Great Being? Before Whom Do You Dare?
Let's say that bastard's a black mage.
He uses magic, and his mana is mixed with demonic energy.
Comparing him to the experts of the murim world, where would this black mage rank?
'Easily in the top hundred.'
An realm you couldn't ignore—a level where he'd rank among the strongest hundred in any given world.
And on top of that, magic worked in a completely different way from martial arts.
"Blink!"
Fwoosh!
He vanished suddenly, then reappeared behind.
'Illusory Phantom Step? Now that's interesting.'
Taeju had let one hit land, but the guy hadn't gone down.
It would take a bit more time for the poison to spread fully.
"Curse Corruption."
A strange spell, too.
An ominous sensation seeped into his body, carrying the stench of rot and fishy decay.
At least he'd seen the first attack spell coming...
'Rotting poison?'
Or something like it.
But no need to worry.
Vrrrrm!
His poison core vibrated.
The intrusive energy vanished cleanly.
"Curse Disease!"
Taeju flinched.
His body suddenly weakened.
But it healed automatically.
Tricky, for sure.
Even a Master would crumple after a few of those spells.
Yet to Taeju, it was nothing.
It hadn't even taken hold in the first place.
'Probably thanks to the poison core or my pure energy.'
Mages like this might just find Taeju their worst nightmare.
'Hasn't run out of mana yet?'
Time to fix that.
Shwick!
A Divine Spirit Dart flew out.
Perfect for a guy who kept teleporting around.
Once it locked on a target, it pursued relentlessly.
Shwick-shwick-shwick!
"Hah! Blink, Blink, Blink..."
Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh!
The black mage flickered in and out like a ghost.
'Entertaining to watch.'
Funny how he had to shout the spells out loud.
Seemed like verbal incantation was required for activation.
The Divine Spirit Dart was relentless.
It never let go of its locked target.
Dodge and it chased; flee and it pursued; dodge again, and it adjusted course on the fly, no matter where he blinked.
In the end—
Slash!
"Gaaahhh!"
It sliced off the black mage's ear before returning to Taeju's hand.
"How's that sting?"
"Y-You bastard!"
Still not enough?
The poison should be kicking in by now...
Suddenly, the man flinched.
His expression changed.
"...Poison?"
"Yeah. You must've heard the rumors about me."
"This petty poison—Poison Detox!"
Ssssh.
Demonic energy flowed from the black mage's hand, enveloping his body.
But—
"Huh?"
The black mage looked flustered.
Detox wasn't working.
"P-Poison Detox, Poison Detox! Poison Det—"
"Not gonna happen."
As if.
This wasn't ordinary poison.
It came straight from his poison core.
'Mana should dry up soon.'
Elder Edward had no idea what to do.
Every attempt was futile.
Corruption, disease—none worked.
He hadn't even used poison.
This was a curse.
A curse infused with the grudges of demonic realm spirits.
It should've stuck no matter what.
But it felt like it wasn't affecting him at all.
At this rate, he'd get caught.
His black magic power was already vanishing in chunks from the poison.
'I didn't want to use this...'
He had to decide.
Hesitate, and he'd miss the timing.
Edward bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
And then—
"Demonic Sacrifice."
A spell to offer half his lifespan to a demonic contractor in exchange for boosted magic power.
"Guhk!"
His heart felt like it would burst.
But the pain soon returned as immense power.
"I'll burn you to ashes!"
"No fuel around, though?"
Edward chanted in some unknown tongue.
Taeju watched to see what he'd do.
Moments later.
"Hellfire."
As the incantation finished, the air grew sweltering.
Then—
Zzzzzzzt!
An ominous pentagram spread across the rooftop floor.
'What?'
Whoosh!
Black flames erupted from the rooftop everywhere.
From all sides, impossible to dodge.
Edward sneered.
"Uahaha! Hellfire that never extinguishes. Let's see if you can keep talking while your body burns!"
Once Hellfire completed, flames rose everywhere, incinerating all life.
"The price of carelessness."
Kim Taeju should've rushed before the spell finished.
Even then, it probably would've gone off anyway.
Poison?
Fire was poison's natural counter, wasn't it?
Fwwoom,
The concrete floor melted under the intense heat.
Everything but where he stood was a sea of fire.
'...That was close.'
He'd almost gotten caught himself.
But he'd killed him anyway.
Then—
Step, step.
"Hah!"
A figure emerged from the roaring inferno.
"You...?"
Kim Taeju?
Alive?
How?
And unscathed, at that.
Not even a scorch mark.
"Fine, I'll admit it. I got careless. Wasted a precious talisman because of you."
"T-Talisman?"
"I've seen all I need to..."
Shh.
Following Phantom Bewilderment Step,
"Let's end this."
Blood Seal Poison Palm.
Bam-bam-bam!
"Kuh!"
