Chapter 38
A flash of Jaseong's blade swept through the air at lightning speed, slicing a blood-red line with a sharp "chuaak!"
'Did we get him?!'
Lee Rin looked expectantly toward Jaseong and Kang Ryong.
But unfortunately, Kang Ryong dodged a fatal blow. With insane reflexes, he barely twisted his upper body out of the way.
Because of that, Jaseong's blade only slashed Kang Ryong's right cheek.
"... What are you? I've never heard of nor seen anyone like you before."
Kang Ryong asked, distorting both his eyes. Blood poured out from his right cheek.
Jaseong's eyes, too, were taut with tension.
Up until now, every opponent he'd faced had been defeated as soon as he activated the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
But just now, Kang Ryong had avoided the perfectly planned surprise attack organized by himself and Lee Rin.
Among the Twelve Gates, Jaseong had opened up to the sixth, yet still, they missed their fatal mark.
'... This is the first time I've met such a formidable enemy.'
But he couldn't afford to stand around in shock. Having opened up to the sixth gate among the twelve, his internal energy in his dantian was quickly depleting.
At best, Jaseong could maintain this all-out, instant-kill mode for around a minute.
Without wasting words, Jaseong lunged at Kang Ryong again.
Kang! Kang! Kang! Kaaaaang! Kang!!!
With the Celestial Gate Opening Art opened to the sixth gate, Jaseong was truly astounding. His Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique now displayed a power and mastery it never had before, perfectly embodying the mysterious principles of One(單), speed, and Strength.
With every step, his Heaven Evading Phantom Step created afterimages that constantly confused Kang Ryong's eyes.
Even the power of the Samadhi Eyes was now greater than ever, clearly revealing all of Kang Ryong's openings.
As a result—
Chuak! Chuaak!
Wounds multiplied across Kang Ryong's body. To Lee Rin, watching from behind, it was a shocking sight.
For right now, Jaseong was surpassing Kang Ryong—the apex predator of the tournament—in every aspect: power, speed, and skill.
'I... I expected him to be strong, but to overwhelm that monster like this...! What on earth—?!'
Shocked but determined, Lee Rin quickly raised her sword and joined in the fight.
"Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, Second Form: Snowstorm of Ten Thousand Figures!"
A fierce wave of cold surged from Lee Rin's blade, engulfing Kang Ryong from behind.
With Jaseong and Lee Rin pressing him from front and back, Kang Ryong had no way of defending himself.
Chuak! Chuaak!
The longer the fight dragged on, the more Kang Ryong's body was covered in blood.
For Jaseong, it was time to clench his fist in anticipation.
'Almost there...! If I keep pressing in just a little more...!'
But just then, as Jaseong and Lee Rin furiously swung their swords and hemmed Kang Ryong in—
A variable occurred.
"Infinite Black Emperor Fist, Ultimate Move: Imperial Thunder!!!"
Suddenly, Kang Ryong spun in place and unleashed a flurry of fists in all directions.
The Imperial Thunder, a supreme move among the Infinite Black Emperor Fist.
With thunderous rotational force, his power exploded, blasting both Jaseong and Lee Rin back simultaneously.
"Ugh!"
Jaseong blocked with the flat of his blade, but was driven back.
The unyielding assault he'd maintained was interrupted for the first time.
Kang Ryong didn't miss the slightest opening.
Shuaaak!
Instead of targeting Jaseong, Kang Ryong immediately charged Lee Rin, who had been at his back, gathering all his internal power to launch another finish.
"Infinite Oblivion!"
Lee Rin was off balance after fending off Kang Ryong's Imperial Thunder, just as Jaseong had been.
She hurriedly raised her sword to meet his advance.
"Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, Fifth Form: Snowflake Ice Wheel!"
Kaaang!!!
A flurry of snowstorm-like cold burst from Lee Rin's treasured sword, blocking Kang Ryong's fist strikes.
But because her defense had been hastily put up while out of stance, it couldn't be perfect.
As a result—
Puh-oooh!!!
"Gahh!!"
After only three exchanges, Lee Rin's swordline faltered and she coughed up dark red blood.
