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Blood Battle (5)

Swoosh!

The Suramyeongwang Sword pierced through a man’s chest.

I wished it had been the blood merchant, the mastermind behind all this, but the person it killed was not her.

The one who fell with a gaping wound in his chest was Jeokyo.

The red energy that had been reaching out towards my father retreated back into her body.

I had unleashed the sword technique because I saw her about to use a deadly spell on my father.

My father looked at me, astonished that I had used such a technique. He must have realized the spell she was about to cast was lethal. It was an attack no one could have stopped.

But he hadn’t expected me to save him with the Suramyeongwang Sword.

His surprise quickly turned into gratitude, pride, and joy for his son.

He nodded at me once, then leaped to assist Song Woo-gyeong.

Song Woo-gyeong was also struggling against the Blood Sword Master.

With my father joining him, the fight, which had been one-sided, became evenly matched.

The Suramyeongwang Sword, having killed Jeokyo, returned to hover in front of me. It had flown back so quickly it was as if nothing had happened, but blood dripped from its tip, aimed at the blood merchant.

The blood merchant shouted angrily.

“What if I had unleashed the Blood Demon Art?”

It was the first time she had shown anger since we met.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What? It doesn’t matter?”

“Do you know who that is? That’s my father. If I can’t stop him from dying right in front of me, then it doesn’t matter if we all die.”

“You crazy fool!”

Then Cheonma laughed and said,

[Haha, you see people well. Yes, this guy is truly crazy.]

[But this is a big problem. What should we do about that Blood Demon Art? Is there a way?]

[Just let her go. How do you stop someone willing to die with you?]

[No.]

[Why not?]

[She’s dangerous. She must die today.]

I warned her coldly.

“None of you are getting out of here.”

She responded defiantly.

“Then we’ll all die together.”

The fight with her was a battle of will and judgment. It wasn’t about losing because of lack of skill. A wrong decision meant death.

I couldn’t let my guard down. She wouldn’t only have the method of mutual destruction.

She would possess incredible martial arts and terrifying spells. Yet, the reason she was threatening me with the Blood Demon Art was because of the sword technique. She knew that no spell or martial art could stop my Suramyeongwang Sword.

But that didn’t mean I had the upper hand. Keeping the sword suspended in the air required a significant amount of internal energy. It wasn’t just floating; it was ready to strike at any moment.

If I showed even a moment of carelessness or a gap, she would unleash her most powerful spell.

Rumble.

The maze behind us shook violently.

It seemed a fierce battle was happening inside as well. Initially, they must have been caught off guard, but now they were desperately trying to break the formation.

But they needn’t worry too much.

The thirty or so Blood Swords that had entered with the blood merchant were nearly all wiped out by the Black Panther Squad, the Byeok Clan, and the Song Family warriors. The Black Panther Squad was, of course, exceptional, and the warriors of the Byeok Clan, led by Seojoong, were showing outstanding skills. They had the numerical advantage and had almost completely eliminated the Blood Swords.

Even if the formation was breached and new Blood Swords entered, they could be stopped.

The real issue was the leaders’ battle.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Despite my father and Song Woo-gyeong’s combined efforts, the Blood Sword Master held his ground. In terms of skill, they should have been able to kill him together.

But the Blood Sword Master was a warrior with more combat experience than both of them. His attacks were far more dangerous and deadly.

However, my father and Song Woo-gyeong had the advantage of years of fighting together. They understood each other so well that they could communicate with just a glance, complementing each other’s weaknesses and fighting with all their might.

Even so, I was on edge because it was my father and Song Woo-gyeong.

Swoosh.

The Suramyeongwang Sword, aimed at the blood merchant, subtly shifted its direction. I intended to pierce the Blood Sword Master when the opportunity arose, but the perceptive blood merchant shouted.

“No more! If either of them dies, we all die.”

I infused my voice with energy and shouted back.

“If you use any spells, you’ll die by my hand.”

I said it for Seo Bulpae and the Blood Sword Master to hear, but I knew they weren’t using spells.

The Blood Sword Master seemed not to have learned any blood-related spells, and Seo Bulpae, though skilled in spells, appeared to rely solely on martial arts due to his superior martial prowess.

It was fortunate they weren’t using spells.

Seojoong joined the fight. He had taken care of all the Blood Swords.

Among the Byeok Clan and Song Family warriors, Seojoong was the most skilled. His martial prowess was nearly on par with my father and the Song Family head, making him a valuable addition to the fight. Having served my father for a long time, he knew his martial arts better than anyone.

With his addition, the tide of the battle shifted in favor of my father and Song Woo-gyeong.

Moreover, the psychological burden of knowing all his subordinates were dead caused the Blood Sword Master to reveal a critical weakness.

Swish! Slash!

Seojoong’s sword cut into the Blood Sword Master’s waist. As he staggered, losing his stance, Song Woo-gyeong’s sword pierced his back.

Thud!

Finally, my father’s sword severed the Blood Sword Master’s neck.

Slice!

His head fell, and the Blood Sword Master collapsed, lifeless.

