Chapter 154 – Heavenly Demon, Do-won (3)

Heavenly Demon.

He is a calamity borne on the winds of change.

Once he begins to move, there is no halting him.
His extraordinary momentum, akin to that of a dragon, has few who can obstruct its course.

Even if those who dared not underestimate him formed an alliance, the outcome remained unaltered.

Churches, guilds, associations, the governments of nations, colossal corporations.
All were adversaries to him, yet none could corner him.

Conversely, the Heavenly Demon had single-handedly contended with them for over a century.

If economic retaliation was their weapon, he would dismantle their businesses.
When faced with pressure, he would shatter the guilds single-handedly.

As though such a lifestyle was a given.
Mocking societal norms, he uprooted laws and the privileged class entirely.

Due to this, Do-won had managed to enjoy an extended period of tranquility.
The power struggle among the elders of each faction, each vying for a voice, would not have occurred without the foundation of peace.

– Kwaaaaang!

But at this moment.
For the first time, Do-won’s tranquility started to shatter.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

An unexpected assault.
Along with the subsided roof of the tile-roofed house, the base of the mountain range began to crumble slowly.

The screams of a woman who emerged from the house ended abruptly, silenced in an instant.
Her neck was pierced by the assailant’s sword, and she collapsed onto the ground like a rag doll.

“Didn’t they say these were people of Murim? They can’t even use a little magic.”
“Damn, that’s what they said. They’re no better than barbarians who can’t even use magic.”

A guild emblem etched onto the chest.
A skilled A-class hunter dispatched from the association.

Appearing arrogantly, they smirked at the sight of the blood pool beneath the woman.

“The silver lining… the women here are quite the treats. Each one as beautiful as the next. Their bodies are also sensual. Look at this~”

A man lifts the woman’s face, gripping her ample breasts firmly.
His colleague snickers at the absurdity of the situation.

“Creep… uh.”

Air bubbles burst out from her pierced throat.
The woman, her face contorted in terror, seemed to be still alive, staring at the two men.

“We didn’t come here to have a good time.”
“What do you mean? Do you think we came here to catch the Heavenly Demon? We’re just here to pick up a few scraps. But hey, seems like there are some scraps right here?”

The darker side of war.
Those seeking to secretly fulfill their desires.

Whether it was a murderous instinct or a lewd sexual desire, it didn’t matter.

“Ever tried a corpse?”
“Cut the crap.”
“… If we don’t indulge in these activities, we Hunters can’t get by. When did we ever seek justice or any such thing?”

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that those who make a living by killing carry their own forms of mental afflictions.
The man proceeded to rip off the woman’s top.

“Do you know why slaves from Do-won are so sought after? They’re all so innocent. Virtually inexperienced. Kidnap them, dose them a little, and they’ll submit on their own. Play in these waters long enough, you’ll understand.”

“It appears we’re running out of that commodity.”

“Ah, because of that Heavenly Demon. Well, once today passes, things will return to the way they were.”

Their conversation, laden with derision, resembled a sick jest. The light in the woman’s eyes began to gradually dim.

“Let’s just skirmish a bit, retreat, and take a woman into the nearby thicket. You know what I mean?”

The moment the man tried to toss the woman aside and stomp on her head…

In that brief interval, vivid red lines materialized on the hunters’ throats.

“Ah… Grrkkk?!”

Their voices, caught mid-shout, transformed into the sound of air escaping. Desperately, they reached for their necks, but it was too late—their throats had been cut. The two men fell to the ground, grotesquely clutching at their own necks.

A head, hollowed grotesquely.

The two bodies, unaware even of their death, crumpled next to the woman.

“Heal her.”

Clad in black, a wisp of cigarette smoke swirling around him, the old man stood there. A man following him placed his hand on the woman’s neck.

Two lone warriors had materialized in the lower part of Do-won.

The tide of battle changed in a split second.

* * * * * * *

“Ah, ah… Ahhh.”

Experiencing one’s throat being pierced is not something an ordinary person can bear. Even if it’s healed and pain is no longer felt, the vivid memory lingers, incessantly tormenting the mind.

The woman’s upper garment had been completely torn away. I removed my outer robe and draped it over her shoulders.

“Pull yourself together.”

“Ah… Ah.”

The horrors of war are not unknown to me. Such actions have been perpetuated throughout history, a tradition that predates even the oldest records.

Ironically, such heinous crimes were often effective in bolstering the morale of soldiers. If one were to disregard the means and methods, it could even be seen as commendable.

