Seol-Hwi’s vision gradually changed, and then it shook like he was experiencing an earthquake. As quickly as it began, the shaking stopped.
“Phew…”
The old man, Gu Yeom, was smiling.
Other than a tingling feeling in his muscles and tendons, he would be ready to fight Seol-Hwi again.
“Wow, really…”
Seol-Hwi’s mind was blank. Even when he did his best, he got pushed back and wasted his health and internal energy.
The opponent seemed a lot stronger than before as well.
“Now then, let’s start.”
“Hold on! Let’s talk first…!”
Naturally, the old man didn’t listen to what he had to say.
In the blink of an eye, Gu Yeom came close to Seol-Hwi.
Seol-Hwi used fire energy to defend himself and to make sure the damage wasn’t too high, but soon he had another thing to worry about.
The old man was preparing his sword for another attack.
As Seol-Hwi learned, it was the Deadly Chain of Three Immortals Sword, one of the three main techniques of Mount Hua.
Kwak!
The fire energy around his body protected Seol-Hwi from the beam of light that came from his opponent. Seol-Hwi even used the Ice Body Armor for defense.
Still, the attack managed to pierce his left shoulder. And it didn’t end there.
Kwaaak!
This time, the old man went for Seol-Hwi’s leg, slashing it from the bottom to the top.
Swish!
Gu Yeom was relentless.
After one attack, countless more were carried out. And in the midst of all this, there was one thing on Seol-Hwi’s mind.
The sword and shoes…Those two should be in the toolbox…
But they couldn’t be used.
The tool box can’t be opened during battle.
“…!”
While he hesitated with such thoughts, his opponent was approaching him at a tremendous speed.
Seol-Hwi could no longer withstand it.
Gu Yeom landed a blow that wouldn’t be possible to recover from.
“Die, you trash!”
The last thing Seol-Hwi saw was the grin on the old man’s face.
That AI jerk…
<Two chances left.>
He lost his life.
Seol-Hwi saw a familiar text box appear.
▶ Start from the beginning ▷ Continue ▷ Recall from saved point
Damn it! The sword, and shoes I got from Baekhon!
The Windwalker Demon Sword he received from the Earth Demon, and the shoes from Elder Baekhon. Those two items could have helped him in this scenario, and in future situations as well.
So Seol-Hwi thought.
▶ Continue
A choice he had never made until now.
No, he tried to make it, with Goo Jong-myung, but at that time, the system said it was impossible to continue.
It can’t be helped.
He couldn’t go back to the past for the sword and the shoes, but he needed them, so even if it meant putting his life in danger, he was going to choose this.
<You have selected ‘Continue’. >
Seol-Hwi felt nervous.
If he was returning to the moment where he barely survived, then wouldn’t this mean he was going to die again?
But then a window appeared, and it said,
<Turn-based, AI, and Simulation are available now. > <All wounds are healed. Your health and internal energy are restored to maximum capacity. > <The enemy's stats will be shown. > <Elder Gu Yeom [Mount Hua township head] > Beginning of Godly State Health: 1.2 million/ 6 million Internal energy: 2.02 million/ 9.9 million Life Coin 1 Combat power: 15 million to 23.33 million
That combat power…!
If it was like this, he wouldn’t have been able to win either way!
Meanwhile, the Coin, aka the number of lives gained by killing enemies, drew Seol-Hwi’s attention.
<Last chance to unleash a 100% attack! Internal energy will not decrease. How would you like to proceed?> ▶ Use martial arts ▷ On your own
I can attack Gu Yeom…?
Seol-Hwi’s mind felt clearer after seeing this.
‘Continue’ wasn’t just about bringing his body back to its best condition. It would also give him a chance to damage the opponent.
The best martial arts I have is…
Two martial arts came to mind.
▶ Select martial arts ▶ White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts
After choosing, bright light filled Seol-Hwi’s vision. Despite not being able to see what was happening, he could feel himself being revived.
“What…!”
Gu Yeom was startled.
He saw a man, who he had killed, suddenly brought back to life.
Seol-Hwi used the strongest technique he had. In addition, as the skill level rose to advanced, balls of ice were created.
Gu Yeom was hit by the devastating attack.
The old man’s body was frozen, and then shattered into pieces.
That was the end.
Gu Yeom disappeared, just like that.
“This power is terrifying…”
The White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts, which had risen to the advanced level, radiated a force which made even Seol-Hwi doubt it.
Since he was using a familiar technique, he knew it would be good, but this was too crazy!
