Chapter 65 : Chapter 65
Chapter 065. Sword Ghost (3)
After cutting down the Dark Guest, Dam Jeok-san and the Monster Repelling Squad traversed the desert relatively easily.
Even when powerful monsters appeared to block their path, a few flashes of Dam Jeok-san's sword quickly resolved the situation. A divine might that even ultra-peak experts would struggle to imitate. However, it wasn't just his martial prowess that led the Monster Repelling Squad forward.
"To the left."
Dam Jeok-san recited in a low voice. Following that instruction, the entire Monster Repelling Squad shifted formation in perfect order.
[Your senses are better than I thought. At this rate, you might be better than me. We've gotten quite close to the core of the ritual. If we continue like this, we'll reach it soon. Of course, that's assuming there are no interruptions...]
Subtle admiration was embedded in Dark Heaven's telepathy piercing Dam Jeok-san's mind.
Senses. Dark Heaven's expression was accurate. In reality, Dam Jeok-san was moving his steps as his intuition led him.
Since defeating the Dark Guest, the predator's instinct began to manifest more intensely than ever. As if he had received some kind of mandate from heaven.
However, Dam Jeok-san's expression wasn't very pleasant. Because feeling an intense attraction also meant that immense danger was lurking.
'...Martial Aunt and the Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander are here. Besides, the Sword King, Namgung Yeon's father, was also supposed to join around here.'
Unless one of the Eight Sovereigns of Murim manifested, it was a combat power that made it hard to even think of defeat otherwise.
But if the ritual is completed and the existence buried in the sand becomes corrupted, everything will return to foam.
Because an existence of that magnitude would transform the land into a demonic realm stained with demonic energy just by inhaling and exhaling.
―Kill me before it becomes irreversible. I am the other half of the Black Dragon buried in the sand. If he starts to corrupt, I too will lose my reason. Moreover, if I survive, he survives too, and if I die, he also suffers immense damage.
Dam Jeok-san, having thought that far, recalled the words Dark Heaven said before the expedition.
Dark Heaven and the Black Dragon of the desert.
Their essence is that of spiritual beasts that have lived rooted in the Northern land for thousands of years. If the Black Dragon, whose existence itself is assimilated with the world, corrupts into a monster, dark clouds will cast over the entire North.
That is the Yin God Cult Cardinal's cherished wish, and at the same time, a calamity he must stop with everything on the line. Thus, her words were truly reasonable.
However, his declaration not to kill Dark Heaven was also not out of cheap sympathy or arrogance, but a result of rational judgment to stop the calamity.
'If I imbue the sword with the ability of predation, I can sufficiently sever the bond between the Black Dragon and the Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander.'
If that happens, he can continue the fight without losing a powerful ally. Furthermore, after successfully stopping the Cardinal's plan, he would be able to place the Guardian of the North within his influence.
Even this is insufficient to face the Eldest Senior Brother who has already seized control of the majority of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Dam Jeok-san organized his complex thoughts and moved towards the direction his senses pointed.
SLASH!
A monster that fearlessly rushed in despite seeing the intense military spirit emitted by the Monster Repelling Squad fell scattering blood by Dam Jeok-san's sword.
The moment he cut down the monster, thick demonic energy filled his dantian. However, far from quenching his thirst, an even more burning thirst and hunger tormented Dam Jeok-san.
An instinct screaming that more fierce battles, more immense and thick demonic energy are needed. The Spirit in Dam Jeok-san's Upper Dantian, having defeated several experts of higher status than himself, was squirming as if on the verge of metamorphosis.
―!
However, that was also brief.
An unknown creepiness that crushed even his instinct tickled the back of his neck.
Dam Jeok-san did not ignore the sense of crisis felt suddenly.
The moment he raised tension, cold sweat formed on his right hand gripping the Red Cloud Sword, and goosebumps rose all over his body.
