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“Here comes the Dragon of the Apocalypse!”

Yeodong-bin was the first to attack, targeting the great beast’s massive mouth. From it, a beam of light shot forth, aimed at obliterating the surface world. With the power to sink even the Dragon King in a single strike, just two more shots would be enough to obliterate the protective barrier surrounding the realm.

“Whoosh!”

But when Yeodong-bin’s sword flew like a fiery arrow towards the dragon’s mouth, he suddenly realized the sheer size of the Dragon of the Apocalypse.

“It’s… so huge!!”

He had only flown a mere dozen miles, yet that dark void loomed over the entire sky, making it impossible to distinguish between the beast’s body and its mouth. To be precise, the mouth was so enormous that it might as well have spanned hundreds of miles, rendering classification useless. Yeodong-bin felt like he was trying to tackle a continent.

Would a strike even faze such a massive opponent?

Could this even be defeated by sheer martial strength?

A being that could withstand the force of millions of bombs without even a scratch!

A chill ran down Yeodong-bin’s spine. Though he had faced large enemies before, nothing could compare to the impossibly mind-boggling size of this dragon. He could even envision it simply rolling over onto the land, causing a flood that would sweep away entire civilizations.

A cosmic terror capable of swallowing the world whole – that was the Dragon of the Apocalypse!

“Ugh!”

But Yeodong-bin gritted his teeth and resisted the horrific fear tightening around his soul. Instead, he unleashed every bit of strength gained from a year and a half of hard training.

Heavenly Escape Sword Technique!

Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram!

Clouds Are Decided!

Yeodong-bin had now mastered the six intents of the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram, able to deploy them with ease, and he even reached a level where he could mix their essences for enhanced power. Normally, it would require at least fifty years of practice, but with Seon’s help, he ascended to new heights in a fraction of the time.

“Boom!!”

From the cloud, countless sword energies erupted like a storm, relentlessly charging at the Dragon of the Apocalypse. Each shard held the culmination of Yeodong-bin’s lifelong efforts, showing enough destructive force to blast away entire mountains, momentarily illuminating one corner of the sky.

“Flash!”

In a split second, the Fire Dragon Incarnate warned him, and Yeodong-bin swiftly dodged a massive bolt of lightning. Even at his high level, the unpredictability and vast range of the lightning made it impossible to foresee, and its instantaneous strike nearly caught him. After narrowly avoiding the blast, he wiped the sweat from his chin.

“Can that guy manipulate all five elements?”

When confronting the enemy’s techniques or special abilities, Yeodong-bin depended entirely on the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s guidance. As the Dragon King and a master of rituals, she was the only reason Yeodong-bin had survived this long.

“Hmm… something’s off. It felt like that beast created something out of nothing instead of moving the five elements!”

“Created something…?”

“That last attack didn’t seem particularly damaging. Be careful and approach cautiously.”

“Understood.”

As expected, after Yeodong-bin reduced the mass of a mountain, the dragon seemed to brush off the attack as if it were merely a scratch, showing no substantial reaction. However, it appeared that he had successfully blocked the beam aimed at the Dragon King; no further attacks were launched.

“I need to observe its weaknesses while keeping it at bay.”

Yeodong-bin felt his sense of perception expanding. Moments later, lightning, flames, and torrents erupted around the dragon, all aimed at him, but he skillfully dodged every attack with clarity, as if he knew them even before they were launched.

It felt like he could always take the initiative.

“Surely… this must be a new level of transcendence?”

Initially, Yeodong-bin thought the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram would be his only weapon after reaching the Absolute Realm, but he now sensed that something new was intertwining within him. Unlike straining to master other forms of absolute techniques, this felt natural, like new branches sprouting from a tree. It was a derivative technique.

He understood immediately.

Infinite Spiral!

Thanks to absorbing it, he had shattered the previously impenetrable obstacles he should have taken decades to overcome. Though obtaining such a fortuitous encounter was an immense boon for an expert, he also knew the associated risks.

“I must reach… the level where I can strike down this dragon in this battle! Otherwise, I…”

“KyaaaBoom!!”

