Myeongjon
While my focus wavered for a brief moment due to the voice of the entity calling itself Myeongjon—
"Then, let the duel begin!"
Following the Left Guardian's command, Yeongho Bin, who stood before me, opened his left hand and clenched his right fist, rotating them in opposite directions to assume his starting stance.
Just then, Myeongjon's voice echoed in my mind once more.
The Realm of the Black Demon? What's that?
?
"Since I am much older than you, Young Sect Leader, I shall yield the first three exchanges. Please, make the first move."
It seemed Yeongho Bin possessed a conscience after all, as he chose to yield the initiative rather than launching an immediate attack.
Yet, despite his confident words, his expression was far from bright.
The intense heat radiating from the Holy Fire was clearly taking its toll; sweat was pouring off him like rain.
Hmm. I seem to be in much better shape than he is.
I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but it seemed that carrying the blood of the Sect Leader, combined with the Holy Fire's protection, gave me a massive advantage.
This meant I actually had a decent shot at winning.
Well, I have to start by attacking.
Slowly closing the distance to Yeongho Bin, I assumed the most convincing stance I could muster and threw a punch straight toward his solar plexus.
My strike landed squarely on his chest.
"What in the...!!?"
Instantly, Yeongho Bin's face contorted.
Baek Yeon's martial arts were incredibly advanced for his age.
Even if Song Mu-gyeong had been a mere civil official who had never properly trained, Baek Yeon had still been able to easily overpower a grown man.
Although I had never personally studied martial arts, I figured this strike would deal some decent damage to Yeongho Bin, just like it had back then.
...Or so I thought.
"Bwahahaha!"
My expectations shattered instantly as a roar of laughter erupted from the crowd behind me.
"Young Sect Leader, that was highly entertaining!"
"Your method of teasing your opponent is truly magnificent!"
The bursting laughter made me want to curl up and die of embarrassment.
Why wasn't it working like it did before?
My attack must have looked so utterly pathetic that they assumed I was intentionally using terrible moves to mock my opponent, laughing so hard they were clutching their stomachs.
Everyone, that is, except for one person: the Sect Leader.
!!
I caught sight of the Sect Leader staring at me, his teeth gritted and his eyes glaring with pure fury.
"Young Sect Leader... to think you would humiliate me in this manner."
Yeongho Bin's face flushed a deep crimson, clearly believing that I was playing toys with him.
Yet, bound by his promise to yield three moves, he remained rooted to the spot, enduring the perceived insult.
"Hmph."
Flustered, I took two steps back.
I had genuinely tried my best, but since it had turned out like this, I had to think carefully about my next move.
Planting my left leg firmly, I swung my right foot with all my might.
"……!!"
"Pfft... Bwahahaha!"
I thought my kick had connected quite solidly with Yeongho Bin's left leg, but the laughter only grew louder.
And amidst the roaring amusement, the Sect Leader looked as though he was barely suppressing the urge to leap down and murder me on the spot.
"Only one move left."
Yeongho Bin was trembling, his face turning from red to a pale, furious blue.
...I was in serious, serious trouble.
Myeongjon's voice echoed in my mind once more.
I am Baek Yeon.
That is correct.
I could hardly believe my ears.
Quite something? What do you mean?
...?
Myeongjon's explanation was brief.
Yet, it was something I couldn't easily wrap my head around.
He really wants me to do that?
Um, Lord... Myeongjon? You're serious, right?
I mean, you're not just saying this to pull my leg, are you?
Are you absolutely sure? I'm really going to do it, then.
I still had my doubts.
But since I had no other options, I prepared to execute the move exactly as Myeongjon had suggested.
Though calling it a "preparation" was a bit of a stretch.
Heavenly Killer Star, awaken.
Thump.
With that single mental command, the Heavenly Killer Star opened its eyes.
The exact same force that, five days ago, had driven me to unconsciously stab Song Mu-gyeong to death.
Before I even had time to panic, my vision was dyed entirely in crimson.
My heart rate spiked, and that mysterious, overwhelming energy surged through my veins once more.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the training ground froze, a heavy silence descending over the crowd.
"It's the Heavenly Killer Star!!"
