#79 Watch Closely, Next Generation.
Overwhelmed by excruciating pain that made his mind feel like it was shattering, Marbas rolled across the ground again and again.
"Raaaaagh!"
The crowd of frozen humans erupted in cheers.
The crowd exploded in thunderous applause!
[Urgh...]
Marbas spat out blood with a hacking cough before slowly rising to his feet.
'A powerful human...'
If this were the Demon Realm, he wouldn't have taken hits like this.
'A world with no demonic energy...'
This world brimmed with pure, refreshing mana—the polar opposite of the Demon Realm. In a place like this, he couldn't draw out 100% of his power.
But even so, the gap between him and the human before him was vast.
'Strong, but...'
That blow hadn't been enough to shatter him completely.
'Still, he's just a human.'
Humans had clear species limits. Among the demon race—born with immense physical prowess—Marbas ranked fifth in the Demon Realm's hierarchy.
His body was covered in bruises, but none were fatal.
Tak—
Im Cheol-bae stepped in front of Marbas. His massive frame loomed large.
Marbas could tell, having walked a similar path. Species differed, but some truths were universal. He could see exactly how far this human, not born with natural gifts, had pushed and honed himself to the extreme.
[How tragic, human.]
Marbas slowly opened his mouth.
"......"
[If you'd been born a demon, this would have been far more enjoyable.]
Cheol-bae said nothing, simply steadying his breath.
Krrrng—
Vast demonic energy surged from Marbas's body. His fur bristled, his eyes burned red, his muscles hardened like steel, and vicious claws protruded from his hands and feet.
[I salute you. To reach such heights as a mere human—truly impressive.]
His sharp fangs lengthened, gleaming menacingly.
[But that's as far as you go.]
Pop—!
Marbas's speed exploded beyond comparison. His claws stabbed into Cheol-bae's shoulder like arrows.
Stab-stab-stab-stab!
In an instant, Cheol-bae's body was shredded mercilessly. Yet he counterattacked calmly, without flinching.
'Not quite enough, huh.'
Cheol-bae thought.
Stab-stab-stab-stab!
Bam!
It felt like a heavy blow. Cheol-bae barely held his ground, swallowing hard.
'Too fast to keep up.'
Suddenly, his gaze flicked toward Kang-ho in the distance.
Looking away mid-battle was taboo. But Cheol-bae realized Kang-ho was watching him intently.
'You've always been three steps ahead of me.'
There had been a time when he'd envied the guy. But Cheol-bae liked Kang-ho. Same age, yet he always felt like a big brother or senior.
In tough times, he'd lead the way. He'd step into the spots no one wanted. And he asked for nothing in return. He just lived his stubborn way, seeking mutual growth.
When needed, he'd speak harsh truths that might earn him hate. Cheol-bae truly admired that about him.
'Kang-ho.'
Cheol-bae wondered.
'This okay?'
Suddenly, Kang-ho in the distance smiled faintly.
"......!"
Kang-ho slowly raised his thumb and nodded once.
Cheol-bae recalled his words.
—"Sweat never betrays you. So... just go all the way to the end."
'Right.'
Cheol-bae steadied his breath again.
'Pour out everything I've done so far.'
Give it his absolute best. Unleash every ounce of effort he'd poured in, then see. If it didn't work, that was that.
But there'd be no regrets in the process. Giving your all left none behind.
Whoosh—!
Cheol-bae moved. His fist clashed with Marbas's, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Boom—!
* * *
[......]
Suddenly, Agares sensed powerful figures arriving one by one in the distance.
[......!]
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Three silhouettes appeared beside Kang-ho in a flash.
"What a mess, Kang-ho. Feels like it's been ages since I got this fired up."
An old man with three swords at his waist.
—The Sword God! Sword God Park Jun-woo had arrived.
His prized disciple Han Yu-wol swallowed hard, her face pale and frozen.
"Sword bro, today I'm gonna show you the fruits of my closed-door training."
Beside him, Bow God Kim Ho-young lit a cigarette and grinned.
—The Bow God too!
Finally, red-haired Flame, Lee Min-ah.
Now, the Hero 5 from the old days reunited after so long.
"Cheol-bae's struggling over there. Should we help?"
At Ho-young's words, Kang-ho smiled faintly.
"Leave him. He's almost there."
Ho-young nodded, catching the meaning instantly.
"Then let's handle those guys over there, Sword bro."
"Sounds good. Let's split 'em up nice and fair?"
The two friends bantered playfully as they walked toward the battlefield. But their smiles faded, replaced by cold tension.
Suddenly, Park Jun-woo spoke.
"Bow bro."
"Yeah."
"Tough bastards."
"Really are."
"That's why I brought every artifact I own. You?"
"Surprisingly, same here."
"Cheater."
"Like you're one to talk."