While continuing to hurl his sword, Yeodong-bin actively countered the dragon’s beam each time it prepared to fire using the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram. Although he drained an incredible amount of spiritual energy, the Fire Dragon Incarnate supported him time and time again.

Then, the Dragon of Apocalypse, feeling annoyed by Yeodong-bin’s persistent interference, coiled its body and twisted with great force.

Yeodong-bin, bracing for an overwhelming attack, tensed up, yet the dragon’s next move was completely unexpected.

It merely extended its massive body from the Dimension Door and shoved itself forward. It wasn’t even an offensive or defensive maneuver; at that moment, Yeodong-bin felt the creature’s bulk descend like a mountain, forcing him to evade with the Sword Flying Technique.

“BoomBoomBoom!!”

Yeodong-bin’s sword sliced through the clouds on its fierce descent towards the ground, but the dragon was closing in just as quickly. Only when he dropped down another three feet did he realize the dragon had ceased its approach.

He gazed up at the hollow sky with wide eyes.

“Wha-What is this…?”

The dragon could cause the world to crumble with just a single body slam! If it decided to slowly lower its bulk onto the Central Plains, devastation would follow. And looking at the size of its mouth, thousands of victims would perish in the blink of an eye.

There was no other option.

Unless they quelled such a colossal beast, Yeodong-bin knew his interference with the dragon’s beams would be utterly pointless!

“Is it possible to take it down with my strongest strategy…?”

Impossible.

He would need a single strike to slice through the dragon’s enormous body, which easily stretched for thousands of miles! Moreover, while the surface might be easy to cut, the interior remained sturdy and impenetrable, rendering Yeodong-bin’s attacks ineffective.

Despair seeped into Yeodong-bin’s heart.

Simply the difference between their sizes – this beast ignored all of Yeodong-bin’s absolute realm martial arts and sword skills!

This wasn’t a fight.

To the dragon, he was no more than an insect!

As Yeodong-bin stood there, dazed, the ground shook with a deafening roar.

“Yeeowww!!”

Four figures emerged from nowhere like spectres. They floated towards him, familiar faces causing recognition to dawn.

“Master of the White Lotus Sect! And the Dharma Guardians!”

“How did you get here?”

“The Eight Immortals sent us here quickly.”

Master of the White Lotus Sect, Lee Gun-ak, and the Dharma Guardians of the White Lotus Sect were now hovering in the air. It seemed they had arrived through Namchae-hwa’s Transmission Technique. Lee Gun-ak looked incredulously at the enormous Dragon of the Apocalypse floating in the sky.

“When you spoke of the dragon… I thought everyone was mad for believing it. Only the Priestess, being our sect’s designated oracle, took it seriously, while the rest dismissed it as fantasy. But witnessing it today fills me with unimaginable dread.”

Seeing Lee Gun-ak openly express his fear made Yeodong-bin glance at the other Dharma Guardians, who visibly trembled as well. Each one was an expert, yet even they couldn’t conquer the primal terror.

Could anyone be clueless at this point?

It was clear that this wasn’t an opponent that could possibly be challenged by humans!

This was akin to fighting the very essence of nature itself.

Yeodong-bin regarded him with calm eyes.

“And yet you all came to help me.”

Lee Gun-ak smirked.

“The Priestess promised us.”

“The Priestess?”

“She foretold that if we assisted you, we might defeat that dragon, and thus the law of cause and effect would shift. In this newly altered flow, our goal of True Martial Home would also be realized, and Maitreya would finally appear.”

His eyes glinted with determination, forcing him to forget his fear.

“For that, we are willing to sacrifice our lives! For the great thousand-year kingdom of the White Lotus Sect!”

True Martial Home.

Maitreya.

Yeodong-bin privately pondered their words. He was somewhat aware of the White Lotus Sect’s doctrines and ideologies, having heard of their aspirations for True Martial Home and Maitreya. However, he had always regarded them as nothing but empty beliefs until now, never imagining such passionate reactions.

“…Maybe their faith is stronger than my own, which is anchored in nothing.”

Yeodong-bin decided not to dwell further. This wasn’t the time for pondering.

“I appreciate your help.”

They exchanged glances filled with trust, fully preparing for battle. Lee Gun-ak posed a question.

“What seems to be the issue?”

