Chapter 95
Chapter 95
Chapter 95
Chieftain (1)
It was a strange standoff.
The warriors understood my words.
They welcomed the new chieftain because the succession ceremony had been full of doubts.
'Of course it's strange.'
I had clearly seen it in the battle between the two just now.
The young warrior couldn't withstand even a single strike. The difference in skill was that stark.
"It is the will of the god!"
"It's not the will of the god, but rather a scheme by the chieftain and the shaman to maintain power through collusion."
"How dare you blaspheme the god Urak! Warriors of Urak, execute the one who has blasphemed the god!"
When the name of the god was invoked, the warriors' gazes turned toward me.
"How do I know that's really what the god Urak said? Isn't it just what you're saying?"
The shaman closed his mouth.
"Can you prove it? Then I'll believe you too."
The warriors also looked at the shaman.
They felt uneasy about it too. Otherwise, they would already be fighting me.
"Don't regret this."
The shaman threw his staff. Then the staff remained suspended in midair, spewing black energy in all directions.
The energy connected precisely to the fence, turning the interior into a black dome.
"I command in the name of Urak, warriors arise and punish the heretic."
Red marks appeared on the warriors' bodies. And their eyes were also dyed red.
Berserkers.
A violent energy that exploded like wild beasts filled the inside of the black dome.
"Kuaaah!"
Starting with one person, they roared while looking at the sky. Then they all rushed at me at once.
At that moment, I was looking at someone else.
Yongcheon.
I blocked the path of one who stood dazed beyond the approaching warriors.
Chaeng!
At that sound, the warrior raised his head.
"Snap out of it. A warrior's pride is revealed in crisis."
It was in front of Taduka.
I blocked the iron mace the chieftain brought down with Gangkwon.
"Ambushing someone—did the chieftain never have pride to begin with?"
Taduka let out a strange cry. Then he rushed past me toward the chieftain.
They immediately entered combat.
Taduka, a skilled warrior, quickly overwhelmed the chieftain.
Meanwhile, I tried to catch the shaman.
Tuk.
The moment I grabbed his neck, the shaman's body disappeared like smoke. And he appeared at the edge of the fence.
Even if I chased him again, it didn't seem like I could catch him.
'Can't be helped.'
The berserkers came close again. I leaped into the air to avoid them.
'The staff.'
I grabbed the staff that was spewing energy with my hand. Instantly, tremendous energy invaded through my energy channels to my dantian.
'Is there really a god or something?'
My body felt like it was burning up. However, I didn't let go of the staff.
When I glanced over, the shaman was showing a sneer.
'Dare to mock the Heavenly Demon?'
I put strength into my grip.
Fire Dragon Hand.
I countered the staff's energy with hot energy. The energy coming inside weakened slightly.
After confirming the staff was glowing red, I prepared a strike.
I let go of my hand and thrust Falling Dragon Fist toward the ground.
With this, I blocked the warriors' approach and descended to the ground, then leaped up again.
Gangkwon.
I gathered all my strength at the end of Gangkwon and stabbed the staff.
Jjeok!
Gangkwon dug into the staff.
After confirming the crack, I withdrew Gangkwon and struck the cracked part with the tip of my foot.
Heavenly Dragon Force.
A blade-like energy wave dug inside and completely tore the staff apart.
The moment the staff disappeared, the black energy that had covered the fence completely vanished. Along with it, the warriors also escaped from their frenzied state.
Tuk.
I landed on the ground.
The warriors had just escaped from their frenzy, so they didn't attack me.
The shaman, who had watched the entire situation, urgently shouted.
"Punish the heretic!"
Then, a sound that no one expected was heard.
"Uoooh!"
Someone raised their fist and let out a strange cry. Everyone's gaze turned that way.
Taduka.
He was roaring with the chieftain fallen beneath him.
"Attacking the chieftain—that means you don't need to drink water, right?"
I said while looking at the shaman.
"Anyone who defeats the chieftain becomes the chieftain. So it seems Taduka has become chieftain now, right?"
This time I asked the warriors.
The warriors blankly assessed the situation then shouted in unison.
"A new chieftain!"
This was what they had wanted.
However, they were still looking at me.
Then Taduka shouted.
"Everyone stand down!"
It was the new chieftain's first command. At this, the warriors lowered their weapons.
"I command in the name of Chieftain Taduka. We warriors of Urak have deep doubts about the shaman's advice. Therefore, I will give an opportunity to explain in the presence of all warriors."
