Episode 605: The Return of the Demon Lord
A streak of light, trailing a long tail, plummeted down the mountainside.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the place where the light struck formed a massive crater, as if a meteor had landed.
The light was none other than Sabigang, Neung Unpa, and the Demon Lord, Tarant.
In an instant, the three of them distanced themselves, cautiously gauging each other while slowly building up their energy.
Neung Unpa couldn’t help but be impressed.
“As expected of the Demon Lord.”
When Sabigang had launched himself like a bolt of lightning, Neung Unpa was certain the Demon Lord would be struck down in a single blow. Even he couldn’t predict Sabigang’s movements, which were as swift as a flash of light.
But just before Vertas could graze the Demon Lord’s face, a translucent shield formed, sparking with energy. Tarant counterattacked Sabigang immediately, and Neung Unpa joined in without hesitation, launching his own assault on the Demon Lord.
After a fierce clash, the three were flung from the black star and ended up here. Even as they fell through the air, a chaotic exchange of blows continued between them.
“Yet… he shows no sign of being overwhelmed in a two-against-one fight.”
Neung Unpa steadied his breath, narrowing his eyes. In contrast, Tarant maintained a relaxed demeanor, glancing around.
In the distance, demons and humans were locked in a fierce battle. The collapse of a nearby gorge had buried many demons under the rubble.
Tarant smirked.
“You’ve prepared well, it seems.”
“Scared, are you?” Sabigang taunted, twisting his lips into a smirk. Tarant chuckled.
“Impressive spirit. Now I see why I valued you.”
“You shouldn’t remember me,” Sabigang retorted, his eyes slowly filling with anger.
“I don’t. But I know you’re a regressor. If you went to the trouble of regressing, you must have been someone I cherished.”
Sabigang’s eyes burned with fury as he replied, “Oh, you cherished me, alright.”
“Indeed, I’m sure I did,” Tarant nodded, as if understanding.
Turning his gaze to Neung Unpa, Tarant remarked, “You, however, are a disappointment.”
Neung Unpa responded with a cold smile. “I too am disappointed. I thought you’d be dead by now.”
“Hahaha. Did you learn that spirit from Sabigang?”
Had he struck a nerve? Neung Unpa’s expression twisted with anger.
“Compare me to him again, and you’ll regret it.”
“Oh? And if I don’t? Rest assured, I won’t compare you two anymore. Sabigang is a worthy opponent, after all.”
As Tarant’s gaze shifted back to Sabigang, Neung Unpa’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Hmph! I wonder how it feels to lose your head to someone you don’t even acknowledge.”
With those words, Neung Unpa launched himself forward like a bullet.
Whoosh!
His magic sword sliced through the air, aiming straight for Tarant’s neck.
“Pathetic,” Tarant muttered, catching Neung Unpa’s magic sword with his bare hand.
Neung Unpa’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Surprised?” Tarant asked nonchalantly.
Neung Unpa grinned slyly. “Surprised? I didn’t expect you to fall for such a simple trick.”
Suddenly, the magic sword unraveled, spreading out like a net. It was the power of possession and obsession, stolen from the evil god Haunt.
The aura threads, like a spider’s web, ensnared Tarant completely.
In that fleeting moment, Sabigang executed a swift move, slashing Vertas diagonally.
Slash!
The aura threads binding Tarant split in half.
But…
“What?” Neung Unpa gasped, stepping back in shock.
Tarant, who had been tightly bound like a cocoon, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the aura mass split and fell to the ground with a thud.
A chilling voice came from behind Neung Unpa.
“Falling for such a simple trick.”
”……!”
As Neung Unpa turned, Tarant’s hand struck him, sending him flying like a cannonball into the cliffside.
Crash!
The rocks crumbled, burying Neung Unpa beneath them.
Simultaneously, Sabigang charged at Tarant.
“Tarant!”
Whoosh!
Vertas flew from Sabigang’s hand, enveloped in a powerful aura.
Tarant narrowed his eyes.
Whoosh!
A magic sword formed in the air, extending towards Sabigang.
Clang!
Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal.
The deafening noise continued as the magic sword and Vertas tangled, soaring into the sky.
Seizing the opportunity, Sabigang lunged at Tarant, delivering a powerful strike.
Having inherited the strength of the Black Ghost and Onggisung, Sabigang could only use martial arts from the Central Plains. Though he couldn’t wield magic, his power had more than doubled, and he understood the principles of nearly every martial art used in the region.
Any technique he had ever witnessed in his memory could be summoned at will, depending on the situation.
The technique he used now was the ultimate move of the Infinite Gate: the Infinite Defeat Palm!
Whoosh!
Boom!
Sabigang’s palm met Tarant’s head-on.
