Chapter 104
Chapter 104
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Demon Dragon Incarnation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Unlike the distinctive Ghost Soul Annihilators, who had gathered from a bunch of strangers, the Demon Dragon Squad kept things simple.
The Demon Dragon Squad served under the Sword Tiger, armed with nothing but their swords.
They didn't stray onto side paths, devoting every ounce of their training solely to the updated manual: Demon Dragon Incarnation.
And the result? Everyone, including the Sword Tiger himself, had taken a solid step closer to mastering it.
Pzzt! Zzzzt! Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the Demon Dragon Squad's training ground, leaving a crater in its wake.
It was the combined assault of Jong-hyun and Jeong-won.
The two swords they brought down with all their might conjured black lightning in the sky, raining demon-qi-infused bolts across the training ground.
"Urk."
The Ghost Souls of the Ghost Soul Annihilators covered their faces to fend off the encroaching demon lightning.
But the massive gust that followed stung their eyes and noses like fire.
"Incredible!"
Cheon-il clapped his hands enthusiastically.
"That's some serious power."
Barum nodded as he watched their Demon Dragon Incarnation in action.
Sure enough, as Barum said, Jong-hyun and Jeong-won's version packed a real punch.
Even Barum himself wouldn't walk away unscathed if he took a direct hit.
"They've definitely grown stronger than the Sword Tiger from back then."
Before seeing this, he'd pegged them as equals to the Sword Tiger.
But though they'd only reached the intermediate stage, the Demon Dragon Incarnation had fully taken root in Jong-hyun and Jeong-won's swordsmanship.
True to its nature as a technique built around devastating, peak-power strikes, the force was enough to shake the Demon Dragon Squad's headquarters to its foundations.
It was a flawless, overwhelming power that even the Sword Tiger couldn't have unleashed a year ago.
If they could produce this level of might now, their sword skills had surpassed what the Sword Tiger wielded back then.
'Now I'm curious about the Sword Tiger himself.'
Yong-un shifted his gaze from Jong-hyun and Jeong-won, who handled sword procurement, to the Sword Tiger standing behind them.
At that moment, the Sword Tiger flashed a grin and unleashed the Demon Dragon Incarnation technique he'd honed for a full year, along with a torrent of demonic qi.
"Whoa!"
It was on another level entirely.
Even the Ghost Soul Annihilators could see the clear gap between the Demon Dragon Squad members and their leader.
"Not for nothing is he Korea's first S-Rank Hunter."
The Sword Tiger striding forward amid the erupting demonic qi had clearly perfected the Demon Dragon Incarnation—no exaggeration needed.
Step. Step.
With every deliberate step, black lightning crackled around him.
And behind him, for all to see, loomed a bolt of demon lightning as massive as the Demon Dragon Squad's headquarters.
The ultimate technique of Demon Dragon Incarnation.
Roooaaarrr!
A colossal demon dragon formed of that lightning reared back its jaws wide.
"Supreme One!"
Was he itching to test that power?
The Sword Tiger called out to Yong-un.
"Shall we block it?"
Barum and Myung-su picked up on the implication and asked.
But Yong-un shook his head at them and stepped forward.
"Stand down. This is a lesson in itself."
Swoosh.
Myung-su and Barum retreated behind Yong-un.
Yong-un smiled and called out to the Sword Tiger.
"Come at me."
"I knew you'd say that, Supreme One!"
The Sword Tiger brimmed with battle spirit.
Jong-hyun and Jeong-won gaped in shock, hands over their mouths.
"L-Leader! Snap out of it!"
"Get a grip, you lunatic!"
Unlike Jong-hyun's polite yet familiar tone,
Jeong-won shouted without a shred of restraint toward his leader—a perfect mix of Tiger Corps and Sword Tiger traits.
It only fueled the Sword Tiger's fighting spirit further.
"Here I come, Supreme One!"
The Sword Tiger halted, adopting his drawing stance.
