Chapter 142
Chapter 142
************************-
Translator: uly
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: What Is Your Sword?
************************-
"How do you beat an opponent stronger than yourself?"
The First Demon tapped her shoulder with the scabbard of her sword. She groaned in thought, then let out a sigh.
"The premise of the question itself is flawed."
"That's true, but..."
"Why are you asking something like that?"
"It's just..."
I hesitated.
"...I sometimes think back to what happened in Yeokmin."
"Yeokmin? Oh. That story about the rampaging kid? I did hear about it from Wolhyang. There was a Blood Demon who briefly tasted the realm of the Profound Realm."
"I crossed swords with him, but I couldn't win."
"Of course not. How do you beat a mind sword? It's above essence reinforcement. Even Transformation Realm can't compare. If I gathered my energy right now, you couldn't even resist."
"...Even so."
I recalled Gokcheong.
"If possible, I wanted to subdue him alone."
"Why?"
"It's... probably..."
I put into words the emotion I'd pondered countless times.
My face flushed slightly. Wondering if I should even say it.
"...I just wanted to win purely with the sword..."
"A competitive spirit. It's important."
"...You're not blaming me for it?"
"Me? Why? It's a natural feeling for any martial artist. You want to win. You don't want to lose. Anyone who wields a sword thinks that way. No need to lecture you for voicing something natural."
"Mixing personal feelings into a mission..."
"When have you ever not done that?"
The First Demon pinched my cheek. The affection in it made me chuckle.
"I'm glad you're my master."
"You sure know how to talk. Hmm..."
The First Demon sat down in front of me.
"To defeat an opponent stronger than yourself, three prerequisites are needed."
"What are they?"
"Genius that steals others' techniques at a glance. Adaptability that perfectly comprehends a sword path after seeing it once. Sharpness that immediately adapts and predicts the opponent's next move."
The First Demon looked up at me.
"Unfortunately, you lack all of them."
"......."
"Don't give me those rain-soaked puppy eyes. You're ridiculous. But listen, Red Cloud."
The First Demon brushed off her hips and stood.
"When have you ever drawn your sword bound by those things?"
"......?"
"Brush off your shoulders."
I absentmindedly brushed my shoulders.
The First Demon laughed.
"No need to think too much. Genius. Talent. Heaven-sent luck. All important. But they're just accessories. Even I learned something new from watching you. That truly nothing is impossible in this world."
The First Demon extended her hand to me. She pulled me up.
"Thinking is important. But a sword can't be led by thought alone."
"......."
"You sometimes mix unnecessary thoughts into your martial arts, which don't suit you. That's fine, of course. It's consideration needed against inferiors. But against a superior, it's unnecessary."
Her hand brushed my body.
The First Demon personally dusted off the dirt on my clothes.
"You have your own way. It doesn't matter if you crumble. If you shatter. Get injured a few times? That happens. You're no genius. Overwhelming everything at once was never something to dream of."
"...But... isn't jumping that gap impossible with just that?"
"It is impossible. You're right. But haven't you leaped over that impossibility countless times?"
The First Demon smiled.
"When you feel an insurmountable wall, just discard it. Everything. Thoughts, the future... everything. Just crash into it until your body shatters."
"......"
"Every opponent you've faced was always stronger. Yet you always overcame them. Everyone has their own fitting sword. Red Cloud. No need to answer this question now. Just feel it. Without even thought, what's inside."
---Tap.
The touching fingertip met my heart.
"What is your sword?"
I didn't answer her question as she instructed.
I just felt the warmth touching me.
Because that itself was the answer.
...
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear
Seven Peaks Kill
The spear of qi charges toward the enemy. Within it, Akbi stepped forward.
The qi collides. The resounding noise blankets the rocky mountain.
The shaking cavern. Inside, Akbi witnessed with his own eyes the power of the launched bullet qi.
Each one essence reinforcement qi capable of tearing anything apart.
But all break. Swallowed by the blood-red mist, they shatter one by one.
Still too heavy. The sword itself is heavy.
