Chapter 185 – The Final War (2)

A massive explosion erupted, and a cloud of dust obscured the surroundings. However, the blast stirred up a fierce wind, and the dust cloud soon dissipated.

The only one left standing within it was Yong-hoon. With an unfazed expression, he looked down at the demonic beings, their bodies torn to shreds, and then turned around.

At that moment, he could feel it. The very air around him was violently churning.

“Who is it? Who is emitting such an immense wave of energy?”

As the tremendous energy burst forth, darkness began to gather and surge around him. It was darker, more sinister, and more intense than any demonic energy Kang Yong-hoon had ever felt.

Yong-hoon activated all his senses and was finally able to see a man. He was a man with a robust build and a tall stature.

A large saber was fastened to his waist. His powerful physique and the saber at his hip were enough to intimidate ordinary people, but Yong-hoon was warier of the man’s presence than his physical form.

“I was drawn by a rather intense energy, but I never imagined it would be a master of the Profound Realm. And one as young as you, at that. Are you Kang Yu-jin, the Patriarch of the True Dragon Sword Clan? To think the one our Patriarch has so longed for would be in a place like this. The Patriarch of the True Dragon Sword Clan is truly diligent. My name is Cheon Yeop-sang. My title is the Saber Demonic King.”

Yong-hoon was well aware of the Saber Demonic King. He was one of the four Vice-Patriarchs of the Demonic Cult. It was said that he was originally a Supreme Demon, but news had spread that they had reached the Profound Realm at the same time as Great Dharma Master Gak-won’s passing.

Upon hearing that news, Yong-hoon felt a shiver run down his spine as he looked at the man himself. He was a formidable warrior, no less powerful than Yu-jin, who had always been a wall for him to overcome.

“My name is not Kang Yu-jin. He is my elder brother. My name is Kang Yong-hoon!”

At Kang Yong-hoon’s shout, Cheon Yeop-sang looked dumbfounded. Kang Yu-jin was a powerhouse acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon himself. But to think there was another who had reached the Profound Realm, a mere whelp who looked to have lived less than half of Cheon Yeop-sang’s own life, was nothing short of astonishing.

“As I thought, you True Dragon Sword Clan bastards are dangerous. Alright, Kang Yong-hoon, was it? You could have developed further had you not met me, but what a shame.”

“What nonsense. The one who will die is you!”

*Rooooaaar!*

A tremendous aura began to erupt from Kang Yong-hoon’s entire body.

Sensing it, Cheon Yeop-sang wore an amused expression and drew his saber. Regardless of his age, his opponent was a master of the Profound Realm. A moment of carelessness could mean death, even for him.

“Finding an opponent worth fighting puts me in a good mood. Now, shall we begin!”

Cheon Yeop-sang swung his saber, and a tidal wave of demonic energy surged toward Kang Yong-hoon.

* * *

The Thunder Sword Emperor, Namgung Sang, strode through the empty air. In response, the archers among the demonic beings aimed their bows at him.

In the next moment, hundreds of arrows from powerful bows were fired at Namgung Sang in unison.

It seemed impossible to dodge the rain of arrows in the air, where movement was restricted, and the demonic beings cheered, thinking they had caught a big fish.

But their joy was shattered the moment Namgung Sang swung his sword.

*Craaack!*

The instant a streak of bluish energy formed on his blade, a wave of lightning struck the area.

Soon, the acrid smell of smoke and burning flesh wafted from the surroundings. Directly below Namgung Sang lay dozens of charred corpses turned to ash. Neither the demonic beings nor the living corpses could withstand the Thunder Sword Emperor’s lightning.

Namgung Sang’s face was the very picture of composure as he looked down at the bodies. He was freely displaying the confidence and ease of an absolute being.

“Stop him! We must stop him!”

“As if the likes of you could ever stop me, you children of the Demonic Cult.”

Namgung Sang had gained a small enlightenment while facing the Great Dharma Master of Shaking Heaven. Every time he swung his sword, a bolt of lightning, in no way inferior to a natural one, struck down, burning the bodies of the living corpses and taking the lives of the demonic beings.

He who wielded the power of lightning was truly worthy of being called a Thunder God. Namgung Sang swung his sword once more, and lightning fell.

*Kra-koooom!*

The earth could not withstand the force and a massive fissure formed.

But Namgung Sang’s expression was a mixture of annoyance and a strange excitement. Someone had deflected his attack. This was something absolutely impossible for an ordinary demonic being.

“Hoh? It seems a rather interesting one is about to appear.”

The Thunder Sword Emperor, who had been taking the lives of the demonic beings with almost hollow ease until now, smiled with interest.

He could feel the presence of a master who, though slightly weaker than himself, had clearly reached the Profound Realm.

As if his prediction was correct, a demonic being carrying five spears on his back appeared.

“Five spears and a strength incomparable to the other demonic beings. Are you the one they call the Spear Demonic King, one of the four Vice-Patriarchs?”

At the Thunder Sword Emperor’s question, the man called the Spear Demonic King smiled and cupped his hands in respect.

“It is an honor that the great Thunder Sword Emperor knows my title. My name is Ham Seung-hwan, and though I am lacking, I serve as a Vice-Patriarch of the Western Heaven Demonic Cult.”

Namgung Sang nodded at the sight of Ham Seung-hwan, who spoke cheerfully, unlike a typical demonic cultist.

If such a man were of the Righteous Path, would they not have spent the night drinking together? The thought made him feel a sense of regret, but his opponent was a member of the Demonic Cult, an existence that could never coexist with the Righteous Path.

