Chapter 638: White Night (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 638: White Night (2)
Kuaaaah—!!!
I lunged forward, cutting through the beast’s deafening roar.
Despite its massive frame—a literal living mountain—the creature was unnervingly swift.
Skreeeee!
Its talons slammed down, gouging the earth. The ground split beneath its sharp claws as easily as if it were soft curd. I narrowly dodged the strike and closed the distance, my eyes locked on the wrist of the arm it had just slammed down.
It was right in front of me. I torqued my hips and threw a devastating punch.
Kuuung!
My fist collided directly with the monster’s wrist. With a heavy, bone-jarring thud, its limb was knocked aside.
But...
Grrr—!
‘Damn it.’
Judging by its reaction, it hadn't taken any real damage. The attack had landed cleanly, but it had only succeeded in parrying the limb away. I hadn't broken anything, nor had I dealt a significant blow.
Kyaaaa!!
Enraged by the contact, the beast charged straight at me. Having a creature that massive suddenly barrel toward you was more than a little intimidating, but... even so, I watched it closely.
‘It’s just charging recklessly... is it devoid of reason?’
There was no self-awareness in its eyes. If that truly was Mang’s body, I had expected some kind of intelligent tactical reaction. But looking at it now, it was no different from a mindless predator.
Hwarreuk!!
As it charged, I surged my energy. I unleashed a torrent of flames hot enough to incinerate the world.
Fwoooosh!!
Kyaaa—!!
The creature didn't even flinch. As if the flames clinging to its hide were nothing more than a light breeze, it didn't slow its charge for a second.
Chwaak!
Just as it was about to lunge, its massive jaws gaping wide—
Whoosh! Kwwaaang!
Kraaaak—!!
The creature’s head snapped to the side, its entire body staggering. The Dishonored Venerable had smashed into its skull, intercepting the attack.
“Heh heh.”
The Dishonored Venerable chuckled, watching the reeling beast. “This one’s a tough bastard.”
It seemed he had felt it, too.
“Its body is cloaked in something... unknown.”
“Seems like it.”
Just like the Red-Grade Demon. This thing was also shrouded in a protective layer. That was why our attacks weren't landing with their full weight.
The problem was...
‘I can’t see it.’
The Red-Grade Demon had at least shown a minuscule weakness, a flaw in its armor, but this thing showed nothing.
‘What the hell is this thing?’
Kwaddeuk!
Debris sprayed everywhere as the monster thrashed. I dodged relentlessly, my eyes never leaving its form.
‘Is there a way?’
What would it take to bring it down? I had to find an answer. If all my attacks were being neutralized by that barrier, wasting any more energy was a losing game. I’d just end up exhausted and eaten.
Kyaaaa—!!
I grimaced at the electrifying, oppressive energy it radiated.
‘A White-Grade Demon...’
They say their very existence is a calamity, and this raw destructive power was more than enough to prove the legends true.
‘If that’s Mang’s true body...’
Could I even call it a simple White-Grade Demon? And more importantly...
“Is that its real body?”
Was Mang’s original form truly something like that? No matter how I looked at it...
“That’s a demon...”
The third pure-blooded dragon. That was the title Mang had used to introduce himself. He said he was a dragon, just like me, but...
‘That thing is more than just a monster.’
Shwiiik!!
I twisted my body to evade the incoming claws.
Chwak!
I couldn't dodge completely. The claws grazed my torso, tearing my uniform and sending a jolt of white-hot pain through me.
‘Tsk.’
The pain was sharp, likely because the strike had landed near my existing sword wound. My movements slowed noticeably.
Grrrr!
Refusing to miss the opening, the beast swung its claws again. Just as the talons were about to reach my face—
Fwoosh!
Someone blurred into motion, blocking the strike for me.
Kkiiigik!!
The screech of steel scraping against claws filled the air. The newcomer deflected the strike with the flat of his blade, then—Paang!—unleashed a burst of sword aura to shove the beast back.
My eyes widened.
“I will join you.”
A giant of a man with black hair and brown eyes. The Fusion Realm master who had been guarding the Palace Lord’s chambers.
It was the Black Lion.
As I was reeling from his sudden appearance, another person caught my staggering body and helped me steady myself on the ground.
“Are you alright?”
“...You.”
This time, it was Seong Yul.
“I was assisting with the evacuation, so I am late. My apologies.”
