Black attire with unique embroidery patterns, a bamboo hat on her head, and a long sword tied around her waist. Except for her pale white skin, everything was black. In terms of appearance, she appeared like a Joseon-era rascal or a nameless traveling warrior.…
Thud.
Overflowing brilliance with just one single step. Her calm eyes looked as if she was gazing over the sky, albeit only 170cm tall in height. She was radiating a royal atmosphere.
“I’m here for business, but I’ve come across a welcome face in an unexpected place. Hohoho!”
The Heavenly Devil was looking at Yoon-seok. Her unwavering, still black pupils were like bottomless pits with a sense that she could see through everything.
“…Hurray, Hurray, Hurray! Sword Demon Jeong Dae-woon greets the Messiah!”
The Sword Demon, who came to his senses, took a kowtow position with three cheers. Now it seemed that Yoon-seok could understand their faith. How could such an absolute person be called a human?
“If you’re too polite, it might seem fake. Get up.”
“Yes.”
Sword Demon rose silently and retreated three steps. He bent his back and quietly lowered his head to fix his eyes on the ground. As if he had organized his breathing as well, not even that could be heard as he blended in the background. Suddenly, he thought maybe he should do the same, but…that would be how they treated the heavens.
“…”
As he was curious about Ashton’s reaction, he looked at him. He shivered with a pale complexion, overwhelmed by her presence. Yoon-seok couldn’t understand it. The word overwhelming wasn’t enough to describe the dominating aura, but somehow, he felt very comforted. Maybe that was why?
“…How did you recognize me?”
Yoon-seok asked without reluctance. He’d been curious since earlier. Well, Yoon-seok was wearing a mask now, and his physique was 10cm taller than their last meeting. Even now, he used two swords, but maybe many other things hadn’t changed. Yet, to his eyes, there were no traces of him from the past. So how did she find out at once?
The Heavenly Devil replied without hesitation.
“Well, all I can say is that I knew the moment I saw you. But isn’t that the same for you?”
“…”
Yoon-seok, who realized it was an obvious question, closed his mouth. It was as she said. If it weren’t for the fact that he had been told the messiah was coming, that young face and old-fashioned tone and laughter…he could tell in one glance, though he didn’t have a particular reason. He was very sure.
“By the way, it seems like you were talking about something interesting while I wasn’t here.”
Suddenly, she stopped talking abruptly.
“So, you’re the Co-Sect Leader?”
The comfortable atmosphere vanished. Instantly, the pressure she exuded bore down on him.
“Chief Jeong, can you explain what this is about?”
“Yes.”
The Sword Demon, Chief Jeong, immediately knelt and confessed to the past incidences in detail. He found the challenger that matched the description she mentioned and reached Yoon-seok. So, while he was going to take him, he demonstrated the Heavenly Sword.
“He mimicked my sword? Are you sure?”
“Although my eyes are merely empty holes compared to the messiah’s, how can a follower of the sky not recognize it?”
He also described the process of persuading Yoon-seok to become the Co-Sect Leader. Surprisingly, the Heavenly Devil listened with a blank expression, but at once showed a change.
“Hmmm, you considered me as your mentor?”
A gaze of dismay and interest. It was hard to say that she looked happy, but she didn’t look offended either.
“Yes, but the Co-Sect Leader also stated that it was unknown whether the Messiah thought of him as a disciple.”
“I’m not asking you, Chief Jeong. You tell me. Is this true?”
Her eyes turned to Yun-seok, and he nodded slowly. She then touched her jaw and spoke firmly.
“I’m proud of you, but you can’t be my disciple.”
Should he say it was just like what he’d expected? He wasn’t hoping too much. Yoon-seok knew too well that she taught him to get rid of her boredom. But…
“This is because to be a Co-Sect leader in my sect; no one should be placed above, including me.”
A heavy silence fell following the Heavenly Devil’s words. Yoon-seok later realized what she meant. She had just officially admitted it here. That Yoon-seok was the Co-Sect Leader that would succeed her.
“Why?”
“Hoho! Your question is so vague that I have no idea what you’re asking about.”
That was what she said, but it meant that he was asking the obvious. Otherwise, there was no way that playful glint would shine in her eyes like a senior teasing their junior.
“Stay outside for a while. I have something to tell him.”
“Roger.”
At her words, the Sword Demon led his men into the hall outside.
“How long are you going to put a plate on your face?”
Yoon-seok took off his mask.
“What’s your intention?”
“Are you saying that since I’m letting it go even though I knew you intended to take advantage of the Co-Sect Leader position?”
“…That’s right.”
When Yoon-seok nodded, she answered in a tone that hinted it was nothing.
“That’s because I thought it would be fun. Plus, if there’s a predecessor, they won’t bother me anymore.”
That was why it was so absurd. But he grew even more confused because it sounded like the truth.
“However, I am indebted to them. So I should at least put someone qualified on the seat.”
With that, she slowly pulled out her sword.
“Let’s see. How strong you’ve become.”
Given that her eyes were still filled with joy, it was highly likely that she wanted to confirm if he was qualified. But he couldn’t let his guard down.
“Then let’s do it the same way. Three times. Block it three times.”
Three times, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
“And if you survive, this sect will belong to you.”
He wondered if a Sect Leader was supposed to say that, but… Yoon-seok didn’t reply. He just quietly pulled out his swords and faced the Heavenly Devil.
“…”
In the past, Yoon-seok received her sword three times. However, the possibilities weren’t guaranteed this time. Although he had grown way stronger, he was sure the same could be said for her. They weren’t on the same floor anymore, so it wasn’t an exaggeration to say he was at a disadvantage.
