Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 331
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon (2)
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Clang—!
A pitch-black iron chain shot through the air with a deafening metallic screech.
It had started as a single streak at first, but as time passed, more joined in one by one, until now there were three black trails hurtling toward him.
"Hup!"
But Hugo's response remained unchanged from before.
Relying on senses heightened to the extreme by Heightened Senses, he channeled the power of physical enhancement skills like Superhuman Strength and moved his body according to pure instinct.
Crack!
He twisted his body to dodge the first chain, then deflected the second with a soft, flowing technique.
In the midst of it all, the third chain slithered in like a snake, nimbly trying to bind his body—but...
'Not on my watch!'
Instead, he deliberately exposed a vital spot along its trajectory. Seizing the moment when the incoming attack hesitated, he slipped out of its path.
"Tch, you little rat! You're a cunning one!"
The black-clad man from the Demonic Cult—the Black Victory Demon Army soldier—gritted his teeth in frustration.
By pure skill alone, he should have captured him long ago, but every time a dangerous strike landed, the opponent used his own life as a hostage, making it impossible to act rashly.
The cult leader had personally ordered a live capture—killing him by accident was out of the question.
Of course, in a one-on-one, such tricks wouldn't have worked, but they weren't alone here.
Swoosh! Clang!
After his failed capture attempt, the black chain whipped back hurriedly, coiling into a sphere that barely blocked a sudden sword strike.
"Hah, do you think this Daoist's a joke?"
"Cloud-Soaring Sword..."
The elder of the Wudang Sect, Unhyeonjin—a foe even the Black Victory Demon Army couldn't take lightly.
In the end, he abandoned the quick capture and focused on dealing with the enemy before him.
"Whew, this is hectic."
Thanks to that, Hugo finally caught a breather. He wiped away his sweat and scanned the surroundings.
As he said, the chaos around them was utter pandemonium.
Boom—!
"Kill them!"
"You damned bastards!"
Explosions, screams, shouts, and curses filled the air nonstop.
Who could imagine this was the Shaolin Temple's grounds, a place of utmost reverence just moments ago?
Considering that everyone gathered here was a talented individual recognized for their skills, every drop of blood spilled was a massive loss to the entire orthodox martial world.
The Demonic Cult must have timed their assault precisely to exploit that.
'...Yes, this is undoubtedly a tragedy. But...'
Every event has its upsides.
This crisis was also, in a way, an opportunity.
Some people’s talents truly blossomed in the midst of such disasters.
And he was the prime example.
"Haa—."
Hugo took a deep breath, his pupils dilating.
Even Limit Break—which he couldn’t use recklessly due to its side effects—was activated. His senses sharpened to a razor's edge, quietly and swiftly absorbing all the information flowing from around him.
'Truth be told, this was one of the reasons I came this far. ...Though I never anticipated such an extreme situation.'
In this life-or-death battlefield, the warriors unleashed their honed ultimate techniques without restraint.
Survival demanded it—no holding back now.
"Damn it, damn it! This is why I didn't want to come!"
A hidden weapon flew from the fingertips of Tang Hagi, the aggro-puller of the Sichuan Tang Clan, tracing a bizarre trajectory. The imperfect principles of martial arts embedded within imprinted directly onto Hugo's mind.
It was a Tang Clan secret art of high completion as a technique, but the user's low proficiency made it easy to steal a glimpse of its essence.
"Sorana! Over here!"
"Brother!"
In that sense, the swords of Nangong Hwang, young lord of the Nangong Family, and his sister Nangong Soran were fine prey as well.
The Nangong Family was one of the world's most renowned sword clans.
As their heavy, powerful secret swordsmanship unfolded in real combat, Hugo's fingertips twitched unconsciously under its influence.
'Indeed, there's a reason massive clans are called great houses.'
It wasn't just the clan techniques that nourished him.
The flashy sword forms of the Mount Hua Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsman tangled chaotically in his mind with the spear-wielders of the Jeomchang Sect pursuing utmost speed, while Buddhist and Daoist arts intertwined haphazardly.
And clashing against them, the Demonic Cult's vicious, destructive techniques.
At the center of this battlefield, where talents from across the continent mingled life and death, thoughts and karma intertwined in struggle.
Hugo devoured everything he saw, heard, and felt like a black hole. His understanding of martial arts expanded endlessly in response.
His body was already perfectly tempered, his mind elevated far beyond.
With countless elixirs from Harris and the Heavenly Mechanism Physique to maximize them, his internal energy was no slouch either.
All he lacked was enlightenment into the mysteries of martial arts.
And this event fulfilled it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has fulfilled the conditions and attained enlightenment. Acquired Special Skill All Flows Return to the One. His rapid growth accelerated even further.
To the point where even those fighting desperately around him were taken aback by the flow of energy centering on him.
"Enlightenment in this situation?"
"Hah, transcendent realm at that age? What nonsense is..."
"...Attack! We must secure that one!"
"You bastards dare?!"
It caused a minor disturbance nearby, but the commotion didn't last long.
And why? Because the reliable backup that allowed Hugo to focus on growth had just arrived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The first to sense something amiss were the two fighting the most fiercely here.
The Heavenly Demon, who had been unilaterally dominating and displaying his might, and the battered Divine Victory Monk clinging to him till the end.
"Persistent, aren't you, Divine Victory Mujin."
