Chapter 377 – The Battle for Cornus (5)

The corpse-like body writhes.

Through multiple experiences of dying, sensations vanished and returned after a long time. Overcoming the pain through the night, I heard the old man’s voice.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Atop the mountain of reflection, where not a single star shone, an old man was climbing a rope.

“How many years do you think I’ve dedicated to reaching this point?”

A turbulent river of blood coursed through him.
With each step, lakes split apart, and falling flowers veered away from him.

“From the summit, conquering the constant peak. The wall is a place that can only be reached by transcending death, suspending the boiling entrails by their stems, and traversing an unseen ridge.”

Surmount that wall.

– Flinch.

A blood-soaked mass of flesh, unrecognizable as a human.
Slowly, the eyelids were raised.

The hazy blue mist formed a circular, thick wall, transforming into a towering spire, and at the summit of this fog-constructed tower, the dark dawn sky could be seen.

It was distant.
The destination I sought and the future I desired.
I didn’t know how much stronger I needed to become.

“We have a long journey ahead,” said the old man.

With lifeless eyes, I surveyed the shadowy space once more. Petals from blossoming flowers rained down, following the undulating contours of the colossal mountain range.

“…Today is the Day of Falling Flowers,” the old man added, lifting his cup with wrinkled hands. He took a sip of the wine, tinged with a drop of blood.

“So, do you think you understand now?”

I didn’t know.

One cannot count the flowers in a hedge.
No matter how many times death is averted.
I, unable to surpass even a century’s threshold, am incapable of becoming a vessel to harness power.

“It’s been some time since you came to Dowon and received power from me. I don’t know what kind of place awaits you in the future,” the old man muttered.

“There will come a time when you can’t handle the increased power.”

The crushed eyeballs began to regain their shape due to the mystical power, and their vision gradually returned. The old man was cackling manically in my direction.

As soon as I felt sensation return to my hands, I assumed a martial arts stance. My feeble fist was blocked by the old man.

*Thud!*

On the side of the hand that was lightly extended, the torn side of the Heavenly Demon.

“Indeed… I do like one of your eyes.”

Half crushed, a well-honed, blade-like fist flew towards my disfigured face with bones protruding.

“You are my masterpiece.”

* * * * * * * *

**S-rank Hunter**

Ranked 65th and 104th among hunters, excluding stages

Twins Allen

The sound of leisurely footsteps echoes through the hallway as light returns. A man appears, his eyes devoid of color and shrouded in a mysterious blackness.

“I heard multiple intruders had entered. Is it just one person?”

In an instant, the two nameless brothers size him up.

– Thud, thud.

As if unable to see the foe before him, the man approaches at a snail’s pace. Eventually, he raises his hands, adopting a martial stance.

His elongated black pupils and an unusual type of power, one that can hardly be called magical. Faced with the opponent’s oppressive force, which ruthlessly targets their spines, the brothers each draw upon their own reserves of magical energy.

‘…What is that power?’

There are quite a few individuals known to possess black magic. Yet, they had never encountered such a viscous, dark shade before.

“Stay focused. Do as we always have. We won’t lose.”
“…Understood.”

The brothers assume their stances.

– Crack!

The pair spring into motion. Tree-like limbs sprout from their backs like wings, launching towards the man.

“I don’t know what kind of monster it encountered, but in terms of speed, I won’t lose.”

Even the most skilled can be taken advantage of if there’s a brief opening. At the moment a certainty settled on the faces of the two Allens,

– Squeak!

Their vision was instantly split in half.

Two pairs of severed wings fell to the ground. As the sound of something being crushed echoed in their ears, a black magical force concealed their surroundings.

“…White magic?”

A thread-like white magic power, shimmering and pure, had cleaved through their bodies.

“Kahak!”

An unknown force, speed, and technique.

“Ugh, erk!”

Before he could even pierce his intended target, the man’s figure vanished, leaving his entire body torn to shreds. As their lives faded away, the man crossed the two Allens’ field of vision.

A lone human, without any weapons. In an incredibly short span of time, he appeared to utilize their own power against them as if reversing it.

Martial arts. It is said to be the realm reached by those who have pushed their physical training and discipline to the utmost limits. Yet, I have never seen anyone with such a natural transition between combat stances. The man continued to steadily advance.

—

Owner of the Gray Winter Tower: Nia N. Carmen

—

“…I haven’t seen your face before. But, given that you’ve come this far, I don’t think you’re just some nobody.”
“A mage?”
“Why, can’t you comprehend? Nowadays, there are many mages skilled in close-quarters combat. Although, even if I were to tell you, you’d still die here.”

An uncomfortable sensation, like a muscle being pulled taut, emanated from the arm that wielded the magi.

“You. You’re clearly overexerting yourself, aren’t you? I can tell just by looking. I don’t know how long you can maintain that power, but you should consider yourself fortunate to have met me.”

– Thud!

In an instant, the surrounding mana began to swell, giving rise to a space composed of polygons.

The space encasing my body like a coffin was far more difficult to move within than I had ever imagined.

“Are you just going to let yourself be crushed? At the very least, you should have considered fleeing.”
“……”

My arms and legs contorted as if on the verge of snapping.
I couldn’t even twitch a single finger.

“It’s impressive that you’ve made it this far, but this is the end, my friend. I’m bored to death. I was holding Mugung and White Peach back just enough before she arrived… Now, I’ll collect the money and make my exit.”

Magic, as it were, cannot fulfill its proper function without three meticulously crafted spells.

“Don’t move. I’ve seen more than enough of your combat style. You, a martial artist? It’s astonishing, even to me, that you managed to kill someone in the S-rank. But ultimately, this is as far as you go.”

