Chapter 1123: Scorched World.

Everyone’s bodies hardened like stone.

There was no other way.

Thudududud-!

Kyareureureuk…….

Because the something that had been making people tremble in fear until just now was gradually collapsing.

It was a monster with a huge stature, like a mountain walking out upon mountains.

Its flimsy body seemed precarious, as if it might just fly away if blown by the wind.

That was only true for its limbs. The guy’s abdomen was swollen to a bizarre degree.

It was a being with a somewhat strange form, one that twisted the surrounding air and atmospheric pressure just by appearing, but…

“……It’s pierced?”

“Its body……”

Its body had been pierced by something, leaving it hollowly empty.

Kar… Karureureuk-.

Monster. Commonly known as White Grade (白級).

Pure white skin and an alien atmosphere. Monstrous beasts that could cause fatal anomalies in the natural environment just by existing.

Many people called those White Grade monsters.

The being in front was surely such a monster, but…

That guy was slowly collapsing.

What is this? As everyone was wondering…

“Over there… Someone is over there!”

One person shouted as if they’d discovered something. At that sound, everyone’s gazes turned to one spot.

It was the empty air.

Someone was standing in the center where dark storm clouds had gathered.

Standing tall in the sky, not above the ground. With their hands clasped behind their back.

It was a figure clad in a black robe. A being with a height that seemed close to eight feet, wearing a strangely cracked white mask.

“What the…?”

“Who on earth is that…”

Confusion arose. Why had the monster become like that, and who was that person?

As everyone was panicking in the face of the incomprehensible situation…

Kyareureureuk–……!!!

The monster behind reacted.

Its pierced body regenerated, and its flesh was quickly restored to its original state.

Seeing that, Gu Cheol-un shifted his stance. ‘I don’t know who that is, but that monster comes first.’

Thinking so, he wrapped himself in heat again. At that moment.

Kyaaaaaaaaa–!!!

The monster, having finished its recovery, roared and fully revealed its form.

Hwaahwak-!!

Wings were attached to its back. However, they were wings where only bones remained, as if its skin and hide had melted away.

It couldn’t fly. No matter how much it tried flapping them, seemingly wanting to fly, they didn’t budge. The White Grade monster seemed to flinch in panic.

It seemed panicked by its inability to fly.

Kyareureuk-! Kyareureureu!!!

However, it seemed that emotion turned into rage. Its aura grew even stronger.

Following that, its intensified aura and rage turned towards the warriors nearby.

Kyareureureu—!!!

Its fully unleashed body soon turned towards the warriors.

“Prepare for battle!”

Gu Cheol-un immediately shouted to those around him. At the spirited shout, everyone snapped back to attention.

Then, they moved their bodies to counter the attack, but…

Kyaaaaaa-!!!

Kwadeudeuk-!!

“Kkwaaak!”

“Heuaaaaaa—!”

With one swing of its massive arm, the area around the mountain was shattered.

The warriors were about to be swept away by the force. At best, it was not a strength that even peak martial artists could withstand.

It was a situation where they could be killed instantly if they took the impact like this.

Seeing that, Gu Cheol-un moved first.

Hwareureuk-!!

Kuuung-!!

A powerful flame struck the White Grade monster’s arm. The White Grade monster swayed from the impact.

Kyareureu?

It let out a strange reaction. It seemed surprised to have been counterattacked.

And Gu Cheol-un’s expression twisted too.

‘Heavy.’

It was substantial. Although I struck its arm, the impact was fully transferred to my right arm.

But.

Hwareureureuk-!!

Without even time to feel that pain, I gathered flames in my palm. The Flame Orb (炎玉) was completed, and I shot it directly at the White Grade monster.

Kwaaang-!!

An explosion occurred. The blast wave erupted backwards. It felt like a direct hit. However, Gu Cheol-un’s expression was still grim.

Although the attack had clearly landed properly, something was strange.

Kyareureureu-.

Because the White Grade monster hadn’t budged at all. It bared its teeth and clenched its sharp hand. Seeing the clenched fist, Gu Cheol-un gritted his teeth.

What it was about to do was obvious as day. The situation wasn’t good for avoiding it.

Remembering that, Gu Cheol-un formed flames in his hand. The intention was to create an explosion and evade backwards.

But then.

“Commander-nim!”

So-i tried to intervene quickly. Hearing that, Gu Cheol-un looked back.

So-i had leaped and was already flying towards Gu Cheol-un.

‘Damn.’

If it continued like this, he would dodge, but So-i couldn’t. Quickly changing his mind, Gu Cheol-un changed the direction of the flames.

He shot the flames directly at So-i.

“……!”

So-i was hit by the impact and pushed back again.

Koong-!

“Tsk!”

So-i, rolling on the ground, reacted in surprise. But more than that, her priority was looking at Gu Cheol-un.

“Commander-nim…!”

A fist was flying towards Gu Cheol-un.

‘Damn.’