He channeled the ultimate Demon Dragon Incarnation into his blade and unleashed a full-power draw.
Lightning crackled from the sheath as he slashed toward Yong-un.
Rooooaaaarrr!
In sync with the sword's arc, the oppressive demon dragon behind him lunged with jaws agape.
Rumble rumble crash!
The demon dragon tore up the earth, scattering lightning everywhere as it charged.
Its power shook not just the Demon Dragon Squad's base but even the Ghost Soul Annihilators' quarters, barreling straight for Yong-un.
"Excellent."
Yong-un regarded the demon dragon and summoned his own demonic qi.
To impart a lesson, he manifested Demon Dragon Incarnation in kind.
"As expected..."
But Yong-un's demon dragon dwarfed the Sword Tiger's.
And that was just the start.
Yong-un's was a deeper hue, containing the lightning within rather than spewing it wildly.
"Behold. This is the difference between you and me."
Yong-un thrust his hand forward.
His massive demon dragon swallowed the Sword Tiger's in one gulp.
It neutralized the explosion within and fully digested it.
"S-Su-Supreme One?"
Yet Yong-un's demon dragon didn't slow a bit.
The Sword Tiger realized something had gone wrong as it closed in.
A direct hit would kill him for sure.
"Supreme One! Spare me!!"
His battle fervor vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
The demon dragon grazed past the Sword Tiger and dissipated.
Pzzt! Zzzzt!
Thud.
The Sword Tiger collapsed on the spot.
"Kyaaah!"
His clothes had burned clean off, leaving him stark naked.
The Poison Witch and dancer hastily averted their eyes.
"D-Don't look! Leader!"
"I knew this would happen. What the hell? The Ghost Soul Annihilators kept it clean, but damn it, how's the Demon Dragon Squad supposed to save face now?!"
Jong-hyun and Jeong-won grumbled as they rushed to the Sword Tiger.
But the image of his bare body was already seared into the Poison Witch and dancer's minds.
Leaving the Demon Dragon Squad behind, Yong-un headed to the Unwoo Guild office with the Ghost Soul Annihilators and Tiger Corps.
"How far have the Elder Ghosts progressed in the Crimson Asura Demonic Art?"
Outside the office, Yong-un asked Ho-gun.
Ho-gun smiled.
"At least to the 4th stage."
The 4th stage meant they could form Crimson Heaven Demon Qi.
Moreover, they could execute the Asura Blood Demon Sword forms from the Crimson Asura Demonic Art without issue.
"Good."
Anticipating growth in the Demon Shadow Ghost Killer Squad to match the Demon Dragon Squad and Ghost Soul Annihilators, Yong-un opened the office door.
He'd only pushed it open lightly.
But the scene inside was nothing like what Yong-un and his group expected.
It felt like stepping into an entirely different world.
"What do you think?"
"Was this the dancer's doing?"
Yong-un smiled as he took in the twisted flows of qi.
There was only one way to create a sight like this.
Arrays.
"Yes. Guild Master Jin-cheol of Unwoo Guild requested it, so I opened up the interior of Formation Harmony Valley."
"All self-taught, huh."
Yong-un grinned.
He'd known Jin-cheol was an exceptional craftsman, but to enter Formation Harmony Valley once and detect the arrays within?
Not only that—he'd studied them and deployed one this masterful.
It was impossible not to be impressed.
"Supreme One."
As Yong-un smiled, the Elder Ghosts of the Demon Shadow Ghost Killer Squad appeared before him.
The two Elder Ghosts—excluding Myung-un, who now trained as Yong-un's successor rather than an Elder Ghost.
Jin-cheol and Jang-han dropped to one knee.
"Is it true you've reached the 4th stage of the Crimson Asura Demonic Art?"
"Yes."
"Show me."
At Yong-un's command, Jin-cheol and Jang-han nodded.
Crimson demonic qi flowed from them both.
