Chapter 31
Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Storming the Black Sand Hall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Wol leaped lightly from the tavern window, but just before he landed on the ground, something shot toward him. He hurriedly tried to dodge it, but he couldn't quite manage.
"Gah!"
The immense pressure on his throat made it impossible for Dan Wol to breathe. Turning his eyes, he saw, to his astonishment, that it was Dan Hyeong-u gripping his neck.
"H-How...!"
Dan Wol couldn't hide his shock. How could someone so far away appear here like this? He even wondered if the man truly knew cloning techniques.
"Let's go."
At Dan Hyeong-u's words, Dan Wol managed a puzzled expression amid the pain. Go where, exactly? He furrowed his brow for a moment, then his eyes widened as he realized the meaning.
Dan Wol's mind began to race. Even if he led this guy back to the Black Sand Hall, they could prepare in advance and hold him off.
"A-Alright. I'll guide you. So, please, just let go of..."
Dan Hyeong-u glanced at him as he spoke. The moment their eyes met, Dan Wol felt boundless terror. It was as if he were being sucked into an abyss by those eyes.
Thud.
Dan Hyeong-u released his grip, and Dan Wol collapsed roughly to the ground. All strength drained from him, leaving him unable to even keep his balance.
Dan Wol scrambled to his feet and began walking, eyes darting around. There were still some Azure Moon Squad members left—he needed to signal them to prepare.
As he walked a bit further, fear made his body tremble uncontrollably. The remaining thirty Azure Moon Squad warriors lay dead, all bisected clean through.
And the Henan Escort Bureau porters were busily handling the numerous corpses. Shockingly, they showed no aversion to the task. These were no ordinary porters. It was then that Dan Wol truly realized just how badly he'd underestimated his foe, down to his bones. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Silver Moon Squad Leader finished all preparations for deployment and reported to the Second Pavilion Master. The Black Sand Hall was currently led by two Pavilion Masters, and the Silver Moon Squad fell under the second one's command.
The Second Pavilion Master, who had been flipping through some documents in his office, stood up upon hearing the report. He picked up the True Heavenly Thunder.
It was the size of a man's head, and its weight was no joke, but to the Second Pavilion Master, it meant nothing.
"Let's move."
At his words, the Silver Moon Squad Leader asked in surprise.
"You're going personally? A mere Ogre Manor can be handled by the Silver Moon Squad alone..."
"No. If even the Black Moon and White Moon Squads got wiped out together, something's clearly up. Besides, we can't leave even a sliver of a chance for failure this time."
There was no arguing with the Pavilion Master's decision. The Silver Moon Squad Leader simply nodded.
As he turned to head out, the Silver Moon Squad Leader's eyes caught the character engraved on the True Heavenly Thunder.
Thunder.
He initially thought nothing of it, but then he couldn't help recoiling in shock.
"N-No way... the True Heavenly Thunder?!"
"First time seeing it, eh? That's right. We have three in the Black Sand Hall. I'm planning to use this one to reduce Ogre Manor to ashes."
The Second Pavilion Master's calm words froze the Silver Moon Squad Leader in place. He hadn't even known they possessed True Heavenly Thunder, and now hearing it would be used... tension flooded him.
If it truly held the legendary power, it could obliterate Ogre Manor on its own.
And they had three? The Silver Moon Squad Leader could barely think straight.
"Th-Three of them..."
"Hurry up. I want everything settled by tonight."
"Y-Yes. Understood."
The Silver Moon Squad Leader answered hastily and quickened his pace.
The Silver Moon Squad had already assembled in the training grounds, fully prepared. Though small with only twenty members, their power was tremendous.
The Silver Moon Squad Leader and Second Pavilion Master nodded approvingly at the warriors radiating sharp auras. With them, anything seemed possible.
Just as he was about to give the order to depart, a messenger pigeon flew by. The red string tied to its leg marked it as one used only for emergencies.
"What now?"
The Second Pavilion Master frowned. There hadn't been a single emergency since the Black Sand Hall's rise.
"Squad Leader. I need to check the Flying Message Pavilion first."
"Yes, sir. We'll stand by."
The Second Pavilion Master leaped toward the Flying Message Pavilion. He wanted to hurry. He could've just gone anyway, but a bad feeling nagged him—he had to confirm.
The Flying Message Pavilion managed and checked all of the Black Sand Hall's messenger pigeons—the hub of all intelligence. Only the Pavilion Master, the two Pavilion Masters, and the Grand Elder could enter.
He learned what the urgent pigeon brought before even entering, encountering the frantic Flying Message Pavilion Master rushing out.
"What is it?"
"A top-tier expert has invaded one of our branches."
The Second Pavilion Master's face twisted in fury. All this fuss over one expert?
"He wiped out a hundred Azure Moon Squad members in an instant."
Only then did the Second Pavilion Master's expression turn to shock.
"A hundred Azure Moon Squad?"
"Yes, and three Golden Moon Squad members were among them."
The Second Pavilion Master looked stunned. Even he couldn't guarantee victory against two Golden Moon Squad members at once—they were that elite. For three of them to fall... this was a genuine master.
"On the level of the Sword King? Why would such an expert target the Black Sand Hall? From Ogre Manor or the Tang Family?"
He couldn't think of anything else. If Ogre Manor or the Tang Family had called in outside help, it made sense. But given their pride, he'd never expected them to. Quite the surprise.
"Maybe, maybe not. No signs of Ogre Manor or Tang Family reaching out yet. Either way, we have to stop him. Might even need the Silver Moon Squad."
