Chapter 147
"Hah..."
What on earth was this situation?
Sama Ryang was momentarily at a loss for words, his face blank.
And for good reason. His hidden identity, which no one should know—no, which no one knew—had just been revealed by the mouth of a completely unexpected person.
He had never given any reason for his identity to be exposed.
Moreover, this was someone he was speaking with for the first time.
So he couldn't help but feel extremely confused.
And that gaze. What was with that gaze?
The moment he saw Yeo Un-hwi's eyes tinged with golden light, Sama Ryang instinctively felt it.
This man is dangerous.
He couldn't understand why.
It wasn't as if he sensed any extraordinary energy, but just looking at him made Sama Ryang's whole body feel like it was breaking out in hives and his stomach churn.
He felt like he wanted to vomit right then and there.
But soon, Sama Ryang decided this was because he had been unexpectedly backed into a corner.
He didn't know how the man had learned those facts, but he couldn't simply admit to them in front of so many people.
"What are you talking about, saying I orchestrated all of this? What is this “Black Darkness”? What is your intention in saying such things to me?"
Sama Ryang's face hardened as he snapped at Yeo Un-hwi, as if offended.
"Are you going to flatly deny it?"
"Look here. Even if you are the Alliance Leader's guest, there is a limit to what can be overlooked. That's enough."
"Alright. Fine. But why don't you try explaining away that black energy seeping out of you? And I'm curious how you'll explain your half-melted Human Skin Mask."
"What?"
Sama Ryang hurriedly brought his hand to his cheek.
Instead of the soft skin that should have been there, he felt his real face.
When had this happened?
"Is that your real face?"
Sama Ryang's half-revealed face was incredibly hideous.
It looked as if the skin had been completely peeled off.
It was a horrific appearance, as if his face had been entirely scraped away.
To carry out his espionage, he had long ago erased his original face and had covered it with a fake one.
That's why, even after so much time had passed, no one had been able to sense anything strange about him.
Those sent as spies from Black Darkness to other factions all went through this process.
"Ha."
Sama Ryang looked around with a flustered expression.
Everyone at the banquet was now staring at him with shocked faces.
But what bewildered him most wasn't that his real face had been exposed.
He could have made excuses for his face somehow if he needed to.
The problem was the black energy that had begun leaking out without his knowledge.
He quickly tried to suppress the energy, but it was already too late.
Even a fool would realize that his energy was far too similar to that of the Demon who had just been killed by the Black Emperor's sword.
Sama Ryang simply couldn't understand how this situation had come about.
"Well? Do you think you can convince everyone with an explanation that makes sense?"
Yeo Un-hwi grinned.
Seeing that, Sama Ryang let out a hollow laugh.
'I'm cornered.'
No excuse would work in this situation.
He never imagined his identity would be exposed so easily.
Even if he somehow managed to smooth over the current situation, he would be viewed with suspicion for the rest of his life.
In other words, he could no longer fulfill the role he had been assigned.
Nearly ten years had passed since he killed the original Sama Ryang and infiltrated the Demonic Alliance. All that time spent patiently enduring had vanished in an instant.
"Ha! Hahaha!"
Everyone looked at Sama Ryang with disbelieving eyes as he burst into laughter at the sheer absurdity of it all.
Was it true? Was Sama Ryang really a traitor?
Who was he?
Wasn't he the man known as the brain of the Demonic Alliance?
Of course, everyone in the Demonic Alliance had trusted and followed him.
Moreover, the Black Emperor had trusted him greatly.
And now they were saying that it was Sama Ryang who had created the Demons and had caused this terrible slaughter to continue?
Could there be anything more shocking than this?
It was then.
Kuuuung.
Someone let out a burst of energy, filled with rage.
It was Ghost Eye Demonic Lord Ma Se-ak.
"Sama Ryang!"
Before anyone could stop him, he drew his sword and fiercely charged at Sama Ryang.
"To think you were behind all of this! A spy from another shadowy force! I will never forgive you!"
Sama Ryang didn't respond to his furious words.
He merely glanced at him.
"Fine. First, I'll cut off all your limbs and interrogate you until you're on the brink of death!"
In truth, Ghost Eye Demonic Lord Ma Se-ak was someone who took more pride in the Demonic Faction than anyone else.
Though he might appear to others as an uncontrollable beast, he valued the order and prestige of the Demonic Alliance more than anyone.
He was a man who would do anything for the Demonic Alliance.
That's why he felt such great anger towards Sama Ryang, who had deceived the Demonic Alliance to this extent.
Screeeech!
As expected of one who held a place among the Ten Great Masters, Ma Se-ak's fierce sword energy flew towards Sama Ryang.
It was an attack that everyone knew the Sama Ryang they were familiar with could never handle.
"Hmph, I have no choice."
In that moment, Sama Ryang's energy exploded outwards.
The resulting storm of energy easily dissipated Ma Se-ak's sword energy.
"Wh-what!"
Ma Se-ak's face showed his shock.
By now, an ominous black energy was rippling around Sama Ryang's entire body.
"Yes. I had always planned to deal with you personally someday, Ma Se-ak. Your damned face always irritated me."
"So you've shown your true colors! You bastard!"
Seeing this, Ma Se-ak ground his teeth and charged at Sama Ryang again.
\[Crimson Haze Demonic Command Sword\]
Knowing that half-hearted techniques wouldn't work, Ma Se-ak drew out his ultimate skill.
But,
"How pathetic."
Ma Se-ak's fierce attack seemed utterly laughable to Sama Ryang.