Even the subtle energy hinting at transformation into Crimson Heaven Demon Qi.
"Good."
Yong-un nodded approvingly, their display proving the 4th stage mastery.
"Thank you."
Jin-cheol and Jang-han bowed their heads.
But as mentioned, attaining Crimson Heaven Demon Qi demanded bone-deep endurance and mental fortitude to fend off collapse.
It took ages, and even then, purification was needed to avoid being consumed by the power.
'This is why I called Myung-un my golden spoon.'
These men would endure that agony, but Myung-un had transcended it all.
He'd bypassed every step instantly through Yong-un as the conduit.
Yet even knowing the process, they wouldn't resent Yong-un.
He'd already brought massive changes and gains to their lives.
"Studying arrays, are you?"
At Yong-un's question, Jin-cheol smiled.
"The path to Crimson Heaven Demon Qi is so painful, I started this to take my mind off it."
"You look awfully happy for that."
"Truth be told, it's fun. Fun enough that even pursuing Crimson Heaven Demon Qi feels enjoyable now."
"And you, Jang-han?"
Yong-un turned to Jang-han.
True to form as the eternal tank, he clutched a massive shield.
"It doesn't bother me. Getting stronger never feels like suffering to me."
Straightforward as ever.
What tormented others, he accepted with stoic resolve as simply what must be done.
"Keep at it."
"Yes, Supreme One."
With them, Yong-un had now checked on all his subordinates' progress.
The only one left was Ho-gun, the Dharma Protector of the Demon Shadow Ghost Killer Squad.
"Shall I demonstrate as well?"
"No need. It's plain to see."
But Yong-un didn't order Ho-gun to prove himself.
"As expected of the Supreme One."
Ho-gun didn't need to prove anything.
With the Asura Blood Demon Sword's ultimate techniques behind him, pushing toward the pinnacle, the faint Asura silhouette on his back was proof enough.
"You've been diligent in your training too."
The hazy Crimson Asura form.
Yong-un could tell it stemmed from relentless pursuit of the pinnacle.
"How could I slack off with something this fun? Heh heh heh."
Ho-gun grinned deeply at the Asura behind him.
He couldn't have been anything but a true warrior.
Pain and endurance in growing stronger? To him, pure joy.
A warrior's blood coursed fiercely through Ho-gun's heart.
"Everyone's done well."
Yong-un had witnessed a full year of growth with his own eyes.
Not one had slacked off; their results shone bright.
"The day I entrust my back to you all draws near."
"Supreme One..."
No higher praise could exist.
His subordinates' faces lit up with emotion.
From the Supreme One himself, no less.
The reward for their year's toil sank deep into their hearts.
With every eye on him, Yong-un addressed them all.
"Now it's time to break out of your year-long seclusion—like hatching from an egg."
"Yes, Supreme One!"
"I command you all: In one month, we join the national Demon Ace weakening operation."
This was leagues beyond the Jukmak-dong C-Rank Demon Ace.
Yet unlike before, no trace of surprise or fear lingered on his subordinates' faces.
"Then, as of this moment, the Demon Shadow Ghost Killer Squad, Ghost Soul Annihilators, and Demon Dragon Squad..."
They brimmed only with eager tension, as if the moment couldn't come soon enough.
"...will eradicate every Gate around."
Yong-un's order.
The egg of their year-long seclusion shattered.
Their activities began.
"Then let's get to it."
"Yes, Supreme One!"
A new Heavenly Demon Cult poised to shake the world.
Under the Supreme One named Yong-un, they all stirred faint ripples.
The arrays dissolved, and Yong-un's forces surged out of the office.
Around the massive office in Mok-dong, Gates began vanishing one by one at a blistering pace.
The start of the ripples Yong-un had set in motion.
From Mok-dong and Seongbuk-dong, they spread across all of Korea.
Demon Shadow Ghost Killer Squad.
Demon Dragon Squad.
Ghost Soul Annihilators.
Under those names.