The Ancient Ghost's Bloody Vow to the Youngest Son
The world of Sacred Souls was, in strict terms, a fantasy world.
But that was the line most strongly rejected by die-hard fans who had dug deep into the history of Sacred Souls.
The reason was simple: the fate of the Eastern Continent, the land destroyed by the evil gods in ages past.
[Title: In other words, strictly speaking, Sacred Souls is a mixed East-West game.]
The narrative used mixed kanji and hangul, and NPCs often spoke in the archaic tongue of the East alone.
Sacred Souls was, after all, a brilliantly fused game.
— Yeah, but look at the Eastern Continent. It got wiped out by the evil gods~
└ No, my point is that Eastern culture somehow slipped in, not that the East was superior.
└ Yeah, it got wiped out~
└ Oh! The words don’t even match! lol
— It does. When you see how Eastern elements are subtly woven in, Sacred Souls really is a fusion, lol.
└ Yeah, that’s right! lol
└ Hmm, but there aren’t that many Eastern elements, so isn’t it basically just fantasy?
└ That’s what the DLC will fix, lol.
Thus the Eastern Continent breadcrumbs in Sacred Souls were an ancient tradition, but sadly the developers who created Sacred Souls never touched that thread.
“…I can’t believe it. There really were Eastern Continent breadcrumbs?”
Even Luke, who was among the high-rank players, had never seen them before.
[What is that nonsense! This body is a powerhouse capable of claiming supremacy over the entire world from the distant Zhongyuan! Even if my current state is…]
“…Hmm?”
[Aaaah! How! How did I end up like this! Aaaah! My fate!]
The same mad ghost old man, a native of the Eastern Continent, was once again having a full meltdown.
Luke let out a long sigh and asked the man why he was acting so ridiculous.
“Sigh. Why are you yelling like that, old man? How did this happen?”
The reply that came from the ghost was truly bizarre.
[…I don’t know.]
“…You don’t know?”
[I don’t know! My last memory is being hit by one blow from that bastard, the God of Martial Arts, and getting severely injured! After waking up, I was here, and my memories of life before are hazy!]
“…Wait. The God of Martial Arts?”
Luke froze for a split second.
The God of Martial Arts. If that was true, then…
“…That crazy guy?”
[Huh? Kid, you don’t mean you actually know about that guy, do you? How do you even phrase the existence of that monster like it’s nothing…?]
“I heard the stories that circulate around, that’s all.”
The words were casual, but anyone who had played Sacred Souls for long enough would have known everything there was to know about the God of Martial Arts.
The infamous “sandbag for high-rank players” or “high-rank analyzer.”
The God of Martial Arts was classified as an evil god, specifically one whose danger level reached that of a disaster god.
Yet his personality was so eccentric that high-rank players nicknamed him the “analyzer” and “sandbag.”
The reason was simple: he appeared as a random encounter with powers sealed, making him a challenge for users who considered themselves somewhat strong.
[Fight.]
The mysterious man in the robe appeared, the God of Martial Arts.
Even with his powers sealed, his techniques and strength were so formidable that ordinary users found him tough. To high-rank players in Sacred Souls, there was no better sandbag.
Every time someone charged in yelling “kyaaahou!” to beat him into a pulp, the encounter was a golden random one complete with stat rewards.
But that sandbag had become unconscious and cut off from reality?
“…What the hell….”
Luke couldn’t finish the sentence with “I’m not even stupid.”
The truth was cruel for the poor ghost.
[It feels like you’re about to start cursing next…!]
“You’re quick on the uptake.”
[What?]
“In short, old man. You got hit by the God of Martial Arts, passed out, and when you woke up you were here?”
[What do you mean hit?! I was the one who severely injured him…!]
“Anyway. Let’s just say you got hit. So where are you now? Let me see your face.”
Luke felt genuine curiosity toward this strange ghost.
An Eastern Continent breadcrumb that hadn’t even appeared in the main story? How was he supposed to swallow that?
Luke’s eyes sparkled as he looked around, and a chuckle immediately came from the ghost.
[Hah! What a joke. Even though I’m a ghost, I still hold grand dreams. You insignificant brat can’t possibly tell me where I am and ruin my dreams!]
“…Tsk. Your belly’s full. Then I’ll grab another sword and go.”
[Wait! Hold on!]
The ghost fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.
[Kid. Do you have talent for swords?]
“…What? After getting beaten by the God of Martial Arts, why are you talking about talent? Well, first answer. I’ve never felt lacking in talent.”
[Ho. Quite confident answer. But even so, satisfying my eyes would require…]
Silence.
After those words, a long silence followed.
“…Hmm? Old man. No reply?”
Luke asked again, but the ghost stayed silent.
In that quiet, Luke tilted his head, thinking he might just pick up another sword and leave—
[Hah…! How could it be. How can there be such talent…!]
