Chapter 544: I Am a Man Who Lives with Anxiety
Chapter 544: I Am a Man Who Lives with Anxiety
The Combat King had laughed when he was first called a monster.
Even he thought the description was fitting.
But soon, an uncontrollable rage welled up within him. In another life, he would have been the leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. Now, he was nothing more than a creature spewing toxic energy, forced to endure insults.
‘And whose fault is that!’
An aura—a turbulent mix of fighting spirit and murderous intent—erupted from his body with overwhelming force.
Swaaaaaaa!
As the energy surged forth with enough momentum to pierce through both body and soul, the warriors of the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Path Alliance alike circulated their internal energy to steady their minds. As if to show he hadn't yet revealed his full potential, the Combat King’s presence grew increasingly formidable.
The other enemies remained still for the moment, seemingly content to watch the duel between the Combat King and Geom Mu-geuk. Though it was unclear when the Dark King might order them to attack, Geom Mu-geuk focused solely on the Combat King.
In truth, he wanted to unleash the Nine Calamities Demonic Art immediately. However, there were far more of his own allies inside the Heavenly Flower Pavilion than enemies. Beyond the walls were the Faceless Guests. If he used it recklessly, his own people would be caught in the crossfire.
If he were to use it, it would have to be the Annihilation Form or the Dark Flash—techniques designed to strike a single target.
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze shifted toward the carriage behind the Combat King. The cautious Dark King had surely anticipated that he would use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. He had to be extremely careful; there was no telling what countermeasures they had prepared.
Hiding his inner thoughts, Geom Mu-geuk maintained an air of nonchalance.
"Doesn't having all that scrap metal attached to your fists make you slower?"
"It makes them hurt more," the Combat King growled. "Every time I look at these chains, I'll remember you—the wretch who was reduced to a handful of bloody pulp by these fists."
To that, Geom Mu-geuk gave an unexpected reply.
"I'm thinking of taking those chains as a trophy after I kill you."
To remember me? The Combat King naturally assumed so. Of course, Geom Mu-geuk did not meet those expectations.
"We just can't help ourselves when we see chains made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron."
He was referring to what had been said about Go Wol’s chains in the past.
"I'll melt them down and make daggers for my friends as souvenirs. Ah, I suppose I'll think of you occasionally when I'm peeling fruit."
The murderous intent in the Combat King’s eyes deepened.
"You'll have to melt these chains in the fires of hell!"
Swaaaaak!
The Combat King’s fist struck the air, unleashing a bolt of Fist Force.
Kwaaaaang!
The Gang Qi, extending like a beam of light, slammed directly into Geom Mu-geuk.
Huwaaaaaaaaang!
A whirlwind erupted around Geom Mu-geuk, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
Rumble!
Far behind where Geom Mu-geuk stood, a section of the outer wall collapsed. Then, the wall of the building further back crumbled, followed by the interior walls, until even the back courtyard wall was pierced. It was a terrifying display of power; had there been more buildings, it felt as though the strike would have bored through them indefinitely.
The wind from the fist strike whipped around, causing the clothes of the onlookers to flutter violently.
Every eye was fixed on Geom Mu-geuk. Bi Sa-in, Jin Ha-gun, and Jin Ha-ryeong all watched with worried expressions. The strike was powerful enough to make anyone assume he had suffered a grave injury.
Only the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon watched the spot where Geom Mu-geuk stood with an unwavering gaze.
The rising dust settled.
Geom Mu-geuk stood in his original position, arms crossed. He had blocked the blow without retreating a single step.
The Combat King had expected a different scene—one where Geom Mu-geuk coughed up a spray of blood. Instead of blood, Geom Mu-geuk spat out annoying words.
"Why go all the way to hell to melt those chains? Master Gwak at our Cult's iron workshop can melt them down just fine."
The Combat King’s expression turned grim.
‘His internal energy... it overwhelms mine?’
Having been brought back to life, his internal energy had improved significantly during the treatment process. Furthermore, he was currently manifesting the Dark Heaven Night God Art. To block that strike while standing still was a feat that should only be possible for someone on the level of the Demonic Cult Leader or the Alliance Leader.
A madness-fueled desire to defeat Geom Mu-geuk filled the Combat King’s eyes.
"It seems I'm not the only monster here."
Geom Mu-geuk chuckled at the remark.
"Wouldn't it be boring if there were only ugly monsters like you? I am the peerless, handsome monster of this world."
Is he serious? The Combat King had never encountered a master this powerful who was also this skilled at infuriating people with words.
At that exact moment!
Huk!
Geom Mu-geuk crossed the distance in an instant using the Underworld King Step. Whenever Geom Mu-geuk cracked jokes to provoke a powerful enemy, it was always to disturb their composure.
Closing in instantly, Geom Mu-geuk’s sword lunged toward the man's face in a surprise attack.
Shiiiik!
The Combat King twisted his body to dodge the sword and threw a punch. He was undeniably strong.
Huaaaaang!
Geom Mu-geuk’s sword grazed the Combat King’s ear, while the Combat King’s fist grazed Geom Mu-geuk’s chin.
