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Loneliness.

Bugs implanted in the body to manipulate a person.

I slowly moved my sword. I didn’t have to worry about the fallen ones anymore.

Sapa’s members were gathering. In sheer numbers, we had the upper hand. Furthermore, Su-ryeon had greatly improved since before…

The remaining three, if they joined forces, could probably block at least one under Il-ho’s command.

I looked at the two warriors in front of me. Two men trapped in a fate of rebellion, unable to resist due to the loneliness embedded in their bodies.

“…….”

I didn’t know exactly what they had done. But what mattered most was that the two standing in front of me were ‘warriors.’

Life and death.

In the crossroads between the two, we naturally raised our swords.

Because that’s what warriors do.

“…Huh!”

No more words were needed, as the opponent suddenly closed the distance. My extending sword thundered, revealing the inner world hidden within its Yi-hyeong Ki.

A sword filled with lightning. And behind it, five swords seemed to assist it, flying through the void.

One main sword.

Five supporting swords behind it.

“Huh!”

Dam Bi-chang and Zhu Moxing… if I remember correctly.

Dam Bi-chang moved his sword forward. Though simply brute, it contained a powerful essence akin to mine, tearing through the air as it aimed for me.

—Boom!!!

As I took it, the roof of the building collapsed. Five swords hovering in the air didn’t let my falling body go without pursuit.

Swords that prioritized a strong strike…

The myriad techniques embodied in their swordsmanship.

But I realized it wasn’t merely controlled by sheer inner strength. A very thin line of inner strength. It was wrapped several times, dancing as Zhu Moxing manipulated the sword from behind.

—Bang!!!

I turned my body and struck all of the descending swords at once. After landing safely amidst the screams of those inside the building, I immediately moved to the side.

The incoming swords were undeniably sharp…

Yet they weren’t a threat to me.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Fourth Form

Flash Dispersal

A blazing red line engulfed all five in one go.

Ensuring no impact on the civilian houses.

—Crash!!!

In an instant, Zhu Moxing, who had broken his five Yi-hyeong Kis, spat out blood. But as if refusing to fall, he quickly regained his stance, starting to manipulate the shattered sword fragments once again.

“Urrrgh!!!”

At that moment, Dam Bi-chang launched an aggressive strike with his sword. The noise resonated, shaking heaven and earth, as if he poured everything into that one strike.

It was a powerful blow that could nearly reflect the back of the Heavenly Dragon. But I met it head-on.

With a strike laced with blood.

Out of respect for his bravery that came charging straight at me.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Sixth Form

Blood Dyer – Taebaek

—Boom!!!!!

The Black Pearl lurking behind me suddenly engulfed my sword. The overwhelming heat, mixed with blood, stained the world for an instant…

Infusing an unspeakable weight into the sword.

The lightning crumbled.

—Bang!!!

The swords clashing head-on disintegrated into powder. Despite controlling my strength, the aftermath slammed Dam Bi-chang backwards out of the building.

I twirled my sword. Ignoring the battered comrade, I dodged another incoming piece of Yi-hyeong Ki and unleashed my inner power again.

With speed in techniques.

An extreme drop in temperature exhaled cold air.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique

Sixth Form

Blood Dyer – Saji

—Swish!!!

A swift strike. With a speed undetectable to the eye, cold air poured from every direction as the remaining shards of the blade crumbled to the ground.

I twirled my sword again. With a back turned to the screams of the crowd, I stood before the warrior, who was continuously spitting blood.

“Zhu Moxing.”

“…Cough…”

He coughed up blood again. Shaking, he looked up at me and eventually smiled weakly.

“Indeed… worthy of the name… Blood Lord… it’s truly appropriate… to have us… so lightly…”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Very… satisfied… how could I not be… Ah… finally… freed from… the shackles…”

Zhu Moxing slowly lowered his head.

The light in his eyes began to fade away.

“Still… I’m glad… to have died… by someone like you…”

“…….”

I reached out.

I grabbed Zhu Moxing’s head.

“…….?”

I poured my essence into the grasped head. And immediately, I confirmed the existence of the loneliness embedded in him.

They weren’t lying. This was the loneliness, wasn’t it?

It happened to be lodged in his mind. Though small, it curled up as if hugging his brain.

A location that couldn’t be removed. A regular physician would surely be horrified and terrified.

But…

Not me.

“…Bai Ya. Black Pearl. Help me.”

At my soft-spoken request, the two spirits whispered lowly as if it were natural.

My control over the inner strength had become finer as my level rose…

But with the help of those two spirits, even more precise tasks became possible.

