Part 1, Chapter 8, 25

War God Shaolin.

An SS-rank ability user who sheds the shell of Unjang and is reborn as a true War God, awakening their true talent upon reaching that realm.

Sword Aura.

Shaolin’s talent, which directly incorporates the fantasy setting of imbuing swords with mana at first, and eventually creating swords from their mana itself, realizes that fantasy at SS-rank.

From weapon enhancement to weapon manifestation.

Instead of enhancing weapons with mana, they create the weapon itself and continuously wield it.

However, since the weapon is naturally made of mana, it inherently possesses an attribute, but Shaolin is cunningly even utilizing the characteristic of being a monstrous human of the Chaos Illusion Dragon.

Weaponization of the spiritual body. By overlaying the attributes of a spiritual body onto a weapon forged from mana, they create a weapon without physical form. Shaolin’s weapon, devoid of physical force, attempts to cut mana itself.

And my body is made of mana.

I had suddenly met my hard counter.

* * *

Swish!

The back of the gauntlet, summoned through partial monsterification, was cut. Beneath the severed surface, the back of my hand was red and raw, and I raised my other palm towards where the weapon should be.

Clang!

Mana clashed, sending sparks flying. It seemed to be the shaft part of the weapon, but it wasn’t certain. I had to observe Shaolin’s posture, not their weapon.

“Are you troubled because you can’t see what it is?”

“I can win even with my eyes closed, so shut up and keep fighting.”

We had already exchanged blows over thirty times. Every time I attacked, I had to focus all my attention on Shaolin’s weapon, which changed moment by moment.

Thwack-!

I quickly turned my head. Something grazed my earlobe and flew past. Judging by the fact that it was shot without drawing a string, it seemed like a crossbow, but the posture was completely different. Shaolin adopted a stance as if holding a staff again.

“Haaht-!”

They step forward. Are they trying to stab? Or slash? An axe? A spear? A halberd? It was difficult to predict easily, and also difficult to suppress with mana.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

So, I instead stepped forward, closing the distance. Shaolin frowned for a moment, and I didn’t miss that discomfort.

‘Is it a staff with a blade attached?’

Since there was no way to confirm what the weapon was, I decided to target the person holding the weapon. Shaolin retrieved what was presumed to be a staff and aimed for my feet.

“Hmph!”

I kicked off the ground and jumped. I stepped on what was presumably the shaft. Even a spiritual body, if imbued with mana, can be stepped on. Shaolin gritted their teeth at my action of climbing onto their weapon.

Clatter.

I ran along the shaft. Just in case they dispelled the weapon midway, I even spread my wings as a precaution. Shaolin made a motion as if to release the shaft, and I jumped, performing a somersault in mid-air.

Slice-!

Shaolin’s hand blade grazed my earlobe. A dagger? A rapier? Or perhaps an eunjangdo? Shaolin was holding something very small, and I landed behind them and extended my fist.

Clang!

Shaolin swung what was presumed to be a dagger, holding it in a reverse grip. As expected of an ability user with astonishing mana perception, they accurately read the position of my fist, which had launched a surprise attack from behind.

Thud-!

The dagger pierced through the gauntlet and stabbed my hand. Shaolin’s eyes widened, perhaps not expecting me to easily allow an attack even after they had stabbed me.

“Hmph.”

It hurt, but I wouldn’t die. Gwanggeom was like that too, but martial artists from the Otherworld are invariably flustered by close-quarters attacks that disregard one’s own body.

Because I, who clearly have a human form, do things that monsters or demon dragons would do. Especially for those who are reluctant to kill, it’s an effective dirty trick.

Whoosh-!

Red blood splattered, and the severed fingers of the gauntlet erupted in blue flames. The body, disconnected from me, burned away and vanished, but due to the visual effect-the eye-blinding flash-Shaolin had to squint.

“Damn it…!”

I extended the fist of my still-living arm. Rolling my foot forward, putting power into twisting my waist, I thrust my fist straight out like a cavalry spear.

Thwack–!

My fist plunged into Shaolin’s side. Shaolin’s slender waist, dented in the shape of a fist, looked as if it would burst at any moment, but Shaolin succeeded in protecting their body with mana before it could burst.

“Kuh!”

I quickly stomped my foot on the ground and retreated. Shaolin was already swinging something like a spear shaft towards me.

Slice!

My arm was cut off. Shaolin mercilessly severed the arm that had struck their side. And observing that posture and the trajectory of the blade, I was certain of what weapon Shaolin was holding.

“It’s a Guan Dao, isn’t it?”

Even though they had decided to abandon Unjang, habits cannot be ignored. Shaolin frowned at my certainty, but further combat was meaningless.

