Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Hell Blade's Pledge
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Swish—
Hyeok Mulin traced a smooth, horizontal line.
In response, Man Ho brought down a ferocious slash as if a meteor were plummeting from the heavens.
Boom!
The sword and blade clashed, unleashing a thunderous roar.
Sensing he hadn't landed a hit, Man Ho didn't stop there.
Thick blade energy swirled around his blade.
Aiming the blood-red glow along its edge obliquely at Hyeok Mulin, he unleashed a barrage of over a dozen diagonal slashes from multiple angles.
Wind Blood Mad Demon Blade.
The wind he whipped up carried the thick stench of blood, as if it were real.
Yet Hyeok Mulin effortlessly deflected the mad assault.
By subtly twisting the angle of his sword, he threw every incoming slash off course.
The redirected strikes ravaged only the innocent crater floor.
As Man Ho furrowed his brow at the sight...
Flash.
A blinding glare assaulted him, like a star exploding before his eyes.
Instinct told Man Ho it was more than mere light, so he thrust his blade forward defensively.
Gripping it firmly, he channeled his demonic energy into a defensive stance along the edge.
Thud thud thud—
When the light faded and Man Ho's vision cleared, he spotted the sword strike that had clashed against his blade and been flung aside.
He immediately turned his gaze to Hyeok Mulin and charged fiercely once more.
Clutching his blade with both hands, Man Ho drove it diagonally with cold precision.
Hyeok Mulin countered from below, slashing upward at an angle.
Tsssss—
Their locked sword and blade grated out a harsh metallic screech.
At point-blank range, the two exchanged stares.
A razor-sharp contest of strength ensued, where the slightest lapse in focus could mean being devoured by the other's edge.
In the midst of it, Hyeok Mulin slowly opened his mouth.
"You've grown stronger in the meantime."
This was his first spar with Man Ho, but Hyeok Mulin had a rough gauge of the man's level.
He had once clashed with Cheon Jungak in the Martial Demon Supremacy Battle—without going all out—and witnessed several of his fights besides.
And the prowess Man Ho displayed against him now was far sharper and more explosive than before.
In response, Man Ho voiced the reason for the change Hyeok Mulin had noted.
"Staying at the Southern Barbaric Beast Palace and studying their martial arts proved a great help."
Man Ho hadn't merely taught the eldest princess their techniques.
To advance her skills, he'd analyzed them for weaknesses, filling gaps in the process—and gained insights from similarities to his own arts.
The subtle differences allowed him to patch those very gaps.
"This, too, is thanks to the Cult Leader who brought me to the south."
"You're too kind."
Clang!
The locked sword and blade parted.
Man Ho leaped back and unleashed Angular Dragon Tempest Blade.
Explosive blade aura erupted from the ground to the sky, birthing a massive whirlwind.
It exuded the overwhelming force of a dragon finally ascending after a millennium of slumber.
And that vortex surged passionately toward Hyeok Mulin.
Slash.
A single vertical line.
One sword stroke etched atop the maelstrom.
Yet that simple line cleaved the dragon's body in half. The vortex split left and right, harmlessly grazing past Hyeok Mulin.
Watching the scene, Man Ho ground his teeth in dismay.
'As expected, this isn't enough.'
Then...
Man Ho spun his blade and reversed his grip.
Hyeok Mulin, seeing the stance, anticipated a secret technique.
It was the same posture Man Hyobom had taken when unleashing the Man Clan's ultimate art.
Thud!
Man Ho plunged his blade into the ground.
Whether by chance or design, it struck dead center in the crater.
"Cult Leader. Here I go."
Veins bulged vividly along Man Ho's forearms, and wild demonic energy rippled through his body.
His blade sank deeper into the earth.
Like sinking into a quagmire.
And when it had buried so deep it seemed utterly swallowed...
Flash!
Man Ho's eyes flew wide as he erupted with all his demonic energy, yanking the blade skyward.
From his hands unfolded his signature ultimate technique: Fierce Flame Erupting Fire Demon Blade Slash.
Rumble rumble rumble—
The world shook.
Molten lava burst from the scorching crater.
Before Hyeok Mulin's eyes unfolded a vivid volcano eruption.
Was this reality, or illusion?
In that blurred moment, it didn't matter to Hyeok Mulin.
Real or fake, he'd shatter it either way.
Hyeok Mulin swung his sword, slicing the world vertically.
A line.
A line.
A line.
Ten Thousand Rain Piercing Sword etched countless lines upon the world.
And those lines...
Drip. Drip drip.
Became a scattering drizzle from the heavens.
Whoosh—
Soon transforming into a downpour that chilled everything to the bone.
