Darkness was pushed back by the light Mabeol emitted.
Swoooooosh.
The sight of darkness being driven back by Mabeol's golden radiance was truly a spectacle.
When the light illuminated Amno, his shadow became visible.
“No!”
Despite his desperate cry.
Slllk.
The shadow rose like a living person and grabbed Amno from behind, as if embracing him. Amno did not resist, like someone who knew it was absolutely impossible to avoid.
Mabeol recalled what he had said earlier.
“This is a place where shadows should not exist. It is a place where shadows devour their master.”
“So even you get devoured.”
Amno glared at Mabeol with blazing eyes.
“Do you know what you have just done?”
“You seem to carry many wounds in your heart as well. What would happen to you if your wounds became a hundred times worse?”
“Surely you didn’t think I would fall victim to the Soul Collapse Technique?”
He hadn’t been worried about falling victim to the Soul Collapse Technique.
“If Akyeong comes out, not even I can handle things from then on!”
He called his own shadow Akyeong.
“Because I called forth Akyeong, now one of us has to die, or we cannot leave this place.”
Meaning this space could not be erased by his own will.
Shwaaaaack.
The shadow that had held Amno immobile engulfed his body as if to devour him.
“Uaaaaaaargh!”
A scream burst from Amno. Darkness infiltrated his body. He felt the agony of his living flesh being torn and something foreign entering his body.
The moment Akyeong merged with him, Mabeol immediately tried to launch an attack. Simply watching this ominous situation unfold would be foolish.
But before the hand seal could even be completed, dark energy whirled around Amno’s body like a gale.
Fwhiiiiing.
Mabeol dispersed the hand seal. He realized that attacking now would be pointless.
Shortly after, when the gale subsided, Amno revealed his changed form from within.
Shadow covered his entire body. He looked as though he were wearing armor of shadow, with even half his face covered by it.
And even at this moment, the shadow writhed, trying to cross the halfway boundary and encroach upon the remaining half of his face.
“Mabeol, you have done something that should not have been done.”
Mabeol replied calmly.
“I was trying to show the wounds in your heart as well. Who could have known it would turn out like this?”
Amno, devoured by Akyeong, was radiating murderous intent from his entire body. He truly looked like darkness combined with darkness.
“And weren’t you planning to transform into that form in the end anyway? If I had to see it either way, it’s better to see it while your strength is still vigorous.”
He had a point. If it came down to it, Amno would have fought by calling forth Akyeong anyway. The problem was this:
‘I must hurry.’
Though he became far more powerful after merging with Akyeong, as time passed, he would truly be devoured. If completely devoured, he would become a madman who had lost his reason.
Since he would be unable to remember anything after that moment, that moment would be the moment of his death.
Mabeol pressed his palms together with a cold gaze.
“Life steeped in sin, I shall grant you Buddhahood.”
Amno charged at Mabeol.
“Shut up! Baldy!”
Amno leaped into the air and unleashed a flurry of punches. He had not merely mastered demonic arts that utilized shadows.
Dark Chain Strike!
Powerful punches flew toward Mabeol.
Mabeol did not dodge either, unleashing his palm technique to meet the attack head-on.
Kwa-kwang! Kwa-kwang!
Fists and palms collided with a sound like mountains crumbling.
Mabeol confirmed that his opponent’s internal energy was stronger than he had imagined and tensed internally.
At the same time, a fighting spirit surged in Mabeol’s heart. Apart from his efforts to control his mind, he too was someone who enjoyed fighting and winning.
This time, Mabeol charged at Amno and unleashed his palm technique. Prayer beads were wrapped tightly around his palm as if he were wearing a gauntlet. Golden radiance burst forth from the prayer beads.
Kwaaang!
Amno slid backward under the might of the fierce palm technique.
“Isn’t a fight where you smash everything more fun?”
Before his words ended, Mabeol’s hand seal was already formed.
Golden Daerama Demon Art!
Murderous Gathering Seal!
Golden energy waves surged forth from Mabeol’s twin palms like a whirlwind.
Shwaaaaaack.
Against the surging energy that rushed like waves, Amno also unleashed his unique demonic art.
Dark Shadow Wave.
Shadows surged up from the ground as if waves were crashing.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The clash of the two energies shook the earth’s axis.
Though he had suffered severe internal injuries earlier when the Soul Collapse Technique was broken, Amno was not pushed back by Mabeol. With the effects of the Great Greed Annihilation Art combined with Akyeong, he rampaged like a madman.
This time, Amno’s unique demonic art, Dark Heavenly Killing Rain, was unleashed.
Shwaack.
A single pitch-black spear rained down, aimed at the crown of Mabeol’s head.
Pahk.
Mabeol twisted his body to evade, and the qi-forged spear pierced the ground before him.
“You think this is enough to kill me?”
“Did you think the rain would fall with just a single drop?”
The next instant!
Countless dots appeared above Mabeol’s head.
As if the single spear that fell earlier was merely the first raindrop to fall with a light tap, dozens of spears of darkness poured down toward Mabeol.
Shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk!