I can’t block it. There’s no time to raise my internal energy. By the time I saw it, the fist was right in front of my nose.

At that moment.

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

A deep voice was heard beside him.

Kwaaaaaa—!!!

Kyaaaaaaaaaa—!!!

Along with a roar, the monster screamed.

The fist that was flying in shattered with a sound. The White Grade monster, being pushed back, tried to roar as if in agony, but…

“I clearly told you.”

Kyaa- Keok-!!

Kwaak-!!

Someone flew in and struck the White Grade monster’s snout again.

By the impact, this time the White Grade monster fell backward. Its body was so large, it looked like a mountain collapsing.

Just as the White Grade monster was falling, the figure who struck it…

The masked man said.

“I said, stop barking.”

Gu Cheol-un’s eyes widened seeing this. I couldn’t see it.

When did he approach, and with a light movement, disable the White Grade monster.

At this, I realized.

‘It’s him.’

The person who made the hole in the White Grade monster just now.

That was that person.

‘Who is he?’

I couldn’t tell. Just as my eyes darted around in surprise, Gu Cheol-un looked somewhere.

The place where the countless crowd stood frozen. There…

‘She’s there.’

Baek Yangcheon was there. Baek Yangcheon, like the others, was looking this way with a surprised expression.

Why? Gu Cheol-un unconsciously looked at Baek Yangcheon. Even though it couldn’t possibly be her.

As I was confirming this.

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa—-!!!!

The monster continued to roar. Then.

Uuuuuuuung—!!!!

Suddenly, a reaction erupted from the Demon Mirror Gate (魔鏡門).

The Demon Mirror Gate let out tremendous vibrations, and then…

Keureureureu-!

……Kuaaaaaa—!!!

The cries of beasts were heard from within. As the warriors nearby grew frightened…

Kuooo-!!!

“It’s a monster…!”

“A monster has appeared!”

Monsters burst out from within.

“Th-the Crimson ones?”

Not just any monsters, they were Crimson monsters. Skin and hide tinged with red. And while not quite White Grade monsters, they had vast bodies too.

Not just one, but several appeared simultaneously.

“How… How are we supposed to handle this!”

“Draw your swords! We must defend!”

“Kugh!”

Those who were utterly panicked tried hard to regain their composure. These were Crimson monsters they faced for the first time.

In the world, it’s said that martial artists of peak level or higher gathered in droves and barely managed to kill them.

And several of those things appear? Everyone gritted their teeth and prepared for battle.

“Annoying.”

Seeing that, the man in the black robe murmured.

“Silence them.”

An order given to someone.

To whom was it given? As Gu Cheol-un wondered…

Kiaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!!!

Along with a piercing roar.

Kuuaaaaaaaa—!!!

Something fell from the sky, through the Crimson monsters.

Dust clouds spread widely. In the obscured visibility…

Jjiiik-!

Kuaaaaa-!!

Kyareureureu–!!!

Kwadeudeuk! Kwaak-!!

Sounds of something breaking and tearing spread in all directions. Through the gaps, piercing the dust clouds, something fell near a warrior’s feet.

“Wh-What the-Heeeek!”

Startled, they stumbled back. Upon checking, it was a monster’s head. A tiger-shaped monster. Its neck had been torn off and rolled on the ground.

What is happening?

Gu Cheol-un couldn’t comprehend the situation. What on earth was going on.

As confusion welled up.

Kyareureureu……!!

The fallen White Grade monster got back up. A fierce aura erupted from it once again.

Rage driven by instinct. A killing intent to tear the opponent to shreds stirred, shaking the ground.

With its terrifying momentum, just before the shockwave reached others…

“Vermin-like bastard.”

The man said, standing next to Gu Cheol-un.

“Make it quiet. Because I don’t like noise.”

As the words fell again…

Keureureureuaaaa—!!!

Kuuuuuuung—!!!!

Something fell from the sky, along with a cry.

This time it was different from before.

Kiaaaaaaa–!!!

A large hand grasped the giant White Grade monster’s neck.

Gu Cheol-un, seeing that, unconsciously opened his mouth.

It was a similar size.

What subdued the White Grade monster was none other than another monster.

What was unusual was that its skin wasn’t the commonly known green, cyan, red, or white.

‘Black?’

That it was a monster with black skin.

Huuung-!!

Kwadeudeuk-!!

The black monster swung its fist and struck the White Grade monster’s face.

Paang-!!

The sound of bones breaking and the vibrations from the impact shook the entire land.

Koong-! Koongkoongkoong-!!

The fight between monsters began.

As their massive bodies clashed, the sight alone made one gasp.

At that bizarre and unbelievable sight, Gu Cheol-un was speechless.

Sseuk.

“……!”

I felt a gaze.

The masked warrior.

Was looking at Gu Cheol-un.

His pupils were tinged with violet and shimmering. At that gaze, Gu Cheol-un involuntarily felt a chill run down his spine.

It was that kind of eye.