Chapter 1027: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Stars rise above the blackened sky.

The stars rose in countless rows, as if to illuminate the pitch-blackness.

And above them, the crimson light that should have filled the sky rose as an aurora.

Two giant moons appeared, proving it was night.

The world showed with its whole being that it had become night.

And, only then, was there a being that finally opened its eyes.

“Kuhuhuhu……”

With a low breath, suddenly from beneath the rocky ground.

Kkwadeudeuk–!!!

A large hand burst through. The protruding arm wriggled, lifting its body up from the hard cracks in the rock.

“Kuhuhuhuhu……”

Revealed amidst fiery snorts was the Chieftain.

Covered in stone fragments, it calmly climbed onto the ground.

“Kurururururu—“

The low roar was filled with rage.

“That damn crow…!”

It recalled falling asleep without properly finishing the battle.

As it realized this, just as the Chieftain was about to unleash its rage again.

“……Hm?”

The Chieftain lifted its thick head towards somewhere.

“What is this?”

Then it muttered to itself towards that spot. Surprisingly, it wasn’t talking to itself.

Because there had been a person looking down from the moment the Chieftain appeared.

“I’ve felt this before, but it’s quite peculiar.”

The person who had appeared replied with a voice tinged with laughter to the Chieftain’s words.

“How is it that you sense my presence so well?”

“Didn’t I tell you? No one on this land can escape my eyes.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

Tuk.

A man landed lightly from the rocky mountain. His toes touched the ground, and seeing that, the Chieftain grimaced.

“When you were running away like that, did you expect praise for reappearing so bravely?”

“Keukkeuk.”

The man laughed at the Chieftain’s sneer.

“You’re wrong. I could see you’d regret it, so I made a concession.”

“What…?”

“Wasn’t that the case, General? You must have been disappointed too, right? Because there was a useless meddler.”

“……”

The man-who called himself the Heavenly Demon-spoke, and the Chieftain didn’t deny it.

It was just a little surprised. Those words implied they knew the crow had been hiding.

“Lest you should have lingering regret, I personally waited for you. You truly don’t know your place.”

“Kuhuhuhuhuhuhu.”

Breathing heavily, the Chieftain reached out its hand. Then.

Kkwadeudeudeudeuk—!!!

A giant axe burst through and was grabbed by its hand.

“I’ll praise your insignificant intention. Stepping forward without knowing the future is recklessness, but I’ll praise that too.”

Kkwadeudeuk.

“However, if you wanted to preserve your life, you should have just run away.”

“Me?”

“Yes, as always.”

Huuuk.

The axe cut through the air once, then began to glow red.

“Because those who don’t know their place are bound to die quickly!”

Kkwadeudeuk–!!!

The Chieftain charged at the Heavenly Demon with its massive body.

---

Kwang-! Kkwadeudeudeudeuk–!!! Kkwaaaaaaaa—-!!!

Rough and fierce explosions erupted one after another. In the dark night, only the flashes of the violently swung axe and occasional bursts of embers were visible.

Occasionally, rocks flashing or exploding from the impact were glimpsed flying into the air.

The noise didn’t cease. Every time the Chieftain swung its axe, it felt like it could split a mountain.

The ground cracked with immense depth, or storms erupted when the axe cut through the wind.

‘Wow.’

‘I saw it last time too, but its sheer strength is mind-blowing. It wasn’t wind pressure imbued with energy; the pressure created solely by its strength alone possessed that much destructive power.’

‘It was obvious I’d be sent flying if I got hit even once. I focused as much as possible, dodging each attack.’

‘I closed the distance little by little. If I could, I’d use Myung to stop it and land a decisive blow, but…’

‘This guy.’

‘It didn’t stop moving for even a moment. If I used Myung in that state, the backlash could all come back to me, so I had to hold back.’

‘Just a little longer.’

‘Dodging the axe, I moved closer, waiting for an opportunity.’

‘After continuing the back-and-forth for a while.’

Kkwak-!

‘It worked.’

‘I entered its range.’

‘I immediately caused chaos. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art wrapped around my body as I clenched my fist.’

‘Using Tam.’

‘Activating Tam to block its power, I’ll launch a blow.’

‘The moment I concentrated my power with that thought.’

“—!”

Suddenly, the Chieftain threw itself backward.

