The Return of the God (6)
During this trial, I opened two doors.
The first was the one the old man had opened for me, and the second was when I first opened the door to the Hall of Ascension. Each time, I was taken aback.
And this time was no different.
Expecting a rough start, I steeled myself and opened the door, only to be met with an unexpected sight.
A table was set with drinks, and a man was seated there. It was the old man from the Temple of the Demon God.
“You’re here?”
“Sir?”
“Come, have a drink with me.”
“Yes.”
Though I approached him with a bewildered heart, I remained cautious. After all, he could have been a demon in disguise.
But as I got closer, I knew for sure. It was indeed the old man. His aura was something no one could fake.
“You’ve come a long way.”
“It’s nothing.”
I drank deeply, feeling my fatigue melt away in an instant.
“How was it?”
“Honestly, at my age, I thought there were no new revelations left for me. But fighting those demons repeatedly taught me many things.”
“Learning never truly ends.”
“Indeed.”
“Now, you must decide. Will you ascend those stairs, or walk out that door?”
To one side, there was a staircase leading upwards. On the other, a door leading outside.
“If I go up, I’ll become a Demon God.”
“Enemies will await you. You’ll have to fight for your life more fiercely than ever. But I believe you can overcome it.”
My gaze shifted to the other door.
The old man continued calmly.
“Leaving through that door means giving up the path to becoming a Demon God. But even that path requires you to fight and survive. Responsibility comes with both choices and renunciations.”
“I thought I had to either become a Demon God or die.”
“Not at all. Even if a Demon God is considered an evil deity, they are still a god. You can’t be forced into it.”
I had entered the trial of the Demon God to escape death.
Yet, I still couldn’t make a decision.
“Can someone as indecisive as me become a Demon God?”
“What did you see in the dark god you defeated?”
I hesitated to answer.
“But someone might find something so extraordinary in that dark god that they’d be willing to offer their soul. Those are the ones who see the opposite of what you see.”
“So, it doesn’t matter what I am.”
“The issue between gods and humans is always… a human issue.”
But this wasn’t a problem between me and humans as a future god.
It was a problem between me and my people.
“If you become a Demon God, you’ll solve real-world problems easily. But if you don’t, you’ll have to fight as a human.”
The old man’s words were profound. I wondered if the Blood God had already descended. Could I defeat a god again?
“Does it matter to you what choice I make?”
“No, it doesn’t. It’s entirely up to you.”
I pondered for a moment.
This wasn’t a problem that could be solved with more time.
In this life, I learned how important change is. I found new happiness in that change.
But if I were to live an eternal life, I’d experience ‘repetition,’ the opposite of change.
Perhaps I had already made up my mind.
Finally, I spoke to the old man.
“I… am content with this one chance. I’m satisfied with this one life I’ve been given. I’ve come to cherish many people while living as a mortal. My parents, my loved ones, friends, and my loyal followers. I want to grow old with them.”
The old man smiled enigmatically.
“Is that so?”
“I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize to me. Each person makes their own choice.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“The world is unpredictable. Someday, someone who inherits your martial arts might take the trial of the Demon God.”
“Haha, if that happens, they might wield the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Sword Technique.”
I was referring to my martial art, the Phantom Sword Storm, which involved nine swords appearing in the air.
The old man smiled knowingly.
“Perhaps.”
Though it sounded like a joke, it might not have been.
My martial art could be refined by someone else, passed down, and as disciples trained disciples, it might evolve into a technique that wields nine swords. Perhaps that person could become a Demon God.
“I hope they’re braver and more decisive than I am.”
“Hahaha. Let’s hope so.”
The old man laughed heartily.
“But who can say who will be happier? Not even I can.”
It was a profound statement, but one I couldn’t fully grasp. At least, it was a distant, unrealized future for me.
“Now, off you go.”
I stood and bowed deeply to the old man.
“Thank you for everything.”
“May you find happiness.”
He extended his hand.
I grasped it gratefully.
Then something astonishing happened. My energy center filled with internal power.
The old man spoke as I looked at him in surprise.
“You won’t live an immortal life, but your internal power will never run dry.”
“Sir?”
I was truly taken aback.
“Giving up on becoming a Demon God was also an act of great courage. This is my gift for that courage.”
What the old man gave me wasn’t just internal power. It was akin to granting me life. With endless internal power, how could I lose to any foe?
I bowed deeply. When I rose, the old man had vanished.
Standing before the door, I took a deep breath.
Opening this door might reveal another astonishing sight.
But even if I was surprised, I wouldn’t turn back. I would keep opening doors, moving forward. That’s the life given to us. Though I wouldn’t return as a Demon God, I might return as another kind of guardian deity for my life.
I slowly opened the door.
Beyond it lay a vast, endless plaza.
Countless warriors filled the space. At a glance, there were tens of thousands. They all wore blood-red garments.
Those near the door turned to look at me. Hundreds of eyes focused on me at once. They were different from the demons I’d faced before. Not just in attire, but their very aura exuded bloodlust.
Their eyes burned with a crimson fury.
