Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Invincible Iron Demon
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Who am I?
Invincible Iron Demon Cho Ui-cheol.
He poured strength into the hand gripping the massive sword. His stiffened muscles creaked as they loosened.
A body of steel, honed to the limits of external martial arts. That power was more than enough to smash the skulls of those who prided themselves on their swordsmanship.
Even now, with his internal energy sealed, it was the same. His body, which should naturally house internal energy, had weakened somewhat...
But there were no opponents here worth worrying about.
Look at them. The kids, the so-called swordsmen-all crushed beneath me.
There weren't even the invisible restraints that should have bound him. The mechanisms themselves seemed faulty, with anomalies manifesting everywhere.
Yes, as if...
Someone had tampered with something.
But he still couldn't escape. So he'd been crushing the fools who came his way while racking his brain for a solution...
"...Ha."
His arm holding the massive sword trembled. The muscles that had deflected the recent sword strike screamed in protest.
...Well, now?
Cho Ui-cheol grinned.
"Trained in external arts, have you?"
"......"
A resolute attitude, refusing to exchange even a word. Cho Ui-cheol lightly slung his sword over his shoulder.
His eyes were fierce. And that wasn't all. The aura rising from his entire body was sharp as well.
This guy...
"You're the real deal."
Didn't he feel just like those killers who'd crossed the line of death hundreds of times?
The stench of blood reeked. A thick, pungent one at that. Cho Ui-cheol bared his teeth.
One clash of swords, and he knew. This man's blade was...
Serious.
Seriously serious, like nothing he'd encountered before.
A warrior could gauge another with just one exchange of blows. The quiver of the sword. The flawless muscles that made his own body hesitate for an instant.
If a mere trained body could do this much, what must his internal energy be like?
Would've been dangerous if we'd met outside.
Cho Ui-cheol asked.
"I'd like to know your name. A guy like you must have some fancy nickname. What do they call you? I was once known as the Invincible Iron Demon Cho Ui-cheol."
"...I-Invincible Iron Demon?! The master captured by the Blood Demon Squad after slaughtering hundreds of cultists...?!"
"Kuhuhu. Someone who knows my name. What about you? Ever heard of me?"
"A name worse than a dog's..."
The sword dangled obliquely, pointing straight at him.
"...isn't worth hearing."
"...Haha!"
How many in the world could spit such words at him?
Cho Ui-cheol swung his massive sword.
"If you don't know, I'll etch it into your body. Who the Invincible Iron Demon Cho Ui-cheol is!"
...
---Kaaaaang!!!!
The swords clashed. His body was pushed back in an instant.
External arts honed to the extreme. Proving it, Cho Ui-cheol's muscles writhed before his eyes.
Immense power. Nothing else could describe it.
Movements specialized for places where internal energy couldn't be used. The weight was on another level.
His body, blocking the sword, shook as if about to sink into the ground.
"Hope you're not all talk!"
The surrounding warriors drew their swords. His side did the same.
They charged with shouts. He parried the thrusting blades amid the chaos.
Deflect and swing. Stepping deep into the line of death from the lives at his sword's tip.
"Hoh?!"
Cho Ui-cheol's sword flashed. He shattered two incoming strikes head-on in an instant.
A kick piercing the gap. He spun his body to counter with one of his own.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
First Form.
Ghost Hand One Demon - Demon Horn.
---Kududududuk!!
Foot met foot. The bursting air let out a bizarre sound.
His body slid back. The sturdily trained frame shook slightly but held.
Cho Ui-cheol looked down at his leg in disbelief.
"You blocked that? Even pure external training shouldn't... What the hell are you?! Don't tell me you're a disciple of the Bi Sect?!"
No answer. He spun his sword. His internal energy was sealed, but only its manifestation was forbidden.
Heavenly Tribulation still moved within. It was like having one more card than his foe.
...In that case.
He'd have to take a gamble to buy some time.
He charged instantly. Cho Ui-cheol laughed maniacally, pouring power into his sword.
"How long since my last slaughter fest?! You're worthy to cross blades with me!"
He didn't think so.
