Chapter 019. Requiem (6)
“……Crazy bastard.”
Woo Seo-gwang ground his teeth with a CRUNCH.
Some humiliating defeats become wounds that can never be forgotten. For Woo Seo-gwang, that day's defeat was like that.
While not only the Martial Sovereign but even his father was watching, he was beaten by Dam Jeok-san literally like a dog in the dog days of summer.
Being beaten one-sidedly meant that there was that much gap between Dam Jeok-san and Woo Seo-gwang at that time.
But now it is different.
Even though he looked like he regained some martial arts using some miscellaneous method, he didn't feel that intimidating pressure from before.
And even if by any chance he had perfectly regained his martial arts, Woo Seo-gwang himself had enough chance of winning.
Unlike Dam Jeok-san who lived like a cripple all this while, he had become much stronger than back then.
He reached the same conclusion as his father, Woo Gi-tae, and thrust with that conviction contained in his sword.
Woo Seo-gwang's sword cutting across the empty air while wrapped in pitch-black flames.
Iron Blood Golden Light Swordsmanship, Iron Pole Soul Destruction technique.
A supreme technique said to have been created by the first Family Head of the Iron Blood Woo Clan to destroy a monster so accursed he wanted to kill it even if he had to offer his soul.
The killing intent Woo Seo-gwang felt facing Dam Jeok-san slowly overlapped with that will.
The shame and insults he suffered because of that bastard, each and every one of them floats up in his mind.
The indifferent eyes of his master. The furious father's slapping, the martial artists of the Martial Sovereign Castle looking at him like trash.
And the culprit who caused all those things, Dam Jeok-san.
I will kill him.
I will tear him to shreds and kill him……!
As the killing intent deepened, the flames wrapping around the sword blade also blazed intensely.
Beyond the sword flickering blackly like that.
He could see Dam Jeok-san making a slightly mocking expression.
As if saying he saw through his tricks clearly.
That felt extremely unpleasant, but he added even that unpleasantness to the tip of his sword.
A sword strike with all his heart and soul rushes towards Dam Jeok-san.
Iron Pole Soul Destruction implemented more perfectly than ever.
It was powerful enough to make him think that perhaps he could kill Dam Jeok-san with this.
But―
CLANG!!
Dam Jeok-san's sword blocked the Iron Pole Soul Destruction technique without fail.
However, Dam Jeok-san's face turned white after blocking the sword.
COUGH―
With a pale complexion, the bastard swallows something down.
An appearance clearly showing he suffered internal injury.
Woo Seo-gwang did not miss that instant.
“Your bluff is certainly noteworthy.”
Sneering at Dam Jeok-san, he swung his sword again.
Truly a storm-like sword momentum.
Strikes containing the essence of the Iron Blood Golden Light Swordsmanship swept past Dam Jeok-san.
Every time that happened, scratches increased on the bastard's body, and his complexion also became paler and paler.
At this rate, he could cut off the bastard's neck within one tea-time at the longest.
An intuition close to conviction arose.
There is no need to rush. When he is definitely cornered and can do nothing. When he is broken enough to not even dream of mutual destruction.
Then I kill him.
Woo Seo-gwang slowly pressured Dam Jeok-san while harboring that thought.
As if that wasn't the wrong answer. He could see a satisfied smile hanging on the lips of Woo Gi-tae who was watching.
Yes, if I kill Dam Jeok-san here, not only father but also the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle will acknowledge me.
Woo Seo-gwang did not deny his dark inferiority complex and desire.
And inferiority complex begins from acknowledging the opponent's superiority.
‘I wanted to resemble you.’
Innate talent for martial arts. Decisiveness to push forward firmly with what he believes is right.
Personality overflowing with confidence to the point of arrogance despite the humble background of being an orphan.
He envied everything he had.
Thus, he wanted to resemble him.
The moment he acknowledged the things buried under inferiority complex, the power of his sword strikes became even stronger.