Park Jun-woo and Kim Ho-young grinned at each other.
"Finish quick and grab some soju."
"Min-ah'll get jealous, so include her this time."
"Old folks like us don't wanna hang with the young'uns."
"What can ya do? We're all geezers now."
"Deal."
The two bumped fists. Lee Min-ah, following quietly, smiled sweetly.
Her mouth smiled, but her eyes blazed with venom.
"Oh dear. She's pissed."
"Old maid hysterics."
"Shut it, you old geezers!"
They took position in the heart of the battlefield.
Kang-ho watched his friends' backs.
'The war generation.'
The first-generation heroes stood there. Time had passed, silvering their hair.
Memories flashed: bloody fights, tears, laughter.
They weren't fearless of death. They'd lost more comrades, friends, family than anyone, navigating the war era.
So they knew death better than most.
Yet here they were, at the forefront again.
Not because life was cheap. Because they had to step up.
Like always. Because it was right.
Kang-ho hoped the next generation would inherit that will.
"Let's get started."
[......]
Boom—!
Mana boiled violently around Kang-ho's body. Agares's oppressive aura vanished like melting snow.
Thud—
—"Hah... hah..."
Awakeners collapsed everywhere, exhausted.
With the suffocating pressure lifted, hearts pounded wildly. The unprecedented scene left minds reeling.
"......Wh-what the hell is this?"
Lee Hyuk clenched his trembling fist without thinking.
This pressure—it was new to him.
Not just him; those who hadn't lived the war era felt it for the first time.
Despairing intimidation prickling the skin! The chill of prey facing a top predator!
And the Hero 5 of the war generation standing tall against it!
The sight stirred complex emotions in many.
Lee Hyuk felt a surge from his heart. Not just him.
Bam—!
Agares was pushed back. Bluish and pure white mana cloaked the Beast King.
Sword God and Bow God drew weapons; Flame's body erupted in crimson mana.
Bam—!
Iron Fist King clashed desperately too.
Their backs spoke volumes.
'Watch closely, next generation.'
. . . . . .
Cheol-bae took a deep breath.
How many punches? Kicks? Hits taken, attacks thrown? Mind blurring from the frenzy.
It had been ages since he'd been beaten like this. Cheol-bae grinned unwittingly.
Bam—!
Marbas's heavy fist smashed his temple. Demonic energy surged like a volcano.
Reeling from the blow, Cheol-bae gritted his teeth.
Crunch—
Legs rooted to the earth, eyes wide, he endured.
Blood loss? He stopped caring.
He pondered the limits he'd never felt in countless ranking battles—body and spirit pushed to the brink now.
'This is it, huh.'
Emptiness washed over him. A lifetime of training, and this was the result? Even fear crept in.
Had he failed to surpass the wall?
But life returned to his dazed eyes.
'No.'
Fear was just something to overcome. His body had hit its limit long ago. He felt its screams.
Mana hole empty. Still, he bit down hard.
Basics. A lifetime polished to the basics alone.
A hundred million reps, now instinct even in sleep. Fight with that.
Nothing else left.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly back to basic stance, Cheol-bae slowly extended his fist.
Perfectly ingrained. Fist from waist, extending languidly.
Slowly, yet in eerie harmony with space itself.
Strange sensation. Body floating in void, unfamiliar clarity descending.
[......What trick is this?]
Marbas paused in doubt, then bared fangs and charged.
Krrng—!
His body bloodied, muscles shredded. Only life remained.
But that calm face—what?
Annoying—
Just as fangs neared, pow—!
A crisp straight punch exploded into Marbas's forehead.
His body lurched—!
[......?]
A strange aura boiled around Cheol-bae, vivid blue, wrapping him like an ancient serpent ascending to dragonhood, birthing a storm.
Whoosh—!
[......!]
Marbas's body warped strangely. Like shedding skin—whole body transforming.
Crack—crack-crack—
Yet Cheol-bae stood serene in trance, holding basic form.
Body perfectly healed. Pure, holy mana filled him.
[No way...]
Marbas muttered blankly.
[He broke through the wall... on the edge of death?]
Stop him before completion. Marbas charged desperately.
Cheol-bae's fist returned to waist. Like a cannon loading, all mana converged in his right hand.
Hummm—
World fell silent.
[Oh shit...!]
Marbas regretted too late.
'Maybe I charged into the line of death...'
Whoosh—
Massive shell incoming. All mana-packed straight punch toward Marbas's heart.
Craaaack—!
Fist-born mana storm burst like blue bomb. Azure light spread, forming glittering galaxy.
[......]
Marbas stood frozen, chuckling hollowly.
"......"
Cheol-bae, eyes open, stared silently.
[Ridiculous.]
Marbas laughed.
He looked down. Massive hole through his heart.
[At this rate... the loss is... immense...]
He crumpled to his knees.