He poured that into his sword speed.
---Kaaaang!!!!
Stepping even deeper toward death. Ignoring shallow wounds, he danced close to the enemy.
The closing distance. Amid it, he exhaled his held breath. Gripping reverse, he lunged like tearing forward, thrusting his sword at the foe's flesh.
"Kuhk?!"
He deflected all incoming attacks. Even if the blade grazed his face, he ignored it.
Just more beastly. Repeating the motion of sinking fangs.
Cho Ui-cheol panicked.
"What...?!"
Strength filled his desperate swing. From the lower right, it bent to devour his entire body.
He swung to match it.
A sword practiced countless times. Lacking internal energy, its power was somewhat reduced...
But still, a sword that proved the time invested.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Second Form
Soul-Pulling Thrust
The clashing swords rang sharply. The vibration raced from fingertips through his whole body.
But he didn't stop. He advanced as much as he was pushed back.
"Wha-what...?!"
Strongly.
Even stronger.
Forward.
"What nonsense is...?!"
To the end.
---Paaaaang!!!!
The enemy's sword shattered before his eyes. The wildly surging Soul-Pulling Thrust pierced through the fragments, slashing across the foe's upper body.
Cho Ui-cheol's body froze upright. He blinked in disbelief, then turned to look at him.
"You crazy... bastard... What... what kind of... sword is... this?!"
From the shoulder down, half.
The cleanly severed body collapsed belatedly.
He spat out the blood that had rolled into his mouth.
He turned his head. Stepping forward into the battlefield frozen in an instant.
"Wha-what... N-no, how could you take down the Invincible Iron Demon here..."
"W-wait! Just a moment! L-let's talk...!"
"Want to chat?"
He aimed his sword at those clashing with his group.
"Then you shouldn't have crossed the line."
Strength still filled the hand gripping the hilt. Right now, he held the power to enforce his will.
So he charged.
To hunt scum worse than dogs.
...
"B-brother... What in the world..."
Yeon-gwang approached, trembling. He wiped his sword with the hem of his already soiled clothes.
He picked up the orb from the floor. This must be it.
Thanks to minimizing time, he figured there was plenty left subjectively until return. Worth the hustle.
He stared at Cho Ui-cheol's unmoving corpse. He checked the face of the dead Demon Revenge Squad member too.
...Im Go-pung.
That was the name.
He closed the man's single remaining eye. Drew his sword again. Split Cho Ui-cheol's head into four pieces.
Those who defile the dead deserve the same.
Praying for the Demon Revenge Squad member's peace, he turned away.
"...Let's go."
"Y-yes!"
"Th-that Yeon young master... If that's really Cho Ui-cheol, he's the monstrous villain who slaughtered hundreds, right...? And an external arts expert... Famous too... I heard four Blood Demon Squad members who tried to capture him got torn apart. Two of them were at the peak..."
"I-I heard the same, Miss Seo."
"B-but in this place where he couldn't even use internal energy, you crushed him... Just what realm is Brother Bi at..."
"...I don't know Brother's realm either. But..."
Yeon-gwang's burning gaze stabbed into his back.
"I know he's a man worthy of respect."
"......."
Feeling a bit burdened, he didn't reply. They immediately backtracked along their trail.
Ahead, at their safe arrival point, there were prior guests. Unfortunately, not Eun Seol-ran. Rather...
A group of warriors leading another band of survivors.
At their head was Jin Wi-ryang.
"...Hmm?"
He, holding a glowing green orb, spotted him and stiffened.
But soon noticed the orb in his possession and beamed.
"Brother Bi! Haha! You're safe. Young Master Yeon... is with you too. You alright?"
"......."
"Come on, don't look at me like that. We're both trapped in the same boat, aren't we? Sorry about earlier. I'm just clumsy like that..."
Yeon-gwang's face twisted. He gripped his sword as if ready to pounce.
He felt the same. The man before him was worse than trash.
His hand went to his sword. Jin Wi-ryang's eyes cooled.
The smile vanished.
"We've got our situation, don't we? No need for bloodshed, I think."
"......."
