Chapter 193: Extreme Demon (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: Extreme Demon (2)
Currently, Seo-jun was concealing his realm.
It wasn't that he had suddenly decided to play the "hidden master" game.
The Fire Demon Realm was a rather unique stage where one literally transformed into a demon. Because it was difficult to distinguish from the Extreme Demon realm, it tended to stand out quite a bit.
Now that he knew the Divine Priestess was looking for him, there was no need to draw unnecessary attention to himself.
Because of this, Hwan Chi-seong mistook Seo-jun’s level for the Super Peak Realm. He reasoned that even in a place like Tianshan, it made no sense for an Extreme Demon to be a complete unknown.
Flash! ──────────
Hwan Chi-seong’s body faltered as he drew his saber to parry the incoming Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art.
“Ugh…!”
The power was extraordinary. Pushed back helplessly, Hwan Chi-seong rapidly spun his body to dissipate the force, then kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
Tap!
The moment he rose into the air, several more blasts of the Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art flew toward him. Hwan Chi-seong gritted his teeth and gripped the hilt of his saber tightly.
“Hmph…!”
Boom! He unfurled his crouched body and kicked off the air itself. The Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art merely grazed his sleeve. Hwan Chi-seong’s eyes flashed.
‘An opening.’
The moment he spotted it, he drew his saber.
Flash! ────────────
The tip of the blade narrowly grazed Seo-jun’s clothes.
Hwan Chi-seong focused on closing the distance, dodging his opponent’s attacks to deliver a counterattack. Since Seo-jun merely maintained his distance, Hwan Chi-seong had no choice but to relentlessly pursue him.
After several exchanges, Seo-jun clicked his tongue.
“Is that all?”
“Hardly.”
With a smirk, Hwan Chi-seong lowered his stance. His long robe fluttered in the wake of his swift movement. Tap! His figure blurred like a ray of light as he lunged off the ground. The speed was absurd.
Seo-jun’s eyebrow twitched, and he drew his sword.
‘He finally drew it.’
Tensing even further, Hwan Chi-seong allowed the Demonic Qi throughout his body to explode in an instant. Boom! It sounded like thunder clapping right next to his ears. Simultaneously, he drew his saber.
Chasing Light Flash Thunder Blade.
The martial art he had created himself paved the way. The scabbard pushed the emerging blade, accelerating it further. Bursting forth like an explosion, the saber scattered light everywhere.
Flash! ───────────
A strike twice as fast as anything before it hurtled toward Seo-jun. Seo-jun casually swung his sword downward with one hand.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.
Zap! Black lightning crackled along Seo-jun’s sword. It was the lightning of the Purple Lightning Demon Art, which he had now mastered to a profound degree.
The lightning, imbued with demonic nature, brought the heavens down to his feet.
Mount Tai Pressure Peak.
Rumble! ────────!!!
Appalled by the crushing pressure, Hwan Chi-seong hurriedly threw himself out of the way.
K-boom!
The crater left by that single downward strike was so deep the bottom couldn't even be seen. Hwan Chi-seong let out a hollow laugh, his sharp eyes fixed on Seo-jun.
“Your skills truly match that arrogant gaze of yours.”
Seo-jun didn't answer. He simply stood there, tilting his sword slightly. He looked as if he were casually conducting a sparring lesson.
“Haha!” Laughing loudly, Hwan Chi-seong once again gripped the hilt of his newly sheathed saber.
Rumble!
Thunder rolled within his body. The inspiration he received from Seo-jun’s single strike became a bolt of lightning that shot from the crown of his head straight down to his tailbone.
Engraving that tingling sensation into his fingertips, he took a step forward.
The wall blocking his path... In his opponent’s sword, he saw the path leading beyond it.
“I finally understand.”
What was a moment of brilliance? His insight, racing like a bolt of lightning, pierced through his acupoints.
“I have lived my whole life with a question. Can a human truly understand another?”
Seo-jun furrowed his brow at the sudden remark.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting in the middle of a fight?”
“I don’t expect your understanding. To think one has understood another is a delusion, and an arrogance. Humans merely guess at the feelings of others based on their own experiences. No matter how many times you attempt to understand, you never truly reach the truth.”
Seo-jun watched Hwan Chi-seong with a strange expression. Even so, he didn't charge in immediately. Hwan Chi-seong was grateful for that arrogance as he organized his surging realizations.
“In the end, the only thing one can truly understand is oneself. By knowing myself, I approach the truth.”
Crack! The dam broke. The overflowing enlightenment became a torrent that swept through his soul. His Essence-Qi-Spirit, which had maintained a precarious balance, was dyed by the demonic, drawing closer to becoming one.
“The True Self. That is me.”
Whoosh! A chilling aura settled in Hwan Chi-seong’s eyes. Five dully colored rings faintly manifested behind his head.
It was the Five Energies Returning to the Origin.
Having ascended to the Extreme Demon realm, Hwan Chi-seong’s eyes glinted as he glared at Seo-jun.
