Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Topple the Pillar of the Sword (1)
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“W-What did I just see? Hey, you saw it too, didn't you? Say something!”
“Just shut up for a second. I can’t quite believe it myself.”
“For the Phoenix of the Sword Pillar Gate to be defeated so helplessly… Just who is that cadet?”
The outcome of the test was utterly unbelievable.
So much so that no one dared to speak.
Had the Chief Instructor not announced the end, they might have never returned to their senses.
I had come to cheer for my daughter, Gung So-so, but ended up witnessing something truly incredible.
A strange thrill washed over me.
Perhaps I had just witnessed the birth of a legend in our Cult.
But then, my friend's words next to me shattered the mood.
“Wait, that guy, Maeng Ak. Isn’t he the one your daughter was hugging?”
The sight had been so overwhelming that I had momentarily forgotten.
‘Right, I was watching him because he’s the damn bastard who dared to hold my daughter…!’
A sudden fear gripped me.
This was the man who had eliminated Geom Cheon-ha, the Rising Star of the Sword Pillar Gate.
The Sword Pillar Gate would surely not let this go.
But what if that man and my daughter were in… that kind of relationship?
It couldn't get any more dangerous than this.
*Gulp.*
Cold sweat trickled down my back, and I couldn't stop swallowing.
My gaze naturally shifted to the VIP section.
‘Oh no!’
Just as I expected, the Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate was red-faced, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
He looked ready to draw his blade and leap onto the training ground at any moment.
The situation was a powder keg waiting to explode.
Yet the man at the center of it all, Maeng Ak, wore a perfectly serene expression as he casually scanned the crowd, from the general seating to the VIP section.
Then, his gaze stopped on the Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate.
Watching him deliberately provoke the man made even me break out in a cold sweat.
But as if that wasn't enough, the madman uttered something even more unbelievable than the test's outcome.
“Chief Instructor. I heard the fourth test is a one-on-one duel with a master of the Cult. Would it be alright if I took it now?”
“...!”
Not just me, but everyone in the main plaza, including the Chief Instructor, couldn't believe their ears.
It wasn’t because they had just learned the details of the fourth test.
It was because his words sounded like he was telling the glaring Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate to come at him right now.
The flustered Chief Instructor naturally refused.
“W-What are you saying! Absolutely not!”
But someone else overruled the Chief Instructor.
“Chief Instructor, what is the meaning of this? How can you so coldly refuse a request from a Rising Star who will become the future of our Cult?”
That someone was, of course, the Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate.
He had finally lost his patience.
A mere cadet had crossed the line with him first.
He truly intended to punish Maeng Ak right here and now.
“Cult Leader. My apologies, but please consider this cadet's request as my own humble plea.”
“Hmph. This is getting interesting. However, the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon is run not by my hand, but by the Council of Elders.”
The Cult Leader seemed to share the Sword Lord’s sentiment.
“What is the Council of Elders’ opinion on this matter?”
“Hrmm…”
The old monsters of the Council of Elders wore troubled expressions.
But for some reason, they granted this absurd request.
“How could we refuse a plea from the Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate? Since the cadet made the request himself, he will have to bear the responsibility.”
It seemed they had decided to put their faith in the cadet.
“Thank you. The Sword Pillar Gate will not forget the Council's consideration.”
The Sword Lord offered a clasping fist salute toward the Council of Elders in thanks.
Then, he leaped lightly toward the training ground.
To everyone's surprise, his body soared through the air and landed as softly as a feather in the arena.
He was truly worthy of being called one of the Cult's greatest masters.
And so, an unexpected duel began in the middle of the test.
*Screeech.*
The Sword Lord drew his sword from its scabbard.
Just from the sound, it was clear the blade was a masterpiece.
The mere sight sent a shiver down my spine.
But the man facing that sword, Maeng Ak, still wore that same serene expression.
In fact, he even looked a little pleased.
He offered a clasping fist salute to the Sword Lord, who had drawn his blade, and once again uttered something unbelievable.
“Thank you for indulging me. How about it? Shall I face you with my internal energy sealed, just as I did with your son?”