Since this was not an attack he could avoid by simply throwing his body aside, Mabeol’s hand seals were quickly formed.
Golden Daerama Demon Art
Lotus in Full Bloom
Golden radiance burst forth, and lotus flowers bloomed around Mabeol’s body.
Papapapapak!
The incoming energy waves could not pierce the lotus flowers and vanished.
“Lotuses blooming on a rainy day have more charm, after all.”
The two looked at each other.
Mabeol read urgency in Amno’s eyes. Even now, the shadow was gradually encroaching upon the rest of his face, bit by bit.
“What happens if you’re completely devoured?”
“You should be asking what will happen to you, not me.”
The result would be horrific. For himself, and for Mabeol.
Even as this happened, Akyeong’s energy seized him more rapidly.
‘I have to kill Mabeol somehow.’
The moment Mabeol died, Akyeong would absorb the malicious energy remaining in his corpse, and then he could soothe the sated Akyeong and tear it away.
But the problem was that Mabeol was not someone who would die easily. The more desperate Amno’s attacks became, the further Mabeol moved from death.
‘Damn it! If only I hadn’t sustained internal injuries!’
Amno became more ferocious as he was gradually devoured by Akyeong.
“No! Please!”
When Akyeong covered the last part of his face, his eyes looked at Mabeol. It was a gaze mixed with hatred and entreaty.
“You stupid baldy, you’re going to die too.”
With those words, Akyeong completely dominated him.
Now, no reason remained in Amno. Only madness and murderous intent ruled over him.
Mabeol did not miss the moment the master changed.
Golden Daerama Demon Art
Heavenly Sky Seal.
A streak of energy descended like lightning toward Amno.
Puh-uk.
Amno, struck cleanly, was thrown backward.
But soon he rose from where he fell.
Black shadow filled the spot where he had been hit.
Having been completely devoured by Akyeong, he had grown even stronger, and the energy of the Great Greed Annihilation Art had reached its extreme.
‘I have to finish this in one blow.’
To kill him, he had to use the Demonic Palm Annihilation Seal.
But this space was too narrow to use the Demonic Palm Annihilation Seal. It was a place where the technique’s sole weakness applied.
Oooooooh.
Shadows called forth by Akyeong rose from all directions. They wielded various weapons, and their dark, cold energy felt like that of martial artists who had been annihilated somewhere.
Akyeong’s Thousand Troops.
Amno’s ultimate technique.
No, Akyeong’s ultimate technique.
Mabeol threw a palm strike toward the shadows rushing at him.
Puh-eok!
The shadow burst apart in one blow, but another shadow rushed in.
Fighting against shadows charging from all directions, Mabeol was driven into a corner.
He put his back to the wall and faced the swarming shadows. They were endlessly summoned.
‘At this rate, my internal energy will be depleted and I’ll die.’
Mabeol had to use a trick. And suddenly, one thought came to mind.
‘Could it work?’
There was a move he had been thinking about for a long time. A long-standing idea to compensate for the greatest weakness of the Golden Daerama Demon Art.
That thought had crossed his mind while carving stone statues and while searching for poisonous herbs.
But it was a technique he had only organized in his head, never properly trained or executed.
He didn’t know if it was possible or not, but right now it was the best remaining option.
Mabeol unleashed the Lotus in Full Bloom to force the shadows back.
Within the lotus of energy, Mabeol guided his true qi into a new meridian.
‘May the Blood Buddha have mercy.’
A new hand seal formed in his hands. The last thought that crossed his mind at that moment was this:
‘The Blood Buddha is me, and I am the Blood Buddha.’
Hwaaaak.
Golden radiance erupted from Mabeol’s hand, and palm-shaped energy began to grow larger. When it had grown large enough to fill the space—
Hwoooooaaang!
Along with a golden wave, the palm flew forward.
It was not the Demonic Palm Annihilation Seal of a massive Buddha statue descending, but a new Demonic Palm Annihilation Seal. It was not the palm of a golden Buddha statue, but Mabeol’s own palm.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwak!
The shadows filling the front were swept away by that palm.
The palm continued forward, pushing back even Amno, who stood behind.
Kuaaaaaaaang!
An enormous roar erupted.
As the rising dust settled, Amno was deeply embedded in the wall. Around his body, a palm print was deeply carved. It was small in size, but its power was no less than that of the Demonic Palm Annihilation Seal.
‘I did it.’
Mabeol was surprised even after succeeding. Had the thought to use this technique only occurred because he had already been prepared to succeed?
Mabeol gave this new technique a name.
“Demonic Palm of the Small Man.”
He acknowledged himself as a small person.
The technique’s success was not due to the Blood Buddha’s mercy.
It was because of his heart that had broken through the Soul Collapse Technique.
Having overcome his wounds, and acknowledging even his short stature and small-mindedness—it was because of his mental cultivation.
Smallness created smallness. It was a smallness greater and stronger than anything else.
“Uuugh.”
A low groan flowed from Amno’s mouth, embedded deep in the center of the palm print. The Akyeong that had dominated his body was already gone.
Life was fading from his gaze, which was filled with disbelief.
