Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Triumph of the Blood Death Squad
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The showdown ended in the literal blink of an eye, leaving the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad staring blankly downward with slack-jawed faces.
A few among them even rubbed their eyes, doubting what they had just seen.
At that moment...
"The first spar goes to the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad."
As Hyeok Mulin declared the winner, they finally grasped that this was reality.
"W-what the hell just happened?"
"Deputy Commander Tae got taken out in a single exchange...?"
They could directly feel the overwhelming presence carried by the name Man Hyobom.
He might be an outcast from the Man Clan now, but until he fell from grace, he had been personally instructed in martial arts by the clan patriarch himself.
Moreover, his talent had once earned him the overwhelming support of the family's retainers, making him the frontrunner for young clan heir over the eldest son.
They had only heard his epithet in passing before; this was the first time they'd witnessed it firsthand, so they couldn't help but be stunned.
The Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad's faces paled, their atmosphere shifting instantly to one of grim tension.
In stark contrast, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad erupted in cheers that seemed to shake the heavens.
"Wooooaaah!"
"Total domination right from the start— that's our deputy commander!"
"I believed in him from the beginning!"
Man Hyobom shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were nothing, and returned to his lines triumphantly.
With the mood fully shifted, Hyeok Mulin promptly announced preparations for the second spar.
A tense young man from the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad stepped forward.
He was unfamiliar to Hyeok Mulin, who turned to Jang Wi and asked,
"Who is that one?"
"He's Deung Uk, the deputy commander in charge of this platoon from the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad."
He wielded the Woodleaf Sword based on dual blades, slashing with lightning-fast speed.
He was also someone who shone more in one-on-one duels than group battles.
"Perfect for a spar."
Hyeok Mulin glanced at him before shifting his gaze to the opposite side.
The second fighter from the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad was none other than Han Baek.
As he stepped forward, whispers rippled through the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad.
"Who's that guy?"
"Han Baek? Never heard of him."
"Still, don't let your guard down. If he's a deputy like Man Hyobom, he's got some hidden ace up his sleeve."
Once Deung Uk and Han Baek faced each other, Hyeok Mulin immediately signaled the start of the second spar.
"Begin."
Having witnessed Tae Do-gwang's defeat right before his eyes, Deung Uk slowly circled, probing for weaknesses.
Tap, tap.
Deung Uk alternated thrusts with each of his twin swords, gauging Han Baek's style and skill.
He stabbed and withdrew swiftly, demonstrating controlled strikes with his other hand whenever a counter seemed imminent, denying any openings.
He was exploiting the advantages of dual blades to the fullest.
After a few exchanges, he realized his opponent was more manageable than expected.
Unlike Man Hyobom's overwhelming momentum and sharp strikes in the previous bout, this one lacked that edge.
Regaining his confidence, Deung Uk gradually ramped up his attacks.
Soon, having finished his calculations, he charged ferociously.
His crossed blades sliced sharply toward the throat.
It wasn't meant to kill—just to press and chain into follow-ups.
And Deung Uk's intent landed perfectly.
Clang!
Han Baek raised his sword to block at the neck first and foremost, allowing Deung Uk to twist and link into his next move.
Sweeping his blade upward from below in a grand arc, Han Baek barely lifted his chin in time.
But he was a beat too slow.
A thin red line already traced his jawline.
Drops of blood trickled from the wound as Han Baek stared straight ahead with a stony face.
Deung Uk gave him no respite.
Slash!
Though Han Baek retreated step by step, fending off desperately, he couldn't block everything.
Riding his momentum, Deung Uk extended both arms over his shoulders.
Accelerating progressively, he unleashed the Drifting Woodleaf Sword.
Dozens of slashes poured toward Han Baek like trembling aspen leaves.
None packed massive power individually, but they swarmed like countless falling leaves, overwhelming him.
"...!"
The sharp strikes pierced Han Baek's guard, shredding his clothes.
As wounds multiplied, Deung Uk's onslaught intensified, pushing Han Baek into a defensive corner.
'I've got this.'
Even Deung Uk, clashing blades, sensed his victory at some point.
Yet as time dragged on, sweat beaded dry on his brow.
It wouldn't end.
Wounds accumulated, and he teetered on the brink, but Han Baek refused to drop his sword.
On the contrary, he was now abandoning some defense to thrust back aggressively.
'This bastard...!'
A razor-sharp strike from Han Baek forced Deung Uk to leap back in evasion.
