Episode 587: Return to the Demonic Sect
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as Baritan staggered back, her footing unsteady. Seizing the opportunity, Sabikang lunged forward with swift precision.
Whoosh!
The air whistled as their swords clashed once more.
Clang!
Sabikang twisted his body, extending his left palm.
Boom!
A powerful force exploded against Baritan’s abdomen, sending her reeling backward until she managed to grab hold of a bamboo stalk to steady herself.
“Ugh!”
Baritan doubled over, coughing up blood, as Sabikang approached her slowly.
“Apologies. I don’t go easy just because you’re a woman.”
“You shouldn’t. You’d regret it otherwise. Besides, I’m quite charming, aren’t I?” Baritan smirked, her smile cold and mocking.
Suddenly, the wind picked up, causing the bamboo grove to sway and create an almost dreamlike atmosphere. Sabikang felt his mind momentarily clouded and quickly leaped away.
“Pointless tricks!”
Baritan, blessed by the god of allure, was unpredictable. Who knew what she might do if he let his guard down for even a second?
Swish!
A deadly aura sliced through the air as Vertas flew toward her.
Swoosh!
In an instant, Baritan’s figure vanished like a mirage, and Vertas pierced through a thick bamboo stalk instead.
Crash!
The massive bamboo fell with a heavy thud.
In that fleeting moment, countless bamboo splinters, charged with energy, flew toward Sabikang.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
He swung Vertas, deflecting the shards. Despite being mere fragments, the vibrations traveling up his sword were substantial, likely due to the magic infused within them.
With a burst of speed, Sabikang charged deeper into the bamboo forest.
Rustle! Rustle!
Amidst the dense bamboo, Baritan’s shadow flitted about. Sabikang unleashed a wave of sword energy toward her.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Thick bamboo trunks were severed, toppling and leaning in all directions.
The sword energy, writhing like a living creature, flew toward Baritan, but each time it only felled more bamboo, never reaching her.
The forest was so densely packed that no matter how many he cut down, the remaining trunks tangled together, further obscuring his view.
“Baritan, who once looked down on humans as insects, now hides like a coward. Pathetic!”
Despite Sabikang’s taunts, Baritan remained elusive. He continued to unleash energy blasts and sword strikes whenever her shadow appeared.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of sword energies sliced through the air, tearing into the dark shadows, but only more bamboo splinters scattered through the forest.
Then, suddenly…
“Hm…?”
A thick mist began to fill the bamboo grove.
‘If it’s not poison, then it’s to obscure my vision?’
Baritan must be seriously injured to resort to such tactics.
At that moment, a shadow flitted through the mist.
‘There!’
With a burst of speed, Sabikang flew through the bamboo.
Slash!
Once again, the sharp sword energy neatly sliced through the bamboo.
Just as his sword was about to touch the shadow’s back…
“Master?”
The figure turned, revealing none other than Churyang. Sabikang quickly withdrew his sword, frowning.
“What are you doing here?”
“I heard you were facing Baritan and came to support you! I am your bodyguard, after all,” Churyang replied with an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head.
“When I arrived, there was no one around, but I sensed something in the bamboo forest, so I came in. The others are waiting by the pavilion.”
“Others?”
“Yes, the Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division came to assist you.”
“Unnecessary.”
“Apologies if we were a hindrance.”
Churyang bowed his head in apology. Sabikang glanced around before asking, “Can you find Baritan?”
“If it’s tracking, I’m your man. With the Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division helping, we can find her quickly.”
“Find her as soon as possible. She can’t have gone far with the spell Mu Lang set up.”
“Understood!”
Churyang whistled sharply, and the Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division rushed into the bamboo forest.
“Are you alright, Master?”
“I’m fine. Just find Baritan.”
“Understood!”
The two groups responded in unison and turned to search.
But then…
Swish! Swish!
The Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division suddenly turned, launching an attack on Sabikang.
Even Churyang revealed his killing intent, joining the assault.
Sabikang quickly erected a shield, deflecting their attacks.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
As their attacks failed, they clicked their tongues and charged again.
Sabikang’s eyes turned cold.
“Impostors.”
With a swift motion, Sabikang unleashed his sword energy, cutting through the Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division.
Slash! Slash!
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
The impostors fell helplessly under Sabikang’s relentless assault, their injuries indistinguishable from the real thing.
But Sabikang showed no mercy.
“Argh!”
