Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Swiftness
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The identity of the final boss in Virtual Fantasy was obvious: the Demon King.
In an era of ceaseless wars among humans, the Demon King descended into the mortal realm and used his followers to annihilate a vast empire in an instant.
With its leadership fallen into the Demon King's grasp, resistance was futile.
The lands of the empire, which had unified half the continent, were corrupted into demonic territories, and hordes of demonic beasts poured forth.
The remaining kingdoms' resilience was remarkable; they held out for decades in that state.
It was in such circumstances that Yuseong joined the last desperate hero party and succeeded in subjugating the Demon King.
*Back then, I regretted walking the path of a priest like crazy…*
While others swung swords and unleashed spells, all Yuseong could do was support them to perform even better.
But thanks to that, his support skills grew tremendously.
If his skills hadn't been exceptional, Yuseong—who had started as a lowly priest—never would have joined the hero party, no matter how long it took.
He'd still be clinging to that game.
Yuseong ended his reminiscence.
As the charging enemies approached, he reviewed the skills he could currently use.
It was a long-standing habit.
*'Healing' for recovery skills, 'Detoxification', and 'Swiftness' for buffs are available.'*
It was a shame he only had one buff skill.
If he'd acquired a variety of buffs, he could have been even more helpful.
Depending on the enemies' level, he might even have to reveal his long-range healing and detoxification skills.
*'It consumes a lot of Divine Power, and to these people, it might seem too overpowered…'*
He wanted to save it as a trump card, but he could reveal it if necessary.
*'Too bad I couldn't bring the holy water.'*
He had stockpiled a fair amount, but it was buried deep in the carriage, so he couldn't retrieve it.
He'd have to use it if his Divine Power ran low after the battle.
Cheongun Elder shouted to the Murim Alliance warriors, who were each assuming defensive stances.
"Demonic Cultists! Everyone, form up!"
There were plenty of demonic practitioners who had learned demonic arts without belonging to the Demonic Cult.
But those who moved in organized groups wearing unified attire were nine times out of ten Demonic Cultists.
Unless it was the Demonic Cult, it was hard to control demonic practitioners whose temperaments had grown savage from cultivating demonic arts.
The eyes of the masked figures—the only visible part of the demonic practitioners—were bloodshot from the side effects of channeling their demonic arts.
Their numbers were around thirty.
Fewer than the fifty-odd Murim Alliance elites, but the fact that they were charging first might mean they saw a path to victory.
To minimize casualties, they needed to form a defensive formation and accurately gauge the enemies' levels.
As the warriors formed up, the Demonic Cultists—who had seemed ready to charge—halted at a distance.
Cheongun Elder shouted at them.
"I am Cheongun Elder of the Murim Alliance. Reveal your identities!"
One of the masked figures who appeared to be the leader stepped forward.
"You already know who we are, don't you? But where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"
"As expected, you're Demonic Cult rabble. To appear in the Central Plains and block our path—bold indeed! What is your scheme?"
"That doesn't concern you. You cannot pass this way. If you try to break through us…"
The masked figure gestured with his chin toward the Murim Alliance members.
"At least half of you won't make it out alive."
Cheongun Elder snorted at the opponent's bluff.
From gauging their auras during the exchange, there were a few tricky ones mixed in, but none skilled enough to block their path.
If the enemies had confidence, they would have charged first, but the Demonic Cultists seemed content to hold their ground without advancing.
"Don't bluff!"
"You'll know if it's a bluff once we clash, won't you?"
Seeing them refuse to yield a word while not aggressively charging, Cheongun Elder became convinced.
*They're trying to stall for time, as expected. Any more delay, and the Yucheon Immortal's life may be at risk.*
He concluded they had no choice but to accept some losses and break through.
The moment he turned to issue orders to the warriors.
Yuseong, who had approached, spoke to Cheongun Elder.
"I'll watch and cast a Divine Art to make your bodies swifter if needed. Don't panic during the fight."
"Oh, a Divine Art! Excellent. Assist at the right moment."
"Yes."
Cheongun Elder addressed the Murim Alliance warriors.
"Slaughter these vile Demonic Cultists! Be cautious not to get hurt, and if anyone is injured, rotate out immediately!"
"Yes!"
"Jeongu Taoist and Nangong Sojeo, protect the Medical Pavilion Leader."
"Leave it to us."
Jeongu Taoist was a Peak Realm master as well.
After entrusting Yuseong's protection to the two, Cheongun Elder led the warriors to the front lines.
The Murim Alliance warriors advanced with high spirits.
Having gauged the enemies' levels to some extent, this was a fine chance to earn renown by slaying Demonic Cultists.
The Demonic Cultists did not retreat.
Their goal was to secure Yuseong.