Yeodong-bin explained the troubling situation. Lee Gun-ak nodded, arms crossed.

“So, if that monster keeps pushing downwards, it’ll spell the end for us, right?”

“Exactly. I need enough strength to contain it. Only then can we aim for a critical blow, but I cannot do it alone.”

“Strength, you say? That’s simple.”

With that, Lee Gun-ak commanded the surrounding Dharma Guardians.

“Everyone, procure your divine treasures!”

“Yes, sir!”

In an instant, the Dharma Guardians brandished what appeared to be magical artifacts. Lee Gun-ak, gripping his Vajra as before, spurred Yeodong-bin’s curiosity.

“What’s that?”

Lee Gun-ak paused briefly before replying, “From what you say, that monster seems to have a tendency to fire beams the moment it detects a certain level of power. Lacking your sharp senses and transcendent abilities, we might not evade those beams. If we’re hit by something that can also eliminate the Dragon King, we won’t stand a chance! So, you focus on preventing its beams from firing.”

“Got it.”

“Haaahhhh!”

“Oooooh!!”

“God of the White Lotus Sect! Grant us strength!”

“Oooooh!!”

Lee Gun-ak and the Dharma Guardians held their divine treasures aloft, directing them towards the heavens.

“Crack!”

Simultaneously, Lee Gun-ak’s body crackled with lightning, the Dharma Guardian of the Su Shin Sect transformed into a flowing figure, while the Fire Spirit techniques illuminated the Fire Spirit Guardian’s form. The Wind Spirit Guardian morphed completely into a humanoid of pure wind.

A human’s body transforming into the Five Elements?!

Such a feat was deemed impossible by any martial methods, and as Yeodong-bin widened his eyes in shock, Lee Gun-ak, now completely transformed into lightning, stretched out his arm and attacked the dragon.

“Take this! Thunder God Fist!”

“CrackBoomBoom!!”

The gigantic cannon formed by the lightning unleashed its ferocious destructive force. Yeodong-bin realized the impact of this strike rivaled the strength of his own Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram, and as soon as that attack triggered a response, the Dragon of the Apocalypse countered with its elemental powers, making Lee Gun-ak move like lightning to evade.

“Crack!”

Additively, with a torrent of wind and darkness raging around, Lee Gun-ak absorbed the impact with his lightning-infused form. It seemed the typical physical force had no effect on him now.

“Incredible! He’s merging with nature!”

It wasn’t just Lee Gun-ak. Once the other Dharma Guardians activated their divine treasures, they too transformed into beings of the Five Elements and began attacking the dragon using elemental forces.

“Die!!!”

“Bodhidharma!”

“Glory to the Wind Spirit Sect!”

“BoomBoomBoom!”

As their combined firepower, now four times greater than Yeodong-bin’s, struck the Dragon of the Apocalypse, it staggered, clearly taken aback and pushed back. Even the might of the continent-sized dragon was wounded when such power amassed!

Watching the sight unfold, when the dragon suddenly focused its energy to fire its beam, Yeodong-bin detected the shift and quickly acted to contain it.

“Rumble…”

Then, the movement of the Dragon of the Apocalypse, which had been slowly approaching the ground, ceased.

Now, at long last, it was a real ‘battle’!

“We can do this!!”

With this level of teamwork, Yeodong-bin felt confident he could create an opening to deal a critical blow to the dragon. Just as he reveled in this thought, Lee Gun-ak sent a distressing mental message.

“Ugh… Yeodong-bin… we must finish this within the next meal’s time….”

“What?”

“As Dharma Guardians of the Four Great Families, while we can use this divine power granted to us, we do not possess the means to maintain it for long… If we recklessly accept this divine energy in our human forms, the aftereffects could be devastating, and it may even cost us our lives!”

“……!!”

“Please, deliver a lethal blow to it within one meal’s time…”

It was evident that even relying on this divine power came with risks, and was a perilous endeavor for the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Upon realizing the time constraint, Yeodong-bin narrowed his eyes and summoned every ounce of concentration as he frantically searched for the dragon’s weaknesses.

In that moment, Yeodong-bin felt a sudden intuition arise.

“Reverse Scale…?”

