Heavenly Thunder World-Opening Art
Cheonroe Gaebyeok Gong. Shweeeek—!
The Heretic Inquisitor's sword tore through the air, charging straight at me. Terrifying speed.
"Hngh…!"
I arched my back, barely dodging it. Because I'd twisted away so desperately, an unintended grunt escaped my lips.
Fast. I'd realized it the moment she caught up to me in just 16 seconds… but still.
Heretic Inquisitor, even against Kalan, I couldn't picture her losing easily. At her current level, she was equal to Kalan—or stronger.
"Wait a sec—!"
Kagagak! I blocked her next swing with my sword. No chance. Our blades clashed, spewing intense friction sparks for a moment, but her overwhelming sword force sent my body flying backward.
"Aaaah…."
I hadn't released my limit yet, but even squeezing out every ounce of strength, the fight was one-sided. Whenever the Heretic Inquisitor swung, I screamed, barely dodging or blocking. At least my senses weren't affected by the limit, sharpened beyond my current skill.
"Hang on, hang on! Can't we talk this out?"
"I don't think conversation is necessary."
She paused at my desperate plea, then raised her sword again.
"No! I think we do. Isn't it basic? Talking to a stranger is just common sense for communication, right?"
"Is that so…."
She seemed convinced, somehow. Still gripping her sword, but no immediate rush.
"Right? Conversation is a super important step."
"Then what should we talk about?"
Uh… hadn't thought that far.
"Why'd you suddenly attack me?"
"There's no reason I need to tell you."
"What about killing that Zan-yeong-hoe cadre?"
"There's no reason I need to tell you."
This woman… she definitely doesn't know what conversation is…!
"We're talking right now. If you respond like that, it's not a conversation."
"I see…."
She hesitated, then nodded again. What was she? At first, she seemed all sharp edges, ready to kill without a word… but now she just looked a bit dim.
"Then… what's your name?"
"Leona."
Huh? I'd heard that name somewhere.
"Got it, Leona. Shall we have a deeper chat?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
Leona readjusted her grip and charged. Blindingly fast, her brilliant golden sword aura thrust toward me.
"Whoa!"
Even grazing that would shear off a chunk. I countered with demonic sword aura. Holy power versus demonic energy. Overwhelming disadvantage. It should've vanished on contact—that's common sense.
"…?"
That must've been why a flicker of doubt crossed Leona's face.
Kwagagak! My demonic energy didn't vanish. Not even weakening. As if ignoring affinities altogether.
Of course, due to the raw power gap, I was the one pushed back.
Unlike typical demons, I hadn't absorbed other souls. My demonic energy was purer than any demon's. Naturally, I couldn't overpower holy power… but.
At least affinities won't crush me.
Just the power difference sent my sword rebounding. I stepped back, twisting my body to redirect the force. Even after fully dissipating the shock and landing, no time to catch my breath or admire my instincts.
Leona charged again without mercy. A swift thrust at my chest.
Her body's fully committed forward.
To gain even more speed, probably. But that stance—no Sword Expert could brake perfectly.
In that case.
I reversed my grip. Twisting my torso slightly, I stepped forward instead. As her thrust closed in, I extended my reversed hand, sliding her blade off my sword face.
Ugh.
I winced. It hadn't slid perfectly—her sword ripped my shoulder.
No matter. Boom! I stomped my lead foot. Cracks spiderwebbed the ground.
Namhwa Yeongchun Fist.
Ilsun Chungkwon.
My free hand, empowered by the stance, shot straight into Leona's abdomen.
Boom—.
Leona took her first hit. Pushed back three paces. No major damage, but disbelief crossed her face as she blinked.
Whoa. That just now….
I couldn't believe it either. When my fist struck her gut, something hard met it.
Not abs.
Leona's abs were surely rock-solid. Never seen them, but obvious. No way that build lacked them. But what hit my fist wasn't abs or armor….
"Hosin Ganggi."
A inner energy barrier woven from holy power. No doubt. I'd faced countless in Fantasy World, sparring Murim masters. I knew the feel, even if I couldn't form one myself.
My god.
Non-martial artists used Hosin Ganggi too! Then Kalan, at her level, and Hunchun Noeje way above, must've had it. I'd never landed clean hits to notice.
Interesting.
This sharp-featured powerhouse kept driving me crazy.
"Ah, seriously, no…."
I'd been holding back hard. Her refined movements, lethal yet restrained swordsmanship. Her firm, elastic body from relentless training. Even as her innate reflexes and bloody effort cornered me despite slight inexperience.
I'd clenched down, suppressing it.
Barely.
"Hey."
"I'm not 'hey.' I'm Leona."
And then she shows off that sexy Hosin Ganggi….
"You're the one who seduced me first?"
"??"
I really can't hold back. I compressed demonic energy through my two meridians in opposite directions. At collision—
Pajik, kururung—!
Dark blue thunder exploded outward.
"Learned this from my master."
That Hunchun Noeje trash I'd butcher next time—humanity's betrayer, sparking dickhead, outer god lackey, newbie shredder.
What a guy.
Thunder rose from my body. It sparked wildly like Hunchun Noeje's temper—hard to control.
A bit more and I'll get the hang….
Full mastery would take time. But this sufficed now. I roughly channeled it into my sword via its mysteries. The blade, worn from clashes, might snap soon.
"Three swings, maybe."
Then it'd overload. Risky, but no time to fret.
"Uhyaah…."
Sighs kept slipping out. No need to suppress anymore.
Too sexy.
How would it feel to shred that rigid Hosin Ganggi with my hands?
"Gotta see your soft insides."
"…Pardon?"
I'll rip that lewd barrier with this thunder, expose the tender flesh beneath.
Boom! I stomped, unleashing Yeoseong Chuweolbo to close distance. Twisting full circle for power, I slashed horizontally with full force.
Her sword blocked—boom! But—
"Useless!"
Pajijijik—! Unlike the blade, the thunder sword aura pierced through, reaching Leona.
"Ngh…!"
Her first groan. The thunder lost power against Hosin Ganggi, but—
Pajik, pajik! Residual sparks danced on her, making her flinch in surprise.
But true to a Heretic Inquisitor, she recovered fast, counterattacking.
"Uhihit!"
My follow-up slash disrupted it. Failing to counter, she frowned, retreating.
"Wh-what is that weird thing…."
"This?"
Interest in my martial art now?
"How far are you gonna tease me…?"
"P-par-don?"
"You're dead set on it."
But Leona? You pass. Showing improvement drive.
No name for this thunder control yet, sadly.
Wait. No?
I can name it. It's a true martial art—I learned thunder handling. My original, despite Hunchun Noeje's seed insight.
Yeah, first unique art needs a badass name.
"This is… Cheonroe Gaebyeok Gong."
I blurted the first idea. Then—a sensation of thunder-carved letters etching in my mindscape.
Cheonroe Gaebyeok Gong. My mimicry reborn as true martial art.
Character Regina Diabolos has confirmed creation of her first martial art.
◈ Heavenly Thunder World-Opening Art acquired.