Spirit Fire's Trial (4)
Those bastards won't compromise. But I still have a chance.
I roughly grasped the situation and flashed a grin at Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso, who wore distraught expressions, to reassure them. The moment the dimensional gate closed, my body twisted wildly against my will. But I wasn't injured. Time had rewound, healing all wounds. My body was fine now.
The problem was that the poison agony at the end had been too intense.
"Urk…."
I gritted my teeth briefly, steadying my breath. Maybe because I hadn't been poisoned for long—thankfully, the phantom pain subsided quickly. I didn't know if there'd be another regression, but I needed to watch out for poison. There was a survivor from the Sacheon Dangga up ahead—an expert. I'd remember that.
I circulated the Martial Spirit Divine Art and was about to dash toward the unexplored rear when I hesitated. Was going this way right? The front had annoying poison and hidden weapons, but it was manageable. The rear? I knew nothing. It might be even tougher than the other directions.
Maybe breaking through the familiar front was better? After a moment's thought, I charged ahead again.
…I was an idiot.
Having experienced it once and staying alert for hidden weapons, I got farther than before. Until that poison guy told his subordinates that anyone retreating would become his test subject.
Even first-rate warriors struggle against a dozen charging at once. I couldn't unleash overwhelming power like before. They even used dead comrades' corpses as shields or hurled them to hinder me, quickly pinning me down.
With my movements restricted, I couldn't dodge properly—a dagger pierced my heart, and I died.
"Heavenly Demon! The Heavenly Demon has returned!"
"Huff!"
5th loop. This time, I instinctively knew the moment regression hit. As long as I couldn't escape, it wouldn't stop.
Reincarnation followed by infinite regression. All that's left is possession? With such nonsense thoughts, I got Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso out first, then rushed to the unexplored rear.
There stood a giant with a shaved head and scrub-brush beard. His exceptional build and aura screamed peak expert. I slipped past him into weaker foes, but…
Wrapping his arms in the Gangsi's signature golden energy, he bulldozed like a human tank, crushing everything in a straight line toward me—even allies. His blood-soaked movements felt familiar. Diamond Unmoving Divine Method. A Shaolin technique I'd seen at the Yongbong Tournament.
A superior movement art handling sudden acceleration and braking freely, channeling inertia into attacks. I had no choice but to fight, but it was one-sided. My sword barely scratched his body, hardened by Shaolin's famed Diamond Indestructible Divine Gong—just superficial cuts to skin and muscle, like with first-rate foes against me. Clashing with his qi-wrapped arms just bounced my sword back.
Unable to overcome his brute strength and toughness, my skull was crushed, and I died.
6th loop. The encirclement being spread out at a distance was a small mercy. I had time to think after the gate closed.
Left: Few enemies, no peak experts, but the New Murim Alliance Leader, a super peak, lurks. Right: Tons of troops, several average peak experts. Front: Moderate forces, peak expert using poison and hidden weapons, plus blindly charging first-rates if needed. Rear: Moderate forces, peak-level human tank unbeatable head-on.
Left's out. Front or rear seem easiest midway. But to fully escape? Right's better. More numbers and peaks, but no sharp threats like elsewhere.
I chose right. Enemies dragged it out with rotations, so I couldn't evade peaks in time. Ultimately surrounded by several peaks, hacked apart everywhere, I died.
7th loop. Right failed last time, but boosting speed makes it viable. The New Murim Alliance thinks so too—why else assign the most troops? Good. Right it is from now on.
…Focus slipped midway, a mistake. Any lull in offense, and I was swarmed. One hand can't beat ten—wounds accumulated. Lost too much blood. In my daze, someone slit my carotid, and I died.
8th loop. Stayed sharp, maintained local superiority, kept pushing. But too slow—breached before fully breaking through, other directions joined. Monster Monk snapped my sword arm; a poisoned needle flew at my defenseless moment. Realizing the poison, I detonated my inner energy and suicided.
9th loop. Success! After trials and errors, I broke the encirclement!
