Even amidst the downfall of the clan’s martial artists, the only thing I could do was prepare for a suicide squad mission.
But I decided to embrace that suicide mission wholeheartedly. If I didn’t, death was guaranteed, but if by some chance I succeeded, I might survive. It’s a gamble for my life, so to speak.
So, I tore open the belly of the Greater Demon and slipped inside and back out.
“Cough… You wretched creature. Are you really going that far?”
“Jaemi Son. I can do anything to survive.”
I was drenched in the demon’s blood.
Literally, I became a bloodstained red creature. I was genuinely in an all-red state. If I were to meet the butterfly clan in this state, they’d probably scream for a Taegukgi completion and the premier release of Avatar 2.
“How terrible.”
The stench of blood was overwhelming to the point of making my head spin.
But this was necessary. There was nothing more effective for removing the human scent from me than this.
Before my ambush, disguising myself and erasing my presence were essentials.
“The stench of Greater Demon blood is everywhere. To increase my chances of success even slightly, I have no choice but to do this, Jaemi Son.”
“Hehe… Do you really think that demon won’t notice because of this stench? Don’t kid around.”
“I think it will be fine.”
“Hehe! You really are insane, Kim Geunhyeop!”
Jaemi Son shouted joyfully.
This guy was truly a real piece of work as well.
“Someone facing death is bound to lose their sanity.”
The plan was simple.
Madunachal, already in a frenzy, was too captivated by the beauty of the Jade Flower Sword, teasing and mocking it. With the other martial artists incapacitated, he was clearly off guard.
I would secretly move behind this Madunachal and take my shot.
This was a brainless suicide mission, one that actively blocked any kind of thought or strategy. A worst-case scenario that not even the legendary independence activist, known as a tactician and slayer of the Japanese army, Mo Jeon Gu Ryeom Ya, could have imagined.
The only safety device I had was being drenched in Greater Demon blood to mask my scent.
“I’m going to die, Kim Geunhyeop.”
“Ah.”
That was true.
With my current abilities, I wouldn’t last a second once discovered. I’d be dead immediately. But if I don’t do this? Madunachal would take the Jade Flower Sword and kill us. That would be the worst outcome.
But just halfway.
Let’s assume I only succeed partially.
If I can buy just one second?
With my death, I might create an opportunity for the Jade Flower Sword to turn the tables.
It might seem like foolish judgment, but I consider it completely rational. Since I don’t want to die, I gamble. And even if I do die, I create a chance for a comeback.
I, Kim Geunhyeop, am that kind of man.
Above all, Mr. Song.
He surely would have made the same judgment call.
“Let’s dance before we die, Jaemi Son.”
“Gladly.”
Jaemi Son chuckled in agreement.
“What must I do?”
“Throw the distraction at the right moment. Just for a fleeting second. That’s all you need to capture attention.”
“I will follow your orders… You’re the crazy guy I’ve recognized.”
“Exactly.”
Aunt, please give me strength.
The best result would be if my ambush succeeds, and in that moment, the Jade Flower Sword turns the tables. I would then immediately escape and survive.
Honestly, the odds are low.
But I’ll do it.
It has to be done.
There’s no other answer!
“Puhehe! You defiant one! How long will you resist? I wonder how many children you’ll bear with that big butt, wielding a sword against my lord!”
“I will definitely cut you to pieces while you’re still alive…!”
Madunachal continued to mock the Jade Flower Sword while swinging his great sword. He seemed entirely at ease and even enjoyed it. In contrast, the Jade Flower Sword looked like it was straining hard.
I slowly moved toward Madunachal from behind.
—Thump, thump.
As soon as the ambush operation commenced, my heartbeat skyrocketed. I was worried I might get discovered, my heart pounding like crazy. I even held my breath, mentally brainwashing myself to calm my racing heart.
Think of the bandit I killed.
Think of Do Samcheol, who was brutally killed by goblins.
“…!”
The empty gaze inscribed itself in my heart. They might see my heart about to burst. Perhaps they would reach out, trying to grab its warmth as if drawn to it. It was perfect for cooling a heart under overload.
…Mr. Song.
He could probably handle this with ease. With strength and determination, nothing is impossible. Today, I will surpass Mr. Song.
Aunt!
Please give me strength!
I will definitely return and repay my debt!
—Pah!
My eyes popped open wide.
My vision suddenly widened before narrowing again, locking on only Madunachal. Would my blade be able to pierce his bulging back muscles?
It would have to.
—Chop!
I drew my sword.
I had my martial arts. The martial arts so praiseworthy that the Jade Flower Sword would commend them. To be honest, I didn’t yet know how to use them well; I was still familiarizing myself. But I used every bit of it. If I had martial arts inside me, I would unleash it all in a single strike!
