Chapter 210: The Muster
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 210: The Muster
Ak Bulhwi swiftly raised his sword and swung at the approaching beam of light.
His reaction speed transcended human limits, yet his movements were as natural as flowing water.
His sword bisected the beam as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Blocking such an attack with a single sword was an incredible feat, but it wasn't a perfect defense.
Even though he had cut it, the force of the impact didn't simply vanish; it created a shockwave.
KABOOOOM!
The shockwave was powerful enough to devastate the surroundings.
“Gyaaaah!”
Several swordsmen were sent tumbling, losing their grip on their weapons.
Those below the First-Rate realm were rendered incapable of fighting just from the impact of the shockwave.
Ak Bulhwi glanced at the slightly trembling tip of his own sword.
“So this is Gomodo’s power.”
His gaze was now fixed squarely on the black lizard.
It resembled a dragon, but it could by no means be called one.
If it had been a true dragon, he would not have been able to block that attack.
“That thing is not a dragon. It is merely a lizard imitating one.”
As Ak Bulhwi aimed his sword at the spirit beast, his disciples rallied behind his words.
“O-Our Sect Leader cut through the dragon’s breath!”
“Everyone, snap out of it! That’s not a Dragon Pearl!”
He may have said it wasn't a dragon, but its strength was no lie.
Among this vast force, only a handful could truly face Gomodo.
Ak Bulhwi took a step forward before the spirit beast could launch another attack.
And in that instant.
Fwip-fwip-fwip!
The lizard spun around and vanished into the forest.
“Running away.”
Its initial vigor was gone as it hid itself.
“…Sect Leader, I believe it might be a lure.”
His advisor spoke up from his side.
A lure.
Ak Bulhwi scoffed at the word.
“A lure, you say? This should be interesting.”
Even if it was a spirit beast, at its core, it was still just an animal.
A mere beast, trying to lure a human.
It was a laughable notion.
A trap laid by a beast’s mind would be painfully obvious.
“What are your orders?”
“There is the story of the Seven Captures.”
The advisor listened silently to Ak Bulhwi’s words.
“Do you know how Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo? To catch a wild beast like that… you cannot leave it even a sliver of hope. Let it use all its tricks, then crush it with overwhelming power. It is bound to tuck its tail and submit.”
Judging by its actions, it was clearly attempting to set a trap.
It didn't seem like the kind of spirit beast to get scared and flee just because its attack was blocked.
To know the enemy is plotting something and walk right into it.
It seemed a foolish idea, but the advisor could not oppose Ak Bulhwi’s decision.
As he said, the forces gathered here were on a completely different level than a single spirit beast.
The fact that only a few could face the spirit beast meant that those few possessed power on par with it.
“Still, with a forest this dense, finding it won't be easy.”
Ak Bulhwi’s gaze turned to the Red Dragon.
Her flames could incinerate this dense forest in an instant.
“Oh my, so you want me to breathe fire?”
The Red Dragon said in a sly tone.
“Sorry, but I don’t think I can do that.”
Ak Bulhwi’s eyebrow twitched.
“What did you say?”
“Is it that hard to understand? I can’t use my fire because of the Gu you people planted in my body.”
Though filled with malice, her expression seemed almost relieved.
Ak Bulhwi had expected that the Red Dragon wouldn't obey so meekly.
But even if she pretended to refuse, she ultimately had no choice but to follow his orders.
That was the nature of the Gu.
However, such a command could not be given lightly.
Ak Bulhwi decided to save using the Red Dragon for later.
Her role, after all, was to face Gomodo.
“Tsk. That won’t change anything.”
Despite his words, Ak Bulhwi smiled slightly.
He, too, was a martial artist who revered martial prowess.
He wanted to experience firsthand what kind of trap a spirit beast of that caliber had prepared.
“All forces, draw your swords.”
If they couldn't burn the forest, they would simply cut it down.
*
“Haaak, huaaaak!”
The spirit beast had prepared far more traps than Ak Bulhwi had anticipated.
One moment they would be walking along fine, and the next, vines would suddenly wrap around their ankles, or spiderwebs harder than steel would bind their legs.
There weren't many lethal traps.
Occasionally, a pitfall filled with sharp, poisoned wooden spears would appear, but the Tang Clan's spirit beast protected them.
As a spirit beast specializing in Void Grasping, it was able to pull them out before they fell into the pits.
The problem was something else entirely.
The massive forest, where they couldn't see an inch ahead, ate away at their sense of direction, and insects constantly swarmed them.
Even when they cut down the plants with their swords, they would regenerate at a speed that defied common sense.
If Ak Bulhwi put his mind to it, he could cut down this entire forest, but his attention was directed elsewhere.
