Rebirth of the Thunder God

"The people of the Central Plains are full of affection. To think you won't take a life. Thanks to that, I was saved."

"?!

When Namgung Hui turned his head, the onmyoji, who seemed to have regained his senses at some point, was dusting off his clothes, looking perfectly fine.

Hadn't he definitely subdued him by pressing his vital points?

Simply pressing a vital point was not something that could be easily released.

And the deeper the caster's skill, the more likely it was that if one tried to release it carelessly, the Ki and blood would twist, and the limbs could be paralyzed.

But the onmyoji in front of him had released the vital point and was standing up perfectly fine.

As if there were no particular side effects, his complexion was also the same as before.

'Don't tell me it's because the energy that onmyoji handle is different. I was careless.'

Onmyoji do not use internal energy.

Although it was a feeling similar to internal energy called chakra, it was specialized in sorcery such as astronomy, divination, and calendars.

That was why it was not strange that the vital point pressing, which controlled internal energy, did not work.

'If so, if I subdue him again... Heop!'

Before Namgung Hui could even get into a fighting stance, this time, the onmyoji quickly took the initiative.

A technique of throwing paper dolls like hidden weapons.

It seemed he had given up on the transformation art that required casting time like before.

The onmyoji, who had changed his fighting style, certainly had fewer openings than before.

He thoroughly widened the distance from Namgung Hui, and a firm will was felt, as if he would never show his back.

As if following his will, the chakra moved and dominated the space.

Perhaps because his mental image was reflected in reality, Namgung Hui also felt some discomfort and was reluctant to strike the onmyoji's back.

'Is he interfering with my subconscious? How strange. I don't know what the principle is, but I'm telling myself not to go behind the onmyoji.'

The onmyoji's attack did not end there.

This time, he threw a pile of paper dolls and combined them into one giant something.

It seemed he was performing his best sorcery, judging that the small shikigami from before would not work on Namgung Hui.

The atmosphere trembled, and a mysterious and sinister energy gathered.

Gooo... Seueu...

A sight that seemed to give one the creeps.

The sun had not set, but the atmosphere seemed to be dyed red.

In a way, it felt as if the Ki of death was felt, and the smell of death was strong.

'I can't just leave that as it is.'

Namgung Hui quickly drew the Thunder God Sword and performed the Flying Thunder Sword.

Flying Thunder Sword. Secret Technique. Blue Sky Thunderclap.

From the red-dyed sky, a deep blue thunderbolt descended.

Soon, the thunderbolt that cut through the sunset was stuck on the giant shikigami.

Ureureung! Kwang!

But the growth of the already combined shikigami showed no signs of stopping.

Soon, the completely combined shikigami showed a single form.

"A flood dragon? You've summoned a really big one."

Although he didn't know if it should be called a summoning art, for some reason, Namgung Hui felt the Ki of death and felt as if a dead being had been overlaid on the shikigami.

Since he had heard that onmyoji sometimes possessed the dead and used them, Namgung Hui's speculation was probably correct.

"Hoho! As expected, the people of the Central Plains are generous enough to wait until the transformation is complete."

"It's not a transformation, it's a metamorphosis. And even if it's a flood dragon and not a dragon, it's not that scary."

In fact, that giant flood dragon did not seem to be lacking even when compared to a dragon.

The Sword Spirit dwelling in the Thunder God Sword was also the same, and it shouted at Namgung Hui.

[Don't ignore the flood dragon! You'll get a big nose if you do that!]

-Aigoo. I haven't even gotten married yet, so I can't hurt my handsome nose.

[Hmph! Don't really ignore it. It's better to see that not as just a flood dragon, but as a dragon that failed to become one.]

-Alright. I won't ignore it.

Although it was half-baked, it was a being close to a dragon.

Right now, even just the flood dragon was a being that belonged to the highest class among spirit beasts.

A transcendent spirit beast that could call thunder, bring rain, and even cause earthquakes.

Such a spirit beast had transformed like a monster and was summoned in front of Namgung Hui.

"Huhu! Orochi! Bite and swallow that person!"

"Shasha!"

