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**

The moment the big needle pierced my body, I let out an uncontrollable scream.

It felt like my entire being was being shredded apart by a horrific cramp. I could feel the essence of the Heavenly Demon creeping in through the stab wound.

That sensation was, quite literally…

Terrifying.

The suffering I had endured in the past now felt trivial by comparison.

“Ughhhhh!!!”

“If you lose consciousness, you will die. Jeok-un.”

I endured, and I endured some more. I wanted to claw at the ground with my fingers, but I couldn’t even do that and bit my tongue instead.

I felt something seeping out from beneath my bloodshot eyes. Tears. The blood mixed in blurred my vision even more.

I could see nothing.

I felt like I was going to faint from being unable to breathe.

Deprived of any freedom of movement, I twisted my body. My limbs trembled uncontrollably, unable to function.

But I could still hear the voice of the Heavenly Demon clearly. A grave yet resolute tone.

“That’s only the first. You need to have a dozen more of these embedded.”

Endure this kind of pain dozens more times…?

I hadn’t even recovered from the agony of the first one yet!

“Bark, bark. If you want to give up, just say it. You can still speak, right?”

“Ah… ah…”

I opened my mouth. My vision swayed.

I didn’t want to endure this. No matter how much I tried, this pain was not the kind one could grow accustomed to.

Once I got one stuck in me, a new wave of pain would come crashing in. I wanted to tear my head open just to see what was inside.

…But…

This was a method recognized by the Heavenly Demon. I heard the whisper that I could grow stronger.

“Is it… possible to get a little closer…?”

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

“Of course.”

“Then…”

I clenched my teeth.

“Please… continue…”

“What a keen one you are, no matter whose personal servant you may be.”

A delicate hand caressed my cheek.

“Let’s finish this quickly so you can rest.”

The big needle stirred within me.

I cried out, writhing in what felt like eternal torment.

Endure.

Endure, Jeok-un.

Please…

Please, just hold on.

…

The Heavenly Demon, Cheon Sososo, wiped her hands. She glanced back at the soaked blood on the bedding.

The stench of blood was pervasive. Judging by the amount, it looked like dozens had died.

But all this came from one person. A single dog lying there as if dead, yet still enduring that pain.

The Heavenly Demon pressed my arm, which was jutting out awkwardly, back down into the bedding, whispering as she locked eyes with me.

“Are you alive?”

“…….”

My response was a bit slow. My voice was faint.

But I could clearly hear it.

“I… am alive…”

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

What is the Reverse Heaven Blood Flow Technique?

It’s an act of defying the heavens. Simply a record of a great technique.

The traces of past Heavenly Demons who tried to directly create a body to withstand the suffering of countless tortures. But they all failed.

Why?

—Because everyone who received the Great Technique ended up dead.

There was no exception. Whether ten or a hundred, they all died.

This horrible technique included the dreadful condition of having to endure pain while remaining conscious.

Those who faint at just one blow are plentiful; how could one endure dozens of them?

It goes against the heavens.

It couldn’t possibly be easy.

But the dog before me managed to do it. It shattered my half-doubting heart before my eyes.

Determination.

And longing.

Though trembling, those still wide eyes were drenched in tears of blood. The Heavenly Demon looked down upon them fondly.

The perfect toy. Ah, only a dog like this is worthy of being my servant.

“Where did something like this come from…?”

She reached out and poked my nose.

Her eyes squinted as she chuckled.

“You should’ve come to find me earlier! You wouldn’t have to endure this kind of pain otherwise.”

The blood-soaked eyes widened slightly.

“Really…?”

“Of course, that’s just a joke.”

“…….”

“Don’t give that face to your master, pup.”

The Heavenly Demon played with her scarred cheek.

Among the words I had spat out, there was certainly some truth mixed in.

If only I had known this a little sooner…

But it couldn’t be helped.

From now on, I could only be satisfied with what I could see.

“Jeok-un.”

“…Yes.”

