Episode 445: Return to the Demonic Sect
Swish! Swish!
In the depths of darkness, shadows glided swiftly, almost as if they were part of the night itself.
Torches flickered and danced in various corners, casting a rhythmic glow that the shadows seemed to follow.
In a fleeting moment, as a gust of wind disrupted the shadows,
Swish, swish, swish!
A strange, foreign sound of wind rushed through the corridors, as if it were alive.
Moving with the wind—it’s the fundamental principle of stealth.
The most challenging infiltration is where not even a breeze stirs.
But infiltrating this manor was not so difficult. One just needed to ride the wind.
Just as a bird must catch the wind to soar high, a ship must ride the current to sail far.
The assassins of the Silent Pavilion were like birds, like the wind.
A wind darker than the blackest night.
Whoosh! Swish!
Sabikang, the master of the Silent Pavilion, and the elite assassins from First to Twentieth Rank were on the move.
They darted through the alleys between the buildings, scanning their surroundings with precision.
In such situations, the alleys were safer than the rooftops.
By skillfully using the shadows cast everywhere, they could find plenty of blind spots.
The fastest and most reactive among them was the Third Rank.
Though his martial prowess was slightly below the First and Second Ranks, his quick thinking and reflexes were unmatched.
Thus, the role of leading the way always fell to him.
Today was no different.
Swish!
He glided forward, rounding a corner with ease.
Quickly, he extended his senses to ensure no guards were nearby, confirming with his own eyes.
Once he was certain the coast was clear, he signaled for Sabikang and the others to follow.
Swish, swish, swish!
They rode the wind to where the Third Rank had been.
By then, he was already moving toward the next destination.
Just as he was about to turn another corner,
“Two!”
Two patrolling cultists appeared just beyond the bend.
Pressing his back against the corner, he swiftly turned and plunged his dagger into them.
Thud! Thud!
It happened in an instant.
The two men, walking side by side, fell without ever understanding why sharp blades had pierced their throats.
“Ugh…!”
“Gah…!”
Clutching their necks, the guards struggled briefly before succumbing to silence.
Soon, the Twelfth and Thirteenth Ranks rushed over, pulling something from their robes and scattering it over the bodies.
The corpses began to dissolve, melting away into clear water that seeped into the ground.
What they used was a substance called “Corpse Dissolving Powder,” an improved version of a notorious poison.
While the original emitted a foul stench, this version was odorless and colorless, leaving no trace of the bodies.
The three exchanged glances and nodded.
With a signal from the Third Rank, Sabikang and the assassins resumed their swift advance.
Meanwhile, Sabikang couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
The Silent Pavilion was legendary for its stealth, surpassing even the Shadow Division.
If they wished, they could vanish without a trace at any moment.
But…
Wasn’t this too easy?
How could the Shadow Division have been wiped out under such circumstances?
It didn’t make sense.
There were only two possibilities.
Either the Shadow Division wasn’t truly annihilated…
“But that can’t be.”
The report came from a trusted source within the military.
“Then it means they aren’t guarding as fiercely as they did against the Shadow Division.”
Why?
Why let the Silent Pavilion roam freely when they decimated the Shadow Division?
If they could wipe out the Shadow Division, they could certainly inflict significant damage on the Silent Pavilion.
Or perhaps…
“Could they have known we’d show up and are just letting us be? Why? For what reason?”
Sabikang furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, they were drawing ever closer to the Hall of Demons.
**
“This is easier than pie.”
Akcheongoe muttered with a twisted grin.
He was staring at the towering Hall of Demons before him.
Built to honor demons, it was taller than any other structure around.
There had been a few close calls on the way here.
At one point, an enemy almost blew a whistle to alert others.
Of course, Sabikang was the first to strike, severing the man’s head before he could sound the alarm.
Blood splattered everywhere, an unwelcome sight for those trying to remain unseen.
But had Sabikang not acted, the situation could have escalated, so Akcheongoe held his tongue.
Instead, they had to hurry.
While the bodies could be dissolved with the powder, the bloodstains were another matter.
If someone noticed the suspicious blood and started a search, Sabikang and the assassins would be trapped like rats.
Yet, for some reason, Sabikang continued to act boldly.
This led to several dangerous moments.
But each time, Sabikang dispatched the enemy with a single blow and continued on his way.
From behind, he didn’t look like someone sneaking into a manor.
He seemed more like a reckless thug causing chaos.
Unable to watch any longer, the First Rank moved to confront Sabikang, but Akcheongoe stopped him with a raised hand.
“Let him be.”
