Chapter 293 : War
Chapter 293: War
“We have lost contact with all of them.”
At his subordinate’s report, the young man dressed in blue reached toward the weapons resting atop the table.
The weapons he picked up were a short spear and a sword.
Within the Divine Dragon Family, there was only one person who used those two weapons simultaneously.
Sword-Halberd Azure Dragon Yong Tae-shin.
He was one of the Divine Dragon Eight Swords, symbols of the Divine Dragon Family’s military might, and also the closest confidant of the current Clan Head.
“All twenty of them were taken out?”
Yong Tae-shin found the report difficult to believe and asked again.
The martial artists stationed around the branch family were members of the Dragon Sword Division.
The Dragon Sword Division consisted entirely of Transcendent Realm experts and represented the elite forces of the Divine Dragon Family.
Twenty Transcendent Realm masters losing contact all at once was far too strange. Moreover, communication had ceased immediately after they reported the appearance of enemies.
“Are there still people left who would dare attack us?”
“We suspect it to be the remaining remnants of the Heavenly Sword Family who escaped.”
Yong Tae-shin agreed with his subordinate’s report.
Other than the Heavenly Sword Family, which the Divine Dragon Family had already crushed, there was no faction left that should be attacking them now.
“It’s not those lunatics from the Hundred Martial Assembly, is it?”
The Hundred Martial Assembly constantly picked fights everywhere, so it was worth suspecting them at least once.
“As far as we know, after the gathering of the Ten Sects, most of them left the Middle Heavens Murim. At present, the Clan-”
Yong Tae-shin, who had been about to leave the room, suddenly raised his arm to silence his subordinate.
Then his eyes widened as he stared into empty space.
“They’re already here?”
Not much time had passed since communication with the Dragon Sword Division was lost. He naturally assumed they were still fighting and merely unable to report.
But Yong Tae-shin’s expectations were wrong.
A tremendous force could be felt nearby.
“It’s an attack! Everyone, arm your-”
Kuuuuung!
Before Yong Tae-shin could finish issuing his command, a deafening explosion rang out, and the entire building shook as though an earthquake had struck.
“This is…….”
The Qi filling the surroundings vanished.
Even without seeing it directly, Yong Tae-shin understood the situation.
‘The spell formation has been destroyed.’
The defensive spell formation enveloping the entire estate had disappeared.
And that meant the enemy had already entered.
Sure enough—
Kwa-rurung!
With a thunderous roar, the wall of the building exploded apart.
Yong Tae-shin shoved his subordinate aside. Drawing both spear and sword, he faced the figure rapidly approaching him.
Kwaaaang!
He split apart the wave-like Qi fluctuations rushing toward him with his sword and thrust forward with his spear.
The opponent was also an expert and blocked Yong Tae-shin’s spear without difficulty.
The enemy threw another punch, and Yong Tae-shin countered with his sword. Their attacks collided, and with an explosive boom, both men were pushed backward.
Yong Tae-shin’s gaze locked onto the enemy who had suddenly appeared.
A robust physique. A bald old man with a fierce appearance.
It was a face Yong Tae-shin recognized.
“Gongsun Jung-rak?”
With that appearance and thunder roaring every time he swung his fists, there was no way to mistake his identity.
“A spear and a sword. Sword-Halberd Azure Dragon Yong Tae-shin?”
“Is this the will of the Hundred Martial Assembly Leader, or are you acting on your own?”
At Yong Tae-shin’s question, Gongsun Jung-rak shook his head.
“I no longer belong to the Hundred Martial Assembly.”
Rumble!
A massive force exploded from both his fists.
“What?”
“I am Gongsun Jung-rak, vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.”
Gongsun Jung-rak stomped heavily.
Centered around his feet, the building shattered apart while powerful waves spread outward.
It looked as though a tidal wave made of Qi Projection was expanding from Gongsun Jung-rak himself.
“You insane bastard!”
Yong Tae-shin crossed sword and spear together and swung them, confronting the incoming tidal wave.
Kuuuuung!
The moment their powers collided, shockwaves burst outward in every direction.
The collapsing building was pulverized into dust, while Yong Tae-shin’s subordinate, caught in the aftermath, was crushed into a bloody paste.
The building and ordinary martial artists alike were far too weak to withstand the clash between two figures representing the Hundred Martial Assembly and the Divine Dragon Family.
“So another lunatic from the Hundred Martial Assembly is spewing nonsense!”
Since every martial artist from the Hundred Martial Assembly seemed insane, Yong Tae-shin did not believe Gongsun Jung-rak’s words.
It was hardly the first time those bastards had suddenly picked a fight without reason.
He did not think deeply about it.
The enemy had attacked.
Therefore, he would simply kill them.
“When someone talks crazy, a beating is the best-”
Suddenly sensing an ominous presence, Yong Tae-shin moved both sword and spear.
