Chapter 472: Ten Thousand (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 472: Ten Thousand (3)
As her blade was caught, the Celestial Sword could only think one thing.
…This much?
The difference in their power was this vast?
How can I possibly contend with such a being?
Tsss…
A sizzling sound emanated from the Heavenly Demon’s hand where it gripped the Celestial Sword’s blade. It was the sound of her Demon-Purging Qi purifying the demonic energy. This was the power that had earned her the title of the Orthodox Faction’s hope.
But when the Heavenly Demon glanced at her smoldering fingers,
Clang-!
She tightened her grip and shattered the blade.
Despite being reinforced with the Celestial Sword’s own Qi, the sword broke with absurd ease.
“…”
The Heavenly Demon then reached out again, this time aiming for the Celestial Sword’s neck.
Seeing this, the Celestial Sword closed her eyes.
So this is the end.
The thought brought her an ironic sense of peace.
Just as she resigned herself to death,
“…I’ve seen this countless times. It’s no different now.”
The Heavenly Demon’s voice was cold, yet laced with a strange, unmistakable anger.
“Every single time, without fail, you choose this pathetic girl.”
The Celestial Sword’s eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was someone’s back.
“It seems it will always be this way, no matter what experiences you accumulate.”
Someone was standing between her and the Heavenly Demon, shielding her.
As the Celestial Sword stared in confusion at this unexpected intervention, the figure spoke.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”
It was the voice of a young man, not yet fully matured. Though fierce, the Celestial Sword found it oddly nostalgic.
“But you shouldn’t be fighting someone else while I’m talking to you. We still have things to discuss, don’t we?”
The young man’s voice… was trembling, just slightly.
Staring into the Heavenly Demon’s icy gaze, a single thought echoed in my mind.
I’m fucked.
I was certain of it. Completely and utterly fucked.
…Why did I do that?
What possessed me to think charging in like this was a good idea? This was, without a doubt, a monumentally stupid move.
She wasn’t someone anyone could stop, yet here I was, standing in her way.
Do I have a death wish?
If not, there was no explaining my actions. Who in their right mind would dare to obstruct the Heavenly Demon? Only someone who couldn’t feel fear would even attempt such a thing. And for someone like me, steeped in Demonic Qi, the very thought should have been impossible.
I met her gaze. It was similar to before, but now it felt infinitely colder.
“Captain.”
Her voice was the heart of winter.
“I am in an exceptionally good mood today.”
Her words were a stark contradiction.
“It’s… a very refreshing day that has put me in high spirits.”
The Heavenly Demon began to smile. The sight sent a chill down my spine. It was a smile that didn’t reach her eyes; only her eyes were smiling.
“…However. Your behavior right now is making me rather displeased.”
Tap.
“…!”
I felt a touch on my forehead.
It was the Heavenly Demon’s hand. I hadn’t even seen it move.
“Do understand. I must vent my anger.”
“Wha—"
Slam-!
“Ugh…!”
A tremendous impact struck my forehead, and my knees buckled, sending me to the ground.
Huh? What hit me?
I clutched my forehead. My head was ringing as if I’d been struck by a blunt weapon.
A finger flick?
Did she just flick me? It seemed impossible, but the shape of her hand confirmed it. I was speechless. The sheer force behind that casual flick was absurd.
“It’s been a long time since I last hit you, Captain. Do you perhaps remember me ever striking you in your life?”
“Hah… Hah…”
I was on the verge of losing consciousness from a single flick. She asked a question, but I couldn’t form a reply.
“Judging by your expression, you fortunately have no such memory.”
Chuckle.
I heard her soft laugh.
Clawing back my slipping awareness, I managed a question. “What… do you think you’re doing…?”
“Am I not merciful? I could have torn your head off, but I merely gave you a little tap.”
“…”
After speaking, the Heavenly Demon began to gently brush my hair. The sensation made cold sweat trickle down my back.
“If you dislike it, I can rip your head off right now. Is that what you want?”
Her touch was soft, but I could feel the underlying threat—the readiness to snuff my life out in an instant.