“Hm?”

‘At the sight of it suddenly creating distance, I had to narrow my eyes from within my mask.’

It stood about ten steps away, holding its axe and on guard.

‘Ha. Look at that bastard?’

‘Seeing that, I let out a low sound.’

‘It’s on guard.’

‘It was wary of me. Despite possessing an immortal body, it must have sensed something and created distance.’

‘Does it know?’

‘That my Tam can neutralize its immortality?’

‘No way.’

‘That’s impossible. The reason I didn’t reveal Tam intentionally was for a surprise attack, so I’d hidden it with all my might.’

‘Then how did it notice?’

‘It’s normal for it not to know, yet it created distance and guarded against me.’

“What are you doing?”

“Kuhuu.”

‘To my question, it didn’t answer and just snorted. Then it gripped its axe again.’

Huuuk—!!!

‘It swung wildly, sending energy overlaid with Ganggi towards me.’

‘Its strength was originally immense, so even the Ganggi was dangerous, but dodging it wasn’t impossible.’

‘Figuring out its intention, I observed it little by little.’

‘Did I show too much?’

‘When we first fought, I showed Myung, and even the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’

‘Even just with this, it being wary might not be strange, but…’

‘It’s strange for someone possessing immortality.’

‘At first, it charged recklessly using that, but…’

‘Where did it sense something strange?’

‘As it’s a creature with keen senses, it might have figured something out.’

‘If that happens, it’ll be troublesome.’

‘Dealing with the Chieftain will become more difficult.’

‘If an immortal creature even becomes cautious…’

‘Could there be anything harder to deal with?’

‘Watching the Ganggi continuously flying towards me, I bit my lip.’

‘This won’t do.’

‘Taking a deep breath, I stomped my foot hard on the ground.’

Kuuuuuuung–!!!

‘The impact flipped the ground over, sending rocks shooting up.’

‘My vision was momentarily blocked.’

‘The Chieftain swung its axe to crush the rising rocks, but that split second allowed me to re-enter its range.’

‘I moved closer. Just as I was about to unleash Tam.’

“Good timing.”

‘The Chieftain uttered a chilling phrase.’

Chiiiiiiiiik—-!!!

‘Its skin heated up. Like last time, its body had turned red.’

‘The speed is different.’

‘The change was much faster than last time.’

‘And.’

Huk.

“……!”

‘As soon as it transformed, its axe blade came flying right before my eyes.’

‘Fast.’

‘Its speed had drastically increased.’

‘I can’t dodge this.’

Kkang-!!

Kkwadeudeudeudeuk–!!!

‘Hit by the axe, I rolled down the rocky mountain.’

‘My body, unable to withstand the impact, flew on, continuously crushing the ground.’

‘I barely planted my feet on the ground to slow down. At the same time, I checked my left arm.’

‘Damn it.’

‘I barely blocked the axe using Gwijung.’

‘If my judgment had been slow in that short moment, I would have been cleanly severed.’

‘This is insane.’

‘Assessing the current situation, I tried to catch my breath, but…’

“Huuuuu-!”

‘I didn’t have time.’

‘The Chieftain had already appeared before me.’

‘Once again, the axe cut through the air.’

‘Barely dodging it, I thought.’

‘Speed and strength have increased.’

‘When its skin changes like that, do both speed and strength increase?’

‘And why did its presence decrease?’

‘As the question arose, I also raised my energy.’

Changcheon (Bright Sky).

‘Changcheon of the Tuapa Cheonmu wrapped around my body.’

‘My physical abilities increased dramatically.’

‘Simultaneously, I emitted demonic energy from my body, filling the sky.’

‘Only after unfolding Heukcheon (Black Sky) could I catch up to its speed.’

“Huuuuung!”

‘Was it surprised that I suddenly caught up to its speed? The Chieftain’s reaction changed.’

‘Then, once again, the offense and defense began.’

‘It swung its axe, and I dodged it, looking for an opening.’

‘It attacked wildly, swinging that huge axe as if it were a mere twig.’

‘Finding an opening amidst such attacks was like picking stars from the sky.’

‘This can’t be helped.’

‘In the end, I had to make a compromise with myself.’

“Stop-.”

“……!”

Kulluk-!

‘Unable to hold it in due to the backlash, I vomited blood inside my mask.’

