Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 541

Nangseon Gi Hwan Dam – Part 2, Episode 250

The earth hung suspended in the sky, casting a vast shadow. Immense stone towers jutted out at odd angles, surrounded by biting winds and a palpable sense of dread, creating an intensely unsettling atmosphere.

The sky, darkened and rent by flashes of lightning during their battle, only amplified this feeling.

[Aren’t you glad we didn’t go there?]

The white deer gazed blankly at the sky.

Hwadam replied,

“I’m not sure. As one who serves his master, I feel uneasy being separated from him. I suppose our perspectives are bound to differ somewhat.”

[Is that so? I’ve only seen the Master fight twice… and it was terrifying afterward. So, I assumed you’d feel the same.]

The one speaking to Hwadam was Ye-dong’s arrow, manifested in the form of a man.

It was Yeja.

He was encased within walls of pure white ice. Furthermore, he was bound by frozen iron chains, rendering him completely immobile, yet the two were engaged in calm conversation.

‘Hmm…’

The chains that held him possessed a strange power, preventing him from reverting to his true form as an arrow.

Yeja needed to escape as quickly as possible, but Hwadam’s tone, strangely devoid of any hostile intent, made it impossible for him to focus.

In a way, it was absurd.

Long ago,

When Yeja first saw Cheonbeom choose the pure white deer, he had questioned why he would select a deer with no power.

Yeja vividly remembered the deer before him as a powerless burden.

So, this was unbelievable.

‘That burden…’

Had instantly restrained him, leaving him helpless.

“I suspected something was amiss when you killed my Bireong, but I never imagined you would develop to this extent.”

At his words, Hwadam’s eyes deepened, as if reflecting on a distant memory.

[He was a formidable opponent. Even now, sometimes in my dreams, I relive the moment when I fought him with my life on the line. I have never felt such desperation, nor have I ever encountered a rival who pushed me so hard.]

Now, it was a cherished memory.

Unlike those days, Hwadam had grown significantly stronger.

No longer merely large, he could now wield more substantial power by focusing it with Choa [a technique or concept related to focusing power].

[The Unbreakable Chains that bind you were created by me, and they are quite fascinating. They appear to break but never do, and they grow stronger with time. They seem to embody the saying ‘late bloomer.’ Perhaps because they were made with the help of someone I cherish, even I cannot undo them.]

The fact that his Beonseonbeopbae [a technique or ability] took the form of chains must be due to Tamhwa’s influence.

“Indeed, that’s right. Without someone’s help, I probably won’t be able to break these Unbreakable Chains.”

They seem to break but never do.

The frost-covered chains appeared to crack as if about to break, but if he relaxed his strength even for a moment, the cracks would reseal, becoming even more solid.

After repeating this several times, not even cracks appeared anymore.

Yeja was certain.

He couldn’t overcome this with his own power alone.

So, he asked,

“Why don’t you kill me?”

Hwadam, who had been staring blankly at the earth floating high in the sky where Cheonbeom was battling, slowly turned his head.

[Because the Master doesn’t wish it.]

“…Why is that? Before, even though it was a deception, when he faced his death… I was clearly present as well.”

[Well, I am merely holding you here as he desires. He must be a deeply affectionate person, perhaps considering sharing a drink with you.]

At those words, Yeja let out a hollow laugh and lowered his head.

“Whether he’s kind or cunning…”

[How could beings like us comprehend his grand intentions?]

“As one who serves those who have reached the heavens, what is your prediction for the future?”

He was asking who would emerge victorious.

[What about you?]

“I, of course, believe without a doubt that my master will be victorious.”

That was a natural sentiment.

It was only natural to believe in his master’s victory.

[Is that so?]

“What about you?”

Hwadam pondered for a moment and then answered.

[He probably… won’t be victorious. But he won’t be defeated either.]

“…Why do you think so?”

[He possesses armor that will block anything, but he does not possess a sword to cut down his opponent.]

* * *

Chwarrrr.

Ilsinhongseong [Title or name] smiled as he watched the fleeting dance of the butterflies.

“The law of Qi [life energy]… I almost forgot. That you mastered Samse-Samshin [a powerful technique].”

“Don’t you dare forget it.”

Black butterflies spread in all directions.

Ye-dong once again unleashed Sammae-Samsal [a deadly arrow technique], and Cheonbeom summoned Nachal [a defensive technique or entity].

Chwaak!

Like spreading ink, black butterflies enveloped Cheonbeom.

“Nachal isn’t particularly useful, but unfortunately, it’s quite effective against your Sammae-Samsal. That’s because Sammae-Samsal is a technique that inevitably reaches its initial target, isn’t it?”

So, Cheonbeom deliberately shattered it.

He broke it apart, allowing the arrow to pierce through.

He accomplished this using the law of Qi, something that shouldn’t have been possible with the original target.

What does it mean to be alive?

To breathe? To have a beating heart?

No.

To be alive is to possess Qi.

Even stones, the sun, and the moon do not breathe or have beating hearts, but they are alive.

That is because they possess Qi.

So, anything that possesses Qi is alive.

Therefore, even ghosts.

“To be alive, is it.”

Chak!

Ye-dong’s Sammae-Samsal once again pierced into Nachal’s swarm of black butterflies.

But that was all.

The butterflies coalesced to form the shape of a woman, and as if mocking him, they scattered again, releasing poisonous smoke.

Ye-dong’s range of movement was inevitably shrinking.

Even if Nachal’s poison didn’t significantly affect Wonseon [a powerful being], it was still a nuisance.

“You carry around something so lowly.”

Pee-yung!

Ilsinhongseong Ye-dong fired the last arrow of Sammae-Samsal.

