Chapter 013. Forbidden Demon Forest (3)
“Hey, monkey.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke while watching the monster rushing in, unfolding a terrifying fast sword technique.
With a deep smile still hanging on his lips.
There was a somewhat self-deprecating corner to that smile.
“…….”
However, the monster, deeply immersed in the swordsmanship it was unfolding, did not hear Dam Jeok-san's words at all.
Indeed.
Would one hear a voice while swinging a sword, enduring the pain of joints tearing and bones being crushed all over the body?
‘It is funny.’
Before losing his dantian, Dam Jeok-san had a nature of sparing his body.
Yet he fell into qi deviation and lost everything. On the other hand, that monster survived even though it swung its sword while destroying its own body.
Dam Jeok-san felt a ticklish feeling, as if he was about to grasp something but couldn't quite yet.
“It is a magnificent sword.”
He said while looking at the monkey monster rushing in regardless of life or death.
He did not know if the monster could listen to and understand the story.
So this was merely Dam Jeok-san speaking for his own satisfaction.
Even if it was a monster.
If one could stake their life on the path of the sword, and dedicate even their death to the path of the sword…….
That is what a swordsman is.
Dam Jeok-san acknowledged the monster not as a simple target of hunting, but as a swordsman and a rival.
‘I will cut it.’
He thought as he looked at the monkey monster approaching him.
It was a speed difficult to follow with eyes. A single sword strike more threatening and powerful than any sword strike the bastard had unfolded so far.
Rather, that is why there is a chance of victory.
The monkey monster had given up many things to unfold the ideal fast sword technique it thought of.
Not only did it give up defense, but it was more engrossed in completing its own sword than killing its opponent, Dam Jeok-san.
As if seeking the way, not fighting.
‘Is there some desperate story behind that swordsmanship?’
Dam Jeok-san could not know that far either.
No, there was no need to know such things.
Because there are things conveyed just by exchanging swords.
He operated the Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique to the limit he could.
Boldly enough to think that he might die if he drew up more genuine qi.
ZIIING!!
Dam Jeok-san's sword was wrapped in sword qi, and it vomited out an intense sword cry as if responding to it.
If he condensed the genuine qi a little more here and forged it sharply, it would become Sword Flame burning like fire.
But he must not go that far.
The enlightenment of kindling Sword Flame was obtained before facing qi deviation.
He could draw out Sword Flame once again with the same enlightenment as back then. Because he did so when dealing with the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake last time.
But if he proceeded on a failed path, he would only face the same result again.
That was why Dam Jeok-san did not draw out Sword Flame.
Moreover, he was confident.
Confident that he could cut the opponent without drawing out Sword Flame.
What Dam Jeok-san chose was the same Fast Sword as the monkey monster.
I must become faster than the bastard.
Even if the swordsmanship he learned was not specialized in speed, and the depth of his internal energy was still far lacking.
His talent and eye for the sword fell behind no one.
Fast Sword was not something simply unfolded with strength.
Dam Jeok-san's sword drew a trajectory similar to the monkey monster's sword.
FLASH!!
Dam Jeok-san's sword cut across the empty air with explosive speed instantly.
“……?”
Thick doubt appeared in the monkey monster's eyes upon seeing that.
But as Dam Jeok-san's sword path was completed, that doubt gradually turned into shock.
Because it resembled the sword path it had seen and pursued too much.
It was interpreted in Dam Jeok-san's way, but it was also the brilliant sword path engraved on the monkey monster's retina.
“Phew……. It is harder than I thought.”
Beads of cold sweat formed on Dam Jeok-san's forehead as he unfolded the sword.
Mimicking a swordsmanship whose name he didn't even know.
It was not easy even if he possessed talent called genius by the world.
But it was worth it.
Because it was an act of breaking a swordsman in a swordsman's way.
At that time when the monkey monster's and Dam Jeok-san's swords were getting closer, Dam Jeok-san felt an illusion as if time was flowing slowly.
