Chapter 270: Asura Demon Lord
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 270: Asura Demon Lord
I'd replayed it in my mind dozens, no, hundreds of times.
The powerlessness, the defeat, the humiliation I felt in that moment I had to retreat, leaving my woman behind.
It may have been one step back for two steps forward, but a man's pride is a realm beyond reason.
That must be why I've been running nonstop, as if something were chasing me.
I, who was once just a college student, had come this far.
The primal instinct to become stronger played a part, but it was the goal of protecting my women, at the very least, that was the greatest driving force that brought me here.
I moved forward, gripping the hilt that fit more smoothly in my hand than ever before.
The scenery around me changed, and a face I had longed to see flashed before my eyes.
'Yeo-hwa.'
I wanted to run to her and hold her right away, but there was a wall I had to overcome first.
I saw the face of a rather old man. It was Ma Paeseon, an elder of the Heavenly Demonic Cult sent to take Cheon Yeo-hwa.
Perhaps because he'd taken a hit from me, someone he'd considered far beneath him, he no longer had an air of composure.
Then, astonishment filled his eyes.
He probably couldn't believe how much stronger I'd suddenly become.
Contrary to my expectation that he would ask all sorts of questions, Ma Paeseon remained silent.
Was he suppressing his curiosity to focus on the mission he was given?
It was an unfitting display for a Demonic Human.
Thud!
The black energy gathered in his hand surged toward me.
It was a Hand Aura, created by a master who had reached the realm of Extreme Demon.
Asura Energy, was it?
A technique of formidable power unfolded before my eyes. It was a fatal blow that my past self would have had to roll on the ground to dodge, but I paid it no mind and swung my sword.
“Hyun-woo!”
Cheon Yeo-hwa's voice echoed through the forest, a signal flare marking the start of the battle.
*
Hearing his name called, Kang Hyun-woo smiled.
That voice alone was reward enough for having run without rest until now.
A dark aura rose from Gilenium's blue blade, and Kang Hyun-woo's sword clashed with Ma Paeseon's fist.
KRAAANG!!
Amidst the shockwave that spread in all directions, the two charged at each other as if by agreement.
Kang Hyun-woo's aura took on a golden hue, leaving trails in the air at incredible speed. It was a Killing Sword, meant to slay his opponent.
Ma Paeseon parried by striking the flat of the blade with his fist or nullified the attacks with heavy blows. The Asura Energy blooming from his hands screamed. Faced with its explosive momentum, Kang Hyun-woo was forced onto the defensive.
Extreme Demon and Transcendent Realm.
To anyone watching, the difference in their realms was obvious.
In a typical life-or-death duel between martial artists, the outcome should have been decided long ago by the difference in their internal energy. Even without that, it was true that Ma Paeseon was pushing Kang Hyun-woo back.
However, Ma Paeseon's eyes trembled slightly whenever Kang Hyun-woo launched a sharp counterattack.
Though he didn't show it on his face, he couldn't hide his bewilderment.
'What in the world is this bizarre situation...!'
Just moments ago, this whelp was merely at the Peak Realm, and his sudden ascent to the Transcendent Realm was already earth-shattering. But on top of that, his internal energy was nearly on par with my own.
Moreover, that dark aura... every time it clashed, my fists, clad in Asura Energy, throbbed with pain.
It clung to my fists and burned, as if trying to eat away at my energy. I could only see it as a form of Dark Arts, completely different from orthodox techniques.
'...I must nip this in the bud.'
When he managed to land a significant wound on me, I thought of him as nothing more than a wildcat with hidden claws.
I had misjudged.
He was the cub of a mountain tiger, not yet fully grown.
I couldn't let him be, not when it was clear he would one day bare his fangs at the Cult.
KUUUNG!
With a stomp that shook the ground, the Asura Energy erupting from Ma Paeseon's entire body raged. The very air screamed.
He looked like an Asura incarnate.
“Get back!”
Cheon Yeo-hwa shouted.
In that instant, the ultimate move of the Asura Demon Lord—a man known as the terror of the current Murim—shot toward Kang Hyun-woo.
Sura Sky-Shattering Palm.
Even as the tyrannical palm technique tore through the forest, threatening to flatten everything in its path, Kang Hyun-woo did not evade. Instead, he drew upon his internal energy and swung his sword.
Facing an opponent whose realm was higher than his own, there was no hesitation in his blade.
