The investigation task force navigated through the broken judicial hall as a section of Hunters continued their exploration. In eventually, the recon of the task force managed to ascertain a way toward the Boss Room.
And naturally, the courthouse where Jihoon is waiting for them to come is in their way. Upon seeing Jihoon still alive, the grizzled D-rank immediately approached in relief that he was still fine.
Of course, things didn’t exactly go as planned but Jihoon shared his findings with the investigation force with great details. Of how this sacrificial operation has likely existed long ago but only reared its head recently until now considering Jin only registers as a proper Hunter like 3 months ago. But secretly hid an ace that doesn’t reflect his status as an F-rank.
The investigation task force listened with rapt attention as Jihoon relayed the harrowing tale of his friend Jin's decent into depravity. He spared no detail - the cursed firearm Der Freischutz and its perverse bargain, Jin's obsession with acquiring ever greater power after his harrowing brush with death a decade prior.
"According to the lore, that infernal rifle should have killed Jin long ago, or at the very least, its effects would have become glaringly apparent," the grizzled D-rank said, features creased in a deep frown. "Misfiring with that dreaded seventh shot, putting allies in the line of fire - there should have been signs of its corrupting influence all along."
Jihoon shook his head slowly. "By all rights, Jin should have been consumed by its corrupting energies almost from the outset. Either killed outright by the weapon's fell power...or driven utterly mad by having cheated death so profanely."
The D-rank's craggy features tightened grimly. "You're implying he's been staving off its malign effects through sheer force of will? Centering his entire existence around that damned gun's curse?"
"And that's just the half of it," Jihoon continued heavily. "From what little Jin confided before his escape, it seems this obsession has been nearly a decade in the making. Ever since the initial Gates descended and tore our world asunder..."
Jihoon recounted the harrowing tale - how Jin had survived an infamous boss-tier ambush that butchered entire rookie Hunter teams, only to find the Freischutz amidst the monster's remains. How that single, improbable victory had planted the seeds of ambition which blossomed into unholy pursuits of power at any cost.
"He thinks everyone else he knew back then perished in those dark days," Jihoon said somberly. "That self-blame belief enabled his dependence on the Freischutz to keep spiraling further and further into depravity without anything anchoring him."
His jaw tightened. "Until he crossed paths with me again during that first disastrous Gate delve. I think...part of him realized he can't keep treading that path any longer without losing his soul completely."
His gaze met Jihoon's with cold resolution. "We shut this monstrosity down here and now, kid. No matter what it takes - we'll save your friend from himself if we can...but that devil's bargain bullet-chuter gets dismantled permanently. You read me?"
Jihoon could only nod tightly, renewed determination tingeing his words. "Understood, sir. Jin may have fallen into darkness...but I'll be damned if I don't try dragging him back into the light, one way or another."
His fingers curled around the shaft of the aged halberd as the task force pressed on toward the heart of this dungeon. Whatever profane power awaited them, Jihoon would confront it head-on - his steadfast convictions the only bulwark against the encroaching end.
Following the route to the Boss Room, Jihoon and the rest of the task force saw more and more judicate knights slain with well-timed shot through their body. And what looks like an entire group of them slain in a unified firing volley despite there being only one shooter.
The D-rank can only gauge what the ability of Der Freischutz really is. Jiwoon’s thoughts converged toward of how to fight such an opponent who can always accurately hit you no matter what.
"Kid wasn't lying about that hellgun's accuracy. Bastard must have taken them all out with a single volley, rounds striking true even at obscured angles and distances."
Jiwoon's lips pressed into a tight line as she evaluated the grisly scene. "At least we finally have confirmation he hasn't burned through all of the Freischutz's 'true' shots yet. Otherwise, this whole place would be cratered from that dreaded final, round."
“If that’s the case then a conventional assault would be no different that a suicide charge. That lunatic could theoretically nail half a dozen crits on us before that wildcard failsafe even kicks in. We're gonna need to limit his firing angles, blanket that rat with enough suppressive firepower to keep him on the defensive." The D-ranker spat out a coarse curse
“Sir! I used my Awakened ability to create a miniature 3-dimensional holographic map of the area ahead. In front of us is a narrow chokepoint of 3 ways that was supposed to lead us to the Boss Area but I could sense a presence awaiting at the choke point. Other than that, these passages are also on verge of structural failure and can be collapsed with a demolition charge regardless of placement”. The recon of the investigation task force made his report.