I was terrified. Was it because I had just witnessed her battle with the Celestial Sword?
She’s still a monster.
I didn’t know how powerful Wi Seol-Ah was in this world, but she was clearly no weakling, given how I couldn’t even follow her movements. Yet, the Heavenly Demon had toyed with her like a child.
Toyed? Not even that.
It wasn’t even a game. The Heavenly Demon had merely waved her hand lazily, and that was enough to completely overwhelm the Celestial Sword. It was a horrifying spectacle.
Damn it all. Just watching her made me feel defeated. Her power was so immense that the outcome was clear without a fight. The wall before me felt higher than ever.
Heavenly Demon.
Once again, I truly understood how terrifying she was.
While the Celestial Sword had poured all her strength into her attacks, the Heavenly Demon hadn’t moved a single step since the battle began. Moreover, she was still using one hand to suppress the struggling rift, meaning she had overpowered the Celestial Sword with just one hand.
Witnessing this, I could only think one thing.
That monster… how in the world did you ever defeat her?
That was the question burning in my mind as I stared at the Celestial Sword, who was now kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily. They were completely mismatched. So how had the Celestial Sword from my past life managed to win?
Even through the pounding in my head, I wondered.
“Rest. We can continue our conversation after I finish what I came here to do.”
“What… did you come here for?”
The Heavenly Demon answered lightly, “I will kill that leftover trash, and slaughter all the insects in this area.”
She was clearly referring to the Murim Alliance army. She had often called them insects, even in my past life.
“They must be punished for taking my mercy for granted.”
She was serious. The Heavenly Demon never lied, and that wouldn’t change now.
Which means…
She’s going to kill the Celestial Sword. Right now.
The Heavenly Demon intended to kill the exhausted Celestial Sword.
A moment later, the Heavenly Demon opened her palm.
Woong-
A black Qi began to gather there, coalescing into a form. It was no larger than her fist.
Shiver-
Yet, the very space around us began to tremble from the energy radiating from it. Just how much power was being condensed into that small object? As more Qi gathered, the Heavenly Demon looked down at the Celestial Sword and spoke.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Run away. If you do, I will show you mercy and not pursue you.”
The Celestial Sword’s pupils shook at the offer. “Mercy…?”
“Yes. I must keep a promise, after all.”
“…”
When she said ‘promise,’ I remembered. She was referring to the promise I had made to her.
…Please, just go.
I prayed silently, clutching my forehead. The Celestial Sword needed to leave. Now.
However.
“I…”
I knew she wouldn’t.
Using her hand for support, the Celestial Sword pushed herself back to her feet. “I will not run from a monster who destroyed the world…”
The Heavenly Demon frowned. “The same excuse as always. It would sound better if you just begged me to kill you.”
“…”
“There is nothing more pathetic than an empty shell deceiving itself with worthless beliefs. If that is your wish, I shall grant it.”
The black Qi began to change shape, forming into a dagger.
I could tell just by looking. An unimaginable amount of power was condensed within that small blade. I couldn’t believe such density was possible. If unleashed, it held enough power to obliterate the entire area.
The Heavenly Demon glanced at me. “I have kept my promise. You are aware of this, I assume?”
“…”
I gritted my teeth. Her cold words struck my heart, and my worry for the Celestial Sword intensified.
What do I do?
What can I possibly do to…
“…”
A sudden idea surfaced. But the thought alone made my lips go dry. I really didn’t want to say these words.
Yet.
“…Someone told me something.”
It was the only thing I could think of to stop her.
The Heavenly Demon, unusually, frowned as I spoke in a shaky voice. “If you are thinking of joking again with that tongue of yours, I will not tolera—"
“The one who sent me to the past.”
Pause.
The Heavenly Demon’s hand, poised to unleash the Qi, froze mid-air.
Seeing her reaction, I finished my sentence. “I heard… it was you. Is that right?”
The Heavenly Demon’s gaze shifted from the Celestial Sword and settled squarely on me.
What I saw in her eyes shocked me to my core.
It was the first time.
The first time I had ever seen the Heavenly Demon wear a look of sheer shock.