People Die When They Get Hit by Cannon Fire
A swift footwork technique that closed in at breakneck speed, followed by a sharp thrust harnessing that momentum—a single piercing strike.
But just before that attack could land, through the veil of flames, he caught a glimpse of the bastard's expression.
This fucker... is smiling?
Only then did Heuk Ung realize something was wrong. He halted his assault mid-motion and leaped back in a flash.
Whoosh!
At the same moment, the liquids trickling down with the rain began spreading around him with ferocious speed and intensity, far beyond anything before.
What the hell? He could feel the situation spiraling out of control.
It started with the scattered raindrops. When they hit the scorching flames, they instantly vaporized into steam, fueling even larger blazes.
At the same time, the water splashing off the oil erupted with a sharp patter-patter-patter, spraying wildly in all directions.
Flames that burned fiercer in the rain instead of weakening? What was this? Were his eyes playing tricks? The scene defied all logic.
"Look around you."
"What?"
Heuk Ung finally tore his gaze from the man in front of him, only to witness an unbelievable sight.
Roar! Whoosh!
The liquid fed the flames along its path, spreading them further instead of extinguishing them. Meanwhile, the inferno surged ever higher from the doors and walls, gradually boxing in his footing.
"And I haven't even mentioned this yet."
Pang Yujin felt a twinge of awkwardness recalling how he'd singed the cannon commander's eyebrows earlier, but there was no helping it now.
...Yeah, whatever.
"This isn't even max output."
Byzantine's Benediction activates. Attack power and defense within range increase exponentially.
Roooar!
"Gaaah!"
Before, the thin flames had arced out in a curve. At max output, Hon Yeon shortened its range but fanned out in a devastating cone—inescapable within its sweep.
The temperature had crossed a threshold; the red flames gradually shifted to an eerie blue.
This was firepower on another level entirely. Flames climbing raindrops before they even hit the ground—it was a sight that made onlookers doubt their eyes.
"Shiiit, fuck!"
Heuk Ung, struck directly by the fierce oil flames, screamed in agony as the scorching pain spread through his body, thrashing in place.
Even in that state, he refused to drop his sword. Guess even rotten fish from the martial world are tough.
Time to wrap this up. No matter how vile the bastard, watching him writhe in horrific burns soured Yujin's mood. Better to end it quick.
"Huh?"
As he moved to finish it, a strange sensation crept up his back.
A faint rattle spreading from the fuel tank through the main body and into the mechanisms.
The vibration grew louder. Something slipping out of control?
The lukewarm feeling from his back confirmed it—trouble.
"Whoa!"
Boom!
Performance exceeds limits—durability greatly consumed.
Hon Yeon destroyed due to overheating!
Only now did Gudol's warnings about "overheating" click. Be careful, it's dangerous—how many times had he said it?
"Oopsie."
Fuel oil erupted from the tank, spreading across his body in a blaze fiercer than before—plenty left in the reserves.
Huh. Hoped it'd hold till the end.
"Kinda disappointing."
As the flames died down and Yujin stood there dumbly, Heuk Ung seemed to sense something off.
"You bastard! I'll kill you! Not quick—I'll drain every drop of blood first!"
His eyes spun wildly, sanity gone, charging with murderous fury for a final desperate strike.
Skin melting from burns, pus bursting—yet he pressed on. Fine, credit for the grit and spirit.
But that's as far as it goes.
"Look around."
"Wh-what?"
Thud, thud.
"Gaaah!"
"Thought your form might come in handy someday."
Hendrick—thanks anytime.
Yeah, "someday" comes when you're prepared. Preparedness pays off.
In their prior spar, Heuk Ung's blinding speed through open space had made caltrops unthinkable.
But now, roaring flames like endless walls constrained his paths—perfect for covert deployment. Highly effective.
The fire limited his movement while hiding the caltrop spread.
Scatter them where he'd charge, and they'd do their job.
And they did. Heuk Ung's final lunge failed; both soles pierced by thick wires, shredded feet sending him sprawling.
