Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Chieftain (6)
The battlefield echoed with war cries and drumbeats. Warriors were charging in with the ferocity of wild beasts.
"Let's begin."
At Jimun Seo-saeng's declaration, the Heavenly Demon Cult members moved according to the predetermined strategy. Though the enemy had declared all-out war and charged forward, the Heavenly Demon Cult members deployed their Lightness Skills and retreated backward.
Dung! Dung!
The more the drumbeats and shamans' staffs drove the warriors into frenzy, the farther we distanced ourselves. No matter how enraged they became, they couldn't catch up with our Lightness Skills. The White Blood Unit shot magic from long range, provoking them further.
When we refused to engage, the shamans judged that something was wrong and changed their orders. The warriors were released from their frenzied state and quickly shifted to defensive tactics.
"They need to come out more."
They hadn't strayed far from the fence. At most about 200 meters. The shamans remained near the fence's perimeter.
"The shamans will eventually come out."
Jimun Seo-saeng instructed not to attack until the shamans completely left the fence and entered the danger zone. The Witch and I followed those instructions.
-Why should I?
-It's not my words, it's Jimun Seo-saeng's.
-Then I'll listen a little.
The Witch granted permission like that and faithfully carried out Jimun Seo-saeng's plan. However, she couldn't hide her frustrated expression.
'With only 4 shamans, they're definitely weak.'
The warriors who'd lost their direction eventually retreated back inside the fence.
"They're running away?"
"It's unexpected, but not bad."
Jimun Seo-saeng issued another wait command. The shamans had made a wise judgment for the moment, but overall, they'd caused even greater discord. The warriors were furious about retreating without even fighting.
"It's a trap."
"A trap?"
"They're instigating discord to draw us in. Look, the warriors' weapons are close by."
It was as Jimun Seo-saeng said. The shamans were digging a trap to lure us in.
"It's a battle we'll win anyway. As long as we stick to our plan, there are no variables."
"No reinforcements either?"
"I found out they were contacting Podallab Palace for an alliance. So I warned Podallab Palace in advance. That if they help the shamans, they'll end up in all-out war with us."
"You really said it like that?"
There was no way Jimun Seo-saeng would have spoken so directly. As expected, Jimun Seo-saeng slightly turned his head.
"Tell me. What did you say?"
He spoke as if he had no choice.
"I said our Cult Leader's personality has become even rougher than in her previous life."
"Did you have to sell me out?"
"That works well. Mentioning the Cult Leader rather than the organization has much stronger symbolism and registers more deeply in the brain."
I let this part slide. Now was the time to focus on the shamans.
"Then they'll eventually come out again."
"Next time will be for real. Their food supplies are already depleted."
Jimun Seo-saeng leisurely waited for the next attack.
It was night, with about 2 hours left until dawn.
"They've moved."
They ultimately chose nighttime. There were no drumbeats or war cries. They all emerged from the fence at once as if staging a surprise attack. It was useless. The Heavenly Demon Cult members immediately increased the distance.
'They've come out.'
The shamans had no choice but to move to the center of the group under the warriors' protection. The warriors who'd left the fence all moved in five groups. Each tribe was protecting their own sage, with elite warriors at the front. Scattered in four directions—north, south, east, and west—they deployed an unexpected strategy.
'Escape?'
Contrary to expectations, they chose flight over combat. The warriors charged forward to fight, but the shamans' strategy was completely different. Rather than bothering to chase the Heavenly Demon Cult members, they chose to scatter as much as possible and distance themselves from the fence. The only group that wanted battle was 100 elite warriors. But there were no Heavenly Demon Cult members to face them.
'It seems they think escaping from here is what's important.'
It was the most rational choice. Even I hadn't expected the warriors to retreat.
"Let's begin."
Jimun Seo-saeng showed no wavering despite the unexpected movement. I moved according to the original plan.
"Sword God."
First, I chased after the group that had come out to the east with Sword God. The warriors consumed by madness kept turning their heads, looking for enemies, but there were no Heavenly Demon Cult members nearby. I confirmed the shaman at the center of the group and split up with Sword God to both sides.
-It's about symbolism.
Jimun Seo-saeng had said this about this attack. Just as he'd mentioned my name to Podallab Palace, he would utilize it in this battle too. I approached them first. The warriors searching for enemies let out horrific screams. The shaman raised his staff and controlled the warriors. Warriors were positioned in front of the shaman, and they covered me as if surrounding from both ends.
'As expected.'
To them, I'm the image of a raider. And the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. I'm their highest priority enemy, and I've always confronted them head-on until now. This is symbolism. The shaman was certain I would attack him.
I watched the warriors charging from both sides and retreated briefly. Then the frenzied warriors burst forward like a flood. I looked at the shaman's expression. The very moment he felt something was wrong, a swift sword sliced through the air behind the shaman. A red line was drawn across the shaman's neck. And behind the falling head, Sword God's face appeared.
When the shaman died, the warriors' movements suddenly stopped. The frenzy had been released. Sword God and I left them alone and moved positions.
"1 eliminated."
We were the fastest. Soon, another person's voice was heard.
-I eliminated one too. Actually, I eliminated him a bit ago, but my report was late. I was faster.
It was the Witch. She, too, had paired up with Cheong Ak-sal. The Witch appeared first, and Cheong Ak-sal caught them from behind.
"Your lie is clumsy. I'm heading south."
-I'm going north. I'll be faster this time, too.
Because the Witch stimulated my competitive spirit, I chased the northern group at top speed. Other strategies were meaningless. This time too, when I appeared, the shaman reacted sensitively. And Sword God struck the shaman from behind.
