Not Your Lord (2)
The soft, gurgling sounds echoed from inside the Clear Scale Armor.
But I merely grinned.
“What are you saying? I can’t hear you.”
The Clear Scale Armor was the very core of the lake water that neutralized most physical forces.
Seo Hyul had been trying to break free by pouring out his power.
But the moment I fed more power into it, his entire body crumbled, and he could no longer resist.
‘That’s my body…’
The thought made my blood boil, yet there was no choice if I wanted to seal him.
Shick!
Every time I used the Clear Scale Armor, I had grown accustomed to the strange side effects that crept into my body, so I released my Ghost King transformation.
‘It seems I can only use the Clear Scale Armor if my flesh isn’t dripping with blood…’
Chii—
With every attempt to control the armor, a growing thirst crept over me.
I guessed it was some kind of adverse effect born from handling the armor as a mortal.
‘If the side effects worsen, I don’t know what will happen. I’d better seal Seo Hyul somewhere quickly.’
That was when—
“Uh, senior. Did you capture that villain?”
“Hmm?”
From the edge of the Bongyang layer, I glanced at the group that had cautiously climbed up to check on me.
They were the Heavenly races: the Hanryeong, Yeopta, and Yeongrin tribes.
“Indeed. What is the matter?”
“That villain… killed one of our companions and stole their relics!”
“Please, let us recover our comrade’s relics!”
‘Hmm, if it’s Seo Hyul, he could easily do that.’
I nodded.
“Tell me exactly what relics he took.”
“Yes, first we should check the villain’s body for a red jade pendant.”
“I see… hmm…”
I tried to control the Clear Scale Armor to retrieve the jade, but the pendant inside was sealed far too tightly.
‘Did he steal some vital technique manual?’
Otherwise there would be no reason for him to be so meticulous.
“Uh, senior. I’ll explain the sealing technique he used even if I’ve only seen it briefly. If you trace the technique in reverse and break it down—”
“Got it. Explain.”
The Yeopta tribe’s patriarch stepped forward and raised a stream of spiritual energy into the air.
“First, gather Yin Cold Qi, then use the Tai Chi and Bagua forces within the cold to escape…”
Uuwuung—
“Then rotate the power a full circle and form a loop. Compress the circle like this…”
Wiiiiiing—
On the Yeopta patriarch’s palm, a violent whirlwind of spiritual energy spun.
“Like this…”
Buwoong—
I ignored all restraint and accelerated my thought process with Ganghwan, then struck the head of the Yeopta Daoist with all my might.
Kwaaang—
The Yeopta Daoist flew off, but the Yin Qi ring he left behind came straight at me.
I reached out to catch it, yet my body stiffened for a split second.
Kiing—
Four Yeongrin tribe Daoists simultaneously activated their spiritual eye technique and restrained me.
‘Those brats…’
In the end I couldn’t dodge the ring from the Yeopta Daoist.
Kwaddeuk!
An overwhelming wave of cold qi crashed over me.
Since I had released my Ghost King transformation, the qi hardened my body.
But changing into a Ghost King form strong against Yin Qi would disrupt my control of the Clear Scale Armor.
I was caught between two impossible choices.
That was when—
Puwak!
Puuuuk!
“……Huh?”
I stared in disbelief at the one who had suddenly appeared behind me and stabbed my back.
“Why are you all coming out here…?”
He was a Heavenly Person Unity Daoist from the Heukrin Aeongmun sect.
They had been the ones who had just sealed me.
All of them had received the technique of the Hanryeong Daoists through their bodies and perfectly concealed their auras, thoughts, and spiritual fluctuations in the cold qi before ambushing me.
I looked at them and chuckled.
“Ah, I see… I understand.”
Uulok, bulok!
The Heukrin Aeongmun Unity Daoist let out a gentle smile and swelled up, then exploded from behind me while still holding the blade.
Flick!
Kuuurrrung!
Wak!
“Kkueuk…!”
I vomited a mouthful of blood and staggered back.
A Heavenly Person Unity Daoist, and specifically a self-detonating one from the Heukrin Aeongmun sect who could unleash the power of Four Pillars at the early stage through Sasaeng Wonyeong.
