Ha-dong Subjugation #4
"Kiiiiiik! You insolent human bastard!"
The vice leader glared at me, twisting its already hideous face as it screeched.
"We'll rip out your yodan while you're still alive!"
"Yeah? Try it, you fucker! I'll rip yours out first!"
"Kiik? How the hell does a human extract a yodan!"
You're questioning that now?
"How? I'll just yank the damn thing out proper-like!"
How should I kill this bastard so word spreads that I offed it good?
Yokai are different from martial artists. Unlike warriors who wield weapons and martial arts, yokai fight solely with their yokai energy and physical prowess. That extending arm was a prime example. Ha-dong love those ranged attacks.
So let's target that.
"Kiik!"
The vice leader assumed its stance. I'd seen it enough times to recognize the pose for launching its arm.
I timed it perfectly—and right then.
—Splash!
Its arm shot straight at me like a spear. Fast, but predictable trajectory. In martial terms, it was third-rate—obsessed with perfect form, no variation.
Suddenly, that rubbery Ha-dong arm looked just like a third-rate warrior's basic thrust.
No reason I couldn't counter it!
Just like I'd trained. Calmly charging in, I swung my sword diagonally upward.
It knocked the incoming arm aside. But I wasn't stopping there.
"Hah!"
Twisting the upward-swept blade to face forward, I kept charging. The sword bit into its forearm, slicing through flesh.
My counterattack landed—turning evasion into damage.
"Kiiiiiiik!"
"How's it taste, motherfucker!"
The vice leader howled in agony as I closed the distance. Time to finish it!
"You dare harm my arm! Die, human scum!"
But even rotten fish has its merits—this was still a Ha-dong vice leader. Despite the pain, it swung its other arm at me.
But.
—Whoooosh!
This fucker... yokai strength was no joke! Those webbed claws packed serious power.
"Hngh!"
I reflexively slashed down at the incoming forearm.
—Thud!
But I couldn't sever it. The blade stopped at the bone—or rather, its tough hide. Just a surface wound.
"Kikikikik! Useless! That can't pierce my scales!"
"You crazy fuck... how goddamn tough are you!"
"Hand over the yodan and the woman quietly!"
Its extended arm retracted, blood pouring, but it ignored it and clenched a fist for a punch.
Awkward angle for my sword.
"Bullshit!"
I swung my arm, blocking with my vambrace.
—Crack!
Its fist collided, and pain shot through my teeth as I gritted them. Yokai natural strength was insane. Bare-handed? No chance.
That thought hit just as.
—Grip!
It grabbed my shoulder with its other hand.
"Shit...!"
I couldn't dodge that!
"Dieeee!"
The vice leader gaped its massive beak wide, lunging to chomp my head. One bite and it'd split like a watermelon.
Had to evade.
"Hngh!"
—Thud!
I jerked my head aside; it snapped at empty air. The beak-clack alone was terrifying, but I dodged.
Seizing the gap, I gripped my sword one-handed, laid it flat against its flesh, and.
—Serrate serrate!
Sawed with all my might for maximum damage!
"Kiyaaaaak!"
It hurt enough to let go.
"You goddamn mutt! Trying to bite a person? Where'd you learn that shitty habit!"
"Human scuuuum!"
The instant it released, I rolled away in a naryeotagon, scrambling back to my feet.
The vice leader lunged in rage, but I'd grabbed dirt mid-roll.
—Splash!
I whipped it like a lash into its huge eyes.
Naryeotagon with a dirt grab-and-throw. The essence of righteous Murim: sand blast. Or in wuxia terms, Tosa Gwanran.
"Kiik! My eyes!"
As it clawed at its face.
"Raaaaah!"
I roared, launching at it, sword swinging. Unleashing my strongest technique, Dae-ryu Geom-beop, to hack it to pieces!
—Whoooosh!
Fierce sword strike.
—Crackle!
Purple energy sparked from the blade. I slashed at the crouched vice leader.
—Splash!
Purple energy-infused, but not deep enough for bone. Still, its hide split wide, blood gushing. The energy amplified my power.
"Dieeee!"
Of course, Dae-ryu Geom-beop doesn't stop at one strike. Combo. Another combo. I shredded its body, painting it red.
"Kiik! Kiiiiik!"
Flesh tore, blood sprayed. Its dull hide soaked crimson. A few more rounds and it'd drop.
But as I went for more, it spun and fled.
—Clang!
My sword hit its hard shell back.
"You? Running away? Krahaha! Go ahead, flee, you coward yokai!"
"Humaannn!"
But.
—Screech!
It braked hard, dropped low, and in one instant.
—Whoosh!
Rocketed back like a car, using its shell as a shield and springy legs for launch.
Insane car crash. Minimum heavy injury if hit.
—Whoooosh!
The massive shell hurtled at me. Dodge? Too fast.
—Hummm.
So only one option.
—Plant.