“Continue…”
For the first time, Seol-Hwi learned what this choice meant.
A chance to overcome the most difficult enemy, at the cost of one’s life. That was ‘Continue’.
While Seol-Hwi was contemplating this revelation, the bookshelves rose from the floor. They were returning to their previous positions, as the person who controlled them had died.
“I need to get out of here quickly.”
Seol-Hwi disguised himself as Myung Kang, and then left the building.
A house built in a place overlooking the village.
Normally, it was a resting spot for people to relax, but today, people with completely different purposes had gathered there.
This was the location where Seol-Hwi had decided to meet with his team.
“Captain? You’re here.”
“Nothing happened, right?”
Seol-Hwi was greeted by his subordinates. They had already arrived, and had been waiting for him patiently.
“The research?”
“All done,” Yorim responded. In fact, it wasn’t very difficult for them to investigate the terrain.
The ‘village’ wasn’t as big as an actual village, and everyone here was from Mount Hua.
It was possible to stand on a hill, and examine everything with just their eyes.
“But… one member seems to be missing?”
“Ah. Imugi said that he might be a little late because he had something else to do.”
“Is that so?”
Seol-Hwi nodded at Yong Jin’s words, and looked toward Jeok Song.
“The terrain’s been identified. Let me hear what you all have learned.”
“Yes. Here, Captain.”
Jeok Song took out a parchment, and handed it to Seol-Hwi.
A map was drawn on the paper. The houses, the exact locations they were in, and the topography of the land were all carefully recorded.
In fact, maybe this was the most important thing.
Their mission wasn’t just to find Ma Taryong; it was also important to return to the Demonic Sect after obtaining information about Mount Hua’s secret hideout.
Jeok Song opened his mouth to speak.
“There are four buildings that appear to be typical houses on the diagonal part of the village. From what we were able to find out, it seems that the Elders live there. But we didn’t have time to figure out what they looked like.”
Seol-Hwi learned the four attached buildings on the map had a purpose.
“There are ten first class disciples. And as for the second to third class disciples, there must be around a hundred.”
Yorim continued the report.
“On the road leading to this village, members of Mount Hua keep coming and going.”
“That’s right. Those who have completed their training here will get replaced by new disciples.”
Seol-Hwi clenched his fist at this. The treatment of the powerless was the same everywhere.
Be it a knife for survival, or a knife for enjoyment, the weak ones die.
“Is there a suspicious building where Ma Taryong could be kept?”
Jeok Song answered this time.
“The northeast building. It looked like security was the tightest there.”
“But given the size of the building, it seems unlikely to have an interrogation room…”
“We should still look into it.”
“Yes.”
Seol-Hwi nodded his head, and Yong Jin replied,
“In the end, we need to go inside to find out.”
“Well, that’s…”
Kiik-!
The door suddenly opened, making everyone present on alert.
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
A man with an unknown face and outfit had appeared.
“Me! It’s me!”
Just as Seo Ryeong was ready to throw her dagger, the man waved his hand and his face began to change.
“Ugh! You scared us!”
“Crazy bastard!”
Everyone complained at Imugi’s actions, while Yong Jin said to Seo Ryeong,
“You pulled out your dagger?”
“Should I throw it now?”
“Isn’t it too late?”
The two exchanged words, grumbling about the situation. Meanwhile, Seol-Hwi asked Imugi,
“Did you finish your investigation?”
“I found it. The location.”
“Where?”
“The northwest building.”
“Not the south?”
When Jeok Song questioned him, Imugi nodded.
“How can we believe that?”
“I went in and checked it out.”
Jeok Song didn’t respond any further. He had experienced Imugi’s skill before himself, so what else could he say?
“Good work.”
“But, Captain, we have a problem.”
When Seol-Hwi congratulated him, Imugi spoke with a worried expression.
“What problem?”
The others were curious as well. Imugi sighed, and answered,
“They set up a protection circle.”
Yong Jin asked,
“What kind of protection circle?”
“I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know, then how can you say it’s a protection circle?”
“Be quiet!” Seo Ryeong snapped. It was because Seol-Hwi had remained silent during the commotion. After a while, he revealed his thoughts to his team.
“To hide someone like Ma Taryong, they have to use everything they can.”
“Then what do we do, Captain?”
“It wouldn’t be a normal protection circle… Can we even destroy it?”
“Of course there’s a way.”
Seol-Hwi spoke with a confident expression. Because he chose to ‘Continue’, he could now access his combat methods again. And one of them was…
An all rounder…a thing called Simulation.