“Eh?”
[The talent to reach the gods with the sword. Hah, the heavens. More than I can match…!]
“…Eh?”
[…Good! Kid, I’ll tell you where I am. Come here!]
“……Eh??”?
***
A short while later, following the ghost’s guidance, they arrived at…
“…What? You were possessed by a sword?”
[Yes.]
A smooth, slightly rough two-handed sword lay on the ground.
From the sword came the ghost’s voice, so it seemed like an ego sword.
While Luke hesitated over whether to pick it up, the ghost’s voice rang out.
[Kid. Want to make a deal?]
“…What kind?”
[I’ll show you the sword. In exchange, kill the opponent I want.]
“What kind of crazy talk is that?”
[Hehe! Kill?! Of course I was the Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult, but my temper is much more upright than those madmen!]
While the strange remark that the head of the madmen was the least crazy echoed, the old man continued.
[My request is simple. Kill the God of Martial Arts.]
“…The God of Martial Arts?”
[Yes.]
The ghost then spoke with a slightly sorrowful tone.
[On the day the Eastern Continent fell to the evil gods, countless evil gods descended upon the continent and slaughtered many. Among them, the evil god who stood at the very front and killed countless warriors was none other than the God of Martial Arts.
The Heavenly Demon Cult, nestled in the Ten Thousand Mountains of the Divine Realm, was annihilated by a single existence, the God of Martial Arts. Therefore, I, Cheon Baek-gyeong, must avenge our Heavenly Demon Cult’s countless disciples who were slaughtered. Please, kid. Grant me the opportunity for revenge.]
Here, Luke realized that his and the ghost’s thoughts differed somewhat.
The God of Martial Arts had that much power?
“…The God of Martial Arts had that much power?”
[Yes. Countless disciples of the Heavenly Demon Cult who lived in the Ten Thousand Mountains were swept away one by one by that incomprehensible being. Our proud Heavenly Demon Cult members, including our absolute experts, were no exception.]
“…Hmm.”
It seemed the God of Martial Arts had several hidden factors.
Luke decided to ask one final question to the ghost.
“Hey, old man. If you’re that strong, can you even stop the fall of this world?”
At those words, the ghost replied.
[A body that couldn’t even stop the death of countless disciples… would it be able to stop the fall of the world? But I can create a sword that can stop the fall.]
At that moment, the figure of the heavy old man rose above the two-handed sword.
[Hey, kid. Your talent with the sword is truly one that reaches the heavens. Do you not have the heart to kill the gods who dwell there? You have talent. Cheon Baek-gyeong, Heavenly Demon. With my name, I will lead you to that place.]
Luke hesitated briefly before opening his mouth.
“I’m Luke. Please treat me well, old man Cheon Baek-gyeong.”
He grasped the two-handed sword.
***
“…You’re here? Luke?”
“Welcome, young master.”
Terré and Ellis, waiting outside, spotted Luke walking toward them holding the two-handed sword.
[Hmm. Kid. Only monsters surround you? One is the half-sister from the Cerberki family I saw before…. The other is… not as strong as me, but still impressive…]
The one Cheon Baek-gyeong had evaluated first was Terré, and the other was Ellis.
Luke noticed the ghost had instantly seen through Ellis’s true identity and felt a slight shock.
“…So the lie wasn’t a lie.”
Cheon Baek-gyeong, who had seen through Ellis’s identity in an instant, had believed that the fact the ghost was the supreme expert of the Eastern Continent and claimed supremacy over the world was no lie.
He circled in the air around Luke with legs crossed.
[This is quite interesting. I’d like to fight that old monster once…]
“My nanny, calling her an old monster. That’s rather rude.”
[Nanny? Sorry, I must have forgotten that a being who has lived for hundreds of years would say that.]
Luke pointed out the ghost’s rudeness and approached the two while the ghost was still spinning in the air.
By the way, at that moment, Cheon Baek-gyeong was only visible to Luke.
“I’ve decided on this.”
“Hmm. A clean, no-frills sword. Luke, there must have been better ones, but you didn’t feel like choosing something else?”
At Terré’s words, the ghost frowned slightly.
[Tsk. There’s no sword more impressive than mine. Idiot.]
The ghost grumbled beside him, but Luke ignored it lightly.
“The balance is good, and the weight is nice. Maybe it’ll go into the armory too. I’m satisfied with this for now.”
“Not being greedy is a good choice.”
Terré smiled faintly and stroked Luke’s head.
“Luke, since you brought out the sword, how about light sparring?”
“Um…”
While Luke was hesitating, the ghost spoke.
[Kid. Refuse.]
“What? Why?”
[Sparring is better than learning my swordsmanship right now.]
Cheon Baek-gyeong, floating in the air, smiled.
[I’ll be quite impressed.]
