Episode 492: Return of the Demon Instructor
Cassis felt a chill run down his spine as he spun around, swinging his sword with all his might.
Clang!
Sparks flew as their blades clashed, the sound echoing through the air.
The dark figure, known as the Black Ghost, recoiled from the impact, but Cassis was relentless, pursuing him with swift determination.
In that instant,
Whoosh!
Darkness enveloped them once more, swallowing the scene in an impenetrable shroud.
From the outside, it was a chaotic spectacle, a whirlwind of shadows and steel.
“Hmm…”
Eun Gi-ryong murmured under his breath, his eyes narrowing.
Despite his mastery, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, he found it impossible to fully grasp the intricacies of their battle.
Then, suddenly, the Black Ghost unleashed a wave of darkness, a thick, black mist that spread across the courtyard like a smoke bomb—only far more complete and consuming.
In the darkness, the clash of metal and bursts of light revealed fleeting glimpses of the combatants, only for them to vanish again into the void.
Whoosh! Clang! Whoosh! Clang! Whoosh!
Each flash illuminated the fierce struggle, a testament to the intensity of their duel.
“Captain Cheon, who is that man?”
Eun Gi-ryong asked, turning to Cheon Sae-myung.
“To be honest, I don’t know much. We crossed paths by chance on the way here…”
As Cheon explained how he encountered the Black Ghost, Eun Gi-ryong nodded thoughtfully.
“Fate works in mysterious ways…”
For now, the Black Ghost had bought them some time, a brief respite from the immediate threat. But this battle wouldn’t last forever. The outcome would depend on how the remaining demons reacted.
Eun Gi-ryong cast a steely gaze at Aranius across the battlefield.
**
“Hurry! Yongcheon Hall is in danger!”
The martial sect, Woongshilmun, stationed in the nearest village, sprang into action.
Upon hearing of the attack on Yongcheon Hall, they immediately dispatched a strike team, knowing that if Yongcheon fell, they would be next.
The leader of the strike team glanced back, urging his men forward.
“Use your lightness skills to the fullest, but save your strength for the fight!”
“Yes, sir!”
Though a mid-sized sect, their leader was only at the peak level, with most of the others being first-rate at best. Yet, in desperate times, even a third-rate warrior was invaluable.
As the leader turned to resume their march,
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A shadow flickered past, accompanied by a gust of wind that scattered dry leaves and snowflakes, causing the leader to frown.
“What was that?”
“Something… just passed by? Was it just the wind?”
The deputy rubbed his eyes, puzzled.
But it was more than just wind; a powerful presence had brushed past them.
“Let’s move!”
“Yes, sir!”
They continued up the mountain, conserving their energy as best they could.
Unbeknownst to them, it was Sabikang who had sped past, using a combination of blink and celestial heart techniques to move at incredible speed, leaving no one the wiser.
**
Eun Gi-ryong and the other martial artists watched in disbelief as the Black Ghost and Cassis clashed.
To their shock, Cassis was left barely clinging to life, his body riddled with wounds.
Aranius looked displeased, whispering something to Javelin, who nodded in response, though no one noticed, too captivated by the unfolding drama.
Contrary to expectations, the Black Ghost subdued Cassis swiftly, slicing him apart before he could even unleash his full power.
Chains bound Cassis’s limbs, rendering him helpless.
The Black Ghost approached Cassis, chains clinking ominously, ready to absorb the malevolent spirit within him.
Given their similar natures, whoever absorbed the other would likely ascend to a higher level of power.
Boom!
Darkness erupted from the Black Ghost, a violent explosion of shadow.
In a heartbeat,
Shing!
Thud!
“Gah!”
The Black Ghost was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
“What!”
“How cowardly!”
The onlookers gritted their teeth, shouting in anger.
Javelin’s sword had struck the Black Ghost.
Javelin stepped forward, speaking with disdain.
“This is why humans are hopeless. Cowardly and deceitful, yet you dare speak of honor. Weren’t there three of you against him?”
“Silence, demon!”
“Die!”
Cheon Sae-myung and Sang Pil-ji leaped into the air, roaring in fury.
“No!”
Eun Gi-ryong shouted, sensing danger, but it was too late.
As Javelin spread his arms wide,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
Sang Pil-ji and Cheon Sae-myung, suspended in mid-air, suddenly convulsed, blood spurting from their bodies as their eyes rolled back.
But the horror didn’t end there.
Thud!
Their bodies crashed to the ground, yet the blood they had shed hung in the air, coalescing into a sinister, living mass.
“Blood… the blood…!”
Yeoyoung, standing beside Eun Gi-ryong, muttered in disbelief.
