Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Awakened Forces Gather
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A year was a long time if it felt long, and short if it felt short.
If you spent it doing nothing, it dragged on endlessly, but if you were busy with tasks piling up, it flew by in an instant.
Time itself was absolute, yet it could turn relative based on a person's state of mind.
Many events unfolded over that one year.
While the forces under Yong-un remained still, Unwoo Guild—swollen in size on Jin-cheol's orders—began shouldering all the duties of every faction beneath him.
Of course, for gates that seemed likely to cause massive casualties, they requested Yong-un's help to clear them.
Zzzzt.
"Is that all for today?"
Yong-un stepped out from a fairly large gate.
Mana stones gathered from inside the gate floated around him, trailing in his wake.
It was a considerable haul, but Yong-un shook his head in dissatisfaction.
At that moment, Myung-un—who had been waiting—rushed in like a flash and swung his sword at Yong-un.
Clang! Fwoooosh—
Yong-un's Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi clashed against Myung-un's, whipping up a powerful gust.
"Failed again today."
"You've never succeeded even once. Heh."
Yong-un scoffed.
Myung-un furrowed his brow and sheathed his sword.
"Why won't it work? I caught that demon so easily..."
He tilted his head in confusion.
Yong-un smiled at the sight and patted his head.
"That's impressive enough. You've mastered the First Strike and First Thrust perfectly."
He had propelled his body forward at blinding speed using the First Thrust of the Living Strike Technique, unbound by sword or weapon.
Blending the two in equal measure, he unleashed a swift yet devastating blow.
And the qi infused within was none other than the Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi—the same that had once annihilated the Heavenly Demon Cult's Demon Extermination Squad.
It was a strike no ordinary hunter or demon could hope to block.
Snap.
But his opponent was different.
"Ow!"
As Yong-un ruffled his hair, he flicked Myung-un hard on the forehead.
The impact made his head reel, and Myung-un clutched it frantically.
"That's your punishment for dropping your Protective Aura."
"Agh..."
For the past year, Myung-un had trained under Yong-un's guidance.
True to Yong-un's intent of forging him into a golden spoon, Myung-un had fully made the Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi his own and grown rapidly.
At this point, even in the martial world, he could claim the title of master—and with luck, vie for the rank of absolute expert.
He commanded the Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi and Living Strike Technique with total mastery.
His growth left few rivals even in the martial world, filling Yong-un with satisfaction.
But Yong-un wasn't content yet.
"So when do I get the third form?"
"Maintain your Protective Aura at all times. Once you've perfected the first form, I'll teach you."
The Sword Demon once known as Ma Hyun-dong, consumed by vengeance.
It was the first form that had forged the current Yong-un from that man.
A technique unique to Yong-un, shared with no one else.
"Is that... even possible?"
The first form diverged sharply from the Living Strike Technique.
In response to Myung-un's question, Yong-un circulated his Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi and extended his hand.
The qi surged from his body, condensing in midair.
Groooar.
A sound like water draining down a sewer echoed as the qi compressed repeatedly, then burst into radiant light, forming a small orb.
"Myriad Convergence. Master this, and you can wield the Heart-Soul Unity."
Myriad Convergence.
The form that unified all things in the world.
That was the first technique from the nameless manual in Yong-un's possession.
Myung-un reached out, attempting to compress his Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi just as Yong-un had.
The jet-black, crimson qi compressed over and over, just like before, finally radiating brilliant light.
It took time, but he succeeded in forming something close to Yong-un's Myriad Convergence. He grinned.
"See? I can do it."
"Didn't I tell you? The end of Myriad Convergence isn't compression—it's dispersion."
He slowly rotated his outstretched hand.
The dark crimson glow swelled as the converged mass dispersed, reverting the qi to its original state.
Once fully restored, it all flowed back into Yong-un's dantian.
Pop!
Myung-un, mimicking the process, triggered a massive explosion from his Myriad Convergence.
