Chapter 140: 9-Quad. How the Heavenly Demon Deals with a Gank
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: 9-Quad. How the Heavenly Demon Deals with a Gank
“Bronze Monster!”
Nam Sa-gwang’s eyebrows twitched at the name. Despite the clear irritation, he forced a thin smile and spoke.
“Old hag. I know you’re happy to see me after all this time, but let’s not go throwing around forgotten nicknames. No one even knows that name anymore. Would you like it if I started calling you the Northern Madwoman?”
“You brat! You’re the only one in the entire Gangho who ever dared to call me that!”
In an instant, she exploded with frigid qi and lunged forward. Nam Sa-gwang rushed to meet her.
Whoosh!
The moment the two collided, a fierce pressure swallowed the surroundings, forcing the nearby martial artists to scramble backward.
Clang!
After the initial clash, the woman leaped back, her face contorting in shock.
“You’ve opened your Baihui Acupoint!”
“I was always a step faster than you, old hag.”
“You persistent—!”
As she prepared to strike again, Nam Sa-gwang held up both hands.
“Calm down. You didn’t show yourself after over a hundred years of seclusion just to have a life-and-death struggle with me, did you?”
At his words, her expression returned to a cold, emotionless mask. She shifted her gaze to Lyle, who stood behind Nam Sa-gwang.
“I heard that those from another world were massacring innocent civilians. I came out to see if such an atrocity was true, and it seems the rumors weren't exaggerated.”
Nam Sa-gwang narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t tell me you killed an Otherworlder?”
“What a foolish question. Why would I leave those who pollute this world alive?”
Nam Sa-gwang, once known as the God of Combat, let out a long sigh at the words of the Ice Empress, Seo Seol-hee.
“Then you must have obtained the right to participate in Cloyd.”
She cast a questioning look at him.
“I’ve heard such talk. You know something, don’t you?”
“I might. But I don’t really want to tell you.”
“Bronze Monster!”
The warriors of the Ice Empress Castle who accompanied her couldn't hide their bewilderment. Their ancestor, an absolute master who had lived in seclusion within the castle, had never shown such raw emotion in their entire lives.
“Call me by my proper title. I’m the God of Combat. What’s with this ‘Bronze Monster’ nonsense?”
“Hmph! A God of Combat? Don’t make me laugh. ‘Rejuvenated Freak’ suits you much better.”
“And what about you, old hag? You and I are in the same boat, trapped in the snare of Rejuvenation. Aside from Nam-hyeon and Buk-geol, we’re the failures.”
At the mention of those two nostalgic names, her eyes momentarily clouded with memories.
The four martial artists, who had made names for themselves since their days as rising stars, had spent their lives together—sometimes clashing, sometimes forging deep bonds of friendship.
Ju Myeon-cheon, praised as the Star of Nam-hyeon; Buk Tae-ryong, also known as Ja Geol-ryun; the Ice Empress Seo Seol-hee; and the God of Combat Nam Sa-gwang. They were the absolute masters who had dominated an era.
“It seems you’ve revealed yourself to the world for the same reason. But why are you with that Otherworlder?”
“Things aren't that simple. Think of it as being in a position between the Righteous and Unorthodox factions, just like you. Not all Otherworlders are enemies. Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”
The Ice Empress, her pride wounded by his cryptic answer, didn't press further. As she ground her teeth, her cheeks trembling slightly, Lyle spoke up cautiously.
“We came here under rules forced upon us by an Otherworld through something called a game.”
Her gaze fixed on Lyle.
“A game?”
“Yes. It’s like this…”
As Lyle began to explain everything that had happened, the Ice Empress approached him. When Lyle blushed at her fair skin and the beautiful features visible through her veil, she knelt down to match his eye level.
“You’ve endured such hardships at such a young age.”
The moment her hand stroked Lyle’s hair, an inexplicable surge of warmth rose in his chest. Seeing the young Ice Empress look at him with pity, Lyle wiped his eyes, feeling embarrassed, and shook his head.
“I-I’m okay. I’ve gained a lot thanks to this game.”
