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The Chaotic Encounter

“Filthy righteous faction scum.”

Il Cheonggeom definitely shouted that just now.

Moreover, there wasn’t anyone here who didn’t know the meaning behind those words.

“Great Lord!! Get a grip!”

“What the hell is…!!”

“Ugh, so annoyingly chatty.”

Ignoring the desperation of the Blue Dragon members, Il Cheonggeom pouted. His expression was completely different from the serious and heavy demeanor he usually wore.

“If only you had lasted a little longer. But you couldn’t endure that little bit. How lamentable.”

Clank. As Il Cheonggeom tried to move, Pi Yeon-Yeon’s spear pierced his thigh.

Shwoop-!

“Don’t move recklessly.”

“Ugh!”

Il Cheonggeom winced in pain, but that wasn’t enough to silence him.

“Hehehe…. Just a bit longer…. If only I had managed just a bit more…. I could’ve taken care of those disgusting righteous faction bastards….”

His words, filled with regret, gradually shattered the faces of the Blue Dragon members.

They were starting to grasp the reality of the situation.

“Why… Why is the Great Lord…?”

“Why did you deceive us!”

“Why? Why, you ask?”

Il Cheonggeom spoke with somewhat vacant eyes.

“You have no future, and he does.”

“…What…!”

“The Cult Leader will save the world. I was just a stepping stone for that. However….”

Crack—!!!

Bearing the pain in his thigh, Il Cheonggeom rose.

“You dared to ruin my plan…!”

His eyes looked utterly deranged.

“If things had gone properly, I would’ve even been able to take the Star King’s head…. You filthy bastards.”

Hehehehe….

Spitting and laughing in that manner was completely unlike the Il Cheonggeom they had always known.

It was alien and unsettling. That was exactly how they felt.

“Those insect-like beings dare to oppose the grand will of the Cult Leader…. How could you be so ignorant? You know nothing.”

“A…ah….”

The Blue Dragon members were utterly speechless from the intense shock. What even was this?

The Il Cheonggeom they admired was nowhere to be found.

What remained was a fanatic enchanted by something.

A manifestation of madness that had already driven his sanity to ruin.

“I won’t forgive…. I can’t forgive.”

His deep purple eyes shone as Il Cheonggeom moved. He seemed unconcerned about the wounds covering his body.

“Well….”

Pi Yeon-Yeon, who had the spear lodged in his thigh, casually dripped some blood.

“We really need to kill him. Can I, sister? Can I kill him?”

Whoosh-! Before Tang Soyeol could give her consent, the spear was already pulled out.

Watching quietly, Tang Soyeol spoke with cold, steely eyes.

“Kill him.”

“Yes!”

Swish-!

With that command, the spear moved swiftly. Just as the strong energy surged to behead Il Cheonggeom.

[Tsut.]

A short sound of someone clicking their tongue suddenly pierced the air.

Bang–!!!

“…!!”

“Ugh…!!!”

“What!”

Just when they thought the blade would sever Il Cheonggeom’s neck, it didn’t.

Something appeared and blocked the attack.

“Huh?”

Pi Yeon-Yeon’s eyes widened at the sight.

It was merely a finger. A single index finger was blocking her spear.

Everyone watching was aware of the sheer force imbued in the spear, yet who was strong enough to stop it with just a finger?

Not to mention…

“…When….”

When did they even appear? No one had noticed.

This was not a being that was supposed to be there. They suddenly appeared and intercepted Pi Yeon-Yeon’s attack, and until that moment, they hadn’t perceived their presence at all.

[Ah, how disappointing.]

A thick voice echoed through the air.

Chills ran down the spines of everyone who heard it.

[You were supposed to show your value one way or another, and I just wanted to watch, but it seems you’re far more incompetent than I expected.]

“Ugh….”

“Ugh, urgh!”

Each word pressed down on the air. The Star Dragon members bit their lips as cold sweat trickled down.

“Cough….”

“Ugh….”

The Blue Dragon members were unable to hold it back and ended up retching.

What on earth was that being that suddenly appeared?

In an instant, everyone was taken aback, but their confusion didn’t last long.

The presence they bore was too eye-catching.

It was a form that the righteous faction knew all too well.

“Heavenly Demon…!”

“Heavenly Demon!”

Heavenly Demon (天魔).

The very being the Martial Alliance regarded as crucial in the martial world.

The identity of the leader of the demonic sect, known as the sky.

He appeared in Hanam, causing a massive disruption alongside the successors of the Jiegal Clan.

That being was the reason the Star Dragon Clan was formed.

And now, he was present at this very location.

Swish—!

Clang—!!

Sounds of drawn swords and Qi being unleashed filled the air.

An enemy that must be captured and killed.

