1140——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Huh?

The moment my heart was pierced, I opened my eyes wide in disbelief. This lethal injury hit me out of nowhere, and it was beyond the realm of what I could physically feel. I quickly realized what was happening.

‘Cause and Effect Manipulation!’

If I had been caught off guard, that would have been it! It must’ve been a result of a successful strike, which means there’s no physical way to dodge or block this attack.

‘Damn it. But if it’s just my heart, maybe there’s a way to manage…’

Normally, this would be fatal, but right now, I had divine powers. If I could activate them somehow, I had to think that I might make it. It was just as I was trying to muster my divine strength.

Cough

“Ugh… cough…”

I stumbled and dropped to one knee. Blood gushed from my mouth, and a horrible pain began to stimulate my brain.

‘No! This is useless.’

Really?

Am I seriously going to die here like this?

I couldn’t believe it. I had barely escaped death so many times before. Was I really going to die in such a ridiculous way? It couldn’t be happening…

Just as my consciousness began to fade, I felt a touch beside me. Then Mangnyang quietly spoke.

“Quickly summon the spirit.”

Whoosh!

Suddenly, it felt like time was reversing. The pain that had been overwhelming me momentarily disappeared, and I realized my gaping chest was miraculously healed. As I gathered my wits, I heard a voice from across the way.

[It’s the Corpse Dissolution Technique.]

“Lady Yi, I understood that the archery skill that inflicts harm and neutralizes the sacred has been sealed since ancient times, but how can you use it?”

[Do you really want to know my answer? You already have the answer in mind.]

Mangnyang sighed at Yi’s blunt retort.

“Hmm… So, Nüwa has unsealed it for you.”

[That’s correct.]

“I see your abilities are impressive. Well then…”

Mangnyang placed a hand on my shoulder as if to flee. Just then, the space shifted as we were about to teleport away when Yi’s sharp voice rang out.

[Do you think I’ll let Baek Woong go?]

Whoosh

An arrow from the Red Bow flies toward us. Unlike the previous time when my heart was pierced, it looked like a normal arrow this time, seemingly not imbued with the cause-and-effect reversal ability. However, Mangnyang, who was just about to escape, stiffened with a hardened expression.

“I never thought it would be this level…”

Boom!!

A thunderous explosion rang out, and in the next moment, Mangnyang’s arm was ripped from his body, blood spraying everywhere. Not only that, but I was sent flying alongside him, crashing to the ground. I couldn’t even brace for the fall and hit my head hard.

“Ugh… damn it.”

I can’t die like this! I need to grab my sword and do something!

Even though Yi was powerful, I thought I could push her back if I fought earnestly with the strength I still had, so I whipped out the Great Liberation Technique from my wooden armor and gripped it in both hands. I was caught off guard before, but this time I’m ready to fight!

“……?”

I couldn’t feel my strength…?

But as soon as I gripped the Great Liberation’s weapon, there was no surge of power flowing through me. Normally, I would feel several times stronger due to the unsealing of my divine weapons, but right now, they felt as ordinary as a regular sword.

Not only that, but my immense internal power had also completely drained, as if all my meridians had suddenly shut down. The sharp pain in my heart, which Mangnyang had just treated, throbbed like I was being pricked with needles.

Luckily, my Intent Heavenly Pillar remained intact, but I quickly felt a significant drop in my power, realizing that everything I usually relied on had been sealed away.

“What… what is happening?”

Just as I was in a panic, Yi, who had closed the distance to just fifty paces from us, glared at me.

[You possess an unrefined, tremendous divine power. That weapon you carry must be a divine artifact, right? But I am a hunter… the world’s strongest hunter who has killed countless divine beings in the Mythological Age!]

“What are you talking about? What did you do to me?!”

[You failed because of the Corpse Dissolution Technique just now.]

Yi replied coldly with a smirk.

[If you don’t possess power equal to the amalgamation of the ten yangs of Jeogok, you will die here.]

Swoosh

The moment Yi drew his bow to aim directly at me, I charged forward like a lightning bolt.

It should be incredibly difficult just to close the gap against an archer like him, so I couldn’t let this chance slip away.

Only fifty paces away!

‘How dare he get this close for an archer!’