The disruptive internal force of the Infinite Black Emperor Fist had penetrated her organs, wrecking her insides.
"Haah... Haah... At least I dealt with the ratlike little bitch."
Barely holding himself, blood-soaked Kang Ryong uttered in a hoarse mutter.
Watching this, Jaseong clenched his jaw.
From the outside, Kang Ryong was battered and Jaseong looked unscathed, so one might think Jaseong was winning.
But in reality, it was the opposite.
Jaseong's dantian was nearly empty—he had less than a fistful of internal energy left.
Only about a moment remained for the Celestial Gate Opening Art—perhaps a minute, at most.
Defeating Kang Ryong alone, without Lee Rin's support, within that span was virtually impossible.
So what should Jaseong do now?
Should he give up and run?
It was definitely possible. Kang Ryong was exhausted after his harrowing battles and the horror of Jaseong's overwhelming martial arts.
If Jaseong ran, the odds seemed high Kang Ryong would not pursue.
Furthermore, with the Celestial Gate Opening Art at sixth gate, he could escape at tremendous speed.
... He really had attempted something reckless.
For someone from the Red Light District to try to capture a direct descendant of the illustrious Twin Dragon Clan.
Raised since childhood with the finest martial arts and rarest elixirs, that proud bloodline was not the type Jaseong—a child of the Red Light District and a day-by-day survivor—should go after.
But...
'I promised.
To become an expert feared throughout the world,
tear apart the arms and legs of those who killed my eldest brother and sister-in-law,
throw them to the pigsty,
and annihilate them all.
So it doesn't matter if it's the Twin Dragon Clan or anyone else—I can't lose to the likes of this bastard.'
Recalling the faces of his late big brother and sister-in-law, an intense poison filled Jaseong's eyes.
Then he laid out his final gamble.
* * *
'I will open the 7th Gate, the Gate of Shock.'
The seventh of twelve gates; this was a realm Jaseong had yet to master fully.
With the seventh gate open, he could only endure for about three breaths—the time to swing his sword three times.
Incredibly brief.
But Jaseong didn't care.
'Just three breaths. That's all I'll bet everything on.'
As he opened the seventh gate, energy surged through his body as if it might explode.
Kwakaakwaa!!!
Golden ki erupted from every inch of Jaseong's body, shaking the lakeside.
At the same time, Kang Ryong's eyes widened in shock, his huge frame flinching under the force of the aura.
But this tremendous power came with a harsh price.
The moment he opened the seventh gate, an overwhelming nausea surged up.
At the same time, he felt unbearable pain as if his energy channels were twisting apart.
But—
Gritting his teeth, Jaseong forced himself onward.
Then, in the next instant—
Shuaaaaak!!!
Jaseong's figure shot toward Kang Ryong like a flash.
With even greater speed than before, Kang Ryong's eyes were now steeped in pure astonishment.
Kaaaaang!!!
Kang Ryong cross-blocked with his reinforced gauntlets, barely stopping Jaseong's strike.
But the force was so great that Kang Ryong slid sharply backward, coughing up blood.
"Guh!"
Before Kang Ryong could regain his senses, Jaseong unleashed his second strike at once.
'Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique, Final Move—Heaven Evading—Eight Winds!'
Jaseong's blade thrust forward at a speed the eye couldn't follow. Kang Ryong twisted his upper body with all his might—
But unfortunately,
Chuaaaak!!
A fountain of blood burst from Kang Ryong's right shoulder. The speed and power of Jaseong's attack were simply overwhelming.
Watching the blood scatter through the air, Jaseong prepared a third and final blow.
He had to end it now.
In his seventh-gate state, he only had three breaths.
Now, his dantian's internal energy was scraping the bottom.
If he failed to finish this, he'd collapse completely drained, and Kang Ryong would counterattack.
But just as Jaseong readied his third attack, Kang Ryong unleashed an unexpected ultimate move.
"Infinite Black Emperor Fist, Ultimate Move: Celestial Emperor Chains the Earth!!!"
Kang Ryong thrust both fists forward and a wild surge of gray force shot at Jaseong—like a wall flying at him.
Jaseong, with the seventh gate open, could have blocked this supreme move.
