Chapter 32
The members of the minor and mid-sized sects had all gathered at the Jin estate. Every one of them steeled themselves as they prepared for the battle to come.
The Jin family’s main gate shook violently. A moment later, it exploded apart with a scream.
"Young Family Head, the Black Dragon Sect has invaded!“
The martial artist’s urgent voice rang out. The faces of Jang Seo-yeong and Jin So-hee beside me hardened with tension.
That was when it happened. A huge man appeared through the gap in the shattered gate. Each of his footsteps made the ground tremble. Black energy swirled around him.
"Hahaha, so all the rabble of Jilin has gathered here!”
His rough, low voice rang out. It was Man Chu-sam, the Iron Ore Twin-Axes wielder. The axes in his hands were stained with blood.
"Iron Ore Twin-Axes Man Chu-sam.“
I stepped forward. Man Chu-sam’s gaze bored into me.
"Oh? Who are you.“
”I’m Jin Seo-yoon, the Jin family’s eldest son.“
”I heard the Jin family had a wastrel, but it was you.“
”That’s right. Your useless disciple met his end at my hands. You don’t look any different from him.“
”Heh heh, you look more skilled than the rumors suggested.“
Man Chu-sam laughed loudly and took a step forward.
”However, you’re unbearably arrogant. A mere Jin family wastrel dares stand in my way? You must have lost your fear.“
A cruel smile spread across Man Chu-sam’s lips. Red energy rose from his axes, and his killing intent coiled through the air.
A powerful killing intent pressed down on everyone nearby. The red energy pouring from his axes spread like blood, and the killing intent erupting from within it crushed everyone around him.
The Jin family’s martial artists unconsciously took a step back. The aura Man Chu-sam gave off was beyond anything they had expected.
"Let’s see whether you have the skill to back up that mouth of yours."
Before Man Chu-sam had even finished speaking, his axe flew toward me like lightning. The axe blade wrapped in red energy cleaved through the air and shot toward my neck.
-Boom!
Sword and axe collided. A shockwave swept through the surroundings, sending sparks flying. Man Chu-sam’s monstrous strength and peak-realm energy came through in full.
"Hahaha!
”Guh.“
A powerful shockwave swept through the surroundings. The red energy tried to travel along my sword and penetrate my body.
"Hahaha! Is that all you’ve got?"
Man Chu-sam’s laughter rang out. His axe flew at me like lightning once more. A succession of attacks rained down, tearing through the air.
'He’s strong…. '
Even blocking the axe wrapped in qi left my arms tingling. Man Chu-sam’s skill clearly surpassed mine.
Not only the Jin family’s martial artists but even the Black Dragon Sect’s martial artists watched our battle in stunned amazement.
-Clang! Boom!
Even though we were both in the peak realm, the difference in skill was obvious. Decades of experience were contained in Man Chu-sam’s axework, while I was barely managing to block his attacks.
Every time I blocked another attack, my arms felt as though they were going numb from the tingling.
'Hah, I can still manage for now.‘
Without even a moment to think, his next attack came flying in. I blocked Man Chu-sam’s axe and unleashed a sword technique.
"Iron-Blooded Chaotic Dance (鐵血亂舞)!"
My blade moved fluidly like a wave, brimming with life. Each arc drawn by the sword scattered Man Chu-sam’s savage axework to nothing.
"Guh!"
Man Chu-sam’s eyes wavered violently. As though unable to believe it, his axe faltered.
'I’ll speed things up.'
My sword swung swiftly toward Man Chu-sam’s vital points.
”Kuh…!“
When I forced his axe aside, Man Chu-sam’s massive body was pushed backward. His feet scraped across the ground, raising clouds of dust.
"Nothing special. Where did all that bluster go?”
Man Chu-sam’s face twisted at my words.
"Shut up!“
He snarled and raised his axe. The red energy grew even more ferocious. However, his movements were becoming increasingly rough, and the balance of power was beginning to collapse.
-Clang! Boom!
Man Chu-sam’s axe cleaved through the air. The axe blade, radiating a savage energy, flew toward my neck. When I caught his attack with my sword, a powerful shockwave swept through the surroundings.
"You reached the peak realm at a young age, but do you really think that means you can defeat me!"
Even more powerful red energy exploded from the axe.
The axe cleaved through the air toward my heart. I twisted my body aside and dodged it. My footwork flowed naturally like water as I evaded the attack.
-Boom!
