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The Masked Monk suddenly shook his arm. And lo and behold, a rosary appeared in his hand, completely dark and seemingly drawing in anyone who dared to look at it.

“Damn it!”

I’ve faced sudden battles before in my life, but what in the world is this guy? I’ve never seen anything like it in all my reincarnations!

I grumbled internally while channeling power from Oreycalcos to prepare for my opponent’s techniques.

With a swift movement, the Masked Monk hurled the rosary beads towards me. It wasn’t terribly fast; even an ordinary person, untrained in martial arts, could throw it. Plus, the familiar sensation of a stationary, power-laden projectile was missing, indicating there was no inner power or intent behind that throw.

This harmless-looking act seemed leagues away from something that could cause injury; however, in that moment, Mangnyang sensed something and yelled, jumping in front of me.

“Dodge!”

In the next moment, Mangnyang swung the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line and created a transparent barrier in front of me.

Bang!

[……?!]

The monk’s rosary beads effortlessly pierced through Mangnyang’s barrier, cutting through it like tofu. I couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘Mangnyang’s technique is the Corpse Dissolution Technique?!’

It was practically summoning the powers of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman! The Corpse Dissolution Technique, known for being closer to the divine level, could be considered the pinnacle among all heavenly techniques. And yet, to see Mangnyang’s defense broken so easily was astonishing!

As expected, Mangnyang was sweating profusely, overwhelmed, and then finally cried out,

“We need to run!”

Boom!

In the next moment, a massive explosion erupted, and thick smoke filled the air. Mangnyang, using the Technique of Spatial Compression to retreat rapidly, urgently spoke as he grabbed me.

“This is not an opponent you can face with a mere divine effort! Never directly engage!”

I flinched at Mangnyang’s warning. Honestly, I had planned to use the divine powers I had gathered from the gods to take a stab at the fight if he hadn’t said anything.

‘Is this guy really that strong?’

Being in a mechanical body nullified a lot of my instincts, so I couldn’t truly gauge the power behind that earlier rosary attack. However, seeing how terrified Mangnyang was, it suggested the situation was dire. After all, Mangnyang was a direct disciple of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, and by all means, close to the level of an ancient god. If even he felt he couldn’t win, then the enemy’s strength must be terrifying!

[Understood. Let’s teleport immediately.]

“About that… since the author appeared, the teleportation spells in this area have been sealed. It was definitely done by his ability, and trying to break the seal will take some time.”

[…Meaning we need to buy time.]

“Let’s try to hold out for at least half a minute, or even less would be enough. Then I’ll find a way to break the seal.”

Alright, is it my turn to shine now?

[Hmm. Leave it to me.]

“No…!! Direct confrontation is absolutely off-limits! Seriously!”

[…….]

“I’ll stall using my techniques as best as I can, so please, just hang back!”

Bang!

Desperately shouting, Mangnyang pulled out six paper dolls from his robe, which transformed into a massive-sized Earth Dragon in the blink of an eye. Mangnyang summoned six dragons and thrust his hand forward, exclaiming,

“Tear them apart, Six Dragons of the White Bones!”

Roar!

As the six dragons lunged, I heard the sound of them clashing with something on the other side of the smoke. The thick haze made it hard to see, but it was clear the six dragons were grappling with the Masked Monk. I awkwardly licked my lips and said,

[Well, it seems I could easily catch that guy with my summoning, even without jumping in.]

“…….”

[Mangnyang? Whoa!!]

Realizing Mangnyang was only sweating profusely, I suddenly noticed six fist-sized holes punctured in his chest and jumped in shock. How was he bleeding like that with such fatal wounds? Yet, looking at his pale complexion showed it was no ordinary situation.

Mangnyang, with a ghostly white face, said,

“That attack… I didn’t block it… The Corpse Dissolution Technique could only stop a single faction, but that monk’s rosary pierced through all my defenses, branding me with an immaterial mark.”

[What… you mean there’s no blood because of that?]

