Chapter 758: Appearance of a Hero (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 758: Appearance of a Hero (6)
Swoosh—!
BOOM—!!
A series of violent explosions erupted.
The heat saturating the air was suffocating.
Fwoooosh—!!
Blue flames surged, and the blaze soared toward the heavens.
I poured every ounce of my Qi into a relentless barrage, continuously hurling Holy Spears.
“Hah!”
One more.
Swoooosh—!!
The Holy Spear whistled through the air and struck its target. I immediately triggered the Heart-Steel, detonating the projectile.
BOOOOM—!!
Along with a deafening roar, a massive shockwave rippled in all directions.
“…Keuk…!”
“Ugh!”
The force was powerful enough to sweep away anyone of a lower realm who couldn't withstand the pressure.
Perhaps because I had thrown it with my full power, the ground beneath had already collapsed into a wretched, cratered mess.
However...
Do I need to use two more?
My expression remained grim.
Six shots already. Even after throwing enough to reach my physical limit, I still had to fire several more.
The thought crossed my mind as I reached for my supplies.
Gulp.
I chewed and swallowed another Heavenly Poison Orb.
It pained me to use one of the few I had left, but there was no other choice.
The Poison King will take care of it.
He had mentioned he was nearly successful in producing more Heavenly Poison Orbs, so I decided to view this as an investment. Otherwise, the regret would probably kill me before the enemy did.
…Damn it, how much would this even sell for?
Probably more than Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel. Enough to buy a prime estate in the heart of Henan.
Fu…ck…
Crunching the numbers only made the sting worse. I was already annoyed as hell from having eaten one earlier; this was the second.
Hoo…
I narrowed my eyes, trying to calm my burning frustration. Even if it was a waste, I had to think rationally. Right—what use is money if you’re dead?
I have to survive first.
Recalling my objective, I circulated my Qi.
The successive explosions had filled the air with thick smoke, obscuring my view. Even so, I could tell: nothing had gone as I’d hoped.
Fwhooosh—!!
I generated a blast of wind to clear the haze. As the air settled, the target became distinctly visible.
Crack.
The white mass I had first seen remained. It was a pure white entity, still spewing out endless threads.
Perhaps due to the impact of the Holy Spears, I could see several cracks, but it was far from destroyed.
…Tsk.
I clicked my tongue. I’d held a sliver of hope, but I suppose this was to be expected.
It may look like that, but it’s still a White-Grade, isn't it?
A White-Grade Demon. Commonly known as a Dragon. A remnant of the past, said to have been sealed in Henan. This had to be it.
That must be why only attacks imbued with the Mind’s Eye can damage it.
Looking at the fractured surface, I was certain. It was only because I had infused my Mind’s Eye into the attack that it had taken any damage at all.
The problem was...
Is that all?
The damage was less than I had anticipated. The cracks were clear, but that was the extent of it. It was too minor to be called a decisive blow.
And I poured my full power into it.
Unlike in the tournament, these were Holy Spears launched with everything I had. During the martial arts tournament, I had only used the technique twice against the Heavenly Dragon, and half-heartedly at that. This power was on a completely different level.
“…Is this the Lesser King of Hell…?”
“This is just too much. He’s even more incredible than the rumors…”
Martial artists who had gathered nearby were staring in shock at the sheer power of the Holy Spears. Judging by their attire, they were from various famous sects.
There’s the Mount Hua Sect. Are those from Kunlun?
I could see representatives from the Ten Sect Alliance and Shaolin as well. I caught a glimpse of some from the noble clans, but the sect members were more numerous.
Dozens of them.
Seeing the traces of battle on their bodies, it seemed they had been fending off attacks until just now. And in the middle of all that chaos, they sensed the energy and ran toward it?
They’ve got guts.
Instead of running away, they ran right into the heart of the storm. I’ll give them credit for their tenacity.
I quickly memorized their faces. My intention was to spare them if possible, should I ever have to kill them in the future.
“Listen carefully!”
“What?”
“…Hah!”
I imbued my voice with Qi, and the amplified sound echoed in all directions. I made it as loud as possible so everyone could hear.
“From this moment on, anyone who cannot wield their Mind’s Eye must withdraw!”
A curt warning. The reactions were immediate and intense.
“The Mind’s Eye?”
“The Mind’s Eye… you mean something like Sword-Mind Unity?”
For a sect, that was a state only an elder, or perhaps even a sect leader, might be able to reach. To imbue one's martial arts with the Mind’s Eye required a lifetime of profound enlightenment and the highest realm of cultivation.
