The Martial Arts Prodigy Who Grows Through

Chapter 061. Dark Guest

WHOOOOSH―!

The eccentric person who beheaded the Divine Dragon Squad Leader in a single strike watched the destruction of the Divine Dragon Squad with a relaxed expression, hands clasped behind his back as if out for a stroll.

Around him, thick demonic energy, the kind that only evil spirits crawling up from the depths of the netherworld would emit, rippled like a curtain.

And in the Divine Dragon Squad, having lost their Squad Leader, there was no longer any expert capable of tearing that curtain apart.

"Insignificant."

The Dark Guest muttered in an emotionless voice. Cardinal Wi Cheon-rak had said the resistance from the Central Plains people would be very fierce. Judging by the current state, it seemed he wasn't talking about these guys, at least.

"Show me something..."

The guy continued talking to himself in an unpleasant voice that sounded like scratching an iron plate.

There were a little over ten Dark Guests. As the hidden blades of the Yin God Cult Leader, they usually handled the Cult Leader's escort. However, the Cult Leader was a superhuman who could be counted on one hand across the entire world. Though called escorts, their lives were practically close to idling away without working.

It was an unbearable environment for the Dark Guests, whose aggression had been maximized through repeated experiments and modifications. Therefore, they always craved blood and death.

'This kind of one-sided slaughter isn't bad, but...'

What he wanted was something a bit more intense. A fight crossing between life and death. A battle where one has to give up their own flesh to cut the opponent's bone.

In that regard, the human called the Divine Dragon Squad Leader was below expectations.

What was the use of having profound internal energy and high proficiency in sword techniques to reach a high realm? He was just a greenhorn who didn't even properly know what a 'fight' was. Such a half-baked ultra-peak expert could not give the Dark Guest any pleasure beyond simple slaughter.

CRUNCH―

Having finished his thoughts, he pointlessly trampled and crushed the Divine Dragon Squad Leader's corpse. The Divine Dragon Squad was also in a situation where they had suffered damage close to annihilation.

Once he killed them all, perhaps he could leave to find other prey. At the moment a bleak expectation settled in the Dark Guest's eyes.

SLASH!

From far away, a flame containing the deep night sky flashed, and the monsters that were massacring the Divine Dragon Squad began to be swept away.

A sword technique intense enough to make the phrase 'splitting bamboo' seem insufficient made the Dark Guest's entire body tingle.

Only one thought grazed his mind.

―It is a strong person.

Simply looking at the realm, he might be lower than the Divine Dragon Squad Leader. However, the instincts engraved in the Dark Guest's bones were speaking. That the opponent was a guy who knew how to fight. That he was far more dangerous than the likes of the Divine Dragon Squad Leader.

"Kuhuhuhu!"

Joyful laughter burst from the Dark Guest's mouth. A life-and-death duel where blood and flesh splatter. The decisive battle he had vaguely anticipated was now right before his eyes.

He moved forward without a shred of hesitation, wielding demonic energy like a curtain.

The curtain of pitch-black demonic energy tore apart everything it touched as if it had become blades. Not only the Divine Dragon Squad members but even the monsters directly controlled by the Dark Guest were no exception. He literally destroyed everything as he approached the newly appeared opponent.

"Strong opponent, I welcome you! I am the ninth shadow serving the supreme one..."

It was a gravelly and bizarre voice like a monster living at the bottom of the netherworld, but his attitude was as polite and courteous as a White Path martial artist requesting a spar.

The Divine Dragon Squad members who were watching the situation trembled at that bizarre gap.

However.

"To think there are as many as nine of these hideous toys... The world is truly coming to an end."

The adversary of the Dark Guest, Dam Jeok-san, responded with a sarcastic air.

"I will tear you to death."

At that cliché mockery, the Dark Guest felt rage surging up momentarily. Although he was created through a bizarre process of crossbreeding and unification between different species, he was a very noble existence within the Yin God Cult. Even Cardinal Wi Cheon-rak would ask him favors but could not give him orders.