“It’s over.”

I mercilessly discarded my arm. I extended the hand that still remained up to the back of my hand. Instead of fingers, there were blue, crystal-like claws.

Crunch.

I stabbed their heart.

Shaolin’s heart was seized by me.

The monstrous human Shaolin had their Core, their life, struck. The tip of my claw was touching the Core.

“…Were you the type of person to treat a woman so carelessly?”

Shaolin coughed up a gush of blood and laughed. Perhaps the tension had released from another defeat, as their tone reverted to that of a child their age. I also laughed, bleeding.

“Regardless of gender, you are a strong being as a human. I couldn’t go easy on you.”

“For someone who says that, *cough*. It seems you went quite easy on me.”

Shaolin pointed at my body. I had fought Shaolin in my human form, not my monstrous human form, and after dozens of exchanges, I had seized victory.

“Go easy? I fought with all my might.”

“You didn’t fight in your monstrous human form, did you?”

“What’s the point of having a spec battle with you?”

I pulled my hand out of Shaolin’s heart. Their chest was gaping open and blood was gushing out, but Shaolin didn’t seem to mind.

“It seems you know more about me than I do myself?”

“Of course I do. Isn’t that why I’m being so relaxed?”

I placed my hand on the severed end of my arm. Mana spread out, reconstructing the arm, and I rotated it this way and that, checking its condition.

“I was relieved because you’re someone who cleanly accepts defeat; otherwise, I would have slammed you straight into the ground.”

“Oh dear. Perhaps I shouldn’t have lived up to your expectations.”

Shaolin covered their exposed chest with their jacket. Although they wouldn’t die as a monstrous human, it looked quite gruesome.

“I’ve wanted to ask since I first saw you near Xi’an.”

“Yes.”

“Whose idea was the jacket over the swimsuit?”

I couldn’t help but point out Shaolin’s attire. The high-leg swimsuit, reminiscent of a school swimsuit, was one thing, but the Azure Syndicate jacket worn over it was even more absurd.

“The swimsuit was Bonghyo oppa’s idea, and the jacket was a gift I received when I went to Seoul.”

“……”

I took out the Core I had put in my pocket. Since they were a monstrous human created by the Chaos Illusion Dragon, I’d have to see if he could revive them, but I definitely needed to have an honest talk with this guy.

“Ahem. First, let’s treat this.”

I filled Shaolin’s punctured chest with mana. It wasn’t a cure, but a temporary measure to cover the gruesome sight, and fortunately, no more blood came out.

“Thank you.”

“And one more thing.”

I squeezed out mana and created clothes. The outfit, which was also a costume for Shaolin, was a white and blue mixed battle robe, very similar to Guan Yu’s cosplay design from his Unjang days.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a 2P color.”

“Huh?”

“I just said it, so put it on for now. And take the mask too.”

“…Are you telling me to go back to being Unjang now?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

I lightly tapped Shaolin’s forehead with my index finger, as they feigned anger.

“You have to reveal your disguise in front of the public for them to believe you’re Unjang.”

“…Oh-ho.”

Shaolin seemed quite intrigued, as if their ears had perked up. As expected of Shaolin, who craved public attention and camera time, they seemed excited at the thought of being in the spotlight.

[Can you hear me?]

The white butterfly badge chimed. It was Seok Harang’s call. While Shaolin changed into the clothes I had prepared, I placed my finger on the badge and responded to Seok Harang.

[What’s the matter?]

[Illusion Dragon awakened. They… came out with Cheon Gaeul unnie?]

[Yes, I sent them. That’s a relief.]

Seok Harang seemed to have contacted me as soon as Illusion Dragon awakened. Only now could I feel the presence of Illusion Dragon, who had stepped forward directly, with the chaos that had been mixed in finally gone.

[First, bring Cheon Gaeul and Illusion Dragon to Beijing. I’ll join you soon.]

[Got it. I just go to the association, right?]

[Yes. Contact Eun Yuha too. Tell them I’ll pay for the plane ticket, so send a doll to China. I’ll hand it over directly.]

[Are you seriously giving me orders again? Hey! Am I your subordinate?]

[Not a subordinate, no. …Right. I misspoke.]

I cleared my throat and corrected myself.

[Please contact Eun Yuha for me. I ask of you.]

[……You should’ve said that from the start. Alright! Since you’re asking for once, I can’t refuse. See you in Beijing in a bit!]

Click. Seok Harang ended the call. I stroked the badge with my thumb.

“Easygoing fellow.”

“Uh… excuse me….”

“What’s wrong?”

