Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Heretic Alliance Assault (2)
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The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet hall.
Deep within the magnificent main building of the Heretic Alliance, where the leader’s throne was located.
Wi-ak strode relentlessly toward the seat of the Heretic Path's apex.
At the end of the hall, a man sat arrogantly on a throne atop a set of stairs.
Taehong, the man known to the world as the Heretic Alliance Leader, the greatest master of the Heretic Path.
He had fiery red hair, fiercely slanted eyes, and a solid physique.
Despite his considerable age, he had maintained the appearance of a relatively young middle-aged man through long years of martial training.
He truly looked the part of the Heretic Path’s supreme leader.
In stark contrast to the clamor outside, he watched Wi-ak in silence from the end of the serene hall.
Looking at him, Wi-ak, the Tyrant's Guild Master, spoke with a smile full of elation.
"A pleasure to meet you, Heretic Alliance Leader."
"My loyal subordinate, Tyrant's Guild Master Wi-ak. What brings you here?"
"Do you truly not know why I have come?"
*Thud.*
Wi-ak slammed his glaive into the ground and declared boldly.
"Do not call me your subordinate. There is only one being who can stand above me."
"Oh? I am quite curious as to who that might be."
"You don't need to know. All you need to know, Heretic Alliance Leader, is that you must now face me in a battle to the death."
At this, Heretic Alliance Leader Taehong scoffed in response.
"I have been a part of the Heretic Path for a long time, but I have never seen a man as reckless and radical as you."
"That is because it is the role I was given."
"A role, you say. Yes. Every human is born with a role to play."
He slowly rose to his feet, drawing the broadsword that rested beside his throne.
"I was born with the qualities of a ruler. It seems you were as well. Was your position as one of the Four Lords of Black Heaven not enough for you?"
To Taehong's question, Wi-ak answered gallantly.
"Of course."
The Tyrant's Guild Master Wi-ak felt his body growing hotter.
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
His heart pounded fiercely, scattering a savage aura throughout his body.
An eerie energy, a harmonious blend of red and gold, enveloped Wi-ak.
"I must advance without stopping until the day I die!"
He cast aside the respect he had shown the Heretic Alliance Leader and revealed his ferocious inner self.
"Everything… will be mine…!"
His glaive glinted sharply, revealing its menacing nature.
*Shhhk.*
Wi-ak aimed his glaive at the Heretic Alliance Leader Taehong beyond the stairs and spoke forcefully.
"Fight me. Until one of us is utterly destroyed!"
"That spirit of yours, I like it. Very well, come."
The moment those words ended, the Tyrant's Guild Master Wi-ak charged at Heretic Alliance Leader Taehong with tremendous force.
***
"Hey! Do you bastards think you can get away with this?!"
A martial artist guarding the Heretic Alliance's main building threatened Gwiyeong and her subordinates.
The power of Gwiyeong and Gale Blade was so overwhelming that no one dared to stand in their way.
"Do you think such threats will work now that we've come this far?"
Gwiyeong imbued Gale Blade with energy and fired it forth.
The martial artists tried to defend or evade upon seeing her attack, but it was so fast and powerful that most of the Heretic Alliance members were shredded to pieces by the energy blasts.
"Gah! You bitch!"
The warriors who managed to dodge the attack launched a counterattack against Gwiyeong.
But it was short-lived, as the elite warriors of the Black Ghost Guild behind her stepped forward and swiftly subdued them.
"Kuhuk!"
"Gaaah!"
As they were smoothly clearing the inside of the Heretic Alliance building, a lone martial artist with a distinctly different air appeared.
"Stop."
Gwiyeong instantly realized that a formidable enemy had appeared.
She immediately extended her senses to examine the man who had shown himself.
[That one looks pretty strong.]
"...He certainly does."
He was a martial artist who had just reached the level of a Supreme Master.
'Are the executives of the Heretic Alliance all at the Supreme Master level?'
A Supreme Master was skilled enough to lead a large faction.
The fact that such a person was merely an executive made her realize the true might of the Heretic Alliance.
"To think martial artists of the Heretic Path would dare to attack the Heretic Alliance. I've never seen such absurd fools."
The Heretic Alliance executive unleashed a fierce sword aura, putting pressure on Gwiyeong and her subordinates.
"Soon, the factions under the Heretic Alliance will swarm here like bees to punish you. If you surrender obediently now, I will at least spare your lives."
"Don't be ridiculous."
Gwiyeong immediately threw Gale Blade, imbued with sword aura, toward the Heretic Alliance executive.
*Whooosh.*
The massive weapon flew forward, spinning rapidly.
Seeing this, the Heretic Alliance executive immediately dodged, intending to counterattack.
But Gale Blade, having suddenly taken human form, scattered plum blossom petals and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
[Where do you think you're going?]
"Keok!"
His body lurched forward, but with Gale Blade yanking his neck back, the Heretic Alliance executive suffered a great shock and slammed his head into the ground.
*Craaash!*
Gale Blade leaped high into the air above the fallen executive and, transforming back into a weapon, plummeted down.
"Wa-wait…!"
The Heretic Alliance executive’s eyes widened as he tried to move, but it was too late.
