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The Sword Demon (검마)

The Great Lord of the Demon Sword Inspection Team, the slaughtering unit of the Heavenly Demon Church.

Its level is known to be above Transformation Realm, and in terms of strength, it ranks below the “teenage masters.”

So, roughly, that’s about where it sits.

Although it didn’t possess overwhelming strength, the true essence of the Sword Demon could be witnessed on the battlefield.

The reason for my notorious reputation isn’t just because I’m a traitor to the righteous faction, but also because I was a being specialized in mass slaughter.

Spreading flames and constant wagers.

Since its power was tailored for war, my infamy quickly escalated with my appearance.

The same goes for the Sword Demon.

With no hesitation in killing people, he embodied killing intent, turning everything around into chaos. That guy was perfectly suited for warfare.

Yes, the visualization of killing intent.

That’s the reason the Sword Demon could be referred to as the Sword Demon, and it served as evidence of the Heaven Kill Spirit.

Though he didn’t directly name it, in the Central Plains, people called it ‘Killing Steel.’

Killing intent doesn’t emanate directly from the Lower Dantian.

It is, quite literally, the feeling of wanting to kill the opponent.

That feeling mixes with a martial artist’s energy as it is released.

From there, the intensity of killing intent is determined by how strong that desire is.

Of course, it can vary depending on the realm of the martial artist.

But that’s just a supportive aspect. The essence of killing intent is like that.

The Killing Steel used by the Sword Demon is inherently linked to these extraordinary traits.

“The Sword Demon enjoys killing, and thus has strong killing intent. That’s why the Killing Steel was also strong.”

Since the desire to kill never ceased, the Killing Steel never faltered, and without caring for enemies or allies, it became a force that was even harder to deal with.

Now, a question arose.

What if—

Is the Sword Demon strong without the Killing Steel?

He’s originally a martial artist of the Transformation Realm.

There’s absolutely no way he could be weak, but could the reason he dominated be that he was the Heaven Kill Spirit?

That’s what I thought.

But then again, “He’s just a bundle of talent.”

The reincarnation of the Sword Demon.

Facing the current Seong-Yul made me reconsider a bit.

He was strong.

Much stronger compared to his age, and he wouldn’t lose against the geniuses known as the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.

But—

“Just that level.”

If we’re talking about the extreme pursuit of strength, it felt a bit lacking.

He wasn’t incredibly high compared to others. Just at the genius level.

“Calling him just ‘genius’ sounds ridiculous, but…”

As if having a genius was everyone’s pet name, it was a bit dizzying.

It didn’t mean he was at the monster level like Nangong Bi-ah or Wi Seol-Ah.

What that implies is that—

Seong-Yul would need to leverage the Heaven Kill Spirit to rise to the Sword Demon level.

Honestly, even without that, if he just consumed some elixirs and spent a few years, it might be possible.

“I don’t have that time.”

Lacking manpower and time to nurture.

And why would I waste precious elixirs on that guy?

Even if I did, not him.

Then what should I do?

To make Seong-Yul strong without killing him, I’d have to awaken the Heaven Kill Spirit.

“About that Heaven Kill Spirit…”

The Heaven Kill Spirit is a strange phenomenon that only appears once every century.

Born to kill, it will continue to destroy humans until it dies.

How should I utilize this demon in human form?

Can I even make use of it?

“Well, it’s certainly possible.”

After all, wasn’t it the Heavenly Demon who did it?

The Sword Demon became a Demon and acted, and even if he ran around like a madman, he eventually obeyed the Heavenly Demon’s commands.

Moreover, since I’ve been trampling him, he somewhat follows my orders as well.

Though beneath him, the Demon Sword Queen and the Green King wouldn’t eat that mess.

Seeing this, it’s like proof that if made a Demon, I could control him.

“That’s why I intended to corrupt him.”

As soon as I found him, I’d corrupt him and make him mine.

That was the plan for our encounter.

“An unexpected turn of events occurred.”

I hadn’t corrupted him yet.

Trivial sympathy.

Perhaps hopeful expectations.

Damn it, a sense of identification.

I was caught in emotions I despised myself, and whether it was fortunate or not, the results weren’t bad.

“He listened well.”

No matter what he thought, he was more useful than others.

When I told him to draw the sword, he did, and when I said to slash, he slashed.

There was hesitation in his attempt to kill.

While he experienced a greed for murder, he also made efforts to suppress it.

At that time, he was still human.

And that made me hesitate.

Thus, I asked myself.

“So…”

Would I just leave him as he is?

I questioned myself, and the answer had long been decided.

This was a decisive moment that had to be chosen at any time.

Perhaps even sooner would have been better.

“Ugh… Ugh!”

Energy rippled across the Sparring Stage.

