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Everyone’s bodies had turned as hard as stone.

There was no other way.

Thud-thud-thud—!

Crackle…….

The thing that had been terrifying everyone just moments ago was now slowly crumbling.

Like a mountain walking out of another mountain, it was a massive demon beast.

Its slender body looked like it might fly away with the wind, teetering on the edge of danger.

But that was only its limbs. Its abdomen was strangely swollen.

Though its form was bizarre, its mere presence twisted the surrounding air and pressure.

“……It’s pierced?”

“Its body…….”

The creature’s body was hollowed out, as if something had pierced through it.

Crack…… Crackle-.

A demon beast. Commonly known as a White Grade.

With its pure white skin and eerie aura, it was a monster capable of causing catastrophic changes to the natural environment just by existing.

Many called it a White Grade Demon Beast.

The being before them was clearly one of those, yet it was slowly collapsing.

What’s going on? Everyone was puzzled when—

“Over there…… someone’s there!”

Someone shouted as if they had spotted something. All eyes turned in that direction.

It was the void.

In the center of the gathering dark clouds, someone stood.

Not on the ground, but in the sky, standing tall with their hands behind their back.

A figure clad in a black robe, nearly eight feet tall, wearing a strangely cracked white mask.

“What the……?”

“Who is that……?”

Confusion set in. Why had the demon beast ended up like that, and who was this person?

As everyone was baffled by the incomprehensible situation—

Crackle——……!!!

The demon beast behind them reacted.

Its pierced body began to regenerate, quickly restoring itself.

Seeing this, Gu Cheolun shifted his stance. Whoever that was, the demon beast came first.

Thinking this, he wrapped himself in heat once more. At that moment—

Kyaaaaaa—!!!

The fully regenerated demon beast roared, revealing its complete form.

Whoooosh—!!!

Wings sprouted from its back. However, they were just bones, as if the skin and flesh had melted away.

It couldn’t fly. No matter how much it flapped, there was no movement. The White Grade Demon Beast seemed startled, flinching in panic.

It seemed shocked that it couldn’t fly.

Crackle-! Crackle!!!

That shock turned into rage. Its energy grew even more intense.

The intensified energy and fury turned toward the martial artists nearby.

Crackle——!!!

Its fully unleashed body charged at the martial artists.

“Prepare for battle—!!”

Gu Cheolun shouted to those around him. His energized cry snapped everyone to attention.

They moved to counter the attack, but—

Kyaaaaa—!!!

Crash—!!

“Aaaagh!”

“Haaaaaa—!!”

With a single swing of its massive arm, the mountain surroundings were shattered.

The martial artists were swept away by the force. It wasn’t a power that even peak-level martial artists could withstand.

If they took the full brunt of this, they might be killed instantly.

Seeing this, Gu Cheolun moved first.

Whoooosh—!!!

Boom—!!

A powerful flame severed the White Grade Demon Beast’s arm. The beast staggered from the impact.

Crackle?

It let out a strange sound, seemingly shocked that it had been counterattacked.

Gu Cheolun also grimaced.

‘Heavy.’

It was solid. Though he had severed its arm, the impact fully transferred to his right arm.

But—

Whoooosh—!!

Without time to feel the pain, he gathered flames in his hand. A Flame Jade formed, and he launched it at the demon beast.

Boom—!!

An explosion erupted. The blast pressure surged backward. It felt like a direct hit, but Gu Cheolun’s expression remained grim.

The attack had clearly landed, but something felt off.

Crackle-.

The White Grade Demon Beast didn’t even flinch. It bared its teeth, clenching its sharp hand into a fist. Seeing this, Gu Cheolun gritted his teeth.

Its intentions were obvious, and the situation wasn’t favorable for dodging.

Thinking this, Gu Cheolun created flames in his hand, intending to use an explosion to leap back.

But—

“Deputy Lord—!”

So-i urgently tried to intervene. Hearing this, Gu Cheolun turned around.

So-i had already leaped toward him.

‘Damn it.’

If he moved now, he could dodge, but So-i wouldn’t be able to. Quickly thinking, Gu Cheolun redirected the flames.

He blasted them toward So-i instead.

“……!”

So-i was thrown back by the impact.

Thud-!

“Ugh!”

So-i rolled on the ground, startled, but her first concern was Gu Cheolun.

“Deputy Lord……!”

A fist was flying toward Gu Cheolun.

‘Damn it.’

He couldn’t block it. There was no time to raise his energy. By the time he looked, the fist was right in front of his face.

At that moment—

“Can’t you understand words?”

A heavy voice sounded beside him.

Boom——!!!

Kyaaaaaa—!!!