At those words, everyone in the main plaza, including the Sword Lord, nearly had their eyes pop out of their heads.
For others, it was out of shock. For the Sword Lord, it was from uncontrollable rage.
His hand, holding the sword, was actually trembling.
His brows furrowed deeply as he spoke to Maeng Ak through gritted teeth.
“Face me… That's a word you use only when your opponent is on your level. I suggest you give it your all, you whelp. My sword knows no mercy.”
His low voice, spreading across the arena, carried a killing intent sharper than the blade he held.
Even sitting in the stands, I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.
But the man standing right before him, Maeng Ak, received that chilling warning without batting an eye.
“What a shame. My sword is the same.”
With that, he drew the sword from his waist, a weapon he hadn't used once against the other cadets.
*Grrrriiiind.*
The pitch-black blade made a sound entirely different from the Sword Lord's.
It was a sound you couldn't believe came from drawing a sword.
Yes, it was like the grating of a sickle against an iron plate.
But for some reason, that sword exuded an aura no less imposing than a masterwork blade.
***
The Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate.
The energy radiating from his entire being told me he was no ordinary man.
A sharp killing intent, as keen as the blade in his right hand, flew toward me.
It was a fierce demonic energy that made my exposed skin tingle.
He was indeed worthy of being called the greatest master of the Demonic Cult.
‘He’s on par with the Left Guardian, or perhaps even stronger.’
A brief memory of my clash with the Left Guardian surfaced.
Of course, he hadn't fought me with his full strength back then, but he had shown me a glimpse of it.
Comparing that power to the tiger before me now was quite amusing.
*Twitch.*
Even the minute movements of his muscles came into view.
It meant my own body was in excellent condition.
‘The benefits of properly refining the fortuitous encounter from the past fifteen days must be showing.’
It was truly a fortuitous encounter.
It was a shame my only opponent was Ha Song, but it was just a minor regret.
After all, through me, Ha Song had nearly reached the Realm of Transformation.
Thanks to that, my Green Forest Demonic Sword Arts reached the seventh stage, and the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger reached the ninth.
I was fortunate that the energy from the Five Elements Ring, the demonic energy in my new body, and the savage energy cultivated through the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger had blended so well.
Without their support, I couldn't have trained in a state of perfect unity, and I would have never achieved such rapid progress.
With this level of achievement, I wouldn't fear even the Left Guardian at his full strength.
Which meant the growling tiger before me was no different.
‘He’s a perfect opponent to test the new martial arts I’m establishing in this new body.’
Fifteen days was by no means a long time, but it had brought me a great deal.
And I had yet to properly use any of it.
Unlike with Ha Song, I probably wouldn't have to hold back against this opponent, so I decided to go all out.
“Hoo.”
I exhaled, relaxing my shoulders.
‘In a crucial moment, nothing is more detrimental than tensing up.’
I took a step forward with my left foot, moved my right foot back, and settled into a stance.
My left fist followed my left foot forward, while my right hand, holding the Black Plaque Sword, went back.
As I took my stance, the Sword Lord, who looked ready to pounce at my neck, spoke.
“I will grant you, my junior, three moves.”
“I’d rather not accept, but I dislike giving cause for gossip… I hope the Sword Lord will understand a junior’s sentiment.”
Even though I had provoked him, I had addressed him as a senior because of the many eyes watching.
The Sword Lord, in turn, called me his junior and offered a three-move handicap.
If he were an opponent I’d struggle against even at full power, I would have gladly accepted, but not him.
In cases like this, accepting such an offer would only lead to talk later.
Not that I thought he offered it with that in mind.
Just look at his eyes.
He was practically leaking killing intent just because I added a few words while refusing his offer.
He may have come up here under the pretense of a duel, but he would likely try to kill me if he got the chance.
Of course, I wouldn't let things go as he wished.
The moment he fell for my taunt and stepped onto this stage…
He was already dancing in the palm of my hand.
Just as I had, he too took a stance.
He gripped his sword with both hands, his right hand above his left.
It meant he was going all out from the start.
He likely intended to display an overwhelming victory against me, the one who had provoked him in front of everyone.