Despite the ability of predation, Dam Jeok-san felt fear as if he had become prey in front of a predator.
Is it the Yin God Cult Leader? No, the presence is completely different from that person who had half-cast off his human form and reached a transcendent realm.
Much closer to reality, and therefore more violent and creepy. Just like the logic that a fire demon burning right in front of your eyes feels hotter than a lightning bolt striking from the sky.
When Dam Jeok-san was forcibly swallowing his nausea. A sign of intense momentum comparable to that was felt rising from behind him.
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang. Dam Jeok-san's Martial Aunt and a swordsman contending for the best in the North. Perhaps she thinks the time has come for her to step up.
Dam Jeok-san felt the same. A monster who achieved the Entering Transformation Realm or an achievement equivalent to it.
An enemy whose odds of victory cannot be predicted at all.
However, the moment he faced him, Dam Jeok-san felt his heart strangely fluctuating. It wasn't the sensation that he could win. His achievement was far too lacking for that.
But...
'I have to fight.'
There is something I can gain only by fighting now. An intuition close to certainty occurred. It sounded ridiculous, but he could only explain it that way.
[Martial Aunt, may I try facing him alone for a moment, just a very brief moment?]
So Dam Jeok-san decided to act recklessly.
[.......]
When Dam Jeok-san sent the sound transmission, Un Wol-hyang's secretly rippling momentum subsided in an instant.
[Martial Nephew, the opponent is a strong person against whom even I cannot guarantee victory.]
Having chosen her words for a moment, she began to answer in a low tone.
Rather than trying to persuade Dam Jeok-san, it felt like she was just conveying plain facts.
[Even if it's for a split second, I cannot guarantee your life. You know that much, right?]
[Of course.]
Dam Jeok-san answered without a shred of hesitation.
[I mean you could die. Failing to endure even the first exchange the moment you face his sword.]
Un Wol-hyang continued speaking as if to remind him of that fact, but.
[If I had encountered him in a place without you, Martial Aunt, I would have died.]
Dam Jeok-san answered nonchalantly.
A definite death with no room for argument. It's not a gap where variables can be created with things like the ability of predation or the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style. The Entering Transformation Realm was such a stage.
[But since I am with you today, Martial Aunt, isn't there a possibility, however slight, of surviving? Will I ever have another chance to survive after experiencing actual combat discussing life and death with a swordsman of the Entering Transformation Realm?]
[.......]
[Martial artists are originally a breed living with their lives on the tip of a sword. It is natural that defeat leads to death. However, since you are behind me now, Martial Aunt, if luck is on my side, couldn't I avoid death? It is a day where there is no reason not to fight.]
At Dam Jeok-san's story, Un Wol-hyang nodded as if possessed.
His words are correct. For a martial artist to become strong, they must undergo constant struggle. She too was able to rise to this position by experiencing countless actual battles crossing life and death by a paper-thin margin in the Northern land.
[It seems there is no point in stopping you. Survive. Then I will save you somehow.]
Un Wol-hyang completely concealed her momentum with that final sound transmission. To the extent that even the Sword Ghost approaching here couldn't detect her presence.
Checking that she had stepped back, Dam Jeok-san slowly caught his breath.
'Enduring the first sword strike is the most important.'
He repeated to himself, feeling the vivid killing intent that had already begun to fill the surroundings.
WOOOOSH...!
The moment Dam Jeok-san inhaled and opened the Predator's Eye, hazy demonic energy like heat haze filled his retina.
It stung as if he would go blind. But Dam Jeok-san didn't mind and raised his eye power. Then, beyond the sandstorm, a man walking in the desert dragging his bare feet was seen.
An appearance like a crazed vagrant. However, Dam Jeok-san fixed his gaze on a sinister sword held in the man's right hand rather than the man's appearance.
That sword, scattering red light like fresh blood in streaks, looked closer to a demonic object possessing its own will rather than a demonic sword.
