Kwaaaang!
The rocks exploded and scattered in all directions. The cliff trembled as if it could collapse at any moment.
“Aaaakh!”
“It’s falling! Aaaargh!”
The disciples of the Ten Great Sect screamed and gripped tightly onto the swaying cliff like a ship in a storm.
Some had already lost their grip and were plunging down the sheer drop.
But now, no one could muster the courage to help or save those falling. Because something bigger was waiting for them.
Kureung! Kureureureung! Kureung!
“Thi- This...!”
Jin Hyun’s eyes were wide open in disbelief.
Web-like cracks were spreading through the cliff near where Jang Ilso and Chung Myung had slammed into.
‘It’s, it’s collapsing.......’
Kureureureung!
Everyone held their breath.
A massive chunk of rock suddenly detached itself from the cliff.
The moment they witnessed a rock larger than any pavilion slowly tilted and sliding off a cliff, everyone felt the hairs on their bodies stand on end, and a tingling sensation ran down their spines. Their bodies were warning them to flee.
The rock leaning forward blocked the sun and cast a dark, long shadow down the cliff.
Kwareureureureureureureung!
As the rock finally began to fall, screams erupted from everyone’s mouths without exception.
“Get out of the waaaaaaayyyy!”
“Aaaaaaargh!”
These were screams of instinct, not reason.
“Stop iiiiiiiiiiitt!”
The elders of each sect jumped toward the rock with grave faces.
If such a rolled down the cliff, at least a third of the hanging disciples would be crushed instantly. They hadn’t climbed all this way just to witness such a catastrophe!
Sword energy, Taoist energy, and Fist Force.
Various hues of light—white, blue, yellow—were unleashed towards the falling rock.
Kwareureureung! Kwareureureureureung!
The massive rock was fractured by the fierce attacks, but it was impossible to shatter such a large mass in such a short amount of time.
“Move!”
At that moment, Namgung Hwang and Bop Kye, who aced to the front of the cliff, shouted out loud.
Namgung Hwang’s sword was imbued with the white sun.
Azure Sky Unimpeded Divine Technique (??????(蒼穹無碍神功)), which developed to its extreme, was combined with all the internal strength he could utilize.
Emperor Sword Forms (????(帝王劍形))! Emperor’s Advent (????(帝王現身))!
“Euuuaaaaa!”
Namgung Hwang shouted until his throat burst and swung his sword vigorously.
A gigantic reinforced sword energy of a massive size that was hard to believe that it was created by a human was shot from the tip of Namgung Hwang’s sword and stuck into a falling rock.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
As soon as the white reinforced sword energy lodged itself halfway into the rock, Bop Kye sprang up from below.
“A-Mi-Ta-Bha!”
As he took a lotus position mid-air, a dazzling golden light immediately erupted from his entire body.
The energy gradually took shape and soon covered Bop Kye’s body, creating a huge golden Buddha.
“Gre- Great Prajna Power (?????(般若大能力))!”
“Elder is using Great Prajna Power!”
Even before the exclamations of the surprised disciples of Shaolin could fade, Bop Kye burst out a solemn chant. At the same time, the golden figure that enveloped him launched itself towards the rock.
Kuuuuuuuung!
With a sound akin to gigantic boulders colliding, the plummeting rock suddenly lost its momentum and hung suspended in mid-air.
Jjojok! Jjojojojojok!
Fissures spread from the bottom of the rock, quickly enveloping it completely. And then...
Kwaaaaang!
Shattered fragments of the rock began to rain down. The spectacle of rocks ranging from the size of a person to that of a house falling from above instilled a different kind of terror than before.
“Spread out!”
“Yes!”
The Wudang elders who were waiting all drew a circle in the air. White and black sword energies intertwined. Dozens of rough Taegeuk figures color the sky like a canvas.
Shaolin and Namgung did not just watch.
The Fist Force of Shaolin and the sword energy of Domination Dao unleashed by Namgung continuously shattered, divided, and obliterated the falling rocks.
“Heuuuuaaaaap!”
They squeezed out even the last bit of their strength.
If they took significant damage here, there would be no future for them, even if they made it back up the cliff. Everyone knows that and didn’t hold back even an ounce of their power.
Poook!
Jin Hyun’s head was hit by the falling stones and thick blood flowed down his face.
“Huuu....”
Jin Hyun’s eyes filled with horror.
Where is this place? What exactly the hell are they doing now?
When he looked up, there was no light to be seen. All that was visible was the sky full of falling rocks and deadly energies flying towards them.
“Aaaaaargh!”
“Sahyuuuuuuung!”
