Chapter 756: Appearance of a Hero (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 756: Appearance of a Hero (4)
“Get back!”
KRAKOOOM—!
“Aaaaaah—!!”
The once-vibrant streets of Henan were now a portrait of carnage.
As the most developed region in the Central Plains, it had once bustled with activity day and night. But now, a sudden onslaught was reducing its architecture to rubble and tearing its thoroughfares apart.
The neat rows of stalls that had lined the roads were long since splintered into kindling. The merchant associations and grand inns in the heart of the city were beginning to buckle and groan under the relentless assault.
“Destroy them!”
“Push forward! Don't hesitate!”
Figures clad in black moved like a plague, obliterating everything in their path—buildings and people alike.
Where had they come from? Why had the sky turned so ominous? Why were they caught in this nightmare?
The people were drowning in questions, but there were no answers to be found. This was the raw, unthinking nature of disaster.
“D-Daddy…”
“Shh—!”
A young girl sobbed in her father’s arms. Fearing the sound would betray them, he pulled her tighter against his chest, holding his breath as they crouched behind a collapsed wall.
“…Hk… huuu…”
The terrified child’s breathing was ragged and shallow. Drenched in a cold sweat, the father stole a glance behind them.
Men in black uniforms were methodically scanning the ruins. Were they hunting for survivors?
Please…
Watching them, the father squeezed his eyes shut. At this rate, discovery was inevitable. They had to move, they had to live. He didn't care what happened to himself, but he had to save his daughter.
Just as the thought crossed his mind…
Crack.
“…!”
He heard a footfall on the other side of the wall.
Oh, God.
His entire body began to tremble. They would be found any second. Should he grab his daughter and bolt? But could they even make it? His opponents were martial artists; they would close the distance in a heartbeat.
Perhaps it was better to beg. Appealing to their humanity might be the only way to spare his child.
As the man’s mind raced in circles…
Step.
The presence drew closer.
“...”
With trembling hands, the man did the only thing he could. He prayed.
He prayed for a savior. When the chaos began, he had told his daughter not to worry—that the Murim Alliance protected this land, and they would be safe. He had promised her that, and yet…
Where are they…?
When were they coming?
“Help me!”
Screams erupted from all directions. What was the Alliance doing? Just as the man’s vision began to blur with sheer terror…
“Found them…! I think they’re over here!”
A voice of hope pierced the air from a distance.
Figures in pale blue uniforms appeared nearby. That uniform was the symbol of the Murim Alliance, the self-proclaimed protectors of Henan. The Alliance members were currently hauling someone out from beneath a collapsed building—it looked like the local innkeeper.
They weren't far.
…Please…!
Please notice us.
Find us and save us.
As the man prayed with every fiber of his being…
“…!”
Their eyes met.
He locked gazes with one of the Alliance martial artists who was supporting the old man.
We’re saved.
That was his first thought. The Murim Alliance would save them. They would protect his daughter. He believed it with all his heart, watching a miracle unfold before him.
Huh…?
But his hope was instantly strangled by despair.
They were supposed to save them. They were the righteous martial artists he had trusted.
…Why…?
Despite the clear eye contact, the Alliance member averted his gaze, feigning ignorance. They were too busy tending to the rescued innkeeper to even glance back in his direction.
He was certain their eyes had met. He had prayed so desperately for this, so why was the Alliance abandoning them?
Why in the world…?
Despair spread through him like a swamp—deep, suffocating, and tightening around his throat.
But he couldn't stop.
“Please, save us!!”
He had a daughter to protect. It was too soon to give up.
Maybe they didn't hear me. Maybe I imagined the eye contact.
His logic knew it was a lie, but he didn't have the luxury of the truth.
“Please! Save us…!!” the man screamed, his voice cracking.
His shout drew the attention of the figures behind him. The monsters had noticed.
“You don’t have to save me…! But my daughter, she’s just a child! Please, save her…! Great Hero!”
The man wailed, his voice thick with desperation.
It’s fine if they stab me in the back right now, just please, save my daughter.
He screamed with all his heart, but…
“Dammit…”
The Alliance members looked troubled, glancing between the old man they were escorting and the father.
“Vice-Captain…”
Their reaction wasn't one of concern, but of annoyance—as if the man’s cries were a nuisance. But it didn't matter, as long as they looked his way. That was all he hoped for.
“…This terrain is not advantageous for a fight. Our priority is to escort the innkeeper.”
“…But, sir…!”
“That’s an order.”
“…”
After a brief exchange, the Alliance members began to retreat quickly.
“Great Hero…? Great Hero!!”