Gomodo would pop out whenever they were distracted.
It would bombard them from a distance, and when they tried to give chase, it would disappear again, repeating this over and over.
“Well, this is its territory, so I suppose this much is to be expected.”
He said as much, but to put it bluntly, he was getting extremely irritated.
When they tried to chase it, it would flee as if flying through the sky, stepping on leaves and vines.
It kept up its ranged attacks, using the Lion's Roar and its light beam.
Swiiiiish!
Ak Bulhwi swung his sword and took the lead.
The seemingly alive plants were mercilessly cut down by his sword strikes.
“Everyone, focus! Its power is not infinite. Look behind you. The path we've crossed is longer than the path ahead. Yes, just a little further and we will conquer this forest.”
The martial artists, dazed from the constant bombardment, found new strength in their Sect Leader's encouragement.
The fact that no one had suffered a fatal injury yet was an encouraging achievement, if one could call it that.
“Well, should I force myself to shoot some fire? I’ll probably use up all my strength and have to lie down afterward, though.”
The Red Dragon sneered from beside Ak Bulhwi.
Even she had never dreamed that Gomodo would prepare such an elaborate series of traps.
If this continued, the tide of battle could turn in Gomodo's favor.
Ak Bulhwi, knowing the Red Dragon's intent, smiled slightly.
“I'm sorry, but things won't go the way you want. We'll be facing that black lizard soon, so you'd better prepare to fight.”
“Hmph, you think so? I’d say it’ll take another seven days and nights.”
Ak Bulhwi silently turned around.
The Red Dragon, watching to see what he was doing, felt her eyes widen.
Ruuuumble.
A tremendous noise erupted.
At the same time, she felt a powerful energy that made her body tingle.
“Namgung Yeon timed it perfectly.”
A creature resembling a dragon, made of giant rocks.
It was as if a rocky mountain itself was moving, and countless rock snakes began to slither up behind it.
“Grrrrrrr…”
It was Gongbok, one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon.
“Now, it's only a matter of time.”
*
The results weren't as good as I'd hoped.
That middle-aged swordsman was stronger than I had anticipated.
Tang Soyeong said his name was Ak Bulhwi, I think.
Just seeing him block the Gaegaek Death Beam with a mere sword was unusual enough, but he also broke through my carefully prepared traps with ease.
Of course, the grunts were exhausted from that alone, so it wasn't a total loss, but the problem was that they broke through faster than I expected.
On top of that, the spirit beast that used Void Grasping so freely was no pushover either.
It was uncertain if it could catch me, but seeing it lift about five humans with ease told me it was no ordinary creature.
Some of the swordsmen sticking close to Ak Bulhwi seemed to be masters who had reached not just the Peak Realm, but the realm beyond it.
I was also able to find out that Gongbok had joined the battle.
If gathering information on them was an achievement, then I guess it was an achievement.
“…You’ve certainly kept me waiting, Gomodo.”
I had reached a dead end.
They had broken through all my traps and succeeded in cornering me here.
Countless swordsmen drew their blades at the sight of me, and the spirit beasts were glaring at me as well.
“Red Dragon, it is time to fulfill your duty.”
Ak Bulhwi said in a cold voice.
He knows the Red Dragon and I have a connection, so he's sending her in first.
He knows I won't be able to fight properly if she's my opponent.
The Red Dragon walked forward slowly.
“…You should have finished it back then.”
The Red Dragon charged at me, gritting her teeth.
What a relief.
If she had turned around and attacked Ak Bulhwi right now, the Gu would have burst before I could do anything to stop it.
Now that it's come to this, I can rest easy.
Because I have a special gift prepared for her.
Crack-crack-crack-crack!
A massive chunk of ice slammed into the charging Red Dragon.
“It's been a while, red lizard.”
It was Baek Rang.
“Keeeeng!”
“Kiiiiong!”
Tus and Pus were clinging to Baek Rang's shoulders.
Nephila and Tang Soyeong were riding on her back.
“Oh my, there really is a Gu inside you.”
Crack-crack-crack-crack!
“…White mutt. You seem to have gotten a little stronger.”
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!
Cold and flame clashed, creating a massive cloud of steam.
“Well, it would be stranger if you didn't have any subordinates.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the swordsmen at the front charged at me.
Chwaaaak!
But an attack like that could never pierce my scales.
Taaaang!
“It deflected the Ten-Star Internal Energy Plum Blossom Sword Art… Is it truly an Adamantine Body?!”
A swordsman exclaimed in a shocked voice.
Ten-Star Internal Energy, Plum Blossom Sword Art…
I have a rough idea of their level now.