They weren’t human; they were beasts in human form. I realized they were the Blood God’s minions, the Blood Army.
Finally, I had emerged from the trial grounds, and my reality unfolded before me.
The intense killing intent and murderous thoughts flew towards me.
“Where do you think you’re going, gathered like a pack of dogs?”
The murderous intent towards me intensified.
I gripped the Suramyeongwang Sword tightly and spoke softly.
“Sorry, but your outing is canceled today!”
The Suramyeongwang Sword sliced through the air.
A sharp, piercing sound.
The sword’s energy swept through the enemies before me.
Dozens of the Blood Army fell, their bodies cleaved.
As long as my internal power was overflowing, I was confident I wouldn’t lose to anyone. Even if they were the Blood God’s minions.
The Blood Army behind them charged at me. Of course, not all of them could attack at once. The end of the crowd was out of sight.
A swift, slicing sound.
Another wave of sword energy cleaved through their bodies. The third and fourth waves followed in quick succession.
Having mastered the Demon God’s resolution and gained new insights in the trial grounds, my sword energy, powered by extreme internal power, was no ordinary sword energy. Nothing could stop it.
They tried to block with swords and emitted sword energy to counter.
But I cut through all metal and sword energy. Those in armor, those trained in external martial arts, all were sliced apart.
I unleashed my lightness skill with the sword energy. I flew freely. Throughout the Demon God’s trial, I hadn’t been able to use my lightness skill, but here, I was making up for it.
Never in my life had I unleashed sword energy so freely against enemies. There were many foes, and my internal power was unending.
As I swept through them, creating distance, the Suramyeongwang Sword soared into the air.
In an instant, the sword split into nine.
A rapid succession of sounds.
The Phantom Sword Storm was unleashed. The swords spun relentlessly, launching sword energy, and the quickly generated sword energy matched the attack speed.
The explosive power was far greater than before. Enemies were torn apart, flying in all directions.
“Ah!”
I felt a sense of ecstasy. The endless overflow of internal power, the ability to unleash such formidable martial arts without end, was truly exhilarating.
With so many Blood Army gathered in one place, dozens were torn apart with each strike.
If they were human, no matter how evil, it wouldn’t have been easy to kill them like this. But they were not human; they were blood beasts serving the Blood God.
Explosions echoed.
Some enemies escaped the Phantom Sword Storm’s blast and attacked me.
I changed my technique again. With unending internal power, I had no hesitation in my attacks.
This time, darkness enveloped the surroundings.
A torrential rain of sword energy began to fall. To them, the Demon Sword Blood Rain was hell.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Hundreds of blood soldiers fell simultaneously, collapsing in a synchronized motion.
I charged into their midst with the force of a demon, unleashing a storm of deadly strikes.
Life is unpredictable, but one thing I knew for sure: I’d never again have the chance to wield my martial arts with such fiery intensity.
I didn’t let a single one escape. If even one got away, they’d kill ten more innocents.
The sound of rushing water filled the air, though it wasn’t rain. A river of blood flowed through the battlefield.
When the gates of chaos began to open, everyone trembled with fear.
Galsaryang shut his eyes tightly. He didn’t need to see to know what was coming. He knew all too well who Cheonsoseon was and the terror that was the Blood God.
Baekpyo sent him a silent message, sensing the end was near.
It has been an honor to serve with you.
The honor was mine, my friend.
It’s a shame we never got to meet the leader.
Perhaps in the next life.
Yes, my comrade.
They worried more for those who would be left behind than for their own deaths.
Galsaryang’s eyes met Song Hwarin’s, who was held captive across the way. Surprisingly, she seemed calm. She had grown in many ways during her time with Byeokridan. She was likely finding her own way to face this final moment.
Galsaryang thought of his wife, still dreaming of their new life together, and Baekpyo thought of his wife and son, Myungyi.
If only their deaths could save their loved ones. But the odds were slim.
Baekpyo focused his energy, determined to save at least Song Hwarin, the woman of their lord, even if it was a long shot.
A deep rumble echoed as the gates of chaos fully opened, releasing a suffocating stench of blood. Terror gripped everyone.
Cheonsoseon laughed loudly, his voice booming.
“Come forth, my soldiers!”
Silence followed.
This was the moment when a hundred thousand blood soldiers should have marched out in unison, but no one emerged from the gates.
“What are you doing?” he bellowed.
Finally, someone stepped out from the chaos.
It was Byeokridan, holding the blood-soaked Sword of the Demon King.
The scene beyond the final door wasn’t one of shock, but of long-lost loved ones waiting for him.
“You!”
Cheonsoseon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How did you get there? What happened to the blood soldiers?”
Byeokridan raised his sword, blood dripping from its edge.
“Stop your nonsense!”
Cheonsoseon couldn’t believe it. A hundred thousand soldiers, all defeated?
Byeokridan looked around at the astonished faces of his father, mother, Song Wookyung, Song Hwarin, Galsaryang, Baekpyo, and all the others he had longed to see.
He bowed deeply to them, his voice filled with emotion.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I’m back now.”