Sparring with the Heavenly Demon
I met the Heavenly Demon. Quite a few of my squad members died. They weren't the righteous type anyway.
As long as Chun-sik survives, that's fine.
This guy's already hooked on me, huh?
Hooked? More like conquest complete. He always trails behind me, calling me "hyungnim."
Even now…
"Hyungnim! Taking on a Death God one-on-one! I knew you were strong, but I had no idea you were this strong!"
His eyes sparkling as he lays on the flattery.
Is it really flattery?
Reading his expression, it seemed genuine. Well, how could anyone hate a guy acting like this?
There was a bit of trouble at the start and midway, but after I fixed his personality, the arrogance vanished. Chun-sik seemed worth taking all the way to the end.
What if things get dangerous along the way? I'd help as much as I could, but if my own life was on the line…
I'd ditch him.
He wasn't worth risking my neck over. I'd just feel bad if he died.
As we took a break, a man's voice rang out.
"Impressive."
The test tube… no, my former test-tube superior approached.
He praised me for holding off Baek Kang long enough to turn the battlefield in our favor. The guy rumored never to give compliments, and now my lips curled up at his words.
The gazes around me shifted too. From just another disposable cultist to one with real promise.
A satisfying fill of recognition.
These kinds of relationships aren't half bad.
I felt good, but I didn't forget my goal.
I want to meet the Heavenly Demon soon.
Meet the Heavenly Demon, get familiar. Use that as a chance to learn her name.
Then slowly worm my way into her heart—that was the plan, but it all hinged on actually meeting her. Still, I ran simulations in my head.
I want to rank up fast.
Wouldn't this mission get me promoted? Felt like a pretty big deal…
As if reading my thoughts, a high-ranking figure showed up.
"Who is Park Kiyong?"
"That's me."
The bigwig had come for me. I figured it was about a promotion.
But his words exceeded my expectations.
"The Heavenly Demon summons you. Clean yourself up and come."
Five months into Murim life. Finally, I was meeting the Heavenly Demon.
Following him, a luxurious building came into view.
"You'll go alone from here."
He said that and left, leaving me by myself. No guards at the building.
Confident in her martial prowess, huh?
High-ranking folks usually had escorts galore. But the Heavenly Demon had none.
I walked forward. And there it was—the presence of the Heavenly Demon.
She's strong.
Stronger than the protagonist Baek Kang.
Has Baek Kang's growth not peaked yet?
Could be a dimension where the heroine outpowers the hero, but I figured Baek Kang had more room to grow.
Lost in thought as I walked, I soon arrived at the door to her chambers.
"Hoo…"
I took a deep breath to shake off the tension.
Knock knock—!
"Come in."
Not a girlish voice, but a mature one. Tinged with allure.
Heart racing with anticipation, I opened the door. And there she was—the Heavenly Demon.
Black hair. Chinese-style robes.
And long, stretched-out legs. A sexy big-sis type woman stood before me.
"Hmm, so you're the one who forced Baek Kang to retreat?"
The Heavenly Demon began sizing me up. Once done, she approached.
"Interesting. You're strong, aren't you?"
Her finger traced over my body.
"Makes me want to spar with you."
Battle lust flickered across her face.
"What a shame. If it weren't wartime, we could've had a match."
Tsking that we couldn't waste valuable resources in the war, she clicked her tongue.
"Fine, what do you want?"
For my merit in stopping Baek Kang, she told me to name my desire. I pondered briefly.
"Spar with me once."
My final answer after deliberation. Various requests popped into my head, but judging from her earlier reaction, this was the right call.
Battle-hungry personality. But as the top dog, she suppressed it.
I had to stoke that battle lust to make her remember me. Her eyebrow arched at my words.
Then her lips curved into a sly grin, like she'd found an amusing toy.
"Can't be helped. I was holding back, but… if the meritorious one requests a spar…"
Acting like it was a hassle, but she looked thrilled. She kicked open the door and strode out.
"Hurry and follow!"
I trailed her to the training grounds. She hopped up and started loosening up.
"But since it's wartime, no vital strikes."
No vitals, no unhealable blows. Beyond that, no rules.
Any weapon. Any attack. Fair game.
