Chapter 1291: Scorched World

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

A mountain collapses.

“What?”

That rough, thick ceiling collapsed with a crash. Thick, massive rocks fell one after another. In that moment, my gaze was solely fixed on the sky.

Rumble rumble-!! Crackle crackle-!!!

Lightning strikes fell endlessly. Light that would make one’s eyes close involuntarily continued to pour down. It was blue light.

Thunder, the color of the sky, repeated.

BANG-! KWA-GA-GA-GANG-!!!

My ears were ringing. The loud sound was enough to make my whole body vibrate.

SCREEEEEECH–!!!

The monsters screamed. The lightning energy swept through, taking the monsters with it. It happened in an instant.

“Ah. Damn.”

Cheolhyeol Busan contorted his expression amidst the lightning.

“Something unnecessary interfered.”

He said this looking at the sky. At his words, my gaze slowly followed upwards.

“You weren’t visible when I was chasing you like that. Where did you pop out from?”

At the end of the lightning. Someone was standing above the red sky.

Seeing this, my body stiffened.

Crackle.

Crackle.

A white-haired, blue-eyed woman, completely wrapped in lightning energy.

“Ah.”

Seeing her, I widened my eyes.

Although I had already recognized her from the lightning energy, meeting her face-to-face felt like my heart sank.

“…You.”

Why are you here? The moment I tried to say that.

Whoosh-!

The woman in the air disappeared.

Thump.

Something landed in front of me.

The figure who had been in the sky until just now appeared gracefully.

Fluttering down gently, she appeared quietly before me.

“…Hello…”

As always, she greeted me in her unique way of speaking.

Namgung Bi-ah.

It was her.

“How could you…”

be here? That was the only thought that crossed my mind. Why would Namgung Bi-ah be here?

“You’re not Miss Hyeon.”

I could tell by looking. This was definitely Namgung Bi-ah. I wasn’t someone who couldn’t recognize her.

“What are you?”

What is this situation? As I blurted out words in confusion.

-Oh my… dear me.

The Sword Matriarch’s voice rang out.

Fwoosh-!!!

Gasp…!

Gurgle…!

Sounds of groaning were heard. Grey energy gushed upwards from the Apostle and the monsters. They gathered into a single point before reforming into the Sword Matriarch’s shape.

“A distinguished guest has arrived.”

The Sword Matriarch smiled, looking at Namgung Bi-ah.

“I searched everywhere for you… I never expected you to show up in person like this.”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah looked at her in response to the Sword Matriarch’s words.

‘…The Sword Matriarch found Namgung Bi-ah?’

Why?

As I looked at her, puzzled.

“I feel lucky today.”

Vmmmmmm.

Grey energy gathered in the Sword Matriarch’s hand, and a sword materialized. Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.

‘…The pressure…’

The moment she drew her sword, an immense aura burst forth from the Sword Matriarch. It hadn’t felt this strong until just before, but this time it was different.

“Now I must obtain it. Busan.”

“Tsk…”

Cheolhyeol Busan clicked his tongue, looking at me as if disappointed.

Then, he began expanding the energy throughout his entire body.

“Being interrupted isn’t ideal… but what can you do.”

Whooosh-!

Wind surged in.

“If they tell me to do it, I’ll do it.”

Rumble rumble-!!!

“…”

The wind fell straight down.

Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah tried to move.

“Old man.”

I moved before that could happen. Grabbing Namgung Bi-ah’s shoulder and pulling her back, I released my power.

“Who do you think you’re messing with right now?”

KWA-A-A-A-A–!!!

I didn’t care about the energy I was controlling in my heart. Releasing everything I could unleash, I unleashed the power throughout my entire body.

I was reckless.

White flames covered my entire body.

A tingling momentum expanded through my meridians, and subsequently, purple energy mixed with the white flames, adding color.

“…What is that…?”

Cheolhyeol Busan widened his eyes.

“…This…”

The Sword Matriarch frowned. Amidst the fierce gust of energy, I slowly moved my body.

Swish.

I felt the touch of my tails. I brushed my hair aside. My black hair had turned white. My body felt incredibly light. Even though my feet were on the ground, it felt like I was floating in the sky.

“…”

I checked my heart. All the energy I had stored inside had disappeared. It wasn’t a waste.

‘It works.’

What mattered was that I could use this now.

“…Ha. What is that you…”

“Shut the hell up.”

“…What?”

I cut off Cheolhyeol Busan. In the now quiet situation, I looked up at the bastard.

“You insignificant fool, aiming so high.”

“…What did you say?”

Before Cheolhyeol Busan could react.

Thump.

My body appeared before him.

“…!”

The moment he tried to generate wind in surprise. My hand grasped Cheolhyeol Busan’s neck.

“You trying to die?”

“Ghk!”