“But…!”
“Let’s see what happens.”
”…Understood.”
Reluctantly, the First Rank complied, while Akcheongoe followed Sabikang, observing him closely.
Sabikang might be unpredictable, but he wasn’t one to act without a plan.
In fact, he was the most meticulous and strategic person Akcheongoe knew.
Hadn’t he orchestrated his own death in the eyes of the world?
He claimed it was a chance encounter that led him to the canyon with the special unit, but that couldn’t have been mere coincidence.
He had planned to intercept them from the start.
“But how did he know I’d pass through there?”
Lost in old memories, Akcheongoe shook his head vigorously.
That wasn’t important now.
Surviving while following someone who recklessly swung his sword in enemy territory was the priority.
Meanwhile, Sabikang no longer bothered with stealth.
He didn’t fully reveal his presence, but he walked with ease.
This nonchalance was so convincing that some guards, even when they noticed him, didn’t react.
His demeanor was so calm that they couldn’t believe he was an intruder.
Only those who happened to cross paths with him reacted with shock.
But that was as far as they got.
Before they could do anything, Sabikang’s blade would slice through the air, severing their necks.
And so, they reached the Hall of Demons.
It was as easy as pie.
Sabikang narrowed his eyes, gazing up at the Hall.
“So, they were waiting for me?”
The Shadow Division was annihilated.
Yet the Silent Pavilion hadn’t even been scratched.
At this point…
“They just let us be. They’ve been watching.”
Why?
At first, he thought it was because of the Silent Pavilion.
But now, he had a vague idea.
The enemy was waiting for him to appear.
He didn’t know why.
But he felt it.
Someone was calling for him from within.
It was like a pull of destiny.
Sabikang turned to Akcheongoe and commanded,
“Secure the wounded and send the signal.”
“Understood.”
With Akcheongoe’s response, a signal was sent, and the assassins swiftly entered the Hall of Demons.
The guards at the entrance and on the roof fell without knowing what hit them.
It was a ghostly operation.
Once the exterior was secured, the assassins melted into the building.
Moments later,
Whoosh!
Something shot through the dark sky, heading far into the distance.
It was a signal flare launched from a window of the Hall of Demons.
This flare, specially crafted by the Justice Alliance, emitted no light or sound until it reached a certain distance.
Then, with a “bang,” it burst into light.
It was designed to keep the launch location hidden.
Finally,
Boom!
A flare exploded in the northeastern sky, lighting it up.
Simultaneously,
“Charge!”
A distant roar echoed.
The shout of five thousand men, though far away, carried a heavy weight.
Sabikang stared at the Hall of Demons before striding inside.
“There’s definitely something here. Whatever it is, I’ll destroy it.”
**
On a hill overlooking the valley, atop a tree, stood a young girl with her arms crossed.
She was none other than Jonya, the leader of the Demonic Cult.
“They must find it strange.”
“They will.”
As always, she answered her own question.
But as always, she was a single body with two distinct personas.
The second persona continued,
“Anyone with sense would find it strange.”
“Will it be alright?”
“It doesn’t matter. Knowing won’t change anything.”
“That’s true.”
“The moment of our great achievement is at hand. Our meeting was destined for this day.”
“I consider it an honor.”
“The moment I reclaim my body and honor, I will grant you the highest position and reward I can offer. Of course, I will also ensure that the Demon King hears of your contributions in detail.”
“Thank you.”
The girl knew well that the words spoken by the second persona were not lies.
After all, they shared the same body.
Whatever thoughts he had were transmitted to her completely.
At least for now, the second persona was speaking sincerely.
In fact, he was feeling more exhilarated than ever.
Suddenly, the second persona asked, “Do you regret it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you regret abandoning them?”
“It would be a lie to say I don’t.”
“Hmm.”
“They were the ones who helped me regain my youth and brought me to this place. They lifted me from my wandering.”
“That was your destiny. Don’t cling to mere tools.”
“I understand.”
“Tools are just tools. Your will is what matters.”
The girl gave a wry smile.
“Forgive me. I spoke foolishly for a moment, despite my age.”
“Age… For a human who hasn’t even lived a thousand years, age is irrelevant.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Then let’s proceed with the ritual.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The girl finished her self-dialogue and opened her palm.
A brilliant white light gathered above it.
As she tossed it into the sky, the light shot up vertically, illuminating the night.
At the same time,
Rumble, rumble, rumble, BOOM!
The hillside surrounding the descent site trembled as if in an earthquake, and soon, all manner of creatures began to burst forth from the ground, clawing their way to the surface.