But after blocking, he wouldn't have the stamina to swing his sword again.
Only one breath remained.
So finally, Jaseong made a decision.
'... I'll sacrifice the flesh to take the bone.'
He abandoned defense and instead charged ahead at full power.
PUH-OOOOH!!!
Shaken by a violent shock, pain crashed through every muscle of Jaseong's body as he took Kang Ryong's attack head-on.
'?!'
Of course, Kang Ryong never expected such a reaction.
Nor did he anticipate what happened next.
Despite taking Kang Ryong's ultimate move directly, Jaseong charged forward, coughing up blood but unyielding.
'He's still moving after taking my ultimate?! What is this...?!'
At that moment, an indescribable poison burned in Jaseong's eyes.
Kwaaaah—
A venom so intense it seemed to devour the world.
A mad determination to become the World's Greatest and destroy his enemies—the will that made him, at this moment, a calamity, a prodigy chosen by the heavens...!
Chuaaaak!!
With his final breath, Jaseong's sword swept laterally, slicing deep across Kang Ryong's chest.
"Kuahaaargh!!"
With agony as if his chest was burning away, Kang Ryong spewed a blood fountain.
'... What is this guy...? Where did such a monster come from....'
Losing consciousness, only that question echoed in Kang Ryong's mind.
Then he saw it.
The eyes of a boy, who—from the lowest depths—had never ceased running for the title of World's Greatest.
—I will become the World's Greatest, no matter what.
That was the message in Jaseong's eyes as he clenched his teeth and swallowed his blood.
* * *
Thunk!
The gray giant's body tipped and fell.
The apex predator of this tournament, number One.
The third son of the Twin Dragon Clan, Kang Ryong, had finally been toppled.
Seeing this, Jaseong at last coughed up the blood he'd been suppressing.
"Uweegh!!!"
The combined aftereffects of opening the seventh gate and bearing Kang Ryong's ultimate move hit him all at once.
The pain contorted his features—excruciating, involuntary. Yet, even in that intolerable agony, Jaseong managed a grin.
"I did it... I brought down Number One...."
An inexpressible joy and thrill, a sense of achievement.
Finally, even wild laughter burst from Jaseong's mouth.
Watching this Jaseong, the Evil Path Association's experts—who'd been hiding and observing atop the treetops—were struck with shock.
"H-how did the Hao Sect win at the Dark Path Duel Banquet... What is this...?!"
"He even took down the Twin Dragon Clan's third son! The third son is said to be the greatest talent in even the Twin Dragon Clan!"
"Not even the supervisors could handle him... But this Jaseong completely overwhelmed Kang Ryong?!"
The faces of the Evil Faction's experts were twisted by shock and confusion.
But none were more shocked than Gal Seo-ryeong, guardian general of the Hao Sect.
Since the bloody battle with the Haesa Clan siblings, Gal Seo-ryeong had kept close watch on Jaseong's movements.
Each time, his achievements had stunned her anew.
But when Jaseong declared that he would hunt Kang Ryong, the third son of the Twin Dragon Clan, she thought he must be mad.
Kang Ryong was a peerless prodigy and the clear frontrunner of the tournament.
Yet Jaseong shattered all expectations once again.
Before the Dark Path Duel Banquet began, no one even knew the existence of the Hao Sect's young branch leader—and now, a wild upset: victory.
'To think our Hao Sect would seize victory in the Evil Path Association's duel tournament...! Thanks to that boy, our position in the martial world will rise immensely. It's an achievement more than fitting for our grand work of moving the Hao Sect from shadow to the light! If the Sect Leader hears of this...!'
Electrified, Gal Seo-ryeong suddenly realized she must grant Jaseong a fitting reward.
The brighter the destiny of that Red Light District boy becomes, the brighter the future of the Hao Sect.
But what reward would be suitable?
A sudden spark lit up Gal Seo-ryeong's mind.
'If it's the archive... that would be the greatest opportunity for this boy.'
For centuries, the Hao Sect's secret archive had collected martial manuals both righteous and evil, from all over the Central Plains. With every kind of martial art slumbering there, the fortune it could offer Jaseong was beyond measure.
'Some branch leaders will certainly make a ruckus....'