Kwaaaaaaah!
A storm of black demonic qi raged violently. The rough ground was torn and lifted by the fierce wind, trees uprooted and caught in the tempest. The storm, swallowing debris from broken buildings and choking dust, grew larger, sweeping everything around.
Facing that astonishing sight, even Baek Cheon's eyes filled with uncontrollable fear.
"Th-this is…"
It was literally a storm—something no human could create. No, something humans must never create!
Kwaaaaaaaah!
The ominous black currents swept everything away, crushing and tearing the world apart.
The demonic qi pressed down on his entire body, choking his breath. It seemed to forbid even a single breath or the twitch of a finger.
Before that overwhelming power, Baek Cheon's existence was utterly insignificant.
"This is the true presence of a High priest…"
He understood. He had no choice but to understand.
Why the martial world still despised the name High priest, why even mentioning it was taboo. Why the sects deeply buried the cursed name of the Demonic cult and refused even to think about it.
And he also understood why Chung Myung said that the High priest of the Northern Sea was only half the story.
The true High priest tore the ground with his demonic qi and made the heavens wail. Unlike anything the martial arts realm had imagined, he could only be described as purely destructive.
…His spirit felt like it would break.
Even Baek Cheon, who had overcome countless crises with Chung Myung's sword, felt the urge to give up everything the moment he faced this High priest.
No matter the situation, he had always believed his spirit would not break. But now he painfully realized how arrogant that thought was.
Before that overwhelming power that seemed to engulf the entire world, how powerless was human will?
"Ugh…"
"Uh… ugh…"
Even the Red Dogs were retreating. The hunting dogs who would accept being torn apart laughingly at Jang Ilso's command were stepping back before their master. No, it was more accurate to say they were fleeing, only lacking the courage to turn their backs on the High priest.
They did not fear death. But surely, there are things in this world more terrifying than death?
Though the Red Dogs' notorious reputation seemed meaningless in this weak state, Baek Cheon could not mock them for their thoughts. No, he couldn't. He too was exhausting all his mental strength to keep his faltering feet planted firmly.
Gnash.
His tightly bitten lower lip split, bleeding. The swirling wind scattered the blood droplets into the air.
"Ugh…"
Nevertheless, Baek Cheon endured.
Because he had faced it once before. He knew to some extent how inhuman these High priests were.
But for those encountering a High priest for the first time in their lives, the scene before their eyes was even more shocking. It was a disaster that could not be fully described by the word despair.
"Ah…"
Namgung Do-Wei involuntarily stepped back. His eyes trembled as if struck by lightning, lost and uncertain.
"How…"
How could something like that exist in this world?
He was the eldest son of the Namgung Family and destined to become its head. Thus, he was very familiar with the existence of powerful rulers of the world. But this High priest was on a different level from any strong person he had known.
"How…"
Different. From the heads of the Five Great Families ruling the world. From the great sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects One Union governing the world.
Even the previous absolute rulers who had turned their backs on the world with even greater power did not possess such immense force. It was that despairing.
Naturally, one thought arose.
That is not something a human can handle. That is…
"Ugh…"
Someone grabbed Namgung Do-Wei's shoulders from both sides as he was unknowingly stepping back. Startled, he turned and muttered.
"T-taoist, Yoon Jong… Taoist Jo Gul…"
Jo Geol and Yoon Jong were gripping his shoulders painfully, preventing him from retreating any further.
"…Do not retreat, young lord."
Yoon Jong bit his lip until it bled and spoke.
"Endure this."
Namgung Do-Wei's eyes wavered at those firm words.
Endure? How? How could they say that after seeing all this? If they truly saw the same sight, how could they utter such words?
'Aren't you all afraid?'
Even after seeing that? Even now, Namgung Do-Wei felt his mind breaking before his body. His soul screamed beyond his will. How was he supposed to endure this?
Or was he being told to silently stand firm here and accept the approaching death as inevitable?
'I can't!'
Just as Namgung Do-Wei was about to shout with bloodshot eyes, he suddenly closed his mouth. What calmed him was the slight trembling he felt from Yoon Jong's hand gripping his shoulder.
Namgung Do-Wei flinched and looked at Yoon Jong.
'Trembling?'
His gaze slowly dropped. Yoon Jong's legs were trembling as if he was about to buckle.
A suppressed groan escaped Namgung Do-Wei's lips.
'How…'
They were not unafraid of this. Nor were they stubbornly defiant.
They were trembling.
It was natural when you think about it. They were human too; how could they not be afraid of that thing? Like Namgung Do-Wei, or perhaps even more terrified.
