전생검신 83권 08화

Right now, I can’t tell if I’m just in a simple state of Great Destruction or in that whole mortal sunlight situation. But I think the reason I feel like I’m in the mortal sunlight state is that after going through a release before, it seems like Great Destruction itself has turned into something else.

‘Maybe it’s just a delusion…’

What’s clear is that I’ve got the necessary power of the five unions for the Peerless Technique all by my martial arts.

And I’m intending to rely on my technique alone instead of smashing foes with overwhelming physical ability, which was the original power of Great Destruction.

Huff…

A cold wind passed between Yu Mang and me for just a moment. And because of the earlier impact from the Cosmic Sword, the sky kept shaking throughout my body, and soon the night appeared alongside the clear blue sky.

Amidst that strange silence, Yu Mang let his twin swords droop for a second and murmured.

“Baek Woong. That’s definitely a technique aimed at convincing the opponent… Are you not intoxicated by your own righteousness?”

“……”

“You fool. You’re just a novice.”

Yu Mang still found the painful part in my heart with his instincts. His words stung, but I managed to respond calmly.

“It’s not bad to live intoxicated by one’s words. At least it’s better than living a hollow life without a heart.”

“That’s not a warrior’s words.”

Kugugugu…

Yu Mang raised his energy again. His sword blade was infused with even more profound and intense cosmic energy than before, and he grinned broadly, shouting joyfully.

“But I like it!!”

Zap -!!

In the next moment, the twin swords crossed rapidly, unleashing a completely different sword technique than the original Twin-Dragon Sword. Even disregarding the power, Yu Mang’s move reached an incredibly renowned level, and I was briefly mesmerized by that perfect twin sword technique without a shred of waste.

‘Impressive skills…!!’

The nature was an exquisite sword and a heavy sword along with an illusionary sword!

While I admired this internally, I instantly discerned the nature of the basic technique Yu Mang was unfolding. It didn’t seem like much, but a big difference from before was that as I practiced the various sword styles for a long time, each style’s nature was engraved into my body. So, rather than barely catching on right after a flimsy attack, I could now quickly grasp it almost as if time didn’t matter.

Chiriring –

With a sound like pearls rolling, Yu Mang’s blue sword transformed into a blue lightning bolt while the yellow sword morphed into a crimson yellow, club-like shape. It could surely draw upon the power of the [Old Ruler] nestled within, and it likely bore as much might as the recently cast Cosmic Sword. Moreover, with the exquisite sharpness of the sword added in, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand that strike with my original power.

But just as Yu Mang’s twin swords were about to tear my body apart, I stepped with the Three Treasure Technique, Heaven’s Step.

The Three Talents were about to begin.

When Earth Harmony and Human Harmony formed the angles of the Three Talents, the Three Treasure Technique gained complete evasion along with balance. However, if the Three Treasure Technique contains those three talents, both attack and defense can switch freely, so I had to utilize that change. In fact, wasn’t most of the transformation techniques up until now based on the principle of the Three Treasure Technique?

Countless martial arts techniques raced through my head. Lacking talent, I could only memorize the most efficient flow of martial arts and use it accordingly after etching it into my body.

‘Something looks different.’

How should I express it? It felt like something entirely different was graspable, compared to the established formulas I used to pull out through training and practice. This feeling was something I hadn’t known even until reaching the Absolute Realm.

This was not a pleasant sensation. Nor was it sheer joy.

I was diving into an infinite stillness.

And at the peak of that feeling – I completely forgot the basics I had learned until now (Forgot).

Bam!!

My right hand shot out swiftly, successfully catching my opponent’s advance. Understanding the stir-crazy nature possessed by the exquisite sword, I pinpointed the subtle differences in strength and clearly identified the sword path. Aware of the heavy sword’s weight, I understood how much acceleration it could gather, and knowing where the illusionary sword could change, I wasn’t deceived.

Boom –

With a loud but hollow-sounding impact, my palm knocked Yu Mang’s blue sword aside. Though it appeared as blue lightning, it had actually turned into an illusionary sword that had retained its form, completely thwarted as Yu Mang couldn’t get a grip.

And at the moment when Yu Mang’s posture faltered, I took advantage of it, diving in with the Earth’s Step, targeting the wrist holding the yellow sword. That perfect control of power, using the principles of Tai Chi to make Yu Mang wrestle with his own strength! As my flow of Tai Chi constrained Yu Mang’s room to maneuver, he hurriedly retreated.

Taaat

“Take this too!”

Rather than retreat gracefully, Yu Mang leaped up in that instant, summoning an axe to hurl at my head. I felt this simple attack was even more threatening than the twin sword strikes that had pressured me until just now.

‘It’s infused with realization.’

While I didn’t know the exact name of the technique, the throw of the axe surely contained Yu Mang’s realization of the Absolute Realm. I sensed the hidden direction of intent subtly concealed, and as it came close, I noticed it was aimed to break through my defense in some shape or form. And realizing that the miraculous strategy could not be discerned solely by divine power, I let out a shout.

“Ha!!”