Previously, when the Dharma Guardians all struck simultaneously, the skies had split open, and Yeodong-bin seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of something alive and wriggling beneath the beast’s skin. It was but an instant, yet he had a gut feeling this was the dragon’s weakness.

However, this was daunting business. That reverse scale seemed alive, and would it even be possible to locate and strike the elusive spot among the countless scales of such a beast? Without guarantees he could manage it in a meal’s time either.

“…I have no choice!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yeodong-bin invoked the Sword Flying Technique and shot skyward. Attacks from the dragon honed in on him, but the White Lotus Sect’s Dharma Guardians shielded him from the strikes. Yeodong-bin poured all his might into the sword as he ascended.

“Boom!”

As he charged, Yeodong-bin met the thick hide of the dragon, which felt as hard as diamond but gritted his teeth and pushed harder to pierce through its mighty frame.

“Thud!”

Yeodong-bin shot through the dragon’s body, bursting outward toward the heavens. Moments later, a sense of futility washed over him.

It was as vast as a continent!

“Aaaaah!!!”

Yeodong-bin cried, summoning the power of the Fire Dragon Sword. All the force gathered around him surged towards the back of the dragon’s massive head. He was intent on detecting even the tiniest particles of dust from that expansive surface in pursuit of the reverse scale. As he anxiously searched for it, something caught his eyes.

“Is that it?!”

As a portion resembling the elusive reverse scale revealed itself, Yeodong-bin channeled everything he had into a strike.

“KaBoom!!!”

A thunderous crash resonated as the dragon swayed backward violently. The tremors echoed, testifying to the ferocity behind Yeodong-bin’s attack.

“Please… please…!!”

He embedded his blade into the dragon, praying fervently that this time the fatal wound would land; otherwise, all hope would be lost.

But a while later – Yeodong-bin noticed the dragon’s massive body begin to descend slowly.

It remained intact.

While he thought he hit the reverse scale, it barely registered as an injury. The dragon was so incredibly durable that even this stunning strike hadn’t phase it. If it endured after such effort, attacking it hundreds or thousands of times more would yield no results.

“No….”

Just as despair took root in Yeodong-bin’s expression, whispers filled his ears.

“Yeodong-bin! I am the Priestess of the White Lotus Sect…”

A voice he had heard before, belonging to the Priestess. With his strength and energy completely spent, Yeodong-bin listened in silence.

“Do not give up just yet…” There seemed to be no other way.

This monster was a threat even to the greatest immortal figures of the celestial realm – the very heavens and the earth had abandoned him now.

What could he possibly do? This being could easily tear the continent apart; failing in strength made him utterly powerless before it.

“Yeodong-bin, our White Lotus Sect intends to sacrifice the present for the future.”

After a brief pause, the Priestess continued.

“Once that time comes, during the era of Maitreya’s birth, I hope you will shine on this land by our sides…”

Then Yeodong-bin felt himself enveloped in a radiant light, spiraling into the realm of the martial gods.

He was unclear about how he ended there. Just as he was ready to yield against the Dragon of the Apocalypse, why had he ended up in this domain? As he blinked into the emptiness before him, he choked a soft laugh and murmured.

“…This time… I discovered something while wandering this space… Each spiral represents human potential and life…. The reason this place is infinite…”

He stared into the void with eyes dimmed by despair.

“But… I am human…. I have limits… Even if I open others’ potential to elevate my own, there are still limitations to digesting this, and pursuing this path means I’ll never compare to those who are already divine.”

After a brief silence, Yeodong-bin spoke.

“Divine Being… what do you desire…? What purpose is there to reveal this space to me? I am not a hero worthy of protecting this world…”

Yeodong-bin hadn’t expected a response.

After all, it had always been like this. The entity known as the martial god was nonexistent, manifesting only as cryptic phrases urging him to assimilate. This space had become nothing more than an everlasting resting place in his mind.

But then, new symbols emerged before him.

More than just you, there are many others.

In that very moment.

“Woooosh!”

Yeodong-bin realized he had attained infinite vision within an infinite realm. It felt as if he had become an absolute being gazing down upon the world. And across that unfathomable distance in space-time, he could see “others” just like him, also studying and experimenting with possibilities.

