A wave of sword energy poured towards Lee Rowoon.
“Oh no…! No way!” Kang Cheol-woo shouted in surprise.
Lee Rowoon seemed too defenseless to block the sword energy unleashed by a master of Hwagyung [a high level of martial arts cultivation]. A murderous strike was aimed directly at Lee Rowoon’s body.
‘Shhhhk! Shhhhk! Shhhhk!’ That was the sound that should have been heard.
Clang!
Not this death cry-like sound.
“……!” Kang Cheol-woo and the other players stared with wide eyes.
“Sword Barrier!” A blue barrier in front of Lee Rowoon completely blocked Yuk Sagul’s wave-like sword energy.
The man who was said to be the Dark Shadow Guild’s Guild Master.
“How dare you!” He shouted, tilting the sword that had created the barrier. “How dare a bug like you aim for the existence of someone like me!” The inner energy felt in his roar. The players covered their ears at the immense energy.
“Is he a martial artist?” However, Yuk Sagul stood on the debris, seemingly unharmed by the lion’s roar, glaring at Jung Chi-soo.
Thud, thud. Other martial artists began to emerge from the debris.
“Is it an item?” Lee Rowoon said, looking at them with a monotonous voice. He had noticed it from the first time he saw it. ‘Yuk Sagul’s sword.’ At first glance, it looked like any other sword used by martial artists, but the energy within was different. A martial artist’s exclusive item. ‘Divine Weapon.’ Yuk Sagul must have survived with the martial artists using that power.
“To hide your identity and infiltrate the subjugation force, what is your purpose?” Yuk Sagul’s murderous voice was heard.
“For a dying old man, you sure are strong.” It was Lee Rowoon.
The number of martial artists who had emerged from the debris was nearly twenty, including Yuk Sagul. That meant that nearly forty people had died in the explosion. The martial artists who had appeared were not in good shape either. Their bodies were covered in burn marks, and they seemed to have suffered internal injuries from rapidly raising their inner energy to protect themselves from the explosion.
Swoosh. Just as Lee Rowoon was about to raise his hand towards them.
“Could you give me a chance?” It was Jung Chi-soo’s voice.
“How dare you….”
“Guild member.” At Lee Rowoon’s words, Jung Chi-soo flinched and spoke again. “He is the one who aimed for the Guild Master’s existence. As a fellow guild member, I cannot tolerate this.” Jung Chi-soo turned his back to Yuk Sagul, as if ignoring his existence, and bowed his head towards Lee Rowoon. “I would like to ask for a chance.”
The day of the Blood Demon’s arrival. Jung Chi-soo failed to recognize the true Blood Demon and dared to point his sword at the Blood Demon God. It was an act born of ignorance, but ignorance was no excuse. He had been spared by the great Blood Demon’s mercy, but the day of sin was never erased from his mind.
‘A chance.’ A chance to atone for his sins, even a little, a chance to be of help to the Blood Demon.
“Go ahead. Well….” Lee Rowoon said, looking at Yuk Sagul, who was catching his breath for a moment in the back. “He seems like a decent opponent.”
Swoosh. Jung Chi-soo turned his back again. Dark Shadow Guild members were now standing on either side of him. The Blood Sword Squad members stood with their swords drawn.
“Hmph… We will eradicate the Guild Master’s enemy. You know what that means. Don’t show a shameful sight.”
“Loyalty.” A low and solemn echo.
“Hmph.” Yuk Sagul snorted. They had only given them time to recover from the internal injuries they had suffered in the explosion. “You don’t know your place.” They believed that they had the power to wipe them all out.
Swish, swish, swish! The Dark Shadow Guild members threw themselves into the debris. Just as Yuk Sagul was about to raise his sword and unleash another attack.
Clang! “You bug, your sins must be washed away with your blood.” Jung Chi-soo’s sword, which had rushed in, collided with Yuk Sagul’s hastily raised sword, sending sparks flying.
* * *
‘A good opportunity.’ Lee Rowoon sat down and watched the fight.
