Chapter 836 : He Had Not Lived the Life of a Protagonist

Hyeok ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit felt a tangle of emotions.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍original plan had been to absorb Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit first, then use that strengthened power to absorb Hwa Moogi’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.

If ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he succeeded in absorbing the power of two Heavenly Demon Spirits?

Wouldn’t ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he be able to return to his original Heavenly Demon Spirit?

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wanted a body. His own body.

Though ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he should have devoted eternal loyalty to Hyeok Do-cheon, who had given birth to him, three hundred years had passed, and even that loyalty had now faded.

Having remained with them for so long, he had become half-humanized. That was why he didn’t mind becoming Hwa Moogi’s Heavenly Demon Spirit. As long as he could obtain a body, it didn’t matter whose Heavenly Demon Spirit he became.

He had been thinking such thoughts—until he saw that Geom Woojin’s Heavenly Demon Spirit did not annihilate Hwa Moogi’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.

If one lost to another Heavenly Demon Spirit and was annihilated, one would disappear forever. But if the host died and one vanished, there was a chance to meet another host someday.

Geom Woojin’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had not stolen that opportunity just to grow stronger.

At that moment, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit remembered what kind of existence he had once been.

Yes… he had once been a being as proud and dignified as that.

An absolute existence that made all demons bow in reverence and tremble in fear, without coveting anyone else’s power.

In contrast, the current him felt a crushing despair—he had become nothing more than a petty Heavenly Demon Spirit, his mind filled with all sorts of trivial thoughts.

At that moment, a voice echoed in his heart.

—So, you waver as well.

It was Hwa Moogi’s voice.

Whoosh.

The instant he heard those words, the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s soul was sucked into darkness in an instant, as if falling off a cliff.

The black pupils vanished, and Hwa Moogi returned.

Despite his Heavenly Demon Spirit’s defeat, Hwa Moogi neither raged nor wavered.

“You people can even shake the soul of a Heavenly Demon Spirit.”

Until he saw the other souls within his body shaking and collapsing, he had thought it was understandable. After all, they had been trapped inside his body for far too long—it was a miracle they hadn’t gone mad.

It wasn’t because they were masters that they endured. It was because they had been together that they managed to withstand such a long time.

It was understandable for them, as humans, to waver. But he had never imagined that even Heavenly Demon Spirits would be shaken by them. Not only his own, but even Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had wavered.

A question naturally escaped him.

“What exactly are you?”

At that, Geom Mugeuk glanced back at the people standing behind him. Though the long battle was still ongoing, they had silently stayed and watched.

“They’re the people who gathered because of you. If it weren’t for you……”

If Hwa Moogi had never existed in the first place? If he had never regressed?

What kind of life would he have been living now?

His older brother would have become the Young Cult Leader, and perhaps he himself would already be dead.

Most likely, that would have been the case.

Even if he had survived by luck, his relationship with his father and the Demon Supremes would have been a mess. And he would hardly have had the chance to even meet those two Alliance Leaders. Would he have even met the Sword King?

“It’s not because of you—it’s thanks to you.”

Because of you, his entire life had been difficult. And because of you, his current life was incredibly happy.

To him, Hwa Moogi was such an existence.

Hwa Moogi sensed the deep and complicated emotions reflected in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes. Why did he look at him with such eyes? That Young Cult Leader had been like that from the very beginning.

As Hwa Moogi stared at that incomprehensible gaze, he suddenly spoke.

“I regret it.”

He wasn’t speaking lightly—he truly regretted it.

“I should have killed them one by one, and killed you last.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at him and smiled with an inexplicable meaning.

Hwa Moogi, you had already done something similar once.

You had killed the Alliance Leaders, killed my father, and even tried to kill me. You had already lived that kind of life once.

Then came Hwa Moogi’s honest self-reproach.

“I was arrogant.”

In truth, he had every reason to be. His overwhelming martial arts, unimaginable internal energy, even Protective Energy that could replenish that internal energy—and two Heavenly Demon Spirits.

How could he have ever thought he would lose?

His self-reproach continued. Even if he had arrived here arrogantly, this was what he should have done.

“I should have pushed like a madman and wiped them all out before you arrived.”

Everything had fallen apart after Geom Mugeuk arrived. He had even been dragged into eating a meal. Though he hated to admit it, in the end, it wasn’t just the souls that had been swayed by this Young Cult Leader.

