Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Preta Path (3)
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No one born human can live alone.
Wi-ak, the leader of the Hegemony Society, was not alone in his youth.
He had a precious bond.
But he cast that precious bond aside, telling himself it was to build his strength.
The truth was that he left because he was too pathetic to protect her and make her happy, but this heartbreaking truth was buried deep in the darkness.
In the end, he gained power.
Infinite life and overwhelming strength, and with them, a mighty faction and immense wealth.
He now had it all.
He could make her happy again.
But the power of a Blood Demon takes away what is most precious.
As payment, he forgot why he had so desperately desired money and power.
That was why, no matter how much money, power, and authority he amassed, his heart felt empty.
Those things only reveal their true value when used for someone precious.
The preta, having forgotten what he truly wanted, felt a sense of delight upon seeing someone similar to himself.
He was pleased with Gwiyeong's path, one of a preta driven by greed and survival, having forgotten even what she loved.
He truly felt they could be comrades.
From the Preta Path's perspective, the other Six Paths Blood Demons were all psychopaths.
Revenge, truth, family, anxiety—he had no interest in such trivial things.
Wi-ak couldn't understand using power for such paltry reasons.
Of course, to others, Wi-ak was no different from them.
In any case, how glad must he have been to meet a junior who felt like a kindred spirit among these psychopaths, as he saw them.
He genuinely wanted to make Gwiyeong a Blood Demon like himself.
***
"Hm? What do you say? Won't you join me and become a Blood Demon, enjoying an endless life? My god is magnanimous; he will surely accept you."
An unsettling feeling washed over Gwiyeong, and she took a step back.
The red moon and thick clouds intensified the eerie atmosphere.
"I... I..."
As Gwiyeong hesitated, Wi-ak replied in an understanding tone.
"Yes, you must be scared. The Blood Cult's reputation is quite infamous. However, I am a top executive there, so you have nothing to fear. If you just take my hand, you will surely not regret it."
Seeing him smiling brightly while urging her to become a demon, Gwiyeong remained silent for a moment before answering, her voice filled with firm resolve.
"I refuse."
"...Hmm, that's unexpected. Why?"
Gwiyeong lifted Gale Blade and thrust it into the ground beside her before speaking.
"Because a friend of mine suffered greatly because of the Blood Cult."
Hearing this, Gale Blade quietly gazed at Gwiyeong.
Then, her sharp eyes glinted as she glared at Wi-ak.
"I can no longer be with you."
Hurt by Gwiyeong's firm refusal, Wi-ak scratched his head and replied.
"Hmm, I thought you, of all people, would understand me. What a shame. I finally thought I'd found a true comrade among all these psychopaths."
Gwiyeong stealthily gripped Gale Blade, preparing herself for a fight at any moment.
[Are you sure about this? He's one of the Six Paths Blood Demons, who defeated a warrior of the Transcendent Realm.]
Gale Blade's voice, filled with worry, spoke to Gwiyeong.
But she answered as if it were nothing.
"What wouldn't I do for my one and only friend?"
At those words, Wi-ak's eyes trembled with a feigned look of surprise.
Not just Gwiyeong, but the heretical warriors watching from afar all tensed up as they observed the situation.
The appearance of the Blood Cult always brought a storm of blood.
Wi-ak, noticing this, let out a sigh.
"I see. So that is your answer."
He returned to where the Heretic Alliance Leader, Taehong, lay.
"Then I will become the Heretic Alliance Leader. It's a pity you couldn't stay with me until the end."
He then placed his hand over the corpse, intending to absorb Taehong's power.
"I will give you a chance. Get away from me right now. Then you might be able to keep your life."
"..."
Gwiyeong hesitated, the enemy of Gale Blade right before her eyes.
Should she leave as he said, or fight the exhausted Wi-ak?
Sensing her indecision, Wi-ak spoke in a slightly threatening voice.
"Do not forget that my mind can change at any moment."
It was the last chance Wi-ak would give the junior he had taken a liking to.
And just as he was about to absorb the dead Heretic Alliance Leader's power...
"Preta Path of the Blood Heaven Cult! Stop!"
A group of warriors dressed in white martial arts uniforms suddenly appeared.
