Chapter 443: Twist.

Hudududuk.

Amidst the falling dust, I stared at Magyeomhu with surprised eyes.

Pajijijik.

Magyeomhu, with fierce eyes, gazed at the shattered wall, stirring up her lightning energy (Noegi).

The felt lightning energy was unusual. Although there was no direct damage, the difference in level (Gyeok) emanating from it was clearly felt.

Uuung-!

The pillars supporting the great hall gradually began to tremble minutely.

It was because of Magyeomhu’s presence.

“Kkeueuk.”

“Keuhuk…”

“Keueu.”

Those crushed by this gradually knelt down. Even the Black Flame Brigade (Heukyeomdae), which had been barely holding on, couldn’t last much longer.

Barely enduring, I observed Magyeomhu.

‘What the heck. Why is she acting like this?’

I couldn’t understand it.

Not only did she suddenly strike Geomma out of the blue, but she was also furious like that.

Seriously, why is she acting like that?

Just as I was completely flustered by Magyeomhu’s actions.

Kwaang-!

A rough explosion sound came from the wall where Geomma had been slammed.

Along with it, a killing intent (Salgi) was felt, incomparable to before.

You damn bitch–!!

With a fierce roar, something flew through the dust.

It was sword energy (Geomgi) made of demonic energy (Magi).

Swiiik-! Paaang-!

Then, clashing with the sword Magyeomhu swung, it exploded outwards with a sonic boom (Pagong-eum).

My body swayed slightly from the aftereffects left by the demonic energy. Because the power contained within it was no joke.

I withstood the impact.

As I steadied my surprised body, someone appeared far away with a distorted expression. It was Geomma.

Kkeudeudeudeuk-!

Geomma began to express anger with her whole body, grinding her teeth furiously. The demonic energy wrapped around the sword’s tip and the fighting spirit (Tuggi) and killing intent soaring up to the ceiling along her shoulders were proof of it.

“You fucking bitch, you really must want to die.”

“…”

Magyeomhu didn’t utter a single word despite Geomma’s angry words. Seeing her reaction, I felt as if she didn’t even want to exchange words.

“Damn it, just because the Leader (Daeju) keeps you by his side, do you really think you’re something?”

‘Hmm.’

Listening to Geomma’s taunt, I had to inwardly question. It was a very fundamental question.

‘Why the hell is that bastard acting so cocky?’

Geomma acting so triumphantly towards Magyeomhu. I couldn’t understand that.

Objectively speaking, Geomma, holding a position responsible for a unit of the Demonic Cult (Magyo), was not a weak warrior, but compared to Magyeomhu, she felt somewhat lacking. Geomma, however, had always been like this since long ago, but she particularly hated Magyeomhu.

‘Well, Magyeomhu feels the same way.’

I wonder if there were any demonic warriors (Main) in the Demonic Cult who liked Geomma, excluding the Ghostly Blade Brigade (Gwichalgumdae). Regardless, it was true that those two had a particularly bad relationship.

“Is it thanks to riding the coattails of influence (Chimatbaram) that you took that position? You seem not to know your place.”

“…”

Uung.

Magyeomhu reacts to Geomma’s words. The sword’s name (Geomyeong) began to rise from the sword she held. Seeing that, Geomma chuckles.

“Yeah, this is my chance. I’ll knock you down and take that position for myself.”

‘Position?’

If it’s the position Geomma is talking about, does she mean the Vice-Commander (Budaeju) of the Black Flame Brigade?

‘Is that what that guy wanted?’

Thinking back, it seemed like it. She had argued with me several times, asking why that woman was sitting as Vice-Commander and why she herself should lead the Ghostly Blade Brigade. Each time, I’d beat them up and chase them away because I couldn’t be bothered to answer…

‘Is that why she hates her so much?’

I didn’t pay attention back then, but the thought crossed my mind that maybe so.

‘The reason I didn’t put her in charge of the unit.’

In terms of justification, there was no problem with Magyeomhu taking the leadership position of the Ghostly Blade Brigade. Conversely, there would be no problem if Geomma took the Vice-Commander position of the Black Flame Brigade. If judging solely by martial prowess (Muwi), it wouldn’t cause much disruption. The reason I specifically gave the Vice-Commander position to Magyeomhu in this situation was simple.

‘Because she is stronger.’

Magyeomhu is stronger, that’s all. If it were about ease of handling, Geomma would be easier, but I appointed her based solely on strength. Geomma doesn’t seem to accept this, though.

Chaltak.

Geomma adjusts her sword.

Then.

Hwiik-!

“Nngh!?”

