episode_0134

134. Manners.

It certainly wasn’t the Levitation Skill. He was merely manipulating water currents to barely stay afloat.

But there wasn’t much difference. Either way, he was standing on the water.

Black Origin widened his eyes and said,

“Oh, impressive. A wondrous skill, Cult Leader.”

Before he knew it, the title had changed from Sorcerer to Cult Leader.

“But… battles are won by the strong, not by the mysterious!”

Thwack!

Black Origin kicked off the ground with force and flew forward. His leg strength was so intense that he approached almost in a straight line, without drawing an arc.

Yohan wore a savage smile.

‘Arrogant. To charge so easily onto the lake.’

The lake was like Yohan’s home now. He had splashed around earlier, pouring a certain amount of magical power into the lake.

He could feel it. The countless water droplets that made up the lake. It felt like a new sense had awakened.

He lightly waved his hand.

Swoosh-!

“Hup!”

A waterspout that shot up in an instant. It took the shape of a dragon and opened its jaws towards Black Origin.

It was just a stream of water. But Black Origin couldn’t ignore it.

‘Tremendous inner energy! This isn’t just playing with water!’

Black Origin gritted his teeth. His deltoids twitched as he unleashed his dragon strength.

“Euuuuaaaah!”

Puh puh puh pwang!

Two fists, embodying the charge of a boar, pummeled the Water Dragons.

As the two men’s different energies collided in mid-air, the Water Dragon lost its strength and crumbled.

At that moment, Black Origin felt a chill down his spine.

‘Wait a minute…!’

His charge naturally stopped as he swung his fists in the air.

Black Origin looked down. The clear surface of the water was welcoming him.

Splash!

“Heuu… Keuhup-!”

Anyone would be flustered by a sudden change in environment. Black Origin was no exception.

His mind was dizzy from the lake water invading his nostrils and mouth. Yohan didn’t miss the opportunity.

Clap- Squeeze.

After putting his hands together, he interlocked his fingers, pressing on something invisible.

As the sorcerer’s will reached the lake, the water currents surged.

“……!”

Blood vessels bulged in Black Origin’s eyes. His face turned red from the pressure pushing in from all directions.

Glug-

His body sank deep into the water. He had no idea the lake floor was so deep.

Was this how it felt to be buried alive deep underground? Dangerous. He had to get out immediately.

He drew up the boiling inner energy from his core. Black Origin’s muscles twitched one by one, emitting a hazy steam.

He gathered his elbows and pressed them tightly to his waist. Whoosh- The flow of water reversed around his fists.

‘Wild Fist Frenzy.’

Thud─

A small ripple arose.

“……Hmm?”

A martial artist watching the duel from afar frowned.

“What is it?”

“No, did an earthquake happen? Just now─”

At that moment, the surface of the lake surged violently. Yohan quickly lowered his stance to regain his balance.

“Hup!”

Thanks to that, Yohan was able to see it. The form of a boar violently surging upwards from the depths!

The black boar was wildly swinging its fists as if it had gone mad.

Splash-erng!

The flow of the area completely reversed. He had to avoid it.

‘Too late.’

A language that Central Plains people wouldn’t understand spilled from Yohan’s mouth.

He amplifies the spell by borrowing the concept of incantation. What he wanted was an unyielding iron wall.

‘Freeze.’

Crackle-!

Pale white cold air that started from under his feet froze the lake. In an instant, a cold winter visited the lake.

Yohan didn’t stop. He immediately deployed a shield.

A wall of ice, a shield, rock skin.

A triple defense. An ordinary martial artist wouldn’t even be able to scratch it.

But the opponent was the most skilled in martial arts among the top executives, next to Black Wolf. In other words, he wasn’t an ordinary martial artist.

Craaaash─!

“Heup!”

The wall of ice and Black Origin’s fists met.

Crack-!

Was this what it would be like if an ancient giant creature trapped in a large glacier escaped?

The surface of the frozen lake literally twisted.

The shockwave that started from the boar’s fist spread in all directions. Immediately after, large chunks of ice scattered in all directions.

Shoo-

“They’re flying!”

“What……!”

The martial artists who had been idly watching the duel each drew their weapons.

Fortunately, the level of the martial artists here was all excellent.

After waving their arms a few times, the rain of ice fragments quickly stopped.

Rustle-

Small pieces of ice, finely split, fluttered in all directions. It was as if they were looking at glass crystals.

In the beautiful scenery, the Cult Leader and the Black Boar were facing each other.

Yohan was breathing roughly. His chest still throbbed. If it hadn’t been for the triple defense, he would have died instantly.

“Heok, heok. I didn’t expect you to get out so easily. As expected of the second-in-command of the Black King Castle.”

