Chapter 981: Lost Soul.

Yusa stared at the fallen Jeokse.

Compared to how his battered body had lost consciousness.

Cheonma looked exactly the same as before.

He knew it because he’d seen it himself.

This was a battle hardly worth calling a fight.

That was the problem.

‘……What is that guy?’

Even when Yusa himself fought Jeokse, it wasn’t like this.

After all, even facing their leader, victory hadn’t been that difficult.

However.

‘It wasn’t that bad.’

It was impossible to be like this, as if playing with a child.

Knowing that, Yusa bit his lip as he looked at Cheonma.

“Still, you know.”

Tap, tap. Cheonma nudged the fallen Hong Jeong’s cheek with his toe.

“Guess your subordinates were precious to you, coming to save them. I thought you were just a gift I was given to play with, you know.”

“…….”

“Or perhaps, is this enough confirmation?”

Confirmation. At Cheonma’s words, Yusa gnawed on his tongue.

‘Does he know what I was trying to do?’

Could that guy possibly know what he himself was suspecting?

Did he come all the way here deliberately, knowing all that?

As Yusa remained still, staring at Cheonma with a ‘no way’ thought running through his mind.

“As for me.”

Cheonma turned his steps calmly, looking at Yusa.

Thump. His steps were slow. His gait held no haste.

Instead, his leisurely, unhurried pace captured Yusa’s attention.

“I am showing you great leniency.”

No killing intent could be felt.

Even though an immense aura had enveloped the surroundings just moments ago. All that countless killing intent and fighting spirit vanished in an instant.

“Do you understand?”

As Cheonma approached, Yusa tensed up.

“It’s because you haven’t been running your mouth carelessly.”

He drew closer, little by little.

“And it’s also because I didn’t bring any useless pests along for confirmation.”

Watching this, Yusa’s arm muscles gradually bulged.

“And it’s also because, while you don’t know your place, you aren’t arrogant enough to try and show off your strength to me.”

Before he knew it, they were face-to-face.

Close enough to touch if he threw a punch.

Only upon reaching that spot did Cheonma stop. Yusa realized he could see the white mask in such detail.

Cheonma’s gaze, visible through the cracked mask, was clear.

“However.”

While his attention was momentarily captured by that.

Cheonma added, clasping his hands behind his back, “Just how long should I continue to show leniency? It’s about reaching my limit……”

His gentle tone kept shaking Yusa’s resolve.

“What are your thoughts?”

“…….”

How long are you going to keep testing me?

At those words, Yusa’s mind raced. What should I do here?

As confusion clouded his thoughts, making it difficult to speak.

“Hmm.”

Cheonma let out a low sigh, as if displeased, then said to Yusa.

“By the way, your standards are too high. Lower yourself.”

Kugugung–!!

“–Kuhk!!!”

Along with the pressure, Yusa’s knees buckled. It was the same command as last time.

Cheonma had used the command on him.

The difference stemming from their presence.

It felt the same as last time.

The karma etched into his soul.

Obey those with a greater presence than yourself.

Dominate those with a lesser presence than yourself.

His knees moved on their own, compelled by the words deeply carved into his soul.

‘He is a child of the myriad realms.’

The words that guy had spoken echoed in Yusa’s mind.

Could this person really be the Master’s child?

‘As far as I know, the Master never had children.’

Not that Yusa knew of. The Master had personally declared a certain woman named Ya Rang to be his daughter, but she had appeared too suddenly to be considered as such.

This guy was no different.

Even if he appeared suddenly and claimed to be a child, Yusa couldn’t accept it.

It meant he was no different from Ya Rang.

‘……Then how exactly can this power be used?’

And how could the command be used?

The karma etched into the soul and being the Master’s child weren’t related.

To use it, one simply needed to be a being of a higher caliber than a general.

This meant…

‘Is this guy a being on the same level as the Master?’

How could that be possible?

In the current myriad realms, there shouldn’t be anyone on the same level as the Master.

If anything, the master of the Nether Abyss, who governed the underworld, existed, but he shouldn’t be able to use commands.

‘Then what on earth…’

What kind of being stood before him?

As Yusa, unable to comprehend, kept his mouth shut and just rolled his eyes.

“Now, I’ll ask again.”

Cheonma spoke to Yusa.

“What are your intentions now?”

Though his head was buried in the ground, Yusa knew Cheonma was looking at him.

“Will you join hands with me and become a new sky? Or will you end your life as a pest, just like now?”

No words came out.