Absolute Realm

Infinite Slash

The fierce blow of the infinite slash descended directly on Yi. While the Infinite Slash was strikingly simple, it was nearly impossible for anyone to block head-on. Even an Asura with a superior level of power would need to read the flow and use various techniques to deflect it. My concern was that Yi would read my move and deflect it before I could unleash my power, but luckily, he made no moves until the Infinite Slash reached inches from him.

This has to be victory. Even for an Asura, retreating with this advantage against the Infinite Slash would not be possible!

Phew

“……?!”

But in that moment, my hands were abruptly flung backwards, and I saw Yi’s arrows soaring through the air. Just as I was about to slice through with the Infinite Slash, I realized that both of Yi’s Red Bow arrows had pierced my right and left hands, nullifying my attack entirely.

Whoosh

With two arrows lodged in my palms, I glared wide-eyed as I was sent flying backward, and in that fleeting moment, I saw Yi drawing back his bow again.

What… what is happening?

‘Did he just act three times?!’

How is Yi moving so fast?

No, this isn’t just speed! For every one action I make, Yi is acting two or three times, ignoring the very perception of time I have!

In a fleeting moment, Yi’s eyes shone.

[I’ll show you what it means to fully regain the powers sealed by Jeogok!]

Warfare God’s Weapon

Absolutely Precise

Godly Bow of the Divine

Phew

“Arrgh!”

In the next instant, I felt the invisible arrow that Yi shot pierce through twenty finger joints at once. It had hit right in the joints as if he had aimed with pinpoint accuracy. I couldn’t hold on any longer, bowing my head as Yi observed me, glancing at Mangnyang.

[What gives? I thought you’d have your friend back me up.]

“……”

Mangnyang was merely holding the Baek Woong and maintaining a defensive stance. I sensed that Mangnyang was sending a secret transmission to me.

[Baek Woong. It’s unfortunate that the one who holds deep animosity toward you, indeed helps you. He’s planning to let you face death while torturing you.]

What does that mean?

Mangnyang continued.

[One chance. You’ll have to fight for your life this time. You may get a chance to escape.]

With a determined step, Mangnyang stood in front of me. Yi laughed.

[Your potential is considerable, but it’s unstable. Do you think you can stop me, Lord Hyunheogung?]

“Let us go. This won’t fulfill your wish.”

[You act as if you know my wish.]

“It’s to restore your wife, the Moon Palace Vessel, to her original form and meet her again.”

[……]

I could tell I struck a nerve as Yi froze for a moment. Mangnyang spoke again.

“However, I assure you, nothing will change if you do it now. You will feel an even deeper despair than before.”

[What a joke… I had no grudge against you, just planning to give a proper scolding, but if you insist on protecting Baek Woong, there’s no other option.]

Yi pulled back his bowstring and spoke slowly.

[This strike will end everything.]

Whoosh!

Yi shot the arrow. In that moment, Mangnyang surged with golden energy all over his body and simultaneously lifted the Corpse Dissolution Technique’s energy. However, those two forces clashed in the air, swirling without blending, radiating powerful spirit energy.

[It’s useless.]

Just when Yi’s arrow seemed to be blocked by Mangnyang’s energy, it suddenly pierced through and stabbed through Mangnyang’s solar plexus.

“…cough…”

As Mangnyang staggered from the arrow, he swiftly swung the Baek Woong, and at that moment, a crack appeared in the air, revealing a giant white fox that sprang out, biting into Yi’s neck.

Boom!

The fox lunged at Yi with fierce intent, about to tear him apart, but soon, a deep stream of blood flowed from the fox’s mouth. That was because Yi had quickly shot an arrow into the fox’s mouth at the last moment. Yi used that arrow to endure the fox’s assault while he said.

[Don’t you see? You were never supposed to get involved in this trial. That is the will of Nüwa!]

[Grr… ]

[Stop making excuses and step back.]

Yi seemed unable to easily deal with the fox, acting as if warning him off. I quickly recognized the fox’s identity and shouted.

“Miho!!”

Why hadn’t I seen Miho when I ascended to the 93rd floor? Did Mangnyang use a spatial unlocking technique to bring her here? Why?!

Miho spoke to me telepathically.

[Baek Woong, retreat!]

“Ugh. If we fight together, we can…”

[If Yi has regained his full power plus the might of Nüwa, he is as good as a god. Even Jeogok would not underestimate Yi’s current state! Step back and come with your companions later.]

