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True Martial Home

Singularity!

The moment I heard those words leave Dharma’s lips, I felt frozen.

‘What…!! Why are you saying that…’

I had come to this otherworldly place, stepping over the sacrifices of my comrades, driven by a stubborn determination to delay the singularity. It was said that encountering a singularity could mean disaster, even for someone like me who was reborn. Even if I could infinitely reincarnate, if my life just ended halfway through, everything would become meaningless. That’s why I was hell-bent on overcoming the singularity in this lifetime.

But now, Dharma is mentioning the singularity.

And calling me the singularity?!

Just as I opened my mouth to retort, I suddenly felt a terrible pain in my left arm.

“Ugh!!”

The pain was so intense that even I, used to suffering, almost screamed! Something like a grotesque parasite was crawling over my arm, devouring flesh and bone. My arm was already rotting and darkening, being gruesomely eroded. It was clear that Dharma had attacked me with magic, so I gritted my teeth and quickly severed my arm.

Chwak

As soon as I cut off my arm, I watched in shock as it transformed into a massive monster, swelling up. Once I quickly used a divine technique to retreat, Dharma spoke.

[You’re using strange power. However, a curse directly received from the Ruler cannot be resisted by a mortal.]

“… Dharma, why do you say I’m the singularity?”

I calmly questioned, and Dharma replied.

[The fact that you use power other than magical power is proof of that. I don’t know where you came from, but I will take responsibility for the consequences of my actions.]

Consequences of actions?

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I waved my hands hurriedly.

“Wait! I don’t intend to fight you or kill you! Just now, I was only trying to subdue you.”

[So it is. I understand.]

Kiiiiiing

In an instant, I noticed an immense speed as the monster shot a beam from its mouth, and using extreme concentration, I dodged the beam attack with the Three Treasure Technique. It came so suddenly that I was flabbergasted and yelled.

“What do you mean you understand?! Why attack?!”

[Even if you don’t plan to kill me, I plan to kill you.]

No, that’s logical?!

‘Damn it!’

I grumbled inwardly, unleashing my Spirit Power and materializing it into my arm.

Kuwaaaah –

In an instant, a huge arm, the size of this room, appeared in place of my left arm. Of course, it was a fictitious arm made with Spirit Power, and I realized I had failed to control it again. Originally, I intended to seamlessly attach it instead of my left arm, but it turned into something resembling siege weaponry.

It seemed like Dharma was intrigued.

[Oh. That power…]

I felt a bit embarrassed for failing to control my Spirit Power. But since I had made it, I dashed forward and swung the Spirit Power arm at the monster.

Puck!!

The monster, created from my severed arm, was instantly turned into meat paste with one strike, and when I swung my arm at Dharma, it vanished like smoke just like before. Witnessing Dharma create illusions to evade, I was secretly astonished.

‘… The Fire Eye Golden Spirit can see through illusions and lies. But I can’t see through this guy’s illusion with the Fire Eye Golden Spirit!’

Given that my divine power had reached its peak, I couldn’t say I wasn’t unlocking the potential of the Fire Eye Golden Spirit. Indeed, it should be foolproof, yet I couldn’t see through Dharma’s illusion.

That means Dharma’s illusion had reached a realm far beyond the level of the Fire Eye Golden Spirit. It could possibly be superior to even the Demon King Simon Magus, making me feel intensely anxious.

A moment later, Dharma floated in the void and said,

[You, an existence from far beyond time and space! Can you bear this curse?]

“What?”

[Wrath of the twisted final light, ancient foul king residing in the passage! As the contractor, I shout with the mark of six hundred sixty-six, this command shall illuminate the world’s fingerprints.]

Ziiiing

Zzzzzing

Simultaneously, it seemed Dharma’s entire being became engulfed in a fiery blaze. It wasn’t just a common flame; countless tattoos that he had carved over his body shimmered, appearing like flames due to their sheer number.

This is dangerous.

If I get hit, I die.

I instinctively felt that something beyond the curse that had just severed my arm was about to pierce me through Dharma’s incantation. Moreover, this was something that couldn’t be interrupted before the spell completed. The vast magical power surrounding Dharma already exceeded mine by hundreds of times and was enveloping the stratosphere of the world.

‘I can’t even think about attacking…’

He’s a monster.

I’ve never seen a demon sorcerer of this level… It’s hard to even express him as a “Demon King” — it’s just “something” beyond that standing right in front of me.

Overwhelmed by such extraordinary force, I was frozen until suddenly, a vision of Mangnyang’s last moments rushed before my eyes.

[Baek Woong. Please. If I die, pass this Sky-Destruction Sun and Moon Fan to the priest.]

[Definitely… go and get it!!]

Coughing blood and perceiving his own impending death, he still strategized for me until his last moment. His sacrifice had driven me to come to this otherworld in search of the Four Great Spirit Deities.

[Just smile for once.]

I also thought of Zhuge Sa’s smile, but the one who had said that had sold his soul to the Demon King, becoming a demon to maintain his strategy. He chose to go to hell with his own decision, but that was a choice made for me, his lord.