“He cursed me, putting me in a state where he can kill me at any moment. His plan is to make me think I’m on par with him, leading you into a direct confrontation and easily ending you as well. In terms of skill disparity, I might as well be dead after that first clash.”

[……!!]

A chill ran down my spine.

‘This guy has the strength to kill someone who’s mastered the Corpse Dissolution Technique with one hit?’

There can’t be many opponents even in the Celestial Realm that could match such a being. I mean, considering that even an average immortal couldn’t take on that monk, as proven by Krishna being taken out in an instant!

What in the world is this guy?!

As I was taken aback, Mangnyang pointed downward with the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line.

“Fortunately, this Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line carries my master’s power, which compensates for my lack of strength. If we play it right and manage to evade… we can escape without too much trouble. Don’t act rashly!”

[Even if we manage to run, what about this cursed mark you bear?]

“We’ll deal with that when it comes. It’s far worse for the both of us if you get caught as collateral and killed by him. Let’s not do anything that gives him an advantage.”

[…… Got it.]

Bang!

At that moment, the sound of an explosion went off, and the six dragons exploded into spirit remnants, scattering into the air. Mangnyang, watching the spectacle, looked genuinely incredulous.

“The Six Dragons of the White Bones, over 17,000 years old, are supposed to be guardians of the Celestial Realm, and yet they can’t withstand that for even half a moment…? What a monstrous being…”

Mangnyang clenched his teeth and yelled,

“I really didn’t want to use this method, but this is my crossroads of destiny!!”

With that, Mangnyang placed his finger on his forehead and concentrated.

“Spirit of the Mount Ye, respond to me and impart that evil ancient soul.”

Moments later, dark red ancient runes, resembling tattoos, spread across Mangnyang’s body, making his original skin invisible. Simultaneously, murky dark energy began to swirl around his eyes, and I watched in shock as horns gradually emerged from his forehead.

[What… Mangnyang. What are you doing?! What technique is this?]

“This is the Spirit Summoning Technique…”

[Spirit Summoning?]

“I had saved this as my last resort against the Old Ruler, but now… it’s time for me to gamble my life on it.”

With his outcry, I finally realized what was happening, freezing up entirely.

“Come forth!! Dragon of the Apocalypse – !!”

Flash – !!

In the next moment, Mangnyang’s entire body transformed into a dark red dragon form. At the same time, the power emanating from him was so immense it momentarily suppressed Oreycalcos’s arm.

Mangnyang glanced down at himself and spoke in the dragon’s tongue.

[As soon as the seal is broken, just run for it.]

Thud!

Once he finished his sentence, Mangnyang charged forward at the Masked Monk, who finally revealed himself through the smoke. The speed of his movement was already far beyond the limits of average experts, and as he swung his arm, an earth-shattering boom echoed in the air.

Bang…!!

Watching the battle unfold behind, I thought,

‘Mangnyang… has invoked the spirit of the Dragon of the Apocalypse, transcending into the Eight Parts of the Divine. He can use the Corpse Dissolution Technique! I shouldn’t have any hesitation in fighting alongside him, even if it is reckless!’

I contemplated skipping the caution Mangnyang advised. I could not let him face this overwhelming opponent alone.

Thud!

In that moment I felt an urgent instinct urging me to dive into the fray.

[Let’s fight together!!]

Just then, I bore witness to the utter chaos that ensued.

Crack!

The newly transformed Mangnyang barreling toward the Masked Monk was abruptly slammed down by an overwhelming strike from the monk’s staff. It wasn’t at all surprising to see him crumple to the ground.

Just then, despite Mangnyang trying to get up again, one could already tell the battle’s outcome was becoming clear. How could it turn so dark so quickly!

Sudden dread washed over me the moment I sensed impending doom. Mangnyang was definitely using the Dragon’s spirit momentarily to gain an upper hand, rivaling or even exceeding the strength of supreme beings, and he still went down in one blow! Finally, that raw instinct, sealed away since becoming a machine, suddenly rushed back, overwhelming my mind.

This guy… is on an entirely different level.

