Chapter 995: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Kkyaaaaaaaaah—-!!!!!

A scream echoed. It felt like it was piercing my ears. How could there be such a desperate, raw cry?

“Kkuaaaaaaaah–!!”

“Kkeueueueue……!!!”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one affected by the sound. Soldiers who couldn’t flee heard it, clamped their ears shut, and collapsed.

I thought, ‘Are they really reacting like that just to a sound?’, but it wasn’t merely a sound.

Honestly, calling it just ‘sound’ felt wrong.

This was a form of energy.

A form of sound created by energy.

And because it resembled a scream, it came across as even more chilling and terrifying.

Besides, was it only sound?

Kwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!!

The energy had already been emitted, yet the burst energy lingered in place, swirling violently for ages.

Looking at it, I wore a blank expression inside my mask.

Even though it was a sight I had created.

‘That thing, really.’

Can it even be called energy?

Its surging appearance was like a storm. It wasn’t that strange for energy to take on such a form as it spread out.

In fact, the Ilshik of Tuapa Cheonmu. The emission form of Tuamugwon is precisely such a vortex.

The blades of energy surging roughly. It happened because the form created inside my body burst out exactly as it was.

‘……That.’

Is the current storm like that too? Looking at its state, I shook my head inwardly.

‘No. That’s not. It’s not that kind of form.’

That is not a storm.

That is.

‘Chaos (混沌).’

Something made by all sorts of energies clumping together.

Cheonma Shingong was the friction between energies. And that itself is form.

Then, the reason it’s expressed as such a vortex would be quite simple.

‘Everything was clumped together, but couldn’t mix.’

Because the energies were extremely repelling each other.

That appearance must look like a storm.

‘……Repulsion and friction.’

The pressure emanating from there.

The destructive power utilizing that.

Since the situation that had only existed in my head was now manifesting in reality, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

I couldn’t call that beautiful, not even jokingly.

Whether it was Hwasan’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

Or the Sword Master’s Moon Fairy Sword Dance.

Even bringing any other martial art into comparison, none could be more ferocious than that.

Naturally.

Because it contained the hostility between energies without any pretense.

Its very definition was rage, so how could it possibly be beautiful?

It was so rough and utterly savage.

How could anyone find beauty there?

Surely, in normal times, I would have seen it that way.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off the energy I created, as if I were gazing upon a beautiful flower or a jewel.

I felt mesmerized.

My body was stiff, as if turned to stone.

My gaze wouldn’t budge.

Dugeun-! Dugeun-!

Meanwhile, my heart, which doubled as my dantian, was pounding like crazy.

My blood ran hot.

The energy circulating within me resonated with it.

Dugeun-!

An unknown heat filled my heated body.

The energy wasn’t moving. Could it be the aftereffect of circulating Guyeom Hwaryeongong to use Cheonma Shingong?

No. That wasn’t it.

This wasn’t heat caused by energy.

Then what was it?

Even without using energy, why was I feeling this heat?

‘Ah.’

I see.

Guyeom Hwaryeongong was moving on its own.

Even though I hadn’t used any energy.

Guyeom Hwaryeongong gradually continued to rotate, eventually generating heat within my body.

Why?

I couldn’t understand.

Jjeojeok-!

I heard something breaking.

Even then, my gaze remained fixed on the chaos.

Kkyaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

The sound gradually diminished.

The sound diminishing meant the energy was fading.

Jjeojeojeok-!!

The sound of breaking continued to be heard.

Where was it coming from? Not outside.

Then, it meant the sound was coming from inside my body.

Why?

Why was it breaking? What part was breaking?

Jjeojeojeok-!

Pasasak-!

It wasn’t just cracking; the shell was shattering.

At that moment.

Giiiiiiing—-!!!

The ring of Guyeom Hwaryeongong spun with mad intensity.

Hwareureureuk—-!!!!!

As it began to rotate, flames surged from my entire body.

Blue flames wrapped around me.

Hwareureuk-!! Hwareureureuk–!!!

Using my body as a pillar, it spun and spun. Guyeom Hwaryeongong was always like that.

It spun rapidly while maintaining the form of a ring (輪), expanding outwards.

It was the appearance I always felt and displayed whenever I used it.

Hwareureuk…… Hwareureureureureureuk—-!!!

This time, it was slightly different.

The flames, which had appeared arbitrarily beyond my will, gradually reduced their expanded size.

As it shrank and shrank, becoming a ring just barely enough to encircle my body.

Cheolgyeok.

Along with a sensation of something being released.

The ring moved.

It detached from encircling my body, floated behind my back, and.

The ring remained in the air in a circular shape, slowly rotating.

Hwareuk.

Small embers fell, scattering in the air.

Looking at that, I flipped my hand over and examined my palm.

It was an empty hand.

But.

Hwareureuk.

My hand transformed into the shape of flames. It wasn’t the usual sensation of flames wrapping around my hand.

It was as if my hand had truly become flames itself.

It wasn’t strange, really.

