Chapter 640: The Thunderous Sword
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 640: The Thunderous Sword
Flames erupted from the earth, surging toward the heavens.
The biting cold of the black night was instantly incinerated. As if painting over dark ink with brilliant light, the fire swallowed the sky, slowly setting the world ablaze.
The darkness retreated, giving way to a brilliant, artificial day—a white night.
I couldn't tear my eyes away.
A white night was a marvel in itself, but I was struck with a profound sense of awe that a mere human had manifested such a phenomenon. My breath caught in my throat; or rather, it was more accurate to say I had forgotten how to breathe entirely.
It was as if the heavens themselves had opened their eyes, blooming warmth into a frozen world. The snow covering the ground vanished, and an unfamiliar heat brushed against the tip of my nose. Devouring the cold, the searing temperature ran rampant across the land.
Fwoosh—!!
The pillar of fire shooting into the sky was unwavering. I could hear it roaring, yet the column remained steady, a power that felt more like a pillar of pure light than mere flame.
‘What… is that?’
What in the world could possess such presence? What was it that made it so impossible to look away?
[Do not look away for even a moment.]
Even without Gu Cheolun's warning, Gu Yangcheon knew he wouldn't have been able to avert his gaze. He was certain of it.
Vwooom—!!
“...!”
Gu Yangcheon clutched his chest as a sudden sensation jolted him. The ring of the Gu Flame Wheel Art embedded within his body began to spin wildly at the sight of the pillar.
A resonance of Qi.
This meant that the pillar was, ultimately, an expression of the Gu Flame Wheel Art—but it was a power Gu Yangcheon had never witnessed before. At least, not in any form he recognized.
Thump! Thump!
His heart hammered against his ribs just from watching. He didn't understand the principles behind it or the true nature of its power, but he could instinctively tell that something extraordinary was unfolding.
Just then.
Grrrr—…!
The demon that had been sent flying reappeared. Was it planning to attack again? Just as Gu Yangcheon raised his guard—
“…What?”
He froze, baffled by the unexpected development. The demon had returned, but for some reason, it wasn't charging forward with its previous reckless abandon.
‘What's wrong with that thing?’
He wondered if it was testing the waters, but it wasn't long before he noticed the anomaly.
Grrr….
It looked... hesitant.
Its hostility and killing intent remained unchanged, but its hesitation was palpable. Watching it, a realization dawned on Gu Yangcheon.
‘Could it be?’
Was it... afraid?
‘That thing…?’
He tried to dismiss the thought, but the creature's posture spoke volumes. Fear. The beast was experiencing genuine terror. The same creature that had been charging with a suicidal ferocity was now staring at the pillar, paralyzed by dread.
He wondered how such a thing was even possible.
Grrrrr—!!
As if its fear had been a momentary lapse, the beast tensed its muscles once more. It looked ready to pounce at any second.
However.
Fwoosh!!
At that exact moment, the soaring pillar of fire began to recede.
Swoooosh!
The flames were drawn back, sinking toward the ground. The ambient heat reversed its course, being sucked inward with violent force.
Whoooosh—!!
The pressure was immense. Gu Yangcheon had to strain every muscle to keep his body from being pulled toward the center. The epicenter was, naturally, the spot where the flames had first erupted—where Gu Cheolun stood.
Screeech!
His feet dug into the earth as he fought the vacuum. While Gu Yangcheon braced himself, planting his feet firmly—
Kraaaaa!
The demon, in contrast, seemed to welcome the pull, riding the current to accelerate its charge. The creature was far more menacing as it picked up speed, its bulging muscles signaling an all-out, desperate attack.
Kyaaaaa—!!
Its earlier fear had vanished completely. It opened its maw wide, as if intending to swallow the flames whole. The demon was about to pounce and devour its prey.
Just as Gu Yangcheon saw this and prepared to intervene—
Thwip!
The converging flames abruptly stopped.
Fwoom!
The fire surrounding the center vanished, revealing Gu Cheolun. Gu Yangcheon's eyes widened at the sight of him.
His father's hair, which should have been merely red, now seemed to contain light itself, glowing with a brilliant radiance. His crimson uniform, the symbol of the Gu Clan, shimmered as if it were forged from living embers.
