Chapter 95: The Majesty of the Blood Demon (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95: The Majesty of the Blood Demon (1)
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“The Cult Leader has returned!”
Thunderous cheers erupted from all directions.
The Venerable Ones and the Blood Stars reacted no differently. They were all staring at me with eyes full of overwhelming emotion.
“You rascal!”
Even my master, Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon, who stood directly to my right, was the same. He couldn't hide his excitement at the sight of me.
Whew.
It had been a close call.
I had arrived at the main headquarters on Mount Yeongsan barely two incense sticks ago. However, there was no one there. When I asked the few remaining cultists, I learned that they had launched an ambush to intercept the vanguard of the Martial Alliance.
The problem was that this was a classified operation, so none of the cultists left behind knew the exact location. I had been scouring the area until I finally discovered them here, in the mountain range stretching from Hoeing-hyeon to Mount Yeongsan.
the Blood Demon Sword pulsed with excitement. It seemed thrilled to finally be out of the Bottomless Pouch after so long.
So, this man is the current Alliance Leader, Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon.
The blade of the Blood Demon Sword trembled slightly. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he was the greatest adversary I had encountered thus far. I could clearly feel that he had transcended the Realm of Superhumans.
“...So, you are the true Blood Demon.”
Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon’s gaze was also saturated with wariness as he looked at me. We had only exchanged a single clash, but a master of his caliber would be able to estimate his opponent's level from that alone.
Just as I was about to focus all my nerves on him—
“Where the hell have you been before crawling out now?!”
At Baek Hye-hyang’s shout from behind, I slowly turned my head.
“...Ah.”
I saw that her eyes were rimmed with red. It was the most unusual expression I had ever seen on her face. She seemed to be trying desperately to control her emotions, but her lips were trembling as they curled upward.
This was the second time I had seen it—the face of a woman filled with emotion, replacing her usual strong and arrogant facade.
“Baek Hye-hyang.”
When I called her name, she snorted and spoke to me.
“Now that you’re here, focus on the enemy in front of you.”
Despite her words, her entire body was shaking violently. Through my Qi Sense, I could feel her energy gradually scattering.
Is she injured?
Her face was deathly pale. I needed to get her away from the battlefield. Just as I was about to call for someone—
“Ugh.”
She staggered, about to collapse. I quickly moved behind her and caught her before she could fall.
She’s burning up.
As I supported her back, I felt something damp and hot. The bleeding was severe. Was it a wound from her fight with the Merciless Blade? Even so, I sensed a strange, alien energy emanating from the injury.
Grip!
Suddenly, Baek Hye-hyang grabbed my collar and spoke with difficulty.
“What are you doing? The enemy is right there.”
“Your pulse is weakening. It’s dangerous here, so withdraw...”
“Don’t worry about useless things and just fight. If you, the Cult Leader, lose, everyone here dies anyway.”
“This isn't the time to be stubborn.”
“Shut up. If I’m going to die, I’ll die here.”
She spoke through gritted teeth. Honestly, I couldn't help but admire this side of her. Looking at her like this, I couldn't help but feel drawn to her, even if I tried to deny it. It wasn't just because she was beautiful; she was simply magnificent.
...I truly wanted to make her mine.
Then, my master, Hae Ak-cheon, spoke to me.
“Vice Cult Leader. The Cult Leader is right. Or at least, move back a little...”
Before my master could even finish his sentence, Baek Hye-hyang, who was still clutching my collar, suddenly pulled me toward her. She slightly lifted my evil ghost mask and abruptly kissed me.
As her tongue pushed inside, I tasted the metallic tang of blood.
“...Well, I’ll be.”
My master seemed speechless, stunned by her sudden action. I was the same. Who could have imagined she would kiss me in a situation like this?
Baek Hye-hyang pulled her blood-slicked lips away and looked at me.
“Got a problem with that?”
How was I supposed to answer that?
The battlefield. In the middle of the Great Orthodox-Evil War, this woman had the audacity to kiss me. It was quintessentially Baek Hye-hyang.
