Kwaaang—!
It was hopeless.
That was the honest impression the original Mad Demon, Mok In-gwang, felt as he fought his opponent.
He had fought many powerful foes before, and had been driven into crisis countless times, but this was truly a first. ‘What the hell is this guy?’
Just by looking at the degree of development in his body, he could fully guess that the man’s external arts were anything but ordinary.
Those wickedly trained muscles could never be built by ordinary means.
Nor was it simply that he had stupidly bulked up his frame.
That overwhelming physique possessed destructive power and speed to match, and on top of that, he had sharp dynamic vision, an absurdly tough body, and even the combat instincts to support all of it. ‘Above all else...’
Others might not know, but there was no way he could fail to recognize it.
The madness seething within him.
It was an aura no human could ever withstand, the sort of thing one could not even imagine harboring in the first place. ‘Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can’t believe it. Is he really human?’
It felt as though he were facing some utterly different species of monster that merely happened to share a similar form.
That was why he had deliberately put forward strength and speed, the opponent’s own strong points, then chosen a method of deceiving his instincts to strike at an opening. At first, it seemed to go according to plan, but...
Kwaaang—!
The claws of astral qi that surged up from his blind spot were blocked by the opponent’s knife-hand.
But this much had already happened several times, so Mok In-gwang continued his linked assault without the slightest hesitation.
And that attack—
Crunch!
Was blocked once again.
“Kahahahat!”
It was cut off before he could even fully extend it.
Kagagagak!
Again and again, it was shattered.
It was a completely different reaction from the early stages of the exchange.
And what that meant was... ‘...He’s keeping up?’
The monster he was facing was learning in real time.
Using none other than himself as nourishment.
Of course, even amid that, Mok In-gwang mixed in proper variations and carved several wounds into the opponent’s body, but those, too, failed to become truly fatal attacks.
Because even the wounds he left behind soon healed cleanly as time passed.
Wounds from astral qi, infused with the intent of one who had reached a high realm and capable of destroying everything it touched, regenerated so easily.
Even for a master of the Profound Realm, common sense dictated that one would have to recuperate quietly for a long time to recover from such injuries, yet this was an unheard-of miracle.
“Krrh! You bastard, did you learn some legendary Immortal Divine Art or something? What in the world is that body of yours made of?”
“Kahak! Not bad, you! There aren’t many who can go this far. Show me more! More!”
“You mad bastard!”
But because the one before him was so utterly alien, there was no suitable way to deal with him.
For Mok In-gwang, who still stood at the edge of the Transformation Realm, this was an opponent he simply could not handle.
Through the synergy between the martial arts he had learned and his unique constitution, he had always displayed power beyond his limits, but there was an enormous difference between crossing a wall and failing to cross it.
“Come on, come on! You’re not tired already, are you? Come at me again, friend!”
At those provocative words, Mok In-gwang’s brow furrowed.
By this point, he could clearly realize it. ‘Could it really be to this extent?’
The only reason this fight had not ended quickly and was still continuing was because his opponent wished it to.
Naturally, that fact made anger surge within him, but right now, he did not even have the leisure to dwell on such thoughts. ‘This is dangerous.’
He, too, was slowly reaching his limit.
Perhaps due to the excessive strain, the madness that had lent him strength all this time had burrowed deep into his marrow, then surged up into his mind, endlessly pounding at his Baihui acupoint.
That double-edged sword, the source of his martial power and the heavenly curse he had been born with, was now tightening around his throat. ‘I have to decide now.’
There were now two choices left to him.
Admit defeat, completely withdraw his power, and calmly govern his mind and body—or, regardless of what happened afterward, pour out every ounce of strength he had and settle it here. ‘...Is there even a need to choose?’
Of course, as always, the conclusion he would reach had already been decided.
The corners of his mouth rose fiercely once more. ‘Yes, I may not be as much as you—but.’
Mok In-gwang operated the unique heart method he had obtained through a childhood connection and had trained in every single day since, the Madness-Control Heart Formula, and raised his energy once more.
