Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Logos
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—Thud.
A sudden sound rang out. The Blood Evil Ghost, poised to strike the staggering Elena, flinched and pulled back in surprise. Ha-ryeong, who had barely managed to block its path in time, widened her eyes.
Yuri was walking toward them.
She had clearly told him to run.
Ha-ryeong and Elena were staking their lives on this. Turning their backs to flee was impossible, so they had decided to confront it head-on and kill the Blood Evil Ghost.
The Blood Evil Ghost was staking its life as well. It intended to kill everyone here, no matter what. If it failed, the Heavenly Thunder's wrath would find and destroy it—survival would be no different from death.
But Yuri had no need to risk his life. His was far too insignificant to stand here. A 2nd Tier fighter could do nothing in this battle. Before the Blood Evil Ghost's blood-red qi and palm strikes, he couldn't even serve as a meat shield.
That's why she had told him to run. He grumbled a lot usually, but he wasn't foolish enough to confuse jest from earnest.
This was no situation for jokes. And yet—an absurd, joke-like event was unfolding. Yuri. That man wasn't running; he was striding right toward them.
If that were all.
She could just think he was a fool, swayed by stupid emotions, throwing his life away pointlessly. After agonizing, he must have decided he couldn't abandon them, that he didn't want to flee. He had an emotional side, so such a choice wasn't hard to understand.
If that were all.
‘That’s...’
The brilliant red qi flow enveloping Yuri's body. It looked like raging flames. As a martial artist, Ha-ryeong knew exactly what it was.
At the 3rd Tier, martial artists could project their internal energy outward. Swordsmen cloaked their blades in sword qi; those wielding other weapons manifested blade qi or spear qi.
But fighters wielded no weapons. For them, their weapon was their body—fists and feet included.
Thus, 3rd Tier fighters reached a realm distinct from others: qi flame. Only by projecting qi across their entire body did a fighter's flesh become comparable to a sword or spear.
‘He’s... 2nd Tier...?’
To reach the 3rd Tier required balanced cultivation of internal and external arts. Projecting internal energy consumed it rapidly.
By Ha-ryeong's judgment, Yuri's internal energy fell short of 3rd Tier. He'd consumed the Azure Heaven Pill, but not all its effects had gone to his dantian, and the Qingjin Wuha Heart Method he practiced wasn't specialized for rapid energy accumulation.
For such a Yuri to now emit qi flame—the hallmark of a 3rd Tier fighter—was incomprehensible by Ha-ryeong's common sense.
—Common sense?
Wrong. She could understand it with common sense if she wanted. It wasn't impossible or absurd.
She just needed to accept that Yuri wasn't a mere martial talent. That he was someone this world naturally knew to suspect, if one didn't avert their eyes.
Unconsciously, Ha-ryeong glanced at Elena.
Her face, caked in dirt and smeared with blood at the mouth, was deathly pale. Her wide blue eyes mixed panic and fear.
Was that fear of possibly dying here? Or...
“Huh...?”
The Blood Evil Ghost, staring at Yuri in shock, let out a surprised noise. It tilted its head, examining the red qi flame around him.
“Has age clouded even this old man's eyes? What a curious thing. You weren't worth my attention...”
From yesterday, it had sized up Elena's group. The guide it crushed was barely at the 3rd Tier entry at best; the guard roughly 4th Tier; the mage definitely 4th Tier.
It had been impressed the guard was actually 5th Tier, but not shocked. Hiding some of one's power was an old adage.
But this one being 3rd Tier truly startled the Blood Evil Ghost.
It had seen him fight orcs and lizardmen yesterday. Impressive for 2nd Tier—but tier limits were absolute; without projecting energy, he'd slit throats with a dagger.
This went beyond hiding power.
“This old man can't fathom why you pretended to be 2nd Tier.”
The Blood Evil Ghost twisted its lips into a grin. Surprised, but no change to the situation.
No matter how fiercely the 5th Tier assassin and 4th Tier mage struggled, they couldn't beat it.
The Blood Evil Ghost was a martial artist of decades, a grand demonic master who had ruled the Demonic Cult as one of the Seven Evils until ten years ago, though it had reached its natural end.
Qi deviation's aftereffects, aged body, damaged vitality—all true, but killing a mage lacking combat experience against martial artists and an assassin who hadn't fully inherited the Tang clan's arts wasn't easy, but doable.
Even with one more 3rd Tier fighter added, it was confident a few palm strikes would end him.
“If you'd used that hidden power to flee, this old man might not have caught you.”
Yuri gave no reply. His mind swirled with the Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art's incantations; his dantian's energy surpassed a 'burning' sensation, truly becoming flames.
Stepping up to fight like this.
What excuse could he make? Could he even make one?
He didn't think about it. Excuses, regrets—all erased from his mind.
Until now, he'd believed his possessor status must remain hidden at all costs.
Prioritizing that meant fleeing now.
