Chapter 1122: Scorched World.

RUMBLE–!!!

The sky roared as the ground shook violently.

“Ugh!”

“Grrr…!”

It wasn’t just a tremor.

The air pressure spread, pressing down on the entire mountain range. As the oppressive feeling intensified, those standing began to stagger.

It was an immense energy. This vibration wasn’t echoing from the mountain.

‘It’s emanating from the Demonic Mirror Gate.’

That white Great Demonic Mirror Gate. It was the energy gushing from there. The energy coming from it sent vibrations through the sky, and those vibrations poured straight down to the ground.

“Gasp…”

Under the immense pressure, the warriors knelt. Those below the Peak level, the top-tier martial artists, were all collapsing from exhaustion.

Many were foaming at the mouth or losing consciousness.

Watching this, the clan head, Namgung Jeo-hwi, let out a low groan.

“What in the world is this…! Commander Cheong-ryong!”

He shouted, calling out to his father.

“You said there was still time… How could this have happened!”

He looked at the Demonic Mirror Gate. The rings were still there. One of the two lines was almost completely broken and disappearing.

According to Father’s prediction, I thought the line would break tomorrow, opening it.

‘What is this sudden vibration?’

What is this sudden change? And the change from the red Demonic Mirror Gate… what is this vibration?

Squeeeze.

My toes were being pressed down.

My body was sinking into the ground little by little under the pressure.

Crackle.

My body sank deeper into the ground. Feeling that, I quickly pulled my foot out.

Snap.

My foot came free as I released the pressure. Although it was getting stronger bit by bit, the increase was subtle.

Just as I thought that was fortunate and moved myself aside.

“Commander Cheong-ryong…!”

“…”

Even though Namgung Jeo-hwi roared, Father was just looking at the Demonic Mirror Gate with a frown.

At that moment.

ROOOOAR—-!!!

An immense heat gushed from Father’s body. The heat, mixed with his internal energy, enveloped the entire hillside. Then, the oppressive pressure that had been crushing people subsided. Father was using his internal energy to push the pressure away.

‘Wow.’

That’s an immense amount of internal energy. To think one could emit such a vast quantity.

“It seems a problem has occurred.”

Father spoke in a calm voice.

It was remarkable that he could speak so calmly while emitting so much energy.

People could barely catch their breath thanks to Father’s energy.

“Haaa-“

“Gasp… cough…”

“Cough!”

Everyone coughed dryly and gagged. It was the aftereffect of escaping the pressure.

Furthermore.

Whooosh-!!!

Energy surged up from all directions. As if to support Father’s energy, the other warriors unleashed their own momentum.

Only then were they able to withstand the pressure, but…

‘Even with all that energy, it’s only this much.’

The pressure from the energy emitted by the White-grade Demonic Mirror Gate alone is this immense.

So if something comes from there…

‘What are we supposed to do if a monster pops out?’

When a monster comes out. If that happens, I don’t know what will become of us.

Even if I don’t know what will come out, I can’t ignore the fact that something ominous is contained within.

It’s because of that.

“…This is impossible.”

“How on earth…”

“We have to run.”

The warriors’ morale plummeted. Given the situation, it was understandable, but it wasn’t a good sign.

“…This is bad.”

It’s absurd. I can only sigh. What am I supposed to do about this now?

‘What’s with the white one?’

I’d never seen a Demonic Mirror Gate of this grade before. I’d seen the Red Demonic Mirror Gate, but this white one was new.

‘Does the white one emit this kind of energy?’

I also just realized now that energy could be emitted directly from the Demonic Mirror Gate itself.

Just as I was wondering how this happened.

Crackle-!

“Huh?”

“Th-the line!”

The Demonic Mirror Gate changed. One of the wrapped rings broke. Now, only one line remained.

That could happen. It was already in a state close to breaking in the first place. So, it wasn’t strange for another ring to break, but…

“L-look over there!”

“The ring!”

Crackle-crackle.

The one remaining ring also began to change. Subtle cracks started forming on it.

‘Damn it.’

Just looking at it, the condition was clearly wrong.

A change was occurring to something that shouldn’t have broken yet.

This wasn’t good. It was really not good.

“…It seems we need to prepare for battle.”

Father said. At his words, the atmosphere changed even more drastically.

There was no time to ponder or hesitate.

Hearing Father’s words, Namgung Jeo-hwi shouted.

“Assume battle positions! Prepare for battle!”

It was a shout infused with internal energy. At the sound, tension immediately erupted among the warriors.

“Immediately… send a message to the former clan head.”

“Ah, understood…!”

At Namgung Jeo-hwi’s command, others jumped up and started running off.

Not only the Namgung clan’s warriors but also our side assumed battle positions.

The rings began to break even faster.

As if influenced by the warriors’ fighting spirit, the rate of change accelerated.

‘Damn.’

What should I do? While everyone else was reacting like that, I was thinking something else entirely.

‘How should I handle this?’

Not ‘How should I deal with that,’ but rather…

‘How should I step forward?’

How should I step forward in this situation? Such thoughts crossed my mind.

‘…If that ring really breaks and the Demonic Mirror Gate opens.’

I can’t just stand by idly like this.

Not only are we facing the Demonic Mirror Gate, but…

‘After all, this happened because of me.’

I can’t deny it. It’s obvious.

So.

‘What should I do?’

How should I act in this situation? Should I just unleash what I’ve been holding back?

