Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 328

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 328

The Summit Where Flowers of Blood Bloom, the Highest Point of Sungmoo Lee Ga.

On the peak of the artificial mountain behind it, a man overlooked the entire landscape of Sungmoo Lee Ga.

“In the end, a star has fallen.”

Yellow eyes glowed like will-o’-the-wisps in the darkness.

He watched the figure of Lee Gun-sung, kneeling and collapsing.

It was the sight of a star fading, a star that had shone in response to the call of the era.

And his gaze soon turned to the man staggering in front of Lee Gun-sung, Lee Cheol.

“Your destined rival was able to imbue starlight into his sword because of you… perhaps your death had its own value.”

The man’s lips curved into a gentle arc.

Then, he raised his head and gazed at the sky.

The fragments of sword energy Lee Cheol had unleashed were scattering into the dawning sky.

That sword energy was like starlight.

Each fragment was a world in itself.

Sword Energy Manifestation (劍氣成罡) [achieving a tangible form of sword energy]. The remnants of the star called Lee Gun-sung gathered to help Lee Cheol grow.

Now, Lee Cheol would change the world with his will alone.

“It has ripened so well. Now… the time is not far off.”

The man’s eyes flickered hazily.

Those who opened all the doors of the world must have felt Lee Cheol’s energy.

That energy was so brilliant and intense.

“Of course, it wouldn’t only be humans who felt that energy…”

Woo-woo-woo-woong….

Soon, a heavy wailing sound, as if echoing from the depths of the sea, reverberated in his ears.

Like the cry of a beast, or like echoing wind.

He clearly heard the unknown resonance.

He turned his eyes and gazed at the distant sky.

His smile deepened.

It was to the point where madness could be felt.

“Are you trying to wake up? Wake up quickly, quickly… there’s not much time left. Now, truly.”

The man turned and walked into the dark forest.

Soon, the man disappeared as if melting into the shadows.

* * *

Sungmoo Lee Ga’s sky, the bridge of the mobile fortress.

The interior of the bridge, which had been bustling to support the battle, was now enveloped in silence.

It was because of the screen being broadcasted in front.

The screen showed Lee Cheol, his sword hanging down.

“Ah….”

Someone exclaimed.

It was an inevitable reaction.

Clearly, Lee Cheol’s single strike had plunged the world into silence.

Lee Gun-sung’s forces, and the forces attacking Sungmoo Lee Ga alongside Lee Cheol.

Everyone was momentarily stunned by the energy that swept through the battlefield.

‘Just now, that was…’

Anastasia, who was managing the mobile fortress with Valerie and overseeing the field command, clenched her clothes tightly.

It felt like she had heard a story that was desperate yet beautiful, joyful yet sad.

Even though it was just a screen broadcasting a video, they all felt such complex emotions.

A moment of silence.

The flow of emotions that had enveloped them soon disappeared, and the battlefield, which had fallen into silence, began to move again.

Kwaaaang!

The people on the bridge snapped back to their senses at the sudden explosion.

It became noisy again, as if the silence from before had been a lie.

“C, communication from the North Gate! S, suddenly the enemy forces’ power has drastically decreased. It seems the enhancement has been lifted!”

“We’ve received similar reports from the West Gate as well!”

“At the South Gate, internal forces…!”

As if the silence from before had been a lie, reports poured in like a flood.

Anastasia’s eyes gleamed again.

‘Did the influence of the Black Energy diminish as Lee Cheol won?’

That was clear.

The source of the power that had consumed Sungmoo Lee Ga was in Lee Gun-sung, and that Lee Gun-sung had just been defeated by Lee Cheol.

“Relay the fact of Lee Cheol’s victory to all forces. …The battle is not over yet. Everyone, focus! We must not miss this opportunity!”

Lee Gun-sung’s Black Energy had disappeared.

It was the result of Lee Cheol’s victory.

However, Lee Cheol’s victory could not be said to be the victory of the war.

Kwaaaang!

Even at this moment, the mobile fortress’s magic cannons were firing, blocking the shells fired from the outer walls.

Even after hearing the news of Lee Gun-sung’s death, there were those among the forces on the outer walls who did not stop fighting.

They knew it too.

That the Lee Gun-sung they had chosen to serve had been defeated, and that defeat in Sungmoo Lee Ga meant death.

‘There may be some ordinary warriors who give up or defect… but the forces at the Great Lord level or higher would never do that.’

Even if they defected right now, they were people who could not be spared.

They knew that fact, so they were fighting to the death.

It was then.

Kwarurururung!

The mobile fortress suddenly tilted sharply.

It quickly regained its balance, but Anastasia’s complexion turned pale.