He didn't want to run or regret it, so he'd stepped forward.
‘That’s enough.’
—Crack! Yuri's foot slammed the ground. His flame-wreathed body shot across the distance.
He spared no glance or words for the passing Elena and Ha-ryeong. Conversation would come later—not now.
“You bastard!”
The Blood Evil Ghost bared its yellowed teeth in a laugh. Foolish brat without fear due to ignorance, it thought. Time felt so long.
Ten years ago, these whelps wouldn't dare meet its eyes. At its peak, it could have swatted them with one hand. If not for those ten years. If not for that defeat. If not for qi deviation!
“Kaaaaah!”
Rage boiled over into a roar. The qi gathered in its palms burned redder. Blood Sea Red Wave Palm—the art that elevated it to 7th Tier—unfolded.
Direct hit meant death. She'd judged from watching Ha-ryeong fight. Qi countered qi. Even varying in power by tier and art, 'qi' could at least clash.
Without qi, even touching it was hard. Contact would shatter one's qi flame. Then? The body, honed by external training, would shatter.
‘Deflect it... possible?’
The pinnacle of Southern Sky Flowing Cloud Fist was speed, flow, change. Yuri's hands moved. Red-burning qi flame became clouds, surging forth. Boom boom boom! It clashed with the Blood Sea Red Wave Palm's force.
The cloud shattered instantly, as expected. But for a split second, the palm's advance slowed. She couldn't withstand it, so deflection was impossible, but she confirmed it could 'disrupt.'
“Ha-ryeong!”
Yuri bellowed. Ha-ryeong, who had frozen, leaped out immediately. She sent no transmission to Yuri, nor sought more words.
As assassin and martial artist, she'd seen the red cloud briefly hold the palm force with her own eyes. She knew what to do to turn this.
[Miss. Snap out of it.]
Instead of Yuri, she transmitted to Elena.
[H-Ha-ryeong. What... what is this? Yuri, he...]
[Miss. That's not what to think about now. If we don't kill the Blood Evil Ghost, we're dead. Dead means no talking.]
Elena bit her lip at the rapid transmission. True. She knew. But—her heart wouldn't calm. Horrific thoughts swirled. Suspicion near certainty. Undeniable.
‘Yuri, you’re...’
Crunch. Blood flowed from her bitten lip. Using the pain and taste, she forcibly cleared her mind. Yes, Ha-ryeong was right. To talk, they had to overcome this.
Lightning roiled. 4th Tier magic couldn't pierce the Blood Evil Ghost's protective qi. Absolute, like sword qi unable to best sword force.
Derusia Magic Tower Lord,
Heavenly Thunder Orca had evaluated Elena's created 'Haiderga spell formula' thus:
—If completed as planned, it could reach up to 6th Tier.
Meaning the Haiderga spell far exceeded her current 4th Tier potential.
—Better than planned, and it might approach 7th Tier.
With refinements, beyond 6th—Tower Lord level.
‘Then now.’
Elena's mind opened wide. Time passed in an instant, but her consciousness swam through countless spells. Perfectly memorized common spells. Derusia formulas. Other grimoires seen. Through Yuri, Jang Woon's Island Thunder Seven Forms. And.
Heavenly Thunder Orca Derusia's unique magic: Thunder God Illusion. Transforming body and soul into lightning. She'd experienced it once. Even as genius, comprehending and replicating a grand mage's spell instantly was impossible.
But infuse that sensation now. If spreading lightning was weak, forge a single bolt. Her soul force resonated fiercely with ambient mana. Swirling spells and formulas merged into the incomplete unique formula.
‘Bastard...!’
The Blood Evil Ghost's face twisted.
One hit would kill.
Yet it wouldn't connect.
Unbelievable. The intruder's movements were no joke. Fluid footwork and arms in perfect harmony; ceaseless attacks swift, flexible, protean. Clouds swirled before eyes, becoming spreading mist, dancing with wind, then swallowing him.
None could destroy its qi. Just disruptive. But the disruption was excessive. Like mosquitoes buzzing ears, fraying nerves, forcing swings.
Yet swings missed. It retreated nimbly when close. No focus on pursuit—gaps brought a hail of hidden weapons.
Block them, and qi-coated daggers plunged deep. Counter. Swing arms to repel, and it slipped in again.
Absurd. Just one 3rd Tier fighter, and the battle grew thorny. Irritation boiled.
Its arts were strange.
Fist and footwork odd, but the Blood Evil Ghost sensed it wielded them with unbelievable proficiency.
Truly strange was—the heart method producing qi flame. 3rd Tier energy shouldn't even disrupt it. Sword qi or qi flame should vanish near its qi.
Yet its qi flame didn't. It even briefly held its qi.
‘Really... 3rd Tier?’
Even this thought arose. Perhaps it had grown too old... or the brat had special arts.
‘This art... something...’