He no longer cared whether the madness that had been suppressed until now broke free from the backlash and polluted his mental landscape.
With his own neck on the line, thinking about what came after was a luxury.
Crack—
The flow of blood through his entire body surged rapidly, and his muscles swelled.
His senses sharpened further, and the thoughts in his head focused solely on one thing.
To bring down the opponent before him by any means necessary.
As if he had taken some drug, his combat logic began spinning furiously in his mind according to that grand premise.
The amount of madness his opponent possessed was certainly so distant and vast that Mok In-gwang could not gauge it, but he had the Madness-Control Heart Formula, which allowed him to handle it more efficiently.
Had he not already pierced that body several times and drawn blood?
There was still any number of chances for victory.
That was what he thought.
“Kuh! Then let us see who the true Mad Demon is!”
“Oh? You suddenly got proactive... hm?”
Soon, amid his gradually blurring reason, he charged at the opponent, who was looking at him with surprised eyes.
Wrapped in strange, dark-red, wavering energy all over his body.
***
Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan.
Inside a certain building located in its back alleys, several people were conversing in low voices.
They had even deployed a high-level technique, spreading a qi barrier inside to completely block any sound from leaking out.
“The Mad Demon?”
“As planned. He headed to the side hall where the strange man is. He must have encountered him by now.”
Their topic was the one who had left the city not long ago in pursuit of someone impersonating him.
In truth, the reason they had been dispatched here in the first place was because of that, so such a conversation was only natural.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Judging by the data so far, it would have to be that strange man.”
“I wonder. The Mad Demon is not the sort of man to obediently admit defeat just because he is at a disadvantage. If he disregards his own safety...”
“True. If it’s him, he’ll certainly do just that. Without even thinking about what comes after.”
They quickly cleaned up the scene while exchanging their opinions in murmurs.
It was a question with no clear answer until the result came out, but there was one point on which all of them agreed.
“But even the one who survives that fight won’t be in very good shape.”
Namely, that whichever side it was, neither would be able to interfere with their work for the time being.
“Then the mission is complete.”
“No matter how the result turns out, our work is done. The rest is a matter for those above to judge.”
They had set two people who were highly likely to interfere with the plan against each other, so no matter how the aftermath was handled, things would be far easier than before.
“We move to the next location.”
Of course, the matter concerning them was now out of their hands, so there was no longer any need to think about what became of either one.
“...To Dengfeng County.”
And so, the place from which they disappeared.
The inside of the building that, until recently, had housed an information organization of the back alleys was left cleanly emptied, with nothing remaining.
Including every last one of those who had originally owned the place before they visited it.
***
While exchanging blows with the original Mad Demon, Harley let out what might have been his umpteenth exclamation of admiration.
“Well now, this is something else!”
His opponent was clearly not even in the Profound Realm yet, but his combat power was by no means easy to dismiss.
Even considering that the martial world was specialized in battles between individuals, at this level, it seemed only right to rate him at least half a step above powerhouses from other dimensions. ‘A martial art that handles refined madness, is it? To think something like this exists. Fascinating.’
The characteristics of that martial art played a solid role in his performance.
Its vast expansiveness, to the point where one wondered if there was anything it could not do.
That was an advantage that perfectly compensated for the fact that the mysteries of this world, based on qi, were not particularly diverse. ‘This seems like it could be quite useful, too.’
Harley’s response to it was simple.
To watch with his eyes, experience it directly with his body, and adapt to and learn from the opponent’s attacks.
Since the common skill “Mimicry” could be used not only by Hugo but by him as well, it was not that difficult. ‘I also have “Tyrant of Madness,” which is specialized in handling madness.’
After he swallowed the core of the white giant, no fewer than three madness-related skills—“Beast of Frenzy,” “Heart of the Mad Dragon,” and “Madness Control”—had merged and evolved into this ability.
Through that power, akin to an authority that went beyond handling madness and into ruling over it, the vast madness within his body began to move little by little along a specific path.
However... ‘...That looks a bit dangerous.’
Harley, who had been receiving one-on-one tutoring and trying something new, furrowed his brow.