*Stab.*
"Gaaah!"
Gale Blade pierced straight through the executive's stomach and embedded itself in the ground, unmoving.
He struggled, striking Gale Blade with his own sword, but it was useless.
The more he struggled, the more Gale Blade held its ground with its own will, standing firm.
As Gwiyeong watched him silently, the elite Black Ghost Guild warriors nearby quickly approached and finished him off.
*Slash—stab—shunk.*
In an instant, the Heretic Alliance executive’s body was hacked to pieces. He trembled violently before going limp.
It was a rather anticlimactic end for a martial artist who had reached the level of a Supreme Master.
As Gwiyeong pulled out Gale Blade and shook off the blood, a warrior from the White Serpent Guild, who had come to report the situation outside, gasped for breath.
"Guild Master!"
"What is it?"
"Outside…! Heretic Alliance reinforcements have arrived!"
"Already? Not even an hour has passed since the assault began."
"We can still handle them for now, but they keep pouring in. The warriors guarding the entrance to the building will be overwhelmed soon!"
Currently, the warriors of the Black Ghost Guild, the White Serpent Guild, and the Tyrant's Guild were guarding the entrance to the Heretic Alliance building, preventing its members from entering.
Gwiyeong's role was to draw the attention of the Heretic Alliance members inside the building, making it easier for the Tyrant's Guild Master to defeat their leader.
Thus, the most crucial person in this battle was none other than the Tyrant's Guild Master Wi-ak.
Gwiyeong decided to pick up the pace.
"We must deal with the Heretic Alliance members quickly and go help the Tyrant's Guild Master. The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for us."
"""Yes!"""
The moment Gwiyeong and her elite warriors were about to head to the upper floor—
*Rumble. Rumble. Ruuumble.*
A tremendous vibration shook the entire building.
[It seems the Tyrant's Guild Master and the Heretic Alliance Leader have begun their fight in earnest.]
*Rumble. Ruuumble.*
Gwiyeong quickly scanned her surroundings, checking the building's condition.
The pillars were shaking violently, cracking and crumbling. Ominous sounds came from the ceiling, and Gwiyeong urgently shouted to her subordinates.
"Get out of here, now! It's about to collapse!"
At her words, the Black Ghost Guild warriors quickly headed outside.
Gwiyeong also slung Gale Blade onto her back and used her footwork technique to make a swift exit.
They escaped the building at high speed, only to be stunned by the scene outside.
The Heretic Alliance's estate was immense, yet it was filled to the brim with martial artists, chaotically mixed together, killing and being killed.
Fierce clashes of steel, screams, and battle cries—all sorts of sounds mingled together, creating a scene of pure chaos.
Amid the confusion, Gwiyeong calmly assessed the situation.
'The constant arrival of Heretic Alliance reinforcements is definitely pushing our side back.'
Seeing Gwiyeong, the Heretic Alliance members raised their weapons, pointed at her, and shouted.
"There she is! Their leader is over there!"
At those words, the eyes of the Heretic Alliance members immediately turned to Gwiyeong.
Just as Gwiyeong and her elite Black Ghost Guild warriors took their battle stances to prepare—
*Kra-boooooom!*
A section of the building's wall above them exploded, showering debris everywhere.
Gwiyeong quickly looked up, moving away from her spot as she yelled.
"Everyone, get back!"
As soon as they heard her, the Black Ghost Guild warriors hastily retreated or deployed their protective auras.
"Wh-what the?!"
"That's… move!"
"W-wha-?!"
An entire section of the building's wall was torn away as it half-collapsed and tilted.
*Ruuuumble.*
A massive tremor shook the area, instantly turning it into a scene of carnage.
The martial artists fighting in the estate, friend and foe alike, began to flee.
"Move! Get out of the way!"
"Get lost, you bastards! You want us all to die together?!"
"This isn't the time to fight, you idiot! Do you want to be crushed to death here?!"
Even the warriors who had been fighting senselessly finally understood the situation as they saw the massive Heretic Alliance building crumbling.
Everyone began to climb over the estate's gates and walls to escape.
But with so many people, a considerable number fell, were trampled, and crushed to death.
"Gaaaaah!"
"D-don't step on me! Don't step on—keok!"
Despite their desperate struggles, the building collapsed even faster.
*Ruuuumble.*
The magnificent building of the Heretic Alliance, a symbol of the Heretic Path, collapsed with a tremendous roar.
*Kra-booooom! Crash! Ruuumble!*
The main building of the Heretic Alliance covered the entire estate, even pushing over the walls that surrounded it.
*Craaaackle.*
It came down almost like a tidal wave, crushing countless people under the debris. Some had their legs or arms pinned, unable to move, only able to scream.
"Aaaargh! My leg! My leg!!"
"Ugh! My foot…"
"S-someone help me! If you could just move this…"
And in the midst of the disaster, someone rose from within the rubble.
"Khahaa…"
He then lifted the glaive embedded in the wreckage and spoke from within the cloud of dust.
"Heretic Alliance Leader, my living goal, my dream. Come. I am not yet dead."
His eyes were stained red, and an aura blending dark red and gold shimmered around his body.