Ep511 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The words, laced with madness, spoken by her struck Baek Woo-jin, making his head spin for a brief moment. This was the writer NovelGod, a third-rate novelist who had twice cast him into the world he had created. Baek knew the man was insane, but he hadn't imagined it would be to this extent. "So that's what it was." He finally understood why that third-rate writer involved the Heavenly Demon. Their interests were perfectly aligned. "Both of them desire a new world." Their reasons differed, but they shared the same wish: a fresh beginning. The Heavenly Demon wanted to rebuild her connection with her lover from an absolute void, untouched by past memories. Meanwhile, the third-rate writer desired to erase the world that had deviated from his wishes and create another one atop it. In that newly written, thus created world... "You and I become the protagonists...!" A new story where she and Baek Woo-jin were the main characters would unfold. "……." Moreover, she wished for all their memories to be forgotten. That was truly... "...a mad idea." Such a notion was beyond reason; it was something only a crazed mind could conceive. Baek Woo-jin didn't know. How this world began. Whether it was an existing world that the writer tailored to his liking for a narrative, or if the world was created as his writing commenced. In truth, the background details didn't matter much. What mattered was that the world began to turn when he started writing. And it was entirely his doing that this world, deemed unworthy by him, was now at the brink of being erased. 'Casting blame on a world he ruined with his lack of skill.' And yet, suddenly deciding to erase it? Was it because he was a god, his audacity far surpassing that of a mere human? While Baek Woo-jin grit his teeth and suppressed his inner rage, the Heavenly Demon gazed at the sun in the sky, overjoyed. The impending moment of darkness drew near. "The sun swallowed by darkness becomes a great passage." Her sudden words made Baek Woo-jin frown. "...A passage?" A passage? Wasn't a solar eclipse merely a phenomenon where the sun is temporarily obscured by the moon? As if mocking his thoughts, the Heavenly Demon continued with a brilliant smile on her lips. "He calls that a 'recycle bin.'" Recycle bin. A term Baek Woo-jin was all too familiar with. A program on the computers of his original world, Earth, that gathered unnecessary files to be deleted. "...Right, of course." He now realized what he'd overlooked. Ultimately, this was a world he had created, and even a solar eclipse could have its concepts altered. With the sun soon to be fully consumed by darkness, Baek Woo-jin drew his sword. "In short... I need to stop you." "Heh, yes." She, too, drew her sword. The tip of the blade, painted black as if to absorb all the light of the world, aimed at Baek Woo-jin. "If you kill me before the sun is entirely swallowed by darkness, you win. Otherwise, I shall claim victory." A truly simple logic, no? Before her words were fully spoken, Baek Woo-jin leaped forward. His sword, closing the distance with the speed of a bolt of light, targeted the Heavenly Demon's neck. Clang—! But with a mere gesture, she effortlessly blocked it. With just a single clash, the Heavenly Demon realized. "You no longer hesitate." "Yes." The lingering reluctance that seized him every time he tried to cut her down had finally dissipated from his side. It meant he would no longer hesitate to end her life. "Rather than watching you destroy the world, it's better for me to end it with my own hands." Even if the world shatters and all humanity disappears only to be reborn, one truth won’t change. The fact that they were all annihilated by his hand, and the world was wrecked. When everyone’s gone, who would remember it? There remains the god, after all. The arrogant being who orchestrated everything and watched it unfold with delight. As long as he exists, all actions will weigh heavily on his shoulders. "Rather than living with that heavy burden..., it's better to die." Knowing the weight of life is incomparable in this world, such was Baek Woo-jin’s belief. No longer hesitating arose from this reason. Rather than let her live burdened, it was better to sever her regrets with his own hand. Hearing this, the Heavenly Demon beamed brightly, as if satisfied with that resolve. "Even your reason for wanting to kill me is pitiful." "To kill someone I love, I need at least that much of a reason." "Even now, do you still love me, despite what I've become?" As she asked with a self-deprecating smile, Baek Woo-jin responded without a moment's thought. "Because you were my first." Every 'first' in this world is exceptionally special, and therefore, remains most memorable. A man's first love, particularly, is on an entirely different level of intensity. What is true for even a mundane first love is only magnified when it's a love kindled amidst countless hardships and trials. Though the current situation was unbearably heartbreaking, he had to endure it to prevent even greater sorrow. "Huff..." Time was running out. Baek Woo-jin resolved to unleash his full strength from the start, releasing his energy completely. The world unfurled beneath his feet. A world superimposed with a mental construct doesn't break easily. This would even aid in protecting the altar to some extent. Rusty swords, emerging from the sands of the desert, aimed for her. Baek Woo-jin also moved within the chaos to thrust his sword towards the Heavenly Demon. Clang! Clang-clang! Soon, blood-red swords emerging from behind her blocked every strike from Baek Woo-jin. "......" "......" They exchanged silent blows, as if conversing was now futile. Internally, the Heavenly Demon was impressed. 