“Kraaaaah—!”
The state of his teacher, who was charging at him with his eyes rolled back and foam at his mouth, was anything but normal.
Perhaps he had suffered the backlash from forcibly using power beyond his limits, for uncontrolled true qi was leaking continuously from his body, which had already lost reason completely.
If left alone like that, he would most likely self-destruct. ‘There’s still a lot left to learn.’
And that was not what Harley wanted.
The method Harley was currently learning also deviated from the principles of ordinary martial arts, and its level was quite high, so it seemed he would need a little more time to make fine adjustments and acquire it properly. ‘I’ve also marked him as my first subordinate in the Ganghwan Realm.’
To do that, he first had to calm his opponent down.
“Hey, friend? Calm down and let’s talk—”
“Kraaaah!”
Right now, Mok In-gwang was in no state to understand words.
Only attack, attack, and more attack.
On top of that, as though he truly intended to use any and all means, he even began drawing upon his innate true qi, which was no different from his own life force, to make up for the strength he lacked. ‘If I leave him like this, I’ll really be disposing of a corpse.’
Subduing him came second; first, he needed to quiet his madness.
Even if he pinned him down so he could not move his body, the madness that had already lost control and was running rampant would devour all the innate true qi inside him. ‘It’s my first time trying this on someone else.’
But there was no time to hesitate.
If he failed, then it could only be chalked up to fate.
Of course, he himself would not be the one bearing that penalty.
“Phew.”
At the same time as he let out a light sigh—
Psshhh—!
Kikikikik— Ggikiging—!
A shrill metallic sound rang out from his body along with hot steam.
His right eye, imbued with red light, split vertically like that of a reptile, and an angle formed in the green pupil of his left eye, making it glitter like a jewel.
And immediately afterward—
Kwaaang—!
A mountain-shaking collision rang out once again, just as before, but the result revealed afterward was completely different from what had come earlier.
“Kahat! Shall I take some of the strength out of you first?”
“Kuheok!”
“Try to understand, friend. Think of it as anesthesia before surgery.”
After “Jewel Eye: Coercion” was activated at the decisive moment, a massive fist buried itself deep into Mok In-gwang’s stomach.
The moment he froze lasted only an instant, but for Harley, who had already finished grasping his opponent, that brief opening was more than enough time to land a clean hit.
“Kkeueueu!”
“Now, now! This friend of mine, really! Guess one wasn’t enough after all?”
Of course, there was no way he could calm a man whose madness had already surged all the way to the top of his head with a single punch.
The fact that Harley had held back a little, fearing that if he went all out the man’s organs would burst apart, likely played a part as well.
Grab!
Harley firmly seized his opponent’s head with one hand and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his other hand as he looked at him meaningfully.
The Mad Demon trembled as though trying to move by force, apparently already recovered from the shock.
However, the unprecedented monstrous strength pressing down on his entire body did not allow even his small resistance. ‘I don’t know how well “Tyrant of Madness” will work here.’
Still, it would be better than doing nothing.
It might be a little rough, but surely he would understand.
“This might sting a little~”
Probably.
Puuuk!
“......!”
And then.
The tyrant of a powerful nation led a great army into another country to suppress a rebellion that had broken out there.
Accompanied by overwhelming violence meant to quell the resistance of the occupied land.
***
There were truly many maxims in the world worth emulating.
If it doesn’t work, keep going until it does.
What a splendid saying that was.
It was only a short phrase, but the sweaty effort, the persistence that refused to give up, and the passion that vowed to see it done no matter what could never be taken lightly. ‘And there was another one, too.’
Who had said it?
For a mad dog, a beating is the best medicine.
Thwack— Thwack—
As Harley chewed over those words he had heard somewhere, he moved his body diligently without rest again today in order to put enlightenment into practice.
And as a result—
Thud—
“...Kheok. Y-you mad bastard... Cough!”
Once again, he was able to feel that there was nothing in this world that could not be done.
Looking down at the former Mad Demon with satisfied eyes, the current Mad Demon slowly nodded.