Chapter 979: Lost Soul.

A couple of hours passed. Time was still broad daylight.

Looking at the sun’s position, it seemed like there was still a long way to go before sunset.

I continued walking slowly, seeing that.

While calmly moving my body, my mind was filled with various thoughts.

I recalled my worries about Yu-sa, as Shin No-ya had mentioned.

Also, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, I assessed my physical condition.

‘……Sseup.’

Observing my body while circulating energy, it wasn’t in great shape.

It couldn’t be helped. I had already been significantly damaged when I fought the Blue Leader at night.

Since I hadn’t sustained any critical wounds, it was still somewhat fortunate, though.

In a situation where I should be waiting for regeneration, constantly moving my body means there’s no time to heal.

‘……When using Body Transmutation Technique, regeneration doesn’t work well, you see.’

It’s an important power that swaps bodies, but its drawbacks are clear accordingly.

Like feeling pain like my bones are shattering when changing bodies,

and having to use a significant amount of power to maintain it after the change.

Also.

The changed body heals wounds slower, and feels pain more acutely, among other things.

If you think about it, other than being able to change bodies, it was a power with few advantages.

As such.

‘I hope nothing happens.’

The fight with the Blue one already.

Not to mention the previous injuries to my hand, etc., my body was not in a particularly good condition.

Knowing that, I wanted to get through this quietly if possible, but…

‘……We’ll see.’

Could I?

The vaguely unsettling feeling I sensed, I tried my best to ignore.

Thus, I gradually arrived at my destination.

‘Hmm.’

A dense forest with lush grass. Standing in the center, I surveyed my surroundings.

‘There’s nothing here?’

I couldn’t see anything.

Was someone watching from somewhere? To confirm this, I tried to slightly heighten my senses.

Pasak.

I sensed a presence.

Sensing it, the moment I turned around.

“Hahahaha.”

A cheerful laugh was heard.

Simultaneously.

“It’s you!”

An immense killing intent was directed at me.

---

Kugugung–!!!

Something fell as if plummeting. Twisting my body, I evaded the attack.

‘What is it?’

It was a sudden assault. What could this be? Dodging the continuous attacks, I scanned my surroundings.

Is this Yu-sa’s doing?

If it is, it would naturally be Yu-sa’s doing.

However, it doesn’t seem like he attacked directly. Did he perhaps call an army?

‘That’s not it either.’

The presence I sensed belonged to only one person.

This one person was emitting a particularly strong aura, must be.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked at my opponent. Piercing through the dust, the offense came in.

Dodging the incoming claws, I saw the face of the one wielding them.

‘Ah.’

Only then did I confirm who it was. It was the first time seeing her in person. But I already knew about this woman.

‘The Red Leader.’

Hong Jeong, the Red Leader.

She was apparently called the strongest noble or something like that? Wasn’t she?

‘Judging by the name alone, it implies she’s the strongest among the Leaders.’

She looks young. While the other Leaders also looked excessively young for their age, this could be considered a trait of the Moonlit Tribe.

Considering that.

‘She looks barely twenty.’ Doesn’t she?

While the others looked like they were in their twenties or forties,

this Red woman looked like she had barely passed twenty, at most.

“Heeheehee–!!”

Meanwhile, seemingly ecstatic about something, she charged wildly.

‘Tsk.’

She was fast. She didn’t seem to be using a weapon. It looked like she was using martial arts, specifically fist techniques.

Kung-! Kwangkwang–!!

Every time her fists and claws grazed, the ground shattered and trees were cut down.

The energy imbued in her movements was quite remarkable.

‘Hmm.’

What should I do about this?

‘Why did this one suddenly pop out?’

There was no need to ponder such things. It was obvious anyway.

‘It’s that bastard Yu-sa’s doing.’

It must be something he orchestrated.

If so, is this the verification that No-ya was worried about?

Why would he go out of his way to send the Red Leader?

When I finished one worry, another arose.

However.

Hwaaahak–!!

‘Damn it.’

Right now, I couldn’t even afford to think about it.

After dodging the claws once more,

Kung-!!

I stomped hard on the ground with my foot and twisted my torso.

My spinning toe brushed against the Red one’s body.

Pang–!!!

The impact erupted, sending the Red one flying far away. It didn’t connect effectively.

The Red one, in that brief moment, blocked the attack and even performed a breakfall.

“Oh… You attacked in that opening?”

Instead, as she widened her eyes, looking surprised by my attack.

Suppressing a sigh, I spoke to her.

“You are not the one I wished to see.”

I asked, implying, ‘Where is Yu-sa, and why are you here?’

“No, that’s right. I was waiting for you,”

the Red one just said, smiling.

“My foolish older brothers were apparently defeated, so I was curious.”

Kkadeudeuk-!

Like preparing to leap, the Red one crouched down. Her toes cracked, and pressure spread out.

“Let’s see what you look like? Shall we?”

Kuuung—!!!!

A red flash shot forward.

“Oh, this is…”

Seeing the charging Red one, I scowled inside my mask.

I hadn’t expected her to charge, but she just went for it head-on.

Kwagagagag-!!

‘Damn!’

I narrowly dodged the claws. At that moment, her tail whipped wildly.

Kwaak!

Seeing the tail rushing towards me, I moved my hand. The angle wasn’t right to dodge. I had to block it.