There were indeed many others.

Yeodong-bin wasn’t alone! Others had also come into contact with the martial god!

“Who are they?!”

While Yeodong-bin marveled in shock, the martial god continued.

“Soon, a door will open. One hundred of you will unlock it together.”

“One hundred…?”

Yeodong-bin flipped that cryptic statement over in his mind but came up with nothing.

While he was in turmoil, the final message etched itself into his mind.

“Novice, welcome to the world of the Martial Soul.”

Yeodong-bin opened his eyes. And the moment he did, he gradually rose from the back of the Dragon of the Apocalypse. He discovered that four divine treasures had sealed the dragon’s movements. The beast struggled like a chained animal.

“Grrooooooar!”

This was it – the Dharma Guardians of the White Lotus Sect had sacrificed their lives, embedding their treasures to suppress the dragon. Thanks to their efforts, Yeodong-bin remained alive, allowing this opportunity to confront the beast!

“Let’s go.”

Despite the grave circumstances, Yeodong-bin felt a profound sense of peace. It felt like resisting a giant with a toothpick, yet panic and despair faded from his heart. The magnificence he felt in the martial god’s realm had overshadowed the dread of the dragon.

Yeodong-bin’s sword no longer felt like a mere weapon.

There was no need for it to exist as such.

At the moment he thought this, the sword already claimed dominion over all existence.

As he reached the boundaries of the universe.

The Martial Soul. The divine techniques held no true name or cataloguing, yet Yeodong-bin now recognized himself as part of that vast world. There, right and wrong, high and low ceased to exist; only ambition and fervor remained. Souls like his were also pursuing the martial path in a world dominated by fallen gods.

On the other side of that door, the martial god awaited.

What was he waiting for? –

Most likely a companion to end the solitude.

The outcome was merely an echo devoid of meaning.

Inside Yeodong-bin’s heart, now devoid of fear, anxiety, illusions, or compulsions to save the world, he quietly gazed into the “world,” reflecting that what he once thought to be the absolute realm was just the beginning.

Indeed.

His perceived ultimate techniques, his revered transcendent arts, all that he believed made him invincible, were merely a baby’s first steps.

The Martial Path wasn’t weak.

Humans were merely weak!

He must make that infinite world even less compassionate.

Drawing upon every ounce of his existence to sever all limitations, he realized.

This was only one slice.

Just a single stroke initiated by Yeodong-bin, yet without resistance or sound, the world seemed to split apart. Like some twisted joke – all reasoning on what could be considered possible or impossible dissolved as the dragon’s back fractured, revealing its spine.

Silence.

Almost immediately, light vanished from the dragon’s eyes, and it emitted a faint glow from its mouth.

This marked the signal of the dragon’s life ebbing away.

“UoOOOoo!! Chi You!!!”

For the first time, the Dragon of the Apocalypse howled.

It had previously half-heartedly dismissed Yeodong-bin and his allies, but now, it grasped that the recent strike meant its total annihilation. It sensed its very essence of chaos fading, all at once realizing the meaning of being turned into the forsaken.

“This cannot be! I am the devourer of kings! I wield the blessing of chaos, capable of feasting upon the world! I sought to grow stronger, consuming the Three Sovereigns, yet here I am—by a mere human?!”

Yeodong-bin remained silent.

“How could a mere human pierce the core of my chaos essence?! I’ve never encountered someone with similar powers!”

It didn’t matter what the dragon said; it understood that the resolution was now final – the match was over with that one slice.

His only task was to listen to the loser’s final words.

The vast chaos of the Dragon of the Apocalypse started to disintegrate. The fatal slice negated its existence and hastened its demise.

“Rumble…”

As darkness waned, the shadows looming over the continent began to recede.

With the dragon’s power fading, the law of cause and effect returned to motion.

Moments later, the silhouette of the dragon, shadowed by the radiant sun, flickered like a candle flame.

Realizing its end was imminent, the dragon managed a hollow chuckle.

“Hahaha… you, who mercilessly ended my chaos… What importance does postponing this world’s demise hold?”

O you of chaos, there is no meaning at all. I tread the path of the Martial Soul.

“…Truly magnificent…”

As Yeodong-bin’s soul replied, the dragon gradually shut its eyes.