How could he become a new sky? What would happen if he refused?

He couldn’t even ask.

This was merely coercion to make a decision.

It also meant nothing else would be offered besides a choice of yes or no.

“Decide.”

Despite the urging tone, his voice remained leisurely.

It strongly suggested that refusing wouldn’t change anything.

What would happen if he refused right now?

Before he could even ponder this, Yusa felt the touch of a palm on his head.

“I will count to three.”

He instinctively knew what that meant.

He didn’t know what would happen, but he could guess the outcome.

“One.”

Ppudeudeuk–!!

He tried to move his body somehow, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Two.”

Even so, the count continued. Yusa couldn’t react despite the rising numbers.

Unable to even ask a question, his veins just kept standing out…

“Three.”

Finally, time was up.

Uwoong–!!

Just as an unknown energy was felt emanating from the top of his head.

“……I will……”

Yusa’s mouth opened as if possessed.

“I will do it……”

At those words, Cheonma stopped the energy flow.

“Hmm.”

The palm was removed from the top of his head. Yusa felt a sense of relief.

“Hooook… Hook…”

Catching his ragged breath, he wiped his chin with his hand. Cold sweat was streaming down.

Additionally, his bound body loosened, and his head slowly lifted.

He looked up at Cheonma, who was staring at him.

The sun was clearly out, yet strangely, it felt as if a shadow was concentrated solely on Cheonma.

Within the darkness, his violet eyes sparkled. Staring into those dark, seemingly shining eyes, Yusa swallowed dryly.

“What… do you want from me?”

His voice trembled. Knowing that himself, he felt his pride shattering.

As Yusa forced himself to speak, Cheonma paused in silence before saying to Yusa.

“Your words are too brief.”

Kku-uk–!

His shoulder was pressed down again. Feeling this, Yusa said somewhat hastily.

“W-what do you want from me?”

His changed tone instantly dispelled the oppressive pressure.

“What I want…”

Cheonma tilted his head at the question. Then, turning his back, he walked away. Towards where Hong Jeong lay.

Approaching that spot, Cheonma grabbed Hong Jeong and threw him towards Yusa.

Thump–!

Hong Jeong’s body fell before Yusa’s eyes.

“Get rid of him first. I don’t want to see anything unsightly.”

Afterward, dusting off his hands with a tap, tap, Cheonma added.

“I will visit in the near future, so be ready.”

Having said that, Cheonma vanished on the spot, as if without a second thought.

“Hah……”

Cheonma disappeared suddenly. Only then could Yusa finally release the breath he’d been holding.

* * *

After passing through the dense forest for a long, long time.

Not only was Cheonma’s presence no longer detectable,

but he moved twice that distance after realizing it.

Only after moving far away at maximum speed did he grab onto a tree.

Leaning against it and gripping tightly, he released the tension in his body.

Pushshshshsh–!!!

Kkeudeudeudeuk—!!!

Simultaneously with the sound of smoke billowing out, his joints twisted.

His enlarged body shrank, returning to its original state.

The clothes he wore became loose, and the mask he wore fell off on its own.

Thud.

“……Ugh.”

Jureureuk.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and soon after, intense pain surged.

“Kkeueuk–!!”

It was the backlash.

Not only had he used too much power, but he’d also squeezed out every last bit of his remaining energy, causing a violent backlash.

“Seriously……”

I almost died for real.

He was too exhausted to even speak the words.

He could somehow handle Jeokse, but…

Trying to confront Yusa afterward nearly killed him.

‘I thought my heart was going to explode midway.’

He’d used up every last bit of his energy, both existing and non-existent.

If he’d pushed any further, he would have touched his innate vital energy.

It was a situation where he could have fallen into demonic deviation.

Enduring such a precarious situation left him in this state.

‘I managed to hold on somehow, but…’

Kwadeudeudeuk—!!!

The backlash was getting worse.

‘Ah, this isn’t good…?’

This was dangerous. If it got any worse, he’d be in real trouble.

‘If it continues like this…’

He might lose consciousness…

Ttuk–!

As if on cue, Gu Yangcheon lost consciousness and collapsed onto the ground.

Then.

Sarak.

Someone who had been hiding nearby emerged.

Their appearance was so natural, it was as if they had been there all along.

The person who appeared approached Gu Yangcheon.

Then, standing before the unconscious him, they stared intently, before…

Seuuk.

They suddenly grabbed Gu Yangcheon and slung him over their back.

The identity of this person was none other than the brown-haired woman in the black mask.

Ya Rang.