Chapter 607: Return of the Demon Sect
“Damn it! They’re not retreating because of our momentum!”
With newfound certainty, Yang Bi-woong shouted again.
“Everyone, fall back!”
The sudden command left the warriors bewildered, glancing around in confusion. It was perplexing to receive a retreat order when nothing seemed amiss. Had they been seasoned soldiers, they would have obeyed without question. But aside from the Black Brigade, most were lone warriors scattered across the martial world, unaccustomed to such discipline. They were a motley crew, gathered without regard for faction or allegiance, each with a pride as towering as the sky.
“Why should we retreat? At least tell us the reason.”
“Indeed. We follow you temporarily because you’re the leader of the Black Brigade, but we’re not your subordinates.”
‘Damn these stubborn fools!’
Yang Bi-woong felt an urge to curse them out loud. Just moments ago, he had been proud of human capabilities. But now, he understood why demons looked down on humans. He took a deep breath and spoke.
“I sense an alien presence!”
“An alien presence? If it’s the Demon King’s aura, we’ve already—”
“It’s not that! Feel it carefully! Something is—”
Before he could finish, the ground rumbled violently.
Rumble… Rumble…
This time, the tremor was unmistakable, and tension spread across the warriors’ faces. Yang Bi-woong shouted urgently.
“We don’t have time to hesitate! Retreat and figure out what this presence is!”
In an instant.
BOOM!
“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”
The ground suddenly erupted, and a massive shadow loomed before them.
A gigantic monster let out a bizarre roar, writhing as it emerged. The warriors craned their necks to take in the colossal creature that had appeared out of nowhere.
“What in the world is that?”
As the monster screamed again, the warriors fell to their knees, coughing up blood. The creature’s cry had the effect of a sonic attack. The more skilled among them quickly channeled their inner energy to protect their vital points, avoiding severe injury.
The monster, resembling a giant caterpillar, was so large it filled the entire gorge, its head reaching the sky. Its surface was covered in a thick, slimy substance, and thousands of humans were fused into its skin, writhing in agony. It was the Great Demon Beast, a fusion monster created from the deepest human grudges and negative emotions.
“What… what is this?”
Even the battle-hardened Yang Bi-woong was momentarily stunned by the horrific sight. Just then, a few warriors charged at the beast, shouting defiantly.
“You think you can scare us, you wretched creature?”
Swoosh! Slash!
They attacked from all sides, their swords gleaming.
But then.
Swoosh!
From the beast’s body, long, snake-like tendrils shot out, swallowing the warriors whole.
“Ugh! Argh!”
“Help!”
The warriors struggled desperately, but the more they fought, the more they became one with the beast, as if sinking into quicksand. Eventually, they too were absorbed into the beast’s white surface, their screams joining the chorus of agony.
The sight was so terrifying that the remaining warriors began to back away.
“We can’t beat that! Damn it! Retreat!”
“Retreat! Retreat!”
As they turned to flee, the Great Demon Beast unleashed hundreds of tendrils.
Swoosh!
“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”
The tendrils ensnared the fleeing humans, who flailed helplessly before being absorbed into the beast. Even those who unleashed powerful sword energy found it useless; the tendrils clung more tenaciously, consuming them whole.
Just as a tendril aimed for Vice-Captain Jin Cheong-il’s head.
“Gasp!”
Jin Cheong-il stumbled back, gasping for air.
“Haah!”
With a thunderous shout, Yang Bi-woong appeared like lightning, striking the tendril with a powerful palm strike. The tendril recoiled, and Jin Cheong-il quickly stood, bowing his head.
“Thank you, Captain!”
“Save your thanks for later! Survive first!”
“Understood… but Captain, behind you…!”
Swoosh!
Before Jin Cheong-il could finish, another tendril shot out, wrapping around Yang Bi-woong. The white, snake-like tendril clung to his shoulder, slowly spreading over his arm and neck.
Jin Cheong-il drew his sword to cut the tendril, but Yang Bi-woong stopped him.
“No! Run!”
“But Captain…!”
“You can’t cut it with sword energy! Get out of here!”
As the tendril coiled around Yang Bi-woong, lifting him into the air, Jin Cheong-il cried out in despair.
“Captain!”
But Yang Bi-woong was already ensnared, suspended high above. The tendril pulled him toward the beast, whose body split open like a mouth.
‘If this is the end, I’ll take it down with me!’
Yang Bi-woong gathered his remaining inner energy, focusing it into his hand. It was his signature technique, the Black Hand Explosive Palm.
Swoosh!
As he was drawn into the beast’s maw, Yang Bi-woong unleashed his energy-charged fist.
BOOM!
