〈 Chapter 543 〉 Sword Demon (劍魔).
The time when the sun had set and night had fallen.
Countless figures moved swiftly, pushing through the undergrowth.
“Run faster!”
“Keep formation! Do not break ranks!”
Though their outward appearances differed, the expression on each and every face was the same.
Tension.
Their faces were filled with tension.
Tak—!
Their speed gradually increased. From the way they cut through the forest path, it was clear they were all martial artists. Their martial uniforms fluttered as if swept by a gale, and the emblem emblazoned upon them was vivid even in the dark.
That symbol meant only one thing.
The Martial Alliance.
Those racing through the night were martial artists belonging to the Martial Alliance.
Among those gripped by deep tension, a man stood at the forefront.
Seodong, Vice Commander of the Biryongdae squad, Guangdong Branch of the Martial Alliance, rolled his eyes.
‘Damn it all.’
One hand gripped his sword hilt. He focused power in his dantian, channeling all his inner qi into his qi sense. His energy spread outward, enveloping the forest. His inner qi was brimming with power. To manifest qi sense at such a level, a martial artist had to have broken through the wall, which allowed one to surmise that Seodong’s realm had surpassed the Peak.
In other words, it meant that a powerhouse of his caliber was this unnerved.
‘Of all times, it had to be when our numbers are low…!’
Currently, their total strength was seven. Those he had brought were all martial artists who had surpassed second-rate to reach first-rate, yet it was still a problem. With their current numbers, they were hopelessly insufficient.
‘Red-grade, of all things….’
To catch a Red demon beast. One at the Peak realm, and six first-rates. Just a few years ago, that would have been sufficient force to hunt demon beasts. For Seodong, who was at the Peak, could single-handedly slaughter Blue-grade demon beasts, so the appearance of demon beasts was not such a dangerous affair.
‘Goddamn it.’
But now, it was different.
Just three years ago, starting from Sichuan, demon gates of a new grade had begun to open. No, calling them “new” was not quite right. It was merely a grade that had existed from the very beginning reappearing. However, the change that had befallen the world was by no means small.
“Warm your bodies up! Do not let your guard down!”
At the shout, the martial artists in the rear flinched and raised their energy. Their inner qi mixed with the air, and heat began to spread.
A grade that had not appeared for centuries: the Red Demon Gate. A few years ago, gates of a grade unfamiliar to those of the current era had begun to appear.
Monsters incomparably stronger than Blue demon beasts, possessed of a barrier that blocked inner qi and the monstrous strength to crush even the body of a Peak-grade martial artist. Moreover, they were so ferocious that each appearance turned the surroundings into a wasteland. This was enough to be called yet another disaster.
The small mercy was that, proportionate to the difference from other grades, the frequency of their appearances was extremely low. Of course, even so, the appearance of a Red-grade demon beast was a disaster all the same.
Seodong raised his head.
“…Grit…!”
As he looked past the empty sky, his teeth ground together instinctively. There was a light. A very red light.
What it meant was only one thing.
‘Just before it appears.’
It meant the demon beast was about to leap out of the Red Demon Gate.
The ideal moment to hunt it was the instant it emerged from the demon gate—the few seconds of faltering while it failed to adapt to the new environment. That determined the battle’s outcome. Especially with these numbers, a frontal assault was no different from a dog’s death, so they had to time their hunt to that moment, but…
‘Too late.’
The timing was far too late. Not only had the report of the Demon Gate’s appearance been delayed, but preparations had taken far too long. At this rate, the beast would leap out. If that happened…
‘There are many civilians nearby.’
If things went wrong, tremendous slaughter would ensue. It was a situation that absolutely had to be stopped.
‘Why?’
Even as he quickened his pace, Seodong harbored a doubt.
‘The frequency seems to be increasing.’
For some reason, the thought crossed his mind that the number of reported Red Demon Gates had been gradually climbing. In the year they were first discovered, there had been at most twenty. Now, though it was only spring since the new year began, they had already surpassed twenty. They were increasing. It was a sensation not only he but most of the squad members were feeling, and at that, the man suddenly felt fear.
At that moment.
Kuuuuuung—!
“…!”
At the roar echoing from across the way, his eyes widened. Soon, he bit his lip. That sound was unmistakable.
‘The demon beast has appeared.’
The thunderous sound that accompanied the appearance of a Red-grade demon beast. Beneath where that light was seen, a Red demon beast had appeared.
Grit.
Seodong gritted his teeth and drew his sword.
Shhhhk—!
The moment Seodong drew his blade, the martial artists behind also unsheathed their swords without hesitation. They had all likely realized on instinct: if things went wrong, they would die today.
‘…Why did it have to be when the Chiefs are all away…!’
Had there been even one martial artist of Chief rank, things would not have come to this. Yet currently, all such individuals were away on business.
The incident involving the death of the Nine Fist Red Demon, Dao Wengang. Dispatches had been sent to investigate it. Because it involved Sima Oje, Chiefs had been mobilized. Who could have guessed that would become the problem? They should have at least two seasoned Peak-grade experts, yet he had to sortie with merely these.
‘No different from a dog’s death.’
If I was going to retire, I should have done it sooner. Was it a sin that I could not?
Seodong forcibly composed his vacant heart. If left alone, the surroundings would clearly become a wasteland; he could not simply stand by.
“We… we’re almost there.”
Seodong’s voice, which had been clear until just moments ago, was somehow unsteady.
“I will take the lead. Support me from behind.”
“Vice Commander…!”
At Seodong’s words, one martial artist began to speak with worry, but no words followed. Everyone knew there was no other way.
