Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 358

A sword gleams, its polished surface reflecting the dim light.

Facing it is an aura of power so immense it defies belief. It’s a palpable force, pressing down with unimaginable weight.

The martial prowess accumulated over thousands of years was more than sufficient—or so one would think.

Rather, it surged forth like a storm, a tempest of raw energy threatening to consume everything in its path.

This being, too, had transcended the realm of humanity. It was something… more.

Lee Tae-shin felt that fact more acutely than anyone. The weight of it settled deep in his bones.

“Destruction is imminent, child,” a voice boomed, laced with ancient power. “Would you hinder humanity’s survival to protect your own bloodline? That child has already lost. There is no hope for him.”

“…….”

“How amusing,” the voice continued, dripping with scorn. “You, who drove even your own kin to their deaths in the name of a grand cause, now turn your eyes and care for your own flesh and blood?”

At Lee Hyul-hyun’s words, Lee Tae-shin squeezed his eyes shut, a grimace of pain etched on his face, and then opened them. The fire of resolve burned within.

There was nothing he could deny. The truth of the words stung.

Even he thought his life had been a series of failures, a litany of regrets.

He drove his beloved lover to her death, a wound that never truly healed.

He doubted that lover’s child and drove him into the mire, a decision that haunted his waking moments.

In the name of a grand cause, he took a new wife and built a family, a duty performed without joy.

Yet, one of those children met his death, and the other was captured by a wraith. Tragedy upon tragedy.

A series of failures. A life marked by loss and regret.

That was the life of the man Lee Tae-shin.

However.

‘There is no regret,’ he thought, a steely resolve hardening his gaze.

-At least, not for me.

Swinging his sword, he felt the familiar weight in his hand.

Feeling death approaching, a cold certainty washing over him.

Lee Tae-shin recalls the scenery he had looked down upon with his son, a shared moment of peace amidst the storm.

-I do not consider the struggles in Father’s life to be failures.

Leaving his mother’s grave behind, a poignant memory resurfaced.

He remembers the words his son, who could not even call him father without a pang of sorrow, had said to his wretched father.

-Father has merely brought that struggle this far. And now, I, your son, have merely taken up that struggle.

Lee Tae-shin slowly opened his mouth, the words forming with difficulty.

In the midst of the onrushing aura of death, with a long sigh, he spoke.

“That child is different from me.”

Lee Chul had lost. The battle was over, the outcome decided.

But defeat is never a failure. It’s a lesson learned, a stepping stone to future victory.

It was merely one defeat among many, a temporary setback in a larger war.

“I know. You are not enough. You cannot defeat that monster.”

“Ho, what do you know to spout such nonsense?” Lee Hyul-hyun scoffed, his voice laced with arrogance.

“More than you, surely. You, a ghost consumed by obsession,” Lee Tae-shin retorted, his voice gaining strength.

Wraith who has turned your back on death, clinging to a twisted existence.

You would not know, trapped in your endless cycle of vengeance.

The struggle called life, the messy, beautiful, and ultimately finite experience.

The weight of the mandate of heaven [a concept in Chinese philosophy that dictates whether an emperor has the right to rule based on their virtue and ability] that is completed by death, the acceptance of mortality as a part of the natural order.

You, a being who has twisted cause and effect, will not be able to deal with the primordial monster. Your understanding is flawed, your perspective warped.

Therefore, I will place my hope in my son. He is the future, the embodiment of hope.

That child is strong. His spirit is unyielding.

He is far superior to me, upright, and does not repeat failures. He learns from the past, forging a better path forward.

Therefore.

-Please watch over me, a silent prayer whispered to the ancestors.

-I will be victorious at the end of that struggle, a promise made to himself and his lineage.

“My child will surely be victorious,” Lee Tae-shin declared, his voice ringing with conviction.

-My victory will also be Father’s victory, a bond that transcends life and death.

Lee Tae-shin’s sword. The culmination of a lifetime of training and dedication.