The Black Hand Explosive Palm detonated from within the beast’s core. For a moment, the beast’s body swelled.
The countless human forms writhing on the beast’s surface screamed in unison, their cries echoing through the gorge.
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
The fleeing warriors staggered, falling to their knees and coughing up blood.
“Damn it… Captain…!”
Jin Cheong-il, tears brimming in his eyes, watched the beast. Despite Yang Bi-woong’s sacrifice, the Great Demon Beast remained unscathed.
‘This isn’t the time to stand around! I have to escape!’
Just as Jin Cheong-il gritted his teeth and tried to rise.
The beast twisted its body, letting out a deafening roar.
RUMBLE!
With terrifying speed, it surged down the gorge.
“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”
The fleeing warriors were crushed one by one, their bodies dissolving upon contact with the beast’s overwhelming power, absorbed into its mass. The more it consumed, the larger it grew.
Jin Cheong-il pushed his lightness skill to its limits. But then.
Rumble… Rumble…
BOOM!
“Gasp!”
As he sprinted, he stumbled and fell, landing hard. Another Great Demon Beast had emerged, blocking the gorge.
The beast’s roar threatened to tear his eardrums apart.
“Ugh!”
Jin Cheong-il bit his lip until it bled, retreating slowly on his hands and knees. The beast that had been chasing him stopped just in front of him.
From the center of its body, a tendril extended, its tip bearing a human face.
It was none other than Yang Bi-woong.
“Cap… Captain…?”
Jin Cheong-il’s eyes filled with tears.
“Captain… please…!”
In the next moment.
GULP!
Yang Bi-woong’s mouth stretched wide, swallowing Jin Cheong-il headfirst.
Gulp… Gulp…
**
CLANG!
With a sharp metallic sound, Sa Bi-gang’s figure vanished from sight. In the next instant, he reappeared behind Tarrant. It wasn’t a blink; his Heavenly Heart Technique had reached such a peak that it mimicked the speed of a blink.
“Haah!”
Sa Bi-gang swung his energy-infused sword, Veritas, down.
CLANG!
But Tarrant blocked it without even turning around. A translucent shield of magic had formed behind him. As the shield shattered into pieces.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Each fragment transformed into a projectile, hurtling toward Sa Bi-gang.
“Ugh!”
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sa Bi-gang swung Veritas, sparks flying as he deflected the projectiles. A dark red aura spread thickly.
Swoosh!
Tarrant’s shadow suddenly appeared, his fist flying toward Sa Bi-gang’s face.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each punch from Tarrant echoed with a thunderous boom. Sa Bi-gang dodged repeatedly, finally kicking Tarrant’s fist away and leaping back.
“Not bad.”
Tarrant remarked nonchalantly, waving his hand.
Swoosh!
Massive boulders hung in the air, hurtling mercilessly toward Sabigang.
Whoosh!
Sabigang leaped into the air, seemingly defying gravity.
He deftly stepped on the flying rocks, using them as stepping stones to propel himself rapidly toward Tarrant.
In a flash.
“Tarrant!”
With a fierce cry, Sabigang hurled Vertas from his hand.
At that moment, Tarrant raised his hand.
Clang!
The blade of Vertas clashed with Tarrant’s palm, ringing out with a resounding metallic echo.
“You don’t recognize your master, do you?”
Tarrant murmured indifferently, channeling his power into his palm.
Whizz!
Vertas ricocheted back, hurtling straight toward Sabigang.
Swoosh!
“Ugh!”
Sabigang quickly summoned a protective aura, releasing a burst of energy.
Boom!
The sound of an explosion reverberated as Sabigang crashed down, shattering the rocky cliff.
Tarrant descended slowly to the ground.
He began to stride purposefully toward Sabigang.
Meanwhile, Nungunpa, who had been watching in silence, felt his eyes widen in shock.
‘Damn…! He’s strong!’
The demon king was far more powerful than he had imagined.
Just from observing the battle between Sabigang and the demon king, he instinctively knew he was out of his league.
But if things continued like this…!
‘That damned Sabigang is going to die!’
He had hoped for more, but Sabigang was barely putting up a fight.
This was a one-sided battle.
It was like a fight between an adult and a child.
And compared to them, he was nothing more than an infant.
Yet he couldn’t just stand by and watch.
If Sabigang fell, he would be next.
‘Damn it! Useless fool!’
With that thought, Nungunpa suddenly cast Blink.
Flash!
In the next instant, he appeared behind the demon king, swinging a lightning-infused magic sword.
Crackle!
Swoosh!
At the same time, the demon king turned to face him with an expressionless gaze.
“Die!”
Nungunpa shouted desperately, bringing down his magic sword with all his might.