I had wondered where he’d gone. It seemed he had prioritized getting the people to safety.
‘...Look at this guy.’
To think the man known as the Murderous Fiend or the Sword Demon in my past life would be busy evacuating civilians before returning to the fray.
“If you were evacuating them, you should have stayed with them. What are you doing back here?”
I was asking why he hadn't just run while he had the chance. Seong Yul replied with his characteristic, stone-faced expression.
“Because you are here, Young Master.”
“You’re a crazy bastard,” I replied without hesitation.
Since when was he so loyal? We’d barely known each other. It was an absurd thing to say.
“Did you not say you would give me a reason to live? You cannot die before then.”
“When did I ever say that?”
I never said anything of the sort. I had told him that if he was going to throw his life away, he might as well let me use him before he died.
‘This lunatic is interpreting things however he wants.’
I suppressed a sigh and forced myself to my feet.
“And who’s that guy?”
“I am not sure. I do not know him.”
It seemed they hadn't coordinated; Seong Yul simply shook his head.
‘The guy who’s supposed to be protecting the Palace Lord is joining the fight?’
Had he not heard the circumstances the Dishonored Venerable mentioned? It seemed unlikely that someone so close to the Palace Lord wouldn't know. Then, was the Dishonored Venerable lying? Knowing that old man’s personality, it was possible.
‘But looking at his face, that doesn't seem to be the case.’
The Black Lion’s expression as he gripped his greatsword wasn't one of ignorance. He looked grief-stricken, utterly sorrowful. And yet, he held his sword steady.
I didn't know the full story, but it seemed the Dishonored Venerable’s words were mostly correct.
‘Mang’s body has devoured the Palace Lord.’
That might not be the exact truth, but this wasn't the time for deep reflection.
Krrrrraaaa!!
The beast turned its head, glaring in our direction.
Kyaaaa!!
It charged. Just as I was preparing to dodge and formulate a plan—
—Relax your feet. Focus Combat Qi into your back.
Hearing the telepathic voice, I instinctively surged my energy. Combat Qi condensed on my back. In that instant—
Paang!
“Guk!?”
A powerful impact sent me flying forward like a cannonball. It was sudden, but I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. I closed the distance to the monster at incredible speed. Before it could even open its maw, I smashed it with a fist imbued with Combat Qi.
Baaam!
Krrk!!
Just as the beast flinched from the blow to its face, its momentum halting—
“Well done.”
The culprit who had kicked my back—the Dishonored Venerable—stepped on my shoulder in mid-air and launched himself upward. He shot straight for the crown of the beast’s head, spreading his fingers as if taking aim. Then, using his fingers as a guide, he snapped his hand into a fist and slammed it down.
Kwaaaang!
Kyaaaaaaa!!!
For such a simple, compact motion, the destructive power was extraordinary. The beast staggered more violently than it had from any other attack.
And then I saw it.
Crack!
Its barrier of qi shattered slightly, creating a small opening.
A gap. A hard-won opening.
I knew I couldn't miss it, but I was already past the point of being able to pivot my body. As I scrambled to react—
Shwiiiiik—!!
Something flew toward me.
“My apologies.”
It was Seong Yul. What was he sorry for? The moment I wondered—
Stomp—!
“You son of a—”
Just like the Dishonored Venerable, he nonchalantly used my body as a stepping stone to launch himself higher. He spun rapidly to build momentum and plunged his sword straight into the gap.
Thunk—!
Kyaaaaaaa—!!
Struck by the Combat Qi-infused blade, the beast thrashed in agony. The Dishonored Venerable and Seong Yul were suspended in mid-air, making them perfect targets for a counterattack. Seeing this, I projected my energy, wrapping it around their bodies and yanking them back.
Fwoosh—!
The two were pulled away just as the beast’s tail whipped through the space they had occupied a split second before. It was a hair’s breadth.
I hit the ground, not even having time to break my fall properly, and immediately scrambled up to assess the situation.
Grrrrrrr...!
As the monster growled, drip—! blue blood trickled from between its eyes. The attack had succeeded.
However...
‘It’s not deep.’
For a successful hit, the damage was negligible.
Sssss.
Even the barrier we had barely managed to pierce regenerated in an instant.
‘This is insane.’
Cold sweat trickled down my back. It was fast and powerful, but not impossible to dodge. Fighting it wasn't the hard part.