This path was paved with the sacrifices of advisors.

It’s no longer just my path.

“… Do you think this is how it ends?”

I glared wide-eyed. My lips bit so tightly that blood dripped down, but I forgot the pain and focused intently on the situation in front of me.

My left arm was gone, and there seemed to be no possibility of winning, yet I was filled with fierce rage and the will to live, shouting out.

“Do you think I’m just going to die like this!!”

Don’t be ridiculous!

You’re calling yourself Dharma?! The strongest great demon sorcerer in history?

The ones supporting me are the finest comrades in history!!

I won’t give up until my purpose is achieved!!

“Hah!!”

I unleashed the greatest concentration of my life, squeezing out every bit of my Spirit Power until I materialized it into a spear right before my eyes. When I focused all my life’s concentration, it seemed to be working somehow.

Then, I obliterated the Spirit Power of my puny left arm, only holding the spear with my right arm, preparing my stance.

It looked like I was holding a spear with one arm, but I didn’t care; I opened my eyes halfway. On the surface, I appeared calm, but inside, my brain felt like it was on fire, and in a hazy state of mind, I continuously brainwashed myself.

‘Stay composed! What I need to do now is break down his defense!’

Thunder God Lineage

Spear Techniques

Heavenly Penetration Stance!

In the Thunder God Lineage, I also honed spear-throwing techniques. While it goes without saying that a spear user should know how to throw their spear to strike the opponent, my experience under Lee Kwang during those near-death encounters taught me well. A spear master must always keep it attached but must also be able to hit accurately when thrown to qualify as a spear master.

The most crucial technique drawn from the spear-throwing style is the Heavenly Penetration Stance. This stance was a method for throwing, efficiently using muscle and concentration to ensure that no matter the angle, the spear would strike its target. When Lee Kwang utilized this stance, he could pierce an enemy even a hundred and twenty paces away from horseback.

The reason I chose to wield a spear first without my sword, after years of honing my skills, was that my instincts, refined through countless life-and-death battles, guided me to it.

Sssss

I refined my intent, over and over.

‘Now!’

And at the peak of my concentration, with my eyes only slightly open, I propelled the Spirit Power spear forward with every ounce of precision.

Phew

In that moment, the swelling magical power of Dharma ripped apart, and I allowed the Spirit Power to invade. Dharma seemed unbothered, continuing his incantation, but I had infused every ounce of my intent into the Heavenly Penetration Stance, using the method of overcoming with energy. Just as the penetration power of my stance was about to weaken, I shot my hand forward.

Hand-Controlled Spear

Suddenly, the spear’s tip stretched out, and the Spirit Power spear penetrated deep into Dharma’s defenses, pushing through to embed itself in his shoulder. Dharma twitched in apparent agony, indicating it wasn’t just a regular shock.

[Ugh…]

Got him!

Since it was too dangerous to engage in close combat, I realized it was right to weaken his magical power first with my Spirit Power spear. Feeling like I finally stood a chance, I drew my sword and charged at him.

Thunder God Lineage

Sword Lightning!

Swoosh!!

With dozens of sword lengths extending in an instant, my Sword Lightning shredded Dharma’s body into countless pieces. This time, with a solid sense of the sword’s tip, I was confident I had defeated him, and as I landed and turned around, I looked back.

Swoosh…

But the moment his body was cut, it fluttered like paper and began to dissolve into the space around him.

“……?!”

Is he… really an immortal…?

As I was feeling confused, Dharma’s voice echoed through the void.

[You’ve done well to sever my avatar… And now I find your strange power quite intriguing.]

Avatar?

Wait, if what I just faced was the avatar, then Dharma’s real body is…

[Come here.]

Before I could even gather my thoughts amidst my confusion, dark walls sprung up all around me, and from above the sky, a colossal hand from the otherworldly race began to descend slowly. It was the very presence that enveloped the world, leaving me with no way to contend against Dharma’s magic as I could only stare in shock.

Is this really the end?

Kuwak!!

However, just as I thought it was over, a gigantic axe flew in from somewhere and chopped off the wrist of Dharma’s encompassing hand. With a thunderous sound, as the wrist was severed, Dharma’s magic instantly vanished, revealing the Giant God standing before me, axe in hand.

The Giant God scanned the dark sky, speaking with an imposing presence.

[Don’t meddle around foolishly. Withdraw from here.]

Swoosh…

As the magical pressure from Dharma dissipated completely, the surroundings returned to the way they were. With my life barely preserved, the Giant God addressed me.

[Baek Woong. Is that the one you have to face?]

“Yes. It seems Dharma has the Four Great Spirit Deities.”

[……]

Then the Giant God seemed to plunge deep into thought.

“What’s the matter?”

[This is where it ends.]

“Excuse me?”

With the Giant God’s next words, I felt more loss than ever, not knowing what to do.

[Baek Woong, the presider of the Offering Ceremony. You have come to this otherworld at your request, but fighting an opponent that surpasses my power is not enough to repay the offerings you presented to Shennong. I advise you to cease your journey in search of the Four Great Spirit Deities here.]