Man Chu-sam’s axe struck the ground, sending vibrations through it. An animalistic smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"Twin-Axe Frenzied Assault!“
When he raised his axe, red energy poured forth. At the same time, the axe came flying at me again.
Using the axes in both hands, he unleashed a barrage at a suffocating speed. His attacks surged forward alongside the powerful energy pouring from the axes, leaving no opening to defend or flee.
-Clang!
Sword and axes collided repeatedly, sending sparks flying. The impact traveling through my fingertips reverberated all the way into my bones.
"Guh…!“
My sword faltered for an instant. Amid the rapid attacks of Man Chu-sam’s twin axes, I spotted a tiny opening.
My sword cut across his side, spraying bright-red blood.
"Hahaha! Do you really think this can bring me down!"
Man Chu-sam paid no heed to his wound. Instead, he released an even more savage energy and swung his axes.
"Your life ends here!"
His axe flew toward me like lightning again. I barely twisted my body aside, but the energy pouring from the axe grazed my shoulder. My clothes tore, and blood flowed.
’If I drag this out, I’ll be at a disadvantage.‘
His eyes were bloodshot and gleaming like those of a madman.
His attacks grew faster and stronger. The balance of the battle was breaking apart. Perhaps because of the elixir’s side effects, Man Chu-sam’s energy was raging abnormally.
The axe blade grazed my shoulder again. The wound was not deep, but fatigue and pain were gradually gnawing away at my body. Man Chu-sam, on the other hand, seemed to feel neither pain nor fatigue.
"Hahaha! Show me more! More!“
Man Chu-sam’s laughter rang across the battlefield. The energy erupting from his axes grew increasingly wild.
I took a moment to catch my breath and watched his movements. Any force collapses once it is pushed beyond its limits.
Man Chu-sam’s movements grew increasingly irregular. His swings were savage, but a subtle imbalance had appeared in his movements.
'Now!'
I targeted his opening and prepared my final strike. I concentrated my internal energy in my sword and drew up explosive power.
"Iron Mountain Splits Heaven (鐵山破天)!“
A streak of sword light tore through the sky and shot toward Man Chu-sam.
-Boom!
The sword cloaked in sword qi broke through his defense and slammed into his chest. Bright-red blood gushed out like a fountain, and his massive body staggered violently.
"Haa… Haa…."
Just as I was about to catch my breath, a vicious energy exploded from his body. Black energy swirled as though a demon from hell had awakened.
"Grrrgh…!!!"
Man Chu-sam’s voice changed into the cry of a beast, and his eyes rolled completely back. In the place where reason had been, only pure madness remained. The energy pouring from his body tore the air around him to shreds.
"Kraaah!!!”
He swung his axes and began attacking indiscriminately. His movements were instinctive and rough, but his strength and speed were even more overwhelming than before. It was impossible to tell whether the elixir’s effects had reached their peak or he was squeezing out his final strength at death’s door.
-Boom! Boom!
"Gaga!"
"Big Brother!"
Jang Seo-yeong and Jin So-hee, who had been fighting the Black Dragon Sect’s martial artists, joined the fight. The two women added their attacks to mine.
"Grrrrr…."
Man Chu-sam growled like a beast as he swung his axes.
His movements were instinctive and savage.
"You two, get back! It’s dangerous!"
But Jang Seo-yeong spoke in a firm voice.
"Gaga! Don’t try to handle him alone!“
Jin So-hee shouted as well, her gaze unwavering.
"We’ll fight alongside you too, Big Brother!"
"Kraaah!!!”
Man Chu-sam raised his red-glowing axes and attacked again. His momentum was even stronger this time, but the three of us caught his axes together.
-Boom!
The tremendous impact split the ground. The wide swing of Man Chu-sam’s axes revealed an opening.
'Now.'
I nodded toward Jang Seo-yeong and Jin So-hee. Without saying a word, we knew what we each had to do.
The moment Man Chu-sam raised his axes over his head and prepared another strike, we poured all our internal energy into our swords and targeted him.
Three swords flew toward Man Chu-sam from three different directions.
-Clang!
Man Chu-sam’s axes deflected all three swords. His strength, fueled by madness, exceeded our expectations.
At that moment, I saw a dangerous situation unfold. Jin So-hee was completely exposed to the path of the axe.
"Look out!"
I immediately leaped in front of her.
-Boom!
I barely blocked Man Chu-sam’s axe, but the impact made my knees buckle.