“Are you okay? Lady Leader?”

“…Yes, I’m fine. What was that just now?”

“It wasn’t an enemy attack. The No. 2 engine shut down, causing a brief shake. As you know, it’s in a patched-up state because we had to move urgently….”

“How much longer until the limit?”

“Not much left. Considering landing, about an hour from now.”

Anastasia nodded.

“…That’s ambiguous.”

One hour.

Could they really occupy the remaining forces within that time?

It was then.

“We have a transmission from the Iron Blood Squad heading to the central courtyard!”

Perhaps, the infiltration team had a mission as important as Lee Cheol’s.

Their mission was to infiltrate the interior and stop Lee Baek-cheol, one of Lee Gun-sung’s top fighters.

Lee Cheol had stopped Lee Gun-sung, but if Lee Baek-cheol were to enter the battlefield in perfect condition here, it would be very difficult.

Lee Baek-cheol. He was also one of the best in Sungmoo Lee Ga in name and reality.

“…What’s the result?”

Anastasia asked, nervous about the result.

Even before hearing the answer, a hurried report followed.

“R, reports are coming in from the Twin Dragon Squad. Suddenly, the enemies…!”

And Anastasia was shocked by that report.

* * *

Lee Baek-cheol had always taken a step back.

Even in the family head competition, even in the incident where his father, the previous family head, died, even in all the incidents where Lee Kyung-hwa fled the family and the former Elder Council Head wreaked havoc on the family, he was never involved.

The reason was simple.

Because Lee Tae-shin was there.

Because Lee Baek-cheol had watched him since long ago, he could give up everything.

He wasn’t dissatisfied with that.

At least, everyone who lived in the same era as Lee Tae-shin would think so.

He wasn’t an existence that provoked competitiveness, but rather should be seen as a mysterious phenomenon itself.

If you couldn’t accept that, you would end up like Lee Cheol-joong, who had his neck cut off by Lee Cheol.

That’s why he accepted everything and lived a life focused on himself.

But.

“My brother passed away. When I heard that news, I felt the flames in my heart, which I thought had turned to ashes, surge up.”

Lee Baek-cheol took a deep breath and looked ahead.

“…Just because of the position of family head?”

Lee Kyung-hwa was sitting in front of him.

Lee Kyung-hwa’s condition was not good at all.

Her body was full of wounds, and her blood was spreading in the spot where she had collapsed from exhaustion.

“Hmm, in fact, the position of family head itself may not be that important. What’s important is the fact that you’ve reached it.”

“I… don’t know.”

“You were never like Sungmoo Lee Ga from the beginning. If I had to compare, you were similar to the second brother.”

He looked at his bow.

Self-affirmation, the goal of struggle, the result of achievement.

Those who inherited the blood of Sungmoo Lee Ga usually needed such things.

Yes, he thought he had forgotten because of Lee Tae-shin, but in the end, he was also a member of the Sungmoo Lee Ga bloodline.

“Your Mind Sword, it ‘protects.’ That’s far from struggle. A Mind Sword is originally an individual’s mental image. Protecting is a mental image that is established when there is another person. Your Mind Sword is half-baked. Moreover, it’s not even complete.”

Lee Baek-cheol looked down at Lee Kyung-hwa.

Unlike Lee Kyung-hwa, who was sitting down, Lee Baek-cheol stood tall and looked down at her.

“Yes, that’s right, Older Brother. It was incomplete. That’s why I brought my nephew and younger brother.”

Behind Lee Kyung-hwa.

The figures of the Iron Blood Squad and Lee Young-sung and Lee Tae-hong, who were lying on the floor, could be seen.

Except for Lee Young-sung and Lee Tae-hong, who were staggering to their feet, everyone else was covered in blood and writhing on the ground.

“I was surprised by those guys too. I was sure there were only half-wits… how did they become so strong?”

Lee Baek-cheol swept around the area where he was standing.

The ground was torn up, and fragments of magic power that had not yet dissipated were flickering and flying around like fireflies.

“Was it Lee Cheol?”

“What?”

“You, Tae-hong, Young-sung… was it because of that child that all of you were able to do this?”

At that question, Lee Kyung-hwa nodded readily.

“Yes, that’s right. That child did it.”

“Why? What does that child have?”

Lee Baek-cheol was genuinely curious.

It was true that Lee Cheol’s growth was surprising, but it was far from the overwhelming presence of Lee Tae-shin.

Why people were always moved by Lee Cheol and followed him, he was curious about that.

“…He just shows the way.”

“The way?”

