Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The End of the Amusement
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As Ak Muyoo had anticipated, the one blocking his path was Jeok Ri Ha. With so many of his underlings having fallen to Ak Muyoo, Jeok Ri Ha had stepped up to handle him personally.
He charged straight at Ak Muyoo.
He intended to eliminate Ak Muyoo before Ruha arrived. A murky black energy poured from his entire body as he rushed forward. Mid-leap, he raised his sword. A black glow shimmered along the blade.
It was sword qi, a technique that required at least one full cycle of internal energy to manifest. Of course, he had mastered arts beyond sword qi, but he couldn't reveal his full hand right away, so he opted for sword qi. While it couldn't slice through iron, it could cleave a massive log in a single stroke or leave a mark on steel.
"Cha-ha!"
With a shout, Jeok Ri Ha's sword multiplied into five or six blades, crashing down toward Ak Muyoo's head.
'The real one's just one. Find it through the air currents.'
Ak Muyoo's eyes narrowed. He quickly spotted the true blade.
"Ta-ha!"
With a yell, he swung the Demon Hook on his left hand toward it.
Kaaang!
The Demon Hook clashed with the sword and bounced back, yanking his left arm viciously.
'Ugh!'
Ak Muyoo swallowed a groan.
The immense force felt like it would rip his arm clean off.
"Chaaaa!"
Roaring, he swung his left arm again.
The rebounding Demon Hook shot toward Jeok Ri Ha even faster than before. Jeok Ri Ha swung his sword, still cloaked in sword qi, with all his might.
Kaaang!
Once more, Ak Muyoo's Demon Hook was deflected. He staggered, dragged by the hook. Before he could steady himself, Jeok Ri Ha's second strike landed.
Kaaang!
Ak Muyoo barely blocked it and retreated three steps. As he fell back, Jeok Ri Ha's assault intensified. He pressed relentlessly—before Ak Muyoo's chest, his left arm, above his head, in front of his throat, before his right arm. Sword met Demon Hook each time, and Ak Muyoo stumbled back with every clash.
'I have to endure. Hold on, Ak Muyoo.'
He gritted his teeth.
Even amid the tearing pain in his arm, he kept swinging. His muscles had long reached their limit, but he ignored it.
'True superhuman strength opens only when you surpass your limits.'
Kaaang! Kaaaang!
If he dropped to one knee, he swung the Demon Hook to rise. Even rolling on the ground, he swung it to stand. The Demon Hook was both weapon and the crutch that pulled him upright.
Peok!
The sword, infused with sword qi, struck his shoulder.
He reeled rightward, swinging the Demon Hook. Thanks to the Solar Steps, his arm didn't sever, but a阴 cold energy invaded his body.
Peok! Peok!
He wielded the Demon Hook and had mastered Mad Thousand Blood Steps, yet his fighting style remained unchanged. He blocked strikes that could sever limbs. He allowed those that wouldn't kill, then countered.
Taking hits to counter was akin to mutual destruction, yielding great effect. It neutralized decisive blows.
"Die!"
Viscous killing intent erupted from Jeok Ri Ha's body. He stuck to sword qi over sword gang out of firm belief: a master's sword qi surpassed an amateur's. His could carve marks into iron—no, slice it. Yet he couldn't even sever this foe's mediocre weapon.
No, far from it—his own robe hem was sliced.
This wasn't mere bruised pride; it was humiliation.
"Let's see you block this."
Jeok Ri Ha poured more energy into his sword. A murky, formless aura burst from the tip, shaped like the blade itself—sword gang, capable of cutting steel like tofu.
"Finally going all out, eh?"
A languid voice drifted from atop the carriage. Watching the fight from above was Fire Dragon Seo Haran. Beside her stood Sea Dragon Muk Busung.
"He doesn't seem that strong..."
Muk Busung tilted his head. Ways to gauge a warrior's skill abounded: the glow on their blade, the depth of footprints, the footwork dodging weapons. Such signs revealed proficiency.
Yet Ak Muyoo, facing Jeok Ri Ha, showed no trace of trained arts. No sword qi, no flashy steps or elaborate forms. Just raw physical power, plain as day.
And yet...
"He's enduring."
"Sea Dragon thought the same, huh."
"Fire Dragon too?"
"Yeah. No matter how I look, that man's no trained warrior with internal energy. He's relying purely on bodily strength and superhuman senses. Even more astonishing, like you said, he's holding out."
"What do you think's the reason?"
"No clue. As you know, Sea Dragon, grit alone doesn't win fights against warriors. Oh, but I did notice one thing."
"What's that?"
"He's wearing a treasure garment that repels blades."
"I knew that. But even without it, nothing changes. He's dodging all vitals. He even uses the moment he takes a hit to counter."
"Like mutual destruction?"
"Not quite that extreme. Still, he's no ordinary foe."
"A master of real combat, then."
"Seems so."
"Intriguing guy, anyway. But..."
"But what?"
"Nothing."
'The survivor from Yusa Stronghold, not only alive but wearing treasure garb—means he got some fateful encounter. Maybe even has what we Desert folk crave: the Heaven-Earth Solar Command Token. Lucky bastard.'
Seo Haran smiled faintly.
"Let's see you block this one."
Jeok Ri Ha swung his sword, now sprouting sword gang.