In its last moment, it acknowledged Yeodong-bin’s swordsmanship, recognizing him as a worthy arch-enemy.

“To be slain by you… is this what it means to be a warrior?”

With a grand flourish, the flesh of chaos transformed into stardust, beginning to flow back through the universe. The starry sky ignited, and countless meteors were witnessed across the Central Plains that day. As the creature that devoured stars vanished, its life essence rained down upon the ravaged land, and for an instant, the ground became brilliantly illuminated.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the world had been saved.

Yeodong-bin was exhausted, longing for rest. With the Martial Soul’s assistance, he had briefly stepped beyond what he once viewed as impossible. However, exhaustion finally caught up with him, depleting all his vitality. He felt himself on the brink of collapse when suddenly, Master Mangnyang’s apparition appeared before him.

“Yeodong-bin, pull yourself together.”

“Master Mangnyang…”

“It’s not over yet. What you destroyed was merely the massive chaos form cultivated by the beast over thousands of years; its true body remains sealed in the Central Plains. This creature, having been sealed since ancient times, could escape only as a spirit.”

“Ugh…”

“Given the chaos form approached us, the true form could soon be released from its ancient seal. Only you can stop it.”

Yeodong-bin felt his legs quivering beneath him.

Yet he gritted his teeth.

There was little time left; he needed to move even if it meant shattering his bones to shield the innocent from suffering in this world.

Yeodong-bin asked, “Master… isn’t it against the law of cause and effect to provide me with guidance? Isn’t it burdensome for you?”

“Not at all…”

“Then why…?”

It seemed as though Master Mangnyang briefly grinned.

“A reward for the miracle you invoked. I will assist you.”

“Wooo…”

As Master Mangnyang summoned power, Yeodong-bin caught sight of the seal’s location glowing on the ground like a pinpoint. The detailed terrain remained unclear, but he felt confident he could pierce through the heart lying below!

“Bang!”

Yeodong-bin raised his sword high above the heavens, directing it downward. Time no longer allowed for a careful approach to unseal the ground. With one sweeping stroke, he aimed to pierce the heart of the ancient dragon and reinforce the seal.

“Huff… huff…”

But Yeodong-bin stumbled, nearly collapsing. Despite his absolute realm mastery and immense training, he couldn’t successfully sustain a sword strike across such a staggering distance when his strength was depleted. He stood half-leaning against the Fire Dragon Sword atop the dragon’s hide.

Then something happened. The sword slipped from Yeodong-bin’s grasp.

“Aah!”

As he panicked, the apparition of the Fire Dragon Incarnate appeared. She smiled softly, speaking.

“Leave the rest to me, my disciple.”

“Master…!!”

“If I exhaust all my power, I can re-seal this dragon. But it means I will fall into the slumber for the ages.”

“No…!! You must return to the celestial realm…”

As Yeodong-bin spoke weakly, the Fire Dragon Incarnate shouted.

“Your existence has made me happy! Let’s meet again!”

“Master!!”

“Bang-crash!”

The Fire Dragon Sword spiraled downwards like a lightning bolt. Crashing through the sea of clouds, it shone brightly as it vanished into the ground with a massive flame erupting from the ancient dragon’s seal. The Fire Dragon Incarnate had devoted every ounce of power into piercing the dragon’s heart to reinforce the seal.

Yeodong-bin fell silent.

“Did I… do the right thing?”

He achieved everything, yet a discontent remained.

But he had no choice in the matter; it was merely the limit upon being human.

Silence enveloped the world.

As memories from the past flashed in his gaze, Yeodong-bin heard echoes of a long-ago conversation.

“Master, I want to name this new realm the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram.”

“Six Intent… that fits perfectly. But is there a reason it’s a martial art that draws the constellations?”

Standing atop the deceased dragon’s body, Yeodong-bin gazed up at the celestial stars.

His skin, merging into chaos, began to slowly disintegrate.

Having won, yet he could not return to the earthly realm alive.

“I wish my sword would become the light for the people of this world.”

Came his final wish?

Yeodong-bin smiled wryly, closing his eyes.

In that moment, the Sword Saint who saved the world departed from this life.

 

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