Pow-pow-pow!
"D-Dark Barrier."
Zing!
A protective shield rose.
But—
Bam! Bam-bam-bam-bam!
Taeju's blood-red palm hammered the shield and the black mage's entire body.
Twaang!
The barrier began to crack.
"Gaaah! S-Stop! Stooop—"
Taeju ignored him, pounding relentlessly.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
A thorough poison massage.
To spread it evenly.
He injected a top-tier truth serum.
A hallucinogenic poison that shattered mental defenses.
Far superior to what he'd used on the True Demon handler in Chinatown's sewers, slave to the Heavenly Demon.
This one was laced with hallucinogens from the demon realm next to the immortal world—human-faced spider poison, no less.
The effects showed quickly.
Blurk!
Blood spewed from his mouth, but his eyes grew dazed.
Even the fierce flames died down.
Edward collapsed limply.
He wouldn't last.
Until his life force flickered out, he'd spill everything.
"Talk. Who are you?"
"...Edward. El-Elder of the Black Mafia. 7th-class black mage."
"Ah, yeah. Black mage Edward. So what's the Black Mafia?"
"The Black Mafia is..."
Right then!
Woooong!
Edward's body began to inflate like a balloon.
"Knew it."
This guy wasn't the soul link's main host.
Just a minion, after all.
The real boss was elsewhere.
A preemptive gag order to silence him before secrets spilled.
The world was full of Heavenly Demon types.
"Think I'd let you die?"
He'd seen this before.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Not twice."
Taeju gripped the inflating Edward's meridian point.
Shhh.
He pushed in poison energy.
Couldn't let him die yet.
He needed intel on the Black Mafia.
The True Demon handler had died mid-confession too.
He'd only learned the group was in the Gobi Plateau region—no real gains.
That's how he'd caught the Heavenly Demon back then.
All thanks to Absolute Poison Demon Dang Gunak.
Meeting him in Hwangcheon's Avici Hell.
And that pathetic Heavenly Demon, despising each other so much he'd begged for death while blabbing everything.
Couldn't let this one go the same way.
No leads on the boss if he died here.
Shhh,
Taeju kept injecting poison.
Mana-extraction compound poison.
The poison devoured the demonic energy.
Pffft, air hissed out of the ballooning body.
'Stabilized?'
He steadily injected more truth serum and mana-extraction poison.
"What's the Black Mafia?"
"Organization founded 20 years ago. Rules Europe's underworld. Dozens of subcontracted groups."
It poured out smoothly.
"...Elder council. Five elders."
"Are the elders the Black Mafia's leaders?"
"We're executives. He decides everything."
"He? Who?"
"He is..."
Then—
"Keurk!"
Edward suddenly groaned.
Then—
He grabbed Taeju's hand fiercely.
Wooo...
Demonic power flowed again.
[Aaah!]
Edward's eyes changed at the same time.
Black sclera, no whites.
Like a different person entirely.
He slowly turned, locking eyes with Taeju.
[Not bad. Alchemy's not all you have, huh.]
What?
This wasn't Edward.
Had to be the "he" he'd mentioned.
Black mage Edward was just a conduit for conversation.
"You the Black Mafia boss?"
[Boss? Nah, just an organization I made 'cause moving myself is a hassle.]
Taeju probed immediately.
"Soul linker, then."
[...You know about that? Heh heh heh. No wonder Edward lost. Who's yours?]
"You first. Who're you linked to?"
[Heh heh heh, cheeky. A mere human soul dares ask? Souls have ranks too. You think you can know mine? I've dealt with plenty like you.]
Plenty?
More soul linkers.
[...And you're already caught.]
"What?"
Suddenly!
Thick demonic energy poured through Edward's meridian into Taeju.
Flooding his veins, heading for his brain.
[Bow your head. I'll let you stand by my side.]
'What the hell's this guy doing?'
[Don't resist. Submit. Obey. Power and glory will be yours.]
'Some kind of brainwashing spell.'
Demonic energy trying to invade his mind.
[A puny human soul can't defy a great being. Accept gladly—you're worthy to stand by me.]
"Pass."
[...What?]
"Who do you think you're messing with? Cocky prick!"
Great being, my ass.
Daring to pull this in front of an immortal.
[Y-You're unaffected?]
This guy was nothing special either.
His demonic energy devoured by the trace pure energy Taeju carried.
※ ※ ※
Fierce combat raged on the building's mid-floors too.
Tsring!
Sword energy threaded from Jeong Yeonhui's Great Thunder Divine Sword.
Clang-clang-clang!
It clashed with the mine's aura and claws.
"Eugh!"
Jeong Yeonhui retreated repeatedly.
Her internals shook.
The mine Mo Yeonggang's claws aimed for her throat,
Twaang,
She barely deflected with her sword.
'P-Power's lacking.'
