A Blood-Stained Ritual
Gwoooooo...
The Bongma Dojo.
The end of the labyrinth.
A space thick with demonic energy revealed itself.
It was a place so frigid it transcended mere coldness.
The moment my foot touched the floor,
"..."
I felt a murderous intent so intense it sent shivers down my spine.
Only three of us seemed to register it: myself, Choi Muryeong, and Jang Wonryong.
The others merely looked slightly goosebumped.
That was how highly compressed,
how high-dimensional this killing intent was.
A bloodlust that only the most sensitive could perceive.
Even if this was a special floor,
could a mere 'ghost' emit this level of murderous aura?
There was no way.
And yet.
They said all we had to do was kill the shadow ghosts and perform the ritual to clear the special floor?
"Ugh, it's freezing in here," Ban Haeyeong said, shrugging her shoulders with a shudder.
"Since they're ghosts, Sion should be able to handle them in no time."
"Probably."
"Let's wrap this up quickly and get out."
Ban Haeyeong hopped in place, warming up.
Tenjin, whose condition had improved significantly—perhaps thanks to the pumpkin porridge—nodded.
Though he couldn't speak due to his vow of silence, his eyes conveyed a deep sense of gratitude.
"Once we step onto the Bagua, the shadow ghosts will appear."
Unlike the ornate decorations we had seen so far, the Bagua pattern on the floor of the Bongma Dojo was so ancient its age was impossible to measure.
Gold and black cracks intersected as if eating away at each other.
Clearly, there was nothing there.
Yet, there was an unmistakable feeling that someone was watching.
A shiver ran down my spine.
My nerves sharpened, and my instincts flared.
As if anticipating what was to come.
"Focus on killing all the shadow ghosts."
Jang Wonryong was remarkably calm.
No, he actually looked somewhat expectant.
Was it because of the rewards for clearing the special floor?
"Once the end is in sight, I will prepare the ritual."
Everyone nodded.
That was the only way to clear the gate.
"The shadow ghosts will appear outside the Bagua. However, they cannot enter it, so it won't be difficult to hold them off."
"..."
"Just make sure you don't step outside the Bagua."
"..."
"Now, let us begin."
Jang Wonryong stepped onto the Bagua first.
We followed him inside the boundary.
And then,
Shhhhhhhk!
Shhhhhhhk!
As if shedding its skin, the ornate decorations of the Bongma Dojo began to peel away.
Revealing the 'real' walls beneath.
"Ah...!"
Tenjin gasped.
The walls were plastered with talismans.
The red characters written on the yellow paper pulsed as if they were alive.
"Ugh...!"
Was it the demonic energy? Tenjin began to retch.
But unlike before, there was no time to support him.
Gwoooooo...
Along with an overwhelming wave of demonic energy, countless shadow ghosts materialized just as Jang Wonryong had said.
There were too many to count.
There were so many that the talisman-covered walls were completely obscured by their dark forms.
Kieeeee...
Kyaaaaa...
Emitting bizarre, screeching cries, the shadow ghosts began to charge toward the Bagua.
Clang!
Clash!
Screeech!
Wang Ruoxin deployed a barrier, while Jin Tianhui summoned his beasts.
Wei Lin connected spiderwebs from her fingertips to her teammates, casting buffs.
And,
Shring!
Jang Wonryong drew his Yellow Dragon Blade.
Faster than anyone, he slashed through the shadow ghosts without hesitation.
Kieeee...!
Kyaaaa...!
Every ghost that rushed the Bagua crumbled before the Yellow Dragon Blade.
Flash!
A sphere of light rose above Han Sion's head.
Zap!
Zap!
The beams of light pierced through the shadow ghosts,
Fssss...
dissolving them into smoke.
Ban Haeyeong's flaming axes were equally busy burning the ghosts to ashes.
But the one displaying the most overwhelming martial prowess was none other than Choi Muryeong.
Choi Muryeong controlled five swords as if they were extensions of his own limbs.
Four swords danced through the air, while a fifth delivered swift, precise thrusts.
He even alternated between the four flying swords, using each for the perfect situation.
He wasn't ranked third in the world for nothing.
The title of 'Sword Emperor' was no exaggeration.
However,
Slash.
Everyone,
Slice!
compared to me,
Stab!
was slow.
Granted, ghost-type monsters were a bit tricky for me since they lacked physical form.
But the system didn't discriminate when it came to skill activation. As I killed them one by one, I began to get the hang of it.
How should I put it? Instead of a clean slice, it felt more like a squish.
Once I got the feel for it, killing ghosts wasn't so bad.
It felt a bit hollow, but it had its own unique charm.
Stab!
Slice!
Slash!
Killing Time
With Killing Time active, I began to instantly delete the ghosts. Surprised eyes turned toward me from all directions.
"M-Monster..."
"Is that even possible...?"
Yes, it was.
Screeech!
Death Slash
I finished off the ones Ban Haeyeong had weakened with a single strike of Death Slash.
Whoosh!
I herded the other ghosts toward Choi Muryeong,
Stab!
and even covered Han Sion.
Damn, was it even legal to be this versatile?
When we got back, Choi Muryeong might just get down on his knees and beg me to join his team.
Kieeee...!
The only concerning part was that the shadow ghosts were steadily growing stronger.
Their numbers were dwindling, but the survivors grew more powerful with each death.
"Are you sure it ends when we kill them all?!"
