On the opposite side, which was hosting the battle between Mihon and the lieutenant, and because of their fight, they had moved away from the location in front of the cave.
The ground they were standing on was full of holes, cut-down trees, and scattered stones everywhere.
"Who is the one standing behind you that makes you act so recklessly?" said the lieutenant.
"Do you think I'm a chessboard to be manipulated whenever they want? I'm not like you."
"It seems you don't know the consequences of your actions. Killing soldiers from the army is an unforgivable crime, not tolerated. But as a gift to the army, I'll offer them your head. That way, I'll be promoted quickly."
"Try that if you can."
The lieutenant laughed: "Do you know the difference between me and you? And do you know the difference between a rebel and someone affiliated with the army?
You rebels are fools since ancient times, following myths and things that don't exist. Even your previous generations found nothing, so how do you think your legends are real?"
"I'll answer your question with another: What is truth and what is lies in your view? Does the absence of truth reveal the lie, or does the absence of lies reveal the truth?"
"What truth and lies are you talking about?" said the lieutenant.
Mihon smiled: "Look carefully."
He pulled out a red chain filled with violet eyes.
"Do you think this is a chain?"
"And what is it if it's not a chain?" the lieutenant nodded.
"And how do you know it's a chain?" said Mihon.
"Are my eyes lying, you scum?"
"Then, once again, is it made of iron or silver?"
The lieutenant looked at the chain: "And how am I supposed to know? I need to examine it to know its reality."
Mihon smiled: "Then, can an ordinary person who knows nothing about iron or silver recognize it?"
"That's an ignorant person—how could he tell the difference between them?" replied the lieutenant.
"You said you see that it's a chain because your eyes see it. Why don't you think your eyes are being deceived?"
Mihon paused, looking at the lieutenant, then continued:
"You also said: You can't know something without verifying it."
Mihon smiled:
"Do you believe that the rebels follow illusions that don't exist? And do you think the ancient rebels didn't find the truth?
Maybe they did find what they were looking for—but for some reason, nothing came out of their mouths.
You tie truth to vision—Isn't that foolish of you?
Also, do you think that not trying to learn something is stupidity?
Foolishness is not trying, not searching, not seeking the truth.
The lie we live in will one day disappear, and only truth will remain.
The absence of truth has made many believe lies. And one day, the lie will vanish, and the truth will emerge.
On that day, this world will no longer be the same, because…"
As soon as Mihon finished speaking, he launched his attack with full force.
Germ of the Chain: a slime formed into the shape of a chain wrapped around his arm and lunged at the lieutenant.
He unleashed a bloody red chain with eyes that saw everything.
The chain approached the lieutenant, and just as it neared him, he leapt into the air.
The chain passed through the spot where he had been, missing him, but it didn't stop—it continued its path and quickly coiled around a large rock.
Then it pulled Mihon swiftly toward the lieutenant.
Boom
A violent kick landed on the lieutenant, sending him flying through the air until he crashed into several trees.
The lieutenant stood up, blood dripping from his mouth.
His clothes began to tear, and dust swirled around him.
"I'll show you, you bastard!" said the lieutenant.
Germ of the Kick
He pulled his right leg back, then struck the fallen tree in front of him.
Boom
What came from his leg was a projectile—the tree was launched toward Mihon, who raised his chain intensely in front of him, forming a shield.
The tree crashed into the chain, pushing Mihon slightly backward, but that wasn't the end.
Germ of the Kick — The lieutenant raised his leg into the air and stomped the ground. A loud rumble followed.
Several stones rose from the earth, and he began hurling them at Mihon.
Mihon stepped back slightly, then sent his chain toward the lieutenant, forcing him to retreat as well.
But Mihon used that retreat to move forward toward him.
Germ of the Chain... Two chains emerged from both of Mihon's hands.
The first shot toward a tree; the second embedded itself in the ground near the lieutenant.
The first chain propelled Mihon at high speed.
He was now behind the lieutenant.
A powerful kick drove the lieutenant forward.
The lieutenant let out a scream, blood bursting from his nose and mouth.
The other chain, the one embedded in the ground, shifted Mihon from one place to another with great speed.
He was now in front of the lieutenant.
A kick to the stomach once again sent the lieutenant flying, groaning in pain.
While the lieutenant was still airborne, a chain caught him by the leg.
"Damn it…"
That was all the lieutenant managed to utter.
Mihon pulled him toward himself.
A fist wrapped in a bloody red chain filled with several violet eyes struck the lieutenant's face.
He soared through the air, heading straight toward the cave where their fight had begun.
He slammed into the cave wall, creating a hole in it, and more and more blood poured from his mouth.
He collapsed, one knee bent on the ground, and so was one of his hands, while the other wiped the blood from his face.
As soon as he stood up, he saw all his subordinates—only two remained.
And from the rebel Karno's followers, two were still fighting.
"What is going on here?!" he shouted loudly.
"You bastards! What are you doing?! Why are you fighting each other?!"
His subordinates stopped and looked at him, his mouth filled with blood.
"Sir, they started it. They killed two of us, so we defended ourselves."
"You filthy, disgraceful insects, you rebels! You betray us at a time like this?!"
The villagers were also watching what was happening.
"Look, it seems the lieutenant was badly hurt fighting that boy."
"Yes, look—his clothes are torn, and his face is covered in blood."
It was only moments before Mihon came rushing in at high speed.
The lieutenant spotted him and tried to defend himself, but Mihon's strength far exceeded his own.
He sent him flying once again into the cave—but this time, he was thrown deep inside the dark cave.
"Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! Damn you, rebels! Why do you even exist in this world?!"
The lieutenant stood up, staggering. His vision was blurred, and more and more blood was pouring from his mouth.
"Damn you… You're forcing me to do this… I'm not ready… but there's no other choice—if I don't take the risk, I'll die here…"
Then the lieutenant smiled a cunning smile.