Yet, paradoxically, there were no actual flames.
The Gu Clan's martial arts were defined by igniting, rotating, and burning fire. But there were no such flames visible on Gu Cheolun.
And yet.
‘I can feel it.’
Just because they were invisible didn't mean they weren't there. Gu Yangcheon stared at Gu Cheolun's back, refusing to blink. Gu Cheolun didn't conjure any flames, and somehow, Gu Yangcheon understood why.
The reason was simple.
‘...Father is the flame.’
He had no need to create them when he embodied them.
A cold sweat trickled down Gu Yangcheon's cheek. With trembling eyes, he stared straight ahead. He knew instinctively that he couldn't afford to miss a single detail.
It was right there.
‘The path I must walk.’
The destination he had to reach, no matter the cost, was standing right in front of him.
Gu Cheolun slowly began to move his hand.
Shiiiiiii—!!!
A sharp whistling sound emanated from his fingertips. There was no heat. Even though his hand was stained a brilliant, intense red, there wasn't the slightest hint of warmth.
Rumble!
Kyaaaaa—!!!
The demon's fangs were inches away from sinking into Gu Cheolun. And yet, the man merely assumed a stance with deliberate, almost agonizingly slow movements.
Ssk.
He clenched his fist and lowered his center of gravity. It was an ordinary stance for a straight punch—a simple posture, notable only for its razor-sharp angles and absolute stability.
However.
[Ultimate Technique.]
The power generated from that stance was anything but simple.
[All-Flame Extreme Great Mountain Enlightenment Form.]
Gu Cheolun's fist extended slowly toward the demon.
Swish!
[Extreme Fiery Fangs of the Beast.]
Voom!
With a vibration from the tip of his fist...
Flash—.
The world blinked out of existence.
Crumble—!!
I heard the sound of something collapsing.
My eyes ached. I had squeezed them shut to escape the blinding light, but the world was still awash in brilliance. The suffocating, nauseating heat made it difficult to draw air into my lungs.
About ten seconds had passed since the light had burst forth. In that time, I hadn't even breathed, remaining perfectly still.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
I had to calm my racing heart. I had to suppress my own Qi, which felt as though it were about to erupt in sympathy.
A few more seconds passed.
Crumble...
The searing light behind my eyelids faded, and the sounds of the world finally began to quiet. Only then did I dare to slowly open my eyes.
“…?”
The first thing I saw was the back of a man with his hands clasped behind him. He wore a black uniform and had a relatively small build. He stood with his back to me.
Looking at him, I spoke.
“…Elder?”
It was the Dishonored Venerable.
“Hahaha!”
At my call, the Dishonored Venerable let out his signature laugh. The only difference was that his usually dry voice was, for some reason, filled with pure exhilaration.
Just as I was wondering what had gotten into him...
“Do you know something?” the Dishonored Venerable began. “I have never once regretted any of my choices.”
The amusement in his voice was as clear as his excitement. The problem was, there was something unsettling about his tone.
“Not when I cast aside my family's martial arts because I had my own path to walk. Not even when I cast aside my own realm to obtain a broken, young body because I needed more time. I never felt a shred of regret.”
What was he talking about all of a sudden? As I watched him, completely baffled, the Dishonored Venerable unclasped his hands and continued.
“But now, for the very first time, I have a regret.”
“…What do you mean, all of a sudden?”
“Before I gave up my realm, I should have fought your father just once. That... I regret it so much it's driving me insane.”
I frowned at his words. He should have fought my father? What kind of nonsense was he spouting?
“I, Bijuu, the Dishonored Venerable, the greatest martial artist of our time, will acknowledge it.” He spoke in a tone that suggested he found the situation incredibly amusing. “Your father is a monster. A monster so profound that I can barely comprehend his depths.”
With those words, the Dishonored Venerable stepped aside, as if to grant me a better view.
Only then did I see it.
“…!”
The world that had been covered in pure white snow was now a scorched wasteland. Everything that had stood before us was gone, leaving only blackened embers.
How far did the destruction stretch? A few li? Miles? I couldn't tell. The devastation reached farther than the eye could see.
And in the middle of that smoldering ruin...
Pssssss….
