episode_0096

Whooooosh!!…

A strong wind blows.

This is the deepest part of Cheonsan.

At the same time, the highest point in Cheonsan.

The beastmen residing here are in a place called Heavenly Hollow (天穴).

This is the main base of the beastman hawks and an unknown area that even the Yeom Empire has yet to discover.

In such a place, someone was blankly looking at the highest point in the sky.

“….”

A girl with a blood-red sword at her waist, scattering rich white hair, and fragmented, unique blue eyes.

This being, called the Sword Demon, was simply staring blankly at the sky.

Noble yet cold, with a glimpse of fragility that seems like she would break at any moment, yet incredibly beautiful.

Even the beastmen who hate humans dare not defy the Sword Demon. Rather, the beastmen revered her.

But because of that, no one even thought of approaching her.

Thus, a lonely absolute being was there.

“Sword Demon-nim.”

The one who came to find such a Sword Demon was a man with red hair, Red Demon.

“….”

He politely addresses the Sword Demon, but she seems to be interested, or not.

She was just looking at the blue sky.

But as if that appearance was also familiar, Red Demon continued speaking.

“There is news that he has set foot on Cheonsan.”

“….”

At those words, the Sword Demon’s gaze, which had been blankly looking at the sky, turned to Red Demon.

Zzzzzzz

Just the gaze turning towards him makes him feel an overwhelming presence.

She has no emotions towards herself.

Yet, the presence and pressure felt is proof that she is already a being on a different dimension than himself.

Therefore, she is not interested in ordinary people. What she is interested in is either a strong person of equal standing as herself, or a way for her to become stronger.

Only two things.

“He came?”

“!”

Despite still being some distance away from the girl, she instantly closed the distance to right in front of him.

It felt as if her bluish eyes were piercing through his entire body and mind.

“Y-yes. A moment ago…, I confirmed it.”

His voice trembled without him realizing it.

Fortunately, the other person doesn’t seem to care much about such things, and waits for his next words, looking at him.

“What will you do?”

“…I’ll go.”

“Understood. I will prepare. Just in time, the development of Beast God Transformation is also in the final stages, so it would be good to show them our power.”

At his words, she took a step as if she had no interest.

Then she spoke without any emotion or tone.

“Even with that, he can’t be defeated.”

The Sword Demon speaks of an extremely obvious fact.

It doesn’t feel like humiliation or insult to that.

In the first place, he felt that guy’s power enough to be sick of it in Baekdu. Overwhelming power that resistance is impossible. That was clearly the same as the Sword Demon.

“That’s right. He’s equal to Sword Demon-nim. But the others are not. For them, the blood of the Beast God dormant in the beastmen’s blood will definitely be a threat.”

“If you say so, I understand.”

Step step step

The Sword Demon passed him and disappeared into the darkness.

Only after her presence completely disappeared was Red Demon able to barely catch his breath.

“…Damn it! Monster-like bastards….”

There are too many strong people in the world.

Too many.

There are too many people who can crush him like a bug.

Yet, he has no choice but to bow his head in order to survive.

Unlike his other dead blood relatives.

“…Hoo, good. Okay. Anyway, if only this matter is finished. If only that happens, I can gain power.”

* * *

“We will proceed with a quick and decisive battle.”

The next day.

At the end of the meeting, the conclusion they reached was the same as the conclusion Yang Ja-mun had thought of.

Quick and decisive.

Suppress the Beastmen Alliance and prevent the revival of the Heavenly Demon before the Heavenly Demon can fully revive.

“Based on the analysis of the information obtained through the prisoners, the opponent to be wary of is a being called the Sword Demon.”

“I know the Sword Demon. I’ve clashed with her once.”

At his words, the gaze of everyone in the conference room is once again focused on him.

Namgoong Doryong, the head of the Namgoong family, who he thought was scratched and pissed off at him, was also slightly looking at him as if he was a little concerned.

Of course, the most urgent was the head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Hyeon.

“Why, why didn’t you tell us that fact!”

“Didn’t you ask?”

“N-no, no matter how much…information about the enemy…”

“Ah, Father!…”

Zhuge Hyeon barely continued speaking, as if he was dizzy, holding his forehead.

Zhuge So-hyeon, who was next to him, supported her staggering father’s arm and opened her mouth in place of her father.

“C-could you tell us about the Sword Demon? Her appearance, combat abilities, and what she uses.”

“There’s nothing difficult about it.”

He nodded at her words and explained about the Sword Demon he had met.

“First of all, I met the Sword Demon in Zhao.”

“In Zhao?”

“That place would have been under the Seclusion Edict?”

“I asked the Yeom Emperor because I had something to do. I asked him to get me there somehow. Thanks to that, I succeeded in heading to Zhao, and I tried to resolve my business there. In the process, I happened to come into contact with the Beastmen Alliance.”

