전생검신 93권 19화

Who am I?

I didn’t have much to say to the guy. I mean, how was I supposed to explain my situation to this strange dude who just popped up? After thinking for a bit, I finally spoke.

“If you tell me who you are, I’ll tell you who I am!”

[…….]

After a moment of silence, he responded.

[I am another aspect of Yeodong-bin that has been with him from the beginning… his true nature.]

“What? No way…….”

I grimaced and stared at him.

“Are you saying you’re Yeodong-bin’s heart demon?”

[…… Call me whatever you like.]

“Hmm…….”

[Now it’s your turn to answer.]

I had no choice but to reply to this ‘heart demon’ guy.

“I’m Baek Woong. Right now, I’m borrowing Yeodong-bin’s body for unavoidable reasons.”

[…… So… the real Yeodong-bin’s soul is where, then?]

‘…….’

What… What do I say to that?

After pondering for a while, I said, “Sorry… I don’t know where Yeodong-bin’s true soul has gone! But once I slay the Dragon of the Apocalypse, he’ll get his body back.”

Maybe……

When I spoke with uncertainty, the dark Yeodong-bin silently gazed at me before saying,

[Why do you want to catch the Dragon of the Apocalypse?]

“Because the foreign faction assigned me a mission.”

[Please elaborate.]

I definitely didn’t owe him an explanation. But I figured cooperating with this guy was better than being hostile, so I roughly talked about my situation and the reincarnation stuff. Since this was the mental world, the flow of time was different from reality, allowing me some leeway.

After hearing my story, the heart demon said,

[Interesting… But it doesn’t really concern me.]

I was baffled by those words.

“What? Why the heck did you ask me to talk, then?!”

[I just wanted to know if you were evil enough to take down Yeodong-bin’s true self… it seems you’re not.]

‘…… So, is your curiosity satisfied now? Will you stop interfering with my operation of the Soul of the Evil God?’

I had the intuition that the guy in front of me was the one who had interrupted the cycle of the Soul of the Evil God. I answered his questions because I wanted to clear that interference. As I growled at him, the heart demon stared at me and said,

[Why are you trying to go for the Vessel of Water?]

‘……? Can you sense the form of the Soul of the Evil God?’

[Roughly, yes.]

Well, considering that he could stop the flow of the Soul of the Evil God, he probably understood that there was a separate existence for the [Vessel] and that its attributes were different.

I gruffly replied, “I’m going for the reincarnation of the Vessel of Water because it will grant me the powers of immortality. My arms are crushed, and I’m in a state where I can barely hold on, so right now, that’s all I’ve got.”

[Hmm… Is that so…?]

After thinking deeply for a moment, the heart demon remarked,

[From what I see, the Vessel of Lightning seems better.]

“What?”

[I don’t know how much immortality you can get from the Vessel of Water… but… Yeodong-bin’s current limits can’t be surpassed. However, I feel there’s a chance in the Vessel of Lightning to significantly enhance Yeodong-bin’s capabilities.]

‘……!’

I flinched. The heart demon in front of me seemed to grasp the essence of the Soul of the Evil God more than I expected.

If I did strengthen the Thunder Spirit, I already knew from experience that I’d gain unprecedented, overwhelming thunder powers. I would possess an astonishing force capable of crossing the universe and even igniting stars. But I countered him.

“Don’t think for a second I hadn’t thought about that! However, just gaining the power of lightning won’t recover the damage done to my original form. That’s fundamentally destructive power, not something meant for healing.”

[Hmm… So you’re saying if you’re still half-dead, it’s meaningless, huh?]

“Exactly.”

[…….]

The heart demon contemplated for a while before saying,

[I will help you.]

“What?”

[If I assist you, you’ll probably gain the power of the Thunder Spirit and be able to recover your body. What do you say?]

What was this about?

I was baffled and asked him.

“Is that even possible…? No, putting that aside, why do you want to help me after taking over Yeodong-bin’s body?”

[I’m not interested in taking over Yeodong-bin’s body.]

In that instant, I felt a surge of madness emanating from the heart demon’s eyes.

[I’m… Talented. If there’s a fitting master for me… and if I can keep the relentless martial intent, it doesn’t matter who they are!]

‘……!’

[I don’t have the strength to compel you… I can’t interfere forever… The choice is yours.]

“Hmm….”

I found myself deep in thought. I never expected a heart demon of Yeodong-bin to make such an offer.

“I mean, sure, even if I barely survive using the Vessel of Water, I’ll still be significantly weaker…”

After a moment of internal debate, I finally made up my mind and spoke to the heart demon.

“Okay. But first, you need to explain to me how to use the power of the Thunder Spirit for recovery.”

[It’s simple… If I truly cooperate with you… you will momentarily gain my essence… that essence will show you not just martial talent but also the way of the martial arts.]

“What are you talking about?”

[In simpler terms, it means becoming my new master… even if it’s just for a short while… Do you agree?]

“Let’s do this.”

[Good… Then… accept me!]

Ztuaaa!

Moments later, the heart demon transformed into a colossal black sword and suddenly pierced my heart.

Thwuk!