‘But in the end, I can’t finish it.’
As long as I couldn't bypass that barrier, I couldn't kill it.
‘Are all White-Grade demons like this?’
I didn't know if it was just this one or if they were all this resilient.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I should have asked Elder Shin.’
Elder Shin had a record of slaying a White-Grade Demon single-handedly. He would have known the trick. But that was just wishful thinking. Who could have predicted a White-Grade Demon would appear here?
“Hooo....”
As I let out a deep sigh at the grim situation—
“Hmm.”
The Dishonored Venerable beside me wore a thoughtful expression. After pondering for a few seconds, he spoke.
“Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Can you use your Mind’s Eye right now?”
“Huh?”
I blinked at his words. The Mind’s Eye... “You mean the Heart Fist?”
“...?” The Dishonored Venerable’s brow furrowed slightly. “Don’t tell me that’s what you named it?”
“Well, if the Mind Sword exists, why can’t the Heart Fist?”
“Hmm. Fine, the name doesn't matter. Can you use it?”
Use the Heart Fist on that thing? I nodded.
“I can use it maybe two more times.”
“Try it.”
The moment the command was given, I focused my soul’s power without hesitation. The energy of the Mind’s Eye coiled around my hand. I unleashed it at the monster.
The energy blasting from my fist shot straight toward the beast.
Fwoooosh—! Kwwaaaaang—!!
Kraaaaa—!!!
Struck by the energy, the beast staggered violently. My eyes shot open.
“What the?”
The monster’s reaction to the Heart Fist was completely different. It had seemed unfazed when I hit it with a fist full of Combat Qi, but it reacted this strongly to a relatively light use of the Heart Fist?
Moreover...
‘The barrier broke.’
The hole was much larger than the one the Dishonored Venerable had made.
“Hmm... just as I thought.” Seeing this, the Dishonored Venerable nodded as if he had expected it. “It seems this works.”
I immediately looked at him. No way. “Are you saying I have to hit it with the Mind’s Eye to break that thing?”
“I mixed a little in earlier, and it felt different. So I had you test it. It seems that is indeed the case.”
Heh.
I let out a hollow laugh. To break the barrier, you had to reach the realm of the Mind’s Eye?
‘Fucking hell.’
The difficulty was absurd. But, at any rate, we’d found a way.
“Then we just have to use that to break it. Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“What do you mean, where? We have to take that thing down.”
“Exactly. How?”
“Huh?”
I didn't follow. We just found the method; shouldn't we just use it?
As I was thinking that, he said, “Disciple, who else here do you think can do that besides you?”
“...!”
His words made me realize the problem. I looked around. Seong Yul, currently on guard, was at the perfected Peak Realm, and the Black Lion was a Fusion Realm martial artist, but neither seemed to have reached the Mind’s Eye.
“Then, Elder, you...”
“What I did before was my limit. My vessel has not yet been fully constructed.”
Damn it. In other words, I was the only one here who could use the Heart Fist to break the barrier.
‘...And I’m at my limit.’
I wasn't in great shape. After my grueling fight with Mang, my energy was running low, and the Heart Fist wasn't a power I could spam. We had found a method, but I could only use it one more time.
“I’m fucked.”
The situation was spiraling. Just as I was racking my brain for a way to break through—
“Five minutes at most.” The Dishonored Venerable said, taking a step forward. “I think I can hold out for that long.”
“Elder?”
“Gather the children and open the passage.”
“What kind of bullshit are you spouting right now?”
The harsh words escaped my lips before I could stop them, but the Dishonored Venerable’s expression remained placid.
“Unfortunately, you can’t die here.”
“You just said you don’t teach people how to run away. What the hell is this?”
“We can call it a tactical retreat, can’t we?”
“Seriously, stop talking crazy.”
“Kekeke.” The Dishonored Venerable laughed. “Still, for what it’s worth, I am of the Orthodox Faction.”
I’d never seen him live like it, but he did technically belong to the Orthodox Faction.
“It would leave a bad taste in my mouth to see my young juniors die here.”
“So what? You’re going to die in our place? We’re not going to die.”
“Hmm. Isn't it nice? I’m acting like a proper master.”
“Why are you suddenly acting all noble? It’s giving me the creeps.”
I growled, but his expression didn't change. Did he actually mean it?
‘He said he needed to see the end of martial arts. What the hell is he doing?’