No matter the qi deviation drop, art mastery remained. A 3rd Tier fighter's qi flame holding qi even briefly?
‘Learned an anti-demon art?’
Like magic's elemental counters, martial arts had them. Not fully overturning tiers, but its skill—
Profound understanding of its arts.
‘Martial art...’
Focusing, something nagged.
Familiar... from somewhere.
He postponed vague recollection.
Old Demonic Cult martial artists were cunning.
Without strength, they died young. Surviving to old age meant innate slyness in killing foes.
Giving flesh to take bone was common. It wouldn't give flesh. Instead, as a dagger neared from close range, it withdrew its qi.
Ha-ryeong induced a war of attrition to tire it. The balance was precarious, ready to collapse; watching Yuri's tightrope of counters chilled her.
When her thrust dagger sank deep into qi. She closed distance more. Venom-coated. Grazing sufficed for poison. Then...
‘Mistake.’
Before judging and retreating—crash! A palm strike shattered her protective qi, shaking her organs. No groan escaped, but blood sprayed from her mouth.
Yuri blocked the path to the tumbling Ha-ryeong. Gritting teeth, he unleashed Southern Sky Flowing Cloud Fist. But alone, holding the Blood Evil Ghost had limits.
“?!”
The Blood Evil Ghost's hair stood on end. Massive mana converged in one spot.
Unlike dantian energy martial artists, mages used world's mana. All in this area gathered there.
No mage visible. Only crackling lightning storm. Yet it felt clear eyes targeting it from within.
Instinct sensed malice, killing intent keenly.
That killing intent triggered it. From storm-building lightning, a single ray shot.
Impossible to dodge. No engulfing roar. Thread-thin light reached protective qi the instant it flashed.
“Kaaaaah!”
Light touched protective qi; Blood Evil Ghost leaped back instantly. Desperate to widen distance, mitigate power. Futile. Lightning storm connected to light shifted to it. Rumble crackle! Storm engulfed it.
“Haa... Hnng... Hic...!”
Elena collapsed, unable to stand. She'd poured all into that spell. Whatever result, she couldn't move.
“Aaaah!”
From lightning storm, Blood Evil Ghost screamed.
“How dare you, how dare!”
Tier-transcending magic.
But not enough to kill.
At fading lightning's center, it stood. Elena's prior spells hadn't scratched it; now blood streamed from its mouth.
That was all. Panting roughly, it pointed at Elena.
“Bitch...! You—I won't just eat you. I'll eat you slow... very slow... carefully, without killing...!”
Legs wouldn't support standing. Ha-ryeong clutched her side, staggering up, spat blood, looked to Yuri.
“Take Miss Elena and retreat now?”
“Won't let you!”
Blood Evil Ghost roared, charging.
“Damn old monster.”
Ha-ryeong shut bloodied lips, passed Yuri.
Repeat prior battle.
Yuri slows, Ha-ryeong pierces.
Could she manage as before? Body uncomfortable. Left side agony from palm. Wouldn't turn left. Each breath tasted blood.
“You.”
Couldn't fight as before. Failed to block a wide swing, pushed back; Blood Evil Ghost whispered to her.
“I'll cut your limbs, eat them before your eyes. Then toss your corpse to monsters.”
Gruesome death. Ha-ryeong thought inwardly. People die someday, but never considered that... Suicide now? Captured, probably couldn't. Blood trickled between clenched lips as she pondered.
Thud! Yuri's body shook violently. Forced balance collapsed.
Elena couldn't cast more.
Ha-ryeong barely held before falling.
Yuri alone struggled. His fists couldn't kill Blood Evil Ghost yet. Fighting on meant all dead.
‘Too weak.’
Hadn't slacked training, but insufficient. To survive, kill the old monster—but Yuri lacked power.
‘Wall.’
Yuri thought of Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art.
Of 4th Tier, not yet reached.
Of the wall he couldn't surmount.
Even 3rd to 4th change this? No such thoughts. Power lacking now. Surmounting made stronger than now.
Crunch! Failed deflection; Yuri staggered. Internal blood taste. Churning tension in chest. Approaching crimson palm.
Death.
Dove in head-on. Yuri roared, thrusting fist. Well-placed punch yielded nothing. Blood Evil Ghost unscathed; blood rose to throat. Thwack! Ha-ryeong rolled, lunging left in sync.
“Worm.”
Stench. As Ha-ryeong said, foul breath. Open hand neared Yuri's eyes. All seemed slow to Yuri.
In slowed time, Yuri saw Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art. Like in past meditation, vast flames.
Knew what fueled these flames.
Will.
Not mere not-wanting-to-die, or wanting-to-live.
Killing intent: must kill foe.
Intent-fed flames roared. Swelling blaze consumed unseen ceiling wall, to ash.
Wall baffling Yuri burned away.
Thud!
Yuri's fist blocked Blood Evil Ghost's palm.
Only qi clashed with qi.
Yuri's fist now cloaked in qi.