Dark Heaven Village
I sat quietly for a while, lost in thought. The standoff in the hall remained unchanged, but I now had an extended period to ponder what the right course of action was in this situation.
‘This isn’t a simple situation that repeats easily.’
I sensed that even if I relived my past life, having Lee Kwang direct his Thunder God Sect disciples to target Mangnyang, the leader of the Bancheon Alliance, wouldn’t happen so easily. It was a result of various intertwined factors.
Therefore, merely complying and waiting wouldn’t be beneficial. The likelihood of this leading to a poison in the future was much higher than that of an observational benefit. What I needed to do was find a solution that would help everyone as much as possible. That was something only I, the one who had lived through this, could do.
I softly called for Geuk Ho.
“Geuk Ho, brother.”
“Yeah?”
“By now, the teacher and Jin So-cheong should be close to the monster.”
“Yeah… they probably are. Even if the army stands in their way, they won’t be able to stop them…”
Swish!
Suddenly, I drew my sword and charged at Geuk Ho. Since Geuk Ho was the main pillar of the Thunder God Sect, I needed to subdue him. Despite the unexpected surprise attack, Geuk Ho reacted quickly, redirecting his spear to parry my strike with the Manseung Sword Technique.
Clang!
Yoon Gwang and Ji Pyeong were slightly slower to react. As they fumbled to turn their spearheads, Geuk Ho shouted,
“Kill the Lord of Bancheon Alliance!”
Geuk Ho realized I wouldn’t be able to carry out my mission if I fought him normally, so he issued the order to kill Mangnyang. But in that moment, I swiftly penetrated his defenses and subdued Yoon Gwang and Ji Pyeong with the intense energy from my lightning-infused sword.
Thud!
Yoon Gwang and Ji Pyeong collapsed, losing all strength. Geuk Ho’s expression twisted, and as he lowered his spear, I said,
“You must realize this is an illogical act, Geuk Ho.”
My internal power exceeded anything a normal person could accumulate. Thus, no matter how brilliant Lee Kwang’s techniques were, restraining me was impossible. I was simply waiting patiently, having removed the seals and built up my strength.
Around us, members of the Bancheon Alliance subtly gathered near Geuk Ho. Ignoring them, he glared at me, saying,
“Kid, do you even understand what you’ve done? This is betrayal against the Thunder God Sect.”
“It’s not betrayal. What I’m doing will ultimately assist my master.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
I insisted,
“Brother, please trust me. Fighting each other here won’t help at all.”
“Why should I trust a betrayer?”
“I’m going to help the teacher from now on.”
“……?!”
The expressions of Geuk Ho and the others turned peculiar. I pulled out the Golden Lantern from my pocket and unexpectedly approached Miho, who was staring blankly from the side. I glanced at Mangnyang and said,
“Please don’t harm the Thunder God Sect members.”
“Of course. Have a safe journey.”
Mangnyang seemed to have grasped my intention already.
Miho feigned ignorance, acting as if she were observing the situation in the hall, but her expression twisted when I spoke to her while holding the Golden Lantern.
“Let’s go together, Miho.”
“What…?”
I rubbed the side of the Golden Lantern before grabbing Miho’s hand. The Golden Lantern was a magical tool that activated just by rubbing its side, without needing to light the flame.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, images began to flash through my mind, projected from the Golden Lantern. I watched the process indifferently, waiting. At last, as the image of Dark Heaven Village faded, I heard a familiar voice.
[Are you ready to go?]
I want to go elsewhere.
[You can only go to places you’ve been before.]
I want to come here.
[Understood…]
Fshhhhh!
In the next moment, the scenery around Miho and me changed. I felt a sense of excitement seeing it actually happen, despite having only heard the stories. Miho, holding my hand, stood dazed for a moment before looking around in confusion.
“Where is this…?”
A grim secret place suffused with dark and dark energies. Iron bars were cut in various places, suggesting remnants of prisoners that had been pulled out. Miho, having observed this landscape through her Divine Spirit, seemed to recognize it quickly.
I smiled slightly. Our adventure had been a success.
“It’s Great Thunder Prison.”
Indeed.
I hadn’t anticipated that the Golden Lantern would only allow passage to those three locations. After hearing Mangnyang’s suggestion to utilize the lantern, I thought perhaps it could lead me to other locations as well. It was a bit of a gamble, but it felt better than just sitting around and letting everything become a disaster, so I had decided to act on my thoughts after a certain period of contemplation.
Miho looked at me in disbelief.
“Does that Golden Lantern allow instantaneous travel to any place you’ve been?”
