Episode 302: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Ughhh!”
Ong Gi-seung bit his lip hard, stifling a groan of pain.
A strange energy flowed relentlessly through the chains binding his limbs.
“Aaaargh!”
He screamed, twisting his body in agony.
The man in black, who had thrown the chains to restrain Ong Gi-seung’s right arm, was nearly pulled off his feet by the force but managed to hold his ground.
As Ong Gi-seung’s resistance intensified, the voices chanting unknown incantations from sixteen directions grew louder and louder.
Eventually, the entire fortress resonated with their chants, creating an eerie vibration that echoed throughout.
Watching the scene unfold, Gu Gang-ryong furrowed his brow slightly.
“How much longer?”
“Didn’t I tell you? It’ll take about one shichen.”
“So how much time is left?”
“Haven’t you been here with me the whole time? It’s only been about one ke.”
The man in the black mask muttered as if amused, prompting Gu Gang-ryong to scowl.
“I’m not fond of dragging things out like this. It’s taking longer than I expected.”
The masked man smirked.
“Or is it that you’re starting to feel sorry for your brother…?”
“I warned you to watch your mouth.”
Before anyone realized it, Gu Gang-ryong had grabbed the masked man’s collar roughly.
As Gu Gang-ryong’s demeanor turned fierce, the masked man responded with a cold sneer.
“I just said it because you seemed anxious.”
“Anxious? I just said it’s taking too long.”
“Just wait another ke. Then your brother will be as good as a docile corpse.”
“Hmph! Don’t make any mistakes.”
Gu Gang-ryong released the masked man’s collar with a dismissive gesture.
The masked man watched him for a moment before turning his gaze away.
He glanced sideways, noticing that Gu Gang-ryong seemed deep in thought, as if waiting for someone, looking uneasy.
It was then.
A ferocious roar erupted.
It came from Ong Gi-seung.
Or more precisely, a demonic aura emanated from his body, forming a monstrous shape that roared.
The force was so intense that even the masked man and Gu Gang-ryong, standing on the roof, flinched and took a step back.
“That, that is…!”
”…The true form of the Innate Demonic Spirit.”
The masked man narrowed his eyes.
His already crescent-shaped eyes narrowed further, giving the impression of a smile, but he was deep in thought.
‘It’s much stronger than I anticipated! This might take a bit longer…!’
The demon within Ong Gi-seung was at least of intermediate level.
Once more, the demonic form roared.
The sound was so powerful that the roof tiles rattled.
Simultaneously, the manifested energy amplified, expanding to the size of the entire fortress.
Gu Gang-ryong instinctively drew his sword, swallowing dryly.
“Are you sure you can seal that thing?”
“Of course. The grand spell won’t fail.”
The masked man spoke confidently, but the sheer intensity of the demonic aura emanating from Ong Gi-seung made him tense despite himself.
At that moment, the chanting from the sixteen directions grew even louder.
The resonance they created seemed to transform into chains, binding the manifested energy.
The demon, which had been roaring like a wild beast, began to show signs of fatigue as the incantations continued.
Finally,
With a final, earth-shaking roar, the fierce energy burst outward.
The force was so intense that the roof tiles flew off, but Gu Gang-ryong and the demonic sect warriors held their ground stubbornly.
A whirlwind-like gust rose, and the demonic form rapidly shrank, retreating into Ong Gi-seung’s chest.
Gu Gang-ryong’s eyes widened at the visible change.
The masked man shouted,
“Now, finish it!”
Empowered by his command, the men in black chanted even louder.
“Ban-sal-la-man su-ra-ma-hon-ji-cheon…”
A dark red aura lingered around Ong Gi-seung, but it no longer took any form.
Even that aura, which had been swirling like smoke, was gradually being absorbed back into his body.
Gu Gang-ryong raised an eyebrow and asked,
“What happens now?”
“In about half a ke, the Illusory Prison Seal will be complete. He’ll be trapped in an eternal nightmare.”
“Illusory Prison Seal?”
“Yes. It forces the target into their most brutal and painful memories. No matter how strong their mind, within a year, they’ll go mad.”
“I see. Once the spell is complete, what then?”
“What else? I’ll take him back to our sect. You’re not planning to change your mind now, are you?”
“Just asking.”
Gu Gang-ryong muttered gruffly, silently cursing to himself.
‘Damn it, why aren’t they here yet?’
As he stood there, a bit anxious,
A massive pillar of red fire erupted from the lower fortress.
The heat was so intense that even Gu Gang-ryong, standing on the roof of the upper fortress, felt his face flush.
Gu Gang-ryong, along with the masked man, was startled, turning to look at the fiery column rising from the lower fortress.
