Episode 463: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
“So strong…!”
Gok Bo-ok gritted his teeth, glaring at the Demon Sect Leader. He felt utterly powerless, like a child with his fist trapped in an adult’s grip. The overwhelming aura pressed down on him completely.
If the man applied even a little more pressure, Gok Bo-ok feared his fist would snap like a twig. He clenched his teeth tighter, afraid that if he didn’t, the sound of them chattering would betray his fear.
“This man… the Demon Sect Leader…!”
He was on a different level compared to the other demonic warriors. They were formidable, but there was a sense that if they worked together, they might stand a chance. But this man before him…
“He’s too strong!”
He seemed as powerful as the clan leader, perhaps even more so. It was impossible to tell, as Gok Bo-ok had never truly gauged the clan leader’s full strength. What was clear, though, was that his fighting spirit had vanished, replaced entirely by fear.
He finally understood why prey froze before a predator. Gok Bo-ok felt exactly like that, unable to even breathe freely under the oppressive presence.
“Ugh…!”
A groan escaped him as he bit down hard on his lip, blood trickling down his chin. The leader had tightened his grip, and the pain was excruciating. Gok Bo-ok summoned all his inner strength to endure it.
The leader’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Hmm. You have something intriguing there.”
His gaze fell on the iron gauntlet Gok Bo-ok wore. With surprising ease, he lifted Gok Bo-ok’s arm, as if it were a puppet’s.
“I’ll take this. Cut it off.”
“What…? Oh, yes, sir!”
The bewildered Three Demonic Warriors snapped to attention, quickly standing up.
“What are they doing? Are they really going to cut off my arm?” Gok Bo-ok’s face turned pale as he looked between the leader and the warriors.
As he feared, one of the warriors drew a dagger, infusing it with energy as he approached.
“Don’t blame us. You said it yourself—winning is all that matters.”
“You bastard…!”
“What? You can’t call this unfair, can you?”
The warrior smirked, raising the dagger high. The tables had turned completely.
Finally, the warrior swung the dagger diagonally.
Shiiing, crack!
“Aaaaargh!”
A scream tore from Gok Bo-ok’s lips, the pain unbearable. Yet, the leader frowned, looking at Gok Bo-ok’s arm. The dagger had struck, but it hadn’t severed the arm completely.
The warrior was just as shocked. “What the hell…?”
The dagger, infused with energy, could slice through rock like tofu. Yet, Gok Bo-ok’s arm was only half-cut. Just before the dagger struck, Gok Bo-ok had mustered all his strength to protect himself, narrowly avoiding a complete severance.
Had he not been wearing the iron gauntlet, his arm would have been lost.
The warrior quickly pulled out the dagger, ready to strike again.
Shiiing!
In that instant,
Whoosh, thud!
Two arrows flew in, trailing light. One was deflected by the leader’s sword, while the other embedded itself in the warrior’s wrist, sending him skidding back several feet.
Then,
Boom, hiss!
Smoke billowed around them.
The leader sensed two presences charging at him and tossed Gok Bo-ok aside, drawing his twin swords.
Clang!
The clash of metal echoed as the leader’s swords met the attackers, sending them sliding back.
“Who are they?” The leader frowned slightly. One presence was light yet fierce, the other heavy but swift.
Meanwhile, Gok Bo-ok, thrown to the side, bit his lip against the pain threatening to make him lose consciousness.
“Ugh!”
As he staggered to his feet, someone rushed to him.
Gok Bo-ok threw a punch, shouting, “I won’t go down easily!”
But the figure deftly deflected his punch, moving like the wind to his back. A gentle hand covered his mouth.
“Shh! We’re getting out of here!”
“That voice…!” Realizing his mistake, Gok Bo-ok glanced back to see Maesolran’s smiling face.
“You did well.”
“Chief…!”
“We’re retreating for now.”
“I’m sorry!”
“No need to apologize. You did your best.”
Maesolran pulled out a signal flare, launching it into the sky.
Whistle, bang!
A green firework exploded in the air, visible even through the smoke.
As the leader looked up at the firework,
Whoosh, whoosh!
Two streams of energy shot towards him, one carrying a poisonous aura. But the leader smirked, crossing his swords to deflect them.
Boom, fizzle!
The energy dissipated in the air, and the two figures retreated.
“Are they trying to escape?” The leader narrowed his eyes. He didn’t rush. Instead, he gathered his demonic energy, releasing it in all directions.
Whoosh!
The intense energy cleared the smoke like a lie. In the distance, he saw the warrior clutching his pierced arm and two figures fleeing towards the southern gate.
They were Jeok Mulin and Seoraehyang.
