Chapter 73

Clang!

The sheer brute force behind the axe was fully transmitted.

Kang Yuseong raised his sword to block Gil Hyeok-jun’s axe, but felt his arm tremble.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes, visible beyond the sword.

Seeing those eyes, burning as if to devour him, Kang Yuseong inwardly admired him.

‘Just as I thought! This is it!’

The fierce bloodlust erupting from those eyes!

It was precisely this terrifying aura that earned Gil Hyeok-jun his position as the vanguard captain, and he had continued to perform exceptionally ever since.

Grind!

Kang Yuseong tightened his grip on the sword and slowly pushed the axe back.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s attack was, as expected, terrifyingly powerful and difficult to withstand.

‘But…’

A dry smile appeared on Kang Yuseong’s lips.

To reign over this formidable man, he had to prove he was stronger.

Kang Yuseong was now on that very testing ground.

Scraaaape!

The sharp edges of the axe and sword grated against each other, emitting an eerie sound.

Force clashed with force, and energy erupted as if to devour one another.

Clang!

At one point, the sword and axe violently sprang back.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes wavered slightly.

He had never before seen an opponent who could properly withstand his strike.

Whether human or monster, no adversary had ever failed to succumb to the terrifying power of his axe.

Yet, the man before him was different.

Moreover, what was with that relaxed demeanor, even while receiving his axe?

Gil Hyeok-jun pressed his lips together at the paradoxical sight of the man, who seemed to have deliberately created this situation. In any case, he had no intention of letting him go.

The mere mention of his daughter’s name in front of him was nothing short of a provocation.

Even close acquaintances who knew him well wouldn’t dare do that.

Especially from a complete stranger!

Whoosh—

A ripping sound tore through the air, and Gil Hyeok-jun’s body seemed to stretch, creating an illusion.

CRASH!

And at the end of that illusion, a formidable shockwave surged.

The axe in his right hand cleaved through the air, striking down towards his opponent.

But this time, too, the axe failed to achieve its objective.

In an instant, the axe in Gil Hyeok-jun’s left hand flew, breathtakingly fast.

Scraaaape!

At that moment, Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes widened.

Chakra, Executioner’s Decapitation.

This was a terrifying combo skill of the twin axe style.

But that combo skill…!

Clang!

A tremendous force suddenly surged towards Gil Hyeok-jun, whose eyes were wide open.

‘…!’

Gil Hyeok-jun hastily raised his axes, trying to block the power that surged like a massive tidal wave.

CRASH—

Crack!

Simultaneously, a huge explosion echoed, and Gil Hyeok-jun was pushed back with significant force.

Trembling—

Gil Hyeok-jun bit his lip hard.

He had blocked the explosion by overlapping his axes, but now his hands were trembling uncontrollably.

He was a man who had never been defeated in strength by anyone.

Yet, his decisive strike was blocked, and he was countered with even greater force.

A faint spray of blood erupted from his entire body.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes shook violently.

‘I… couldn’t block it?’

His twin axes were both the strongest offensive weapons and the finest shields.

The ultimate weapons, perfectly balanced for both offense and defense.

And because Gil Hyeok-jun was the one wielding them, he had been able to achieve such immense renown in the Busan region.

But…

Now, that was being shattered.

His attacks failed, and his defense was also breached.

Gil Hyeok-jun stared at his opponent with wide eyes.

A handsome man, with a lean physique.

His extended eyebrows and the dry smile on his lips hinted at his stubbornness, yet an undeniable sense of composure emanated from him.

‘A formidable foe…!’

Only then did Gil Hyeok-jun perceive the dangerous aura of his opponent.

Dangerous.

Although he hadn’t bared his fangs and claws, this man was exceedingly perilous.

Gil Hyeok-jun, being a beast himself, could recognize another predator.

“I expected this level of reaction from you.”

The man’s words were delivered calmly.

Gil Hyeok-jun frowned.

“Shut your mouth.”

A chilling voice forced its way from his lips.