Those bastards of the World Tree…

“Not all trees are the same,” someone once told me.

‘I know.’

As long as they were determined to attack Do-won, civilian casualties were inevitable. I knew this, but… since Do-won hadn’t fallen today, I hadn’t taken the threat entirely seriously.

I watched the old man’s retreating figure.

Black dragons surfaced on his arms. Their heads and tails thrashing back and forth, the surge of energy rapidly expanded. A low rumble reverberated through the air, causing it to tremble.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

As much as I would have liked to stay, my presence here was not necessary. It was regrettable that I wouldn’t witness the old man’s full strength.

I placed my hand on the woman’s shoulder and invoked my magic.

– Flash.

Spatial magic. Our next destination was the uppermost part of Do-won.

A woman, paralyzed by fear, transforms instantaneously.

Minimize the casualties as much as possible, yet there was a path I needed to tread independently—our stronghold. I had long since ascertained their station point.

The decision to act under the veil of obscurity wasn’t exclusive to them.

‘……I need to disconnect momentarily.’

[Unlikely, but should you face hardship during disconnection, it will be irreversible.]

I find myself needing to retreat to the present, skillfully cloaked in the guise of death. Timing was of the essence, and it had to be impeccable. Yet, before that, a display of extraordinary prowess was essential. If I were to die without demonstrating my abilities, I would doubt my own identity as the Little Heavenly Demon.

[I wish you fortune.]

Naturally.
There would be no suspicion from their end—absolutely none.

‘Ah.’

【The connection with the World Tree is temporarily suspended.】

A deep breath. As I observe the elderly man who had forged ahead, I relax my shoulders.

Bending my legs, I sit hunched, gradually unveiling the magic power residing above my shoulders.

– Zzzzzt.

A sound akin to electricity sparking. Petals seem to bloom, scattering irregularly.

I propel myself forward, pushing off the ground.

– Koo-goo-goo!

A single, straight black line forms across the vast plain, the only such expanse within the Do-won. In mere seconds, corpses from the outside littered the roadside. Then, midway, a single overwhelming aura makes my entire body jolt.

– Kikii Iik!

The sound of two powers clashing, enough to rip the eardrums.

‘Have they met?’

Heavenly Demon and Mugung.
An ancient rivalry that has persisted through time.

If that human’s ankle has been ensnared, any hesitation now would be superfluous. The only individual who could genuinely threaten my life has vanished from the border.

Do-won will not crumble in my absence. Gradually, those who had prepared began descending toward the lower echelons of Do-won.

The elders of the Munpa, with whom I once exchanged words. The countless warriors, including Jinrang, who once stood as my adversaries, are now on my side, sharpening their blades. The deputy leader, who served Hong-Yeon commendably under her command, must have also opened her eyes, now tinged with a painful blue.

I advance ahead of them, crossing Do-won toward the outside.

As my movements cleave the surrounding air, my vision broadens, blurring the vista ahead. The screams echoing from within Do-won felt as repugnant as the dense odor of oil.

My sinew tenses before releasing. My facial muscles stiffen.

My body, beginning to heat up, was gradually transitioning to an optimum state, a reflection of my training with the Heavenly Demon.

– Stand tall.

My feet halt.

“…….”

– Shuaaaaaa!

A downpour ensues. Wet hair obscures my vision.

However, it didn’t matter. Even without looking ahead, everything in my vicinity was well within the range of my magical perception.

A few trees gathered in the dense forest. In the rain that lashes like a wedge, countless branches eventually break, bending outward from Do-won.

“…Ah.”

Faceless souls congregated around me.
The rain falling was indeed a melancholy sight.

The vibrant peach blossom of Dowon, in full bloom, was destined to be washed away in the deluge.

-Clang!

The adversaries, brandishing their swords with a bold spirit.
The convergence of their magic power towards a single point was vividly apparent to my eyes.

I ceased all stray thoughts.

* * * * * *

“It takes an eternity to meet again… Is a greeting even necessary?”

The playful salutation of the elderly man caused the Heavenly Demon to knit his brows.

Black and white. Their distinct colors lose their captivating beauty the moment they merge.
An embodiment of purity, these two individuals.
They had crossed paths once, and since that day, had become sworn enemies.

The leader of Dowon and the head of the Hunter Association.
Mugung, and the Heavenly Demon.

Neither of them retained the memory of the other’s name.

There’s neither time nor value in exchanging names amidst the pinnacle of battle.
They simply appraise each other’s abilities and charge forth like blood-stained hounds.
A mud-slinging fight to see who will release their grip on the other’s throat first.
Despite having mountains to lose, they remain indifferent.