It had already been revealed with the first exchange.
Ma Se-ak was no match for Sama Ryang.
Slash! Bang!
Sama Ryang's whip, which he had drawn out at some point, destroyed Ma Se-ak's ultimate technique in mid-air.
Then his whip wrapped around Ma Se-ak's neck like lightning.
"Kugh!"
Ma Se-ak tried to tear the whip from his neck, but it was useless.
Sama Ryang's eyes narrowed.
"You couldn't even handle a single Demon, yet you dare to challenge me? Kekeke."
"Y-you..."
"Now die."
It was then.
Hwaaaak!
A sword energy incomparably stronger than Ma Se-ak's flew towards Sama Ryang's whip.
Sama Ryang quickly released Ma Se-ak and retrieved his whip.
"So you've stepped in personally."
"You seem different from the Demons."
Sama Ryang smirked at Dokgo Yeong's words.
"Don't compare me to those disposable puppets. I'm different from those one-time-use items."
Dokgo Yeong stared at the confident Sama Ryang before speaking again.
"Why did you betray us? Were you not satisfied with your position? Was what I gave you not enough?"
"Betray? You say I betrayed you? Hahahahaha!"
Sama Ryang burst into laughter.
Dokgo Yeong's eyes narrowed at this.
"What's so funny?"
"Your ignorance and arrogance are amusing."
"What did you say?"
"How foolish. It's not betrayal. I was never one of the Demonic Alliance's people, nor yours, not even once."
"Are you saying everything was planned from the beginning?"
"That's right. And my final plan was to cut off your head and present it to my lord, although everything has gone awry now."
"Heh heh."
Dokgo Yeong laughed hollowly.
His face looked very tired.
How old was he now?
He too had experienced countless betrayals on his way to his current position.
But even so, being betrayed again by someone he trusted never got any easier.
However, he didn't want to become accustomed to or indifferent to betrayal.
That would be proof of becoming a monster.
Long ago, he had decided to live without turning away from his emotions, whether pain or joy.
But,
"I suppose I'll have to clean this up now."
Dokgo Yeong's eyes grew cold.
"As expected, you're impressive. You have overcome your Inner Demon so easily. But that doesn't mean you can do anything to me."
Dokgo Yeong smiled coldly at Sama Ryang's confident words.
"Why do you think that? Do you think I won't cut you down? If so, you've greatly misjudged me."
Dokgo Yeong had already made up his mind.
But Sama Ryang shook his head.
"It's not that you won't, but that you can't, because..."
Sama Ryang snapped his fingers.
Tsu tsu tsu tsu.
Dokgo Yeong's face hardened.
For some reason, he suddenly found himself unable to use his internal energy.
Is Internal Energy Dispersion Poison?
No. This was something different.
It wasn't poison. This was...
Seeing Dokgo Yeong's surprised face, Sama Ryang shrugged.
"My, my. Did you really think I've been living all this time without any preparations or precautions?"
"You...!"
Sama Ryang had been slowly injecting the Seed of Ruin into Dokgo Yeong over a long period of time.
It was in such small amounts that even he couldn't detect it.
As it was colorless, odorless, and caused no reaction unless a certain level of energy was used, it was impossible for the recipient to know they had been injected.
Of course, even the Seed of Ruin couldn't forcibly turn one of the Twelve Venerables of the World into a Demon.
But Sama Ryang was aiming for a different effect.
Now Dokgo Yeong would be unable to use his internal energy at all for a short time.
That short time would be enough.
Enough to cut the throat of Dokgo Yeong, who had become nothing more than a powerless old man.
Yes.
In truth, he had long been prepared to take the Black Emperor's head at any time.
“Was I too careless?”
This was the reason Sama Ryang could remain calm even though his identity had been suddenly exposed.
"Protect the Alliance Leader!"
Quickly grasping the situation, the Ghost Soul Twin Swords drew their swords and stood in front of Sama Ryang along with the Soul Annihilation Unit.
They were more tense than anyone.
Because they had already witnessed Sama Ryang's power overwhelming Ma Se-ak.
But,
"Hmph. You insects."
Even they, the elite warriors of the Demonic Alliance, were no match for Sama Ryang.
In the blink of an eye, they all fell to his hand.
Soon, only Sama Ryang and Dokgo Yeong were left facing each other.
"I wonder how you knew that today would be the day the Black Emperor meets his death."
"What do you plan to do with the others?"
"Everyone who has seen and heard everything here will die. Isn't that obvious?"
"I see."
Dokgo Yeong looked up at the sky with a dejected expression.
Then he readjusted his grip on his sword.
"You still intend to fight in that state? Give up. Don't be so unsightly. It's unlike the Black Emperor."
"If it were just me, I might. I didn't expect my final battle to be so pathetic, but shouldn't I struggle to the end for the sake of those who believed in and followed me?"
He was sincere.
What did it mean to be like the Black Emperor? What was that, really?
People might think differently, but he fought to the death for those who followed him, even if it was pathetic and miserable—
Dokgo Yeong believed that was what it meant to be true to himself.
So now, as nothing more than a pitiful old man who couldn't use even a shred of internal energy, he raised his sword.
Sama Ryang found this sight extremely displeasing.
"How touching. Then I'll kill you in the most painful way possible. Keke."
Just as Sama Ryang was about to fiercely swing his whip,
"Hey."
Someone stepped in front of Dokgo Yeong.
"You didn't forget about me, did you?"
It was Yeo Un-hwi.