At the same time, Cheonbeom’s brow furrowed.

‘It’s different.’

The energy contained within was subtly different.

Chak!

Pook!!

“Sammae-Samsal divides one arrow into three and shoots them. It unleashes its true power when they become one again.”

Jiiiiiing!!

The Sammae-Samsal, embedded within the swarm of butterflies, pulsed with light and reformed into a single arrow.

An intense wave of energy erupted.

As if sensing the danger, the butterfly swarm scattered, but it was futile.

Chwajajajajajak!!

The complete Sammae-Samsal unleashed arrows in all directions like a porcupine.

The wings of the butterflies that were struck fell off.

The wails of the evil spirits echoed.

“Kyaaaaaak!!”

Along with Nachal’s screams.

The evil spirits, transformed into swarms of butterflies, were annihilated, and Nachal also crashed to the ground, writhing in agony.

Hwiririririk, Pook.

Cheonbeom calmly observed Ye-dong as Nachal, reverting to its sword form, plunged into the ground and asked,

“How many arrows are left?”

Kureureung.

Ssangmyeol [a weapon or technique] was gripped in Cheonbeom’s hand.

Only the form remained the same.

What it contained was Bulcheonbulbyeok [a powerful energy or concept].

Purple lightning crackled.

‘Three.’

Ye-dong glanced at the remaining arrows in his quiver and returned them.

Three arrows remained.

He could no longer use Sammae-Samsal.

“Take up your bow. Ilsinhongseong Ye-dong. When all your arrows are shattered in my hands, only then will your life be extinguished by my hand.”

Take up your bow, shoot your arrows.

I will catch and break every arrow you send, and in the end, I will crush your very existence.

Show me everything.

But only when you have shown it all.

“That will be your death.”

Kureureureung!!

Hwiririk, Kwang!!

Spinning his spear and striking the ground.

Samse-Samgwang [a powerful technique] spread in all directions, and the flames of Samcheon-Chohwa [a powerful technique] were unleashed.

He was manipulating the law of creation to its limit, confining all directions within the earth and stone towers.

Kuuuung!!

He created towers and earth in the form of round moons, trapping himself and Ye-dong within them.

The thousands of stone towers created the space of Cheonoe-Gong [a confined space or dimension], generating irregular waves.

Now, within this space, neither Cheonbeom nor Ye-dong could escape.

“Now, let’s end this.”

Seuk.

As Cheonbeom formed a hand seal, the halo of Samse-Samgwang materialized beside him.

Soon, the light spread in all directions, creating a mystical three-thousand-colored radiance.

As the light of Samse-Samgwang brushed against the barren soil, green sprouts emerged, only to quickly wither, crumble, and return to the earth.

“Another word for creation is destruction, they say. At first, I didn’t understand.”

But as time passed, he understood.

There are things in the world that are completed only by being completely shattered.

Some call it sadness, and some call it suffering.

I will call it death.

I will call it death.

Therefore.

“I will create your death.”

Huuuuuung-

A violent wind raged, and golden eyes flashed. His hair whipped around, and tears of blood streamed from his eyes.

A strand of Cheonbeom’s hair, once dyed gold, turned pure white, and the three-thousand colors in his grasp surged.

The beautifully swirling laws of three-thousand colors soon turned gray, then black, and mixed chaotically.

“Yeomyeong (Remaining Life) [a technique or concept related to life force].”

Kwang! Kwakwang!!

The ground buckled and the stone towers crumbled and exploded from the force of the attack.

They turned to dust and scattered.

Hwiiiiiiing!!

A sharp wind grazed Ye-dong’s hair.

Keudeudeuk. Veins bulged on his hand gripping the bow.

The other hand felt strangely light, resting on the innocent quiver.

“Well, it has to be this much to be called a mountain [a metaphor for a challenge or obstacle].”

Ye-dong drew three arrows and plunged them into the ground.

Pook pook pook.

The arrows, forming a triangle, soon sparked with blue light and vanished.

“Tsk.”

Ye-dong clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, grabbed an arrow that appeared simultaneously with the three disappearing arrows, emitting a burst of light, and moved his lips.

His energy surged explosively, forming a pillar of light.

Ye-dong’s pillar of light, undulating like waves, flickered more intensely than ever.

And then.

He plunged the arrow he held in reverse into his chest.

Pook!!

Cheonbeom’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re resorting to all sorts of tricks.”

“Who’s talking.”

Kkuung!!

An unusual energy emanated from Ye-dong’s surroundings, with the arrow embedded in his chest.

It wasn’t powerful, but it was a strange wave.

But it wasn’t weak either, so what could it be called?

‘He’s like a guy on the verge of death.’

It was definitely present, but the sense of energy was very faint.

Wonseon can sense each other’s presence. This is because they are beings of that dimension, and the magnitude of their power is distinct.

But.

‘I can’t feel it more and more.’

Ye-dong’s energy was fading, becoming increasingly imperceptible.

Like a burning firewood dying out.

Slowly, or completely.

As if his very existence was fading.

Unable to be felt.

“You can’t escape.”

With a strange premonition, Cheonbeom slowly hurled Yeomyeong in his grasp.

It obliterated everything in its path as it hurtled towards Ye-dong.

Kwang! Kwaaaaaaa!!

Ye-dong retreated step by step, until he was blocked by a nearby stone tower, and then he smiled slyly.

As if he had already won.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“Do you have anything to bet?”

“If I lose, I’ll tell you what that Ageom [a person’s name] bastard is hiding.”

What he’s hiding?

“If you win?”

“I’ll make you into my arrow.”

With a sly grin on his face as his last expression, Yeomyeong consumed him.