The sword of a peerless warrior, who had received the respect and awe of countless martial artists, burst forth with sword light, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness.

* * *

Lee Hyul-hyun’s face showed annoyance. A flicker of irritation crossed his features.

Annoyance. Yes, it was merely annoyance. He tried to downplay the situation, to maintain his composure.

No matter how great Lee Tae-shin was, the difference in their realms was as clear as day. The gap was vast, seemingly insurmountable.

Lee Hyul-hyun. He was the strongest even thousands of years ago, and he had certainly not been idle during those years. He had been honing his skills, accumulating power.

He had already escaped the shackles of mana [magical energy] and had mastered martial arts, sorcery, and even Western magic. His knowledge was vast, his abilities unparalleled.

Having passed the realms of law and art and standing before the gates of apotheosis [becoming a god], he was now a being difficult to confine to the species of human. He had transcended his mortal limitations.

In comparison, what of Lee Tae-shin, who stood in his way? A mere mortal daring to challenge a god.

At best, he was a martial artist who had lived for sixty or seventy years, one who could be found anywhere. A skilled warrior, but ultimately, just a man.

He was an existence that deviated from the norm in and of himself, but considering that the source of his strength was his lifespan, his limits were clear. His time was finite, his potential capped.

And yet.

‘To come this far… and encounter such a variable,’ Lee Hyul-hyun mused, a hint of frustration creeping into his thoughts.

He had made many preparations. He had meticulously planned every step of the way.

He had even prepared a barrier that would distort space to absorb and retrieve Lee Chul’s body. A contingency plan for every eventuality.

To that end, he had obtained Lee Myung-jung’s body, to use as a sacrifice to deploy the barrier. A necessary sacrifice in his grand scheme.

Now, just as he was about to take over Lee Chul’s body and wage the final battle he had longed for… Lee Tae-shin stood in his way. An unexpected obstacle.

‘Well, the end of any endeavor is always up to fate,’ he thought, a fatalistic acceptance settling over him.

This, too, would be a form of amusement. A challenge to overcome, a game to be played.

* * *

Lee Tae-shin swung his sword, the steel singing through the air.

A sensation he had never felt before in his life dominated his entire body. A heightened awareness, a clarity of mind.

It was the first time he had felt his mind so keenly alert. Every sense was amplified, every thought crystal clear.

The sword that extended, a blur of motion.

The movement that retrieved it, a seamless transition.

The flow of blood, the twitching of muscles, all of it was as clear as if he could grasp it in his hand. He was one with his body, one with his sword.

And in the midst of it, Lee Tae-shin soon felt a strange premonition flash through his mind. A sense of impending doom, a whisper of what was to come.

‘It’s here,’ he thought, the feeling growing stronger.

He felt something. An unseen presence, a shift in the atmosphere.

The vague sensation became clear. The pieces were falling into place.

The strange premonition grew into conviction, and it resonated deeply within the heart of the man Lee Tae-shin. He knew what he had to do.

“You are a child who does not understand words,” Lee Hyul-hyun sneered, his patience wearing thin.

In an instant, Lee Hyul-hyun’s hand waved erratically, a gesture of dismissal.

“Then die where you stand,” he declared, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Could such a being exist separately in this world? A question that lingered in the air.

Recorded as the God of War in history. Truly, the name was not wasted on his martial prowess. His legend was well-deserved.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s realm, having accumulated enlightenment by shifting bodies from ancient times to the present, was so great. His power was immeasurable, his knowledge vast.

Whirr! Boom!

The shattered crust was completely destroyed and scattered. The earth trembled, the very foundations of the world shaken.

The flying crust caused their bodies to float, and they fell toward the distant underground. A chaotic descent into the unknown.

Boom!

Even in the midst of that, Lee Hyul-hyun reached out his hand, his movements precise and deadly.

Each strike, each strike was overwhelming. A barrage of power that threatened to crush everything in its path.

The fragments of aura that bounced off alone scattered tens of thousands of monsters surrounding them like dust. A testament to his overwhelming strength.

