Chapter 60
The cavern was no longer stable.
It was collapsing into its own legend.
The sealing formation had fully spread across the volcanic floor now—
white symbols glowing like veins of a dying god.
A perfect circle.
Perfect order.
Perfect completion.
The ritualists' chanting reached its final pitch.
And then—
silence.
A sudden, suffocating silence.
The formation stopped expanding.
For a brief moment, everything felt still.
Then—
CLICK.
The final seal locked into place.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
A wave of divine energy exploded outward across Dumase.
Golden-white light surged through the cavern, forcing everyone back.
Even the volcanic tremors hesitated.
The seal was complete.
At the center of it all—
John stood still.
Bound in shattered remnants of chains.
Surrounded by broken stone creatures.
Black lightning flickering weakly across his body—
but no longer expanding.
The red-black aura around him flickered once.
Then stabilized.
And then—
he slowly raised his head.
Silence returned.
John: "…I see."
A pause.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
John: "So you finished it."
The ritualists froze immediately.
The commander's eyes narrowed.
John tilted his head slightly, almost amused.
John: "Good."
A faint smile appeared.
John: "I was getting bored."
The air changed instantly.
Even the justice worshippers felt it.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something worse.
Interest.
John stepped forward.
CRACK.
The ground beneath him did not obey the seal anymore.
It cracked anyway.
John: "Honestly…"
Another step.
John: "…this is more entertaining than I expected."
His eyes lifted toward the commander.
John: "So what now?"
A pause.
John: "You sealed the area…"
His smile widened slightly.
John: "…but did you seal me?"
The commander tightened his fists.
Golden aura burned violently around him—
but his breathing was heavier now.
Commander: "…Don't underestimate divine sealing."
John laughed softly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just… empty.
John: "I'm not."
A pause.
John: "I'm observing."
The commander's expression tightened further.
But he did not step back.
Not even once.
Commander: "…Even if this costs my life…"
His voice lowered.
Steady.
Commander: "…I will not let you go any further."
John looked at him quietly.
Then smiled again.
John: "…Good."
John: "That's what I wanted."
BOOOOM.
Black lightning suddenly erupted outward.
The sealed ground resisted—
but it did not break.
Instead, it absorbed and scattered the force.
The ritual had succeeded.
John paused for the first time.
"…Huh."
A faint exhale.
John: "So that's how it is."
For the first time—
something like curiosity crossed his face.
Not defeat.
Calculation.
Then—
he looked up again.
John: "…Fine."
A pause.
John: "Then I'll just enjoy it longer."
Far away—
the commander's squad had already broken away from the main battlefield.
Moving through collapsing corridors.
Golden light guiding their path.
Soldiers shouting behind them.
Soldier: "Commander said secure the Blood of Peace!"
Soldier: "Move faster!"
They pushed forward through shattered stone tunnels—
heading deeper into the island.
Toward the Lord.
Toward the origin.
Toward what waited beneath everything.
At the same time—
John's squad tried to intercept them.
BOOM.
Fire and thunder erupted across the corridor.
One squad member gritted his teeth.
Squad Member: "Stop them!"
But holy barriers formed instantly.
Golden shields.
Divine reinforcement.
Not aggressive—
defensive.
Absolute.
The justice worshippers pushed forward through them like a tide of light.
Squad Member: "They're too fast!"
Another swung his blade—
CLANG—
it was stopped midair by divine force.
The justice squad did not even look back.
They simply advanced.
Commander's order had already cut through everything:
"Go."
And so they went.
Meanwhile—
back at the center of the sealed cavern.
John slowly turned his head.
Watching both sides move.
One toward escape.
One toward invasion.
One toward survival.
One toward completion.
He smiled again.
John: "…Everyone is busy."
A pause.
John: "Good."
The commander stepped forward slightly.
Commander: "What are you planning?"
John didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he tilted his head back slightly.
Looking at the sealed ceiling.
The glowing symbols above.
The locked world.
Then he smiled.
John: "…Nothing complicated."
A pause.
John: "I just want to see how far you'll go."
His eyes darkened slightly.
John: "Before you break."
BOOOOOM.
Black lightning surged once more—
but the seal held.
And this time—
it did not respond.
It rejected him.
The commander's grip tightened.
But hope did not disappear from his eyes.
Only resolve remained.
Commander: "…We're not done yet."
John laughed softly again.
John: "…Good."
John: "Neither am I."
And far beneath Dumase—
something deeper than the seal began to listen.
…CHAPTER 60 ENDS…