A golden energy that could dye the heavens and the earth spread out in all directions. The energy then condensed into a single point before shooting toward Ma Paeseon.
Formless Sword Art: Light Dragon.
-!!!
The Asura and the Light Dragon collided, unleashing a violent shockwave. Sturdy trees snapped at their trunks, and small boulders shattered into pieces.
The clash between the two had altered the very terrain around them.
And the one to emerge first from the swirling dust was Kang Hyun-woo.
“Ptoo.”
He spat out the dark red blood that rose in his throat.
It was proof of an internal injury.
Kang Hyun-woo's face twisted as he recalled Ma Paeseon's Sura Sky-Shattering Palm, which had shattered his sword technique in the recent clash.
'That monstrous old man.'
I had expected it to some extent, but being pushed back in a head-on clash still bruised my pride.
Thanks to that, my plan to look cool in front of Cheon Yeo-hwa after so long had failed.
Of course, I knew I'd only ended up with a minor internal injury because I had managed to hold my own to some degree.
If I had been completely overpowered, there would be a palm-sized hole in my chest right now.
Thud!
Just then, Ma Paeseon burst out from beyond the dust cloud.
He wore a murderous expression and appeared to be uninjured. His clothes, however, were in tatters.
As if his pride had been wounded, he threw a punch filled with killing intent. I neither dodged nor retaliated.
BAM!
My eyes met Ma Paeseon's, who was blocked by a bluish barrier.
“You... Just what is your identity?”
“You're not my grandfather. Why should I tell you?”
“You bastard!!”
His momentum became even more explosive as his eyes and the swirling energy around him turned red.
-It's 'Asura Descent'!
Hearing the familiar voice echo in my head, I glanced toward Cheon Yeo-hwa.
-For at least one Ildagyeong [approx. 30 minutes], do not face him head-on. Even your protective aura will be shattered to pieces.
No sooner had Cheon Yeo-hwa's warning ended than Ma Paeseon's fist flew toward the barrier.
KRAAANG!
The barrier shattered in an instant. I reflexively threw myself backward.
“Where do you think you're going!”
The shout, laced with internal energy, made my muscles tingle. But I paid it no mind.
Because this is as far as I go fighting him as a martial artist.
I summoned my magic power and stretched out my hand.
Wooooong-
In that moment, dozens of magic circles appeared in the air, surrounding Ma Paeseon. The startled elder tried to get away, but he was a step too late.
[Shining Ray]
Dozens of light beams surged from all directions and engulfed him.
I immediately began preparing the next spell.
Despite the weather not being particularly dry, sparks flew everywhere, and dark clouds quickly gathered in the sky.
The quick-witted Cheon Yeo-hwa had already taken cover. Thanks to her, I could cast the spell without hesitation.
Finally, a bolt of lightning struck down from above Ma Paeseon's head.
[Thunder Breaker]
KRAKOOOOM!!!
As the 4th Circle lightning spell, which had occupied most of my Memorize space, struck the ground, the already ravaged forest was annihilated beyond recognition.
Trees burst into flames, and the earth was scorched by the lightning.
It was a situation where anyone would assume Ma Paeseon had been turned to ash. But I didn't let my guard down.
Instead, I prepared to cast my next spell.
BAM!
But my opponent was one step faster.
“Keuk?!”
A fist dug into my abdomen, sending me flying backward.
It was a speed that pierced through both my magic detection and my qi sense.
Even amidst the excruciating pain, which felt like my organs were being half-crushed, I watched Ma Paeseon as he closed the distance.
'That crazy old bastard, he took that and is still standing?'
His shirt had been blown away, but otherwise, he looked perfectly fine. And while his face was that of a man in his seventies, his body was a mass of scar-covered muscle.
Wincing in pain, I chanted a spell.
Spears of flame erupted from the red magic circles that appeared around me and flew toward Ma Paeseon.
“Your dark arts won't work on me!!”
In that instant, the Asura Energy swirling around Ma Paeseon exploded outward. Pushed back by its tyrannical force, the spears of flame melted away in mid-air.
'Unbelievable...'
I was speechless at the sight.
To blow away magic with just energy.
I've never even heard of such a thing.
At this rate, it was clear that spells of the 2nd Circle or lower would be useless. Of course, I could try to wear down his internal energy in a war of attrition, but a master of Ma Paeseon's caliber would surely exploit that opening to counterattack.
'Not enough time to prepare a 5th Circle spell...'
Tsk. I clicked my tongue reflexively.