“So, we could definitely breach our way through between the path then and if desperate enough, collapsed the entire route. Der Freischutz only retains its unerring accuracy if the target is in direct sight of the shooter.”
Jiwoon piped up, her dual blades already in hand. "I'll run point then, blur his sightlines while you big guns lay down the heavy ordnance barrage. If I can keep him guessing where the next thrust is coming from, maybe buy enough split-seconds for solid hits to start landing." Her lips peeled back in a predatory grin. "After all, even a god-shot couldn't account for random buckshot spreads at pointblank."
"Easier said than done with whatever's ahead still lurking in wait," the D-ranker growled. "But you're our best bet at overwhelming this psychopath's skills. Just don't get overconfident and charge in recklessly."
His gaze fell to Jihoon, softening minutely. "You're on backup duty, kid. From what you've described, your Songs might be the only counter we have against your old partner going full-tilt with that hex-barrel of his. You'll need to lay in priority buffs where you can as you try tilting the scales in our favor."
Jihoon nodded understandingly. The mission priority come first much as he wanted to save Jin, but he can’t allow his newfound allies to die due to his obsession with the old one. With a deep breathe, Jihoon shadowed with the recon.
Then he suddenly realized one thing. If Jin’s gun could indeed hit any target anywhere with impossible accuracy, his danger would have been far more presenting than how it should appear. Yet, he never used it despite knowing Jihoon himself is here.
"Everyone, I think Jin can only detect us with his visual range and if he sees us clearly, otherwise he wouldn't waste his shot at all with Der Freischutz. We'll take him by insurmountable force once all the gambits piled up and pulled off.”
Because after all, Der Freischutz in its original folklore never have its shooter fired at a target he doesn't even aware of
The D-ranker nodded grimly at Jihoon's analysis. "Sharp eye there, kid. That cursed rifle may grant your friend ungodly marksmanship, but it can't overcome basic laws of optics and line of sight."
His gaze swept over the holographic map projection, carved features etched in concentration. "Which means we can use the environment against him, at least initially. That chokepoint's gonna be our killing field, but we need to control the engagement from ambuscade."
Jiwoon cracked her knuckles, a feral grin playing across her lips. "I can lead the flanking maneuvers, use those side-tunnels to hit him from angles he won't be expecting. Keep him pinned and pivoting until the big'uns have their demolition charges laid."
"Exactly," the D-ranker grunted in approval. "We splinter your crazed former partner's field of view, disorient him just long enough for our main force to lock down escape routes."
He pointed at two of the larger Hunters, their bulky frames outfitted with breaching charges and heavy ordnance. "Samil, Jong-hu - you'll be our demolitions muscle alongside me. We punch through the access tunnels here and here, set the perimeter charges to channelize everything toward the kill zone."
The grizzled veteran's finger traced a path through the hologram's heart, the central nexus where all routes appeared to converge. "Once the rat's boxed in with nowhere to run, hit him with everything you've got. Zero-hold barrage, max stopping power." His steely gaze fell on Jihoon once more. "And you, kid. Can you play your Song Magic to increase our overall capability?"
With an agreeing nod, he already has such a thing in his store already. In fact, Jin is already partially aware of it too.
Even if it meant putting Jin down for good should he refuse to surrender his dark path. The unspoken words hung heavy in the air, an oath sealed without need for further voice.
The D-ranker regarded Jihoon appraisingly, seeming to weigh the younger man's measure. At length, he gave a curt nod of acceptance. "All right then - final checks on field gear and munitions. We breach and secure that chokepoint in two minutes, people!"
Jihoon made his agreement. He’ll bring his friend back no matter the capacity. Simple and concise as that.
Slowly approaching the chokepoint by his lonesome self. If there’s anyone that could stall Jin’s from immediately firing Der Freischutz then it would Jihoon himself. Then with the strumming of his electric guitar, the piano played by the System followed in sequence.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Glint of Cold Steel
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
-+75% to all Physical Attributes to all allies within Song Magic’s range.
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
If Jin can hear it, then he knew Jihoon is within the area. However, without being directly in his line of sight, Jin would not take potshots with a perilous weapon as his. His gaze however, didn’t separate from the hallway where the sound is coming from.
