Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Gwiyeong - Gale Blade (11)
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Ash, carrying the scent of burning, scattered and fluttered in the wind.
Standing atop the embers and heaps of ash, Yonggak, the leader of the Black Dragon Society, gazed with a peculiar expression at the Gale Blade embedded in the ground.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of turmoil, realizing the man who had fought him on equal footing—a member of the Heretic Alliance's highest echelon, the Four Masters of the Black Heaven—was none other than a weapon.
The image of his opponent, wearing a black wolf mask with red hair flying, fighting so brilliantly, was deeply etched in Yonggak's mind.
"…This will be a battle I can never forget."
He had originally come to capture Gwiyeong, but now she was the furthest thing from his mind.
A far more valuable and intriguing existence was right before his eyes.
"Gale Blade, was it? If you had been my weapon, defeating the leader of the Heretic Alliance would not have been impossible."
With a weapon that had pushed him this far, he felt he could accomplish anything.
"I see now how that woman, Gwiyeong, managed to seize control of the surrounding territory in one fell swoop."
Gwiyeong would have felt wronged to hear this, but from Yonggak's perspective, lacking the full context, the Gale Blade's role couldn't help but seem immense.
"A pity. To have died like this."
Just then, Gwiyeong slowly entered through the main gate, where the flames had subsided, and assessed the situation.
"…Gale Blade?"
"Leader of the Black Ghost Guild, you've come."
Gwiyeong's eyes darted between Yonggak and the Gale Blade stuck in the ground before him.
Its eyes, usually floating with arrogance, were now serenely closed.
"N-No way. Could it be…"
"I won. You had a formidable weapon in your possession. But unfortunately, I finished him with my own hands."
Her gaze trembling, she looked at the Gale Blade and slowly parted her lips.
"D-Don't lie. It ended like this…? There's no way the Gale Blade would die so… so meaninglessly…"
"He took a direct hit from my ultimate technique. Besides, his physical form was already collapsing."
Yonggak's own body was far from normal, having faced the inferno head-on.
He had suffered massive internal injuries, his insides a wreck to the point where he needed to see a physician immediately.
Because of this, a trickle of blood continuously leaked from his lips.
"Give up. This one is well and truly dead."
"…Don't lie to me! Leader, I won't fall for your tricks!"
Gwiyeong moved to draw her weapon, only to realize that her weapon was in front of Yonggak.
"Damn it…!"
Gwiyeong's frustration was plain to see.
But there was nothing she could do.
Not only was it difficult to gauge Yonggak's exact condition, but she had also given all her internal energy to the Gale Blade.
Nevertheless, she threatened him with desperate resolve.
"Leader of the Black Dragon Society, do you intend for one of us to die here? If you don't, then get away… get away from my weapon right now!"
"I don't think I can do that. Its ego may be dead, but there might be a way to revive it. I'm taking it."
As the two glared at each other, a tense standoff unfolding.
Someone subtly revealed their presence and stepped into view.
"Leader of the Black Dragon Society, it's been a while."
The voice was young, yet brimming with intimidation.
"You are…?!"
Turning his head, the Black Dragon Society's leader looked at the man with a somewhat surprised expression.
"I came to see the Leader of the Black Ghost Guild, but what are you two doing? It's a bit disappointing to be left out, so let's talk together."
A man with hair of mixed black and gold approached, his ornate and classical robes fluttering.
"Leader of the Black Ghost Guild, a pleasure to meet you. I am Wi-ak, the Leader of the Hegemony Society of Guangxi."
***
"Ughhh! So close!"
I sat up, expressing my disappointment.
"Just a little more! If only I had a little more strength left, I could have won!"
The internal energy I received from Gwiyeong had run out, and I ended up losing.
Moreover, I must have used too much power, as the gem that housed my consciousness was strained, forcibly breaking my concentration.
It seemed I could probably try again after some time, but right now my head was throbbing, and I just wanted to rest.
I plopped down onto a chair with a look of regret.
Leaning back comfortably, I thought to myself.
"Ah, but I've never fought directly before. That was really fun."
If I had fought with my real body, I never would have been able to pull off that kind of performance.
The body manifested from the Gale Blade was a feat made possible by a combination of several factors: the core of a legendary-grade spirit beast, the internal energy of an ultimate martial artist, and a special new technique used in forging it with thousand-year-old cold steel.
'I had no idea this was even possible. But it really worked.'
I sank into thought, replaying the battle with the Black Dragon Society's leader in my mind.
"Ah, should I have used my ultimate sooner? I feel like I lost because I hesitated and used it only when my power was all gone."
It was a kind of fun I'd never experienced, having only lived as a blacksmith.
It felt like getting wrecked by a boss in a soulslike game and having it force-quit on me.
"Ah, whatever. It was fun, wasn't it?"
I closed my eyes and checked if I could transfer my consciousness back to the Gale Blade.
After concentrating and examining it, I found that it was too overheated to connect right now, but it seemed I could log back in after a little while.
"Hmm. Looks like there's no major damage yet. Nice! I'm going for round two with the Black Dragon Society's leader! It's too disappointing to just let it end like this!"
I immediately looked for the Heavenly Demon Cult's combat manual that Hyeon-a had given me a long time ago.