“A-are you sure it’s okay? Should we help….” Kang Cheol-woo spoke, representing the other players, but Lee Rowoon waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn’t care. “It’s fine.” Kang Cheol-woo looked towards the passage where the battle was taking place without answering. If the Dark Shadow Guild lost, they would die too.
“Ugh!” “Cough!” “What kind of swordsmanship is this!” However, the nine Dark Shadow Guild members, excluding Lee Rowoon, were literally pushing the injured martial artists back. Among them, the most impressive was the Dark Shadow Guild Master.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! It was Jung Chi-soo. His sword was bending at bizarre angles, mocking Yuk Sagul. Clang! Yuk Sagul was retreating, unable to even mount a proper counterattack.
‘The elder of Haenam….’ Kang Cheol-woo felt like this situation was a dream. Who were the martial artists? They were people who had spent their entire lives learning only how to fight and injure others. Among them, Yuk Sagul was an elder of Haenam [a powerful martial arts sect]. He knew that Haenam was one of the three major guilds in Korea, and that they were part of the Haenam faction, a force that was among the top ranks of the guild. The Haenam martial artists, known as the main branch disciples, possessed overwhelming skills, and Yuk Sagul was an elder who was considered a monster even among them.
‘The ability to face all the others alone.’ The ability to face the martial artists who came with him, even the players. The Dark Shadow Guild Master was on par with such a Yuk Sagul.
‘No.’ Such a Yuk Sagul. “Ugh!” Was being pushed back. But even so, Kang Cheol-woo’s face did not improve.
“Not bad.” Yuk Sagul had a smile on his face. That smile was too unsettling. “I’d rather he just….”
“If I wanted to finish it for sure, I would have moved. I’m just letting them gain some experience.”
“Experience?”
“You’ll find out.” Lee Rowoon smiled leisurely and thought. ‘What kind of people are the modern martial artists?’ The Blood Cult’s followers, who had been trapped in the Blood King’s Castle and cut off from the world. Even though Kang Han-cheol had reported the changed world to the Blood Cult, it had not been properly conveyed. Kang Han-cheol was in charge of the Blood Cult, and Kang Eun-ha was in charge of the Eunha Guild, trying to bring about change. ‘Thoughts don’t change that easily.’ The Blood Cult members were still resistant to new things and developments. If he stepped in and said a word, they would accept it, but that alone wouldn’t be enough. It was faster to feel and see things for themselves. The Eunha Guild had been doing their best in gate hunts, but they had never fought a war. That meant they had no experience fighting modern martial artists.
“Such a strange swordsmanship, are you a member of a heretical sect?” Jung Chi-soo and the Blood Sword Squad would feel it this time. “But, you’re lacking. Perhaps the gate hasn’t been open for long.” Yuk Sagul, who had created some distance, was smiling. He took a stance and held his sword with both hands. “I’ll show you. The power of Haenam.”
Sensing something, Jung Chi-soo rushed towards Yuk Sagul without hesitation. “Sword Aura!” Jung Chi-soo’s sword was imbued with sword aura. Jung Chi-soo, who had become one with his sword, with a sharp momentum that could cut down any monster in one blow, aimed at Yuk Sagul. ‘I’ll cut him down.’ He couldn’t drag it out any longer. He had to end it. That was the moment when Jung Chi-soo, whose consciousness had become murderous, thrust his sword with a glint in his eyes.
Clang! “……!” The sword that he had clearly thrust into an opening was blocked too easily. “Haste.” The voice coming from Yuk Sagul’s mouth. Whoosh! Yuk Sagul’s figure disappeared like a mirage. Transposition [a movement technique]. A sublime movement technique that moved so fast that afterimages remained. “Strength.” Clang! Yuk Sagul’s descending sword was pushing back Jung Chi-soo’s sword, which had collided with it. “Inner Energy Amplification.” The color of the sword aura on Yuk Sagul’s sword became even darker. And finally. Boom! Jung Chi-soo was thrown back by the explosion.
Whoosh! Yuk Sagul’s hair was fluttering against gravity due to the immense inner energy. “This is.” “This is.” Yuk Sagul and Lee Rowoon spoke at the same time. “The power of a Divine Weapon.” “The martial artists’ item.”