“It’s bitter because of this damn blood.”
Did she expect it to be sweet?
After saying that, Baek Hye-hyang licked her lips and spoke in her characteristic tone.
“This might be the last time, so this much is fine, isn't it?”
A smirk escaped my lips at her words. No matter how much I tried to resist, she was a woman I couldn't help but fall for.
I agreed with the Lesser Conversation Sword’s remark.
Yes. I must be crazy too.
The fact that Baek Hye-hyang kissed me in front of everyone and said those words meant she truly believed she might die here.
I carefully helped her stand on her own and said, “That won't happen.”
“What?”
“Because today, this battle will end in our victory.”
At my words, Baek Hye-hyang’s eyes trembled strangely. I turned around and walked toward the Alliance Leader, Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon, who had been waiting.
“Thank you for waiting.”
To my remark, Jeong Cheon replied nonchalantly, “There is no need for thanks. It wasn't you, the true Blood Demon, that I was waiting for.”
Before he could even finish—
Swish! Rumble!
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Alliance Leader!”
“We have arrived!”
Countless martial artists from the Martial Alliance appeared on the cliffside. They had climbed the cliff while Baek Hye-hyang, my master, and Jeong Cheon were occupied. It seemed that after our initial clash, he had judged it better to wait for reinforcements rather than face everyone alone.
Clang! Clang!
Waaaaaaaah!
Judging by the sounds in the distance, battle had already broken out on the opposite mountain range. Only this side had remained in a stalemate between the top-tier masters.
As thousands of warriors from both the Blood Cult and the Martial Alliance packed the mountain ridge, the air grew thick with tension.
“So that is the current Blood Demon.”
“Alliance Leader, let us fight together.”
The top masters from five different branches gathered behind Jeong Cheon. Every single one of them possessed an extraordinary aura. There were about ten of them; seven were at the Peak Realm, and three were masters at the Supreme Peak Realm.
Behind me, my master, Hae Ak-cheon, and all the Revered Stars gathered. Perhaps because I, the Cult Leader, had appeared, their expressions looked much more spirited.
“Kukuku! Now the pieces are all in place.”
Thud! Thud!
My master slammed his fists together, his fighting spirit burning bright. Although there were follow-up forces, this battle—where the head of the Martial Alliance was present—was the one that would determine the future direction of the war.
Alliance Leader Jeong Cheon pointed his saber at me and shouted, “Every lineage of the Blood Cult that survived twenty years ago shall be severed this day!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
The Orthodox warriors, their morale soaring, let out a deafening roar.
Grip!
Jeong Cheon’s hand tightened around his precious blade. The shimmering killing intent and energy radiating from him were focused entirely on me. The breathing of the Orthodox warriors grew heavy with anticipation. The moment he stepped forward and gave the order to advance, the entire army looked ready to charge.
[Kuku, you should say something too.]
My master sent me a message via Sound Transmission. He likely wanted me to boost our allies' morale.
In response, I wordlessly walked forward.
Then, I spoke.
“No one interfere.”
“!?”
At my unexpected words, my master and the Revered Stars couldn't hide their confusion. Even the Orthodox warriors were stunned. As I continued to walk forward, my master hurriedly sent another Sound Transmission.
[You brat, what on earth are you trying to do? Alone...]
Step. Step.
Before he could finish, Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon also walked forward. He spoke as if he understood my intent.
“Indeed, it is only right that you and I settle our scores first.”
“I don't have much time.”
“What?”
I glanced back at Baek Hye-hyang. Her pale face, barely holding on with the sheer will to see this battle to the end, looked like it would collapse at any moment.
Turning my head back, I said, “I need to finish this quickly, so all of you, come at me at once.”
Jeong Cheon looked momentarily dumbfounded by my words. The branch masters and Orthodox warriors behind him also stared at me as if I were speaking nonsense.
At that moment, I slammed my foot down hard against the ground.
KABOOM!