Man Ho glanced up at the sight.
Vast torrents poured down as if the sky had ruptured.
A stream hit his forehead, trickled along his nose, and beaded at his chin.
Distracted by the pounding rain, Man Ho slowly lowered his gaze.
The crater had cooled completely.
At its edge stood Hyeok Mulin, gazing at him with half-lidded eyes, utterly serene.
Man Ho closed his eyes tightly at the sight.
Clang.
Releasing his blade, he spoke.
"I yield."
"A fascinating spar."
Hyeok Mulin nodded and sheathed his sword.
Man Ho promptly bowed his head.
"Thank you for drawing your sword against me."
In truth, Man Ho had anticipated this.
Victory over Hyeok Mulin in a spar was impossible.
He matched Cheon Jungak evenly, yet hadn't that Iron Blood Demon Emperor fallen to Hyeok Mulin in the Martial Demon Supremacy Battle?
And during his time in the south, the divine might of Hyeok Mulin he'd witnessed firsthand clearly surpassed his own realm.
'Of course, he didn't go all out.'
Hyeok Mulin hadn't unleashed his full power.
Even in the spar, he'd merely deflected attacks, slipping in light counters.
And his final ultimate technique, the Fierce Flame Erupting Fire Demon Blade Slash, had been effortlessly nullified, ending the fight.
From start to finish, Hyeok Mulin hadn't exerted himself fully.
Yet he respected Man Ho.
From the beginning, he'd faced him with his main weapon, the Heaven-Splitting Demon Sword. Man Ho felt that sincerity.
Hyeok Mulin nodded deeply at Man Ho's gratitude.
"So, satisfied with the spar you were so eager for?"
"Yes. Not a shred of regret remains."
The outcome was clear, and Man Ho accepted it.
He was certain no technique could have changed the result.
He had lost.
To the Cult Leader.
Having stayed by Hyeok Mulin's side, he'd unconsciously gauged his level to some extent.
Thus, the defeat brought no shock.
Instead, a sense of relief washed over him.
Back at the Cult Leader's inauguration, he'd seen a hot-headed youth manipulated by the Cheon Clan.
Gazing at Hyeok Mulin, Man Ho broke into a smile.
"You've grown immense."
His solitary smile faded soon after.
Then he posed a question to Hyeok Mulin.
"Do you know why I didn't request this spar right after returning from the south?"
"No idea."
Hyeok Mulin shook his head honestly.
He'd expected an immediate visit—or none at all.
Yet a fortnight passed before this.
"But I can guess you were deeply troubled."
"Exactly. After returning home, every moment was torment—even eating a single bite was a struggle amid constant deliberation."
"The gap between your positions as clan patriarch and individual."
"Yes. Though this time, my concerns flipped entirely."
Before, Man Ho had personally been drawn to Hyeok Mulin, following him.
But as patriarch, he'd kept distance from getting too close.
After living alongside him in the south, however, Man Ho—as patriarch—now believed it right to follow him.
Yet closeness revealed new issues.
Could Man Ho himself—not as patriarch, but as an individual—achieve anything at the Cult Leader's side?
Hyeok Mulin's towering presence threatened to eclipse his very self.
Thus, Man Ho had agonized long and finally come.
For some reason, he felt the Cult Leader would provide answers.
And so he poured out his pent-up worries.
Hyeok Mulin listened quietly, then smirked.
"Pointless fretting."
Man Ho bristled slightly.
His head had nearly exploded from this very dilemma, and now it was "pointless"?
"What conclusion allows you to dismiss it so lightly?"
Hyeok Mulin offered a simple verdict.
"Why separate yourself as patriarch from yourself as Man Ho?"
"...Pardon?"
"You are the patriarch, and you are Man Ho. But must you divide them?"
Man Ho felt as if struck on the head.
No one had ever put it that way.
"No need for needless debate. Just do what you do best."
What I do best...?
Man Ho glanced down at himself, then met Hyeok Mulin's eyes again.
Hyeok Mulin's lips curved gently.
"Follow your heart."
Hyeok Mulin had no intent to restrain Man Ho's freedom.
He shone by inspiring those around him through his own liberty.
Man Ho's pupils dilated.
"Really... it's alright?"
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
Silence fell briefly.
Man Ho gazed at the moon and the stars illuminating it.
Resolved, he met Hyeok Mulin's eyes.
"I..."
No hesitation lingered in his gaze or voice.
With firm resolve, Man Ho declared his will.
"wish to join the demonic path you envision."
Man Ho's declaration.
Only one listener, but that sufficed.
Confirming his steadfast intent, Hyeok Mulin slowly smiled.
"I accept your resolve."