As they all rushed forward in a moment of thought.

[Kneel.]

“…!!”

Kugugugung—!!!

At the words of the Heavenly Demon, everyone around knelt. Just a single word.

The impact of that one word was such.

Why were they kneeling? As everyone was in confusion.

Whoooooo—!!

Amidst the multitude of people bowing, one woman stood alone.

It was Tang Soyeol.

She, having drawn her dagger and sickle, charged at the Heavenly Demon.

However, the clear slowdown of her physical movements revealed that she was affected as well.

The Heavenly Demon glanced at her and lightly waved his hand.

Thud-!

“Ugh!”

Tang Soyeol, struck by the impact, was pushed back, rolling on the ground several times.

“Cough….”

She violently retched.

[Stay still. I’m not in a good mood right now.]

Turning away from Tang Soyeol, the Heavenly Demon scanned the surroundings.

[There are bugs swarming about. Enough to make me nauseous.]

With that single word, everyone shuddered.

They didn’t understand why, but they felt a sense of terror from him.

The pressure radiating from him, the atmosphere felt entirely different.

Just looking at him felt like losing one’s sanity.

In response to the Heavenly Demon, Il Cheonggeom reacted.

“Master, Cult Leader…!”

His eyes were filled with boundless respect and praise.

“Ah…. Great Heavenly One…! This humble follower greets the sky of our sect…!”

Thud–!!

As Il Cheonggeom spoke, he repeatedly smashed his head against the ground.

Thud-! Thud-!!

His loyalty was such that blood flowed from his head. That was the sight he presented.

[Hmm.]

The Heavenly Demon simply watched Il Cheonggeom and spoke.

[Il Cheonggeom.]

“Y-yes, Heavenly One…”

[This is quite different from the confident words you spoke earlier, isn’t it?]

“…!”

[You were supposed to present the heads of those pests to me. But what’s this pathetic sight?]

“That…! I’m sorry…!”

[No, it’s not that I particularly wanted an apology. You did your best.]

“Ah…. Cult Leader, thank you….”

Without warning, the Heavenly Demon’s hand moved.

Crack—!!!

“Yikes!”

The Heavenly Demon grabbed Il Cheonggeom’s neck and tore it off without him even being able to utter a word.

[It was just that you weren’t quite to my liking.]

Thud.

He tossed aside Il Cheonggeom’s severed head.

Blood dripped from the Heavenly Demon’s hands.

[Useless beings are not needed in our sect.]

Whooooooo—!!!

The deep, dark robe of the Heavenly Demon billowed dramatically in the wind.

Was he going to do something? Everyone looked at the Heavenly Demon with anxious expressions.

[And, you aren’t much different from them.]

As he spoke, the Heavenly Demon brought his two hands together.

A sense of inexplicable unease surged.

[Therefore, originally…. I planned to take not just you, but the Star King’s head from here.]

Hehehehe.

Laughter intertwined with the Heavenly Demon’s words.

[Seeing that the girl has extraordinary spirit and that you ruined that trash’s plan, I’ll grant you some mercy.]

What did that mean? Everyone gazed at the Heavenly Demon with tense eyes.

They still couldn’t speak.

Their bodies were still frozen, unable to move. The pressure continued to intensify, now affecting their breathing.

What kind of being was that?

How could a living being give off such a feeling?

Huff… huff.

Strained breaths revealed the fatigue setting in.

Everyone was sweating profusely.

As the Heavenly Demon held his hands together, he slowly released them.

At that moment.

Whooooooooom—-!!!!!!

“Huff…!”

“Cough…!!!”

They couldn’t even respond correctly to the shocking situation. It was that impactful.

Cracks began to appear in the void.

Like the stars adorning the night sky, eyes emerged from the tearing void.

Countless eyes. What in the world was that? Despite the questions, everyone likely knew what it was.

It was just difficult to believe.

Someone trembled in fear while facing the newly emerged eyes.

“The… Demonic Gate…? Why is the Demonic Gate here…!!”

“How could a human summon the Demonic Gate…?”

The eyes belonged to the Demonic Gate. Filling the sky above the branch.

Everyone’s eyes widened in horror at the sight.

The Heavenly Demon enjoyed their reactions, his voice imbued with a richer laughter.

[Insignificant servants.]

Gu Gugu Gugu Gung—!!!

The Demonic Gate trembled and shook.

Grrr—!! Grrr—!!

Inside, the sounds of beastly cries began to emerge.

The howling accompanied by a hunger that stirred within.

[This is a gift I have prepared for you.]

The sky trembled at the words of the Heavenly Demon.

[Enjoy it to your heart’s content.]

CUAAAHHHH—!!!

From that moment on, violent calamities rained down from the sky.

 

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