It was absurd. I couldn't understand why he was doing this.
Grit.
I ground my teeth. The fact that the Dishonored Venerable would say something like this after only a few exchanges... I couldn't accept it. The Dishonored Venerable shouldn't be the one to bend his will and retreat here. At the very least, he shouldn't be doing this for me.
“...Don’t be ridiculous.”
The Dishonored Venerable, dying in a place like this? To save me? Don’t fuck with me.
Hwarururuk—!!
I wrapped my hand in flames, forming a Flaming Sphere. I added rotation and compression to the core.
“Oho.”
Seeing the technique, the Dishonored Venerable’s eyes gleamed. For a man who was just offering to die, his gaze was filled with intense interest.
“Did you finally succeed?”
“...”
I didn't answer. After focusing all my concentration on my hand, I steadied my breath and said to him, “Thirty seconds. Hold on.”
I believed I could cast it in that time. At my concise words, the Dishonored Venerable let out a short laugh.
“Good grief, that damn stubbornness of yours never changes.”
I changed the shape of the rotating Flaming Sphere. Over the elongating flames, I overlaid the vessel of the Mind’s Eye.
The power of the Mind’s Eye works? Then this will work, too.
I covered it with the Mind’s Eye, which also served as a vessel to keep the flames from scattering. That was its secondary purpose, but it was still ultimately a martial art of the Mind’s Eye. Looking at its performance, it wouldn't be strange to think it was designed specifically to fight a White-Grade Demon.
Break the barrier with the Mind’s Eye and inject the flames inside.
While I was preparing the technique—
Kuaaaa—!!
The Dishonored Venerable was already brawling with the monster. Seong Yul moved to support him, and the Black Lion handled his part alone. It looked like they were holding their own, but I could see them gradually being pushed back. That damn barrier was the problem.
Giiiiing—!!
I felt a response at my fingertips. Thirty seconds had passed. The Flaming Sphere Holy Spear was complete.
“Huuuuu....”
I took a deep breath. It was the largest and densest Holy Spear I had ever created. I’d poured every ounce of my remaining strength into it.
Looking at the completed spear, I thought: This is enough. With this, I can kill it.
Stomp.
I extended one leg, settling into a throwing stance.
“Here it comes,” I said, tensing my shoulder.
It was a quiet whisper, but to martial artists of their level, it was loud and clear. As if to prove it, the three fighting the monster broke away instantly.
At the same time, I threw the spear with all my might.
Kuaaaaaa—!!
The spear flew like a spinning drill and—
Krr—...!
—struck the monster’s barrier directly.
Kwaddeuk! As expected, the Mind’s Eye surrounding the spear crushed the beast’s vessel. Once a hole opened in the barrier, the spear pierced through and penetrated deep into its flesh.
Kyaaaaa—!!
Hwarururuk—!! Kwaaaaa!!
The spear that had burrowed into its body erupted in a massive explosion of flames.
It worked. I was overcome with joy watching the monster engulfed in the inferno.
But...
Kyaaaaaaa—!!!
My triumph was short-lived. The flames covering its body were quickly scattered as the beast thrashed. And once the flames were gone...
“...Fuck.”
Its skin was charred, but the damage wasn't fatal. It was true that a large hole had been blown in its body, but I could see the flesh gradually regenerating. I had aimed for a vital spot, and it was a direct hit. Yet the creature was only panting slightly, still standing strong.
“Fuck. Seriously.”
Is this for real? How the hell am I supposed to kill that thing? Do I really have to run?
I ground my teeth in this dogshit situation. That was why I didn't notice...
Rustle.
...that someone was approaching from behind.
“Not bad.”
“...!”
My body froze at the voice. It was heavy. A deep, profound, weighty voice. A voice that had absolutely no business being on this frigid plain.
My exhausted knees gave way, and as I turned my head... someone walked past me.
In that moment, Sarak, I felt a large hand gently stroke my hair as it passed.
I didn't wonder who it was. The only question was why that person was here, of all places.
“Fath—?”
I tried to call out in a shocked voice.
Shwiiik—.
A short, hot gust of wind blew past.
Kuuuung—!
A massive vibration shook the earth. When I looked back in the direction of the impact...
“...!”
Kurrreuk…
The White-Grade Demon, which wouldn't fall no matter how hard we fought...
Keok...!
...was slowly collapsing, half of its entire body blown away.