How Can You Claim to Be Innocent?
A middle-aged man clad in Black Iron Armor roared with a ferocious voice.
"Graaaagh!"
At that moment, Hwan-hyeong, who had been bowing deeply toward Bukjin, suddenly snapped her head up and let out a savage howl. Her face was undergoing a grotesque transformation; black smoke billowed beneath her skin, weaving together to form the visage of a dark, monstrous beast. Within the creature's gaping maw, blood-red fangs sprouted, and a foul-smelling black liquid dripped from her flickering tongue.
Demonic Possession! Has that crazy woman fallen into the Mara? Bukjin thought, his heart leaping in shock.
In the next heartbeat, Hwan-hyeong—now wearing the face of a black beast—turned into a streak of dark lightning and lunged at the giant in the Black Iron Armor. A thick, suffocating wave of murderous intent erupted from her body.
"Die!"
The giant in the Black Iron Armor reached behind his back and drew a massive greatsword in one fluid motion. He swung it with devastating force at the charging Hwan-hyeong.
Squelch!
A flash of sword light ignited the air. Hwan-hyeong’s body was cleaved clean in two by the colossal blade.
Bukjin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. The skill of this armored giant was terrifying. With a single, effortless swing, he had bisected Hwan-hyeong, whose power should have increased several-fold after Entering the Mara.
Bukjin felt a tremor run through his soul. It felt as if his own mind had been cut by the sheer weight of that strike.
"Kreeee..."
With a piercing shriek, a black Demonic Shadow seeped out of Hwan-hyeong’s bifurcated corpse like smoke. The vapor quickly coalesced, manifesting into the shape of a four-legged beast. A ferocious aura that chilled the very marrow of one's bones radiated from the creature. The demon, seemingly possessed of enough power to destroy everything in its path, roared and bared its fangs before lunging at the armored giant once more.
A heavy, authoritative strike that burns away the darkness.
The giant in the Black Iron Armor burst into a booming laugh and swung his massive sword again. Slash! Once more, the black beast was sliced in half without being able to offer a shred of resistance. The demonic energy billowing from its body diminished visibly.
Terrified of the armored giant, the beast changed direction and began charging toward the Im family. It pointedly avoided the area where Jin Ju-je stood. A sacred, divine energy radiated intensely from her, and a powerful, indomitable will enveloped her like sunlight. To a demon, this aura was a lethal light; it instinctively felt a primal fear and steered clear of her first.
A swift, silver-white strike that cuts through the void.
Im O leaped high into the air. Drawing his sword mid-flight, he swung it forward with immense power. A dazzling, brilliant sword light erupted. Im O’s technique was the same Demon Purge the armored giant had used, but the energy behind it felt entirely different. While the giant’s version carried the heavy, iron-blooded dignity of a Great General leading ten thousand troops, Im O’s version felt like an invincible strike from a knight on a white horse, sweeping through enemy lines with a silver spear.
Bukjin’s eyes widened. This was the first time he had seen Im O strike with true sincerity. The strength of the second young master of the Im family far exceeded Bukjin’s imagination.
The sword light flashed. The black beast was bisected once again. Letting out a wretched scream, the creature retreated. Its demonic energy dwindled significantly once more.
At that moment, Bukjin noticed something mysterious. The black beast appeared immortal on the surface, but every time it was cut and recovered, the light of the demonic energy it emitted grew dimmer. It seemed that every regeneration consumed a specific type of power. If it continued to be cut and forced to recover like this, it would eventually exhaust all its strength and die.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Bukjin was observing a being known as an Outworld Demon at close range.
That monster seems to be a cluster of energy. Does it parasitize human bodies and control them?
For some reason, the movie Venom from Earth came to mind, though the reality was slightly different from the film's depiction.
Suddenly, Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of figures flew in from various directions, surrounding the ruins. Bukjin recognized them as experts from all over Unmong City. Among them was Lee Ung-bu, the Head of the Education Bureau, along with many other powerhouses whose presence was no less imposing. There were Dean-level masters from various academies, including Im Tae-heo, the Principal of the 3rd Academy, and Cho Heun. Even the Sword Saint Baek Hae-geum from White Cloud City and his disciple, Jo Pacheon, were present.
At least a hundred high-level masters had gathered, and more were arriving by the second.
Has every single expert in Unmong City assembled here? Bukjin wondered.
