“Kill me!”

Jin Wi-lyang.

The late-ranking member of the Shinwon Jin Clan.

Though he is called a good-for-nothing, his martial prowess is not something to be underestimated as he closes the distance in an instant.

A strange sound emanates from the extended sword.

The air twists. An abnormal phenomenon makes the space appear to shatter.

“How dare you! What is this thunder?! My sword…!”

A whirlwind swirls at the tip of Jin Wi-lyang’s sword.

“It is a sword that shatters the heavens!”

The martial arts of the Shinwon Jin Clan.

The Hachun Sword (破天劍) explodes before Yeon Guang’s eyes.

“Ugh?!”

He raises his sword to defend immediately, but the blade rattles as if it might shatter. Just one exchange, and a piece of the sword completely flies away.

It’s useless to fight back. Even when searching for an opening, the mindless currents leap before him.

The right arm caught in the whirlwind.

The sword qi, which consumed the grip of the sword, tears through muscle.

—Kaaahhh!!!

Barely managing to deflect it, he straightens up. However, in that brief moment, his right arm, which was almost torn off, hangs limply.

Blood drips. He’s barely managing to keep his sword from dropping, lowering his body as much as possible.

It’s like there’s no strength left in him.

How far has it been severed?

“Cough!”

Jin Wi-lyang’s shoulder shakes as he steps onto the blood-stained ground.

“Why?! Are you regretting it now? If so, bow your head! If you grovel, I might consider it!”

“…….”

“It’s absurd from the start! How dare a fool like you, a pathetic disciple of the Thunder Sword, think you can defeat me?! Know your place!”

Yeon Guang raises his left hand. Ignoring the sharp sarcasm, he silently moves.

Tearing part of his ragged clothing, he wraps his trembling right arm, forcing it to grip tightly.

He takes another breath, gripping the sword and looking ahead.

Jin Wi-lyang scoffs.

“Fool! I’ll tear you apart!”

Once more, he comes at him.

A sword that shatters the heavens.

He feels the air currents from the raging winds right in front of him. What would happen if he takes another hit this time?

Surely, it wouldn’t just end with muscles tearing. His right arm could get entirely severed.

…But.

He still raises his sword.

He calls forth his inner power. Full of energy, his sword tip produces a faint crackling sound.

He hears that sound, then he listens to his opponent.

…Gripping the sword.

That’s still difficult. Even now, as he gathers his resolve, the fact that it remains hard doesn’t change.

Perhaps he may not be able to complete the Thunder Sword with his own hands.

…Nevertheless.

I intend to try.

“…Grrr!”

He grinds his teeth, feeling the pressure bearing down on him.

Ferocious. At the same time, mighty. But it’s not that he completely lacks control.

His left arm supports his right. Gripping the sword with both hands, he attempts to feel.

Didn’t his master say?

That his sense is undoubtedly extraordinary.

“…….!”

Read. If you cannot read it, feel it with your whole body.

There is a reason for being hit once. It’s to feel that energy.

The movement of the Hachun Sword. The tremors of the air. The opponent’s breath linked to the sword’s trail.

Fortunately, is the opponent not vigilant? Jin Wi-lyang’s mastery is well-known. Absolute peak. He possesses the level of might that surpasses mere sword intent, with shards of stars attached.

Yet at the end of that sword, there is no tangible force clinging to it. The spinning blades are all mere fragments of sword intent.

Use that moment of carelessness. While he cannot contend with the might…

If it’s the same sword intent, isn’t it a different story?

—Kagagagagaga!

The swords clash. In the midst of the erupted inner power, a thunderous roar reverberates.

Jin Wi-lyang’s expression sneers right before him. He can feel the overwhelming difference in energy, as if he could hear his whispering.

A loser.

He was clearly saying that.

But he ignores it. This is not the time to listen to others. As the once-wrapped clothing tears, he feels his skin being cut as well, focusing.

Pain is frightening. He would rather avoid suffering.

But if the time comes when he must bear even that…

“…Uh?”

He won’t step back.

“W-wait…?!”

Sword intent clashes with sword intent. He seeks a countermeasure in the space between their impacts.

The swirling sharp sword intent. Its power is high. Absurdly high, enough that swords of equal caliber would shatter like fallen leaves.

But he doesn’t resist it. He spreads his sense widely and moves the energy contained at the sword’s tip.

Gently.

Aligning with the direction of rotation.

He begins to match the speed, bursting his inner power.

“Y-you little…?!”

He swings down his sword. He continues the trail of energy, muttering repeatedly as the golden lightning erupts.

Hurry and catch up. Until now, all he has done is lament alone…

From this moment on, chase after it. Believing he can reach it.

—Kaaahhh!

As Jin Wi-lyang deflects the sword, he bares his teeth. The time for games is over as he unleashes his sword intent.

