iron Wall and Saebyeokbit hunters watching from the sidelines dropped their jaws. From outside, they’d tried everything. They’d unleashed the most powerful magic and skills, detonated bombs.
Yet nothing had worked. Not a single scratch. But the moment Han Hye arrived, a groove appeared?
‘It’s working.’
Han Hye clenched her fist tightly. If a line had formed, it meant Severance was effective against this barrier.
Moreover, the groove didn’t fill in even as time passed.
-Screeeech!
I poured every last bit of my mana into it and activated Severance again. The groove deepened further.
“It’s getting deeper!”
Ignoring the cheering hunters, I opened a Subspace. If there was a Subspace from outside, this wasn’t a problem.
While only about a second passed on the outside, I could refill all my mana.
-Whoooosh!
-Whoooosh!
After five times, pouring all my mana into Severance against the barrier.
-Screeeech!
At that eerie cutting sound, a straight fracture split across the barrier. Finally—not just a groove, but the barrier itself had cracked.
The barrier that had looked so incredibly solid lost its strength and scattered like cloth. The moment the interior became visible.
-Crash!
-Craaaaaash!
The collapse happened in an instant. Like a dam crumbling in a single moment.
-Crack!
The barrier shattered instantly along the line Han Hye had carved. Black powder scattered skyward.
[Dark Night Barrier has been deactivated.]
Han Hye’s lips curved upward.
‘Space itself… I split it apart…!’
The moment the space opened, Seo Seung-yeon moved first. She raised her gun and aimed forward.
-Bang!
As if the gunshot were a signal flare, Iron Wall and Saebyeokbit surged forward like wind.
Fortunately, while Han Hye destroyed the barrier, none of those inside had fallen.
“Ahahaha! You’ve arrived!”
The Fist King’s booming laughter echoed from afar. Han Hye started to dash forward but stopped herself. The severance had drained her mana completely.
‘This doesn’t look good at all.’
The situation had become somewhat awkward, but there was no helping it. To provide support, I needed to restore my mana, didn’t I?
Han Hye opened a Subspace quickly.
‘Just wait one second.’
Now came the counterattack. I’d heard that most of the reinforcements were nearly here. The military was mobilizing as well.
Since I’d been inside for quite some time, by now all eyes in Korea would be fixed on this place.
‘Even if we survive, we won’t escape unscathed.’
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————