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**

General Song Nam-cheon of the Sado Clan stared in disbelief and let out a laugh.

But that laughter gradually faded away.

You see, bravado is something that always shows itself. When you lie, your pupils dilate, and your eyes tremble. Your hands and feet can’t help but shake in truthfulness.

But not this guy in front of me. He seems tense but not trembling in fear; rather, everything is eerily calm as if he’s determined to get the job done.

…Calm? No, that’s not it.

Is he actually expecting something?

Song Nam-cheon doubted his own eyes. What could he possibly be hoping for with so many enemies right in front of him?

Could he truly be out of his mind?

“…….”

But regardless, the outcome won’t change. The warrior before him is immensely powerful.

The sheer force of his presence was enough to distort the terrain. Even the dirt and stones were visibly disturbed.

A master of Huaxing.

He must be at least at the peak level.

But on our side, we have plenty of peak-level masters too. Even if they aren’t up to Huaxing’s level, we still have numerous top-notch fighters.

It’s not a mere army for nothing; there’s a reason there are so many of us.

“A person, you know.”

He opened his mouth, speaking to the warrior who was oddly captivating in a ridiculous way.

“If you get hit by a sword, you die. If you get stabbed by a spear, you die.”

“…….”

“Willpower doesn’t speak for everything. Even if the mind doesn’t yield, once the body surrenders, it’s over. Infinite energy? That won’t stop ten swords.”

“…….”

“When the number of opponents increases geometrically, it becomes even more true. A person has two hands, and can’t block everything coming at them. Even if you gain an advantage with overwhelming momentum and speed, in the end, you can’t defy the limits of life. Huaxing? Certainly impressive. It’s a remarkable domain.”

Song Nam-cheon knew that all too well.

Yi-hyeong Ki. Just how powerful was that? The tremendous might of peak-level masters was undeniably strong enough to break through anything.

However, those peak-level masters can withstand it ‘to some extent.’ To be able to endure means they can disrupt focus…

Distraction leads to narrow vision.

The defensive Qi of the Huaxing master isn’t invincible. There are limits to movement. Their energy isn’t limitless either.

And he’s not one of those masters who has experienced Cheongeop…

In the end, there is a limit to one’s physical power.

“But a master of Huaxing is not a god.”

“……..”

“Can you truly endure a single strike? If I twitch my hand, you’ll be full of holes in an instant. If you’re lucky, maybe you can take a few of your companions with you.”

“……..”

“Do you underestimate war? Do you underestimate the number of people? No matter how finely honed you are, you will never surpass the wall. Those who cannot leap over it remain ‘human.’ Your death will be a foolish one at the gates of this castle. The people standing before you are not just first or second-rate warriors. They are all people who have built their own domain in their respective fields. All of them are masters who deserve the title of warrior.”

A man in a conical hat spoke.

Calmly. Without the slightest hint of agitation, he responded to the torrent of words.

“Your tongue is long.”

“…Cough.”

Indeed.

His tongue was long.

But what could he do? How could he help but feel his blood boil in the face of such a scene?

A lone warrior standing before thousands of troops. A man who was about to die, but he still wanted to exchange a single word.

As a warrior…

As a man.

He wanted to see what kind of man stood before him.

“…Anything to say?”

“None.”

“I see.”

Song Nam-cheon raised his hand.

Dozens of determined warriors charging to breach the gates.

A mighty force made up of peak and top-level masters stretched forth.

“So then, let’s die.”

Strong one. Sturdy one.

But foolish too.

What a waste of such martial arts, but that can’t be helped. The price for recklessness is war.

The battalion surged forward in an instant. Various blades and powerful strikes erupted, tearing through the ground.

The crashing air resonated like thunder, causing those watching to instinctively flinch and retreat.

All of it aimed at just one thing. That sole target.

Song Nam-cheon gazed at a warrior enveloped by countless shadows.

Even the protective Qi, the impressive movements…

In the face of overwhelming numbers, it ultimately became useless.

I’ll make sure to hear your screams directly.

You foolish yet somewhat decent man.

…

Killer intent poured in.

It felt as if the world had slowed down. Within that moment, he recalled the words of the enemy leader.

His words were right. The master of Huaxing is not invincible. While others may call him a transcendent, it was still within human limits.

Yi-hyeong Ki is fierce. It’s heavy, weighty, and offers a diverse and splendid destructive power.

It’s the realm of creating something from nothing at the utmost limits of human potential. Forcing mental images into reality, how could it not be powerful?

But it doesn’t solve everything like a miracle. It’s strong, sharp, and diverse, yet it has its limits…

The limit of being human.

“…….”

