Dokma Jeghal-hwi – 5

Thump!

The firmly shut gate reverberates.

The gate echoes in one direction: the main gate of the Black Heaven Cult. The same gate through which the Heavenly Demon and Inho had walked through the other day.

“Summon all the squads from the other locations. It seems they plan to break through head-on.”

Upon receiving the Chief Manager’s words, the security chief blew his whistle.

Thump!

The defense squads from the other gates, hearing the whistle, join in.

The Black Heaven Cult’s forces surround the gate in a U-shape.

‘I shouldn’t have been careless.’

The Chief Manager felt a pang of regret.

His confidence in the treacherous mountain terrain, the impregnable Mystic Formation, and his own Martial arts.

It was his mistake to decide to send out all the elite troops to attack the Martial Arts Alliance.

What if he had made a slightly different choice?

The Chief Manager asked himself, then shook his head.

Regret is for the dead. What he needs to focus on now is…

“Everyone, prepare for battle! Do not let the enemy see even a single strand of the Young Cult Leader’s hair! Even if it costs you your lives!”

“Understood!”

The men and women, each with their own weapons, shouted in unison.

Although the level of their Martial arts might be low, their spirit was comparable to that of the most skilled masters.

Crack!

The intricately constructed gate shattered, and people in blue uniforms entered, forming ranks.

The Chief Manager bit his lower lip at the sight of the well-organized formation.

‘How many can I eliminate here?’

If only eighteen members of the Azure Dragon Unit had entered the Black Heaven Cult, they would have been stopped by the Chief Manager before they even set foot inside.

However, the presence of one exceptionally strong individual disrupted all calculations.

What if that individual attacked the Young Cult Leader while he was dealing with the Azure Dragon Unit?

This unforeseen situation seemed to undermine all the tactics the Chief Manager had built up until now.

Someone from the enemy’s ranks stepped forward.

The energy he exuded was that of a master; he must be the leader of the Azure Dragon Unit.

“It’s been a while, Poison Devil.”

“I don’t recall sending an invitation. Visiting at such a late hour seems rather impolite,”

The Chief Manager said, watching the enemy’s movements. The middle-aged man chuckled.

“Hah, a worm-like Demonic Cult fellow trying to act like a human.”

“I believe we are quite a bit more human than you lot, wouldn’t you say?”

He retorted with a bright smile, provoking the other side’s anger.

“You fiend!”

“It seems we have nothing more to say to each other. Come on in, then.”

He sent a gust of wind, striking his forehead. It wasn’t lethal, but the head of the one struck was thrown back.

Further provoking the enemy’s composure. He might be able to seize the momentum of the battle, even if only slightly.

“Strike down the treacherous Demonic Cult bastards!”

“Yes!”

At the end of the Azure Dragon Unit Leader’s words, the Azure Dragon Unit, fueled by anger, charged towards them.

“They dare set foot on Black Heaven Cult land! Do not let them leave alive!”

Groups clashed. The Azure Dragon Unit pierced weak spots with their well-organized tactics, and the Cult’s People gritted their teeth and resisted.

Countless collisions continued, and the first to fall were the ordinary Cult’s People with lower cultivation.

“Eek!”

“Ugh.”

Over the bodies of the Cult’s People who had died with a final scream, other Cult’s People rushed forward.

To protect the Black Heaven Cult, which had accepted them after the world had abandoned them.

If they lost their weapons, they would attack with their fingernails.

If an arm was cut off, they would try to bite.

If a leg was cut off, they would charge on one leg.

They would only stop when their necks were cut.

The people of the Azure Dragon Unit were appalled by the sight of these people who had lost their fear of death, which mortals should feel.

“Are these even human, or are they demons?”

Lee Hang, the leader of the Azure Dragon Unit, muttered, as if he had seen the Asura realm of hell, his mind blank.

-Thwack!

The Chief Manager’s kick aimed for Lee Hang’s head, but Lee Hang raised his arm to block it.