“Yes, he doesn’t tell you what to do or what not to do. He doesn’t drag you along. He just shows you the way and walks alongside you. Um… well, maybe he pulls you along sometimes? Hehe.”

Lee Baek-cheol chuckled as he looked at Lee Kyung-hwa, who was giving a weak smile.

“Did that child respect your way of life?”

“Yes.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Baek-cheol looked down at Lee Kyung-hwa, who was sitting down, with a somewhat surprised look.

“One last question.”

“…Yes.”

“Living like that….”

Lee Baek-cheol hesitated as if wondering what to ask after that, then slowly continued as if he had made up his mind.

“…Are you happy?”

Lee Kyung-hwa paused for a moment at Lee Baek-cheol’s question.

“Not being the main character, but living in the backyard. Is that kind of life okay?”

Silence flowed.

Lee Kyung-hwa met the eyes of her brother, whom she wasn’t very close to.

And smiled.

Because she was so injured, the only smile she could make was to curl up the corners of her lips.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m not. But, I think this is right.”

At that answer, Lee Baek-cheol’s eyes widened.

After a moment, Lee Baek-cheol looked up at the sky and took a long breath as if pouring out everything in his chest.

“…There is such a way of life.”

Teing!

At that moment, the string of the Four-Day Bow held in Lee Baek-cheol’s hand snapped.

And Lee Baek-cheol collapsed to the floor.

“Cough! Cough!”

His back, which was revealed, was full of all kinds of sword wounds and penetrating wounds.

The sword wounds were made by the Iron Blood Squad and Lee Tae-hong, and the penetrating wounds were made by his son, Lee Young-sung.

But he didn’t die.

To be exact, those who aimed at him couldn’t kill him.

Even in that situation, Lee Baek-cheol chose to stay rather than flee.

Lee Baek-cheol coughed roughly a few times, then opened his mouth.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

His wounds were severe.

Even if he survived, he wouldn’t be able to use magic power, let alone live a normal life.

“Be careful of… Lee Gun-sung’s forces in Sungmoo Lee Ga.”

“Since the war has already started anyway….”

“No, you don’t know. It’s not the ones who are reluctantly following that are the problem. The ones who are intoxicated with Lee Gun-sung’s power, led by the Spirit Sword Unit… you have to be careful of them. When death approaches, they will wear masks. Cough!”

Mask.

By now, most people knew what that meant.

“So, retreat for now… there’s no problem even if you regroup and come back. After all, Lee Gun-sung will be dead.”

Even in a situation where things were already neck and neck, it could be dangerous if they even wore masks.

That’s what Lee Baek-cheol thought and advised.

“Yes, I knew it.”

Lee Kyung-hwa nodded as if she knew it.

“But we can’t do that. Even if it’s to plan for the future, it’s still retreating. We can’t lose here. And.”

Lee Kyung-hwa looked at Lee Baek-cheol, who was looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“No matter what they do, we’ll win. That’s why we came here.”

Lee Kyung-hwa sincerely thought so.

Lee Baek-cheol chuckled.

That nonsensical trust somehow looked dazzling.

Lee Baek-cheol lay limply, letting out a helpless, weak laugh.

* * *

Lee Baek-cheol’s prediction was correct.

At some point, changes began to occur in the personnel who were intoxicated with the power given by Lee Gun-sung.

Some parts of their bodies transformed like monsters, or they took out parts of monster byproducts that they had been carrying somewhere, or they put on shells that covered their faces.

And the biggest problem was the Spirit Sword Unit.

A place where most of the Spirit Sword Unit members were gathered.

Lee Seo-hyun, who was continuing the battle roughly, grumbled.

“Are you crazy? The third brother… no, what the hell did that psycho do? Was he communicating with Behemoth [a monstrous creature] too?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

I leaned against a warrior and sighed.

“Crazy bastard. He was planning to plunge the family into the abyss. What was he going to do if he lost and kept spreading shit until the end?”

“…No, maybe Brother did this for the family.”

“What? This? Why?”

I looked at the Spirit Sword Unit members who were wearing masks.

Their Black Energy was amplified, and an intense aura was erupting.

“If Brother had won, he could have just used them as they were….”

“If you win? You didn’t even think about winning?”

“No. On the contrary, if I win… this becomes a gift to me and the family.”

Lee Seo-hyun pondered for a moment as if he didn’t understand what I was saying, then his eyes widened the next moment.

‘Could it be that he’s talking about a purge?’

In the end, the essence of a person only comes out after reaching the extreme.

It doesn’t matter since the Spirit Sword Unit were created in the first place, but there are also those who voluntarily accepted the Black Energy even though they weren’t.

Those who are intoxicated with power.

