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Chapter 7: The Fiery Encounter

“Kuuaahhh—!!!”

It’s so hot, and even hotter!

The relentless heat scorches the autumn air in an instant.

“Kwarrurr—!!!”

Proving just how immense the heat is, the pillar of flames melts everything it touches with a fury.

“Kuurrraaahh—!!!”

The demon beast, taking the full brunt of the fire, screams in agony. Yes, agony.

‘It’s feeling pain.’

Screaming in the searing heat clearly indicates that it’s taking hits.

‘What gives?’

I found the situation quite surprising. The energy barrier remained unchanged. The demon beast had its barrier up, blocking all the flames.

‘And yet it’s feeling pain.’

Despite that, the demon beast was indeed feeling pain. How is that possible? I can’t figure it out.

‘The fire isn’t even that strong.’

Though the flames are spewing an incredible heat, they’re not at a level that could breach the energy barrier.

“Deputy Lord…!”

So-i beams at my father. The reactions of others weren’t much different.

“Deputy Lord…!”

“Shin Ryong has arrived.”

The members of the Blue Dragon Clan cheered as if they’d seen a savior. Meanwhile, the Iron Dragon Clan members wore somewhat sullen faces, but they shared the relief of being alive.

Relief.

That emotion was glaringly evident in the way they looked at my father.

‘…Hmm.’

Seeing that, I realized the position my father attained in the current alliance.

Just his presence alone was a source of reassurance. Including that…

‘If they feel that way, maybe I could be seen that way too.’

Just looking at the sheer intensity of the flames carried such an emotion.

Truly bizarre flames. The relentless outpour of sparks resembled a pillar.

But…

“Kuuraaaahh—!!!”

In the end, the barrier remained unbroken, and because of that, the Jeokseokung began to thrash wildly.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before it broke free.

What’s he planning to do now? My curiosity peaked as I watched.

“Hmm.”

My father seemed to notice something was off and abruptly cut off the fire.

“Kuuraaaahh—!!!”

As soon as the attack halted, the being trapped under the pressure broke free.

“Kuuaahhh—!!!”

The Jeokseokung roared, releasing its pent-up fury.

“Kaaan—!!!”

Guhk!!

…or at least it tried to. But with the follow-up strike, its body slammed into the ground.

That massive figure collapsed.

My father swooped in and struck the back of its head.

‘Huh.’

Sparks flew as the shockwave burst forth.

‘…Gu Yeomtaeyarang.’

The Gu Clan’s martial art. Originally meant to shoot flames from a distance, but my father detonated it up close.

As a result, the destructive power skyrocketed. However, with such potency, there’d certainly be some recoil on him as well.

Bang—! Bang bang—!!

Father seemed unconcerned with such things as he enveloped himself in flames and started striking again.

The fiery inferno glinted in his eyes.

The spiraling flames continued to hammer down on the demon beast.

Bang—! Crackle—!! Bang bang—!!!

The sounds pierced the air. His expressionless face belied the ferocity of his strikes.

And the scorching flames that seemed like they could turn back the seasons were indescribably fierce.

‘Extreme compression.’

While my flames were suited for mass destruction, father continuously compressed his fire, increasing its density.

Thus, he was able to present such an overwhelmingly strong form in a one-on-one fight.

‘But…’

Once again, he couldn’t pierce through the barrier, and the demon beast bucked violently in retaliation.

Its enormous claws sliced through the air. Father raised his hand to guard.

Boom—!!!

The defensive force blocked the attack, but my father was knocked back by the impact.

Crack.

He steadied himself against the ground to regain control.

Father angled himself and came this way.

Flapping.

The robe symbolizing the Deputy Lord billowed as he waved his hand.

Thud thud.

With each wave, sparks blended with the aura erupted.

“So-i.”

A heavy voice called for So-i.

“Yes, Deputy Lord.”

“Give me a report.”

Without looking, father spoke.

“During joint training, there was some friction. The Blue Dragon Clan and Iron Dragon Clan were engaged in battle when the Demonic Gate emerged. We were on standby until reinforcements arrived.”

So-i quickly summarized and reported. Hearing it, my father nodded.

“So it’s that one, huh?”

“That’s correct.”

“…Red.”

“Kuuraaaahhhh—.”

The Jeokseokung glared at my father with murderous eyes. It clearly wanted to take down the one who tormented it.

“Mm.”

Seeing that, my father clenched his fist.

“Fhwuurrreee—!!!!”

The ferocious flames wrapped around him once more. Even from afar, they looked crude and raw. But…

“What have you learned?”

In stark contrast to the fiery aura, his voice was calm and icy.

“…The martial arts don’t work. Something seems to be blocking them.”

So-i perfectly noted the traits of the Red Demon Beast. The martial arts were ineffective, sending the others into a panic.

“Are you saying… it doesn’t work?”

“Then how are we supposed to catch such a creature?”

“What the heck… what’s going on?”

“Quiet.”

As the atmosphere grew noisy, father muttered softly.

“You’re too loud. Be quiet; we need to focus.”

‘Wow…’

He’s capable of speaking so roughly? I stared in awe. I’d seen father angry before, but I’d never seen him like this.