Using the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation might allow recovery, but it would take time.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and laughed again at the Yeopta, Hanryeong, Yeongrin, and Heukrin Aeongmun Daoists before me.
All of them wore the same, unnaturally kind and gentle expressions.
“Why are you doing this, Seo Dou? You said we should fight properly.”
“……You. Or rather… you.”
I glared at ‘Seo Hyul’ and growled.
“Who is the original body?”
All of them answered in perfect unison with disgustingly kind smiles.
“I am.”
“I am.”
“I am.”
“The original body is.”
“The original body is.”
“It is the original body.”
And the combined assault of the ‘Seo Hyuls’ began.
Seo Hyul, wearing the body of a Hanryeong Daoist, laughed and spat cold qi.
At the same time, the Yeopta Daoists received the qi, precisely manipulated it, and amplified its power before launching it.
The Heukrin Aeongmun Daoists, supported by the Hanryeong Daoists, hid in the cold qi, pulled out their hidden blood veins, and closed in for a close-range attack.
The Yeongrin Daoists used their unique spiritual eye techniques from the rear to restrain me, cast illusions, or predict my movements and techniques in advance.
“The Sasaeng Wonyeong secret technique of the Heukrin Aeongmun sect is truly convenient. They store external power separately and summon it whenever needed. How attractive. It even maximizes the harmony of the Three Powers and transcends an entire realm.”
Seo Hyul laughed and unleashed a barrage of attacks at me.
“And thanks to Seo Dou, I can also use the power of the weird guy Nora. Really…”
Uuuuung!
A circuit of Nora appeared on the body of the Heukrin Aeongmun Daoist who had been at the early stage of Four Pillars. Even though inscribing it on a living being would cause tremendous pain, the Seo Hyul who had taken the body showed no reaction whatsoever.
In an instant, the guy’s power shot up to the late stage of Four Pillars.
“I must express my gratitude.”
“Kkueuk…”
I frowned, and a torrent of curses poured out from my entire body.
Yet I was still being pushed back.
‘Clear Scale Armor! It’s eating my mental power…!’
Kkudeuk—
Every time I focused on maintaining the seal around my original body inside the Clear Scale Armor, the thirst grew stronger.
But at the same time, the Seo Hyuls were trying to freeze me to death with insane amounts of cold qi.
‘If I don’t use Ghost King transformation, my body will freeze solid from the cold qi…!’
But using it would make controlling the Clear Scale Armor impossible.
Either way, I was in a dilemma.
That was when—
Puwak!
Puwak!
Puuuuk!
“Hoo, Seo Dou. Finally got you.”
Uulok, bulok…
The Hanryeong Daoist’s body twitched.
The overwhelming cold qi that was being amplified inside felt like a surge.
‘No…!’
I couldn’t hold back any longer and released my Ghost King transformation while still pinned to the shoulder.
Kwaddeuk!
Eighteen heads shot up in great fury.
At the same time, pleasant cold qi flowed into my body between the transformed form.
I gritted my teeth with eyes blazing like fire.
[Damn it…]
Chuuurr—
In the end I failed to control the Clear Scale Armor.
Seo Hyul, who had been freed from inside the armor, smiled faintly.
“Well then. Shall we start properly again?”
[Damn brats…]
I had no idea what he had done.
‘Did he use some kind of parasite like Gigoego?’
[If you kill me, you won’t attach, right?]
I gathered my Ghost Qi while looking at the various races’ Daoists that Seo Hyul had ‘attached’ to.
Since I had already used Ghost King transformation, there was no need to worry about being pushed back by him.
“Well, it could be considered a similar method.”
[……]
For some reason, I sensed that those words were a lie.
Perhaps it was better to interpret everything he said in the opposite way.
‘I see. Killing Seo Hyul won’t make him attach.’
He was clearly trying to attach in some other way.
“Well then. Let’s see how well you use the clone I painstakingly cultivated.”
Uuuuung—
A circuit of Nora flashed on the original body’s surface, and eight pairs of wings sprouted from behind.
The qi of Heaven, Earth, and Strange fused together and released power at the level of Four Pillars.
The qi that had been amplified by killing and absorbing Gyoyeom and Nokju earlier had been completely consumed.
Yet I felt my heart tighten.