Sgak!
The Black Demonic Sword immediately changed trajectory to strike at the Combat King’s neck, while the Combat King’s fist flew toward Mu-geuk's ribs.
Geom Mu-geuk didn't dodge; he kept his sword on its path. It was the Combat King who gave up his attack and retreated.
Leaping back, he asked with a shocked face, "Were you prepared for a mutual kill?"
Even though it was a strike to the ribs, the power behind it meant Mu-geuk wouldn't have survived a direct hit.
"No, I knew you would dodge."
"How were you so sure?"
"How much of a lingering attachment to life must you have to come back in that state?"
Provoked by the taunt, the Combat King lunged forward, radiating murderous intent.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Combat King blocked the Black Demonic Sword with his fists. The chains wrapped around his hands did not break, even against the Black Demonic Sword. Every time sword and fist collided, sparks flew alongside a sharp metallic ring.
It was no exaggeration to say that these two were men whose combat experience had reached the pinnacle. They were a volcano and an ocean, each trying to swallow the other.
If the Combat King’s fists were exploding lava, Geom Mu-geuk’s sword became a tidal wave crashing over him.
After exchanging blows in one spot, they began to fight while moving at high speeds. They fought their way into the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. From the first floor to the second, and from the second to the third. Only the sounds of their battle could be heard. Though they were out of sight, the sounds were so intense that it felt as if the fight were happening right before everyone's eyes. The higher they climbed, the faster the clashing of sword and fist became.
Boom!
The two burst through the roof and soared into the night sky.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
Sword and fist embroidered the heavens. It looked as if dozens of people were fighting simultaneously. To the observers below, dozens of swords and dozens of fists appeared in the night sky at once.
The lines drawn by the sword and the fists were nothing short of art. It was a wonder that transcended mere admiration. The gazes of the Faceless Guests were fixed on the sky, and eyes hidden in the darkness looked up as well.
At least for this moment, everyone watched not as enemies or allies, but as fellow martial artists.
The emotion that rose in Jin Ha-ryeong’s heart was simple: ‘It’s beautiful.’
Jin Ha-gun felt a sense of regret. He wanted to show this scene to every warrior of the Murim Alliance. Normally, he would have said, "This is the kind of enemy you face," but instead, he wanted to say something else.
He wanted to tell them: "This is the path you must walk. This is why you train—to manifest such martial arts." To that extent, the battle between the two was perfect in Jin Ha-gun’s eyes.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
Sparks bloomed brilliantly as sword and fist collided. In that manner, new stars were born and extinguished in the night sky.
Bi Sa-in felt two conflicting emotions. First, he was happy. Happy that a man as strong as Geom Mu-geuk was his friend. At the same time, he was afraid. He was looking at the future leader of the Demonic Cult. If he was this strong now, how powerful would he be once he became the Cult Leader? How much harder would Bi Sa-in have to work to keep pace with such a leader?
While he was sincerely happy, his chest also felt tight with pressure.
Swaaaaaaaa.
The two descended back to the ground, continuing their struggle. As a wall collapsed, the Faceless Guests standing off outside and the eyes in the darkness were revealed.
The number of warriors in the darkness gradually increased until the eyes were too many to count, yet the Faceless Guests showed no sign of fear. As the standoff dragged on, most of them sat on the walls or crouched on tree branches, leaving only a few in the front.
The two combatants passed between the Faceless Guests and the eyes in the darkness, still exchanging blows.
Thud!
Geom Mu-geuk was knocked back, sliding all the way into the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. The Faceless Guests all turned their heads toward the interior of the pavilion. There, Geom Mu-geuk was rubbing his chest with a grimace.
Then, the Faceless Guests looked in the opposite direction. Despite landing a blow on Mu-geuk's chest, the Combat King did not look pleased. Blood was streaming from a deep gash on his arm.
The Combat King began to stride back through the crowd toward the pavilion. The Faceless Guests watched him pass with strange looks in their eyes.
The two stood facing each other once again.
"You! What exactly are you?"
No matter if he was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, no matter if he was a genius of martial arts—the Combat King glared at Geom Mu-geuk with an expression of utter incomprehension.
Geom Mu-geuk, still rubbing his chest as if in pain, spoke up.
"It must have cost an astronomical amount of money to make a dying man this strong."
The Combat King wondered why he was suddenly saying that.
"I want to let you live and send you back again."
"What nonsense is this?"
"If I send you back half-dead, your organization won't be able to get anything done because they'll be too busy trying to save you again, right?"
"You crazy bastard! Still talking trash after taking a hit!"
Just as the smoldering rage in the Combat King’s eyes was about to explode, the Dark King’s voice drifted from the carriage. She had stepped in to calm the Combat King’s excitement.
"I have heard this many times. It seems the Young Cult Leader is far stronger than we anticipated. I thought it was an excuse for failure, but it turns out to be the truth."
Bi Sa-in and Jin Ha-gun agreed with her words. Geom Mu-geuk grew stronger every time they met. Realistically, they couldn't understand how this was possible.
