Chapter 779
Chapter 779
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 779
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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Shin Jong-woo and the Silver Sorcerer's clash of inner energy. On the surface, they seemed evenly matched. But a closer look revealed that Shin Jong-woo's complexion was far worse than his opponent's.
'There's a difference in their reserves, sure, but in the end, it's experience that counts.'
The Silver Sorcerer was a spellcaster who had lived for centuries. Even exhausted from previous battles, he was at least at the Five Qi stage. He held the edge in both experience and skill.
"Rin. Let's go."
"Y-yes, let's."
Namgung Rin and I sprinted toward the battlefield. First priority: aid Shin Jong-woo and take out the Silver Sorcerer. Shin Jong-woo might betray us at any opening, but the sorcerer? No chance.
'Right now, the biggest pain is that Silver Sorcerer.'
The Silver Sorcerer glanced at us, then gripped his feather cloak with one hand and shook it. Countless feathers scattered in all directions. These weren't ordinary feathers. Each one pulsed with energy—tiny daggers in their own right.
"Dodge!"
Shin Jong-woo shouted, thrusting his hand toward the sorcerer. Black energy lanced out like a laser.
"Not bad energy arts, but too predictable."
The Silver Sorcerer leaped skyward, evading the attack. His feather cloak morphed into massive wings. He shattered the cabin roof and hovered in the air. Not sorcery—the cloak's power.
He whistled. The infused sound echoed long and loud through the forest. Flutter, flap. Birds from the woods surged into the sky, swarming around him.
"Kill them."
The birds dove at us en masse. Survival instinct be damned—they attacked with suicidal fury.
I slashed the first sparrow rocketing toward me like a missile. Ca-clang! It connected, but it didn't feel like cutting a normal bird.
'These are ordinary birds... enhanced.'
My arm tingled. More birds shot in. Wings, beaks, talons—individually harmless. But their numbers overwhelmed. Even a drizzle soaks you if it lasts. This was bad.
"Kyaaack!"
Namgung Rin's scream snapped my head sideways. Twice as many birds targeted her—her position was perfect for it.
'That's dangerous.'
Shin Jong-woo might handle it. But Namgung Rin was the weakest of us three. I dashed to her in one bound. I'd planned to conserve mana, but no time for that.
'Lightning Strike!'
Crackle-crackle-crack!
Azure lightning erupted from me, arcing through the air and incinerating the flying flock.
Thud, patter-patter-thud.
Fried birds rained to the ground.
I checked Namgung Rin first. No injuries.
"Executioner. You okay?"
"Y-yes. I'm fine. Thank you for the help, Young Master Sung."
She stood. Birds still circled overhead.
"Can't underestimate these birds. Let's wipe them out, then help Jong-woo."
"Yes. I'll follow your lead, Young Master Sung."
"Good thing they didn't all rush at once."
The birds attacked again. I'd figured their pattern. Ten enhanced suicide birds per wave. The rest just harassed, drawing attention.
'Can't empower that many at once. Especially mid-fight with Shin Jong-woo.'
Shin Jong-woo flew with his energy arts, battling the sorcerer. Black demonic energy fired from his hands; feathers flew from the sorcerer's body.
'Perfect. They're wearing each other down... heh.'
The sorcerer had the edge, but Shin Jong-woo wouldn't fold easily.
Namgung Rin and I cleared the birds. Spreading Lightning Strike aggressively made short work of them.
All birds down. I was fine, but Namgung Rin panted, sweat beading on her face.
I sent her a mental message.
-Rin. Conserve energy now. Focus only on smashing Shin Jong-woo's skull from behind.
-...Yes, Young Master.
Shin Jong-woo and the sorcerer plummeted to the ground. Their stamina and inner energy were finally hitting empty.
"Damn it all... The gap between us is clear. Even without birds, I won't lose one-on-one. But your martial art—that bizarre trajectory—put us on equal footing. What the hell is it?"
Shin Jong-woo's Heavenly Demon Divine Art was a martial art, but also energy-based. In this world, energy arts counted as martial arts.
"......"
Shin Jong-woo clamped his mouth shut, signaling no intent to answer.
He hid his art because the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was infamous here.
'Just like the famed Nangong Family, the Heavenly Demon Cult exists in this world.'
The Cult dwarfed the Nangongs. Even proud warriors tucked tail at its name.
And the Divine Art was the Cult Leader's signature. If Shin Jong-woo boasted about mastering it? Cultists would hunt him relentlessly.
"Arrogant bastard. Not worth telling the likes of me?"
"......Let us leave the forest. No need to risk our lives here."
Namgung Rin and I approached Shin Jong-woo. Three against one. The sorcerer paled, face hardening under the pressure.
