Baek Cheon unconsciously clenched his teeth tightly, his wide-open eyes fixed on Chung Myung and Jang Ilso as they fiercely pressed Dan Ja-Kang.
"That…"
The sight was truly astonishing. Even to Baek Cheon's trained eyes—honed through intense practice with Chung Myung—the rapid exchange of attacks was so swift that he momentarily lost track.
Though he couldn't catch every detail, he could clearly feel the intensity of the fierce battle—not through sight, but through his skin. The sensation, not his mind, was the first to shiver.
"Those crazy bastards…"
They risked everything to seize even a single opening revealed by the high priest, blocking the enemy's seemingly impossible attacks as if they had foreknowledge.
The ultra-fast exchange of blows, turning like gears, resembled a well-choreographed opera more than a battle.
"Sasuk…"
"Yes."
Baek Cheon nodded heavily at the voice behind him.
"They're pressing hard."
With every strike of Chung Myung's sword—swift and precise like a viper—the enemy, the high priest of the Demonic sect, was forced to retreat.
Paaaah!
Each time Chung Myung sliced the air like a sharp spear, a fierce cracking sound rang out. Baek Cheon clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"That bastard…"
Looking at Chung Myung now, it was clear that neither the form he showed in sparring with them nor in the fight with the Black Dragon King represented his full strength.
No, that wasn't it.
Chung Myung wasn't deliberately hiding his true power. It was just that neither they nor the Black Dragon King could draw out all of Chung Myung's strength. That meant the high priest was strong enough to pull out all of Chung Myung's power and still remain a formidable opponent.
But what caught Baek Cheon's attention most wasn't Chung Myung's astonishing swordplay or Dan Ja-Kang.
It was Jang Ilso.
It wasn't about who was more impressive.
Baek Cheon was quite taken aback by this man. Jang Ilso was perfectly synchronizing with Chung Myung, who charged recklessly without concern for his back.
Is this even possible?
Baek Cheon knew Jang Ilso was never the type to yield initiative to others and merely support from the sidelines. Wasn't Jang Ilso the one who manipulated everything in the world as he wished, using others as tools?
Anyone who knew Jang Ilso would agree. Even those from the Evil Sect would say the same.
Yet here, Jang Ilso gave the first attack to Chung Myung without complaint. He focused on blocking Dan Ja-Kang's sudden counterattacks and searching for openings.
It was hard to believe this was a choice made by the notorious Jang Ilso.
Even more astonishing was how incredibly well their movements matched. The longer the fight went on, the more synchronized they seemed.
How could that be?
Baek Cheon knew best, having supported that wild man the most. He understood better than anyone how difficult it was to cover Chung Myung's back.
Chung Myung's sword, to put it elegantly, was like a mysterious divine dragon; crudely put, like a slippery loach sprinkled with salt. You never knew what it would do or where it would suddenly leap.
Even Baek Cheon, familiar enough with Chung Myung's sword, had to sharpen his senses like a blade just to barely keep up, exhausting his internal qi terribly.
Yet now, Jang Ilso, synchronizing with Chung Myung for the first time, was accomplishing that difficult task as if they had practiced countless times and mastered professional combined strikes.
Damned bastard!
Putting aside feelings about Jang Ilso, there was no denying his greatness.
Kwahaaang!
As Chung Myung lunged forward, bracelets on Jang Ilso's hands unleashed a terrifying force. Ten golden beams preemptively marked the bishop's movement range, blocking any escape from Chung Myung's sword.
It was a movement perfectly matched to Chung Myung. At the same time, Jang Ilso followed closely behind, ready for any sudden counterattack.
Neither of them was sane.
Jang Ilso, leader of the Evil Sects controlling half of the Central Plains, chose to cover Chung Myung's back at this moment, and Chung Myung entrusted his back to the hated villain without hesitation. Both were madmen doing unimaginable things with ease.
But the insane harmony of those madmen was now driving the terrifying bishop back relentlessly.
Grit.
Baek Cheon bit his lip unconsciously.
The situation was so impressive that only admiration came to mind. Yet Baek Cheon could not watch with mere goodwill.
Because the position Jang Ilso took was originally meant for disciples of Mount Hua.
Still too lacking.
Baek Cheon glared fiercely at Jang Ilso.
Anyway… now we must win!
No matter the method, the important thing was to defeat the bishop and stop the demonic sect's rampage.
He suddenly turned around.
At the moment he faintly gained confidence in the outcome, he finally had the leisure to look behind. It was uncertain how the Demonic Cult followers would react when the high priest died by Chung Myung's sword, so he needed to check their movements in advance.
But Baek Cheon froze as he looked back at the Demonic Cult followers.
What is this?
It wasn't because there was any noticeable reaction.
Rather, the lack of any reaction confused Baek Cheon. The Demonic Cult followers remained prostrated as when the high priest first appeared, chanting incantations.
