Once upon a time, when Tang Soyeol was still able to count down to her death.

The King of Demons spoke to Tang Soyeol, drenched in cold sweat.

“Do you know what you fear the most?”

The lord of the night.

The king of assassins.

At the question from the man who was closest to death, Tang Soyeol lifted her head.

What did she fear the most?

“Is it… death?”

Death.

The end of life.

She thought that might be the answer, but the King of Demons maintained his characteristic blank expression and replied.

“Wrong.”

The punishment for a wrong answer was harsh.

Swish-!

The dagger swung by the King of Demons severed Tang Soyeol’s neck.

Thud-!

The moment her head fell to the ground.

“Gah…!”

It was as if everything was just a dream as she awakened once more.

“Gah…huh. Ugh…!”

Watching Tang Soyeol, who was sobbing in fear, the King of Demons said.

“Not enough yet.”

“Wait…!”

From that moment, she died a hundred more times.

After that, Tang Soyeol’s expression faded away.

No longer would she shiver in fear and weep.

But.

“I’ll ask again. What do you think you fear the most?”

The answer was still unclear.

Death was not scary. Hence, death could not be the answer.

Then, what in the world could it be?

Even then, Tang Soyeol couldn’t provide an answer.

“Still not it.”

The King of Demons nodded.

Swish-.

Death repeated itself once again.

How many more times had she died?

Now, she could no longer even count.

It felt like she had counted up to five hundred. After that, she stopped counting.

It was just a cycle of questions and answers.

“Do you understand?”

She answered that she did not know.

Another death awaited her.

“Do you understand?”

She felt like she might have an idea.

But it was still not complete, so she reached death again.

“Do you understand?”

Though she couldn’t answer directly, she learned many other things.

About where a person could be stabbed to die instantly.

Conversely, where to stab so they would not die, only feeling pain.

She hadn’t studied it.

Through countless repetitions, it was memorized unconsciously.

But still, she couldn’t answer the King of Demons’ question.

The numbers were innumerable.

As muted death became just an afterthought…

“How disappointing.”

The King of Demons, in his original tone, began to speak to Tang Soyeol again.

“You’re slower than I expected.”

“…”

Did that mean her responses were slow?

With dull eyes, Tang Soyeol looked at the King of Demons.

He had a blank expression, yet she could oddly sense disappointment lurking within.

“Will you give up?”

“…No… I won’t…. I can….”

The King of Demons often urged Tang Soyeol to give up.

Each time, she responded that she could not.

She couldn’t give up on this opportunity.

If she lost this chance, it would be better to really die.

“Well.”

After hearing Tang Soyeol’s response, the King of Demons seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Alright then.”

With a slight nod, he continued.

“From now, you have exactly ten chances. If you cannot find the answer within that time…”

The King of Demons’ dagger plunged into Tang Soyeol’s heart.

No longer feeling any pain, she began to slowly drift away from consciousness.

“I will kill Gu Yangcheong, the one you cherish the most.”

“…!”

At the voice that pierced her ears, Tang Soyeol regained her senses.

“Ugh….”

Blood began to flow.

She blinked amidst the death.

“What… did you just say…?”

“You should find the answer quickly. There aren’t many opportunities left.”

Despite Tang Soyeol’s words, the King of Demons wore a face that seemed unwilling to listen.

Thus, hell began.

“Do you understand?”

The only answers she could give were ones she’d already exhausted.

What more was left?

In this situation, Tang Soyeol had very few options.

“Gu Prince is unrelated, isn’t he? Why?”

“That’s not the answer.”

With that, the dagger embedded in her head led her to death.

“Please… please… don’t touch him. I’ll find the answer somehow… or I’ll do anything. Please…!”

Tang Soyeol had tried to appease him, clinging onto him and begging.

Every time, his answer remained the same.

“I’ll kill him…! If you touch that man, I’ll kill him!”

Desperate, she lunged at the King of Demons with the dagger, but again, the result was the same.

“I know I’m right! I know I’m afraid of this–!!”

Nothing worked. She had already burned through eight opportunities.

On the ninth.

“…Ugh… ugh…”

She desperately tried to recall an answer. It wasn’t death, nor despair.

It wasn’t poverty, nor sacrifice.

Then what could it be? Panic began to set in.

She wouldn’t mind dying dozens or hundreds of times.

But, he could not be involved. He must not be!

Grrr—

Blood dripped from Tang Soyeol’s clenched fist.

She had gripped it so tight that her nails dug into her flesh.

“Please, please, please…!”

She felt no pain.

With eyes bloodshot, she stared at the King of Demons.

She had to find the answer.

What could be the answer? What answer would satisfy the King of Demons?

What was it that she feared the most?

Tang Soyeol kept repeating the question.

Amid all this, the King of Demons approached her slowly.

He knelt halfway.

Then he met her gaze.

“Do you understand?”

A question she had heard thousands of times.

Again, the same question.

Tang Soyeol’s eyes trembled like mad.

Once more, she could not give an answer.

No matter what answer she spat out, it felt like it would not reach him.

“I see, you seem to not understand.”

