Real-Life Showdown (2)
In any era, there are always people who go beyond remembering the past—they obsess over it. Especially if that past wasn't just glorious but etched a permanent mark in history. It's like those folks who go, "Back in my day..."
This trait stands out most in humans and elves. Elves haven't had a shameful history since founding their nation. That's in stark contrast to the demon race, who got wrecked by a hero after causing endless chaos. But just as day can't last forever, even their radiant golden age began to fade. So the elves who remember that golden era get stuck in the past, droning on about "back in my day."
ㄴThen what about humans?
ㄴWhat else? They're dopamine addicts worse than demons.
ㄴHumans have insanely high peaks, so they've got all kinds of history lol.
ㄴLook at El Dorado. They strutted around for ages after slaying the Immortal King.
ㄴHell, they still worship the first hero.
ㄴIsn't that straight-up idolatry?;
ㄴTime fades it eventually. The first hero's the weird one—no one obsesses over old lords. Humans are a race with rock-bottom lows but sky-high highs. Most of the massive impacts on world history, like the Immortal King, come from them. But does that mean people worship the Immortal King? Sure, but only in the Gallery. Try that shit in real life, and any passerby could punch you and it'd be deserved.
ㄴWhat about the Blood Demon? Sometimes those Blood Cult assholes cause real-world trouble.
ㄴThose are legit Blood Cult remnants;;
ㄴThe remnants stirring shit IRL are the same ones going wild in the Gallery.
ㄴYeah, fair.
ㄴBut isn't it the Heavenly Demon who's hot lately? Not the high-nick one—the real deal.
ㄴKinda, but the impact's a bit lacking.
ㄴShe took the emperor's head. Dropped all the experts too.
ㄴBloodDemonReincarnationFullBloodRevenge) The Blood Demon won't spill a drop even against those mongrels swarming him.
ㄴBlood Demon stan detected. But it does sound factual?
ㄴYeah, honestly Blood Demon edges out on impact. He halved the martial world.
ㄴOne shot in the Pure Blood War dried up the expert lineage.
ㄴHeavenly Demon's low recognition makes sense lol.
ㄴPure Blood War was 50 years ago—how's the lineage still dried up?
ㄴYou got your spine snapped—can you move your legs?
ㄴHe wiped out even the late-stage experts, so the rest is obvious, right?
But the Blood Demon's a bit different. Even called remnants, unlike the Immortal King, he has actual followers. The Immortal King was "subjugated" as an undead, but the Blood Demon "vanished" after showing transcendent human might. That's the key difference. Being drawn to transcendent power and craving its protection is animal instinct at its core. No matter how advanced humanity gets, it's baked in. We can judge right and wrong, want to preserve society, so the masses don't budge—but that's it.
ㄴMa-gyo hasn't done jack lately. Heavenly Demon showed up once and peaced out.
ㄴWhat're they up to now?
ㄴProbably sleeping?
ㄋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴIt is bedtime lol.
ㄴRidiculous lol.
Layered factors like that make the Blood Demon more recognized than the Heavenly Demon. Plus, the Blood Cult's active "advertising" keeps them buzzing in the Gallery too. At this point, who made who a meme—the Blood Demon or the meme? Anyway, recognition is recognition.
ㄴAnd the real-world Blood Demon worshippers are all batshit crazy—best not to touch 'em.
ㄴYeah, we avoid shit 'cause it's dirty, not scary.
ㄴIt's the martial world. Just think of it as stepping in crap;;
ㄴSometimes that crap engulfs you?
The martial world's weird culture plays a big role too. Official non-interference. The government stays out of martial affairs. Even after the Blood Demon took countless expert lives and harmed civilians. They left it to the martial experts, calling it tradition. So the remnants or Blood Demon squads can rampage quietly.
ㄴJust shitty public safety. What's the diff from lawless zones?
ㄴThat's why Zhongyuan folks have absurd average strength. Mess with a random kid and you're fucked.
ㄴMartial world saying: beware old folks, women, kids.
ㄴHow do normals survive?
ㄴMake connections or build power.
ㄴP.S. Inns get trashed daily in expert fights lololol
ㄴSo the emperor cut their taxes. Smart move.
ㄴThe emperor who got beheaded by Heavenly Demon?
ㄴYeah, and the next one scrapped it lol.
ㄴWtf, why are Zhongyuan emperors all trash?
ㄴPrevious one banned the Gallery.
ㄴNation's doomed, duh.
But the government's not totally hands-off. Martial squabbles? Sure. But Blood Cult harms civilians. History shows when hearts turn from gov to factions, nations split. So they compensate generously, cut taxes, win back the people. Zhongyuan's massive too. Can't micromanage every incident short of national overthrow. Blood Cult just wanted to drown the martial world in blood—not conquer the state. Complex reasons like that let remnants run wild IRL without much fuss.
ㄴTL;DR: Wi Ho Chang lives!!
ㄴWi!
ㄴHo!
