Chapter 47: The Four Great Villains (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: The Four Great Villains (3)
Tension dyes my body from my fingertips to my toes.
The man standing before me is one of the Twelve Superhumans, those hailed as the strongest and greatest in the Central Plains.
Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak.
I didn't know the answer myself.
To be honest, it was a match I had no confidence in winning. Even with a combined attack, the fear remained the same.
The strength of Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak was widely known to be among the top five even within the Twelve Superhumans.
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked in surprise. It was a natural reaction, considering it knew nothing of the martial world.
Just as there are gaps in power between the Blood Stars and the Venerable Ones, there is a hierarchy even among the Eight Great Masters and the Four Great Villains.
Why do you think the Four Great Villains are left largely untouched by the Orthodox factions and even the government, despite their numerous atrocities?
It is because three of them are monsters who rank within that top five.
You can tell just by seeing him perform Void Object Retrieval with his internal qi. His internal energy has reached a level that can only be described as inhuman.
In a way, it wasn't an exaggeration to say we were facing someone who had reached the very pinnacle of the martial world.
I would have if I could.
In the first place, I was the one who had offended him. Since his goal was clear, he would undoubtedly pursue me if I tried to flee.
Just then, the voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword echoed in my mind.
'My true feelings?'
I couldn't offer any answer to those words.
I had died after being betrayed by those I trusted. After my regression, I had made a vow: I would never give my heart to anyone, and I would never trust anyone again.
Then I met Sama Yeong.
In a sense, she was a truly dangerous woman. The daughter of one of the Four Great Villains—knowing her identity alone was enough to make anyone hesitate to approach her out of fear.
That was why I tried to maintain my distance and draw a line between us as much as possible.
But no matter how many lines I drew or walls I built, Sama Yeong was the type to simply open the door and walk right in.
I saw her now, unable to move because her Mute Point and paralysis points had been struck, watching me with eyes full of worry.
Does she really like me that much?
'!!!'
The life I want to live?
The Namcheon Iron Sword’s advice cleared the lingering distractions from my mind. It seemed the instincts of a spy, always being cautious about everything, were still shackling me.
From now on, I was truly going to live exactly as I pleased.
"Hmph!"
Sring!
Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak drew his precious sword from its scabbard.
The mere act of drawing the sword created an illusion of sharp killing intent slicing against my skin. It felt as though death was right before my eyes.
Strangely, my mind grew calm.
Step.
Taking a step forward, I looked Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak straight in the eye and spoke.
"May I say one thing before we begin?"
Sama Chak gave no response. I intended to speak whether he permitted it or not.
"I also harbor feelings for your daughter, Senior."
'!?'
My words were like a sudden storm on a calm sea. Everyone stared at me with shocked expressions.
I had boldly declared my feelings for the daughter of none other than Sama Chak, one of the Four Great Villains, right to his face.
Haeakcheon looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
[You brat. Are you trying to provoke him on purpose? At his level, he won't be shaken even if his emotions are—]
[I am serious.]
[What?]
Haeakcheon’s brow furrowed. Having decided not to hide my feelings anymore, I actually felt a sense of relief.
Tears welled up in Sama Yeong’s eyes. They weren't tears of sadness, but of joy that I had admitted my feelings for her.
On the other hand, Baek Ryeonha’s gaze seemed complicated beyond measure.
It was at that exact moment.
Swish!
A sharp killing intent pricked my Qi Sense.
"Huh?"
Sensing an aura that felt like it would slice right through me, I instinctively raised my blade to block.
Clang!
The sharp aura collided with my sword, and my body was pushed back. Haeakcheon caught me from behind.
My palms stung as if the energy hadn't fully dissipated, and the blade of the Blood Demon Sword trembled violently.
Haeakcheon spoke to me.
"Well done. You've certainly stoked the flames."
I looked at Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak; his killing intent had risen to the point where it looked like he was ready to slaughter me on the spot.
I couldn't even hear the Lesser Conversation Sword’s words. I couldn't take my eyes off Sama Chak’s sword. It was astonishing that he could project such sharp killing intent from this distance.
"It is nothing to be surprised by. The previous Cult Leader was capable of the same."
Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma spoke as he took a starting stance, holding his long saber in a peculiar thrusting position. Though he remained tense, his fighting spirit was surging.
"It has been a long time since we've fought together like this, not since the Great Orthodox-Evil War."
Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho also gripped his sword hilt with both hands, positioning it near his right ear. Judging by their unusual stances, it seemed they intended to use their ultimate techniques from the very start.
"Get ready, Blood Demon."
Haeakcheon said, thrusting his fist forward. I also took my starting stance, pointing the tip of the Blood Demon Sword forward.
"Arrogant fools."
With those short words, Sama Chak moved first. Since he was the one being subjected to a combined attack, he saw no reason to yield the first move.
'Ah!'
I thought he would target me first, but his target was none other than Haeakcheon.
"Hahahaha! Excellent!"
Once the battle began, Haeakcheon met Sama Chak with a boisterous laugh. As he swung his fists, they turned into a red wind fueled by the Red Blood Golden Body, firing forward in a rapid barrage.
Sama Chak’s sword drew a graceful curve.
Slash!
The fists, which created dozens of afterimages like shadows, were swept away by the trajectory of the sword. Haeakcheon’s form was pulled to the side against his will.
In that split second, Sama Chak used the sword-finger of his left hand to thrust toward Haeakcheon’s heart.
'Dangerous!'
However, the strike did not land.
Whoosh!
Seo Gal-ma’s long saber surged upward, attempting to slice off Sama Chak’s fingers.
Sama Chak pulled his fingers back and ruthlessly stabbed at the blade of Seo Gal-ma’s rising saber.
"Urgh!"
Seo Gal-ma’s body was nearly pushed back. However, unlike before, he gritted his teeth and held his ground. Even as blood trickled from his mouth after being pushed back three steps, he shifted the trajectory of his saber and swung it toward Sama Chak’s neck.
Clang!
Sama Chak blocked it with his sword. At that moment, Do Jang-ho’s sword aimed for Sama Chak’s back.
Sama Chak stomped his foot onto the deck.
Boom! Crack!
The wooden planks of the boat split, and shards of wood surged upward, obscuring Do Jang-ho’s vision. Do Jang-ho sliced through them all at once.
But Sama Chak had vanished from his sight.
"Where—?"
"Above you!"
At Seo Gal-ma’s shout, Do Jang-ho looked up. Sama Chak, who had somehow leaped into the air, delivered a kick to his chin.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Then, spinning like a whirlwind, he swung his sword in all directions, raining down sharp killing intent on Seo Gal-ma and Haeakcheon below.
Invisible blades of aura blanketed them.
"Dammit!"
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Seo Gal-ma and Haeakcheon blocked the assault by deploying defensive forms. At that moment, I used my lightness skill to reach a higher position than Sama Chak and swung my sword downward, executing a technique from the Life Bright Sword Technique.
The 5th form of the True Life Bright Sword Technique: Meteor Falling Sword.
"Hmph!"
With a snort, Sama Chak caught the descending blade between the index and middle fingers of his left hand.
'What?!'
I was using ten stars of internal power while in my Blood Demon transformation. To catch that with his bare hands...
Creeeeeak!
As Sama Chak applied his internal power, the blade of the Blood Demon Sword bent under the terrifying force. It seemed he intended to use the sword's elasticity to fling me away.
"Haaah!"
Just then, Haeakcheon leaped into the air and delivered a blow toward Sama Chak’s right ribs.
'Now!'
I didn't miss the opening either and threw a kick toward Sama Chak’s head.
In that instant, Sama Chak shifted the trajectory of his sword, attempting to slice through both my leg and Haeakcheon’s fist simultaneously.
'Tch!'
Using the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword as a pivot, I shifted the direction of my kick, flipping my body into a handstand-like position so my feet pointed upward.
Haeakcheon, however, did not dodge Sama Chak’s sword.
Slash!
Sama Chak’s sword bit into the muscle of Haeakcheon’s left arm.
"Master!"
But the sword, which had sliced slightly into the skin, stopped and could not penetrate further.
A glint of surprise appeared in Sama Chak’s eyes. In that moment, Haeakcheon’s fist slammed into Sama Chak’s ribs.
