Chapter 72 : Chapter 72
Chapter 072. Light Wolf
Immediately after Wi Cheon-rak's sorcery was manifested.
Dam Jeok-san felt a sensation as if his soul and body were all being sucked into a distant place.
He experienced with his whole body Dark Heaven's warning that it was a sorcery interfering directly with space.
His spine tingles. A sense of crisis that he might die just from the aftershock of being swept away by the sorcery if he makes a mistake. Since it is a sorcery manifested by demonic energy, perhaps he could destroy it using his ability.
‘But now is not the time.’
Because Dam Jeok-san is not the only one swept away by this sorcery. The entire Monster Repelling Squad is being forcibly teleported. So even if he destroys it alone, it would only reduce one person responsible for the lives of his subordinates.
Furthermore, Dark Heaven is together inside the procession of the Monster Repelling Squad. If a crisis that even Dam Jeok-san himself finds difficult to handle arrives by any chance, he would be able to receive her help.
‘Martial Aunt must have foreseen this far.’
Dam Jeok-san thought while glancing at Un Wol-hyang whose expression had settled coldly.
Immediately after that, his vision was stained black, and pitch-black darkness where he couldn't even distinguish objects in front of him soaked his vision.
Not just vision. It is black, everything is black. From the air he breathes to the ground he stands on. Literally, everything consisted of demonic energy stained black.
He felt comfort as if he had returned to the cradle where he was born in this world full of demonic energy. Vitality hovered over his body more than ever, and his mind was also unbelievably clear.
However, Dam Jeok-san instinctively realized that this place was an extreme environment where survival could not be guaranteed even for a Peak master for a split second.
Perhaps even snow that freezes the lungs or a crater where lava boils would feel laughable compared to this.
“Damn it.”
Dam Jeok-san spat out a short curse. In this situation, there was almost nothing he, a swordsman, could do.
He must ask for help from Dark Heaven. But her presence was not felt at all. No, not just Dark Heaven's presence, but the presence of anyone from the Monster Repelling Squad was not felt.
Thick demonic energy was blocking all of Dam Jeok-san's senses like a blackout curtain. Not only the five senses but also energy sense.
Dam Jeok-san drew both Crimson Cry and Sky Thunder, the two swords, immediately upon sensing the abnormality.
VROOOM!
Along with an intense resonance sound, sword flame as deep blue as the night sky burned brilliantly on the blades of the two swords.
Just that brightened the place slightly, which had been dark as pitch black. The light emitted by Dam Jeok-san's genuine qi illuminated the darkness. Soon after, Dam Jeok-san's energy sense and five senses also returned just a little. However, it was still insufficient to accurately sense the surroundings.
When Dam Jeok-san struck down with his swords, the two swords tore apart the void sharply like dragon claws.
CRASHHHH!
With a strong sound of piercing air, full-color light returned to the world for an instant. At the same time, Dam Jeok-san's energy sense also opened wide.
He activated his Eye techniques without missing the moment. The Predator's Eye undoubtedly captured the most important figure for overturning this situation.
The Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander and the other half of the Black Dragon, Dark Heaven.
Dam Jeok-san kicked off the ground without an inch of hesitation immediately upon grasping her location. A body movement art that became much more elusive than before as he rose to the Ultra-Peak realm.
Arriving in front of Dark Heaven before anyone knew it, Dam Jeok-san narrowed his eyes and looked at her.
“Hmm…….”
Dark Heaven was muttering something unknown with her slender fingers placed on her temple. Although he couldn't understand the exact meaning, guessing from the strange power felt from the rhythm, it seemed to be a kind of incantation.
“Are you alright?”
Dam Jeok-san opened his mouth straightforwardly instead of waiting for her. Because now was the moment her help was needed.
However, since it seemed difficult to call her just by speaking, he mixed intense monster destruction power into his voice.
Despite being a technique comparable to the Lion's Roar of Shaolin under heaven, Dam Jeok-san unfolded it naturally. Even though he had never learned it separately.
“Ah…….”
Then she, who had the face of a young girl, looked up at Dam Jeok-san as if coming to her senses.
“Surprising, to think you can offset my original body's ‘call’ with just a Lion's Roar……. Even for the Sword Venerable, it is difficult. Yes. I am still fine. Just that it has been too, too long since I got close to my original body, so I was confused for a moment.”
“That is fortunate, then may I ask for some explanation?”
“Of course, since it must be urgent, I will tell you quickly. In the underground of this land, there is a grave where my original body sealed itself.”
“……Do you mean a grave?”
“Since it entered with the intention of never waking up forever, wouldn't the word grave be suitable? What you are curious about is why this place is being eroded by such powerful demonic energy, right?”
“That is correct. Since we need to know the cause to solve it.”
“Simple. The terrible demonic energy emitted as my original body gradually corrupts, combined with the demonic energy that damn Cardinal pours in to accelerate that corruption, distorted reality and warped space. The solution is simple.”
Dark Heaven said so and lightly snapped her fingers with a click.
WHOOOOOSH!
Then pitch-black demonic energy was dragged in madly to her fingertips. A phenomenon as if a mighty gravitational force occurred there.
Dark Heaven condensed and condensed the dragged-in demonic energy into a small bead shape, then snapped her fingers once again to shoot that sphere into the void.
As a tremendous amount of demonic energy was shot into the void, the world brightened for an instant, and the Monster Repelling Squad members scattered everywhere came into Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
“Everyone align! Keep formation!”
When he shouted, Peng Cho-seol and Baek Ri-gwan, who reached the very end of the Peak realm, came to their senses first and began to gather the surrounding members.