The one at the forefront was none other than Jinseon of the Martial Alliance, who had warned Gwiyeong.
She glared at Wi-ak with a slightly tense expression and shouted.
"Your evil deeds end today."
Seeing Jinseon, Wi-ak paused for a moment before speaking.
"It's been a while, Jinseon."
"It has, Wi-ak."
Wi-ak greeted her in a voice completely devoid of hostility.
"Have you been well?"
"Perhaps."
But Jinseon's reply was laced with animosity.
Noticing this, Wi-ak wore a bitter expression and said.
"It seems you haven't come as an old friend."
"I have come as a Blood Demon hunter of the Martial Alliance."
"What a shame."
"I, too, am saddened that you have become this."
He slowly rose to his feet, surveying his surroundings to assess the situation.
"This... is very different from what I had originally planned."
Jinseon looked at Gwiyeong and said.
"Shadow of the Ghost, you didn't listen to me in the end."
"...Well, if I knew it would turn out like this, I would have."
Seeing their brief exchange, Wi-ak let out a chuckle and said.
"What's this? Did you two have a chat behind my back?"
He glanced up at the blood-red moon for a moment, then muttered.
"What a mess. Just like my life."
An ominous aura began to flow.
Jinseon, the Blood Demon hunters, and Gwiyeong, all sensing that something was about to happen, swallowed nervously and prepared for battle.
The heretical warriors from the various factions, standing far away, didn't know what to do.
Just then, a few warriors from the Hegemony Society cautiously approached Wi-ak's side.
"L-Leader. We have come."
It seemed they intended to help their leader in the impending battle.
"Ah, right. You were here. Good work."
"N-Not at all. We will fight alongside you, Leader..."
"Yes. You must fight with me. From now on, and forever."
Realizing something was amiss, the Hegemony Society warriors slowly turned their heads to look at Wi-ak.
His eyes were as emotionless as a ruthless beast's.
They were the eyes of a cruel Blood Demon that preys on humans.
*Stab.*
"Keoheok!"
With his bare hands, Wi-ak pierced through a Hegemony Society warrior's chest and grasped his heart.
"W-Why..."
"You'll all die fighting anyway. So if you're going to die, you might as well lend me your strength."
He then began to drain the life force from the Hegemony Society warrior.
The warrior, robbed of his vitality, shriveled up like a wooden doll.
"Geueueuk! Kkeueuk!"
Seeing their comrade's fate, the other Hegemony Society warriors froze in terror.
"Heok!"
"L-Leader! Why are you doing this!"
"My apologies. But I need your help to deal with all of them."
Wi-ak swung his massive glaive in a crescent arc.
In an instant, the Hegemony Society warriors were sliced in half, collapsing as they spewed blood.
"Keoheok!"
"Kuaaack!"
Amidst the downpour of blood, Wi-ak manipulated his blood energy to absorb their life force.
*Shwaaaaaa.*
The red blood and life force gathered above his hand, forming a sphere.
Seeing this, the Hegemony Society warriors began to flee in haste.
But Wi-ak hunted them with an unnatural persistence.
"Do not run! Do you dare betray your leader?"
He mercilessly chased down and killed the Hegemony Society warriors.
After personally killing all his subordinates, Wi-ak absorbed every last drop of their life force.
His face brightened a shade, and a deep madness began to settle in his eyes.
The blood energy coursing through his body had stirred Wi-ak's profound insanity.
Having instantly absorbed the lives and power of dozens of men, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Every single thing is a mess."
His voice was no longer the generous one he had shown Gwiyeong earlier.
It was the voice of one dissatisfied and displeased with everything.
"Why does nothing go my way? Why is everything such a goddamn mess?"
Seeing him like this, the Blood Demon hunters of the Martial Alliance rushed to attack.
"Kill him quickly before he gathers his strength!"
"Our opponent is one of the Six Paths Blood Demons! Do not give him an opening!"
They charged, unleashing not just sword qi but sword aura.
This meant they were all warriors at least at the late-stage of the Peak Realm.
Nearly ten warriors at or above the late-stage of the Peak Realm were undoubtedly a formidable force.
Ordinary Blood Demons would be hunted down without a chance to fight back.