Taduka said while looking at the warriors around him.
"Bring the shaman."
The warriors approached the shamans.
In practice, the sages decided all policies, but clearly the decision-making authority belonged to the chieftain. The sage was defined as an advisor role.
The shaman, who sensed his fate, desperately shouted as the warriors approached.
"The Council of Sages will not leave the heretic chieftain alone! To collude with the Heavenly Demon Cult and defile the warrior's pride! I will definitely return and hold you accountable!"
Before the warriors arrived, the sage wrapped himself with his hood to cover his body. Then only an empty hood fell to the ground.
"How dare you ignore the chieftain's command and flee!"
The enraged Taduka struck the ground with his hammer. A tremendous rumble spread throughout.
"Chieftain, what will you do with Oltan?"
The warriors asked.
Taduka looked at the fallen warrior and his son.
"I give them a chance to explain."
The warriors moved immediately. They were trying to set up the fallen Oltan and his son in the center of the clearing.
Meanwhile, Taduka came to me.
"Thank you."
He spoke in a firm posture. He didn't bow his head, but his sincerity was clearly felt.
"Why did you help me?"
"Ure said you were a true warrior."
"Is Ure really with the Heavenly Demon Cult?"
"That's right. Is that a problem?"
"No. I want to give him a chance. I know Ure well. He will become a warrior superior to me."
I judged it was time to clearly convey my intention.
"Ure is already part of the Heavenly Demon Cult. You're the ones who abandoned him. You should be grateful I'm not taking revenge."
"Is that so?"
"But if Ure grows up and says he wants revenge on the tribe that abandoned him, I won't stop him."
"Ure has the right to do so."
He was confident about everything.
"Is there something you want from me?"
"No. Even if there was something I wanted, it doesn't seem like you'd have the capacity to grant it?"
"What do you mean?"
"That shaman will definitely attack here. That's how politics works."
Taduka nodded.
"If they attack, we'll face them. We have no reason to back down."
"Are you saying you'll just die here?"
"We fight to survive."
I wouldn't have avoided it either. Of course, there would have been tremendous nagging from Jimun Seo-saeng.
I put aside the preamble and got to the main point.
"The Heavenly Demon Cult can protect you."
"I refuse."
I expected this too.
"Are you planning to get all the tribe members killed?"
"I will strive to save them."
"Do you think you can take responsibility alone?"
I think I understand his intention.
If problems arise, he plans to resolve them with his own life.
"The tribe members have already sided with you, not the shaman. Do you think they'll just leave such a tribe alone?"
I'm saying things like Jimun Seo-saeng would.
"I won't force you. But just know that there's a way if you want to save them."
I left those words and exited the tribe's fence.
From now on, it's not a stage where I can change minds with words.
'The foundation is set, but how do I deliver the decisive blow?'
Not everything went as expected.
'I underestimated the shaman.'
The plan was to use the shaman as an excuse to reveal all secrets and start a fight with other tribes.
But two things went wrong.
Taduka defeated the chieftain too quickly, and the shaman's escape was also unexpected.
'Let's deal with the shaman first.'
I realized they were the most dangerous. The pain from when I grabbed the staff still remains.
'They're the key.'
Both the sorcery that created berserkers and their pure shamanic abilities were excellent.
Even if the Heavenly Demon Cult had a full-scale war with the barbarian tribes, they were opponents that needed to be dealt with first.
That night.
I was watching the fence of the largest tribe along with the Hundred White Blood Corps.
—My Lord, you are being too hasty. If the shaman fled, they might anticipate this raid.
There were two options.
Wait for another opportunity, or push through as is.
Until now, the Heavenly Demon Cult has always chosen to push through.
—We'll act according to Cheong Ak-sal's reconnaissance results.
Jimun Seo-saeng also agreed to this.
Opportunities always come with risks. But we can't just go in recklessly.
"Cheong Ak-sal, move carefully. If you judge they're prepared, pull out immediately."
I put sufficient safety measures in place. If the situation isn't good, we'll aim for next time.
Cheong Ak-sal carefully approached the fence.
"I'll get ready."
So Iryeon was also serious for this moment.
I also firmly warned Hundred White Blood Corps about the shamans.
—If an attack order is given, just eliminate them.
There's no reason to capture them alive.
Whether we absorb or annihilate the Barbarian tribes, the shamans must disappear.
I held my breath and waited.
Fifteen shamans.
The goal is to annihilate them all.
Twenty minutes passed.
'It's taking too long.'