Her faint voice pulled me in. She leaned down and lightly kissed my forehead.

My eyes widened slightly. A bittersweet taste lingered on my tongue.

As she brushed the blood from my lips with her fingertips, she whispered,

“You’ve endured well. Now, rest.”

…

When I opened my eyes, the Heavenly Demon was gone. Only the freshly cleaned bedding and the previous maid looking down at me remained.

“You’ve awakened.”

“…….”

I felt my body. The horrific pain had vanished, leaving only tranquility.

Everything had dissipated like a dream after a night full of horrors. But things had changed, regardless.

I clenched my fist. I opened it lightly again.

A deep-rooted power. An energy bubbling within.

The body had reached the pinnacle of energy control. Not only that, if I focused, I could manifest my sword power as I wished.

It had certainly been that way before. It was clear as day.

But what about now?

“…Huh.”

I circulated the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique. I grasped the sword that had been brewing within the boiling energy.

I drew it lightly. Holding the blade with both hands, I checked the tip.

It was still a sharp blade. Yet, even with my hand above it, it didn’t cut my skin.

My entire body felt as hard as metal. I had merely put some force into it, yet the tip didn’t pierce my skin.

The structure of my muscles, their strength…

Even the composition of my bones felt twisted, as if I had become a new person.

And that wasn’t all. The pain granted by the countless tortures had also vanished. It had completely disappeared, even making me feel a bit anxious.

I inadvertently let my sword energy rise and grazed my skin.

Only after confirming that the wound healed almost immediately did I manage to calm my nervous heart.

My heart learned from the Soul Stealing Sword. With a clear direction in mind, understanding naturally followed.

What about the Qi? The thing that the Heavenly Demon called Blazing Ice that had nearly killed me due to side effects. Yet I had finally brought it under my control with the help of many. Through that process, I had experienced a significant enhancement of power.

With just those two, I had reached a peak. A state that was possible even without the equilibrium of the Heart and Qi.

But what about now? Even my lacking physique had reached a state. Completing the basics of the Overlord Demon Technique meant I had finished body training overnight.

I felt it.

There was a massive wall in front of me. It was vague, but the enormous wall I had seen before was crisscrossed with countless cracks.

It was different from that solid form I had known. If I reached out, it felt fragile enough to touch.

Just a hair’s breadth.

What would happen if I crossed this wall? Would everything I knew be turned upside down?

…No. Right now, I didn’t really care about that wall.

I simply wanted to test this power I had obtained. To see where I stood now.

“Calm down. Thirty. The Master has a message for you.”

“Yes?”

“In the Demon Valley, you must defeat the Demon Valley Lord within six months and consume his blood. The Inner Pill as well; you are to consume it and fortify your foundation.”

“Demon Valley Lord?”

“Yes. And if you do that…”

The maid handed me a clean outfit.

“You’ve finished building your power, so prepare to return to your main business by following Ilma—that is also what he said.”

“……!”

Main business. Those words dawned on me.

Why had the Heavenly Demon taken me in to begin with? It was none other than…

To use me as a double agent for the Heavenly Demon Sect.

“…I will obey the Master’s command.”

Six months.

Within the time given to me, I decided what I must do.

To defeat the Demon Valley Lord while sharpening my sword skills.

If I return to the righteous path, my duty is clear. I must serve the Heavenly Demon, betraying her, and eliminate the spies embedded in the Demon Cult.

While repaying the favor, I could fund my revenge against the Martial Alliance, who had tossed me aside as mere bait. But my heart felt calm.

Returning to the Martial Alliance wouldn’t mean everything would end. The high-level spies infiltrated would surely be extremely powerful.

Peak state? That alone might not be enough to resolve anything.

The day the spies disappeared, the Seven Demons also vanished, as the Heavenly Demon had said.

Among the enemy’s spies lurked beings as strong as the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists.

And I would have to surpass even them.

But…

“Demon Valley Lord. I heard you loud and clear.”

My target was the back of the Heavenly Demon.

