Chapter 1125: Scorched World.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaah—!!!

An aura shaped like a scream shot up into the sky like a beam of light. This was the direct aftermath of the Heavenly Demon Soul Jade.

Around the beam of light, whirlwinds of energy raged like a storm, desperately sucking in countless nearby things.

It was a bizarre and uncanny sight.

Could that truly be something created by human power?

Those watching the situation swallowed hard.

Their trembling legs weren’t just from the vibrations felt through the ground.

The sense of dread emanating from that energy.

A feast of supreme realms, one that mere warriors weren’t even permitted to approach.

Like gazing upon a being placed in the heavens, the warriors instinctively felt awe.

Kiiiiiaaaaaaah-!!

“Ggghhh……”

“My ears……!”

The explosive sound of the energy seemed like a piercing scream. It was utterly bizarre, so they covered their ears.

Goosebumps rose involuntarily.

By the time that beam of light, which had shone briefly, soon disappeared.

The gusts of wind beside it also scattered.

Afterward, the full impact of the energy revealed itself.

“Hoo……”

“Th-that……”

Everyone watching had to tremble.

The Level 100 monster that had been rampaging just moments ago. That disaster which seemed absolutely impossible to defeat.

“…It’s breaking apart.”

“It’s being torn apart……”

It was damaged and breaking apart so much that its form was unrecognizable.

Kyah… Kyareu… Kyaryuk…….

Unlike before, when it could at least regenerate. The monster, unable to even do that, was only letting out weak whimpers.

Just then.

Hwarururururuk–!!!

Black energy clung to the monster’s body.

It looked just like ‘fire’.

Its characteristics weren’t that different either. The clinging energy soon burned away all traces of the monster.

Completely without a trace.

Becoming a handful of ash, it was swept away into the void.

The moment the Level 100 monster disappeared.

Kururu-……!?

Kyah…… Kyah-ah-ah-!!

The red monsters that had been rampaging through the mountain, attacking warriors, also reacted.

They blocked it to some extent, but the numerous monsters gradually began to fall one by one.

The moment they all fell.

Kyareureu?

The black monster, which had been slaughtering the red monsters in the center, tilted its head as if bewildered.

After that.

Kyah-.

It nodded as if understanding something. Then.

Pasuseu-!

The monster melted away, absorbed into shadows, and vanished.

The large black monster watching from beyond the mountain was the same.

In an instant, all the monsters disappeared.

Giiiiing-!!!

A change occurred in the Demonic Mirror Gate at the mountain’s center.

“G-Guild Master-nim! The Great Demonic Mirror Gate……!”

“……Huh?”

Namgung Jeohui shifted his gaze at his subordinate’s words. Because the Great Demonic Mirror Gate, which had been spewing out monsters, began to distort.

Kkirik…… Kkiyiik-!!!

Like crumpled paper, the Demonic Mirror Gate gradually crumpled.

Tung-!

Before long, this too vanished. As if it had never been there in the first place.

“This is……”

The warriors looked at each other, dumbfounded. As if it was meaningless that a battle had been raging until just moments ago. Everything ended in an instant.

All that remained was the chaotic situation, indicating that monsters had indeed been present.

As they remained silent for a long time.

“We survived……”

“W-we survived.”

“We survived-!!!”

Everyone cheered and shouted. Survival in the present moment was more important than understanding the situation.

---

Meanwhile, as cheers continued to erupt.

“Hoo.”

I was surveying the situation back and forth from behind my mask.

It was good that I killed the Level 100 monster, but my own body wasn’t exactly in great condition.

‘I used quite a lot of energy.’

I summoned two monsters that were Level 100 and made them fight.

I completely dealt with the real Level 100 monster. Perhaps the problem was using the Heavenly Demon Soul Jade in the middle of it all; an unusually large amount of my internal energy had vanished.

‘It couldn’t be helped.’

It was at the point where I confirmed its regeneration ability. To deal with regeneration like that, I needed to inflict a considerable amount of damage. In this regard, using the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was the fastest.

I had already confirmed that those hit by the Heavenly Demon Soul Jade had reduced regeneration, and… I used that to deal with the Level 100 monster.

‘It wasn’t bad.’

The plan wasn’t bad. Even from my perspective, experiencing the White Demonic Mirror Gate for the first time, it wasn’t bad.

‘I also learned things I didn’t know.’

It seems that when the Level 100 monster in the Demonic Mirror Gate dies, all the subordinate monsters are dealt with.

Isn’t that evidence that the other monsters all disappeared?

‘……A Level 100 Demonic Mirror Gate.’

Seeing as the other monsters didn’t appear.

‘It seems only white and red ones appear.’

Green and blue ones didn’t even appear.

So, does that mean until the Demonic Mirror Gate closes, one white and multiple red monsters appear?

‘Whoa, the difficulty is insane, seriously?’

If that’s the case, it’s truly an absurd level.

‘How are we supposed to block that?’

It’s a number that a normal sword corps absolutely couldn’t block. It’s the same this time.

‘If I hadn’t been here,’

Although Cheonjun is here, let’s assume he didn’t come. If that were the case.