[You…!]
I quickly checked my waist.
Jeomuldo, which had been there, was now in Seo Hyul’s hand.
‘When that Hanryeong guy self-destructed, did he take it? How? How can he move so stealthily? Wait, this can’t be…’
I shouted at him in the worst possible assumption.
[How are you using Wansuigungmurok?]
“Ah, the name of this technique that cuts consciousness is Wansuigungmurok? Not difficult. Since you can use Gimyoseongsimjeon, you just have to cut through and sever it, right?”
My stomach churned.
It wasn’t simply that Wansuigungmurok had fallen into Seo Hyul’s hands that angered me.
It was that the formless realm I had honed, developed, and struggled for was being violated by such a dirty bastard.
“Let me see, it was in here…”
He calmly searched inside my Jeomuldo and pulled out the Haeranhoe.
“Ah, found it. Then enjoy.”
Ujok, ujiok…
He started biting into my original body’s Haeranhoe.
At the same time, his qi began to explode.
Kukukukuk!
“You evolved Seo Changhoza’s technique into a Water Demon technique. Seo Dou really is impressive. A Water Demon technique that perfectly suits the Human race… Sorry, but I’ll make a small modification.”
Flick!
The moment he spoke, the qi on the original body’s surface exploded, and his realm rose.
From Heavenly Person Unity to early Four Pillars!
Kugugugugu!
Dark clouds began to gather above the Bongyang layer.
The Heavenly Tribulation was beginning.
‘Why is he trying to advance in front of me?’
Yet I couldn’t understand Seo Hyul at all.
Why on earth was he doing this in front of me?
If I ambushed him, he would either die trying to resist the Heavenly Tribulation or fall into possession.
‘Does he have that much confidence?’
Uuuuung—
I pulled out a cursed banner made with the Eumhon Gwijumun and raised my curse.
[Die for real, Seo Hyul…!]
That was the moment I was about to throw a High-Voltage Cursed Banner filled with the pain I had seen in the name of True Immortal.
Kwaak!
Suddenly my left hand grabbed the right hand that was about to throw the banner.
[…Huh?]
And the faces attached to my shoulder suddenly creaked, and six of the eighteen faces spoke in a chilling voice.
[Hoo, Seo Dou. Calm down.]
[It would be good if Seo Dou’s clone also reached early Four Pillars, wouldn’t it?]
[After following the way of the Three Powers, we will also guide you up the path of the Heavenly Person after some time. You don’t have to worry.]
I remained silent, listening to their voices.
[……]
Kurling, kururung!
A double-colored Heavenly Tribulation fell on Seo Eun-hyun’s original body, and I silently blazed with Ghost Qi.
[…You, what are you?]
[What do you mean?]
[Even if you don’t attach by killing, how can you attach so easily?]
If anything, if killing didn’t make him attach, attachment should have been even harder.
I had to push the Heukrin Aeongmun Daoists hard just to attach the Gigoego, and even then I couldn’t completely possess them in one go.
I even used Wansuigungmurok to attach the Gigoego, but users of Wansuigungmurok could easily sense each other.
In short, if Seo Hyul had tried to attach me with a technique similar to Wansuigungmurok, it was impossible that he could attach so unnoticed.
Chuuurrr—
After releasing my Ghost King transformation, when I saw their intent to attack again, I pulled the Clear Scale Armor around me.
The Clear Scale Armor compressed to my body size and became transparent water that enclosed me.
Their attacks had no effect on me at all, but I was forced to stop because the Clear Scale Armor was preventing them from taking control of my inner body.
[Hoo, be obedient and hand your body over to me. After all, you’ve lived a long life. You can just think of it as dreaming for a while.]
“If you’re going to give your body to a scumbag like you, you should just go to the Weird Guy and become General Changhoza.”
[Really?]
“Hmm… no, on second thought, maybe not, but either way, I won’t let you take it.”
[Hoo, then will you keep being helplessly sealed inside the Clear Scale Armor?]
Kkwajijik…
The Heavenly Tribulation around the original body had ended.
At the same time, the original body had become a Seo Hyul who enveloped himself in the power of a Water Demon technique that carried a bit more of the feel of the Haeryong tribe.
