Chapter 50

[Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 50

【Warning! Warning! Warning!】

【High-rank Demon Four-Bladed Sword Demon (???) has appeared.】

Baekya looked up at the demon that had landed in front of him.

【Status Conditions: Fear, Suppression, Mana Rampage...】

【Status Conditions negated due to the effects of 'Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing' and 'Certificate of Pardon'.】

It had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake, wielding four flaming longswords with its four arms.

Its loose black hair reached its waist, and sulfurous smoke rose every time its angular jaw opened.

["You've been quite the nuisance."]

Everyone instinctively knew.

This was the 'Commander of the Fallen Demon Assault Force'.

["To think you'd block the Turtle Dragon's breath."]

Every word it uttered was laced with psychic energy.

It was enough to make even Baekya's head throb.

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon swung its sword down.

Stab!

Baekya's chest was pierced effortlessly.

But instead of bursting into triumphant laughter, the Four-Bladed Sword Demon raised an eyebrow in confusion.

It didn't feel like it had cut through flesh.

"Shut up."

Baekya, with his chest impaled, grabbed the blade with his left hand and stepped back.

Instead of blood, white flames surged from the gaping wound.

A combo counter using 'Play of Fire' and 'Explosive Recovery'.

It was a feint he had been preparing since the moment Ryu Haneul was blown away.

Boom!

A fountain-like explosion erupted from the wound in his chest.

["Ha!"]

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon roared and swung its flaming longsword.

Slice!

The first dazzling explosion was sliced away as if it were nothing.

Slice!

The second left a white scar on Baekya's forearm.

Slice!

The third pierced his lungs.

Even with Explosive Recovery, he couldn't recover from all the damage.

Being of the same flame attribute, there was even a risk of being consumed in reverse.

Baekya shuddered and retreated repeatedly.

But there was no humiliation on his face.

'There he comes.'

He had achieved the brief deception he desired.

"Azure Sky Swords!"

【Paired Wings】

【Reaching for the Heavens】

Cheong Siyeol, who had been standing in front of the Turtle Dragon's neck, dashed forward as if folding space and swung his longsword down.

A blue sword aura surged like a wave.

It was a strike powerful enough to cleave a high-rank demon in two with a single blow.

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon barely managed to block it by overlapping all four of its longswords.

Clang!

["-----!"]

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon pushed forward with its crossed swords, trying to crush Cheong Siyeol with its weight and height.

Four blades dug into Cheong Siyeol's neck and shoulders.

At that moment, Baekya unleashed 'Diffuse Reflection'.

'3. 2. 1. Release.'

Beams of light crisscrossed between his clasped palms, forming a sphere, then collapsing back into a single ray.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The reddish-white beams slashed at the Four-Bladed Sword Demon's hide.

The smell of burning flesh rose from the sturdy demonic body, and pus oozed from the open wounds.

Stagger!

The demon's posture momentarily faltered.

Cheong Siyeol didn't miss the opportunity.

【Sun-Piercing Strike】

Fwoosh—!

He kicked off the ground, leaping like an arrow towards the demon.

It was a perfect thrust, disregarding all defense.

【Inverted Yin-Yang Sword】

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon crossed two of its longswords and swung them wide, trying to deflect Cheong Siyeol over its head.

Baekya unleashed a Resonance Wave towards the exposed torso.

Crack!

Red heat spread out in a fan shape, striking the demon's solar plexus.

It was the ultimate technique that had allowed him to crush even a B-Rank golem when he was C-Rank, but the demon endured.

["---, ---!"]

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon unleashed a powerful psychic wave.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

The scorched earth cracked, and the hot wind swirled.

Baekya countered with a debuff skill of his own.

["Ha, hahahaha!"]

【Trait: Smile that Transcends the Stars】

Crackle!

Mana sparks flew in the air as the two skills clashed.

Baekya and the Four-Bladed Sword Demon stood a short distance apart, but veins bulged on their foreheads as if they were locked in a power struggle.

However, the balance gradually tipped in Baekya's favor due to the absolute difference in Rank.

Drip. Drip. Drip!

The blood vessels in the demon's eyes burst, and blood trickled from its nose.

"Keuk."

At that moment, Cheong Siyeol, who had been flung behind the demon, raised his sword overhead.

【Azure Sky Sword Technique: External Qi Manifestation】

Fwoosh!

A blue crescent moon shot out from his sword and soared into the sky.

One of the demon's thick arms flew into the air.

Slice!

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon flinched and retreated to one side.

The demon, Cheong Siyeol, and Baekya formed a triangular formation.

