The Combined Art: Thunderflower Flame
It wasn't on the level of creating existence from non-existence with a combined technique. Even when mixing each other's martial arts into a joint strike, creating a new martial art was never an easy task. Moreover, producing a new technique in such a short time during this life-or-death crisis was nearly impossible. This wasn't merely how ordinary people saw it; even typical martial artists would undoubtedly feel the same.
Even as the assassins' sword strikes surged forward like saw blades baring their teeth before my eyes, I calmly synchronized with Mu Yeong.
If I mix Senior Brother's Thunder Shadow Sword Technique with the Plum Blossom Sword Art... what form would suit a combined strike?
Even as a dagger grazed my cheek, I continued pondering. My deliberation over the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique didn't take long. Among its three forms, one was most suitable for combined strikes. On top of that, it was the form capable of displaying the greatest power in this war of attrition.
The overwhelming destructive force of Thunder Dragon Flash is the most essential condition right now.
As I'd felt before, the destructive power of Thunder Dragon Flash was formidable enough to shatter the momentum of dozens of assassins in a single blow. Having already experienced it to the bone, I could decide on the ultimate technique from the Thunder Shadow Sword Art to combine with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
The problem is the Plum Blossom Sword Technique...
Shuk—!
I lightly deflected the hidden weapon flying straight at my nose and sent a wind-pressure strike into the ground.
Kwaang!
The sound of torn air began to echo.
Between Butterfly Dance and Blood Rain. I'd better choose one of the two.
Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance was a form that contained a defensive mechanism. It was a supreme technique that could almost be called a self-defense art, useful for deflecting or redirecting an opponent's assault. Since Thunder Dragon Flash carried destructive power far beyond its share, it seemed perfect for balancing offense and defense.
On the other hand, Blood Rain...
I narrowed my eyes.
If one had to classify it, Plum Blossom Blood Rain was a supreme technique boasting power similar to Thunder Dragon Flash. Unlike Butterfly Dance, which emphasized solid defense, it focused everything on the attack.
Hmm... what would be the better choice?
I agonized over it. Under normal circumstances, or if I'd been given enough time, I would have chosen Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance to combine with Thunder Dragon Flash nine times out of ten. But in a war of attrition like this—two people facing dozens of assassins—a combined strike that unified offense and defense could easily become poison instead.
The moment I was lost in that thought, as if he'd noticed my hesitation, a transmission reached me from Mu Yeong, who stood back-to-back with me.
“······!”
Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
I replied to Mu Yeong's advice with a touch of admiration. Despite the assassins' attacks flying in from every direction, a faint smile curved my lips.
Well then. The core of our combined strike is decided... Shall we begin?
I took a single deep breath. Sensing the shift, Mu Yeong immediately began drawing the tip of his sword slowly toward his chest.
“······?!”
“What are you—?”
The assassins tightening their encirclement and the guard warrior Jeon Pyeong all flinched at once. A few of them shuddered, shoulders trembling as they sensed the ominous aura radiating from Mu Yeong and me.
[Now.]
The instant Mu Yeong's transmission ended, I moved with lightning speed.
Paht—!
At the same time, Mu Yeong gathered his energy as if wringing out every last drop of strength he possessed.
Uuuung—!
An enormous surge of internal energy powerful enough to shake the earth. It was admirable that he still had such reserves left after the continuous battles.
“Stop them! Stop those bastards...!”
Jeon Pyeong, commanding the assassins, shouted in panic. He seemed to sense something urgent in our movements.
But it's already too late.
A trickle of blood ran from the corner of my mouth and dripped from my chin onto the ground.
Drip.
The battlefield was already a complete mess; there was no need to kick up more dust. Concentrating hard enough to bleed from my mouth, I immediately unleashed a wind-pressure step to shatter the killing intent flying in from all sides.
Kwaang!
A single vibration rang out, and every incoming hidden weapon was pulverized.
It was then.
“This is...!”
“Let’s have some fun, guard warrior...!”
Mu Yeong grinned and charged straight into Jeon Pyeong’s blind spot. Occupied with directing the assassins, Jeon Pyeong clearly lacked the leeway to react to the sudden rush and showed visible panic.
That was the moment.
“Eat this...!”
Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, Fifth Intent
The moment the supreme technique of terrifying power—seemingly seizing the very atmosphere and slamming it into the ground—was unleashed, Jeon Pyeong immediately deployed his self-defense art.