The first spell deals with the inherent efficacy of the magic.
The second spell creates a trap that renders inversion impossible.
The third spell serves as a failsafe for instances when the magic activation goes awry.

I reached out, channeled my magical energy into the spell’s framework, and tore it asunder.

– *Creak*!

After the Cradle, Marronnier and the Sage earned their recognition as the ultimate wizards for not leaving even the slightest margin for error.

“What? You… Could you be a wizard?”

Moving forward, I stepped into my opponent’s embrace, allowing no time for a counterattack.

“Wait!”

As if slicing through tofu, a subtle sensation of flesh parting followed the path of my hand. Detached strands of hair flew through the air, plummeting to the floor.

– Kwajik!

Then, I proceeded to the next corridor.

There, a woman with dark, decaying skin stood, her lips twisted into a sinister grin.

“Hello.”
“Sansuyu, where is Sanhyeokwon?”
“How would I know? We’re merely hired help. I’m not privy to confidential information. Isn’t that right?”

If that was the case, there was no reason for her to guard this passage. I looked down at her, and she responded with a wicked laugh.

“Termite. You’re the newcomer from there, aren’t you?”

Darkness looms.
A chemist of fine roots. Marlene.

She laughed, scratching her ample chest, extending one finger.

“Isn’t your skin gradually dissolving?”
“…”
“There’s a poison that affects everything from humans to wooden beings, including trees. Personally, I’d prefer it if you, being an arboreal creature, would become an Ent.”

– Thud.

A clump of something falls from her palm.
The zenith of those who manipulate lethal poisons and biochemical substances.
Thanks to the advancement of new technology that transmutes elements through magical power, there are over 300 types of chemical elements in this world.
And thus, they can kill people even more cruelly.

“I’ve dispersed every kind of poison I’ve created throughout this hallway. You seem to be enduring it for quite some time. It won’t be long now.”

Still, it’s only poison.

In a world where one can kill without making contact or getting infected… Poisons that are effective only when directly inhaled or touched are not actually very threatening.

The mark or power of the World Tree, or having the world you lived in turned upside down.
Being forced to face death through an unknown quest is a more complex and frightening force.

“…Why do you keep moving?”
“Well.”

The power of healing swiftly repairs the rapidly crumbling cell walls.

“What are you… Does that make sense? A poison that can kill all living beings in this world with just one pinch.”

Then the old man’s fist in Do-won’s presence must be stronger than that poison.
He quickly approaches the woman who has lost her composure and reaches out.

“…!”

The magic that lightly emanates from his palm creates a harsh, explosive sound.

【 Illusion of Longan Boksa, Piercing Flower 】

No blood splattered, and simultaneously, a light shockwave created a large hole in the woman’s upper body.

She was not a very strong opponent.

The Last Murim-in, a member of the Shaman Faction, and Jeokho

“You’re a martial artist. That power… is it the Qi of the Heavenly Demon?”
“Yes.”
“The power of Do-won… Ah, it was a beautiful place. Though, it crumbled at the hands of many, including myself.”

It’s comforting to meet someone who knows what those days were like.
Although it’s only a brief moment of respite, it doesn’t change that they are an enemy to be killed.

“Those who inherited that power were always strong. Both the present White Peach and the past Heavenly Demon… and even the forgotten Lesser Heavenly Demon.”
“I don’t have time.”

Engaging in a conversation one topic at a time is useless.
My mind is constantly on edge, as I exert my full strength every time.

I observed the opponent’s mana and the movements of their body’s muscles with my eyes.

“Taegeuk Shingong (太極神功). There was a man I desired to clash with at least once. I shall engage him wholeheartedly.”

I can’t fathom what dreams I’m chasing in this already darkened martial world.
The power of the Dao is well-known.

“Mudang… He was a damned wretched old man.”
“…What?”
“There is Dao in a realm beyond human interference. It is said we must follow it. But he babbled nonsense, not even fully understanding it himself. In the end, he never truly cared for anything around him.”

Thanks to him, reforming was an arduous task.

“Dosani, return to nature. Look back upon a world that left no records. What have you to present?”

He was one of the many elders who had betrayed Dowon.
As I took my stance and moved, my opponent thrust his sword.

– Flash!

In an instant, each person’s martial arts unfurled in the air, disrupting the surrounding order.
Only one person remained standing on the ground.

Fragments of iron fall helplessly.

“Why, why, why… my martial arts…”

Can such a thing even be called martial arts? It’s merely mischief that draws upon the remnants of the past and plays with power.

I continued walking forward. Amidst some pain and discomfort, I spoke to him.

“There was something I said to the elder of your sect.”
“What are you… wait…”

The man’s voice cracked.

“-You. You should be dead. Heh, hah!”

The face of the enemy, who died vomiting blood, is filled with despair. Long ago, when I was practicing in the townhouse, there was something I said to the old man. Only looking at the old and not even considering building something new. Yet, he merely wished for power to come rolling in.

In my absence, it piled up and reached betrayal.

The shaman, whose lineage has already been severed, cannot wield the arcane arts even if brought back to life.
There is no legitimacy.
No talent was to be found either.
To deny this is to flee from the truth.

-Whack!

He flicked his hand to brush off the blood.
Now, onto the next.

This time their numbers had clearly grown.
Each brandishing their own weapon and glaring at me with murderous intent, they approached one step at a time.
There was no need to recall their names or faces.

【 Black Blade 】

Petals cascaded, filling the corridor.
Each petal seemed to bloom vividly, piling up around and becoming entangled at my feet.

Forgetting the pounding of my heart, I extended my steadfast hands and resolute fists forward.

“Haaah…”

Faster. I had to break through what lay ahead.