Huff. Huff.
Catching his ragged breath, he glared ahead.
'Like a damn leech.'
Having poured so much into his offense, his stamina was considerably drained.
So he switched tactics.
No more petty strikes—instead, feints mixed with bold lunges at vitals.
Deung Uk dashed forward, slashing at Han Baek's blade several times.
Han Baek's eyes followed the sword, and Deung Uk seized the moment, extending his arm to stab at the head.
The final form of the Woodleaf Sword: Scattering Woodleaf Sword.
Han Baek whipped his head aside and swung desperately.
Their blades clashed; Deung Uk's veered slightly left, grazing past Han Baek's face.
Had Han Baek not swung or instinctively dodged, he'd be wandering the afterlife by now.
'Crazy bastard.'
He'd nearly lost his life moments ago.
Yet Han Baek's eyes remained clear, focused solely on the spar.
No matter if his limbs burst or wounds piled up, blood dripping from his face— he resisted tenaciously, never yielding.
Deung Uk's face hardened at that indomitable will.
'Hah.'
No options left.
Sensing the outcome, Deung Uk let out a hollow breath.
Time flowed on until even the onlookers grimaced in exhaustion.
"That's enough."
Hyeok Mulin halted the spar.
"The second match is a draw."
"Hah... hah... hah."
Despite his all-out assault, Deung Uk panted heavily as he stared at Han Baek before speaking.
"...You're one tough son of a bitch."
He shook his head and turned away.
Han Baek, laboriously watching his retreating back, finally turned and limped back to the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad.
His clothes were torn, blood streaming from wounds— no fatal blows, but he was a battered mess.
The squad members gathered, bandaging him and offering words of encouragement.
"You held out amazingly!"
"Victory is right around the corner thanks to you!"
"We'll engrave that unbreakable spirit deep in our hearts!"
Though they praised him positively, Han Baek's expression remained dim.
He silently wiped his face, as if blaming himself.
Hyeok Mulin watched him intently.
It was natural to feel frustrated.
Good thing it was just a spar; in a real fight, being pushed back would have doomed the squad.
Considering that, it was effectively a loss— self-reproach for his skills was understandable.
Who could be content with merely enduring an enemy's attacks in battle?
Every warrior yearns to triumph over their foe.
'Han Baek...'
In truth, he wasn't weak.
Hyeok Mulin knew this from his past life.
He was simply lost, treading the wrong path.
'Time to show him the right direction.'
Hyeok Mulin knew exactly what potential Han Baek held.
He intended to awaken the abilities that had only bloomed in his midlife far sooner.
Turning his gaze away, Hyeok Mulin announced preparations for the final spar.
"Already the last one?"
"Everything's riding on this."
The Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad was impressed by Han Baek's tenacity.
But since he hadn't shown overwhelming might like Man Hyobom, they regained some confidence, their faces relaxing.
From their midst emerged the final deputy: Na Changseo.
He was always at the vanguard in assault units and the top candidate for next Black Wind commander.
Stepping to the center, he locked eyes ahead and spoke.
"So it's you."
Gazing at Danri Hyang, he continued.
"I'm Na Changseo, deputy commander of the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad."
As Na Changseo introduced himself, Danri Hyang reluctantly gave his name.
"...Danri Hyang."
"I've heard the rumors. You're from the Central Plains, right?"
At the mention of the Central Plains, Danri Hyang's eyes sharpened coldly.
"So you're the one spreading it."
To the cryptic words, Danri Hyang pointed at his sheath.
"If you're a swordsman, let your sword do the talking."
Na Changseo smoothly drew his blade with a faint smile.
Sparks flew from their glaring eyes.
At the perfect moment, Hyeok Mulin signaled the start, and they clashed in earnest.
Danri Hyang struck first.
He slashed crisply overhead, signaling the spar's beginning.
An impeccable straight horizontal cut, beyond reproach.
Clang!
Na Changseo parried at close range, shoving the blade back with force before retaliating with a swift vertical slash.
But Danri Hyang had already stepped out of range, only to charge back in immediately.
Gripping his sword tighter at the reckless advance, Na Changseo whirled it in a circle.
The Fierce Demon Sword to block the assault.
But Danri Hyang ignored it effortlessly, unleashing the Frozen Guard Sword and plunging straight at the center with chilling strikes.
Na Changseo hastily deflected.
