Chapter 456 : Chapter 456

Vol 2 Chapter 96. I Entrust the Future to You, My Friend. (2)

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍his two lives, Patrick had experienced a variety of people.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had seen someone as ridiculously strong as the Heavenly Demon.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had seen an unparalleled pushover like his father or his master.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had even seen a case where someone as kind, beautiful, and perfect in every way as his mother made him wonder, why did she marry my father?

Having ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍observed a diverse array of human characters while living two lives in two different worlds, Patrick…

If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍asked, who is the most intelligent person?

There was a name that would come to mind without hesitation.

That was none other than the Ugly Dragon Scholar, Jaegal Hyeon.

Even Marquis Krupa, whom Patrick had personally scouted to be the Grand Duke's Prime Minister, was lacking compared to Jaegal Hyeon.

Yes, he knew he was that smart.

He was already weeeeell aware that the man was so intelligent it made him feel fortunate that he was not an enemy.

He knew, but…

“Still, even so… does this make any sense?”

Patrick, with a bewitched expression, wiped the dust from the inscription.

And then…

[It does.]

Patrick hastily looked around.

Naturally, there was no one around.

With a reluctant expression, he wiped the dust from the stone slab again…

[Why are you so surprised? No matter how much you run, you are still in the palm of this one's hand.]

“What did you say?”

[For this heaven-sent genius, it is an exceedingly simple task to predict what a dog-mess like you, with your simplistic thinking, is thinking and to carve these words.]

“This ugly bastard…”

There was no doubt.

These inscriptions, where every single sentence induced irritation, were undoubtedly Jaegal Hyeon’s writing.

Patrick felt a strong urge to smash this stone slab.

However…

[Do not break the stone slab. A lot of important information is written here. Read it calmly and in order. Otherwise, you will regret it.]

“Grrr.”

If it was Jaegal Hyeon’s advice, of all people, it was better to listen.

In his previous life, whenever he had ignored this man's words and been stubborn, the results were always bad.

So, it was definitely better to listen this time.

“Fine. I’ll at least hear you out. At least…”

Patrick once again wiped the dust off the stone slab as he continued to read Jaegal Hyeon’s message.

[Before we get to the main point, let’s make one thing clear and move on.]

“What is it now, you punk?”

[What were you thinking, dying there? You damn son of a bitch!]

“……”

[I told you it was reckless. I told you not to go, and you just charged in without a plan?! So how did that turn out?]

He had nothing to say.

Back then, when he heard that his allies were trapped in an encirclement, Jaegal Hyeon had sternly stopped Jin Cheon from charging in.

* * *

“Stop. This is insane!”

“Then it’s what I always do. Move.”

“You’ll die, you blockhead bastard!”

To Jaegal Hyeon who was shouting, Jin Cheon shrugged and spoke.

“What can I do? Even if they’re just useless fools who drag me down, they’re still fellow members of the Murim Alliance. I can’t just abandon them, can I?”

“In terms of military strategy, for the sake of victory, it is realistic to completely exclude sacrificial pawns…. Hey! Hey. You bastard.”

“Enough. I’m going. I’m counting on you to handle the aftermath.”

“Stop, you bastard!”

Shaking off Jaegal Hyeon who was shouting from behind, the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon ran.

He ran to save his comrades trapped within the Unorthodox Alliance’s encirclement.

And…

* * *

“I died.”

Patrick smiled bitterly.

Thinking back now, it seemed like it had been a trap to lure him in from the very beginning.

The moment he charged in and saved his comrades, the target of the inescapable net they had spread changed to him, as if they had been waiting.

Jaegal Hyeon’s writing continued with a series of sentences reprimanding him for his actions.

[Do you have any idea how much we suffered after you died? You damn bastard!]

“……”

[It was the first time I saw the Old Master that angry. He changed completely and came to the front lines to crush the Unorthodox Alliance bastards, to the point that his title changed.]

“I know. I heard.”

[It was a good thing we had that friend Namgung Cheon by his side. If not, the Old Master might have followed you to the grave.]

“Yeah. I see.”

He had wondered how his master had managed to stay alive while fighting on the front lines with his skills.