So hearing such raw provocation was almost a first.

At the same time as a murderous red glint exploded from the Dark Guest's eyes, the demonic energy wrapped around the guy swelled up as if to burst.

A terrifying amount of demonic energy that far exceeded even the accumulated qi of an ultra-peak expert. The moment the Divine Dragon Squad Leader faced this, he revealed an opening along with his shock, and that was his end.

How about you?

The Dark Guest glared at Dam Jeok-san with such a question.

"Haa..."

Dam Jeok-san's eyes curved as he faced the Dark Guest.

Truly appetizing.

* * *

The appetite glistening in Dam Jeok-san's eyes disappeared in an instant. It was because he suppressed the chaotic desire boiling inside his heart.

However, in that split second, the Dark Guest felt a sensation so creeping it was indescribable. The feeling as if he, who had always been the predator, had become prey. The illusion that a gigantic maw had gaped open right in front of his eyes.

The fear that those who faced the Dark Guest must have always felt was transmitted to him intact.

"...Kikik."

A bleak, ominous laugh flowed from his mouth, having felt that thrilling terror. Whatever the details, didn't it mean the opponent was strong?

He was happy. Even at the fact that he might die here. The destructive instincts of the monster flowing in the Dark Guest's blood fluctuated insanely.

"You are practically a beast."

Dam Jeok-san muttered in a cynical tone upon seeing the Dark Guest like that.

An expression as if mocking him. However, a very serious light flickered in Dam Jeok-san's eyes.

'A dangerous guy.'

He looked like a beast faithful to his instincts, but inside, he was one who possessed the reasoning of a well-disciplined martial artist.

A type of enemy a normal martial artist would rarely experience. He seemed to understand why the Divine Dragon Squad Leader was defeated without being able to put up any proper resistance.

An existence capable of terribly slaughtering even those at the entry level of ultra-peak. Indeed, worthy of being called the watchdog of the Yin God Cult Leader, but...

'I am a bit different.'

The fact that the opponent was close to a half-demon was actually a welcome thing.

VROOOM!

Bleak blue light flowed from Dam Jeok-san's eyes, and the Predator's Eye opened. The manifestation of an eye technique that could be discussed as the best in the Central Plains, only when dealing with monsters.

The eccentric person's skin was hidden by a pitch-black cloak, not showing a single hair, but Dam Jeok-san could see the acupoints of the whole body and internal organs located deeper than that as clearly as looking at his own palm.

The eye technique had grown one step further through constant fierce battles.

'I know how to deal with him.'

A confident smile hung on Dam Jeok-san's lips. He kicked off the ground violently and moved forward.

Footwork without a shred of hesitation. Dam Jeok-san shot toward the Dark Guest with fierce momentum like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

"Come!"

The Dark Guest shouted looking at the approaching Dam Jeok-san as if enjoying the situation.

At the same time, fearfully thick demonic energy began to boil from the guy's body. Demonic energy thick enough to make not only ordinary people but even first-rate martial artists feel pain as if their intestines were being severed.

However, to Dam Jeok-san, the highly concentrated demonic energy was closer to a spiritual elixir than poison. His heart beat loudly, and an unprecedentedly strong vitality circulated through his whole body.

The feeling of the world looking one layer clearer. Dam Jeok-san swung his sword toward the monsters blocking the path between him and the Dark Guest.

SPLASH!

With just a few insincere sword strokes, several monsters larger than most beasts sprayed blood and were sliced away, and the demonic energy they harbored was absorbed into Dam Jeok-san by the ability of predation.

Refilling internal energy immediately upon consumption. A very efficient cycle of circulation. Through this, Dam Jeok-san swung his sword perfectly fine even after cutting down the monster horde that boasted overwhelming numbers.

He reached right in front of the Dark Guest in no time.

"Kuhahahaha!"

The guy swung both hands while still wrapped in the cloak.

