Chapter 759: Why Are You Spreading Your Wings There?
Chapter 759: Why Are You Spreading Your Wings There?
Nine of the Twelve Zodiac Kings, plus Hwan-yeo, the twin of the Illusion King.
Thus, ten of the Twelve Zodiac Kings had been brought back to life. The dolls were crafted with such vivid detail that it truly felt as if they had returned from the grave.
However, their minds had not returned perfectly. Having regained only their instincts and the memories of the battles they fought just before their deaths, they were bewildered by the current situation.
Then, the moment they spotted Geom Mu-geuk standing before them, their hatred exploded. Simultaneously, they felt a conflicting emotion.
Fear.
As the memories of their final moments resurfaced, a wave of dread washed over them. Even those who hadn't fallen by Geom Mu-geuk’s own hand knew that he had been present at every one of their deaths.
In that moment, as fear drifted through the air like a contagious plague, the echoing music softened into a low, rhythmic thrum.
Boom! Boom! Boom-boom!
The sound of beating drums began to weave into the melody. The music shifted as if a living person were watching the scene unfold, and this new tune carried a distinct power. It became the drums of war, pushing back the dread the Twelve Zodiac Kings felt.
Soon, their original auras began to surge.
The red energy flowing from the Blood King’s eyes was exactly the same as when he was alive. The same went for the Dark King; the black energy surrounding her carriage was truly sinister, and the Illusion King’s aura was just as eerie.
In fact, their auras were even more powerful than they had been in life.
Boom-boom-boom!
The upbeat music bolstered their momentum. The one who shouted over the drumming was the Combat King.
“Geom Mu-geuk!”
There was a simple reason why the Combat King showed such exceptionally strong hostility. He had died twice.
Once, he had narrowly escaped a crisis while fighting the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader, Baek Ja-gang, only to nearly die from the Poison King’s toxin. He had treated the poison through several great rituals and returned alongside the Dark King. Then, he had been killed again by Geom Mu-geuk and the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon.
“If you die this time, it’ll be your third!”
Unable to endure Mu-geuk’s provocation, the Combat King lunged forward.
Swish!
The Combat King flew through the air and threw a punch. He executed his martial arts exactly as he had when he was alive, as if he had truly been resurrected. It was a strike backed by a full measure of internal energy.
However, Geom Mu-geuk had reached a level far beyond when they had last fought. He was faster and more powerful.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Bam!
Mu-geuk dodged the Combat King’s rapid-fire punches and landed a blow squarely on his chest.
Thud!
The Combat King skidded backward. Despite taking a direct hit, he remained unscathed.
“Why is he so hard?”
He looked human on the outside, but his bones were made of metal. And it wasn't just ordinary iron.
“These are the dolls you made,” Mu-geuk said, his brow furrowing as he looked toward the Iron King.
“Dolls? Do they look like mere dolls to your eyes?”
Indeed, the Iron King had reason to be proud. “They are my masterpieces.”
The Ghost Soul Song that summoned the spirits was impressive, but the Iron King had created the vessels to hold those spirits without any side effects or sense of incongruity.
The Twelve Zodiac Kings stepped forward in unison. Their auras were thick with terrifying killing intent. And there wasn't just one—there were ten.
Sssssss!
The pressure was so immense that Tae-su stumbled back and fell on his rear. Ji Han tried his best to endure, but eventually, he was forced to retreat to the back wall. This was despite the two Demon Lords exerting their own internal energy to shield them.
Amidst that horrific storm of aura, Pung, a warrior of the Unorthodox Path Alliance, had a sudden thought. If he survived and returned to the Alliance, would the Leader actually believe his report? A report claiming that the masters who had died had come back to life?
Judging by the situation, these ten were on the same level as the twin-blade master who had died earlier. Ten such masters had been resurrected. And they weren't the only danger.
Clank, clank, clank, clank.
The walls and ceiling on all sides opened up. Within them were hundreds of holes—mechanisms designed to fire powerful hidden weapons. The holes were so densely packed that if they fired simultaneously, there would be nowhere to hide. Since these were mechanisms created by the Iron King, their power would be beyond description.
The Iron King pulled open his robe. A piece of metal, its purpose unknown, was attached to his chest over his heart.
“The moment my heart stops, every mechanism will trigger. No one in this space will survive.”
He did not underestimate Geom Mu-geuk’s skill.
“True, perhaps you, the Young Cult Leader who has mastered the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, might survive. But everyone else will die.”