“Awoooooo!”
Kwadedeuk!
Seven wolves that had been hiding in the bushes leaped out and attacked the enemy all at once.
I can leave these guys to the wolves.
They were just martial artists Ak Bulhwi sent to gauge my strength.
“Kugh! Where did these things come from?!”
The charging swordsmen were being taken down helplessly, but Ak Bulhwi's expression didn't change.
“Everyone, carry out your assigned roles.”
The entire force began to move at once.
The large-bodied Ceratosaurus made a gesture as if grasping the empty air.
It was the one that had neutralized my traps.
To deal with a spirit beast of that level…
Another spirit beast should do the trick.
KABOOOOOM!
A headbutt that shook the heavens and the earth.
“Khahahahat! Hero, I was about to die from waiting!”
It was the Earthly Star of Slaughter, the Iron Head Dragon.
“Now I see. Why Hyemyeong, that damn monk, was so against forming the Murim Alliance.”
Ak Bulhwi's expression hardened slightly.
“Plum Blossom Swordsmen, strike that ferocious beast at once.”
I thought it was about time he stepped up himself, but he didn't, continuing to send out his subordinates.
It was a bizarre course of action, but I understood one thing.
He was extremely reluctant to use his own power.
A dozen or so masters carrying swords engraved with plum blossoms stepped forward.
I could see a few who had achieved a realm beyond Peak.
I couldn't figure out Ak Bulhwi's objective, but I could tell he was trying to take me down with minimal losses to himself.
He throws his subordinates at me while preserving his own strength.
He's pushing the task of fighting me, the strongest opponent, onto others.
That was not how a leader should act.
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen approached me at high speed with brilliant movements.
Their skill was incomparable to the swordsmen who had charged just moments ago.
I could see some who had reached not just the Peak Realm, but the realm beyond it.
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm at a disadvantage.
Kukwaaaaaang!
The expressions of the approaching Plum Blossom Swordsmen changed completely.
“One husband… many wiveeeees!”
It was because they saw eleven beasts charging from behind me.
“A-A Bicorn?”
“…First, we deal with those things, then we help the Sect Leader!”
The one who appeared to be the leader of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen said.
But they would soon realize that wouldn't be so easy.
Because there was a special one leading their charge.
A different skin color and a massive body, quite unlike the Bicorns.
“One husband….”
The biggest difference would be its horn.
Its horn wasn't on its nose.
Its horn is a heart that purifies corruption.
It is a sacred spear that annihilates those already pierced.
“One wiiiiife!”
The Unicorn leading the Bicorns met the Plum Blossom Swordsmen's blades with its massive horn.
KABOOOOM!
“…Bicorns and a Unicorn. To think you even have beings that should never meet.”
Ak Bulhwi's expression twisted slightly.
“Well done, Gomodo. You got me good.”
Despite that, he muttered as if he still had one more card up his sleeve.
Kududududuk.
The rock snake, which had been standing still as if observing the situation, opened its eyes.
The master of the Dragon Gate, a member of the Nine Sons of the Dragon.
Gongbok was about to make its move.
Seeing the situation unfold like this, I knew for sure.
Ak Bulhwi was reluctant to fight me directly.
Something was strange.
Seeing him constantly fiddling with the hilt of his sword while looking at me, it wasn't that he lacked a competitive spirit, yet he kept trying to postpone the fight.
To thwart his objective, the best course of action would be to do what he's reluctant to do.
“You can't possibly have any forces left to deal with Gongbok.”
Right.
He was right.
I had no forces left to deal with Gongbok and its minions.
Kudududuk!
The giant rock snake slowly approached me.
Jjeooooooooong!
A white beam struck its body hard.
KABOOOOM!
It was a technique similar to the one I used, but different.
Perhaps it could be called the origin.
My second master, a being I could call my companion.
“How dare you try to touch my companion.”
It was the Snake Queen.
Of course, even if she was strong, she wouldn't be able to face Gongbok alone.
But she could probably buy enough time while I dealt with Ak Bulhwi.
And it wasn't just the Snake Queen alone.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!
A storm raged from the sky.
“I never knew marrying off my daughter would be this hard!”
A giant bird with blue feathers summoned the storm.
It was the king of birds, Argentavis.
For the past month, I did everything I could.
I trained, I built traps, I drilled my forces.
I visited the spirit beasts I had a connection with and asked them to lend me their strength.
All so I could eliminate Gongbok and Ak Bulhwi and protect my followers and my territory.
I waited, enduring the pain of carving my bones and tearing my flesh.
“Well now, you've really got me good.”
“Krrrrrrrr.”
I'll show you exactly who you dared to mess with.