‘Such movement was possible?’ Lee Tae-shin wondered, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind.

It was a great shock. He had never witnessed such power before.

A new realm that he thought could not be surpassed unfolded from Lee Hyul-hyun. The boundaries of his understanding were being pushed.

The difference in momentum was clear. The tide of battle was turning.

Lee Tae-shin was being pushed back, forced to defend against the relentless assault.

However.

‘Here, I will stop him,’ Lee Tae-shin vowed, his eyes shining with unwavering determination.

Lee Tae-shin’s eyes shone more strongly than ever before. He would not yield, he would not break.

He intended to block him as much as possible here and kill the monsters. A desperate attempt to stem the tide.

To buy even a single second for the warriors of the main family and his children to escape. Their survival was paramount.

“You are merely dying a dog’s death,” Lee Hyul-hyun taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. “Do you think I will not be able to catch up with them after killing you? In the end, your son’s body will be in my hands.”

Swish!

Lee Tae-shin’s torso burst with blood from Lee Hyul-hyun’s hand, which he swung as if to shake it off. A brutal and merciless attack.

In the midst of the surging pain throughout his body, Lee Tae-shin saw a vivid illusion. A vision of the past, a glimpse of what he was fighting for.

It was the appearance of a certain family. The Soongmoo Lee Clan, his legacy, his responsibility.

“I am…….”

Was it because of the injury? The pain clouding his mind.

Or for some other reason? A deeper connection to his lineage, a sense of purpose.

Lee Tae-shin looked at the Soongmoo Lee Clan that had risen like an illusion and opened his mouth, the words forming with difficulty.

Slash!

At that moment, a fierce mental sword grazed his chest and splattered blood. A psychic attack, a violation of his mind.

He did not retreat. He stood his ground, unyielding.

Lee Tae-shin rather took another step forward, defying the pain and pushing onward.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected such resilience.

“I don’t intend to just stop you here,” Lee Tae-shin declared, his voice ringing with defiance.

Lee Tae-shin’s will began to shine even more strongly. His determination fueled his power.

As his strength increased, even greater power was imbued in his sword energy. His spirit was overflowing.

Now, astonishment was etched in Lee Hyul-hyun’s eyes. He was witnessing something extraordinary.

“I will save my son. I will drag you out of that body and surely be victorious,” Lee Tae-shin vowed, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.

Whirr!

Lee Tae-shin’s sword tore through the air, a force of nature unleashed.

Slash!

The space was torn apart by the sword, a testament to his raw power.

Lee Hyul-hyun, who belatedly pulled back his body, stared in surprise at his mana that had burst out. He had been caught off guard.

And he realized that the ‘son’ Lee Tae-shin had just mentioned referred to the original owner of the body he had entered, not Lee Chul. A shocking revelation.

“You are greedy. You intend to save both of your half-brothers? Will it be possible?” Lee Hyul-hyun questioned, a hint of doubt creeping into his voice.

“Didn’t you know? The bloodline of the Soongmoo Lee Clan is inherently greedy,” Lee Tae-shin retorted, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Lee Tae-shin continued to speak, feeling the illusion in front of him growing stronger. The past was becoming clearer.

The appearance of the Soongmoo Lee Clan. A vision of his ancestors, their strength flowing through him.

Above it, he saw the figures of countless warriors and the children leading them. The future of his clan, their hopes resting on his shoulders.

‘It’s here. It was here,’ Lee Tae-shin thought, a sense of understanding washing over him.

A strong conviction arose in Lee Tae-shin’s mind. He knew his purpose.

The mandate of heaven. His destiny, his reason for being.

Lee Tae-shin realized his mission and the reason for his existence. He was a protector, a guardian, a sacrifice.

Lee Tae-shin turned his eyes away for a moment, a pang of guilt in his heart.

He saw the figures of the warriors running far away, their silhouettes against the horizon.

‘I’m sorry. Warriors of the main family,’ he thought, a silent apology.