“Seeing as that Bronze Monster—who at least pretends to be a member of the Righteous Faction—is looking after you, you don’t seem to be evil. Now, would you mind explaining the rules of this ‘game’ to me again?”
“Tch.”
Nam Sa-gwang didn't stop Lyle from freely sharing information. Given her status, it was obvious she would soon become a regular player and rise to the Crown rank.
It’s a cursed fate. I just can’t seem to shake her off.
Whether she noticed his thoughts or not, the Ice Empress’s attention remained fixed on Lyle.
Jin Long and Jeok-chen, who arrived late to the scene, saw the warriors of the Ice Empress Castle and approached them with cautious greetings. Although they had never encountered the Ice Empress Castle directly, they had heard countless rumors.
They were a neutral power, neither Righteous nor Unorthodox, but their defining trait was their icy killing intent and willingness to engage in life-and-death duels over the slightest insult. Their masters had warned them often.
— If you encounter a warrior of the Ice Empress Castle, never think of them as merely women. —
The warning that an icy blade would fall the moment one treated them as the fairer sex had remained unforgotten in the Gangho even during the thirty-year void.
“I see. It’s hard to believe, but having seen and experienced it with my own eyes, I have no choice. You’ve told me much that is helpful. And… I now understand why that fellow is participating in such a game.”
Lyle smiled at her words as she glared at Nam Sa-gwang.
“He probably found a clue there, didn’t he?”
“If you’re curious, experience it for yourself.”
“Do you think I couldn't?”
Nam Sa-gwang’s eyes twitched as she snapped back without yielding an inch.
Before long, Seo-un, who had fully replenished his Immortal Qi, and Li Lingwei’s group, who had been bathing, appeared in the empty North Gate market.
The Ice Empress cast a gaze at Juriel and Seo-un, an amused smile playing on her lips.
“Did you also obtain that power from that place?”
Seo-un studied the Ice Empress for a moment before glancing at Nam Sa-gwang. His look clearly asked, Who is this?
“She’s an old hag from the Ice Empress Castle who lived in the same era as me. Don’t be fooled by her appearance,” Nam Sa-gwang replied.
Seo-un nodded slowly. The overwhelming presence she naturally exuded due to her immense internal power reminded him of Nam Sa-gwang when he wasn't suppressing his aura.
“If ‘that place’ refers to Cloyd, then yes.”
The Ice Empress’s eyes narrowed as Seo-un answered without using formal honorifics.
“An interesting fellow. I hope to see you there in the future.”
Nam Sa-gwang shook his head as she released a chilling aura at the end of her sentence.
— Don’t make unnecessary enemies. That old hag’s nickname is the Northern Madwoman. There’s no woman crazier than her in the North.
Seo-un involuntarily gulped at Nam Sa-gwang’s warning. Despite her youthful appearance, the subtle killing intent and coldness she radiated felt incredibly aggressive.
Sensing that getting involved with her would bring no good, Seo-un prepared to settle things and leave.
— Let’s move out if there’s nothing else.
“Well, it seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
With those words, Li Min took Lyle’s hand and led him away.
The group returned to the inn and took a seat in a quiet corner on the third floor. Jeok-chen, the leader of the Byeokryeok Squad and a friend of Jin Long, was also with them.
“So, you want the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance to issue a grand ultimatum to hunt them down?”
“Yes. The martial artists among the players massacring civilians were definitely hiding their faces. That means most of them are people who would be in trouble if their identities were revealed.”
Jin Long nodded in agreement with Seo-un.
“Not most, but all of them. Aside from the Demonic Fiends of the Demonic Cult, there is no place for anyone who commits such acts in either the Righteous or Unorthodox factions.”
“We’ll use that. This game is a Quad game. If we suppress the martial artists, the entire squad connected to them will inevitably be hindered. At the very least, it’s perfect for destabilizing their teams. And to do that…”
“We’ll need an example.”
Jin Long finished the sentence and placed several wooden plaques on the table.
Looking at the six wooden plaques, Jeok-chen asked, “What are those?”