Magyeomhu grabbed the back of my neck and threw me backward. I wondered what she was doing all of a sudden.

Chwaak-!

Geomma’s sword tip grazed that spot. Seeing that, my eyes widened immediately.

‘That son of a bitch?’

Geomma, while spitting words as if aiming for Magyeomhu, seemed intent on dealing with me first. Her speed was so fast I didn’t notice.

Magyeomhu blocked Geomma’s sword, and Geomma wore a look of disappointment. Immediately, lightning energy burst from Magyeomhu’s sword.

Paddeudeuk-!

Although not narrow, the great hall was too confined for high-level warriors to fight. Inside, Magyeomhu’s lightning energy began to erupt wildly. Meanwhile, seeing that, I swallowed hard. The lightning energy seemed to branch out into thousands of paths, and empowered by it, began to dominate the surroundings, but…

‘There’s no damage to the surroundings.’

Surprisingly, it wasn’t causing damage to the walls or the demonic warriors (Main) of the Black Flame Brigade. It meant she was completely controlling that much lightning energy even while preparing for battle.

“Kkeok… Kkwaaaah!”

“L-Leader-nim… Save me…! Hhweuak!”

The Black Flame Brigade was safe, but the demonic warriors of the Ghostly Blade Brigade were not. Magyeomhu, perhaps not intending to care about them, poured out her lightning energy with all she had. Geomma, watching this, turned away with a nonchalant expression. All that guy saw was Magyeomhu.

Kuguguguguguk-!

The thick demonic energy unfolding from Geomma’s sword tip soon began to envelop her body. The lightning energy was fierce and grotesque, but its edge couldn’t pierce Geomma’s Demonic Steel Qi (Maganggi). This was proof that Geomma was not a weak individual either.

Geomma moves.

Kwaak-!

It seemed like a light leap, but the floor caved in, causing vibrations. Fast.

‘I can’t see it.’

Kang-!

Geomma, having leaped from a distance, was suddenly in front of Magyeomhu. In response, Magyeomhu also drew her sword and blocked Geomma’s attack. Seeing that, I was certain.

‘I can’t last.’

That no matter who I faced between those two right now, I wouldn’t last even a second.

Kwang-! Kwang-kwang-!

Deadly swords clashed, emitting rough sonic booms. It was as if the swords were roaring. The impact generated by those thin blades was immense, unbelievable.

Kkigig.

“…!”

The sensation of my body being pushed by the shockwave brushed past me. Not only could I barely see their movements, but even without experiencing the power directly, the damage was this significant. The only things I could see were the sparks exploding as the swords briefly clashed and the traces of sword paths left in the air by the sword aura (Geomgang). Those traces were incredibly flashy and also chaotic. It showed how many sword techniques (Geomsik) had been exchanged between them in this short moment.

Kwajijijik-!

Lightning strikes down from where the ceiling is.

Seogeok-! Kung-!

A pillar was sliced by an unknown sword strike.

‘This is dangerous?’

Seeing that, I rolled my eyes around. No matter how I looked at it, it was a very dangerous situation. It wouldn’t be strange if the great hall collapsed like this. Furthermore, it was a situation where everyone inside could die.

‘What should I do?’

I didn’t care if the other guys died or not. The problem was that I was in danger. While I was repeatedly pondering how to stop those lunatics (Mangnani).

Chaeng-!

After a brief spark flew once, the figures of the two appeared, having created distance between them. Wondering if it was already over, I observed the situation.

“…!?

I couldn’t help but gasp at the scene before me. Contrary to my expectation that Geomma would be defeated, Geomma looked unharmed, just like at the beginning. Instead, Magyeomhu, whom I expected to be fine…

‘She injured her arm…?’

I could see blood flowing from the hand holding Magyeomhu’s sword. What happened here? Magyeomhu also seemed aware of her situation, frowning slightly. Seeing the blood, it didn’t seem like a shallow wound.

Kkikil.

Geomma, watching that, contained a burst of laughter.

“As expected.”

As if certain of something, Geomma sneered, curling the corners of her lips.

And then.

Hwik.

‘Hm?’

That guy suddenly pointed her sword tip at me and continued speaking while looking at Magyeomhu.

“You, that person seems precious to you, huh.”

‘What?’

I wondered what Geomma was suddenly talking about.

“…”

Magyeomhu offered no denial.

“Seems quite important, enough to throw away an arm for.”

“…!”

At Geomma’s words, I finally understood why the situation had turned out like this.

‘That bastard, really.’

While exchanging sword strikes, Geomma seemed to have been continuously targeting me. It seems Magyeomhu, who was blocking it, got injured. Otherwise, there was no way Magyeomhu would have been so easily wounded by Geomma.