“The rain is pouring down like a pack of wild dogs.”

The Heavenly Demon grumbled.

Over a hundred corpses decorated the shadow of the old man.
All of them were outsiders.

The holes torn open. Necks sliced, arms mangled. Their similar point of connection was the faces twisted in despair.
Their weapons were no more effective than slender branches against the Heavenly Demon.

-Shuaaaaaa!

The blood, swept away by the rain, pooled around the feet of the Heavenly Demon.

The elderly man, seemingly fed up, raised his head.
Another old man, clutching his sword, stared back at him.

Two unfathomable energies began to emanate, gradually spreading from their toes.

The swelling magic power couldn’t overcome the momentum. They clashed.

─Baekdan Simge: Seondeok (善德)
─Cheonma Shingong: One, Baekdo (白桃)

Flash!

Suddenly, the break of dawn in the dim morning.
White lightning. Thunder. It enveloped the whole of Dowon in a blinding white swirl.

-Quad Deuk!

Trees around were uprooted, sliced into fragments, then reduced to dust, scattered to the winds.
Breaking through the dust, the elderly man emerged before the Heavenly Demon.

His sword, with a brilliant blue edge, seemed to cut through the air endlessly.

─Cheongdan Simge: Hugong (虛空)

In the blink of an eye, a force surged from below.
The Heavenly Demon’s body was roughly torn by the azure lake.

The surges of overflowing magical energy transformed into undulating waves, engulfing the Heavenly Demon.
A triple strike descended from above.

─Baedalgye: Daedeok Sabek, Baekran (白卵)

The moon, taking on the visage of Sanghyeon.
The curved sword stroke shattered perception.

A clash of titans, those who have reached a height unattainable by mere mortals.

– Kwang!

The white aura was shattered with a single strike from the Heavenly Demon.

“…Consistently irritating. Some things never change.”
“Think you’re the only one capable?”

Mugung parried the Heavenly Demon’s taunt with an air of nonchalance. Unlike his stern countenance, Mugung was brimming with joy.

“You haven’t lost your touch. Quite astonishing, indeed.”

Mugung lowered his sword, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Compared to the Heavenly Demon, whose days were numbered, Mugung was a picture of youthful vitality. It was clear who had the upper hand.

“…If senility has not clouded your judgement, you should know.”
“Are you referring to the matter of succession?”

They each knew what the other knew. It was a mutual understanding between the Heavenly Demon and Mugung.

“The lad is fated to die today. Do-won, quite a fitting name, isn’t it?”

As the name suggests, the moment Do-won dies, his world ends too. The Heavenly Demon laughed scornfully at the implicit meaning in Mugung’s words.

“Do you honestly believe he is going to die?”
“What do you mean?”
“He might be a fool, but you underestimate him. Even the eyes of the Sword Saint have decayed to the point of blindness.”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.

– Thud!

The aura was palpable, even beyond his shoulder. Despite being in a state of full power that transcended ordinary realms, the latent potential could not be easily dismissed.

Mugung’s face momentarily hardened at the sensation, but he quickly regained his composure. The potential was there, but it was not a significant force… yet.

Heavenly Demon, Do-won. The only one who knows about him is the Heavenly Demon.

“Sometimes, there’s a man who loses his mind.”
“……Are you talking about your disciple?”
“In a sword dance competition, the first and last five minutes are a farce. Laughing like a fool, cracking pitiful jokes, and above all, looking weak.”

What led him to this state was a mystery. The Heavenly Demon recalled training sessions with Do-won in his memories.

– ……

A face as cold as ice. Pupils devoid of light. He didn’t respond to words, silently yearning only for victory.

No matter how much he tried to suppress his magical power, the Heavenly Demon could not dismiss him.

“I don’t understand what you are talking about.”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes trembled with anger.

“You will understand when you meet him.”

There was a reason he didn’t react, even when Mugung rudely invoked the name Socheonma.

“We are not the beasts.”

* * * * * *

– ……

Even the blood turns to ice.

The dead, or those on the brink of death. Their gazes were fixed on a single point.

Could anyone in this world portray terror more vividly?

The killing intent that stabs deep into the body naturally drains the strength from the legs. Those who had never experienced such a thing were rendered immobile.

Astonishment held every gaze captive, at the precipice of life and death.

“…”

The man observed the lifeless form, his impenetrable eyes revealing no thoughts, his lips silent.

Standstill.