"Sword Ghost."
A notorious name that any swordsman would have no choice but to know flowed from Dam Jeok-san's mouth.
His notoriety stemmed from cruelty, not strength. Because a great demon who laughably massacred several villages just to forge a single sword was rare even in this chaotic time.
But surviving even after accumulating such notoriety was proof of his strength.
"...Oho, you know me?"
Sword Ghost asked, tilting his head obliquely. From that languid voice, indescribably thick murderous intent dripped down.
It is not a murderous intent that can be shown just by resolving to kill. That is the scent of death that only one who has devoured countless deaths can emit.
"It would be rarer to find someone among swordsmen who doesn't know you."
Dam Jeok-san said, narrowing his brows slightly. He showed no sign of shrinking back even while feeling the suffocatingly strong killing intent.
"Since you go around reeking of stench like that."
Dam Jeok-san said, scanning down from top to bottom as if looking down on Sword Ghost's appearance.
"...?"
For a moment, dumbfoundedness hovered on Sword Ghost's face.
He had lived his whole life wielding all sorts of notoriety. The Righteous Heaven Alliance designated him as a Public Enemy of Murim, and even within the Yin God Cult, which worshiped monsters and committed killing as naturally as breathing, he was tabooed for his cruelty. It was to the point where no further explanation was needed.
However, in the eyes of those chattering sharp criticism towards him, there was always raw fear before hatred and disgust. Therefore, to Sword Ghost, insults were merely entertainment bringing pleasure, not anger.
But that greenhorn was somewhat different. The guy was burning with pure anger, not fear.
Unless he was an expert against whom even Sword Ghost couldn't guarantee victory. A mere greenhorn who looked like he couldn't even endure a single sword strike.
'Hmm, for his age, his skills seem quite outstanding. Is he blinded by arrogance?'
Sword Ghost thought, forcibly swallowing his displeasure.
And.
"Wi Cheon-rak told me to find the Sword Venerable..."
He opened his mouth, licking the sword blade from which blood-red light flowed down in streaks.
His insidious gaze instantly scanned Dam Jeok-san and the Monster Repelling Squad standing behind him.
An air where the unique free-spiritedness of a martial sect and the sharpness of a military gate were felt simultaneously. It's the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Although they are people who can be called elites wherever they are put in the world, in Sword Ghost's eyes, they are just insignificant trifles.
However, if it's the Martial Sovereign Castle, they are subordinates of the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, so they might be quite useful.
"Kuhuhu... I just need to kill you all and hang you upside down. Then that Sword Venerable woman will come looking on her own."
Despite his sneering, the Monster Repelling Squad didn't blink an eye. Dam Jeok-san's bold reaction had pulled the military discipline of the entire armed force tight.
"Acting quite cute. Well, good. It will be at least a brief entertainment."
Sword Ghost said, aiming the sword wriggling like a demonic object toward the Monster Repelling Squad.
"First, I'll cut off all the annoying limbs. Then, I'll carve out the eyes, nose, and mouth... Kuhuhu. I'll make you beg me to kill you instead."
Judging by the killing intent and madness swirling in his eyes, it didn't seem like empty words. However, Dam Jeok-san instinctively saw through that those words were lies.
'Sword Ghost is not a sadistic person. Rather, he is closer to being extremely efficient.'
These words are a deceptive tactic to make him and the Monster Repelling Squad members let their guard down. He'll say that and then abruptly launch a killing move to cut their throats.
Before he could even cut off that thought―
Sword Ghost's single sword rushed toward Dam Jeok-san with speed like lightning.
Death, death.
Certain death.
That sword was materialized death, unavoidable divine punishment.
Dam Jeok-san could see how lightly he had viewed an expert of the Entering Transformation Realm who possessed real murderous intent.
Just as that unavoidable death was about to graze his nape.
SNAP―
A sound like something peeling off was heard from Dam Jeok-san's body.