But now he saw that his friends had lent their strength.

[Even your wife cried.]

“Lies. Does she even have tear ducts?”

[Apparently, she does.]

“……”

He’s not really watching from somewhere, is he?

It was starting to get a little creepy.

[Anyway, a bastard like you. Even if I told you hundreds, thousands of times….]

After that, Jaegal Hyeon’s scolding continued for a long time.

Patrick read each sentence, savoring it.

He cherished it as if he were contemplating every single stroke of the characters.

[Well, that’s enough nagging for now….]

“My ears are bleeding, you ugly bastard.”

[Let’s get to the main point. First, I must explain the war against the Blood Cult.]

The Blood Cult.

The Blood Cult, which arose 20 years after the death of the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, launched a massive invasion of the martial world.

They carried out massacres regardless of orthodoxy or unorthodoxy, and their targets included even ordinary people.

To stand against the Blood Cult, the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions united, and the Imperial Palace also supported the Murim Alliance.

[It was truly a sea of mountains of corpses and a sea of blood. The Blood Cult bastards rampaged as if their only purpose was slaughter and violation, not victory in war.]

“……”

[To stop those bastards, I brought in the Demonic Cult.]

“You played a bold hand. Anyway, this bastard is crazy too.”

It could only be described as birds of a feather flocking together…

[I was able to bring in the Demonic Cult by setting one condition. And with their help, I led the war to victory.]

“A condition? What condition did you set?”

[After a fierce battle, we were victorious and were able to drive the Blood Cult out of the martial world.]

“This bastard isn’t answering.”

[By the time the war ended, the world called me the Heavenly Secret Wise King. And that friend, Namgung Cheon, also came to be proudly called the Azure Sky Sword King.]

“Oh my, is that so? You became a great man? Good for you, I guess….”

[This is the story known to the world. From now on, I will tell you the secret history unknown to the world.]

“……”

[We did not defeat the Blood Cult. The Blood Cult withdrew on its own.]

* * *

After Jaegal Hyeon brought in the Demonic Cult.

The Murim Alliance was able to unilaterally push back the Blood Cult.

And finally, they were able to lead an elite force to assault the Blood Cult’s headquarters.

“Get out of the way!”

A giant sword of light exploded with a rough roar.

CRASH!

It was the Emperor Sword Form that had reached its pinnacle.

The one who wielded it was, of course, the current greatest master of the Namgung Clan, the Azure Sky Sword King, Namgung Cheon.

He was charging in ahead of anyone else.

Following closely beside him was Jaegal Hyeon, holding a White Feather Fan in one hand and a bundle of talismans in the other.

“Stop them! I said stop those two!”

“Never let them pass!”

The bishops of the Blood Cult urged their subordinates and blocked their path, but no one could stop the Azure Sky Sword King’s sword.

They also tried to attack from behind, but…

“Do I look like a decoration?”

When Jaegal Hyeon scattered his talismans and chanted an incantation, the talismans immediately rose as vajra warriors.

Then, they began to smash the Blood Cult members swarming from all directions.

“Hyeon, what is that again?”

“It’s a spirit summoning technique. Something I recently learned.”

“It is not good to rely too much on supernatural powers.”

To Namgung Cheon’s worried words, Jaegal Hyeon smiled bitterly and answered.

“I am well aware.”

“……”

“But if that bastard were here, he would have grumbled, ‘To win, you have to do whatever it takes. What’s with all this fuss about choosing your methods?’”

“Haha. Yes. He would have.”

A look of longing suddenly appeared on Namgung Cheon’s face.

How reassuring would it have been if that friend were here?

He would have taken the lead more than anyone else, becoming a single flash of light and rushing toward the enemy.

That flash of light, which became hope for his allies and an arrow of judgment for his enemies, was still vivid in his mind…

‘Let’s abandon these lingering feelings.’

He couldn’t look for someone who wasn’t here.

Right now, he was the one at the forefront, with the future of the martial world at stake.

He had to fulfill the role befitting his position.

WHOOOOSH.

The ultimate Emperor Sword Form formed on Namgung Cheon’s sword.