The longer they stalled and drew in more main forces, the higher their chance of success.
With their interests aligned, the two groups clashed.
"Die!"
"Finally, I can avenge my father!"
"You're the loathsome ones! Weren't you the ones who drove us to barren lands?"
They exchanged heated taunts, but surprisingly, the battle was not fierce.
The Demonic Cultists aimed to drag out time as much as possible, and the Murim Alliance warriors wanted renown while alive—they had no desire to risk their lives in a skirmish like this.
Even so, wounds accumulated.
It was the natural result of weapons clashing.
***
Wang Qing, a Peak Realm master of the Murim Alliance, was one of the Window Division members mobilized for this Sichuan trip.
He had often heard of the Demonic Cult's infamy, but in his thirty-five years, this was his first time seeing them in person.
The Demonic Cult had been quiet for a while, and though there were occasional small clashes, Wang Qing had never been assigned to those missions.
And like many junior disciples from the Murim Academy, he was the son of a minor martial clan.
*Even though I've just reached Peak Realm this time, returning to my clan like this feels unsatisfying. I don't even have a proper nickname yet, do I?*
Freshly ascended to Peak Realm, Wang Qing brimmed with confidence and a thirst for fame, so he leaped a step ahead of his comrades.
Since the enemy before him was first-rate warrior level, he planned to swiftly claim that one's life.
Wang Qing exploited a gap and slashed at a Demonic Cultist's neck.
He was certain of success.
Wasn't he the fastest with the swift sword among his comrades?
Shaaa—!
His sword cleaved the air.
However.
There was something he hadn't noticed.
The Black Shadow Squad specialized in the Demonic Cult's most covert operations; they were adept at stealth and had one Peak Realm master hiding, targeting overzealous types like Wang Qing.
Wang Qing only spotted the sword stabbing at his side just before severing the first-rate warrior's neck.
*No, when!*
In that instant, Wang Qing had two choices.
Sever the enemy's neck and meet a heroic death, or endure a major wound to dodge.
Naturally, he chose the latter.
He instantly tensed his big toe and launched his body backward.
*I'll give up my side. The Medical Pavilion Leader's medical arts are miraculous anyway; I won't die.*
But then.
*Huh? Am I this fast?*
As he pushed off the ground with his toes, the Peak Realm enemy's blade suddenly seemed much farther away.
Bewilderment flashed in the Demonic Cultist's eyes.
He had ambushed perfectly, sacrificing a comrade for the ideal moment, only to slice empty air.
While the foe was baffled, Wang Qing realized what had happened.
*Ah! This must be the body-quickening Divine Art the Medical Pavilion Leader mentioned! I owe him my life!*
After silently thanking Yuseong, he checked his condition.
No internal injuries, and his body felt astonishingly light.
Wang Qing glared at the Demonic Cultist who had targeted his side.
The Cultist sneered.
"You're a slippery rat, aren't you?"
"What did you say, you bastard?"
Having narrowly escaped death once, Wang Qing glanced around.
His comrades were now a step ahead of him, engaged with the enemies.
This meant he could charge at this bastard for revenge without issue.
He gripped his sword tightly and propelled himself forward.
*With the Medical Pavilion Leader's Divine Art plus my lightness skill, my body feels like it's flying!*
It was no illusion.
Wang Qing's swift sword reached the Demonic Cultist far faster than usual.
"Gasp!"
The Cultist exhaled in shock, but it became his final breath.
He raised his sword to his chest to block, but before he could execute a defensive stance, his brow was pierced, and he died.
Having slain his first Demonic Cultist ever, Wang Qing let out a triumphant roar from his chest.
"Uwaaaah! I am the Lightning Sword Wang Qing!!!"
It didn't matter that someone else already bore the nickname Lightning Sword.
In this moment, Wang Qing deserved it.
***
While the warriors diligently amassed merits at the front lines, Yuseong was busy in the rear, his hands constantly moving.
His hands glowed with golden light repeatedly.
If a warrior was in danger, he cast Swiftness at the perfect moment.
If someone was covered in black powder, he unleashed Detoxification.
A warrior who had panicked thinking he was poisoned tilted his head in confusion before charging back at the enemy.
Minor wounds were deferred to later.
Thanks to Yuseong's efforts, the Murim Alliance warriors steadily reduced the Demonic Cultists' numbers without a single major injury.
The downside was that even a quick test of Healing had no effect on the demonic practitioners.
Those who cultivated demonic arts seemed different from demons or demonic beasts.
"Huh, I didn't know you could use Divine Arts from this distance—urk!"
Jeongu Taoist, marveling at Yuseong's miracles, screamed and hastily spun around, swinging his sword.
A sword wreathed in black sword aura had suddenly burst from empty space toward him.