Proof he hadn't mastered it fully.
Swoooosh.
Yong-un, anticipating this, had scattered his Crimson Heavenly Demon Qi everywhere. He solidified it into form, containing the blast.
Even incorporating Myung-un's exploded Myriad Convergence, he held it stable and absorbed it into his dantian.
"B-Brother?"
Myriad Convergence was a massive bomb.
Absorbing it directly into the dantian should have detonated inside him—that was only logical.
But.
"This is why Myriad Convergence is so difficult."
Yong-un was unfazed.
No explosion sounded. Within his dantian, the qi and blast dispersed perfectly under his will.
"Master Myriad Convergence, and you'll control all energies at will. Only then can you combine it with the Living Strike Technique for Heart-Soul Unity."
Snap!
"Ow!"
Yong-un flicked his forehead again.
"Try again."
He smirked, then turned away.
"I'll get it done somehow!"
Yong-un stifled a laugh and vanished from the spot.
In that year, such growth was a tremendous achievement.
Though deeply satisfied with Myung-un's progress, Yong-un never showed it.
The moment one realized their own strength, they risked stagnating.
That was why Yong-un had told him:
'Succeed in landing a hit on me once, and I'll grant one wish of yours.'
When Yong-un was the Sword Demon, the Blade Demon had been his monumental goal.
But Myung-un had none—so Yong-un became that goal for him.
Only then would he press on without complacency.
"It's quiet."
A year had passed.
Beyond his own forces, much had transpired.
Major powers had launched their inevitable demon weakening operations.
The long-talked-about plan was set for one month from now.
The GHO gained four new world-class S-Rank Hunters.
Recently, a viscount-level demon gate in the US had caused heavy casualties,
but the GHO's aid cleared it.
Even domestically, things hadn't stayed the same.
The Big Four Guilds became the Big Five, with Unwoo Guild included.
No hunter could dispute Unwoo's inclusion.
The guild's scale and power were proven beyond doubt in Korea.
And that was just the start.
Korea's A-Rank Hunters had numbered twelve; now there were twenty.
All eight newcomers hailed from Unwoo Guild.
How could the Big Five exclude them?
Over the year, following Jin-cheol's directives, Unwoo Guild had firmly established itself as Korea's premier mega-guild.
"So much has happened."
Amid all that, no word of Ghost Soul Exterminators or Demon Dragon Corps.
True to closed-door training, they hadn't set foot in society.
Pure cultivation.
They poured everything into mastering their completely transformed manuals.
And precisely one year later.
As if awaiting the command, potent auras swarmed toward Yong-un's house.
"The calm before the storm. I'll miss these quiet days."
His words belied the smile tugging at his lips.
Soon after, the silence shattered.
The first two arrivals saw to that.
"Yesss! First place, bro!"
"Yeah, first place."
Cheon-il, reverting from demonization, and Barum smiling at him.
"We greet the Supreme One."
"Hey, Supreme Bro."
They bowed to Yong-un atop the roof.
Then, a group appeared behind them.
"We won... Uh..."
Sword Tiger, Jong-hyun, and Jeong-won.
New scars marked them, drawing a smile from Yong-un.
"You've arrived."
"We greet the Supreme One."
The Demon Dragon Corps bowed to him.
Their sharpened auras spoke of growth; Yong-un nodded.
In one year, Sword Tiger and Jong-hyun's positions had shifted dramatically.
Once mere supports to Sword Tiger, now they matched his strength from a year ago.
They could fight him on even terms.
Yong-un smiled in approval.
"Supreme One, test my power now."
Sword Tiger, utterly transformed, gripped his sword hilt and looked up.
"Like that time?"
"Just like our first meeting—light and friendly."
"L-Leader? Are you insane? Against the Supreme One..."
Jong-hyun's protests fell on deaf ears.
"Here I come, Supreme One!"