Whatever. Yujin calmly reloaded the Hyunja Chongtong.
"What was it you said? Even the strongest strike means nothing if it doesn't hit?"
"You bastard! I'm not letting this slide! You fucking dog!"
Yujin wasn't one for grudges. But this stuck in his head somehow. Just did.
Watching the tenacious bastard crawl toward him anyway, he thought: Damn, martial artists are hardy.
...Like me, surviving that massive wave. Heh. A hollow chuckle escaped.
Gonna need even more firepower ahead.
Hiss—the short fuse lit.
"Dodge if you can."
—People die when hit by cannon fire.
And martial artists are people too. Farewell, you filthy wall-hugger. To hell with you.
Boom!
With that thunderous shot, one hunk of debris flew off.
*
The oppressed masses had only two paths: be crushed utterly or erupt in rage.
The consequences? Not for folks living day-to-day.
And as with all massive upheavals, factions and powers inevitably tangled.
In this riot, one group had seized control: the Demonic Cult. But an unforeseen wildcard left them floundering, clueless on next moves.
—Holy Fire: A monstrous giant cloaked in blue flames, spewing fire everywhere to purge the corrupt officials and their cronies.
That unyielding blaze defied the downpour from the heavens. No—it spread wider, devouring the wicked. Rumble, boom! Thunder crashed like divine retribution, heightening the drama.
Awe-struck onlookers gaped, whispers of speculation spreading through the crowd.
"Th-that's..."
"...The, the Fire God."
The Heavenly Demon Cult—its name's "religion" hints at origins in faith, like any creed.
—Fire Worship Cult (Baegwa Church), Zoroastrianism in Western tongues.
An ancient faith, often misunderstood as fire-worshippers.
Though they revered not mere flames but a true entity—many mistook the cult for Heavenly Demon worshippers. Truth: the Heavenly Demon was but a high priest overseeing sacrifices.
No—their true object: the Fire God, or Glorious Flame Incarnate.
Ahura Mazda.
When the appointed time came, this god would purify the filthy world with pure, holy blue flames. That faith birthed the modern Demonic Cult.
...Of course, to outsiders, gleeful pyres of villains might seem sinister.
Purification to believers, grotesque ritual to others.
Word-of-mouth twisted them into "Demonic Cult."
Believers shrugged it off—time would reveal the faith's depths.
Like now. A figure striding freely through infernos, blue flames raging across his form.
Few witnesses, but all shared one reaction.
—Fear. Be it dread or awe, it shook them to doubt their eyes.
"F-Fire God...?"
"You can tell at a glance! That power far beyond human limits."
"Even the Heavenly Demon couldn't guarantee survival in those blue flames for so long!"
"Monster—incarnation of the god's proxy."
Fire symbolized truth, judgment, purification—sacred.
Untouched by it? Embodiment of purity, truth incarnate.
And punishing bloodsuckers with unquenchable flames?
It evoked the mythic Glorious Flame Incarnate, Ahura Mazda.
"What being survives turning to ash in those azure flames? Only a god could."
"Right? Purifying evil unflinchingly amid that blaze—like myth made real."
"...Ahura Mazda."
Of course, Yujin himself had no clue what nonsense this was.
"We must inform the cult of the Incarnation's arrival!"
"Any lines to the Heavenly Mountains?"
"Hurry!"
Scouts bolted to spread word first and fastest.
Demonic Cult—or rather, branded "demonic" by worldly schemes, yet steadfast in divine justice—the Fire Worship Cult learned of Yujin for the first time.
Whatever. Having settled with the villain, Yujin trudged closer to his goal: Governor Jo Unhyeon's mansion.
—The masses watched from afar, torn between vengeful thrill and terror of the unknown. And the cultists, ready for martyrdom and demonic outbreak to fight to the end, now trailed at a distance like pilgrims following a holy figure.
"Holy Faith Eternal, Eternal Lord Forever!"
"Radiant Holy Cult, Shaking the Heavens!"
They swarmed the governor's residence in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.