“Wooden plaques of the Seongeom Sect disciples. They were killing civilians while masking their faces.”
Jeok-chen’s eyes widened as he picked up a plaque and examined it closely.
“M-Main sect disciples? And first-generation disciples at that… Don’t tell me the ‘example’ is…?”
“Please convey my intentions to my master.”
Jeok-chen looked at Jin Long, his face pale.
“Are you serious? The Seongeom Sect is… his maternal family.”
“I know. But this incident must be settled decisively. Otherwise, the same thing will keep happening. I cannot prioritize personal matters when the lives of so many are at stake.”
Knowing Jin Long well, Jeok-chen knew he wouldn't change his mind.
Seo-un changed the subject to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
“I’m changing our future route. Until now, we’ve mostly traveled through places away from public eyes, but now that the martial artists of this world are taking action, we’ll focus on large towns and cities to hunt down those hiding and picking off people.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. As long as he had his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, it was impossible for any player to escape his sight, no matter where they hid. He could easily distinguish players from ordinary people, not just by their hostility.
After discussing their future route and plans for a while longer, they prepared to leave immediately. Jeok-chen spoke to Jin Long.
“Please, be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
And so, under the cover of night, Seo-un’s group left the city and began running along the main road.
“Dammit. They’re following us after all.”
Seo-un shook his head at Nam Sa-gwang’s irritated grumbling. The other team members didn't understand why he was reacting that way, but they soon realized as a group of martial artists began following them overtly from behind.
The warriors of the Ice Empress Castle were tailing them.
* * *
Seo-un hadn't paid much attention while operating his regular squad, but the influence of guilds within Cloyd was enormous.
In any world, numbers equal power. And the more numbers you have, the greater that power becomes.
This was why guilds in Cloyd were desperate to build a large pool of players for each rank. It increased the probability of being matched with fellow guild members during a game.
Naturally, players gravitated toward ranks with higher populations, but guilds put all their effort into recruiting even a single additional player.
As soon as the guild system was updated, the Red Flag Guild, led by Daipale, had gathered members and grown into the largest guild currently existing in Cloyd.
With over 10,000 players, this guild exerted power in both reality and Cloyd by sharing vast amounts of information from the three worlds. The guild chat had become a massive organization where collective intelligence from all walks of life helped solve problems in various maps and reality.
Nearly a thousand members of the Red Flag Guild had been caught in this game. After analyzing various pieces of information, they, who had been operating in the shadows without massacring civilians until now, were about to make their move.
“Second Leader. As you can see, this is the situation.”
The eyes of the Second Leader, Kairou, who had seized a large mountain stronghold, sparkled. He had a typical Sisul Tribe appearance, with a unique hairstyle that looked like a queue and distinctive tattoos running from his face to his flank. He curled his lip into a smirk.
“What does the guild say?”
“The Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance are quite involved with our guild members. Bosses and buffs are out of the question. However, there wasn't a single guild member associated with the Sun and Moon Divine Cult.”
At those words, he stood up and picked up a spiked iron mace.
“Are you sure we can seal him?”
“It seems so. Opinions were divided in the guild chat, but the conclusion was that if we can just tie down his Nascent Soul, our strength is more than enough.”
“The route?”
“If we follow the path laid out by the guild members of this world, we can avoid the eyes of the subjugation force. And as if luck is on our side, he’s nearby.”
Kairou began to walk. As he left the stronghold, players gathered from all directions until, eventually, a thousand players followed behind him.
The rule in this map that shared time and space was incredibly advantageous for guilds. Properly understanding and utilizing this broken rule that allowed them to draw on the information of all guild members, they began their hunt for the Epic Monster, the Heavenly Demon.
Even as he watched the thousand players surrounding him, the Heavenly Demon stood still, observing them.
“Is this the arrogance of the Rank 1 Crown?”
At Kairou’s question, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze, which had been scanning the crowd, shifted to him.
“Arrogance is a term for those who lack substance. For me, you can simply call it composure.”