While Jihoon draws attention of Jin through his Song Magic, everyone else is moving to position. Fire team Hunters with their anti-material rifles, the demolition team and the grizzled D-rank calculating the effect of the demolition charges to their own advantage. Jiwoon and the vanguard prepared to move and enclose. All three teams divided to the selected path
Even if Jihoon himself has base stat only of F-rank, all the task force’s personnel around is about D-rank in general strength and Jiwoon is likely higher by a slight margin.
He isn’t the one to bring the end to it, but he is no doubt the crux of the operation.
“Now!” The D-rank in the shadow of the hallway spoke through the squad communicator as the fire team Hunters heed his command.
Only one opening volley was needed. As the fire team Hunters fired only their first shot toward Jin which he immediately shifts their attention toward them. Right when the gun was about to be fired however, the grizzled veteran who observed through the holographic map immediately activate the explosive.
The area in front of the fire team blew up in a cloud of dust, covering their position as the firing team hastily retreated. Before Jin can rescind his decision, the gun has fired but having no mark to lock onto. Its power simply stray into nowhere as it caught nothing in its path. Then the hallway collapsed in entirety as nothing can traverse it.
All of it to draw out one magic bullet from Jin, so that he is getting closer to the seventh bullet. But there is one more important objective beneath them all, make sure that none of the task force operatives here die or Jin’s case will truly become inexcusable.
“Activate every other charge! Don’t hesitate! Go! Go!”. The grizzled veteran said as he commands one of the demolition Hunter.
Moving with unnatural swiftness granted by Jihoon's Song Magic, the breachers hurled their payloads toward the out of the darkened hallway as Jin’s focused attention immediately noticed the something incoming. With his Freischutz on the prepared, the moment something stepped into the light means he immediately fire Der Freischutz.
Except he just fired at the payload of explosive that the demolition team had thrown. Another of Der Freischutz shot spent just to nearly ruin things on his end as the damage started to spread from the hallway toward the ceiling above him. Then rubble avalanche upon as Jin navigates the falling debris. Even if Jin didn’t fire, the demolition team would have detonated the payload remotely.
Taking advantage of the situation, Jiwoon rushed into the fight as she started with her barrage of throwing daggers. Combined with Jihoon’s “Glint of Cold Steel”, the thrown dagger carved deep into the stone masonry with the mere applied effect on her stats as she controls the battlefield on her initiative.
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Jin is still merely F-rank, a lot of these should have killed him already. However, he didn’t need to use Der Freischutz as only as a gun. Quickly opening the loading breech of the rifle, a magic bullet manifested in its loading slot. With a large chunk falling toward, Jin batted the said chunk with the gun itself as the magic bullet detonated, technically didn’t fire thus avoiding the constraint of firing at all. After all, it didn’t say that he can only fire the gun.
As the detonated magic bullet collided with the rubble, said chunk immediately blew up and fragmentated toward Jiwoon with great force. With enhanced DEX and AGI thanks to Jihoon’s “Glint of Cold Steel”, she who is already fast become even faster. All these scattered fragments become nothing to her as she deflected all of those incoming rubble as sparks create upon her daggers’ swift motion.
Though once she cleared them out, Jin was already prepared for his following fire of Der Freischutz with its aim locked onto Jiwoon, unclear of how she can escape its imposed unerring accuracy.
“Even if she could deflect it, the damn magic bullet will still redirect itself to hit her wherever Jin wanted to be.” The D-rank spoke in the split-second that separates between life and death.
Without any hint of fear or worry, Jiwoon was already in motion, preternatural reflexes honed to a razor’s edge. Riding the amplified physical boosts of Jihoon's Song Magic, she launched herself into a sideways arcing leap just as Der Freischutz barked its dread report.
A line of devastation lanced across the rubble-strewn floor as the magic bullet detonated against the stonework, sending debris shrapnel spraying in all directions. But Jiwoon was already transitioning into her next evasive vector, daggers whirling in blinding cylinders to deflect any secondary projectiles.
Hitting the ground with a crouch, Jiwoon burst forward as she proceeded to knee Jin’s face before Der Freischutz could proceed to fire another shot. As a result of such critical hit, the rifle flew away from Jin’s hand but immediately disappear into the shadow before Jin’s retrieved it again despite blood dripping from all of his orifices.
With the magic bullet detonated again as he swung into another fallen rubble, the hail of frags unleashed toward Jiwoon as she weaved and deflected her way through as if making her own brand of lethal artistry. With split-second foresight, she needled her way through the storm of fragmentation.
"You shouldn't have come here!" Jin howled as Der Freischutz primed for another shot . "I don't want to kill you too!"
