The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-596

"Ugh... Impressive... Truly... Impressive!"

Davey watched as Tae Yu-Chun, even while collapsing and spitting blood, could not help but express his admiration.

"Look at the sky! Doesn't it seem as though the sky is crying?!"

In response to his words, everyone lifted their gaze to the sky. There, they could see scars across the heavens as if it had been split into several pieces. The effects of Davey’s sword arts were truly vast. These were the wounds on the sparring ground caused by the aftermath, up to the scars in the sky.

Without a word, Davey sheathed his sword and gradually dissipated the energy sword dancing in mid-air.

A winner was decided, and no one dared to object. In silence, Davey walked past Tae Yu-Chun.

"Thank you. With your help, things went a bit smoother," Davey said.

"Ha... Haha...cough! Can we... spar again next time?" Tae Yu-Chun seemed too relieved, having poured out all his energy and lost.

"My guess was right. The Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art is... the ultimate martial art the Ak Rim Sect desires, isn't it?" Davey took out a healing elixir from the spatial void and threw it to the dying youngster. "Absorbing multiple martial arts to form one’s own. That's what the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art is."

Though it originally had another name, its name changed to the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art once it was associated with the title “Heavenly Destroyer.”

***

Words travel faster than winds.

At the martial tournament, closely observed by both the Righteous and Evil Paths, as well as the Countries of Hwan and Yu, a significant event unfolded. It was revealed that the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, created by the Heavenly Destroyer Dokgo Jun and known to drive its practitioners to madness and ruin, was being used by not one but two individuals. That an unknown variable like Davey could use it was one thing, but the fact that the individual supported by Prince Wol Gye-Woo had created a similar art of his own was astonishing.

Furthermore, it seemed that the other technique Davey used, Scattering Blossom Flash, closely resembled one of the secret arts of the Heavenrend Sect Master, Cheon Geum, one of the Five Stars.

These pieces of news made the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art the subject of re-evaluation overnight. If the Ak Rim Sect and Davey had a common goal, this was it. It was made clear that concealing the true history of Heavenly Destroyer Dokgo Jun, as well as disregarding and criticizing the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, had been a mistake.

Now, both the Righteous and Evil Paths had lost their means to restrain Davey through conventional martial ethics. Thus, they were now forced to protect and hide what little secrets they had left—the fact that Dokgo Jun’s's family was used and discarded by the Central Martial Alliance. Moreover, the infamous Dokgo Jun, far for committing heinous acts, was actually struggling to survive as he was being hunted by a coalition between righteous and evil forces.

"The martial art of The Heavenrend Sect... was originally based on the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art..." Yun Hee-Ryeong muttered bitterly.

"If you heard the actual shocking news, you’d be foaming at the mouth."

"What?! What else is there?!" she asked, startled.

‘Nothing much, just that you are not a mere human, but the Princess of the Abyss, capable of bringing destruction to the world all on your own,’ Davey thought. ‘You’re fundamentally different from beings like Tae Yu-Chun. He might be a genius, but he can only go so far on his martial path. On the other hand, you are a natural disaster.’

Ideally, killing her before she awakened would have been the best course of action. However, Kain argued that trying something and hastily causing her awakening was not recommended, taking into account that she had instinctively subdued her murderous intent during her fight against Davey. Davey also agreed and thus held back.

The victor of the martial arts tournament was supposed to be rewarded with immense wealth and fame. It would be a remarkable honor for the winner’s sect and family, and a significant accomplishment within the martial realm.

But just as they judged Davey, he too, judged them. Though Prince Wol Gye-Woo was not a being from the Abyss, Davey’s suspicion that he had some connection to the Abyss had not waned. The issue was that beings from the Abyss had definitely followed Davey here to prevent him from obtaining the Absolute Gem and interfering with their plans. Yet, they had taken no action so far. That did not make sense.

In other words, trouble was inevitable.

After the tournament, Prince Wol Gye-Woo made contact with Davey in secret. Since the latter wanted to confirm his hypothesis, he did not decline the prince’s invitation.

"I was eager to meet you. Not just because of your marvelous martial prowess, but also because I have something to say about the martial art you used."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"You are a transcendent martial artist, and this honor is no more than you deserve. Even though Tae Yu-Chun is still young, within the Ak Rim Sect, no one but his master can handle his strength—and the sect leader has to borrow power from elsewhere to do it."

Wol Gye-Woo’s smile faded and his face turned serious.

What could be so important that he had to meet Davey alone, even at the expense of dismissing those around him?

"Let's get to the point. I hold you in high esteem. And I know you want to overturn the revolting past of the orthodox factions."

Davey remained silent.

"I share the same thoughts as the junior sect leader, Tae Yu-Chun, though our methods differ. I intend to spread the truth in this false world. The Ak Rim Sect's methods may be excessive, but I have no intent to restrict their actions. Neither Righteous nor Evil Path has any real superiority."

Even admired martial artists could have enemies.

"So, you attempted to take down the Heavenrend Sect and kill Princess Hyun-Hwa?"

Princess Hyun-Hwa, Ye Hyun-Hwa. She was that interesting girl Davey had encountered while facing giant gorillas, tigers, and spiders during the cave trial.

"How did you...?"

Davey shrugged. "There are ways to learn about such things."

"There are unspoken debts and relationships in the world. The leader of the Heavenrend Sect, Cheon Geum, is not someone I detest enough to kill, but if I had to say it straight, I don't bear any good feelings toward him. And... that insipid and foolish girl Hyun-Hwa lacks any sense at all!!" He screamed angrily. "That girl is completely unaware of the consequences of her actions. And, she'll be nothing but a nuisance for my future plans."