They'd catch up soon, but ditching first-rates lightened the load hugely. Midway, whether from Diamond Unmoving Divine Method or slaughtering obstacles, the first pursuer—the Monster Monk—slammed my back. Spine shattered, instant death. But I smiled at the end. I'd do better next time.
10th loop. Rolled aside, dodging the Monster Monk's punch from behind. Shouldn't have. Diamond Unmoving Divine Method excels at acceleration and braking. He 90-degree turned mid-air and kicked. My tough body took cracked ribs… but I stopped. Couldn't shake him; other peaks joined, deep slash from chest to waist spilled my guts, death.
11th loop. Lasted longer, but that's it. Neck snapped, dead.
12th loop. Fewer foes around? Poison guy's projectiles sharpened. Hit full Ten Thousand Plum Blossoms, turned pincushion, dead.
13th loop. Realized Monster Monk always attacks my back the same way, same spot. Maybe a form. Twisted waist, rolled without hitting ground, dodged.
…But rolled to evade follow-up, same result as before.
14th loop. Phantom pain wouldn't fade. Subtle aches building. Still bearable. Dodged Monster Monk's combo forms too. Couldn't avoid death, but went much farther.
15th loop. Fuck. After over a dozen deaths, I reached a cliff. Hong Yeonhwa barely beat past experts' ambush, exhausted, fell off a cliff. Maybe this is it. Sheer drop into unknown abyss.
Peering into the dark void, a familiar voice from behind.
"That's just jagged rock below. No serendipitous encounters from street novels."
"…Why should I believe you?"
"Not asking belief. Just don't make finding your corpse annoying—die by my hand quietly."
New Murim Alliance Leader replied indifferently. Enough time for him to catch up. My answer was set.
"Fuck off."
Better to die by my hand than let that prick "help." Stepped off without hesitation. Skull smashed. Rocks, as said.
16th loop. Right path to break encirclement was correct. But cliff at end voids escape. Went front this time. Succeeded right despite deaths. Tougher, but possible elsewhere. Plenty chances left.
Unknown poison swelled my body, choked airways, suffocated unconscious. Death. Thankful not aware?
41st loop. Fuck. Fuck fuck fucking hell. Died tons in between. But beyond all deaths—another cliff. Mood sour, didn't want New Murim Alliance Leader's voice, threw myself off before he spoke.
42nd loop. Wondered if valuing life too lightly… but ignored unease, went rear.
…Realized I couldn't smile at Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso one last time. Forced grin, but lips wouldn't move.
68th loop. "All the world's martial arts come from Shaolin"—not literal, but Shaolin's profound and varied. Monster Monk evoked that. But his Shaolin pride was weakness. Stubbornly stuck to forms regardless. Dying repeatedly let me read and dodge his attacks somewhat. Reached… another cliff.
"That's just jagged rock below…."
"Hey. One question before dying. Like last words."
"…Speak."
When was it? Memory fuzzy. Once asked if I had words before death—seemed sincere. He looked annoyed at pause, but nodded. I asked New Murim Alliance Leader,
"Could I have escaped another way?"
"What drivel."
He smirked, shook head.
"Impossible. Three sides cliffs, last path twisted by Jegal sega formation. Unless unparalleled formation genius or Heavenly Demon-like monster, you'd spin in circles and die same spot."
"I see…."
Sighing like duty done, he beheaded me.
69th loop. Thought wide encirclement lucky—now not so sure. More thoughts, deeper despair. Really? No way out?
…Can't believe. Must see myself. Left means instant New Murim Alliance Leader death, so rear—circle cliff half-round. Monster Monk's attacks won't touch anymore.
107th loop. So many trials. New Murim Alliance Leader truthful. Left end had sole path, guarded by unknown formation. Tested step—direction sense vanished, fog rose thick. Sword from mist burst heart, dead.
108th loop. Tried hurling Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso back—body froze. Phantom pain buildup? No. Hurt like screaming, but movable.
…Simple reason. Despaired at endless death, no escape. Wanted to flee this hell, even abandoning them.