Those who are intoxicated with Black Energy.

If we only get rid of them… Sungmoo Lee Ga will become purer.

Besides, the pawns of Behemoth and Kabbalah [an esoteric discipline and school of thought] have been revealed.

“…That’s bullshit. Are you saying he just went out of his way to think that way? No way.”

I just gave a faint smile.

Anyway, those guys are our enemies, the cancer of Sungmoo Lee Ga, that’s an unchanging fact.

And we can only win if we clean up those things.

-Krrr….

The Spirit Sword Unit members, called the Undead Corps, made strange cries and shook their bodies.

-Lee, Cheol… Bastard… You, you die here….

-Kieeeek!

The strangely twisted warriors and Spirit Sword Unit members began to surround us.

Maybe that’s the same for the West Gate, the East Gate, and the North Gate, not just here at the South Gate.

“Step back a little. It seems like I’ll have to do something from here on out.”

I said to the warrior who was supporting me with one arm on my shoulder.

“No, you can’t, Lee Cheol.”

Of course, he didn’t back down.

I smiled bitterly and slowly pulled my arm away.

“Uh, uh?”

And the Seven Stars Squad felt as if they were holding onto smoke, as Lee Cheol’s arm slipped out without resistance.

He reached out to grab it again, but before he knew it, Lee Cheol was standing alone, taking a long breath.

“Hey, what are you going to do?”

“I’ve recovered a bit now. Just leave it to me for now.”

Drdrdrdr….

And in an instant, Lee Seo-hyun felt the sword made of Black Energy that he was holding being absorbed into Lee Cheol.

That was the beginning.

The black mist-like energies that were being collected in Sungmoo Lee Ga began to gather towards Lee Cheol as if being sucked in.

‘M, magic power still seems to be at the bottom?’

Lee Seo-hyun looked at Lee Cheol in embarrassment.

Lee Cheol was still groaning, not having fully recovered from his injuries.

But now, a strong whirlwind arose around Lee Cheol, who had no magic power.

-Kek! Kieeeek!

The warriors wearing masks screamed.

In an instant, Lee Cheol raised his hand to the sky.

────Puh-uh-uh-ung!

Lee Cheol’s Black Energy, which was shot into the sky, burst out.

An invisible black energy poured down like rain.

But that Black Energy was different from the energy that Lee Gun-sung was handling.

It was my own Black Energy with the power of purification.

The mental strength to control the Black Energy had been restored, so I absorbed it, recovered, and then purified it, scattering it throughout the family.

Magic power and stamina were depleted and not easily recovered, but not as much as Black Energy.

In that way, the rain of Black Energy with the power of purification poured down.

Over the place where Choi In-ha, Kim Han, and Kim Bo-sung were fighting.

Over the head of Lee Seol-ah, where Lee Hyun-jae and Lee Hyun-chan were fighting.

Over the place where the elders had joined forces.

The Black Energy that poured down throughout Sungmoo Lee Ga was sweeping away all the heterogeneous forces.

-Kieeeeeeeeeek!

And those who were intoxicated with power and didn’t care that their bodies were breaking down began to scream.

The Black Energy that had transformed their bodies was forcibly purified.

Now, all that’s left for them is an empty shell.

Those who have crossed the line once are more pathetic when they lose everything.

I took a long breath and looked at the sky.

“W, what are you doing? This bastard….”

One of the Spirit Sword Unit members looked at me, stammering as if embarrassed.

Following him, all the warriors who had been making grotesque cries felt a sense of emptiness, having lost everything, and collapsed.

“Hey, hey! What did you do!”

Lee Seo-hyun grabbed my shoulder in embarrassment.

“I’ll explain it to you later. Hooo, I’m done here. Now, really… I’m at my limit….”

“U, uh! Young Master!”

Thud!

I lost strength in my body and fell, and the Seven Stars Squad caught me.

‘Now, it’s really over.’

The remaining forces, who had lost even their last remaining strength, would not be able to do anything now.

If they had just used the power they originally had, I don’t know, but since they used the power through Black Energy, it became a self-inflicted move.

Like that.

Now, victory was right in front of us.

All that was left for the enemies was to surrender, and all that was left for us was to clean up.

‘It’s a pity that I can’t enjoy the last moment of victory….’

I felt a terrible sleepiness coming over me, with only one step left.

Now it’s really the limit. But I was satisfied.

I, we, have won.

Now Sungmoo Lee Ga will return.

In an even stronger form than before the chaos created by Lee Gun-sung.

I looked at the sky.

The dawn that had been brightening in the distance had already become the complete morning sunlight, scattering light throughout Sungmoo Lee Ga.