Chapter 50: Monster (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50: Monster (2)
'!!!'
Panicked, I leaped into the air and unleashed a sword technique.
'Rising Dragon Return Sword!'
It was the fourth form of the True Life Bright Sword Technique: Rising Dragon Return Sword.
My body spun rapidly, and my blade whipped around like a whirlwind, slashing in every direction—front, back, left, and right.
Two monsters that had been lunging from the ceiling were struck by the technique and sent flying.
However, in that split second, one of the monsters jumped up and snatched my body while I was still mid-air.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
I dropped my torch as I became entangled with the creature, and we went tumbling across the floor together.
"Graaaaaah!"
The other monsters didn't miss the opportunity. They swarmed in from all sides like predators closing in on their prey.
"Dammit!"
Thwack!
I thrust both feet out simultaneously, kicking the monster in its abdomen.
As if it felt no pain, the creature was lifted upward but continued to lash out wildly with its claws.
'Heh!'
Startled, I kicked even harder.
The monster’s body was tossed back, but its claws managed to rake across my cheek.
Slash!
"Aaaargh!"
My cheek was torn open. It felt as if a chunk of flesh had been ripped away.
The pain was excruciating, but the cacophony of the charging monsters snapped me back to my senses.
I braced my legs and shoved the monster on top of me toward the others lunging at my head. At the same time, I pushed off the ground with both hands and snapped my waist, springing upward like a coiled wire.
In an instant, the monsters had me surrounded.
The Lesser Conversation Sword shouted frantically.
'I was just about to!'
Stomp!
I stepped squarely on the head of a monster charging from the front.
As I did, the creature reached up to grab my leg, but I had already leaped onto the head of another.
Tap! Tap!
The monsters' hands surged like waves rising from hell, but I narrowly avoided them, hopping from one head to another.
However, the monsters weren't entirely mindless.
They began leaping up like frogs, trying to snatch me out of the air as I skipped across their heads.
"Kh!"
Thud!
I kicked one of them mid-jump and used the momentum of the recoil to land a good distance away from the swarming pack.
"Graaaaaah!"
"Groaaaar!"
The monsters rushed toward my landing spot like madmen.
I immediately broke into a sprint, using my Lightness Skill.
'My Mental Focus...'
I had barely half of it left. It was obvious I wouldn't last long at this rate.
I needed another way.
'Water... they couldn't get close to the water, right?'
It was better to head toward the cave where I heard the rushing torrent and find a way to lose them there.
I threw myself toward the tunnel to the left of the one we had entered. That direction should be closer to the waterway.
"Over here! This way!"
At my shout, the monsters screamed and gave chase.
"Graaaaaah!"
I ducked into the tunnel to evade them and sprinted down the passage.
As expected, the cave sloped gradually downward. I kept running, searching for the sound of water, and after passing a certain point, I heard what sounded like a heavy current.
Whoooooosh!
I had to lure them as low as possible.
After running for a while, I spotted another cave entrance to the right. If I broke the wall here, the water would drain into the cave. I decided to go further down before attempting to break the wall.
But as I descended...
"Wait!"
I had to stop dead in my tracks.
The floor right in front of me had collapsed, leading into an endless abyss that looked like a sheer cliff. Even when I shone the Luminous Pearl down, I couldn't see the bottom.
If I hadn't had the Luminous Pearl, I would have leaped right off without seeing what lay ahead. I hadn't expected such a precipice to be here of all places.
Just then, I saw the eerie yellow glow of eyes behind me.
'Dammit!'
I was truly trapped between a rock and a hard place. A cliff behind me, and monsters blocking the way forward.
'...Do I have to fight?'
There was no other way. Falling down that cliff meant certain death. I had the Silver Smoke Thread on my arm, but I couldn't manipulate the cord with the power of Heavenly Authority or Mental Focus yet, so there was no way to use it to hang on.
That was when the Lesser Conversation Sword shouted.
'The Illusion Eye?'
His words piqued my interest.
'Will it work?'
He was right.
I began reciting the oral formula for the Illusion Eye while staring at the creatures. Because I was already using Mental Focus, it was difficult to concentrate.
I grew anxious as they drew closer. What if the Illusion Eye didn't work? If only my plan to burst the waterway and drown them had worked, I wouldn't be in this mess.
It was then.
I saw the yellow eyes waver.
"Groaaaar!"
"Graaaah!"
The monsters that had been marching toward me suddenly turned around and tried to flee deeper into the cave.
Consequently, the monsters behind them were pushed back, confused. I didn't know what was happening. It looked as if they were running away in terror, having seen something horrifying.
There was nothing about me to be afraid of, so for them to run like that... Ah!
Wait, could those monsters be seeing an illusion?
It was said that upon reaching the third stage of the Illusion Eye, one could make the opponent see any illusion they desired. In my extreme anxiety, all sorts of stray thoughts had flooded my mind while I recited the formula.
One of those thoughts was drowning these bastards.