“To tell us to withdraw if we can't wield it… Does that mean…”
“…that you can wield it?”
The Lesser King of Hell could wield the Mind’s Eye? Surprised murmurs broke out. Was my ability more important than the warning itself? Martial artists were a breed I’d never understand.
“That’s not what’s important right now. If you can't use it, you won't be of any help here. If you can't, then leave.”
To me, the situation at hand was more important than their shock. This was a characteristic the Dishonored Venerable had discovered: White-Grade Demons cannot be damaged without the power of the Mind’s Eye.
What a fucking absurd condition.
Elders of the noble clans and famous sects… to think you need to be at that level just to meet the minimum requirement.
It was too much. No matter how I looked at it, it was a shitty situation.
What can I do?
I just had to do what needed to be done. Complaining wouldn't change the reality.
Hmph.
I sighed and loosened my muscles. At the same time, I looked to my side.
“You go too.”
“...”
“You really don't listen, do you? What do you think you're doing, coming here?”
Namgung Bi-ah flinched slightly as I spoke with a scowl. By the way, why was she wearing my clothes?
“I told you this morning, didn't I? To just stay put. Why don't you listen?”
“...”
No answer. She just stared at me with her usual expressionless face. However, the emotions in her eyes were clear: worry and a hint of anger. A few years ago, I wouldn't have been able to read them, but now I could see them plainly.
“Did you come here knowing what that thing is?”
“…What is it…?”
“…Hm?”
“…I don't know what it is….”
The corners of Namgung Bi-ah's eyes twitched slightly. At a glance, it looked like she was frowning.
“But… why are you the only one who knows…?”
“...”
Why do you know something that most people don't?
Her question left me speechless. My eyes trembled. Did she see? She probably noticed.
“That's….”
“...”
Just as I was hesitating, unable to think of an excuse.
“…You don't have to tell me…. Instead….”
Shing.
Namgung Bi-ah had already drawn her sword.
“…don't say anything… about this either….”
“...”
I won't ask, so you don't nag me. It was a perfect tactic.
Damn it.
Since when did she get so smart? Was she always this good with words? As I stood there, tongue-tied.
“My niece is right. Yep. Everything she said is right.”
A middle-aged man appeared from the shadows, chuckling. He was a handsome man with bluish-white hair.
“…The Monster of Wudang.”
Namgung Hyung. He was Woo Hyuk's master. When I looked at him, Namgung Hyung quickly gestured dismissively.
“Let me say this first—I just followed her to try and stop her. But my niece is just so stubborn. Hahaha.”
Yeah, right. It was a flimsy excuse.
I couldn't stop this guy.
I hadn't expected him to come at all.
I stopped Woo Hyuk easily enough.
Woo Hyuk was currently cooped up in his residence. Since he was a Demonic Human, I was able to stop him with a command. To be precise, rather than giving a direct order, I maximized his awareness that he needed to stay put to protect the Young Lady.
One by one, I had tried to stop those close to me from coming here. I was sure I had.
“But that doesn't mean you can stop us.”
There was another presence behind Namgung Bi-ah.
“Do you know how mean you are, Young Master?”
Tang Soyeol looked thoroughly pissed off. And beside her...
“How could you tell us to stay put when we knew you'd be doing this? We couldn't possibly listen to that.”
Even Wi Seol-Ah was there, with bandages wrapped around her chest. Seeing Wi Seol-Ah in particular made my head spin.
“I can understand the others, but you shouldn't be here.”
This was Wi Seol-Ah, who had been bedridden after her duel with the Heavenly Dragon. They said her external and internal injuries were so severe that she needed constant rest. I spoke with a harsh tone, but...
“…How could I just lie there?”
Wi Seol-Ah smiled at me.
“I couldn't do that.”
This is driving me crazy.
I wanted to tell them all to get lost. To not interfere and just get out. I wanted to yell and curse at them until they left, but...
Wooooong.
“…Shit.”
I didn't have the luxury for an argument. I immediately turned my head and tensed my body.
Sssssss.
“What is that? What is that?!”
“…The threads…!?”
Everyone nearby widened their eyes.
The white mass—the "egg"—had finally formed a shape. The threads emerging from it had steadily built up layers, connecting lines into a solid form.
And the shape it was completing looked just like…
Butterfly wings…?
The wings of a butterfly. That’s what it looked like. They weren't massive, but compared to the size of the egg, they were substantial.
Confirming this, I racked my brain.
Did I fail to take it out from the start?
Seeing how far it had progressed, it seemed so. But I wasn't disappointed. I never believed things would be resolved so easily.
