Chapter 162 : The Beginning of the Counterattack. -03
Chapter 162: The Beginning of the Counterattack. -03
“Was the Blade King left out after all?”
Today, the Spear Lord was not mounted on a horse. He let his beloved spear hang loosely at his side and grinned.
Unlike the lean men of the Great Desert, he was a giant comparable to Peng Mancheol, so even speaking alone carried considerable pressure.
“His arm was cut off, so it’s no surprise he didn’t show up. Even if he came, there’d be nothing he could do.”
“Then he should at least have gone for Mutual Destruction.”
At the words of the Fist Tyrant, who had once crossed hands with Sang Il-gi, the Spear Lord shrugged.
He thought that, as the head of a sect, fleeing like this was hardly fitting.
“Don’t worry. When the time comes to cut off arms or heads later, he’ll show up.”
As the Great War Gods jeered, Peng Mancheol opened his mouth as if unwilling to be outdone.
When it came to verbal sparring, he was not one to fall behind.
“You’re going to cut off our heads? The three of you?”
“Why do you assume there are only three?”
Ssssk!
Looking at the Spear Lord, who wore a baffled expression, Namgung Ho gave a crooked smile.
At that moment, more than a dozen shadows rose up behind him.
They were none other than the Sect Leader of the Mount Zhongnan Sect and its Elders.
In addition, Elders from the Namgung Family and the Hebei Peng Family were also present.
“Oh? You intend to overwhelm us with numbers? Abandoning a martial artist’s pride?”
Watching the increasing number of shadowy figures, the Fist Tyrant showed a look of surprise.
These were not just any martial artists, but members of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.
Though Sang Il-gi had not yet officially entered the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, in terms of sheer ability he was already at that level.
Yet now such figures were preparing to launch a coordinated assault. Not only the Fist Tyrant, but even the Spear Lord and the Great War Gods revealed expressions of open shock.
“It’s war. There are times when strategic decisions must be made to win.”
“Impressive. To hear such words from the Yama King. And the Blade King truly is beyond expectation.”
The Fist Tyrant’s gaze passed over Namgung Ho and came to rest on Peng Mancheol.
Namgung Ho was one thing, but Peng Mancheol—who was bound tightly by his pride—was genuinely unexpected.
“I’m confident in a one-on-one as well. But this is for a certain victory.”
“Well, fine. Strategic choices are sometimes necessary.”
“It’s amusing to hear that from those who resorted to ambush and surprise attacks.”
“We’re a little different. The Lord of the Ironblood Fortress wanted to torment you. We merely followed his command.”
Despite Peng Mancheol’s provocation, the Fist Tyrant did not rise to it.
Unlike the Orthodox Martial World, which was an alliance of many factions, the Ironblood Fortress was ruled by a single absolute being.
As such, the words of the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress were law.
“He wanted to torment us, you say? I’ll return those words to you as they are.”
Namgung Ho’s gaze sharpened.
The thought that countless lives had been lost for no more than such a reason caused hot fury to rise in his chest.
At the same time, he realized exactly how the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress regarded them.
“If you can, then by all means. Though I’m not sure you’ll manage it.”
“Indeed.”
Ssssss!
No sooner had the Spear Lord chimed in than a group appeared behind the Great War Gods.
As Elders had joined behind the three men on one side, comparable martial artists now stepped forward from the Ironblood Fortress as well.
All of them were elderly, yet unlike their aged faces, their bodies were no less formidable than those of young men.
“We’ll see who laughs last.”
“I guarantee it will be us.”
“Hmph!”
At the exchange between Namgung Ho and the Fist Tyrant, Peng Mancheol snorted.
At the same time, his Great Shield Saber swung as if to cleave the very air in two.
He struck hard from the very beginning.
Having already crossed blades once yesterday, Peng Mancheol had no need for a probing skirmish. From the outset, he went all out.
“Die!”
“Today, we win!”
“How dare mere barbarians!”
Following Peng Mancheol, who had initiated the clash, the Elders of the Hebei Peng Family charged in.
Each wore an expression unlike yesterday’s.
And the same was true of the Elders from the Mount Zhongnan Sect and the Namgung Family.