Only sword qi had upgraded to gang; the forms stayed the same.
"Taaaa-ha!"
Ak Muyoo roared, swinging his left arm with everything.
This time, he went all-in. Sword gang was no guarantee even at full power. Before, he'd never dream it. But devouring the inner core, gaining the Demon Hook, and Mad Thousand Blood Steps made it worth trying.
Drawing every ounce of strength, his Black Demon Vajra Body activated, skin turning black.
But it wasn't just skin.
Inner muscles toughened and strengthened too. The Demon Hook's speed surged, obviously.
Kwaaang!
A dull thud erupted, belying the sharp edges clashing.
"Heuk!"
Jeok Ri Ha's eyes bulged.
That instant, Ak Muyoo's dangling right arm whipped forward. It rocketed like a jaw-smashing punch. At peak, he twisted his wrist viciously.
Shuwaaak!
The Demon Hook sprang forth, as if waiting. His right leg followed.
Jeok Ri Ha hastily blocked with his sword, still emitting sword gang.
Kwaaaang!
Another dull boom.
Immense force rode the blade, forcing Jeok Ri Ha back a step.
'What... what is this?'
He panicked.
Unbelievable. This guy had only retreated for nearly half an hour-mark. Occasional mutual-destruction counters merely nicked his robe. Now, sudden monstrous power. No explanation.
Another Demon Hook flew.
Shiiik!
Jeok Ri Ha raised his sword.
Kwaaaaang!
Dull sound, blade and body shoved back. Retreating before Mad Thousand Blood Steps only worsened things—Jeok Ri Ha didn't know. As he yielded, it empowered further. Ak Muyoo charged ferociously, targeting everywhere.
Jeok Ri Ha reeled. Block one, another came. Block that, yet another. Horrifying: every strike aimed at instant-kill vitals.
'I need an opening. A counter chance... Right, sand.'
He acted instantly.
Blocking the Demon Hook, he kicked up sand into Ak Muyoo's face.
He dove leftward, betting Ak Muyoo would dodge right, exposing his left.
Thrusting his left fist as he burrowed in.
'Predicting the foe's move is fine. But attacking on prediction is foolish.'
Seasoned masters often erred this way. Hit true, victory. Miss, you're done. Thus, battle-hardened warriors never predict, even against novices.
Yet Jeok Ri Ha predicted Ak Muyoo's next and preempted.
"Been waiting."
Ak Muyoo seized his wrist then.
'Waiting?'
Jeok Ri Ha's eyes widened.
His gaze caught the Demon Hook sucked into Ak Muyoo's left hand. Its edge precisely under his arm.
"A... trap..."
Jeok Ri Ha yanked his left hand with full power.
But it was slower than the hook.
Ssaak!
It spun, severing his forearm.
"Kraaak!"
Jeok Ri Ha's agonized scream burst. Staring at his severed arm, he retreated.
"A bandit's end is..."
Ak Muyoo pursued, hoisting his right arm high. Demon Hook soared skyward.
As he chopped axelike, cold energy approached from behind.
The rear attacker: Four Evils Bandits Chief Bal Woong.
"Lucky thief."
Swinging his right arm back, he said.
Chaaang!
Hook blocked, he shifted rearward, hurling the left-held Demon Hook.
Swiaak!
It flew terrifyingly fast.
Releasing left, he crouched, swinging right Demon Hook.
Chaaang!
Bal Woong blocked the chest-bound hook; the right-swing sliced low.
"Cha-ha!"
Bal Woong kicked ground, leaping.
Peok!
Dull thud from Ak Muyoo's chest. Armless Jeok Ri Ha gritted, unleashing palm force.
"This won't stop me!"
Ak Muyoo rocketed at Jeok Ri Ha.
Black Demon Vajra Body plus Beast Blood Demon Art—he was a black leopard. Instantly before Jeok Ri Ha, left hand arced up. Demon Hook slanted low-to-high. Jeok Ri Ha leveled his sword downward.
Kaaang!
"Ugh!"
Groan, his form lifted slightly. Ak Muyoo's right hand slashed air fast. Body spun after hand, lowering gradually.
'Heuk!'
Jeok Ri Ha's eyes widened.
His landing spot: incoming weapon. No dodging even knowing—airborne.
"I'll block."
Bal Woong leaped between.
Peok!
Ssaak!
Bal Woong's legs severed in one blow.
"Kraaak!"
Bal Woong's scream tore out. Ak Muyoo seized his head, charging forward. Jeok Ri Ha, too shocked to evade.
Shwaaak!
Distorted face met falling Demon Hook.
"I..."
Jeok Ri Ha summoned all energy, raising sword.
Peok!
Downward pressure buckled his left knee. Kneeling, he thrust sword gang blade at Bal Woong's back.
Skewer them both. But again, too slow.
Pook!
Sword pierced Bal Woong's back as Demon Hook impaled his throat.
"Keok!"
"Kuhk!"
Screams from both. Jeok Ri Ha stared blankly at Ak Muyoo.
"You should've known amusement always leaves a hangover."
Ak Muyoo whispered in his ear, yanking the hook.
"You... won't escape alive."
Jeok Ri Ha crumpled.
"That's your thought. I'm going."
Ak Muyoo leaped away, chasing his comrades.