His words sounded like a warning not to use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art recklessly.
Mu-geuk walked slowly toward one of the walls and peered into a hole. He looked fearlessly into the dark opening, which seemed ready to spit death at any moment.
“It’s so dark I can’t see a thing.”
Unfazed by Mu-geuk’s nonchalance, the Iron King maintained his own composure. He stepped toward Mu-geuk without fear. Kill me if you dare—he was proving that his words weren't a mere bluff.
“Those holes contain things that a human’s Body Protection Qi cannot block. Do you care to test them?”
He didn't flinch, even though he was within range for Mu-geuk to take his head with a single swing. The Iron King glanced at Ji Han and Tae-su. “You said you’d protect them, didn't you?”
“Of course I have to protect them.”
The Iron King laughed. He was certain that no matter how great Geom Mu-geuk was, he could never handle this situation while protecting those two.
“Refusing to abandon such weaklings... you’ve created your own hell.”
Mu-geuk replied calmly to the Iron King’s remark. “It seems your idea of hell and mine are different.”
Mu-geuk turned his head and locked eyes with Ji Han, who was standing behind him.
“I’m sorry... because of us...”
Ji Han was furious at his own weakness. Even if he couldn't stand beside Mu-geuk and fight, he should at least not be a liability. The thought that he was a burden hurt his pride and filled him with guilt. They were one of the reasons this "hell" existed.
Then, Mu-geuk leaned his back against the wall full of terrifying mechanisms and said something unexpected.
“If I turned around and you weren't standing there, that would be a real hell for me.”
As Ji Han looked at him in confusion, Mu-geuk looked up at the sealed ceiling. It, too, was riddled with countless holes for the mechanical traps.
“The sky outside must be vast and clear right now.”
He looked at the ceiling with deep eyes, as if he were staring at the sky beyond it.
“I’m stuck in this underground lake, having to kill people I’ve already killed once before. If you weren't here, this place would be my hell.”
Perhaps the gently flowing melody forbade an attack, for the Twelve Zodiac Kings did not charge even though Mu-geuk had his back turned to talk to Ji Han. The music was clearly communicating with them.
Mu-geuk continued speaking to Ji Han.
“Fighting only for yourself, fighting alone... if you keep walking those days, you might eventually become a Killing Blade. Consumed by loneliness.”
Those words struck the Sword King’s heart most deeply. He was a man who had fought alone for most of his life.
“You don't need to be moved because I’m protecting you. This is a choice I made for myself. Fighting for myself is too exhausting, but fighting for you makes it a little easier. It was the same during training. So, there’s no need to be touched by this selfishness, and no need to feel sorry.”
Ji Han felt a premonition that he would never forget the sight of Geom Mu-geuk in this moment. Leaning against mechanisms that supposedly no human could block, with the terrifying Twelve Zodiac Kings at his back, telling him these things.
“I still don't know why you’re so good to me.”
“Aren't you also a sword that has fought alone for a long time?”
“...!”
From the moment he was handed over to his master to live off his talent for scent... yes, his life had been a solitary one, a sword that fought only for himself.
What more words were needed to show him the path he should take? Ji Han bowed his head respectfully.
“You have a very wonderful scent, Young Cult Leader.”
“Of course. It’s a rule that you must always say your leader smells good.”
As Mu-geuk was about to turn around, someone else spoke up with an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
It was the Sword King. His eyes were cold and sunken. Mu-geuk could feel it—he was truly furious.
“This situation happened because of me.”
He had been thoroughly used. The Dark Palace Master knew exactly how he would act. The thought that he had been played like a puppet made the Sword King’s anger boil over.
“I should be the one thanking you,” Mu-geuk said.
“For what?”
“Thanks to this, didn't I get to see how much Brother Ak cares for me?”
Mu-geuk gave him a formal bow. “Thank you for saving me.”
“I didn't save you.”
“You already did.”
It was as good as done. The moment the Sword King had killed the Sound King, he had essentially offered up his own life.
“When I meet that woman who likes you, Brother Ak, I’ll be sure to tell her about today. That the man she loves is such a cool guy.”
The Sword King knew Mu-geuk was saying it to comfort him, but it made him feel better nonetheless.
“You’re busy, comforting your subordinate and me at the same time.”
Mu-geuk turned back toward the Twelve Zodiac Kings. “There’s one more person—or rather, one more soul—I need to comfort.”
Mu-geuk’s gaze fell upon the Wood King.
“To you, it might have been a parting from just a moment ago, but it has been a long time for me.”
