Episode 616: Return to the Demon Fortress
“What the—! A beast attack!”
Just as the demon guard at the entrance of the Black Fortress shouted in alarm, a massive feline creature leaped into the air with a thunderous roar.
In an instant, the beast tore into two demon guards, its maw dripping with blood as it let out another ferocious cry.
The sound was like rolling thunder, and the remaining guards gritted their teeth, rushing forward.
“This crazy beast!”
“Kill it!”
Within moments, a dozen guards surrounded the creature, drawing their gleaming swords.
But then—
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
A sudden shout cut through the chaos as Churyang appeared, swift as the wind, swinging his mana-infused sword.
Clang! Boom!
“An intruder! It’s a human! Kill him!”
“What? Over here too—!”
A guard, turning to look, couldn’t even finish his sentence before his head was severed.
Swish! Thud!
The headless body fell, blood gushing like a fountain.
The one who had struck was none other than Maesellan.
With the unexpected appearance of these two, the guards were thrown into confusion.
“Enemies! Humans have appeared!”
“Archers!”
At their cries, archers on the fortress walls leaned over, drawing their bows taut.
“Commander!”
Churyang called out, and Maesellan quickly moved to his side, her steps light and swift.
At the same time, the beast shrank back to its smaller form, returning to Churyang’s embrace, while the guards surrounding them were forced to retreat.
Then—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A rain of arrows descended from the sky.
With a swift motion, Churyang raised his left hand above his head, conjuring a mana shield.
It was much larger than any he had used before, thanks to the elixir crafted by Jinbaek.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of arrows clattering against the shield echoed like beans being roasted on a metal plate, the black iron tips scattering in all directions.
As the arrow storm subsided, Maesellan crossed her twin swords, unleashing a powerful technique.
“Haaah!”
Swoosh!
A serpentine energy snaked along the ground, rapidly climbing the fortress walls.
Reaching the top, it surged toward the demon guards.
Slash!
“Aaah!”
“Nooo!”
The demon archers screamed as they fell from the walls.
The other guards, witnessing Maesellan’s prowess, hesitated, eyes wide with shock.
Even Churyang, standing beside her, was taken aback.
“Impressive!”
“It’s all thanks to Master Jin.”
Maesellan spoke with a calm detachment, though inwardly she marveled at her own achievement.
‘I’ve mastered the Serpentine Qi Sword technique.’
The move she had just executed was a high-level technique from the Serpent Sword style, designed to efficiently utilize energy by slashing the opponent’s entire body once the energy reached them.
She had adapted it to climb the walls like a vine.
Churyang knew it wasn’t just the elixir that had strengthened her. She was someone who trained relentlessly, more than anyone else in the martial world.
“Can’t let you outshine me!”
With a shout, Churyang charged forward, mana sword flashing.
“Stop him!”
The guards cried out, but with the beast’s enhancement, Churyang was too fast for them.
Slash! Slash!
Each swing of his mana sword sent heads flying.
With Maesellan’s serpentine technique scattering the guards, they were quickly overwhelmed.
Finally, Churyang’s sword pierced the heart of the last standing guard.
“Ugh…!”
The guard looked at Churyang with disbelief.
“How could a mere human…!”
Thud!
As the mana sword vanished, Churyang shook his head.
“Even in death, they underestimate us. Unbelievable.”
He looked up at the towering Black Fortress.
“Wow, it’s really something. Can we even climb all the way up there?”
“Don’t worry. We won’t need to.”
“That’s a relief.”
Maesellan began to walk toward the fortress, its gates wide open, unguarded.
Churyang shook his head in disbelief.
“Their defenses are really lax.”
“They never expected mere humans to reach this far.”
“True. Their arrogance is the only reason we have a chance.”
“But we can’t let our guard down. We never know when a trap or enemy might appear.”
“Understood.”
“Now, we need to find Count Adler. According to the Lord, killing him will purify this demonized area.”
“And weaken the Demon King?”
“Most likely.”
Maesellan nodded, moving cautiously. She was familiar with the fortress’s layout, having seen it in Sabikang’s mindscape.
Though the location was different, the structure was identical.
‘It’s still impressive.’
The Black Fortress, formed from the petrified growth of the Demon Tree, was a marvel. Its black, solid walls didn’t seem like they could have come from a plant.
How long had they been walking?
“Hey, the beast!”
The creature in Churyang’s arms suddenly leaped down, darting off.
It paused at a corner, looking back as if waiting for them.
Exchanging glances, Maesellan and Churyang followed.
The beast led them to a wide staircase descending underground, where a chilling aura emanated.