In the slowly flowing time, his senses also became extremely sharp.
From the flow of air scratching past his face to the number of times the monkey monster's eyelids trembled.
Perhaps because of that, it felt like he could read the intentions of the bastard with whom he couldn't even communicate properly.
What kind of emotion and shock he was feeling from Dam Jeok-san's sword. And what kind of jealousy and envy he was feeling.
Despite such a vortex of emotions, the tip of the monkey monster's sword did not shake at all.
Because unwavering tenacity was dwelt in the sword.
Finally, the swords of the two collided.
One scattering darkish demonic energy, and the other wrapped in brilliantly shining sword qi.
KABOOOOOM!
The two conflicting energies collided with a terrifying explosion sound as if a thunderbolt had burst.
A powerful aftermath blew in, enough to devastate the spot where they were standing, but neither took a step back.
The monkey monster looked noticeably lower in regenerative power because it had unreasonably drawn up demonic energy and twisted its joints.
That was the same for Dam Jeok-san.
He was correcting his posture while swallowing the blood surging up beyond his throat.
His head spun and his whole body ached as if it were being crushed. However, Dam Jeok-san felt pleasure overwhelming the pain.
‘I won.’
Although both stood their ground without retreating a single step, the victory and defeat were clear.
What the monster lost was much greater than Dam Jeok-san.
Because the regenerative power, which was the monster's greatest weapon, had run out.
It would probably no longer be able to unfold swordsmanship that transcended physical limits like before.
Then it would die.
However, as if to mock his expectation, the monkey monster approached him again, scattering darkish demonic energy.
There was only pitch-black demonic energy covering the whites of its eyes, but Dam Jeok-san could tell.
The fighting spirit of resisting until death hanging stickily in its eyes.
The determination to burn its life and swing the sword rather than running away and begging for its life.
‘I see.’
A path he might not have been able to choose before losing his dantian.
A strike premised on self-destruction. If he dodged, his victory was obvious.
Therefore, there is no retreat.
Dam Jeok-san decided to readily respond to that resolute determination.
The monkey monster's sword flashed with extreme speed that even the Predator's Eye could not catch up with.
It became one step faster and stronger than before.
It was not because there was a special enlightenment or because it poured in more demonic energy.
The powerful will to use even death as a foundation for the sword had completed the sword.
Dam Jeok-san also raised his sword to respond to it.
And he pondered.
What he tenaciously desired.
Also, where the path he should advance towards was.
Before losing his dantian, he analyzed everything and found the most efficient path.
It was not just regarding martial arts.
He also waited when he realized that his Second Senior Brother Woo Seo-gwang and his family, the Iron Blood Woo Clan, were raising monsters.
To capture a suitable opportunity.
However, after losing his dantian, he raided that place without hesitation. Of course, there was the goal of predating on monsters, but the feeling of not watching what was an eyesore was also great.
Fighting spirit and conviction that seemed reckless at a glance.
That is the path Dam Jeok-san, who regained his dantian, wants to advance towards.
Now, he felt as if the fog in his head was clearing, albeit just a little.
There was no dramatic change such as the demonic energy spreading through the whole body's meridians converging into the dantian, or the shell wrapping the body breaking and body reformation occurring.
However, the tip of the sword became distinctly heavier than before. And the weight of the sword also became heavier by that much.
Because the path to go becoming clear meant that the weight to bear also became heavier.
Dam Jeok-san gripped his arm tightly and swung the heavy sword.
Once again.
The swords of a human and a monster…… No, the swords of a swordsman and a swordsman mixed.
Both sides unfolded sword moves solely to cut the opponent, disregarding defense.
The two sword moves collided in the middle with a reckless explosion sound.
Thick dust rose like fog and covered a radius of about one zhang.
And behind that, the fierce fight between Dam Jeok-san and the monster continued.