If it was Cheong Ak-sal, who could hide his body with magic, he should have returned already.
'Something went wrong.'
I made a judgment and moved immediately.
"Wait here."
I had all other personnel wait and approached the fence.
Then, an unexpected light burst forth.
Hwareureuk!
Suddenly, flames erupted from behind.
It was the area where So Iryeon and Hundred White Blood Corps were hiding.
The Heavenly Demon Cult members reflexively came to my side to avoid the fire.
Then, Cheong Ak-sal crossed over the fence and shouted.
"It's a trap!"
I quickly surveyed the surroundings.
But before I could confirm the enemy, the ground writhed and earth surged up.
Perfect darkness.
The earth blocked everything.
There was space. I put all my strength into my feet and deployed Yongcheon.
Kwang!
The earth wall shook greatly. Debris poured down like rain from the ceiling.
However, light didn't come back in.
We were trapped in a giant prison.
The ground beneath breathed, rising up and then descending again.
"So Iryeon! Hundred Tiger Ghost!"
I called out my subordinates' names. But there was no answer.
An ominous thought occurred.
'The subordinates are in danger.'
I drew up my internal energy. I intended to break through with Heavenly Dragon Strength.
But I soon stopped.
'They might be nearby.'
I might accidentally kill a subordinate with my own hands.
'How dare they!'
I reached my hand toward the direction I had collided with earlier. I felt a thick earth wall.
I gathered my internal energy.
Wind Dragon Palm, Fire Dragon Hand.
I struck the wall with all my internal energy.
Kwakwang!
The wall shook.
At that moment, I released Wind Dragon Palm, Fire Dragon Hand once more.
Three streams of Wind Dragon Palm attacked the same point.
Kurung!
All the earth poured down. At the same time, I felt my body being teleported somewhere.
A moment later, I saw the night sky filled with stars.
"Snap out of it!"
Fortunately, my subordinates were safe. They were all on high alert, scanning the surroundings.
'Where is this?'
The surrounding environment had completely changed. We had been teleported.
It wasn't the area we had been in. Instead of a wide clearing, I could see the ocean.
'Damn it.'
It was a small island. And mysterious totems were erected all over the island.
An ominous premonition stimulated my entire body like insects.
'This is a prepared location.'
Not only totems, but even the wooden pillars and sandy beach were full of incomprehensible patterns.
Unlike magic circles, there was no symmetry or visible rules, and it felt like ancient script and hieroglyphics had been scrawled about.
"Where's Cheong Ak-sal?"
Cheong Ak-sal wasn't visible.
'Damn it.'
I never even dreamed that Cheong Ak-sal would fail reconnaissance. Not preparing for this was clearly my mistake.
As I gritted my teeth in frustration, So Iryeon urgently shouted.
"My Lord! Magic won't work!"
"What?"
I quickly pulled out my ring. And threw it on the ground.
No magic circle was created.
I think I understand the purpose of the totems and sorcery here.
"A prison for mages, is that it?"
Still, the fortunate thing is that we aren't mages.
"Destroy everything in sight."
I gave orders while putting the ring back on.
Hundred White Blood Corps and So Iryeon immediately began destroying the totems.
For ten minutes, we disassembled every tree and totem that existed on the island. Then I took off the ring again.
'There's still some left.'
The ring's magic circle disappeared before it could emit light. It wasn't completely removed yet.
Then, someone appeared in the air.
"Vermin-like bastards."
A large-framed black shaman.
It was that bastard I first met.
"This is punishment for daring to touch a sage."
"What are you talking about?"
"By now, the Heavenly Demon Cult's main group is also collapsing, keke!"
At those words, the back of my head prickled. But I soon regained my composure.
'Because the Witch is there.'
When I didn't waver, the shaman spoke as if he had already expected this.
"Do you think the Ice Witch is at the main group? Keke! You will ultimately despair!"
Anger surged up.
Then, my eyes met with So Iryeon's.
So Iryeon nodded slightly, and I ran toward her.
So Iryeon crouched down and placed both hands on her knees. I stepped on her feet and deployed Yongcheon toward the sky.
Instantly, So Iryeon threw me into the air with all her might.
The shaman, who had thought he had maintained sufficient distance and let his guard down, was greatly flustered when I leaped up.
"Your laughter is unlucky."
I grabbed the bastard's neck.
Then, this time too, he tried to scatter like smoke.
Uduk!
I was faster.
I fell to the ground with the bastard whose neck was broken beneath my feet.