Even at the moment, those who were beaten by the rain of rocks fall down helplessly. The tears Jin Hyun shed were red as blood.
“This is....”
Kureurung!
“....”
Yoo Iseol, who was staring intently under her feet, took a step back.
Kwaaaang!
At that moment, the ground where she had been standing exploded and someone shot up from below. Yoo Iseol grabbed the half-rising man’s hand and immediately pulled him up.
“Chung Myung-ah!”
“Chung Myung-aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! You son of a beaaaaaaaast!
The remaining Five Swords screamed as they rushed toward Chung Myung, who had burst up from the ground.
“This... this... Damn it!”
It was a total wreck. There was no other way to describe it.
The physical state of Chung Myung, who had burst through the ground, was not that of a human.
His face was covered in blood from cuts that had been drawn lengthwise and horizontally, and his top had been completely torn off, showing his black, bruised skin as if he had died.
The flesh was dug out everywhere, revealing raw muscles, and his pants were soaked with the blood that had flowed down.
Baek Cheon rushed in and grabbed Chung Myung’s shoulder.
“Chu- Chung Myung-ah! Are you alright!”
“....”
“Soso! Damn it, someone calls Soso right now...”
Then Chung Myung opened his eyes and spoke.
“Sasuk.”
“Y- Yes! Chung Myung....”
“Move aside.”
At that moment, Chung Myung pushed Baek Cheon aside and stood up.
And while he was half-conscious, he walked forward unsteadily, holding on to the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword that he had never let go of.
“Chu- Chung Myung....”
Baek Cheon closed his mouth.
Because he saw Chung Myung’s eyes filled with a terrifying killing intent. It seemed that the saying ‘the body may die, but the eyes never do’ was meant for times like this.
However, that wasn’t the only reason Baek Cheon was silent.
The fact that Chung Myung’s eyes are still alive proved one clear fact.
‘Do- Don’t tell me....’
Kwaaaaaaaaaang!
Just then, the ground in front of them exploded.
Rocks and dirt spewed out like a reversed waterfall, and the cliff trembled as if it would collapse at any moment.
Dirt rained down.
The low voice that came from within penetrated Baek Cheon’s ear strangely and distinctly. His heart tightened.
“This... this.”
As the dust settled, a man stood there.
The crown he had been wearing was nowhere to be seen. The hair, which had always been organized so neatly that it seemed obsessive, became scattered and flew like a lion’s mane whenever the wind blew.
But even that appearance couldn’t diminish his dignity. Rather, his wild nature, which was usually invisible, came out like the howl of a starving beast.
Buuuuk.
The man tore off the remnants of his ragged clothes. Then the man’s upper body covered with countless scars was revealed.
“....”
Baek Cheon even forgot to breathe for a moment.
‘What the hell is this...’
Jang Ilso.
Jang Ilso, who looked so different, smiled with his mouth wide open, showing his bloody teeth. His eyes, visible through his messy hair, flickered with a rough madness.
“I....”
A gruesome growling voice as if coming out from a wounded beast was heard.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve had such delight.”
Baek Cheon instinctively rushed forward and blocked the front of Chung Myung as if he were guarding him. But his hand holding the sword was shaking like an aspen tree.
This man, he’s too overwhelming.
For the first time in his life, he felt his soul twist in terror. But Baek Cheon didn’t take a step back.
At that moment, Chung Myung touched his shoulder and stepped forward.
“Chung Myung....”
Baek Cheon tried to dissuade him, but he couldn’t find anything to say and closed his mouth.
Can he protect Chung Myung?
Can he really protect Chung Myung? From that Jang Ilso?
“Ptoo!”
Chung Myung, who spat out blood that had filled his mouth, wiped roughly around his mouth and gripped his sword.
“...I think you’re mistaken.”
When Chung Myung’s mouth opened, Jang Ilso stared back with his pale eyes.
“We haven’t even started yet. This isn’t even a fight.”
“....”
Chung Myung’s sword aimed at Jang Ilso.
The tip of the sword shook uncharacteristically as if he had lost all his strength. However, the eyes of the swordsman were still as cold and still as the North Sea’s ice cave.
“I’ll tell you what a real fight is. You greenhorn.”
“Ha... Keu... Keukukuku....”
A soft laugh began to flow from Jang Ilso’s previously silent mouth.
The small laughter that seemed to have burst from a feeling of empty heart grew bigger and bigger, and eventually became a boisterous laughter that shook the entire space and crushed the Five Swords.
“KEUHAHAHAHAHAHAT! EUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAT!”
The madness carried in the laughter gripped and shook Five Swords’ heart.