"Heh heh, persistence is one of this monk's few prides... Hm?"
"...What's this?"
Their argument halted as their gazes turned simultaneously to one spot.
Not far from the chaos, atop a nearby hall that overlooked the entire area.
There, 'it' stood.
"...What is that?"
"...Hah."
The presence was so alien that even these two transcendent experts momentarily lost their words.
The form was unmistakably human... but could that truly be called human?
And the movements of these two, who had the strongest presence on the battlefield, naturally influenced the other warriors sensitive to energy.
One by one, they paused their fights, assessed the situation, and followed their gaze to the hall's roof.
"What the hell is that guy?"
"...A lion mask?"
Those who looked soon faced it directly.
A mysterious figure crouched on the roof like a beast before the hunt, wearing a monster mask and gazing down at the hall below.
"What are you?"
As all attention focused, the Heavenly Demon spoke on their behalf, furrowing his brow slightly.
Having reached the realm of observing all things through energy, he knew.
That thing was a completely different kind of lifeform from anything he'd seen in his life.
No, if he had to name a similar foe... there was one that came to mind, but...
'No, impossible. Too much of a leap. At best, something from Golden Turtle Island.'
At that moment, the figure slowly rose, its dynamically rippling muscles vividly displayed across its bare upper body.
A transcendent physique that embodied the words 'strength' and 'violence' in human form.
"Hah, the pinnacle of external arts."
"Is that body even possible in reality?"
Several warriors let out admiring gasps unfit for the situation at this ideal, ultimate warrior's body.
Whether born of envy or jealousy... it was perfection unattainable through mere training, like a legendary shedding of bones and marrow.
A natural reaction.
And then, under everyone's gaze, the figure spoke as it stood.
"Ahh— nice, nice. What a great atmosphere!"
With all eyes on him, the monster—Harley—nodded in satisfaction and continued.
"First, allow me to introduce myself! I am the Mad Demon! Oh, and I've reached an amicable agreement with the previous bearer of this title through cordial discussion—no misunderstandings, please!"
He then calmly began his PR to the onlookers.
From now on, he was the true Mad Demon, and the old one was his subordinate and friend, joining forces, etc.
As if he'd drawn their attention just for this promo from the start.
"Ah, and the reason I'm here is..."
But his playful demeanor didn't last.
Finishing his self-intro, he locked eyes directly with the glaring Heavenly Demon, curling his lips into a savage grin.
"Hunting."
A ferocious smile brimming with madness that seemed to set the world ablaze—utterly divorced from his prior levity.
The air grew heavy, faces stiffening.
"I heard there's an excellent prey here."
That.
Was why he called himself the Mad Demon.
"Well then—introductions are over."
But he paid no mind to how his words shifted the mood.
His madness-glinting eyes fixed solely on his prey from start to finish.
"Time to play! Kahahaha!"
Boom!
Finishing his unilateral announcement, the Mad Demon charged at his next target, the Heavenly Demon.
With one stomp that obliterated the entire roof he'd stood on.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Harley's intervention sent the battle into an unexpected direction.
The biggest factor: the dire confrontation with the Heavenly Demon had reached equilibrium.
Stepping forward in place of the near-limit Mujin, Harley held his own even against this formidable foe.
Slash—!
No, looking purely at the fight, Harley was still somewhat inferior... but...
"Hah, ridiculous. You monster."
The Heavenly Demon dodged the reckless charge and inflicted another lethal wound with a sword strike transcending perception.
A gash from left shoulder to right waist, deep enough to reach organs.
Considering it was formed of demonic energy, it was practically a death sentence.
"Ow, that hurts! Hey!"
Yet his reaction right after taking it was just that.
The Heavenly Demon watched sharply with narrowed eyes as the profusely bleeding wound slowly staunched and began healing.
'No doubt.'
From his observation, he reached a conclusion and let out a hollow chuckle.
'He's adapting to my attacks.'
The regeneration speed was markedly faster than at first impact.
For a wound from energy to heal that quickly defied logic.
Especially one made of demonic energy, hostile to all life—needless to say.
Taking such a hit head-on would fell even a true immortal, yet this monster ignored it all and regenerated.
As if he'd mastered a legendary immortal divine art.
'No, impossible.'
But the Heavenly Demon, who had seen the original immortal divine art in the cult leader's exclusive Heavenly Demon Library, firmly shook his head.
The tales were exaggerated, and this phenomenon had nothing to do with it...
Rip!
In that instant of lapse, Harley's sharp claws tore roughly through the Heavenly Demon's defenses.
Perilously deep—nearly piercing flesh.
"Grr, so close! You're pretty sharp yourself, big guy?"
His nonchalant words hardened the Heavenly Demon's expression further.
He couldn't imagine Harley endlessly burning vast madness from Seed of Madness to replenish vitality, but he clearly understood that staying passive would leave him helpless.
"...No choice."
But retreat wasn't an option either.
In the end, he decided to unleash one hidden power.
Humm—
The supreme ultimate art permitted only to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's leader: Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Black demonic energy blazed along his sword blade, forming a massive sword shape.
"I didn't want to use this if possible."
And...
'...That?!'
From within, a familiar power seeped out slyly—one Harley had encountered before.
A sunset glow rippling through pitch-black darkness.
'Holy power...!'
A remnant of his nemesis, one he never expected still lingered in this world.