Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Captain Ibija's Challenge
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Hyeok Mulin had returned to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
The Heavenly Windstorm Brigade, which had received personal equipment crafted by the Southern Iron Gate alongside him, now strutted around proudly displaying their bows, shoulders squared as if they were the Heavenly Demon Army itself.
Many demonic cultists watched with envy, aspiring to join the Heavenly Demon Army—but not everyone shared the sentiment.
"Look at these rookies who haven't even been on a real mission strutting around like that."
"Riding the coattails of the Cult Leader's prestige, and now their noses are in the air."
"What would a bunch of country bumpkins who hunted grass-eaters know anyway?"
"I ought to grab one sometime and give him a proper lesson."
There had always been those who resented the emergence of this second Heavenly Demon Army unit. They began picking fights, using it as an excuse.
The core of the Heavenly Demon Army, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad, was far too powerful for them to touch despite their dissatisfaction. So, their targets shifted to the seemingly easier prey: the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade.
Besides, since the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade specialized in ranged attacks with bows, they figured even if it came to blows, they'd win handily.
"The Cult Leader hasn't said a word about it..."
"Means he's turning a blind eye to this much."
"No need to hold back then."
And Hyeok Mulin did not intervene in the least in these inter-unit power struggles.
The Heavenly Windstorm Brigade might bear the Heavenly Demon Army name, but it was still just rivalry between units within the cult.
Thus, as long as they didn't cross the line into disrupting the cult's discipline, Hyeok Mulin tacitly permitted such posturing.
As time passed, the provocations against the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade grew bolder.
It started with minor jabs that left a bad taste, but it escalated until they were brawling physically.
They kept prodding, hoping the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade would snap and overreact, earning expulsion from the Heavenly Demon Army.
In that tense situation, Ibija responded in a way no one anticipated.
"If you have words for me, step up to the martial arena."
Ibija had challenged the captains of every unit that had picked fights with the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade to duels—simultaneously.
The captains froze for a moment before exploding in outrage.
"Challenging all the captains at once by himself?"
"Guess we looked like pushovers."
"Or maybe he's setting up an excuse about fighting multiple opponents if he loses."
"Might as well settle the pecking order while we're at it."
"Who wants to go first?"
Refusing to take the bait as a group, they ascended the arena one by one.
Not as a mob against one, but one-on-one duels.
Even setting aside not playing into Ibija's hands, ganging up on a single captain would bruise their pride.
Ibija prepared for battle, issuing a warning.
"I've given you your chance. No regrets."
The duels began, and the outcomes shattered everyone's expectations.
The swordsman charged right from the start, closing in close.
Normally, a swordsman would dominate an archer at point-blank range.
But the result was the opposite.
Ibija surged inward in an instant, deflecting the blade effortlessly with his bow before wrapping his leg around the foe like a vice and pinning him down.
He then drew his bowstring taut right in the immobilized opponent's face.
The arrow tip gleamed before the defeated captain's eyes.
With the arrow hovering just shy of his pupil, the man's fighting spirit broke, and he conceded defeat meekly.
Two more bouts followed the same pattern, after which they slunk away.
The brigade members smirked and jeered at their retreating backs.
"Look at them hightail it out of here!"
"That's our captain for you."
"Now they know the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade's—"
"Enough."
Ibija doused their excitement with a cold interruption.
In a stern voice, he pinpointed the brigade's harsh reality.
"What are you so happy about? Us becoming targets means we're still seen as weaklings."
Ibija didn't hold back his sharp critique toward his men.
"Those guys lack the guts to challenge the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad, so they bully weaker units to feel big. Beating trash like that is nothing to celebrate."
He was right.
They were like filters preying only on the weak, far beneath Ibija's standards.
Clearing out hordes of them wouldn't count as any real accomplishment in his eyes.
Moreover, it wasn't even the brigade fighting—the captain himself had stepped up and won.
"Double training time starting tomorrow."
"What?!"
"C-Captain, please reconsider just once...!"
"Is there anyone here confident they could step into that arena and win guaranteed?"
"......"
They exchanged uneasy glances before falling silent.