He realized that even in the midst of their escape, their gazes were directed at him. They were watching him, their hopes and fears intertwined.

Proud warriors of the Soongmoo Lee Clan. He would not let them down.

As the one who led you even for a short time, I will show my struggle here. He would fight to the bitter end, a symbol of courage and sacrifice.

“Fath, er……!”

Have you awakened? My son. A flicker of hope ignited within him.

He saw the shape of his son’s mouth, looking at him while leaning on Lee Jin-yoon’s body. A bittersweet reunion.

Do you still call me father? Despite everything, the bond remained.

It is a cruel fate. My first child, but the last child who suffered hardships, now it is farewell. A final goodbye.

‘I’m sorry,’ he thought, a wave of regret washing over him.

If Lee Chul had been awake at the moment he made his decision, he would have stopped him, regardless of his own body. He knew his son’s selflessness.

So he thought it was for the best. He would spare his son the burden of choice.

At least in the last moment, he could do something befitting a father, not as a martial artist or a head of the family, but as a father. A final act of love.

“Do it moderately and die. Child,” Lee Hyul-hyun sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

In the midst of Lee Hyul-hyun’s onrushing mana, a wave of destructive energy.

Lee Tae-shin unleashed the most intense momentum of his life. He poured everything he had into this final stand.

He felt his children and the warriors of the main family moving away beyond the horizon. Their safety was his priority.

Now he could no longer see the figures of the children. They were gone, safe from harm.

‘Do not grieve for a father like me. Do not grieve for a lord like me. For my mandate of heaven was to be here,’ he thought, a sense of peace settling over him.

Now Lee Tae-shin was certain of his mandate of heaven. He understood his purpose.

To make a path with death. To sacrifice himself for the greater good.

His death would be the path to the future. A bridge to a brighter tomorrow.

There were no regrets. He had lived a full life, a life of purpose.

Behind him was the future of the Soongmoo Lee Clan. Their legacy would continue.

There was the survival of his children. Their lives were worth more than his own.

Hope would continue. The flame of hope would not be extinguished.

His life, which had been spent fighting for a long time, risking death, and surviving through struggle. A life of hardship and sacrifice.

Lee Tae-shin was certain that it had existed for this very moment. He was ready to face his destiny.

“……You,” Lee Hyul-hyun muttered, a flicker of unease in his voice.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s eyes shook. He was beginning to doubt himself.

Whoosh-!

Lee Tae-shin’s swinging sword emitted a strange resonance. A vibration that shook the very air around them.

───────────!

And for the first time.

Lee Hyul-hyun was pushed back. He stumbled, his composure broken.

What was etched in Lee Hyul-hyun’s eyes was astonishment and fear. He was witnessing something truly extraordinary.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s limbs trembled for a moment. He was losing control.

“……!”

Boom!

Lee Hyul-hyun’s strike flashed, a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand.

The tremendous power sent Lee Tae-shin flying far away. He crashed to the ground, his body broken and battered.

“Your obsession. Meets its end here,” Lee Hyul-hyun declared, his voice filled with triumph.

But Lee Tae-shin rose again, brushing away the rising dust. He would not stay down.

Whirr!

Lee Tae-shin’s sword, disregarding death, tore through the air and shot out. A final act of defiance.

At the end of that sword, the life of the man Lee Tae-shin was imbued. His very essence was contained within that strike.

“Foolish……,” Lee Hyul-hyun spat out as if chewing. He was disgusted by Lee Tae-shin’s persistence.

And.

Boom! Clang!

The tip of Lee Tae-shin’s sword shattered like sand scattering in the wind. His weapon was destroyed, his physical strength failing.

It seemed to show that the realm Lee Hyul-hyun had reached could not be helped even with a desperate resolve. The gap was too wide, the odds too stacked against him.

But Lee Tae-shin did not care and fought back again. He would not yield, he would not surrender.

His will came forward, his feet followed, and his hand swung. He was driven by an unyielding spirit.

