Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Art
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The definitions of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art varied widely.
Some said it encompassed all the martial arts used by the Heavenly Demon. Everything from the Heavenly Demon's movement techniques, swordsmanship, and internal arts was all part of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Others claimed there was a specific heart method or technique called the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. They insisted it was the root of the Heavenly Demon's strength.
But almost no one knew exactly what it was.
Except for one person.
Around Ye-ryeong, there was someone who had learned the true nature of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
"What is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?"
Lee Soo-hyuk.
Their friend, and the only player in this world who had defeated the Heavenly Demon.
He had pierced through the essence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
"It's the martial art that turns you into the Heavenly Demon."
...He was terrible at explaining it.
'The martial art that turns you into the Heavenly Demon.'
It was essentially correct.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art transformed everything about the one who unleashed its power. Unhyang just moments ago and Unhyang manifesting the Heavenly Demon Divine Art felt like completely different people.
"You... what the...?"
At this point, Ye-ryeong's head felt like it was about to explode.
Unhyang had suddenly appeared, saying she was helping her at the request of the streamer Lee Soo-hyuk.
She had no idea how Unhyang knew she would be here or why she was helping, and now this—heavenly Demon Divine Art?
"Do you recognize it, perhaps?"
Unhyang's voice trembled.
"As I thought... you do?"
"...Of course I do."
"Don't worry too much. I'm on your side right now."
Unhyang's voice darkened slightly as she said it.
She seemed worried that Ye-ryeong might reject her. Ye-ryeong wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, but she had no time for that.
Pa-bak-.
The rankers, who had been exchanging glances from both sides, charged in simultaneously.
Their first target was Unhyang. With the enemy going from one to two, they aimed to eliminate the seemingly easier one first.
But failing to notice Unhyang's change was their fatal mistake.
Hoo-oong-.
The sword's trajectory, which sliced through the air, passed through both their bodies almost simultaneously.
"Huh?"
"When did the sword...?"
Their advancing legs halted, their upper bodies tilted forward, and they tumbled. Their legs and torsos severed, the two bodies collapsed limply.
"We need to escape from here, right?"
Unhyang, who had swung her sword precisely to avoid the nearby Ye-ryeong, turned her gaze to Yi Won-jae.
"Follow me. I'll guide you."
A faint madness glinted in Unhyang's eyes as she dropped her sword downward.
Ye-ryeong, watching Unhyang's back, reached out a hand.
Chak-.
Ye-ryeong's hand gripped Unhyang's shoulder as she stepped forward, stopping her.
"Judging by that cheeky tone, you definitely don't know who I am."
"Pardon?"
"I'll grill you with questions later, so just stick close behind your big sis."
With the tension eased, Ye-ryeong spun her dagger nimbly in one hand.
"Get ready for some blanket-kicking later, kiddo."
Blue Zone's high ranker, Lu Wei, froze in place from the chill.
'Is that really human?'
A short distance away, Unhyang was locked in fierce combat with Blue Zone rankers. Blood sprayed with every sword swing, severed limbs flying through the air.
It was a level of skill where most high rankers couldn't even show their faces. But it wasn't just her strength that instilled fear.
The reason Lu Wei was terrified was the greater aura of dread lingering behind her.
'It feels just like...'
No way, but...
'The Heavenly Demon.'
The living terror of all players. Unhyang emanated an energy eerily similar to it.
Hoo-oong-.
"...!"
Lu Wei thrust his hand forward.
Jju-waaang-!
The force extended from his hand clashed with Unhyang's sword. The shockwave rippled outward, cratering the ground in a perfect circle.
"Martial arts?"
"Spirit Descent."
"A god possesses you? Sounds grandiose."
"Whether it's grandiose or not..."
Kwa-aak-.
Lu Wei clenched his fist tight. Gripping an imaginary bead, his fist shot forward in a straight line without tremor.
"Feel it with your body."
Thwack-!
Unhyang's body spun once and flew backward. Twirling in midair, she stabbed her sword into the ground to steady herself.
Ka-ga-ga-k-.
Thwack-!
A spear flying at her simultaneously grazed past her head. She twisted her waist urgently to dodge, and the spear, losing its target, smashed through a nearby building's roof and soared into the clouds.
"Whew."
Exhaling the breath she'd held, Unhyang thought.
'Not easy.'
Each ranker was a force not to be underestimated. And mixed among them were true elites like Lu Wei.
Unhyang's eyes spotted several familiar faces among the rankers.
'Too many.'
How many had she killed so far? And how many remained?
Killing all these rankers was impossible. That option never existed.
But breaking through the blockade for escape wasn't easy either.
As they carved a path forward, the blockade moved with them—perhaps even faster.
And at the same time.
Ka-ga-ga-k-.
Ye-ryeong was fighting Yi Won-jae.
The dagger and sword clashed. The small dagger wasn't just fast; it carried real power, gradually pushing back Yi Won-jae's sword.
Woooong-.
The sword tip vibrated, spewing mana.
Unlike Ye-ryeong, who needed to conserve stamina and mana, Yi Won-jae could pour out his power freely.