Cheong Siyeol and Baekya exchanged glances naturally.

The plan was for one to hold the demon's attention while the other finished it off from behind, no matter who the demon attacked.

But the demon, now with three swords, attacked them both simultaneously in a way they hadn't anticipated.

【Inverted Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation】

Swoosh!

The three swords drew a single circle.

The crimson sword aura stretched out like a whip in a curved line, tracing a bizarre trajectory.

The spiraling sword aura targeted Baekya and Cheong Siyeol.

Bam!

Cheong Siyeol's left shoulder was slashed, and Baekya's 'Mantle of the Demon Marquis' forearm was completely crushed.

Baekya's face, narrowly avoiding having the Ghost Princess's Handkerchief cut, was filled with astonishment.

'It has a sword technique like this?'

They both gritted their teeth and retreated.

The footwork of the master and disciple was strikingly similar, like twins.

["You shall burn in a pool of lava for a thousand years."]

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon, having separated the two, unleashed another External Qi Manifestation.

【Inverted Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation】

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Crimson sword aura lashed out like nine whips.

At that moment, Baekya and Cheong Siyeol naturally coordinated their movements without even making eye contact.

It was possible because they had spent a long and significant time together.

It was a combined attack they weren't even consciously aware of.

Boom!

Baekya leaped into the air using Flame Arrow and Descent from the Crimson Flames.

He kicked off in mid-air, twisting his body 180 degrees.

Whirl!

He unleashed a Resonance Wave directly at the demon's crown.

There were very few defensive techniques designed to counter attacks from above.

Clang!

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon blocked the Resonance Wave as if headbutting it with its horns, but the Inverted Yin-Yang Sword technique was inevitably disrupted slightly.

At that moment, Cheong Siyeol wielded a single sword as if it were three.

【Supreme Yin-Yang Sword: External Qi Manifestation】

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble!

Nine whip-like sword auras surged forth.

The blue, clockwise vortex neutralized the crimson, counter-clockwise vortex as if swallowing it.

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A void formed where the two External Qi Manifestations vanished, and a gentle wind pushed outwards in all directions.

It was a perfect counter, something that would have made martial arts Hunters applaud for days.

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon tried to retreat.

"Going somewhere?"

But Baekya had already grabbed its back before it could move.

Baekya pulled his arm back as if to unleash a technique.

"!"

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon flinched.

Cheong Siyeol seized the opportunity and kicked off the ground.

Slash!

A blue line extended, and another of the Four-Bladed Sword Demon's arms was half severed.

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon grimaced and staggered.

["You dare... toy with me?!"]

"You should be grateful. I was just playing with you."

Baekya held the demon's arm for a split second before launching an off-beat attack.

Resonance Wave exploded, heating the air.

Crack!

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon, losing its balance, tumbled and slid across the ground.

Foul smoke rose from its scorched long hair.

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon could only stop by stabbing its swords into the ground.

For a moment, Cheong Siyeol was struck by a sense of déjà vu, as if he had met this Pyromancer somewhere before.

That profile, with a nonchalant yet refreshing smile against the backdrop of a world engulfed in flames, was too familiar.

"Have we... met before?"

But the moment passed quickly.

The Pyromancer replied with a seemingly flattered expression.

"Didn't I tell you earlier? This is our first meeting. How could I have possibly met the Sword Saint?"

Normally, the conversation would have ended there.

But Cheong Siyeol heard an instinctive urge telling him not to let this conversation end.

"Have you ever learned combat from Baekya?"

"I've imitated him a lot. I've watched his talent donation lecture on ESB at least a thousand times."

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon didn't miss the opportunity.

Crunch.

The demon gritted its teeth and plunged its tail into the ground.

Each scale glowed crimson.

Whoosh!

The tail, burrowed underground, shot up like a trap.

Thwack!

Cheong Siyeol sensed the tremor in the ground and leaped to avoid it, but the tail tenaciously pursued him, aiming to pierce his spine.

Baekya's face contorted in anger.

Even now, Baekya couldn't look directly at Cheong Siyeol.

'I don't understand what you're thinking.'

Even in the midst of a battle where there was no time for idle thoughts, he couldn't help but think of his disciple whenever he had a moment to breathe.

From what he had learned in his thousands of years, or perhaps just 27, there seemed to be no particular connection between understanding and empathy.

Even after experiencing a future where the world burned, there were things he could understand intellectually but couldn't empathize with emotionally.

He cherished his disciples as he cherished himself.

He was lenient with his disciples as he was lenient with himself.

