Chapter 332
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 332.
BOOOM!
A violent explosion shook heaven and earth. Multiple techniques, led by Heavenly Destruction, simultaneously assailed the Lord of Rifts.
The destructive force was overwhelming.
‘He wouldn’t die from just this.’
Yoo Baek-jun quickly steadied his stance, preparing to attack again.
A moment later, the explosion subsided.
A massive crater came into view.
‘Just as I thought.’
There, the Lord of Rifts lay fallen.
His eyes were closed, but his body bore no significant wounds.
Magic flowed from him, and an unfathomable force lifted him back up.
—…….
The risen Lord of Rifts opened his eyes.
His gaze, devoid of any emotion, swept across the surroundings.
—This place is too dark.
Thick darkness enveloped everything.
The Lord of Rifts looked up at the ceiling, then flicked his fingers. Light gathered around him before spreading outward.
The barrier’s interior was now filled with light.
—I’ve been in the dark for too long. Now, I’ve grown weary of it.
"Pointlessly crawling out like this!"
Countless aura orbs rose behind Yoo Baek-jun and fired.
He clenched his sword, aligning his Heteromorphic Hands to his left and right.
Hands gripping identical swords.
‘Simultaneously.’
The Heteromorphic Hands simultaneously unleashed Moonlight. Countless splitting sword energies surged toward the Lord of Rifts.
—Hmm…….
The Lord of Rifts watched the oncoming sword energies with dispassionate eyes.
His vision was filled with them.
His hand moved.
—Predictable swordsmanship.
From behind the Lord of Rifts, crimson swords erupted in unison.
The newly manifested swords began slashing wildly through the air.
At a glance, the movements seemed chaotic, meaningless.
Shwaaaak!
Numerous swords cleaved through the void, generating an overwhelming number of sword energies.
The sword energies radiated outward from the Lord of Rifts, clashing against Moonlight.
Kadududuk!
Sword energies collided.
A deafening roar erupted as the clashing energies shattered and scattered.
And in the midst of it—
"Hup…!"
Yoo Baek-jun charged forward.
The distance closed in an instant, and sharp ice formed around his leg.
Frozen Shattering Kick aimed for the Lord of Rifts.
Jjeojeok!
Heteromorphic Hands surrounded the evading Lord of Rifts, unleashing Cold aura.
Frozen Soul Palm instantly encased his body in ice. Yoo Baek-jun didn’t miss the opening.
Pueoook!
Yoo Baek-jun’s leg struck the Lord of Rifts. Upon impact, the ice shattered.
The broken shards transformed into razor-sharp blades, covering the Lord of Rifts’s entire body.
—…….
Ice fragments scattered noisily.
Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes widened as he assessed the Lord of Rifts’s condition.
The bastard was unharmed.
‘As expected, it’s his aura armor.’
Dark red aura enveloped the Lord of Rifts’s body like armor.
Yoo Baek-jun’s attack had landed but failed to pierce through it.
‘Then.’
Yoo Baek-jun activated Heavenly aura and closed in on the Lord of Rifts.
And then—Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.
Numerous afterimages appeared, unleashing a barrage of strikes. A whirlwind of aura sought to tear the Lord of Rifts apart.
—A fist art from your memories.
The Lord of Rifts, who had been calmly observing, slowly shifted his stance.
A stance familiar to Yoo Baek-jun.
—Is this how it’s used?
"Keuk!"
In the exact form of Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.
Heavenly aura began flowing from the Lord of Rifts.
The energy coalesced around his fist, soon transforming into Heavenly Destruction and crashing down on Yoo Baek-jun.
—Martial God. This prison you confined me in… this disgusting body…
The Lord of Rifts advanced with erratic footwork. From his fingertips, the same Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique Yoo Baek-jun had just used unfolded—only stronger.
—More usable than I thought.
Two fists imbued with Heavenly Destruction clashed. Two dragons roared, each trying to devour the other.
"Ugh!"
But Yoo Baek-jun was the one being pushed back.
The same fist technique, but their mastery differed. So did their physical conditioning.
Yoo Baek-jun summoned his Heteromorphic Hands. The hands that appeared beside him immediately prepared a technique.
But before they could—
—Martial God, did that bastard know?
The Lord of Rifts’s hand moved.
His left hand twisted behind his waist as his right foot stomped down violently.
Kwaaaang!
Heavenly aura traveled down his leg and pierced the ground.