Ching, ching!
Ka-ga-ga-k, kwadud-.
Starlight bloomed along the path of Yi Won-jae's sword swings.
Mana twinkled like moonlight, rippling like a river current in the sword's wake.
"Pretty swordwork."
Yi Won-jae smiled at Ye-ryeong's compliment.
"It's not just for show..."
Puk-.
"...!"
The dagger thrust simply and pierced his shoulder. So sharp that blood poured from the wound.
Chiiiii-.
He pressed his hand to the wound, injecting mana. The mana turned to searing heat, cauterizing the injury, the smell of burning flesh assaulting his nose.
'She baited me on purpose.'
He'd momentarily forgotten. Against an assassin, you couldn't allow even the briefest gap, from behind or front.
"...No matter how you struggle, you won't escape here."
"Wanna bet? Whether I do or not."
Ye-ryeong spun her throwing knife in her hand. Her skill was indeed several levels above Yi Won-jae's.
But.
"Alone, you might have escaped."
Yi Won-jae's gaze flicked to Hyo-min strapped to Ye-ryeong's back.
"But you're not alone right now, are you?"
"Where you looking, you prick."
Ye-ryeong irritably raised her hand in a gesture threatening to gouge his eyes. It might pass as a mere threat from others, but not from Ye-ryeong.
That was when it happened.
Ye-ryeong's eyebrow twitched.
Telepathy? No, not the Murim technique of sound transmission. But the principle was the same—direct voice to a specific target.
In this chaos, Yi Won-jae whispered quietly to Ye-ryeong.
"What bullshit is this?"
Kill Kim Il-su.
It was a sweet, irresistible offer. But Ye-ryeong saw the poison hidden within that sweetness.
"Aha."
And it wasn't the first time.
"It's you, huh? The one who tempted Gyu-seong."
Ye-ryeong's eyes flashed with killing intent. Even without raising her aura, Yi Won-jae standing before her felt a chill run through his entire body.
"What are you talking about...?"
"Don't play dumb. A sleazy bastard like you must've made the same offer to Gyu-seong."
"... "
"Bingo. Yeah... now it makes sense. So that's how it went down."
With just a few words and background info, Ye-ryeong pieced together the secret behind Gyu-seong's death. Yi Won-jae's reaction confirmed it.
'Misjudged her.'
Ye-ryeong appeared impulsive and dim-witted at first glance. Her eccentric, hot-tempered demeanor made her seem far easier to manipulate than Hwang Gyu-seong.
But Yi Won-jae realized his mistake.
'An assassin without patience? Impossible.'
Stealth, infiltration, assassination required tenacious patience and judgment. Judging her by surface personality was a clear error.
"Want me to make a promise?"
"... "
"Even if we escape here, I'll kill you for sure. For real."
Ossok-.
Yi Won-jae hurriedly clutched his throat.
For a split second, he envisioned his head severed and falling. Ye-ryeong's killing intent was potent enough to conjure such hallucinations.
'Can't let her go.'
He was certain. If he let Ye-ryeong escape here, he'd live in fear forever.
That could never happen. Becoming the target of a unleashed Ye-ryeong, unbound by Lee Hyo-min, was something no one short of the Heavenly Demon could survive.
"You'll regret those words."
"Every day since then has been regret. One more won't make a difference."
"If that's how you want it."
Gooooh-.
A shadow loomed over the sky.
Like a massive whale swimming through the ocean depths, a gigantic airship blotted out the heavens.
One of Blue Zone's five ships.
"It's White Night!"
The ship turned. Rankers capable of javelins, cannons, and shooting lined the bow, aiming at Ye-ryeong.
A ship carrying over a thousand rankers.
Its terror lay in the devastating single shot that gathered all their mana.
"Brought a dangerous toy, huh?"
"While you rotted in the shadows, we built power in the light."
"Gonna use the thing made for Guardians on me?"
"Be grateful only one remains."
Yi Won-jae raised his hand high. As his fingertip pointed to the ship, barrels emerged from beneath White Night.
Giiiing-.
Vast mana gathered, warping the clouds around the ship.
An immense power no individual could wield, forged into one shell via the ship.
Ye-ryeong, standing and gazing up, clicked her tongue.
"Hmm... that looks pretty dangerous."
"Did you really think you could handle it alone?"
"Alone?"
A smirk curled Ye-ryeong's lips.
In a situation not warranting a smile.
'What's her game?'
An ominous feeling surged. No matter how he thought, not tensing at that mighty ship and army was odd.
"Yeah. Alone, can't do much."
Ye-ryeong nodded.
"But who said I'm alone?"
That was when it happened.
Jjeojeojeo-.
The barrel, poised to unleash devastating power, froze solid. In an instant, the ship was engulfed in biting cold.
"The barrel...!"
"St-stop it!"
"Ice?!"
Kadudududu-.
Pushishishi-.
The ship, White Night, froze white. Looking up at the tilting ship, a grin spread across Ye-ryeong's face.
"Now you're fucked."