episode_0150

150. Sword.

A massive cloud of fire engulfed the battlefield densely.

“Ugh!”

The cult leader’s spell did not distinguish between Hwageom Jin-in and his allies. Eventually, others, including Sama Han, resorted to wielding their weapons on their own.

Hoo-oong, Sama Han fanned himself, sweating profusely.

‘The heat we’re feeling right now isn’t even warm compared to the center. No matter how strong that old man is, he can’t be unscathed.’

That was true. The flames quickly subsided. Sama Han frowned and looked straight ahead.

He saw Hwageom Jin-in, his entire body charred black, and the cult leader, who was in relatively pristine condition.

A curtain of flames was drawn between them, and Hwageom Jin-in’s sword was touching the curtain.

At first glance, it seemed that the cult leader had the upper hand. But Sama Han’s eye for detail was experienced. Sama Han quickly realized a different fact.

‘Only his clothes are burned. He isn’t unscathed, but he’s mostly fine.’

Sama Han unconsciously swallowed hard.

The cult leader is not a martial artist. So, it is impossible to recklessly estimate his martial prowess. But-

‘Something has changed.’

***

Hwageom Jin-in was chuckling as if he was dumbfounded. He said.

“Living a long life, I see all sorts of strange things. To learn about the Harmony Realm for the first time today, and then try to step beyond it.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course, it’s not an insult. But, it’s a little different. The texture is different from the Harmony I have achieved. Even if all rivers eventually return to the sea, this is a bit much.”

Yohan chuckled. In fact, it was difficult for Yohan to even answer with his current physical condition.

Reality was not a game. Just like leveling up, raising your realm doesn’t restore your physical condition.

‘I need to buy time.’

Yohan clung to that one thought and spoke.

“I am not a martial artist. I am a sorcerer. You, Jin-in, seem to have achieved harmony with martial arts, but I have achieved harmony with sorcery. That’s the only difference.”

“Hoo… Sorcery, is it. You said you came from another world?”

“Yes.”

“Were realms like yours common in that world?”

“No. Rather, there were many who were weaker than third-rate martial artists.”

Hwageom Jin-in nodded.

“I see… I’ve heard that too, but you’re a bit different.”

“I just happened to be unusually smart.”

“Haha, your confidence soars to the heavens. You deserve it.”

Creak- Hwageom Jin-in’s long sword advances little by little. Yohan was sweating profusely.

Hwageom Jin-in muttered as if he was truly regretful.

“It’s always heartbreaking to trample on a brilliant new star.”

“…Can’t you give me a break?”

“Impossible. If I don’t step on you this time, you seem like you’ll climb up the vine.”

Creak-!

At that moment, Hwageom Jin-in’s sword finally pierced the curtain of fire. Yohan hastily deployed a shield.

The layers of shields shattered, and the sword approached. Certainly, the sword had slowed down. But, the difference was very slight.

Just as the sword was about to touch Yohan’s neck, Sama Han and Black King, who had regained consciousness and approached, struck Hwageom Jin-in’s right flank.

Bang!

Hwageom Jin-in’s waist bent strangely, and the path of the sword deviated. Pshuk- A dark bloodstain was drawn above Yohan’s forehead.

Yohan thought with a pale face.

‘I think my skull was slightly cut?’

Hwageom Jin-in made a hissing sound and lifted his left foot. He stepped on the ground as it was.

Squeak-

Hwageom Jin-in, who was falling sideways, barely stopped. He looked quite unscathed on his flank; what kind of trickery did he use?

Hwageom Jin-in scattered light pink petals, restricting the movements of Black King and Sama Han.

“Old man!”

Sama Han screamed loudly. It didn’t change the situation.

Hwageom Jin-in, whose obstacles had disappeared, turned his head towards Yohan. All of these events happened in a single breath.

─And crimson flames embraced Hwageom Jin-in.

Hwareureureuk-!

“Keueuk!”

Unlike before, Hwageom Jin-in let out a shrill groan. The reason was that he had been careless in his defense because his attention had been diverted by Black King and Sama Han.

Chee-ik, Hwageom Jin-in’s grip turned red and his skin peeled off. Steel swords are better at absorbing heat than human flesh. Hwageom Jin-in wanted to throw away his sword right away.

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, Hwageom Jin-in’s mind flashed back to when he first entered the Hwasan sect. Time continued to flow. When he became a formal disciple, when he became a plum blossom swordsman, and finally when he became the head of the Hwasan sect.

Numerous moments originating from Hwasan came together to form him. Now, it was time to give back.