“I heard the one called the Fist Demonic King was defeated by Great Dharma Master Gak-won without putting up a proper fight. You had best give it your all. I cannot dare say I am stronger than the Great Dharma Master, but I have never once thought myself inferior.”

“Who would not give their all when facing the Thunder Sword Emperor? You need not worry about such things.”

Namgung Sang laughed heartily, even more pleased by Ham Seung-hwan’s words. Then, his laughter vanished. He swung his sword, and a massive bolt of lightning fell toward Ham Seung-hwan. In response, Ham Seung-hwan thrust his spear, imbued with demonic energy.

It was the moment lightning and darkness clashed.

* * *

Although the Fist Demonic King, Guyang Geuk, had been artificially raised to the Profound Realm by the Heavenly Demon, he felt no shame in having become strong that way.

The Western Heaven Demonic Cult pursued the rule of the strong. It was a place where one sought strength by any means necessary.

As such, he had felt pride in his newfound power. But that pride was shattered when he met Great Dharma Master Gak-won. He had been no match at all.

Moreover, even after fighting him, the Great Dharma Master had still managed to inflict a serious blow on the Heavenly Demon, leaving Guyang Geuk feeling nothing but miserable.

So he fought and fought. And he killed and killed the martial artists of the Central Plains. He could not feel the superiority of his martial arts without killing others.

But his slaughter did not last long. And for the third time in his life, he felt the emotion of fear. This fear was more terrifying than any he had ever known.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

Yu-jin sneered as he looked at Guyang Geuk, who was panting for breath. Guyang Geuk flared up at the sneer but could not act recklessly.

It had been a short while since Guyang Geuk had encountered Kang Yu-jin, the Patriarch of the True Dragon Sword Clan. He had been in the midst of his indiscriminate slaughter.

But then, Yu-jin appeared and slashed his body with his sword. Thanks to that, blood was constantly flowing from his chest.

“H-how…”

Guyang Geuk had fought back desperately. He had mobilized all his power to unleash a barrage of punches, but he couldn’t even graze the hem of Yu-jin’s clothes.

Not even when he had submitted to the Heavenly Demon, nor when he was defeated by Great Dharma Master Gak-won, had he felt such a sense of powerlessness.

“If you have anything left, show me. I’ll watch everything you have before I kill you.”

Yu-jin’s arrogant words echoed. In response to those arrogant words, Guyang Geuk buried his fear deep inside and concentrated demonic energy into his right hand.

Then, Guyang Geuk moved toward Yu-jin again at a terrifying speed and threw a punch. A massive force shot in a straight line toward Yu-jin.

“This isn’t enough.”

*Swoosh!*

As Yu-jin lightly swung the Ink Dragon Sword, the black demonic energy was split in two and deflected to either side of him.

It was a strike delivered with all of Guyang Geuk’s might, but it was insufficient to harm Yu-jin.

“As expected of pawns hastily created by the Heavenly Demon, you are full of flaws. You have not truly reached the Profound Realm. The Heavenly Demon merely elevated your bodies to the Profound Realm; you know nothing of its true essence.”

“What did you say!”

Yu-jin’s scathing remarks were words that shattered all the pride Guyang Geuk possessed. And they were words that negated his very being.

Hearing such words, Guyang Geuk could not help but become even more enraged. But Yu-jin did not stop there. Looking at Guyang Geuk, he sheathed the Ink Dragon Sword.

Then, Yu-jin extended one hand forward and beckoned. He was thoroughly ignoring Guyang Geuk.

“You bastard!”

“Why are you so agitated? If I use my sword, you have no chance. Isn’t that why I sheathed it, to give you that chance?”

“Today, I will chew on your flesh and bones and swallow them whole!”

A much more intense energy than before began to flow from Guyang Geuk’s body. He was burning his own innate energy.

On his thick forearms, veins bulged as if worms were crawling beneath the skin. In the next moment, Guyang Geuk’s figure vanished from his spot.

“Did you think you could escape my eyes with just that?”

His speed was so fast that it didn’t even leave an afterimage, but Yu-jin tracked Guyang Geuk’s figure with his eyes and threw a light punch.

*Boom!*

“Keuk!”

With a groan of pain, Guyang Geuk’s body was thrown backward. Both of his arms, which he had crossed to block Yu-jin’s punch, were now swollen.

As Guyang Geuk looked at his own arms, his eyes shimmered with killing intent. He was no match with the sword; if he was also outmatched in fist fighting, his existence was meaningless.

“Do you have the luxury to be distracted?”

Before Yu-jin’s words could even end, a fierce assault began. Dozens of wind fists rained down from the air. But Guyang Geuk did not dodge and instead threw his right fist with all his might.

*Boom!*

A single roar echoed as both of their bodies swayed simultaneously. Astonishingly, Guyang Geuk had managed to block Yu-jin’s assault for the first time.

A pitch-black energy swirled around Guyang Geuk’s fist. Although it lacked a distinct form, its shimmering appearance felt incredibly threatening.

Yu-jin briefly looked at his own fist. A numbing sensation was spreading, suggesting he had taken a considerable impact just now. There was only one type of demonic energy in the world that could inflict such a shock on him, who could easily dissipate most demonic energies.

“Hoh? Did you gain that power by consuming your own life force?”

“I don’t care if I suffer for all eternity in the flames of hell. I will kill you, no matter what!”

Guyang Geuk shouted in a desperate voice. And soon, his terrifying assault began.

“That’s not a bad resolve. But just remember this: sacrificing everything you have doesn’t mean you can achieve everything.”

Yu-jin muttered as he threw a punch.