Swish

I felt my and Mangnyang’s bodies being teleported abruptly. Miho was likely using her strength to send us down to a lower floor.

[Don’t worry about me… ]

Whoosh

The next moment, I appeared alongside Mangnyang in the grassy plains where our companions trained together. The other members, who had been deeply focused on cultivating and practicing the Infinite Cycle, gasped in shock when they saw us bloodied.

“Baek Woong! Mangnyang!”

“What happened?!”

Jang Sam-bong, the Grand Master who had been leading our training, approached us, raising an eyebrow at our state.

“Oh… You encountered the Red Bow… it seems Yi came forth to handle trials.”

I grit my teeth through the pain of having twenty fingers pierced while explaining to Jang Sam-bong.

“Master, I was hit by Yi’s arrow, and it rendered my divine power and strength useless.”

“Spare no words. Baek Woong, both you and Mangnyang are in a considerable critical situation…”

As Grand Master Jang Sam-bong approached me, he suddenly pressed his finger against one of my joints and pulled something out sharply.

Swish!

“Ughhh.”

That hurts way too much!!

As the invisible, transparent arrow was pulled from my finger joint, a swirling pain shot through my entire body. It felt like my skin was being peeled off, making me wish I had gotten whipped instead. As I writhed in agony, Jang Sam-bong said.

“It would be better to apply pressure at the blood point to eliminate the pain or try to go into a meditative state.”

I followed Grand Master Jang Sam-bong’s advice and briefly fainted. When I came to, I noticed that the arrows lodged in me and Mangnyang had been removed, and Mangnyang was now healing me with the Corpse Dissolution Technique. After barely escaping death, I stood up quickly and said.

“Miho is fighting Yi. We need to rush to help!”

There was no need for that, Mangnyang replied.

“There’s no need to worry. Miho is not one to be forced into a life-or-death struggle against Yi; she will fight at a suitable level before retreating.”

“What do you mean?”

“When we ascended to the 93rd floor, Miho accompanied us but did not show herself. I found it odd when Yi appeared; it seemed like the tower didn’t allow Miho to ascend freely. I used the Corpse Dissolution Technique to forcibly open a pathway to pull Miho, who was trapped between dimensions.”

“…Why? Why can’t Miho ascend the tower?”

“The Zuhu Chong on the 91st floor was a test run, and Jang Sam-bong on the 92nd floor appeared voluntarily to help us, but from the 93rd floor onwards, true divine beings are present. And Nüwa’s goal is not to witness Miho’s strength gained from godly power but to test our human strength.”

“Hmm.”

“So, Miho will be fine. If she fights with her full potential, even Yi wouldn’t escape unscathed. But she isn’t foolish enough to go against Nüwa’s will…”

I could see the sense in Mangnyang’s words. There was a likelihood that Miho would be safe.

‘Nüwa doesn’t particularly want Miho to get involved in the tower’s trials. Going forward, we wouldn’t be able to rely on Miho’s strength after the 93rd floor…’

I understood the situation. However, I still couldn’t accept it, so I glared at Mangnyang and said.

“Mangnyang! I let it slide earlier, but now you must answer me. Why did you stubbornly go off on your own to the 93rd floor? Your actions have put everyone in danger.”

“……”

“Please answer me.”

Mangnyang looked at me, pondering for a moment, then replied.

“I wanted to gauge the level of difficulty.”

“What do you mean?”

“If we had simply ascended to the 93rd floor and confronted Yi, at least half of the expedition would have been wiped out. Don’t you think so?”

“Well… I guess that’s true.”

Yi’s absurd archery skills far exceed common sense. If Yi were to shoot with that technique and the Red Bow, keeping a distance while sniping us, we would have little to no chance of survival. As I contemplated this, Mangnyang continued.

“The problem is, if there’s a being stronger than Yi on the 93rd floor, we wouldn’t have a solution. At the very least, we can’t face them without any information.”

“…What does that have to do with you going off alone?”

“I intended to explore not just the 93rd floor but up to the 99th floor by myself. I aimed to face each trial briefly and return with information.”

“……?!”

What in the world does that mean?

As I stared in disbelief at Mangnyang, Jang Sam-bong, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke up.

“Mangnyang, you know there are limits to ancient powers… You’re not trying to sacrifice your identity to the source of that power, are you?”