Come to think of it, the incantations, ringing like a song, had never stopped even once until now.
Since the battle began, even after Dan Ja-Kang clearly started to be pushed back.
Perhaps it was simply fanaticism. Faith inherently disregards circumstances. Since they lived steeped in fanaticism, it wouldn't be strange for them to show blind faith in their leader.
But…
No. Something's different.
They definitely seemed to know something—that this battle would not end like this.
"Chung Myung!"
Baek Cheon's gaze snapped fiercely toward the front.
Chung Myung was rushing at Dan Ja-Kang, scattering lightning-like sword qi.
Kwakak!
Chung Myung's sword sliced right beside Dan Ja-Kang's neck. Blood gushed from the chillingly split wound, staining the robe black in places.
Paaaah!
Chung Myung's sword relentlessly pressed Dan Ja-Kang, not giving him a single moment to breathe. It transformed bizarrely, sometimes relentlessly chasing, sometimes making insane gambles.
Beside, behind, and above Chung Myung, Jang Ilso continuously unleashed his power. When attacks seemed too much for Chung Myung's internal strength, he risked himself to block them.
This was…
A chilling aura flashed in Dan Ja-Kang's eyes.
Boom!
Dan Ja-Kang stomped firmly as he stared intently at Chung Myung's sword flying overhead. At the same time, a massive demonic qi burst forth, spreading in all directions from his body.
Kwahaaaaaang!
Caught in the aftermath, Chung Myung's body was flung backward like a leaf in a typhoon. After flying far back, he spun once in the air and landed low.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
As soon as he touched the ground, rough breaths like coughing up lungs poured from Chung Myung's mouth. Sweat drenched not only his entire body but even his hair.
He continuously unleashed consecutive strikes while restricting his breathing, inevitably consuming his internal qi and stamina severely.
But Chung Myung's eyes, as blue and fierce as ever, stared at Dan Ja-Kang, who was hiding behind his demonic qi.
After a moment, the demonic qi dissipated and Dan Ja-Kang revealed himself.
"Perhaps I… have underestimated you too much."
Covered in wounds, anyone seeing Dan Ja-Kang now would first think of those words.
But Chung Myung knew that among the wounds on that body, few were truly fatal—especially considering Dan Ja-Kang had mastered the Skeleton Demonic Technique, which granted abnormal recovery.
"But… I still cannot understand," Dan Ja-Kang said softly. "Is this all there is to you?"
He stomped the ground hard.
"If the level of the Central Plains is only this much… then why was the sect driven to that barren land after being defeated by you?"
Countless questions churned in Dan Ja-Kang's mind.
How could the Heavenly Demon have been caught off guard by such people?
Of course, even a tiger can be bitten to death by a viper sometimes. But is there a tiger in the world that dies from an ant's bite? Are these people even ants or more?
"It can't be just this much, right?"
As anger rose, blood-red light burst again from Dan Ja-Kang's eyes.
"Speak, warrior of the Central Plains. This can't be all you have. Then show me everything you possess. Otherwise…"
Black demonic qi swirled around Dan Ja-Kang's body like a floating evil spirit. A tremendous pressure began to weigh down the surroundings.
"You will die here!"
Kwahaaang!
Dan Ja-Kang charged at incredible speed.
It was closer to spatial contraction than movement—as if forcibly twisting and piercing space, Dan Ja-Kang's body instantly appeared right before Chung Myung. Perhaps "appeared" was a better term.
Chung Myung's eyes widened.
At that moment, Dan Ja-Kang's hand ruthlessly pierced Chung Myung's side.
Chung Myung instantly raised his sword to block the flying hand, but the force Dan Ja-Kang wielded crashed into Chung Myung's side along with the sword.
Kwahaaaaaang!
Crack!
The explosion of qi colliding and the sound of bones crushing mixed. Chung Myung's body was flung away like a pebble kicked with full force.
Kwang!
Dan Ja-Kang pushed off the ground and pursued Chung Myung at terrifying speed. Having caught up instantly, he raised one hand toward the sky.
Black qi emitted from his entire body swirled and climbed along him, soon gathering at his fingertips.
The demonic qi, initially the size of a human head, quickly grew larger than a house. The darkness was so dense it seemed to suck in everything, resembling a blazing black sun.
Just as Dan Ja-Kang was about to strike down, numerous bright blue flame-like forces poured urgently before his face. Each had enough power to break through his qi.
But Dan Ja-Kang lowered his hand without hesitation.
"Ooooooh!"
The blazing black sun swallowed and crushed the blue flames.
The demonic qi that swept away all obstacles swallowed Chung Myung's flying body whole.
Kwahaaaaaang!
The black sun blazed on the ground, shaking the entire world. The prostrated Demonic Cult followers also couldn't withstand the massive explosion's aftermath and were thrown about.
"Chy…"
Baek Cheon's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"Chung Myungggg!"
The unbearably desperate scream was completely drowned out by the successive explosions.