The man screamed in agony at the sight.
Are they really abandoning us?
Why would the Murim Alliance leave them to die? It was an impossible sight, more believable as a nightmare than reality. Despair consumed him instantly.
Just then.
“Heh heh.”
A distinct, mocking laugh came from behind.
The man’s neck creaked as he turned. The assailants had closed in, looming over him.
“Looks like you’ve been abandoned.”
At the sound of the voice, the man hugged his daughter even tighter. I have to run, the thought flashed through his mind, but his legs had turned to lead.
“…My… my child is very… young… She’s just a little girl. So, please…”
He managed to stammer out the plea. The assailant’s eyes shifted to the girl. For a fleeting moment, a look of longing crossed the killer's face.
“Yes, my daughter was about her age.”
Was he feeling sympathy? A spark of hope flickered in the father's chest.
“She was murdered by those bastards from the Orthodox Faction at that age.”
The longing twisted into a mask of pure resentment.
“She was a precious, beautiful child. I still remember her chattering away as she looked at me.”
Thick malice dripped from his voice. It was so heavy with accumulated hatred that it felt nauseating.
“Did you trust the Murim Alliance?”
His face was contorted like a demon’s. Only then did the father notice it—one side of the assailant’s face was grotesquely scarred, as if seared by a branding iron.
“If you did, that is the reason you die.”
“P-please… please…! You can kill me. I’ll do anything…! But my daughter…!”
“Daddy…!!”
Death was a breath away. The assailant showed no mercy, raising his sword high.
“Hiiik!”
The father squeezed his eyes shut, wrapping his body around his daughter to shield her from the blow.
At that moment.
Fwoosh—!!
A sudden, blinding light erupted.
KRAKOOOOOM—!!
Even with his lids pressed tight, the man's vision was flooded with white. The expected pain never came. Instead, strangely, he felt a gentle warmth.
Have I died? Is this what it feels like?
Anxiously, the man slowly opened his eyes.
“…Hah!”
He gasped.
Crackle! Crackle!
Flames were blazing all around him. Roiling, sapphire-blue flames. The fire, burning as if it possessed a will of its own, formed a perfect protective circle around them.
“Wh-what… what is this…”
As the man stood in utter confusion…
“Daddy, this is warm.”
“What? Huh…! Hyeyeon!”
He quickly grabbed his daughter’s hand. She had reached out to touch the flames.
But something was wrong. The flames flickered and brushed against his skin, but just as his daughter had said, they weren't hot at all.
How was this possible? And more importantly…
…Where are the assailants…?
What had happened to the men?
“Hey. You shouldn’t just touch that.”
A voice cut through the wall of fire.
“You’ll burn the skin right off your hands if you do.”
Fwoooosh—!
The encircling flames died down instantly, revealing the scene that had been hidden.
“…!!”
The man sucked in a sharp breath. The area had been damaged before, but now it was scorched black. Blue embers licked at the surroundings, and the stone walls had melted, sizzling audibly.
As for the assailants… they were gone, replaced by piles of ash.
“Daddy?”
Hearing his daughter’s voice, the man moved his hands. The sight was too gruesome for a child. He moved to cover her eyes, but…
“I can’t see anything. What’s happening?”
His daughter’s eyes were already obscured. A thin veil of blue flame was temporarily shielding her vision.
Seeing this, the man turned his gaze toward their savior—the master of these flames.
“Th-thank you, Great… Hero.”
He started to thank him but paused. The person was much younger than he had expected.
A youth with black hair and piercing blue eyes. He stood somewhere between a boy and a young man, looking to be twenty years of age at most. He was a youth who had lived barely half as long as the father.
Moreover…
…I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.
The description was familiar. A martial artist of that age who wielded such terrifying flame arts… could it be?
“L-Lesser King of Hell…?”
“Mm.”
As the man uttered the title, the youth—Gu Yangcheon—furrowed his brow slightly. It was a title he could never get used to, no matter how many times he heard it.
Can’t be helped.
But he had to endure it.
“Since you seem to recognize me, I guess I don’t need to introduce myself.”
“…Th-thank you… thank you so much… Thank you…”
The man sobbed, bowing his head repeatedly. Gu Yangcheon watched him with a look of mild discomfort.
“You can skip the thanks… Just remember this.”
“Yes…? Remember…?”
“I’ll need to cash in this favor later. So just make sure you remember it.”
“Ah… ah, yes…”
The man didn't quite understand, but he nodded fervently. Gu Yangcheon smirked and looked at the daughter in his arms.
“Hey.”
His voice was a bit sharp, making the child flinch.