“This… doesn’t look easy. Maybe we should get some backup—”
“More people would just complicate things. We have to do this.”
Without waiting for a response, Maesellan stepped forward.
Churyang followed, his expression resolute.
**
Thud!
Someone grabbed his ankle.
Crash!
Deungbu-hyung tumbled to the ground.
When he regained his senses, a wounded demon knight was glaring at him, clutching his ankle.
“You pathetic human…! You think you can defeat us demons…!”
“Get out of my way!”
With a shout, Deungbu-hyung swung his ghost blade.
Slash!
“Aaah!”
The demon knight screamed as his arm was severed.
At that moment, a dark shadow loomed behind Deungbu-hyung.
“Gah!”
He turned just in time.
Whoosh!
Thud!
A lizardman shrieked as it was flung back, a stiff arrow embedded in its chest, sizzling.
Deungbu-hyung looked toward the direction the arrow had come from and chuckled.
‘Danrijung… truly remarkable.’
Who would have thought?
That Danrijung would become such a sharpshooter, hitting targets from such a distance.
Deungbu-hyung grunted as he got back on his feet.
He had to keep running.
From the hill where the general and the martial masters were, he had run nonstop.
“The task is yours, Deungbu-hyung!”
The general, Gu-yun, had entrusted him with this critical mission.
His eyes had been filled with a desperate plea.
He had to succeed.
Deungbu-hyung had promised with all his heart.
He would succeed!
Since then, he hadn’t looked back, running with all his might.
Gu-yun had promised to cover him, ensuring he could run unhindered.
And indeed, whenever an enemy appeared, Danrijung’s arrows would take them down.
Amidst the chaos of blood and death, Deungbu-hyung ran as if he were in a world of his own.
Of course, there were times when Danrijung’s arrows missed.
In those cases, Deungbu-hyung would wield his ghost blade to clear the path.
Straight ahead!
Run and run!
To where Sabikang was!
Buzz! Buzz!
As he neared the lava field where Sabikang fought, his ghost blade trembled with anticipation.
It was reacting to the powerful energy.
The stronger the energy, the more the blade resonated, as if it had a will of its own.
Deungbu-hyung had thought, perhaps this blade could pierce that barrier.
And Gu-yun had placed his hopes on him.
Fortunately, the area where Sabikang and the Demon King battled was free of the demon creatures.
But—
“Growl…!”
“Snarl!”
Deungbu-hyung had to stop.
A horde of demon beasts blocked his path.
They weren’t intentionally trying to stop him.
The creatures had gathered here, keeping their distance from the Great Demon, but now they stood in the way of reaching the lava fields.
There were simply too many of them for Dan Lijeong’s archery skills to handle alone.
Meanwhile, the monsters bared their fangs at Deung Buhyeong.
“Grrah…! A human!”
“Kill him! Tear him apart and devour him!”
“He’s mine to feast on!”
“No, I’ll be the one to eat him!”
The monsters lunged at Deung Buhyeong all at once.
“Damn it!”
He cursed under his breath, swinging his ghost blade with ferocity.
Swish! Slash!
In a whirlwind of motion, Deung Buhyeong fought like a demon himself, cutting down seven monsters in an instant.
His unexpected display of strength made the remaining creatures hesitate, though they continued to circle him, growling menacingly.
‘Is there no way to break through?’ he thought, gritting his teeth.
“Run!”
A sudden shout pierced the chaos, and Yeom Jaryang descended from above.
With a crack of thunder, his signature Ground Wave spell spread out in a fan shape.
Boom!
The monsters screamed and fell, unable to withstand the force.
Then, with a metallic clatter, a chain sickle flew through the air, cutting down those who had survived the spell.
Deung Buhyeong turned in surprise to see the Cheonmyeol Squad and the Newborn Unit had arrived.
Yeon Wookyung, wielding her ice-blue sword, called out to him, “We’ll cover you! Go!”
“You guys…!”
“What are you waiting for? Get moving!” shouted Maeng Gasook, sounding impatient.
They must have received a signal from the commander to come and support him.
Deung Buhyeong nodded. “Understood! I’ll leave it to you!”
“Just go!”
“Run, Instructor!”
At the sound of Mok Danhwa’s voice, Deung Buhyeong felt a pang of emotion.
‘They still call me Instructor.’
A wave of embarrassment washed over him. Did he truly deserve such a title after everything?
‘Even now…! Even now!’
To atone for his past and live with dignity, he had to…
‘Run!’
“Hyah!”
With a battle cry that was almost a scream, Deung Buhyeong took off.
The Cheonmyeol Squad and the Newborn Unit moved with him, creating a storm of blood and steel as they advanced.