Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Judgment vs. Sun
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If I had to sum up what was happening right in front of me in one sentence, it would be this.
“A Chinese guy picked a fight, and the Chinese guys handled it themselves.”
I just stood there watching.
They took care of it among themselves.
Of course, that was fine by me.
They spared me the hassle.
The only thing that nagged at me was...
That the Judgment Spear had gobbled up those Chinese uncles’ ‘Trial Points’?
Eh, whatever.
It was fine to let him have them.
It probably wasn’t that much anyway.
I could think of it as the price for not dirtying my own hands.
Swish!
So, I turned to leave right away.
‘Poison Fog’ would appear in less than two weeks, and I was still starved for poison.
To achieve Thousand Poisons Immunity within the remaining time, I couldn’t afford to slack off even for a moment.
But.
“Wait. Hold on.”
The Judgment Spear raised his spear to block my path.
“...Why?”
“You must come with me.”
Huh?
Suddenly?
“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”
“You’ve killed someone recently too.”
“...”
I furrowed my brow.
There was only one person I’d killed lately.
Shin Jong-o, the grandson of the Oseong Group chairman.
The guy who kept attacking me because of his elitist chaebol mindset and even hired a ranker to assassinate me in the end.
By my standards,
he was someone who deserved to die.
“Of course, the reason you killed him falls under [self-defense] and [revenge]. It’s not subject to my judgment. However, once someone has killed, it’s easy for them to kill again. You’re a suspicious character.”
“...Sigh.”
I shook my head.
This guy.
He was clearly the stubborn type.
No empathy whatsoever, just operating strictly by his own rigid standards.
I could feel that stubbornness even in his speech.
‘This is maddening.’
I didn’t even have time for those four worthless Chinese guys jumping me.
Now a top-tier Chinese guy was popping up to get in my way.
“Since you don’t seem to understand, I’ll be frank.”
The Judgment Spear, who had been staring at me intently, opened his mouth.
“It’s something those in the know already know, but my unique ability is ‘Judgment.’ The more evil people I judge, the more my stats and level increase. So, to me, judgment is more important than this trial.”
“...But I have a question.”
“What?”
“What if an evil person stronger than you shows up? Do you judge them too?”
The point of my question was simple.
Are you into the weak preying on the strong or what?
“...”
The Judgment Spear’s eyes narrowed at my question.
“Are you saying you’re stronger than me right now?”
Huh?
How did it turn into that?
Well, I could answer that one easily enough.
“...I wouldn’t know, but when it comes to spear arts, my subordinate here isn’t to be underestimated.”
I gestured with my eyes toward Taeyang beside me.
Thud!
Taeyang confidently slammed his spear into the ground and puffed out his chest.
An expression of utter confidence, plain for anyone to see.
“...Don’t make me laugh. I’m a hunter who inherited the spear arts of the world’s greatest spear master, the true Spear King. Frankly, I find it laughable every time someone says something like that. Do you know how many people have challenged me with their garbage spear techniques?”
“Hoh.”
This guy.
He had pride in something unexpected.
Just like his obsession with judging the wicked.
His pride in ‘spear arts’ seemed to pierce the heavens.
Well,
as a disciple of the rank 10 Spear King, he had reason to.
‘But.’
Our Taeyang wasn’t rank 10—he was the absolute ruler of an entire world.
A master whose skills even the Man-sul Elder at his peak could barely overcome.
‘I’m curious too.’
Taeyang Spear versus Judgment Spear.
Who would win if they fought?
Thump.
Something hot welled up in my chest.
Guess I’m a guy after all.
Getting fired up over something like this.
“How about a little bet then?”
“A bet?”
The Judgment Spear tilted his head.
“Yeah, a bet. A spear arts duel. No qi, no skills—just pure spear technique to see whose mastery is higher. What do you say?”
Whirl!
The moment I finished speaking,
Taeyang elegantly whipped his spear around and wrapped it around his waist.
“My lord, thank you for your trust. I shall show you the true essence of the Sun Spear.”
“Hmm.”
The Judgment Spear rubbed his chin, pondering.
A conflict between the ‘standards’ he’d set for himself and his ‘pride’ in spear arts.
“The loser backs off clean. If you lose, let me go like a man. If you win, you can tag along without a peep from me. Deal?”
Rumble!
I summoned my qi and had the skeletons form a circle.
An impromptu arena.
“You wouldn’t refuse a challenge, would you, disciple of the great Spear King?”
I scratched at his pride lightly.
“I’m the Skeleton King, ruler over all skeletons in the world. If you can’t even beat one of my subordinates, doesn’t that make the Spear King’s reputation a joke?”
“...!”
The air grew deathly still.
The Judgment Spear’s demeanor turned icy.
No matter how much he lived by his ‘standards,’ he was still a martial artist.
He couldn’t just sit idly by while his spear arts and master were insulted.
Whoosh!
He gripped his spear anew.
“Skeleton King, was it?”
“Yes, that’s right. Judgment Spear, Jang Wei.”
The man with the world’s finest spear arts glared at Taeyang.
“Fine. I accept the challenge.”
Step, step.
He walked to one side of the arena I’d set up.
Taeyang strode to the opposite side.
The standoff of two spear masters.
“What is the name of the challenger’s spear arts?”
First,
the Judgment Spear spoke.
“...The spear I wield in service to my lord is the Sun Spear, born under the blazing sun of the desert.”
“Is that so?”
The Judgment Spear smiled in satisfaction at Taeyang’s surprisingly courteous demeanor.
“My spear arts are called Pear Blossom Spear—ever-changing, like pear petals falling.”
