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chapter-285

Chapter 285. Yacha (夜叉) (5)

Clang!

Crash!

Spears collided in mid-air.

Elise, having manifested her ‘Blood Lord’ ability, deftly controlled her spear.

More accurately, she was manipulating it with magic rather than wielding it with her hand.

Tuk.

With a light landing, Elise spun her Blood Spear like a windmill.

“I definitely prefer this over a rapier.”

Her long silver hair fluttered in the air above.

At the same time, the spear’s tip shot towards Chae Hong-Ah’s heart.

An attack too fast to even contemplate evading.

Boom!

“Kugh!”

Sparks flew, and Chae Hong-Ah was sent flying.

“Hehe.”

Elise glanced over in Jinhyuk’s direction.

With pricked ears and tightly clenched fists, she looked like an eager puppy waiting for praise.

Of course.

Jinhyuk’s attention was entirely focused on Yacha.

Elise got irritated.

“Not looking? Not even now? Not even at this?”

Her spear thrusts became even more violent.

Phrasing her flurry of thrusts that blurred afterimages as ‘impeccable’ would only be putting it lightly.

However, it was not the intended fish getting caught, but rather an unexpected side reaction.

“Not bad at all. Among the warriors of Murim, not to mention the knights of the empire, very few can withstand this spear for more than ten clashes.”

As one terribly worn in the art of spear combat, Chae Hong-Ah could see it clearly.

Just how exceptional Elise was at managing distance.

“Perhaps after surviving numerous brushes with death and even more battles. Maybe, even stronger than that man over there.”

“Stronger… than him? Stronger than the contractor?”

“Maybe in terms of the cunning born from experience. I didn’t realize under that mask at Cheonmajeon was someone so young. Even more impressive.”

“Pile it on.”

“Eh?”

“Much more. I want a lot more praise.”

Elise’s eyes sparkled eagerly.

Her voice had even taken on a stern tone.

“Quickly. Tell me from the start, just how grand and how magnificent I am. Speak all night if you must!”

Elise’s pride had soared to the heavens.

Jinhyuk clicked his tongue, watching from afar.

Hmm.

It seemed like she had a lot built up inside.

After all, being the high and mighty head of Ataraxia, to be treated like an untouchable and have her pride stepped on daily must have her craving acknowledgment.

While Elise and Chae Hong-Ah’s battle paused momentarily,

Wolyeong faced Dokgoryong.

“Kuck. Wolyeong! How dare a lowlife like you draw a sword against me? You couldn’t even look me in the eye before, stepping so boldly out of line now!”

“There was a time when that was true. You were so far above me in the ranking, unreachable.”

“There was? So, you believe it’s not the case now?”

“As you can see.”

Wolyeong thrust his sword forward.

“It’s laughable. There’s no way you could’ve improved so much since then. What makes you bold enough now?”

The reason?

It’s nothing special.

Merely…

“I served under someone stronger than you.”

He’d fought together with that person. Watched how they fought. And what it means to fight.

The bone-chilling strength was to be expected.

The relentless cruelty that crushed enemies and allies alike was honestly scary, even as an ally.

It was like being stabbed with a blade, then showered with salt and having someone dance in front of you.

The thought that a prompt death would be more merciful naturally followed.

And after going through all that…

“You didn’t amount to much.”

What once looked like a tiger in Dokgoryong had now started to appear like a mere cat.

“Kek… Kahahaha! It seems with time you’ve forgotten just how dreadful I can be. If you think you can take me on alone, it truly shows that time is a path to oblivion.”

Ssszzz!

Dokgoryong’s arm turned a green hue.

Poison Lotus Water.

A venom so potent that mere skin contact will rot flesh within an instant.

However, just as the venomous mist neared Wolyeong,

A mouth opened wide behind him.

“Mosquito! Mosquito! Moootthhhmosquito!”

[Goguma uses ‘Acid Breath’!]

Kwadakwadakwada!

A green beam, far deeper in color than the cloud, streaked across it.

“My poison is superior to yours?”

Dokgoryong’s mouth dropped open.

However, before he could act on his shock, Wolyeong, who had appeared behind Dokgoryong using ‘Shadow Extreme Kill’, launched a surprise attack.

＊＊＊

Jinhyuk surveyed the overall battle.

‘Respectable as the Brain Alliance may be, they can’t match my Elemental Beasts.’

The five Elemental Beasts, having been rigorously trained, coordinated like a single entity.

Goguma and Wolyeong were also admirably pushing their opponents. Aside from Elise playing the queen, there were no major surprises.

All that was left was a wild beast baring its ferocious fangs.

Just then.

Thud.

Amhwang approached Jinhyuk’s side.

His face reflected complex emotions.

Jinhyuk already knew the reason.

“You’ve come.”

“The marks on the ground suggest you’ve used the Black Heavenly Demon’s 1st and 3rd techniques.”

“…Yes.”

“From the beginning, I wondered. How can you, a foreigner from the Tower, utilize my unique martial arts so casually?”

The presence he emanated felt too profound to be achieved overnight. Surely, immense effort and training must have supported it.

“That is…”

Jinhyuk trailed off.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t prying. If you can’t tell me, that’s enough.”

Amhwang waved his hand lightly.

