Chapter 760: Where I Am Is Hell
Chapter 760: Where I Am Is Hell
A vast, endless field stretched out before their eyes.
The Iron King’s eyes widened in genuine shock and agitation. In a single heartbeat, he and the Twelve Zodiac had been transported to an entirely different dimension. There had been no warning—no sensation of entering a portal or being physically moved.
What is this?
The scent of grass carried on the breeze was unmistakably real. There had been no intelligence suggesting that the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could manifest such high-level illusions.
They weren't the only ones stunned. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the One Flower Sword Venerable, and the Sword King had also been brought along.
“I brought the three of you because I felt you deserved to know that I can open a space like this,” Geom Mu-geuk said calmly.
The One Flower Sword Venerable knelt to examine the ground. The grass, the stones, even the soil—it was all genuine.
This isn't a simple illusion. It’s a real, physical space.
The surprises the Young Cult Leader provided on this journey seemed never-ending.
The Iron King asked with a bewildered expression, “Is this the ‘hell’ you spoke of?”
Geom Mu-geuk looked up at the vast, clear sky. He was the one who had told Ji Han earlier that he wanted to see the sky.
“Yes. This is hell.”
“Isn't it a bit too beautiful to be called hell?”
“Then were you expecting something like this?”
Snap!
As Geom Mu-geuk flicked his fingers, the scenery shifted instantly.
The blue expanse turned a violent crimson. It was a sight that truly earned the name of hell. Rivers of blood surged, and flames erupted like volcanoes in every direction. The screams of suffering souls mingled with the shrieks of demons. The air grew thick with the agony of scorched spirits, making it difficult to even draw breath.
Just then, a hellhound breathing fire charged toward Geom Mu-geuk. The beast lunged as if to maul him, but instead, it skidded to a halt and wagged its tail. When Geom Mu-geuk patted its head, it let out a playful puff of fire.
Whoosh.
The Sword King and the two Demon Lords looked on in astonishment. This hell, and the beast guarding it, were far too vivid to be mere tricks of the mind.
“This kind of hell is hell...”
Snap.
The world returned to the original field.
“...and this place is also hell.”
The location didn't matter.
“Wherever I stand... that is your hell.”
Swoosh.
Geom Mu-geuk’s cold demonic energy, laden with unmistakable killing intent, washed over them once more. The Iron King’s expression hardened. By being dragged into this space, he had lost his strongest hand: the hostages.
Geom Mu-geuk turned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a soft expression, a sharp contrast to the murderous energy he had just released.
“It’s good for the eyes to look at green scenery like this, don't you think?”
“Treating me like an old man again, are you?”
“No, it’s because you read so many books. Your eyes need the rest.”
There were two reasons why Geom Mu-geuk had used the Space-Time Displacement Technique to bring them here.
First, it was to neutralize the Iron King’s mechanisms. The Iron King might be able to operate his devices at will, but he needed to be in the same space for them to function. Even the fail-safe in his chest, meant to trigger upon his death, would likely fail to cross the dimensional barrier. Though this space occupied the same coordinates, it was a completely different world. The mechanisms were now useless.
The second reason was that he needed a place where he could use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art freely. If he had unleashed it back in the cave, the entire mountain would have collapsed, burying them all.
Suddenly, the sound of music drifted through the air. Just as the souls of the Twelve Zodiac inhabited their mechanical bodies, the soul of the Sound King was embedded in this unending melody.
Geom Mu-geuk looked toward the source of the music.
“It seems you want to become an immortal musician.”
The music responded, turning sharp and irritable.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stepped forward, his hand on his hilt. “Good job bringing them here. Now I can fight to my heart’s content.”
Seeing his excitement, Geom Mu-geuk looked apologetic. “No, you cannot.”
“What?”
“I will fight them. Alone.”
“Then why did you bring us?”
“To watch. It’s more exciting to fight when there’s an audience. Where’s the fun in a solo performance?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked dumbfounded. However, the one even more disappointed than the two Demon Lords was the Sword King.
“This is my fight!” the Sword King barked.
Geom Mu-geuk replied firmly, “No, this is my fight.”
This was a change brought about by his regression. The fact that they were fighting these people here was entirely because of his actions.
“This is a worthless task for the three of you. Save your precious blades for opponents with warm blood in their veins. Leave these puppets to me.”
“My sword isn't that precious,” the Sword King grumbled.
At those words, Geom Mu-geuk recalled the past.
“It’s not the martial artist who decides what kind of sword they hold; it’s the world. Brother Ak, your sword is precious. It has been ever since you showed the stars to those people underground and sent them off safely.”
Since Geom Mu-geuk went that far, the Sword King could no longer be stubborn.
“I’ve spent the whole day stepping forward without getting any real results,” the Sword King muttered awkwardly, moving to take off his shoes.