"You underestimate me. Think I'll yield to the likes of you?"
He growled, doffing his feather cloak and hurling it skyward. Feathers detached, adhering to his body.
We gaped. His body transformed—arms to gray-feathered wings, legs thinning and hardening, head swelling into a beak-nosed visage with bulging eyes. Bird-man.
"Not a good look. Must you go that far?"
"Don't spout nonsense after coming this far."
He took flight. I lunged, but Shin Jong-woo blocked me with an arm.
"Shin Jong-woo?"
"I'll handle it. I dragged you in, put you at risk. I finish this."
"...Fine."
I stepped back. No need to force it if he wanted to tire himself out.
"......"
Shin Jong-woo gathered his energy silently. Black demonic qi materialized around him.
I confirmed he was focused, then groped Namgung Rin's ass. She jolted, staring. Really, now? her eyes asked. Obviously. I met her gaze boldly.
Truth be told, I wanted her tits. Settled for ass to avoid Shin Jong-woo's notice.
"Eut..."
My fingers dug between her cheeks.
'Flying and fighting like pros.'
Shin Jong-woo raised his hand. A black-energy sword materialized, slicing the sorcerer's wing joint mid-air.
"Aaaagh!"
The sorcerer crashed. Desperate, he yelled at Shin Jong-woo.
"W-wait! As you said, it's over here... Aaaagh!"
Shin ignored him, shrouding himself in demonic qi and slamming down. Boom! Dust billowed.
"Cough."
Shin Jong-woo staggered, steadying himself with a cough. Blood flecked his lips.
"Young Master Shin!"
Namgung Rin rushed, grabbing his shoulder.
"Young Master Shin! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine... Stay back. It ain't over...!"
"Damn..."
The sorcerer rose. Eorin Black Armor had saved him, absorbing the near-fatal blow.
"Lost my precious Eorin Black Armor. For that... I'll dissect you thoroughly. From blood to organs to brains—all mine!"
Scattered feathers swirled, encircling Shin Jong-woo. He panicked, forcing his depleted energy. The sorcerer focused spells entirely on him.
'Chance. Moment.'
I flickered before the sorcerer instantly.
"You?!"
He swung a leg in panic. But before his knee rose, my blade pierced his throat. His mouth gaped. I drove deeper.
Done. Sorcerer dead. I withdrew, decapitating him. His spells unraveled; he reverted to human form. Corpse all the same.
Feathers targeting Shin dropped.
"Shin Jong-woo. You good? Saw you puking blood."
"...Overdid my energy. Few days' rest, I'll recover. Was gonna leave tomorrow... Guess I'll impose on Nangong Family longer. Sorry for the trouble, Miss Rin."
"No. You won't be imposing on Nangong Family."
Shin stared. Post-battle relaxation hardened. He sensed the shift. Sharp guy.
"Mr. Sung Yu-jin. That's odd. What do you mean?"
"You know."
I smirked. He forced his energy despite blood. His aura was fierce—even with my clear superiority, it tensed me.
Credit where due: that tenacity.
But he erred. Should've watched nearby Namgung Rin more. Trusted her to the end.
Stab.
Her sword pierced his dantian.
"R-Rin...?!"
He turned. She wore a tearful frown, eyes brimming.
"...Sorry. I was ordered to kill you. I-I had no choice."
She tensed to twist. I messaged her mentally. Her grip slackened.
"No way..."
Shin collapsed to his knees, dazed. A normal warrior? Dead. Dantian is life to them, and he was exhausted. But Heavenly Demon Divine Art delayed it.
I pulled a chair from inventory. Shin's eyes widened at my power. Rin already knew.
"Th-that power? No, that item...!"
"Not sorcery. Not explaining."
"From the start? Planned this all along?!"
"Yep. Oh, I killed Elder Dunmok too."
"Even the elder...! Why?! No grudge between us!"
"Dude. Still not adapted? Don't need grudges to kill here. 'Don't like 'em' works. Power means no punishment."
Sitting, I beckoned Rin.
"Rin. Get the book from Shin Jong-woo's bosom."
"Yes, Young Master."
She obeyed, stripping his top, retrieving the black-bandaged book.
"Miss Rin! Why?! He got dirt on you?!"
"Dirt..."
She trailed off. True, in a way—Nangong Seol started it.
But she shook her head.
"I can't live without Young Master Sung anymore. I love him."
"What the..."
I chuckled. Shin's face twisted worse than the stab.
Rin brought the book. I unwrapped the bandages.
"...The book was your goal! Even with it, you can't read it!"
I traced the rough cover.
"Heavenly Demon Divine Art."
"......!!"
Shin's eyes bulged.