Episode 348: Return of the Demon Sect
“Ahhh! Spare me… Aaargh!”
“Screams echoed from all around as the warriors of the righteous alliance fell one by one.
Caught in the explosions of the demon soldiers, their limbs torn asunder, or cut down by the brutal attacks of the demon cavalry, or suffocated by the tentacles of the monstrous Baold.
If hell truly existed, it would look just like this.
The demon cavalry moved with a speed and ferocity that no ordinary warrior could match.
Despite their massive size, they moved with the grace and skill of a master.
Some even picked up the dying demon soldiers and devoured them.
“Ugh…!”
“What kind of monsters are these…?”
The sight was so grotesque that the faces of the righteous alliance warriors turned pale with fear.
Even more terrifying was the fact that the demon cavalry seemed to grow stronger as they consumed their own kind.
Their skin hardened, their muscles swelled, and the murderous intent in their eyes deepened.
“Do not be cowed by these lowly beasts!”
From a distance, Neung Unpa shouted, unleashing his deadly sword technique.
His eyes, usually calm and composed, now burned with a fierce determination.
But the morale, already shattered, was not easily restored.
Many warriors simply sat down, giving up the fight.
“It’s over…”
“Justice has lost.”
The warriors of the righteous alliance perished in shock and terror.
**
‘How could this happen…!’
Commander Gu Yun stared at the battlefield with a devastated expression.
Beside him, Elder Council Leader Yuk Cheongpung and Heavenly Tiger Hall Master Muk Yangje stood, mouths agape in disbelief.
“This is… impossible…!”
“Where did these monsters come from…?”
Standing silently beside them, Sabi Kang finally spoke.
“Now you see the truth in my words.”
Gu Yun had no choice but to acknowledge it.
He had trusted Sabi Kang, but the predictions he made seemed too far-fetched to believe.
Yet…
“After witnessing this, how can I not believe?”
Gu Yun shook his head in disbelief.
The Baold and demon cavalry in the distance were creatures that should not exist in this world.
Even after the order to retreat, some elders, driven by a desire for glory, charged at Baold.
The result was disastrous.
Even the most skilled masters were no match for Baold.
And those trying to escape were blocked by the demon cavalry, their bodies crushed beyond recognition by a single blow.
‘I was wrong from the start!’
Gu Yun had focused on the Blood Demon Sect in this battle.
But now it was clear that the true threat was the Demon Sect.
The Blood Demon Sect must have realized this by now.
‘Leader… what kind of mistake have you made?’
Because of that mistake, not only the righteous alliance but also the Blood Demon Sect was in danger.
However…
‘At least we had someone who foresaw this.’
Gu Yun turned to look at Sabi Kang.
Sabi Kang had known from the start that the Demon Sect was the real threat in this war.
He had claimed to have returned from the future.
Of course, he had only confided this to Gu Yun and the alliance leader.
But neither the leader nor Gu Yun could easily believe it.
How could anyone believe such a thing without seeing these monsters firsthand?
‘But… it was true.’
Even now, it felt unreal.
But there was no denying it anymore.
“May I ask you something?”
Gu Yun glanced at Sabi Kang.
When Sabi Kang looked at him questioningly, Gu Yun hesitated before speaking.
“Why didn’t you act sooner?”
“Well, during the strategy meetings…”
“That’s not it, is it?”
”…?”
“You could have ignored all that and acted. That’s the kind of person you are, isn’t it?”
Sabi Kang chuckled.
Gu Yun was right.
When had he ever paid attention to such bureaucratic discussions?
Gu Yun looked at Sabi Kang with a hint of reproach.
“If you had acted sooner, we wouldn’t have suffered such losses.”
“That’s true.”
Sabi Kang didn’t deny it.
Gu Yun continued.
“Then why didn’t you? It doesn’t seem like you to rebel against the leadership…”
“It wasn’t for that reason.”
“Then why?”
“The current sacrifice was necessary to prevent greater losses in the future.”
Sabi Kang’s eyes deepened.
He was speaking the truth.
If the righteous alliance didn’t experience despair in this war, they would respond half-heartedly to the disaster to come.
Or they might not trust Sabi Kang’s words at all.
There was no choice.
This war was a warning for the future disaster.
Sabi Kang spoke with a somber expression.
“The deeper the despair, the more vigilant they will become.”
Gu Yun simply watched Sabi Kang.
He couldn’t fully understand, but he had a rough idea of what Sabi Kang meant.
Sabi Kang shrugged and turned to leave.
“Well, I think it’s enough now. It’s time for me to act. Are there any forces left in the alliance?”
“The Faithful Knights are still intact.”
