Episode 668: Return of the Demon Cult
A living hell unfolded before them.
It was as if the true hell that Heuk-yeong had spoken of was just beginning to reveal itself.
The cultists of the Dark Heaven, who had swallowed snake-like monstrosities, displayed an astonishing level of strength.
They fought on, heedless of severed arms or broken legs. Even decapitated corpses moved as if alive.
It was a scene that could drain the spirit of any onlooker.
The Baekhwadan, already exhausted from battling countless foes, faced an enemy that refused to die.
These creatures moved with a horror surpassing that of any monster.
This was no longer a matter of martial arts. It was a test of mental fortitude.
Had the warriors of the Myeolma Palace not arrived in time, the battle might have taken a dire turn.
The Baekhwadan, still relatively inexperienced, were shocked and terrified by the inexplicable phenomena.
But the Silver and Gold Armored Divisions, along with the Seoplang Squad from Myeolma Palace, had faced the demonic war firsthand.
These seasoned veterans fought calmly, undeterred by the bizarre forms of the demonic creatures and cultists.
“Rana, are you alright?”
Yeom Jaryang, who had rushed over, asked Sabiran.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. You arrived just in time.”
“You fought well. Who would have thought they’d resort to such measures?”
Yeom Jaryang surveyed the enemies with a fiery gaze, recalling the events of thirty years ago.
The martial world, preserved through the sacrifices of countless warriors, was under threat once more.
What drove these people to repeat such atrocities?
And to open the dimensional gate to summon those vile demons again!
“Everyone, fall back!”
Yeom Jaryang’s booming voice commanded the warriors at the front to scatter and leap away.
All knew well what Yeom Jaryang’s specialty was, including the Baekhwadan.
As the allies dispersed, creating space, Yeom Jaryang soared into the air and unleashed his Black Thunder Blade with a battle cry.
“Hyaaaah!”
A thunderous roar echoed as the ground began to upheave violently.
Boom!
The earth rippled, sending enemies flying into the air amidst screams and cries.
‘Master’s Thunderstorm Blade is always a sight to behold.’
Sabiran marveled once more.
No one could surpass Yeom Jaryang in wielding the Thunderstorm Blade, a variation of the Ground Wave.
Except, perhaps, for Sabigang, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.
Having swept through the enemies, Yeom Jaryang turned his gaze sharply towards the cliff.
His eyes met those of Adler, who had shed his old man’s guise.
“Adler!”
Just as he was about to leap into action, Sabiran stepped forward.
“Master! Let me handle this.”
Yeom Jaryang turned to see Sabiran’s determined expression.
“Are you sure?”
“This mission was ours from the start. I want to finish it.”
Yeom Jaryang nodded.
“Very well. I’ll give you a lift.”
He extended his Black Thunder Blade.
The gesture was clear—he would propel her upward by letting her step on the blade’s side.
Sabiran understood and nodded.
“Come on!”
“Yes!”
With a running start, Sabiran leaped onto the blade’s side.
In an instant.
“Haaah!”
With a shout, Yeom Jaryang launched Sabiran into the sky.
She combined her air-walking technique with a flight spell, her body becoming as light as a feather as she soared up the cliff.
Whoosh!
Adler, standing atop the cliff, frowned as he looked up at Sabiran.
“So, you’re his daughter?”
Landing gracefully at the cliff’s edge, Sabiran stared Adler down.
“Yes, I am my father’s daughter. I’ve heard about you. You’re much uglier than I imagined.”
Adler chuckled.
“Bold, aren’t you?”
“Now’s not the time to be assessing me. You should be worrying about your life.”
“Heh. Your mother couldn’t kill me. What makes you think you can?”
“We’ll see about that. Humanity evolves with each generation!”
In a blink, Sabiran appeared right in front of Adler.
Her flexible sword lashed out, aiming for his throat.
Adler swiftly evaded, creating shadows to dodge.
The sword’s relentless assault continued, transforming into a swarm of venomous snakes targeting Adler’s vital points.
Adler countered with tendrils sprouting from his body, attacking Sabiran.
Clang! Clang!
The clash of sword and tendril rang out, a fierce battle with no ground given.
Sabiran knew she couldn’t afford to let her guard down, or she might lose her life.
Fighting a non-human opponent was far more challenging than she had anticipated.
Their moves were unpredictable.
Against a human, one could devise a strategy based on their techniques.
Even if caught off guard, survival often presented another chance.
But in this situation, no strategy could be formed.
She had to react instantly to each new threat.
The tendrils and vines moved without emotion, requiring near-instinctual responses.
In this regard, Sabiran had an advantage over other warriors.
Having been taught by many masters from a young age, she wasn’t bound by any single style.
She adapted her techniques on the fly, responding to each moment’s demands.
With a swift retreat, Sabiran slid back, narrowly avoiding a fall off the cliff.