As I performed the True Awakening stomp, the ground cracked beneath my feet, and a thunderous roar echoed in all directions.
In that instant, something incredible happened.
Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, the Orthodox warriors began to collapse on the spot, their eyes rolling back. Hundreds of them fell simultaneously.
“!!!”
The top masters of the Orthodox faction turned their heads in shock at the sudden turn of events. They weren't the only ones surprised. The cultists of the Blood Cult also stared wide-eyed as more than half of the Orthodox warriors suddenly dropped.
My master and the Revered Stars were no exception. Who could have imagined such a thing would happen from a single stomp?
“You... what did you...”
My master spoke, his voice trailing off in disbelief. Though he didn't finish, he seemed to be asking what on earth had happened to me while we were apart.
I gave a casual smile and spoke to the bewildered Alliance Leader and the masters of the five branches.
“I will offer this only once. Surrender now, and I will spare all your lives.”
At my arrogant proposal, Jeong Cheon's teeth ground together as he roared, “BLOOD DEMOOOOON!!!”
Flash!
Jeong Cheon charged at incredible speed. Behind him, the ten top masters followed suit. Their choice was logical. They had judged me to be the greatest threat, and eliminating me would decide the outcome of this war.
However, I had given them a warning.
The voice of the Blood Demon Sword echoed in my mind.
I intended to do exactly that.
As soon as the sword finished speaking, I gripped the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword in a reverse hold and plunged it into the ground.
Thud!
‘Blood Stillness Sword Stance.’
The 7th stance of the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Sword: Blood Stillness Sword Stance.
The moment the sword was planted, crimson cracks spread across the ground.
Rumble!
In that instant, crimson killing intent erupted from the cracked earth like a violent explosion.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The crimson killing intent blasting out from the cliffside spread like a seismic wave, surging forward like a tsunami.
“Oh no!”
The explosion of crimson killing intent, which covered the entire area, engulfed Jeong Cheon and the ten masters who were charging toward me.
'Swept away' would be the correct description. This was the true power of the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art at its peak.
“My God!”
“Ah... O Great Blood Demon.”
I heard the gasps of the cultists behind me. Even without looking back, I knew no one could witness this sight without being stunned.
But this wasn't the end.
The crimson killing intent, soaring over a hundred feet high, obscured everyone's vision.
Good!
Flash!
In that moment, I leaped into the explosion caused by the Blood Stillness Sword Stance. Amidst the crimson energy, debris, and dust, I spotted Jeong Cheon.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He truly was a master who had transcended the wall. While the other ten masters had been torn apart by the power of the Blood Stillness Sword Stance, he had created a 'Saber Net' to block the onslaught.
He lives up to his reputation.
Sensing me diving into the crimson energy, Jeong Cheon charged recklessly. His saber, having reached the state of Divine Saber Unity, shimmered with a white light. He lunged in a straight line, his sharp blade poised to cleave through everything in its path.
Swoosh!
However—
Snap!
His precious blade, which had been lunging forward, snapped in half. Jeong Cheon’s eyes widened in pure horror.
“You... what are you...”
He must have been bewildered. At the very least, when he blocked the Blood Stillness Sword Stance, he must have thought we were somewhat evenly matched.
But I had only used that technique to obscure his vision.
“My apologies. This is my true strength.”
Crackle! Spark!
As I stood before him, wreathed in crimson lightning from the Blood Demon Transformation and the Adaptation of Thunder Energy, his pupils shook as if an earthquake were occurring within them.
“Blood Demon... are you truly... a monster?”
“At this moment, perhaps.”
As soon as I finished speaking, he tried to stab my brow with his broken saber. It was a display of spirit worthy of the greatest saber specialist of the era.
But it was futile.
Slash!
“Gah!”
I struck Jeong Cheon’s neck with lightning speed. Not only did I strike his neck, but the sword strike was so powerful that it cleaved the cliff itself.
RUMBLE!
“Oops.”
I thought I had controlled my strength to some extent, but it was still too much.