My father and Song Woo-gyeong exchanged relieved sighs. This was likely the toughest battle of their lives.

They nodded at Seojoong with gratitude in their eyes. His joining had been crucial in turning the tide of the battle.

Now, the only fight left was between Baekpyo and Seo Bulpae.

Aside from me and the blood merchant, they were the most skilled here.

Though they were evenly matched, Baekpyo was actually half a step below Seo Bulpae in skill. Seo Bulpae was that formidable.

But Baekpyo had undergone rigorous training recently and was determined to win this fight.

Neither my father, Song Woo-gyeong, nor Seojoong could intervene in their fight. Trying to help could end up hindering Baekpyo.

I, too, refrained from intervening and watched Baekpyo’s fight.

I could have sent him a telepathic message to aid him, but I didn’t.

This was Baekpyo’s fight.

His pride as a warrior was on the line. Winning this fight would be a turning point, allowing Baekpyo to ascend to a new level.

Baekpyo’s sword embodied both the attributes of protection and destruction. This duality was both a strength and a weakness.

I hoped fervently that it would prove to be a strength in this battle.

Meanwhile, the blood merchant was focused solely on me, not the fight between the two.

What was she thinking now?

She was likely only thinking of how to survive, how to kill me.

If not for the Suramyeongwang Sword, the most powerful deterrent against her, she would have already made a move. Even as I watched the fight, she would feel an increasing fear, seeing the sword unwaveringly aimed at her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Baekpyo and Seo Bulpae clashed, soaring into the air.

I sensed their fight had reached its climax.

Only one would descend alive.

Throughout the fight, Baekpyo kept one thought in mind.

He imagined Byeokridan behind him. He thought of Galsaryang, of Gwangdu. And… he thought of his wife and son.

Raising the Black Panther Squad had changed his nature. Made him more aggressive and combative.

But he had lived his life as a guardian warrior and never denied that fact.

His sword was not one that killed, but one that protected. He killed not out of desire, but to protect.

I will kill you to protect everyone!

The two warriors’ swords, filled with their ultimate resolve, flew at each other. Seo Bulpae’s sword cut Baekpyo’s shoulder.

Slash!

Baekpyo’s sword pierced Seo Bulpae’s heart.

Thud.

Seo Bulpae fell to the ground, dying with eyes full of resentment.

Baekpyo’s gaze was as calm as his heart. He instinctively knew.

This grueling fight had significantly advanced him as a warrior. Perhaps he had already grown.

Baekpyo looked at me.

I tapped my shoulder with my finger. Blood was flowing from Baekpyo’s shoulder. He smiled and tended to his wound.

I turned to the blood merchant and said,

“You’re the only one left.”

Everyone who had entered with her was dead. The formation remained unbroken, and even if it were breached and surviving Blood Swords entered, they would find no escape.

The blood merchant spoke calmly.

“You’re the only one I see.”

She was threatening again with the Blood Demon Art, claiming everyone would die.

Her eyes seemed devoid of emotion, as if she had transcended life and death, ready to use the Blood Demon Art at any moment.

But I could see through her.

Beneath the surface lay a fierce desire—a desire for life itself.

Even as her subordinates fell one by one, she never once took her eyes off me.

Someone who has transcended life and death would never do such a thing. No, they simply wouldn’t.

With a soft swish, the sword that had been aimed at the void slowly shifted direction and returned to its sheath.

The moment I retracted my sword technique, she waved her hand through the air as if she had been waiting for this.

A deafening crash followed, and the world turned crimson, as if blood had been splattered everywhere.

Before my eyes, a river flowed—not of water, but of blood.

On the other side of that river, she stood.

In an instant, she had pulled me into a new world of sorcery.

It was a narrow river, one I could easily leap across.

Yet her expression was serene, far more composed than when the Sword of the Underworld King had been aimed at her.

Could it be that my sword techniques were useless here? Probably.

The Sword of the Underworld King flew from its sheath into the air, only to fall to the ground with a thud. My energy couldn’t reach it.

She smiled and said, “This is my world. Use your sword techniques in yours.”

“Seems I have no choice.”

I bent down slowly to pick up the fallen sword. My internal energy was functioning normally.

The problem was that I couldn’t project that energy outward. Not only my sword techniques but even my sword aura were useless here.

I looked at her and spoke with calm confidence.

“There are many ways to kill someone without sword techniques. A human will die if a blade pierces their heart, no matter what.”

She nodded in agreement.

“That’s what scares me.”

She was speaking the truth.

“I had a bad feeling from the start. That’s why I used the Hellhound from the beginning. I was terrified.”

This was precisely why I had resolved to kill her today.

Her instincts were sharp. What was more frightening was that she trusted her instincts completely. She never let her guard down due to temptation or arrogance.

With a faint smile, she said, “That’s why this river flows between us.”

As if the river were a shield protecting her.

Yes, this river of blood was the core of her sorcery.

If I could cross it, I could kill her. If not, I would die.

She concluded with a chilling promise, “I’ll kill you and then slaughter everyone around you.”

As her words ended, something drenched in blood began to emerge from the crimson river.