The Blood Sword cried out. Bai Ya and Black Pearl also warned me.

The blades of murderous intent rush at me, their weight so immense they seem to blot out the sky.

It feels like I’m swept away by a colossal wave I can’t overcome. All around me, every shadow is filled with people holding swords…

Colors of energy ignite, and the various deadly techniques each target my throat.

Every moment feels like it’s suspended in time, as if I stand at the precipice of life and death.

I’ve felt this kind of thing a few times before.

When I had thrown myself into the extreme moment to surpass myself.

…So.

What I need to do now is clear.

I tighten my grip on the sword. The slowing world begins to speed up again.

I hear it clearly. The killer intent and the screams of people. The qi of dozens upon dozens of groups.

And I step forward into that chaos.

Once more, to surpass myself again.

**Ice White Fire Wheel Sword**

**Yin Yang Harmony**

I sketch the novel martial arts onto my fingertips. Moving towards the torrent of swords.

Weight becomes slow. That is the essence of dullness.

On the other hand, the more I shed weight, the faster I become. That is the essence of speed.

Mixing those two is absurd…

But the time sent from Huashan made it possible.

What I held but couldn’t express. Maximizing the power of the two Ear Swords to their extremes…

Amplifying the essence within me manifold.

From the extended sword, fire and ice swirl together. When two opposing properties collide as one, it creates a tremendous backlash.

But I control it. The side effects make my whole body feel like it’s about to shred into pieces…

But I’m fine.

Because I have Cheongeop.

“…….!”

Pain is something I’m used to. A person without talent must endure it if they want to rise.

Shouldn’t I be grateful for that? That within definite pain lies certain reward. I can smile and receive it instead.

Even if it feels like yanking out my fingernails and toenails while sprinkling salt on them.

Even if I feel like I want to vomit everything out of my guts, twisting and bending until I release a piece or two of my insides.

Even if it feels like my spine is shattering and all the bones in my body are crumbling, with white powder flowing from every orifice.

Even so, I move forward.

As always…

**Blood Dyer**

To dye the world in my color.

—KWA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything visible erupts in a wave of explosions. The faces of the masters are covered in flashes, the sudden pressure weighing down on everything in sight.

But it doesn’t eradicate everything. No matter how powerful a strike, you can’t crush every incoming attack.

A few missed swords dig into me. They stab deep, trying to snuff out my life force from within.

Immediately, I twist the swords that cling to me into powder, yet those embedded weapons do not disappear.

In an instant’s exchange. Within that, I lowered my sword. Those in shock trembled and stepped back.

“H-Holy shit… How much have we lost in just one move?!”

“Is this crazy…! A monster of a bastard?!”

“D-Dosan is dead! Dosan Jigeom is dead! Dammit! That peak-level master!”

“You fucking insane bastard…!”

“N-No, he’s dead! He’s dead for sure! Right through the heart!”

“Not a single healthy spot left! That bastard’s just as good as dead!”

…Right.

That would be the case.

If I were an ordinary person.

—Ugh.

I place my hand on the most bothersome sword. The one stabbed deep into my heart.

Cheongeop howls. Although wounded from the blades and strikes…

Perhaps because of the time spent together, or my training until now…

It’s grown more tenacious. Like a mirror of myself, it learns to endure and fight back.

And as for the result…

I now have no idea how I should die.

As long as a hint of vitality remains within me, I’ll continue to cling to life. I can keep swinging my sword, facing those who seek to kill me.

The reverse heaven warrior, Ak-bi, whom I faced at the Shaolin, once said.

You and I share the same Cheongeop.

But I shake my head. It’s not the same.

While the beginnings might have been the same…

Now, this Cheongeop is ‘my’ Cheongeop.

—Ugh.

Blood bursts from the wound that was pulled out. But then, it quickly recovered, like black flames flickering back to life.

Pulling it out hurts more than when it was stabbed. The process of healing flows through my brain, tearing at my soul.

But I’m fine.

I can endure.

One by one, I remove the weapons buried in my body. With each one that falls, the masters of Sapa trembled and muttered.

“W-What… am I looking at…?”

“I-I’m sure… I’m sure I stabbed him…”

“What the hell is that… Is he some kind of immortal…?”

The enemy leader narrowed his eyes. Despite panting in disbelief, he hurriedly muttered what needed to be done.

“Cut off his limbs! Restrain him so he can’t move!”

Yes. It’s about to get real from now on.

I shook the blood from my hands. I poured my soul into the tip of my sword.

Winning against thousands? That’s impossible.

Everyone would say it’s impossible.

…But me?

“Come at me.”

Unless I see it with my own eyes, I won’t believe it.

 

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