He's mastered the essence of the heavy sword.
Yet still weak. Akbi bared his teeth. Even if one honed to the extreme is fierce, it doesn't guarantee victory.
They clash. He swings the qi spear with all his might as he charges.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear-a martial art that pressures the enemy with eight spears.
「I'll tweak it a bit for you.」
Wearing a kind mask, acting kindly.
It's also a technique he received improvements for directly from "her."
"In a way, we might share the same master...!"
He thrusts the spear like a shot. He advances, feeling the exploding qi scatter from his fingertips.
Tear and shatter. Overwhelm the lacking weight with numbers.
If one breaks, send two.
If two break, send four at once.
He senses panting within the thrusting spears. His excited fingertips tremble.
Strike. Shatter and rip away.
Blood mist.
He dashes across the ground to clear the blood-red fog.
Press on. Press on. Press on.
He mutters to himself repeatedly, twisting his body. Toward the opponent fixated on the qi short spears, he unleashes a spear twisted to the extreme in an instant.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear
Seven Peaks Kill - Open
Open.
Death.
---Kwa-dudududududududuk!!!!
Rotating spear blade. The spear burrowing in spiral form pierces the blood mist.
With a chilling sound, the blood wind robe tears. It rips through the protective qi and finally draws blood.
Red Cloud's body pushed back. Blood-red mist erupts violently from it.
He immediately widens the distance, vomiting blood with a gurgle. Akbi looked over his own body.
...Well, well.
A counterattack in that situation?
Blood drips from the raised hand. But amid that agony, Akbi's body shuddered.
Slowly regenerating. Dark, murky Heavenly Tribulation forcibly heals the wound.
One reason he hid in the cult.
"Did you think only you were special? Everyone in Reverse Heaven is special. Just selected elites. And now, atop that, the thing that should've been ours from the start has belatedly descended."
Akbi licked the blood on his hand and whispered.
"You're the one dying, Red Cloud. Come. I'll tear you apart piece by piece and show it to the Heavenly Demon...!"
...
The swords clash.
In the tinnitus, the crushed body vomits blood.
Strong. Akbi. The moment you relax even a bit, absurd martial arts pour out.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear... was it?
It's showing with his whole body that a technique's power doesn't come solely from strength. Seven qi short spears. And one qi long spear at the center.
His movements prove countless real battles. The pressing weight is lacking, but...
Numbers and feints.
Endless feints back up the deficiencies.
"Kuh...!"
Strike down. Strike down everything.
But of the ten thrusts, three hit air. The poorly swung sword causes wounds, splitting flesh.
What's crucial is that the opponent wields essence reinforcement too.
Regeneration slows amid the pressing force. Heavenly Tribulation screams, twisting the body.
Regeneration isn't omnipotent. Especially against an equal.
Plant feet and swing. Catch breath amid the struck-down qi.
Turn left. Pin down the extending qi short spear like before.
Fragments shatter and scatter. But the scattered ones regenerate the next moment, pressing the body.
Blue qi smashes the ground. The tip of the charging short spear upheaves the terrain around.
Pressing. Breath stifled. Force a step to reconnect the broken breathing.
"A bad move."
---Kaaaang!!!
Long spear.
The fierce spear noticed too late devours the left arm.
"Kuhk?!"
The pushed body tumbles across the ground. Barely flip and thrust the sword into the earth.
Trembling fingertips. Amid disrupted breathing, grope the left arm.
The wound is deep. Heavenly Tribulation is wailing.
"Experience overwhelmingly differs. Talent gap too. Martial prowess? Obviously mine is higher. All you can do now is beg me for your life."
Stand. Turn head following Akbi's voice.
...He's right.
Experience. That vital thing is his.
Skilled as if he's sparred equals countless times. From psychological warfare, nothing to underestimate.
Even thrusting the sword feels like playing in his palm. Innumerable techniques forcibly lead the sword path, inevitably setting up a situation where I get hit.
How... to surpass that wall...
「Brush off your shoulders.」
"......."