Kuwung

With the final human step, the Blade-less Technique is executed. While I may not pull off perfect control and suddenly bring down an opponent, the Blade-less Technique was actually a technique that caught the flow of the fatal strike embedded in the opponent’s attack beforehand. I intended to gauge how the axe would bore in with that technique. And as expected, the flying axe suddenly transformed into an unimaginable size, blotting out the heavens and spewing forth white light.

Kwahruu!!

Kukwakwakwang

With an explosive sound, the open space where I was drinking with Yu Mang was completely reduced to rubble, and mountains in the vicinity seemed to have been blown away. Thick smoke surged towards the sky as it spun, creating a delusion that the world had been thrown into chaos. It barely took a few basic techniques, yet with craziness like this, if the fight drags on, the entire world will surely be annihilated.

Chijijijik

As I thought this, I looked down at Yu Mang’s axe smoldering with a devastating electric blaze in my palm. I had caught the blade of the axe with four fingers, so it was as if the Blade-less Technique had succeeded at the last moment.

‘That was close.’

I was a bit jittery about spinning it with the flow of the Peerless Technique, but somehow I managed to discern Yu Mang’s realization and successfully nullified it with the Blade-less Technique. If there had been even a slight mistake, my fingers would’ve been completely severed, and my entire body would have exploded.

When I caught Yu Mang’s axe with my bare hands, surprise truly… shone upon his face.

“You… caught my axe with bare hands?”

“Are your eyes not working?”

Muttering this, I slowly lifted the axe I had grasped, then with a fierce glare, I gathered strength into my hand.

“Like this!!”

Crack!!

The axe shattered into pieces right then and there.

‘In this state,’ I thought I could easily break Yu Mang’s weapon without needing the power of divine force.

“……!!”

Yu Mang widened his eyes for the first time. Having never reacted so strongly before, I felt an inexplicable joy and said.

“It’s quite sufficient when dealing with someone who can’t trust their own power.”

Yu Mang twitched his brows.

“Are you saying I can’t trust my own power?”

Nodding, I replied.

“Your realization is on par with any Absolute Realm I’ve seen. But still, the moment it comes to delivering the final blow, you relied on divine power instead of understanding the essence of martial arts.”

“……”

“Am I wrong?”

Yu Mang didn’t respond to my question. He stared at the cosmos for a while as if pondering something, then said.

“None but you have realized that fact. Moreover, no one could even point it out to me. You truly are the most outstanding person among all the experts I’ve seen.”

“I appreciate the flattery.”

“So… are you risking your life to show me that path is wrong?”

“Exactly.”

In response to my answer, Yu Mang wore an expression that suggested he was utterly confused for the first time.

“Why?”

“……”

It was a question entirely different from his reaction of being impressed. He spoke slowly.

“Just think of it as such. You have great aspirations ahead, and I don’t bear any ill feelings toward you, so why not just hang with me and see a good conclusion? You know what I’m saying right?”

“……”

“Yet you went and cast a suicidal technique, momentarily holding power exceeding mine, simply to make me aware of my mistake. No matter how I think of it, I can’t grasp why your heart suddenly changed so much; am I mistaken?”

“That’s…”

Yu Mang’s question was reasonable, so I tried to respond. But then, suddenly, I felt blood welling up in my throat, and I was momentarily speechless, realizing my condition was gradually deteriorating.

‘So this technique requires skill as well. Is it due to frequent usage? Compared to the first time, the rate at which my body weakens is quite slow…’

But there’s time enough to have a conversation.

Thinking this, I answered Yu Mang’s remarks.

“……I thought martial arts (武) would be something more fun.”

“Fun…?”

“Yu Mang… I…”

I paused to gather my thoughts.

And I released a statement that had been rooted deeply within me throughout the reincarnation process, the phrasing laced with profound inferiority.

“I hate that martial arts (武) can never measure up to divine power, constantly relying on authority. That’s just how I feel.”

“……”

“Don’t you understand what I mean, Yu Mang? There were many people, and great masters exist. Yet due to limits of background and race, it’s not easy to assert strength under the laws of the universe, and that’s… not a bit unfair?”

Damn, I’m struggling to explain myself.

Emotions were leading me into a haphazard mess of words…

I felt embarrassed by my lack of vocabulary, but Yu Mang’s expression shifted significantly. As his eyes flickered, I hammered home my point.

“What I’m doing is ignorant, I know. But Asura… my former companions… they’ve all shown me martial arts (武). It’s invaluable…!!”

The heart towards martial arts (武).

That passion.

And the many people who told me that there’s a pinnacle to martial arts (武)…

I wanted to share that with the divine warrior in front of me.

For some reason, just looking at him insisting that ‘power’ is everything reminded me of Asura.

“……!!”

“Enough chit-chat.”

I stepped close to Yu Mang. Then I prepared to execute the Peerless Technique and said.

“I’ll share what I’ve felt during my three hundred years of training with you, Yu Mang.”

Silence.

Yu Mang was looking down at me with bewildered eyes like never before. Those eyes didn’t contain the peculiar cunning or brilliance unique to Yu Mang. Instead, there was a hesitant expression as if he wanted to say something but was unsure.

