Chak
Sa Yu-kang’s first choice as he ran was to use the Heavenly Demon King’s Step.
The area controlled by the opponent was vast, and in order to understand what kind of power he had and how he was utilizing it, he had to use the best techniques in his possession.
“Huh!”
Naturally, Shin Yaja did not just sit there and watch. The place, controlled by his intangible energy, was truly the absolute land of his.
Those who entered the area would end up paying for the sins.
Tsss
It was like hellfire had formed.
Flame which did not naturally exist in this world began to spread and move into a grid-like shape. And it gradually started to occupy the surrounding space and put pressure on Sa Yu-kang.
I need to find where the source is.
There was just one thing he focused on. His goal was the actual space where Shin Yaja existed. Although he was smiling now, it could not be seen by his eyes if something was an illusion or real.
There would already have been numerous barriers placed which normal eyes could not see.
But, it felt difficult to understand them all because of the odd air flow.
Would you say that it was him dominating the space?
That was because, rather than taking it over in a clumsy manner, the entire place was connected with his energy.
I have no choice but to learn it through experiencing it myself.
In the end, it was impossible to fully understand this region of space until he came into contact with each area, one by one. Then he could figure out how it worked, so he needed to quickly go through as much as possible and figure out the distorted structure of the space.
Chak
As the blade of Shin Yaja pierced the space, the illusions of Sa Yu-kang began to get erased one after another.
Puack! Wheik!
Some of the illusions were being destroyed by the hellfire that had been summoned.
“In the end, it was a fluke which led to ruin.”
After erasing the illusions one after another, Shin Yaja directly approached the last one to cut it down personally.
Drrrr
At that, the head of Sa Yu-kang fell with the image turning blurry, and the face of Shin Yaja distorted.
“What is this now?”
Shhhh
This was because hundreds of illusions, more than before, now littered his field of view.
-No way is… Illusion Ring Mist Step?
Seol-Hwi read out the new technique which Sa Yu-kang did.
Originally this was a technique used by the sects of the Justice Faction. It was a movement technique which embodied their essence, the illusions of beautifully decorating their mountain.
When the technique was used, it created strong illusions and had the peerless technique of the Heavenly Demon King’s Step which created hundreds of illusions.
-How is this? I don’t think it is just me.
One of the most beautiful techniques — Seol-Hwi had a body which freely used both energies, but this was combining the two to unleash an even more incredible technique.
Sa Yu-kang was doing just that. Was it possible to simply accumulate experience and do this?
If not it felt like a technique which someone on the Profound Demon level could do after reaching Peak God could do. Actually, it did not seem like the latter.
If it was a simple matter of strength, similar abilities should be visible from other Profound Demon level warriors.
That meant this was just Sa Yu-kang’s skills. It meant that this was something he could do because of his natural talent and effort alone.
“It may be possible to save time, even for a moment.”
Sa Yu-kang said, creating hundreds of illusions. But contrary to his thoughts, the situation did not improve with the increase in the number of illusions.
Swish
The hellfire which stayed in the space began to encroach upon the palm tree and become attached to the illusion created by Sa Yu-kang.
Wheik
This fierce hell—
One of the eight hells in Buddhism was a fiery hell in the underworld which burned and devoured people. As if to show that, the flame continued to occupy the space.
On the other hand, the illusion created by Sa Yu-kang seemed like it was fuel for the flame, and the flames turned more intense.
“Tsk.”
Still, Sa Yu-kang did not give up.
He felt it. This was because unless one personally stepped to the point where the intangible qi was, one could not know how Shin Yaja was distorting the space.
“Haa. Are you going to kill yourself?”
Shh
Meanwhile, Shin Yaja slowly put down his sword with a sneering on his lips. He was fully confident in his win.
“If not, you are just stupid. Well, it doesn’t matter either way, since I began to use my strength.”
Shh. Clench.
He reached out the hand to the side and clenched it.
“In this space, I am invincible. Even if you are my opponent.”
-Kuak… euk…
Seol-Hwi had a hard time coming to his senses due to the severe pain he felt. It definitely was amazing to think and see two amazing martial arts being used as one, to create thousands of illusions.
The problem was that every time the illusions were burned, the pain spread to the body.
This was probably because of Heavenly Demon King’s Step. It seemed to be due to the martial art’s characteristic of being both an illusion and real at the same time, but in any case, such half real illusions were burned by the flame.
Wheik. Puak!
And as each of the illusions burned to death one after another, Seol-Hwi tasted the pain of being burned.
No matter how hard one tried to come to their senses, this was the kind of pain one would not normally be able to endure.
The burning pain, the most terrible thing one could go through as a human was being burned alive.
-You… alright…?
Which was why he felt shocked. Sa Yu-kang must be going through similar pain. No, since he was controlling his body now, his pain should be worse.
Still, he was holding on.
To find the core, the center.
“Not fine. It should be obvious.”
-Kuak. Euk.
Because of the flames rising up from all directions, burn marks increasing on the body, and pain which increased — In the end, it was so painful that he could not handle it and yet this guy still moved.
At one point, Seol-Hwi wondered how on earth he was enduring this pain.
-N-no… more, no more…
“Seol-Hwi, do you know what is more scary than pain?”
Around that time, he asked a question. His voice was clearly saying that he was enduring the pain.
“It is to be taken advantage of. With my death, my precious people, my important people, they get humiliated by one of these guys.”
-…?
“If I continue to endure it, my emotions turn numb, and at some point you forget that you are human. Just never back down. Even if you have to disappear, avoid being used by them.”
