Chapter 82 : Chapter 82
Chapter 082. Seal
From Gyeong-won, like a friend he had been with all his life, to the Monster Repelling Squad members he had never even had a proper conversation with. Everyone ran forward regardless of the consequences to protect him.
'I haven't lived my life in vain.'
Ending with such a trivial thought, Dam Jeok-san completely lost consciousness.
However, his ordeal had not ended yet.
“Hey fledgling, are you awake?”
A handsome boy with hair finely braided and let down like a woman nudged Dam Jeok-san to wake him up.
“Who...?”
Dam Jeok-san looked at the boy, pressing his throbbing temples with his hand.
A boy with a smooth appearance exuding the scent of powder that women in a brothel might exude. But that gloomy atmosphere and well-carved features were strangely familiar.
“Don't tell me, Wi Cheon-rak?”
Dam Jeok-san asked, frowning deeply. To think he would see the childhood of the enemy he killed by pouring out his everything just a moment ago.
Just recalling that guess in his head made nausea surge up.
“Correct, you're quick-witted too.”
Wi Cheon-rak clicked his tongue as if he didn't like it.
“Not the main body but a thought body. Is the reason you can maintain your ego because you are stronger than me? No, no. If it was just for that reason, things maintaining their ego would have popped out a long time ago.”
Just the Butcher alone was an opponent stronger than Dam Jeok-san at the time. Then is it because he didn't defeat him with his own hands?
'That's not it either.'
Although all sorts of bizarre methods and miraculous luck were added, it was clearly Dam Jeok-san himself who cut Wi Cheon-rak. If not for that, Dam Jeok-san would have already been encroached upon by the guy's thoughts and become another Yin God Cult Cardinal.
“I see. A domain is a world forged by a martial artist and sorcerer with their mental image... So, can one who forged a domain maintain their ego even here?”
“To see through that far when you are merely an Ultra-Peak master. It's not at a level describable by saying your comprehension is outstanding. It's understandable why the Cult Leader coveted your spirit and body.”
“I am on the rather extraordinary side. So, is that all for your last words?”
“......?”
Dam Jeok-san reached out into the empty air as if further questions and answers were useless. Then, two swords, Red Cloud and Sky Thunder, appeared shimmering and wound into his hands.
This illusion is, after all, a landscape originating from his mental image. There is nothing he cannot do if he wishes.
So is there any reason to be nervous even if the opponent is an Entering Transformation Realm master? In here, Dam Jeok-san dealt with even Seo Woo-joo under heaven.
“There's no other madman like you...!”
Wi Cheon-rak, seeing Dam Jeok-san pouring sword strikes toward him without an inch of hesitation, waved both hands annoyedly.
Then, bright red fresh blood stretched out from his fingertips like claws and wrapped around Dam Jeok-san's two swords. One of the sorceries he boasted of, Red Blood Claw Art.
However, Dam Jeok-san's sword strike cut through the Red Blood Claw Art softly like tofu.
“Only this much.”
He sneered with a distinct mockery hanging on his lips.
“There's no need to be nervous.”
Dam Jeok-san's sword strike cut off the Red Blood Claw Art and did not stop.
SLASH―
And the blade of the Red Cloud Sword cut deeply through Wi Cheon-rak's neck.
THUD.
ROLL...
His head rolled on the floor in vain.
However, a sharp look still lingered on Dam Jeok-san's face.
'There was no sensation at all.'
It doesn't feel like cutting human bone and flesh. The sensation at his fingertips was thick and unpleasant as if he had cut a huge qi curtain.
As expected. The body of Wi Cheon-rak, which lost its neck, swelled up like boiling water, and the head reappeared.
“Indeed, you are just a huge lump of demonic energy.”
“Yes, now you know how useless it is to attack saying you will kill me...”
SLASH―
Dam Jeok-san swung his sword again before Wi Cheon-rak could finish his sentence. His shoulder flinched, and the sword tip gouged out Wi Cheon-rak's Adam's apple. A clean and rapid single sword strike without superfluity.
