True Martial Home

As soon as the Sea God’s Calling ended, two magic circles disappeared, and a strange change occurred in the heavens.

Gooooo

It was a phenomenon where the Azure Sky turned into the Yellow Sky. Despite it not being sunset, the sky was gradually changing to a mix of yellow and red. However, unlike an ordinary sunset, this light had an instinctive energy that made people feel uncomfortable and fearful.

Kiiiiii

And in the next moment, the sky seemed to split open from the center, covering half the world, revealing a white light alongside a black moon right in the middle of the yellow sky.

Black Moon?

As I gazed at that bizarre sight, Master Dharma spoke up.

“So, this is the Guardian of the Moon…”

“Guardian of the Moon?”

“Since the beginning… ruling over Dongyoung’s land… the source of calamity that spread countless magical powers across the world… the Sea God is also under that entity’s protection.”

Crackle

The Black Moon split in half again, and something massive began to slowly descend from it. The form gradually got larger as it approached the ground, and seeing the silent descent of this monstrous entity made it feel like the end of the world was nearing. But instead of fear, I recognized something upon seeing that form.

“…!!”

That, that shape is…

The Guardian of the Moon?!

“Why is the Guardian…”

I muttered in disbelief.

Indeed, although the size was multiplied by dozens, the shape of the beast descending while splitting the black moon absolutely resembled the Guardian of the Moon. The gigantic creature, growing downwards toward the world, started to spread an aura of darkness.

Crackle

Thud—

And suddenly, a beam of darkness shot from the heavens, sweeping everything in the area where Master Dharma and I stood. The Guardian of the Moon extended its largest branch to fire! Master Dharma had already summoned an intangible barrier to block the beam, but surprisingly, he stumbled, unable to hold it steady.

[Hmm…]

Kugugugu…

Master Dharma seemed to reach out with one hand to retaliate and create a grasping hand seal. It seemed like he was exerting pressure on the Sea God, just like he was squeezing its very existence. Then, in that moment, Master Dharma’s dark hand firmly gripped the main body of the Guardian of the Moon.

Poof

Suddenly, countless thorns erupted from the wooden stump of the Guardian, piercing all around its body. Master Dharma’s dark hand was riddled with holes in an instant, and his own hand ended up torn into rags, losing its form entirely.

“No!”

Surprised, I looked at Master Dharma, who murmured.

[Truly… not an easy opponent… ]

“What? Is that thing stronger than the Sea God?”

[Of course… A primordial entity that has ruled over the Moonlit Nights since the beginning… That entity even has ownership over Mars. Normally, I shouldn’t have clashed with such a powerful Old Ruler before my plan was activated…]

“……”

Hearing that, I finally understood the situation.

‘That’s… the form of the Guardian of the Moon, Izanagi no Mikoto, when it becomes [complete]!!’

No, I can’t even call it Izanagi no Mikoto. Its true name is bound to be completely different. I was vividly experiencing how much power a being from the moon with its original strength possesses.

‘This world lacks the Three Sovereigns. That’s why.’

In our world’s history, the Three Sovereigns had suppressed and sealed the Old Rulers from across the world to control the barbarity of the mythological age and turned them into the Seven Luminaries. Among them was the Guardian of the Moon, Izanagi no Mikoto, who was originally an Old Ruler but had been suppressed by the Three Sovereigns. It seemed he had fought and lost against the essence of Nüwa, getting his body and spirit torn apart and sealed in separate places.

But since the Three Sovereigns do not exist in history, that Old Ruler residing on the moon has been showcasing its peak power without anyone’s restraint. And that power was to the point where even Master Dharma should be cautious.

And Master Dharma, not giving up, now unleashed a shout.

[Gal (喝)!]

Bang!!

At that, the descending Guardian of the Moon staggered under the impact, looking hurt. Master Dharma was indeed no ordinary being; any determined attack against him was something the opponent couldn’t simply ignore.

[Since I’ve begun my plan, I absolutely cannot lose. I’ll hold him down too.]

Master Dharma eliminated his shattered hand and recreated it with magical power, once again extending his dark hand to grasp the Guardian of the Moon.

Ka-ching

Wood creaked…

Eventually, the main body of the Guardian of the Moon was caught in Master Dharma’s grip, and with both hands, he managed to seize two Old Rulers. The fact that he could face two at once shows how monstrous he truly was. The dark grip began to tighten, looking like it could burst them both apart at any moment.