“My vision is clear. The air feels new. Being dyed by the demonic is a better feeling than I thought.”
Sss… A hot breath escaped through his teeth. He would cut down the opponent before him. Overwhelmed by an intense impulse, Hwan Chi-seong gripped the hilt of his saber tightly.
Seeing this, Seo-jun’s eyes widened.
“…No way.”
“Pay the price for your arrogance.”
“No, I mean, is this really it? If it was this simple, I didn't even need to come all the way to the Demonic Cult.”
Hwan Chi-seong narrowed his eyes at the nonsensical words.
“What are you talk—”
Whoosh! Behind Seo-jun’s back, five pitch-black rings formed a vivid shape.
Seo-jun had reached the Extreme Demon realm.
* * *
I had swung my sword in an easy-to-understand way—as if passing on enlightenment—hoping he would reach the Extreme Demon realm for me.
But then this guy suddenly started spouting nonsense.
“The True Self. That is me.”
I had no idea what he was getting at. But I could tell that, for now, those words were true.
Did he say humans can't truly understand each other? Well, I certainly couldn't understand a single thing he was saying right now.
And then, Hwan Chi-seong reached the Extreme Demon realm.
His Essence-Qi-Spirit, dyed by the demonic and tied into one, began to link together strongly.
I thought there would be something more to the Extreme Demon realm. Because, honestly, this was just too simple.
Since it was a realm on par with the Transcendent Realm, I assumed it wouldn't be reached so easily.
I was wrong.
“…No way.”
“Pay the price for your arrogance.”
“No, I mean, is this really it? If it was this simple, I didn't even need to come all the way to the Demonic Cult.”
The Sword God had told me that what I needed was time.
He said things like how fruit needs time to ripen, how the spirit needs time to mature, and blah blah blah…
It was all nonsense. If it was just this, I could have done it right then and there.
‘How the hell did that Sword God guy actually achieve Ascension?’
Letting out a hollow laugh, I dyed my Essence-Qi-Spirit with the demonic. And just like that, I reached the Extreme Demon realm. Surprisingly, there wasn't even a hint of an anomaly.
It was unimaginably easy. To the point where it was hard to believe this was comparable to the Fire Demon Realm or the Qi Spirit Scripture.
Wait, no. It did feel like the Fire Demon Realm was about half a step ahead of the Extreme Demon realm…
“How…?”
I could see Hwan Chi-seong standing there with his mouth agape. Ignoring him, I continued my train of thought.
‘The Fire Demon Realm and the Extreme Demon realm.’
They weren't conflicting concepts. This was because the Fire Demon Realm was a bit of a peculiar stage.
The Fire Demon Realm doesn't disrupt the balance of the Essence-Qi-Spirit. While leaving the Essence-Qi-Spirit intact, one simply transforms themselves into a demon to reach a higher plane.
That meant it was possible to achieve both realms simultaneously.
Having achieved the Extreme Demon realm and perfectly dyed my Essence-Qi-Spirit with the demonic, I looked out at the brightly shining world and let out a dry laugh.
“Good grief… If I had just learned Demonic Arts from the start, I would have reached this place ages ago.”
I really took the long way around. Suppressing the wild impulses, I looked at Hwan Chi-seong.
Hwan Chi-seong, who had been staring at me blankly, suddenly screamed.
“Don't give me that bullshit…!”
Gritting his teeth, Hwan Chi-seong drew his saber. Flash! A concise strike aimed for my neck.
I didn't move. To an observer, it might have looked like I failed to react.
Clang!
However, the saber bounced back feebly. The moment it drew close to me, its Demonic Qi dissipated, and the mere piece of metal couldn't pierce my Protective Astral Qi.
Hwan Chi-seong’s eyes shook violently. No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't right. This was… too unfair.
“Hyaaaaaaa……!!”
The demonic nature that had dyed Hwan Chi-seong’s Essence-Qi-Spirit went berserk. The rampaging demonic energy took root in his heart and became an Inner Demon.
The enlightenment he had built up his entire life. The single step he had finally taken. All of it was denied in an instant.
‘No. Don't waver. It’s a trick.’
He thought the man must be some old monster who had already reached the Extreme Demon realm. A sociopath who enjoyed mocking his juniors, an immature brat who couldn't act his age.
He tried to brainwash himself, but he knew the truth. That man had truly reached the Extreme Demon realm right here.
His composed heart crumbled fruitlessly. Having reached the Extreme Demon realm by dyeing himself in the demonic, Hwan Chi-seong was not yet able to handle that power.
The demonic is fickle. It resembles Mara Papiyas, the source of its name.
The Extreme Demon realm is the process of becoming like Mara. Though one has reached the pinnacle of the demonic, as long as they are not fully matured, they always live with the risk of an Inner Demon.
“Urgh…!”
Why? How? Was I not a genius? What can I even do in the face of such unreasonable talent?
His heart collapsed. The demonic rushed into his broken mind. The demonic energy, filling him from the deepest depths, finally dyed Hwan Chi-seong completely.
