“Stop.”
Around the time Dong Ryong and Seol-Hwi headed down, the warriors who were on the lookout had come to stop them.
All three of them
It felt a bit different from the usual warriors as their eyes held energy in them.
In particular, whether it was a tattoo or something else, the bizarre pattern drawn below their neck made them feel eerie to look at.
“For what?”
Dong Ryong, who was wearing this priest-like robe on him, asked cautiously.
“The intruder caused an uproar. It is a rule to not let anyone who hasn’t been identified into the underground.”
It seemed that the orders were sent faster than expected, and it seemed that they were all carrying them out properly.
“Look, I am the leader of the Ghastly Troops. How many times have you even seen me come here?”
“That might be true. But the person behind you is the problem.”
When Dong Ryong asked, the warriors turned their eyes to Seol-Hwi, who was behind him. The clothes he had were the official ones of Ghastly Troops, but his face and the body looked unfamiliar.
“You, show your face.”
“It would be better to not show. This man is…”
“Shut it.”
The man who blocked the way took a few steps towards him, not paying attention to the words of Dong Ryong. And he picked up the mask and flipped it.
“Euk!”
And startled, he backed down.
“What is it?”
“T-that…”
When his reaction seemed strange his colleague came forward as well.
“Euk!”
And this time he panicked as well. The person behind the mask was not human. It had the face of a monster with half its skin missing.
“Haa, didn’t I say not looking would be better?”
“W-what even is this?”
Dong Ryong sighed.
“A half-failed Soulless. I said it would be better to not see because the face makes people uncomfortable to look at.”
The warriors looked at each other and avoided him as if he was uncomfortable to look again. And the man who stepped up first nodded and said,
“Go in.”
At their words, Dong Ryong and the man were able to head down.
While passing the place of the warriors and heading in—
“How did you change your face like that?”
Dong Ryong asked in shock. There was an extra set of official uniform, so getting them was not so difficult. Comparatively, his face could be the problem, but it was easy for Seol-Hwi to confuse them.
“It is because of the ability I learned through fate.”
“Very fortunate. There is no need to use unneeded skills.”
Originally, Dong Ryong tried to overcome the crisis by casting a sorcery spell on Seol-Hwi’s face.
However, Seol-Hwi’s own technique was of a higher level that he did not have to do anything. After relieving his worries and walking up the stairs for some time, this time they came across this narrow path.
Before them, the path diverged right in front of their eyes into three roads, and additionally, the paths were twisted here and there.
“Follow me.”
Dong Ryong skilfully walked alongside the road.
Was it a little further?
“Kuaak!”
“Ack!’
Seol-Hwi’s expression went stiff at the scream which came out. It did not seem like a simple scream.
That was when they stepped further in.
“Are you here?”
Asked the men guarding the door. However, they were different from the guards before. They looked meticulous in being polite and opened the door.
Kiiik
The huge door opened up, and Seol-Hwi’s steps slowed down. It was because only now could they truly see the gigantic space.
Woahh
The first thing they felt under the huge ground was the heat. Perhaps because of the yellow candles on the wall, the heat was too much. And a lot of people were there.
“Kuaaak!”
“Ackkk!”
Came the screams again.
Beside them, each of the members dressed in black stretched out their hands one after another and mumbled something. And whenever their hands moved came the howling sound like its soul was being pulled out.
“They are high level Soulless.”
“…?”
Dong Ryong was kind enough to resolve the concern of Seol-Hwi.
“Usually when a Fangshi casts a spell, they act at once. Sometimes the soul stays behind, blocked, but these are special cases. However the Soulless made like that are different.”
“…”
“The quality of those who cast spells and accept them isn’t always perfect. Most of them are low grade.”
“Then they…”
“Right. They are the ones who have pushed their abilities to the limit many times over. Whether they are self aware or just demons, they are strong. If their mind is stable under their control… they have the power to surpass a few master level warriors.”
“This many people…?”
The number of Soulless seemed to number over two hundred. There were also many who were imprisoned in the iron cage built to the north, south, east and west.
There are a lot more than I had information on.
The Second Disciple was putting all the troops into such fights. The troops of the Earth Demon and the troops of First Disciple were all busy now.
As a result he dedicated the rest of his troops into creating as many additional combatants as he could to fight full on with them.
To make matters worse, the forces of the Third Disciple were now all scattered around, and they were not even in a state to fight properly.
So, the bad situation of the Second Disciple was being overcome with these people.
“Songhwa?”
Seol-Hwi asked as he went down.
Shh
The man looked away and put the finger to his lips. He pointed to the child behind bars.
He is there.
“Uhh…”
Was this his actual destiny?
Unlike in the past, he was suffering. It reminded him of what Songhwa mentioned before that he was destined to die.
“Even if you go now, his condition isn’t normal. He might not even be able to speak a few words.”
“Still…”
“Wait.”