-…!
Seol-Hwi could not understand what he was talking about. To be honest, Seol-Hwi was on the verge of losing consciousness from the pain he felt.
Puak!
And when he took a couple more steps, he saw Shin Yaja ahead.
“I cannot believe you wanted such a death. It is really disappointing for him.”
“…Disappointing fight. That is what I wanted too,”
Sa Yu-kang said.
“Is that so? Then, this time, he will know for sure just how bad you are.”
Paat!
Sa Yu-kang had been caught in the flames. And yet he spun the body and tried to run again. But this time, Shin Yaja noticed it.
“Huh.”
Pat. Pat. Pat.
After a few moves. The distance was closed in an instant. And finally the head of the other person was held.
“Look now. I cannot match this pace anymore. I watched him run like a rat once or twice.”
“Kuak.”
Sa Yu-kang smiled, but this was not a normal situation at all. The body was burned with blood slowly flowing down. It was an unavoidable situation.
“What are you so happy about? You are going to die soon.”
“Anyway… you hit the nail on the head, as I expected.”
“What?”
Sa Yu-kang was already beyond explaining things. However, he looked around and answered with the same fighting spirit.
“The center of the space you created. I found it thanks to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you first formed the space with this intangible qi, it was impossible for me to find it. Because this body is not on that level yet. But.”
Smile
Sa Yu-kang smiled with his face now burned black.
“You distorted the space again to catch me. Did you think you could reset the space and the source would not be revealed?”
“…!”
Shin Yaja’s eyes widened.
It was a look of shock which had not been seen on his face before.
“You…”
“Look now. We aren’t people of this place anyway. We’re beings which shouldn’t exist at all.”
Sa Yu-kang smiled at him.
“How about a clean exit then? I think my fight with you is done.”
“You bastard!”
Shin Yaja swung his sword in anger.
Chak
But this time, Sa Yu-kang was swift. And instead of Sa Yu-kang aiming ahead, he pulled out the Absolute Supreme Demonic Martial Arts into the air.
Chung!
Swish—
Then, an instantaneous flow of energy came out. In an instant, Shin Yaja stumbled.
Sa Yu-kang saw that this time was it, and grabbed his head as he said,
“Among the techniques of the Blood Sect, there is something known as the separation of body and soul right? Originally it is a form of sorcery to remove the evil soul within a possessed body. If you use that to remove an evil soul like yours from the body, what happens?”
“Y-you…!”
Shin Yaja was trying to say something, but he could not as the explosion happened and his eyes began to lose vision.
And—
“Seol-Hwi. I hope we get a chance to meet in the future again.”
Sa Yu-kang smiled.
-…Sa Yu-kang.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I could defeat the absolute warrior. However, no matter what life you live, try to live it without regrets. Like me… do not go wandering around the nine heavens as your humanity starts to wear off. Take care.”
That was it.
He recited something which could not be understood even if he heard it, and then shouted at Shin Yaja,
“Open!”
The roar which shook the heavens and the lands. Once again, it felt like the body was being put through such.
Around this time, the presence of vision being pulled forward and then pushed back, this happened a couple times.
Seol-Hwi saw this image forming in front of his eyes and realized he was alive. And by the time he recognized the object, he was also aware of the presence of Chen Miryo who was next to him.
“A win…”
Hearing the voice, he felt like he was definitely not dead.
“Just how… am I alive?”
“With luck.”
Contrary to the calm answer, Seol-Hwi felt many emotions rise as he looked at her.
It was like space being distorted, something he never experienced. Moving would not be easy. and his heart felt heavy too.
Shhh
Seol-Hwi lowered the head back to check the condition of his body.
Even if this is bad, it won’t kill me.
Seol-Hwi was actually shocked with how he was still alive. Although the flames were nowhere to be found, the black marks on his body showed how badly he was burned.
Of course, there were red burn marks. But he felt happy to be alive. And seeing it did not bring him much pain.
It made him wonder if he was a person or a god.
<The existence of an AI couldn’t be found.>
When he tried to get up—
Uh?
This phrase that came up suddenly, it was a message that appeared saying that the AI did not exist any longer. And then came this irritated voice on the other side,
“What tricks did you use!”
Shin Yaja — No, it was Cheon Wol-seong, the fake sect leader.
Like Seol-Hwi, his AI had disappeared too.
Woah, this is bad.
When Seol-Hwi saw him, he felt this chill run down. First of all, he was alive, but his body was not in a usable state currently.
The situation needed some cultivation. Meanwhile, the guy on the other hand could speak fine.
What was this? With the help of the AI, did he not reach the highest level already?
“It is fine. We won. I am here.”
Just then, Cheon Miryo spoke up.
Seol-Hwi shook his head and said,
“It wouldn’t work for you Miss. Please take some time and I will cultivate…”
“Trust me. I can handle him.”
“…Miss?”
Seol-Hwi looked at her and then nodded. Actually, there was nothing more to do now.
He fought on almost equal footing then, so he could only hope that she held on well.
And he tried to get up—
Tuk
And the body of Seol-Hwi swayed.
He had something blocking him.
“…!”
It was not something which was normal, but Seol-Hwi was not in a normal state now either.
“Why…”
Seol-Hwi, who was sitting on the ground, immediately asked.
“If you take action for no reason, you two could end up in trouble.”
“But after all this…?”
“Yes, we have to end this here.”
Before he knew it, she had this calm look. In some ways, it looked like a sad one.
“For either of us to survive.”