"!!!"
Seeing the Young Sect Leader's eyes suddenly flash with the blood-red light of the Heavenly Killer Star, the cultists cried out in shock.
Meeting my crimson gaze, Yeongho Bin's eyes widened in sheer terror.
I lightly rotated my right arm and curled my index finger against my thumb.
Bringing it right in front of Yeongho Bin's forehead...
Flick!
I flicked his forehead with all the strength I could muster.
BOOM!!!!
At that exact moment, an explosive sound that didn't match the triviality of the gesture rattled my eardrums.
"……!!"
Yeongho Bin stood frozen, completely motionless.
However, his eyes had rolled back, staring blankly into space as his focus completely dissolved.
Thud.
As his unconscious body collapsed limply to the ground, the cultists surrounding the arena erupted into a deafening cheer.
The sheer volume of their roar made the flames of the Holy Fire flicker wildly.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Thump, thump.
Winning the duel was great and all, but my mind was far from at ease.
The real problem now was the Heavenly Killer Star raging inside my head.
If I lost my sanity to this murderous urge now, winning would mean absolutely nothing.
But then...
Shut up. Be quiet.
I said, quiet.
Yes. Good boy.
The Heavenly Killer Star, which had been raging so violently just moments ago, instantly cowed under my stern mental reprimand, whimpering and falling silent.
Only after confirming that I could indeed control this terrifying force did I finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Young Sect Leader, are you alright?"
"I am well."
The Left Guardian, who had rushed over in a panic upon seeing the Heavenly Killer Star manifest, let out a breath of relief when he saw my eyes return to normal and my complexion remain steady.
Meanwhile, the unconscious Yeongho Bin was quickly carried away by the other warriors.
"I declare the winner of this duel to be the Young Sect Leader!"
"Young Sect Leader. Offer the sacred cup to Myeongjon."
Next was the ritual of the Grand Assembly of Demons—the ceremony officially recognizing that I, Young Sect Leader Baek Yeon, had been chosen by Myeongjon.
Six...
The ritual required me, as the newly recognized successor, to step before the Holy Fire and perform thirty-three deep bows.
As I bowed slowly, I recalled my conversation with Myeongjon from moments earlier.
Ah... yes. How did you know?
When I thought about it, that made perfect sense.
If the Heavenly Killer Star was deeply tied to the Baek family of Sect Leaders, it would be stranger if Myeongjon, the deity of the Sun and Moon Sect, didn't know about it.
Myeongjon had continued.
Pardon?
Summon the Heavenly Killer Star?
But... what if I summon it and get completely consumed by the urge to kill?
The memory of unconsciously harming someone when the Heavenly Killer Star first awakened was still a lingering trauma for me.
Yet, Myeongjon's telepathic voice carried not a shred of concern.
But still...
No, of course not. If you say so, Lord Myeongjon...
As I reluctantly agreed, Myeongjon continued his instructions.
And once I summon the Heavenly Killer Star, what then?
In the end, things had turned out exactly as Myeongjon predicted, so I was glad I had listened.
Shaking off my thoughts, I offered a silent prayer of thanks as I bowed.
Lord Myeongjon, I had no idea the Heavenly Killer Star possessed such incredible power.
?
Wait, Lord Myeongjon, what on earth do you mean by that?
Excuse me?
Wait, you're the one who told me to do it...!?
Myeongjon shamelessly continued to lecture me in a perfectly casual tone.
Fourteen...
Hmm. Lord Myeongjon, the reason I can suppress the murderous impulses of the Heavenly Killer Star is because of your protection, right?
Then what is it?
Do you mean I'm introverted?
But it's not like I'm the only introvert in the world. Half the population must be introverts.
Well, that makes sense.
As I pondered Myeongjon's words, a chuckle slipped out of me.
Hahaha.
Introversion literally meant that the direction of one's ego was oriented inward.
While introverts might have weaknesses when it came to social interaction or outward activity compared to extroverts, they possessed the distinct advantage of being less easily swayed by external stimuli.
To think that my very introversion was what allowed me to control the Heavenly Killer Star.
I just never imagined in my entire life that being an introvert would turn out to be such a massive strength.