Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Anyone Who Crosses the Line Dies
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"...Isn't this too reckless?"
"Red Cloud said he wanted to do it."
Eun Seol-ran stared silently at the man below the walls. Hadn't she even tested him herself with that absurd plan straight from his mouth?
And she realized. What could she even call it...
It was utterly unbelievable.
For someone with that kind of talent to have reached such heights. How could that even make sense?
"...He's the strongest among us from the start. Who would've thought he'd surpass even me?"
"But..."
"It's fine. It's not like he can't jump back if things go south. And above all... if we use our full power, the demonic energy inside will burst out. You know that what we learned is all based on demonic arts."
"......."
"To fight without revealing our affiliation, he's the best choice. He stepped forward because he has something to rely on."
"Exactly. Plus, I've set up formations around the area. I can activate them if needed. Baek Mae. No need to worry so much."
Baek Mae swallowed dryly.
"Ha... but there are so many of them..."
"Plenty of experts mixed in too, probably."
"R-right?! Sister! Shouldn't we stop him now?! Wouldn't a siege be safer...!"
"Who can break that bullheaded stubbornness of his?"
Ju Ryeong-ryeong leaned against the wall.
"He's the world's greatest poison brat. Once he's set his mind to it like that, he'll fulfill his role even if it kills him."
"......."
"Just watch, and jump down if it looks dangerous. Besides, how excellent are Dan-hwa's formations? You're just unaware."
"They show high efficiency in one-against-many fights. I've had plenty of time to prepare, so I'm in perfect condition now. I could solo an entire zone."
"Dan-hwa doesn't mince words. If she says that much, it means she's confident."
"...Ryeong-ryeong. You're speaking so nicely today?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
All three of them seemed utterly at ease. As if they weren't on a battlefield wall, but out on a leisurely picnic.
What was this? Weren't they worried at all? Baek Mae wiped away cold sweat for no reason. Sua beside her whispered.
"...Will Daddy be okay...?"
"......."
She scooped up the child who seemed the least sane in all this. Baek Mae nodded vigorously.
"He'll be fine. You know how strong Red Cloud is."
"......."
"If it looks off, I'll rush down myself. So don't worry. Got it?"
"...Yes."
The little hand clenched into a tight fist. Who knew how much sweat beaded inside it.
Eun Seol-ran raised her voice softly.
"It begins."
Everyone atop the wall looked down at him. Alone, guarding the gate. Amid the fluttering banner of blood wind.
Na-rin, Gwang-yang, and Baek-hyeon trembled.
"N-no, even so, there are too many...! There are so many experts among them, and he's gonna...!"
"M-Master... just give the signal... This Gwang-yang... will charge out anytime...!"
Gu Hwa-rin clasped her hands in prayer. Su-ryeon, who hadn't followed, stood silently beside her.
"...This plan is insane... Blocking the gate alone... What kind of...!"
"...Sal-mun. Get ready. We might have to charge out."
Sado-ryeon's forces halted.
The ground, echoing with footsteps, fell silent in an instant. Amid gazes probing this side, the enemy leader spoke.
"What is this ridiculous nonsense? Earth Dragon Warlord? You trying to mess with me?"
"......."
The Earth Dragon Warlord atop the wall remained silent.
The response came from another.
The warrior at the gate, broad-brimmed hat pulled low.
"...From this moment."
Three swords plunged into the ground. Their aura extraordinary, ghost swords and famed blades intertwined with death.
"Anyone who crosses this line dies."
......
A reckless plan.
That's what he'd heard.
Voices poured out questioning how one man could guard a gate. Some even cursed him for spouting nonsense.
Eye-catching feats were crucial. That was the point of the plan. Blocking thousands alone at the gate would inevitably draw eyes to his martial arts.
...But.
That wasn't the only reason.
The warrior called the top of the demonic sects had been subdued. It was all but confirmed.
The enemy was strong. Stronger than the one called the Top Demonic Sword.
So what more must I do here?
I must grow stronger.
Climb higher.
Become more complete.
What I ultimately must catch is one of those from the Heaven-Earth Eight Demons. And he was someone praised as having 'talent' by the one I dream of surpassing.
I trained without missing a day. Swung the sword endlessly, repeated mental imagery training...
I cut back on sleep. As much as possible, minimizing it to move more. Never letting go of the sword, maintaining tension with every breath.
Even before reaching the Murim Alliance. Even acting as their inspector.