The trajectory rises from the lower left to the top.

Steel fangs charge forward madly.

But he blocks it.

—Kaaahhh!

In the space bursting with sparks, he takes one more step forward. He maximally shifts the direction of the inner power to guide the flow.

He’s pushed back. Each strike feels like it’s tearing him apart. Blood bursts forth and scatters in the wind as if that’s what’s happening.

But it’s different. He feels the strikes he couldn’t absorb at first now being caught at the sword’s tip.

He moves the sword.

With a thunderous sound.

He predicts every incoming sword.

“How?!”

He catches up with Jin Wi-lyang’s thundering strikes. If predicted through his sense, then the countermeasure itself is easy.

He absorbs the oncoming sword intent of the Hachun Sword. He rides on top of it.

He feels Jin Wi-lyang flinch amidst the bursting energy. He intercepts all the swords that come in more fiercely.

It’s natural for him to be the one who gets wrecked. Yet the other side is also accumulating damage little by little.

The match…

—Starts now.

“Ugh!”

Thunder Blade (雷靂劍)

Splitting Wings (分光飛翼)

The energy of the thunder disperses and gathers repeatedly.

In a moment, the trajectory of the sword draws wings.

He scatters the heated sword intent. Transitioning from defense to offense in one stroke, he closes the distance.

Jin Wi-lyang visibly pulls back in urgency. Not intending to let that happen, he follows closely behind.

Energy leaps to the tip of the sword. He embeds it right into the Hachun Sword.

Even transitioning to offense, the damage he receives is greater. Now his skin is so tattered that bones are visible.

…But.

He doesn’t want to stop.

Thunder Blade (雷靂劍)

Fish Song (碑登魚歌)

He pours his heart into the tip of the sword. He reflects on how he has been waiting for someone to come.

Stepping away from those utterly pathetic memories.

He lets loose. Colliding, pouring, and shaking the sword continuously.

The thunder sounds out. Surging inner power rains lightning in succession.

The retreating Jin Wi-lyang’s speed begins to accelerate. His body, starting to be pushed back, begins to touch the wall.

It’s the aura of inner power that guides this flow.

The lightning contained between the sword trails helps slow down the enemy’s sword bit by bit. The numbing thunderpower disrupts the original rhythm with which it’s supposed to strike.

Like a fish swimming against the current.

He continues to embed his sword.

“Is it just you…?!”

Blood splatters. His head spins. His body, having spilled too much blood in such a short time, wobbles.

His feet ache. Naturally, the wounds he acquired on his way to the Fengma Cave haven’t all healed yet.

It was difficult. At the same time, he was exhausted.

Even in delivering one sword, he had to burn his soul.

But he wanted this. He didn’t want to stop. He twisted his breath and stretched out once more.

The opponent’s careless moment.

The power of the Thunder Blade.

The sense that could read the attacks.

In the stage where those three rhythms harmonize, he moves his battered right arm. There’s no strength in it, but he trusts his body to the tattered fabric that binds them.

Look, Jin Wi-lyang.

Isn’t it resonating now? Isn’t it coming?

The thing you mocked so much…

Thunder Blade (雷靂劍)

Thunderous Cross Blade (碧靂雷聞十字劍)

The thunder of the Thunder Blade.

—Kuurrrrrooooh!!!!

The storm of sword energy that had been pouring down momentarily converges into one. The broad image drawn narrows into a single point.

Reduction. It’s not just a matter of size. He compiles all the sword forms he has drawn into one, raising the sword.

To the left. To the right.

To the front. To the back.

Blocking every exit, the gathered sword is adorned with blue thunder.

There’s nowhere left to run. This is the end.

Yeon Guang cried out as he bled. Aura. Thunder.

He will soon escape from this place.

The country’s shell!

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!”

The scattered sword intent gathers into a single point. Even the sword that shatters the heavens grew momentarily silent amidst the sound of thunder.

…But.

“How can I be using this against someone like you?!”

Before his eyes, it shatters.

Pieces of energy rise.

The mighty energy, sparkling like stars.

. . .

“Hah… hah…”

Jin Wi-lyang steadied his breath. He felt a chill crawl down his spine momentarily.

Blood stains his fingertips. A slight cut. What was that? The blue thunder just now. For a moment, he felt death. He thought he might die here.

The pressure of the sword intent and the strange harmony of the inner power tighten around his throat.

By laying it all bare, Yeon Guang the warrior resembled a sharp sword. A truth Jin Wi-lyang didn’t want to accept caused him to step forward.

It was dangerous, but the result was always the same.

He kicked aside the half-corpse wrapped in the essence of energy.

—Kwang!

Yeon Guang’s body crashed against the wall. Jin Wi-lyang spat on him.