With a deafening roar, the demon beast screamed.

The incoming fist shattered along with the sound. The White Grade Demon Beast, thrown back, tried to roar in agony, but—

“I’m pretty sure I told you before.”

Kyaaaa- Ggeok-!!

Kwaaaak-!!

Someone flew in and smacked the White Grade Demon Beast’s snout again.

This time, the White Grade Demon Beast fell backward from the shock. Its massive body made it look like a mountain collapsing.

At the moment the White Grade Demon Beast fell, the person who had struck it spoke.

A masked man said, “I told you not to bark.”

Gu Cheolun’s eyes widened as he saw this. He hadn’t even seen the man approach, but there he was, effortlessly neutralizing the White Grade Demon Beast with a light movement.

Gu Cheolun realized, “It’s him.”

The one who had pierced the White Grade Demon Beast earlier.

It was that man.

“Who is he?”

Gu Cheolun couldn’t tell. As he blinked in shock, he glanced somewhere else.

A crowd of people stood frozen. Among them was Baek Yangcheon, staring at the scene with the same stunned expression as everyone else.

For some reason, Gu Cheolun found himself looking at Baek Yangcheon, even though it couldn’t be him.

As he was confirming this, the demon beast let out another roar.

Kyaaaaaaaa—-!!!!

Suddenly, the Demonic Gate reacted.

Uuuuuuung—!!!!

The Demonic Gate trembled violently, and then…

Krrrrr-!

…Kyaaaaaa–!!!

The cries of beasts echoed from within. The martial artists around were horrified.

Kuuuooo-!!!

“Demon beasts…!”

“Demon beasts are appearing!!”

From within, demon beasts surged out.

“Wait, red ones?”

Not just any demon beasts, but Red Demon Beasts. Their skin and hide glowed with a reddish hue, and though not as large as the White Grade Demon Beast, their bodies were still enormous.

Not just one, but several emerged at once.

“How… how do we handle this?!”

“Draw your swords! We have to stop them!”

“Ugh!”

The panicked crowd struggled to regain their composure. These were Red Demon Beasts, creatures that even peak-level martial artists could barely defeat in groups.

And now, several of them had appeared at once? Everyone clenched their teeth, preparing for battle.

“Annoying.”

A man in a black robe muttered.

“Silence them.”

It was an order, but to whom? Gu Cheolun wondered.

Kyaaaaaaaa—!!!

With a tearing roar…

Kuaaaaaa—!!!

Something fell from the sky, landing amidst the Red Demon Beasts.

Dust scattered everywhere, obscuring vision.

Sssssk-!

Kyaaaaaa-!!

Krrrrrrr–!!!

Kwa-duk! Kwaak-!!

The sounds of something breaking and tearing echoed in all directions. Through the dust, something fell at the feet of a martial artist.

“What the… Hiiiiik!”

Startled, he jumped back. It was the head of a demon beast—a tiger-like creature. Its neck had been ripped off, and the head rolled on the ground.

What was happening?

Gu Cheolun couldn’t comprehend the situation. What on earth was going on?

As confusion filled him…

Krrrrrrr…!!

The fallen White Grade Demon Beast rose again. A fierce energy erupted from its body.

Driven by instinctive rage, its killing intent shook the ground as it prepared to tear its opponent apart.

Just as the terrifying momentum was about to affect everyone else…

“Disgusting vermin.”

The man stood beside Gu Cheolun and spoke.

“Silence them. I don’t like noise.”

As soon as he finished speaking…

Krrrruaaaaa—!!!

Kuuuuuuung—!!!

Something fell from the sky again.

This time, it was different.

Kyaaaaaa–!!!

A massive hand grabbed the neck of the White Grade Demon Beast.

Gu Cheolun’s jaw dropped as he watched.

It was similar in size.

The one subduing the White Grade Demon Beast was none other than another demon beast.

But this one was unusual—its skin wasn’t the typical green, blue, red, or white.

“Black?”

It was a demon beast with black skin.

Fuuuung-!!

Kwa-duk-!!

The black demon beast swung its fist, smashing the White Grade Demon Beast’s face.

Paaang-!!

The sound of bones breaking and the shockwave from the impact shook the entire area.

Kung-! Kung-kung-kung-!!

The battle between the demon beasts began.

The sight of such colossal creatures clashing was enough to make anyone speechless.

As Gu Cheolun stood there, stunned by the bizarre and unsettling scene…

Swoosh.

“…!”

He felt a gaze.

The masked martial artist.

He was looking at Gu Cheolun.

His eyes glowed with a purple light, and under that gaze, Gu Cheolun couldn’t help but shudder.

Those eyes… they were something else.

 

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