Tik—!
Eventually, all personnel arrived at the source of the light. Seodong gripped his sword tightly, raising his tension to the fullest.
Wuuun—! Sword qi surged along the blade. He spread his qi sense far to gauge the situation.
‘Where is it?’
The light had definitely been seen from this position. So the demon beast should be visible nearby. Moreover, since Red demon beasts were mostly huge, it should not be difficult to spot.
‘What?’
Seodong sensed something strange.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
A suffocating silence hung in the air. For a Red-grade demon beast, it should be normal to be shrieking wildly and tearing everything apart, but the area they had reached was frighteningly quiet.
The problem was, it did not register in his qi sense either.
“…”
Seodong raised his hand and gestured low. It was a signal to advance. Erasing his presence, the man moved forward, and the martial artists followed. They moved like that for several minutes.
Then.
…Crunch—!
“…?”
A low sound came from afar.
Craaack… Rumble… Crunch…!
Like something being crushed and smashed. A sound that sent shivers down one’s spine just by hearing it. Upon hearing it, Seodong felt the hair all over his body stand on end.
Squelch… crunch.
The sound grew louder with each step. It was likely right before them.
Thud—!
It was certain. The sound was coming from close by, beyond the darkness. With that, breathing grew rough with tension. Hearts pounded faster, and cold sweat flowed. Was it the Red demon beast? Was it doing something?
Thinking so, the moment Seodong finally took a step with trembling feet.
“…Hup…!?”
At the sight before his eyes, Seodong unconsciously swallowed a hollow breath.
Beyond the thick darkness, something was visible.
Tak-tak.
The first thing seen was a blue gleam. Following that, a gigantic physique. Something with a seemingly flexible, massive body was chewing on a demon beast with red hide.
Crunch—!
Along with the sound of bones shattering, the demon beast’s head was crushed. Blood flowed, drenching the ground.
Seodong’s eyes grew wide as lamps. Since the body was mangled beyond recognition of its form, it could not be properly identified, but the devoured beast resembled a tiger.
‘…That is definitely…’
A monstrous beast incomparably stronger than a lower-grade Blue demon beast, requiring a seasoned martial artist at the Peak realm to face. Such a creature was being caught and devoured alive before his very eyes.
Seeing that there was no significant damage to the surroundings meant it had not even been able to resist.
‘What… what the hell is that?’
An unknown something chewing on such a Red demon beast. It looked like a demon beast, but its grade was unknown. At a glance, it seemed to have a blue glow, but looking closely, it was closer to black.
‘…Does that mean it’s a Blue demon beast?’
That couldn’t be. A Blue demon beast could not possibly be like that. Then what the hell…
Krrr.
‘Damn…!’
Having seemingly finished its meal, the beast’s blue gaze turned toward Seodong. The moment Seodong tried to pour strength into his sword—
Unnh—!
“Kuh…!”
The moment he met its gaze, his body froze rigidly.
This is bad. At this rate…!
“Hey there.”
“!!”
Seodong, his body frozen, trembled at the voice suddenly heard beside his ear. At the same time, he felt an arm drape over his shoulder. Someone had wrapped an arm around him as if in a friendly gesture.
“I have something to ask.”
A fair voice, slightly low in tone. A voice he was hearing for the first time. Seodong forcibly turned his stiff head to look at the speaker.
The first thing he saw was—
‘The eyes…?’
A blue gleam, resembling the unknown monster before him. Those pupils shone all too clearly even in the darkness. Though it was difficult to make out because the face could not be seen properly, judging by the voice, he did not seem very old.
Meanwhile, the one thing Seodong was certain of was this:
‘I cannot win.’
It was the intuition of the defeated. He knew the moment he saw those eyes. That this forest was so silent not because of the monster up ahead, but because of the presence emanating from this very person.
He spoke while looking at Seodong, who had begun to tremble.
“You see, I’m looking for someone. I was wondering if you might know.”
A tone laden with amusement. At the thick presence contained within it, Seodong’s body trembled involuntarily. Forcing words past his blocked throat, he spoke.
“…Honored… honored one… who… might you be?”
“Hm. That’s the second time I’ve heard that question today.”
Sweat flowed. He felt as though his mind would be crushed at any moment.
“Just someone who enjoys traveling. Is that not acceptable? It should be.”
“…”
This surely meant the person did not wish to reveal his identity. Even knowing that, Seodong could not retort. Because he could vaguely tell what would happen if he said it was not.
“It would be a bit troublesome if it’s not.”
Krrrrr.
The massive beast in front growled lowly. It seemed to be awaiting an order. Did that mean this person had tamed that beast?
‘That’s absurd.’
For a human to tame a demon beast was impossible. However…
“…Huff… huff….”
Even if doubts arose and it was incomprehensible, this was not a situation in which he could ask.
“Whom… whom are you… looking for?”
At Seodong’s answer, the figure smiled. Though it could not be seen properly in the night, judging by the crescent curve of the blue gleam, one could tell he was smiling. Afterward, the figure asked Seodong.
“The Sword Demon… No. What was his name? I think it was two syllables….”
After speaking, he fell into thought for a moment.
“I don’t know his name.”
Then, as if he had remembered, he spoke again.
“He’s a man, roughly around my age… and he uses a sword.”
Ah.
“He has peculiar yellow-colored pupils, you know?”
“…!”
Hearing this, Seodong’s body stiffened. Seeing that reaction, the figure asked with a smile.
“Do you know him?”
“…”
Whether it was fortunate or not, it was a description Seodong knew as well.
Namely, it was the information of one who had recently become infamous—in the worst way.