I steadied my ragged breath. Removed the hole-ridden blood wind robe.
Brushed the dust from my shoulders. Based on old memories.
「Thinking is important. But a sword can't be led by thought alone.」
First Demon's voice. Master's voice.
Recalling her teachings, I reflected on what I'd done so far.
「It doesn't matter if you crumble. If you shatter. Get injured a few times? That happens. You're no genius. Overwhelming everything at once was never something to dream of.」
I thrust fingers into the left arm wound. Akbi's eyes widened.
"No way...?"
---Chwaaak!!!
Self-thrust essence reinforcement sends the left arm flying. Completely shatters the broken cross-section, erasing the enemy's traces.
...Too much.
I'd been thinking too much.
Something that never suited me to begin with.
"......"
Pain and groans.
I swallowed them all, preparing to write anew.
As I will.
In my way.
---Gurgle gurgle.
Massive blood loss. My foggy head clears.
Akbi grimaces.
"Heavenly Tribulation's pain is indescribable... Are you mad?"
No.
Just enduring.
Enduring as always.
I feel new flesh sprouting with the black shadow. I unhesitatingly do what others would curse as madness.
Head hurts. From overthinking, or blood rushing to it, not sure.
But what must be done becomes clear.
The fog clears as much as blood spilled.
「When you feel an insurmountable wall, just discard it. Everything. Thoughts, the future... everything. Just crash into it until your body shatters.」
I gripped the sword.
「Every opponent you've faced was always stronger. Yet you always overcame them. Everyone has their own fitting sword.」
I gripped the hilt crushingly.
「What is your sword?」
I murmur what I didn't answer then.
The shadow sharpening only as death approaches.
"...From now on."
Grip it. Red Cloud.
The world.
In your way...!
"I'll catch up to you, Akbi."
...
A blood-soaked beast charges.
Akbi sneered at the movement.
Full of openings. Even if others don't see, he knows.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear
Seven Peaks Kill
Immediately shatter. Crush and burst.
Spinning qi short spears bite in all directions. All the burst wounds launch Red Cloud into the air.
Another death.
Iron punishment on the clueless.
---Kwaaaaaang!!!
Crushed body tumbles across the ground. Deep wounds. Not easily recoverable even with Heavenly Tribulation.
Yet he stands. Again.
"...What the hell?"
Something's off.
After ten crushings total, Akbi noticed something strange.
"It hurts, right? Unbearably painful?"
Crushing isn't a lie. He struck with bone-snapping ferocity.
No mercy in the spear tips. Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spears mercilessly smashed the enemy, thoroughly pulverizing everything before his eyes.
The pain alone is immense, yet the opponent endures even the regeneration pain.
Heavenly Tribulation's recovery isn't omnipotent. He knew that too.
Pain like flesh being gouged. More intense than the injury itself, searing the wound area...
Horror that prevents standing again.
Even if body endures, mind can't. When he once cut off a finger as a test, didn't he writhe and wail like a child?
Yet that pain...
The enemy repeats it nonchalantly.
"Crazy bastard."
The striking spear blade digs into the enemy. He feels the hooked body part rattle, destroying from within.
Level difference overwhelming. Enemy can't match his power, speed, anything.
---Kwaaaaaang!!!!
Small rocky mountain crumbles. Red Cloud embedded inside vomits blood.
Mixed with organ fragments. Barely hanging sword on twisted fingertips at odd angle.
...Yet.
He doesn't let go.
Even shattered, smashed, crushed...
That sword remains gripped in his hand.
Ah. Right. He has a hidden trump card.
Screaming with his body that his endurance is superior.
"But what's the use?"
People have limits set from birth.
No matter how much they struggle, can't overcome. Miracles seem to exist but are ultimately phenomena within talent's limits.
Thrust spear. Gouge enemy's wounds. Risen essence reinforcement bores everywhere, pummeling the enemy.
Struck jaw twists. Torn jaw tumbles on ground. Heavenly Tribulation rapidly repairs the rippling wound, but can't regain former momentum.
Even Heavenly Tribulation has limits.