The old man blocked the path of Seol-Hwi. Then with a strange look, he pointed to the side.
“Move out for a while.”
“…?”
“Do not ask why! Hurry!”
Hearing the cry, Seol-hwi hurriedly moved to the west side of the iron cage. He felt a gaze on him.
“Everyone stop moving!”
“What are you doing now? The Second Disciple himself has come.”
A young man and a middle-aged man who he noticed before came walking down with those shouts. And behind them was someone who Seol-Hwi was familiar with.
It was the Demon Lord. And after that came Yupae.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
He started to clap in the silence, and the loud noise went beyond a simple greeting.
The eyes of everyone turned to the Demon Lord, who stopped in front of the old man, Dong Ryong.
“Really… a supreme demon level Soulless is possible?”
It seemed like he just heard this news. Looking at his face, it looked like he had found a treasure to hold onto.
Dong Ryong was silent for a moment and then nodded.
“Right.”
“Hoo.”
Demon Lord smiled and said,
“To make Soulless with a level that high, as expected of Songhwa.”
“Right.”
“What if it was the others over Songhwa? Of course we will have Songhwa assist…”
“If it wasn’t for Songhwa, such kinds of attempts wouldn’t even be possible. The ultimate goal of overcoming the Supreme Demon isn’t something which can be done at all.”
The woman and the man looked annoyed at this, but they did not protest, and the Second Disciple also intently listened to him.
“Bring it.”
With the words, the door opened up, and four tall men in black walked down. They were holding a huge wooden board on which a person was lying.
…That.
Seol-Hwi, who was holding his breath behind, noticed. The person was the person who would become the sacrifice now, with a true soul which rose to Supreme level.
Then they must be a warrior who was Supreme Demon. When the men came down, they placed the wooden board down.
“Euk!”
“This one…”
There came a low voice, and it was not just the subordinates. Even Dong Ryong looked puzzled at the Second Disciple because the one on the wooden board was a surprising one.
It was the Third Disciple.
“We had the chance of this rat sticking around. At this point, there was a need to make her ours. How is it? Aren’t my thoughts good?”
Good? Wasn’t this worse than disgusting?
Not a single person said anything. Originally, if they are someone of the Supreme Demon level, they had already reached the level of captains and could be one of the eight warlords under the Demon Lord.
Sacrificing one of them would lessen the morale of his troops. In a way, this could be the best answer.
“That, disciple. There was the talk of an intruder.”
When a soldier who seemed to be in charge came and said to him, the Second Disciple smiled.
“Yes. There was. Other than that, it was all fine.”
“…?”
“I killed the vassals following the Third Disciple, but there were so many of them. Do not worry. It has all been sorted out now.”
“Ah…”
Seol-Hwi sighed at the words of the Demon Lord. Fortunately, it seemed like there were other intruders who came here.
He thought the alert that there was an intruder was not him alone. Before they knew it, the troops of the Demon Lord moved slightly. Then he approached the boy who was sitting alone and asked,
“Songhwa, you?”
Songhwa had a somewhat shocked look. Seeing this, Dong Ryong quickly approached and supported him, by rubbing his hand.
“Right. It is me.”
Thanks to that, he came back to his senses, but his eyes were still looking cloudy.
Of course, the Demon Lord did not care.
“Is it true that you can create a warrior who is beyond the Supreme Demon level even as a Soulless?”
“Beyond… you mean Supreme Demon?”
Nod
Songhwa seemed to be thinking about something, and then he saw the old man, Dong Ryong, who slowly supported him.
“I told them. It is possible only in theory. The choice is yours.”
“Yes…”
He had a blank expression and a voice which seemed possessed by something. However, Songhwa soon came to his senses.
He was standing up on his own.
“Haven’t tried it yet, but I think I can make it. Sometimes I too want to try it out.”
“Hehehe nice, such a challenging spirit.”
The Demon Lord nodded and continued.
“This is the ingredient to be used as a sacrifice. It is also one who had risen to the top.”
“…”
Songhwa nodded, it was like he did not know the disciples.
“How much time do you need?”
“Not too long. It isn’t physical, it is mental…”
“Right. Wait.”
With those words, the Demon Lord turned around. The troops moved back, leaving just the Third Disciple and Songhwa on the ground.
1050, 1049…
Seol-Hwi checked the time.
It was a situation where he could not step out now. Songhwa could be saved but revealing anything was hard.
Even so, for some reason, this time felt like a restriction.
“Sarha. Sarha,”
Came the low chant of Songhwa onto the head of the woman.
But he could do nothing. All he could do was watch.
No, this time is…?
In the midst of the time closing in, Seol-Hwi realized one thing.
Time was running out.
Is this not the moment when the Soulless gets created.
And as expected—
20, 19…
By the time the time limit was done, the Third Disciple opened her eyes.
“Kuuuuu…”
She started to say something.
It was the first time he saw the change.