Her mana reserves couldn't match.
She'd held out this long thanks to the exquisite Subduing Demon Sword forms and her unbreakable Great Thunder Divine Sword against mine aura.
No ordinary mine.
He was toying with her.
But her father's killer—she'd end him no matter what.
"Stupid bitch! You should've begged Kim Taeju not to go. Pleaded."
"Shut your trap!"
Swoosh!
Jeong Yeonhui closed in fast.
Swish!
Claws flew.
She ducked slightly, letting them pass.
Then One-Line Demon Slash,
The shortest path, straight-line strike.
But—
Clang!
Blocked again.
A barrier this time.
Demonic barrier only Masters among mines could use.
Sword aura might've pierced it, but sword gang...
"Kekeke, can't even use Mana Blade, yet you challenge me?"
"Shut up!"
Mo Yeonggang sneered.
Her skills weren't ordinary, he'd admit.
She'd nearly sliced him more than once.
Still, the power gap was clear.
'Pathetic wench.'
Time to wrap up.
Mo Yeonggang opted for brute force.
Just raise his arm.
"Block this!"
Swoosh!
Downward slash from above.
Clang!
Jeong Yeonhui strained to parry.
Swoosh!
Clang!
"...Ah!"
Swoosh!
Clang!
Blood vessels burst in her eyes.
Swoosh!
Clang!
Her knees buckled involuntarily.
"Eugh!"
Swoosh!
Clang!
Grip weakened on her sword.
"No fun anymore."
"F-Fuck..."
Mo Yeonggang readied the finishing blow.
Kill her, then join Elder Edward on the roof.
Help kill Kim Taeju, maybe learn that strange black magic.
"Die!"
That instant!
He froze.
A chilling killing intent stabbed his nape.
"Grrrrrr..."
Mine Mo Yeonggang's body locked up.
A horrific beastly aura bloomed.
'What?'
Some beast?
Here? Just him, the girl, and the cat...
"Hah!"
Mo Yeonggang startled.
The small, frail-looking cat was gone.
Instead, a massive white tiger with glossy fur and bared fangs prowled leisurely around.
'...Elite?'
No.
Far beyond elite.
The tiger's eyes fixed on him.
Just looking made his skin crawl.
"Grrrr."
A low growl pierced his lungs.
Gulp,
Mo Yeonggang swallowed dryly.
The young bitch was no longer his concern.
Wooo!
He poured all his aura into his claws.
Zing!
Braced for the super-elite beast's attack.
The white tiger lowered into a pounce stance.
Suddenly!
"Ilbaek! Stop!"
Jeong Yeonhui wedged between them.
"...Gr?"
"Sorry, but give me one more shot."
"Grrrng,"
"If I screw up again, you take over. Please."
The three-headed white tiger pondered.
Frail female.
But owner's friend—couldn't let her die.
Save her.
The filthy-smelling human was tough, but in true form, he could crush him one-paw.
Yet she wanted a chance?
Hmm?
Looking closer, fierce battle spirit burned in her eyes.
One more chance couldn't hurt.
Ilbaek, the three-headed tiger's second-stage form, slowly walked to a corner and sat.
Jeong Yeonhui took a deep breath.
She'd gotten her shot.
Too hasty before.
Blinded by revenge, just pushing forward.
No more.
Mo Yeonggang, meanwhile, hesitated.
Her alone, maybe.
But that thing behind her was way stronger than an elite beast.
'Run?'
Unfinished building.
Sides walled, front and back open.
'Which way?'
Tiger behind, girl ahead.
Easy choice.
Swoosh!
Mo Yeonggang straightened his claws and charged the rookie.
Jeong Yeonhui gripped her sword hilt softly.
'Coming.'
Subduing Demon Sword wasn't about overpowering force.
That sword demo in the smartphone video.
The Sword Master's sword was soft, he'd said.
Reciting the oral formula he'd taught her, she met the mine's aura claws.
Swoosh!
Struck the claws with her blade's flat, redirecting.
Thung!
Rotated the sword downward.
"Hm?"
As he charged, she gently placed her blade in his path.
"Wh-What?!"
No preemptive thrust.
No slash first.
No clashing force-on-force.
Just tossing the sword into his charge path.
Swoosh!
If he pushed with power, she yielded without resisting,
Shh!
One step to redirect,
Then tap! Deflect again.
Sword energy wove like a net.
Mana flowed like a mighty river.
'So that's how.'
Her form comprehension deepened.
Ragged breaths evened out.
Seamless links flowed like water.
And!
Mana Blade
Exorcism Sword proficiency has reached its peak. (100%)
At the same time!
Zing!
Thick sword gang rippled along the Great Thunder Divine Sword.
Mine Mo Yeonggang's eyes bulged.
"Wh-What the fuck!"
Jeong Yeonhui replied with a cold smile.
"Round two?"