And if I did, how would the problem be solved?

‘Hmm.’

While I was pondering this.

‘Ah.’

A thought struck me.

‘Then it’ll work.’

There was a way.

‘If it’s not me, then it’s fine.’

Even if someone needs to step forward, it shouldn’t be me.

Someone else can step forward.

Thinking this, I narrowed my eyes.

I found a way.

---

GUOOOAAAR—-!!!

The vibration spread further.

Watching this, Gu Cheol-un frowned.

He could feel the situation worsening.

Looking at the Demonic Mirror Gate, tension boiled within him.

Fwoosh-!!

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique spun continuously, ready to unleash energy. As the compressed energy continued to surge, Gu Cheol-un glanced around.

He could see the tense atmosphere hardening around them.

Amidst it all, he could feel unease and fear.

The energy kept intensifying.

Gu Cheol-un flexed his body, sensing it.

His intuition flared.

‘It’s breaking.’

Those rings breaking. Before he knew it, they were completely shattering.

Something unexpected was happening.

A sharp sense alerted Gu Cheol-un to the situation. He knew something would erupt once those rings broke.

That a catastrophe would burst forth from within.

His instincts screamed it to Gu Cheol-un.

Clench.

Gu Cheol-un slowly clenched his fist.

Can I do this?

I don’t know. But…

‘I must.’

This is something I have to do. Having seen what was happening, I couldn’t just turn away.

Recalling this, Gu Cheol-un enveloped himself in flames.

FWOOOOOSH—!!!

Crimson flames wrapped around his entire body.

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique had reached the Eighth Stage. He unleashed all its energy.

“Gasp-!”

“……Grk!”

He gave up controlling the heat that erupted.

As a result, the nearby warriors flinched from the heat’s aftereffect.

Releasing the full heat, he unleashed his fighting spirit.

“…”

He perfectly released the power he had been holding back, fully enveloping himself in energy.

The ring of flames reaching the Eighth Stage expanded and spun.

“Sssshhh.”

Heat radiated from Gu Cheol-un’s breath.

He was ready.

Just then.

Tap-!

A sound came from the ring.

“Clan Head! The ring has broken–!”

The ring broke, scattering into energy. The warriors, seeing this, tried to quickly inform Namgung Jeo-hwi, but…

GUOOOAAAAAR—–!!!

A deafening roar erupted from the Demonic Mirror Gate. The moment the ring broke, an impact far greater than anything before burst forth.

An air pressure wave, fueled by the foul energy, exploded like a bombardment.

“Aaaaahhh–!”

The warriors were pushed back by the air pressure. Some were blown away by the wind, even falling off the mountain.

The White Demonic Mirror Gate shuddered violently. The surrounding area seemed to distort due to the energy.

“…Something is coming. Prepare yourselves-.”

Gu Cheol-un spoke. Then, So-i and Do-yun, who were beside him, unleashed their energy.

It was fortunate that they felt no fear. Feeling this, Gu Cheol-un looked back.

The one person who particularly needed attention in this situation.

Baek Yangcheon.

Someone whose identity was unknown. Someone rather irritating.

Observing him, Baek Yangcheon was merely staring at the Demonic Mirror Gate with a peculiar expression.

I couldn’t feel any energy emanating from him.

What was it…

‘What is it?’

Something felt strange. Alien. Even though he was just standing there, why did I feel this way?

Just as I felt puzzled.

KIAAAAAAAARRRRRRR—–!!!!!

“…! “

“Grrr…!”

A tearing shriek was heard from within the Demonic Mirror Gate.

Then.

Teeeear-!

Something began to emerge from inside the Demonic Mirror Gate. Was it a hand? A giant white hand.

It was a hand with sharp claws.

Behind it, a strangely shaped maw emerged.

It was an enormous body.

Perhaps because the Demonic Mirror Gate was large enough to encompass the entire mountain, the entity emerging from it was equally extraordinary.

Its body was unbelievably massive.

Seeing it, the warriors turned pale.

“Wh-what… Whaaat… A monster, it’s a monster!”

“What is that…! What on earth is that!”

Everyone was flustered and terrified. It was a white monster.

Its pale white limbs radiated disaster.

That was truly a catastrophe.

The moment it appeared, I knew this whole area was doomed.

It couldn’t be stopped. That’s the feeling I got the instant I saw it.

Despair washed over me.

While everyone else stood frozen like stone, trembling uncontrollably.

KWARURURURUCK–!!!

Only Gu Cheol-un clenched flames in his fist.

Even if it couldn’t be stopped.

Even if victory was impossible.

‘What meaning would that have?’

That wouldn’t be a reason to stop my advance.

Thinking thus, he glared at the monster.

KYAAAAAAAH—–!!!

A massive roar echoed throughout the mountain.

Just as the monster was about to fully reveal itself.

Thump.

Kyaa…?

Along with a brief sound, the monster stopped roaring.

Moreover.

“…What?”

Gu Cheol-un’s eyes widened.

The monster lowered its head towards Gu Cheol-un’s position.

A massive hole had been pierced through its enormous body.

Kyaa…aah-?

The monster looked at the hole in its body with a puzzled expression.

What was going on?

While everyone was stunned by what had happened.

“Stop that racket.”

A voice came from thin air.

Everyone’s heads snapped upwards.

“You’re being loud.”

There.

A warrior clad in black martial attire, wearing a white mask, looked down upon them.

His hand was wrapped in dark energy.