The Divine Eye of the Hundred Weapons (4)
Whooooosh!
A fierce aura erupted from the Red Dragon Divine Spear as it thrust forward.
It was neither fast nor overwhelmingly powerful. It was merely a simple strike, yet it carried an inexplicable difficulty in approaching.
It was killing intent.
The killing intent pouring from the spearhead intertwined with Hwang Seok-tae's own domineering spirit, forming an intangible wall that none could breach.
Martial arts were not solely about techniques. The eye to apply those techniques at the right moment was crucial, as were the experience and senses to adjust speed and power according to the opponent.
But more important than all that was the upright mind and indomitable spirit capable of drawing out the full might of one's martial arts to their absolute limit.
'This isn't it.'
Hwang Seok-tae withdrew his spear.
'It's not bad, but it's far from satisfying.'
At Hwang Seok-tae's level, he had already surpassed the limitations of mere techniques.
Moreover, he possessed abundant real combat experience and sufficient adaptability in battle. That alone made him a supreme expert capable of prevailing anywhere in the martial world.
Yet to reach even greater heights, it was essential to properly wield one's qi.
'Just like that time, with Vice Commander Yeon.'
Hwang Seok-tae recalled that humiliating moment.
In truth, while it had felt humiliating at first, he no longer experienced that sense of disgrace afterward.
A clash between supreme experts facing a thousand opponents had continued for several days. He could not measure how astonished he had been while watching that gripping contest.
Yeon Hojeong had been strong.
Perfect in every aspect.
When speed was required, he was swift; when force was needed, he was overwhelming. When weight was demanded, he stood like Mount Tai; when lightness was necessary, he moved like a feather.
Even as countless enemy soldiers pressed in, he had pierced through their weaknesses with uncanny precision, disrupting their formations.
Hwang Seok-tae had felt a profound sense of defeat.
At the same time, he had harbored a feeling he did not wish to acknowledge, yet could not deny.
Yeon Hojeong was a god of battle. Whether facing one opponent or a thousand, he knew exactly which martial art to employ and how to manifest it against any foe.
At first, he could not comprehend it. No matter how exceptional one's talent, experience had its limits. Such depth of experience was impossible for someone of that age.
But as time passed, Hwang Seok-tae came to realize something.
Yeon Hojeong's experience was extraordinary, yet more than that, he knew how to seize the flow of battle and make it his own.
And among the countless methods of seizing that flow, the most impressive had been his 'killing intent.'
'It was a completely different realm of combat. He bound portions of the approaching enemies with killing intent to slow their reactions, then shattered the most vulnerable points to destroy the balance of the entire formation.'
It was astonishing.
Killing intent was the manifestation of one's mental strength. If one could wield qi at the level of a peak expert, they could control their killing intent freely, yet it remained difficult to suppress when emotions ran high.
Yeon Hojeong had taken it several steps further.
He unleashed killing intent only upon his desired targets. No one else could sense it.
It was a delicacy beyond imagination. Such refined control of killing intent was something he had never heard of nor witnessed.
'I can confidently say that aside from the Vice Lord, no one in the headquarters possesses such skill. Even imitation would be difficult.'
Control of killing intent pushed to its utmost limit.
Yeon Hojeong's upper dantian must be vast and abundant, filled to the brim with a net-like web of divine qi. Only then could he wield such artistry as naturally as breathing.
And that was precisely why Hwang Seok-tae had come outside in the dead of night to devote himself to solitary training.
'Vice Commander Yeon freely manipulated the flow of battle through killing intent, controlling its target, density, and range at will.'
Hwang Seok-tae's eyes gleamed.
'Then what about me?'
With such an ability, he would never face death even in the most chaotic melee.
Yet while he envied Yeon Hojeong's ability, he did not wish to obtain the same power.
What he sought was an increase in the destructive force of martial arts itself.
'To control killing intent to that degree means the sheer size and density of killing intent one can contain is immense.'
Swish.
Hwang Seok-tae extended his spear.
The red spearhead bathed in moonlight emitted an eerie glow.
'If I could pour all that killing intent into a single spear...'
If he could achieve that, any enemy facing him would either collapse from the immense mental strain or reveal an unexpected opening.
'Vice Commander Yeon likely wields his killing intent in that manner as well.'
His killing intent control was skilled enough to manipulate the flow of battle. He would certainly be capable of channeling it entirely into his weapon to crush his opponents.
'How?'
Beads of cold sweat trickled down Hwang Seok-tae's forehead.
'How is something like that even possible?'
He had deliberately released his killing intent and tried to restrain it. He had attempted to concentrate it in one place and spread it in all directions.
But achieving Yeon Hojeong's level of delicate control was impossible. Instead, the excessive effort to control his killing intent had drained his mental energy to the point of dizziness.
This was not training anyone could undertake. A single mistake could leave scars upon the upper dantian from the rampaging killing intent.
Yet...
'Because it is such a dangerous form of training, it is worth the effort.'
If he wished to remain at his current level, he need only continue the training he had always done.
But Hwang Seok-tae desired more. Therefore, he had to pour in enough effort to reach a realm beyond this one.
That effort was his very life. To open the next gate, supreme experts who had reached the pinnacle had to train while disregarding life and death.
'He must have done the same.'
Yeon Hojeong's confident face surfaced in his mind.
And that expression suited him perfectly.
'How many brushes with death did he endure to obtain that expression, that gaze?'
He no longer dismissed the youth because of his age. Rather, it was precisely because he was young that he was all the more remarkable.
And Hwang Seok-tae himself ought to feel ashamed. While that young man risked his life striving day after day, he had squandered his final hours under the excuse of leading his unit.