Before his words can be heard, the D-rank entered the fray as his warhammer batters across the broken nexus. The fire team and vanguard combined their force as hails of explosive ordinances started to rain with precision thanks to the increased DEX granted by Jihoon’s Glint of Cold Steel.
Jiwoon pressed the assault, flowing from one angle of attack to the next in an endless feint and thrust combination. Her daggers were everywhere at once, scoring long crimson rents across Jin's form even as he attempted to line up Der Freischutz's sights through the smoke and shrapnel cyclone.
However, Jihoon who stood in the further back supporting the investigation task force felt an awful feeling about to occur. Recalling the state of judicator knights slain on the way toward here, Jihoon realized that wasn’t all of Der Freischutz being displayed in the moment. Just as he was about to yell a warning, Jin gritted through bitter agony to fire the fifth bullet.
Der Freischutz – Fifth Bullet [Sound of Silence]
Magic circle formulated from the muzzle of the gun and a volley of magic ballistics was fired from a singular shot. Seeing the emergency of the situation and Jihoon’s mind entered a state of overdrive. Desperately trying to formulate a solution yet he is stumped already at the first step. Jihoon realized the first limitation of Song Magic.
He can’t play more than one Song Magic concurrently. If he disengages “Glint of Cold Steel”, it would have become too late to switch into something else. Beside, there’s nothing else that can do better than Glint of Cold Steel when it comes to group-based combat and he couldn’t compose a new Song Magic in just a few seconds remaining.
Wracking all of his mind for a solution, he started to delve into the memories of his past. Looking for anything that he has missed, anything that can salvage the situation. Looking far back enough, he has returned to his days in Arisen Studio again. Faint echoes of instruction filtered back, his voice guiding a fresh-faced rookie through the finer points of dynamic soundtrack composition.
Adaptive Music Soundtrack
"Adaptive Soundtrack is all about creating an immersive, evolving experience through purposeful musical transitions," Jihoon's past self explained. "You establish your core melodies and harmonies, your foundational motifs. But you also craft bridging sections that can overlay those building blocks, adding or subtracting instrumental layers on the fly."
He mimicked conducting an invisible orchestra, cueing non-existent players through a series of deft gestures. "That way, as the on-screen action shifts between phases - exploring, engaging enemies, hitting climactic moments - the soundtrack can fluidly adapt in real-time. Swelling one moment for dramatic emphasis, then ebbing back to set a new tense atmosphere."
The idea of composing a smooth transition of one Song to another depends on the situation. A lot of video games utilize it as dynamic background music enhances the experience by reflecting the environment around. The weaving of both calm and intense soundtracks in seamless manner despite the differences of tones in real time.
Even if it isn’t a necessary thing, Jihoon indeed learned about it as he has composed a decent number of soundtracks to learn about it. But after such a long time since those days, that piece of knowledge never again found its use until now.
Even if he couldn’t keep more than one Song Magic active, he can easily shift the tone dynamically into another Song Magic as if those two were one part of another. Thus, by extension, those two Song Magics were connected to one another by dynamic connection. Because of it, both effects of the two Song Magics will be applied.
Jihoon’s recalling come to an end as his fingers instantly moved into high gears. The strum of the electric guitar shifted its way toward “Belief” as if those two songs were connected. However, Jihoon can tell that the transition he made isn’t perfect but the only thing needed was the link between.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Glint of Cold Steel -> Belief
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Linked Effect:
-+200% to all Physical Attributes to all allies within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +400% to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly.
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
That boost is no doubt the most sickeningly unfair and broken that he has ever seen. Even if he isn’t a game designer, he just knows that is a cheat if he sees one in a game. However, this is reality and Jihoon is holding such power in his hand. And life is inherently unfair considering the way things have transpired for both him and Jin.
Jihoon himself isn’t the target right now thus he immediately plays ‘Belief’ to his best. As the rapid-firing chord played, the linked effect of the two Song Magic takes place. The volley of cerulean flame approaches the fire team and vanguard team as the hail of magic bullets struck them.
Instead of instant death however, all of them are still alive despite getting shot by it because Jin believed wholeheartedly that only the D-ranker and Jiwoon can withstand his fifth bullet of Der Freischutz and the rest will perished regardless thus their trajectory has struck at the least critical area for them.
Jiwoon felt the explosive force of Jin's devastating volley slamming into her, the magic bullets tearing through her defenses with contemptuous ease. White-hot agony lanced through her body as the cerulean flames seared her flesh, the sheer concussive trauma threatening to overwhelm her fortitude.