“Intriguing. Is that the pinnacle under this world’s sky?”
The two of them.
Seemed to converse politely,
but the atmosphere around them was entirely different.
Killing intent rose like they’d swallowed grade-1 lethal poison.
Viscous qi began pressing down on shoulders.
Neither had used qi, yet the air was that murderous.
“Then, I’ll go first.”
“By all means, anytime. I’m ready.”
Slash!
Leap!
Taeyang Spear and Judgment Spear lunged almost simultaneously.
“The Pear Blossom Spear consists of six forms in total.”
The Judgment Spear’s spear thrust toward Taeyang Spear’s heart.
“If you can block them all, I’ll acknowledge you as a true spear master!”
Tadak!
The Judgment Spear’s footwork moved mysteriously.
Fitting for spear arts themed around ever-changing variability,
his steps were dazzlingly elaborate.
Pear Blossom Spear.
First Form.
Poison Dragon Emerging from Its Lair.
“A crude feint to dazzle the eyes, but in truth, a thrust to the heart?”
Flash!
Taeyang’s spear bloomed with white light.
“Hup!”
Boom!
He incinerated the ascending poison dragon with solar heat.
Simultaneously twisting his waist, he aimed the spear shaft at the Judgment Spear’s face from the opposite side.
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected move.
Or perhaps careless.
The wide-eyed Judgment Spear hastily backpedaled.
“Hah.”
He soon let out a hollow breath.
“Impressive.”
Then he nodded.
“I admit it—I underestimated you badly. From now on, I’ll fight in earnest.”
Next came Taeyang’s offense.
Whoosh!
In the past,
the raw, brutal ferocity that had pierced the hearts of all the humans he hated—
untamed by any forms—surged as momentum toward the Judgment Spear’s throat.
“What savage momentum, like a wrathful ghost.”
Pear Blossom Spear.
Second Form.
Returning Horse Spear.
The Judgment Spear swiftly twisted his waist.
A counter to an aggressive incoming attack—the Returning Horse Spear!
It turned the opponent’s force against them, making it deadlier the stronger the foe.
But as the spear closed in, Taeyang smiled as if he’d anticipated it.
Then he ducked his head and struck the Judgment Spear’s stance foot with his fist.
“Wh-what?”
Flustered by the sudden shift from spear to fisticuffs,
the Judgment Spear faltered.
“Why so surprised? From watching you fight earlier, it seemed you liked these tricks too.”
Taeyang’s taunt enraged the Judgment Spear.
“Did I seem surprised?”
“If my eyes—gifted by my lord—aren’t deceiving me.”
“Don’t get cocky! The fight isn’t over yet!”
Ignoring the pain in his instep, the Judgment Spear struck with his foot as well.
Thus began the brawl.
No noble duel, but a raw clash of men.
“Haaap!”
No matter how flamboyantly the Judgment Spear wielded his spear.
“Focus on variability, and the spear’s true path becomes obvious.”
Taeyang, who had fought without relying on sight,
wasn’t fooled by the flashy deceptions.
“The true power of those spear arts”
Slash!
lies in when every change is real.”
Taeyang’s spear tip sliced across the Judgment Spear’s thigh.
Red blood spurted.
Taeyang’s eyes cooled coldly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With spear strikes, he pierced the spot where the Judgment Spear had stood, halting behind his back.
The entire sequence took just one second.
Taeyang’s voice rumbled low.
“Your spear arts are still far too lacking to face the Sun Spear. Greenhorn.”
“...”
The Judgment Spear clenched his jaw.
His dilated pupils seemed unable to comprehend the situation.
‘Comprehend it.’
I silently cheered the Judgment Spear on.
‘Even if I fought him with spear arts, I couldn’t win.’
Taeyang was the absolute of another world.
Probably only someone on the Spear King’s level could hold his own.
‘Of course.’
If they fought now, Taeyang would be at a disadvantage.
Surprisingly, he hadn’t recovered even 10% of his original power.
To return to his full Sun Spear,
even after I became a ranker, he’d need constant training and refinement.
“...Incredible.”
Pffft!
Wounds erupted across the Judgment Spear’s body.
“I admit it. I had more forms to show, but... it’s clear I don’t need to continue. Unbelievable skill.”
He seemed to realize it.
That Taeyang had gone easy on him.
If Taeyang had fought seriously, his throat would’ve been pierced and joints severed before any forms could unfold.
‘Insane.’
Honestly, I hadn’t expected this until they started.
I figured it’d be close, or Taeyang slightly ahead.
‘This overwhelming?’
Taeyang, this guy.
Another reminder of just how monstrous he was.
“...I see. So all the changes have to feel real. Ahh, that’s it... Yes, that’s what was blocking me...!”
Thud!
That was when it happened.
The Judgment Spear collapsed to the ground and began regulating his qi.
Ignoring the fresh wounds bleeding all over his body.
Without even staunching the blood, he immersed himself.
‘Well, well?’
I had a feeling what this meant.
It happens when you gain enlightenment and enter a state of unity with all things.
I’d experienced it myself sometimes, swinging the hammer alongside Demir.
‘But.’
Doing it right in front of me?
The moment you immerse yourself, you’re defenseless.
Meaning, if I’d wanted to kill the Judgment Spear?
He’d be dead.
“...”
Tsk.
But I’m not that kind of bastard.
Besides, if word got out that I killed him,
I couldn’t spend my life hunted by the rank 10 Spear King.
“Consider yourself lucky, you stubborn bastard...”
I stared at the Judgment Spear quietly and summoned Bonechil.