“First, let's talk a bit...”
“No.”
SLASH―
“No...”
SLASH―
“Please...”
SLASH―
“.......”
SLASH―
For a long time unknown how long. Only dry sounds were heard in Dam Jeok-san's mental image.
“Whew, the demonic energy doesn't even decrease with this.”
Dam Jeok-san said, lightly brushing back his forehead where not a drop of sweat flowed.
“Then why do you keep cutting...!”
“Because you are noisy.”
Dam Jeok-san answered in an indifferent tone looking at Wi Cheon-rak filled with indignation.
“What kind of, nonsense!”
“Anyway, I confirmed it won't be solved this way. You seemed to have something you wanted to say, try saying it now.”
He continued in a nonchalant attitude. Negotiation is ultimately about spirit. Especially since this place is inside his mental world. He intended to do anything that could break the guy's spirit. Even if it was consumptive.
Actually, Wi Cheon-rak was already sick of Dam Jeok-san. The thought of deceiving and manipulating him with sweet words disappeared without a trace, and only the desire to achieve the initial goal remained.
“You cannot annihilate me. That is the providence of the world and an unchanging truth. I swear on my everything.”
WOOOOOOO!!
With those words, the guy's entire body began to pulsate, emitting bright light. From deep inside the eye sockets to the tips of his fingers and toes. Literally everywhere. That is because Wi Cheon-rak's illusion is entirely made of demonic energy.
“Current me, probably. If you act cunningly, I will kill you again.”
Dam Jeok-san said so and swung his sword again. SLASH! Along with the sound, Wi Cheon-rak's illusion was cut off and slowly restored.
“Damn it...”
Red bloodshot veins stood in the eyes of Wi Cheon-rak who finished restoring completely. Regeneration is easy. This is merely an illusion at best, and Dam Jeok-san's sword strikes are not permanently reducing his demonic energy.
However, the pain felt in the process of death was vivid. So if possible, he didn't want to die. It was also because Wi Cheon-rak returned to a boy when facing death, and that form is fixed even in the mental image.
Originally, children hate pain and lack patience.
“Right! Current you cannot destroy me! To permanently eliminate the demonic energy engraved with my intent, the power of a domain is needed.”
“It was expected. So what do you want to propose? For reference, I won't listen to words saying there is no method. If so, I will plunge the sword into this heart right now.”
Dam Jeok-san said, tapping around his solar plexus.
“Did this fledgling go mad...!”
Wi Cheon-rak in the form of a boy growled, unable to hide his bewilderment. This is the guy's mental world.
If Dam Jeok-san stabs his own heart with a sword forged with his killing intent, his soul itself will be obliterated.
If that happens, Wi Cheon-rak, who was preyed upon by Dam Jeok-san, will also be annihilated forever.
“So speak. You must also have something you desire?”
“Fine, I will speak. Put away the sword.”
Looking at Dam Jeok-san who had brought the sword to his heart before he knew it, Wi Cheon-rak said as if horrified.
“I have something I desire. If you grant that request, I will seal my consciousness.”
“Seal, you say?”
“Yes, through a contract, I can seal my ego.”
The oath to speak only the truth seemed still valid, as light flickered from the guy's body. Moreover, this is inside Dam Jeok-san's mental image. He could discern truth and lies to some extent.
And his intuition judged that the guy's words were not lies.
“What I want is very simple. Kill the Cult Leader, my Master.”
“......?”
A question appeared on Dam Jeok-san's face at the guy's abrupt remark.
What on earth does that mean. Wasn't he united with him because he loved him beyond awe.
“If affection gets twisted, doesn't it become murderous intent?”
As if reading Dam Jeok-san's expression, Wi Cheon-rak sighed and added.
“I respect that person madly, but I also want to kill him madly.”
Because he couldn't kill him, he chose to respect him. But the moment he entered Dam Jeok-san's mental world, his thoughts changed.