The moment he finished speaking, his Nascent Soul erupted from his chest. The Nascent Soul, a perfect replica of the Heavenly Demon’s essence, crossed its arms arrogantly and looked around at the players.
It was completely unfazed.
At that moment, formation masters positioned here and there began to act. These players, who specialized in Taoist arts, formations, and alchemy, slammed iron rods pulled from their subspaces into the ground. The rods immediately resonated with each other, activating a formation.
Rumble!
With a thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth, chains of blinding light shot out from all directions, coiling around the Heavenly Demon’s Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul, caught by dozens of chains, struggled, but the chains that pulled it toward the center held firm.
“Do you still have your composure?”
The Heavenly Demon, who had been calmly watching Kairou, slightly furrowed his brow.
“You’re using petty tricks, unlike a typical Sisul warrior.”
As he spoke, his expression shifted. His lips curled into a wide, manic grin, as if he had just discovered a fascinating new toy.
“How entertaining!”
In that instant, his body blurred into motion.
“Debuffs!!”
At Kairou’s shout, countless debuffs rained down on the Heavenly Demon. Debuffs to make his body heavy. Debuffs to restrict his stats. Even debuffs to amplify his emotional volatility.
The more debuffs poured down, the deeper the Heavenly Demon’s manic smile became.
Drawing his sword to carve through flesh and bone, firing Sword Qi and Sword Aura, using palm techniques and Finger Wind—this was a life-and-death struggle against a swarming enemy.
The Heavenly Demon’s ecstasy grew as he engaged in the blood-splattered battle he had missed for so long.
The chilling sensation that he might die if he made a mistake.
The stray weapons that managed to pierce through his Aura Barrier.
The tearing of flesh and the searing pain.
How much had he craved all of this?
At this moment, he felt truly alive. As the battle continued, the Heavenly Demon’s pleasure reached its peak.
Boom!
His stomp overturned the earth, causing the surrounding players to falter. In that moment, the Heavenly Demon threw himself at them, his sword and hands a blur of motion.
Wherever he passed, screams and blood erupted.
After Kairou, who had confidently led the charge, was killed, the battle devolved into complete chaos. Having lost their focal point, the guild members’ collective mind was being swallowed by the Heavenly Demon’s madness, unable to think of anything but killing him.
One against a thousand.
With his Nascent Soul bound and his abilities halved by numerous debuffs, the Heavenly Demon’s overwhelming martial prowess gradually dyed the players with terror.
It was only when fewer than 300 of them remained that they noticed something strange.
“H-He has no intention of breaking the formation!”
If he had wanted to, he could have destroyed the iron rods forming the formation long ago, but he hadn't. Furthermore, he wasn't targeting the alchemists or witches.
He has no intention of lifting the restrictions.
The moment that realization dawned, similar shouts erupted from all sides.
“Run!”
“We can’t win!”
“Scatter and escape!”
The moment they were swallowed by the surging wave of panic, the Heavenly Demon’s peak excitement was ruined. His clothes were already soaked crimson with blood, and his manic smile slowly faded.
“...”
Watching the enemies flee in all directions, he lightly swung his sword.
In that instant, the thirty iron rods holding his Nascent Soul were severed, and the spirit was set free.
The Nascent Soul, releasing its pent-up rage the moment it was liberated, annihilated the remaining thousand-plus players who had set out to hunt an Epic Monster.
“If only there had been a thousand Crown ranks…”
His expression returned to one of indifference, as if lamenting the end of a brief diversion with challengers who only had numbers on their side.
* * *
“This is…”
As Li Min trailed off, unable to finish her sentence, Seo-un nodded.
“They tried to hunt the Heavenly Demon and got wiped out instead.”
“Is this even possible? The number of survivors dropped by over a thousand.”
Li Min said, looking at the survivor list in disbelief.
“With ten thousand participants, there are many lower-ranked players in this round. It wouldn't have been difficult for the Heavenly Demon.”
With those words, Seo-un began to move again.
Recalling his past fight with the demon, Seo-un’s eyes grew heavy as he ran forward.