But the man smiled.

This, too, was a smile full of composure.

Seeing that smile, Gil Hyeok-jun felt a thrill run through his entire body.

Rage and fear.

Two emotions striking him simultaneously.

And there was only one conclusion.

When humans are consumed by extreme rage or fear, nine times out of ten, they try to destroy its source.

It was an instinct for survival.

With a flash!

Gil Hyeok-jun was no different.

Instead, he didn’t charge in recklessly.

The aura emanating from his entire body was far heavier, calmer, and sharper than before.

Facing that aura, Kang Yuseong nodded inwardly.

This was truly Gil Hyeok-jun.

The more cornered he was, the stronger and more formidable an opponent he became.

That was Gil Hyeok-jun’s unique power, one that no one else possessed.

‘My whole body…’

Kang Yuseong gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

Otherwise, he felt he wouldn’t be able to control his trembling body.

‘It’s trembling.’

It was that feeling of encountering a powerful foe.

His entire body screamed with instinctive fear, yet his mind was desperate to clash with him. That feeling when adrenaline for battle surged wildly, and all nerves and strength converged into a single point!

“Haaah!”

CRASH!

The axe and sword clashed once more.

RUMBLE!

The clash unleashed a violent storm of wind around them.

Cracks spread across the wall, and small stones on the ground shattered, soaring into the air.

CRASH!

But that was only for a moment; the twin axes opened their maw wide and lunged at their prey.

Opposing him was a white dragon!

Flash—

It fiercely shot up from the ground into the sky, baring its sharp teeth.

Clang-Clang-Clang!

In an instant, the two twin axes and a single sword tangled in the air before separating.

Gil Hyeok-jun gritted his teeth, and the smile had vanished from Kang Yuseong’s lips.

CRASH!

Each time the twin axes struck, Kang Yuseong felt an intense pain, as if every bone in his body was being crushed.

The muscles in his blocking arm tore, and a pain as if his flesh was ripping apart overwhelmed him.

But the power erupting from his chest, as if about to explode, made him strike down with his sword once more.

Clang—

Compared to an axe, a sword is slender.

So, a sword and an axe might seem like an uneven match.

Yet…

That sword was sending the dark and massive axe flying through the air.

Chakra, Critical Strike!

CRASH—

Following that, Chakra, Meteor Stab exploded,

Whoosh!

CRASH!

Chakra, Slayer’s Blade ripped through the air.

Gil Hyeok-jun, opposing him, was no less formidable.

His axes danced wildly, relentlessly baring their teeth at his great adversary.

He unleashed a barrage, then another, and another still.

The axe’s power, assaulting him like a mad storm, targeting his head, shoulders, chest, flanks, and waist indiscriminately, was utterly terrifying.

Clang!

Then, at one moment, the sword was flung from Kang Yuseong’s hand.

His grip had been completely torn, and blood was gushing out.

He had been overwhelmed by sheer force.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s power was, indeed, insurmountable, just as Kang Yuseong’s old nickname for him suggested.

Yet, he was smiling like a demon.

“Come on!”

The axe descended towards him.

A terrifying strike, like lightning!

In that instant, Kang Yuseong kicked off the ground.

It was then that Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes widened.

If he had lost his weapon, he should have retreated. But this man was, instead, approaching him head-on.

His axe was precisely aimed to cleave his waist.

This man wasn’t a sworn enemy; there was no reason to kill him.

For a single moment, that thought shook Gil Hyeok-jun.

But in that very moment, Kang Yuseong’s body moved with such fluidity, as if yielding to flowing water.

Whoosh!

The axe narrowly grazed the space where his waist had been, cutting through empty air.

And then…

Gil Hyeok-jun saw the man’s smile appear right before his eyes.

A smile so chilling, imbued with a demonic aura…

CRASH—

An explosion erupted in his chest.

For an instant, a pain as if his heart had suddenly stopped struck Gil Hyeok-jun.

“Urgh!”