Adler chuckled.
“Indeed, the next generation surpasses the last. Your father wasn’t as skilled at your age.”
“Glad you’ve realized.”
“But child, do you know who you have to thank for that?”
Sabiran frowned as Adler continued with a sly grin.
“Without us demons, do you think you’d have advanced this far? You might have regressed instead.”
“So, I should thank you for invading our world?”
“At least acknowledge it. Your progress is thanks to us demons. When that gate opens, you’ll advance again. I’m offering you that opportunity. You can’t control yourselves, so you need our help. Besides, you value sacrifice, don’t you? I’ll use you as offerings to open the door to a new era.”
“Offerings…? So you lured us here on purpose? To use us as sacrifices?”
“Of course. This is a sacrificial altar. Would you have found me so easily otherwise?”
Adler’s taunt made Sabiran’s expression harden.
“You’ve insulted me twice now.”
“Oh?”
“First, by pretending your selfish actions were for our benefit. It’s a pathetic excuse. Second, by underestimating us as mere offerings. You’ll regret that mistake.”
“Bold words.”
With a flick, Adler sent tendrils flying.
Sabiran twisted her body to dodge and closed in on Adler.
Her sword aimed for his heart.
But just as it was about to pierce him, vines shot up from the ground, aiming for her chest.
Clang!
The vines bounced off with a metallic ring.
Beneath her torn clothes, a glint of silver scales was visible.
‘Dragon Scale Armor…!’
Adler flinched, and Sabiran smirked.
“Inherited from my mother. Didn’t see that coming?”
“You insolent child!”
Once more, tendrils erupted from Adler’s body.
Sabiran frantically parried and blocked the onslaught.
Her flexible sword danced, but suddenly, the tendrils stiffened like steel.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
The clash sent a powerful vibration through her sword.
The moment Sabiran realized something was wrong with her weapon.
Though it seemed fine, the feel in her hand was different.
Sure enough, vines wrapped around her sword, squeezing it.
Crack…!
The sword cracked and shattered.
“Damn it!”
As Sabiran released the handle and quickly stepped back, Adler lunged forward, extending his tendrils in pursuit.
“I’ll bring your father the greatest sorrow in the world!”
Hundreds of tendrils transformed into razor-sharp blades, slicing through the air toward her.
In that instant—
A sharp, whistling sound cut through the chaos.
From somewhere, a beam of light streaked in.
With a resounding crash, a sword cleaved through dozens of tendrils in one swift motion, embedding itself deeply into the ground.
The sword hummed with a resonant energy, vibrating intensely where it stood.
Sabiran recognized it immediately.
“Vertas…!”
Not only Sabiran, but Adler too recognized Vertas, and he trembled with fear.
‘It’s him…!’
Adler quickly scanned his surroundings.
But Sabigang was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Sabiran grasped Vertas and took a deep breath.
“Inhale… exhale…”
The sword pulsed with a fierce energy, a voice echoing in her mind, urging for blood.
The urge was so overwhelming that she felt a dangerous temptation to harm herself.
In fact, five years ago, when she first held Vertas, she had nearly succumbed to that very impulse.
If Sabigang hadn’t intervened in time, she might have ended her own life with the sword in hand.
Since then, Sabigang had never allowed her to wield Vertas again.
But today, he had given her another chance.
Sabiran understood.
This was the final test.
Her father would not intervene unless she was in absolute peril.
He would simply watch from the shadows.
Taking another deep breath, Sabiran opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on Adler, who was frantically looking around.
“Where are you looking? You don’t have the luxury to be distracted.”
Adler flinched and turned his attention to Sabiran.
In her, wielding Vertas, he saw the shadow of Sabigang.
For the first time, a creeping fear began to take hold of him.
“Do you think a mere change of sword will alter the situation?”
As Adler shouted, he extended his ten fingers.
With a crackling sound, each finger transformed into a living tendril, lashing out fiercely.
Simultaneously, vines writhed up from the ground like snakes, racing toward Sabiran.
In that moment, Sabiran’s eyes flashed with determination.
And then—
“Haah!”
With a sharp battle cry, she spun like a whirlwind.
The tendrils and vines that had been reaching for her were sliced into pieces, scattering in all directions.
“Ugh!”
It was Sabiran who stifled a groan.
As she summoned her inner strength and struck, a familiar, intense thrill coursed through her body.
Controlling the bloodthirsty Vertas was no easy feat.
With this sword in hand, she felt she could cut through anything in the world.
But she couldn’t afford to be intoxicated by this feeling.
If she didn’t master her emotions, she would face her own downfall.
“Exhale…”
Sabiran let out a long breath, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“The reason humans are strong… is because we think with reason, not just instinct!”
As if speaking to herself, Sabiran shouted defiantly and charged at Adler.
In that moment, Adler once again saw Sabigang in her.
And he froze in place.