'To think he would grow this much already.' His growth had far exceeded her expectations. When they met in front of the Volcano Sect, she had a fair amount of leeway; now, his attacks were so fierce and heavy that she could hardly feel the same ease. 'But it's still too soon.' She started to fully operate her internal energy. Executing a flow that contradicted the body's natural path, her ki produced a rebellious force known as Reverse Heaven. Heavenly Demon Divine Art. When it comes to pure destructive power, this unparalleled martial art bloomed from her fingertips. The fierce and tumultuous energy surged towards Baek Woo-jin. "Ugh...!?" The layers of swords stacked high were mercilessly destroyed by the invading demonic energy. A sneak attack, perfectly timed to strike. The Heavenly Demon was certain that this attack would leave a significant impact on him. However. "Heuchah...!" Baek Woo-jin handled her demonic energy in a way she had never expected. The only force capable of halting a demonic energy that destroyed everything it touched was another demonic energy. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art he had tirelessly practiced in secret. Baek Woo-jin's unique demonic energy, crafted through repetitive cycles of progression and regression, met her energy and nullified it. Seeing this, the Heavenly Demon's eyes widened. "...Heavenly Demon Divine Art?" "That's right." She recalled the past when Baek Woo-jin had come and gone in the Demon Realm. 'Did he learn it from that old man?' Within the Demon Realm was an old man who fled, fearing he would go mad himself. The previous leader, now a fugitive hiding in the Demon Realm. It seemed Baek Woo-jin had learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art from him. "On top of that, you've even completed a refinement, I see." The Heavenly Demon Art Baek Woo-jin had mastered differed significantly from her original version. If her demonic energy was a force of pure destruction created through regression, Baek Woo-jin's was a bit different. Progression and regression. Its simultaneous operation created a mysterious harmony. Was it a natural energy with the essence of demonic energy, or a demonic energy embracing the nature of a natural energy? One thing was clear: this mysterious energy suited Baek Woo-jin exceptionally well. "You were hiding quite a formidable weapon." "It wasn't hidden. I only completed it recently." Initially, he hadn't aimed for this. He just wanted to counterbalance the incredibly sharp force of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. But the enlightenment he gained while learning Baek Yu-seong's techniques opened a new path. Destruction and harmony. It allowed two distinct forces to be wielded in a single space. Once this became possible, all of Baek Woo-jin's martial arts advanced. One technique that was once breathlessly focused on a single intricate movement could now contain multiple principles. In essence. Even techniques that emphasized extreme swiftness could now showcase the principle of weight. A blade that was incredibly heavy yet moved with lightning speed. What could be more terrifying to face in battle? 「White Thunder Cleaving the Sky.」 An incredibly swift and heavy strike. A swordsmanship resembling a lightning strike, closer than ever to destruction, shot towards the Heavenly Demon. Startled by a speed difficult to track even with her own eyes, she hastily raised her sword. She barely managed to block the attack. With a deafening roar, her body skidded backwards. Crash! As the Heavenly Demon skidded back, carving deep furrows with her feet, a thin stream of blood trickled from her lips. Baek Woo-jin did not cease; he relentlessly pressed his attack. Each swing of his sword seemed to deepen the darkness clouding his mind. 'There's no time.' If he didn’t kill her before the sun was entirely swallowed by darkness…! He drew upon an immense amount of internal energy, wielding it wildly as he launched attack after attack, totaling dozens of strikes. Unlike his desperate state, the Heavenly Demon maintained a calm demeanor, a deep smile spreading across her lips as she blocked his onslaught. “Regrettably, your time is up.” And with those words, she swiftly retreated. Baek Woo-jin attempted to chase her using his martial techniques but found himself collapsing on the spot. Clatter! “Ugh…!” His body trembled as though it was about to shatter, and waves of pain surged through him. It was the consequence of drawing too much internal energy in a short period. Using his sword as a support, he struggled to rise, just as the Heavenly Demon raised both her arms, chanting in a low voice. “Come forth.” No sooner did she finish speaking, something erupted from the ground. Soon, five orbs, each glowing in a different color, revealed themselves—these were the Divine Five Elements Beads. As she elegantly twirled them in the palm of her hand, she spoke again. “Watch closely.” When she raised her hand, the five orbs soared into the sky. The orbs pierced through the deep darkness and were eventually swallowed beyond the sun, which had become a massive gateway. Rumble...! The world began to tremble. --- **Author's Note** My apologies for the delay. After handling various tasks during the day, I accidentally fell asleep in my chair and only woke up at dawn; I'll make sure to complete the next installment a bit faster. I'll see you in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Have a great day. (_ _)