At that moment, the Divine Thief who had been observing the situation next to me spoke up.

“Hey. Get ready.”

“What?”

“Another one’s coming.”

Crackle

Clank!

As if glass was breaking, something began to fly in from the opposite side of the moon. Its main body looked like an absurdly large serpent with massive wings. The serpent was as big as a mountain range, and the incredible power radiating from it made it clear that this entity was also an Old Ruler.

‘Two…!!’

As predicted by Master Dharma, the Sea God had summoned another creature through the magic circle, aside from the Guardian of the Moon. I shot a glance at Master Dharma beside me and shouted.

“Master Dharma!! Can you handle that thing too?!”

Then, Master Dharma glanced at the serpent in the sky and replied.

[Impossible… That is the Smoking Mirror… The King of Obsidian… You all should hold that being off until I can capture the Sea God.]

“Smoking Mirror?”

Wood creak

Master Dharma didn’t respond to my question, instead he tightened his grip on the Sea God. The Sea God squirmed in pain, but he still showed no signs of breaking. Even with someone like Master Dharma holding him, it would be difficult to finish off the Sea God in a single strike.

[Can you do it…?]

“… Damn!! I have to!”

Ta-dah!

I shouted and dashed forward. At the same time, the Divine Thief burst forth almost at the same speed to the side of me, chuckling.

“Hehe, junior. What are you planning to do against an Old Ruler? You thinking of using sword strength or sword flying techniques? Sure, that oversized creature looks easy to hit, but it’s defending with all sorts of distortion laws, you won’t even land a single blow.”

“I know!! So shut up if you’re not gonna help!”

“You really underestimate the capabilities of an Old Ruler, huh~”

Swish

The Divine Thief vanished as if he used smoke, and I lost interest. Regardless of how much I pleaded for help, he wouldn’t show any. Trying to regain my strength from Master Dharma didn’t yield even a fart from that bastard. Rather than worrying about him, I needed to focus on buying time until Master Dharma could finish off the Sea God.

Thud!

I used my internal power to leap powerfully from the empty space. Although I had forcibly accumulated internal power through conscious intent, it was enough to give me some fighting strength. The serpent was still several miles away, but if I used the Soul Removal Technique, I could close this distance in an instant.

‘That thing is stronger than the Sea God by a long shot. If I just charge in, I’ll be hit by time stop, curses, and all sorts of magic and die instantly.’

Then I would have to counter magic with magic. I grasped the one arm I received from Master Dharma and focused my magical power. As the wave of magical power increased, the moment the serpent opened its mouth, I swiftly swung that arm.

[Kah!]

Swish!!

It seemed the serpent was unleashing some kind of divine curse, but the arm of the Apostle automatically manifested, dismantling the causality of that curse. To the naked eye, it only looked like I swung my hand, but in reality, battles between beings of a higher order are fought by distorting invisible laws like this. Master Dharma had given me that arm as a minimum defense for fighting divine beings.

Whoosh

At the same time, my body began to approach the serpent. Using Soul Removal Technique, I bounded forward, now the gigantic body of the serpent filled my view, and its entire form seemed to be disappearing from sight. Just one more leap would put me within striking range, so I began to channel my entire intent into my sword.

When I was soaring through the air, preparing for my life’s strike, the voice of the serpent echoed in my mind.

[Weak being, Apostle of the God… I sense a familiar darkness from you… I don’t wish to kill you.]

“……”

[Even now, if you would sheathe your sword, I, the Five Suns and Darkness’s Primordial King, Tezcatlipoca will take you under my wing…]

The opponent was attempting to entice me, but I ignored him and concentrated my utmost focus, swinging my sword with maximum effort.

Sword Shadow

Ninety-Nine Rational Returns

The Sword of Returning All!

The sword sprang from my fingertips, and as it became a white lightning bolt, it shot directly at Tezcatlipoca. This technique was a combination of Sword Shadow and Ninety-Nine Rational Returns, designed to reveal its true power the moment the flying white lightning-like sword strikes.

Bang!

The thunderbolt spread out like dandelion seeds, creating countless blades, each infused with thunder energy. In an instant, as the sword flashed, the winds of heaven took shape, piercing through the opponent’s entire body.

Crash!