Lee Hang glared at the Chief Manager, his arm throbbing.

“To call the noble heart that seeks to protect its sanctuary a demon…”

The Chief Manager rebuked, readjusting his stance, and Lee Hang gritted his teeth.

“I heard you were on your last legs, but you’re still going strong.”

He had heard that the Poison Devil had stepped down from the front lines due to health problems caused by his constitution.

He had expected to see him in a dying state, but Lee Hang broke out in a cold sweat at the Chief Manager’s chillingly sharp attack.

“It’s true that my health isn’t good, but I’m not weak enough to be defeated by you.”

The Chief Manager muttered, unleashing a flurry of punches.

“Tch!”

Lee Hang clicked his tongue and stepped back, whistling.

The Chief Manager tried to grab him, but four members of the Azure Dragon Unit blocked his path.

“Seize him! We can’t waste time here!”

Lee Hang left the battlefield, taking five other members with him, and the Chief Manager tried to follow him.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

But the members blocking his path.

‘Damn it… I’m stuck.’

Fortunately, they weren’t heading towards the Disciple’s Palace. They were heading towards the Heavenly Demon Palace.

Could it be that the Young Cult Leader has no Inner Force and can’t sense them?

Even so, if he left them alone like this, they might soon find the Young Cult Leader hidden in the secret location.

The Chief Manager hesitated whether to use his Poison Art.

There were still many Cult’s People alive. Would he have to use his Poison Art with the intention of killing them all?

His hand trembled in hesitation.

“Chief Manager.”

A soft voice called out to him. Turning around, he saw Maehwa behind him.

Their eyes met.

Maehwa spoke to him with her usual expressionless face.

“We’re fine.”

“Maehwa…”

“I know why you’re hesitating, Chief Manager, but many have already died. If we delay any longer, everyone will die.”

The damage was accumulating little by little. This was a fact that the Chief Manager knew well.

“Chief Manager! Do it!”

A man from the defense squad, lying down with his abdomen pierced by a sword.

“We’re fine!”

A servant girl, struggling to fend off the attacks with a dagger.

“Our lives belong to the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader anyway!”

A Cult’s Person shouted, spitting blood.

“We are all people who have received the Cult Leader’s grace. Lonely people who were neglected and abandoned.”

Maehwa, taking another step closer, said,

“When we joined the Black Heaven Cult, the Cult Leader said, ‘You said you would follow me, so I will take you in. But from now on, your lives are mine.'”

“I have not forgotten the oath I made. So… Chief Manager.”

“How can I…”

The Chief Manager looked at Maehwa with wavering eyes.

Maehwa smiled faintly.

“You must. Don’t you have to protect the Young Cult Leader?”

With those words, Maehwa dashed forward.

Wielding a thin blade, Maehwa weaved through the Azure Dragon Unit with mystical movements, disrupting their formation.

But only for a moment. As the Azure Dragon Unit, initially flustered by the sudden attack, regained their ranks, it was Maehwa who fell instead.

“Maehwa!!!”

-We’re… fine.

Maehwa, lying on the stone floor, mouthed the words.

Blood flowed, staining the ground.

So much blood had already been spilled.

The number of Cult’s People, which had been so much greater, was now almost equal to that of the Azure Dragon Unit.

The Chief Manager attacked them, but they didn’t clash directly with him, focusing only on evading and restraining him.

Tears streaming down his face, Chief Manager Jegal Hwi gritted his teeth.

-Grind

With the sound of grinding teeth, a single tear fell from the Chief Manager’s eyes.

“I’m sorry… everyone.”

To whom was he apologizing?

The words that came from Jegal Hwi’s mouth disappeared like smoke.

“Secret Art.”

He drew upon his suppressed Inner Force, circulating it greatly.

Following his meridians, his Inner Force filled him to the brim, and the Poison Art stored in his dantian spread throughout his body.

“Poison Wave Palm.”

A gray mist, never seen before, enveloped the Black Heaven Cult.