Just categorizing him amongst beings of power would be a poor underestimate.

He became a being beyond the horizon!

Bang!

As Mangnyang quickly rose and whipped his tail at the Masked Monk, the monk easily deflected the attack with one hand. Despite the explosive impact generating tremors strong enough to collapse the ruins themselves, the monk emerged unscathed, merely looking displeased.

“Do you really think recklessly mixing opposing forces will make you stronger? You can’t even grasp one whole world before flaunting strength…”

Making barely any effort, the monk waved his hands, seemingly uninterested, and Mangnyang’s body flailed like a leaf in the wind. One would think he had strength exceeding that of the Eight Parts of the Divine, yet the monk’s power was undeniably overwhelming.

Bang!

[Ugh!]

As Mangnyang was sent crashing to the ground, a pale light streamed from the monk’s mask.

“You should thank the compassion of the enlightened one. This is the True State!”

Sizzling…!!

Suddenly, the Masked Monk pressed his palms together, and between the white and black beads swirling around his body, he opened his eyes wide.

“Great Six Heaven World!!”

Swish!

[……?!]

In the blink of an eye, I saw an ethereal flash pass by, only to realize that I had been transported out of the ruins of Kapila Castle and found myself right in the center of the starry bounds. I instinctively recognized this endless, infinitely dark space with my long experience.

The Universe!!

Wait, has it shifted dimensions? Or is this an illusion?

Yet, as I drew upon the divine powers I had gathered in my body, I quickly understood that this was neither.

‘Ah… no, this isn’t an illusion or some dimensional trick. This is… a summoning of the universe itself…?!’

Is that even possible?!

Is this truly a technique?!

Whirr…!

The Masked Monk remained still, eyes closed in prayer, emanating a deep-seated hatred for all existence. Glowing darkness crept out from behind him, contrasting starkly with the sacred aura of the revered figures of Buddhism. The monk, having twisted the entirety of reality into a universe, slowly extended his hand toward Mangnyang, forming a seal.

Great Heaven’s Void!

Fwaaaah!!

[Mangnyang!!]

As I thought Mangnyang was done for, I unleashed a hoarse scream. Mangnyang’s body hurtled away like a rag doll, blood-soaked, before slowly disappearing beyond the emptiness of space.

You’ve got to be kidding me! Did he just kill Mangnyang?!

Rage bubbled deep within me, nearly causing me to lose my senses, when the Masked Monk flinched slightly, releasing tension as if he’d been roused from a daze. The monk muttered in surprise,

“I didn’t expect a mere human to intervene for you…”

Who’s he talking about?

Swish!

In the next moment, the summoned cosmic radiance dissipated, and I found myself surrounded again by the remnants of the Kapila Castle ruins. Buried underneath, Mangnyang was gasping for breath, bloodied but alive.

“Huff… huff…”

“……”

Mangnyang’s alive!

Just as I was finding joy in that fact, the Masked Monk spoke coldly,

“So, Master of the Borderlands is your teacher. Seeing your teacher’s face, I’ll allow you once to pay for insulting the enlightened one.”

G cough!

Mangnyang coughed up blood. Struggling terribly, he gazed at me with his dimming eyes.

“A… Baek Woong… please… let us off the hook…”

In response, the Masked Monk glanced my way, muttering,

“The reincarnated must be executed.”

“……!!”

What? How does he know I’m reincarnated?

With a swift motion, the Masked Monk summoned a dark-hued rosary once again, slowly approaching me with unmistakable murderous intent. Realizing he harbored clear intent to kill, I felt bewildered.

‘What in the world is he up to?!’

Amidst that ridiculous strength, how did he even ascertain I was a reincarnation?

The Masked Monk gazed into me with a piercing glare that sent chills down my spine.

“Wandering fool in the maze of destiny, mocker of the law of cause and effect. There should not exist a Mara like you in this world!”

Swoosh!

He threw the dark rosary towards me, just like he had done to Mangnyang before. With no time to think, I gathered all my strength to raise a defensive barrier.

