Episode 466: The Return of the Demon Cultist

“Gasp, gasp, gasp…!”

The cult leader let his arms fall limply to his sides, staring at Ong Gi-seung in disbelief.

Surrounded by a dark crimson aura, Ong Gi-seung looked like a demon engulfed in flames, walking through the battlefield. With each step he took, the ground beneath him seemed to sizzle and blacken, as if scorched by an invisible fire.

Of course, nothing was actually burning. Instead, the aura was so intense that even a mere brush against it sent a chilling shiver down one’s spine. The sound of burning was a testament to the sheer power of the demonic energy.

The cult leader shivered slightly as he surveyed the scene around him. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen cultists. He, too, was covered in blood, his breath ragged and labored.

He had been overconfident. He never imagined that the demonic spirit would have bonded so completely with Ong Gi-seung. Typically, such spirits did not manifest with such will. Yet now, it seemed to have entirely consumed Ong Gi-seung.

Only now did the cult leader begin to understand Ong Gi-seung’s earlier words about fearing the monster within him. They should never have awakened it.

Could he truly overcome this?

For the first time, doubt crept into his mind. The possibility of defeat loomed.

Still, it wasn’t time to give up. He could fight a little longer, and if it became too much, he could retreat.

Yet, a thrill also surged within him. If he could claim that demonic spirit for himself, perhaps he could surpass even the greatest of masters.

It might be a foolish thought, but it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

“Heh, heh. Alright, let’s see how far we can go, my friend!”

With a flash, the cult leader vanished, reappearing above Ong Gi-seung, descending from the sky.

“Demonic spirit! Become mine!”

He screamed, using gravity to drive his sword down with all his might.

**

Shhhk!

“Ugh!”

As her clothes tore, Maeseolran’s pale shoulder was exposed. Her entire body was already drenched in blood—some her own, some from others.

“Gasp, gasp, gasp…!”

Maeseolran panted heavily. It was a desperate struggle. The One-Eyed Demon was too strong. Even with Jaunryong and Seol Seorin joining forces against him, he wouldn’t fall easily. Meanwhile, the Four-Eyed Demon, facing off against Gok Bo-ok, Mok Dan-hwa, and Gu Gang-ryong, was still holding his ground.

As time passed, the situation grew increasingly dire for the warriors of the Demonic Extermination Hall. Dawn was breaking, and the encirclement led by the One-Eyed Demon’s forces was tightening, pushing the warriors to the edge of a cliff.

Maeseolran couldn’t help but question whether setting up a defensive line had been the right choice. Perhaps they should have risked everything to break through the encirclement. They had aimed to win rather than just survive, and maybe that was a mistake. But even if they had broken through, could they have survived? The injured would have been slaughtered by the enemy. Perhaps a few with exceptional speed might have escaped.

‘But I couldn’t abandon them.’

She couldn’t leave the wounded behind. That would make them no different from the Demonic Cult. And now, it was too late for regrets. What was done was done.

“We live together, or we die together.”

Maeseolran’s voice was firm with resolve. The warriors of the Demonic Extermination Hall nodded in agreement, their expressions set with determination. They stood with their backs to the cliff, forming a defensive line, ready to fend off the approaching enemies.

The One-Eyed Demon remained unfazed. The death of the Three-Eyed Demon didn’t concern him. His fellow disciples were merely obstacles to be cleared once he ascended to the position of cult leader. If they died naturally in battle, all the better. The Four-Eyed Demon was holding on, but he, too, would be dealt with in due time.

“Let’s finish this.”

“Understood.”

The Four-Eyed Demon replied, surveying the battlefield with a pale face, his voice amplified by his inner power.

“No more mercy. Annihilate them.”

“Yes, sir!”

The cultists surged forward like a wave, their battle cries echoing.

Then, suddenly—

Whoosh!

A sound like the wind being sliced filled the air, and a dark shadow fell over the cliff. The cultists turned in surprise to see hundreds of arrows flying toward them, silhouetted against the dawn.