Regret. Self-blame.

Hwa Moogi was already acting like someone who had lost.

But Geom Mugeuk didn’t believe that for a second. Earlier, when his Heavenly Demon Spirit attacked Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit, Hwa Moogi had tried to set some kind of trap.

‘He hasn’t given up yet.’

In fact, he was even more dangerous now. He was luring them into carelessness while plotting something.

Originally, he had intended this:

Father, let’s fight together.

When else would he ever get the chance to fight alongside his father? He had planned to eliminate him decisively together.

But his instincts told him otherwise.

—Fight alone.

Geom Mugeuk chose to follow the instincts that had protected him for so long.

Looking at Hwa Moogi, he spoke leisurely.

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s not because you were arrogant—it’s because I lived too diligently.”

Though he appeared relaxed on the outside, Geom Mugeuk wasn’t careless in the slightest.

He drew the Black Demon Sword.

Before the fight, he looked at his Heavenly Demon Spirit. It had not yet disappeared—it still remained.

With pitch-black eyes, it stared at Hwa Moogi.

Geom Mugeuk could feel its emotions.

“I know you want to fight until the very end.”

The Heavenly Demon Spirit continued to face forward. It likely wanted to destroy Hwa Moogi itself. Perhaps it sensed that Hwa Moogi was its master’s destined nemesis.

With everyone watching, Geom Mugeuk calmly spoke to it.

“I haven’t lived a life trying to become the protagonist.”

At those unexpected words, the Heavenly Demon Spirit slightly turned its head to look at him.

Behind him, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult couldn’t hold back and blurted, “That’s nonsense!” Meanwhile, the Sword King nodded in agreement.

But when they thought about it, there was no one who had lived more for others than Geom Mugeuk.

Whenever they met him, they felt like they themselves became the protagonist. He made them realize who they were and what they liked.

That was why—even if they became supporting characters, or even mere extras—they were willing to stand here.

“If you’re going to live on as my Heavenly Demon Spirit, you’ll have to get used to a life where you’re not the protagonist. There will be many times you’ll have to step back, watch, endure, and yield. It probably won’t suit your personality. Still, I won’t live as the protagonist of this world. In the future, instead of deciding the fate of the martial world, we’ll be lying on a cart, looking at the sky as we travel across the Central Plains.”

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk conveyed his fate—not just to the Heavenly Demon Spirit, but to everyone.

“But for this fight, I’ll be the protagonist.”

The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s gaze remained fixed on him. Until now, it had only glanced at him occasionally, but now it stared at him without moving.

And this was what Geom Mugeuk truly wanted to say.

“Thank you for descending for me today. I know it was a descent prepared for annihilation. Thank you… my friend.”

The Heavenly Demon Spirit, which had been silently gazing at him, disappeared without a sound.

“I said so much, and you leave without saying a single word!”

After sending it off, Geom Mugeuk stepped forward.

Hwa Moogi found the sight utterly pathetic. It was nothing more than an evil spirit derived from martial arts.

“You really do talk too much—and care about everything.”

At that, Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“You’re not much different. You’re carrying plenty yourself. In that sense, we’re alike.”

At the word “alike,” Hwa Moogi instinctively thought, *This lunatic!*

To him, Geom Mugeuk was someone utterly incomprehensible. The more he looked, the more unpleasant he felt. He wanted to kill him immediately—yet at the same time, he was curious what nonsense he would say next.

“How about it? I’m still willing to talk with you.”

He had expected to be called insane—but the reply was different.

“After the fight, I’ll indulge you as much as you want.”

Swaeaeaeak.

Hwa Moogi moved first, launching himself at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk didn’t evade and charged straight in as well.

Having already fought once, both knew their skills were evenly matched. That was why they went all out from the very first move.

Chaeng!

The moment their first strikes collided, a thrill shot straight to their hearts.

This was the final battle—where nothing could be hidden, and everything had to be revealed.

Whoosh!

Geom Mugeuk’s sword slashed toward Hwa Moogi’s waist. It moved faster than the thought to aim there.

Of course, Hwa Moogi’s body moved faster to evade than to think of blocking.

Twisting his body to avoid it, Hwa Moogi thrust his sword toward Geom Mugeuk’s neck.

Whoosh!