Crack…!!

[Gah…?!]

I felt as though my entire body was skewered by iron stakes. It was no mere bluff—every layer of my defense, was punctured effortlessly like tofu. The chilling sensation I received while piercing through reflected the feeling that the monk’s rosary was annihilating the essence of my divine power altogether.

‘Could it be that he’s capable of…’

Based on my predictions, even if I had all my divine powers, it would still be a tough fight.

No way, this feels like I’ve gotten myself into a real mess!

While pondering my impending demise, I noticed the Masked Monk had flinched strangely, glancing upward.

“Vishnu…”

Bang!

A colossal palm descended, smashing down on the Masked Monk and turning him into ground meat. A gigantic hand, larger than the average mountain, had unexpectedly appeared to attack the Masked Monk. Clearly, the owner of that hand was none other than Vishnu himself!

With Vishnu’s descent, the skies echoed with thunderous sound.

“Disciple of the Buddha! The price you will pay for challenging the divine will be steep!”

Slowly, Vishnu’s form manifested in the heavens, his power rivaling that of the Three Sovereigns. The sight of him told me that he must be terribly furious.

‘If he draws this much divine power, the toll on the law of cause and effect must be massive… There’s no way he’ll be able to spare himself the interference in this world.’

True, the Three Sovereigns could manifest like Vishnu at a cost, but they rarely intervened in such a manner as they always came with impositions. Thus, Vishnu’s current actions were risky and reckless—suffering significant losses to the balance of the world, as a backlash from the law of cause and effect could very well break upon him.

That probably meant the Masked Monk was deemed a level of formidable opponent, prompting Vishnu to step in. Given how the Avatar Krishna was silenced in an instant, this guy’s capabilities are extraordinary.

As a price…”

And as expected, from the spot where Vishnu’s gigantic palm had landed, the Masked Monk swung his rosary, deflecting Vishnu’s hand away. The monk bore not a scratch.

Thud!!

[You…!!]

With ease, the Masked Monk countered Vishnu, forcing him to stagger back. The monk, eyes glinting with malice, locked gazes with Vishnu and declared,

“So futile.”

Swish…!!

As black and white beads began to intertwine, encircling the Masked Monk, he wailed,

“Vishnu! Return to Tushita Heaven!”

Great Six Heaven World!

Roar!

Just like before, the Masked Monk transformed the entire world into blackness again, but Vishnu showed no sign of concern as he simply shot forth divine radiance from his fingertips.

“If you can, then do so.”

Flash!

‘Crap…’

The explosion of divine radiance made everything around me glow white. Should this space truly be the cosmos, a single blast could obliterate an entire planetary system! Even without using all his power, Vishnu was seriously going at the Masked Monk!

But against all reason, the Masked Monk emerged unharmed in the wake of the divine brilliance. The beads surrounding him were so resilient, not even a scratch could be found on them. When Vishnu noted the monk had emerged unscathed, he appeared perplexed.

[How… can a mere [Mask] wield such power?]

Snicker, snicker.

The Masked Monk seemed to let out an unsettling laugh. It didn’t feel like arrogance intoxicated by his own power, but rather an uncontrollable emotion that seemed to scrape at the very bottom of existence.

Whoooosh!

Suddenly, the entire universe around the Masked Monk sparked to life, alternating between black and white. He began to draw on the energies of both realms toward his chest, simultaneously twisting the universe in a grand circle.

As the universe became ensnared within the swirling distortion, Vishnu’s being began to show signs of unraveling, succumbing to the immense force.

Crunch!

[Craaack…!!]

Vishnu’s screams of anguish rang out, echoing through the cosmos, as he struggled against a feeling he could hardly bear. I had seldom witnessed a god react in such a manner.

‘Gods were not meant to experience pain! That reaction only emerges when one senses the impending threat of annihilation…!!’

The Great Six Heaven World was causing such upheaval, it could even tear apart the very core of a god’s essence?

Crack! Crack!