“Listen to your dad and live well.”
“…Yes… yessir… fank you.”
The child, terrified, stammered her reply. Her tongue got twisted, her pronunciation a mess. At least she wasn't crying, thanks to her eyes being covered.
Gu Yangcheon found it a little cute and considered patting her head, but…
Tsk.
He had just gotten his hands dirty. It wouldn't be right to touch her. He hid his hand and spoke to the father.
“If you head north from here, you’ll find members of the Hwangbo Clan waiting. Go to them and ask for protection.”
“The Hwangbo Clan… you say?”
“Yes. They’ll be a better bet than the Alliance.”
“...”
The man’s eyes trembled. Normally, he would have argued that the Murim Alliance was the superior choice. But after what he had just witnessed, he couldn't bring himself to say it. His eyes were filled with nothing but distrust.
Gu Yangcheon watched him for a moment before adding, “Anyway, just head that way.”
“…Ah… G-Great Hero, perhaps you could…”
The man hesitated, about to ask for more.
“Sorry, but no. I’m busy.”
Gu Yangcheon cut him off flatly. He knew the man was going to ask for an escort, but that was impossible.
“I still have a lot of people to save.”
“...”
Hearing the reason, the man swallowed his request and bowed deeply.
“…Thank you, Great Hero. Thank you so much.”
“Seriously. Stop bowing and get going.”
He waved his hand dismissively, and the man finally clutched his child and hurried away.
After the two had disappeared…
“...”
Gu Yangcheon watched them go, a frown deepening on his face.
‘Thanks.’
Hearing those words felt heavy. He had intended to hear them, but he knew he didn't deserve them.
Tsk.
He looked around. The area was scorched black. He had burned it so thoroughly that it was beyond repair.
…Control is difficult.
It wasn't easy. The very act of fighting to save people was the problem.
How would I know? It’s not like I’ve ever saved anyone before.
He had burned countless people to death without leaving a trace, but he had almost never fought with the purpose of rescue. Because of that, Gu Yangcheon felt a nagging sense of unease.
…Ugh.
It would have been easier if he could just wipe everything out. Trying to move with restraint was exhausting. He wanted to just quit, but…
—Fank you.
“...”
The child's voice flashed through his mind, feeling strangely comforting.
Get a grip.
He immediately cooled his head.
You think you’re some kind of real hero?
He couldn't let himself get twisted. The more he did this, the more he had to remind himself: He had created this situation. This wasn't a rescue; it was a cleanup.
Don't think you've become a hero.
You haven't. You're just pretending to be one.
With that resolve, he bit his lip and began to move.
Fwoosh—!
Flames wrapped around him, and his body lifted into the air. Time was short, and there was much to do. He had to move faster.
* * *
Ruuuumble—!!
A building collapsed, sending debris raining down.
“Huaaak…!”
Just as the people below screamed and curled into balls…
FWOOOSH—!!!
A massive wave of fire swept through the falling rubble.
“Heek…!”
Everyone flinched at the sea of flames, but the debris was incinerated instantly, preventing any casualties.
However, not all of it was stopped.
CRUUUNCH—!
More debris fell. This time, no flames erupted.
“Hnngh!”
Thud!
Giant men appeared, clearing away the debris with raw strength. They wore yellow uniforms—martial artists from the Hwangbo Clan.
Confirming their arrival, I waved my hand.
FWOOOOOSH—!!!
At my command, the flames soared, spreading in all directions in an instant. There was so much of it that it created a literal sea of fire. It was a situation where everyone should have been burned to death, but no such tragedy occurred.
“…It’s… it’s not hot.”
“Mother! Are you alright!”
Even though the flames engulfed the area, no one screamed. The blue flames passed through the civilians like ghosts.
And then.
“Kuaaaargh!”
“Ugh… uwaaaaaah!!”
The flames bypassed the civilians and began to selectively incinerate the invaders.
Two in front. Three beyond them. One in the upper right.
My eyes darted around as I expanded my senses. Cold sweat trickled down my face.
Fuck.
This was incredibly hard. It was difficult to selectively burn people, and it was just as hard to distinguish enemies while controlling the output. I never knew it would be this taxing. War would have been easier than this.
Hoo.
I steadied my breathing and manipulated the flames. The fire headed for another assailant but passed him by.
Blue armband. Confirmed.
He wore a black uniform with violet embroidery, but a blue armband was tied around his left arm. He was one of the Night Reapers who had infiltrated on my orders. The flames ignored him, catching and killing only the others.
This repeated several times. Only after the flames had swept through the entire area did I stop.