Whoosh!
The energy wave surged behind Tarant.
Crash! Boom!
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, shattering the rocks that had buried Neung Unpa.
Tarant withdrew his hand, flexing his fingers as he examined his palm.
“Hmm. Impressive.”
Sabigang frowned. The Infinite Fist, when mastered, was one of the top three most destructive martial arts in the Central Plains.
Yet Tarant had blocked it!
In the next instant, Tarant vanished from sight.
Flash!
He reappeared right in front of Sabigang.
Whoosh!
Seeing Tarant’s hand coming at him, Sabigang twisted his body to evade.
Rip!
Tarant’s hand tore through Sabigang’s clothes, leaving a wound on his collarbone.
Sabigang quickly executed a technique, grabbing Tarant’s wrist and twisting it.
But Tarant was a step ahead, slipping away like the wind.
He conjured dozens of magic swords, hurling them at Sabigang.
Swish, swish, swish!
“Haah!”
With a shout, Sabigang extended his hands, unleashing a whip-like aura from his body to meet the magic swords.
Boom!
The clash of aura and magic swords created a thunderous explosion, extinguishing both.
Meanwhile, Neung Unpa, who had been watching from below, couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Damn, I can’t even intervene at this level.”
He had to admit it, as much as it pained him. Sabigang had grown stronger, beyond what he could measure.
It was infuriating to think that a human was stronger than he, a demon.
But now wasn’t the time to act on emotion.
Watching them was like witnessing a battle between a dragon and a tiger.
Yet a tiger could never defeat a dragon.
For now, he would watch.
And when the dragon finally bit the tiger, when the dragon was exhausted from the fight, he would be the one to slice off the dragon’s head.
No, he couldn’t wait that long.
A dragon that had killed a tiger wouldn’t fall to a mere fox, would it?
As much as he hated to admit it, he was no more than a fox right now.
So, while the dragon was focused on the tiger, he would strike and sever the dragon’s head.
Once he absorbed the Demon Lord’s power, the remaining tiger would be…
“Nothing but a joke.”
Neung Unpa’s lips curled into a cold smile.
He glanced up.
High above, Vertas and the magic swords clashed, still sparking violently.
Sabigang and the Demon Lord were locked in a fierce melee, using their respective sword techniques.
“Truly insane.”
Boom!
Another loud explosion echoed.
Crack!
The sound alone caused cracks to form in the cliff, dust crumbling away.
Crash!
Once more, Sabigang and Neung Unpa collided, shattering the cliff completely.
Rumble!
Sabigang deflected the falling rocks with his palms.
Bang, bang, bang!
The rock fragments, like cannonballs, flew towards Tarant.
Whoosh!
Boom, boom, boom!
The rocks exploded, creating a cloud of dust.
How many rocks had flown?
Crash!
The largest boulder flew away, leaving a thick fog of dust in its wake.
“Inhale, exhale.”
Sabigang slowly controlled his breathing, narrowing his eyes.
He didn’t think it was over yet.
The Dark Lord wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
Just then, Vertas plummeted from the sky.
Whoosh! Thud!
Vertas landed blade-first into the ground, trembling slightly.
It seemed to have completed its task of shattering the magic sword.
But Sabigang picked up Vertas with a cold expression.
“Getting tired already? That’s disappointing.”
Vertas vibrated in defiance, as if protesting.
A moment later.
Footsteps echoed…!
A shadow emerged through the dust that spread like mist.
It was Tarrant.
As expected, he appeared unscathed, not a scratch on him.
He smirked.
“Impressive. But a bit underwhelming. Perhaps I overestimated humans.”
”…”
Sabigang furrowed his brow, silently watching, as Tarrant continued with a faint smile.
“I thought it might be a bit much for you. Going through such a tedious process meant my expectations were high.”
Sabigang frowned and asked, “What are you talking about?”
Tarrant gazed at Sabigang, then floated effortlessly into the air.
With a grand expression, he spoke again.
“Do you still not understand? Foolish human.”
“What…?”
Tarrant smiled, clearly amused.
“Do you think your return was of your own will?”
Sabigang furrowed his brow, staring intently, as Tarrant asked nonchalantly.
“Have you never doubted it, even once?”
“Doubt…? Doubt what…?”
Sabigang’s words trailed off as a shiver ran through him, and he looked up at Tarrant.
A thought, impossible as it seemed, flashed through his mind.
As if reading his thoughts, Tarrant continued.
“Disappointing, Schwitz. I thought you’d have realized by the time you reached the Black Star. You’re slower than I expected.”
“Are you saying my return was…?”
“Indeed. Your return was my doing all along.”
A deep smile spread across the Dark Lord Tarrant’s face.