The earth split, causing Yoo Baek-jun’s body to stagger momentarily.
—This is how it’ll be.
The Lord of Rifts took a deep breath. Tremendous power gathered in his left hand.
And then the Explosive Strike.
Paaang!
"Keuhk!"
From the palm that struck Yoo Baek-jun’s chest, Aura exploded outward.
Multiple shockwaves rippled through his body, ravaging him inside and out.
—No need to drag this out.
The Lord of Rifts spread his right hand wide.
Yoo Baek-jun’s body, sent flying from the impact, froze midair.
An unknown force yanked him forward, pulling him toward the Lord of Rifts.
—Kiaaaaah!
Twin Dragon’s Clash. Two Heavenly Destruction techniques unfolded simultaneously, engulfing Yoo Baek-jun.
But it was an illusion.
The image of Yoo Baek-jun being struck began vanishing like a ghost.
Having activated the Ghost Phantom Step, Yoo Baek-jun swiftly retreated.
—Too predictable.
But as if anticipating this, the Lord of Rifts moved before he could escape.
The Lord of Rifts raised his sword high, a gem-like sword energy forming at its tip.
He inhaled—then leaped. The sword descended precisely upon the ground.
Kururur…!
An earthquake erupted. The once-stable earth began splitting apart.
Amid the fissures, searing flames flickered. The moment Yoo Baek-jun noticed them, pillars of fire erupted from the cracks.
Kwaaaaang!
Before Yoo Baek-jun could steady himself, a colossal pillar of fire consumed him.
And at that very moment—the Lord of Rifts’s figure blurred.
Sssuk!
"…!"
Countless illusions appeared.
Perfect illusions—indistinguishable from the real thing.
They spread in all directions, simultaneously charging at Yoo Baek-jun.
Kaduduk!
Each one slashed with identical swords.
Yoo Baek-jun’s vision was completely filled with illusions. Just as he tried discerning the real one—
Puuk!
"Keuhk!"
Amid the illusions, the Lord of Rifts revealed himself and swung his sword.
A blade shot forth alongside sword shadows. From its tip, countless sword beams exploded, engulfing Yoo Baek-jun.
"Kahak!"
Yoo Baek-jun’s body was sent flying before tumbling across the ground.
The Lord of Rifts coldly observed him.
—How unfortunate, Yoo Moo-hak… and Martial God. To have placed faith in someone like this.
"Lord of Rifts…"
Yoo Baek-jun, crawling on the ground, lifted his head.
And their eyes met.
"Who are you? Why do you seek to destroy other dimensions?"
—Does destruction need a reason?
The Lord of Rifts lowered his sword.
—To you, yes. I am akin to a natural disaster. Unpredictable, with no particular reason for invading this world.
The Lord of Rifts tilted his head, as if the question itself was puzzling.
—It’s simply what must be done.
"What must be done?"
—Living beings consume to survive. Destroying other dimensions… to me, is no different.
He extended his hand.
—A necessity for survival.
The Lord of Rifts’s hand touched empty air.
Whoosh! A rift formed.
—So even if you ask for a reason, you won’t get a satisfying answer. Like this barrier—it’s a futile effort.
"Futile?"
—Was this barrier meant to protect your world from me? To buy time for him?
A faint smile—thick with mockery—appeared on the Lord of Rifts’s previously expressionless face.
—A pity. You didn’t realize that time applies to me as well.
Psssuk!
The body of the Lord of Rifts, trapped within the Martial God’s vessel, began crumbling.
Like shattered porcelain, his form fragmented.
From within, an endless, ominous darkness seeped out.
‘The seal is breaking.’
The implication was simple.
The Lord of Rifts, sealed within the Martial God’s body, was being freed.
And time was running out.
—How long do you think this vessel can hold me? How long did you think this seal would last?
The Lord of Rifts gripped his sword.
—One thing is certain: you’ll die here before then.
Sword in hand, the Lord of Rifts raised his foot.
An overwhelming surge of magical power radiated from him, palpable against the skin.
—I’ve grown fond of this name.
The Lord of Rifts took a step.
A simple movement—just lifting his foot and walking.
But the aftermath was anything but simple.
Kwaaaaang!
The moment his foot landed, the earth trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
Violent tremors caused the surrounding terrain to collapse.
A foot technique so powerful it altered the landscape with mere steps.
The Lord of Rifts, using the Sovereign Step, walked toward Yoo Baek-jun and raised his sword.