I had felt something similar when I reached the Great Accomplishment, but this…

‘……I understood the principle.’

Back then, it simply ended with the ability to become flames.

But now, I understood its will and intent.

‘Flames aren’t the important part.’

Not the flames.

What was important was how the flames took the form of a ring.

‘The optimal form for rotating faster.’

This was the ring’s choice.

Because it’s flames, it can be faster and hotter.

That’s why it was flames.

‘Guyeom Hwaryeongong isn’t about the flames; it’s a martial art that requires focus on rotation.’

I remembered my father’s words.

Back then, I thought he simply meant to rotate faster and focus on the compression that came from it.

‘He told me everything.’

So this was the meaning behind his words.

As I recalled that.

Hwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

The ring formed behind my back began to rotate.

Savoring the sensation, I took a step forward.

Chiiik.

Footprints appeared on the ground with each step. Melting from the heat, it smelled of burning.

The place I walked towards was where the aftermath of the first strike I unleashed was most concentrated.

Collapsed buildings.

And bloodstains scattered around the area.

And at the center of it all.

“Kkeu…… Kkeoeu…… eo…….”

There lay a white body, twisted and torn.

“Kkeu…… Kkeueu…….”

Pained groans mixed with agony could be heard.

The bastard hadn’t died even in that state.

He was even regenerating.

“Hmm.”

I wasn’t surprised he hadn’t died.

I had hoped for that in the first place.

I had even adjusted my attack accordingly.

After hitting him a few times and exchanging blows, I figured he’d regenerate at least this much.

And since it wouldn’t have mattered if he didn’t regenerate anyway.

I had also made peace with that possibility.

Looking at the ruined white figure, I spoke.

“How unsightly.”

“Kkeu…… Kkeueu…….”

The guy wanted to say something while looking at me, but there was no reason for me to listen.

“Even if night had fallen, did you truly believe you could reach me, this seat?”

I laughed.

I laughed genuinely.

I laughed because he was ridiculous.

I laughed because his pathetic confidence was amusing.

Strangely, exhilaration kept surging endlessly.

“For a ‘sharp awl’ you were so confident about, you were quite soft.”

Repeating the words he had spat out, I approached him.

I recalled the purpose for which I had painstakingly kept him alive.

Demonization.

I wanted to confirm that using him.

Just like I did with the black one.

Wouldn’t Demonization also fail to take proper effect on him?

Isn’t demonic energy generally ineffective against the Wolya Clan?

I had kept him alive precisely to confirm that.

“Hmm.”

Just before my fingertip, imbued with demonic energy, touched him.

Something displeased me.

It was just… because.

Tuk.

I flicked my finger.

A tiny spark fell from my fingertip. It flew and touched the white body.

Kwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—-!!!”

A massive flame engulfed the white body.

A scream, not a groan, tore through the air.

It was merely an instant.

Though the flames enveloped him for just a moment.

After they passed, not even a trace remained.

“Leader—-!!”

“Our Leader……!!!”

Those nearby cried out in dismay as their leader died.

But as I turned my gaze towards them, even that subsided into silence.

Fear radiated from them.

Looking at them, I reached out my hand.

Just like I did to the white one moments ago.

Just as I was about to move a spark with my fingertip.

“…….”

Looking at the soldiers, I calmly pondered.

What expression am I wearing right now?

And.

‘What am I trying to do?’

As I thought that, the background shifted.

I was standing on a certain lake.

What lake is this?

I knew its identity the moment I saw it.

This is exhilaration.

The exhilaration filling me welcomed me in the form of a lake.

The rising exhilaration was endlessly calm.

Its depth was exceptionally profound.

I knew it instinctively.

‘The moment I fall in, it’s the end.’

If I were to fall into this calmness, I would sink deep and never be able to escape.

So, I walked.

Chiiiiiik.

Leaving the heat as it was, I moved forward.

Desire welled up.

‘What am I worrying about?’

So what if I fall in?

This deeply formed lake is also mine.

What is there to fear about me entering my own property?

Instead of needlessly worrying, shouldn’t I just go in?

Thinking that, I tried to step into the lake, but.

Chalbak.

“…….”

Something formed on the lake within me, blocking my foot.

A lotus flower.

Appearing from nowhere, a beautiful crimson lotus floated up, supporting my foot.

As if telling me not to fall in just yet.

Looking at it, I lifted my head. The lake vanished, and I saw them again-terrified as they looked at me.

My breath hitched.

I retracted the hand I had extended.

Instantly.

Kwaaaaaah—-!!!

Turning my body into flames, I soared into the sky.

If I were to endure ‘as myself’, right now.

I had to escape this place.

* * *

The night deepened, bit by bit.

Sitting some distance away, a woman scanned the sky.

Something was rising into the heavens amidst the not-yet-dark night.

A blue flash.

Watching it, the woman bit her lip.

The crimson aurora that filled the night sky.

The woman’s eyes, reflecting it fully, captured the blue flash, careful not to miss a single detail.

And within her gaze.

As much as she captured the flash, a measure of worry was also held.