Attack.
—Fwoooosh.
Purple energy surged into my sword. Exploded, really—like a dam burst, whipping into a torrent. Wind howled from the blade as I unleashed my best shot at the incoming shell.
"Ghost Slash!!!"
Eerie purple gui qi overflowed.
—Kiyaaaaak!
The sword's whistle sounded like a ghost's wail. A sinister dark arc trailed, and.
—Boom!
On impact, a wicked explosion as my blade cleaved the shell.
"Gik!"
Its last word. My sword bisected it clean. The foolish vice leader, split in two, flew past me.
—Thud!
The halves hit the ground.
"Hoo, hoo!"
Breath ragged, I knelt on one knee, calming my heaving chest.
Success. I'd pulled off Gui-gyeok-cham again, like against the bandit chief.
Euphoria nearly made me cheer, but the fight wasn't over. The others were still battling.
"Guys!"
Just then.
"Haaaaap!"
The scene sharpened.
—Crack!
Serin neatly quartered the Ha-dong leader with her sword. Cleaner than mine, the corpse crumpled.
And not just that.
"Die!"
—Fwoom!
Ha-young incinerated the ragtag Ha-dong mob. Flames roared; not one stood. All charred husks.
Battle over. In the brief time I fought the vice leader.
"We won?!"
"Yes. Victory."
"Yeah! Done!"
Serin sheathed her sword; Ha-young slung her stone staff over her shoulder.
Situation clear.
"Yesssss! Took down the Ha-dong vice leader one-on-one! Victory in a deathmatch!"
I soloed a yokai boss!
"Good work, Geun-hyeop. Handling such a yokai alone... your skills are growing fast."
"You saw! Me killing it!"
Too hyped, I yelled—then realized. Serin fought a stronger leader; probably missed me.
"Yes. Of course I saw."
"Wha, really? Your fight?"
"I kept an eye on you while battling the leader. It dragged because of that, but the moment you felled the vice leader, I struck fatally."
"Ooh!"
The leader looked tough, yet she one-shotted while watching me. Peak master indeed.
"You fought brilliantly, Geun-hyeop. Excellent application of your training. You've practiced diligently. Impressive. Truly."
Serin smiled faintly, praising me. Praise from my master? Shoulders squared up.
"Krahaha! I busted my ass, yeah! Glad it showed—I wanted you to see!"
"I saw it all. And... yes. That purple energy. Even the final explosion. Confirmed."
"You caught it. Yeah, that's what I wanted to show."
My achievement. Attack using my ominous power.
"Definitely unlike standard martial arts."
Serin's face turned serious.
"And that energy I sensed briefly."
"Like yokai energy, right?"
Ha-young approached, cutting in.
"I saw too. Purple energy gathered, then exploded for massive power. Look—the vice leader's shell is bisected clean. Flesh exploded."
True, the corpse was wrecked.
"Insane power for his level."
"Agreed. Cleaving Ha-dong shell like that... purely technique-wise, first-rate warrior level."
First-rate! Jaw dropped; they stared seriously.
"But it's different. Not like typical martial arts cultivation. Seems innate to your constitution."
"Likely. He absorbs yodan into his power, releases it his way. Unlike normal sword aura."
"Truly profound... definitely not sword aura."
Their analysis. One peak master, one Taoist. My Gui-gyeok-cham was uniquely bizarre.
"Wait! Then...!"
I realized something huge.
"That Gui-gyeok-cham I just used—is my signature martial art?!"
Yes! If unique even to warriors and Taoists, it's a whole new thing.
My signature martial art!
"Signature art? Ah, yes. Makes sense. Only you can use it, so yes."
Serin's confirmation!
"Then I'm the grandmaster of this style?!"
Grandmaster! Creator of a martial art—the greatest teacher!
I forged a signature art from my constitution, used it in real combat for victory. Overflowing qualifications!
"Wh-what grandmaster nonsense... Geun-hyeop! Even if I praise you, don't get arrogant!"
"Kyahahahat! He's calling himself grandmaster! Hilarious—let him have it! He's loving it; don't rain on his parade!"
"A master isn't just indulgent! Sometimes you pour cold water!"
I know it's bullshit. But let me bask now.
"But no cold water now. Good work, everyone. Detailed analysis after we wrap this up."
"Wrap?"
Oh.
"Yeah. Not done yet. Wanna loot the Ha-dong corpses? Yodan should be there... I'll check the cave. They mentioned a captured woman."
Secure yodan, rescue the woman.
"Got it. On it."
"Geun-hyeop. I'll go rescue the woman with Geophwa Buyong."
"Go get 'em."
I rummaged the Ha-dong leader's corpse first. The one Serin quartered.
Hope the yodan isn't in four pieces? Not some soul orb shard, or I'd collapse wailing.
Worried, but.
"Found it!"
From the upper body! Deep green one!
"Yodan getoooo! Level up time!"