Yet they did not step back even a single step, enduring the presence of the High priest.
"Don't step back…"
Grit.
Yoon Jong bit his lip hard as he spoke.
"…Do not leave behind the memory of fleeing, young lord… For your own sake!"
Namgung Do-Wei's jaw trembled violently at those words.
Forcing his gaze away, he saw Chung Myung standing at the front.
Even Namgung Do-Wei standing behind felt his will twisting. Then how immense was the burden Chung Myung bore facing the High priest head-on?
'Taoist…'
Clenching his fist tightly, Namgung Do-Wei's nails dug into his palm.
Crunch.
Grinding his teeth as if they might break, he firmly planted his feet on the ground.
Courage to fight back? Still none. If that demon charged at him, Namgung Do-Wei's will might collapse instantly.
But…
'No matter how weak I am.'
With someone holding the line ahead like that, how could he possibly turn and flee?
With bloodshot eyes, he gripped his sword as if to break it.
"Even if I can't help…"
A voice filled with blood and sorrow escaped Namgung Do-Wei's throat.
"…At least, I will die together in here."
Only then did the hands holding his shoulders lose their grip. But Namgung Do-Wei didn't notice, staring intently at Chung Myung's back.
'Taoist, please!'
That gaze was filled with utmost desperation. It resembled the look someone from the distant past had sent to his back. That look pushed Chung Myung forward.
Kwaaaaaaaah!
The fierce demonic qi swept around at an incredible speed, tearing skin and shaking the insides just by contact.
Facing the explosively spreading demonic qi head-on, Chung Myung bared his teeth.
"So…"
A pointless chuckle escaped.
'I actually dealt with things like this?'
Every time his fingertips ached as if crushed, a hollow laugh came out naturally.
"Damn it…"
A chuckling voice slipped through Chung Myung's crooked, mocking lips.
"I was a madman too."
It was demonic qi he had faced countless times. But they say perspective changes from what you see. The High priest he had looked down on from a lofty position in the past and the High priest he now looked up at from a much lower place were worlds apart.
He felt overwhelmingly despairing power. At the same time, determination began to boil in Chung Myung's eyes.
'The difference in power…'
He bared his teeth like a snarling beast.
"A mere High priest bastard talking arrogantly."
A thick killing intent sharpened Chung Myung's momentum. Then, a voice muttered beside him.
"…Creepy."
Jang Ilso's long cloak fluttered wildly in the blowing wind. But Jang Ilso stood unmoved, facing the surging demonic qi head-on.
He quietly raised his hand and wiped his face.
"The world is indeed vast. To think such guys obviously existed."
Chung Myung chuckled.
"Why? Are you scared?"
"Scared?"
Jang Ilso turned his head to Chung Myung standing beside him. His long eyes curved as if amused.
"You naughty kid. You should stop saying things you don't mean."
"That's not something you should say, madman."
"Hehehehe."
Jang Ilso laughed cheerfully. Even so, his eyes flashed a deep blue light. Despite facing an absolute enemy right before him, his mischievousness did not fade at all.
"This is definitely outside my calculations. And I don't like variables."
His bright smile was filled with a sinister aura.
"If a variable that can't be used arises, it must be removed. No matter what it is."
"…I don't particularly want to agree with you, but."
Chung Myung twisted his sword to hold it in reverse grip and chuckled.
"I agree with that opinion."
Jang Ilso's mischievous glowing eyes and Chung Myung's cold, boiling gaze crossed in the air.
"Then let's find out."
Jang Ilso slowly lowered his hand and spoke. Then, spreading both hands, he calmly stepped toward the terrifyingly raging demonic energy.
"Let's see how sharp the fine sword I prepared really is."
"Don't get in my way, you idiot bastard."
Chung Myung, sword lowered, also stepped forward.
The two, one black and one red, keeping a distance, advanced toward the black storm that seemed to devour the world.
Though they were opposites who could never walk the same path, at this moment their gazes were fixed on the same place.
Kagagak!
Kalararak!
At the moment Chung Myung's sword scraped the ground and Jang Ilso's rings clashed, the sounds echoed simultaneously.
Kwaaaang!
As if by agreement, the two pushed off the ground and plunged at once into the raging storm of demonic qi.
Chung Myung's sword, emitting a fierce Purple Cloud Divine Skill, radiated a red sunset glow. Meanwhile, Jang Ilso's hands, drawing up the full power of Slaughtering Blue Flame, blazed blue.
The two streams of red and blue light surged toward the darkest place in the world.