For a brief moment, he was taken aback, but that was all. Yes. Just that.

“Fool. The distance between you and me isn’t merely what you can see. We have been in different realms from birth, and that gap can never be bridged.”

“…….”

“Why? Do you resent me? Then blame the heavens! Blame your master who filled you with such nonsensical hope! Someone who should have never touched a sword dared to grasp it!”

Jin Wi-lyang wiped his forehead drenched in sweat.

“So that disciple and that master balance each other. The day the incomplete Thunder Blade is completed will never come.”

He raises his sword. Loosening his wrist lightly to finish off the opponent.

Then suddenly, something catches his eye. Jin Wi-lyang furrows his brow.

“…….?”

The sword.

Despite being completely broken and rattling, Yeon Guang still held it in his hand. His tattered clothing had lost all shape, yet he bore the sword atop his right arm, which was even torn to shreds.

What is this? How is he holding on? Is he just layering it on top?

Annoyed, he kicked it aside. But rather than fall, only the sound of bones twisting was heard amidst the misery of the foreground.

Yeon Guang still clutched the sword.

As if believing he could win.

“…No…”

“What?”

“It… comes…”

He gasped for air.

His completely battered body was already nearing its end. Even left as is, it wouldn’t change the fact that he would die.

Yet, the gaze looking up remains heavy. That feeling upset Jin Wi-lyang, revealing his teeth.

“What do you mean, comes? You fool! No one is coming here. No one will protect you. Your dead master? He too, in the end, couldn’t complete his own sword and died! Nothing is coming! If there is anything that comes… it’s just your death!”

“Thunder…”

“…What?”

“Thunder… sound… that… you… don’t… know…”

He chokes, spewing blood. Some internal organs mixed in spread across the ground.

But he still speaks. Gripping the sword with his deformed right arm.

“It’ll definitely… come…”

“……”

“If you want… to live… kill me…”

With a trembling voice.

Suffering in agony.

The faintly echoing sound of thunder…

“One day… the thunder that descends… will kill you… before…!”

He threatens himself, even beyond death.

Jin Wi-lyang tried to laugh. He attempted to lift the corners of his mouth to mock heavily.

But for some reason, it wouldn’t rise. A strange chill raced down his spine.

The dying thrashing of a bug. Just nonsense before death. Yet why? Why does it feel…

As if those words are true?

“…Your words are mistaken, fool.”

Jin Wi-lyang hurriedly raised his sword.

To erase even the faint doubts within him.

“Such a day will never come. The progression of the Thunder Blade ends here. For daring to challenge me!”

—Evil.

The swung sword tore through the air. The lingering sword intent at the tip thrashed as it devoured the front.

There was surely a sensation in the mercilessly driven hand. However, it was something unexpected.

A severed wall. Just the unfortunate debris flew away with a thud. Nothing was there at the end, causing Jin Wi-lyang to blink.

He cut. He clearly cut…

But he didn’t cut.

“Eh?”

Following the presence, he turned his head. Jin Wi-lyang saw the back of a man at the end.

The group that had been left behind along with Eun Seol-ran. A wild one that crawled up to Fengma Cave without any inner power.

Bi Cheon.

He cradled Yeon Guang in his arms. Jin Wi-lyang blinked. Unable to believe, he looked down at his own hand.

He swung down the sword. But faster than that…

He saved Yeon Guang?

Just a mere member of the Evil Spirit Sect?

“Hey, brother…”

“I heard it. Yeon Guang. Even from far away, I heard it clearly.”

“I… I…”

“Stop resting.”

He turned around.

“Leave the back to me.”

“…….!”

Blood and tears mixed rolled down from Yeon Guang’s eyes. Jin Wi-lyang unconsciously took a step back.

It was calm.

But it wasn’t quiet.

What is this? That sharp aura. It’s as if an unseen shadow is baring its fangs at him.

Isn’t it strange? It’s not an energy that a human should possess. It feels like a beast has been forcibly implanted within the flesh of a human.

Spitting, he questions.

“Who… what are you?! You aren’t just an ordinary member of the Evil Spirit Sect!”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“What, what…?”

“I asked if you enjoyed it. To tear down what others possess, to destroy easily. Touching what the innocent have without fault, climbing upon it and laughing…”

—Sleek.

A sword slips from Bi Cheon’s waist. That day, it was particularly red, seeming to glisten with blood.

“I asked if that was enjoyable.”

“You… you bastard… wh-what…”

Jin Wi-lyang instinctively swallowed dryly. He couldn’t tell whether the blood at the end of that blade was his or someone else’s.

But one thing was certain.

What stands before him…

“If you’re so confident…”

He’s a type of human he has never met before.

“Try breaking me once as well. The good-for-nothing of the Shinwon Jin Clan.”