‘Anhui might have disappeared.’

It’s possible that Anhui itself, where the Namgung family exists, might have vanished. The Level 100 Demonic Mirror Gate had that level of danger.

‘……Still, it’s a relief that I managed to block it somehow.’

No one died. It’s thanks to me running around quite a bit.

“Hoo.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Maybe it’s because this is the first time I’ve shown my full strength here, but I was unusually tired.

However, I pretended to be okay, despite the effort.

I couldn’t help it.

“What happened?”

Because there were eyes watching. At my words, the person behind me approached.

Looking that way, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

It was Father.

‘Ah geez, he’s persistent.’

I did enough earlier, shouldn’t that be enough? Did Father still have something to say? He was approaching me with a stern face.

“I haven’t heard your words yet.”

“Haa……”

I sighed. That man’s stubbornness is seriously no joke.

What should I do? Should I just knock him out? I didn’t want to lay a hand on Father if possible. This puts me in a difficult position too, so I can’t help it.

Just as I was thinking that and about to approach Father.

“I will ask……”

Father asked me something again.

But.

“Are you, perhaps, the previous Guild Master of Gu Family?”

“……”

Hesitated.

At Father’s words, this time I had to freeze.

What did he say?

“What are you talking about?”

I asked, frowning. It was fortunate I was wearing a mask. Otherwise, my distorted expression would have been completely visible.

Suddenly asking if I was the previous Gu Family head? It was out of the blue.

Just as I was wondering why he would say such a thing. Father added to his words.

“The power you’ve shown now. That is the power of Gu Family. Is it not?”

“……”

Ah, I see what he was getting at.

‘He sensed it.’

It seemed Father had sensed the energy. The Heavenly Demon Soul Jade was ultimately a power generated from the friction between the Nine Flame Wheel Art and the Heavenly Demonic Dance. I wondered if Father sensed a trace from that.

‘If not that.’

The demonic flames I just used to burn the Level 100 monster. The source of that was also ultimately the Nine Flame Wheel Art, so… It’s possible he sensed it from there, but…

It doesn’t matter what it was.

‘The important thing is that he sensed it.’

That Father sensed the energy, even from that fragment. That’s the problem right now.

‘But, sensing the energy and then asking if I’m the previous head, I don’t get what that means.’

It’s incomprehensible.

If it’s the previous head…

‘Doesn’t that mean my great-grandfather.’

My great-grandfather. The current head would be my grandfather, so Father must be referring to the great-grandfather now.

“Do I look like your grandfather, you punk?”

“……I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”

Father himself didn’t seem particularly certain.

What should I answer? My deliberation was short.

“You’re not even worth answering. Get lost.”

I turned my back. And took flight.

I neither denied it nor confirmed it. Because somehow, that seemed like the right thing to do.

“……!”

Father tried to react to that action, but he couldn’t this time.

Because I had already used my power and disappeared.

---

I moved away from the situation and headed up the mountain. It wasn’t the ruined mountain, but one that was relatively intact.

The place located in the center of the region, surrounded by the Namgung Family and Anhui.

Arriving at a mountain in the middle of that area, I stretched.

“Hoo……”

Confirming there was no one around, I finally let out a sigh.

“Oof…… That was tough.”

My whole body feels stiff.

When I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, I saw sweat beaded there.

“I used way too much energy.”

Is it because I used it explosively all at once? The fatigue is only now clearly setting in.

“……I think I need to rest a bit before heading off.”

Since I dealt with what needed dealing with anyway, I’ll just catch my breath for a moment before going.

I have things to think about too. I planned to spend some time here.

‘My divine power is still maintained, so it should be fine.’

They won’t think I’ve actually disappeared. I left an illusion there using the power of wind. Since the distance is considerable, the maintenance will likely last about an hour before disappearing.

‘That should be enough.’

That duration was just enough to rest.

Thump. I sat down against a tree and closed my eyes.

I planned to keep my energy senses fully spread out while resting just a little.

Thoughts spun within my closed eyes.

‘……Great-grandfather.’

Why did Father look at me like that?

Of all things, the previous head. The meaning derived from that strikes me strangely.

‘That’s right.’

The Gu Family exists even in this era. The grandfather I saw also exists.

Which means.

‘Wouldn’t it be a bit easier to investigate?’

The Gu Family’s value of existence, having been there as the master’s proxy. I thought maybe I could find out more about that too.

‘……Maybe I should check out the Shanxi region too?’

I hadn’t intended to visit the Gu Family of the current era. Seeing it like this sparks my interest.

“That wouldn’t be bad.”

Thinking it was a good method, I unintentionally spoke my thoughts aloud.

But.

“That’s right, it’s not bad.”

“Right? Not ba……”

An answer came.

“……?”

At the voice, I slowly opened my eyes.

And there.

“Hello?”

“……”

A white-haired woman with sparkling crimson eyes.

Mother was sitting there.

……Why is she here?

Just as I was unable to even react in surprise to a truly unexpected situation.

“You know.”

Mother suddenly asked me something.

“Are you like me too?”

This too was a question I hadn’t even considered.