But their opponent was one of the Six Paths Blood Demons.
He was not an enemy who could be defeated so easily.
Wi-ak smirked and said.
"Did you think you could face me by manifesting mere sword aura?"
He shrouded his glaive in immense blood energy and swung it fiercely.
The charging warriors were instantly thrown back with grievous wounds.
"Kkeueuk!"
"Kuaaak!"
The subsequent attacks from the Blood Demon hunters landed squarely on Wi-ak, but the problem was that unless the wounds were severe, he could rapidly recover.
"This is not enough to faze me!"
Wi-ak once again swung his glaive in a wide arc, sending the surrounding enemies flying in a single blow.
*Chwaaak.*
"Heup!"
"Keoheok!"
Those hit by the attack let out pained groans as they bled.
But the wounds were not fatal; with treatment, they would be left with major scars, but their lives were not in danger.
The Blood Demon hunters who had dodged Wi-ak's attack paid no mind to their fallen comrades and glared at him.
"You're Jinseon's comrades, aren't you? I'll give you a chance."
Wi-ak stared at the Blood Demon hunters with cold eyes and said.
"If you leave now, I won't pursue you. So take Jinseon and go."
Hearing Wi-ak's words, Jinseon replied resolutely.
"Do not retreat. Our lives exist to punish the Blood Demons. I will not forgive anyone who flees."
"I don't want to fight you."
Wi-ak's instincts refused to fight Jinseon.
But the will of those surrounding him was firm.
Gwiyeong also stepped forward, gripping Gale Blade.
"You said the ones who trapped you were the Blood Cult."
[...I did.]
"Then do they also know how to get you out?"
[Probably. But it's dangerous. For you to face, Gwiyeong, it's too...]
"I told you before. That I was wearing a mask. Now, I'm going to take it off."
She gave Gale Blade a bright smile she had never shown before and said.
"I will get you out of there, no matter what. So do not refuse. My friend."
Gwiyeong approached Wi-ak with steps that didn't hide her presence and said.
"Leader of the Hegemony Society, no, you fiend of the Blood Cult. There is something I wish to ask."
Her words no longer held the respect due a senior.
For Wi-ak was no longer a senior of the heretical path, but a vile monster of the Blood Cult.
"What is it?"
"Do you know how to return my friend to normal?"
"What's all this nonsense about a friend? Weren't you alone?"
Concluding that Wi-ak was feigning ignorance, Gwiyeong instantly leaped and swung her saber at him.
*Whoosh.*
Wi-ak, who had lightly dodged the attack, frowned and said.
"Why do you attack me? I gave you a chance."
"Did you think you could just get away with trapping my friend in a weapon?"
"What are you talking about? Where is this friend of yours?"
Gwiyeong swung Gale Blade and replied.
"Here, can't you see this weapon? How can you pretend not to know after turning a person into this!"
"...What."
Wi-ak then saw the eye embedded in Gale Blade.
Upon closer inspection, he felt life force emanating from the weapon and could not hide his shock.
"...A person in a weapon? What in the world is this?"
"I heard it was the Blood Cult's doing! Pretending you don't know won't work!"
"W-Wait. I've never heard of this..."
*Clang!*
Wi-ak's glaive and Gwiyeong's saber clashed, creating a violent impact.
She spoke to Wi-ak from across their locked blades.
"Tell me. The way to restore my friend."
"I don't know. I didn't even know something like this existed."
"Lies!"
*Kwaang!*
Gwiyeong pushed forward, pressing her attack even more fiercely.
"How shameless! As one of the Six Paths Blood Demons, aren't you a top executive of the Blood Heaven Cult?! And you're still going to claim you don't know?!"
"No, I really..."
*Paat.*
Gwiyeong retreated using footwork, her composure lost as she spoke.
"My friend has suffered for a long time because of you people. So don't think you can just walk away!"
[...]
Wi-ak looked at Jinseon and Gwiyeong, let out a chuckle, and thought.
'Right. Is this how my karma comes for me? Fine. I was tired of it all anyway.'
He stabbed his glaive into the ground and shouted.
"Fine. Come at me, all at once. Your enemy, your nemesis, is right here. But wager your lives. Because one side will be utterly annihilated."