Unable to bear the pain, he stumbled back.

In an instant, Kang Yuseong spun in the air.

And his fist fiercely tore through the air.

CRASH!

A second powerful jolt of pain engulfed Gil Hyeok-jun.

Clang!

The axe in his left hand fell.

Gil Hyeok-jun retreated again.

Kang Yuseong kicked off the ground sharply.

And he soared into the air like a soaring bird.

The terrifying power condensing and surging into his right fist was visible even to the naked eye.

Gil Hyeok-jun gritted his teeth.

That attack of his!

That was…!

CRASH!

Boom—

A massive explosion echoed, and a hazy cloud of dust rose into the air.

Crumbling—

And then, dirt and small fragments of stone rained down.

“Hmph!”

Kang Yuseong smiled, his fist still extended.

Tremendous power was imbued in that fist.

Chakra, Iron Fist!

But…

He had failed to pierce through steel.

CRACK—

Cracks began to spread across the axe that had blocked his fist.

In that desperate moment, Gil Hyeok-jun had raised his axe to block his attack.

THWACK—

The axe shattered, unable to withstand the formidable force.

Clattered!

The axe that had defined Gil Hyeok-jun was completely destroyed, its remnants scattered across the floor.

Gil Hyeok-jun frowned as he looked at him.

Kang Yuseong also straightened his posture and gazed at him.

And then he spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll say it again. Your daughter. I will cure her.”

A chilling bloodlust once again swirled in Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes.

Kang Yuseong met his gaze directly and said.

“It seems we’ve both made our intentions clear, haven’t we? There’s no need to waste any more time, is there?”

Gil Hyeok-jun glared at Kang Yuseong, then spat out.

“You can cure Ji-yeon? Don’t spout nonsense. Ji-yeon… Ji-yeon…”

Gil Hyeok-jun couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence and gritted his teeth.

Kang Yuseong let out a small laugh.

“You’re afraid, aren’t you? Afraid that Ji-yeon will never recover.”

“You bastard…!”

It was then that Gil Hyeok-jun took a defiant step forward.

“But why are you so desperate? Knowing your daughter might not recover, why do you live so desperately?”

Gil Hyeok-jun clenched his molars.

“Don’t… meddle.”

Kang Yuseong watched him silently, then spoke.

“Take my hand. I don’t want to see you lose your daughter and become a madman.”

“What…?”

Kang Yuseong looked Gil Hyeok-jun straight in the eye.

“Two weeks from now. If your daughter isn’t cured by then, it’ll be irreversible. Choose.”

Those words were both a lie and the truth.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s daughter wouldn’t die even after two weeks.

But it was true that nothing could be done for her then.

She wouldn’t die, but that didn’t mean he could prevent her from becoming a paraplegic.

In the past, Kang Yuseong had met Gil Hyeok-jun when his paraplegic daughter’s life hung in the balance.

At that time, Gil Hyeok-jun was truly a madman.

With his daughter’s life on the line, it was only natural for him to be that way.

But Kang Yuseong had saved his daughter, and Gil Hyeok-jun had sworn loyalty to him.

However, his daughter’s paralysis was ultimately not cured.

That paralysis could never be cured unless it was done at this very moment.

“I’ll give you two days.”

Kang Yuseong uttered calmly.

Gil Hyeok-jun glared at him as if to kill him.

But Kang Yuseong walked forward indifferently.

“Wait!”

He had only taken a few steps when Gil Hyeok-jun called out from behind him.

Kang Yuseong turned around, and Gil Hyeok-jun glared at him fiercely, saying.

“What… do you want? In exchange for saving Ji-yeon…”

Kang Yuseong let out a small laugh. Then he replied.

“Price? We can think about that after I save your daughter. Let’s talk again then.”

Gil Hyeok-jun bit his lip hard and stood there for a long time.

Then he stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“My daughter.”

His eyes had, by then, returned to those of a father.

“Save her.”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“Understood. It’s a deal.”

A smile played on his lips.