ㄴChang!
ㄴAscended to heaven—still alive? Your successors are gorillas lol.
ㄴThe Blood Demon watches us from the heavens!
ㄴWorship him! Wi Ho Chang!
ㄴThey're losing it lol.
ㄴAscension makes 'em wilder;;
ㄴIf he really ascended, fair play.
ㄴPls don't cause real harm, sincere or meme.
Whether sincere or meme, Blood Demon Wi Ho Chang gets worshipped. Plenty hate the vibe, but one person's especially pissed.
"I don't like this."
That person: Heavenly Demon Yuso Wol. She couldn't hide her displeasure every time Wi Ho Chang tales circulated the Gallery. She'd heard of his fame: the great demon who piled corpses into mountains, rivers of blood. Huge mark on martial history, followers still active. Yuso Wol hated it.
She'd left her own massive mark beyond martial world—across Zhongyuan. Crushed top experts on her debut, even took the emperor's head. But critics said the first was just second-raters due to Pure Blood War aftermath; the second, imperial media spin. What's buzz in the Gallery mean without real-world followers?
"This lady isn't without fault."
Was Yuso Wol faultless? No. One issue: her high-nick. Boldly "Cheonma." All the noob-bait antics tanked her rep. Decisively, zero activity post-debut. Blood Cult remnants stayed consistent. Ma-rnoe and Wisarak urged patience—"not time yet"—but...
"No choice but to go myself."
Opponent called for real-life showdown—she had to step up. Backing down? High-nick Cheonma's rep hits dirt. That's Yuso Wol's pride as a human—non-negotiable. She summoned Wisarak pronto.
"This lady will be away briefly."
"......"
Wisarak schooled his face. Eyebags twitched. Neck-grab-collapse imminent. Played dumb, asked why. Yuso Wol pulling stunts? Old hat.
"......Heavens preserve us. May I ask why?"
"Personal reasons."
You're heading to a showdown, you reckless fool. Wisarak swallowed the words. Thought she'd chilled—nah, trouble brewing. Gallery user himself, he knew the score. Knowing changes zilch. Unstoppable disaster.
Wisarak pondered how to get honesty. "Keep it top secret first."
Even set location, opponent might flake. Not secret? Crowds swarm. Yuso Wol solo-waiting indefinitely? Horrifying optics. Must be her solo-secret handle.
"Odd. She's usually chill. Blood Cult trigger?"
Cheonma got plenty showdown calls—her my-way posts pissed folks off. She'd scoffed 'em off. This time? Opponent high-nick, suspected remnant. Wisarak bowed deferentially.
"Even personal, we serve the heavens. Your will is ours; without heaven, no subjects below."
You move, we must too. Spill.
Yuso Wol got it, dropped the stubbornness. Her own worries too.
"Going risks identity leak."
Biggest fear: high-nick exposed. Planned remote spot, but opponent picks—geography illiterate. Maybe skip safer. She nodded.
"Even so—one who sullied Cheonma's name?"
Used "Cheonma" not "this lady"—self-incrimination risk. Sounds like hunting impostor... Wisarak knew better. She is high-nick Cheonma.
"Yes!" Didn't matter. Admission enough. Inner cheer, polite reply.
"A bug's still a bug, no matter the fuss. Mercy is virtue."
"Leave a bug in your ear be?"
Blood Demon squad scratched her. Wisarak intuited. Blood Demon fame eclipsing hers irked; cult ascendant. Thanks to Grills spilling existence/ascension. Yuso Wol planned counter-use. Wisarak clocked it.
"But is opponent legit?"
Cheonma real. Them? Gallery rumors 90% fake—even high-nicks. Filter everything. So?
Wisarak pondering—Yuso Wol:
"Hm. Amusing fellow."
"Pardon?"
"Log into the Gallery."
While he mulled, she ordered. Brief confusion—something blew up. Hurried login, checked post.
[Heavenly Demon, Behold.]
Recs exploding, concept post instant-rise. Wisarak dove in.
Title) Heavenly Demon, Behold.
BloodDemonReincarnationFullBloodRevenge (Roughly city-center map pic)
I've set our duel spot. Your head signals Blood Cult's return.
ㄴCheonma) Arrogant cur. This lady shall etch her prestige deep.
ㄴBloodDemonReincarnationFullBloodRevenge) I await washing in your blood.
ㄴDamn, epic showdown swelling my chest lololol
ㄴCheck these noob-ass speech patterns lololol
ㄴIsn't this clanning?
ㄴNah, showdowns ban clanning. Real fights galore lololol
"Amusing fellow. The impostor too."
"......"
She posted it—shameless. Wisarak brain-fried at her gall, then lightning idea. Face shifted.
"Wait. This might be better?"
Pitched to Yuso Wol.
"That... indeed."
She smirked approval.
*****
Meanwhile, same time. Grills eyeing the concept post.
"Ah, jealous. Wish I could watch."
Deeply bummed missing the epic clash.