Then, like a tidal surge, Jihoon's linked Song Magic washed over her in an unstoppable crescendo of empowering harmonic vibrations. She could feel the incredible melodies fortifying her very atoms, bolstering her against the brink of annihilation with preternatural resilience.
Gritting her teeth, Jiwoon pushed through the scorching pain as her body's physical limits expanded immensely. Ruptured organs mended, shredded muscle fibers knit back together in mere heartbeats. Even her tattered flesh reconstituted with shocking swiftness, the monstrous augmentations of Jihoon's linked "Belief" briefly overwriting the debilitating damage inflicted by Jin's firearm.
With a feral snarl, Jiwoon surged back to her feet, daggers already whirling in a blurred cyclone of warded steel. Her strikes carried the amplified mass and momentum of a warship's broadside cannons, each blow potent enough to shatter boulders into gravel.
Beside her, the grizzled D-rank veteran weathered Jin's barrage with similar grit-toothed tenacity. Charred rents in his heavy armor sizzled and cooled as the linked Song Magic rejuvenated him, mystic melodies fortifying his very bones against shattering force.
Hefting his warhammer with almost casual ease despite its staggering weight, the veteran bellowed a challenge of his own. "Didn't think we'd fold so easily, did you turncoat?! Your devil's pact may grant hellish firepower - but we've got the power of pure conviction on our side!"
Seeing that it is up to them now. Jihoon created his Doppelganger to play the Song Magic in his place as he draws out his decayed Judgment of Light and enters the fray.
Jin’s body looked like it should have fallen apart a while ago yet his hand still gripped Der Freischutz tightly. A look of maniacal desperation appeared in his eyes.
"I walked too far into the abyss for this damned curse..." he gurgled through bloodied froth. "I can't...stop now!"
The warhammer of the veteran drew back once more with an air of finality. Jiwoon braced herself, already mapping out the defensive weavework needed to overcome the dread sixth shot at point-blank range.
Jiwoon felt the resonate energy wash over her in pulsing waves, imbuing her form with a transcendent sense of purpose and conviction. Scars accumulated over years of strife seemed to fade into insignificance as Jihoon's mystic cadences harmonized throughout the chamber.
Even Jin faltered, his grimace of bestial rage fracturing to reveal a fleeting glimpse of the man buried underneath. Jihoon's voice echoed, rich with yearning entreaty:
"One melody, two kindred spirits astray - only lasting bonds can light the way..."
Time seemed to be still as the linked Song Magic reached its inexorable crescendo. Their eyes met in that suspended moment as Jin's reflecting stunned vulnerability before hardening to slit hatred once more.
"Don't try to reach me with your naïve melodies!" he spat defiantly. "I'm long past the point of no return!"
But as the Linked Song Magic held firm. Jiwoon started to understand the dreaded mechanism of Jin’s Der Freischutz and from there, a method to overcome the hidden flaws.
As if his step were light like the shadow beneath. Jin started to teleport straight to the shadow farthest away from them. With his gunsight aimed toward them as they try to close the immense distance, Jiwoon even extracted her throwing knives and throw with that same enhanced strength granted by Jihoon’s linked Song Magic toward Jin. And yet, he refused to go down no matter how much in pain he is.
“I don’t think that anything we’re doing to him will ever hurt him as much as the total accumulation of his past 10 years”. The veteran Hunter made his saying because he felt like Jin was pushing even his broken body like this.
Jin’s aim locked onto them as he pulled the trigger again.
Der Freischutz – Sixth Bullet [Complete Erasure]
Instead of just one singular magic circle, an array of them manifested and extended from the central circle of Der Freischutz’s muzzle. Like numerous gear pieces linked and interconnected with the central gear shaft.
Jihoon can already tell that the incoming barrage is to be even worse than the fifth bullet that they endured before. Even Jiwoon and the D-rank veteran can tell that they’re likely won’t be able to evade the incoming blow. It starts to become questionable if they can even survive with Linked Song Magic that Jihoon is using.
As both Jiwoon and the veteran assumed defensive stance. Jihoon immediately shifted the Song Magic that is playing toward Exceed making this the triple-linked Song Magic.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Glint of Cold Steel -> Belief -> Exceed!
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Linked Effect:
-+355% to all Physical Attributes to all allies within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +710% to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly.
