Great Demon (3)
Bi Sa-yeong smiled inwardly.
The Great Demon Jeo Ung-won, despite his monstrous reputation, still could not catch him.
In fact, keeping his pace slowed enough so the brute wouldn't give up the chase was harder than outright fleeing.
'At this rate, maybe I should just drag him all the way to the Captain.'
But his smile did not last.
With a thunderous stomp, Jeo Ung-won suddenly accelerated like a cannonball, his internal energy surging.
Baaang!
"Ugh?!"
Sa-yeong twisted sharply at the last instant, raising his speed.
The Demon's hand skimmed past his back, missing by a hair. A chill ran down Sa-yeong's spine.
'As expected of a master with ninety years of inner strength… he had a hidden trump card.'
Still, he had not been careless, watching the Demon closely even while fleeing. That vigilance saved him.
He darted away, widening the gap again—only for Jeo Ung-won to blast forward like a shell once more.
Baaang!
The sheer speed was unbelievable for such a massive body—
on par with Sa-yeong's peak movement technique.
Only, unlike Sa-yeong's flowing footwork, the Demon's charge was rigid. He could not change direction flexibly.
Sa-yeong caught on quickly.
So he danced away, sharp turns like a rabbit eluding a charging boar, endlessly luring him along.
"You brat…"
Jeo Ung-won's face darkened.
He wasn't stupid.
It was clear this slippery rogue was baiting him.
"How dare you mock me?!"
Fury boiled in his chest.
He had thought his trump card, the Violent Advance Step, would let him seize this inferior.
But no—he had to admit it.
He could not catch him with movement alone.
Not unless… he stopped thinking about capturing him alive.
So be it. Alive was for questioning. But if he dies, that's fine too.
Jeo Ung-won gathered his qi in his right hand.
A sphere of condensed energy shimmered in his palm.
This was the Qi Orb—a projection of pure inner force.
Swordmasters had the Sword Orb; sabermen had the Saber Orb.
Normally, only masters beyond a hundred years of cultivation—those at the super-apex—could wield such things freely.
The drain was immense, the control demanding.
But Jeo Ung-won could still form one if he took time to concentrate.
The crimson sphere pulsed with a dreadful light.
He grinned as he hurled it.
"Die!"
Shoooom!
The scarlet orb streaked toward Sa-yeong at terrifying speed.
Sa-yeong, still watchful even in flight, saw the Demon's hand flick.
But the orb itself appeared in his vision almost instantly.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
He couldn't react. He couldn't even think to react.
Only his body, honed by the Heavenly Wind Steps, moved.
That supreme art flowed with the air, guiding him without conscious thought.
Shaaa!
He twisted aside like a leaf in the breeze.
The orb grazed his chest instead of piercing his heart.
But Jeo Ung-won only sneered.
He clenched his fist—
"Haaap!"
BOOOOM!
The orb detonated mid-air.
The explosion swallowed Sa-yeong whole, hurling him away like a broken doll.
Kwaaang!
Trees uprooted, earth split. Even those further than fifty feet away were torn apart.
There was no way someone at the center could survive.
Yet—
When Jeo Ung-won landed beside him, Sa-yeong was still breathing.
Barely. Unconscious, body limp, but alive.
"Still alive?"
He frowned, puzzled. He couldn't know it was the Heavenly Wind Steps, once again letting Sa-yeong's body flow with the blast instead of resisting it.
But the reason didn't matter.
The Demon's grin returned, wide and cruel.
"Heh. Better this way. I'll drag the truth out of you."
He hefted the limp form onto his shoulder and turned back toward the manor.
"Sa-yeong…"
I whispered, stunned, staring at his broken body carried away.
Sak Muhun slung the Mount Emei woman onto his back and barked at me:
"Move! We must retreat!"
He was right.
With Sa-yeong fallen and the Demon returning, there was nothing more we could do.
Even if luck had allowed me to slay someone stronger earlier, against this monster—nearing the super-apex realm—such fortune would not repeat.
But…
"Hah! You think you can escape?!"
The Great Demon tossed Sa-yeong to the ground like a discarded puppet and leapt at us.
I saw Sa-yeong's limp body rolling in the dirt.
My chest clenched.
Why had I returned to the past?
I didn't know.
Perhaps it was the Red Flame Sword, our clan's heirloom, that pierced my heart.
Perhaps not.
But of one thing I was certain:
I will never repeat the regrets of my past life.
I had lived smothered by regret.
Avoiding strife with my brothers, neglecting my training.
Relying on stolen arts instead of mastering my clan's legacy.
Failing to resist the Blood Sect, losing the Seonu Clan entirely.
Worst of all, watching helplessly as friends died for me, unable to do a thing.
They had given me kindness and loyalty greater than even my own kin—
and I had been powerless to protect them.
That was the most unbearable shame.
So yes, I fought to destroy the Blood Sect—
but only as a means to protect those dear to me.
And if I abandoned Sa-yeong now, how could I claim this rebirth was for anything else?
"Sak hyung! Go first!"
I rushed forward instead, unleashing my blade.
Thirteenth Stroke of the Seonu Thirteen Swords.
Realm of the Phantom Blades.
Fwaaaash!
A hundred phantoms surrounded Jeo Ung-won.
Even he hesitated for a breath.
"Hmph?"
But only for a breath.
He swept his hand, scattering them all with a single gesture.
"Tricks!"
Fwoooosh!
The illusion shattered instantly.
But that was fine.
I hadn't meant to wound him.
That moment was all I needed—
to dart past and seize Sa-yeong's body.
Pahk!
From the corner of my eye, I saw Sak Muhun already fleeing with the Emei disciple.
A grim smile tugged my lips.
So the phantoms weren't so useless after all.
They had their purpose.
