Chapter 233

‘Indeed, a dangerous energy is flowing out in abundance.’

But now that I had completed the trials of the Cheonghongyeong, even that flow appeared clearer to me than before.

Accordingly, judging whether my Forbidden Technique Value could withstand the Curse of the Specter Desire Jar was not difficult.

‘At this level, brief contact shouldn’t be a problem.’

I deployed an Enhancement Art and lifted the Specter Desire Jar, and Ju Wangrin could only watch with a flustered expression.

Having briefly left the fierce battlefield, Baek Soyool and I spread out a special cloth prepared in advance, placed the Specter Desire Jar on it, and prepared for the ritual.

The cloth was inscribed with a Teleportation Art personally crafted by Xiao Chen, and I was also familiar with how to activate it.

“It’s an unfamiliar Art, so it will take a little time.”

“Understood. Leave the surroundings to me.”

Since it couldn’t hurt to be prepared for any eventuality, I sent out Black Yin, Shadow Thief, and Kongsami to guard the perimeter.

And finally, the Ritual Array targeting the Specter Desire Jar began to activate.

‘…Seeing this, a genius really is a genius.’

Even though I had received instruction multiple times, activating a pre-inscribed Art was no easy task.

An Art several times more complex and intricate than ordinary ones.

It was hard to believe that someone had researched and created this system alone.

‘Still, I should be able to manage somehow.’

Focusing, I retraced the structure of the Ritual Array, gradually infusing it with Spiritual Power and completing it.

When it was about halfway done, a piercing hostility began to be felt.

“…He’s coming.”

From Baek Soyool’s tense expression, it wasn’t hard to understand the meaning of her words.

Luke Pensalot, he was clearly targeting me even amidst this warzone.

‘Well, even the Kruger family would have had a hard time holding Luke back.’

It was only natural.

Now strengthened by the Hell Difficulty’s influence, the current Luke was not someone even the most powerful experts could easily handle.

But precisely because I knew that clearly, I too had made thorough preparations to face him.

Soon, from the sky above where Luke was approaching Baek Soyool and me, an intense surge of Spiritual Power poured down.

“You damn bastard! I was looking forward to meeting you again!”

Screech!

Kwaaaaang—!

Appearing alongside the intense Offensive Art was Yoon Haecheol, who had lost someone like a master to Luke’s hands.

And behind that Yoon Haecheol, a woman with a presence not inferior to Luke revealed herself.

“Luke Pensalot, leader of the Night School. You will not leave this place alive.”

A promising Special-Rank Exorcist from the Headquarters and the greatest Elder who had subdued the Cheong Family.

If the Kruger family was the key to dealing with the remaining enemies, these two were the trump cards prepared solely to kill Luke.

Watching their backs, I finally activated all the Arts and completed the transmission of the Specter Desire Jar.

By now, it was probably buried deep within the Sakoonpa territory, awaiting the impending disaster.

“As I mentioned, from now on, Ms. Baek Soyool, you and your subordinates can take care of the other side.”

“Understood. Please be careful.”

And now it was my turn to formally greet the guest.

Walking towards Luke, who wore an inscrutable expression, I fearlessly showed a small smile.

“I’ve been waiting.”

“…So you predicted everything. Frankly, it’s surprising.”

“This place will become your grave.”

The positions were reversed.

Me, the hunter, and Luke, the target. The sharp gazes of both sides finally met.

‘Though I thought I had seized an opening.’

Upon confirming the identities of the two new arrivals, Luke stared at Han Kangyoon with a renewed look of surprise.

Clearly, no one else should have noticed the Sakoonpa’s scheme or that he had lent a hand to it.

In reality, the Three Great Noble Families were also focused on the Sakoonpa that had rushed in as a deception, failing to grasp the hidden details within.

‘But looking at this situation now…’

It seems at least Han Kangyoon had predicted it. That’s why he could prepare so perfectly and lure me into a trap.

‘Foreseeing my movements was entirely possible.’

He had already shown his intent to target Han Kangyoon, and I had no intention of dragging it out.

However, even so, I couldn’t help but admire the fact that he had accurately pierced through the timing and method as well.

‘Impossible unless he had prior information about the Specter Desire Jar.’

Meaning Han Kangyoon possessed the information network and knowledge to secure such intelligence.

“Can’t really trust those Sakoonpa bastards either.”

But Luke remained unflustered even in such a situation.

The ability to think coldly and repeatedly, drawing out possibilities in any crisis, was Luke’s specialty and strength.

In a way, it was a trait shared with Han Kangyoon.

‘Three enemies before me. And that woman…’

Cheong Soha of the Cheong Family.

Luke was well aware of her too.

She was none other than the one who killed his comrade Bihyeong and one of the top five Exorcists in Korea.

‘……’

Even searching the world, there aren’t many practitioners on Cheong Soha’s level.

She is also the only existence here that Luke cannot guarantee an unconditional victory against.

‘Exclude her first.’

Trying to deal with her immediately is a poor strategy.

When facing multiple opponents alone, the most important thing is to reduce the enemy’s numbers by any means.

And for that, one needs to target the weakest.