“Yeah. This is the first time I’ve used it firsthand, though.”
“Are you insane…? So, what’s the plan now that you’ve brought me here?”
“You’re smarter than Mangnyang, so you should understand why I came here.”
“……”
Miho glared at me before, charging her aura, she shouted,
“Why are you taking on such dangerous tasks? Do you not realize how risky it is to challenge that monster? There are no rewards for this!”
“I need to do this to reach the [next] stage.”
“Haah…”
“Since we’ve come this far, please help me out, Miho. I’m begging you.”
Miho crossed her arms and turned her head away, not saying a word for a while. Knowing that speaking hastily would have adverse effects, I stood still and waited. After a short yet tense silence, Miho finally spoke quietly.
“Then promise me one thing, Baek Woong.”
“What promise?”
At her following words, I held my breath for a moment.
“Whether it’s Jin So-cheong or Lee Kwang, if they become a hindrance, kill them without hesitation.”
“……!!”
“That is a non-negotiable condition.”
I had no choice but to nod in acquiescence. I understood Miho’s feelings in saying this as she was trying her best to keep her protected target, me, out of danger.
Once the agreement was made, Miho spoke again.
“It seems that Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang have not yet arrived.”
“Their energies are approaching from a distance.”
According to my senses, Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang were about a hundred steps away. They seemed to be proceeding cautiously along a side route to avoid detection.
“Let’s explore the monster first; it might become troublesome. After all, we need to save time too.”
“Got it.”
Following Miho’s suggestion, we decided to delve deeper into Great Thunder Prison, a place we hadn’t thoroughly investigated before. Confronting Lee Kwang here would likely only lead to an argument or fight, so it was better to witness the monster for ourselves first.
Whoosh~
As we reached the depths, a colossal cavern appeared before us. Scooped inside a mountain, this enormous dark hole looked like it was over a hundred feet in diameter, existing like an abyss. There were cloud ladders and stairs placed here and there, leading down, yet darkness seeped out more heavily as we descended, swallowing sounds.
Miho gazed down into the abyss and muttered,
“We can’t go down recklessly. The monster is down there.”
Being a powerful being, Miho was much more sensitive to magic and had seemingly detected the creature’s location. I glanced at Miho and asked,
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Pffft, that Izanagi-no-Mikoto you met in your last life is an extraordinary being. It’s a monster from ancient times, comparable to the Ancient Rulers. The one down there may be strong, but they’re probably not as powerful as the Guardian of the Moon.”
“I see.”
“Just a reminder, treasure your life.”
“Understood, thank you.”
I sensed that Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong were approaching. They seemed slightly tense, walking slowly. I approached them instead and made a bow.
“Disciple Baek Woong meets my master.”
“……”
Lee Kwang looked at me with eyes of disbelief, and beside him, Jin So-cheong appeared equally surprised. Lee Kwang, astonished that I had come this far despite being sealed, momentarily forgot his anger and questioned me,
“How did you get here before us?”
“It’s thanks to this item. Using the Golden Lantern, I can teleport to places I’ve been before.”
“…….!!”
“Of course, this is my first proper use, so I couldn’t recommend it hastily.”
As I made excuses—not really excuses—Lee Kwang shook his head with evident discomfort written across his face.
“Just what are you thinking? If you wanted to come with us, couldn’t you have just said so from the beginning? There’s an army of 50,000 elite soldiers outside, and we’re in the middle of a massive battle.”
“I apologize. I had my own circumstances. But I truly want to help you both.”
“Hmm…”
Lee Kwang looked bewildered, realizing if I sought to betray him, staying put would have been more beneficial. There was no need for me to reveal myself, using teleportation in front of him. Lee Kwang shot a glance at Miho beside me and asked,
“Why did you bring her along?”
“Miho is a much stronger sorceress than we anticipated. With her here, it’ll be much easier to deal with the situation.”
After contemplating for a brief moment, Lee Kwang resolutely replied,
“Fine. If you’ve considered this, then it’s unavoidable. I won’t dwell on your breaking the seal anymore. If you’re here, give it your all.”
“Understood.”
“Can you use the lantern to return home if needed?”
I glanced at Miho at Lee Kwang’s inquiry, and Miho communicated telepathically,
[With their mental strength, it should be fine.]
“Yes, it should be.”
“Good to hear. I thought I might have to risk my life on the way out.”
Given Lee Kwang’s words, it seemed the situation outside was swarming with elite troops and armies. We soon reached the stairs leading down into the abyss and observed the encroaching darkness. Lee Kwang frowned as he looked into the abyss.