The young man's world was vastly expansive, and at its center, only a single sword existed. Wi Cheon-rak intuited. That sword is a sword capable of cutting and piercing anything. Even if not now, it will become so someday.
It is not an intuition where basis and context exist. It was just foresight. But his foresight, in a state practically like a spirit body, is virtually close to a clear prophecy.
Wi Cheon-rak decided to entrust his lowly dream to Dam Jeok-san.
“I wondered what it was, no.”
“......?”
“My time is too precious to move according to your wish. Someday if an opportunity arises, I might kill him. But I have no intention of being bound there unnecessarily.”
“What...!”
“If I say I will do so, is there anything you can do?”
“In one side of your consciousness, I will hold a clear will. I won't be able to usurp your body right now, but if an opportunity to do so comes, I won't hesitate.”
When Dam Jeok-san becomes weak. Such a moment can come anytime. Because he is a martial artist who repeats fights.
“If such a thing happens, I will commit suicide.”
Dam Jeok-san answered indifferently. A tone where not an inch of worry or hesitation was felt. Therefore, it touched him more plainly. The will to die rather than have his body taken was extremely intense.
“Suicide or whatever at the drop of a hat...!”
“I am reminding you that there are no options given to you.”
“.......”
“And, wouldn't it be better if I am this kind of human?”
Dam Jeok-san said with a cold smile on his lips.
“Isn't it so? To kill your Cult Leader, simply being strong is not enough.”
If it's a head-on confrontation, three or four of the Eight Sovereigns of Murim would be able to defeat the Yin God Cult Leader. But the Cult Leader is an old monster who never steps up to the front. To drag him out from his seclusion in the deep parts of the Western Demonic Realm, a long-term plan is needed.
“Every word is correct. But that is not enough...”
SLASH―!
Dam Jeok-san drew his sword again and cut Wi Cheon-rak's neck.
Once, twice, three times, no matter how much he begged to stop, Dam Jeok-san's sword tip did not stop.
“This is all I can give you.”
He was still wielding the sword while continuing to speak.
“How is it, is just not killing you anymore insufficient as a price? If you want, I can keep you company for eternity.”
“Fine...!”
SLASH!
Even when Wi Cheon-rak finally showed his intention to negotiate, Dam Jeok-san cut him.
“Damn it, I said fine. Why...!”
“My hand slipped. I don't feel sorry.”
Dam Jeok-san answered shamelessly.
“If it is you, it seems you can cut the Cult Leader someday. Even if I don't urge you.”
Wi Cheon-rak muttered with shining eyes.
“So I will withdraw... Unless 'Dam Jeok-san' you desire it, the ego of 'Wi Cheon-rak' shall never find its form and will forever.”
Kotodama.
A talent that only sorcerers who have reached the super-ascending stage can wield, a bind of words that tears the soul to shreds if broken. If one has a physical body, one might break the Kotodama risking death, but it is impossible for a spirit body.
Because the moment the bind is broken, it will disappear without a trace of leeway.
“Disgusting until the end, but... I will let it pass.”
It means the guy's ego can wake up at the moment Dam Jeok-san himself desires.
That ego belongs to the massive demonic energy the guy possesses. In other words, if the ego is sealed, Dam Jeok-san also loses the preyed demonic energy.
Someday when he meets a difficulty his own power can absolutely not overcome, he might need that power latent in his body.
Well, that is for his future self to judge and endure.
“I accept.”
Dam Jeok-san calmly responded to his contract.
FLASH!
Along with a multi-colored halo, a strange seal bound Wi Cheon-rak's figure. A token of seal that never unravels without Dam Jeok-san's will.
With that, the predation ended. Although there were no gains, it cannot be seen only as such.
And slowly, but surely.
Consciousness returned.
The familiar northern sky was seen.
And as he turned his head.
“Martial Nephew, wake up now.”
The bloodied Northern Heaven Sword Venerable was holding him and infusing massive genuine qi into his wrist.