Two swords abruptly stabbed toward him.
Yong Tae-shin deflected the attacks targeting him and swiftly leaped backward.
The attack just now was not something even he could easily handle.
“Hmm…….”
A small wound appeared on Yong Tae-shin’s side as he retreated.
He had been certain he blocked everything, yet another invisible attack had slipped through.
Had he counterattacked immediately instead of retreating, he might have suffered greatly.
Yong Tae-shin tensed and looked toward the place where the attack had originated.
Standing there was a black-furred rat beastman holding swords in both hands and another in his tail.
“What a shame.”
Again, it was someone he recognized.
A black-furred rat beastman accompanying Gongsun Jung-rak could only be one person.
“Threefold Phantom Sword.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I am Seo Ryeom, left wing of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.”
“…….”
Only after hearing Seo Ryeom’s introduction did Yong Tae-shin realize the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division had truly arrived.
Unlike Gongsun Jung-rak, Seo Ryeom’s affiliation with the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division was already widely known.
While guarding against the two men, Yong Tae-shin surveyed the surroundings.
A massive floating fortress hovered in the sky, and around it flew beastmen riding flying artifacts.
‘What is all this…….’
The floating fortress itself was already famous as the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division’s mobile stronghold, so its presence was not surprising.
But why were beastmen suddenly involved?
From Yong Tae-shin’s perspective, it was a combination that made no sense.
While he was still confused, Gongsun Jung-rak approached Seo Ryeom.
“You brat, why are you interfering?”
“Because you lied.”
“What? Me?”
“Yes.”
“What lie did I tell?”
“You called yourself the vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division. Why are you deciding that on your own?”
“…….”
“Our vanguard is Great Sage Tongpung. He’s merely absent at the moment. Why are you claiming the position for yourself?”
“Exactly. Why are you calling yourself the vanguard on your own?”
Mak Ya-wol, who had approached without anyone noticing, added his own comment.
“……The position is empty anyway. What difference does it make if I take it temporarily?”
“It makes a difference.”
“That’s right. There’s a big difference.”
“We’ve fought together for so long. How could we arbitrarily replace the Great Sage’s position?”
“A man should have loyalty.”
The two spoke in perfect sync, leaving Gongsun Jung-rak speechless.
“Then…… let’s call it temporary. Temporary vanguard. Gongsun Jung-rak, temporary vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.”
“That much we can concede.”
“I’ll allow it too. But remember this well—it’s only temporary. Temporary.”
Seo Ryeom tilted his head back slightly and spoke arrogantly.
Though the sight irritated him, Gongsun Jung-rak said nothing.
He desperately wanted to stay involved with the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division no matter what.
Sparring with Jang Woo-hyun and discussing martial arts with him was simply too enjoyable.
And after hearing Seo Ryeom and Mak Ya-wol’s stories, it seemed they were constantly fighting battles like this.
The Hundred Martial Assembly had always been obsessed with martial arts, duels, and combat itself, so for the first time in ages, Gongsun Jung-rak felt his blood boiling.
‘I should’ve started following them long ago.’
That thought crossed his mind every single time.
“Then the two of you step aside. As vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division, I’ll handle Sword-Halberd Azure Dragon myself.”
“That won’t do.”
“What do you mean it won’t? Is this about turns? I arrived first, so naturally I should fight him first. Are you really going to argue over that?”
“That’s not it. You can’t fight alone.”
“Then what? Don’t tell me…… you want to fight together?”
“Yes.”
“That’s right.”
Gongsun Jung-rak stared at Seo Ryeom and Mak Ya-wol, unable to understand their words.
These were men who would usually fight over who got to go first, not suggest teaming up.
Perhaps sensing his confusion, Mak Ya-wol spoke.
“Right now, we are not the Battle Demon Division. We are the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division. And the captain’s orders have been given.”
Back when they were part of the Battle Demon Division, they would have lined up and fought one by one regardless of the surrounding situation.
That was the Battle Demon Division’s way.
But now they were no longer the Battle Demon Division.
They had come here not for a duel, but for war.
Jang Woo-hyun’s orders had already been given, and they needed to eliminate the enemy blocking their path as quickly as possible.
As though Mak Ya-wol’s words were a signal, sounds of destruction and screams erupted from all around.
The Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists had descended from the Great Thunder Fortress and begun attacking the Divine Dragon Family.
“If you’ve got complaints, then step aside.”
“You’re only ‘temporary,’ old man, so no one would care if you stepped out. We’re members of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division, so we’re attacking now.”
Mak Ya-wol and Seo Ryeom turned while raising their weapons.
Their gazes settled upon Yong Tae-shin, who was visibly tense and unsure how to deal with all three of them at once.
“Fine. Then I’ll join in too.”