Swoosh. Jung Chi-soo walked out, dropping debris as he hit the passage. A staggering body, torn clothes. His face was distorted like a demon. Humiliation. “How dare….” Who was the Blood Sword Captain? The captain of the Blood Palace’s guard, who protected the Blood Demon. He thought that he should not be inferior to the elders, and that he should have the strength to surpass them. “How dare you!” He had shown such a humiliating sight in front of the Blood Demon. ‘I’ll kill him.’ He would kill Yuk Sagul, who had humiliated him like this. And he would confess his sins to the Blood Demon and cut off one of his arms.
“Indeed, you’re quite something. But isn’t it too arrogant to say such things in that state?” Yuk Sagul smiled and moved to finish off Jung Chi-soo.
“You’re an idiot.” Lee Rowoon’s voice. “Do you understand now? What you guys were doing?” Yuk Sagul tried to move forward, ignoring the voice he heard. “……?” But his body wouldn’t move. “Does that old man look impressive? No, there are over a hundred people in Haenam who are stronger than him. What are you expecting from an elder who operates outside the sect?” What was going on? Yuk Sagul stared blankly at Jung Chi-soo.
“They’re covered in items like that. With even more amazing ones than that.” Yuk Sagul scanned his surroundings with a blank look. The martial artists like him, they had also pushed back the Dark Shadow Guild with the power of items, but they were standing still. Their expressions were also those of incomprehension. “It’s the price of being stagnant and rotten. Do you understand now?”
“An unforgivable sin. I will eliminate the Blood Demon’s enemy and pay with my life.”
“B-Blood Demon?”
“I don’t need the life of someone who can’t even deal with an old man like that. Besides, I told you not to do that.” Swoosh. Lee Rowoon, who had been sitting, stood up. “C-crazy…!” Only then did Yuk Sagul realize what was happening. A stiff body. ‘Murderous intent….’ The immense murderous intent, the size of which could not be measured, was crushing all the martial artists. “I’m releasing the restriction.” Whoosh! “Clean them up.” It was the moment Lee Rowoon turned away, as if he had seen enough.
Whoooooosh! Dark energy flowed out of the Dark Shadow Guild members’ bodies, taking shape. The dark crimson energy was denser than any dark energy Yuk Sagul had ever seen. “Understood.” Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The sounds of flesh tearing were heard from all directions, unable to move. Even though Jung Chi-soo was approaching in front of him, Yuk Sagul couldn’t even raise his sword. The murderous intent that had stopped his body earlier had disappeared. What was this now? Sway. The power of the murderous intent emanating from the man in front of him, the Dark Shadow Guild Master. It felt twice as strong as before. Even with the power of the Divine Weapon activated, he didn’t think he could be his match.
“Thank you. Bug.” Jung Chi-soo, standing in front of Yuk Sagul, said with his sword in hand. “Thanks to you, we realized how great a sin we committed.”
“N-no….” Yuk Sagul groaned as he watched the sword slowly rise. “I’ll end it in one go as compensation. You dared to block the Blood Demon’s path, wash it away with your blood.”
“No!” Swoosh!
* * *
“…….” Kang Cheol-woo stood there blankly with a dazed look on his face. It wasn’t just him. Gulp. The other players couldn’t even think about what had just happened. ‘He made the martial artists unable to move with murderous intent?’ Was that even possible? ‘Blood Demon…?’ What was that? But one thing was clear. Gulp. These guys were more dangerous than those damn Haenam bastards.
-Shall I tell you a way to survive? What he had thought was the devil’s whisper was something even worse than the devil. “S-save….” That was all he could say. It was different from the courage they had shown in confronting the Haenam group, which they called recklessness. In the midst of overwhelming fear, all they could do was…. “S-save me…!” Kang Cheol-woo, who had been shouting, stopped. “What are you doing?” Lee Rowoon, who was standing in front of the erased magic circle, was looking at them with a languid expression. “Let’s go.” Lee Rowoon was already standing in front of the door leading to Armo’s base.