"Fighting based only on what I've seen in games and anime without any fundamentals is pretty inefficient. I should learn some basics before I try again."
I picked up the dusty combat manual that had been sitting in a corner of my workshop and opened it.
"I can't master it in a day, but there's a big difference between knowing and not knowing. Let's see."
And so, I began preparing for my rematch with the leader of the Black Dragon Society.
***
Despite his severe internal injuries, the leader of the Black Dragon Society maintained his composure as he looked at the man standing before him with arrogant eyes.
The owner of monstrous strength, who wielded a glaive taller than a person as if it were nothing.
The head of the Hegemony Society, which had seized control of the area around Yulin Prefecture in Guangxi Province.
A member of the Heretic Alliance's four strongest executives, the Four Masters of the Black Heaven.
Wi-ak, the Leader of the Hegemony Society.
Since their jurisdictions were different, Yonggak had no direct contact with him, but they had seen each other at every general meeting of the Heretic Alliance.
They had never clashed, and with nothing particular going on, they paid each other no mind.
But today, Wi-ak, the Leader of the Hegemony Society, raised his glaive toward Yonggak.
"Hoh, Lord Leader of the Black Dragon Society. What is this situation?"
"What about you? What's a guy who operates in Guangxi doing all the way out here? And do you dare raise a weapon against me, a fellow Master of the Black Heaven?"
Hearing this, Wi-ak tilted his head slightly, then smirked and spoke.
"You shouldn't bully your junior. As a senior, you should set an example. Don't you agree?"
Wi-ak answered with a smirk and did not lower his glaive.
Seeing this, Yonggak grew displeased, but it was difficult to say anything more.
Looking into Wi-ak's dangerous eyes, it was highly likely that saying anything further would lead to a physical conflict.
"By the way, the Leader of the Black Ghost Guild is quite a beauty. A pleasure. I introduced myself earlier, but I'll say it again. I am Wi-ak, the Leader of the Hegemony Society."
"…"
Wi-ak greeted her in a tone devoid of any hostility, but Gwiyeong couldn't help but be suspicious.
'…What is he planning? And he came all the way from Guangxi to find me? A martial artist who is one of the Heretic Alliance's Four Masters of the Black Heaven?'
"Hmm, it seems you're too disoriented to be comfortable talking."
Wi-ak glanced over at Yonggak.
"Our junior here is having a hard time speaking with a nasty senior looming over her. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop being so conspicuous and get lost."
Being spoken to so bluntly to his face, Yonggak couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"You keep trying to cross the line."
With those words, Yonggak spun around and walked toward the Gale Blade.
Seeing this, Gwiyeong, filled with rage, stood in his way.
"Leader of the Black Dragon Society! Take one more step toward the Gale Blade, and I'll kill you right here!"
"Insolent…"
He glanced over at Gwiyeong and Wi-ak.
Gwiyeong, her internal energy depleted, was no threat, but Wi-ak was different.
Wi-ak usually suppressed his aura, so Yonggak didn't know the full extent of his power, but as a fellow Master of the Black Heaven, he was certainly at the ultimate master level or beyond.
Therefore, in his current state, Yonggak couldn't fight.
Wi-ak looked at Yonggak and the Gale Blade with eyes that held a slight threat.
It was as if he was saying he would also step in if Yonggak touched Gwiyeong's weapon.
Seeing this, Yonggak cleanly gave up on the Gale Blade and headed toward the main gate of the Black Ghost Guild, now nothing but blackened ash.
"I'll retreat for today, but next time, I won't be so lenient."
Gwiyeong, who had been relieved to see Yonggak back down so readily, felt a sense of unease and looked at Wi-ak beside her.
Unlike a moment ago, he was watching Yonggak with murderous eyes, muttering under his breath.
"…You did something unnecessary and messed up the plan. Well, it just changes the order of things a bit. It shouldn't be a major setback."
"…"
He was clearly up to something.
But Gwiyeong was more concerned with checking on her weapon, the Gale Blade, and moved toward it.
She looked at the Gale Blade embedded in the ground and urgently called its name.
"Gale Blade! Can you hear me? This… this isn't really the end, is it?"
As if in response to her cry, the part of the Gale Blade that served as its eye flashed with a red light.
It was as if to say, "I'm fine, so stop your noisy fussing."
Seeing this, Gwiyeong let out a sigh of relief and a small chuckle, muttering to herself.
"Thank goodness. Truly."
Just then, Wi-ak cleared his throat behind Gwiyeong and slowly approached, speaking.
"Ahem. Leader of the Black Ghost Guild? My apologies for the sudden visit. It would have been proper to send word in advance, but I have a rather impatient personality."
Gwiyeong turned her head slightly to look at Wi-ak.
He was smiling brightly, but his eyes seemed to hold something unknowable.
"Well, the situation doesn't look too good right now, so we can talk later if you'd like. What do you want to do?"
"What is your business? Why have you come all the way from Guangxi to find me?"
Normally, she would have shown at least minimal courtesy upon hearing he was one of the Four Masters of the Black Heaven, but right now, her mind was a mess.
However, Wi-ak didn't seem to mind her attitude.
"Hmm."
He looked around, saw the Black Ghost Guild warriors and others watching them, and opened his mouth.
"This doesn't seem like the right place for this conversation. Let's go somewhere quiet."