All bore faces filled with determination, as if resolved to forge a different outcome from yesterday.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
Before long, the area around them began to be utterly devastated.
They were martial artists of a level entirely different from ordinary fighters, and the aftershocks of their clash were on another scale altogether.
Yet there was one difference. While the Great War Gods fought in a self-centered manner, the Orthodox Martial World had established something of a Battle Formation before engaging.
It was not a perfect combined formation, but they maintained enough distance to support one another.
“Keugh!”
“Hup!”
And that difference gradually began to show.
The expressions of the Great War Gods, so confident at the start, hardened as time passed.
They had naturally expected to hold the advantage, if not outright dominate. But when the lid was lifted, the result was different.
Seeing how unexpectedly well their opponents’ coordination matched, the Great War Gods exchanged glances.
“It’s already too late!”
However, the Orthodox Martial World was a step faster than they were.
At the very moment the Great War Gods exchanged looks, terrifying energy erupted explosively from Peng Mancheol, Namgung Ho, and Sang Il-gi.
At the same time, the three men’s slashes were unleashed—not toward the Great War Gods, but toward the elderly martial artists.
The three had targeted the relatively weaker ones.
Swaaaaaak!
Caught off guard by the sudden rain of powerful slashes, the elderly martial artists—who could be called Elders or Protector-level figures—were swept away.
Within the Ironblood Fortress, they were masters who held considerable standing, but their opponents were too strong.
Moreover, the attack had come too abruptly and without warning. Though none were killed, most suffered injuries, both major and minor.
“So that’s how you’re playing it!”
At the sight of the elderly men instantly drenched in blood, the Spear Lord’s Killing Intent flared.
Being one to repay what he received, he too launched a strike toward Seong Jung-gyeong and the Elders.
He unleashed a savage thrust, laden fully with True Energy.
As the other Great War Gods joined in, the Elders of the Namgung Family, the Hebei Peng Family, and the Mount Zhongnan Sect also sustained significant damage.
“Don’t fall back!”
“Hold!”
However, unlike the Ironblood Fortress, they attempted to block by combining their strength.
Thanks to that, the damage was not severe.
“How long can you endure?”
“Hmph!”
Yet the Great War Gods were not disappointed.
Their numbers might be similar, but in the quality of masters, they believed themselves superior.
The Great War Gods made full use of that point.
Moreover, unlike the Orthodox Martial World, which had established Battle Formations, the Ironblood Fortress was rampaging from all directions, making the replenishment of troops much easier.
Kwaaaang!
“Heh heh heh! To think I would live long enough to see two men joining forces in a pincer attack.”
At that moment, a massive explosion erupted from the Ironblood Fortress camp.
At the same time, an aged voice split across the Battlefield.
It was a leisurely voice wholly unsuited to such a fierce clash.
Yet at that voice, Namgung Ho and Peng Mancheol’s faces brightened.
“Sect Leader!”
“Let us finish the fight first and speak afterward.”
To Namgung Ho, who shouted in delight, the old man showed a smile full of wrinkles.
At the same time, a terrifying aura began to surge from both of his hands.
A fierce Force Energy, not inferior even when compared to Namgung Ho, Peng Mancheol, or Sang Il-gi, swept across the Battlefield in an instant.
“Oh? To think the Beggar King himself would come.”
“Is that the Beggars’ Sect Leader?”
Ban Hojin noticed the old man’s appearance as well.
Even from quite a distance, the aura he exuded was so intense that it was impossible not to sense it.
And he was pleased.
They had already begun to feel slightly pushed back; if the Beggar King joined the fray, not only could they restore balance, they might even seize the advantage.
Kwakwa-kwa-kwang!
As if proving that fact, the atmosphere shifted the moment the Beggar King entered the battle.
Only a single man had joined, yet the Great War Gods could hardly advance.
Under the overwhelming power of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms that he poured forth with immense Inner Energy, the Great War Gods were helplessly driven back.
Each strike possessed power comparable to a Force Ring, making it impossible for them to approach carelessly.
“That’s right. What he’s using now is the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.”
“Wow…….”