“What a heavy aura.”
“I think we should proceed downward.”
“It feels off. But it’s more manageable with the lantern.”
Leading the way, Lee Kwang slowly descended the stairs into the abyss. As the light faded, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong lit torches. However, even with the torches, it was as if glowing fireflies flickered, and the light grew dimmer, making everyone uneasy. This level of darkness wasn’t something easily encountered.
Fshhhh!
Eventually, Miho summoned her fox flame to illuminate the surroundings. The fox flame flared brightly, making it more bearable. Normally, a person would be drained of mental strength and terrified just trying to walk through this darkness.
It took a while, but we finally reached the bottom of the abyss. Upon setting foot on the ground, a sinister, black liquid flowed like a river, reminiscent of blood or a bad omen. I didn’t even dare touch the water to see what it was.
Miho sent the fox flame floating to the other side of the water. Then, through the flickering light, a colossal shape appeared.
GROOOO!
It was a monster at least fifty feet long. Resembling a slick toad, the pallid creature ha a massive mouth with wriggling pink tentacles where its head should be.
Its glistening body exuded a foul-smelling fluid, and it appeared to be gazing into the darkness. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t staring; it was using its pink tentacles to shred something to pieces and eat it.
Chomp, chomp…
“Ugh…”
I grimaced at the sight. The creature was devouring the corpse of a mutated being that had received the blessings of the Evil God from Great Thunder Prison. Miho communicated in my mind,
[That monster is entrenched in the center, serving as the source of the curse. It likely offers sacrifices of humans or mutated beings’ corpses in exchange for casting its magic.]
[How do we attack with it surrounded by water?]
[Let’s leave it to Lee Kwang.]
Sure enough, Lee Kwang, with a stiffened expression, remarked,
“It doesn’t seem suitable for reconnaissance. Let’s take it down immediately.”
“Agreed.”
Swish!
At once, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong unleashed their thunderous spells. Then, utilizing the technique Aerial Evasion, they launched themselves effortlessly toward the toad. The creature finally seemed to sense our presence and turned its head, swinging its massive arms.
Swish!
“Ugh…!!”
Feeling the pressure from across fifty feet, I was genuinely taken aback. The beast’s strength was unfathomable. Attacking it up close would surely display speed and power comparable to a peak master’s blow.
Yet Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong effortlessly dodged the toad’s attacks using their Thunder Shadow Art. Then a grand lion’s roar resounded.
[Non-standard Thunder God Slice!!]
[Non-standard Thunder God Slice!!]
BOOOOM!
In a flash, a massive explosion erupted from the strikes, reverberating through the abyss as shockwaves surged. The piercing power struck the toad hard. With a shriek, the creature suddenly expelled torrents of foul liquid from its mouth.
[BRRRAAAACK!!]
The liquid poured down like a massive downpour. I realized that if something like that flooded from the front, it could slaughter hundreds of soldiers in an instant. Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong quickly retreated to avoid it.
As Lee Kwang landed, he muttered,
“That thing is incredibly sturdy. And dangerous.”
“Could you say it’s seriously injured?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Fshhhh!
As Lee Kwang said, the shadows of the abyss had brightened considerably. Flames erupted around the blood-red river due to the thunder’s ignition—most likely because of the abundance of oily substances.
And as the beast became clearly visible, it appeared heavily injured, with a leg blown off and a gaping wound on its back. The creature seemed to acknowledge us for a moment, glaring in our direction before suddenly unleashing a colossal sound.
[??????? – ]
In that moment,
“Grrgh…”
“Gah!”
Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong, who had been casually preparing to attack, faltered and collapsed on the spot. Alarmed, I approached them; they appeared to be lost in a violent mental hallucinatory state, barely managing to hold onto their self-control. It seemed their rationality was nearly gone.
“……!!”
Miho remarked,
“It uses mental curses after all. Under usual conditions, they’d be dead immediately, yet they’re enduring.”
“Mental curses?”
“Indeed, I intended to place safeguards on you, but you seem unaffected at all. What’s going on?”
Miho looked at me, mystified. I sensed only the beast’s roar; mental hallucinations were nonexistent for me. Considering how often I fell prey to Miho’s charms, this felt quite peculiar.
I turned to the creature on the other side of the river.
“It’s not coming at us.”
The tentacled toad could have leaped over and attacked us with its size but remained seated and stared at us instead. Miho answered,
“It’s channeling its spirit to enhance the potency of its curses on Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong. If it continues, they will die.”
“What?!”