A black pile of ash, barely holding its form, began to collapse. Making a mockery of its status as a White-Grade demon, the creature had lost its signature color and was charred completely black.
Thump!
Its knees gave way, and its body crumbled to the ground. It was a truly wretched sight.
And standing before it was my father.
His posture was as unwavering as ever. His blazing hair had returned to its usual dark ink color. The demon's upper torso fell, crashing to the ground past him.
CRASH—!! Pssshk!
The creature's body disintegrated on impact, but my father turned his back on it without a second glance. Even though the world before him was nothing but ash, the ground where I stood was still covered in half-melted snow. The jarring contrast made it look like a bridge between the mortal realm and hell.
Crunch!
My father walked toward me. He showed not a single sign of fatigue. As I watched his calm approach, a thought crossed my mind.
‘…How do I even describe this?’
He seemed bigger than usual. His already tall stature appeared even more imposing.
Whoooosh….
The wind, which had died down, began to blow again. My father walked over until he was standing beside the Dishonored Venerable, looking down at me. I could only stare back at him, my mind blank. I couldn't seem to form any other reaction.
‘It still... won't fade.’
The image of my father's martial might. The heat and the resonance I'd felt. They completely occupied my thoughts. As I replayed the scene in my mind, my eyes trembling...
“Third child,” my father called out to me. “Did I not tell you?”
I remained dazed, even at the sound of his heavy voice.
“Do not be consumed. I believe I warned you.”
“…!”
His cold tone snapped me out of it. Do not be consumed. That was the warning he had given me. I tried my best to remember his words and shook my head, but it was no use; the image wouldn't fade. It had been that intense.
I tried to at least steady my ragged breathing, taking in deep gulps of air.
“Third child.”
“…Yes.”
My father asked me again, “What did you see?”
“...”
I didn't ask him what he meant. I wasn't that much of an idiot. But I couldn't answer easily. I understood the question, but I didn't know the answer.
What had I seen within that spectacle? I had tried to capture everything with my eyes, but in the end, the only thing that remained was the image of my father becoming the flame itself.
“…I don't know,” I answered honestly.
I had seen so much, yet I understood nothing. So little that I was disappointed in myself.
“Hm.”
Hearing my answer, my father made a small noise. Then, as always, he gave a slight nod.
“Is that so.”
It was a response of neither satisfaction nor disappointment. A very father-like reaction.
Then.
Pat.
“…!”
A rough hand rested on my head. It was my father's.
Rustle, rustle.
It was a clumsy pat, one that had tossed all semblance of gentleness to the dogs. A touch that felt awkward and inexperienced. Even so, I said nothing.
“...”
“...”
My father didn't speak either. An incredibly awkward silence hung in the air. He patted my head for a few more seconds before speaking.
“You did well.”
“...”
The praise was steeped in awkwardness. I wondered what was happening, but I couldn't manage any reaction. All I could do was nod.
“…Thank you….”
“Yes.”
“...”
“...”
The suffocatingly awkward atmosphere continued. He should have taken his hand away by now, but it remained on my head. I fidgeted, unsure of what to do. I thought about pulling away but decided against it. Instead, I looked up at my father and decided to speak first.
“Um, Father….”
“Come to think of it.”
Just as I was about to ask how he had gotten here.
“I have something to tell you about your mother.”
“…!”
My eyes widened at his sudden declaration.
“You mean... about Mother?”
He'd said he would tell me where she was once my Gu Flame Wheel Art reached the Ninth Star. But I hadn't reached that level yet. Was this about something else, then? Despite the abrupt change of topic, my full attention was on him.
Seeing my reaction, my father continued. “Yes, about your mother….”
My heart pounded in anticipation as I waited for his next words.
“Hm.”
Just as he was about to continue, my father closed his mouth, his expression turning strange. He seemed to have noticed something was off.
“What is it?”
“I see.” He nodded as if he'd just realized something. Then he looked at me and said, “Our time is up.”
“Huh?”
“I'll go on ahead. Make sure you're not late.”
“What are you talking abou—”
Fwoosh.
“…Huh?”
He vanished before my eyes in a burst of flame.
“…?”
Whoooosh.
Left all alone in the cold wind, I could only wonder. What the hell kind of situation was this…?