Kung!!

Pain shot through my arm, pushing my body back.

It looks like just a ball of fur, why is it so hard?

‘Damn it all.’

Biting my lip, I gathered my energy.

As protective energy enveloped my body, my physique activated.

Focusing my ‘Mind’s Eye’ on her, I tried to figure out her movements, but…

‘Crazy.’

Looking at her, I was inwardly stunned.

‘I can’t see her techniques.’

Even with my Mind’s Eye, her movements weren’t clearly visible.

Understanding the opponent’s energy to see how their next move manifests is the power of the Mind’s Eye, yet…

‘This bastard…’

For the Red one, I couldn’t sense that.

It wasn’t because she lacked energy.

She was still fiercely emitting killing intent and charging, so she definitely possessed energy, but…

‘Does she not use techniques?’

I couldn’t see the predicted path.

It was purely instinctive movement.

‘I really didn’t see this coming?’

She’s not a monster. She looks human, yet she charges like a true beast.

An opponent like this was also a first for me.

“Hahahahahahaha!!!!”

The Red one, finding something so amusing, charged while laughing cheerfully.

Seeing that, I remembered something.

‘Ah.’

‘This isn’t a new sensation.’

I had fought someone similar with that kind of feeling before.

‘She’s like Bong-sun-yi.’

Her fighting style resembles Bong-sun-yi’s. Relying solely on instinct to fight.

Despite her looks, the way she charges is just like her.

“Why do you keep dodging?!”

Kwaddeuk!!!

Her claws tore through the air.

The energy was so potent that traces remained where they cut the air.

Dodging her attacks by twisting my head left and right,

She’s just like Bong-sun-yi, except she’s not wielding a staff.

The problem is.

‘She’s a much stronger Bong-sun-yi.’

The difference in level was extreme. At this level, she seems to be at the level of Gui-chang from my past life, at the very least.

“Hahaha!”

The way she kept charging with laughter, and the madness in her eyes…

‘Anyone would think she was created by a demon.’

With a sound mind, how can she possibly make that expression? I don’t know.

After moving for a while, I stopped briefly.

“Oh my? Giving up already…?”

Kung!!

“Gkkeok…!”

I slipped inside the charging Red one’s guard and drove my fist straight into her solar plexus.

She took the impact and flew straight backward.

This was different from before. She couldn’t block it this time, nor could she perform a breakfall.

Kwagagagag!!

An explosion sounded, turning the area in front into a mess.

I brushed off my hands and simultaneously loosened up my body slightly.

A strong Bong-sun-yi?

Gui-chang’s level?

‘So what?’

It doesn’t matter.

It was daytime now. And the Moonlit Tribe, when the moon isn’t out, they weren’t something to fear.

“Cough…! “

Through the dust cloud, the Red one was kneeling. Clutching her solar plexus and spitting blood, I could see.

“Hehehehe….”

She was laughing even then. The sight of her laughing while spitting blood was truly grotesque.

“Fun… It’s been a while since something was fun…?”

Her eyes glittered. It was clear she felt she absolutely had to kill me.

What should I do about her?

Even in my current condition, I could win.

‘Although night is still a long way off.’

It was important to preserve my body if possible.

‘Shall I provoke her a bit?’

If it comes to this, I’ll provoke her at least and make it easier to fight her.

Deciding so, I opened my mouth.

“Pathetic.”

At my words, the Red one looked at me.

“You’re not even on the level of a parlor trick, so I’m not entertained.”

“…Haha. Why? You’re still more entertaining than the Blue one, aren’t you?”

“The Blue one? Ah.”

As if recalling something I’d forgotten for a moment, I nodded.

“There was someone like that, too.”

“Kekeke. You put a hole through your own chest, didn’t you? And you forgot that? It hasn’t even been a day.”

“I am not magnanimous enough to remember the weak.”

“Oh… What is that? That’s a phrase I like?”

“Furthermore, the same applies to you, woman.”

Tuk-tuk! I lightly brushed off my hands.

“Even now, I’m incredibly idle, and bored and listless all the same, but…”

I focused my intent into my core. Demonic energy coiled around my hand.

“If I really had to say who was better, the little performance I saw yesterday was slightly better.”

“What…?”

At my words, the Red one faltered. Hearing that the Blue one was better than her, her body seemed to stiffen.

‘Hmm.’

Seeing this, I narrowed my eyes.

I tried provoking her a little, did it work?

If it hadn’t worked, I would have had to prepare another provocation, but…

“Ah, that’s a bit…”

Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t need to.

“I’m getting pretty pissed off?”

Kwaaaaaaaaa!!!!

‘Damn it.’

At the erupting energy, I cursed inwardly.

The killing intent and aggression were emanating incomparably more than before.

‘……What did I say again?’

Calling the Red one the strongest noble… I had heard some explanation or other.

‘This is a bit much.’

As if she had been holding back until now, the released presence exceeded imagination.

Did I mess up slightly here?

Tsk. Clicking my tongue, I smacked my lips.

It really seemed like I had made a mistake.

If it’s like this…

‘I have to kill her.’

I wanted to keep her alive if possible to see if she could become a demon person, but I wanted to test that.

With that level of power, it seemed I wouldn’t have the leeway for that.

I steeled myself.

‘Let’s kill her.’

Just as she did.

I too released the killing intent I had been holding back within my body.