“Hoo…”
It seemed short, but it took longer than I thought. I could tell by the drain on my internal energy. I bent over, panting from exhaustion.
Crumble—!!
One by one, the buildings began to fall apart. I had been so focused on distinguishing people that I hadn't paid any attention to the structures. Buildings that had stood for generations were collapsing.
People should have been horrified, but…
“…Th-thank you!!”
“Thank you so much…!”
They were too busy expressing their gratitude for their lives.
“This is no time for that! Evacuate immediately! We will guide you!”
Before the people could linger, a martial artist from the Hwangbo Clan stepped forward to lead them away.
“Great Hero…! Thank you so much! We will never forget this kindness…!”
“Great Hero, Lesser King of Hell…!”
“...”
I gave a lazy wave at the voices.
I thought this flashy power was a pain, but it comes in handy at times like this.
My flame arts were already conspicuous. Now that they had turned blue, it was impossible not to stand out. Thanks to that, my constant dashing around to save people was clearly visible to everyone. It was perfect for advertising.
Anyway. I wiped the sweat from my brow and asked, “…Give me a status report…”
My voice was breathy from fatigue. At my question, the man with the blue armband I had spared landed and knelt before me.
“The total number of casualties has not been fully assessed. However, all survivors in this immediate area have been evacuated.”
His voice was clear and unwavering.
“…What about the movements of other factions?”
“Twelve from the Mount Hua Sect and an unconfirmed number from Shaolin have been confirmed to have joined the battle. In addition, a little over thirty members of the Alliance have intervened. A few other clans and sects have also participated.”
“...”
I let out a dry laugh.
All together, that’s two to three hundred at most.
That was the total number of people currently fighting to stop the attack. The onslaught had just started, but was this really all who had joined the fight?
This is absurd.
Considering how many martial artists had gathered for the tournament, not even half of them were in action.
Even if I tied up their feet.
The barrier I had spread over the pavilion wasn't the only thing holding people back. I had spent the last few days identifying the clans in Henan and pinpointing their locations specifically to tie down the stronger factions. It was clear that the success of that operation was one reason for the low numbers, but…
Even without that, this was a pot bound to boil over.
This was an issue that had been simmering for a long time. There were countless causes, but one main reason stood above the rest.
The Heavenly Dragon Academy Incident.
The day the Black Dragon appeared and a storm of blood raged. That was the turning point. The number of young prodigies who died that day was staggering—scions of prominent clans and the future of noble sects. They had held an Orthodox Faction Meeting to resolve it, but…
Distrust doesn't just disappear.
It started back then—the loss of faith in the Alliance’s ability to lead. No matter that they changed the Alliance Leader, some things couldn't be mended. So when a disaster like this struck, many chose to flee rather than lend a hand.
Someone else will step up. I don’t want to get hurt.
That was the prevailing thought as they backed out or hesitated. Combined with the Alliance’s poor track record, the disaster had only grown larger.
…It’s truly astonishing.
Honestly, I had expected to suppress this attack in no time. That was the assumption when we drew up the plan.
This is taking twice as long.
It was taking double the time I had anticipated.
Thanks to that, it was a close call.
I turned my head and surveyed the area. It was silent. The place once called the heart of Henan was now utterly still. The attack was likely still ongoing elsewhere, but at least this patch of land was quiet.
Wooooong—!!
I spread my senses wide to check again. Thankfully, I couldn't feel any other hostile presences.
Success, for now.
“Hoooo…”
I let out a breath and looked to the side. “Tell them there are no issues with the operation. We proceed as planned.”
“…Understood.”
The assassin took his leave, and I narrowed my eyes, staring up at the empty sky. It was dark enough to be called night now. And because it was so black, the crimson lines stood out with vivid clarity.
“...”
I cracked my neck slightly.
Woooong—!
The lines that had been extending had finally reached their endpoints. As if they had been waiting for this area to be cleared of people… they now fully connected.
The completed network of lines resembled a massive sigil floating in the sky. It was an alien, terrifying sight. I never dreamed I would see something like that in my life.
However, there was a bigger problem than the sigil itself.
This is…?
I knew it instinctively. The lines that lost their light upon completion. The wind that fell silent. The ground that ceased to vibrate. Even the sky that stopped moving. This bizarre stillness was a single omen. A prelude.
As I reached that conclusion and raised my guard to the fullest…
Ung.
The lightless sigil let out a low, vibrating hum, and then…
It’s coming.
KUUUAAAAAAAAAH—!!!
It unleashed an intense beam of light toward the ground. The pillar of crimson energy instantly began to bore into the earth.