"When this stone drops, we start."
She flicked her thumb, sending the stone skyward. It hovered briefly before plummeting.
The instant it hit the ground, the Heavenly Demon and I moved.
Full throttle from the start.
I summoned the Holy Sword Gram and swung.
"Oho~"
She admired Gram, then bent backward to dodge.
Gram grazed the tip of her nose. Still bent back, she launched a kick.
"Gah!"
Didn't expect an attack from that position—I took the hit to my side.
I retreated fast, but she stuck like glue.
Fast!
Faster than Baek Kang. Black aura on her legs.
That's the Heavenly Demon Art, right?
Take more hits here, and she'd seize control. I'd spend the day getting pummeled.
Not happening!
Pain aside, I might fall off her radar. Gritting my teeth, I swung Gram.
She dodged nimbly and fluidly, always just barely evading.
Minimal movement to conserve stamina.
Her style was instructive. Dodging by a hair, minimizing motion to save energy for offense.
I mimicked, narrowly dodging her punches. Her fist thrust straight at my face.
As it neared my nose, I twisted my waist to evade.
Once… twice… three times.
At first, I ate a lot of hits getting used to it.
Now!
After a few, my eyes and body adapted—I could dodge her attacks.
This is how you use your body.
Until now, I'd just been a kid flailing brute force. Meeting her, I felt myself growing.
As I copied her evasion,
Sneer—!
Her downturned lips curved up again. I'd tossed fuel on her fading interest.
She charged with renewed excitement, her movements even faster.
Bam—!
Her fist sliced through the air.
You said controlled power!
We agreed no killing blows… but eating that now would kill me.
Fist aimed at my head.
Can't let the tomato get squished!
I ducked, spun, and swung Gram.
She grabbed my head and went into a handstand.
"Huh?"
Using my head as a pivot, she slammed it into the ground.
Thud—!
"This isn't the end, right? Let's keep going!"
Lifting my head, she slammed it down again. As I thought what to do, I spotted the ring.
If I control the output!
I fed a tiny bit of mana into Andvari's Ring. Couldn't risk Sun God's flames, so carefully.
Lightning burst from the ring, enveloping me.
"Urk!"
Sensing danger, she released and backed off. I reset my stance.
Gram in one hand. Other hand on the ground.
Like a sprinter.
Lightning to the legs.
Recalling Baek Kang channeling lightning to his legs for speed.
Imitate that to boost mine.
"Oho~ Mimicking Baek Kang's Thunder God steps?"
She noticed immediately.
"Good! I won't dodge."
Time to end the spar—she took her stance.
Crackle—!
God's lightning gathered in my legs. Black aura flowed from her body in response.
"My thanks for the fun. Behold a taste of the Heavenly Demon Art!"
Clenching her fist, black energy converged.
I'm screwed…
Those excited eyes—she was thrilled at the thought of killing me.
No choice but to burn all my power to counter. Poured more mana into the ring.
Lightning now wrapped Gram too. Thought about Sun God's flames, but that might kill her.
Infused Gram with mana. It glowed and grew.
Siegfried's technique, fused with God's lightning.
I moved first.
Crackle—!
Legs screaming like they might shatter, but I charged. In a blink, I was nose-to-nose.
Her eyes widened—not surprise, but delight at the speed.
I swung Gram; she thrust her fist. They collided.
Claaang—!
Metal on metal rang out. The training grounds vanished.
Only the Heavenly Demon and I stood in the cleared space.
"Impressive. Holding form after taking my Heavenly Demon Heaven-Shattering Fist."
She looked down at my bloodied self.
Brun saved me.
Without Brun, I'd be shredded. Now it was wrecked.
Good thing it self-repairs.
The Heavenly Demon gazing down wasn't unscathed either—cuts bleeding here and there.
"At this level, you could stand by my side on the battlefield…"
She pondered, then nodded as if decided.
"Fine. You've earned the right to stand beside this body. So, your name?"
Only now asking my name.
"Park Kiyong."
I forced the words out.
"And your name, Heavenly Demon…?"
Exchange of names. I gave mine; fair to ask hers.
But…
"Hahaha! A thousand years too early to hear this body's name!"
The Heavenly Demon had zero social skills.