Chapter 1271: Scorched World

Kureureureureung–!!

As if thunder were striking, the cave shook with a roar. Tzuh-uh-uhk-! The sound of cracking could also be heard. Not to mention the lightning energy intertwined with the air. And the thick, oppressive pressure wafting within swept through the surroundings.

“Kuhhyeuk!!”

“Keok…!”

The martial artists who were confronting each other knelt down, spitting blood. Their bodies were trembling violently.

“Eugh…”

Poison Phoenix and Tang Cheongi also couldn’t move properly, crushed by the pressure.

‘It’s the Emperor Sword Form.’

Seeing the aura, Punggi immediately identified the source of the power. The Emperor Sword Form. It’s the Namgung family’s ultimate technique, a martial art that showcases their identity.

‘It crushes the opponent through sheer presence.’

It’s an aura born from emotions like fighting spirit or killing intent. It was a well-known fact that martial artists amplify and use this.

Among them, the Emperor Sword Form is a martial art that uses fighting spirit trained to the extreme.

It emits one’s presence, mixed with lightning energy and sword energy.

It not only hinders the opponent but is a power that crushes them with mere aura, rendering them unable to move.

However.

‘It feels a bit different?’

An anomaly was felt in the Emperor Sword Form Namgung Jin was emitting.

‘The lightning energy permeating it is one thing…’

I checked my fingertips. They were trembling. It’s natural for the body to react to the Emperor Sword Form, but…

‘Just this?’

My body has been filled with energy by consuming several Apostles. It shouldn’t be shaken by this level of energy.

‘The fact that my body is trembling from this energy means,’

That there’s something more to that energy. I immediately wrapped my body in internal energy to check.

‘Ah.’

I grasped it immediately.

‘…It’s piercing through.’

The Emperor Sword Form’s fighting spirit penetrates the natural defense barrier, erected due to my high cultivation level. It meant the energy entered as if ignoring the defenses. As soon as I felt that, I changed my approach.

I wrapped my mind’s eye around my body. It was still being pierced. From there, I became certain.

‘It’s a divine power.’

So this is that guy’s divine power. Feeling that, I put strength into my body.

Huwoook—!!!

Energy surrounds me. It wasn’t meant to surround me.

“…Ugh?”

It was the energy surrounding the person right behind me. Mi Hyoran. She was so overwhelmed by the Emperor Sword Form that she almost fainted immediately.

‘It’s not completely ineffective, so it should help.’

It’s not a complete penetration. That alone is enough. By strengthening the barrier, I protected the relatively weaker Mi Hyoran, and then…

“Look at this guy.”

I smirked as I looked at Namgung Jin.

“Can becoming an Apostle make you like this?”

He’s stronger than I expected. When I saw Chu Yeongyeon or the other Apostles, their cultivation levels didn’t seem to change much, but…

‘He’s a completely different person.’

The Namgung Jin before me wasn’t the person I knew.

‘He’s at least at the Hwagyeong level,’

He had already surpassed the wall. He was at a level that could easily crush even Chu Yeongyeon.

So being an Apostle raises your cultivation level. As I filed away this new information.

Kwageugeugeuk–!!!

I also unleashed my fighting spirit.

“Miss Mi.”

I asked Mi Hyoran, “Yes…?”

“I told you to capture him, right?”

“Huh?”

“Him.”

I pointed a finger at Namgung Jin.

“Ah… Yes.”

Mi Hyoran nodded. Seeing that, I nodded too.

“…This might be a bit difficult. I’ll try for now. And.”

Turning my head again.

“If I can’t, I’ll just kill him.”

Kung-!!

I charged at the guy.

The distance closed in an instant. As I approached, Namgung Jin expressionlessly drew his sword.

Seureureureung-! Along with the sound of the sword being drawn.

Beonjjeok-!!

Light burst into my vision. The Namgung family’s swordsmanship came towards me.

Sword energy filled with lightning energy. The tremendous speed within it. Something that had already easily surpassed the speed of sound plunged towards me dazzlingly, but…

Swiik-! Swik-!

My trained body and the path of my mind’s eye clearly showed me the sword’s position.

‘Left. One step back. Right. Then, Hocheo.’

I evaded all of Namgung Jin’s sword strikes. During that time.

Seogeok-!

‘…Oh.’

My hair was slightly cut. He had subtly increased his speed. That means the speed just now was also Hocheo.

‘Does this mean he can get even faster?’

He’s hiding more of his cultivation level. Figuring this out, I smirked. At the same time.

‘The same goes for me.’

Kwadeudeudeuk-!!! I kicked off the ground and entered Namgung Jin’s embrace.

His blade flew towards me as if waiting, but my hand was faster.

Kwak-!!

I grabbed Namgung Jin by the neck. Putting strength into it, I threw him forward. The field of vision changed. I grabbed the guy and threw him out of the cave.

Kwaaang-!!

His body flew into the forest, smashing through trees.

Not yet.

I approached the staggering Namgung Jin and stomped down on his chest with my foot.

Kwadeuk-! Kuwaaaa-!!

The ground cracked with a wadeudeuk sound as my internal energy erupted.

“…Keok!”

“Good.”