The sword shadow collided with the body of the Old Ruler, bursting scales apart. He seemed to flinch slightly as if feeling some pain amongst the explosions, and I was assured my attack had succeeded.

‘Got him!’

This martial art was an application mentioned by Jin So-cheong in a past life. Among the Sword Master Yeodong-bin’s True Martial Home techniques, it was the most versatile and powerful method that I had been able to closely imitate with my martial arts. Surely, it was weaker than the true method, but it possessed ample destructive power.

However, despite using this one technique, my internal power was half depleted, yet the opponent responded as if it was merely a tickle, revealing the overwhelming gap between us.

‘Damn it…’

I might have landed a hit on the main body, but the difference in scale and magical power was so great, it felt like an ant fighting a human. While I felt a hint of despair, Tezcatlipoca burst into laughter.

[Hahaha… Hahahahaha…]

The serpent slightly tilted its head before opening its mouth wide. From deep inside its throat, a tremendous light began to swirl, indicating it was about to unleash a beam. In that case, that beam would undoubtedly hold power I couldn’t counter. It would be far worse than the Sea God’s monstrous beam.

“……!!”

Am I going to die?!

But at that moment, the Divine Thief’s Sword Form brushed past me and stood right above the serpent’s snout. As the gaze of the divine focused on the Divine Thief, he smirked and said.

“I steal space.”

Technique of All Things

Spatial Theft

Bang

In an instant, the Divine Thief seemed to vanish, leaving only himself standing, while the entire body of the Old Ruler, Tezcatlipoca, disappeared.

No?!

What just happened?!

Ku ku ku ku

Thwack!

Then, moments later, from the far off horizon, a deafening noise echoed as an enormous tsunami rose up from the other side of the sea.

[How dare…]

Furthermore, Tezcatlipoca’s furious voice echoed loudly.

‘Ah!’

I suddenly understood what had happened.

The Divine Thief had transported the Old Ruler to the distant sea! Rather than moving, he had likely stolen the space where the Old Ruler existed and transposed it to a far-off location.

‘Did the Technique of All Things allow for that?!’

I was dumbfounded as I’d never even considered such an application, and while I stood there, the Divine Thief floated in the air, grinning.

“Junior. If you start strong but find yourself struggling, what will you do? I can bet he thought the same when he trialed that Old Ruler, not realizing he was no pushover?”

“……”

“Whatever adventure you’ve been on, you’re taking these Old Rulers too lightly. Or maybe you don’t grasp the value of your life at all.”

It was a truth I didn’t want to hear from the Divine Thief, causing me to frown.

‘Tch…’

Rather than bursting out, I thought it would be best to acknowledge the opponent’s skills and seek a solution. I calmed myself and asked the Divine Thief.

“Can I also use your method with the Technique of All Things?”

“Well, who knows~?”

The Divine Thief grinned and replied.

“Just one thing, let me be clear. It’s best to give up the delusion that a human martial art can kill a god.”

“Wait a second…”

Bang!

The Divine Thief transformed into a whitish mist and vanished again. I realized he planned to toy with the god while buying time using the same technique as before.

‘Hmm… I wonder if this will work…’

I couldn’t just let them fight alone. No matter how skilled the Divine Thief was, since an Old Ruler was still a god, using the same methods a second time would ultimately lead to defeat. If I didn’t do something here, we’d all face annihilation.

‘Screw it!’

Yeah. I can’t run away like this.

If it’s my day to die, then I’ll fight until the end.

I leaped into the air towards the sea where the Old Ruler resided. And upon arrival, standing next to the Divine Thief who was already observing the situation, he spoke.

“Seriously. You don’t seem to value your life at all. You must have hardly any internal power left, what guts do you have? Are you a thief?”

He genuinely seemed to believe I would run away.

“……”

“Is that monk Dharma really that appealing?”

“That’s what I should be saying. What’s your deal fighting this hard?”

“Hehe. I’m planning to steal something extremely precious from this world. Until then, I feel the need to keep Dharma alive while he’s still useful.”

While the Divine Thief chuckled, he grinned slyly.

“… I guess it’s about time to teach you a thing or two, junior.”

“What?”

With a splash,

He lightly stepped onto the water’s surface. He aimed one hand at the ascending Tezcatlipoca and said,

“Let me show you what’s possible when combining Heavenly Surface Prince and Technique of All Things…”

“`

 

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