In the end, the duels were straight-up one-on-one with no room to maneuver—pure close-quarters if the distance closed.
And inevitably, fights would turn melee eventually.
Yet the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade's members were markedly weaker up close compared to ranged combat—excluding the exceptional Ibija, no one could step up with confidence.
"You all know your own shortcomings already. Archers thrive at range, but you can't ignore what happens when they close in. Starting tomorrow, intensive close-quarters combat training."
"......Yes, sir."
"Understood."
Swallowing their groans, the men obeyed Ibija's orders.
They'd thought special training marked the end of the grind, only for more to await.
It stung, but since it targeted the brigade's weakness, they had no choice but to accept.
The mood sank, but Ibija pressed on undeterred, declaring coldly:
"Even as the Heavenly Demon Army, we're still a green unit. Our worth is for us to prove going forward. Don't lose that rookie fire—train with it."
In truth, Ibija welcomed the rival units' pressure.
A little annoyance? Less than a speck of dust.
The Heavenly Demon Army answered only to the Cult Leader in all the world.
However.
'Time to tighten up again.'
To Ibija, the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade's ascent had been meteoric.
Starting as the Heavenly Demon Army, nailing their first mission, earning the Cult Leader's nod.
Then custom gear from the Southern Iron Gate's top smiths—small wonder shoulders swelled.
'This is the most dangerous phase.'
Intoxicated by fresh fame, a warrior's edge dulled.
Ibija, knowing this, slammed the brakes on the high spirits without easing his vigilance.
The brigade still had flaws galore, enough to trip over.
Fortunately, the men trusted and followed him utterly.
"We'll etch your words into our hearts, Captain."
His earnest advice hit home; they took it to heart.
They'd shed their hunter roots, reborn as true brigade members.
Following Ibija, their eyes now burned with resolute fire.
Thus, the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade took another step forward.
"Good call handing it to him."
"You mean the brigade captain?"
"Yeah. Kept the Heavenly Windstorm Brigade on track single-handedly."
In the Pure Heaven Pavilion, reviewing reports on the brigade, Hyeok Mulin wore a satisfied smile.
Sima Jin nodded in agreement.
"Not just discipline and morale—reports are spotless, no loose ends."
From founding to full formation and beyond, Ibija had shouldered it all virtually alone.
Yet he showed no strain, handling everything flawlessly.
"Didn't expect this level of results from him."
"He's near a perfect fit for the role."
Hyeok Mulin had gained new respect for the man.
He'd brought him in with expectations, but not this level of output.
Still, the success was his own fruit, so the pleasant surprise warmed him.
"How's the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad?"
With focus lately on the new Heavenly Demon Army unit, Sima Jin had handled most Blood Death Squad matters.
Of course, their reliable captain and vice-captains made it feasible without worry.
"As always, outperforming other units several times over."
The Heavenly Demon Army's core, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad, always prioritized Cult Leader Hyeok Mulin first.
Even on missions, they deployed only portions of their force, ever ready for his command.
Yet even partial deployments crushed other units' success rates.
And among them.
"Jeok Mugun's been standing out lately. Handled several high-difficulty missions solo and aced them all."
"Jeok Mugun, huh..."
Recalling him, Hyeok Mulin tapped the desk.
After shining in the Demonic Martial God Tournament, he'd rejected offers from the Seven Great Demon Clans and others to volunteer for the Heavenly Demon Army.
Most figured it was fierce loyalty to the Cult Leader.
'As if. More like the opposite.'
Hyeok Mulin knew better.
Jeok Mugun's entry wasn't loyalty to protect the leader—it was just a means to his own ends.
And to that purpose, he threw himself into missions, making his presence known.
'Time to peel back that shell.'
Hyeok Mulin's tapping stopped.
A faint smile crept across his lips.
"Sima Jin."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"Summon Jeok Mugun to the Heavenly Demon Hall. I'll commend his achievements personally."
"Understood."
As he issued the order, a subtle smile played on Hyeok Mulin's mouth.
Tonight, Jeok Mugun would have no choice but to reveal the true purpose he'd hidden his whole life.
I'll strip away that mask myself.