—Hwaaaak!
My energy flowed from the lower dantian through my blood vessels, permeating my whole body. It felt as if power was surging from within. Had I ever felt such a tremendous force in my life?
With my current self, I could do anything!
—Swoosh.
Utilizing concealment skills, I channeled energy into my feet to silence my footsteps. I crept stealthily. Standing on tiptoes. Moving my right foot and right arm simultaneously. Then, my left arm and left foot as I approached Madunachal.
“Puhehe! This is your end, girl! You’re no longer a concubine! I will make you my sex slave!”
“Cough!”
Madunachal shouted loudly as he raised his great sword.
I waited for the perfect moment. I would hit just after closing in more stealthily. At that critical point, I literally loaded my sword.
What I needed now wasn’t just a powerful strike or cut.
I only required a thrust to pierce!
That was all that mattered.
—Gooo!
Power surged throughout my body!
“…!”
I aimed for Madunachal’s back, ready to explode with the power boiling within, and without even a battle cry!
—Thwack!
I shot my body like an arrow toward his back!
—Fwoosh!
In that fleeting moment, I felt a purple energy spark off the extending blade. What was that? I had no way of knowing at this point. I had never reached such a level of sword skill. Most importantly, it didn’t look like any kind of sword energy.
But I felt that whatever it was, it stemmed from my martial arts. Is that how it is? Had my power been released? If so, that’s fine.
Right now, I was experiencing a whole new dimension!
—Swaash!
My entire being thrust forth, channeling everything into this strike!
“Puhee?”
Madunachal sensed something was off. However, his gaze only momentarily shifted toward the distraction thrown by Jaemi Son.
As he lightly swatted away Jaemi Son’s spear like a mere bug,
At that instant.
—Pwoooosh!
My blade.
Pierced into Madunachal’s back.
—Boom!
A light explosion occurred at the contact point.
Only then did I realize time had begun to flow properly for me.
“Uaaaagghhh!”
Screaming, I drove the sword deeper…! I pushed it in deeper and added more force!
I did it!
I, I succeeded!
Extreme euphoria, the utmost happiness of having executed my masterstroke. This bliss was so intense it nearly bleached my mind white. Of course, this wasn’t the end. Gritting my teeth, I gripped the hilt tightly and shook it like mad.
—Swaaash!
As I wished for Madunachal’s flesh to be horribly torn apart!
“Pu, puhee?! Puheek…! W-what is this?!”
Madunachal exclaimed in shock as he turned to look at me.
“W-when did this human…! How could this Madunachal not sense such trash’s presence, puheeek!”
Twisting and turning like crazy!
“Die, you bastard!!!”
As I roared at that moment.
—Swaaash!
The Jade Flower Sword’s eyes sparkled with a blue light. At the same time, the sword glimmered as it unleashed a blue sword energy, and the Jade Flower Sword advanced toward Madunachal.
“No, no way!”
Madunachal thought in horror as he swung his great sword, but it was already too late.
“Haah!”
The blue sword transformed the space around it.
Swung, then swung again.
It was as if there were endless strikes to come.
—Swaash!
I was entranced by that blade.
The sword energy left a blue trail, painting the sky azure. The blade was merely a brush adorning the heavens. Such marvelous and beautiful technique graced the earth, and the demon, Madunachal, was shattered beneath it.
—Swaash!
His arms were severed like a fruit sliced in half. Yet, the sword did not stop. Rather, it delved deeper into Madunachal, severing even further.
Thus.
When the dragon, which had painted the sky, finally ascended.
—Swaash!
Madunachal’s head split from chin to crown. The Jade Flower Sword cleaved through his skull, launching upward.
The Jade Flower Sword, now in the sky, looked like a celestial maiden.
“Th-the Sword Technique of Boundless Space…!”
Jaemi Son shouted.
Aah, is that so?
Is that the Sword Technique of Boundless Space? That beautiful swordplay was indeed the Sword Technique of Boundless Space.
I shuddered in awe at witnessing such an escalated martial art for the first time. Something like this exists? How can such a thing exist? If humanity can perform such feats, then what is beyond the capabilities of Kim Geunhyeop?
Stunned.
I gazed up at the goddess who slayed the demon, covered in blood yet incredibly beautiful. The goddess slowly descended as if descending to the earth.
Instinctively, I tried to catch the falling goddess.
But for some reason, was it because of using my energy too abruptly? As I reached out with both arms, my feet got tangled, and I ended up receiving the grand butt of the Jade Flower Sword, Namgoong Serin, right on my face.
—Wamph!
“Guh!”
My face was stamped by such a massive posterior…!
Happy death!
“Aah!”
The Jade Flower Sword leapt up reflexively, perched atop my face.