‘What is this guy?’ Lee Hyul-hyun wondered, a sense of bewilderment washing over him.

Having lived for thousands of years, Lee Hyul-hyun had never truly seen such a man. He was unlike anyone he had ever encountered.

Clang!

In an instant, Lee Tae-shin’s sword completely shattered. His weapon was gone, his last line of defense broken.

But Lee Tae-shin did not care and drew the spare sword he was wearing on his waist, stepping forward again. He would not be deterred.

Boom!

The spirit overcame the flesh. His will transcended his physical limitations.

The spirit was overcoming the lack of mana and the lack of realm. He was defying the very laws of nature.

Blood was splattering, bones were breaking, and tendons were snapping. His body was failing him, but his spirit remained unbroken.

Yet Lee Tae-shin did not retreat. He pressed onward, fueled by an unwavering resolve.

Scritch!

For the first time.

Blood that was not Lee Tae-shin’s was scattered in the sky. He had managed to wound his opponent.

A sword strike shot through a gap narrower than the eye of a needle. A testament to his skill and determination.

Anger was etched on Lee Hyul-hyun’s face. He was enraged by Lee Tae-shin’s defiance.

“This dull swordsman!” he roared, his voice filled with fury.

Screech!

Lee Hyul-hyun’s strike, swung as if in anger, swept past Lee Tae-shin’s arm. A brutal and devastating blow.

The moment he swung his sword, Lee Tae-shin felt a part of his body was missing. He had lost a limb.

The shoulder, below it. His arm was gone, severed by the force of the attack.

One side of his arm had disappeared somewhere. A gaping wound, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.

“Now, just die,” Lee Hyul-hyun snarled, his voice dripping with malice.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s attack continued, relentless and unforgiving.

Lee Tae-shin smiled, a serene expression on his face.

His body rotation had become uncomfortable because his arm was gone, but the mandate of heaven he saw before his eyes had become even clearer. He knew what he had to do.

Clang!

The next moment.

Lee Tae-shin’s sword, with one arm missing, perfectly deflected Lee Hyul-hyun’s attack. An impossible feat, a miracle born of desperation.

It was something that Lee Tae-shin, whose realm was inferior, whose mana was inferior, and who even lacked one arm, could never have done. He had surpassed his limitations.

Under the seat where the mandate of heaven allowed, a desperate resolve was creating miracles. He was defying the odds, rewriting his destiny.

However.

“Foolish,” Lee Hyul-hyun sneered, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Poof!

Lee Hyul-hyun smirked and drew his hand in the air, a gesture of contempt.

Slash.

Blood splattered, a crimson rain against the darkening sky.

Lee Tae-shin looked down, his vision blurring.

A tilting body. He was losing his balance.

The lower right knee was not visible. Another limb gone, another blow to his already battered body.

Thud!

Lee Tae-shin’s body finally rolled to the floor. He had fallen, but his spirit remained unbroken.

Drip, drip……

The sound of blood falling continued in dots, a morbid rhythm against the silence.

‘The sword, where is it,’ he thought, his mind struggling to focus.

Lee Tae-shin could no longer see properly. His vision was fading, the world growing dark.

But he gathered his fingers and gripped the sword. He would not let go.

The sword had never fallen from his hand. It was an extension of himself, a symbol of his unwavering resolve.

That was enough. He had his weapon, he had his purpose.

Crack! Crunch!

He cauterized the affected area with mana, sealing the wounds and stopping the bleeding. A desperate attempt to hold on.

Used the sword as a cane, propped himself up on the ground, and raised his body. He would not stay down.

In the end, Lee Tae-shin aimed his sword again. He stood tall, defiant in the face of death.

His eyes, covered in blood, still possessed a fierce momentum. The fire of his spirit burned bright.

“……,” Lee Hyul-hyun remained silent, his face a mask of disbelief.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s face contorted. He was struggling to comprehend what he was seeing.

How could a man with severed limbs stand so tall? How could he continue to fight?