At the violent gale-like Force Energy raging with murderous momentum, Sama Uiseong let out a pure exclamation of admiration.
He had heard that the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was formidable, but this was the first time he had seen it pushed to such an extreme.
Moreover, it was being unleashed by the greatest master of the Beggars’ Sect.
As a result, Sama Uiseong could not close his mouth.
“That side should be safe now.”
“It seems they’ve seized the momentum.”
“That’s right. If we speak only of experience and Inner Energy, there are few martial artists who can compare to the Sect Leader. The only issue is stamina, but with his vast experience, the Sect Leader will manage it himself.”
The Beggar King was over eighty years old.
His physical prime had long since passed, and he had already grown thoroughly aged.
However, as he himself knew that well, he would not drag the battle out for long.
“The overall situation elsewhere isn’t bad either. We’re not dominating, but we’re holding them off according to plan.”
“In that case, only one issue remains.”
“Yes. The Lord of the Ironblood Fortress.”
Ban Hojin and Sama Uiseong’s gazes turned to the same place.
Just as yesterday, they looked toward the middle-aged man seated in the Four-Man Palanquin.
Having lost four Great War Gods, they had thought he might step forward personally, yet the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress still remained at the rear, merely observing the Battlefield.
“Even with their provisions disrupted, he still does not move.”
“Is there something he’s relying on?”
“First and foremost, he must be relying on his own strength. He is the ruler who unified the Great Desert.”
“But they can’t hold out for long. We destroyed all their supplies. The horses as well.”
There was a reason Sama Uiseong had deliberately targeted the horses with his spear.
For the Ironblood Fortress, the horses were their final source of provisions, so he had reduced their numbers in advance on purpose.
Of course, they would receive some supplies from the Great Desert, but it could not compare to the Orthodox Martial World.
“That’s why it’s more puzzling. There’s nothing to gain from a prolonged war. Unless they have a separate supply route.”
“There could be someone backing the Ironblood Fortress. Like in the case of the Nine Heavens Gate.”
“That’s possible.”
The Ironblood Fortress had already extended its reach to both the Hao Sect and the Geum Family Estate before.
As such, the possibility was more than sufficient.
Ban Hojin also believed that to be the most likely scenario.
“Uaaaah!”
“It’s time for revenge!”
At that moment, shouts and hundreds of presences were felt from the rear.
A considerable force had appeared from the south.
At the sound, not only Ban Hojin but also Sama Uiseong and the surrounding martial artists turned their heads in shock.
“Bandits?”
“So what he was relying on were the remaining Eight Evils and the bandits.”
Unlike Sama Uiseong, who was startled by this unforeseen variable, Ban Hojin’s expression remained calm.
He had not predicted it, but neither was he surprised.
Rather, he felt at ease that they had appeared at an opportune moment.
If the bandits had not shown themselves, suspicion would have weighed heavily on his mind. Now that they had revealed themselves, Ban Hojin instead smiled.
“There are quite a lot of them. At least a thousand.”
Unlike the expressionless Ban Hojin, Sama Uiseong’s face was grave.
In that brief moment, he had roughly gauged their numbers.
Being bandits, there would not be many who could be called true masters, but the problem was their numbers.
With what seemed to be well over a thousand men, not only Sama Uiseong but even the reserve forces who were catching their breath due to exhaustion or injury grew tense.
“Brother!”
Jeong Iryong came running over.
He must have been nearby, for at the bandits’ appearance he rushed over in haste.
“Why are you running so urgently?”
“I will fight as well!”
“You stay by Uiseong’s side. Prepare for any contingency.”
“You intend to go alone?”
Jeong Iryong’s eyes widened.
The tone of Ban Hojin’s voice sounded as though he meant to go by himself.
Sama Uiseong seemed to sense it as well, for his eyes grew round.
“Th-their numbers are too many!”
Sama Uiseong shouted, stammering without realizing it.
Although Ban Hojin had once dealt with the Blue and Red Twin Fiends alone, this situation was entirely different.
Back then, he only had to face the Blue and Red Twin Fiends. Now, more than a thousand bandits were charging forward.
Thus, Sama Uiseong urgently shook his head.
“Numbers mean nothing to me.”