“Aaaaaaaah──────!!”
A pitch-black hand gripped the hilt of the saber. Demonic Qi streamed from Hwan Chi-seong’s eyes. The enemy before him. The incarnation of absurdity. He would cut down this manifested Inner Demon.
Flash! ──────────!!!
Faster than light, reaching further, to a distant place. The thrusting saber surged forward.
Hwan Chi-seong saw it. The man was smiling. Ting! The thrusting saber bounced back meaninglessly.
His mind went white. Rage became lightning, incinerating his reason.
Faster. Beyond light. How far can I go? My limit. Taking a few more steps, to the very end of causality.
“Hyaaaaa……!!”
Hwan Chi-seong’s body became light. His physical form melted away, turning into flickering Demonic Qi, finally transcending his limits once more.
Smirk—
Watching him, Seo-jun smiled. He knew he was becoming overly excited. It was because he was dyed by the demonic. However, it wasn't a hindrance.
Conscious of his drawn sword, he poured himself into a thrust.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, 3rd Form: Immortal Pointing the Way.
Pshhh! The thrusting sword pierced the sky. The saber Hwan Chi-seong was swinging was also pierced right through.
“Aaaah…!”
Having lost all reason, Hwan Chi-seong ripped off his own left arm and gripped it. Splattering pitch-black blood, the severed limb became a saber.
Seo-jun felt a surge of joy at the thick scent of blood.
His mind was dyed white. A thrilling pleasure raced down his spine, and a sense of liberation surged simultaneously.
Crunch!
Horns sprouted from his temples.
Hwan Chi-seong didn't care and swung his arm-turned-saber. The pitch-black blood drew a sharp trajectory as it lunged at Seo-jun.
Heavenly Demon Ruling Step.
Thump! As Seo-jun stepped on the air, Hwan Chi-seong’s body was slammed into the ground. Seo-jun smiled brightly and spread his arms wide.
Zzzzzzzzt ──────
Five Energies Returning to the Origin. Those five rings rotated behind Seo-jun’s back. Demonic Qi gathered in the center of the rings. Five spheres within five rings. At Seo-jun’s gesture, the Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art was fired.
Swoooooosh ──────────
Five pillars pierced the earth. Without Seo-jun needing to consciously control them, the rings of the Five Energies Returning to the Origin gathered Demonic Qi and fired it on their own.
“Aaaaaah…!”
Hwan Chi-seong launched his flickering, amorphous body into the sky. The Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art grazed him. With every graze, pieces of his body were carved away and scattered into the air.
Before he knew it, the severed left arm he held in his right hand had melted away, flickering black. In desperation, he swung his remaining arm, which had become more like a saber than a human limb.
Flash! ────────────
It was a strike faster than any before. It followed in the wake of light. Yet, it failed to reach its target.
Petals bloomed here and there in the air. Hwan Chi-seong shed pitch-black tears as he watched his saber blocked by a single petal.
‘Ah…!’
With a stifling sensation in his chest, Seo-jun’s figure came into view. A being with horns sprouted from his head, standing in the air, looking down at him with utter disdain.
The deeper he tried to look into him, the more his own existence scattered. An endless pit. Stepping into the abyss, even his ego blurred.
“It’s… unfair.”
Those were his last words. The petals in the air gathered to form three flowers, and the maws attached to the flowers chewed and swallowed Hwan Chi-seong.
Crunch!
Leaving behind only a few drops of pitch-black blood, Hwan Chi-seong vanished. Neigh! His horse, So-cheong, who had been watching, charged forward with bloodshot eyes.
The Demonic Qi gathered at its head became a horn, aiming for Seo-jun’s chest.
Slash—
Seo-jun swung his sword and decapitated the horse. So-cheong, who had been shedding bead-like tears, died with its eyes wide open.
Sitting cross-legged in the air, Seo-jun rose high, with the three flowers circling him and the five rings floating behind his back.
The Demonic Qi whined. It whispered that it wanted more blood.
Seo-jun suddenly realized something. Perhaps matured demons of the Extreme Demon realm were quite calm. Because those who weren't, or couldn't become so, would have all died from their Inner Demons.
The Extreme Demon realm was a rather unstable thing.
Of course, that didn't apply to him.
“Quiet.”
As he spoke softly, the wild impulses dyeing his reason vanished as if washed away.
Fire Demon Realm and Extreme Demon. What should he call this realm, having achieved the demonic both internally and externally?
While pondering, Seo-jun suddenly sensed a presence. Only then did he calmly survey his surroundings, before bursting into a hollow laugh.
“Hmm… am I screwed?”
Was it the Divine Priestess? It seemed the woman visible in the distance was indeed the Divine Priestess.
Beside her were two Extreme Demon experts. And to top it off, thousands of demons surrounded the area.
Just when did they get here?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The woman’s voice echoed through the sky. She looked at Seo-jun with eyes that flickered like flames.
“We finally meet. The sprout of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.”