Chapter 234

‘…Yoon Haecheol managed to create a flow with great difficulty.’

He delivered a completely unexpected blow against Luke, who had been persistently and viciously targeting him.

Frankly, I was greatly concerned because he adopted an even more extreme combat style than I had anticipated, but Yoon Haecheol’s response was excellent.

Now, Luke had to face me and Cheong Soha while sustaining a significant injury to one arm.

“Are you alright?”

“…I think this is as far as I go. I don’t have an ounce of strength left in my fingertips.”

Yoon Haecheol bit his lip with a frustrated expression and struggled to rise from his spot.

His eyes were vividly alive, but in stark contrast, his arm trembled and his legs could no longer properly support his body.

The high-intensity combat had already pushed him to his limit long ago.

“As frustrating as it is…”

Yoon Haecheol then composed himself and stepped back.

A decision to withdraw from the battlefield so as not to hinder the fight.

It must have been a difficult decision to make with vengeance at the forefront, making this a moment where Yoon Haecheol’s desperate desire for victory was keenly felt.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Yeah, I leave the rest to you.”

Until Yoon Haecheol’s figure disappeared, Luke showed no reaction. No, perhaps it’s more accurate to say he couldn’t.

‘Must be in a tough spot.’

The injury he sustained is not something to be taken lightly. Unless he fights me one-on-one, with Cheong Soha by my side, it will return as nothing but the worst possible disadvantage.

Luke, too, was hesitating because he knew that.

‘And in other words, that means…’

It’s consistent with saying an opportunity has come to us.

We must decisively take him down here to secure a complete victory.

To that end, I summoned all the Shikigami I had been saving and deployed them in all directions, as if surrounding the area.

“…You.”

Among them, Hwabaek glared at me with eyes full of discontent,

Because during the last incident, I deliberately prevented her meeting with Yeon Jaki.

However, given the circumstances, the atmosphere was one of letting it pass for now.

“I will explain everything once this matter is over.”

“…You had better provide an answer this one can accept.”

Right. Even after this fight ends, I have a mountain of matters to resolve.

So, I couldn’t afford to collapse helplessly here of all places.

“…Shikigami, is it.”

“You cannot leave this place.”

“Ridiculous talk.”

Luke, who had been deep in thought, soon let out a scoff as if finding it absurd and replied to me.

“Who said anything about running away? Don’t overestimate yourselves. This is merely another mountain I must overcome.”

It was an arrogant declaration, but for a man of Luke’s caliber, it wasn’t particularly wrong.

Even if it’s a fight of many against few, whether it’s Cheong Soha or me, we aren’t insurmountable existences for Luke.

So, making it impossible for him to overcome us was what I had to do from now on.

“Just be careful of the parts I mentioned beforehand.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve kept them all in mind.”

One fact Luke is overlooking.

It’s obvious, of course, but I am aware of all his specialties and unique Cursed Techniques.

And that difference began to manifest outwardly as soon as the battle started.

“Azure Phosphorus Rain.”

“What the…!”

Luke, who showed no intimidation and launched a sharp strike at Cheong Soha, found it instead becoming a perfect counter that began turning back on him.

Furthermore, my strike, aimed at that opening, precisely targeted Luke’s back.

“Seven Generation Strike.”

“Kgh! Wall of the Azure Heavens.”

Crrack!

Zzzezzzerec!

While blocking Cheong Soha’s counterattack, he also reacted perfectly to the Advanced Attack Art Formula aimed at his back.

Truly unbelievable skill and reflexes.

However, I clearly saw a crack form in Luke’s Wall of the Azure Heavens Art Formula.

‘If I use an Art Formula one rank higher, it should work even if it’s not a Forbidden Art.’

My current Advanced Art Formulas can break Luke’s Intermediate-Rank Art Formulas.

The gap, which had seemed almost insurmountably wide, had narrowed this much already.

‘It’s worth a try after all.’

Even under disadvantageous conditions, Luke proved to be a formidable opponent, but conversely, I also gained definite confidence.

In other words, now was truly the beginning of the real battle.

“Clear Path Threads Dwelling of Blossoming Land. Covenant of the Empty Grove. Art of the Target’s Blossom.”

Thudududuk.

Puhwak!

Puhwaak!

From the Spirit Pellets I sent flowing to the ground, strands of blue Spiritual Power surged forth and began targeting Luke’s body.

As mentioned before, if the core of the Art Formula is discerned, it can be Dispelled immediately, a drawback, but in a situation like this, it was instead the optimal move.

‘It’s annoying to leave alone, and if he tries to Dispel the Art Formula, his focus will be divided.’

If the Shikigami surrounding him on all sides continue their pressure, the effect will be doubled.

Whether my thoughts were accurate or not, the moment he responded to the Art Formula, a small opening was revealed in Luke.

And Cheong Soha was not one to miss it.

Chk!

“Rotting Darkness Dispersal, Empty Clear Curse Radiance, Transform Essence Retain Produce Purity.”

One of the Cheong Family ancestors’ Art Formulas I taught Cheong Soha. Bright Moon.

The Cursed Technique previously used by the Hwang Family to open the Pass of the Poisonous Sound was now being unleashed from Cheong Soha’s hands.

Hwoooong!

Pasuseuseuk!