"Eliminated."
-Eliminated!
Four shamans had been eliminated. Now there were no shamans left among the battle tribe.
"Now all that remains is how to calm them down."
Just because the shamans disappeared didn't mean the warriors stopped attacking. Rather than heading in the escape direction, they became desperate to find enemies.
-Beginning lure.
As Jimun Seo-saeng said, we lured them to their original fence. But the warriors who'd been following at first suddenly stopped.
'Chieftain?'
When the shamans disappeared, the Chieftains took over giving orders, and the Chieftain I was luring ordered a retreat. The warriors rebelled. But the Chieftain wouldn't permit opposition.
"Don't tell me you're going to run away? Where did your warrior's pride go?"
My words provoked the warriors.
"That guy was your Chieftain? And you're going to keep letting it happen? If it were truly the will of the gods, they would have let you die on the battlefield. Isn't that the battle tribe's destiny?"
Eventually, the warriors nearby swung their weapons at me. I blocked with Strong Fist and retreated again.
"I'm the Chieftain of 300 battle tribe members. Your current actions are attacking your own tribe."
"Heretics and the like, we don't recognize them as our tribe!"
Persuasion failed. But provocation definitely worked. The warriors charged at me. I deliberately blocked their attacks while drawing their attention.
"The Chieftain says to stop, will you continue?"
My words excited them further.
"Isn't a warrior who ignores the Chieftain's words also a heretic?"
This time my words worked. One of the warriors stopped attacking and spread his arms to block the others as well. Thinking it was an opportunity, I quickly spoke.
"I think it's a chance to change Chieftains. Actually, that guy who's the Chieftain became Chieftain with the shaman's help. If you check directly, the match will probably be decided within 1 minute."
The warriors deliberated.
"Look, here I am, the one who killed your sages. But the Chieftain gave the order to flee. There's only one way for you to catch me. Change Chieftains."
I stopped moving while acting leisurely. Then the one who'd first blocked the warriors ran quickly toward the Chieftain.
"Chieftain, I request a duel!"
"This is a combat situation!"
Hearing this, I shouted loudly.
"It's not a combat situation! I have no intention of attacking!"
My words sorted out the entire situation.
"Pick up your weapon!"
The Chieftain gritted his teeth and suddenly attacked the warrior who'd requested the duel. A Chieftain duel. The outcome was already decided. The Chieftain couldn't last even 30 seconds. The warriors cheered, and if given orders, they looked ready to charge at me immediately.
"Now, shall we fight again once you've grasped the Chieftain's true nature?"
The one who'd newly become Chieftain came before me instead of giving orders. He seemed surprised himself at the result of the duel with the Chieftain.
"You had it rough under an unqualified Chieftain."
"That doesn't mean I can forgive you. Everyone, attack!"
Ultimately, he chose battle. I retreated backward as per Jimun Seo-saeng's original plan and lured them. Eventually, all the warriors gathered again near the fence. When the warriors confirmed their allies, they instinctively formed ranks. Then, I pushed back all the Heavenly Demon Cult members and stepped forward.
When I alone approached them, those who hadn't revealed themselves until now appeared. 300 warriors. They were tribesmen with me.
"I am the Chieftain of 300 warriors. In that capacity, I tell you."
The warriors didn't stop my words. The atmosphere was one of watching for now.
"The shamans used you. The Chieftains also deceived you. Your pride was discarded by them, and you've never once had a fight befitting warriors."
The warriors' anger gradually intensified.
"So I'll give you a chance. Time to fight with your warrior's pride on the line. That time is right now."
I approached them a bit more.
"Verify directly whether I'm qualified to be their Chieftain. And I'll give you the opportunity to stand behind me, too."
Now I'd approached to where a warrior's fist could reach.
"Begin."
Tuk.
I lightly pushed the warrior in front. That was the beginning. The warriors' fury turned toward me all at once.
'Fire Dragon Hand.'
Strong Fist in my left hand, Fire Dragon Hand in my right. I blocked the approaching warrior's axe with Strong Fist, burrowed inside, and broke his elbow and knee. I made sure no allies interfered. Thus began the fight with 400 people.
Even if there are many opponents, if the enemy is one person, there aren't many who can directly fight. However, it's dangerous if surrounded. I avoided encirclement with Lightness Skills, induced opponents' bone fractures with footwork, and fought for a long time.
As time passed, casualties inevitably began to occur. The intention was to keep everyone alive, but they weren't easy enough opponents for that. While controlling my internal energy, I met threatening attacks with killing techniques. The fight continued like that for 20 minutes.
When sweat began to form on my body, the number of fallen warriors reached 100. From that point on, warriors who withdrew from battle appeared. Changes began to occur among them. Time flowed, and emotions and reason underwent changes accordingly.
When an hour had passed since the battle began. I too couldn't hide my rising breath. My whole body was soaked with sweat, and the internal energy in my dantian and Baekhoehyeol was completely empty. I was barely holding back trembling muscles.
Fallen warriors: 250.
150 still remained. But there was no one holding a weapon toward me. The 150 had already withdrawn from the battlefield and were only watching. Awe floated on their expressions. Instinctive longing for the strong.
"Is there anyone who still doesn't acknowledge me?"
I asked with force so everyone could hear. The battlefield was quiet. No one answered my words.
"Waaaaa!"
Instead, the 300 tribesmen who'd watched me all shouted in unison. That shout announced the end of the battle.
"Anyone who wants the Chieftain position, come at me anytime."
The long, long battle ended like that.