If I couldn’t catch up to even the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists, there would be no meaning to my journey.

Forward.

Higher still.

“I will prove my skills within six months.”

“Excellent.”

The maid nodded.

“I will guide you back to the Demon Valley, Thirty.”

…

I returned to the Demon Valley. Twenty-Nine followed me.

“Y-you met Lord Ilma, didn’t you?! What did she say?! Did she mention me?!”

“I did not meet Lord Ilma.”

“Really?!”

I glanced at Twenty-Nine.

“Twenty-Nine. Do you still wish to join the Blood Sea Organization?”

“Y-yeah? Of course, right?!”

Perhaps if I stepped out of the Demon Valley, I wouldn’t see her anymore. Our paths would diverge.

In the end, I would set out toward the Martial Alliance. No matter how hard I tried to return alive, I couldn’t guarantee what awaited me.

In the worst-case scenario, I might not be able to return to the Demon Cult.

Of course, I bore no grudge against it.

Having received so much from the Heavenly Demon, I wanted to return it in any form. I couldn’t just leave those who threatened the life of my benefactor to roam free.

“…….”

…So.

I wanted to give Twenty-Nine something before we parted ways soon.

To her, who had quietly supported my ridiculous decisions.

I requested a meeting with the Blood Demon Leader. He welcomed me with a bright smile.

“Did I convey my message well to Lord Ilma?”

“Blood Demon Leader. I have a request.”

“…Again?”

“I would like to request an audience with Lord Ilma.”

“…….”

The Blood Demon Leader’s expression soured.

“I will at least put in the request…but Lord Ilma is not someone so free. She has well over dozens of duties. Moreover, she’s even the Master’s Grand Priestess, so even ten of her wouldn’t be enough. I don’t really know what the relationship is between you two, but just because Lord Ilma calls…doesn’t mean she’ll come every time…”

Ilma arrived.

“What is it now?”

“Lord Ilma.”

Ignoring the Blood Demon Leader, who was sweating profusely, I spoke to her.

“I assume you know that I met with the Master.”

“Of course, I know. So?”

“The Master has ordered me to capture the Demon Valley Lord within six months.”

“Indeed.”

“I will reduce that to one month.”

“…Huh?”

I spoke without fear, despite Ilma’s twisted tone.

This was the only way I could repay Twenty-Nine.

“During the shortened timeframe, I will assist you. Instead…would you grant me one wish?”

“What kind of nonsense is that…”

“I can accomplish whatever is asked of me. Even if it means sacrificing my sleep, I will repay my debt.”

“…….”

Ilma stared at me blankly. As if she were puzzled as to why I was behaving this way—she rubbed her chin repeatedly.

Ilma started to touch my body. Abruptly, her hands began to fidget.

“Were you threatened?”

“No.”

A brief moment of silence, still seeming deep in thought.

In the end, she nodded.

“Let’s hear your story.”

“……!”

I poured out everything I wanted to say. Ilma stared at me intently.

“Is it love?”

“I simply hope to help her in her future. She and I are…”

If I were to express our relationship, that would be it.

We crossed life and death together. Trained with swords side by side, having each other’s backs…

“We’re comrades.”

“Hmm.”

Ilma pulled away from me.

“That’s not a difficult thing. There’s no reason I can’t grant that. One month. Even if you keep your promise, you should know that the remaining five months may as well consider them dead.”

“…Yes!”

“Don’t think of this as something you could ask for again. This is the last time. Don’t think the same thing will happen again. I’m the one in charge of your management. If I set my mind to it, I could work you like a dog for free.”

“Still, you’ve granted it, so I will repay you with my efforts.”

Ilma snorted softly.

“Jeok-un. Remember, I don’t like men who can’t keep their promises. What you’ve suggested to me, fulfill it with your life. As you’ve always done.”

“……?”

As I listened, her words were strange, so I asked.

“Does that mean you’re satisfied with what I’ve done thus far…?”

“Why do you get beaten at the end?”

She kicked my shin.

 

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