Chapter 893: You can’t do that.

My daughter.

At those words, my head froze for a moment.

‘Daughter?’

Did the Blood Demon just call the Heavenly Demon his daughter?

Turning my head, I looked at the Heavenly Demon.

Kkeugeuk-!

Her terribly contorted face and glaring eyes. My skin reacted to the hostility and killing intent within them. The Heavenly Demon’s face was more distorted than ever.

‘What is this.’

What is the current situation?

‘She’s really his daughter?’

Unable to comprehend the reason, as I was showing my surprise.

“Hmm.”

At the voice that sounded nearby, I immediately turned my gaze. The Blood Demon had somehow come right before my face. Nausea rose at the smell of blood. An immense scent of blood was emanating from the Blood Demon’s body.

“You’ve met your father, so why does your expression look like that?”

The Blood Demon’s gaze was solely directed at the Heavenly Demon. He still showed not the slightest interest in me.

“You don’t seem happy to see me.”

The Blood Demon said with a laugh, and…

Ppeudeuk.

Immediately, I clenched my fist.

Hwaryuk-!

Flames wrapped around it. I poured the heat directly towards the Blood Demon.

Just then.

The Blood Demon’s eyes turned towards me.

[Stop.]

—-!!!

“Gulp!?”

In an instant, my body stiffened. I tried to keep applying force, but it wouldn’t even tremble. That sensation just now, it’s a power I know all too well.

‘…Dragon’s Speech (Yong-eon)…!’

Since it’s a power I often use, how could I not know it? What the Blood Demon used was definitely Dragon’s Speech.

Kkeugeuk-!

‘Fuck.’

Not just my joints, but my entire body was stiff as stone. The pressure was so intense that my energy couldn’t even move properly.

“My child, you wait here for a moment. Unfortunately, we have much to discuss between father and daughter right now.”

The Blood Demon spoke while looking at me, tilting his head.

Swisssshhhhhh—-!!!

Where the Blood Demon originally stood, something was rapidly slammed down.

Kwoooong—-!!

It was a sword strike swung by the Heavenly Demon.

“Hmm.”

The Blood Demon let out a strange reaction upon seeing that.

Hwaaaahhhhh—-!! The black sword embedded in the floor. As the blade made of demonic energy struck the ground, it extended a shadow towards the Blood Demon. The demonic energy that instantly took over the surroundings bared its fangs towards the Blood Demon.

Kwagagagag—-!!

Spikes of immense size shot out, attacking the Blood Demon. The Blood Demon, seeing that, tilted his head slightly.

Tuk.

Kwaaaah—-!!

He casually swung his hand and shattered all the spikes.

“Your momentum is strong. It’s pleasing to see.”

As if pleased, the Blood Demon laughed. The Heavenly Demon stood in front of me, thrusting her sword towards the Blood Demon.

“Don’t touch me.”

Her stance, as if to protect me, stood before me. My body still wouldn’t move.

“That’s quite aggressive for a greeting.”

“…”

“Isn’t it rather rude behavior towards the father who came to see you directly… wouldn’t you agree?”

“Get lost.”

Her voice was filled with thorns. Even with the Heavenly Demon’s words, the Blood Demon’s expression didn’t change.

“Tsk tsk.”

Chuckling, the Blood Demon flicked his fingers. Then, from his body, the scent of blood began to intensify.

Whoooooshhhhh—-!!

A red aura slowly rose. The aura thus formed gathered in his grip and transformed into a sword.

“The time has come. My daughter.”

“…”

“Let’s go together now.”

At those words, my eyes widened internally. Did “let’s go together” mean he had come to pick up the Heavenly Demon? Why had he been silent until now? Could he really mean daughter? I had thought the Blood Demon and Heavenly Demon were related somehow, but if they were father and daughter, the situation changed drastically. Moreover…

‘Then… what about Wi Seol-ah?’

If that were the case, what would Wi Seol-ah become?

Udeudeuk.

As soon as I thought of that, a backlash hit my body. My muscles screamed, and my joints felt like they would shatter.

“No.”

The Heavenly Demon told the Blood Demon. Her voice still carried intense emotion.

“Is that so.”

Hearing the reply, the Blood Demon nodded slightly. It felt as if he had expected it.

“What a shame.”

Slowly, the Blood Demon raised his hand.

“I don’t particularly like educating people, but…”

Seeing that, the Heavenly Demon unleashed her demonic energy and charged.

“…if necessary, I suppose I must.”

Kung-! Kkigigigik–!!