"Got the guts to deal with the aftermath? Touching me, Jin Wi-ryang, later-generation talent of the Myriad Demons Sect and scion of the Jinwon Clan?"
Strutting arrogantly, he stepped forward. No intention of overlooking the bastard's deeds.
Didn't the First Demon say it?
When you draw your sword, draw to kill.
He was certain this was the moment. Leaving that arrogant fool be would betray his own sword.
But someone else acted first. An unexpectedly sharp voice burst from behind.
"Aren't you being too arrogant?! What kind of nonsense is that?! A mistake?! Anyone could see it wasn't!"
"...Miss Seo?"
"If you're apologizing, do it properly! There's a line, and even as an outsider, it was clearly deliberate! Is this how a Myriad Demons Sect later-generation talent acts?!"
Yeon-gwang froze. He glanced at Seo Cho-hee.
His rage halted abruptly, surprised by the unexpected ally.
Jin Wi-ryang's brow twitched. His face chilled, whispering his true nature.
"Done talking? You dare mention me?"
"I could stomach your earlier words! There was some reason! A unqualified guy climbing the Sealing Demon Cave would've been weirder! But this... Isn't it just venting?! Prove me wrong if I'm off! Can't even apologize cleanly, just making excuses... How are you different from those traitors?!"
"You bitch!"
Jin Wi-ryang drew his sword. They drew theirs without hesitation.
A powder-keg standoff. But before swords could clash, another group arrived from outside.
"...Junior?"
Senior Brother.
Gun Cheon-gyeong looked at him. Glancing between him and Jin Wi-ryang, he asked urgently.
"What's going on?!"
"As you see, old grudges exploded. Seems I'm not the only one who thinks poorly of Jin Wi-ryang."
"...What the hell... Ah...!"
The Demon Revenge Squad members, later-generation talents, and guards trailing him looked confused. Only Gun Cheon-gyeong stood by him; the rest eyed the situation cautiously.
Jin Wi-ryang growled.
"...Insisting on blood?"
"You're the one who made it bloody, Jin Wi-ryang."
"J-Junior?"
"Let go, Senior Brother. Some things need saying. That bastard is..."
He dangled his drawn sword obliquely at the fool.
"Trash bloated with authority."
"You retarded fucks! You're just pathetic worms under me! Vermin daring to challenge me?! Come on! I'll crush you all...!"
Jin Wi-ryang, about to charge, flinched. Footsteps from afar entered the plaza once more.
Eun Seol-ran. Arriving latest, she surveyed the scene. Frowning at the drawn swords.
"What now..."
---Kurung.
The ground suddenly shook. They looked at each other amid the quaking earth.
Too soon for structures to shift. The needle hadn't reached the top yet, had it?
The orbs vibrated naturally. Energy swirled from them in his hand, like the core of a formation.
Then could it be...
"Senior Brother!"
"Y-yeah?!"
"Do you have something like this?!"
He held out the orb. Gun Cheon-gyeong nodded.
"Y-yeah! Felt a weird energy, so I wrapped it in layers of cloth and stuffed it in my pouch...?!"
What Eun Seol-ran brought.
What Jin Wi-ryang brought.
What Gun Cheon-gyeong brought.
What he brought.
All four gathered. Even without insertion, mere proximity made them resonate.
---Kwaaaang!!
The rear passage suddenly sealed. The others too.
Descending rock walls blocked all exits, declaring no escape.
"What the...?!"
Jin Wi-ryang spun his sword. Vibrations intensified.
He grabbed Yeon-gwang by the scruff.
"B-brother?!"
"Grab your sword! Don't drop it!"
This felt like...
The entire Sealing Demon Cave collapsing?
He looked down. Cracks spiderwebbed everywhere in sight.
Faces grim, sword-grippers clung to walls. He backpedaled too.
No matter how bizarre the Sealing Demon Cave's mechanisms...
They wouldn't flip the ground to drop people!
An anomaly. Linked to intruders, the answer was simple.
Someone intruded.
And they damaged the inner formations.
"Kuhk...?!"
Now uncontrollable, heaven and earth shook.
The ground beneath gave way.