When I confirmed it with my Heart Eye, it was far clearer.

Seong-Yul was causing anomalies in the space around him.

The density of killing intent was so thick that it was causing this.

“Whoa.”

It was impressive.

I had seen this sight in my previous life, but the feeling now was different.

The released killing intent resembled strong energy rather than merely killing intent.

“Ugh… Ugh!”

His eyes shone brightly.

Vitality seeped into his golden eyes.

That vitality was filled with an eerie emotion.

Slaughter.

The unwavering thought of killing the opponent.

Could it be this honest and vivid?

This abnormality was felt not only by me but also by the audience.

“What, what is this? I’m feeling chills.”

“I suddenly feel uneasy…”

The ordinary folks seemed to react with their bodies to the subtle changes.

The season was still far from cold.

If it were true, then the killing intent began to fill the atmosphere with chills.

If ordinary people felt this way, what of the martial artists?

Naturally, their reactions were more intense.

“Isn’t someone going to stop that?”

“In a sparring match, such killing intent…! What on earth is the judge doing!”

The level of killing intent was so formidable it made their bodies stiffen.

It wasn’t at all the kind of energy a righteous faction martial artist would release.

Especially not in a sparring match.

I frowned at Seong-Yul.

“Just a little push, and he becomes like this?”

The moment I unleashed the Heaven Kill Spirit, its true essence was immediately revealed.

It was like it was on the verge of bursting out.

It was apparent how much I had restrained it until now.

Like a beast.

The wildness had bloomed, leaving only instincts.

“I will kill—.”

Crash—!

Done.

Seong-Yul emitted killing intent and charged at Peng Woojin.

Bang—!

A spark flew as blades clashed.

“He’s gotten faster.”

His speed increased drastically.

I don’t know if the hesitation disappeared or if it was because of the attributes coming from the Heaven Kill Spirit, but—

“His muscles have changed as well.”

They became tougher and stronger, adapting to the increased speed.

The killing intent was gradually sinking into his skin.

Bang—! Crash—!

Every clash would cause waves.

“Strength’s increased too.”

Along with the speed, his strength had elevated.

As for the question, whether this increase was due to the Heaven Kill Spirit or if it was his original strength being unleashed, I had no clue.

What mattered was—

“Whatever it took, it was liberated.”

Easily changing just from being pushed slightly.

This was the first time I saw it properly in this lifetime.

I had dealt with him by knocking him out if it seemed dangerous, so watching Seong-Yul surrender himself to killing intent was a first.

Reflecting on it, I thought—

“Strong.”

Seong-Yul, transformed by the Heaven Kill Spirit, was indeed strong.

Perfect mastery.

The cusp of the peak.

He may not have been able to break through the barrier to Transformation Realm, but he unleashed every possible potential within that body.

The enhanced movements, along with the elevated strength.

Everything exceeded my expectations, and the killing intent swirled around was incredibly powerful.

However—

Crash—!!

The opponent wasn’t particularly great.

“Crazy guy.”

Peng Woojin obliterated all the killing intent with his black iron.

I chortled at him.

“What the hell is that?”

The Seong-Yul, pulling out his maximum strength, was being handled without much effort by Peng Woojin.

“Transformation Realm surpassed long ago.”

When I saw him during past sparring matches, Peng Woojin was already at peak mastery.

Now, with time flowing, he had reached Transformation Realm.

Strong.

“Though he hasn’t touched the Realm of the Spirit, still…”

Perhaps he might even be stronger than Shin Ryong or Wi Seol-Ah. The level Peng Woojin displayed was just that formidable.

“No. From that level…”

He may have already surpassed his father, the Sword King.

He hadn’t shown his real power yet.

Even—

“Crazy guy. He’s not faltering.”

With a single-minded determination to kill, Seong-Yul, surrendering his body to that thought, pressed forward, enduring minor wounds.

Such instinctive actions were enough to intimidate his opponent.

After all, it was just sparring.

Even if it’s not a life-and-death struggle, Seong-Yul pressed on fiercely.

This sight was terrifying enough to behold.

But—

“That guy is the same.”

Peng Woojin, refusing to fall behind, acted just like Seong-Yul.

He laughed.

That crazy bastard was laughing. The same obsession as the Heaven Kill Spirit. What on earth is that?

“Is he so delighted amidst this?”

The expression on Peng Woojin’s face was filled with ecstasy as if overwhelmed with feelings of triumph.

Splash—!

Blood splattered.

With killing intent and Qi intermingling, merely watching made my breath hitch.

At this point, it was far beyond a sparring match.

The judge was unable to interfere amidst the ruthless energy filling the arena.

“This is bad.”

Seeing them fight so fiercely made one think Seong-Yul could possibly win.

But I didn’t think a shred of that.