A halo of light swirled around Cheong Soha’s body, enhancing her physical abilities, and soon that light Transferred to the target, Luke, beginning to inflict strikes accompanied by heat.

“Kghuuk.”

After shattering my Art of the Target’s Blossom, Luke immediately countered the Art Formula even while taking damage.

It was Luke’s Unique Art, Wave of Errant Force, which made it easy to grasp a counterattack opportunity from such orthodox Art Formulas.

However.

“I saw it all.”

Cheong Soha, who had somehow infiltrated the Art Formula’s opening, drew the Azure-White Sword from its sheath and fired the Cursed Technique again through the blade.

Hwoong.

Hwarureureuk!

Intense Spiritual Power felt on the skin and a blue aura covering the room like flames.

Though not as potent as the Demon Breaker possessed by the original Yoo Haon, it was her Trait, Cheonghwa, which had the property of suppressing and subduing the opponent’s energy.

Even Luke, whose openings were pierced repeatedly, seemed to have no recourse this time, as Cheong Soha’s Art Formula struck Luke’s body precisely.

Kwaddeuk!

Zzeooeong!

Luke, sent flying as if bounced off, collided with a tree and then collapsed limply to the ground as if all strength had left him.

But contrary to that appearance, the energy flowing from Luke was becoming more ominous than ever.

“…Now I see.”

Those were the first words spat out by Luke, who hadn’t moved his body for quite a while.

“Indeed, with such an ability, what happened to Imeris wouldn’t be strange either.”

The expression on Luke’s face as he then rose and lifted his head was truly contorted like a demon’s.

“You too can see ahead, like those who call themselves Prophets.”

Strictly speaking, it was the wrong answer, but regardless, it wasn’t good for me.

It meant the fact that I had read all of Luke’s specialties and Cursed Techniques was completely exposed.

And Luke, who had seemingly realized this, had an unusual momentum.

“…Right. That’s how it is.”

Luke, having risen and fully drawn out his power, enveloped his entire body in ominous Spiritual Power and began charging forward at increased speed.

Even without deploying any particular Art Formula, his Spiritual Power felt like solid armor.

It was truly an absurd level of strength.

“You’re hastening your own demise.”

Cheong Soha’s Art Formula, shot out in an instant, struck Luke once more.

But the abnormally expelled Spiritual Power from Luke, while accepting the blow, was clearly deflecting it.

“What in the…”

Perhaps even Cheong Soha couldn’t help but be bewildered by this phenomenon, as she frowned and began reciting the Incantation for an even more powerful Art Formula.

Hwoooong!

The distance had now become quite close, with only about 10 meters remaining between Cheong Soha and Luke.

And in that fleeting moment, it was Luke who made the first move.

Kwaddeuk!

Teoeng!

Contrary to what seemed like an action completely aimed at Cheong Soha, Luke, with a bizarre movement, leaped over her and explosively charged toward me.

“Kgh!”

In response, Cheong Soha quickly reacted and fired the completed Art Formula at Luke’s back, but Luke, having anticipated even that, concentrated all his Spiritual Power to his rear and prepared to receive the attack.

And by this point, his intention was clear.

‘Give up the flesh to take the bone.’

In other words, Luke had thrown a gambit, willing to take considerable damage to definitively remove me from the battlefield.

“You won’t be able to withstand it.”

Luke’s Spiritual Power, now flowing out enough to cover almost his entire body, formed into a single Cursed Technique and precisely aimed for my heart.

The distance was about 1 meter. Hwabaek created a wall of plants and Kongsami shot flames, but it was woefully insufficient to stop Luke.

Soon, Cheong Soha’s strike hit Luke first, followed by countless attacks from my Shikigami.

“Kghuluk!”

But Luke, enduring all of that with his body alone, finally completed the Art Formula and slammed it into me.

Zzeoeok!

Kwajijijijik—!

A chilling sound reverberated, and with it, pain flooded in like a tide.

In that fleeting moment, all senses were cut off, vision blurred, and even noise faded without reaching my ears.

What approached was perfect death.

However, even in that moment of agony, a thread-like smile hung on my face.

Because this very situation was what I had been waiting for all along, the moment to put a period on this long, drawn-out contest.

Hwoong.

Paseuseuseuk.

“What…?”

Luke, who had been tidying his stance after securing what he thought was a decisive move, then staggered and let out a puzzled groan.

And simultaneously, all my blocked senses returned, and I felt the sensation of my consciousness awakening.

“I fully expected you to come at me like that.”

I know Luke well. Perhaps even better than he thinks.

Furthermore, Luke had already shown he didn’t hesitate to take risks, having targeted Yoon Haecheol in the same way before.

If the situation came to this, I was certain he would carve away his own flesh to target me.

“So, I just prepared for it.”

“Such a thing… can’t be possible!”

A Forbidden Art, one considered among the most vicious and powerful lineages of Curses, activated by offering one’s own life as a Sacrifice.

It was the Spray-Killing Spirit Grudge Curse, which directly returns the resentment and hatred to the one who tried to kill you.

Paseuk.

Seureureuk.

“Kghuuk…”

It has been said since ancient times that among countless things, the grudge of slaughter is never forgotten.

That was now, eroding Luke’s entire body, which had fallen into a defenseless state, and mercilessly devouring his life.