Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Spar with the Martial God
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Atop a colossal mountain formed of bizarre rocks and strange stones.
It towered even higher than the loftiest skyscrapers, with thick clouds blanketing the world below.
"It's been a while."
This was the Martial God's abode—the transcendent realm.
A few months prior.
The first time he'd unleashed the Martial God's martial art, Heaven Shattering Destruction Style.
Shin-hyeok had been summoned here by the Martial God's call. Now returning to the unchanged landscape, he wore a soft smile as he scanned his surroundings.
But sightseeing was brief.
"Long time no see."
"Cheok No-sa. It's been ages."
"I watched your exploits closely. Seeing you wield Heaven Shattering Destruction Style so well stirred my blood for the first time in ages."
"Glad to hear it. I was worried my meager skills might disappoint you."
The Martial God, Cheok No-sa, had appeared without a whisper of presence.
Shin-hyeok had grown so strong that even among Diamond ranks, he had few equals—now discussing heavenly realms beyond. Yet before Cheok No-sa, he felt no different from his Silver days.
His polite response drew a hearty laugh from Cheok No-sa.
"Hahaha! How could I be disappointed in a player like you, one I've never seen the likes of? More than that, your kind demands we look to the future, not the present. Even giants were children once. Does anyone dismiss a giant for that? You just need time—and it doesn't seem like it'll take long."
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
With light small talk done, Cheok No-sa cut straight to the point.
"You've been using that Heavenly Demon fellow's martial arts a lot lately."
"I use Heaven Shattering Destruction Style plenty too."
"Tch! That's a given—doesn't count."
"Ah."
Cheok No-sa clearly disliked Shin-hyeok frequently employing the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It irked him that someone who could be called his successor was using arts akin to his rival's.
But Shin-hyeok stood firm.
"It's in my nature—I can't help it. Mastering a bunch of different things suits me. Being an All Master... isn't that great?"
"True martial arts demand total devotion to one path just to reach true mastery..."
"That's why I chose to dive into many."
"...You don't yield an inch."
"Your interest in me is a tremendous honor, and I can't deny Heaven Shattering Destruction Style has been a huge asset. But that doesn't mean I can abandon my other powers and focus solely on it."
"Hmph. Scattered techniques are just scraps, no matter how many you gather. Think a hundred twigs can withstand a steel sword? Same principle."
Of course, Cheok No-sa didn't back down either.
He had a point—in fact, he was right.
In the long history of the Dimension Arena, as he said, specialists vastly outshone generalists.
Cheok No-sa himself embodied his words.
He'd reached the pinnacle with nothing but his own body.
Among the countless Constellations in the Dimension Arena—like stars in the sky—he stood as one of the elite high-rankers, proving his philosophy.
But—
"If a hundred twigs won't do, gather a thousand. If a thousand falls short, make it ten thousand."
"...So no changing your mind, then?"
"No. And I told the Heavenly Demon the same... Heaven Shattering Destruction Style is just one branch among the many I'm collecting. A bit different from the rest—a thick club, at least."
"Ha, hahaha! Calling Heaven Shattering Destruction Style—the culmination of my martial arts—a mere twig. You say that to my face and expect to live?"
"Said the exact same to the Heavenly Demon, and he said the exact same back. Yet here I stand before you. Proof enough, right?"
"Fine. I'll test that boldness—or arrogance—myself."
As with the Heavenly Demon, Shin-hyeok held the same stance before the Martial God.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art? Heaven Shattering Destruction Style?
Just one card among many in his hand.
A joker-tier card compared to the rest, sure—but still just a card.
Naturally, the Martial God grinned coldly, eager to test him.
"Fine. I'll scrape together everything I've got and show you."
"Brace yourself. No matter how many twigs, they're still twigs."
Shin-hyeok brimmed with confidence; the Martial God sneered.
"Just widen this place a bit first. Too cramped for my full power."
"Child's play."
Boom—rumble rumble rumble!
No sooner had he spoken than the Martial God stomped lightly, expanding the bizarre rock platform beneath them dozens of times over.
Now the size of a couple football fields—an intimidating arena ready, Shin-hyeok began unleashing everything.
"Necromancy, Spirit Art."
Rumble rumble rumble! Whoosh!
He started with Necromancy and Spirit Art.
These quantity-over-quality specialists activated, filling the massive arena with undead and spirits.
-...Hm.
-...Whoa.
-Scary! Scary!
-So strong...
Even the fearless undead sighed in dread, and the ever-cheerful spirits of pure thought froze solid.
Of course, they were mere basic implants to bog down the Martial God.
"Shield, Reinforced Shield, Elemental Shield, Divine Barrier, Protective Aura, Protective Demonic Aura."
Shiiiing!
Dozens of protective layers enveloped Shin-hyeok's body.
Magic, demonic energy, mana, holy power.
A riot of multicolored shields forged through diverse means.
And it didn't end there.
"Familiar Summon."
"...Incredible—and ridiculous. Never thought I'd face a Constellation directly."
"Scared?"
"As if. Death is like the wind—always at my side. Dying to a Constellation? No greater honor. I'll stake everything."
Familiar Summon.
This called forth Tarkhan.
One of Shin-hyeok's strongest cards.
With his Diamond vanguard secured, he pressed on.