「Seventeen swords are used. The Phantom Energy that is ingrained in the sword becomes stronger.」
Yoon-seok activated King of All Swords first. She didn’t raise an eyebrow when she saw the swords levitating around Yoon-seok. She only recited one word.
“Gama.”
Her sword moved smoothly. The color of the energy on the sword was black, matching her attire very well.
Whoosh!
Was the first attack to test the waters? It was so ordinary that he thought so. However, Yoon-seok felt goosebumps rising on his arms. It meant that despite how much his knowledge about martial arts increased, he still couldn’t figure what that was. Yoon-seok devoted his utmost attention to observing it, attentively watching how the infused black energy warped around its surroundings.
‘Enhanced Speed.’
He didn’t know what that was. However, he thought it was impossible to block it as soon as he thought that, Yoon-seok moved behind her using teleportation.
Slash-!
「The souls of ancient hunters protect the User from unknown dangers.」
Blue light burst out of the glove. He couldn’t understand. It slashed the black space between them, so why had he been cut? He had no clue, but Yoon-seok continued to observe the Heavenly Devil.
“You have something quite interesting.”
He survived thanks to the equipment, but she didn’t show any reactions. Instead, she prepared for the next move after leaving that comment.
「By Lady’s Commandment, Unique Skill b Heavenly Body} is sealed within the realm.」
Yoon-seok invoked Lady’s Commandment urgently. It was a way of responding because he knew the Heavenly Devil’s Unique Skill. But…
「Heaven’s Blessing nullifies the admin’s powers.」
Heaven’s Blessing…he didn’t know what that was. It seemed like a power rather than a skill. Anyway, the important thing was that Lady’s Commandment didn’t work. However, Yoon-seok didn’t care.
‘If it’s impossible to block it, I’ll attack first.’
Dominance, Strongness, Gentleness, Illusion, Bluntness, Heaviness, Speediness, Lightness. Yoon-seok’s sword, which contained eight elements, began to shine in his foe’s eyes glinted with interest.
“Did you perhaps make it after seeing the Sword Saint’s sword?”
Did she also compete with Sword Saint on the 10th floor? At a glance, she even recognized where it was from. Then she tilted her head.
“It’s a little strange, though. No matter how hard I look at it, I don’t think you’re at the level to defeat him.….”
Indeed. The Sword Saint Lee Hyun-hak, although he had the skills and power to win, it was absurd for him to fight with a single sword. He somehow succeeded in making an eight-colored sword by mimicking him, but he was nowhere near reaching the invisible sword he demonstrated. But he won then, too. It wouldn’t be different this time either. He may not win, but he would be able to survive if he endured it three times.
Whoosh!
Yoon-seok leaped forward and extended his sword, the eight-colored energy swirling and firing from the tip. However, when she saw it, she muttered as if she felt sorry for him.
“You still don’t know your color yet.”
Black energy was belatedly fired from the Heavenly Devil’s sword. The phenomenon of the energy warping its surroundings was gone. However, it pierced through Yoon-seok’s eight-colored sword energy like it was nothing. Yoon-seok felt dizzy and tried to use Vajra Step, hoping to block the move and aim for an opportunity to turn the tables with the characteristics of Universal Grand Shift.
But…
“Stop.”
Only the eight-colored sword was destroyed by her blade.
“Let’s call it a day.”
Yoon-seok looked questioningly at her given the sudden suspension. Seeing Yoon-seok like that, the Heavenly Devil asked.
“How long has it been?”
“…?”
“I’m asking how long it has been since that day.”
She wasn’t asking for a date. In a place where the concept of time was mixed up, someone’s day could be weeks for another. Yoon-seok measured it roughly, his time spent wielding his sword in the arena, exploration, mission, and so on.
“…It’s been a little over half a year.”
The Heavenly Devil laughed self-mockingly at Yoon-seok’s answer.
“Hahaha! Only half a year! Yeah, of course!”
“…?”
“You know, countless Moorim warriors will collapse and say that they have spent decades in vain when they see you!”
First of all, it sounded like a compliment. That’s why he couldn’t understand. Didn’t she stop because she was disappointed that he survived on equipment and relied on skills rather than swordsmanship? Yoon-seok asked honestly rather than struggling internally with that question.
“…You weren’t disappointed?”
“I was, but I was just greedy. I just realized it wasn’t your job. You haven’t even taken your first step yet. Oh, don’t worry. You can do whatever you want as the Co-Sect Leader.”
After all that effort and strength, he only seemed like a rookie who hadn’t even taken the first step. But there was nothing to refute. He still possessed Judgment of the Ruined Monarch and many other skills… but he knew she wasn’t talking about them.
“You’re different than you were back then. Why are you making that face? If you’re lacking, just fill it up. Besides…”
She scratched the back of her neck, blurring the end of her words, then continued with a sheepish expression. Somehow, her voice was a little smaller than usual.
“You have me, right?”
“…?”
“You’re not becoming my disciple, so don’t be mistaken. Do you understand?”
Only then did Yoon-seok know that the Heavenly Devil meant she would teach him once again.
“Ahem! It doesn’t matter if you’re not from Cheonma-dong, but a man who called himself the Co-Sect Leader only knows how to use one tactic of Heavenly Sword, tsk… this is why I’m placed in a weird spotlight. Be prepared.”
Red tidal waves… he only knew then that it was just one of the many tactics of the Heavenly Sword.
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