The sword of Hwasan. Hwageom Jin-in slowly moved forward.

And he slashed.

Rustle-

‘Hoo.’

Hwageom Jin-in smiled slowly. The sensation he felt was extraordinary. He certainly slashed.

He had lived with a sword in his hand for over seventy years. Although he couldn’t see because of the flames, the feeling of the sword was as good as his eyesight.

Soon, the flames that had been blocking his vision subsided. Hwageom Jin-in wondered if the sorcery would disappear when the sorcerer died.

“…Hmm?”

The moment his vision was secured, Hwageom Jin-in’s eyes widened. It was different. Not the pale and pristine face of the sorcerer, but a man who looked like a monkey was collapsing with a long sword wound in his chest.

Hwageom Jin-in’s thoughts stopped for a moment. The time he perceived stretched out infinitely.

Thud-

The monkey man, Black God, touched the ground with his butt first. To Hwageom Jin-in, the movement looked so slow. Then, where is the sorcerer…?

Hwageom Jin-in’s senses opened wide, searching the surroundings thoroughly. Front, back, left, right, sky, underground. All six directions. The presence of the sorcerer could not be felt anywhere.

No, perhaps Hwageom Jin-in himself was simply unable to feel it. His face hardened.

At that moment, the floor vibrated slightly. The small tremor traveled through his feet and into Hwageom Jin-in’s brain.

“Gasp!”

His response was swift. He immediately kicked off the ground and spun his body around. The world turned upside down.

Woo-oong….

Light pink sword energy covered Hwageom Jin-in’s sword. He swung it as it was.

Hwareureuk- Kwaaaang!

Soon, something that burst out from the floor collided with Hwageom Jin-in’s sword. Judging by his superhuman eyesight, it was a harpoon. A harpoon made of flames.

“Keueuk…!”

A martial artist’s sword energy, and flames. Two transcendental powers clashed in the air. Maybe in the future, but Hwageom Jin-in’s achievements were still higher than Yohan’s. His sword energy easily penetrated the flames.

‘This is not enough.’

His grip was numb. Although he had achieved harmony, Hwageom Jin-in’s energy was not infinite either. This was the limit.

‘I have to end it here.’

Hwageom Jin-in’s magnificent inner strength fluctuated violently.

Whoosh- Wind blew from somewhere. Soon, small petals that appeared from somewhere wrapped around his sword energy in layers.

“Heuaaaaaap!”

Kiiing─ Kururururung!

Immediately after, the world was divided into two.

“Heok!”

“…Old man!”

The two men who were tied up in the distance were shocked. A thickness like six or seven huge logs lined up in a row. Hwageom Jin-in’s sword energy advanced deep underground.

Whoever was under there, no human could survive.

Black King felt bitter. It wasn’t enough that he had lost Black Ape and Black Death, but in the end, he even had to say goodbye to Black God. Except for Black Wolf, all that was left was himself.

‘I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed.’

Even the cult leader, who had been particularly active, had lost his life. He heard that he was in love with the sword commander, and he had no face to see the sword commander.

“Heok, heok….”

Hwageom Jin-in, who had unleashed his sword energy, breathed roughly. He planted his sword on the ground and looked around.

The female sword commander was lying far away, and Sama Han and Black King were not in good condition either. In other words, he had won this fight.

But even so, he wasn’t very happy.

‘I’ve bled too much.’

Hwageom Jin-in looked at his right palm. The skin was already peeled off. He could vaguely see the white bones.

He smiled bitterly and approached Sama Han and Black King.

At that moment, Sama Han opened his mouth.

“Old man. You’ve worked hard.”

“…You too, you’ve worked hard.”

“No, I still have work to do. I have no intention of dying.”

Hwageom Jin-in laughed wildly.

“You’re consistent to the end. That must be your charm.”

“I’m serious.”

“Okay, I’ll send you off in one go.”

After saying that, Hwageom Jin-in lightly swung his sword. Soon, the moment his sword was about to touch Sama Han’s neck─

Jjeo-eo-eong!

“…!”

Hwageom Jin-in opened his mouth slightly. And he murmured in a trembling voice.

“How, how… Certainly, he was underground….”

The curtain of fire that appeared in front of Hwageom Jin-in. It was the sorcery of the young sorcerer who had driven him to the brink of death.

Creak- His head turned creakily like a rusty hinge. He couldn’t believe it. Hwageom Jin-in’s heart pounded wildly.

Sama Han smiled fiercely and said.

“I told you. I still have no intention of dying.”