Chapter 447: Resonance (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 447: Resonance (2)
Flames erupting from the mountainside licked at the clouds themselves.
That crazy bastard.
The sight drew a curse from my lips before anything else.
Even from this extreme distance, the heat washing over me was overwhelming. Just how intense must the heart of that inferno be if I could feel it so acutely from here?
I stared, transfixed. The conflagration was so massive it seemed to dominate the skyline even from afar.
Ha.
Just how much Qi would it take to summon a fire of that magnitude? One thing was certain: in my current state, I couldn't even conceive of wielding such power.
I quickened my pace, driven by the radiating heat. I wasn't the only one. I only accelerated after I saw the Silent Fist and the Demonic Sword do the same.
Zap.
A short, sharp crackle of energy sounded from ahead.
Zaaaap-!
Then, the Demonic Sword abruptly surged forward, leaving us behind.
“Vice Captain…!”
The Silent Fist called out to her, but it was too late; she was already a blur in the distance. I clicked my tongue at the sight.
Tsk.
My current Qi reserves felt woefully inadequate. Holding back from using the Gu Flame Wheel Art was hampering my full potential. On top of that, the Qi in my Dantian hadn't fully recovered, making recklessness a dangerous prospect.
What can I do? It’s my fault in the end.
I was the one who had caused this mess. I had no one to blame but myself. A part of me wanted to proceed cautiously.
Sigh…
But the distant flames made urgency itch under my skin.
Slam-!
I pushed forward with powerful leaps. Pouring more Qi into my movement created a clear difference in speed. However, there was a immediate problem.
I almost fucked myself.
The sudden burst of energy nearly caused a flame to erupt from my body. If I'd accidentally unleashed my fire while still operating on Demonic Qi, it would have been disastrous.
“Pal Jeolyub!”
The Silent Fist shouted as I pulled ahead, but I ignored him. I was also seriously bothered by the alias. I should have chosen a better name.
The air grew harder to breathe as I neared my destination. The black flames continued to burn fiercely, radiating a vicious, clinging heat. I looked up.
A figure floated amidst the sky-scraping flames.
That piece of shit, I swear.
It was the Demon Emperor, wreathed in black fire. He had been expending a truly monstrous amount of Qi this whole time, but for a bastard like him, it was probably nothing.
I scanned the area. A colossal body of flame engulfed the landscape, yet the surrounding forest remained unburned. So, he was exercising at least some control.
Well, rather than controlling it…
It might sound absurd, but all those flames were likely just for show. The sight was overwhelming enough on its own. There was no better method to intimidate and paralyze an enemy with fear.
…And it’s not like anyone can do this.
To be perfectly honest, I dared say I was the only one capable of such a spectacle. Well, perhaps the Heavenly Demon could manage it too.
But I was better at bringing fear to my enemies.
A massive tsunami of black flame was supremely effective at filling hearts with dread. I knew this from experience, which was why I often employed the tactic before a battle even began.
Look.
…It’s already taking effect.
As I drew closer to the blistering heat, I began to make out a group of people. Dressed in white, they watched the fiery tsunami in utter despair. Just as the Silent Fist had said, an impressive force had gathered.
What’s going on?
Furthermore, the individual strength of these martial artists was considerable; I could barely spot anyone below the Peak Realm. They had assembled warriors strong enough to be vice-captains in any swordsman army.
They brought such a force? And in such a short time? Compared to what I remembered from my past life, gathering this much power in Sichuan would have taken far longer. They must have scrambled in a panic. Even so, it was an impressive mobilization.
As I slowed down upon noticing them, the martial artists' gazes snapped toward me. Their looks were far from friendly. Some stared with pure disdain, while others had eyes filled with… sadness.
Sadness, huh.
They were probably looking at my deceptively youthful appearance, pitying me for having become a Demonic Human at such a tender age. I continued moving under their collective stare, finally coming to a halt at my destination.
The Demonic Sword was already there, her gaze locked firmly on the Demon Emperor hovering in the sky. I followed her line of sight and looked at the bastard too.
There he was, a man wrapped in flame, floating effortlessly. His dark eyes looked down upon the assembly with contempt.
This was the border. The dead, dry forest marked the territory of the Demonic Humans. Not far off, the beginning of a green forest symbolized the mercy the Heavenly Demon had chosen to show. The forces of the Murim Alliance remained outside the border, not yet daring to step into Sichuan.
Roaaar-!
The flames began to writhe violently. Even a slight movement from such a massive entity shook the very atmosphere. Then, with a deafening roar, waves of fire soared even higher into the sky.
Craaaash-!
The flames rose with explosive, thunderous cracks, causing the parched earth below to fracture further. It was an indescribable, awe-inspiring sight.
I can’t believe I’m getting to see this with my own eyes.
I didn't know how it felt from above, but from an enemy's perspective, the terror was palpable. How could these people not be shocked, watching that pillar of flame ascend all at once? And how could they stay calm imagining it crashing down upon them?
Craaaash-!!
The explosive noises resembled the roars of primordial beasts. The flames gathered high in the air, condensing into a spherical shape. It was different from the Gu Clan's Secret Art, the Flaming Sphere.