The Emperor Sword Form, created solely through his own efforts by the dunce of the Namgung Clan who had only trained in the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.

Although it was not the sword of the Namgung Clan, it was the sword of an emperor that suited the Namgung Clan more than anyone else.

“Those who value their lives, step aside!”

The giant sword of light exploded once again.

The Blood Cult members who tried to block its path were shattered into pieces and disappeared.

And Namgung Cheon and Jaegal Hyeon were finally able to stand before the leader of the Blood Cult.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

A man sitting on a chair grotesquely woven from human bones.

This man, with a face that was arrogant yet held a strange sense of amusement, was the leader of the Blood Cult.

He was the Blood Demon of that generation.

Namgung Cheon and Jaegal Hyeon, who had overcome all sorts of adversities to face him, felt the same emotion at the same time.

‘If we just get this guy…’

‘This damn war will be over.’

Words were unnecessary.

The two of them simultaneously rushed forward and charged toward the Blood Cult leader.

“Die!”

“You demon bastard!”

CRAAAAASH!

Namgung Cheon and Jaegal Hyeon clashed against the strongest martial artist of the generation.

They carried the hopes of everyone on their backs.

The history of the martial world states that these two joined forces to defeat the Blood Cult leader.

However, the truth was…

“Kuh…”

“This… monster…”

It was a devastating defeat.

The two fallen men vomited blood from their mouths and seethed with anger.

‘This is unbelievable…’

‘Nothing worked. Nothing…’

The feelings of the two men, who had been unilaterally defeated without even dirtying a single strand of their opponent’s clothing, were disastrous.

It didn’t make sense.

The opponent was strong.

He was certainly strong, but in terms of martial prowess, he was by no means at a level that Namgung Cheon or Jaegal Hyeon could not possibly reach.

It was a level of martial prowess that seemed beatable if the two of them joined forces.

But the problem was that their attacks didn’t work at all.

When he saw the Blood Demon remain completely unshaken even after being hit squarely by the Emperor Sword Form, Jaegal Hyeon thought.

‘This is not a difference in power. It’s twisted at a more fundamental level.’

Jaegal Hyeon could tell.

This was a difference at a more fundamental level, beyond the high and low of martial arts.

Otherwise, this situation where their attacks didn’t work at all couldn’t be explained.

‘Damn it, what am I supposed to do now that I know this?’

There was no more hope.

But then…

“It seems this round is over.”

The Blood Demon said indifferently.

As Jaegal Hyeon looked up in surprise, the Blood Demon’s complexion was growing paler and paler.

It was as if his vitality was slowly disappearing.

‘What? What is happening?’

He didn’t understand.

Surely, it couldn’t be that the attacks were only now taking effect. What in the world was going on?

He looked to his side and saw that Namgung Cheon also had a face of utter confusion.

And the Blood Demon said…

“It was fun while it lasted, but if I continue, the Celestial Realm will come after me.”

“What kind of nonsense are you… cough, spouting?!”

Namgung Cheon forced himself to his feet.

The Blood Demon sneered at him and said.

“You should consider yourselves lucky. You get to live with the false glory of having taken this Blood Demon’s head and saved the martial world.”

“How dare you!”

Namgung Cheon gritted his teeth and launched an attack with all his might.

CRAAASH!

Although his strength had waned considerably, a still-powerful strike landed on the crown of the Blood Demon’s head.

The Blood Demon took the attack head-on, but he didn’t flinch.

It was clear that he was slowly dying, but the attacks were not working.

And the Blood Demon said to Namgung Cheon and Jaegal Hyeon.

“Looking at you now, you are connected to that sacrifice by cause and effect.”

“……”

“Enjoy your short peace to the fullest and make the world prosperous again.”

And in the next moment.

The Blood Demon smiled.

It was a smile filled with the purest malice, the most innocent yet wicked in the world.

“That way, I can enjoy it again.”

With those last words, the Blood Demon’s life was cut short.

His body collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

“What… what is this?”

“……”

“Hyeon, do you understand? What in the world is this strange turn of events?”

“I… I don’t know either.”

The war was over.

With the most unsettling conclusion imaginable.