A way to restore the pride of the Sword Pillar Gate, which had fallen with Geom Cheon-ha, and to vent his anger on me.
However, I had no intention of letting him have his way so easily.
Having taken my stance first, I drew upon the power in my dantian.
The flow of internal energy traveled through my veins to my fingertips.
In it, I could feel the energy of the Five Elements from the ring, demonic energy, and the savage energy imbued with the essence of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
For the first time, I unleashed it all without holding back.
It enveloped my entire body cleanly, without a hint of waste.
Sounds of amazed admiration reached my ears.
“Heh, this moment makes the title of ‘Five Phoenixes, One Dragon’ seem meaningless…”
“How can a cadet’s aura be so magnificent!”
“A cadet who doesn’t fall behind the Lord of the Sword Pillar Gate’s presence…!”
It wasn’t just the crowd that was surprised.
The great masters in the VIP section also let out short gasps.
The Left Guardian, standing to the Cult Leader’s left, had an expression that was beyond words.
From his perspective, he hadn't seen me in less than half a year, yet I had achieved such unbelievable growth.
Honestly, if my past self had seen a Rising Star like my present self, I would have had the same reaction.
If those watching from afar were like this, what must the Sword Lord, feeling it up close, be thinking?
He was probably genuinely grateful he didn't have to grant me a three-move handicap.
I could see it in the way he clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on his sword.
But didn't I say it before?
In a crucial moment, nothing is more detrimental than tensing up.
His momentary tension was an opportunity for me, and I did not miss it.
“Haap!”
*CRACK!*
The mere act of shouting and kicking off the ground shattered the arena floor.
It was the power of the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger, which strengthened my physical body as my mastery grew.
Propelled toward him, I used my footwork to glide across the ground, closing the distance.
Simultaneously, I flipped the Black Plaque Sword in my right hand into a reverse grip and unleashed the Green Forest Demonic Sword Arts.
‘Green Forest Demonic Sword Arts, First Form: Demonic Tiger Sword.’
The Black Plaque Sword followed my right hand, aiming for his neck.
As its name suggested, the trajectory mimicked the swipe of a tiger's paw.
The Sword Lord, who had let his guard down for a moment, hastily retreated while swinging his own sword.
The blade turned blue, indicating he was using the same Sword Heavenly Azure Demon Sword as Geom Cheon-ha.
*KAAANG!*
Sparks flew as the Black Plaque Sword met his treasured blade.
The jet-black energy of the Demonic Tiger Sword clashed with his azure energy, each pushing against the other.
He scowled, his pride wounded by being the first to retreat.
But his pride had a long way to go before it was truly shattered.
My attack had only just begun.
As if to prove it, I used the force of his push to spin half a circle to the right in mid-air.
This allowed me to unleash the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger with my left hand, aiming for his abdomen.
This was a move made possible because I had anticipated him blocking the Demonic Tiger Sword.
‘Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger, First Form: Whirling Fist.’
Whirling Fist. It shared a name with the technique I taught Jo Gwang-uk, but it was slightly different.
Its foundation was forged with the principles of the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger.
Green savage energy swirled around my left fist.
I channeled that rotational force and thrust it toward his abdomen.
It was an exquisite strike aimed at his lower dantian.
He had been looking down on me as an amateur.
Naturally, he was flustered by the unexpected attack and had no choice but to roll on the ground to save himself.
The high and mighty leader, against a mere cadet, had resorted to rolling across the ground like a lazy donkey.
“You outrageous bastard! I’ll tear you to shreds!”
Why have I been hearing that phrase so much lately?
Well, seeing how enraged he was, it seemed he would take the rest of the fight seriously.
To think he dared to look down on me and let his guard down.
A desperate roll on the ground was just the beginning.
Still, he wasn't called a top master for nothing. Despite his rage, his actions were quite composed.
Unlike before, he relaxed his shoulders and raised his sword.
This next attack was the real deal.
His blade, glowing more brilliantly blue than ever before, was proof of that.
However, if that was all it took to stop me, I never would have been called the Fist King of the Green Forest.