Yet upon clash, his blade froze as if encased in ice, refusing to budge.
'Damn it!'
As Na Changseo's eyes trembled in the unexpected bind...
Whoosh—
Danri Hyang released his sword grip mid-swing, whipping his rear leg toward the jaw.
Too late to maneuver.
Unable to evade, Na Changseo gritted his teeth and thrust his head forward.
Danri Hyang's heel smashed into his cheekbone.
Na Changseo's head snapped back, blood gushing from his nose like burst vessels— but it was a relief.
A direct jaw hit would've floored him for sure.
"Hoh."
Danri Hyang let out a faint admiration.
Leaning into the blow at the crisis moment— tougher than expected.
"Come on."
"...Here I go."
Regulating his breath, Na Changseo advanced gravely.
Danri Hyang pressed forward too, unleashing sharp blows.
They exchanged fierce swordplay without retreat.
Onlookers from both sides were so tense they forgot to swallow, eyes glued unwaveringly.
Even after dozens turned to a hundred exchanges with no victor, the spectators' gazes began to waver.
Hyeok Mulin observed the drawn-out spar and foresaw the end.
'They seem evenly matched at a glance, but there's a slight edge.'
Danri Hyang held a slim lead.
Natural, really.
His baseline skill outclassed Na Changseo's.
'But it's not decisive.'
Despite the gap, Danri Hyang was barely eking out that margin.
Against an opponent he could crush leisurely, he was self-checking his strikes every moment.
The reason was obvious.
'Is this side a wall, not a path?'
Half-lidded, Hyeok Mulin alternated glances between Han Baek and Danri Hyang, nodding.
'He's due to stop wandering too.'
Having joined his personal guard as deputy, it was time for him to break his shell and advance.
And Hyeok Mulin planned to shatter it forcibly if needed.
'At least the result's in.'
As the spar prolonged, signs of defeat thickened for Na Changseo.
Danri Hyang's strikes might seem monotonous at first.
His next target was somewhat predictable from the blade path.
But facing him, Na Changseo felt utterly differently.
He knew it was coming long ahead, yet the precision and sharpness made proper response impossible.
His face ashen with disbelief, Na Changseo shifted emphasis to defense— and in that lapse of focus...
Danri Hyang thrust piercingly at his ribs; Na Changseo blocked hastily.
But duped by the feint, he swung wide into empty air.
By the time he realized and recalled his blade, Danri Hyang's edge rested on his throat.
Danri Hyang stared silently, sword poised. Na Changseo sighed, raising his arms in concession.
"I lose."
With those words, victory and defeat diverged, joy and despair crossing sides.
The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad roared in thunderous cheers; the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad fell into hollow silence.
As Danri Hyang turned to leave amid the crossed fates...
"Hold on."
A voice called from behind.
Glancing back, Danri Hyang saw Na Changseo approaching.
Was he reneging, nitpicking pathetically?
With a deep sigh, Danri Hyang spoke.
"What is it?"
Na Changseo paused silently before bowing his head low.
"Sorry. I judged hastily based on rumors."
His sincere apology made Danri Hyang's pupils flicker.
No one had ever apologized so earnestly to him; frozen like an icicle, he slowly replied.
"Forget it. I've heard it all my life— doesn't faze me anymore."
"Still, wrong is wrong."
Na Changseo lifted his head and thumped his chest.
"If anyone doubts the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad's strength from now on, I'll set them straight myself. You beat the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad fair and square."
Finished, Na Changseo strode back upright.
Hyeok Mulin watched with satisfaction.
'That's the virtue of our cult's warriors.'
Acknowledging the strong cleanly.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult revered martial prowess from its roots, so its members respected the mighty without grudge.
Politics might complicate things, but the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad remained untouched by elders' influence.
'Won't turn allies over one spar, though.'
Still, they'd cease their envy and jealousy toward the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad henceforth.
And as word of this spar spread, views on them would flip entirely.
"Good. Now for the winner."
Hyeok Mulin rose slowly from his seat.
"Combining the three spars between the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad and Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad, the final victor is...!"
Hyeok Mulin extended his hand leftward in declaration.
"The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad!"
"Wooooaaaahhh—!"
They cheered as if splitting the skies; the Sky-Rending Black Wind Squad nodded, accepting defeat.
'A fitting close.'
Now to address the issues revealed in the spars.
Hyeok Mulin's gaze turned to the deputy commanders at the heart of the victory.