Flesh has limits.
Always an uncrossable line exists.
Yet...
Why...
Feels like being chased?
Chills race down his back. He thrusts the spear into Red Cloud's heart, denying it's an illusion.
Yet it's caught. Spear blade gripped by qi-stained hand, pushed back.
Body that should've been drained. That should've broken long ago.
Yet it's...
Subtly stronger.
More than before.
"...You....what...are you...?"
"I told...you..."
Flying tongue regenerates. Force pushing spear blade grows stronger.
Body broken dozens of times. Yet returns even stronger.
"I'll...catch up..."
Amid mangled pronunciation, red light bursts momentarily.
Blood sword.
Immediately widen distance. Force off the gripping hand, regrip spear.
Shoulder slightly split. Amid bursting excruciating pain, Akbi panted, steadying mind.
This wound alone this painful...
How is that guy enduring?
"...Do you have some special Heavenly Tribulation?"
"Spe...cial...?"
The man laughed. Stood once more, cracking his crushed body.
Akbi's hand trembled strangely. Chills not just down back but devouring whole body.
Not an illusion.
Absolutely... not.
To that guy who should've shattered long ago from crushing and beating...
He's really... catching up now...?!
"Is there something special in repeating day after day?"
The Blood Hound straightens twisted body. Eyes flashing beyond death, whispers.
"Come. Akbi."
"...Wha...what...?!"
"A little more and..."
Gripped sword dyes in his own spilled blood.
Akbi unwittingly steps back.
"I think I can catch up."
"You...crazy bastard...?!"
...
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Sixth Form
Blood-Dyeing Emissary
Feel the weight at the sword tip. Don't think.
Just connect. What you can.
Recognize what the gripped sword is.
Injured? Fine. Writhing in pain? Fine.
Think only of the next.
As always.
"You think I'll fall for the same move twice!"
Shot again. Right before eyes.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear.
Eight spears chaotically dominating all directions. Amid them, I swing the sword.
Stealing others' at a glance.
Perfectly comprehending seen sword path.
Immediately adapting, predicting next move.
I can't. Never had them.
Clashing sword misses some attacks. The misses all carve my body.
Skin splits. Flesh bursts. Blood flows.
Crushed vision shakes head momentarily.
But amid spilled blood, I kept moving.
To seize the next moment.
To aim for the next.
"This guy...?!"
Empty the mind.
Keep emptying. Just advance relentlessly.
Linking.
Connecting links.
Feeling weight. Making self heavy.
Advancing. Resisting. Slicing over.
Trading time...
Focus on expelling what accumulated in body.
"This bastard!!!!"
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear flies. Right arm pierced.
Sword slips. But immediately grab with left arm.
Strike. The enemy.
Without stopping. Continuously.
---Tap.
Extended foot shakes ground. Surging essence reinforcement screams through body.
Dash to crumble unyielding enemy body. From head to toe. Burst all meridians, eyes aflame.
Deaths flash by. Vision blacks momentarily from burst blood.
Still move. Ruined right arm. Legs about to collapse-extend them.
Pain surges. Brain overloaded momentarily stutters to halt.
Don't stop!
Scream at self. Grit teeth, reach for missed sword.
Ghost Sword White Night.
Snatch the sword bounced into air, discarding held blood sword.
Ice White Blood Ghost Sword
Sixth Form
Blood-Dyeing Emissary
Throw the weight. Overflowing chill at lightened sword tip.
Overwhelming speed targets Akbi's neck instantly. Merely graze as he urgently pulls back, leaving one sword mark.
"This...this can't be...?!"
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear rages madly. Blood gushes from pierced abdomen.
Vortex of qi like whole body's blood reversing.
But don't stop.
Missed Ice White Blood Ghost Sword stabs ground. Ghost Sword Black Lord bursts from scabbard, flashing flames.
Fire Wheel Blood Ghost Sword
Sixth Form
Blood-Dyeing Emissary
Bursting flames draw circle. Uncontrollable weight slows speed.