“Maesolran, the chief…?” The leader briefly considered, then shook his head. The aura from the woman was undoubtedly deceptive.
As the two disappeared into the southern gate, the heavy doors closed with a resounding thud.
Gok Bo-ok had already fled inside, nowhere to be seen in the plaza.
“I’m sorry!” The warrior hurried over, bowing his head.
Meanwhile, the first warrior approached with a more relaxed demeanor, greeting the leader.
“You’re here.”
“A bit of a mess,” the leader remarked, surveying the southern gate plaza. The first warrior smiled faintly in response.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been out. I got a bit carried away. My apologies.”
“What about the second and fourth warriors?”
“The second is dead, and the fourth is searching the outskirts for the emergency exit.”
The first warrior reported the second’s death with calm detachment, as if it meant nothing to him. The third warrior, however, was agitated.
“Leader! I’ll take care of them! Give me a chance for revenge…!”
The leader raised a hand, silencing him.
“Enough. I’ll handle things here. You two find the fourth and eliminate anyone trying to escape through the exit.”
“Understood.”
The two warriors answered in unison, then leaped away.
The leader surveyed the area once more. In the distance, he spotted an injured man crawling desperately towards the southern gate.
Their eyes met.
“Ah…!”
The man instinctively sensed his impending death, and his intuition was correct.
Whoosh, thud!
A gust of energy flew, and his head exploded.
The leader looked up at the southern gate. There, Dan Lijeong stood, bowstring taut, aiming at him.
“So that’s the famed archer of the Demon Slayer Division.”
Dan Lijeong, meeting the leader’s gaze, found himself unable to breathe.
“So strong…!”
Never before had he trembled while drawing his bow. Usually, it was the moment he felt most at ease. But now…
“I’m going to die…!”
For the first time, he felt the threat of death. If he released the arrow, he might die.
His body shook like a leaf.
Tap.
Startled, Dan Lijeong turned. Someone had placed a hand on his shoulder.
It was Maesolran.
“You did well. Let’s go.”
“Chief…”
“It’s not the time to stand on pride.”
”…Yes.”
Dan Lijeong lowered his bow and turned away. Maesolran led the warriors up the hill, back to the main hall.
From the pavilion, they watched as the demonic forces broke through the southern gate, entering the inner courtyard.
“The formation is complete, right?” Maesolran asked, turning to Murang.
Murang nodded. “It should hold for an hour.”
“That should be enough. Then let’s…”
Maesolran’s words trailed off as she looked down the hill, startled.
Incredibly, the Demon Sect Leader was heading straight up the hill.
Murang couldn’t hide his surprise either. “His inner strength must be immense. My formation isn’t affecting him at all!”
Had they had more time to prepare, even the Demon Sect Leader wouldn’t have broken through so easily. But it was a hastily constructed maze, meant as a temporary measure.
As a result, it had no effect on the Demon Sect Leader, who was now destroying the formation with bursts of energy, followed slowly by his demonic followers.
At this rate, it seemed the enemy forces would reach the fortress within a mere hour.
Maesellan bit her lip hard and turned around.
“We need to hurry!”
She immediately ordered the evacuation of the injured from the underground training hall using the secret passage.
First, Gojoksan led the Iron Blood Unit at the forefront, followed by Jinbaek, the head of the medical team, who coordinated the transport of the wounded.
Finally, the instructors and cadets followed suit.
As Maesellan watched from the pavilion, Danrijung approached her.
“Almost everyone has evacuated. You should leave too, Commander…”
“It’s too late.”
“What?”
“If we leave it like this, they’ll catch up to us. Someone needs to hold them off here.”
“But the secret passage is equipped with traps. They won’t catch up easily…”
“No.”
Maesellan shook her head.
“Their martial skills are beyond what those traps can handle.”
As if to prove her point, a deafening explosion echoed from below the hill.
In an instant, a powerful attack from the enemy leader obliterated one of the buildings, disrupting the intricate maze of defenses.
At this rate, the enemy leader would soon arrive, and the warriors of the fortress would be caught before they could escape through the secret passage.
Moreover, she was worried about the enemy’s disciples, who were nowhere to be seen.
Where could they be?
If they were searching for the exit of the secret passage, it would truly be a dire situation.
Maesellan let out a bitter smile.
“There really is no other way now. Everyone, go.”
“What?”
With a swift motion, Maesellan drew her twin swords, her expression resolute.
“Someone has to stay behind to stop them. I’ll buy as much time as I can, so go.”
Maesellan thought to herself.
Perhaps that dream… it wasn’t about him. Maybe it was about my own final destiny.