Only then did he realize. He finally understood the source of Lee Tae-shin’s strength.

Mana seemed to be extending out, becoming Lee Tae-shin’s arms and legs. His will was shaping reality.

There was no other way to express it, Lee Tae-shin’s posture was perfect. He had transcended his physical limitations, becoming something more.

Clang!

Despite losing his limbs, it was Lee Tae-shin who swung his sword first again. He was attacking, defying all logic and reason.

Lee Hyul-hyun hurriedly shook his hand and pushed it away. He was forced to defend against the onslaught.

Crack! Crunch!

The hand holding the sword crumpled, and bones protruded onto the back of his hand. He was injured, his body failing him.

Even in the midst of that, Lee Tae-shin did not stop. He pressed onward, driven by an unyielding force.

‘What on earth……!’ Lee Hyul-hyun felt astonished. He was witnessing something truly extraordinary.

The flame of life that had been in his eyes had already disappeared somewhere. He was no longer fighting for himself.

Yet Lee Tae-shin continued to swing his sword. He was fighting for something greater than himself.

The sword contained a soul. It was imbued with his spirit, his memories, his hopes, and his dreams.

The distinction between Lee Tae-shin and the sword was already meaningless. They were one and the same, a single entity driven by an unyielding will.

Lee Hyul-hyun realized that Lee Tae-shin had crossed a line that should not be crossed. He had entered a realm beyond his comprehension.

‘At this rate……,’ he thought, a sense of dread washing over him.

He felt a sense of dismay. He was losing control of the situation.

Why, why doesn’t he fall? Why does he continue to fight?

Why can this guy stand? How can he defy the very laws of nature?

And Lee Hyul-hyun realized. He finally understood the essence of Lee Tae-shin’s being.

The attitude of this man’s life. His unwavering determination, his refusal to surrender.

He, too, had lived that way before. He had once been driven by a similar spirit.

It was a struggle. A constant battle against adversity.

This man was ending the struggle called life. He was facing his mortality with courage and grace.

Whirr!

Lee Tae-shin’s raised sword possessed an unprecedentedly intense radiance. It was a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.

“Chul,” Lee Tae-shin opened his mouth, his voice weak but clear.

Lee Tae-shin opened his mouth. He had one last message to deliver.

“Look,” he urged, his eyes filled with love and hope.

Lee Tae-shin took a step forward, defying his broken body and pushing onward.

All of Lee Tae-shin’s life was imbued in that sword. His very essence was contained within that final strike.

Lee Hyul-hyun’s eyes shook. He was witnessing something truly profound.

‘This is…… what on earth……?’ he wondered, his mind struggling to comprehend the scene before him.

It was a realm he had never seen before. He had never encountered such power, such determination.

It was a sight he had never seen before. He was witnessing a miracle.

The man Lee Tae-shin was now stepping into an unexplored world. He was transcending his limitations, becoming something more than human.

“This is my sword,” Lee Tae-shin declared, his voice filled with pride and resolve.

The life of a wretched man. A life filled with hardship and regret.

He was called the strongest, but he was full of regrets. He had made mistakes, he had caused pain.

But in the end, the life of a man who did not stop struggling and walked forward fell like a sword. He had faced his demons and emerged victorious.

* * *

In an instant, a dazzling light soared from behind the Soongmoo Lee Clan warriors who were running away. A beacon of hope in the darkness.

Whirr!

It was a scene as if dawn was breaking. The darkness was receding, replaced by a radiant light.

All the warriors of the Soongmoo Lee Clan were astonished by the light soaring far beyond the horizon. They had never witnessed such power before.

‘What on earth is that?’ they wondered, their hearts filled with awe and wonder.

An indescribable power was spreading out. The very air crackled with energy.

The presence that dominated the world was so great that they mistook it for the primordial monster breaking out of its egg. They feared the worst.

-Kieeeeeek!

But they did not have time to leisurely watch that light. The battle was far from over.

Monsters were rushing in, their numbers seemingly endless. The fight for survival continued.