“…Hmm.”
Luke nodded.
At least watching the old man’s swordsmanship wasn’t a bad idea.
“Since I got the sword, I’ll need some time to adjust for sparring with noona. Can you spar with me later? I’ll be fully prepared.”
“…Oh?”
Terré stroked Luke’s golden hair again.
“You’re amazing, Luke. I’ll look forward to that day.”
Terré truly found this spirited youngest son adorable.
***
Terré, having finished her business, left.
Kissing Luke’s cheek lightly out of affection was a bonus.
“Noona Terré is strangely trying to take care of me.”
It was hard to believe that the same girl who would later be called a kinslayer, but Luke never ignored that fact.
He always treated her with a grain of caution.
“…Young master.”
“Huh? Nanny. What?”
The moment Luke answered Ellis’s call from behind.
“What is that weird soul clinging to the sword?”
“…Ah? You knew?”
“…Of course I didn’t just steal the name of the witch from a bet.”
Ellis frowned slightly and looked at the floating Cheon Baek-gyeong.
“I feel it a little. Where did you even pick up this soul? The quality and quantity of souls isn’t normal.”
“Ah, that’s… wait a second. Hey, old man. You can’t show your form in front of the nanny?”
[Tsk. Wait.]
At those words, the soul of Cheon Baek-gyeong, who had been visible only to Luke, began to show itself to Ellis as well.
[Nice to meet you. You’ve lived a long time too. I’ve lived quite a long time as well.]
“…This is…”
Ellis muttered while watching the ghost spin in the air.
“A soul devoured by an evil god, young master. What a hideous thing to pick up.”
“…Devoured?”
[What? Devoured?]
At the two’s words, Ellis nodded.
“Yes. Tsk. A great warrior in life, but devoured by the evil god itself.”
[What?!]
Cheon Baek-gyeong, who had been sitting cross-legged, unfurled his legs and flew toward Ellis.
[Hey, you. Do you have any idea what happened to me? I thought I just died and lost my memories of life before!]
“…As I said, stealing the witch’s name wasn’t easy. And I know something about evil gods… I’ll tell you what happened, right?”
Ellis spoke firmly to the ghost.
“A sliver of time in a long era built by humans. The great realm achieved and obtained in that instant was devoured, and the soul itself fell into ruin.
It’s pitiful. Even if you become a Buddha after death, you won’t be able to enter anywhere in the afterlife.
Right now, your memories are fragmented, aren’t they? Many memories you built, especially precious ones, have been lost.”
[…Hmm…]
Cheon Baek-gyeong fell silent, realizing the truth.
Meanwhile, Ellis continued.
“The fragments of the stolen soul were probably taken by the evil god. Terrifying. But it might not be all. The past memories might have been distorted or forgotten due to the backlash after being devoured by the evil god. What was the very last, the most recent memory?”
[That… that is…]
Cheon Baek-gyeong hesitated.
[My last memory is cutting off the right arm of that damned God of Martial Arts. And… and…]
After a moment of thought, he furrowed his brows.
[…I don’t remember. I remember saying something to that guy, the God of Martial Arts, but I can’t recall it…]
“Such. To recover the original form of existence along with that memory, you must fight the evil god who caused it.”
Ellis spoke, frowning.
“Of course, whether that evil god agrees to the deal is unknown. It might be impossible.”
At Ellis’s words, Cheon Baek-gyeong fell silent.
Meanwhile, Ellis looked at the ghost.
“Young master. Entangling with this soul means you’re entangled with the evil god who stole its existence. It seems unnecessary at first glance. Instead of that, bring another sword…”
Even at those words, Cheon Baek-gyeong remained silent, perhaps shocked.
Meanwhile, Ellis continued.
“In any case, it’s quite dangerous. The evil god is not a simple being, young master. Sly, sinister, and intelligent. I cannot let you entangle with those evil gods…”
“Enough. Nanny.”
Luke suddenly cut off Ellis’s words.
He looked at the silent, hardened Cheon Baek-gyeong and said.
“Hey, old man.”
[What? Kid.]
“You don’t remember what you said to me at the start?”
[…]
“Heavenly Demon Cult. You said you had to avenge the people who followed you. But now you’re planning to give up because of what the nanny said?”
[…Kid.]
“Good.”
Luke immediately extended his right hand.
“I’m also in a position to deal with those damned evil gods. Before that, there are many things to do. Our interests coincide, don’t you think?”
[Hah.]
While Cheon Baek-gyeong let out a laugh as if he couldn’t believe it, Luke smiled.
“Hey. Let’s do it properly. Revenge, I’ll help.”
[Bold brat.]
Cheon Baek-gyeong reached out to Luke.
“Former Heavenly Demon, let’s do it properly.”
[Alright, kid.]
The moment their hands overlapped and touched.