The blood solidified, forming a long, menacing blood spear.
Javelin was protected by a ravenous blood demon.
The spear, honed to a deadly point, exuded a chilling aura.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz!
The spear spun in the air, emitting a sound like a swarm of bees.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz…!
The spear, spinning faster and faster, aimed directly at the Black Ghost’s heart.
Finally, Javelin flicked his wrist.
In an instant,
Shing!
The spinning spear shot toward the Black Ghost’s heart.
“Ah!”
The onlookers gasped, holding their breath.
In a split second,
“Raaagh!”
The Black Ghost roared, slamming his hands down.
Clang!
The spear shattered into pieces, the chains binding the Black Ghost’s hands severed in an instant.
“Raaagh!”
The Black Ghost bellowed, leaping toward Javelin.
At that moment, Javelin spread his arms wide once more.
The fragments of the shattered spear reformed in mid-air, targeting the Black Ghost’s back.
In a flash,
Whoosh!
Darkness enveloped the scene once more, the sound of clashing metal echoing within.
“What’s happening?”
“What’s going on in there?”
Cheon Sae-myung and Sang Pil-ji, having regained their composure, murmured as they watched the darkness.
Moments later,
Whoosh!
The darkness vanished, revealing the Black Ghost kneeling, a blood spear embedded in his abdomen, blood pouring from his mouth.
“Black Ghost!”
Cheon Sae-myung shouted in alarm.
Meanwhile, Javelin approached with a wicked smile.
“You fought well. But this is your limit.”
Squelch!
As the spear was withdrawn, blood gushed from the Black Ghost’s wound.
With a gesture, Javelin commanded the Black Ghost’s blood to rise, merging with the spear, making it even larger and more menacing.
If the Black Ghost moved, the spear would strike him down.
In the tense silence, Cassis staggered to his feet.
“How dare you, human…!”
Cassis, his face twisted with rage, approached the Black Ghost.
“I’ll devour the god within you!”
Suddenly, Cassis’s shadow loomed large, engulfing the Black Ghost.
Then it happened!
Shing!
A sword tore through the air!
“Javelin!”
Aranius shouted, and Javelin turned, launching the blood spear.
Clang!
The spear shattered, a crimson mist filling the air.
The sword, deflected by the spear, veered toward Cassis.
“What!”
Javelin gasped, too late to intervene.
Shing, Thud!
The sword pierced Cassis’s heart, pinning him to the wall.
“Ugh…”
Cassis hung there, impaled, his life slipping away.
Aranius’s expression twisted in shock.
“Wait, that sword… could it be?”
Familiar yet unfamiliar, the sword’s identity became clear as it passed by.
“Bertas…!”
At Aranius’s reaction, Javelin turned, eyes widening.
There was no doubt.
It was Bertas!
Javelin suddenly realized that the blood-red mist that had been thick in the air had vanished without a trace.
It had all been absorbed by Vertas.
And now, it was in the process of absorbing Cassis’s blood as well.
For the ravenous god of blood, Vertas, which absorbed all blood, was a natural enemy.
Aranius, who understood this better than anyone, hardened his expression and stepped forward.
“You should step back now.”
“My apologies.”
Javelin didn’t argue. Instead, he bowed his head deeply and retreated. Anyone wielding Vertas was someone to be cautious of, no matter who they were.
It was just as Aranius took a trembling step toward Vertas.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, darkness unfurled, engulfing Cassis, who was pinned against the wall.
In that moment, the dark specter seized the opportunity to devour Cassis’s blood god.
Aranius’s cheek twitched.
“Dare to consume my subordinate right in front of me?”
Just as he furrowed his brow and prepared to launch himself forward—
Thunk!
“Hmm?”
Aranius flinched and took a step back, surprised at his own retreat.
“What is this? Could it be…?”
His eyes narrowed as he saw a man blocking his path.
The man, who had appeared out of nowhere, wore a cold smile.
“Enjoying your meal, aren’t you? There’s a human saying that even a dog isn’t disturbed while eating.”
“You… Sabikang?”
“It’s been a while, Duke Aranius.”
“A while…? How dare someone like you speak my name…?”
Had he ever seen this man before?
While Aranius was lost in thought, his expression twisted, Sabikang suddenly extended his hand.
Swoosh, snap!
Vertas, drawn from the shadows, landed firmly in Sabikang’s grasp.
A wide grin spread across Sabikang’s face.
“Just in time, it seems. Now, let’s reminisce about old times.”
Roar…!
Aranius stared at Sabikang in disbelief. The aura emanating from him was growing more intense with each passing moment.