“Attack! We’re under attack!”

“Defend! Shield up!”

“Shield!”

The cultists who managed to raise their defenses in time survived, but those who didn’t were pierced by the rain of arrows, falling like leaves in a storm.

The sudden assault caught not only the Demonic Cult off guard but also Maeseolran, who looked around in bewilderment. Was there a sect left in the region that could mount such an attack? No, most sects had already joined the punitive force heading to the main battlefield.

Then who were these newcomers?

As if to answer her question, a booming voice rang out.

“The Blood Alliance’s Moonlight Division, led by So Cheon-ak, has come to aid the Demonic Extermination Hall on the orders of our leader!”

“The Blood Alliance’s Northern Sky Division, led by Jang Hu-gyeom, is here to assist on our leader’s command!”

“The Blood Alliance’s Unreturning Division, led by Yang Man-gyun, has come to lend our strength!”

“The Blood Alliance’s Seven Blood Pavilion, led by Yu Eung-hyang, is here to support the head of the Demonic Extermination Hall!”

Voices echoed from all around as figures emerged from the shadows. They were warriors of the Blood Alliance. The alliance had sent twelve divisions, with over a thousand warriors in total.

In contrast, the Demonic Cult had already expended much of its manpower in the assault, and half of its forces were still inside the Demonic Extermination Hall with the cult leader. The situation was far from favorable for them.

Just when they had the Demonic Extermination Hall cornered, ready to be wiped out, unexpected reinforcements had arrived. The Blood Alliance had sent nearly all its forces here.

The Four-Eyed Demon’s already pale face turned ghostly white.

“Elder brother…! What do we do?”

“What do you mean, what do we do? We crush them all!”

For the first time, irritation crept into the One-Eyed Demon’s voice. His usual calm demeanor was beginning to crack under the pressure.

Meanwhile, Maeseolran saw a glimmer of hope at the edge of the abyss.

‘Sabikang…! How far will you go to surprise me?’

Tears welled up in her eyes. She finally understood. When Sabikang returned from the main alliance, he had mentioned stopping somewhere. She hadn’t known where at the time, but now it was clear. He had gone to the Blood Alliance, anticipating this very moment, and requested their support from their leader, Chu Hee-ryong.

Her guess was mostly accurate. Sabikang had indeed sought out Chu Hee-ryong, asking for reinforcements for the Demonic Extermination Hall. After a meeting with the alliance’s leadership, they had decided to send their warriors. Many of the alliance’s leaders had been influenced by Sabikang, so there was little opposition to the decision.

“You vile and treacherous Demonic Cultists! Witness the might of our alliance! Leave none alive!”

So Cheon-ak, the leader of the Moonlight Division, roared as he charged forward.

“Charge!”

With a thunderous cry, the warriors of the Moonlight Division surged forward with fierce determination.

“The Northern Sky Division joins the fray!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following them, the warriors of the Unreturning Division and the Seven Blood Pavilion also charged into battle.

Seeing this, the warriors of the Demonic Extermination Hall mustered their remaining strength, joining the fray with renewed vigor.

Clang! Thud! Crash!

“Die!”

“Argh!”

“Aaah!”

A brutal melee erupted on the cliff, but the tide had turned. The cultists were now on the defensive, while the warriors of the Demonic Extermination Hall and the Blood Alliance unleashed their martial prowess with terrifying force.

Maeseolran gripped her twin swords tightly, her resolve unyielding.

‘I will give it my all! So that when you return, I can say I never gave up!’

Even in this hopeful moment, tears continued to flow. Though Sabikang was not physically present, she felt his presence beside her. Despite his seemingly carefree demeanor, his meticulous planning had brought unexpected aid, stirring her heart deeply.

“I won’t lose!”

With a fierce determination, she sent her twin silver snakes flying toward the One-Eyed Demon, their gleaming forms cutting through the air like lightning.