“Even if it’s a lie, it doesn’t matter. There must be a reason. I have decided to accept you.”

Yes…

My master was always like this.

He was one of the few who could be relied upon in a world abandoned by players.

At that time, I thought of my master as a mere inhabitant of the Tower, lacking character.

That’s why I didn’t want to get attached.

After all, giving affection to an NPC, a part of the program, only leaves room for hurt.

But as I ascended the Tower, the more I regretted keeping that distance at the peak.

‘…Once is enough for regret.’

“I’ll formally ask for your name.”

“Kang Jinhyuk.”

Responding to Amhwang’s question, Jinhyuk slowly began to speak.

“My name is… Kang Jinhyuk.”

“Given the circumstances, let’s exchange courtesies with an offer of respect instead of formal rites.”

Betraying and deceiving others is rife in martial arts society. Saying one will ally and then stabbing them in the back is the nature of the survival of the fittest.

However.

A master never betrays their disciple.

Like a parent cannot abandon their child, nor can a child abandon their parent.

Neither can a master nor disciple turn their backs on one another.

“Jinhyuk. You shall be the first disciple I accept, and at the same time, the last.”

That’s why.

Anyone who tries to harm their disciple is unforgivable.

“Witness and learn. That alone should suffice as a great lesson for you.”

Amhwang stood before Yacha.

“Kuu…”

Yacha growled lowly, its whites showing.

Even though its reason was gone, it instinctively felt threatened by the presence before it.

“The impurities in your body weren’t there originally. Foolish ones have put a Will-o’-the-Wisp into you… Haha. And someone played a prank with that one as well. Your insides are a complete mess.”

Amhwang looked at Yacha with a troubled gaze.

True to his words, Yacha’s condition was noticeably deteriorating.

Its power, overworked, exceeded its peak and erupted uncontrollably, quickly breaking down.

Like using the wrong fuel, Yacha burned itself out, self-destructing in the process.

“Kaaaa!”

“It would’ve been nice to fight you again someday, but not like this. Now, I shall free you from your pain.”

Kukukuku!

Dark energy rose around Amhwang.

Black Heavenly Demon’s 12th technique.

Unity Extremes (一極支合).

The 12th and most powerful technique among the techniques Amhwang possessed.

I knew it.

That movement. That posturing.

Each one…

In theory, it would take at least a year of practice to reach that level.

And I know even if you theoretically understand a technique, without the necessary internal energy and training, it remains a mere dance.

But then, why do I feel…

‘As if… I could do it.’

Jinhyuk’s body reflexively twitched.

Just then.

Yacha and Amhwang clashed head-on.

ROAR!

Vast inner energies collided.

A clash of pure power without finesse.

Yacha, enveloped in brute force, swung its fists wildly.

Amhwang countered with the 12th technique of the Black Heavenly Demon.

The energy from his dantian visibly surged into his upper body.

No doubt the next move would be…

‘Unity Circle.’

A black circle appeared between Amhwang and Yacha.

This was the beginning of forming an extremity.

And unknowingly, Jinhyuk…

Followed the motion.

‘Circle of Limits.’

A new white circle materialized behind Yacha.

＊＊＊

Shock rippled through Amhwang’s eyes.

“How could…”

It was the 12th technique meant to sever Yacha, contaminated by agony, from life.

A demonstration of what lies ahead in mastering the Black Heavenly Demon to his disciple.

But to mimic it after just one glance?

It transcends talent or effort.

The realm of impossibility.

‘…The real monster was elsewhere.’

Amhwang looked with disbelief at the circle drawn by Jinhyuk.

At that moment,

The punctuation for the Twin Extremes (雙極支合), the 12th technique meant to be manifested as a single pole,

became a line connecting two poles.

Black and white.

Light and darkness pierced Yacha’s heart.

Thump!

At its final moment, Yacha did not block the attack.

Nor did it attempt to regenerate.

Once its blurred eyes refocused, it was visibly smiling.

“…”

As if grateful for being freed from the cursed nightmare.

Thud!

Yacha’s body collapsed to the left.

At that instant,

Countless status windows appeared before Jinhyuk.

Ding! Ding!…

[You have earned a 70% contribution.]

[Your level has increased!]

[Your level has increased!]

[Your level has increased!]

[Your level has increased!]

[Your level has…]

[…increased!]

[Due to Yacha’s death, you have met the cloning condition.]

[Successfully cloned the unique ability ‘Brute Demon (怪力亂神)’!]

[Brute Demon (怪力亂神)]

Obtaining difficulty: Unmeasurable

Description: A close combat unique ability that manifests in various forms depending on the caster. It gives immunity against fear towards the opponent and increases physical and magical defense by 30% each.

[You have acquired ‘Yacha’s Wrist Guard’.]

[You have obtained the special item ‘Taishan Sword’.]

[You have obtained ‘Yacha’s Elixir’.]

[You have obtained ‘Yacha’s Secret Manual’.]

Eight levels.

And with that came new abilities and items that seemed significant.

Nonetheless, despite the notification of victory…

There was no hint of joy in Jinhyuk’s expression.

‘The Eye of Gluttony’ wasn’t just seeing items or reward-related status bars.

The unease he felt when Yacha was consumed by the Will-o’-the-Wisp.

The true nature of what that was.

He finally realized.