I gave up on the plan to just fire spells from a distance and finish him with my sword.
[Extreme Blood]
Thump-
My heartbeat intensified, and blood began to circulate rapidly throughout my body.
The grip on my sword hilt tightened, and the pain in my abdomen quickly faded.
In exchange, my breathing grew ragged.
I instinctively knew that five minutes was the absolute limit I could maintain this state.
'That's more than enough.'
While still flying backward, I used my sword to stabilize my posture, then kicked off the ground and charged forward again.
My eyes met Ma Paeseon's, his face twisted into a demonic scowl.
Looking at him, I activated my Demon Eye. My vision expanded, and I could feel my magic power draining.
Thanks to the effects of Extreme Blood, I didn't feel the usual burning sensation.
'I see it.'
Among the countless futures, I saw Ma Paeseon's next move. Thanks to that, I was able to dodge his fist a half-step faster and close in.
I swung my sword with enough force to split him in two.
CLANG!
“?!”
But my sword was blocked by the protective aura covering his body.
Before I could even register my surprise, the price for wasting a golden opportunity came for me.
“This is the end.”
The ultimate move of the Asura Demon Lord, Ma Paeseon—the one Cheon Yeo-hwa had warned me about—surged forward.
Sura Sky-Shattering Palm.
I reflexively drew on my magic power and deployed a triple-layered barrier.
But I knew.
KWAAAAANG!!!
It wouldn't be enough.
*
The Asura Demon Lord, Ma Paeseon.
As an elder of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, he had killed countless martial artists.
He didn't discriminate between the Orthodox and Evil Factions.
But he had never faced an opponent as strange as the man before him. To shoot spears of fire from thin air and call down lightning from a clear sky.
Even those long-nosed Daoist hermits who idled their days away would be horrified to see it.
“Cough.”
Ma Paeseon spat out a mouthful of dark red blood and swallowed a groan.
When was the last time I was pushed this far?
Ma Paeseon looked at Kang Hyun-woo, who had been sent flying nearly ten zhang [approx. 33 meters] by his ultimate move. He was certain, instinctively, that his One Palm strike had ended the man's life.
Although he had suffered an unexpected internal injury that damaged his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, he decided to be satisfied with having dealt with the tiger cub.
'Now, if I just escort the Young Lady back to the Cult...?!'
In that moment, an unbelievable sight unfolded before Ma Paeseon's eyes.
Ripples of shock spread through his eyes.
'I-Impossible.'
I was sure I had finished him.
I've killed hundreds of martial artists. There's no way I could have misjudged.
Then what in the world is that?
“Ah, my head's ringing.”
Kang Hyun-woo, who had been lying limp on the ground like a cold corpse, got up as if nothing had happened.
The rosary around his neck was emitting a pure white light.
[Saint's Rosary
Grade: Epic
A rosary containing the divine power of a saint.
The divine power, strengthened by consecration, will protect the user.
Natural recovery rate is greatly increased.
Grants immunity to poisons below a certain level.
Temporarily imbued with divine power when facing things related to the Demonic (魔).
Recovers from a fatal wound once.]
“I didn't plan on using an extra life...”
Kang Hyun-woo raised the corners of his mouth and lifted his sword.
And a dark aura rose from it.
But Ma Paeseon instinctively realized something had changed.
'...The aura is much more refined.'
At first, he wondered if the man had learned Wudang's Two-Forms Divine Art. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a human to possess both Buddhist energy and demonic energy at the same time.
Perhaps because of that, his aura came in two colors: gold and black.
But while the golden aura was like a master-forged sword honed by a great blacksmith, the dark aura was more like a crude club, formed by simply gathering internal energy.
It was as if he had never learned how to handle demonic energy.
A man who has never learned demonic arts wielding an aura made of demonic energy?
That was something that would be impossible even if Bodhidharma of Shaolin were to be resurrected.
And yet now, he was controlling the demonic energy as skillfully as a Demonic Human who had mastered the demonic arts.
'...Dangerous.'
Ma Paeseon tried to retreat, spurred by a sudden danger signal flashing in his mind.
But.
“It'd be a shame if you ran away now.”
“?!”
In an instant, the man's sword closed a distance of over ten zhang and came for him.
But he wasn't worried.
A sword strike without even a proper technique wouldn't be able to pierce his Asura Energy, which had been further thickened by Asura Descent.
He was sure of it.
Shhhk-
Until a diagonal gash was drawn across his body.