Sword Tiger kicked off the ground.
His speed dwarfed their first encounter.
Zzzzzzt!
His lightning qi was incomparable to their last clash—infused with demonic energy, it plummeted toward Yong-un's head.
But.
Bam!
"Guh!"
Yong-un's fist sent Sword Tiger flying amid shattering black lightning.
Thud!
Deeply embedded in the ground, Sword Tiger shook his head.
He steadied his dizzy mind from the impact and pulled himself free.
"What...?"
He hadn't even seen how he'd been hit—pure bewilderment.
A light punch, devoid of demonic qi.
Yet it dominated all his energy and sank into his gut.
"Heh heh heh."
He couldn't comprehend it.
Yong-un turning the impossible possible.
"Still the same."
Seeing that sight again after a year, Sword Tiger grinned deeply.
He didn't bother analyzing it— it'd just give him a headache.
But the brief clash filled him with satisfaction.
Zzt.
Unlike before, he'd grazed Yong-un.
Residual black lightning clung to Yong-un's arm.
Swipe.
A brush of his other hand dispersed it, but Sword Tiger clenched his fist in triumph.
"Thanks to you, Supreme One!"
He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Supreme One!"
As their leader bowed, the Demon Dragon Corps followed suit.
"Good work. Impressive."
Yong-un smiled at their massive growth.
But only briefly.
Swoosh.
Clang! Clang!
Suddenly, the Demon Dragon Corps slashed at empty air.
Perfect defense met perfect offense.
Their enhanced exchanges rocked the quiet alley, kicking up stone dust.
Empty air, yet they smirked, swords at ready, sensing something.
Yong-un reached into the void and seized it.
"Gah!"
"Good to see you."
The air rippled with color as Myung-su's throat was gripped in Yong-un's hand.
Released, he kicked off the air and landed smoothly.
"As expected of the Supreme One."
A perfect display of Empty Fusion Killing Art mastery.
His presence remained faint even upon landing.
And not just him.
As Myung-su appeared, the rest of the Ghost Soul Exterminators—those attacking the Demon Dragon Corps—dispelled their arts and revealed themselves.
Poison Witch and Dancer, daggers in hand, faced Jong-hyun and Jeong-won with smiles.
"Long time no see."
"You noticed. Fitting for forces under the same Supreme One."
Jeong-won smiled, parrying Poison Witch's dagger.
Jong-hyun parried Dancer's, scoffing as he sheathed his sword.
"Demon Dragon Corps and Ghost Soul Exterminators serve the same Supreme One. We're bound to be alike."
"Indeed..."
Dancer—leader of the Night Kill Society and Four Ghosts Bride—sheathed her twin daggers in her thighs.
She stepped behind Myung-su.
"Cheon-il, let's go."
"Yeah."
One Ghost Soul of the Ghost Soul Exterminators' elite stepped forward.
Behind him: Poison Witch, Dancer, Cheon-il, and Barum.
"We greet the Supreme One."
Myung-su's cry echoed from the Ghost Souls behind him as they bowed in unison.
"We greet the Supreme One."
One year.
It proved no one had wasted a moment.
Jong-hyun and Jeong-won, now as strong as Sword Tiger from a year ago.
Poison Witch and Dancer, Empty Fusion Killing Art masters rivaling that year's Myung-su.
And leaders Sword Tiger and One Ghost Soul Myung-su, far stronger still.
Thud!
Finally, Tiger General—sharper and mightier than ever.
"We greet the Supreme One."
Having received their answer after a year of seclusion, Yong-un rose from the roof.
"Good work."
The latent dragons, coiled for a year, now rose through the great dragon that was Yong-un.
Time to grow their power enough to protect their family.
Admiring his satisfied subordinates, Yong-un bellowed:
"From this moment, Ghost Soul Exterminators and Demon Dragon Corps—resume operations!"
A storm unlike any in Korea, or the world, was brewing.
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