-
The Namcheon Iron Sword was right. I didn't know when the illusion would break, so I had to get away from the ledge.
I followed the monsters as the front row pushed through the rear. It would have been great if the effect lasted long enough to drive them all the way out of the cave, but...
"Grrrr?"
'...Dammit.'
Before long, the fleeing monsters snapped out of it. They turned their heads back and glared at me. It had worn off too quickly.
'Ah!'
It was the cave I had seen while running here.
I let out a roar and ducked inside to avoid the lunging monsters. The tunnel stretched deep into the interior.
"Graaaaaah!"
The monsters chased after me, desperate to catch me. Fortunately, when I used my Lightness Skill at full power, I was faster. I pulled far ahead of them.
As I continued down the passage, I saw a green light ahead. Upon entering, I found myself in a small grotto where Luminous Pearls were embedded all over the walls.
'Is this where they found the pearls?'
This must be the grotto the One-Armed Man had mentioned.
'It's warm.'
This place was relatively warmer than the other caves. I hadn't noticed at first because I was distracted by the Luminous Pearls, but there were several rectangular stone coffins placed inside the grotto. They looked thick and heavy.
"Graaaaaah!"
The cries of the monsters echoed from the tunnel. They would arrive any second.
In my desperation, I looked at the stone coffins, wondering what to do.
'Can I open one?'
Hoping for the best, I pushed against one with all my might. It was incredibly heavy.
"Nnggh...!"
As I pushed with everything I had, a space large enough for a person to lie down appeared.
'Ah!'
Could I really fool them by hiding in here?
The inside of the coffin lid had a slight indentation so it could be pulled shut from the inside. I grabbed it and pulled.
"Hnnngh!"
It felt even heavier while lying down. However, the lid began to slide, slowly covering the opening. The sounds of the monsters grew closer.
'Please! Please!'
Rumble!
The stone lid slid into place and closed completely. I could hear the monsters outside. They were banging on things and making a ruckus. The sound of footsteps and growls drew near the coffin I was in.
Thump! Thump!
I heard them hitting the lid. Fortunately, they didn't seem to think of opening it. Based on what I'd seen so far, their reasoning was barely above that of an animal. It seemed I just had to wait until they left.
Or so I thought.
Click!
'!?'
What was that sound? It sounded like something locking into place. It bothered me immensely. I didn't dare open the lid because of the monsters outside, but what was that noise?
Right then.
Screeeech! Rumble!
The coffin made a noise, and I heard the sound of a mechanical device. I could even feel the coffin vibrating.
At the Lesser Conversation Sword's words, I tilted my head back and looked. Indeed, a hole had opened near the head of the coffin. It hadn't been there when I first entered. I heard the sound of liquid flowing from above.
'What is this?'
Panicked, I grabbed the indentation in the lid and tried to slide it open. But the lid wouldn't budge. It was as if it were locked.
"Why won't it open!"
As the sound of flowing liquid grew closer, I grew desperate and changed tactics, punching the lid.
Boom!
Despite hitting it with all my strength, nothing happened to the stone lid except for a tiny scratch. I couldn't give up, so I hammered at the lid incessantly.
"Aaaargh!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The coffin didn't seem to be made of ordinary stone. No matter how hard I hit it, it only developed microscopic cracks and refused to move.
Right then.
Gush!
"Gah!"
A liquid began pouring in through the hole at my head. To call it water would be wrong; it reeked of a pungent medicinal stench, and it was rapidly filling the coffin. At this rate, I was going to be trapped and drowned.
Ignoring the fact that my knuckles were bleeding, I punched the lid like a madman. But the lid would not break.
"Hmph!"
Soon, the liquid filled the coffin completely. My vision turned blurry. Because of the viscous tension of the liquid—thicker than water—I couldn't put any power into my punches.
As time passed, the foul-smelling medicinal liquid entered my nose and mouth, making me feel nauseous.
"Gurgle..."
'I'm going to die like this?'
It was so hollow. A death even more absurd than the one I faced before my regression.
'I can't die!'
Using the last of my Mental Focus, I writhed my entire body, kicking and striking everywhere.
In that moment, something unexpected happened.
Click!
The bottom of the coffin split in half, and I fell straight through. Startled, I flailed my hands, trying to grab onto something, but the walls were too slippery from the liquid.
Slide!
I slid down and fell somewhere.
"Gah! Cough, cough!"
I threw up some of the liquid that had entered my airway. After spitting it out, I looked around. It was wider than the coffin I was just in, but it was still a cramped space where I couldn't even stand up straight.
Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, there were many holes in the walls.
That was my intention as well. Not knowing what would happen next made me incredibly uneasy. I kicked at the wall.
Boom!
The wall shook. Or rather, it was more accurate to say the entire space shook. It felt strange, as if the whole room was suspended by something. The space was narrow, but not as much as the coffin, so I decided to use my sword.
Shring!
I drew the Namcheon Iron Sword.
Right then.
Sssssss!