The two swords were still crossed, engaging in a contest of strength while making a CRUNCHING sound.
The monkey monster held demonic energy and shone its eyes as deep as an abyss. Its body was already broken to the point where recovery was impossible.
Beyond the level of being unsightly with broken bones and twisted joints, it felt close to a living corpse.
But the bastard was…….
“Keeheehee……! F-Fun……!”
Laughing while babbling human speech clumsily.
Much more cheerfully than when it first encountered Dam Jeok-san.
“I enjoyed it too.”
Dam Jeok-san answered while looking into the monkey monster's eyes.
He no longer needed to continue the contest of strength here. If he stepped back for a moment, the monkey monster would fall on its own.
But he did not do so.
He just squeezed out the last remaining strength and swung the sword.
His sword qi burned brilliantly and crushed the monkey monster's darkish demonic energy.
Shortly after, with a CRACKLE! sound, the monkey monster's rusty sword shattered into pieces.
As the demonic energy protecting the sword disappeared, the old and rusty sword could not endure any longer.
Dam Jeok-san did not stop there.
His sword moved forward with lightning speed.
Finally, it cut deeply into the monkey monster's neck.
SLASH―
A neck floated in the air with a monotonous sound.
Demonic energy drained out of the eyes that were black like an abyss.
Eventually, even the vitality disappeared.
What was reflected in the pupils at the end was neither fear nor regret nor anything else.
Admiration and joy.
Toward the sword Dam Jeok-san showed, and toward the sword it unfolded.
The monkey monster was ignorant and foolish.
Because it endlessly unfolded a swordsmanship that did not suit it. However, that was why it was also incomparably pure.
Even though regret is bound to remain for anyone facing death, the foolish swordsman did not leave a speck of regret.
As if announcing the end of the fight.
A question floated up, asking if he would predate.
Dam Jeok-san silently nodded his head.
Before long, a massive gravitational force began to suck in the demonic energy hovering around the monkey monster.
An energy thicker and denser than any demonic energy he had encountered so far.
The thoughts contained in the demonic energy were also intense by that much. Unlike monsters with scarce intelligence, to the point where his head felt dizzy.
But perhaps because they had already communicated once by exchanging swords. The thick thoughts did not invade his mind aggressively.
Rather―
‘It wants to say something.’
Listen.
It will be good for you too if you listen.
It is a sensation as if coaxing him in that way.
‘It is not a trap.’
He could be sure of that.
Because he came to know the opponent well while mixing swords. To the bottom. So Dam Jeok-san focused without turning his eyes away from the revealing thoughts.
Because he only now vaguely recognized the path to advance.
The memories and sentiments left by the monkey monster would certainly help make that path clear.
Like that, Dam Jeok-san faced his true face within the thoughts of another.
* * *
Western forest of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Coniferous forest where the Heaven-Honoring Forbidden Demon Formation was unfolded.
The Martial Sovereign appeared there again at the time promised with Dam Jeok-san.
Did the third disciple survive?
If he survived, what did he obtain?
His heart fluttered strangely.
A ticklish feeling that was hard to feel after entering the absolute realm.
It is precisely expectation.
However, since Dam Jeok-san had made up his mind to punish even his Senior Brother Woo Seo-gwang, he would have to return with something that far exceeded even the Martial Sovereign's expectation.
To not follow the original failure.
And to survive fighting against Woo Seo-gwang.
Since he had placed the Hidden Heaven Guard around the Iron Blood Woo Clan and seen the second disciple once more, the Martial Sovereign's thoughts became even firmer.
‘The second one has also become stronger.’
That method is never correct.
But it was a clear fact that his immediate martial power had risen rapidly.
Well, since everything is Dam Jeok-san's choice. He would have to take responsibility himself too.
But if he really survives in that forest and even defeats Woo Seo-gwang.
Only then could one say that Dam Jeok-san has truly risen by overcoming failure.