The sheer power was overwhelming.
With such force, it wouldn’t be surprising if the entire lower fortress was obliterated.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Gang-ryong’s face.
‘They’ve arrived!’
In contrast, the masked man turned to Gu Gang-ryong with a displeased expression.
“You didn’t deceive us, did you?”
“What are you talking about? I have no idea.”
Gu Gang-ryong had his suspicions but maintained a calm facade.
The masked man spoke with a doubtful look.
“If you did deceive us, it would be a grave mistake.”
“I told you, I don’t know anything.”
“Fine. We’ll see.”
The masked man turned his gaze back to the lower fortress.
He saw a lone figure walking up the stairs to the middle fortress.
Though the distance was too great to make out the face, the fact that it was just one person surprised him.
‘Just one…?’
But hadn’t the explosion just now been of enormous scale?
**
Sa Bi-gang paused on the stairs, looking back.
The view of the lower fortress was clear.
Every building in the lower fortress had been completely incinerated.
Only blackened ashes remained, blowing in the wind.
It had become a place where no living thing could survive.
This was the true power of Hellfire.
Sa Bi-gang had never used high-level magic so freely before.
Even when he did, he usually controlled the power to minimize the scale.
But…
‘It’s been a while since I used it like this. It feels refreshing. It’s like regaining a forgotten sense.’
A sly smile played on his lips.
Crushing opponents with overwhelming power always brought a peculiar thrill.
But that satisfaction should be fleeting.
If one becomes too absorbed, they become no different from the demons.
There was a time when he lived as if he were a demon, lost in that power.
But the outcome was never good.
He lost all his followers and was betrayed himself.
‘I wonder if that arrogant red-faced man is dead.’
The charred bodies were unrecognizable, burned beyond recognition.
He wanted to check for the red-faced man’s body, but there was no time.
Too much time had already been wasted.
Sa Bi-gang sent a telepathic message to Chu Ryang, who was still standing dazed at the entrance of the lower fortress.
[Stop standing there and follow me when I break through the middle fortress.]
[Ah… Yes! I’ll do my best to protect you, Master…]
[Forget it. Just bring the chief of the Hao Clan.]
[Ah… Yes.]
Hearing Chu Ryang’s sheepish reply, Sa Bi-gang ascended to the middle fortress.
Earlier, he had sensed the monstrous aura rising from the upper fortress.
It was undoubtedly the form of a demon.
A sign that something had begun.
As Sa Bi-gang entered the middle fortress,
A group of black-clad warriors descended to block his path.
The tension among them was palpable.
They were not letting their guard down.
They had a good idea that the fiery column from the lower fortress was Sa Bi-gang’s doing.
Sa Bi-gang surveyed them and spoke coldly.
“I won’t say it twice. Either step aside or die gloriously.”
With that, Sa Bi-gang began to walk forward.
A murderous aura radiated from his entire being.
The black-clad warriors swallowed dryly, flinching at the overwhelming presence.
They were supposed to block his path, but…
Sssssst…!
Before I even realize it, I’m opening a path.
“Damn it…! I can’t back down now!”
The leader of the black-clad figures grits his teeth and shouts.
“Pathetic fools! What are you doing? Stop him!”
Summoning his courage, he is the first to fly forward and block Sabigang’s path.
Seeing this, the other black-clad figures hesitate for a moment, then quickly rally around their leader, forming a barrier in front of Sabigang.
With his subordinates following him despite their fear, the leader, emboldened, brandishes his sword and yells.
“You scoundrel! I don’t know what kind of sorcery you’re using, but do you think we’ll just let you pass through here?”
”…”
Sabigang gazes at them silently, then breaks into a sly smile.
“Is he… smiling?”
Sabigang finally speaks.
“I was worried you might not step up after just a little taste of my power. Thank you for giving me back the thrill I had forgotten.”
“What did you say?”
Instead of answering, Sabigang extends his palm and murmurs softly.
“Volcano.”
“Vol… what? What kind of nonsense is that…!”
At that moment,
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A tremor shakes the ground as if an earthquake has struck, making it nearly impossible for the black-clad figures to keep their balance.
And then,
Crack!
The steep stairs leading up to the fortress split cleanly in half, and from the fissure, scorching lava erupts.
Roar!
In an instant, the lava surges like a massive wave, relentlessly engulfing the hundred or so black-clad figures stationed at the base of the stairs.
“Aaaagh!”
“What is this… Aaaagh!”
Meanwhile, Sabigang, hovering in the air thanks to a flight spell, watches the horrific scene unfold below with a sinister smile.
To the black-clad figures being consumed by the lava, he appears nothing short of a demon incarnate.