I stooped to snatch Sa-yeong up—when dread prickled my skin.
I turned.
And saw it.
In Jeo Ung-won's palm, crimson energy swelled again.
As if to hurl it straight at me.
"A… Qi Orb?!"
Horror seized me.
That was a technique reserved for those of the super-apex.
Could it be—
The Great Demon Jeo Ung-won… was already beyond the apex?
I bit my lip.
At last, I understood how Bi Sa-yeong had been caught.
The Great Demon still hadn't hurled the Qi Orb. Instead, he smirked as he addressed me.
"So, you want to rescue your comrade? Risking your life for him… he must be quite valuable to you."
Then, in a blur, he leapt and blocked the path before Sa-yeong's limp body.
Tap!
"Khhkhhkhh! Now what will you do?"
My face twisted.
I was cornered.
He had seen through my intent to save Sa-yeong. And now, even retreat was impossible.
If I turned my back and fled, there was no guarantee I could evade that crimson Qi Orb.
I had never even seen such a technique before, but if Sa-yeong—whose movement art surpassed mine—couldn't dodge it, how could I?
Damn it… what now?
After a moment's hesitation, I raised my blade again and leveled it at him.
My words spat like venom:
"Then let's settle this properly, Great Demon."
From Mukrang in my grip, violet sword qi flared like fire, fierce as my gaze.
Fwaaaash!
Jeo Ung-won chuckled mockingly.
"Oh? You dare challenge me head-on?"
He waved his fingers lazily, dismissive. The Qi Orb faded from his palm.
If I wouldn't flee, he wouldn't waste it.
So be it.
If escape was impossible, I could only fight with everything I had.
I darted forward in a sudden charge.
Baaang!
"Haaap!"
Seventh Stroke of the Four Killing Sword.
Black Heaven's Rain of Blades.
Mist-like sword qi shrouded the air, vision blurring as a torrential downpour of blades poured forth.
Shushushushuuk!
The very technique Ju Tae-gyeong once unleashed against me.
The Demon squinted, irritated.
"Four Killing Sword? Hah. So, a lackey of Mount Jeomchang?"
With a casual sweep of his hand, storm-like force howled forth.
Fwoooosh!
Kwaaang!
"Kuhhk!"
My rain of blades shattered like raindrops against rock, my body flung helplessly back.
He lunged instantly, hand outstretched.
"Got you!"
But my eyes gleamed coldly.
I had known it wouldn't pierce him.
I had only unleashed this stroke to retreat naturally, drawing him in.
Secret of the Heavenly Wind Steps.
Petals Scattered on the Wind.
Shaaa!
My form blurred, splitting into drifting petals, scattering in countless afterimages.
Momentarily, Jeo Ung-won lost track of me.
He flinched, scanning around in confusion.
It worked!
Now!
I unleashed my next art.
Thirteenth Stroke of the Seonu Thirteen Swords.
Realm of the Phantom Blades.
Fwaaaash!
A storm of sword phantoms filled the world.
The same technique that had slain a stronger demon not long ago—the sharpest card I held.
If he exhausted his strength breaking the illusions, I could drive in One Moment, One Kill.
But then—
Jeo Ung-won smirked, crossing his arms before his chest.
And with a beast's roar, he unfurled them wide.
"Haaaargh!"
A violent storm of inner force erupted outward.
Boooom!
"Kuhhk!"
My phantoms shattered instantly. Even my body, hidden at his back, was hurled away.
So much for striking from behind.
As I steadied myself, our eyes locked. His lips curled.
"Such curious arts you wield. I'll enjoy capturing you… and prying out your secrets!"
Then he blurred.
Baaang!
Like a cannon shell, he was suddenly before me.
"Urk!"
Too fast—he was upon me before I could even think.
His hand clawed for my skull.
By instinct alone, my body slipped aside—guided by the Heavenly Wind Steps ingrained into my flesh.
Fwoooosh!
The gale of his strike swept past, whipping my hair.
"Oh?"
His eyes narrowed in faint surprise.
I clenched my teeth. Retreat now, and I'd never get another chance.
I thrust my blade.
Twelfth Stroke of the Seonu Thirteen Swords.
Twin Wings in Flight.
My sword blazed, unfurling twin wings of light—one after another, crashing like waves.
"Useless!"
Even unsteady, with a casual sweep of his arm, both wings were torn to shreds.
Shaaaak!
But I smiled faintly.
For that motion had opened his chest, his guard broken.
Now!
I unleashed all my strength in a single stroke.
First Stroke of the Four Killing Sword.
One Moment, One Kill.
Fwooosh!
The essence of the sword art itself, the single greatest strike, my blade became a beam of light aimed straight for his heart.
He tried to cross his arms before his chest—
but my strike was faster.
I had won!
Ecstasy surged as my sword tip touched his chest—
And froze.
Clang!
My blade stopped dead, as if welded in place.
"Wh-what?!"
I strained, but it would not move forward nor back.
Stunned, I realized—
It was his hands.
They hadn't touched my sword.
They didn't need to.
His palms, by sheer force of inner power, had seized my strike in midair.
The pressure was overwhelming, suffocating.
How could anyone fight such a monster?
He sneered.
"A pity, boy. You're impressive… but too dangerous to let live."
His left hand clenched, gripping my blade. His right hand swung, descending toward my skull like a hammer to pulp.
Fwoooosh!
If it landed, my head would shatter.
I wanted to dodge, but my sword was pinned.
I could let go—but then how would I ever face such a foe weaponless?
My spirit faltered.
I could only watch, helpless, as death hurtled toward me.
The end.
And then—
A voice spoke in my mind.
Hmm. Normally, I'd never intervene here. But who knows when I'll find another candidate I actually like. So… I suppose I'll make an exception.