Movements that looked like random thrashing at first glance. However, those hand gestures were the vicious killing moves that instantly killed the Divine Dragon Squad Leader.

Dam Jeok-san quickly crossed his two swords and blocked the hand gestures.

CLAAAANG!

A roar unbelievable for a collision between flesh and sword blades. It was enough to shake the earth.

"Ugh."

A groan flowed from Dam Jeok-san's mouth. The moment he blocked those indifferent hand gestures, a powerful recoil that was hard to describe was felt. At the moment he barely swallowed the blood rising beyond his throat.

The Dark Guest's two hands climbed up his sword blades like snakes.

Perhaps even if the Divine Dragon Squad Leader had managed to block the first strike, he wouldn't have been able to endure this chain attack.

But Dam Jeok-san was different. Explosive sword qi soared up like burning flames from the two swords he held.

Sword Flame, blooming by vomiting out all the demonic energy he had predated while coming here. The karmic fire containing the function of monster destruction, forged through the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style and the predation ability, burned the Dark Guest's hands.

"Ku, kuhuhuhu...!"

Right after that.

The guy laughed.

Even though the pain of his very existence burning beyond just the skin must have assaulted him.

"Yes, shouldn't it be at least this much to call it a struggle!"

The guy babbled in an elegant tone that did not match his unpleasant voice sounding like scratching metal. As if he himself were a martial artist.

"Still far away."

Dam Jeok-san shouted coldly looking at such a Dark Guest.

Even if the opponent is a hybrid monster.

If he wishes to be a martial artist, it would be proper to treat him as such.

Dam Jeok-san slowly adjusted his grip on the sword. With the heart to engage in a life-and-death duel, not a slaughter.

At the same time, the sword held in his right hand flashed like a ray of light.

That sword rushed toward the Dark Guest's glabella in an instant as if piercing through space. It was the Monkey-Destroying One Flash, a Fast Sword that reached a realm capable of handling even ultra-peak experts.

The Dark Guest, facing the sharp edge, twisted his body belatedly, but―

RIP!

Dam Jeok-san's sword deeply cut not only the cloak covering the guy's face but also the skin of his cheek.

Dark red blood formed drops in the air. However, strange bubbles rose from the torn wound and regeneration took place.

No, it definitely should have.

"Why...?"

The Dark Guest touched his cheek as if bewildered. It was because the bubbles rising from the deeply cut wound failed to make new skin and only kept boiling.

Instead of satisfying the guy's doubt, Dam Jeok-san swung his sword again.

A flashing sword as if piercing space once more. The Dark Guest, realizing Dam Jeok-san's speed, dodged a bit faster, but...

"Slow."

As if even that was insufficient, Dam Jeok-san stabbed his sword deep into the guy's flank.

This time, Sky Thunder, the sword held in his left hand, flashed. An honest downward cut without any special move.

The arm wrapped in thick demonic energy blocked that sword, but the Dark Guest's body staggered greatly.

"...You bastard, you are not affected by divine energy."

He spoke toward Dam Jeok-san as if he just realized.

The divine energy he spoke of was demonic energy. The Dark Guest, possessing that energy which acted as a deadly poison to humans, held the advantage in close-quarters combat.

But Dam Jeok-san was different. He dealt with him just like he dealt with other humans.

"That is correct."

Dam Jeok-san affirmed that fact nonchalantly.

"So, are you going to give up?"

A counter-question filled with ridicule.

"Kukuk, as if!"

The Dark Guest shook his head refreshingly and denied it. Demonic energy of a different dimension from before began to swell from the guy's body.

Even if the guy was the Yin God Cult Leader's royal guard, it was a power that could only be emitted by being prepared for death.

That intense demonic energy gathered in the guy's two fists in an instant.

"Here I come!"

The Dark Guest declared toward Dam Jeok-san with a gravelly voice.

Dam Jeok-san swung his sword instead of answering the moment his words ended.