Having confirmed Geom Mu-geuk’s skill for herself, the Dark King brought a change to this balanced fight.
"Let the hunt begin."
It was an order given to the Dog Seller.
If a chaotic battle broke out everywhere, Geom Mu-geuk would be the one whose focus would waver. The Combat King wouldn't care if his allies died, but Geom Mu-geuk would care more than anyone.
Sure enough, Geom Mu-geuk looked around at everyone. His eyes seemed to say, Hold on until I come to save you! but the words that left his mouth were the opposite.
"Hurry up and kill them so you can save me."
A faint smile touched Bi Sa-in’s lips. Yes, he had to learn from that composure—the way Mu-geuk never lost his cool even in such a tense moment.
Bi Sa-in spoke to the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path lined up before him.
"Did you hear that? Let's finish this quickly and go help the Young Cult Leader."
"Yes, sir!" the 13 Wolves answered vigorously.
The four masked men in black standing before them spread out to the left and right. They displayed a peculiar lightness skill, as if sliding across ice.
Jin Ha-gun was the same. "Did everyone hear?"
At his spirited question, the Demon Extermination Squad answered loudly, as if determined not to be outdone by the 13 Wolves.
Even while facing them alone, the Heavenly Freak maintained a relaxed expression. It was clear he had something prepared.
The Hellhounds growled up at the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon. A red light smoldered and flared in their eyes.
Shuk!
Right then, unexpectedly, a Blood Calamity Finger was unleashed. The finger wind was not aimed at the Hellhounds.
Thud!
The Blood Calamity Finger, extending as fast as light, struck the Dog Seller directly. Unable to dodge in time, a hole was pierced through the Dog Seller’s forehead.
As the Dog Seller’s body slowly toppled over, it vanished into black smoke with a poof. The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon looked as if he had expected this.
"As I thought."
The weakness of sorcery that summons such beasts is that the opponent will target the one controlling them. The Dog Seller had also anticipated that the Smiling Demon would target him and had put forward an illusion.
The Smiling Demon knew where he was hiding. He wouldn't be able to delicately control these things from a distance while facing him. The Smiling Demon’s gaze turned toward the Hellhounds.
He was hiding as one of those Hellhounds.
White demonic energy billowed from the eyes behind the Smiling Demon’s mask. The surrounding air began to grow heavy and stagnant. The Smiling Demon’s unique demonic energy, the Laughing Evil Heart, was being manifested.
Kraaaa!
A nearby Hellhound, driven into a frenzy, leaped onto the roof where the Smiling Demon stood.
Thud!
A Blood Calamity Finger pierced its body, but it kept charging. The Smiling Demon grabbed the Hellhound by the scruff as it lunged for his throat and slammed it repeatedly into the ground.
Slam! Slam! Slam!
Ssssss.
The Hellhound began to vanish into black smoke. This, too, was not a real living dog, but a creation of the Dog Seller’s sorcery.
At that moment, Geom Mu-geuk and the Smiling Demon’s eyes met. The Smiling Demon leaped into the middle of the Hellhounds and shouted, "Do not worry! I'm excellent at dogfights!"
From all sides, the Hellhounds lunged at the Smiling Demon simultaneously. As the Smiling Demon’s battle began, the four men in black carrying lanterns flew toward Bi Sa-in, trailing long shadows connected to the carriage.
Jin Ha-gun and the Demon Extermination Squad did not see that. The moment they tried to attack the Heavenly Freak, every single one of them vanished from the spot.
Geom Mu-geuk could tell. They had all entered a formation created by the Heavenly Freak.
As everyone entered their respective battles, the Dark King’s seductive voice drifted from the carriage.
"I can feel the Young Cult Leader’s heart, trembling with the fear of losing his friends."
How could Geom Mu-geuk not know she was trying to shake him? Even so, he readily admitted it.
"You saw correctly. I am a man who lives with the anxiety of what might happen if a friend dies in a place like this."
"Then, if I take your friends hostage, I can kill you quite easily."
Geom Mu-geuk shook his head. "It doesn't quite work like that."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm selfish. I'm so incredibly selfish that I want to save all my friends. For my own sake. Because I want to be the version of myself that saved everyone."
"..."
"So it won't work. I know all too well that it's my weakness."
The Dark King was silent for a moment before speaking calmly. "It is not easy to truly know a man like the Young Cult Leader."
"Then I'll teach you one thing." Geom Mu-geuk brought up something unexpected. "Because of that anxiety—the fear that I might lose the people I must not lose—I, too, received a Great Regression Art. Every single day, at that."
He could feel both the Combat King and the Dark King inside the carriage startle in surprise.
"My Great Regression Art is just as formidable as yours."
"What kind of ritual is it?"
Because of the skill he had shown earlier, and because of his status as the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, the thought that he might have truly undergone some incredible ritual took hold. The conversation had started as an attempt to shake Geom Mu-geuk, but instead, the two of them had become the ones confused.
Geom Mu-geuk didn't tell them; instead, he drew the Black Demonic Sword again. It was something he had done every day, from his life before the regression until now.
"Taste my Great Regression Art for yourself."
The name of that ritual was effort.