I heard the sound of Vishnu’s limbs being ripped apart. Meanwhile, the Masked Monk wept blood from beneath his mask, crying in a frenzied manner,

“Foul world of illusion… be torn asunder…!!”

[Glugh… AAAGHHH!!]

Vishnu, overwhelmed, unleashed a cataclysmic light burst.

Bang!!

Just like a supernova exploding, a blinding light enveloped everything. For a fleeting moment, I thought Vishnu had perished, yet I quickly recognized he hadn’t.

‘He escaped…!!’

Understanding that he could never claim victory in this realm against the Masked Monk, Vishnu had made the strategic choice to withdraw. Of course, he would pay a steep price in lost divine power and causation, restricting his future appearances in this realm!

However, it wasn’t so much his loss; he would have surely met his end at the hands of the Masked Monk if he had remained.

Better to flee than to perish!

Whoooosh…!

As the residual aura of divinity faded, the Masked Monk, who had been fixated on that radiant substance, swiftly pulled the rosary back, aiming it straight at me. It was an unmistakable threat on my life, and the realization hit me hard—I was currently at the highest risk of dying!

Could I possibly win?

What chance did I have against someone who crushes even the avatar of a character as mighty as Vishnu head-on?

‘And besides, he surely possesses the devilish power to nullify divine capability…’

The essence of divine capabilities typically rests at the apex of power. Thus, it was far from surprising that the Masked Monk, wielding an ability that could utterly decimate divine power through sheer magnitude, appeared far more threatening than the Three Sovereigns.

On the contrary, I am nothing more than a mortal tapping into the World Tree’s energy—a mere foe to him.

Compared to Vishnu, my reserves of divine energy were paltry.

No matter how I looked at it, I seemed hopeless in winning this fight.

And worse still, I had no way to counter the Great Six Heaven World that annihilates gods.

I held my breath, deciding to speak just as the Masked Monk prepared to throw his next assault.

[Hey, wait! I’ve got something to say…]

Bang!

Once again, I narrowly avoided the incoming beads, barely escaping with my life. Fuming, I exclaimed,

[You bastard… you won’t even hear my last words!]

Having received my attack without any way to retaliate, the Masked Monk glowered at me, muttering something incomprehensible under his breath.

“Do you think you’re dreaming? Cursed soul.”

[What kind of nonsense are you spouting?]

“Your suffering will never cease. Indeed, in that eternal cycle, the only thing you will acknowledge is your eternal torment!!”

Swoosh!

Again, the Masked Monk summoned black and white rosaries around himself. Recognizing the attack that had nearly obliterated Vishnu before was intended for me next, I felt a wave of tension rush through me.

‘Oh, this is madness.’

This is quite possibly the most hopeless situation I’ve faced in a long time.

Just as I thought there was a glimmer of hope with my borrowed divine powers, this monster reemerged to extinguish my existence!

Yet, despite the dire circumstances, I refused to just roll over and die. If I could manage to get this far, then I was determined not to give up at this juncture.

With that, I focused my gaze on the Masked Monk and prepared to defend.

Punching my fist, I declared,

[I still don’t get why you’re throwing a tantrum over this. You jerk.]

“……”

[You think your suffering is endless? Well, let’s add yours to mine!!]

My aggressive declaration made the Masked Monk pause, appearing to size me up with an unreadable gaze.

Then, he coldly responded,

“This is merely another cycle.”

Kaaan!!

As the entire universe quaked, the Great Six Heaven World began to draw upon everything around me, distorting it into nothing. I could feel the core of that gravitational force heavily inclined toward me, the knowledge that resisting it would be nearly impossible hit me hard.

‘Six Heaven World… why ‘six’ heavens? It’s usually referred to as the Three Thousand Worlds…’

In that moment, something nagged at me regarding the name of his technique. The broadest world units were typically known as the Three Thousand Worlds, while his technique claimed to represent ‘Six Thousand Worlds,’ suggesting there might be two realms amidst the three traditionally known. Why would he specifically assert that there are two of them?

Worlds being doubled…

Just then, a thought struck me.