Even entering the Cheonryong Society's territory. Even capturing spirit beasts and preparing for war...
The sword was always by my side.
"......."
But it didn't give me certainty.
I'd seen with my own eyes what talent brought to Sua. Casually acquiring what I had and what others had-it was admirable, but...
At the same time, terrifying.
Did effort hold no value before talent?
The more I watched, the more conflicted I became. Then, words I'd heard from Sua suddenly came to mind.
「I feel like no matter what I do, I can never catch up to Daddy.」
What was the true intent behind those words?
What weight did all I'd built carry?
"......."
I saw it in Ak-bi.
The heart of a salmon swimming against the current.
I grew up in the mud. Gripped a sword, lived a life dragged around.
Met an idol. For the first time, gripped the sword by my own will. Trained, climbed...
Swung the sword daily to reach here.
I confirmed it all at Mount Hua. But I knew myself it wasn't enough.
A loach from the mud climbed the current, but at best, it could only match a salmon defying it.
I was still lacking...
To climb higher based on what I'd confirmed, I had to throw myself into harsh conditions.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword.
The power it granted me.
Effort and the brink of death. I felt the power growing as I traversed them. The power swung at life's edge, bleeding-that was all I had.
And Sua called that...
Something even she couldn't catch.
What is the value of effort? Must I forever gaze at the back of a genius who masters anything at a glance?
Those without talent...
Can't even dream?
"......."
I breathed heavily. Steadied my shaken heart in the chill air.
I placed a hand on one of the three swords embedded in the ground. The sword that started my second life with me.
The dead comrade whispers.
「Third Brother will climb high.」
Steadying my wavering heart...
Pushing my back to advance.
"......."
Don't doubt. Red Cloud. Since when have you not known the path forward?
No need to get swept up. Geniuses were always plentiful. Even if your own gifts seem meager, haven't you climbed this far?
There are realms others can reach. But I too have realms others can't.
The day the Heavenly Demon admired me, what did she whisper seeing me?
...Endurance.
That alone is my sword.
I raise my eyes. Gaze upon thousands. The dense mass with no escape, I simply look.
It seems like a death trap, but no. That's not why I stand here.
A place to rampage freely.
Another training ground to propel me forward.
Trials await. From within, I lifted the blood sword plunged into the ground.
Feats? Important. Essential to achieve the mission goal.
Mission? Important. A chance to repay the Heavenly Demon's grace, to live without shame-must succeed.
Life? Important. Must survive to continue training. Only then can I reach her side.
...But.
For now, forget it all.
Toppling the Seventh Demon is crucial...
But ultimately, what I aim beyond is the Heavenly Demon.
Think only of the sword.
The sword alone.
"You..."
The one leading the army speaks. With dozens of experts far beyond, hundreds of first-rate warriors at his back...
From atop thousands of troops, he asks me.
"Are you insane?"
"......."
Insane...
"If you're curious about the answer..."
The two ghost swords unleash their wails.
I assume a slanted stance.
Using only yin and yang energy. Those two forms alone.
---Ruuuuumble...
---Ruuuuumble...
I poured vast inner energy into the two swords stuck in the ground. The mingled energies amplified manifold, coiling back around my blood sword.
The blood and demonic energies within me gathered into one.
Combining four energies into one...
While freely shifting their nature to any one of the four.
The ghost swords compensate for imperfections in energy control. I feel the properties shifting moment by moment, raging wildly inside me.
The canyon begins to quake. The immense energy poured out clings to the blood sword's tip, howling.
"...?!"
The enemy's twisted face. To those stepping back unwittingly, I declare softly.
One of the two swords perfected at Mount Hua.
Using the two ghost swords to the extreme as axes...
Along with shifting energy properties, freely wielding four changes with a single blood sword.
The technique that finally saw completion at Mount Hua.
(變形劍)
(聯魄社射)
The ultimate form of Transforming Sword.
Heaven and earth wail. Pent-up energy can't endure, tearing the terrain with mere aura.
Flame and ice form at the blood sword's tip. Within the surging vast energy, they boil ready to explode.
The enemies can't hide their shock. And the allies are the same.
I feel all eyes on me. But I ignore them.
Forget everything. Remember one thing alone.
That I will surpass once more.
With the battlefield as my stage. Breathing to the limit...
Toward the path I seek, endlessly.
Until my body bursts with blood.
"Try crossing it."
Fear not death. Red Cloud.
"That line."
You know it, don't you?
Death is...
The greatest ally to me.