Click.
WhirRRRR—!!
The ring of the Gu Flame Wheel Art around my heart began to spin rapidly. Heat rose to an extreme, and my body surged with power.
I need more time to figure it out.
What in the world was that thing? I didn't have enough time to confirm its identity. However...
Things like that… I'll figure them out while I fight.
Now was the time to charge.
Stomp—!
Fwoooosh—!!
Just before I leaped forward, cloaking myself in blue flames, I glanced at the women watching me.
What should I say? Tell them it's dangerous and to just watch? No. They weren't the type to listen to that. Tell them to be careful or not to die? It would go in one ear and out the other. Tell them to run if it gets dangerous? No, they wouldn't listen to that either.
In that case...
“I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully.”
There was only one option left.
“If you think you're not going to be helpful to me, then get out. That would be the most helpful thing you could do.”
“…!”
“....”
“…Ngh.”
The moment they heard my words, all three of their expressions twisted. I knew full well my words were hurtful. But this was the most effective way.
Right after I spoke, I moved.
BOOM—!!
I stomped on the ground as if to shatter it and accelerated.
If long-range doesn't work, I'll get up close.
The distance closed in an instant.
Fwoosh—! Feeling the rush of speed, I formed a Holy Spear in my hand. It was a martial art designed for throwing, but in terms of raw destructive power, a direct strike would be better.
I gripped the completed Holy Spear with both hands and thrust it with all my might. Just before the tip of the spear reached the mass...
GRAB—!
“…Huh!?”
The mass moved. A hand shot out, abruptly grabbing the Holy Spear.
Yes, a hand. Something closer to a beast's paw than a human's hand. That hand had emerged and blocked the spear.
Seeing that, I released my power. My judgment was swift. I let go of the spear and pulled my body back simultaneously.
I detonated the Holy Spear right there.
KUUUUUUNG—!!!
The explosion unleashed a massive shockwave, but...
What?
I watched the scene from a distance, a question forming in my mind.
Crumble.
The hand that had caught the Holy Spear seemed to have taken the brunt of the explosion; it was crumbling, fragments falling away. That part was fine. But...
What is that?
Ssssss….
My eyes weren't on the hand, but on the mass itself.
Twitch.
Twitch, twitch.
The hand was just the beginning. The mass itself was changing. Starting with the arm that had first emerged, both arms were formed. Then the torso, two legs, and a tail. And finally, the head.
The now-formed being staggered to its feet.
How should I even describe that thing? It walked on two legs, so I thought it might be human, but the shape of its limbs and its tail suggested otherwise. Furthermore, it had butterfly wings on its back, and its face was…
…the face of a mountain goat.
A goat or a mountain goat. It had the head of a beast. As for its size, it was a little over nine feet tall. Quite large for a human, but far too small to be called a Dragon or a demon.
It's different from the dragons I've seen.
The ones I remembered were so massive they looked like moving hills. What in the world was this thing? I couldn't tell.
However...
Drip.
I wiped away the cold sweat and realized something. Based on the instinctual dread washing over my body, one thing was certain.
…It's dangerous.
This thing was an extremely dangerous being. I watched it, my guard raised to the maximum.
[...]
The newly risen creature moved its head, scanning its surroundings. It looked at its own arm, then began to examine the people around it, one by one. After glancing around, its eyes met mine.
“...”
[...]
Our eyes didn't meet for long. It couldn't have been more than a second. But that was enough.
“Everyone.”
Enough time to figure out what it was about to do.
“…Prepare for battle.”
The moment I spat out the words, imbued with Qi...
[Ah.]
The creature let out a short sound.
[Aaaaaaaah—!!!!]
And then it unleashed a deafening roar. A roar filled with pure, unadulterated killing intent.
“Aaargh….”
“My, my ears…!”
Caught off guard, everyone clamped their hands over their ears. Just hearing the sound made the Qi inside my body tremble. With this, the others must have realized it too.
This was by no means a friendly creature. This was the enemy we had to fight.
…This is insane.
The corners of my mouth lifted. I could tell just by feeling its killing intent—the chances of victory were slim. It was just like when I faced that mindless White-Grade Demon in the past. It was at a level where hunting it down seemed impossible right now.
As the tension mounted, I remembered my objective.
It's fine.
It would be fine. It would be dangerous if I tried to hunt it. But that wasn't my job right now.
I just have to hold out.
If I couldn't take it down at the start, then it was time for Plan B. Survive. To hold out until the very end, no matter what—that was my second plan.
And the one who would hunt it was not me.