In fact, it’s not an exaggeration to say that it wasn’t accidental, but intentional, but there’s no need or reason to say that.

Besides, if he said he went there on purpose, he would definitely hear a lot of stories about how he knew there was an executive of the Beastmen Alliance there.

“While fighting the Beastmen Alliance executive, Red Demon, to save Red Demon…or for some other reason, I don’t know, I encountered the Sword Demon and exchanged moves. First of all, she uses a sword as her name suggests. However, she seemed to use a special sword.”

“A special sword?”

“It absorbed my River Qi.”

Everyone was greatly surprised at those words.

“A s-sword that absorbs River Qi!”

“Are you saying she has such a sword?”

He wondered why they were so surprised, but when he thought about it, these guys had a very high dependence on River Qi.

Is it only the Shaolin who train their bodies?

The rest prefer to train their bodies to a certain extent and then turn the rest into Inner Force training to strengthen their bodies with Inner Force…

The fact that River Qi, which can be said to be the ultimate use of Inner Force, is blocked seems to be quite shocking.

“A sword that absorbs River Qi…, that’s a big deal. As befitting the name Sword Demon, she must have a deep understanding of that sword.”

“That’s right. She could probably cut all of your necks at once.”

He nodded in agreement with the Shaolin abbot’s words.

Then, the others all had faces like they had chewed on dog poop, but what could he do?

That’s the truth.

“You’ve been quite confident since yesterday. Then, can you prove it? Your skills?”

Namgoong Doryong, who was beaten up by him quite a bit, spoke with a prickly tone.

He probably feels like he’s going to catch him if he gets caught doing one thing…

“I think I can show you soon without you pushing me like that.”

“?”

Namgoong Doryong, who didn’t understand his words, tilted his head.

“It seems the opponent had the same thought.”

“The same thought?…Could it be?!”

The first to notice his words was Zhuge Hyeon.

He was the first to reach the answer, being flustered by his actions but also carefully listening to the information about the Sword Demon, and hurriedly said to everyone.

“The enemies!…”

Kwaang!!!

But the enemies’ offensive was one step faster.

He could feel the outside becoming noisy with the sound of a rough destructive sound.

‘They don’t intend to hide it…’

Honestly, even he wouldn’t be able to predict a sudden enemy attack while holding a meeting like this.

If that were possible, he would have been a fortune teller.

However, the reason he could notice the enemies’ attack was because of the very pure and clear fighting spirit still directed at him.

He knew very well who was scattering this fighting spirit.

It’s the Sword Demon.

But to think she would come so confidently, and even openly, into the enemy camp.

Is it an intended tactic? Or is she just running because she wants to fight him without thinking?

But that’s good.

[Let’s go get revenge right away!]

The Holy Sword Makina said powerfully.

Yes. The time has come to avenge last time.

“Lucy. Stick with Baek-ryeon and Baek-ho and support them.”

“Yes~ Leave it to me~”

“Baek-ryeon, Red Demon might have come with them. Since Baek-ho hasn’t fully regained his original strength yet, don’t go too deep just to get revenge, and aim for the next time if you think you can’t handle it. The war has just begun anyway. There will be plenty of situations where you’ll have to fight him.”

“Hmm. I understand.”

He divided all the roles that each of them had to do and stood up from his seat.

Of course, it wasn’t just him who had made a decision.

In any case, everyone here is in the position of a leader leading a family or a great sect.

Even if they were flustered, their judgment was quick.

The Yeom Emperor, who quietly got up from his seat.

“Let’s prepare to receive them. The arrangement of personnel will be as set in advance. Also, the variables in the battlefield will be left to each individual’s judgment.”

The Yeom Emperor’s power, which has become much more mature than when they met last time, can be felt in his voice.

“Then, in the name of the flame, let’s show our power to the enemy.”

“”””In the name of the flame!””””

With those words, everyone rushed out of the tent.

Thus, all that was left here was his party, the Yeom Emperor, and Jujak.

“I’ll be in your debt again.”

“Since we’re on the same boat anyway, wouldn’t it be okay?”

“Haha, it’s reassuring.”

The Yeom Emperor said with a gentle smile.

And Jujak, who was standing behind him, looked at him and Baek-ho with a sulky look.

“Baek-ho.”

“What’s wrong, Jujak?”

“We have a clause that we shouldn’t interfere in human affairs. But are you trying to interfere in this matter?”

“…Unfortunately, I’m already deeply involved in this matter. By their intentions.”

That’s right.

The Beastmen Alliance targeted Baek-ho and went to Zhao, destroyed the Baek family, drew out Baek-ho, and captured Baek-ho.

So this is a defensive act that Jujak himself said.

“So don’t worry too much.”

“…Hmph. That’s good.”

“Let’s talk about old times later, let’s go.”

At his words, Baek-ho nodded.

Jujak continued to watch Baek-ho’s back as he followed Leon out.