"Tai Chi Divine Art, Heavenly Demon Divine Art."
The core arts from the Martial God and Heavenly Demon.
They rapidly restored his spent mana and demonic energy.
Gulp gulp!
He chugged Hyo-rin's special doping potions from his inventory like water—potions worth hundreds of thousands each.
Surrounded by undead, spirits, and Tarkhan, Shin-hyeok faced the Martial God and drew Chungmugong's Bow.
"Enlarge."
Rumble rumble rumble!
The already massive greatbow swelled to giant size—fit for a titan.
Even Shin-hyeok struggled to wield it, but he ignored that.
"Compress."
Crunch crunch crunch!
For this alone, he'd embedded the Rune: Compression.
Compression shrank weapons, boosting density and attack power—a double-edged blade.
Paired with Enlargement, it erased the flaw and amplified the boon.
Compression converted shrinkage directly to attack power.
Thus, Chungmugong's Bow—Legend+ with Legend-capped attack—shattered its limits.
Now worthy of Mythic in raw attack power.
Screeech!
Shin-hyeok gripped the now-manageable bowstring and drew it taut.
His Platinum-boosted physical stats, further enhanced by doping.
And finally—
"Mana, demonic energy, holy power—Triple Aura Fusion—Reinforce."
Body enhancement via his three energies.
All blended like an Oriental salad in that instant.
Shin-hyeok was fully prepped.
"Here I come."
"Bring it."
Yet the Martial God—who'd waited patiently—showed no worry.
One hand behind his back, the other casually extended toward Shin-hyeok in perfect ease.
Seeing this, Shin-hyeok silently triggered the bow's innate skills.
"Hundred Bulls Hundred Hits, Focused Fire, Perfect Clarity."
Hundred Bulls countered evasion.
Focused Fire made up for power.
Perfect Clarity eliminated any tremor.
This trinity enveloped him.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
The arrow left his hand, hurtling toward the Martial God.
Not slicing air—it tore it apart.
The Martial God smirked and slashed with his open hand.
Craaaaaack!
Shin-hyeok's all-out strike.
Shattered in one hand chop.
A scene to sap fighting spirit—but Shin-hyeok calmly nocked a second arrow and shouted.
"Everyone, charge!"
"Eagle's Eye, Deer's Legs, Wind's Embrace, Earth's Charge. Finally, Frenzy and Madness Unleashed."
At Shin-hyeok's cry, Tarkhan chanted spells to buff the undead.
Spirits, being ethereal, were exempt.
-Graaaargh!
-Raaaaargh!
-Kieeeek!
Mindless undead led, backed by higher undead with ego.
Fearless of any foe without minds of their own.
The elites behind eyed chances to unleash pinpoint power.
"Those returned from death fear nothing. But they're still once-dead beings. I've crushed death itself—think they can touch me?"
-...!!!
Kwagagagagak!
But their attacks never reached.
Instead, snared by the Martial God's whip-like kicks, they shattered.
Yet they pressed on relentlessly.
-Ooooh!
-Can't miss a chance to land one on a Constellation.
-All for our lord! For the great Lord of Death!
-Charge! Forward!
Bodies crumbling, they regenerated via Shin-hyeok's vast mana and advanced—finally grabbing the Martial God's ankle.
"Rising Shackles, Growing Vines, Whirling Winds, Earth Shatter!"
Quadududuk—Kwaaaaaang!
Tarkhan capped it off.
Ignoring his own safety, he poured spells solely to hinder movement—then slammed his massive frame down.
Dozens of tons crashed onto the Martial God, who simply raised his forearm to block.
Astoundingly, the ground under him didn't sink a single centimeter.
He'd dispersed and deflected it all.
Godlike technique—but Tarkhan kept attacking undeterred.
Bang! Kwaang! Bang! Bang bang bang bang!
Tarkhan was a classic warrior.
Overwhelming foes with heavy glaive swordplay.
"Amusing. An orc with such talent? Dimensions abound, universe is vast. Pity—I'm not here to test your martial arts."
"...Kuh!"
Against him, the Martial God stayed utterly relaxed—one hand behind his back, countering solely with the other.
Like an adult guiding a child in sparring.
Tarkhan knew the gap best, yet swallowed a groan despite foreknowing it.
Ultimately, a casual straight punch hurled him back.
Skipping across the ground like a stone on water, Tarkhan stared incredulously at his chest.
"What monstrous penetrating power."
He'd deployed his ritual armor to block—but it was unscathed.
Inside, his organs were mush.
Worse, meridians and mana circuits torn—he was out.
"Rest there. You could force it, but you'd know it wouldn't help."
"...My thanks for the mercy, Martial God."
"Now, what of your lord—"
Pleased with Tarkhan, the Martial God had merely disabled him. Turning leisurely to where Shin-hyeok had been firing arrows—
His relaxed face hardened.
"Road roller!!!"
"...What."
High above.
Shin-hyeok rode a massive iron dragon-headed ship plummeting like a meteor shower toward the ground.
Against a tough, punchy musclehead, nothing beat dropping a road roller (or equivalent), as even ancient Goguryeo watermelon scrolls attested.
Shin-hyeok rammed the Turtle Ship straight into the Martial God's transcendent realm with a bright smile.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaang!!!
The arena the Martial God had so kindly prepared crumbled in that moment.