Luke’s gaze, which had momentarily moved towards Han Kangyoon, shifted its target again a few seconds later.

‘Not that one.’

This time as well, but also in the previous incident, the most impressive element to Luke about Han Kangyoon was his unpredictability.

In reality, even Imeris, with her overwhelming power advantage, was defeated by Han Kangyoon.

Unless one precisely grasped what lay within, hastily judging the opponent carried significant risk.

‘On the other hand, that one…’

Clearly a comrade of that Baek Woongkyoo fellow killed earlier. And information about him was relayed from Drax, who faced him directly.

Frankly, Yoon Haecheol, if he faced Luke one-on-one, would barely last a few minutes.

‘Deal with him first.’

Luke’s actions, having decided his target, were swift and concise.

After firing restraining Arts at the other two, he bounced off and charged towards Yoon Haecheol.

What seemed like a mere simple process, when executed by Luke, was truly no different from a terrifying killing move.

“Soul Specter Punishing Wolf.”

“Guhk!”

Zzzreong—!

Bihyeong’s unique Cursed Technique, renowned for its speed, which Luke borrowed and used, but Yoon Haecheol barely managed not to miss it and caught the timing.

Something impossible based on Drax’s assessment of Yoon Haecheol’s strength—meaning Yoon Haecheol had also achieved noticeable growth in the meantime.

‘The cause of vengeance allows the person to exert power beyond their usual limits.’

Luke also knew well what purpose drove the current Yoon Haecheol to come after him.

So there was no carelessness. Even that gap was already within Luke’s anticipated range.

“Shrine Fire Crying Root.”

Screech!

The Talismans Luke had scattered a step earlier stretched out like ropes, binding Yoon Haecheol.

It wasn’t a particularly esoteric or high-level Art. It was just extremely fast and powerful, difficult to block with one’s posture disrupted.

“…I won’t let that happen.”

Click!

Seu-geo-eok—!

Just as Han Kangyoon shook off Luke’s restraint, Cheong Soha had already drawn her Azure-White Sword from that far distance and precisely aimed at and severed Luke’s Art.

Thus, Yoon Haecheol barely regained his freedom again, but Luke had already completed deploying his next Art.

A relentless barrage of attacks at an impossible-to-follow speed.

In response, Yoon Haecheol shouted with an expression of frustration and rage.

“Damn it all!”

Zzzreong!

Puh-eo-eok!

It was a clean, direct hit.

Yoon Haecheol’s body flew helplessly through the air, soon scattering blood as it collided with the cold ground.

It seemed he had somehow activated a Defensive Art, but the damage was severe even at a glance.

Sensing this, Cheong Soha and Han Kangyoon quickly closed the distance, and Luke drew up Spiritual Power again to finish off Yoon Haecheol before they could.

“A pity, but it’s already too late.”

From focusing his assault on Yoon Haecheol, whose vision was narrowed by rage, to managing the distance from the others in the process.

Luke’s combat was too cold and perfect.

But even such a Luke failed to realize.

The fact that Yoon Haecheol, too, was repeatedly making countless cold judgments and calculations in his mind.

“…Cough! Yeah, I guess this is how it would go.”

Yoon Haecheol knew.

If he could kill Baek Woongkyoo that easily, then no matter how much Yoon Haecheol honed himself, he could never be a match for Luke.

So Yoon Haecheol accepted it readily.

That he could not defeat the bastard, and therefore, he must somehow turn his own defeat into a stepping stone for victory.

“No matter how much of a monster you are, you couldn’t have perfectly surveyed your surroundings in this situation either.”

What Yoon Haecheol desperately honed after Baek Woongkyoo’s death was just one Art that could strike at Luke’s weak point.

“Didn’t you feel something strange?”

“……”

Yoon Haecheol’s scattered blood had, unnoticed, filled the gaps of a hidden Ritual Array, forming some kind of Art.

Originally, this wasn’t how this Art was used, but it was the secret technique of his master Baek Woongkyoo, repeatedly modified and recreated in his own unique way.

Grand Art, Typhoon Hundred Chariot Transformation Wheel.

‘It doesn’t matter. I’m faster.’

While making a surprised expression, Luke quickly assessed the situation.

With his skill, he could certainly land an Art before Yoon Haecheol.

But the moment he read the desperate resolve in those eyes, even such a Luke couldn’t help but hesitate.

“…You intend to complete the Art even if it kills you.”

Moreover, it seemed he had been subtly setting up Incantations between Luke’s previous attacks, appearing helpless.

In this situation, Luke would also inevitably take damage.

With Han Kangyoon and Cheong Soha still remaining, that was a truly poor judgment.

‘…To suffer damage from such a fly.’

The perfect timing was already lost. Even if he pulled back now, he would have to endure some degree of impact.

Zzzeo-jeo-jeok—!

But the decision was swift.

Without hesitation, Luke twisted his body and moved as far away as possible from the Art’s range.

Kwaaang!

Ku-gwa-gwa-gwang!*

A massive shockwave swept the surroundings, and the destroyed earth aimed in all directions like bullets, seeking targets.

When it all subsided, Luke could only click his tongue venomously while looking at his left arm, which was bleeding profusely.