Whooooosh!!
The true qi erupting from Hwang Seok-tae's spear tip generated a powerful gust.
Killing intent infused the true qi. Yet the killing intent still lingered ambiguously. When he tried to refine it delicately, it struggled to scatter in all directions against his will.
Hwang Seok-tae endured. His head throbbed and cold sweat drenched his body, yet he forgot even that.
'Sharpen it.'
His legs trembled violently. Sensation had left his fingertips.
'Even sharper, toward a single point.'
Bang!
A powerful shockwave burst from the spear tip accompanied by a thunderous explosion.
"Damn it."
Hwang Seok-tae gasped for breath as he retrieved his spear.
"Another failure today."
If the killing intent had been properly controlled, the true qi would not have exploded.
'I won't stop.'
Hwang Seok-tae refused to give up.
Once more he thrust his spear, attempting to control the killing intent surging from its tip.
It was not easy. Failure followed failure.
At times it seemed he was improving, only to regress at some point. Occasionally it became even more crude than before.
Time continued to pass until dawn finally broke.
"Huff, huff!"
Hwang Seok-tae, pushed to the brink of exhaustion, leaned on the ground and gasped for air.
It was far more grueling than climbing a mountain while carrying a boulder. Physical pain could be endured, but mental anguish was far harder to bear.
'I want to sleep.'
He did not even consider giving up. He merely wanted to rest.
'...Damn it.'
Hwang Seok-tae gritted his teeth and rose to his feet.
Though only half his internal energy remained, his muscles still held sufficient strength. Yet he felt an odd sensation of being unable to exert power. His mental energy had been depleted.
"Let's not whine over something like this."
After taking a deep breath, Hwang Seok-tae slung his spear over his shoulder and turned around. He needed to eat breakfast and manage his subordinates.
That was when it happened.
'...?!'
Hwang Seok-tae's ears perked up.
Though he had just finished training until his mental energy was exhausted, his senses sharpened the moment he relaxed his focus.
Those heightened senses informed him that someone was fighting in the forest some distance away.
'Not enemies. The footsteps are familiar.'
It was likely Yeon Hojeong and Pae Yul.
'No. It's not just the two of them. There's someone else.'
Hwang Seok-tae, who had been standing still, turned and headed toward the source of the sound.
It was a direction he would not normally have approached. Suppressing his curiosity proved difficult.
A moment later.
Bang!
There stood the Hundred Weapons Divine Lord, wielding a single short spear with fluid grace.
And facing that supreme expert was another all-rounder demonstrating an astonishing spearmanship.
Hwang Seok-tae gazed at the scene as if entranced.
Mak Won's movements, dodging the long spear with natural, flowing motions before suddenly closing the distance to thrust his short spear, had reached the realm of art.
It seemed capable of piercing even the sun. The short spear in his hand resembled a massive arrow.
Flash!
The short spear transformed into a streak of light, its technique worthy of being called capable of piercing the sun itself.
In contrast—
Clang! Screeech!
There was the incarnation of real combat, swinging his long spear like a beast's forelimb to deflect the short spear's trajectory, then advancing with heavy steps to savagely thrust his spearhead.
It was a terrifying spearmanship.
No, while it was spearmanship, it was also not spearmanship. Whether holding a spear, sword, or axe, it would display the same level of power and ferocity.
A rapturous light appeared on Hwang Seok-tae's face.
'That's it.'
His gaze was directed not at the Three Lords who were said to be the greatest under heaven, but at the young man standing before them—a monster worthy of being called a talent for a hundred years.
'It's somewhat different, but... I wanted to emulate that kind of martial art.'
The principles of martial arts? The way? Enlightenment?
None of it mattered.
He wanted to wield attacks without retreat, fierce yet highly refined, just like that.
Martial arts of advancing without retreat, filled only with forward momentum and overflowing spirit—that was his ideal.
Unconsciously, Hwang Seok-tae took one step, then another, approaching the world of combat.
"Hah!"
Pae Yul, who had been watching Mak Won execute his techniques from the side, rose in alarm.
"Watch out!"
Clang! Boom!
The long spear and short spear collided, producing a powerful explosion.
Yeon Hojeong and Mak Won retreated to create space. They too had noticed Hwang Seok-tae's approach and deliberately widened the distance.
Yeon Hojeong grumbled.
"Honestly, why would someone who should know better do this? Interrupting a match so carelessly..."
Yeon Hojeong could not finish his words. Hwang Seok-tae's gaze upon him was unfocused.
"Hey, Iron Cavalry Commander."
"How can I become like that?"
"What?"
"I..."
Hwang Seok-tae extended his hand.
From that outstretched hand, as if trying to grasp something, an intense desire rose.
"I want that kind of power."
Hwang Seok-tae spoke boldly, as if entranced.
At the same time, his eyes rolled back.
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong caught the collapsing Hwang Seok-tae and frowned.
"What kind of training has this guy been doing? He's completely exhausted."
At that moment, Mak Won spoke with a smile.
"It seems he was deeply impressed by your martial arts."
"If that's the case, then this guy still has a long way to go. With a peerless martial artist right in front of him, what's the point of wanting to resemble someone mediocre?"
"You're underestimating yourself too much."
"I mean it."
"Well, that's beside the point."
Mak Won smiled as he picked up Hwang Seok-tae's spear.
"Before returning to the Black Dragon Department, it looks like we'll have one more person to train with for a few days, doesn't it?"
"We need to leave as soon as possible."
"If we're going to carry out another mission anyway, having our allies grow stronger would help, wouldn't it?"
Yeon Hojeong looked down at Hwang Seok-tae with a helpless smile.
His eyes deepened.