As the blades clashed, immense pressure erupted. Its scale was so vast that the black and red energies intertwined, resembling a colossal vortex.

Kang-! Kang-!

Fragments of energy flew wildly. Amidst the countless sounds of friction, the only brief sights were the flashes of exploding energy. After quite some time passed like that.

Hwaaaak–!!

The vortex instantly subsided, and what remained in its place were the same two people as before. The difference was…

“Hngh…”

The Heavenly Demon was staggering, covered in wounds here and there, while the Blood Demon remained relaxed, hands clasped behind his back.

‘…How.’

Is the Blood Demon really that strong? The Heavenly Demon, who killed the Three Venerables single-handedly, was being pushed back this much? I knew the Blood Demon was a powerful being, having faced all five past masters…

‘No.’

This wasn’t just due to a difference in skill. Even while my body was frozen, there was something I could see. Unlike the Heavenly Demon of her past life, she couldn’t fight properly. If I had to compare, it was like Bongsun-i. No, it was a more beast-like fighting style than Bongsun-i’s. A style lacking any semblance of martial arts principles, driven solely by the intent to bite and kill. The elegance the Heavenly Demon used was gone, leaving only destructive forms. Of course, even so, she possessed tremendous speed and power nonetheless…

‘Still, if it doesn’t connect, it’s meaningless.’

She couldn’t reach the Blood Demon. Furthermore, the reason she was being pushed back so miserably included me. I wondered if it was a misunderstanding, but it seemed it wasn’t. The Blood Demon showed signs of attacking me during the fight, and the Heavenly Demon was trying to block him.

‘…Just fight properly.’

What the hell was this? Besides.

‘When is this going to wear off?’

Kkudeudeuk.

I had been desperately trying to move my muscles for a long time. My body still wouldn’t move.

‘Is it not just Dragon’s Speech?’

It felt different from my Dragon’s Speech. The effect seemed similar, but the quality was entirely different. As far as I could tell, Dragon’s Speech isn’t very effective against those similar to or stronger than me. I could stop them briefly, but conversely, the backlash would affect me too, meaning I couldn’t use it lightly. But.

‘The fact that he can bind me this much…’

…means his Dragon’s Speech is different from mine, or…

‘…the difference in our levels is this vast?’

It means the difference in level between the Blood Demon and me is enormous in the first place. I couldn’t believe it.

‘Is that even possible?’

My current level is the top of the top ten masters. I was even contemplating whether I could contend with the Three Venerables, yet…

‘This is ridiculous.’

That there would be such a gap between someone like me was hard to believe.

“Hooooo….”

The Heavenly Demon let out a quiet breath. She had somehow positioned herself in front of me again.

‘Get lost. Just get lost already.’

I mentally urged him to leave quickly, but there was no way my thoughts could reach him.

“Distracting yourself while facing an opponent… is not a good approach.”

At the Blood Demon’s words, the Heavenly Demon answered without speaking, gathering her demonic energy. The Blood Demon watched her with interest and said,

“Since you are my precious daughter, I shall give you a warning beforehand.”

He released his clasped hands, and raised his sword.

“Dodge. If you don’t, you will die.”

Gugugugung—-!!

Red energy gathered at the tip of the sword. As soon as I saw it, my heart pounded.

‘…What is that?’

I knew it the moment I saw it. It was disaster. That blood-colored energy was disaster itself.

Kiiiiiiiiiiii—-!!!

The energy seemed to be screaming. I had never felt such a vile and cruel energy before. Moreover, how could it be so vast? Just looking at it, I could gauge the energy’s density. No, if my perception was only this much…

‘In reality, it must be several times stronger.’

It must be several times stronger than what was visible. It was at a level where one would barely be able to block it even with all their strength. If it was that dire, dodging would be the sensible choice, but…

“Ssssk-!”

The Heavenly Demon was drawing in a breath, pulling up her demonic energy. This meant she had no intention of dodging. The reason was probably…

‘Because of me.’

Me, whom she was protecting, must be the cause. Seeing that, I exerted my strength.

Kkeugeugeuk-! As I forced strength, it felt like my bones were breaking. Could the Heavenly Demon block that? Since the Blood Demon indicated he came to take the Heavenly Demon, I assumed he wouldn’t kill her, but…

‘She wouldn’t come out unscathed.’

Taking a direct hit from power like that would absolutely not leave her unharmed.

‘So.’

Dodge.

I desperately wanted to get that out. Honestly, I had other thoughts too. If the Heavenly Demon took that hit and died here, wouldn’t one danger be eliminated? I definitely had thoughts like that, but…

‘Damn it.’

