Episode 609: Return of the Demon Master
“Just because I’m injured, do you really think I can’t handle the likes of you?”
Neung Un-pa slowly assumed a fighting stance.
Before him stood five werewolves, two ogres, three cyclopes, seven goblins, and six lizardmen.
“Come at me!”
At his roar, the monsters charged as if on cue.
“Rrrrgh!”
“Die, human!”
The first attack was a fireball, which Neung Un-pa deflected with ease.
Boom!
As the flames dissipated, a werewolf’s claws came slashing through.
“Rrrgh!”
Neung Un-pa ducked low, dodging the claws, and sent a disc of magical energy slicing through the air.
Shiiing!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The monsters charging at him fell, their chests and bellies split open.
But more creatures were closing in, surrounding him from all sides.
Their numbers were becoming impossible to count.
Neung Un-pa moved tirelessly, his magical sword cutting through the horde.
Slash! Thud! Slash!
With each swing, blood sprayed, heads flew, and bodies crumpled to the ground.
Yet the battle seemed endless.
Since the great demon had emerged from the canyon, the area had become a monster-infested wasteland.
Everywhere, people fought desperately.
The demon’s destructive power was beyond imagination.
Even Neung Un-pa, using the power of the evil god, could only defend himself, not defeat the monstrous behemoth.
But the demon wasn’t his immediate concern.
Injured and surrounded, he was struggling just to fend off the monsters.
In a trance-like state, he swung his magical sword, his voice rising in fury.
“How dare you try to humiliate me!”
Neung Un-pa was seething with anger.
It was a wonder he hadn’t lost his mind.
Being cornered by mere monsters was infuriating.
He was meant to be above all others.
A being to be revered and worshipped.
And yet, and yet…!
“These pathetic creatures dare…!”
Shiiing!
Boom!
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
His indiscriminate attacks sent monsters screaming to the ground.
Then, suddenly.
“That’s enough.”
A chilling voice reached his ears.
Sensing danger, Neung Un-pa twisted his body.
And then—
Thud!
“Ugh!”
He saw a blade piercing through his chest, narrowly missing his heart.
“You…!”
Coughing up blood, he pushed the blade away with his palm.
Bang!
The blade withdrew, and Neung Un-pa spun around, launching a counterattack.
Crack!
His magical sword formed and pierced the enemy’s abdomen.
But then…
Crack… Shatter…!
The sword fractured and vanished.
“What is this…?”
His eyes widened in shock.
“Looks like you’re out of strength, half-breed.”
The voice came from one of the guardians.
He swung his sword down.
Shiiing!
“Haaah!”
Neung Un-pa let out a battle cry.
Black auras shot from his body like blades.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
In the blink of an eye, the auras shredded the guardian, freezing him in place.
Moments later.
Thud, thud!
The guardian’s body fell to the ground in pieces.
The other guardians glared at Neung Un-pa, their killing intent palpable.
“A mere half-breed dares…!”
“Silence…! Did you see…? Huff, huff…! My power…!”
Neung Un-pa staggered back.
The recent attack had drained much of his energy.
Had he been uninjured, he wouldn’t have been so exhausted.
But in his rage, he had left himself vulnerable.
Now, with two critical wounds, it was a miracle he was still standing.
Yet he refused to kneel.
No, it was they who should kneel before him.
He was meant to be their master.
A being feared by all!
“I was meant to be such a being!”
With a defiant shout, Neung Un-pa leaped into the air.
Whoosh!
From above, he unleashed dozens of auras.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
The guardians below swung their swords and soared up to meet him.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
They dodged the falling auras and charged at Neung Un-pa.
Finally, they struck in unison.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Five beams of light tore into Neung Un-pa’s body.
“Ugh!”
Coughing up blood, he plummeted to the ground.
Thud!
As he fell, blood sprayed from his wounds.
Crash!
On the ground, Neung Un-pa’s fingers twitched.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He struggled to rise, only to collapse again.
His eyes, filled with pain, met the emotionless gazes of the five guardians.
“Relentless creatures…! If you’ve pushed me this far, at least… show some joy.”
He coughed up more blood.
The end was near.
He didn’t want to die so meaninglessly.
But he had no strength left to fight.
How had it come to this?
Yes.
He needed his strategist.
The one who had always been by his side, offering wise counsel.
The one who had always supported him.
He needed that unwavering ally.
“Strategist, where are you?”
Neung Un-pa looked around desperately.
He stumbled and fell again.
His torn wings shrank and vanished, his darkened skin returning to its original color.
The guardians no longer rushed.
Neung Un-pa was as good as dead.
“Strategist, where are you?”