The chilling warning settled the room into an immediate hush.

“Martial arts are ineffective, huh?”

Recalling those words, father stared silently at the demon beast.

“Kuuaaaahhhh—!!!”

But the demon beast showed no intention of staying put, roaring as it charged at my father again.

In that moment,

“Poison Dragon. So-i.”

Father called out for the So Sword Peak and Poison Dragon.

“Assist me. I’ll assess the beast. And.”

Then he turned his back and glared at my direction.

“Baek Yangcheon. You’re the same.”

“…Huh?”

Boom—!

Suddenly giving his command, father charged like flames towards the demon beast.

‘He wants me to assist too?’

Caught off guard, I froze, but So-i and Poison Dragon were already rushing after father to engage the demon beast.

There was no hesitation.

It was already too late to back out.

‘Ah.’

There’s no helping it then.

With that sense of inevitability, I leaped into action.

“Kuuaaaahhhh—!!!”

The hits from the demon beast came at me repeatedly. Even though the energy barrier was lifted, it didn’t mean attacks wouldn’t hurt; reflecting was still possible.

“I’ll take care of the upper body. Tie down its legs.”

As father deflected the arm of the Jeokseokung, So-i and Poison Dragon moved to restrain its lower body.

They tied down the caustic limbs of the massive creature.

Watching them, I swung my arms. I narrowly dodged its claws, flicking them off just slightly.

‘Tsk.’

Even that wasn’t easy. My aura, after all, belonged to the Gu Clan.

If I put in too much force, fire techniques would manifest, and father certainly wouldn’t miss that. I had to control myself meticulously.

Because of that, it was tough handling the attacks from the Red Demon Beast.

I evaded as it rolled its eyes in fury.

Its focus was solely on my father, which made it easier to dodge.

Thump—! Boom boom—!!

Clashes echoed around.

In that moment, father landed several hits on the creature.

Crack—! Bang bang—!!

His flame-laden fists relentlessly pounded against the demon beast’s barrier, and every time his fists connected, I could see energy draining away.

Despite the relentless failures, father did not stop.

He kept attacking repeatedly no matter how much the barrier resisted.

After more than twenty strikes,

Crack.

‘…!’

The barrier cracked. It was fleeting but unmistakable.

The crack soon healed and disappeared, but it was undeniably a crack.

“Got it.”

Seeing that, father immediately nodded.

Then he distanced himself.

“Hold it for a moment. I’ve found it.”

“Yes.”

Then he issued a calm command. Hold it off? So-i replied while busy blocking the demon beast.

What’s he planning? I shifted my focus anxiously towards father.

“Fhweeerrreee—!!!!!!”

An immense heat erupted from father’s body.

Chiiiiiing—!!!

The blazing heat shot into the sky and instantly enveloped the air.

‘Ah.’

Red Sky.

The Gu Clan’s secret martial arts had created a domain.

‘No way?’

As I watched, my eyes widened. I could sense what father was about to do.

The heat released. The flames resounding around him.

With that burst of flames, father spread his palm wide.

“Fhweeerrreee—!!!!!”

The flames converged into his hand.

‘…Flame Jade.’

Molding together, they formed a sphere. The Gu Clan’s secret martial art and one I frequently used.

Fhweerrk. Fweeerrrrr.

It had a vastly profound density.

While it was clear that father’s Flame Jade wasn’t stronger than mine, I could gauge the exquisite mastery he’d achieved in the minute details.

‘…This is ridiculous.’

Father intends to pierce through that barrier.

He’d noticed by now that repeated impacts could wear the barrier down over time, and he prepped the Flame Jade to break through in one go.

‘Did he discern that in that brief moment?’

How many hits did it take for him to notice the secret?

As I marvelled at my father’s remarkable talent,

“Get back!”

At his blunt command, I, So-i, and Poison Dragon swiftly moved aside.

Father was gearing up to launch the Flame Jade at the Jeokseokung.

But then he hesitated.

He froze abruptly, solidifying his stance.

‘What now?’

What’s causing him to stop? I was puzzled and clueless. Is someone approaching? I slightly elevated my Qi sensing to find out.

As I did,

‘Ah.’

I soon understood why father had stalled.

‘Someone is coming.’

And it was someone extraordinarily powerful.

“Kuuaaaahhhh—!!!”

In that instant, the Red Demon Beast barreled towards the now motionless father.

It covered the distance in no time and swung its claw, but even then, my father merely stood there.

Just as the sharp claws aimed to crush father’s head,

Swoosh.

A piercing sound erupted.

“Kuoh…?”

With a single motion, the Jeokseokung’s neck was severed cleanly.

Boom—!!

The gigantic head fell to the ground.

Despite the beast’s head rolling away, father’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead.

Standing still, father spoke with a bow.

“I greet the Great Lord.”

At that, everyone turned their eyes forward.

There, a slender elder, gripping a golden sword, was walking toward us.

Sword Sovereign.

The current leader of the Martial Alliance, and a symbol of peace.

He was the bringer of prosperity to the Martial Alliance, and his golden eyes glinted as he stared down the Red Demon Beast.

 

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