‘Could it be?’

I zeroed in on the process of the worlds being drawn in. As the worlds converged towards his chest, I felt an advanced flow forming a circular motion. That flow bore a striking resemblance to what I recognized as the Taiji (Yin-Yang symbolism) and recollections of Zhuge Yulong’s words floated back to me.

‘Alright… Let’s do this!’

I felt the flow.

Even though I couldn’t utilize either intent or internal power, understanding the true meaning of darkness allowed me to read the [flow] effortlessly. As I sensed the [flow] move naturally, I realized that [power] always followed after [flow].

After all, no matter how fast or powerful any force might be, it could never precede [flow].

[Flow] existed beyond speed or time and was the path that existed before the universe began to change.

This meant, if I grasped [flow], I could respond to even the most potent forces or speeds!

Slowly, I assumed the posture of Tai Chi. The moment the gravitational currents began drawing the universe toward the center of the Great Six Heaven World, I channeled all my concentration and ignited the [flow] within the void of darkness.

Dark Night Peerless Technique!

Creek!!

I heard the unsettling sound of something faltering against something else. The sound was not an actual noise but rather an abstract metaphysical manifestation in the clash of the opposing [flows] I created hitting his own [flow]. As that grating friction grew harsher, I began to realize the power of attraction dissipated.

Boom!

“…!!”

The opposing technique never fully enacted, instead breaking apart before completely taking effect, enveloping the universe once more in the absolute void of darkness. The Masked Monk, who had been profiled against the black format, now turned to look at me.

I couldn’t help but smile.

[How about that?]

Executed within the realm of darkness, the Peerless Technique! Although I hadn’t forcibly negated anything, it appeared that the Masked Monk disposed of his own incantation!

Since I had not used any ideation or intent, the traditional overpowering negation phenomena of the Peerless Technique were not at play—but rather, I had forced through the attacking force of the other party, causing them to collapse by operating under the mutual concept of Yin and Yang. However, if the enemy was to persist, I’d be unable to absorb their attack completely nor would it protect me if they relinquished all caution while unleashing their next tenacity.

Still, it seemed reasonable the Masked Monk would not lean toward that action—at least, not just yet.

I offered the silent figure a declaration.

[It looks like your technique makes the yin and yang overlap. I’ll challenge you with the same approach!]

…….

I felt a depth shift as I realized I could use my skills to counter his technique! Of course, he could tear down the flow of the technique and come at me directly, putting me in a precarious situation. But since he had halted the counter, it signified there was still hope!

Almost like a revelation, the Masked Monk echoed,

“You’ve discerned the chain reactions of the Second Truth, have you? An arrogant reincarnate attempting to attain the grand cycle?”

[Huh? What are you…?]

“One born with the light of truth cannot wield it after all. Instead, you remain ensnared within the cyclic shadows.”

Having shed his beads, the Masked Monk lifted one of the dark rosary beads, a chilling light flaring bright as it did!

Flick!

Once again, a burst of shockwave swept over the universe, and I braced myself for the impending impact, expecting the worst as the clash with the void of darkness echoed within.

[…!!]

As my body nearly twisted due to the backlash, I felt like I’d narrowly escaped death just in time.

Where has my body gone askew??

My instincts kicked in to ward against the force, realizing that the sustained state of the darkness was not what I was accustomed to.

Ah…. So, the Price of Darkness isn’t a universal shield ironclad in all cases!

Forcing out negative aspects into one’s energy led to inevitable backlash. It was a unique attribute of martial endeavors!

Now, certainly, those who possessed robust qi experienced far fewer leaks in focus and momentum, but I, despite being a machine, still faced severe rebounding forces!

Rethinking my approach, I had no choice but to alter my tactics.

Then, I’ll just strike first!

Let’s dish out the pain early to strip his room for counterattacks!

Slicing forward, I conducted just the tiniest hint of internal power through Oreycalcos’s arm, the magical energy flaring forth! I quickly fabricated a jagged sword that resonated perfectly as it materialized in my grasp.