A thick, hazy smoke began to billow from the holes in the walls.
"W-what is this?"
Smoke poured from every hole, filling the narrow space in an instant. I covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve, fearing it might be a Poison Martial Art.
'Dammit!'
Boom!
In my panic, I kicked the shaking wall. The entire space swayed even more from the impact, causing me to lose my balance and fall.
"Kh!"
Getting back up, I thrust the Namcheon Iron Sword into the wall.
Clang!
Blue sparks flew as the sword was repelled. It seemed to be made of the same indestructible material as the coffin; there wasn't a mark on it.
'What the hell is this place?'
Just as I was about to swing my sword again, my body began to itch. It wasn't just a slight itch; it was so intense I felt like I had to claw my skin off.
Unable to bear it, I began to scratch. At first, it was just one spot, but soon I was frantically scratching my entire body.
Then, the Lesser Conversation Sword spoke.
'What?'
They warned me, but the itch was so unbearable I couldn't stop. My body began to burn. It felt as if I were being seared by fire, so I stopped scratching and tore off my clothes.
Cr-crack!
Looking at the back of my hand, I saw my skin cracking into tiny fragments and falling away. It looked as if my body were crumbling.
Then, intense pain flared through my spine and various parts of my body.
"AAAAAAAARGH!"
The pain was so agonizing I rolled around on the floor, screaming. It wasn't a level of pain that could be endured.
Their voices echoed in my head, but I couldn't even respond because I felt like I was dying from the agony. Just as I thought this was the end...
Pop!
I felt something burst through the flesh of my spine. That wasn't all. Sharp objects were forcibly ejected from my back, tearing through my skin.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
"Haah... haah..."
The pain moved toward my Dantian and the center of my chest. Then, something burst out from my heart area, piercing the flesh.
It was a small needle.
'!!!'
As the needle flew out from my heart, a hot energy surged from my Middle Dantian. It was Innate True Qi.
Thwack!
Next, a small needle popped out from my Lower Dantian. Immediately, the Dantian that had felt non-existent until now began to throb and churn as if it had been resurrected.
My Middle and Upper Dantians had opened simultaneously. I didn't understand why, but feeling my internal energy and Innate True Qi return, I instinctively crossed my legs into a meditative posture.
I began to circulate the Innate Heart Method.
"Whew... whew."
The warm energy from my heart spread throughout my body. But it wasn't just the Innate True Qi moving. Unintentionally, my internal energy began to move as well, spreading through the blood vessels of my entire body. It was the first time both energies had been utilized at once.
'This is strange.'
As I meditated amidst the smoke, both Dantians grew stronger as if in resonance. I didn't know the reason, but I couldn't let this opportunity pass. I continued my cultivation, breathing in the smoke.
Then, I heard the Lesser Conversation Sword's voice in my head.
*
"Haah... haah..."
The One-Armed Man emerged from the cave, clutching his blood-soaked waist and limping heavily. Herbs and leaves peeked out from the bundle tied to his chest. He had gathered as much as he could.
"Dammit."
Leaning against the wall, he cautiously peeked toward the grotto, a curse escaping his lips. A large number of monsters were standing there, staring blankly.
'Is he dead?'
The absence of So Woon-hwi made his heart feel as if it were being torn apart.
'Moon Elder...'
In trying to save his friend, he had ended up killing his grandson. He had hoped Woon-hwi would hold out since he knew martial arts, but the worst had happened.
The One-Armed Man bit the back of his hand to endure the grief.
"Whew! Whew!"
After a moment, he steadied his breathing. With eyes full of resolve, he tightened the straps of his bundle.
'I will save the Moon Elder no matter what. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain!'
Grit!
Gritting his teeth, the One-Armed Man looked toward the exit on the southern side. Then, he sprinted into the grotto.
As he burst out from the tunnel, the monsters standing idly in the grotto all turned their gaze toward him at once. It was a terrifying sight, but the One-Armed Man ran forward without looking back. Intense pain flared in his waist and abdomen, but he gritted his teeth and ran for the exit.
"Graaaaaah!"
"Groaaaar!"
The monsters lunged at the man as he crossed the grotto.
'Please! Please!'
The One-Armed Man ran with all his might. He could hear them closing in. It felt as if he would be caught at any second.
Right then.
Slash! Slash!
The sound of something being cut echoed, and the noise of the monsters chasing him stopped.
"Groaaaar!"
"Graaaah!"
He heard the monsters howling at something. Confused, the One-Armed Man turned his head back while still running toward the exit.
There, in the middle of the grotto, stood someone holding a sword. Around him, three monsters had their throats slashed, blood spraying like fountains.
"W-what in the world..."
He saw a single red glow in the figure's eyes. From amidst the spray of blood, the figure with the crimson gaze walked forward without hesitation. With his hair flowing red as if soaked in blood, the man walking toward him with sword in hand was...
"Young Master So!"
It was So Woon-hwi, the man he thought was dead.