Such rationality had long been devoured by emotion. Just then.

“This is called the Blood Jade Ghost Spirit Advance (Hyeol-ok-gwi-jin-ryeong).”

The Blood Demon said calmly.

“It’s a name my friend gave it. Now, try to receive it.”

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaah—-!!!

Along with a screaming sound, the disaster moved. Its size wasn’t particularly large, but somehow it seemed to fill the entire sky. A sea of blood slowly descended.

Kkeugeugeuk-!!

Tearing my muscles, I twisted my body.

Woooong–!! My pounding heart grew stronger.

My mouth opened.

“…Get… lost…”

I managed to utter the words. Just doing that sent a tremendous backlash through my body. The problem was.

“No.”

She refused again this time. The Heavenly Demon answered without turning her back. Her stance, showing she would absolutely not move aside, was palpable. I looked at that back. It was a small, delicate back. The woman who seemed so imposing in my past life, I wondered if she looked this small now. The energy was already upon us. If this continued, we’d be swept away. The Heavenly Demon surely knew that, yet…

“I…”

Whoosh-! The Heavenly Demon said, gathering her demonic energy.

“Protect you.”

What made her so resolute? The fact that someone I needed to kill somehow was protecting me was truly strange and peculiar. My vision turned red. At that moment.

Woong.

Along with a power felt from within.

“…!”

My hand suddenly moved on its own.

Kwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

---

A vile scent and energy spread in all directions. Due to the energy that swept the ground, the floor was a mess. There was hardly any part left intact. Unlike the sky, beautifully ripened by the sunset, it was terribly ruined. The Blood Demon, looking at the ruined ground, suddenly frowned. Just one spot. In the midst of the chaotic ground, the only intact location. The Blood Demon’s gaze was fixed upon it.

“Hooah…”

It was the young man, breathing out in surprise, and his daughter, eyes wide in his embrace. As if they had blocked the attack, only the area around Gu Yangcheon remained intact. Normally, the Blood Demon would have laughed seeing that. He might have even praised him, saying ‘well done’.

“Hmph.”

Uncharacteristically, the Blood Demon’s brow was furrowed. The flame burning in Gu Yangcheon’s hand. That was the problem. A calmly flickering, pure white flame. It was a power that evoked a feeling of disgust just by looking at it. Because of it, the Blood Demon couldn’t laugh.

“You were always unexpected.”

There wasn’t a single time you weren’t. It was to the point where the Blood Demon called Gu Yangcheon a ‘crack’. I had been watching him with such interest, but…

“This time, I am truly surprised.”

I was so surprised that I couldn’t even laugh.

“I didn’t come here to confirm this….”

The Blood Demon brushed his hair back with his hand. His blood-red eyes began to shine even brighter.

“Since I got to see something else… should I say it’s for the better?”

Energy gathered in his hand once more. I originally came to confirm his potential, but things have changed now.

“I must kill him.”

The Blood Demon, having decided that, moved immediately. Gu Yangcheon, perhaps sensing the Blood Demon’s actions, tried to move his body, but…

[Stop.]

“Kkuhk-!”

Woooong—-!!!

The Dragon’s Speech spread once more. However.

“…Hm?”

Gu Yangcheon could move even after hearing the Dragon’s Speech.

“Well now.”

Seeing that, the Blood Demon narrowed his eyes. The Dragon’s Speech wasn’t working. This meant only one thing.

“So that’s what it was.”

I wondered how that young dragon managed to break free from the Dragon’s Speech and move, but now I finally understood why. The Blood Demon looked at Gu Yangcheon, or more precisely, at the being beyond him, and spoke.

“It’s been a while.”

Sssshhh.

The energy in the Blood Demon’s hand subsided.

“If I had been just a little later, I intended to devour everything. I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”

At the Blood Demon’s words, Gu Yangcheon frowned and opened his mouth.

“What is that crazy bastard talking about all of a sudden…”

Sss.

“…!”

Gu Yangcheon flinched as he was about to ask. It wasn’t because of the Dragon’s Speech that he stopped. Suddenly, he felt a touch. A warm hand embracing his neck. At the cozy, enveloping touch, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened. It was a feeling he had felt somewhere before. Nostalgic and familiar, just as Gu Yangcheon was about to speak upon feeling that…

[That won’t do.]

…a voice echoed. Hearing that, the Blood Demon sneered and uttered the other’s name.

“Man-gye (Myriad Worlds).”