“How many?”
“A thousand.”
“That should be enough. I’ll go save them.”
Just as Sabi Kang was about to descend the hill, someone stopped him.
“Wait.”
It was Heavenly Tiger Hall Master Muk Yangje.
He was the fifth most powerful figure in the alliance, and after Eun Hwi’s death, he held the fourth most authority.
Sabi Kang frowned.
“What is it?”
Muk Yangje, trying to maintain his composure despite his irritation, spoke.
“The Faithful Knights are part of the alliance. You can’t just lead them as you please.”
Sabi Kang let out a dry laugh.
Even in this situation, Muk Yangje was clinging to bureaucratic procedures.
Elder Council Leader Yuk Cheongpung chimed in.
“Muk Hall Master is right. The situation is dire. If Sabi Kang leads the Faithful Knights into danger, the alliance might lose its chance to recover.”
Sabi Kang glanced at Gu Yun.
He was asking the second-in-command to resolve this.
Gu Yun understood and stepped forward.
“I understand your concerns. But we must place our hope in Sabi Kang…”
“Are you serious, Commander? How can you be so irresponsible?”
Yuk Cheongpung’s voice was filled with reproach.
Even as the commander, Gu Yun couldn’t dismiss the elder council leader’s words.
Gu Yun explained patiently.
“But Sabi Kang foresaw this…”
“A prediction is just a prediction! This is reality! Can’t you see the situation? Do you really think Sabi Kang leading the Faithful Knights will save the alliance?”
Gu Yun’s gaze naturally turned to the battlefield.
He had no grounds to refute Yuk Cheongpung’s words.
The battle was already lost.
The alliance leader might survive, but most of the warriors would perish.
Was it right to send a thousand knights into this?
Normally, he would have opposed it.
It was like sending a thousand moths into a fire.
But with Sabi Kang… maybe…
How could he explain this feeling?
It was illogical for a commander to rely on intuition.
And he had never witnessed Sabi Kang’s martial prowess firsthand.
As Gu Yun hesitated, Muk Yangje pressed on.
“Do you understand? While I admire Sabi Kang’s spirit, this is war. If the Faithful Knights are wiped out, the alliance loses its chance to recover. Who will take responsibility then?”
Sabi Kang looked at Muk Yangje and smirked.
“So, you’re saying we should just watch?”
“We have no choice. We must conserve our forces and hope for the leader’s safe return…”
“Is doing nothing your specialty?”
“What, what! Are you provoking me?”
Muk Yangje shouted in anger.
This was a battlefield.
The alliance’s defeat was imminent.
Tensions were high, and Sabi Kang’s words were like a slap to an already crying child.
Muk Yangje was ready to draw his sword.
But Sabi Kang didn’t back down.
He stared directly into Muk Yangje’s eyes.
“Step aside. Our allies are dying as we speak.”
His sudden informal tone showed his anger.
But Muk Yangje was no pushover.
“You insolent fool! How dare you act beyond your station! No matter how dire the situation, do you really think I would let you lead a thousand of the Divine Alliance into a death trap…!”
“Step aside. This is your final warning.”
“Hmph! I won’t let you pass! You won’t lift a finger here…!”
Shiiing!
In the blink of an eye, the sound of metal sliding filled the air, and suddenly, Berthas was at Mu Yangje’s throat.
Rustle, rustle.
The sharp edge of Berthas emitted a chilling aura, slicing off Mu Yangje’s beard, which fluttered to the ground.
It wasn’t Sa Bi-gang who drew the sword.
Berthas had unsheathed itself, aiming directly at Mu Yangje’s neck.
A slight prick from the blade drew a bead of blood.
Of course, as soon as the blood appeared, Berthas absorbed it with a soft slurp.
The sudden turn of events left both Mu Yangje and Uk Cheong-pung wide-eyed in shock.
“I didn’t lift a finger, so it shouldn’t matter, right?”
Gulp…!
As Mu Yangje swallowed dryly, another drop of blood formed, only to be swiftly absorbed by Berthas.
Sa Bi-gang let out a sigh.
“Stagnant water may rot, but this is excessive. To think factions have already formed and are squabbling for power.”
In truth, Mu Yangje had been powerless when Seol Baek held the reins. Back then, he was a figurehead without strength, but now, with real power in his grasp, he was unknowingly succumbing to the corrupting nature of authority.
“Sometimes I wonder if humans wield power, or if power wields humans.”
Sa Bi-gang’s words were as cold as ice, a chill emanating from his entire being.
At this moment, Mu Yangje felt an overwhelming terror, unable to even breathe properly as he met Sa Bi-gang’s piercing gaze.