Barely dodging, Geom Mugeuk stabbed toward his heart—only for Hwa Moogi to aim for his eyes.

It was hard to believe they had just been exchanging idle conversation. Every attack they made was solely to kill.

Both of them felt it.

After killing each other here, they would never again fight like this until the day they died.

Sword light flashed endlessly.

Their swords moved so fast that techniques requiring preparation or large amounts of internal energy had no place to intervene. This was purely practical swordsmanship—meant only for killing.

There was no room for beauty or elegance.

Only straight lines.

The shortest lines that led to death.

Only when facing a lesser opponent could one display the beauty of curves within such simplicity.

Even the slightest hesitation meant vital points would be pierced instantly.

Those watching couldn’t take their eyes off the fight. They couldn’t assist or interfere. The positions shifted too quickly to even launch sword energy.

Especially those who used swords—they watched as if they themselves were fighting. Their hearts pounded. Not to help, but because they wanted to fight like that—they wanted to take Geom Mugeuk’s place.

Amid the rapid exchanges, sword energy began to erupt. Short, fast bursts of sword energy made it seem as though the blades were lengthening and shortening.

“Ah!”

Gasps escaped from the onlookers. To release sword energy while moving at such speed was something they could hardly believe even as they saw it.

Chwaak! Chwaak! Chakchakchakchak!

Dozens of lines had already been carved around them—on the ground, on the shattered walls. The sheer number made it look as though they were fighting atop a Go board.

Perhaps feeling confined by it—

Without either taking the lead, the two dashed down the main street of Maga Village, continuing their battle.

They exchanged blows while running.

The trails of their sword light stretched behind them like long tails—like kite strings, following them through the streets.

They ran far into the distance, then returned to their original spot.

Even as they sprinted madly, they never stopped exchanging blows—and never once took their eyes off each other.

The moment they looked away, they would die.

Clearly, they were enjoying this battle.

But the sheer lethality of their attacks concealed that enjoyment.

There was no time to speak, no time even to smile.

Then, they leapt into the air.

As if stepping on invisible ground, they fought while standing in midair.

Rising and fighting was something masters could do—but stepping on the air as though it were solid ground was a realm not just anyone could reach.

They were displaying everything possible with swordsmanship that had reached the ultimate extreme.

Their swords became light, then heavy. When light, they were slow; when heavy, they were fast.

It defied the fundamental principles of swordsmanship.

And then—

Geom Mugeuk experienced something new.

Normally, when entering a state of selflessness, one wouldn’t even realize they were fighting. Only after regaining awareness would the battle be over.

But this time, it was the opposite.

It felt as though his soul had left his body, becoming a third party observing his own fight. It kept trying to slip out and watch from outside.

Was this a realm beyond selflessness? Or…

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened.

‘Perhaps?’

In that instant—after dozens of exchanges in the blink of an eye—the feeling intensified.

Kaaang!

Hwa Moogi knocked aside Geom Mugeuk’s sword and shouted—the first words spoken since the fight began.

“You’ve lost!”

At the same time, a dark aura exploded from his body.

Swaaaaaaak!

Geom Mugeuk instinctively understood. From the moment the battle began, Hwa Moogi had been waiting for this single moment.

This was his decisive move.

With an overwhelming force that coiled around and crushed him, Hwa Moogi poured nearly all his remaining internal energy into this single strike.

What about after this?

Hwaaak!

At the moment, something invisible engulfed him—

Pat!

The world darkened, then brightened again.

Geom Mugeuk stood in a new space.

A dense fog drifted around him—an eerie fog that felt almost alive.

Somewhere, he heard the sound of flowing water—and the crackling of flames.

There was a fragrant scent, the smell of blood, and the stench of rotting corpses.

Then—

From within the fog, someone suddenly emerged.

Surprisingly, it was none other than the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.

“Young Cult Leader.”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword showed no surprise at seeing him here—as if he had known Geom Mugeuk would arrive.

“He used the Dark Heaven Soul-Binding Art to imprison your soul. It’s the same dark demonic art that placed us inside his body. This… is his mind.”

Even at those shocking words, Geom Mugeuk didn’t appear particularly shaken.

“I know you’re strong, but……”

With a worried expression, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword hurriedly added, "If you can't escape within two hours, you'll be trapped here forever." At the same time, the reason Hwa Moogi had said he would talk as much as he wanted after the battle became clear.