But weight doubles. Power unbearably heavy, igniting clashing air.
Lacking speed compensated by muscles gripping piercing spear.
"This mad...?!"
One sword.
Thrusting one sword.
---Kwaaaaaaaaaaang!!!!!
Amid swirling sounds, Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear crumbles. Amid momentarily disrupted breathing, take one more step.
Missed swords stab ground. Seize each moment, pour endlessly.
Next moment.
Only next step.
Aim solely there, and summit arrives unnoticed. Even if truth denies, make it truth.
Behold, world. This is my sword.
No flashiness. No techniques or flair.
I just... the next...!
Only advance upward ceaselessly!
Transforming Sword
Soul-Linking Shots
The beast hide draped over roars.
Rushing blood-red shadow grabs ground-stabbed swords, drags them. I grip them, take another step forward.
Switch swords acrobatically. Force lacking skill into rotating blade forcibly.
Ice White Blood Ghost Sword bursts from fingertips. Freezing cold sword blocks enemy's retreat.
Fire Wheel Blood Ghost Sword bursts from fingertips. Violent fire sword plugs enemy's advance.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword bursts from fingertips. Links blood-tied two, forms unbreakable center.
Three consecutive swords. Missed swords circle rotating. Amid gaps, smash in everything known.
Endless changing linked strikes. Unbroken single sword dance.
Blood starts splattering from clashing swords. Not mine-enemy's.
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear trembles. Shakes as if about to collapse.
Akbi's face distorts.
"You, what the hell are you...?! What I say!!!?"
Flames burst. Ice scatters. Blood-linked sword qi tears everywhere.
Akbi grits teeth amid vortex center. Mouth wound regenerates instantly, but we're poison to each other.
Blood bursts. Body crushes.
Enemy too. Heavenly Tribulation covers growing scratches, everywhere blood-filled.
World asked amid giving pain.
Answered. With my unbreakable sword.
Akbi pants amid crushed wounds. Hand trembles as if can't endure pain.
"H-how are you enduring! This pain! You, what the...!"
Fierce striking spear pushes me back. Barely breaks linked strikes, bares teeth at me.
"You crazy bastard...insane fuck!!!?"
Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear converges to one point. Aligned blue ghost flames blaze fiercely.
"Don't climb uppppp!!!!"
Force imbued in shout. Overflowing inner power in exhaled breath.
Striking spear pushes me. Seize forcibly widened gap, sing death song with spear tip.
Pulling air. Rippling inner power.
Cracks in ground where Akbi stands. Mere preparation scatters some corpses to pieces.
Coming. Enemy's hidden trump.
Instinct warns as if already pierced once. Can't block. Better to dodge.
...However.
Soul screams.
Advance.
Blood bursts from gritted teeth ordering shatter. Blood hide covering body roars fiercely.
Grip blood sword. Blood-red shadow's gripped two ghost swords draw massive inner power.
Three swords as one.
Within centering blood qi, one martyrdom.
And that moment...
Equal.
Enemy and my life's weight.
Through dozens of deaths.
Through dozens of blood spills.
Finally reached weightless step.
Place hand atop. Grip uncrossable step, pull body up.
Fill lacking talent with blood. Trembling body wails at limit.
But...
"...As I said."
Toward emerging Akbi, climb once more.
"Caught up. Akbi."
With blood-stained sword.
Walking path all say impossible.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
External Sword
Yin-Yang Union
Giant Annihilation Force Raksha Grasp
As always.
Yang and yin qi.
From two star-like twinkling colors, red blood qi bursts.
Akbi's Remnant Soul Eight Ghost Spear pinnacle blankets world. Blue ghost flames vortex devour sight.
Eight spears seeming unstoppable.
Sword tip trembles. Amid tearing wails of ghosts pressing, I whispered.
"...Kill the sinner, reveal our cult's power."
Surpass even blue ghost flames' great disaster.
Staring straight into distorted Akbi's eyes.
"Just fulfilled one. Leader."
I moved the sword.
Writhing as if to shatter, yet never shattering...
My sword.
```