I couldn’t hold back my alarm. I ignited my sword with blazing fire, but hesitated as I considered how to launch an attack. Throwing my precious spear might allow it to evade, and getting close would mean crossing the river of flames, yet I didn’t know how to perform Suspicious Shadow’s spell.
Miho spoke up,
“Since Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong have injured it significantly, you finish it off.”
“How…?”
“Concentrate your power as much as you can.”
Thrum…
Following Miho’s words, I focused all my internal energy into my blade. Instantly, my sword became far faster and stronger, accumulating a giant aura. As the thunderbolt blade extended to three feet in size, Miho placed her hand on my shoulder and said,
“I will teleport you. Strike with all your might.”
“Understood.”
Swish!
Miho and I crossed the flaming river, instantly appearing next to the tentacled toad. It didn’t have time to respond as I unleashed my sword with everything I had.
BOOOOM!
GRAAAHHHHH!!
With a thunderous roar, the toad let out a tremendous scream as my strike cleaved its body into three pieces. Its tentacles burst forth in all directions. This was undoubtedly a fatal blow; the creature toppled to the side, and the force of my full power matched and even surpassed that of Non-standard Thunder God Slice, resulting in an expected outcome.
As Miho summoned her nine tails, blazing fox flames devoured the puddles of goo surrounding us, erasing any concern of injury. Miho stared at the fallen toad, her expression one of shock.
“What kind of monster is this? It’s still alive…?!”
Indeed. Although the toad had been torn to shreds, its head was still wiggling. I suddenly felt as if the creature’s head was trying to communicate with me.
[… Why… human… side…]
I could barely make out its intent.
Then, the toad trembled violently and ceased to move. I sighed, and Miho wore a look that suggested she felt satisfied for once. Then, glaring fiercely at me, Miho said,
“Idiot! Do you see now? If Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong weren’t here, you would have crossed a point of no return trying to inflict such damage on this top-tier monster.”
“I’m sorry… but we won, right?”
“Humph!”
Once the tentacled toad perished, the potent curses seemed to release their grip, making Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong stir back to life. I gazed worriedly at them, and Miho reassured,
“Don’t worry. Since it was a powerful curse, they’ll take at least a meal time to fully recover.”
“That’s not the issue.”
I noticed a trail left behind where the toad had been sitting, leading back across the river, and with Miho, I used teleportation to follow the path.
In the back, there was a concealed cave, and as we entered deeper, it captured my attention.
Inside lay a book bound in human skin, emanating a peculiar and powerful dark aura. The title on the cover read “Chronicles of the Nine-Headed Serpent.”
“Chronicles of the Nine-Headed Serpent?”
“It seems like an extremely ancient tome.”
“Could it be that the tentacled toad guarded this book?”
“Perhaps. Can you read it?”
I opened the book. Sure enough, it was written in a strange language I couldn’t decipher, forcing me to shake my head.
“No.”
That was odd.
While I was able to interpret the bizarre language from the ruins of Chilyo, both the Cheonam Biography and this Chronicles of the Nine-Headed Serpent were incomprehensible. I pondered why this was, but it seemed there were variations of languages even among odd tongues belonging to different races.
Next to the Chronicles of the Nine-Headed Serpent, I found a small palm-sized box and a pair of twin swords. The twin swords glimmered with a jade green light, radiating an enchanting aura. As I stared at the weapons with fascination, Miho said,
“Let’s take everything with us for now.”
“How can we manage that without drawing attention?”
“Hmm…”
Miho also looked a bit troubled. Discovering treasures only to share them with Lee Kwang behind us felt a little uneasy. Then, as I absentmindedly opened the box, some startling events unfolded.
Swish…!!
“Gah!”
I was taken aback as my arm slipped effortlessly into the box without resistance. It looked like my hand had been eaten by a palm-sized maw. I hurriedly pulled my arm back, and it slid out easily.
Watching this spectacle, Miho said,
“Could it be…?”
She then pressed her face against the box. To my astonishment, Miho’s face slid right into the box! She pulled her face back and exclaimed,
“This is a space-time storage box!”
“No way…?”
“Indeed. The space contained is at least a hundred times larger, so you can store as many items as you want.”
I also poked my head into the box and saw that her claim was indeed true. Inside was an empty, white space shaped like a square box. I threw in the twin swords and the Chronicles of the Nine-Headed Serpent, feeling incredibly relieved.
‘This is rather convenient.’
In my past lives, there had often been opportunities to gain treasures, but I had frequently struggled with how to carry them around. I consistently hid them in deep places, going through the hassle of retrieving them. However, with this storage box, I could keep all the items neatly stowed inside!