Once again, the King of Demons slowly began to move his dagger.

As the blade reached her, Tang Soyeol thought.

What was she afraid of now?

Not death, not pain.

Was she afraid of losing Gu Yangcheong? Yes.

She was afraid.

Then, was she afraid of losing someone precious?

If that weren’t it…

“Am I afraid of being powerless while losing him?”

When he faded, she would be helpless, unable to assist him at all.

When he was lost, she would do nothing to help.

Wasn’t that what she feared?

In the instant this thought crossed her mind.

Suddenly-!

The dagger aimed for Tang Soyeol’s neck halted.

“I’ll ask again.”

She heard the question.

Tang Soyeol, trembling, looked at him.

“Do you understand?”

“…”

The same voice, the same question.

Fear of loss. Overwhelmed by it, Tang Soyeol, without knowing, blurted it out.

“Powerlessness….”

A powerlessness that leaves one unable to do anything.

As she spoke, tears streamed down her one eye that hadn’t turned green yet.

Yes, what she feared was powerlessness.

Not death, not pain. Just the pitiful emotions bottled up inside her.

That was all it was.

“Mm.”

After hearing that, the King of Demons withdrew the dagger he held.

“Is that your fear?”

At the King of Demons’ words, Tang Soyeol’s eyes widened.

“Is this… is this the right answer?”

The situation was incomprehensible.

If it was powerlessness, she had already spoken those words thousands of times when she died.

How many times had she expressed it?

Surely she must have said it with a similar meaning too.

Yet back then, the King of Demons had killed her, saying it was not the answer.

Why was it different now?

To Tang Soyeol’s inquiry, the King of Demons responded.

“The difference between saying it without understanding and recognizing it is vast.”

What difference comes from recognition versus unawareness?

At that moment, Tang Soyeol did not know.

When she understood the King of Demons’ words, her two eyes turned green.

Only then did the King of Demons permit her to descend.

“What the… What is that?”

“What is that?”

The audience buzzed at the scene unfolding on the Sparring Stage.

Moments after the Poison Phoenix and Yu Tan-Geom began their fight, a black barrier suddenly filled the air.

What is that? Is it a martial arts technique?

Unable to ascertain its nature, even the judges outside deliberated whether to intervene.

At that moment.

Swish—!

The black barrier, which had lasted for over a minute, dissipated.

The forms of the two opponents inside were revealed once more.

“Huh.”

“Hmm?”

Those who confirmed this reacted in surprise.

The duo on the Sparring Stage remained untouched.

An astonishing sight; had they not fought at all?

While pondering this, suddenly—

“Cough!”

Out of nowhere, Yu Tan-Geom dropped to one knee, blood gushing from him.

“What the—!?”

“Yu Tan-Geom collapsed?”

“Oh no…?”

Everyone was taken aback.

This was unexpected. Everyone had naturally anticipated the Poison Phoenix’s defeat, yet it was the Poison Phoenix who simply stared at Yu Tan-Geom.

“Ugh… cough… cough!”

Spitting blood repeatedly, Yu Tan-Geom fell apart.

Despite showing no visible wounds, he seemed to be in excruciating pain.

As Tang Soyeol spoke to him, she said.

“You only lasted four times.”

“…!”

At her words, fear struck Yu Tan-Geom’s face.

“You barely could endure four strikes.”

“N-no way!”

“Stop whining. I felt pity and let you go because you were begging.”

“What kind of demonic technique did you use?”

“Who knows?”

As the Poison Phoenix’s cries echoed, Tang Soyeol smiled wryly.

Seeing that smile, Yu Tan-Geom froze.

What exactly had he just experienced?

As he tried to recall, his body trembled uncontrollably.

It had just happened, but his memory was strangely hazy.

All that remained was a lingering fear.

Yu Tan-Geom could not accurately grasp his condition.

In such circumstances.

“Get a grip. Senior.”

Tang Soyeol addressed him.

“This is no fun if it just ends like this, and I can’t show you everything, so relax a bit.”

Her smile was beautiful, yet Yu Tan-Geom no longer felt that she was just pretty.

His anxiety spiked, coursing through him like fear instead.

“…You monster.”

He cursed unintentionally. However, it seemed to have no effect on Tang Soyeol.

“Thank you for the compliment. So, are you done?”

Crack crackle-!

With a sharp witticism, Yu Tan-Geom enveloped his sword in energy.

An unexplainable fear quickly overtook his mind, but still, Yu Tan-Geom was a Transformation Realm martial artist.

Such feelings could easily be crushed beneath his confidence.

Gathering himself, he said to her.

“I don’t know what tricks you’ve played, but it hasn’t worked. You’re done.”

If it had worked, he should have eliminated her on the spot.

Since that hadn’t happened, this girl had no hope.

With that thought, Yu Tan-Geom unleashed a powerful surge of energy.

“Hah!”

Pure, clear sword energy flowed into his blade.

With that, Yu Tan-Geom swung at Tang Soyeol.

Sliced cleanly through the air—!!!

The Celestial Crescent Slash.