"Kuh…."
Man Chu-sam’s attacks had become simpler after he lost his reason, but his strength was concentrated all the more intensely. The pressure felt as though a mountain were bearing down on me.
'What a monster…. '
Man Chu-sam’s savage energy grew stronger with every passing moment. The energy pouring from his body tore the surrounding air apart like a roaring dragon.
Jang Seo-yeong took a step back, then advanced in an instant and swung her sword. Sword qi infused with the energy of the Changbai Sword Art traced a blue arc toward Man Chu-sam’s arm.
But Man Chu-sam’s movements defied expectation. He sidestepped as though he had read Jang Seo-yeong’s movements in advance, then swung his axe at that instant.
"Kyaa!"
Jang Seo-yeong screamed as her body went flying through the air. She barely avoided the axe blade, but the energy pouring from it grazed her side. Her white silk robes were stained with bright-red blood.
"Mother!"
Jin So-hee screamed. Her face went deathly pale.
"So-hee. Take Mother and run. Now."
My voice rang out firmly. Man Chu-sam’s strength was beyond anything we had expected. Leaving the two women on the battlefield any longer was dangerous.
"But, Big Brother…!"
Jin So-hee hesitated and took a step toward me. But I shook my head.
"Hurry!"
I allowed no further hesitation. Getting the mother and daughter away from the battle took priority.
Jin So-hee fled with reluctant steps.
The chaos of the battlefield intensified. The clash of weapons and screams blended together from every direction.
"Grrrrrrrr."
Man Chu-sam’s low, growling laughter rang out. Mad energy still swirled around his body. The moment he lifted his foot—
“Protect the Young Family Head!!!”
The Jin family’s martial artists charged toward Man Chu-sam. While they bought me a brief amount of time, I quickly pulled my smartphone from inside my robes. But the message displayed on the screen was unexpected.
[Cannot return during battle]
"Ah…."
A small sigh escaped my lips. I had not anticipated this situation. So I couldn’t use it during battle?
Man Chu-sam, who had slaughtered the Jin family’s martial artists in an instant, charged at me.
A shockwave tore through the earth, leaving a massive fissure. Man Chu-sam’s axe slammed into the spot where I had been standing.
I rolled aside and barely dodged it, but the energy pouring from the axe grazed my body. My clothes tore, and blood flowed.
"Heh heh heh…."
Man Chu-sam’s mad laughter rang out. An even more savage energy surged from his axes.
'I can’t run either…. '
I had to fight Man Chu-sam’s rampaging strength. If I died here, I would never see Seol-hee, Jang Seo-yeong, or Jin So-hee again. I could not give up the women who had become mine.
“Fuck, as if I’d give up my fuckholes!”
-Clang! Boom!
I tightened my grip on my sword. The vital essence I had gained from Jang Seo-yeong and Jin So-hee surged violently through my body and ran wild along my meridians. My internal energy surged and burst forth like boiling lava.
I straightened my stance and raised my sword horizontally. When I took a step toward Man Chu-sam, the air around me trembled and swirled.
-Whoosh!
Sword light tore through the air. The moment Man Chu-sam’s axe collided with my sword, the shockwave scattered in every direction and shook the earth.
-Boom!
Our second strikes collided. As sword and axe clashed violently, the energies of the two weapons intertwined and created an explosive shockwave.
-Kraaang!
Amid the rapidly continuing exchange of attacks, the balance broke. The recoil from the collision of explosive energies shook my body.
-Thud!
The powerful impact sent me flying into the wall, where I crashed hard. Pain surged from my back and seeped deep into my bones.
The price of forcibly drawing up my strength gradually weighed down my entire body, hampering my movements.
Man Chu-sam’s massive form slowly approached in front of my eyes. His footsteps were rough and heavy. Red energy still poured from his axes, bathing everything around him in crimson.
“Kuh...!”
I tried to clench my fist, but even my fingertips would not obey. Perhaps because my energy had run wild, my body no longer responded.
“Kraaah!!!”
A beastlike howl tore through my ears and engulfed the battlefield. His charge, with an axe wrapped in red energy, resembled the roar of a massive predator.
It was too late to dodge. The killing intent pouring from the axe drew closer.
‘Is this really where it ends…?’
Just as death pressed down on my chest—
“Moonshadow Heavenly Sword Dance (月影天劍舞), Moonshadow Slash (月影斬)”
A clear yet commanding woman’s voice rang through the air.