“…”
Then, looking down at me, who lay sprawled out, she spoke with a completely expressionless face.
“…You pervert.”
No!
“W-what do you mean by ‘pervert’?!”
A pervert refers to lewd enemies!
“I saved your life, and you call me a pervert?!”
“…”
The Jade Flower Sword silently arched her back, shaking off her rear.
She then shot me a gaze that seemed to express disdain, saying once more.
“Pervert.”
“Aah!”
“…Just kidding.”
Calling someone a pervert and then joking about it!
Anyway!
“Did we, win?!”
“…Yes.”
“We won, we won!!!”
I exclaimed, jumping up as I shouted.
We won.
We overcame the formidable Madunachal! With this final determination, I, Kim Geunhyeop, executed a super save and led the soul’s last strike to victory!
“Uaaaaagghhh!”
I roared in euphoria.
It was the joy of life itself, as well as the thrill of a warrior. The blend of those two kinds of happiness splattered onto my mind like an ecstatic spray.
“Thank you for your efforts. Before that, let’s handle the aftermath.”
“Yes! Understood!”
The Jade Flower Sword had a profoundly saddened expression on her face. That was only natural, as most of her subordinates had fallen.
I hurriedly assisted her in tending to the injured. Fortunately, there were only two casualties on the River Group’s side. The others merely suffered internal injuries and collapsed. I didn’t know for sure, but since they were alive, recovery was certainly possible. Thankfully, the Great Hero was also alive.
Unfortunately, however… many of the wanderers had died. But upon inspection, I noticed quite a few had managed to hide behind the corpse of the Greater Demon.
Once we wrapped that up, the Jade Flower Sword approached me.
“Goddess?”
“…Thank you.”
“Yes.”
“Truly, thank you.”
She bowed deeply to express her thanks.
“Thanks to you, I was able to save my life and slay Madunachal. It was all thanks to Geunhyeop.”
“What are you saying? If it weren’t for the goddess, I wouldn’t have been able to kill him in the first place.”
“No, no… Your strong courage created this victory. It was truly a heartfelt courage. How could you even think of facing a demon like that…?”
The Jade Flower Sword spoke as if she were sincerely impressed, but in reality, it was nothing special.
“The River Group’s martial artists were the same. They all fought valiantly.”
“That’s slightly different. They are all trained and honed martial artists. But you, Geunhyeop, are not that kind of being, are you?”
“That’s right.”
“Yet you made such a bold decision to carry out the ambush… that requires a bravery beyond compare. It’s a gift you were born with.”
“Ah.”
“Geunhyeop, you are truly a brave hero deserving of being referred to as a martial artist.”
“Oh my!”
It’s true that I saved the Jade Flower Sword’s life, but being heaped with such praises made me blush!
“Haha! Well, indeed, I can be a bit like that! But, hearing thanks from the goddess truly makes me so happy I could faint! It’s an amazing reward!”
“Is that so.”
As I jested, her expression lightened a bit.
“Yes! But please ensure you reward me well! For my achievement!”
“Of course. I promise on my name.”
“Yay!”
I immediately jumped up and down.
The Jade Flower Sword promised me a reward!
What could I possibly get? This was an extraordinary risk. I single-handedly saved a woman from the enormous Namgoong Clan during an unexpected crisis no one could have foreseen.
The reward should certainly be substantial.
“Haha!”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Then, Madunachal’s corpse caught my eye.
“Wait a moment.”
No way?
I felt my chest race as I examined the area around Madunachal’s solar plexus. It was shining! Faintly, but shining!
“Inner Core!”
It was an Inner Core!
That too, the Inner Core of such a powerful demon!
Another Inner Core had emerged!
“That! Goddess, that!”
The reward has to be that!
“Eh?”
“Inner Core! Inner Cooreee!”
“Yes? Inner Core?”
“Goddess! Please give me that Inner Core as a reward!”
Madunachal was an incredibly powerful demon. An Inner Core from such a being must be extraordinarily valuable. But since I accomplished a great task, I definitely had the right to demand it.
An Inner Core from Madunachal, no less!
Way beyond that piece of garbage known as the leader!
“What kind of Inner Core are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about this!”
I sliced open Madunachal’s solar plexus and pulled out the crimson Inner Core. It glistened like a ruby.
“Huh? You mean that Inner Core?”
“Yes! Please grant it to me as a reward!”
“No, why would you want an Inner Core…? ”
Huh?
“Yes?”
Poison?
“Poison?”
“Poison?! Are you planning to eat that Inner Core?!”
“No.”
That’s not it.
“I already ate one, you know? The one from before.”
“What?!”
The Jade Flower Sword’s expression twisted.
A brief silence.
“Are you an idiot?!”
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