I heard his voice for the first time. Seeing Namgung Jin groaning, I clenched my fist. Hwareureuk-!! Flames wrapped around it. I thrust the Azure Flames directly at him.

Hwareureureureuk–!!!!

Flames erupted from the cracks in the ground. The heat would have burned everything normally, but…

Kwagagak-!!

A flash shot up, pushing back the flames. I turned my head to dodge. The flames subsided. Namgung Jin looked completely unharmed.

‘As expected, it doesn’t work?’

My internal energy doesn’t work. This much energy was nowhere near enough.

‘Judging by the fact that it doesn’t even cause a scratch.’

Just as I expected, Namgung Jin’s power seemed stronger than Chu Yeongyeon’s.

Dodging his sword path, I asked him.

“Let me ask just one thing. You said you’d come in a few days, so why show up now?”

“…”

There was no answer, only another sword strike. I dodged and dodged again. His speed increased further, but it was still manageable.

“I heard you became an Apostle, but why did you become one?”

Kureureung-! Lightning energy poured down. I barely managed to evade it.

“What’s your purpose for coming here?”

That was my third question.

Kwagang-!! Again, there was no answer, only an attack. I tried to dodge the last one too, but…

Pik-! Blood splattered on my cheek. I couldn’t completely dodge the attack.

“Fine.”

That’s enough. Feeling the drops of blood flowing down my cheek, I laughed.

“I put up with you three times?”

I protected you as much as I could. Thinking that, I clenched my fist. I decided I should beat him up first, then think.

The moment I made that judgment.

Kuaaaaaa–!!!

Tremendous lightning energy burst from Namgung Jin’s body.

“…!”

I widened the distance with surprised eyes. It was an overwhelming momentum.

“…Ha.”

At the same time, it felt familiar. Because I had felt this energy before. It couldn’t be helped; it was the same momentum I had felt countless times from the Demon Sword Marquis in my past life. The problem is…

“How is he using it?”

The issue is how Namgung Jin can use this.

And furthermore.

“Without the Lightning Spear?”

It’s a treasure of the Namgung family. A power that can only be used with the Lightning Spear, the beloved weapon of the Heavenly Lightning Sword.

Kwadeudeuk-!! Kureureung.

Along with the thunder, dark clouds gathered in the sky. Namgung Jin’s appearance also changed. Gray lightning energy wrapped around his entire body, and his black hair turned gray. The lightning energy sparked around his body like flickering flames. A maximized presence, completely different from before.

There’s only one name for that appearance.

‘Lightning God’s Descent.’

It’s a combat state using a treasure that can only be activated by achieving the union of the Lightning Spear and the Divine Sword. It was something the Demon Sword Marquis used in his past life, and it was from seeing him use his sword in that state that the alias ‘Sword Marquis’ was taken.

‘Namgung Jin is using this without the Lightning Spear?’

How is that possible? I can’t understand it.

“…”

Putting my thoughts aside. Namgung Jin aimed the sword he was holding at me.

Kureureureureung–!!!!

Lightning bolts surged from the grayish sky. Kwagagagagak-!! With a flash, impact struck my body.

Kugeugeuk!

“Keuk…”

The attack breached my defensive energy and invaded my body.

Hwaaahwak-!! My ankle was caught, making it difficult to dodge. The pressure pinning my shoulder is the Emperor Sword Form.

‘That guy.’

He’s using everything he’s got to attack properly. I wonder if this is really the Namgung Jin I knew. At this level…

‘He’s stronger than the Sword King.’

The Sword King of this life. He was much stronger than the future Namgung Jin. Yes, much.

‘See?’

The endless onslaught of lightning energy. Following that, Namgung Jin, now the Lightning God, prepared something.

Kwajijijik.

He prepared a single strike, gathering immense lightning energy into his sword. I could see the sword energy amplifying in real-time. Watching that, I sighed inwardly.

‘…I told you it wouldn’t be a simple capture, didn’t I?’

Whether it’s suppression or capture. It wasn’t a simple task.

‘Tsk.’

So, I have no choice. What else can I do if it’s not simple?

‘I’ll have to take the difficult path.’

I organized my thoughts and put strength into my heart.

Kkumteul-! My shadow moved.

Just as Namgung Jin was about to unleash his strike.

Kwadeuk-!!

“…?”

The ‘Tam’ flowing from my body devoured the lightning energy pinning me down. That vast energy vanished in an instant. Bewilderment flashed in Namgung Jin’s eyes then, but…

“Where are you looking?”

“…!”

I was already behind him.

Namgung Jin moved his sword. It seemed like he was trying to cut me, but…

-Stop.

Uttuk-!

I used Dragon Speech to halt his body. Then, I focused the gathered power in my hand. Chaos. I used all sorts of devices on my body to create friction.

It’s better than last time. The speed of completion is much faster. Before Namgung Jin could properly react, a black, scorched jade bead formed in my hand.

Heavenly Demon Soul Jade. The power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, born from friction. I condensed that power and thrust it at him.

The energy of Chaos struck Namgung Jin’s chest directly.

Kkiaaaaaaaa—-!!!

My internal energy screamed, releasing shockwaves in all directions.