Afraid they might exclude him from the fight, Gongsun Jung-rak quickly wedged himself between them.
“If this is the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division’s way, then I shall follow it. Temporary though I may be, I am still the vanguard.”
The moment his words ended, all three moved simultaneously, as though they had made a prior agreement.
---
-We’ll carve a path all the way to where the Heavenly Dragon Sovereign is. Captain, don’t step in. Just watch.
Because of Mak Ya-wol’s words, Jang Woo-hyun merely observed his comrades fighting from atop the Great Thunder Fortress.
The Divine Dragon Family’s forces here could not harm him, but the concern his comrades showed made it difficult for him to interfere.
They wanted Jang Woo-hyun to fight Yong Cheon-myeong in perfect condition, without expending even the slightest amount of strength beforehand.
‘There doesn’t seem to be any danger.’
The current enemies were opponents his comrades could handle well enough on their own, so Jang Woo-hyun was not particularly worried.
Gongsun Jung-rak had charged in first, followed by the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division descending behind him.
Because the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division moved so quickly, the Beast King Sect’s main force—including Maeng Ye-ju—had not yet arrived.
Only around two hundred beastmen, including Dan Moon, who could be considered the Beast King Sect’s vanguard, had boarded the Great Thunder Fortress and joined the assault.
“I am Evil Ghost Blade Dan Moon of the Beast King Sect! Those who surrender will be spared, so surrender now! Anyone who resists us will die!”
After declaring this, Dan Moon issued his command.
The beastmen riding flying artifacts sprinted through the air and attacked the Divine Dragon Family.
---
No matter how powerful one of the Divine Dragon Eight Swords might be, only Yong Tae-shin was present here.
There was no way he could block the combined assault of all three men, including Gongsun Jung-rak.
Moreover, the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division did not consist solely of those three.
Green-Horned White Mask Seon Tae-gyeong of the Ten Generals of the Illusion Gate, Jin Ha-un, and the other Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists—
The suddenly overwhelming assault shattered the Divine Dragon Family’s branch estate in an instant.
Only traces of battle remained where the massive estate had once stood.
As Dan Moon gazed at the destruction caused by the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division, he realized something.
‘So Ye-ju learned this from them.’
Simplify commands, identify the enemy, then charge in and destroy everything immediately.
It was a method poorly suited for handling unexpected situations or variables, but there was no faster way to move.
And the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division consisted of elite specialists.
They could move far faster than massive organizations.
Maeng Ye-ju had commanded the beastmen in exactly this manner during the battle against the Pangu Mingsheng Gate.
Simple orders proved highly effective for beastmen who occasionally struggled to restrain their instincts, granting them tremendous advantages on the battlefield.
‘They look unruly, yet the moment orders are given, they move as one.’
And the one commanding them was Jang Woo-hyun.
Outwardly, he did not seem like a leader, yet the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists genuinely followed him.
Dan Moon found it fascinating that Jang Woo-hyun could control the wild and unruly martial artists of the Hundred Martial Assembly.
It was not simple oppression through strength, nor was he domineering.
They all followed Jang Woo-hyun willingly.
The more Dan Moon observed the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division, the stranger and more fascinating the group became.
As Dan Moon watched the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists spread throughout the area, his gaze stopped on the usual trio traveling together.
They seemed to be searching for something, rummaging through one particular area.
“Unni, can we really find it here? The place is such a mess. Can we even recognize anything?”
“The branch families and branch halls of the Divine Dragon Family are all built similarly. There should probably be a place around here where they store magical treasures.”
“That means they build everything the same? Isn’t that incredibly stupid? Wouldn’t it make things way too easy for thieves or enemies to figure out?”
At Gun Yoo-hye’s question, Yong Seo-hee smiled bitterly.
From a normal perspective, Gun Yoo-hye was correct.
But the Divine Dragon Family did not think that way.
The Divine Dragon Family believed themselves—descendants of dragon blood—to be superior to every other race.
They never even considered the possibility of losing to someone or having their possessions stolen.
So naturally, they constructed buildings entirely according to their own preferences.
Enemies and thieves were not threats, so why should they care what others thought?
That was simply the kind of family the Divine Dragon Family was.
“That’s just how they are.”
“They’re weird people.”
“It should be around here somewhere, so look for an intact artifact. It’s spherical and about this size?”
At Yong Seo-hee’s explanation, Jin Ha-un and Gun Yoo-hye searched the surroundings for any surviving artifacts that had not been destroyed.
“Found it.”
It seemed Yong Seo-hee’s guess had been correct.
Jin Ha-un found an artifact roughly the size of a child’s head within a hollowed-out section of the ruins.
Yong Seo-hee thanked him and picked up the artifact.
The sphere-shaped artifact could only be used by members of the Divine Dragon Family.
Yong Seo-hee intended to use it to contact her grandfather.