“Don’t take them off. If they wear out, I’ll buy you better ones.”
The Sword King insisted, tucking them into his belt. “No. I like these shoes. Fine, then. Let’s see how much my friend’s skills have improved.”
As the Sword King stepped back, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable followed suit. After all, the Sword King had been the first to step up, and they had only intended to support him. Even if they didn't fight directly, watching Geom Mu-geuk would surely aid their own martial understanding. Perhaps that was his true intention in bringing them.
Shring.
Geom Mu-geuk drew the Black Demonic Sword and walked forward with measured steps. The Iron King remained off to the side.
It was a nine-on-one fight.
Normally, it was an impossible match-up. Though they lacked full reason, these were warriors armed with peak martial arts and a thirst for revenge. These nine members of the Twelve Zodiac were a force capable of conquering the Murim.
And Geom Mu-geuk intended to face them all alone. For him, this was a battle that might happen only once in a lifetime.
The Iron King shouted to the Twelve Zodiac, “Now, it is time for revenge!”
Geom Mu-geuk caught that wave of excitement and shouted toward the void, “Play some exciting music! Maximum volume!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Geom Mu-geuk charged.
The sight of him rushing toward nine masters whose martial arts had reached the pinnacle was a spectacle of pure audacity. The Twelve Zodiac, centered around the Combat King, scattered to flank him.
Whoosh!
The Combat King’s fist, possessing enough power to crush steel, swung toward him. As Geom Mu-geuk dodged, the Blade King’s Red Blade grazed past his face by a hair’s breadth.
Ten red lines extending from the Blood King’s fingers flew toward him. When Geom Mu-geuk evaded the Blood Threads, the Fist King, attacking from behind, was hit instead. However, the Fist King merely frowned and continued his assault.
Between the exchange of fists and swords, the Murder King’s hidden weapons sliced through the air.
Geom Mu-geuk didn't counterattack yet; he only dodged. It was as if he were testing himself to see if he could evade the combined onslaught of all nine.
The area became a whirlwind of sword light, gang qi, and killing intent. Swirling gang qi turned into dragons ascending to the heavens, and sword qi became nets to trap the prey. But the dragons could not catch the pearl, and the nets could not catch the fish.
The Illusion King and Hwan-yeo used their illusions to open gates, and demons poured out from the rift. The Combat King led the charge, the Blood King scattered corrosive blood, and the Murder King launched surprise attacks from the shadows.
In that moment, the One Flower Sword Venerable felt a chill. The scene was eerily similar to the dolls that had attacked Geom Mu-geuk earlier. It was as if that moment had foreshadowed this fate.
And Geom Mu-geuk showed the result of that fate. Using the Wind God Four Steps pushed to the absolute limit, he slipped through the gaps of the combined attack.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The attacks struck only empty air.
Watching this, the Sword King took a step forward. He knew Geom Mu-geuk had grown stronger, but this...
He’s truly become a monster!
He was incomparably stronger than when they had last parted. Usually, the higher a master’s realm, the slower their growth. Yet, Geom Mu-geuk was showing a level of improvement that demanded a whole new level of respect. The Sword King’s heart raced wildly just watching him.
This battle, between those at the peak, was a battle of points and lines. If a point hit, you died. If a line was drawn across you, you died. Those individual points gathered to become lines, and the lines scattered to become points again. Attacks that should have killed him several times over poured onto Geom Mu-geuk, but he remained untouched.
His movements were beautiful—a sword dance performed to the Sound King's music.
The watching Sword King, Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and One Flower Sword Venerable were gaining immense inspiration. A single hypothetical bloomed in their minds: If it were me?
How would I dodge? How would I attack? The realization coming from that comparison was as great as the learning from a direct fight. At least one thing was certain: they could not fight like this.
Slash! Rip!
Red lines appeared around Geom Mu-geuk, surrounding him like a spiderweb. The Blood King had unleashed his secret technique, the Split-Body Blood Net.
Rip! Rip!
The Black Demonic Sword instantly shredded the blood net. Seeing a version of Geom Mu-geuk that was incomparable to their previous encounter, an even denser blood energy surged from the Blood King’s body.
As the music grew louder, boosting the strength of the Twelve Zodiac—
Screech!
A massive wave of gang qi fired by the Combat King flew toward Geom Mu-geuk. The Chain Wind and Cloud Fist, bolstered by the power of the Dark King, struck Geom Mu-geuk just as he emerged from the blood net.
KABOOM!
The ground and grass where Geom Mu-geuk had stood were swept away, leaving a long, straight trench. The power was immense.
As the dust settled, Geom Mu-geuk was seen standing at the front of the trench with his arms crossed. Amazingly, he hadn't been pushed back a single step. He had blocked the incoming attack with three different martial arts: the Heavenly Dipper Body, the Vajra Asura of the Thunder Asura Fist, and the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art.