Thud!
"Impressive."
No sooner were those words spoken than Haeakcheon’s body was sent flying back by a powerful counter-force. Haeakcheon performed a mid-air somersault with his massive frame and landed on the deck.
"Let go of the sword!"
Do Jang-ho leaped up, attempting to slice the hand Sama Chak was using to hold my blade.
Clang!
While descending, Sama Chak swung his sword to easily block Do Jang-ho’s strike and even parried it away.
Clang!
"Urgh! Cough!"
Fresh blood sprayed from Do Jang-ho’s mouth as he was repelled by Sama Chak’s sword.
"This old man’s saber is still here!"
As Do Jang-ho was being flung back, Seo Gal-ma’s long saber aimed for Sama Chak’s neck. Finally, Sama Chak let go of the Blood Demon Sword and struck the saber downward with lightning speed.
Clang!
As the saber was knocked down, Seo Gal-ma, whom I thought would fall, used that momentum to spin his body and kick Sama Chak squarely in the shoulder.
However, Sama Chak’s sword craftily moved to slice Seo Gal-ma’s ankle.
"Haaap!"
Clang!
Not missing the chance, I blocked Sama Chak’s sword.
"You're a nuisance."
"Ugh!"
Though I had blocked the sword, I was overwhelmed by his internal power. Still in my inverted position, I was sent flying and crashed into the ship's cabin.
Crash!
The wooden cabin was smashed to pieces. I felt as if my insides had been turned upside down.
He wasn't called a monster among monsters for nothing.
My entire body ached as if it were breaking, but I endured it, stood up, and emerged from the wrecked cabin.
When I came out, Haeakcheon and Seo Gal-ma were launching a simultaneous attack. It was a fierce clash of martial forms.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
The deck around them, filled with the sound of breaking air, was being reduced to a mess.
'Is he really human?'
Sama Chak was blocking the attacks of two masters who had reached the peak of the Supreme Peak Realm without moving a single step, using only his sword.
In contrast, Haeakcheon and Seo Gal-ma were moving frantically, even utilizing footwork. It was a display of the essence of high-level martial arts combat.
But their opponent was the Moon Evil Sword.
Thrust!
Sama Chak’s sword pierced through their combined attack and stabbed Seo Gal-ma’s shoulder.
"Gah!"
Clang!
If Do Jang-ho hadn't rushed in and struck the sword upward, it would have pierced right through him.
"I'll kill you first."
While keeping Haeakcheon at bay with one hand, Sama Chak fired a sword-finger strike toward the space between Do Jang-ho’s eyes.
I reached him just in time and pulled him back. Thanks to that, the sword-finger strike missed.
"Now!"
At my shout, Do Jang-ho and I thrust our swords toward Sama Chak simultaneously. Sama Chak flicked Do Jang-ho’s sword—which had entered first—with his index finger, which had been braced against his middle finger.
Ping!
Do Jang-ho’s sword, bent by the elasticity, struck my incoming sword downward. Because of that, Do Jang-ho and I became tangled and stumbled forward.
Not missing the opening, Sama Chak delivered a kick to Do Jang-ho’s chest.
Thud!
"Guaack!"
Though I was behind him and didn't take the direct hit, I was pushed back as I tried to catch him while he was being sent flying.
Then, Sama Chak stopped dealing with Haeakcheon, leaped backward, and threw his precious sword toward the two of us.
Whoosh!
The sword flew like a javelin, intending to impale us both.
'I'm going to die.'
All my senses sharpened as I felt the approach of death with every fiber of my being.
"Urgh!"
Do Jang-ho tried to push me away with his elbow. But it was impossible to dodge the speed of the flying sword.
'I can't die.'
In that split second, my head throbbed as if it were about to explode.
My Mental Focus surged violently, and the point of Heavenly Authority glowed even more crimson.
'Blood Stillness Sword Stance.'
I grabbed Do Jang-ho’s shoulder as he tried to push me, rotating so our positions swapped, and slammed the crimson-dyed Blood Demon Sword into the wooden deck.
In that instant, a crimson aura surged from the floor into the air like an overflowing wave.