"...Probably!"
It was as if they were 'leveling up' through this battle.
In that case, there was only one answer.
Kill them all before anything else could happen.
Swish!
I quickly slashed a shadow ghost and triggered my skill to dash forward.
Killing Time
Tick.
Tock.
A certain person caught my eye.
Tenjin...?
Tenjin, who had been retching and unable to gather his senses since seeing the talisman-covered walls,
was reaching out and pointing somewhere.
"..."
What he was pointing at were the 'ritual' tools Jang Wonryong had mentioned.
Why was he pointing there?
Tick.
In that split second,
Tock.
Tenjin's lips moved.
No.
In that instant, I turned my head.
The one Tenjin was looking at was none other than...
"Kill them all!"
Jang Wonryong.
What Tenjin was trying to say was clear.
Jang Wonryong. The ritual. No.
Slash!
The moment Jang Wonryong's Yellow Dragon Blade cut down a shadow ghost,
"Urgh...!"
Tenjin vomited blood and collapsed.
An ominous premonition ran down the back of my neck.
Could it be...?
At that moment,
"I will now perform the ritual!"
Jang Wonryong sheathed his Yellow Dragon Blade and stepped outside the Bagua.
The remaining shadow ghosts rushed toward him as he left the boundary, but...
Stab!
Slice!
Thud!
the other hunters blocked them.
It was only possible because their numbers had dwindled significantly.
The fallen Tenjin began to convulse, his eyes rolling back.
"T-Tenjin!"
Ban Haeyeong rushed toward him.
And the shadow ghost that lunged at the spot she had just vacated...
Slash!
was taken care of by me.
Whoosh!
Regardless of what was happening, Jang Wonryong began the ritual in front of the altar.
He lit the fire, poured the alcohol, unrolled the scroll resting on the altar, and...
"@#$!@^&* * *..."
began to read aloud slowly.
Screeech!
Skrrrrt!
At the same time, the shadow ghosts began to thrash wildly.
Flutter!
Flutter, flutter, flutter!
Flutter, flutter, flutter, flutter!
The talismans plastered all over the walls also began to flutter frantically.
Sss...
Black smoke rising from the incense Jang Wonryong had lit began to blanket the floor.
Kyaaaaaak!
Screaming, the shadow ghosts lunged toward Jang Wonryong.
However,
they were repelled by the black smoke rising from the incense.
...Did the ritual succeed?
But if so, why was Jang Wonryong still reading the scroll?
And then,
Rip!
Thud!
One by one,
Patter!
the talismans began to peel off the walls.
The detached talismans flew toward Jang Wonryong,
Woooo...
and began to swirl along with the black smoke.
Flutter...
Flutter...!
The sound was so loud it almost drowned out Jang Wonryong's chanting.
"Is it really okay to leave him like that?"
I asked Choi Muryeong out of unease, but he looked just as bewildered.
Because no matter how you looked at it, this situation...
...was wrong.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, flames erupted from Jang Wonryong.
Fwoooooosh!
The swirling talismans surrounding him were instantly incinerated by the massive blaze.
"..."
Even after the flames died down, Jang Wonryong remained motionless for a long time.
"Is it... over?"
someone muttered, and everyone began looking around.
There were no more shadow ghosts. Not a single talisman remained on the walls.
And,
Step.
Step.
Step.
Out of the black smoke, Jang Wonryong slowly walked toward us.
Just then,
Kyaaaak!
a single shadow ghost that had been hiding beneath the black smoke lunged at him.
However,
Stab!
Jang Wonryong pierced the space between the ghost's eyes with a single finger, destroying it.
"T-The ritual succeeded...!"
someone else muttered.
"Oh, as expected of Jang Wonryong...!"
another marvelled.
But I...
"..."
just stared intently at him.
And,
Step.
The moment Jang Wonryong was about to step back inside the Bagua...
Whoosh!
I swiftly threw my dagger, Dan.
Clang!
Dan was deflected by the Yellow Dragon Blade and clattered to the floor.
"W-What do you think you're doing?!"
"How dare you attack Hunter Jang Wonryong?!"
The Chinese hunters shouted in unison.
But I didn't budge, keeping my eyes locked on Jang Wonryong.
"Hehehe..."
Jang Wonryong did the same. He chuckled softly for a moment, then asked,
"How did you know?"
looking straight at me.
"Well, that's simple..."
I replied, staring right back into his eyes.
"Jang Wonryong isn't as strong as you."
"Bwahahaha!"
Jang Wonryong burst into loud laughter.
No, the thing that had taken over his body.
"I see there is at least one who isn't a fool."
"..."
When he raised his head again, his eyes...
were blood-red, just like the cores of the blood magic soldiers and the serpent statue.
"Instead of this vessel,"
"..."
"I should have taken yours."
"..."
"What a pity."
Whoosh!
Jang Wonryong threw the Yellow Dragon Blade to the floor.
"A crude toy like this only gets in the way."
And as he reached out...
Splat!
Wang Ruoxin's chest, being the closest, was pierced.
Drip, drip...
With a mere flick of his hand, he ripped her heart clean out.
Next...
Splat!
Jin Tianhui's heart,
Splat!
and then Liu Yan's heart were torn out in rapid succession.
Thud!
The hearts rolled across the floor like garbage.
And then,
Swoosh.
Jang Wonryong's hand reached toward me.
Stab!