“You think I’ll let it end like this...!”
Jeon Pyeong smiled with confidence. Believing Mu Yeong was making a final desperate struggle, the smile on his lips looked utterly ridiculous.
But it lasted only an instant.
Mu Yeong’s Thunder Dragon Flash, contrary to the words he had spoken, did not fly toward Jeon Pyeong. Instead, it rose toward my body floating in the air. The sight evoked the image of a dragon ascending to heaven.
“W-what is this...?!”
Jeon Pyeong, who had been excitedly deploying his self-defense technique, muttered in confusion. In truth, Mu Yeong’s earlier words telling me to prepare had merely been bait to lower the enemy’s guard.
It was then.
Dududuk...!
I can feel the lightning energy contained in the Thunder Dragon Flash... At this rate, I could generate a lightning strike even in mid-air.
I let Mu Yeong’s Thunder Dragon Flash flow past me, then twisted my body several times in the air as if spinning a wheel. From afar, I could sense Jeon Pyeong’s eyes bulging and Hwa Seoyeon’s shock.
If I can claim the lightning energy within Thunder Dragon Flash as my own... creating a combined technique may not be impossible after all.
With a faint smile of satisfaction, I slowly raised the tip of my sword. Lightning energy began to be drawn in from the highest point of the empty sky.
I compressed the lightning energy focused at a single point on the sword’s tip to the extreme.
Kwaduk—!
A sound like a fierce tiger biting down rang through the air.
Since it’s the meeting of thunder and plum blossoms... shall I call it Thunderflower?
To put it simply, if thunder and lightning were the ink among the Four Friends of the Study, the plum blossom was the brush. It was like grinding ink on a stone, dipping the brush, and painting a picture.
Whether that picture becomes a masterpiece or a mere mediocre work depends entirely on the user’s ability.
I focused, awakening every sense. Even counting my previous life, there had been few moments I had concentrated this deeply.
Uuuung—!
I finally opened my half-closed eyes.
Before I knew it, I stood at a higher point in the air than before. At that moment, I murmured softly.
The meeting of thunder and plum blossoms, forged into blazing lightning.
The moment the words left my lips, every eye on the ground widened vertically at once—and lightning began to fall from the clear blue sky.
“That’s impossible...!”
Jeon Pyeong looked up at the empty sky in despair. In the vast heavens, only one person stood. It was Eun Haseong, who until moments ago had displayed martial prowess similar to his own.
But now?
“······.”
He had become an existence that could never be opposed.
Dududuk... Kwa-gwa-gwang—!
Lightning fell from the clear sky. Faced with that illogical sight, while Jeon Pyeong remained silent, the assassins simply stared in resignation.
They collapsed where they stood and muttered.
“It’s a disaster...”
“Ha, hahaha...!”
Some assassins laughed madly, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Despite his subordinates’ frenzy, Jeon Pyeong could not bring himself to rebuke them.
“These crazy bastards...”
That was all he could say. At that moment, lightning began falling around Jeon Pyeong as well.
“······!”
Kwaang!Kugugung—!
The lightning carried terrifying power. He no longer had the strength or techniques left to withstand it.
“R-run...!”
Sensing their commander had lost his will to fight, the quicker ones began to flee. But as if even that would not be tolerated, lightning struck the backs of the escaping assassins.
Chijijik—!
The remnants of lightning left on the ground transformed into pure lightning energy and spread in every direction.
“Kyaaaak...!”
“M-my legs!”
Jeon Pyeong gritted his teeth. Retreat was now the only answer. Realizing this, he quickly turned to search for his master, Hwa Seoyeon.
Where is she?
After looking around, Jeon Pyeong finally spotted Hwa Seoyeon trembling in the corner. To at least preserve the life of the master he admired, the guard warrior burst out of the formation.
Tatataht—
“Young lady...! You must escape!”
“···J-Jeon Pyeong.”
Hwa Seoyeon turned to look at him. The moment Jeon Pyeong bit his lower lip and closed the distance to her side—
Kwaaaang!
“······!”
Hwa Seoyeon’s eyes widened. The lightning had struck directly behind Jeon Pyeong.
“Kr, kyaaaaak...!”
Jeon Pyeong’s agonized scream echoed in Hwa Seoyeon’s ears.