In their past battle, Mu-geuk had tried his best to resolve things without killing him. The Wood King had been a man who dreamed of revenge, mistakenly believing the Murim Alliance Leader had massacred his clan. He was a man with many sins, but Mu-geuk wanted to tell him at least this much.
“I have confirmed that it was not the Murim Alliance Leader’s doing.”
During his past fight with Hwa Yul-cheong, Mu-geuk had discovered that the masterminds behind this current plot were the ones involved in the annihilation of the Mokcheon family.
The Wood King’s eyes wavered. He remembered the moment just before his death when Mu-geuk had struggled to save him. He could feel now, as he did then, that Mu-geuk was not lying.
“The one who orchestrated it will eventually die by my hand, so please, let go of your long-standing resentment and misunderstanding.”
The Wood King said nothing, but Mu-geuk saw the tension leave his eyes.
Slowly.
The Wood King’s eyes closed. By his own will, his soul sought to leave this place.
Right then, the music echoing around them grew louder. The notes turned shrill and distorted, like a ghostly wail. It was trying to stop the soul from departing.
“Stop it.”
Mu-geuk spoke in a low, warning tone. As his words, infused with demonic energy, rang out, the music stopped for a heartbeat before surging even louder.
“I told you to stop!”
Mu-geuk’s demonic energy poured toward the Twelve Zodiac Kings.
Whoooooosh!
Like a violent gale, the demonic energy buffeted the bodies of the Twelve Zodiac Kings. When the storm of energy subsided, the Wood King’s soul was gone. It was as if it had been carried far away on the wind.
The Wood King, his eyes closed, no longer moved, but a faint smile lingered on his face.
“In your next life, I hope you live a life where you neither kill nor are killed.”
Listening to those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon could tell that Mu-geuk truly meant them. He realized that perhaps that was the kind of life Mu-geuk himself desired. He was a fellow who wanted to live laughing, chatting, and joking around. Yes, the person most uncomfortable in this position was likely the strongest one among them.
Mu-geuk walked forward and looked at the Iron King. His gaze was cold and solemn.
“You all have plotted and schemed in every way imaginable. But calling back the dead is the one thing you should never have done. If you couldn't win in reality no matter what you tried, you should have given up like true martial artists. You should have lived as blacksmiths or musicians.”
The music sounded grotesque, as if it were screaming a response to Mu-geuk. Then, the Sword King stepped forward from behind.
“You can talk to them all day, but they aren't the type to listen. I know them well.”
Rip.
He tore a strip from his robe and used it to tie back his disheveled hair. Then, he put on the shoes he had been carrying at his waist. He stepped out alone and faced the line of enemies.
Until he met Mu-geuk, he had been one of them. He had even been at the very top among them. At least, that was how the Dark Palace Master had treated him.
“You’ve had a lot of grievances against me, haven't you?”
A cold killing intent flickered, particularly in the Blade King’s eyes. Then, a cold voice came from behind.
“I told you I’d kill you again if we ever met.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked out slowly and stood beside the Sword King. He hadn't stepped forward because of the Blade King. Initially, he had disliked the Sword King, but he felt sincere gratitude for the way the man had willingly sacrificed himself for Mu-geuk. He couldn't let him fight alone.
“For someone who uses a measly sword, you have quite the spirit.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable also stepped forward. She did so out of respect for the Sword King as a fellow wielder of the blade.
“Sister, if you keep talking like that, you’ll eventually make a mistake in front of the Cult Leader.”
“Don't even say such things as a joke.”
The Sword King bowed his head slightly toward the two standing beside him. He hadn't expected them to stand with him like this. The three of them drew their swords and blades simultaneously.
Then, a complaining voice drifted from behind them.
“Wait, why are your wings spreading there?”
A look of "he’s at it again" crossed the faces of the three. Truly, to try and make people laugh even in a moment like this.
“Why are you three the only ones acting all solemn and cool? Why are you three acting like best friends without me? I’m going to fight too. Brother Ak, move over. That’s my spot.”
Of course, no one looked back or replied. The Iron King took Mu-geuk’s playfulness as an insult.
“Young Cult Leader, your arrogance will lead everyone to their deaths.”
When Mu-geuk looked back at the Iron King, the playfulness had vanished from his face.
“We had a disagreement about hell, didn't we? I think I’ve seen enough of your hell...”
With eyes so cold it was hard to believe such a joke had just come from that face, he spoke.
“Now, witness my hell.”
Snap.