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
A flood of cerulean lights unleashed as the full wrath of the sixth bullet unleashed at them. Despite the effect of the linked Song Magic, its diminishing gain has unfortunately proven clear to Jihoon in the calculation. Knowing this, Jiwoon and the veteran decided to protect Jihoon with all they have as the barrage come approach.
The torrent of cerulean destruction crashed over Jiwoon and the veteran D-rank like a tidal wave of annihilation. Even empowered by Jihoon's triple-linked Song Magic, the sheer overwhelming force of Jin's onslaught still threatens to reduce them to atoms. The judicial wall behind torn apart as the wave of deep blue continue its warpath unhindered.
Jiwoon moved with preternatural swiftness, her daggers blurring into impenetrable cyclonic shields that deflected and redirected the howling maelstrom. But the punishing barrage refused to relent, each detonating round carrying the mass of a collapsing skyscraper behind its unstoppable momentum.
Gritting her teeth until blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, Jiwoon poured every fiber of her molecularly-reinforced being into weathering the cataclysmic firestorm. Her daggers grew incandescent, their very alloys straining against structural disintegration from the absurd kinetic impacts.
Beside her, the grizzled D-rank dug his heels into the fracturing stonework, warhammer planted like a bastion before them. He angled his hammer's broad head into the howling blast furnace, ancient steel glowing from the obscene thermal blooms as round after round detonated against its sculpted contours.
Together, they became an unyielding bulwark shielding Jihoon from the raging inferno. Their bodies, reinforced to the very molecular strata by Jihoon's harmonic empowerment, withstood impact forces that could shatter city blocks. But even transcendent fortitude had its limits as hairline fractures spread across Jiwoon's daggers and the D-rank's warhammer, their seamless flows faltering under the ceaseless, apocalyptic bombardment.
As the last few errant cerulean bolts ricocheted off into oblivion, Jihoon witnessed the aftermath – Jiwoon on her knees, daggers shattered into molten shards around her. The veteran D-rank struggled to retain his footing, his warhammer buckling from the shockwaves it had absorbed.
Scorched, battered, their flesh seared black in places, the two warriors somehow still drew breath despite taking the full brunt intended to extinguish them. But their defiant stares showed the toll such exertions had wrought – even Jihoon's transcendent empowerment had only barely preserved them.
Coughing up a thick gout of vitae, Jiwoon managed a pained smile in Jihoon's direction. "Heh...one last...trick up his sleeve, huh?" Her ruined daggers clattered to the shattered floor as she slumped forward, consciousness nearly winking out.
The D-rank wasn't faring much better, his gravelly voice a strained rasp. "Didn't...think...we'd make it that far, honestly." He braced the remains of his hammer, knuckles bone-white from the grip. "It's...all you now, kid..."
Both warriors' gazes fell heavily upon Jihoon then, a silent entreaty burning in their eyes. They had borne the brunt, shielded him to the last...but the time for his own conviction had arrived at last.
Because looming through the dissipating smoke and debris, a solemn figure emerged. Jin, his coat tattered, his very flesh flayed and burned in places by his own infernal firearm's energies. But in his grip, Der Freischutz remained as steady and unerring as ever, its baleful cerulean glow deepening in portentous overture.
Jin's gaze found Jihoon's, naked anguish warring with grim resignation in those haunted depths. "One shot left, my friend..." His voice sounded brittle, hollow. "Just one final round for Der Freischutz before this terrible vigil can finally end..."
His finger caressed the trigger guard with dreadful intimacy. "I don't know if I can miss, even if I try. The devil's aim is too true... More that he enjoyed my misery than ever."
Jihoon felt his gut clench at the naked torment in Jin's words. But he was right, if he truly couldn't avoid landing that dreaded seventh shot, the unstoppable projectile would carve through Jihoon's empowerments like a scythe through wheat. He had to move, had to counteract that power which has reduced nearly everyone to their crippled mess.
Drawing his fortified breath, Jihoon moved into his starting stance of the halberd. The decayed Judgment of Light still in his hand now aimed at his old friend. Behind Jihoon himself after the judicial wall shattered utterly, is the sun slowly setting after the sixth bullet of Der Freischutz cleared the dark sky that hung in this Gate for so long.
Jin dropped the guitar case on his back as if he truly makes himself feel like there’s no burden left on him. With the cerulean gun aimed at his old friend, Jihoon knew that this might be their final chance together.
The decisive collision approaches.