After that, as Peak realm masters including Gyeong-won, Black Panther Spear, and Namgung Yeon recovered their composure, the formation was reorganized in an instant.
“This seems to be enough.”
Dark Heaven smiled brightly and put her palms together in prayer.
Seven-colored auspicious light flashed between her palms, and then that radiance settled on the entire Monster Repelling Squad with Dam Jeok-san at the head.
“It is the Dragon's Blessing. With this, you should be able to move around here without much problem.”
Since she is the other half of the Black Dragon, and even if this place is soaked in demonic energy and corrupted, it is the Black Dragon's domain, so it is a technique that has to be effective.
“Thank you.”
“What thanks. It is something I naturally have to do. But do not let go of the string of tension. Because this is a place where the providence of the world does not apply.”
As soon as her words ended.
GRRRRRRRR!
A wolf letting out a grotesque cry as if coming up from the path of demons in the underworld appeared in front of the Monster Repelling Squad party.
Skin stained pitch-black in places. A size that seemed easily five times that of a tiger despite being a wolf.
The wolf was emitting killing intent to the extent that the skin of Dam Jeok-san, an Ultra-Peak master, tingled.
“……Light Wolf, it was a Spiritual Creature guarding my domain.”
Unlike its name, the Light Wolf approached Dam Jeok-san while emitting darkish black eye gleam devoid of reason.
“Originally, it was a smart and kind child. Eaten by demonic energy, it has become a beast with only a shell left.”
Dark Heaven muttered without hiding her bitterness. Because the Light Wolf's appearance was the result of her abandoning everything and running away so that her original body wouldn't corrupt.
“So a Spiritual Creature becomes such an existence when corrupted. It looks more dangerous than I thought.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered while looking at the Light Wolf with his Predator's Eye manifested.
That wolf is strong. Strong enough to lightly bite and kill the Butcher whom he faced on the way to the North. Even now that he has become an Ultra-Peak master, he cannot easily guarantee victory.
However, Dam Jeok-san was feeling enjoyment rather than tension right now. The Predator's instinct fluctuates. The Light Wolf was a prey that made his mouth water beyond imagination.
Furthermore.
‘I cannot let it wander this place meaninglessly like that.’
Being a loyal Spiritual Creature serving a dragon means it was a divine existence guarding the order of the world before monsters became rampant. Moreover, it seemed the wolf weighed considerably on Dark Heaven's mind.
“Is there no way to reverse the corruption?”
Dam Jeok-san asked Dark Heaven formally. Even though he instinctively felt it had entered a stage where that was already impossible.
“Yeah.”
Dark Heaven said while shaking her head back and forth. It seems even she has no brilliant method.
“To that child, the body is now just a prison. Liberating it is the best we can do.”
“Understood, please leave it to me.”
Dam Jeok-san said while scattering eerie light from his eyes.
“The Light Wolf's teeth are sharper than they look, be careful.”
Dark Heaven said with deeply settled eyes. Ready to step in anytime if Dam Jeok-san falls into danger by any chance.
“There will be no need for the Commander to step in.”
He said while scattering intense light from his two swords again.
At the same time, the output of his Eye techniques, which had already been raised to the limit, becomes one step stronger.
As he reached the Ultra-Peak realm, his Eye techniques surpassed the level of sensing fluctuations of genuine qi and flow of air that cannot be observed with the naked eye.
Especially when fighting a monster with simple actions, he became able to exert an ability comparable to limited foresight.
GROWL―!
The Light Wolf swings its front paw towards Dam Jeok-san who rushes at it. Extreme speed that overtakes even the sound of piercing air.
However, Dam Jeok-san lightly twisted his body and dodged it as if he had expected it.
“The wind pressure……!”
But just the aftershock felt painful as if tearing his skin. Power that does not fall behind at all even compared to a strike of an Ultra-Peak master.
No, if it's pure power, the Light Wolf's kick was rather more powerful.
‘The more time drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes.’
If he yields his body to that kick even once, sharp fangs will immediately dig into his neck. This was certainty, not a premonition.
I must see the outcome with a short-term decisive battle.
No―
Even that is a complacent mindset.
One sword, I must end it with just a single sword.
Dam Jeok-san looked at the Light Wolf while tensing all his senses. Powerful despite having no reason. Perhaps if he met it when the Light Wolf possessed reason, he wouldn't have even been able to dream of a short-term decisive battle.
‘But if it is now―!’
The moment the Light Wolf flashed its fangs and rushed towards him.
Dam Jeok-san threw his body towards the wolf's wide-open maw without even hesitation.
* * *
“You don't seem that urgent? He seemed like a brat you cherish quite a bit.”
Wi Cheon-rak smirked while looking at Un Wol-hyang who was pouring fierce offensive on him.
Although she was pouring out sword strikes disregarding her own safety, Wi Cheon-rak could not be shaken off in an instant even so.
Because Wi Cheon-rak also sacrificed a lot for this battle.
“……Shut up.”
“Huhuhu, try a little harder. With that sword which turned the Sword Ghost under heaven into pulp.”
Un Wol-hyang responded while puffing out killing intent, but Wi Cheon-rak was still just slippery.
“Considering the density of demonic energy, they will all die within one tea-time, but well, that brat looked quite strong so who knows?”
It is a trick to shake her composure and create an opening. But because it is an obvious trick, it works well. Wi Cheon-rak was certain of that, but although Un Wol-hyang's eyes shook, her sword tip did not shake.
When the two people's clash was continuing like that.
“Hmm……?”
Wi Cheon-rak felt the supply of demonic energy pouring into his body become faint, although very slightly. As if something unfavorable to him happened inside that crack.