The Second Pavilion Master nodded. That explained his unease. They couldn't ignore a master like this and slink away.
The Silver Moon Squad's sword formation was ideal against a single expert. If it was Sword King level, the Silver Moon Squad was better suited than even the Golden Moon Squad.
The Flying Message Pavilion Master bowed and hurried to the First Pavilion Master. The Second Pavilion Master watched his back, then turned. The Silver Moon Squad's deployment would have to wait. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dan Hyeong-u sensed the entire village enveloped in a strange energy before even entering. A quick scan showed the houses and their positions subtly distorted.
He stepped into the eerie aura. A faint relief appeared on Dan Wol's face as he cautiously walked beside him.
The Black Sand Hall village was one massive formation. Not particularly grand, but perfect for dispersing enemy strength, ambushing, or escaping.
Dan Wol carefully circulated his inner energy. Since Dan Hyeong-u hadn't sealed his acupoints, the power dormant in his dantian flowed freely to his limbs.
Concentrating all his energy in his legs, Dan Wol tensed his toes and kicked off the ground explosively. If asked the fastest he'd ever moved in his life, he'd say right now. The speed was tremendous.
His target was a narrow gap between houses—the point where the formation's shifts began. He slipped into it safely.
Dan Hyeong-u watched impassively, then his eyes gleamed faintly. Dan Wol's form blurred and vanished. The formation concealed him completely, even his energy signature—enough to pique curiosity.
Dan Hyeong-u stared at the gap where Dan Wol disappeared, then followed. The moment he entered, the scenery changed. What had been a village of houses opened into a vast, empty field.
His eyes flashed as he surveyed the surroundings. Clearly an illusion from the formation's shift, yet undetectable as such. Everything felt utterly real. And since it was his first encounter with a formation, it felt all the more alien.
Sensing the ambient energy while standing still, Dan Hyeong-u moved forward. The scenery shifted again—this time, he stood atop a cliff.
He closed his eyes. He was no expert in formations, but he'd had similar experiences. That hell had every kind of monster imaginable.
Auspicious energy gathered around his still form. Then he opened his eyes.
Flash!
A brilliant light burst from his eyes, illuminating everything.
Without hesitation, Dan Hyeong-u drew his sword and lightly slashed ahead.
Shrrk!
The space his sword cut split open. Centered on that rift, the illusion enveloping him shattered in an instant.
Before him stood Dan Wol, eyes wide as if they might tear.
Finally reaching the Black Sand Hall's main gate, Dan Wol kept stealing glances at Dan Hyeong-u in disbelief. His throat ached, making breathing hard, but shock drowned it out.
He'd broken the formation.
With a method no one had ever heard of.
Destroying a formation with a sword wasn't impossible with overwhelming power. But that's not what Dan Hyeong-u did.
He'd sliced the formation itself with his sword. The shockwave shattered its core axis, rendering it useless.
"This the place?"
"Y-Yes. So now, please..."
Dan Hyeong-u hurled Dan Wol straight at the main gate.
Boom!
Dan Wol flew into the Black Sand Hall amid the splintered gate fragments.
Splat!
He crushed several Black Sand Hall warriors behind the gate and perished on the spot.
Dan Hyeong-u stepped inside.
The Black Sand Hall warriors fell back. As he entered the spacious inner courtyard, twenty warriors in black uniforms with silver chains on their arms stepped forward.
The Silver Moon Squad.
They aimed their swords, cautiously encircling Dan Hyeong-u. Once fully surrounded, the Second Pavilion Master emerged from the crowd.
"Who the hell are you to pull this crap? Think the Black Sand Hall is a joke? You didn't come here actually thinking you'd leave alive, did you?"
His low, menacing voice prompted Dan Hyeong-u to glance at him and draw his sword.
Shing.
The silently drawn blade gleamed with cold ferocity.
"So this is the Black Sand Hall."
Dan Hyeong-u muttered, casually raising his sword slightly.
Flash!
A bolt of lightning struck, cleaving one encircling Silver Moon Squad warrior in two.
The Second Pavilion Master's eyes bulged in shock. He hadn't seen the sword move—just lightning falling.
"The Thunderclap Blade?"
He shook his head. No, not that. Even the Thunderclap Blade couldn't summon actual lightning.
As the Second Pavilion Master hesitated, another bolt fell.
Flash!
Another Silver Moon Squad member split apart.
"What are you idiots doing?! Kill him now!"
At his shout, the Black Sand Hall warriors scrambled into action. The Silver Moon Squad activated their sword formation. Two dead changed nothing—the minimum was five, the rest just amplified power.
The Silver Moon Squad warriors swiftly attacked. Dan Hyeong-u watched their swords approach, then lightly flicked his own.
Crackle!
The Second Pavilion Master's jaw dropped. Ten Silver Moon Squad warriors charging at Dan Hyeong-u perished instantly. If he weren't the Pavilion Master, he'd have applauded the spectacle.
Exactly ten lightning bolts struck simultaneously, bisecting them. They froze mid-motion, as if time had stopped, before collapsing.
The sword formation persisted, but Dan Hyeong-u strolled through unaffected, utterly at ease.
Lightning began crashing around him.
Crackle!
Black Sand Hall warriors kept falling to the barrage near Dan Hyeong-u. Terror-stricken ones even started fleeing.
The Second Pavilion Master couldn't stop his retreating men.
"H-How is this possible..."
The Silver Moon Squad Leader beside him cautiously handed over the True Heavenly Thunder. The Second Pavilion Master took it, glaring at Dan Hyeong-u with a hardened expression. This was their last resort.