Thud!

Clenching the sword in the Mid-stage position, I lunged toward the Masked Monk. Surprisingly, he did not evade, waiting expectantly as I approached. Taking advantage of his complacency, I swung with all my strength.

Dark Night Slash!

With a twist, I tore open the void between us as the shattering blast of sound erupted around us.

Swish!!

Victory! I felt confident!

As I turned around to face him, my senses registered that the Masked Monk had been sliced and bloodied in several places. Yet, his wounds were minimal, indicating the impenetrable resilience of his form.

The Masked Monk, having taken my attack head-on, looked down at himself before chuckling softly.

“A reincarnated won’t walk the path of a god…humorous.”

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the Masked Monk regained his wounds as if nothing had happened! He revealed an all-too-human smile filled with curiosity, something uncharacteristic amongst such powerful beings.

Swish…!

As black and white beads spiraled around him once again, I readied my sword, wary of what lay ahead.

[The Great Six Heaven World won’t work on me. If you’re set on dying with me, I’m determined to leave with at least one strike to you!]

“Don’t worry… I’ll confront you with a matching style.”

[What?!]

That’s when I sensed something truly bizarre unfold.

[…?!]

Suddenly, the Masked Monk’s mask switched completely!

I felt a fateful twist in my core as though witnessing a real-time facemask transformation, marking a decisive shift in the monk’s aura the moment he completed the change.

The Masked Monk, now adorned in a fresh visage proclaimed,

“If you insist on wielding your might, I won’t need this pair of divine beads for the purpose of divine slaughter!”

[…….]

“Prepare yourself!”

Thud!

The Masked Monk, clutching his monk’s staff, charged toward me. I understood instantly—this wasn’t any spell or trick, but the embodiment of unbroken martial learning!

Upon witnessing the monk’s simple but deadly swing of the staff, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the gravity of his presence.

Crash—!

I narrowly managed to parry the staff, but it was clear I was outmatched, my entire body quaking like a frail reed!

This time, I realized I had misjudged his ferocity!

The torment was relentless as the Masked Monk delivered a sequence of strikes, one after another—108 in total!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Bang!

This was way too fast!

With enhanced effort, I desperately raised my energy and struggled to absorb any attacks, yet I felt fully exposed along the way as the unrelenting torrent of strikes bombarded me! Overall, I blocked more than ninety but still received painful blows.

Thud!

The Masked Monk disregarded any sympathy, fully unleashing the power of his staff, hammering away at my vulnerabilities through a furious cyclone. In one second, his attacks padded together into a lethal flurry!

In forced compliance, I reverted back to the last maneuver I learned.

I relied entirely upon adopting their [flow]. As before, allowing me to deal with the journey of strength!

‘Now!’

Upon capturing that [flow], I felt satisfied. As the clash erupted instantaneously, our techniques collided once more in a showdown.

And in that opening encounter, it seemed like I had come out ahead. The monk now bore ragged patches—his hand mangled and bloodied coating the staff.

Although a fraction of my palm had absorbed stress, the artificial nature of my body allowed me to feel not an ounce of pain.

Seeing him falter under the blow brought a cold grin to my face.

[You think strength alone can shield you, huh?]

“….”

[You’re falling behind!]

The Masked Monk gazed at his desolation for a moment before responding casually,

“So, stepping away from the vein of controlling power, have you chosen your craft to maintain your methods?”

“…You understand what I intend to explain, as a reincarnate. There’s nothing strange about it.”

If I’’m going to be this aware, it suggests the Masked Monk had already considered every approach in dulling me to state mediocrity. I readily accepted that I dwelt with a fierce opponent here.

“Now, simply relay your name!”

And in response, the Masked Monk declared painfully,

“I am Ananda (阿難).”

[…….]

That name struck a chord somewhere familiar—I hesitated.

After a moment’s consideration, I cut through the fog in my mind and recognized the implications of his existence.

Amongst us, the one who skillfully coexists within existence was none other than the [Mask]!

 

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