“I knew it when you were pointlessly covering for him… I had a feeling, but what’s the deal with you?”

“…”

“Do you have a hidden son? Because excluding age, you don’t look like it at all.”

Hwik-hwik-!

There was clearly delight in her voice as she spun her sword. Yet, the killing intent grew deeper. The demonic energy and killing intent gradually seeping from the tips of Geomma’s feet began to dominate the space within the great hall.

“It doesn’t matter what it is. What’s important is that you’ve developed a weakness.”

Kuguguguk-!

Geomma’s purple eyes gradually sharpened, and black smoke began to seep from the corners of her mouth. Seeing the smoke, I too began to break out in a cold sweat. That’s a power that only demonic warriors who have reached a certain level can use. This meant Geomma was seriously intending to kill Magyeomhu. Magyeomhu also knew this, which is why she was frowning slightly. Watching that, I had to inwardly harbor a question.

Why is Magyeomhu…

‘Not drawing out Noea…?’

Noea, Magyeomhu’s beloved sword and one of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains (Jungwon Oidae Myunggeom). Although Magyeomhu’s innate power is incredibly strong, Magyeomhu wielding Noea is on a different level. If she had drawn Noea from the start, she could have easily handled someone like Geomma. Magyeomhu would know this better than anyone, so I wondered why she hadn’t drawn Noea until this situation. Even now, Magyeomhu is only drawing more lightning energy. She wasn’t changing swords.

‘Should I intervene?’

I clenched and unclenched my fists, pondering. The situation is developing strangely. I looked at Magyeomhu. Because my questions weren’t limited to just Noea.

‘Why me.’

Strange situations keep repeating. Like when Geomma ambushed. And when Magyeomhu got angry, claiming they touched me. For some reason, I feel like Magyeomhu is protecting me.

‘…Perhaps.’

Did she realize who I am?

‘No, that’s impossible.’

I immediately erased the thought from my mind. Because it was absurd. My face has changed, and I deliberately sealed the Nine Fiery Wheels Technique (Guyeom Hwaryugong) to erase my presence. There’s no way Magyeomhu could recognize me, and even if she predicted it, she wouldn’t easily believe it.

‘Then why?’

I don’t know. Because I don’t know this, only questions arise. Why on earth is she acting like this towards me? While I was just thinking up various questions.

“Well then.”

Geomma tilted her head as if about to move again.

“Let’s see this to the end.”

At her voice mixed with killing intent, I tried to draw out my internal energy (Naegi). Because this wasn’t a situation where I could hide my flames. It was a situation where I doubted if even using it would allow me to graze them. It was a situation where Magyeomhu couldn’t die like this.

‘Damn it.’

Geomma aimed her sword tip at Magyeomhu and leaped again. Just as I was about to put strength into my dantian to unleash my internal energy in response.

“I’ll slice you up and kill you…!”

Kwaaang-!

Geomma’s head, which was about to charge in unleashing madness (Gwanggi), slammed into the wall.

“What…?”

A sound completely different from when Magyeomhu pushed her away earlier was heard.

Deudeudeudeudeuk-!!!

Thick cracks spread across a wide area on the wall. That wasn’t all. The domain of killing intent that Geomma had been gradually spreading began to disappear from space as if being torn apart by something.

Kwadeuk… Kwadeuk.

Swallowing my surprise as I confirmed that. Yet, I reached one conclusion.

‘No… that’s not being torn.’

If others didn’t know, I certainly could. That wasn’t space being torn and disappearing, but rather burning away. Dark, ominous flames began to engulf Geomma’s entire domain.

Tting.

“…!”

Hearing a clear sound, I turned my head and saw Magyeomhu’s sword break and fall with a ‘ttuk!’ sound. Someone had shattered Magyeomhu’s sword. As I looked at the half-broken sword blade lying on the ground.

“First, I have a question.”

My gaze turned back upon hearing a dry yet heavy tone from afar. An intensity, incomparable to the killing intent Geomma had been emitting moments ago, was felt from there. The owner of the voice, who appeared without anyone knowing when, had grabbed Geomma’s face and pinned her against the wall. The flames spreading from the man’s feet flickered as if ready to engulf the surroundings at any moment.

The air grew heavy.

Heat began to surround the area. Leaving Geomma, whose fingertips trembled as if still breathing, behind. The man’s purple eyes turned towards me. I couldn’t help but tremble under that gaze.

“What is this you’re doing?”

Then, along with the man’s voice that reached me.

Hwa-reureu-reuk-!

Black flames erupted from his entire body, beginning to fill the great hall.