Ep516 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Upper Dantian, Middle Dantian, Lower Dantian. She awakened all the internal energy that lay dormant within these three centers. Crackle! A massive energy that, simply by being wielded, could significantly affect the space around her. Having never unleashed her full power before, even she found the current situation astonishing. She couldn’t bear to see him suffer any longer. Thus, she intended to send him away without a chance for pain. Rumble...! A fierce and intense energy, one strong enough to make space itself tremble, coalesced and gathered around her body, expanding in size. Three Heads and Six Arms. A monstrous form with three heads, each wearing a different expression, and six arms holding different weapons. It was a technique she herself had devised, having mastered and surpassed the celestial demonic arts long ago. A war phantom that would ruthlessly trample upon this ephemeral world, opening a path to a new one. "Celestial Demonic Arts Secret Shura's World-Annihilation." The six eyes on the three heads. A sword, spear, axe, bow, staff, and fist. All heading in one direction. Towards the small human standing there. The noble one chosen by the gods. Yet simultaneously a rebel, defying the gods' will. Towards him, the Shura’s onslaught began. A sharp sword slash cleaved at his waist, and a piercing spear aimed for his heart. An arrow loosed from the bow targeted the space between his eyes as the axe plunged down towards his crown. A giant fist at his upper body, a staff targeting his lower. Allowing even one would be fatal—truly a relentless barrage of terrifying attacks. Amidst the death approaching every moment, Baek Woojin finally opened his eyes. Unfazed by the lethal blows stacked before him, he looked solely at the Celestial Demon. From head to toe. As if to imprint even the smallest details into his memory forever. Finally, Baek Woojin swung his sword. Clang-! The sword strike originating from Shura’s first arm vanished without a trace. The second strike followed. Clang! The spear’s tip, rushing ferociously towards his heart, met and lost against the tip of Baek Woojin's sword, shattering in defeat. Then the third. Slash! An arrow flying towards his brow was cut and split in half by his descending sword. The fourth and fifth. Crash! Thud! He severed the handle of the axe, which was plummeting like lightning towards his head, and kicked away with a foot clad in energy the staff targeting his legs, flinging it afar. Finally, fist met fist. Boom-! With a thunderous sound reverberating through the heavens and earth, Shura’s giant fist caved inward. All this clashing occurred in merely a single breath. Seeing her meticulously hidden secret weapon so thoroughly defeated, the Celestial Demon’s eyes widened in disbelief. Even seeing it, she couldn’t believe it. A monster that required pouring out an unimaginable amount of internal power. Yet it was destroyed this easily. Only now, facing him as an enemy, she understood. The sheer absurdity of his strength when he was no longer an ally but a foe. “……!” In her eyes, widened to the point of tearing, she could see Baek Woojin’s figure. He, who had mercilessly torn apart the three-headed six-armed monster she created. Elegantly approached, akin to the gentle spring breeze between seasons, drawing his sword with grace. As the sword fell from above, moment by moment, time seemed to slow down. She realized. 'Is this like a flash before death?' She had abandoned everything and strived so hard. And yet, had not reached her goal. For a moment, she wallowed in regret. 'Ah, I see.' From Baek Woojin’s steady gaze, she discerned the root of her failure. 'It was wrong from the beginning.' The choice of abandoning everything for the sake of one goal itself was flawed. In contrast, Baek Woojin’s strength stemmed from his desire not to give up on anything. She felt empty. 'Why did I forget?' His strength came from his resolve not to lose comrades, a lover, or friends. Having seen him grow stronger, not fighting alone but for everyone even amidst deep despair. Why had she chosen to walk the opposite path and oppose him? As she regretted her path, she also felt liberated. With a deep smile capturing that sense of freedom, she spoke. "You’ve won." Simultaneously, the world that had slowed accelerated. No, it returned to its original pace. Slide. The sound accompanying Baek Woojin’s final strike was almost too quiet to be considered an attack, as his sword cut through the air. Had his attack missed? No, it had not. She could feel it; though outwardly intact, internally, everything was split in two following the trajectory of his sword. “Cough...!” Blood gushed forth. At the same time, a strange sound emerged from behind her. Crack! A noise as if something was breaking. Turning around with great difficulty, she saw a thin line drawn in the dark, impenetrable space. The noise had come from that line. Cracks spread outward from the line drawn downward. Crack! When the space around had been filled completely with fractures, like shattered glass. Crash! The cracks reached their limit, falling apart piece by piece, revealing a new space. Roar—! Everything that was supposed to remain grounded now soared upwards, swirling in a furious display. It was the world she had driven to ruin. After witnessing it, she understood. Why the monster she had created crumbled so easily. Why her protective energy shield was intact, yet her insides were a wreck. "I see..." The target of Baek Woojin's last move became clear to her. "He cut... the space itself." His true target had been the space itself. The moment he scarred the space, everything within was cleaved apart. Though she hadn’t seen it, being captivated by gazing at Baek Woojin, the space where Shura fell had similar lines trailing her path. "Impressive..." For a moment, she felt ashamed. Believing that after creating just one powerful monster, there’d be no more opponents. She felt infinitely embarrassed and inadequate. Thus, she complained to him, who simply looked at her without saying a word. "Are you standing there because you have nothing more to say to me...?" Baek Woojin shook his head quietly. "...I just don’t know what to say." His curt reply was soaked in sorrow. She felt a sense of relief. 'Ah, he's grieving.' He mourned her approaching death. She realized she wouldn’t be a forgotten memory to him. "Hehe... how strange. You, who survived, are sad, while I, who am dying, feel relieved." Even as death closed in, she felt unburdened. As if liberated from shackles that would never have loosened in life. Emotions buried under hate began to surface, one by one. She said, "I guess I'll be returning to hell now." The place she was heading to was hell. Burdened with greater regrets on top of her already heavy conscience, recalling her choices ceaselessly. Yet, it didn't matter. Or rather, it did, but what could be done? Bearing the consequences of choices made was only natural. Still, she felt a pang of regret. Regret that she could no longer gaze upon him, no matter how many times she wished. "I'm sorry for leaving after causing so much trouble." In her final words, she chose to apologize. And Baek Woojin accepted it. "It's okay." Beyond her blurring vision, he was crying. Tears that had been shed each time he held the bodies of comrades who left first. Now soaked his collar. Though it was heart-wrenching. "Ah... I'm happy." She felt happiness, despite everything. Seeing him continue to love her despite everything she had done. Feeling grateful for this brief moment to snuggle in his arms. For being able to tenderly cup his cheek with her hand. She found genuine happiness. "...Please be happy." She wished for his happiness too. For him to bury memories of her deep in his heart and live on with a smile. That he may no longer be burdened by heavy weights, no longer suffer. Wishing and wishing again. She closed her eyes. "You selfish woman." For the first time in his life, he cursed her. The gall of causing him such pain and difficulty, only to leave relieved. How utterly selfish. "......" Wiping the tears from his face with his sleeve, he rose, holding her in his arms. Toward the original world now visible through the shattered space. He gently dropped one by one the Five Elements Divine Pearls he had cherished in his arms. Red, Blue, White, Black, Yellow. As they returned, scattering brilliant light, to the world they belonged, the chaotic world gradually calmed. The things that had been floating erratically returned to the earth, and the turmoil was swallowed by silence. Soon, a clear sky was restored. After a brief glance at her cradled in his arms, “Let’s go back home.” He took a step forward toward the world once more. Together with her, now gone. --- Author's Note: I will see you again in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)