I grabbed him and slammed him onto the ground.

KWA-GA-GA-GANG-!!! Along with the impact, fragments burst out in all directions.

“Cough!”

Cheolhyeol Busan vomited blood. I could see his protective aura shattering into pieces. Grabbing the stunned Cheolhyeol Busan, I threw him against the wall again.

KWA-GA-GANG-!!! The moment he was slammed into the wall.

WHOOSH–!!!

I summoned white flames and condensed them in my hand. Its shape resembled a flame prison, but it was hard to describe it that way. It was a power that transcended the principles of martial arts. If I had to put it into words.

‘Form.’

A form that I, as the master, could use. That’s all I could call it.

Vmmmmmm-!!!

With a massive vibration, a white orb was fired towards Cheolhyeol Busan. Just as it was about to engulf him and explode.

“…This is troublesome.”

Slash-!

She cut the orb with her grey sword.

KWA-GA-GA-GANG-!!! The cut orb exploded on both sides. The entire space shook, but ultimately, it didn’t collapse completely.

“I’ve never heard of this before.”

The Sword Matriarch spoke to me in a gentle voice.

“Even considering the anomaly, I never imagined… you could do something like that. Just what are you?”

My identity?

“What business is it of yours.”

I said, tilting my head.

Master Transformation. It was the first time I’d used it since facing Taecheon last time. I’d reached it by using up all the energy in my body.

‘This feeling.’

This sensation of the world lending me its aid. Directly breathing energy into my skin and pores, a bizarre sensation that made me feel like I could accomplish anything if I wanted to. It’s the same as back then.

No.

‘It’s not exactly the same.’

The way the energy enters feels different. Back then, I used the energy permeating the air directly. ‘Now it just circulates within my body.’ The feeling of it spinning around within my flesh. It wasn’t very good. Because it meant the energy was limited.

However.

‘Even so.’

I could do anything. That thought crossed my mind.

“…Hmm.”

The Sword Matriarch made a nasal sound looking at me like that.

“What should we do, Busan… Are you going to keep standing there?”

Rumble.

Cheolhyeol Busan appeared, clearing rocks from one side of the wall.

“Ptooey…”

Spitting a little blood as he walked out, he looked rough and rugged. It was an unbelievable sight for a warrior who uses lines.

“…This is great.”

Even though his body looked broken, madness gleamed in his eyes.

“I never knew you were hiding something so good.”

Cheolhyeol Busan caught his breath and walked over. Seeing that, the Sword Matriarch asked him.

“Will you keep clinging to your pride?”

“I would if I could.”

Crack.

Cheolhyeol Busan said, adjusting his broken arm.

“Since I’ve grown old and frail now, it seems I no longer have the pride to show off like that.”

“That’s a good choice.”

At the old man’s words, the Sword Matriarch slightly waved her sword. Grey energy flowed like petals from the tip of the sword. It permeated Cheolhyeol Busan’s body.

It was then.

BOOM-!!!

Cheolhyeol Busan’s body trembled, and energy radiated from him. It was the same as before. The Sword Matriarch’s energy seemed to possess something that strengthened the opponent. Cheolhyeol Busan, whose presence had changed, spoke to me.

“Don’t think this is too unfair.”

Flap.

A storm surged from the fan he lightly waved.

“It’s an unavoidable choice if a human is to face a monster.”

“…Ha.”

I laughed at his words.

“Stop talking such bullshit, old man. Look at your own state before you speak.”

Swish.

My three tails moved in succession.

“Who are you calling a monster?”

Are there even humans here? As far as I could see, there weren’t.

Whirrrrr.

I ignited the white flames in my hand again. The flames, mixed with purple energy, gathered in my hand.

Sacred Lance.

I intended to create it. I needed to fire it. Cheolhyeol Busan also unleashed energy from the fan he held. Just as I was about to fire it with all my might.

Pop.

“Huh?”

“…Hmm?”

The energy wrapped around my body dissipated. I instantly returned to my original state. As my center of gravity collapsed, making me sway, I urgently stepped on the ground with my left leg.

“…Crazy.”

My mind felt hazy. There was no energy left in my entire body. How long had it been since I initiated Master Transformation? It should have only been a moment.

‘I can’t even withstand this?’

It seems not receiving nature’s help was a major factor. I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t lose consciousness like this.

I tried to hold on somehow.

Thump.

A gentle hand supported me.

“…It’s okay…”

A voice filled with worry beneath its indifference. Namgung Bi-ah’s words reached my ears.

“…You can sleep…”

Tingling.

The lightning energy grazed the back of my neck. At that sensation, my eyes closed. As I was losing consciousness for the last time.

“I’ll protect you.”

Along with Namgung Bi-ah’s final words.

Crackle crackle crackle-!!!

The world was enveloped in light.