As if he had intentionally chosen not to dodge to test his defenses, Geom Mu-geuk strode toward the Combat King.
“Your fighting spirit isn't what it used to be. Did you two have a falling out?”
At the provocation, the Combat King’s face twisted hideously. It was an attack combined with the Dark King’s power—certainly stronger than their last fight—yet Geom Mu-geuk had blocked it with his bare body.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, something wrapped around Geom Mu-geuk like a shroud. It was the Darkness Veil spread by the enraged Dark King.
Tear.
But the Black Demonic Sword emerged and shredded the veil faster than ever before.
“Back then, you said this technique would never work as long as we were in the darkness. Let’s see if that’s still true.”
Flash!
The surroundings suddenly darkened, and a single line was drawn through the void.
Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Fourth Form: Dark Flash.
The Dark King spoke leisurely. “Young Cult Leader, didn't I tell you? Demonic arts of the darkness attribute will never work on me—”
Slide.
Thud.
Her neck was severed, and her head rolled onto the grass. The Dark Flash, having reached Great Achievement, had claimed the Dark King’s head.
However, even though her head was cut off, her soul did not perish. Her head, wearing an expression of disbelief, hurled curses at him.
Geom Mu-geuk realized then: So, just severing the head isn't enough to extinguish them.
Seeing the Dark King decapitated, the Twelve Zodiac simultaneously unleashed their gang qi.
Boom! Bang! Crash!
The Sword King’s heart sank. He wondered if he should have stepped in, as such a concentrated, powerful attack had been launched.
As the dust settled, Geom Mu-geuk’s figure appeared behind a wall of pure white gang qi.
Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Third Form: Great Demonic Wall.
Having reached Great Achievement, he could now shrink the size of the wall to protect only himself, concentrating its density.
When even that attack was blocked, the music became ear-piercing. The melody screamed and wailed, asking why they couldn't win even with such empowerment. An even more intense energy erupted from the eyes of the Twelve Zodiac. They looked as if they were about to launch an attack that surpassed their physical limits.
In contrast, Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze was calm.
“I’d like to fight more, but I can’t waste any more internal energy. This is enough to confirm how strong I’ve become.”
Is he already running low? The two Demon Lords, who knew how deep his reserves were, exchanged glances. Had the Great Demonic Wall required that much energy?
That wasn't it. Geom Mu-geuk was simply done playing. He bid farewell to the Twelve Zodiac.
“At least for today, you are guiltless. You were simply dragged to a place you should never have come. Now, return to where you belong. You will never have to return again.”
Then, he said something cryptic to the three behind him.
“Stand right behind me. I might not be able to control it as precisely as my father yet, but I have the skill to at least fire it forward. I have a feeling I can unleash it without destroying this entire dimension.”
Geom Mu-geuk looked back and added, “If I fail to adjust the power, I leave the rest to you.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes widened. “What are you planning to do?”
Geom Mu-geuk gave him a wide grin, then thrust the Black Demonic Sword forward.
Flash!
Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Sixth Form: Heavenly Demon World Destruction.
Light erupted from the blade. The world turned entirely white. It was as if a sun had exploded, but it was a silent, absolute explosion.
Within that light, their final moments were visible.
The Fist King’s arms, which he had crossed to block the light, vanished. Along with his arms, his body dissolved. The sun engraved on the Red Blade thrust by the Blade King met a real sun and vanished. The Murder King leaped to hide, but there was nowhere to hide. The Dark King’s severed head and torso, and the darkness that still lingered around her, melted into the radiance.
The Illusion King and Hwan-yeo disappeared like a lie within an illusion. The Combat King’s vengefulness and the Blood King’s blood were purged. The device attached to the Iron King’s chest that threatened everyone’s lives melted away without a trace.
Even their souls were completely extinguished.
Now, nothing remained. Not a blade of grass, not a fragment of stone. Not a single piece of iron that had served as the bones of the Twelve Zodiac remained. The music finally stopped. The soul of the Sound King had been annihilated.
The final form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, reached at Great Achievement.
Heavenly Demon World Destruction.
In the moment the Heavenly Demon destroyed the world, nothing could survive.
Every member of the Twelve Zodiac—save for the Sword King and Flower King who had become his allies—was decimated.
Faced with this overwhelming martial prowess, none of the three behind him could speak. The two Demon Lords even forgot to pay their respects to the technique.
Geom Mu-geuk looked at the empty space with a surge of emotion.
I did it!
He had succeeded in unleashing the Heavenly Demon World Destruction at Great Achievement without destroying the Space-Time Displacement Technique.
The three behind him looked at Geom Mu-geuk’s back with eyes full of admiration and awe. It was respect for the martial artist named Geom Mu-geuk.
“Since they have returned to their world...”
Geom Mu-geuk summoned his last remaining handful of internal energy.
“...let us return to ours.”
Snap.