‘It didn’t matter.’

‘I didn’t even have time to feel it.’

‘At best, it lasted a split second. I couldn’t hold it for long.’

Hwareureureureuk–!!!

‘Immediately, I created a ring of flames and spun it.’

‘Along with that, I delicately refined the flames blooming in my hand.’

‘Upon them, I loaded my understanding.’

Gu-yeom Geuk-tae-san O-hyeong (Nine Flame Extreme Mountain Five Forms).

‘The secret technique of the Nine Families spread from my fingertips.’

Geuk Gu-yeom Tae-a Rang (Extreme Nine Flame Fetus Wave).

Keuraaaaaaa—-!!!

‘A furious beast of flame engulfed the Chieftain’s body.’

Kwaaaaaaaa–!!!

‘Immense heat covered the air, rising into the sky.’

‘Along with a sizzling sound, the ground melted too.’

Ttuk-! Ttuk-!

Chiiiiiiik.

‘Embers falling from the Chieftain melted the ground, making unpleasant sounds.’

“Keureureureu……”

‘Its condition was a mess.’

‘Seeing that, I clenched my fist tightly.’

“What a sight.”

“Keueueueu–!!”

‘At my taunt, it gnashed its teeth. At that moment, I saw its mangled body healing.’

‘Seeing that, I immediately commanded Tam.’

“Consume it.”

Shiiiiiaaaa–!!!

‘Tam, extending from the shadows, rushed to envelop it. Just as the Chieftain’s eyes widened upon seeing Tam rushing towards it.’

Uuuuuung–!!!

‘Suddenly, the air tore open, creating rifts.’

“What is this?”

‘Countless rifts opened above the Chieftain. They were all Magyeongmun (Demonic Mirror Gates).’

‘That means…?’

Keureureureu–!!!

‘Sure enough, beastly sounds came from the Magyeongmun, and through them, numerous monsters began pouring out.’

‘Seeing that, I said to the Chieftain.’

“Is this what you were hiding?”

‘It seems there was something more besides immortality. So, sounding surprised, I spoke.’

“Crow–!!!”

‘The Chieftain, looking at the rifts, suddenly started raging.’

“Didn’t I tell you not to interfereeeee–!!!”

Kwaaaaaang–!!!

‘It screamed towards the sky with a furious voice.’

‘At the same time, the ground it stomped on cracked violently.’

“You BASTARD–!!!”

‘……Looking at it, is this also someone else’s doing?’

‘I didn’t sense it this time either-the very fact that someone else was hiding.’

‘Tsk.’

‘I barely suppressed the unpleasant feeling.’

‘Seeing that, I looked up at the sky. Monsters poured out from the numerous opened rifts.’

‘No, they couldn’t really be called monsters; they resembled the ones I saw when I first came to the Myriad Realms.’

‘Or perhaps they resembled the Wolya Tribe, similar to the beasts living in the Spirit Beast Caves.’

“Crow, I will definitely kill you–!!!”

‘The Chieftain, seemingly uninterested in the reinforcements, was busy looking for the one who interfered with its fight.’

Keureureureu!!!

‘Even so, its forces were visibly accumulating.’

‘Seeing that, I sighed.’

“Haa.”

“To cause such interference…!”

“Be quiet, you’re distracting.”

‘Seeing the Chieftain continuing its pointless actions, I also raised a hand.’

“There’s no need to be surprised by these antics, nor is there any need to be bothered.”

‘And putting strength into my heart, I manifested my power.’

‘It’s not Tam.’

‘This was something else.’

Jjirit-!

‘I felt a tingling sensation in the heart I focused on, and then.’

Kuuuuuuuuung–!!!

‘The sky above me also began to tear open.’

“What…?”

‘The Chieftain looked at me with a look as if seeing something impossible.’

“Don’t be upset, perhaps. This is just to keep pace.”

‘Seeing that reaction, I chuckled and said.’

‘This was a power I acquired after defeating the Baekgeup monster in Hanam long ago.’

Keureureureu–!!!

Kwaaaaaaaa–!!!

‘The power to open Magyeongmun myself.’

‘And the power to pour out monsters from within them.’

‘It was the power to summon the countless monsters I had killed and absorbed.’

‘I decided to name this.’

“Baekgwiyahang (Night Parade of a Hundred Demons).”