However, as much as the power grew strong, the energy waves he emitted became increasingly unstable.
It was a sign that entering deviation was deepening, but Woo Seo-gwang did not care.
He liked everything right now.
‘Bastard……!’
Only one thing.
Except for Dam Jeok-san, who had strangely calm eyes despite being cornered in a crisis.
* * *
The girl, Lee Hyang, was watching Dam Jeok-san's fight from the beginning.
While being held in the Martial Sovereign's arms.
Because her eyes were fixed on Dam Jeok-san.
He was being pushed back helplessly by Woo Seo-gwang ever since the life-and-death duel began.
Even the girl who knew nothing about martial arts could feel that much.
Perhaps that was why, the girl, Lee Hyang's large eyes were filled with anxiety.
“E-E-Excuse me…….”
The child who kept hesitating spoke to the Martial Sovereign.
“P-Please help, the Young Master……!”
When the Martial Sovereign's permission fell, the girl shouted, squeezing her eyes shut.
“Please help him just once. That person should not pass away because of me, because of merely my revenge…….”
“This Seat cannot understand at all, whom you are asking me to help…….”
However, the Martial Sovereign made a strange smile and said something unexpected.
“……What do you mean?”
The girl asked back suppressing her fear, but.
“Watch carefully, then you will know.”
The Martial Sovereign merely muttered in a low voice while pointing at Dam Jeok-san.
The girl still looked like she didn't understand what he meant.
But Mu-yeong, who was watching, was different.
He narrowed his forehead and looked at Dam Jeok-san.
He also thought he was being pushed back one-sidedly―
It is different.
Hearing the Martial Sovereign's words, the aspect of the battle looked different as if his eyes were truly opened.
And he could tell.
What Dam Jeok-san was waiting for.
‘Ha…….’
Mu-yeong swallowed a sigh inwardly.
The Third Young Master is not being pushed back, but waiting.
For the most perfect opportunity.
A chilling ability. If it deceives even Mu-yeong's eye, the Second Young Master wouldn't be able to notice easily either.
‘I cannot predict the direction of the match.’
Just a few days ago, Dam Jeok-san, who lost his dantian and couldn't handle a handful of internal energy, had risen to a level comparable to Woo Seo-gwang before anyone knew.
Does the built-up status not disappear even if internal energy scatters?
Interest appeared in Mu-yeong's eyes watching the duel between Dam Jeok-san and Woo Seo-gwang.
* * *
It's already been half a double hour since the life-and-death duel with Woo Seo-gwang began.
Dam Jeok-san was constantly pushed back and pushed back during that time.
Dam Jeok-san standing in the storm of pitch-black Sword Flame originating from the Iron Blood Golden Light Swordsmanship looked perilous as if crossing a black sea on a wooden plank.
Every time wounds increased on his body, he could feel Gyeong-won and Black Panther Spear's bodies flinching and trembling.
Perhaps if Dam Jeok-san himself faced a crisis of death, they would jump in to save him disregarding martial artists' honor or whatever.
Not to mention Gyeong-won who stayed by his side for half his life.
Black Panther Spear is also a loyal man, even if he left him once.
So he felt a little uncomfortable.
Even though he had a plan, he made them anxious.
But from now on, there was no reason to be so.
“I watched very well, Senior Brother.”
Dam Jeok-san said, parting the whitish dust storm blocking between Woo Seo-gwang and himself.
The face that was pale from internal injury was now full of relaxed light before anyone knew.
“As expected, it is not different even by an inch from my expectation.”
He said recalling Woo Seo-gwang's intense sword momentum like a storm.
Dam Jeok-san doesn't know much about the Iron Blood Golden Light Swordsmanship.
But he knew better than anyone about the Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique.
A violent martial art that might devour the practitioner in reverse.
A martial art possessing immense danger as much as it gives mighty power.