“Baek Woong… what you want to show me… is it merely because you like me as a martial artist? You want to prove something about yourself through this battle, right?”

Maybe so…

I didn’t respond, but silently nodded in agreement, and Yu Mang’s eyes sparkled.

Kuuuu

Shortly after, Yu Mang held a blade in one hand. And blood light sparkled from that blade.

He took his stance and declared.

“I’ve lived long and mastered many martial arts, yet the strongest is precisely this sword technique. I have never seen an existence I couldn’t kill when I wielded this blade, not even once in billions of years. Though it doesn’t even have a special name, I shall end our little wager with this strike.”

“……”

“If you block it, it’s your victory. Here I go.”

Zap……!!

At that moment, the world darkened, and it became evident that only Yu Mang’s single strike was slowly slicing through the heavens.

Time and space seemed to stop.

This wasn’t some divine force; it was a mirage born of Yu Mang’s peak sword technique due to Intent Heavenly Pillar. And this mirage distorted reality, affecting me too, and I realized that all my senses were focused solely on that trajectory of the blade.

‘Slow…’

It truly felt slow. But it wasn’t because I had attained the realization of stillness within motion.

The reason was that the blood energy tied to his blade was so powerful that each thread emanating from it could shatter stars. The sheer destructive force of the Cosmic Sword must be similar to that of this blood-light blade, so the true might of this sword technique was beyond imagination.

It was a world apart from Yu Mang’s previous attacks. It became clear to me why.

‘Yu Mang has learned countless martial arts, but this sword technique is where he comprehended the true essence (精髓) of martial arts (武).’

Was he even aware of that perception? The reason why this blood-light blade is far more potent than the misguided divine force of the divine demon is solely due to the purity of his martial arts mastery. If he hadn’t even named this technique, its level might even surpass that of Miyamoto Musashi.

Zing

In that moment, my body quivered. I suddenly sensed that blocking Yu Mang’s blow with the Peerless Technique would be impossible.

‘…… Why?’

Why couldn’t I? No matter how immense the power, if it’s acknowledged as ‘yang,’ wouldn’t it be possible to nullify that force? Even having pumped up my potential to unprecedented levels with Great Destruction… why was my intuition screaming that it wasn’t going to work?

Could it be that the level of Yu Mang’s strike was cosmic enough that I couldn’t touch it?

Does it even hold the destructive power to explode galaxies?

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Then a sudden realization struck me.

‘What if it’s not just power…?’

If it’s not merely power, then how should it be defined when distinguishing between power and technique becomes meaningless?

I felt dizzy at that possibility.

The definition of this absolute strike would vary the range within which I could convert it into the Peerless Technique.

But how on earth?

What could possibly define such an absolute martial art I’d never witnessed before?

If it’s not pure power, what exactly is it?

I finally understood the dilemma Wei Zhi-hun had. To overcome the boundless authority of a cosmic being with mere intellect is not achievable. One must immerse themselves entirely in martial arts (武) and cultivate their heart.

…… Heart…?

In that instant, I made an unbelievable choice and unfolded the Peerless Technique.

Kuwakuwakwang……!!

As the final strike descended, I became drenched in blood and flew off the ground, tumbling a dozen times. My entire body crashed into a mountain, and I spat blood arrows from my mouth.

“Gah…!!”

Dust swirled around me. As I lay there gasping with my face in the dirt, I heard Yu Mang’s low voice approach me.

“Never thought you would block that…”

“……”

“How did you… block my strongest strike?”

Yu Mang’s voice trembled.

Even as I felt my mortal energy fade away, I sensed that my last choice was a success and smirked.

“[Heart].”

I assumed martial arts (武) contained intent, so I differentiated between those with intent and those without.

And thanks to that, Yu Mang’s strike became mixed with martial arts and divine power, completely separating the two forces, reducing it to minimal effectiveness upon the Peerless Technique. Of course, I couldn’t block even the faintest remnant, so I was thrown back, but it was clear that I succeeded in fending off Yu Mang with the Peerless Technique.

My consciousness was rapidly blurring.

‘Ah… after all…’

There’s no escaping death, no matter what.

Thinking this while surrendering my body to the encroaching lethargy, I felt that having fought well thus far, whatever would come next was left to fate.

And then I died.

*

“Baek Woong. Wake up.”

Huh?

This voice…?

I scratched my head, trying to stand as if waking from a dream. Moments later, I saw something unbelievable.

“…… huh?”

An all too familiar ceiling.

“……”

I blinked for a while. Then I mumbled in disbelief.

“Is this… a dream?”

In front of me sat Mangnyang.

And this place was none other than the village chief’s house in Soeul Village.

Is this real?

Everything feels so hazy…

While I was still dazed, I noticed that Mangnyang in front of me began to speak.

“Right. It’s a connection between the present and the future through dreams.”

Upon hearing his cold voice, a realization struck me.

‘Ah.’

That Mangnyang in front of me was none other than Master Mangnyang.