Secret Art my ass… That thing is just—
It was an unbelievable quantity of flame condensed into a single point. He must have expended a staggering amount of Qi to first unleash the flames, then draw them all into the air, and now compress them. Even with my seemingly endless Qi reserves from my past life, using that much so inefficiently…
I must’ve used at least half by now.
My Qi was vast, but not infinite. Even with my past life's unbelievable reserves, it was safe to assume I'd have burned through at least half by this point. Yet, there was a reason for taking such a risk.
Overwhelming enemies.
It was to utterly dominate them. In my experience, terrifying the enemy was remarkably effective. The scene before me was proof.
“That… That’s…”
Judging by the expressions on the opposing side, it was working.
Despair.
Their faces were etched with pure despair and fear. The Demon Emperor slowly surveyed their expressions. Where his gaze fell, people shuddered; some even collapsed to their knees, succumbing to terror. It was a normal reaction. Faced with something so overwhelmingly powerful, such responses were natural. In the past, I had exploited this weakness masterfully.
In the silence broken only by the crackle of fire, the Demon Emperor was the first to speak. His voice resonated, infused with Qi, making the enemies flinch.
“There are a lot of you here.”
He continued, a slight, contemptuous smile playing on his lips. “I came here after being informed that insects were hiding here, plotting something. And it seems the report was true.”
His choice of words and demeanor were rather cringeworthy. Can’t he just speak normally…? I prayed inwardly, but the bastard kept talking.
“What were you doing, hiding in this place?”
The Alliance members began to back away nervously. No one dared to answer. Seeing their reaction, the Demon Emperor frowned slightly.
“I will count to three. If I hear no answer, then there will be no further conversation.”
A direct threat of war. After speaking, he lifted his hand and began folding his fingers one by one. With each count, the giant sphere of flames behind him seethed and boiled more violently. It was obvious he would detonate it if no one responded.
Just as he was about to fold the second finger, someone from the Alliance stepped forward. Judging by the cape he wore over his outfit, he seemed to be a captain. A surprisingly young man for the rank. With a tense expression, he addressed the Demon Emperor.
“…I am the Captain of the Golden Dragon Army. Bi Yeonsum.”
As I expected, a cap—
…Wait.
Bi Yeonsum?
Haven't I heard that name before? Where did I hear it from again? I couldn't recall. It probably wasn't important, then.
The man who introduced himself as the captain continued, standing just outside the border. “…I request a conversation with you, as a representative of the Murim Alliance.”
“Conversation?” The Demon Emperor burst into loud laughter. “Did you bastards all come here for a conversation?”
“…”
“You must see me as a retard, it seems.”
Gathering an army of Peak Realm experts at the border just for a chat? It was an obvious lie. Moreover…
“A mere insect like you, asking me for a conversation… You must take the Demonic Cult for a joke.”
The very act of a mere captain requesting a dialogue was problematic in itself. Did they really think this was some kind of game after all the wars we'd fought? Even if this was part of some plan, I found it hard to comprehend. The Murim Alliance could be foolish, but they usually knew their place. Those guys weren't in a position to request anything. They should have been on their knees, begging for their lives before this bloodthirsty beast. I couldn't understand why they were acting this way, or why the situation had changed so drastically.
That wasn't the only problem.
Grrrrr…
While my current self was merely curious, my past self would never have reacted so passively. The condensed black flames continued to boil, looking like a malevolent sun.
Swoosh…
Then, the giant sphere slowly began to move, shifting its position until it almost blotted out the actual sun. At the same time, the Demon Emperor began his descent, his cape flowing dramatically. Seeing him come down, the Demonic Sword hastily retreated several steps, clearing a landing spot. The Demon Emperor landed gracefully and strode toward the nervous Bi Yeonsum.
I wasn't particularly tall in my past life, despite being a martial artist. I was only slightly taller than the Demonic Sword and definitely shorter than this Bi Yeonsum. Yet, I never felt small compared to anyone.
He took a single step forward.
Slaaaam-!
An impactful wave of force exploded outward through the forest.
“Ughhh…!”
“Hgh…!”
The martial artists of the Murim Alliance fell like dominos under the pressure.
This border was a line drawn by the Heavenly Demon's mercy. As long as they didn't cross it, he was willing to let them live. The Demon Emperor, however, stepped right over it, leaving Sichuan behind as he walked up to Bi Yeonsum. He reached out and touched the captain's neck.
“You insect.”
He didn't grab him hard, but merely brushed his neck slowly. Yet, the air grew colder with the gesture. The Demon Emperor's radiant purple eyes locked with Bi Yeonsum's gray pupils.
“Don’t try useless tricks on me. Unlike my Leader, I am not very patient.”
Roaaaar-!
The giant sphere blotting out the sun suddenly began to change shape. Heat washed over the area with every shift of the flames, accompanied by a fierce crackling sound. It morphed once again. I couldn't clearly make out what it was, but for a brief moment, it looked like a—
“Wolf?”
It resembled a monstrous wolf with its maw wide open, poised as if to swallow everything in sight.