Desperate Struggle, Part 2
The moment the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes, the entire world seemed to freeze.
His pupils, which had been pitch black, now glowed with a crimson hue that looked as if fresh blood had been poured into them. The corners of his lips curled up in a smirk that sent chills down my spine.
“You’ve finally shown your true colors, you damn mutt.”
His voice was low and raspy, like the growl of a beast that had just woken from a long slumber. The air around us grew heavy, thick with killing intent so dense it felt like it was pressing down on my shoulders.
I tightened my grip on the sword in my hand. The blade, which had been trembling slightly, now steadied as if it had made up its mind.
This is it. No more running. No more hiding behind pretty words or half-assed tricks.
“Come at me, you son of a bitch.”
I spat on the ground and raised my sword. The Heavenly Demon let out a low chuckle, then vanished from where he stood.
Shit—!
Before I could even react, a fist the size of a cauldron slammed into my abdomen. The impact sent me flying backward like a kicked ball, crashing through several trees before I finally rolled to a stop in a cloud of dirt and broken branches.
“Gah…!”
Blood spurted from my mouth. My internal organs felt like they’d been rearranged. The pain was so intense that for a moment, my vision went white.
But I forced myself to stand. My legs shook, yet I planted my feet firmly and raised my sword again.
The Heavenly Demon was already standing right in front of me, looking down with those blood-red eyes.
“Is that all you’ve got? Pathetic.”
He swung his fist again. This time I barely managed to block it with my sword. The clash sent sparks flying as the force traveled through the blade and into my arms, nearly shattering the bones.
Too strong. Way too fucking strong.
Even though I had absorbed the power of the Heavenly Demon’s own technique earlier, the gap between us was still enormous. It felt like trying to stop a freight train with a paper shield.
But I couldn’t back down. Not now.
I gritted my teeth and activated every ounce of inner energy I had left. The Supreme Heavenly Demon Sword Art began to circulate wildly through my meridians, pushing my body beyond its limits.
Demonic Flash
My body became a blur as I thrust my sword forward at blinding speed. The Heavenly Demon didn’t even try to dodge. He simply raised one hand and caught the blade between two fingers.
“Is this your best?”
He twisted his wrist. The sword snapped in half with a sharp crack. The broken blade spun through the air before embedding itself in a nearby tree.
I stared at the shattered weapon in my hand, then at the monster standing before me.
Well… shit.
The Heavenly Demon laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the forest like thunder.
“Now then. Shall we end this little game?”
He raised his hand. Dark energy began to swirl around his palm, forming a sphere of pure destructive power. Even from a distance, I could feel the terrifying aura radiating from it. One direct hit and I’d be erased from existence.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment.
Sorry, everyone. Looks like this is as far as I go.
Just as I was about to accept my fate, a familiar voice rang out from behind me.
“Master! Don’t you dare die on me!”
I turned my head. There, running toward us with tears streaming down her face, was Seol-hwa. Her hair was disheveled, her robes torn in several places, but her eyes burned with fierce determination.
Behind her, I could see the rest of the girls—Cheong-ha, Yeon-ji, even Ma Chun-hwa—all rushing forward despite their injuries.
My heart clenched.
You idiots… why did you come back?
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“More pests. How tiresome.”
He redirected the sphere of dark energy toward the approaching women. The attack shot forward like a cannonball, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
“NO!” I screamed, forcing my broken body to move. I threw myself in front of the incoming blast, spreading my arms wide.
"If I have to burn every last drop of my blood..."
"If I have to shatter my soul into a thousand pieces..."
"I will protect them. No matter what."
The dark sphere collided with my body. An explosion of black energy erupted, swallowing me whole. Pain unlike anything I had ever felt before tore through every fiber of my being. It felt as if my very existence was being unraveled thread by thread.
But I held on.
I held on because I could hear their voices calling my name. Because I could feel their desperate cries echoing in my heart.
I won’t let you take them from me. Not you. Not anyone.
The Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise flickering across his face for the first time.
“You… you’re still standing?”
I slowly lowered my arms. My body was covered in blood. My clothes were in tatters. Half of my face was burned black. Yet I was still breathing.
And in my hand, the broken sword had somehow reformed—its blade now glowing with a brilliant golden light that seemed to push back the darkness itself.
A surge of power unlike anything I had ever felt before flooded through my body. The pain vanished. My wounds began to heal at a visible rate. The broken sword in my hand hummed with energy, its blade now radiating pure golden light.
I looked up at the Heavenly Demon, who was staring at me with genuine shock for the first time.
“You… how is this possible?”
I smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile.
“You wanted a fight, right? Then let’s fight.”
I took one step forward. The ground beneath my feet cracked. The air around me began to swirl violently as golden energy erupted from my body.
The girls behind me gasped in awe and disbelief.
“Master…!”
“He’s… he’s glowing…”
I raised the golden sword high above my head. The Heavenly Demon clenched his fists, his crimson eyes burning with rage and something that almost looked like excitement.
“Fine. Come then, you insignificant worm. Show me what you’ve become.”
The final clash between us was about to begin.
And this time, I wasn’t planning on losing.