As he thought this, the black beast leaped into the sky, accelerating in an attempt to break through the encirclement. However, there were simply too many masters; escape was impossible. Every time it tried to flee, it was cut down by the experts' blades. Weakened further and further, the black beast eventually became nothing more than a faint wisp of black smoke, looking as if it might scatter with the slightest breeze.
Divine Might
Jin Ju-je, who had remained silent until now, suddenly shouted. She reached out with a hand as delicate as carved jade and produced an ancient bronze mirror. The mirror reflected the moonlight, forming a mystical power that soon enveloped the black beast. Both the power and the demon were sucked into the world within the bronze mirror. The black beast shrieked and struggled to escape, but it was ultimately sealed completely inside.
Only then did the gathered crowd breathe a sigh of relief. And then, every eye turned toward Bukjin.
"Why are you here?"
Ignoring the stares of the others, Cho Heun was the first to approach. He gave Bukjin a subtle look before asking the question loudly. Bukjin realized that Cho Heun was intentionally giving him a chance to explain himself. Thus, Bukjin briefly recounted how he had been ambushed at the 3rd Academy and had pursued the assassin to this location. He pointed at Hwan-hyeong’s bisected corpse.
"It was that one. That's the same person who ambushed the 3rd Academy group at Bukhwang Mountain, and the one who brought assassins to Juk-won to attack me the day before the Academic & Martial Arts Competition!"
"You brat! You certainly have guts!" Cho Heun said, scowling. "Chasing an assassin all the way here while a demon is loose in the city! Come, return with me at once!"
Having finished his piece, Cho Heun tried to lead Bukjin away. But then...
"Wait a moment."
The general in the Black Iron Armor spoke slowly. His voice was clear and heavy, piercing the ears like a sharp blade.
"When I first arrived here, I saw that assassin—the one possessed by the demon—bowing respectfully to this boy. This boy cannot leave just yet."
What?
Everyone’s expression shifted drastically. Hwan-hyeong, possessed by a demon, was a being that thought and acted according to the demon's will. She was essentially an incarnation of the demon, having achieved Demonic Possession. This was why the various religions and empires of the Dongdojin Continent sought to exterminate the followers of the Outworld Demons. Once one fell into the Mara, there was no turning back. Furthermore, Outworld Demons were arrogant and evil beings who viewed all living creatures of the mortal world as less than ants. To them, mortals were merely lowly, insignificant creatures meant to be enslaved or slaughtered for their sake.
And yet, an assassin possessed by such a demon had bowed to Bukjin? While the act of bowing didn't prove anything absolute, it was certainly a suspicious anomaly.
Just then, the Unmong Guard army approached from the distance. Soon after, the guards from the Bureau of Internal Affairs arrived at the scene as well.
"From this moment on, the Unmong Guard will take control of this area. All those unrelated to this matter, please move at least thirty paces away from the scene."
The armored general spoke with a will that brooked no argument. The elite soldiers of the Unmong Guard moved quickly to surround the battlefield.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal rang out as massive, specially crafted Black Iron Shields were deployed, forming an iron wall around the site. It looked like a small metallic fortress.
"What is your name?" the armored general asked, piercing Bukjin with a sharp gaze. His expression suggested he was ready to dissect Bukjin's entire life to get to the bottom of this situation.
"Im Bukjin," he replied.
"Hmm? You are Im Bukjin?" A faint, unreadable light flickered in the general's eyes. "What happened here tonight is far too coincidental. I cannot judge the situation based solely on your words; an investigation is required. Cooperate with us, and if there are no discrepancies in your story, I will personally guarantee your innocence."
His voice had softened considerably. But then...
Jo Pacheon, standing in the distance, could no longer contain himself and shouted. "I have long suspected that this good-for-nothing was involved with the Outworld Demons! I simply hadn't found clear evidence to take action until now. What happened tonight is the perfect proof of my suspicions! General, I am certain that Im Bukjin is an Apostle of the Outworld Demons. Tonight's events are deeply connected to him, and I believe even the death of Chief Bang Jin-yu is related to his hand!"
Did Jo Pacheon actually have evidence? Of course not. He knew nothing. He had stepped forward simply to seize a golden opportunity. He couldn't bear to let Bukjin off the hook when such a perfect chance had presented itself. If he could use this to eliminate Bukjin, it would be the ultimate way to win without fighting. That was why he had stepped forward and screamed his accusation for all to hear.