A beautiful technique woven from sword intent hurtled toward Tang Soyeol.

It was the very skill that granted him his nickname, “Yu Tan-Geom.”

Compared to the beautiful appearance of the crescent moon, the contained destructive force was of a different magnitude.

Kwah-!

Inside the Sparring Stage, the cut burst out.

Tang Soyeol merely bobbed her head at this spectacle.

It was reminiscent of someone else’s actions.

And then.

Whoosh-!

Before the strike could reach her, in an instant Tang Soyeol disappeared from Yu Tan-Geom’s field of vision.

“What…?”

In this gaping void, where had she gone? Yu Tan-Geom hurriedly sought out Tang Soyeol’s presence.

“Really.”

Tang Soyeol’s melodious voice resonated just beside him.

No, more than just in front; it was rather lower.

Right around his lower half.

As Yu Tan-Geom directed his gaze downward to move his sword again…

“We still have another to use. How can you do this to the Sparring Stage?”

But Tang Soyeol was quicker.

Having said that, she swung her arm and slammed her fist into Yu Tan-Geom’s side.

Boom—!

“Ugh!?”

Even though he wrapped around his defense, the blow reached deep into his abdomen.

Bang—!

The shock tore through his defenses, launching Yu Tan-Geom across the stage.

Kwah-!

With a deafening sound, Yu Tan-Geom rolled on the ground.

Thump-! Thump-!

He tried to stabilize himself as he forgot the pain, but—

Before him, a small foot flew in.

Swack-!

His head shot up from the strike.

“Cough!”

His teeth shattered as his defenses crumbled away.

The strength emanating from her delicate body was overwhelming.

His vision spun.

Beyond the haze, he saw Tang Soyeol’s movements.

Bang-! Bang bang-! Bang bang-!

The small fists relentlessly pummeled Yu Tan-Geom’s body.

Fast and swift. Engulfed in immense sound, her punches bore sword intent within.

As Yu Tan-Geom tried to escape, she struck his thigh to deny him.

When he swung his sword, she knocked his shoulder to thwart his actions.

She didn’t predict his movements.

Though her departure was indeed later than his, how was she able to achieve this?

‘This… this… what…’

Realizing the reason, Yu Tan-Geom’s world began to crumble.

The reasoning was simple.

Tang Soyeol was simply faster than Yu Tan-Geom.

Much, much faster.

She had no need to predict his moves; she countered with mere speed.

For that reason, Yu Tan-Geom was left utterly defenseless, forced to endure blows on his entire body.

Bang bang bang-! Bang bang-!

What was more frightening was that Tang Soyeol seemed to be controlling her strength.

“Cough!”

Yu Tan-Geom, struggling, detected that she applied just the right amount of power to avoid making him faint.

To the onlookers, it seemed as if she was toying with him.

Yu Tan-Geom, a White-Grade Master, was being toyed with by someone of Late-Stage Talents—a mere child.

Witnessing this scene, no one in the audience could muster a proper reaction.

“…The Poison Phoenix… how…?”

“I can’t believe it…. What on earth is happening?”

It was a scene that felt like a dream.

And if it were a dream, then surely it would be a nightmare.

After some time passed,

The shouts of Yu Tan-Geom and the sounds of his relentless beatings ceased.

A silence settled over the arena.

Almost now reduced to a puddle of flesh, Yu Tan-Geom was held by the hair as he barely endured.

“Ugh… ugh…”

Drip drip. The blood flowing from Yu Tan-Geom stained the Sparring Stage.

As Tang Soyeol quietly observed, she eventually released his hair.

Thud-! Thud-!

Yu Tan-Geom, who had been holding on, collapsed to the ground.

Then, Tang Soyeol stepped on his face.

“…There’s blood everywhere. How messy.”

Blood smeared on her hand. Nonchalantly, Tang Soyeol pulled out a cloth from her suit and began wiping her hand.

“Gah… ugh… ugh…”

Yu Tan-Geom groaned beneath her foot.

Seeing this, Tang Soyeol chuckled softly.

“Now it’s quite fitting.”

The image of him crawling along the floor suited him extraordinarily well.

Yu Tan-Geom had a face she didn’t like very much, yet he became far more tolerable now.

He was exhausted, barely managing to breathe.

Tang Soyeol removed her foot from Yu Tan-Geom and lowered herself.

Crouching down, she narrowed the distance and whispered in his ear.

“From now on…. live according to your station. Don’t reach for things that don’t befit you. Got it?”

As she spoke, her white fingertips gently caressed his face.

At her touch, Yu Tan-Geom trembled uncontrollably.

“…”

“…”

Clearly, the sparring had ended.

Yet, cheers did not erupt.

All that could be heard was Yu Tan-Geom’s faint breaths.

As Tang Soyeol moved away, only then did the judge flinch and react.

“Uh… uh oh.”

At that sight, Tang Soyeol didn’t await the outcome.

For now, there was another direction to head.

A young man holding a glance from the entrance waved enthusiastically.

“Gu Prince!! I won!! Praise me! Hehe!”

Despite her brutal assault on her opponent, her smile was pure and innocent.