After cutting down the last of them, he spotted a shadow moving through the mist and leaped toward it.
Swish!
In that instant…
“Master! It’s me, Churyang!”
Once again, Sabikang’s sword stopped just a hair’s breadth from Churyang’s forehead.
“Are you real?”
“What do you mean?”
Sabikang narrowed his eyes, then chuckled.
“Is this game amusing to you?”
“What are you talking about…?”
Slice!
A flash of light cut across Churyang’s neck.
Churyang blinked, and then his head rolled to the ground.
Blood spurted like a fountain as his body collapsed with a thud.
Sabikang looked down at the corpse, his voice icy.
“Churyang always travels with Banmyo.”
In that instant…
Swish!
A murderous intent surged from behind!
Sabikang spun around, unleashing his energy.
Clang!
The clash of swords echoed, a metallic sound that seemed to tear at the eardrums.
The force of the impact sent a gust of wind that flattened the surrounding bamboo.
As the wind subsided, Sabikang instinctively continued his attack.
Swish!
Clang!
Another screeching clash.
Baritan, holding her sword, smiled alluringly.
“Haaah!”
With a sharp cry, a crimson aura exploded from her body, forming a massive shape.
In a heartbeat, Baritan swung her sword, and the colossal figure mirrored her, its fist hurtling toward Sabikang.
Faced with the overwhelming force, Sabikang quickly retreated.
Boom!
The earth shook violently.
Sabikang leaped onto a bamboo stalk, soaring upward.
Baritan swung her sword horizontally.
Swish!
The razor-sharp energy sliced through the bamboo, felling them in droves.
Simultaneously, the giant figure grabbed a handful of bamboo, hurling them at Sabikang like spears.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Damn!”
Sabikang dodged and defended, retreating rapidly.
Then, in a daring move, he charged directly at the giant figure.
Clang!
Vertas clashed with the massive entity, the sound echoing loudly.
“Ugh!”
Sabikang felt his entire body tremble.
In that moment, he realized he wasn’t just fighting any demon.
Baritan was giving it her all.
With a burst of speed, Sabikang used a blink technique to appear behind the giant figure.
Attacking Baritan directly would be ideal, but the giant protected her, making it difficult to approach.
“Disappear.”
Swish!
Vertas, imbued with sword energy, flew toward the giant’s nape.
In that moment…
Poof!
The giant vanished before his eyes.
Sabikang turned reflexively, but there was nothing behind him.
He frowned, puzzled.
Slash!
Hundreds of enchanted bamboo spears rained down from the sky, a deadly storm of wood and magic.
Sabi Kang let out a fierce battle cry, summoning his inner strength.
“Hyah!”
A thunderous clash echoed as his sword met the oncoming spears, the sound reverberating like a storm.
“Haah!”
With another shout, a crimson aura erupted from Sabi Kang’s body, manifesting into a colossal figure.
A Red Dragon.
With a powerful leap, Sabi Kang launched himself through the mist, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
The spears came again, a relentless downpour.
The massive dragon behind him soared forward, jaws wide, devouring the spears in a single bite.
Crunch!
Sabi Kang, having finally located Baritan, swung his sword with determination.
“Let’s end this!”
Baritan’s eyes blazed as he countered with his own blade.
The two swords met with precision.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
The impact sent a violent tremor through Sabi Kang’s body, forcing him to quickly regain his focus. A lapse in concentration could lead to internal injury, his energy channels thrown into chaos.
In that instant.
Boom!
The Red Dragon and the dark deity clashed, sending shockwaves in all directions.
Crash!
Nearby bamboo trees were uprooted, flying through the air.
As the dragon and deity’s forms dissipated, Baritan retreated, leaping back onto the swaying bamboo stalks.
Sabi Kang pursued, their battle continuing atop the unsteady branches.
Now, they danced a deadly dance, their movements fluid yet lethal, each step a calculated strike.
The bamboo swayed, subtly altering their swordplay, a graceful yet deadly exchange.
The fight stretched on, longer than either anticipated.
The eastern sky brightened, the sun arced across the sky, and finally dipped behind the mountains.
Even as night fell and the moon rose, their focus remained solely on each other.
As the moon began its descent, the moment came.
Swish!
Thud!
“Ah!”
Baritan, finally faltering, cried out as he fell from the bamboo stalks.
Sabi Kang’s eyes gleamed with a fierce light.