Mabeol brought his palms together respectfully and spoke.
“Count it a blessing that you die as a human, and depart with a good heart.”
In this moment alone, he looked like an enlightened high monk.
Amno, who had been quietly looking at Mabeol, dropped his head limply.
Sssst.
As his breath ceased, the space where they had fought began to disappear.
* * *
Divine Maiden Palace Lord Gaye ran down the corridor.
She had escaped from there while the battle was in full swing.
The moment she left the room, her eyes met the Cheonhwaru Lord’s. She had been silently watching her leave.
Feeling that the emotion in those eyes was not hatred, she felt more negative than thankful for having her life saved.
‘What bad luck.’
Was it pity? Or did she show mercy because she was someone who had received a prophecy?
No matter how intense the battle was, the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord couldn’t have been unaware of her escaping.
But she didn’t stop her. She must have granted the Cheonhwaru Lord’s request to spare her.
‘I don’t believe it.’
Of all times, did she receive a prophecy at the very moment she was with her, and inside this greedy Wealth Ship filled with dark energy?
‘Don’t make me laugh.’
The will of heaven would not descend at such a moment.
She didn’t believe that the Dark Palace Lord had abandoned her either.
Heukno, that old man, must have been talking nonsense because he lacked the confidence to protect her.
She would go and confirm it directly with him.
She continued running toward the room where the Dark Palace Lord was. The broken objects scattered along the way did not enter her eyes.
As she turned the last corner.
Tak.
She ran into someone’s back.
“Whoa, you startled me!”
The one who turned around with a fuss was Geom Mugik.
“Well, who do we have here? Isn’t it our Holy Maiden?”
Gaye was startled. She had never dreamed she would meet him in front of the Dark Palace Lord’s room.
“Our Dark Palace Lord is so terribly timid, locking the door like that and refusing to open it.”
The dark smoke of the Covetous Heart Great Annihilation Art enveloped not only the door but that entire room, so unless the Dark Palace Lord opened it for them, they could not enter.
He could blow it all away with Heavenly Demon World-Destroying, but opening that door did not look easy.
“I can’t open that door either.”
Geom Mugeuk stared at her quietly, then abruptly asked,
“Did the Cheonhwa Pavilion Master spare you?”
For an instant, Gaye flinched. That reaction alone had already answered him, but she asked Geom Mugeuk with a slightly angry face.
“Why would you think that?”
“If you came running here in such a hurry, it means your side’s situation isn’t good. And our Demon Venerables don’t regard you as anyone special.”
As if he had been there himself, Geom Mugeuk grasped the situation with perfect accuracy.
“Your Demon Venerables are all dead.”
At those words, Geom Mugeuk laughed.
“So that means they’re all fine. Ah, I miss our Demon Venerables!”
To show such composure even in this situation—he truly was an extraordinary man. Then again, it was because he was such a man that the Dark Palace Lord had been driven to this state.
Gaye’s gaze shifted past Geom Mugeuk toward the door. The Dark Palace Lord beyond it was surely watching this situation and hearing every word of their conversation.
“It seems the Dark Palace Lord doesn’t regard you as special, either—less than our Demon Venerables do.”
Geom Mugeuk also looked at the door as he spoke.
“At the very least, if one of my people were outside together with the enemy, I would have opened that door.”
“Don’t try to sow discord between us with pointless words.”
As if she did not want to hear any more, Gaye sat down and closed her eyes.
“Kill me or spare me, do as you please.”
Geom Mugeuk shouted toward the door.
“If you don’t open the door, I’ll kill the Divine Maiden Palace Lord!”
Geom Mugeuk raised his hand high and made to strike down at Gaye’s crown. But from beyond the door, there was no response at all.
Lowering the hand he had raised, he said to Gaye,
“Is there even any relationship left between you for me to sow discord in?”
Still, she kept her eyes tightly shut and said nothing.
Then came words from Geom Mugeuk that she had not expected.
“Hey, you ugly old man. I know very well that you use your subordinates as tools and throw them away. Even so, you shouldn’t do this to the Divine Maiden Palace Lord, if no one else. The Divine Maiden Palace is the most important reason for your existence, isn’t it? It’s your justification. If you lose that justification, you become worse than some back-alley hoodlum.”
Beneath her closed eyelids, Gaye’s eyes trembled slightly.
“I can look down on the Divine Maiden. But you shouldn’t.”
The words Gaye had wanted to say to the Dark Palace Lord at least once came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“If the Divine Maiden can no longer receive prophecies, that isn’t the Divine Maiden’s fault. It means something has gone wrong with you, doesn’t it? You stopped receiving prophecies because everything you’ve done has strayed too far from the will of heaven, hasn’t it? Why are you shifting that responsibility onto the Divine Maiden? For someone standing above others, you’re truly pathetic. Pathetic.”
Still, the Dark Palace Lord beyond the door remained silent.
The one who opened her mouth was Gaye.
“What do you know?”
Her voice had lost some of its edge from before.
Geom Mugeuk went over beside her and sat down shoulder to shoulder.
“Do you feel a little better? If you’d like, I can curse him some more for you.”