This was also the reason why many evaluated it close to demonic arts, even though the Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique is a divine martial art that can discuss the past and present.
Also, the Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique blooms most splendidly right before devouring the practitioner.
Dam Jeok-san was like that, and Woo Seo-gwang also seemed like that.
His abnormal strength originated from the rampaging Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique.
Of course, perhaps Woo Seo-gwang might overcome that rampage unlike himself.
Although his innate talent is far lacking compared to Dam Jeok-san, everything in the world is not solely determined by talent.
But now it is impossible.
I will make it so.
“Senior Brother must have relied on the talent inherited from your parents and the martial arts learned from Master until now.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke calmly with his sword hanging down.
He could take this opportunity to attack without questions asked.
However, the force felt from Dam Jeok-san's tone made that impossible.
A feeling like intuition passed by that he wouldn't gain anything by fighting without answering.
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
Woo Seo-gwang answered in a tone mixed with cold ridicule.
“You wouldn't know, since I was like that too.”
Dam Jeok-san smirked.
He also trusted his innate talent. And trusted the chant of the Extreme Heaven Strange Sovereign Technique.
So he constantly moved forward even while being devoured by martial arts.
Even seeing injustice, he cowardly avoided it, quietly went around, and found the fastest way to move forward.
However, that place was a thousand-fathom cliff.
Only after losing his dantian did he realize that was wrong.
Even after awakening the ability of predation and regaining his dantian, he couldn't find the proper path.
That was why a part of the predated internal energy lost its way and wandered in the meridians.
Also, that was why he couldn't kindle Sword Flame (劍炎) after dealing with the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake last time.
But with the battle in the Forbidden Demon Forest, Dam Jeok-san got a little closer to the answer.
Moving forward without caring about efficiency or whatever. Not calculating gains and losses in doing what one desires.
And resolving to dedicate even death, let alone life, in walking the path of the sword.
“I will show you, what I realized.”
Of course, Woo Seo-gwang will have to pay the price.
With his life.
Dam Jeok-san's sword rings ZIIIIING! and vomits out a fierce sword cry.
The trajectory is different from the sword cries until now.
An intense cry as if his mind and body are truly resonating with the sword.
Soon, bright blue sword qi dwells in his sword.
The density of sword qi constantly rises and before anyone knew, it changes like a brightly burning flame.
The sword qi was compressed and compressed to take a form like a burning flame.
Sword Flame.
Although it was a technique Woo Seo-gwang used like breathing until now, Dam Jeok-san's Sword Flame was somewhat different.
“You…… just what?”
Woo Seo-gwang muttered with anxious eyes.
His extremely sharpened senses kept ringing alarm bells.
That is dangerous. ……No, that bastard is dangerous.
Dangerous premonition spreads to his whole body in an instant like wildfire.
But Woo Seo-gwang clenched his molars tightly and raised his sword.
It is true that the intimidating pressure felt from Dam Jeok-san is at a terrifying level.
However, considering only the total amount of qi wrapping the sword, he still falls far short of himself.
He saw a sliver of hope there.
Hope that there might be a chance of winning if it goes to a clash of strength and strength.
Such thoughts of Woo Seo-gwang were clearly visible in Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
However, even if seen, it is true that pushing with strength is threatening.
But he didn't worry deeply.
He didn't come here merely to kill Woo Seo-gwang.
To take revenge for Lee Hyang.
And to prove to Woo Seo-gwang, who seems to resemble his past self.
That I am right and you are wrong.
What Dam Jeok-san chose to achieve that was the simplest yet most tenacious, and therefore the fastest sword.
Extreme Fast Sword containing tenacity runs tearing the earth.
‘……!’
Woo Seo-gwang felt a sensation as if the whole world was being sucked into that sword.
Soon, something warm brushing past his body as his mind became blurred―
―!
“Cough……!”
A groan filled with pain flowed from Woo Seo-gwang's mouth.