156 - Mission, Pursuit (6) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

At first, he was disappointed. Even with the power of Heaven-Slaying Star, the fight barely reached its climax, mainly because the attacks lacked murderous intent. But soon, disappointment turned into anticipation. 'How much stronger can he get?' Even the murderous intent leaking through restraint, once added to that sword, how much mightier would it become? How much more fearsome? Seeing growth even amidst battle, Pae Woong Chu felt a surge of expectation within him. That's why he spared him. That's why he elevated his own realm, waiting for the right moment. And Mok Riwon did not disappoint his expectations. At the age of 18, reaching the peak. The feat Mok Riwon achieved was something even the mighty had failed to accomplish. Holding such a sharp sword in their finally met moment filled Pae Woong Chu's heart with indescribable ecstasy. "Stronger!" Pae Woong Chu thrusted his fist. Mok Riwon deflected it with his sword's surface, swiftly aiming for the waist. "Think again!" Boom! The magic energy around his waist negated the impact. A straight punch to Mok Riwon's face, who in turn blocked it with his scabbard. "You've matured well." "I didn't elevate my realm just to hear such words." "Even so, praise is rightfully earned!" Thump! Pae Woong Chu stamped the ground, causing a momentary tremble. The magic energy filled punch vibrated the air. 'He'll dodge it.' Mok Riwon's swordsmanship was peculiar. As if knowing where the fist would land regardless of direction, he took the most appropriate measure against it, making it hard to land a solid hit. The dilemma deepens. How to break through that defense? How to block the dreadfully swift sword? Eventually, Pae Woong Chu reached his conclusion. 'Impossible for now.' Then. 'I must aim for a higher realm.' Pae Woong Chu's smile deepened. 'Good.' In life-and-death situations, one's survival instinct can prompt growth. Such insights might storm in by the dozen in a moment, many vanishing just as quickly, hard to grasp, but Pae Woong Chu could seize them even amidst chaos. He had experienced it before. After all, what's done once can surely be done again. "Show me your full strength!" At those words, Mok Riwon's momentum became even fiercer. "If you wish!" With his shout, the onslaught became even more ferocious. Here it comes. The sword, death, and void. But it wasn't entirely frightening. At the moment when the dark magic filled sword barely touched his shoulder, "Here!" Pae Woong Chu attained enlightenment. 'The sword is but a tool dancing to the swordsman's intent!' Neutralize the swordsman, and it's done. Pae Woong Chu wrapped magic energy over his shoulder, striking Mok Riwon's forearm with his elbow. Thump! Another shockwave swept through the area. Pae Woong Chu refined his magic. 'Incredible!' Reaching the peak had given birth to a vision in his mind. A desired future he wished to solidify. Mok Riwon created some distance. It was an opportunity. Pae Woong Chu steadied his breath, then layered magic energy over himself. "This is a struggle!" An eternal struggle, or perhaps a moment of ecstasy. Balancing on that slender gap was the life he sought. "Warrior Spirit. This is my ideal." Magic wrapped around Pae Woong Chu, hardening like armor. "Now, Heaven-Slaying Star." Pae Woong Chu inquired. "What do you hold dear?" Assuming a stance, ready to dash. Mok Riwon, with an even fiercer expression, spread dark magic across the entire space. * A space tinted with darkness arises. Mok Riwon charges forward, cutting through it. As he does so, his body begins to burn white. Meteor Miles. This was Mok Riwon's vision, symbolizing his resolve to blaze across the martial world like a luminous star, consuming his very being. The closer the distance, the clearer Mok Riwon felt. 'I can't break him like this.' The magic covering Pae Woong Chu was notably robust. Even if pared away with a sword, it would likely regenerate. Then, what should be done? Mok Riwon already knew the answer. Crack! Sword and armor collided. That instant, Mok Riwon unleashed the restraint on Heaven-Slaying Star. 'I see it.' The path to victory. If he could slice up, reaching the neck artery, a fatal injury was possible. Is there a lack of strength? No. The power keeps surging. His extreme demonic body consumes and revitalizes with Pae Woong Chu's magic. What's there to ponder? 'To the artery.' Blatantly targeting that spot, he raised his sword. Forcing a block. The magic used in the armor was limited, an evident fact. Mok Riwon planned to divert his sword to a weaker defended area once magic gathered at the neck. But that was wishful thinking. 'No...!' Pae Woong Chu did not defend his neck. Even in that moment, he added more magic to his fist and thrust forward. He was making a statement. He was determined to land a punch, even if it meant risking his life. "Disappointing." Mok Riwon hastily deflected the sword and dodged. The punch aimed at the temple whooshed through the air. "Don't act like a child!" Boom! Pae Woong Chu kicked Mok Riwon's body, pushing him away. "Give it your all! Fight like your life depends on it!" As if refusing to allow distance between them, Pae Woong Chu charged again. Mok Riwon maintained the gap, swinging his sword widely. The direction of his strikes was something Heaven-Slaying Star could hint at through the manifestation of killing intent. Feigning a strike to the solar plexus then aiming for the jaw. Straight to the waist. And pretending to target the knee but aiming for the groin. Sometimes bluntly, other times craftily, Pae Woong Chu's fists went through hundreds of transformations. While it should have been normal to weaken, Pae Woong Chu seemingly defied common sense by growing more forceful. What else could be the reason? 'He's growing.' In this moment, at the crossroads of life and death, he's gathering insights. He's feeding on himself. 