But surprisingly, I didn’t feel any pain; instead, I sensed the sword slowly merging with my body. And suddenly, a sensation of an intense awakening flashed through my mind.

“……!”

Bang!

I suddenly realized I had returned to reality from the mental realm. And something was swirling rapidly in my head, far clearer than before, making me feel as if I had become another person.

‘What… is this?’

It was indescribable.

It felt like I had been walking with a narrow view in a small well and suddenly emerged into a wide open plain. However, the sense of liberation was mental, making it even harder to describe intuitively.

After a moment, I unknowingly extended my will and began to perform the Soul of the Evil God.

“I’m heading for the Thunder Spirit…!”

Zzzzzt

I felt the colossal energy of thunder swirling around my body start to collapse explosively. Unlike before, where I could only wrap my body in this tremendous power, I realized that there were infinite ways to utilize this thunder energy.

As the energy of the thunder surged through my body, I unconsciously understood.

“I must draw out the Upper Dantian perfectly and transform into a complete Thunder Body.”

Right before reaching the final cycle and enhancing the Thunder Spirit.

In that fleeting moment, to supplement the lacking power and obtain an even stronger effect, my body needed to fully adapt to the lightning, becoming a complete Thunder Body.

To achieve that, I’d have to utilize Yeodong-bin’s existing Upper Dantian.

I couldn’t tell why I had found such a perfect answer. This, in martial terms, should have had a complex and intricate causal relationship, but [the current me] had miraculously found a solution, as if it was seriously obvious. Unlike the temporary fixes I would usually throw together, I could instinctively sense every causal relationship and the processes required, all in that one phrase.

Kukwakwa!

In the next moment, the lightning energy surrounding me began to amplify tremendously. I realized it was a reckless act to forcibly advance the powers of the Thunder Spirit throughout my body while channeling the energy from the Lower Dantian into the realm of the Upper Dantian. But even as I did it, I couldn’t believe it was really happening; I felt dazed.

‘Is… is this going to work?’

What I was doing right now was forcing all the thunder energy into my Lower Dantian and awakening it with intent, crafting my entire body like a mass of will so that the thunder energy could penetrate all the blood vessels unresistingly—a true Thunder Body being forged.

However, if any ordinary human, regardless of how skilled they were, exposed a fraction of this thunder energy that I was manipulating, they’d be done in an instant. That was the limit of living beings made of flesh and blood! Even internally, resisting with internal power would do nothing; just how much could resistance against the bubbling thunder energy achieve?

Yet here I was, recklessly trying to induce the powers of the Thunder Spirit and transform my body!

I would never do this if I were in my right mind!

Originally, I wouldn’t be lacking in thunder energy due to having the Thunder Body, so I wouldn’t need to resort to such madness. But since I was in Yeodong-bin’s body, taking risks was the only way.

But even so, I had a conviction at the back of my mind about why this was ‘working.’ It was truly a bizarre situation; while my consciousness couldn’t keep up, my unconscious mind had already reached a conclusion about the action!

What should I say—though I can’t explain how this is possible, instinctively, I knew it was feasible!

This was the first time I’d had such a dazzling experience while practicing martial arts, and I couldn’t help but blink in amazement.

“Could I… do this too?”

Muttering to myself, I willed a sword into existence and threw it into the air.

Then, I leaped onto the sword and, in that moment, a realization struck me.

‘Ah!’

I could also perform Sword Flying Technique…!

There was no need for further explanation or understanding. I could now use the Sword Flying Technique as if I was supposed to, just like Yeodong-bin!

Ztuaaa—

Riding on the incredibly fast sword of will, I thought to myself,

‘Surely… the true essence of the heart must be able to flow without consuming any power! I couldn’t utilize the Sword Flying Technique before simply because I didn’t understand how to use this extreme technique…’

Even if I was in the realm of the Divine Domain, using the Sword Flying Technique required a different application, which is why I couldn’t execute it before. But the fact that I could now perform the Sword Flying Technique suggested that I had instinctively learned how to operate the sword using only [will], separate from conscious thought!

‘I don’t know… my head doesn’t get it, but my body does!’

It truly felt strange. How could I use a martial art I didn’t understand? But despite the lack of comprehension, my unconsciousness seemed completely in tune with martial principles, moving freely in a separate realm.

While I couldn’t hide my conflicting thoughts, I flew through the air when a voice resonated from within me.

[Pull me out!]

Huh?

Before I could even think about what those words meant, I found myself using my will to create a black sword in my hand. That sword mirrored the shape of the black sword the heart demon had formed moments ago, catching me off guard.

“Ah!”

Could it be…?!

To confirm my suspicion, I asked, “Heart demon of Yeodong-bin! Are you this black sword itself?!”

Then, as I rode the blade, a voice reached me.

[…… This shape you have manifested by will… it is not an illusion… it is another part of my heart… and simultaneously, Yeodong-bin’s heart…]

“……!”

[As the heart is the talent… and one with the heart… how far can you take this [heart]?]

And at that moment, I understood the true identity of Yeodong-bin’s heart demon.

“You are the Demon Mask.”