Shaolin, fully dressed in the battle robe, seemed quite flustered looking at me. I approached them and checked for any issues with the battle robe, but there were no problems.

“Is it about your underwear? Should I make you some? Your size was… 85B, wasn’t it?”

“How do you know my size, no. That’s not important! Ahem.”

Shaolin cleared their throat and pointed at my mouth.

“Why do you use honorifics with me, but informal speech with the person you were just talking to?”

“……Oops.”

I couldn’t believe they heard spirits talking amongst themselves. Since they were very close, it seemed they only heard my voice. Or, more precisely, the resonance of mana.

“You heard that?”

“Yes. I heard it very clearly. Though only your voice.”

[Can you hear this too?]

“Hieek?”

Shaolin flinched. I waved my hand, dispelling the mana resonance.

“You changed your tone just now too, didn’t you? Unjang cosplay.”

“Th-that’s purely due to habit, it… is. Ahem!”

“Speak however you’re comfortable. Either way, it’s cute.”

Personally, I prefer the stiff tone, but it’s not bad when a fresh, girlish sensibility occasionally pops out. Wasn’t the event where the protagonist’s identity was revealed a lucky pervert moment that happened during Unjang cosplay anyway? And Shaolin’s gap moe, screaming back at the protagonist’s question about whether they treated their beard….

“C-cough.”

Shaolin blushed and lowered their head. I briefly reflected on my words and actions. I was about to do it again out of habit. I reflected.

“…Well, speak however you’re comfortable.”

“Why don’t you speak informally to me?”

Had they decided to maintain a polite tone? More than that, I didn’t understand Shaolin’s request for me to speak informally to them.

“Why should I speak informally?”

“Well, haven’t I been defeated by you twice?”

“That’s not a reason for me to speak informally to you.”

Shaolin was a heroine, but not yet someone who had earned my trust. Ever since I gained autonomy over my speech from Azure Flame, I had only shown ‘myself’ to those I could trust.

“…I think it would be fine if you treated me a little more roughly.”

Shaolin grumbled and fastened their battle robe. It was clearly meant for me to hear, but I let it go in one ear and out the other. There was no particular reason to treat Shaolin roughly.

“What’s the point of treating an SS-rank roughly?”

“…Huh?”

“Oh dear. You don’t even know your own rank? You’re SS now. And of the illusion attribute.”

It was only natural for an S-rank ability user to be turned into a monstrous human by the Chaos Illusion Dragon, waver at the SS boundary, and then gain enlightenment, reaching the next level. I clapped casually, congratulating Shaolin on their awakening.

“Wow. Congratulations on SS. This makes it the fourth SS.”

“Fourth?”

“Third, Seok Harang. Second, Gwanggeom. And the first.”

I pointed at the coffin floating on the river and jumped.

“War God. Hangjeok.”

Creak. I slid the lid of the wooden coffin aside. Inside, a clean, handsome young man was sleeping, so pristine that it was hard to believe he was dead.

“Humanity’s first SS-rank and a monster who dealt a blow to Seongju. In exchange, he lost his life.”

I clicked my tongue, looking at the reincarnation of Xiang Yu. Shaolin seemed to have read my regret.

“Are you going to turn him into a monstrous human?”

“He’s good material, but it’s probably impossible. Because of this.”

Thump.

I sharpened my claws and plunged my hand into the handsome young man’s chest. Red blood seeped out beside my claws, and I could feel the pulse of his heart.

Thump. Thump.

“Just as I thought.”

He wasn’t dead. He was alive. Even now, 20 years after he beat up Seongju and died, he was still alive.

“Thanks to the Cube.”

‘So Mao Zeping got the Cube here.’

Crunch! I ripped out his heart. The pulse of the extracted heart quickly stopped, and the handsome young man’s body rotted away, turning into a skeleton in an instant.

Thump. Thump.

The chilling pulse was still beating in my palm. I burned the heart placed on my palm.

“……This makes it three.”

I gripped the Cube resting on my palm. Then I made a zipping motion over my mouth towards Shaolin.

“This is a secret.”

“What is that?”

“That’s why it’s a secret.”

“For free?”

Shaolin demanded a trade. I was annoyed, but I had to grant their request.

“What is it?”

“…I’ll tell you later.”

Shaolin smiled brightly. I felt a burden, as if I had gained collateral, but I still had to hide the existence of the Cube I had obtained without Eun Yuha or Cheon Gaeul knowing.

“Alright. Then let’s go finish things up now.”

“Finish things up?”

I created a red mask with mana and waved it towards Shaolin.

“You’ll have to live without it now, won’t you?”

Shaolin smiled faintly.