“He can’t win.”

That’s impossible.

The gap in levels was significant enough; a clan was a clan.

That’s why I entrusted the matter to Peng Woojin.

I needed to confirm something with Seong-Yul; all I asked was to endure for just ten exchanges.

That he wouldn’t knock him down in one strike.

So I asked, and while Peng Woojin imposed a few conditions, he agreed to my request.

Though those conditions felt like a bit of a pain, it was fine as long as he accepted.

At that moment.

Crack—!

“Eek!”

“What, the neck?!”

Shrinking at the buzz, I refocused.

I had missed something while lost in thought.

Hurrying to check, it seemed something had happened.

“Hmm.”

Gazing at the scene, I exhaled softly.

Peng Woojin had a wound on his neck.

Looking at the mark, it appeared to be a bite, and from a distance, Seong-Yul had ejected some flesh from his mouth.

“Did he bite his neck?”

What the hell? Is he a dog now?

Was there even such chaos in a sparring match?

“And what’s that guy doing to provoke all this?”

Having bitten even into the neck, Peng Woojin was seemingly enjoying the moment, laughing even more.

It was starting to be quite terrifying.

The sparring grew hotter.

Seeing them fight as if they wanted to kill each other made those around swallow dryly.

“…Is it time?”

Judging by that, I felt there wasn’t much more to see.

Leaving it alone might prove dangerous.

Wooosh—!

Just as I thought, an immense wager began to swirl over the Sparring Stage.

I could feel the energy radiating from Peng Woojin before I even saw it.

“He’s planning to end it.”

He aimed to conclude this sparring match.

Furthermore, the same applied to Seong-Yul.

He bit his teeth with burning eyes and began to gather all his releasing killing intent into one place.

Nodding, I understood.

Having seen this far, it was truly time to test the last part.

Gradually, Seong-Yul was engulfed in energy.

I whispered as I observed him.

[Stop.]

Channeling the power of Dragon Words into an auditory signal.

He flinched—!

The Heaven Kill Spirit. No, Seong-Yul’s body visibly stiffened.

Done.

“It works.”

Checking the condition, I smiled brightly.

The Dragon Words got through.

Even if influenced by the Heaven Kill Spirit, the Dragon Words were effective.

It meant I could control him.

Then—

“How far can I go?”

Now it was time to find out. This fight was a stage solely prepared for that.

Thud—!

I powered my heart.

The energy throbbed, maintaining a steady flow.

Ssss.

As I inhaled, slowly mixing my energy, I spoke to the one who was ready to launch an assault.

[Now.]

[Go away.]

“…Gack…!?”

The moment the words reached him, Seong-Yul shuddered intensely.

Swoosh—!!

Then, the killing intent enveloping him vanished instantaneously.

As the energy sustaining his form diminished, Seong-Yul wobbled and then collapsed onto the ground.

In the sudden turn of events, only Peng Woojin widened his eyes.

“What the hell? What is this?”

“What’s happening all of a sudden?”

Even the spectators, baffled by what was unfolding, voiced their confusion, but the outcome remained unchanged.

“The Hebei Peng Clan’s Peng Woojin wins!”

The judge rushed forward to assess Seong-Yul’s condition before making a judgment on the win.

Peng Woojin had triumphed.

Wow—!

Cheering erupted from the crowd.

Despite the fierce match, it felt like everyone enjoyed it.

The actual winner, Peng Woojin, bore a strange expression, however.

“Whoa.”

The laughter evaporated from his eyes.

His black irises showed unmistakable signs of suspicion.

He seemed to have caught on that I had done something.

Sure enough—

-What are you doing?

Peng Woojin transmitted a message towards me.

-What do you mean?

I feigned ignorance.

-No matter how much of a Gu Prince you are, this is quite unpleasant.

It was clearly not going to slide past unnoticed.

I heard a tone for the first time from Peng Woojin.

The one who always stirred up strange antics now spoke with a heavy timbre.

It was clear he was displeased.

-I didn’t do anything. Only that you did what you promised me, so I’ll remember your words.

-…

There was no evidence.

Having left nothing behind, I had no worries of being exposed.

Knowing that, Peng Woojin simply glared at me.

Was he unhappy that he couldn’t finish it properly?

After staring at him for a few seconds, I finally spoke.

-I understand.

Peng Woojin wiped the expression off his face and returned to a smile.

-Regrettably, I still have you. I’ll let it slide. But…

He wore a grin that wasn’t quite a smile.

Perhaps it was something even more uncomfortable.

-If we meet again here, I hope you give me a much greater pleasure than the defeated Gu Prince did.

-…

Pleasure, huh.

I had no idea what that meant.

But—

-Yes. I’ll try my best.

I would dare to predict it shouldn’t be too difficult.

 

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