From his toes to his head, his magical power converged into the blade.
Ssuuuk!
And it didn’t stop there—ambient magic was also drawn toward him.
The Lord of Rifts, having greedily absorbed magic, fixed his gaze on Yoo Baek-jun.
—There will be no pain.
The sword gleamed.
The Lord of Rifts swung the radiant blade skyward.
Kuuuung!
A massive energy wave erupted from the Lord of Rifts, splitting the earth into eight distinct streams.
And then—
—Krrrrrr…!
The eight streams transformed into colossal dragons, soaring high into the sky.
Like serpents ascending to heaven.
—Kiaaaaaah!
The eight dragons simultaneously dove toward Yoo Baek-jun.
A deafening roar, magical power so dense it prickled the skin—was there any way to counter this?
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
‘There has to be.’
Yoo Baek-jun wasn’t giving up. He was reaching for the power slumbering within him.
The power gifted by the Thunder God.
‘This should be enough.’
Yoo Baek-jun touched the dormant force within and awakened it.
Brilliant golden lightning wrapped around his entire body.
"……."
Yoo Baek-jun opened his eyes. Blue currents of electricity flowed from them.
Avatar of the Thunder God. Awakening the power he had received, Yoo Baek-jun’s body levitated.
—Kiaaaaaah!
The eight dragons surged forward. Yoo Baek-jun gripped his Thunder spear.
Heteromorphic Hands lined up beside him, each wielding a spear forged from lightning.
Pajijijik!
"Thunder dragon…"
Cloaked in thunder, Yoo Baek-jun pulled his right arm far back.
Alongside the Heteromorphic Hands—
"—Strike!"
He unleashed the Thunder dragons.
Generating countless shockwaves, six Thunder dragons shot forth.
The roaring dragons scattered lightning in all directions as they charged toward their target.
The Lord of Rifts’s dragons.
Pueooong!
And then—collision.
The two forces clashed, and for a moment, silence reigned.
But only for a moment.
An invisible shockwave from the impact swept through the barrier.
—Kiaaaaaah!
—Kyaaaaah!
The two groups of dragons bared their fangs, tearing into each other.
The Lord of Rifts merely watched. His dragons were devouring the Thunder dragons.
Or so he thought—
Kururur!
Yoo Baek-jun’s attack wasn’t over.
He flicked his fingers. Storm clouds gathered above, and fierce winds ravaged the barrier’s interior.
Then—the heavens split, revealing a colossal arm.
Kwaaaaang!
Divine punishment descended.
A massive bolt of lightning struck, joining the fray of Thunder dragons.
The balance shattered instantly.
—Hmm…!
The Thunder dragons incinerated the opposing dragons, surging forward.
Toward the Lord of Rifts.
‘He’ll definitely try to block it.’
The Lord of Rifts raised his sword, deploying countless defensive techniques.
Seeing this, Yoo Baek-jun stomped the ground.
His body transformed into a streak of lightning, shooting toward the Lord of Rifts.
Kadududuk!
The Thunder dragons, accompanied by divine punishment, collided with the Lord of Rifts’s barriers.
A cataclysmic explosion shook the earth. Golden lightning scattered, filling the battlefield.
‘Then, what I must do is—’
Having fought the Martial God countless times, Yoo Baek-jun could predict this move.
While the Lord of Rifts’ attention was on the Thunder dragons, Yoo Baek-jun closed in.
He stood before the barrier.
‘Simple.’
Yoo Baek-jun gripped White Sword.
Divine Sword Union. A sword energy capable of cutting through anything bloomed.
With a full rotation of his body, Yoo Baek-jun swung with all his might.
Shwaaaak!
—…!
A pure white sword energy cleanly split the Lord of Rifts’s barrier apart.
For the first time, emotion surfaced on the Lord of Rifts’s face.
Staring at Yoo Baek-jun—his expression was one of shock.
And then—
Kwaaaaang!
—Kuh, uuuuhk!
Agony.
The Thunder dragons swallowed the Lord of Rifts whole, reducing his body to ashes.
Focused solely on maintaining his barrier, he left his body defenseless—and the result was fatal.
—Kuaaaaah!
But this still wasn’t enough.
Yoo Baek-jun recalled his Heteromorphic Hands and immediately assumed a defensive stance.
And in that exact moment—
"Keuhk!"
A massive black shockwave erupted from the lightning-engulfed Lord of Rifts.