The guy had completely reached the late stage of Four Pillars.
Uuuuuung—
And I felt the Heukrin Aeongmun Daoists around him using the Sasaeng Wonyeong secret technique to connect the external space and the Bongyang layer.
“Life, Wealth, Yu Ho-deok.”
Paaat!
Three pillars that the guy had shown me earlier flew in from the external space.
He was obviously putting back the hidden pillars he had stored somewhere.
Uung, buung, zuuung!
The three pillars entered the Seo Hyul’s body as if they had always belonged there.
The guy immediately released the qi of Four Pillars Unity.
With the added qi of the Four Pillars General Changhoza on top of his body, an enormous amplification of power occurred.
‘Integration…!’
Now the guy was clearly at the level of a Integration King.
Seo Hyul smiled faintly and approached me, who was wrapped in the Clear Scale Armor.
“Seo Dou. Can I borrow your body for just a moment?”
He spread his arms as if making a suggestion, keeping five paces away from me.
“I won’t keep your body forever. Just for a short while, on the scale of someone who has lived an eternity. If even that is too much for you…”
“I don’t believe a word you say.”
“I see… What a pity.”
Seo Hyul didn’t change his expression and turned his back.
“Well, I’ll just take your body by force then.”
Ziiing—
At the same time, an enormous force of consciousness struck my mind.
‘This, what is this…?’
Brainwashing.
A terrifyingly powerful brainwashing.
I had no will to endure such agony and horror.
‘What the hell is this…!’
It wasn’t simply about breaking the opponent’s will.
This was about dismantling the very existence called ‘me.’
‘Ah… damn it…’
My consciousness grew hazy.
That was the end of my vision.
I thought.
―If you were born from me, at least show me a little will.
Ziiing—
Flick!
“Kkuheo-eok!”
I opened my eyes wide with a splitting headache.
At the same time, I saw Seo Hyul still facing away from me, clutching his head and kneeling.
Buwoong—
For an instant, a phantom of a white slash cutting through Seo Hyul’s head passed by at incredible speed.
And for the first time, Seo Hyul screamed.
“Kuuuueuk…! Seo Dou…!”
He kept smiling even while screaming and looked straight ahead.
I looked in the direction his gaze was fixed.
There stood ‘me’ in white robes.
‘Ah…’
It felt right.
The being in front of me…
“How have you been, Seolip?”
Seo Eun-hyun. My original body.
Buwoong—
He raised one hand.
In his hand was a sword that glowed with a strange, radiant multicolored light.
The light was blindingly bright.
That sword was a form that seemed to embody all the light of heaven and earth.
“Hoo, Seo Dou. What are you doing? I don’t understand. As expected of Seo Dou.”
He laughed while looking at the original body.
The original body swung the sword with a blank expression.
Clearly, it was an incredibly eye-catching sword of light.
Yet strangely, Seo Hyul could not recognize the sword of light at all.
Buwoong!
Shuk!
A slash of light sliced through Seo Hyul’s shoulder.
“Hoo, such an attack that I can’t even recognize or feel… I think I know what it is.”
And in response, the original body smiled and looked at me.
“Listen well, Seolip. The meaning of those words is ‘How did you do that?!’”
“……”
Jeobok, jeobok…
The original body approached me and swung the light sword at my head.
The light sword passed through my head and swept away the whispers of Seo Hyul inside me at once.
“That thing can’t see this light. This is only visible to us.”
“Original body… you…”
“Seolip.”
He looked at me and said.
“I am not the original body.”
“What?”
“I am Seo Eun-hyun.”
* * *
I smiled at Seolip, who was looking bewildered.
Holding the newly born Muhyeong sword in my hand, I turned to look at him and then at Seo Hyul.
“Let’s fight together, Seolip. We’ll drive that monster out of this place and retrieve the Colorless Glass Sword.”
While Seo Hyul stole my techniques like Wansuigungmurok from inside me, I stole his true identity.
He was a terrifying, unbelievable monster.
Therefore, to regain my body, Seolip’s help was essential.
Seolip stood beside me.
“I don’t understand, but anyway…”
He laughed and raised his Ghost Qi.
We, dressed in black-and-white robes, charged at Seo Hyul at the same time.