Even when they went astray, acted frustratingly, or even held their swords the wrong way, he accepted it all.

It would be a lie to say he didn't feel any resentment.

But he never wished for his death.

'World-Reflecting Mirror.'

He thought of taking out the mirror from his inventory, dragging the Four-Bladed Sword Demon into the mirror world, and unleashing Law of Light there.

Impossible.

There wasn't enough time.

'Winter Vanguard's Standard.'

He thought of using the Standard to activate 'Domain Expansion' and incinerate the Four-Bladed Sword Demon with overwhelming firepower.

Impossible.

Again, there wasn't enough time.

Stab!

The tip of the demon's tail pierced Cheong Siyeol's pelvis.

The jagged scales acted like barbs on a fishing hook.

The demon coiled around Cheong Siyeol and pulled him closer.

The tendons on its arm holding the flaming longsword bulged.

It looked like it was about to cleave Cheong Siyeol's slender body in half.

* * *

Cheong Siyeol raised his sword overhead.

He intended to sever the demon's tail and two hands simultaneously.

His sword, which had felt as light as a reed, now felt heavy.

He took a deep breath and tightened his core.

'Can I do it?'

He had expended too much mana when he cut down the Turtle Dragon.

It was already a tremendous feat to be able to continue fighting after slicing a monster the size of Mount Seorak.

His blue eyes wavered slightly.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and so his sword tip also wavered.

Cheong Siyeol thought of his master, whom he had slain with his own hands.

'My idol, my hero, my sun.'

If he were here, things would surely be different.

Did he regret it?

He did not.

It was his loyalty to let his idol, hero, and sun vanish as such, rather than let the world he protected point fingers at him.

Cheong Siyeol stared at the Four-Bladed Sword Demon until the very end.

Never take your eyes off your enemy until the very end.

That's what Baekya had taught him.

Fizzle!

At that moment, the light in the Four-Bladed Sword Demon's eyes vanished.

'Huh?'

The Four-Bladed Sword Demon was glowing white-hot.

["Law of Light."]

White orbs of light rose one by one from its tail, its swords, its eyes, its horns.

It was as if countless fireflies were taking flight.

The crimson demon scattered into dazzling light.

The tail that had pierced Cheong Siyeol's body also vanished.

Thud.

Cheong Siyeol fell to the ground.

He stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance.

Whether by a cruel coincidence or a twist of fate, he was now facing the nameless Pyromancer head-on.

His halo, which had been a simple white ring, was now flashing like a magnificent mandala, infinitely colorful and grand.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

His face was pale as lead, as if he had drawn upon an immense amount of mana.

The grand halo flickered like a hologram before returning to its original white ring shape.

But Cheong Siyeol had already seen the handkerchief tied around the Pyromancer's wrist.

【Appraisal】

【Ghost Princess's Handkerchief (Heroic)】

【A handkerchief bestowed upon her Champion by the Ghost Princess. It possesses the power of concealment, making what should be seen unseen.】

He didn't need to see any more.

No matter how upright Cheong Siyeol was, like a sword, and no matter how focused he was on one thing at a time, he wasn't foolish enough to not recognize him after seeing all this.

"Hyung?"

* * *

【"What a fucking perfect timing!"】

【"I was about to burst with frustration, but the mana you absorbed from that Law of Light was the final piece of the puzzle."】

【"I don't know whether to be angry or praise you. Did you plan all of this? Did you want to show me this incredible reversal?"】

I heard my Constellation's voice ringing in my head.

【"You're the best, anytime, anywhere! My contractor!"】

It was the voice of someone who should be angry but was left speechless by the amazing outcome.

【Aitel Notification: You have fought many strong opponents, gained sufficient power, and proven your worth to contain more starlight.】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' raises your Ascension Level.】

The status window opened and closed forcefully.

+

【Status Window

5. Ascension Level: 7th Stage Angelus/Angel ‣ 6th Stage Powers/Dominions】

+

The 'Ascension Level' section blinked, and the level changed.

Fwoosh!

I felt something hot and overwhelming filling my chest.

It felt like my chest was brimming with a celestial elixir, as if I'd scooped up the entire Milky Way with the Big Dipper as my cup.

But I had no time to bask in this sense of victory.

Cheong Siyeol could rush over and cut me down any moment now.

【Your Ascension Level has risen to the 6th Stage.】

【Wandering Constellations show interest in you, who now holds more fragments of the Constellations.】

【The Comet Shop is reopening.】

I quickly moved my fingers and entered the Comet Shop's sales window.

And I purchased an artifact that would allow me to escape this situation.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]