The flood dragon, which flicked its tongue as if it understood.

Although it was just a slender tongue compared to the flood dragon's body, its size alone was close to that of a human.

Such a giant flood dragon swung its tail without warning.

Swaeaek!

A space-tearing sound that seemed to cut through space itself.

It felt as if the atmosphere was trembling and distorting.

Namgung Hui sensed that even just receiving that would cause a considerable shock.

He immediately pulled his body out with a phantom-like movement and used the afterimage of the Thunder Shadow Victory Steps to confuse the flood dragon's gaze.

The flood dragon's vision detected temperature.

The Thunder Ki contained in the Thunder Shadow Victory Steps also had a property similar to Namgung Hui's body temperature.

The flood dragon also seemed to be confused because of that.

As four clones were created in an instant, it could not distinguish which was the main body.

But if so, all he had to do was destroy all of them.

And that might end with just one swing of its tail.

The giant tail blew away Namgung Hui's afterimages at once.

Pat, pat, pat, pat.

Namgung Hui's clones that disappeared in vain.

Although it seemed they had not achieved their initial goal, Namgung Hui's expression was only bright.

'Good work. My clones. Now it's my turn to step up.'

The time Namgung Hui needed was just the moment the giant body swung its tail once.

His body, strengthened by the Heavenly King Pill, was no longer afraid of any overload.

Cheucheucheut!

A purple Thunder Ki that rushed in like a wave.

It became a purple sunset and shone as a twilight from behind Namgung Hui.

"!? Orochi! That doesn't look ordinary. Attack quickly!"

"Sha!!"

The flood dragon also found the human in front of it, who was suddenly emitting light, to be quite annoying.

It was certain that if it were left alone, a troublesome thing would happen.

Orochi, this time, opened its mouth instead of its tail and rushed straight towards Namgung Hui.

If he were to enter that mouth, his body would melt in an instant due to the digestive fluid.

If it were the digestive fluid of a spirit beast, even a supreme master who could wrap themselves in a protective Ki would not be safe.

It had opened its mouth so wide that it seemed it would swallow the entire village.

It swallowed the entire area, regardless of whether Namgung Hui left a clone or not.

"Keuak! Even us..."

"S-Save me!"

Namgung Hui and the bandit group were swallowed into the flood dragon's mouth in a group.

"No. Mr. Seiko! What are you doing, swallowing even our allies!"

"Be quiet. I might swallow you too. Still, since the enemy has been dealt with, isn't that enough?"

"Keung... If it's this much bleeding, it can't be helped. I'll just make a suitable excuse to the higher-ups..."

Puhak!

"Syaaaaaa!!!"

The flood dragon let out a scream full of pain.

And what the flood dragon spat out was not just a scream.

Suddenly, its belly split open, and something shot out.

"Hoo... The leather is quite tough. This is why the flood dragon's leather is not considered the best for nothing."

The flood dragon's leather and scales were a precious treasure, so much so that they were considered a legend.

If you made armor with this, it would never be torn even by Sword Ki, and it would block even a conflagration.

But how did Namgung Hui pierce the flood dragon's belly and come out?

'Of course, all you have to do is mobilize a technique stronger than Sword Ki.'

Sword Ki Pressure Pill, also known as Sword Pill.

It compressed the Sword Ki into a round shape and raised its power to the extreme.

Of course, if it were the flood dragon's leather, it was of a nature that could withstand even a Sword Pill.

'But if, in addition to the Sword Pill, I wrap my hand in a Ki Pill and even add the subtlety of Power Release, even a dragon won't be able to withstand it.'

With the Two Principles Heart Art, he had a Sword Pill in his right hand.

And in his left hand, he wrapped a Ki Pill and struck the belly at the same time.

The Sword Pill, as much as its internal energy consumption was extreme, was a talent that overwhelmed all techniques in terms of power.

Not only did he perform that at the same time, but the subtlety of Power Release was also added to Namgung Hui's insight.

"Syaaa...!"

A yellow liquid was still oozing out of the flood dragon's belly.

Its form gradually became blurry, and the forms of the people who had been swallowed inside were suddenly visible.