“Gumang.”

The Ear Sword responded, letting out a ghostly cry. Gripping the control of the Cheongeop within me, it quickly extracted it from my fingertips and penetrated swiftly into Zhu Moxing’s mind.

“Wha…?!”

“It’ll hurt a bit. But bear with it.”

Zhu Moxing began to flail helplessly. Then I…

Commenced the operation to eliminate the loneliness.

“I’ve become curious. How can warriors like you live, unshackled by someone?”

With such demeanor.

With a pride as a warrior.

He even showed me a respectable sword.

This wasn’t bribery or persuasion. I simply found them likable.

I wanted them to live. That’s all.

“I will remove the loneliness, Zhu Moxing. And Dam Bi-chang, don’t worry. If you endure, I will hand you the freedom you have long desired.”

…

—Crack!!!

With a stiff face, Gwangyang tumbled to the ground. With the impact at the sword tip, the Master of the Divine Army, Bai Saak, sighed.

“Well… the other two are fine, but you should withdraw.”

“What… what?!”

“The level itself is low. Our command was to take only one head… I’d rather not cause unnecessary killings.”

“Are you looking down on me?!”

“Not looking down, just stating facts. The gap in levels is not something easily closed. Look at your sword. You tried to protect your inner strength with your swordwork, yet even with a seemingly high level, didn’t it crack?”

Gwangyang looked at the sword barely maintaining its form atop his trembling hand.

The sword made directly by his master. So he took great care of it…

But now, cracks were evident everywhere, as if it might snap at any moment.

“If it were an equal match, I wouldn’t have uttered such words. But you’re… not a competitor here. Best you withdraw.”

“You bastard…!”

“Should you wish to die, I won’t stop you… But if you understand my sentiment of not wanting to slay the weak, then—”

Without listening any longer, he charged in. However, the stance he had raised was knocked aside by the enemy’s sword as if it were a joke.

—Bang!!!

A shockwave shook his entire body. His body, on the brink of collapse, rolled on the ground before crashing into a nearby building.

Bai Saak shook his head with a sigh.

“…Don’t get up. This is your last warning. It would be better for you and your companions.”

Don’t get up.

Do nothing at all.

How is that helpful?

Gwangyang, staggering up, spat blood. The dirt-covered Narin raised her voice.

“Get back! Gwangyang! Just retreat! You don’t belong here!”

“……”

That remark…

It might just be right.

I felt it deep down. The gap between us and the enemy. Though I was overflowing with rage, I knew the truth.

It felt like standing before a mountain I could not surpass. And yet… If I do nothing here, what difference was there from that time when I sent my master alone?

“Gwangyang.”

I don’t want to be a burden. I want to repay my master as much as he taught me.

That’s why I swung my sword. Even during the moments I thought my master was dead, I kept swinging my sword.

Talent.

Damn talent!

I know! Damn it! I know better than anyone that I’m lacking!

But…

I vowed again not to cower.

I swore I would be of help, no matter what.

I dedicated the time I spent sharpening my skills for this purpose. I wielded my sword for this reason alone.

“Shut up…!”

If it doesn’t work, so be it.

Maybe it’s okay to step back.

I didn’t wield the sword to hear such words. I didn’t live up to this point for that.

Didn’t my master tell me to wield a sword I wouldn’t be ashamed of?

Hadn’t I followed the voice that whispered about having talent and swung my sword?

Believe!

Believe! Trust yourself!

Even without damn talent…

The effort I continuously put forth, the effort that my master told me about…

“I can do it… I can do it… I can do it…”

Focus. Focus.

Look at the opponent. Open your eyes wide and surpass them.

I am not a genius. I have not awakened even a fraction.

So melt everything down and think. Chew up reality and concentrate only on the opponent’s sword.

Moving a mountain is like the slowly rising sun.

I gripped the sword tighter. Simultaneously, I moved again.

What I must do first is…

—Bang!!!

Stand firm even when struck.

“…Huh?”

The broken metallic sound made the sword tremble as if it might break. But this time, it didn’t lead to me getting dust on my body.

Despite my whole body shaking as if it would collapse, I didn’t fall. Skin torn, my resilient body endured the impact…

And I stood.

Even after exchanging one sword, even after being hit by the inner strength…

I still stood.

“…This time.”

The opponent’s gaze shifted. But that didn’t matter at all.

Forget everything but one.

Focus. Gwangyang.

Be of help.

“It was fun.”

Help my master. No matter what,

If I’m unable to be of help…

Then I’d rather die here.

Without being ashamed of myself.

 

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