“I’m perfectly fine, Grand Master Jang.”

“What a nonsensical attempt.”

“I can do it.”

“……”

I stared at Mangnyang in shock.

‘Mangnyang… why are you behaving so irrationally? Even if it were possible, this isn’t the Mangnyang I know.’

I felt a sense of discomfort, as if I were dealing with a different person who merely looked like Mangnyang. But pressing him further would only deepen the rift in trust, so I chose not to pry.

As the room grew silent, Jang Sam-bong finally spoke.

“Anyway, I’m glad you both returned alive. Now resume your training.”

“Master Jang, actually…”

I decided to tell Jang Sam-bong and everyone else about the encounter with Yi. After finishing my explanation, I asked him.

“Why is Yi so strong? Wasn’t the Celestial Sage simply trash who couldn’t even defeat him?”

“Hm… You’re being too harsh.”

“Uh… that’s not what I meant.”

“Stay calm. You can’t gauge their strength objectively when your grudge is in the way.”

Grand Master Jang Sam-bong stroked his beard and said.

“Baek Woong, Yi was originally a god, a hero of myth far beyond what could be compared with the basic realms. However, Jeogok, wary of his martial arts, sealed his original powers under the condition of safeguarding him as his subordinate. Thus, he’s a being deliberately diminished by the Three Sovereigns.”

Grand Master Jang Sam-bong continued slowly.

“He’s a hunter who used to hunt gods. His arrows possess the power to seal all divine strength. Additionally, he was born with the blessings of the Earth, allowing him to hunt anything above the ground. With the power of cause-and-effect manipulation, he can shoot arrows that are guaranteed to hit; in fact, he is practically a divine being.”

“……”

“The power he once possessed, which felled all of Jeogok’s sons, has returned; he is indeed a formidable opponent.”

So he had been artificially sealed until now?

I was left dumbfounded, my mouth agape. I had always thought that even when blessed by Yi, he didn’t stand out as particularly exceptional among the divine, nor did he share any favorable ties with me. But in reality, he had all this power sealed away?

Having witnessed how fiercely the experts of the Great Bear Empire struggled against the Divine Avatar Arjuna, I grasped just how dire our current situation was.

Just then, the Sword Demon tapped my shoulder and said.

“Baek Woong. Once you can resist the Small Cycle, you should be able to take him down. So concentrate on this training.”

“Ah… got it.”

“While Yi’s arrows are a threat since they manipulate cause and effect and can’t be blocked, that also means if you can seal them, there’s at least a chance of winning.”

As the Sword Demon murmured this while glaring intently at Mangnyang, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

“And Mangnyang.”

The Sword Demon’s words made everything freeze in silence.

“As the captain of the expedition, I command you. You are hereby expelled from this expedition and should never show your face here again.”

Mangnyang replied with a blank expression.

“On what grounds?”

“Your solitary actions endangered Baek Woong, and it’s clear that you’ll continue to threaten us. There’s no way a captain would keep a risky element like you on the team.”

“What if I refuse?”

Clang!

In that instant, the Sword Demon summoned his sword spirit, and it lunged straight toward Mangnyang’s neck in the blink of an eye.

A genuine killing intent radiated from the Sword Demon.

“Leave.”

Mangnyang slowly nodded.

“Do your best.”

With that statement, Mangnyang abruptly vanished. I was left dull and stunned by how quickly everything unfolded, but I soon regained my senses and turned to the Sword Demon.

“Wh-what just happened? Mangnyang made a mistake, but expelling him like this…?”

“I want to ask what happened as well. How could we let Mangnyang behave so strangely and still keep him here? This trial isn’t mere child’s play, and we can’t have someone tied to the feet of their companions.”

“Expelling him means we’ve effectively severed ties with him for good. That…”

“…Baek Woong.”

A moment later, the Sword Demon spoke with a tone of pity.

“Companions shouldn’t be in a position to worry about each other. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

He was right, and I had no further argument.

Hearing those words, I instinctively realized that there would never be a chance for Mangnyang and the Sword Demon to join forces again.

“I don’t think my judgment was wrong. To me, Mangnyang is too dangerous. So consider this opportunity and think it over.”

He turned away and began to walk off.

“Think about whether you can accept Mangnyang as a companion in our next lifetime….”