"S-Saved!"

"You bastard! Where is it that you swallow even your allies! As expected of a rootless Japanese bastard!"

Soon, as the flood dragon's form disappeared like a phantom, the bandit group, who had regained their freedom, spat one by one and surrounded the onmyoji.

An intention to kill the onmyoji, who had been their ally, just like this.

A thick killing intent boiled, and hostility was directed at the onmyoji.

"Hoho! You foolish thieves. Know your place. How dare you show killing intent towards me? Die, you bastards."

The onmyoji scattered paper dolls in all directions and let out a thick killing intent.

The bandit group, who were exposed to that killing intent.

"Cough! What... is...?"

"Keoheok! I can't... breathe..."

Each of them grabbed their heart or neck and collapsed on the ground.

He had just sent out a killing intent, but he had taken the opponent's life in an instant.

"Huhu. To think such worthless things were messing around. I don't know how you pierced Orochi's belly, but I'll have to give up on capturing you alive. I'll send you to Orochi's side too."

The onmyoji's kill.

Although it consumed a huge amount of chakra, as the name 'kill' suggests, its effect was worthy of being called the onmyoji's best technique.

'Is it a similar context to the Heart Sword? He took the opponent's life just by harboring a killing intent. What a strange talent.'

This was a sorcery that even Namgung Hui could not be careless about.

Unlike a martial art performed with internal energy, since it was performed with the unknown energy of chakra, it was unknown how to defend against it.

And so, the onmyoji continuously sent a 'kill' towards Namgung Hui.

The shikigami, strengthened by chakra, became a flash of light and brushed past Namgung Hui in an instant.

-Pat!

"Huhuhu! The people of the martial world are not that great after all. Now, I'll report to the higher-ups... Keuk!"

Suddenly, the onmyoji grabbed his chest and knelt down.

"Keok! Keoheok!"

He spat out black, dead blood and soon collapsed on the ground.

The onmyoji, with unbelieving eyes, laboriously raised his eyes.

"H-How did I get hit by a 'kill'... Y-You're also a sorcerer...?"

Namgung Hui shook the talisman in his hand and said to the onmyoji.

"It's not me. My brother is a better sorcerer than you. Since this worked, it must be certain."

The talisman that Jang Hwang had given Namgung Hui earlier, which reflected sorcery.

Although the onmyoji named Seiko was a great master, Namgung Hui still believed in Jang Hwang.

The talent he had shown and the numerous sorceries he had not yet shown clearly revealed that he was by no means lacking as the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect.

That meant that the talisman of Jang Hwang, who was more talented as a sorcerer, was sufficient proof that it would work on Seiko.

Namgung Hui, without hesitation, reflected the sorcery called 'kill' back at Seiko.

If Jang Hwang's ability had been less than Seiko's, Namgung Hui would have been hit by that shikigami called 'kill.'

But in the end, the one who was hit by the kill was Seiko.

He soon lost focus in his eyes and stopped breathing.

Now, the only bandit left was the one who looked like a chief, who had called Seiko.

"You're not running away?"

"...How can I run away from a monster like you? Kill me quickly. I want to go without pain."

"You have big dreams. You made the village look like this and you want to go comfortably?"

"The one who made the village look like this was not me, but Seiko and you..."

Bbaak!

Namgung Hui slapped him hard on the back of the head.

Of course, the current state of the village was closer to a tragedy that had occurred while Namgung Hui and the flood dragon were fighting.

But Namgung Hui also had a side that felt it was unfair.

Because all Namgung Hui had done was dodge the enemy's attacks.

"Before that, weren't you guys making a mess of this place? And what do you want? As expected, you came for the six-tailed fox?"

"Huhu! Since you seem to know everything anyway, I'll tell you obediently. That's right. As you said, we came to catch the fox monster. Especially the fox bead in that bitch's body."

"A fox bead? That's..."

Kureureung!

An earthquake occurred in the direction of the abandoned shrine where Namgung Hui had been until a moment ago.

And it was so huge that all the buildings in the village collapsed.

(End of Chapter)