Now that Black Wolf was dead, Black Origin was the best among the top executives.

“Heu, heuu. Cult Leader is amazing too. I apologize. The steward’s insight was correct. Cult Leader. You are truly an amazing sorcerer.”

Black Origin wasn’t in perfect condition either. Broken pieces of ice were densely embedded all over his body.

Yohan had attempted a counterattack with superhuman concentration while flying into the sky.

Swoosh, Yohan’s hair fluttered. He pulled up his magical power with all his might.

“Now, let’s end this.”

“I’d like that. Come. Cult Leader.”

Black Origin’s eyes turned red. His breathing became rough, and he looked as if he would jump forward at any moment.

Pshhhh-

The heat emanating from his body melted the ice embedded in his body.

Yohan looked around. Not a single piece of ice that had been surrounding the lake remained.

Yohan let out a futile chuckle.

‘To counteract all the magical power that existed in the lake with just two fists. He’s not human.’

Strange language dripped from Yohan’s mouth. Now that he thought about it, it had been quite a while. It was quite a while since he used this spell.

Gurgle-

The lake surged.

Black Origin narrowed his eyes at the sight.

‘I’m afraid. What is he trying to do this time?’

The Cult Leader was a sorcerer. If he continued to stall, he would be at a disadvantage. Black Origin swelled his chest and shouted.

“Kuaaaaaa!”

It was a beast-like cry. The movement was even more beast-like.

The distance between Yohan and Black Origin narrowed in the blink of an eye. The martial artists who were watching this from afar sighed.

Too late. The Cult Leader had lost. It takes time to use sorcery… etc. Everyone predicted the Cult Leader’s defeat.

But what they didn’t know was that Yohan’s spell was already complete.

Thud─

The incantation stopped.

Puhwaaaaaaak!!!

Rough Waves.

Just as his feet seemed to be swirling, a fierce wave advanced towards Black Origin.

The size of the wave was so huge that most of the objects in its path were submerged in shadows. The martial artists watching were no exception.

“Heoeok!”

“Divine, Divine punishment!”

Black Origin widened his eyes. The emotion he felt was despair. Where could there be a human who could fight against nature?

His own existence felt pathetic, and the Cult Leader’s existence became infinitely greater.

At that moment, a faded past came to mind. A worthless and ugly orphan becoming the pride of the Black King Castle was a ridiculous story.

Well, when had he ever fought because he was able to fight? That’s just life.

“Steel Boar Rampage Strike!!”

Like a steel boar rushing forward like an explosion.

A mere boar and nature collided.

Kwaaaaaaaang!!!

“Kueueuk!”

“Hup! Keueuaaak!”

A violent whirlwind arose. The martial artists planted their respective weapons in the ground and waited for the storm to end.

Black King and Sima Han narrowed their eyes and scanned the scene of the collision in detail.

Black King let out a hollow sigh and recalled a conversation with Black Wolf in the past.

‘……Didn’t you say he was a little stronger than Black God? You bastard.’

How could that be a little? Black King was dumbfounded.

In Black King’s view, Black Origin, who was lying on the floor with a pale face, was visible.

***

“Hup! Hieuup!”

Physician Gwang crossed his hands and pressed down on Black Origin’s chest.

Was he truly a physician who had entered the ranks of the superhuman? He was in a steady, comfortable posture.

Thanks to Physician Gwang, Black Origin quickly regained consciousness.

“Keuhup! Heoeok! Heok!”

A clump of dark green strands shot out of his mouth. It looked similar to seaweed.

Black King smashed the flying dark green clump and said,

“Are you coming to your senses?”

“……Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I showed you something unsightly.”

“It’s okay. After all, both the Cult Leader and you are on our side.”

“…….”

Black Origin’s expression didn’t improve. It was because he had failed to meet the leader’s expectations.

“Ha~ you bastard. Hey you!”

Slap!

“Heok!”

Black King’s hand struck Black Origin’s back. It was quite hot. He was indeed the best martial artist in the Black King Castle.

“Get your act together. Tomorrow, you’ll be fighting against the top masters of the White Faction. Are you going to be like this then too?”

Those words awakened Black Origin’s spirit. He rose from his seat with a determined look in his eyes. His whole body was wet.

“No, sir. Thank you, Lord of the Castle.”

“Okay.”

Black Origin turned his body and looked at Yohan. Yohan looked unharmed.

Oh, the fabric on the chest area was a little torn.

Black Origin respectfully clasped his fist.

“I’ve learned a lot.”

He didn’t seem to have any animosity despite his defeat. Yohan smiled gently.

Chuck-

“I, too, have learned a lot.”