'This can't be.' Mok Riwon began to press Pae Woong Chu more fiercely. Chang, Chaeng, Chajang. He accelerated his sword. Performing continuous attacks at a speed that surpassed cognition and control. Overwhelmed by the vortex of sword strikes, Pae Woong Chu was mincemeat. "You're shallow!" But it was too shallow to penetrate the armor formed by condensed magic energy. So, the strategy must change. Mok Riwon took a defensive stance, closing the distance and drawing Pae Woong Chu's attack towards him. Deflecting the incoming punches with his sword, he slowly dismantled the posture. Soon, a small opening appeared. Mok Riwon struck into it. It was the second form of his sword technique, designed to disrupt the flow and disarm the opponent. "Luck won't help!" With a sharp inhale, Pae Woong Chu layered his armor forward with magic energy. Krang! This attempt also failed. To penetrate Pae Woong Chu, greater destructive power was necessary. Something flashed in Mok Riwon's mind. 'The latter half of Meteoric Swords.' This was a secret art not casually displayed in front of martial artists everywhere. The latter half of Meteoric Swords belonged emphatically within the realm of qi manipulation, reminiscent of Mok Seon-o's form. But look. Fortunately, it's just Pae Woong Chu and him here. Now's the chance to use the latter half without reservation. "Last duel, I showed only up to the fourth form." Mok Riwon spoke in a low voice. Pae Woong Chu's smile deepened. "So, you're using it! Good!" That day, in the past duel, Mok Riwon had demonstrated up to the fourth form of the Meteoric Swords to Pae Woong Chu. That was the utmost Mok Riwon could achieve back then. But now, it was different. "This time, it's the fifth form." "Let's see you handle it with all your might!" Pae Woong Chu's breath was marked with an indescribable fervor. His entire armor shattered. Even the magic energy used for the mind condensed into his fist. Facing him, Mok Riwon gripped his sword in reverse, hiding it behind his back while spinning dark magic energy. The space began to fluctuate. Pae Woong Chu burst into laughter as he charged. 'Wait.' Waiting for further charging. The optimal moment was imminent. As Mok Riwon refined his qi, Pae Woong Chu stepped into the center of the vortex set by Mok Riwon. 'Now!' Swinging the reverse-gripped sword forward, an explosion emanated from the vortex's center. White stars floating above the space bombarded Pae Woong Chu's body altogether. The fifth form of Meteoric Swords, Night Circulating the Heavens. "Good!" Krakrakrak! Pae Woong Chu caught more than half of the impact with his left arm. It was shredded, but he preserved the magic in his right fist. But not bad for Mok Riwon. Having damaged Pae Woong Chu's lower half as well, it was unlikely his punch could carry full strength. Mok Riwon confidently extended his sword into Pae Woong Chu's punch. The sharp sword split Pae Woong Chu's reddened fist in half. So cleanly it split, a tearing sound echoed. "Hahahaha!!!" Pae Woong Chu attempted a headbutt. It wasn't blocked. Caught off guard by the unexpected move, Mok Riwon froze momentarily and their foreheads collided. Bam! The shock reverberated to the brain. Fortunately, because Pae Woong Chu's body was made of magic energy, the impact was mitigated by his extreme demonic body's capabilities. "More!" Just as Pae Woong Chu was about to headbutt again, "...Oh." Pae Woong Chu stopped. His expression turned exceedingly grim. Mok Riwon understood why as well. 'Reinforcements are coming.' Multiple magic energies were rushing towards their location. Coming from the direction of the martial world, indicating that the transcendental being who left just before might have dispatched troops. "They interrupt at the climax!" Pae Woong Chu sighed. Mok Riwon considered, 'We shouldn't continue fighting.' Mok Riwon's goal was not to kill Pae Woong Chu but to capture him alive. The problem wasn't just about Heaven-Slaying Star, but also the information about the demonic cult that he might possess. Now that the identity of the transcendent demonic cult junior leader had been discovered, Pae Woong Chu's mind held that, along with numerous other pieces of information. 'More time is needed to neutralize him.' And Pae Woong Chu wasn't the type to quietly let himself be handled. "Tch, that's enough for today." Pae Woong Chu forced strength into his right leg, which was torn to shreds, and kicked Mok Riwon away. Mok Riwon blocked it with his scabbard and floated in the air, absorbing the impact and moving far away. "Heaven-Slaying Star." Pae Woong Chu said. "Live. And don't get caught." A wide grin spread across his face. "Come back stronger next time." With that, he casually turned around and left. Mok Riwon clenched his teeth. 'I can't follow.' The destination of the demonic forces rushing from the direction of Sin-gang was too obvious. It was Yongbong Branch, now without him and Namgung Jincheon. 'I'm going to help.' Mok Riwon immediately turned around and ran towards his fellow members. * At the same time, Namgung Jincheon was breathing lightly, facing Yeon Rigeon. "What an annoying move." He grumbled and asked Yeon Rigeon. "What's the name of your martial art?" "Sword fighting technique." "Combining the sword and body in demonic martial arts. I'll remember that." Namgung Jincheon was quite at ease. Above all, it was a matter of compatibility. The battle that started as soon as they met was in the form of Namgung Jincheon overpowering Yeon Rigeon with his abundant internal energy, leaving Yeon Rigeon as the only one disheveled. However, capturing Yeon Rigeon alive was another matter. 'His defense is solid.' The wide sword, enough to cover his entire body. It was so large that it felt more like a shield than a sword, preventing him from inflicting a fatal wound. While the situation was favorable, it would take a long time to determine the outcome. Yet, reinforcements aimed at his fellow members were approaching. Namgung Jincheon clicked his tongue and turned around. "Next time we meet, you'll die." He propelled himself towards the direction of the members. For Namgung Jincheon, the safety of his teammates was more important than capturing a demonic force member. Yeon Rigeon then slumped down to his spot. "Sword Dragon. Troublesome." Yeon Rigeon learned the importance of compatibility.