Davey looked at him. To think that he was hating on his own sister so vehemently…he was very much unlike Crown Prince Sullivan. This conflict would have been considered normal for the average imperial family—they were not famous for their familial love, after all. However, Sullivan had gone to the extent of becoming a villain to protect his family, so he was quite the exception. The turmoil caused by the death of the Sixth Prince, Rendos de Pallan, in the Pallan Empire was well-known.

"That person from the Jegal family must be feeling quite disturbed," the prince commented.

"Do you know him?"

"A genius from the Jegal family. How could I not know him? But this time, I’ve outplayed him."

The prince’s desire was the collapse of the status quo.

"Stagnation leads to decay. I don’t wish to see martial artists infiltrate the court and meddle in state affairs any longer."

Davey raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you aware that the Ak Rim Sect is the worst offender?"

"They will be expelled eventually. Do you think I’m a monster for doing what I did?"

"No. Actually, I think you’re quite rational."

Well, the prince was quite rational for someone of his status, but strictly on a personal basis, he was the worst of the worst. His ideology was clear. The government and the martial world should have been distinct from the get-go, and he had no tolerance for the martial world meddling in state affairs.

"That's why I helped you. Although that wasn’t my intention in the beginning, I find that our goals align," Wol Gye-Woo said earnestly. "For now, we still need the strength of the Ak Rim Sect. Help us."

If Wol Gye-Woo had known that Han Ja-Seong was a descendant of Dokgo Jun and capable of learning the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art, Wol Gye-Woo would not have embarked on this endeavor.

Suddenly, Wol Gye-Woo shuddered and dropped his tea cup. "Huh? This tea tastes like… cough!"

And before Davey could say anything, Wol Gye-Woo spat out blood and collapsed. At the same time, something black emerged from behind the paper screen where Wol Gye-Woo sat, looking at Davey as if it had known that he would come here.

[You won’t have your way.]

The entity pointed at Wol Gye-Woo with one of its limbs and showed what seemed to be a grin.

[Look, it’s a catastrophe.]

Perserque instinctively summoned her mana, but Davey was faster. He summoned the Taboo’s Karma and blew up the entity on the spot.

"Shut the fuck up."

[Heheheh. It's too late. My minions have already begun to move. The Absolute Gem that this pitiful human prince offered has already fallen into our hands.]

"Yeah, figured you guys would make a move."

[This isn’t the end. Watch as I bring destruction to everything you've shown mercy to.]

First to come to Davey's mind were Han Ja-Seong and Cheon Ji-Hee, survivors of the Heavenrend Sect, and potentially Tae Yu-Chun as well.

"Think they’ll be easy to kill?"

[Because of that judgment. The hearts of those you showed mercy to will burst.]

"Davey!" Perserque called out in alarm, and Davey nodded.

"A conspiracy of regicide, huh."

Not that he had much sentiment to spare Tae Yu-Chun’s life, but there was no reason to let him die this way. Isildi, having lost her memory, was only a potential adversary. However, the entity in the Abyss ready to stand against Davey was different.

Whether it was an existence similar to the Gordian Worm he had encountered recently in Tionis or something else, the fact of the matter was that they had begun to move. They aimed to restrain Davey and prevent him from obtaining the Absolute Gem. Not only that, but they sought to bring harm to everything that he wanted to keep intact, and it was out of sheer spite.

Boom!!

The Assassin Unit flooded into the room.

"Crown Prince!!!"

Seeing Davey sitting opposite of Wol Gye-Woo and the latter spewing blood, they drew their swords out of sheer reflex. With sheer fury in their eyes, they yelled, "You dare to harm the crown prince?! You son of a bitch!!!"

Now that Davey thought about it, this was precisely the collapse of the status quo that Wol Gye-Woo desired. Although in a different manner, it had now been realized.

Only Davey and Wol Gye-Woo were there, beside Perserque. Hence, accusing Davey of regicide was not the least bit strange.

"Perserque, stand up." Davey drew out Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon, which were starkly different from the normal steel swords used during the martial competition.

‘Welcome to your first encounter with a transcendental Demonic Sword.’

Beep!!

At the same time, the status window automatically activated.

[In the name of the Goddess of Mercy, maintain the existence of Heavenly Central Plains. One transcendent-grade weapon unlocked.]

The decree of Goddess Freyja.

‘That's good news. I was wondering how to summon that last turtle guy.’

"Don’t resist! You might be powerful, but can you really survive if all of us hunt you?"

"Stop right there! Even if you escape here, both nations will pursue you."

Davey coldly rebuked the tense members of the Assassin Unit. "Why should I bother with idiots? Piss off."

The blades of Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon vibrated, resonating with all his mana. And as the members of the Assassin Unit moved, Davey stepped forward. Before they could react, he passed through them, flicking Red Ribbon's blade lightly.

"Aargh!!"

Ignoring their screams, Davey moved on.

***

At the same moment, somewhere far away, a dark figure emerged. It was watching a grand mansion ablaze from afar, and it smiled sinisterly.

"Go ahead. Rage all you want. I'll destroy all that you create and bring disaster upon you."

The strange entity thought of a certain demon girl standing beside their enemy.

"Wait just a little, my queen. The more he rages, the stronger we become. I will prepare the entity to confront that detestable human."

Saying so, the eerie form held up two hearts. One was Wol Gye-Woo’s, and the other….

"Hehe... The hearts of Tae Yu-Chun and Wol Gye-Woo. I have collected all the ingredients."

Davey had no way of knowing, but keeping Isildi alive was a disastrous mistake.

"Sleesia must’ve fallen into a trap and died. This time, we'll confirm it."

The vanished Abyssal entity, Oedon. That was his true identity.

"Everything ends once Isildi awakens."