He cried out again, tears of blood in his eyes.
One guardian approached with a sneer.
“The one who rules over all, why do you so desperately seek your subordinate? Oh, lone king?”
Another guardian chuckled, devoid of emotion.
It was just the instinct to mock the weak.
“Strategist…!”
Finally, Neung Un-pa fell to his knees.
He had no strength left to stand.
The sneering guardian raised his sword slowly.
As he prepared to strike,
Slice!
A chilling sound of flesh being cut.
The guardian’s eyes widened.
A strange sensation ran diagonally from his neck to his side.
“What is this…?”
As he touched his body in confusion,
Splat.
His body split diagonally, blood spraying as he fell.
Splat!
The guardians behind him also fell, blood spraying.
Standing there were Helmut and his knights.
Neung Un-pa, dazed, couldn’t comprehend what had happened.
Through his blurred vision, he saw a man approaching.
Even after Helmut and his knights rushed elsewhere, the man walked straight toward him.
Finally, Neung Un-pa recognized him.
It was Gu Yoon.
“Master…”
“Oh, strategist!”
The master shouted with joy.
The outburst twisted his insides, causing him to cough up blood again.
“Master!”
The strategist rushed to support him.
Despite everything, he was a master he had spent much time with.
Leaning on Gu Yoon’s arm, Neung Un-pa chuckled.
“Strategist, I look quite the mess.”
“Master…”
“What do you think? How can we get out of this situation?”
”…”
“Surely, with your wisdom, you know a way through this. Tell me. Once I become supreme, I’ll reward you greatly.”
“Master, why…”
At that moment, a monster charged at them.
But.
Slash!
Like a miracle, Bi-ryeong appeared and sliced the monster’s throat.
The master’s eyes gleamed at the sight of her.
His body darkened again, his eyes glowing yellow.
“Strategist! There’s a way! Offer me her power! With it, I can sweep these wretches away…!”
“Master…!”
“I’ll become the supreme leader and take care of you! General! Order her to surrender her power to me immediately! I will absorb her power and…!”
“Leader, please!”
Gu-yun shouted louder than ever before.
His voice was so loud that even Neung Un-pa flinched and turned his gaze.
“General…?”
“Leader, please, lay down this burden. Why… why are you driving yourself to the edge of a cliff?”
Tears streamed down Gu-yun’s cheeks.
Could his earnest plea have reached him?
For a moment, Neung Un-pa’s expression turned blank.
Gu-yun continued, his voice trembling with emotion.
“Have you truly forgotten the times we shared over drinks? Have you really forgotten the day we first met?”
”…”
“With your pure intelligence and my unyielding chivalry, we shall bring peace to the martial world. Those were your words to me on that day, weren’t they?”
“General…”
“You were that kind of person, Leader. No, you still are. Please, stop tormenting yourself. I regret not being closer to you sooner.”
Gu-yun began to sob openly.
The passage of time felt cruel.
He thought he had done his best back then, but now all he felt was regret.
As he wept uncontrollably, he suddenly felt a wrinkled hand and opened his eyes.
“Leader…?”
To his surprise, Neung Un-pa had reverted to his human form.
His face was lined with wrinkles, and his beard was unkempt.
He smiled weakly.
“How could I forget…?”
“Leader!”
“Your pure spirit remains unchanged… but my chivalry broke long ago.”
“Oh…”
Panicked, Gu-yun turned to Bi-ryeong.
“Bi-ryeong! Quickly, help the Leader…!”
“No. Please, stop.”
“Leader…”
Neung Un-pa pulled a dagger from his robe with his wrinkled hand and placed it in Gu-yun’s.
Then he guided it to his own heart.
“Here.”
“Leader?”
“To truly kill a demon, you must pierce the heart. I ask you, help me leave this world as a human one last time.”
Gu-yun shook his head.
“I can’t… I can’t do it, Leader!”
“General, I trust you. I want to entrust my end to you.”
“Why would you ask this of me…?”
“Because you are my general… I’m truly grateful.”
Neung Un-pa nodded, holding Gu-yun’s trembling hands.
“It was an honor to serve you, Leader. And… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”
“General, do it now!”
Neung Un-pa’s eyes began to glow yellow again.
Finally, Gu-yun steeled himself.
“Haah!”
It was a cry that bordered on a scream.
Thud!
The dagger plunged into Neung Un-pa’s heart.
Ssssss!
In the next moment, his entire body turned black, then crumbled into ashes.
“Aaaah!”
Gu-yun threw his head back and screamed.
Bi-ryeong turned away silently, tears streaming down her face.
It was the final moment of Neung Un-pa, the leader who had lived a tumultuous life.