novelraw Chapter 166 : The Bloodline of the Heaven-Shattering Demon (1)
Chapter 166 : The Bloodline of the Heaven-Shattering Demon (1)
The spear that the guy thrust was shot again.
I deflected it with a Flame Lightning First Blade Spear and then approached close to the enemy and cut his arm.
"Aaaargh!"
Blood splattered, and the enemy's arm, which was holding the spear, rolled on the floor.
‘Just the beginning, huh.’
It seemed the opponent was at the beginning of the super-peak level.
For now, I grabbed the guy who was in pain and suppressed his blood points.
"Where is your main camp?"
"Do you think I'll tell you?"
"No."
I slammed his head on the floor and then bound him with my knees. Suddenly, I heard the opponent's words from below.
“Not many would come this far. Judging by your age, you must be from the academy. Foolish things.”
Just in case, I had changed my student uniform, but it seemed my young age showed on my face.
Since I had met an executive-level person anyway, I asked what I had been wondering about.
“You’re the foolish ones. What are you doing with a dead person?”
“Kekeke!”
Then the guy suddenly started laughing.
“You’re being deceived. The Heaven-Shattering Demon is not dead! He will return on the day of the promise!”
“You’re crazy.”
How could a person who had been gone for half a century return? And on the day of the promise. It was a pseudo-religion waiting for a messiah.
“The Martial Academy is a false group. We are the real…”
It was annoying to listen any further, so I threw him to the mountain keeper behind me.
Whether they tortured him or persuaded him, they would extract the necessary information on their own.
After finishing my thoughts, I headed further inside.
If I headed in the direction the opponent was guarding, I would find a clue.
But after looking around, all that was revealed was a dead-end room. Other than that, it was just a space with miscellaneous items.
‘That can’t be.’
Since something was suspicious, I targeted a room that was isolated in terms of structure and used wind magic.
As expected, I could feel the airflow passing through the gap under the wall.
‘It’s a secret passage.’
When I found the device in the wall and pushed it, the space beyond was revealed.
Judging by the location, it seemed to be a secret passage that led to the back of the mine.
‘I’ll have to chase them. It’s a bit unsettling to go alone.’
As I was contemplating, Go Du-gyeong, who had just finished investigating the interior with his bugs, was approaching.
“How did it go?”
“I’ve grasped the internal structure, but there’s nothing special. The guy you caught is the only leader, and the stolen items haven’t come out.”
“Then they must have escaped through this passage. Let’s chase them.”
Leaving the rest of the cleanup to the mountain keepers, we moved along the passage.
Soon, the cave ended, and a canyon appeared with the outside air.
“This way!”
Go Du-gyeong controlled the bug that was tracking the scent and informed me of the direction. Judging by the direction, it was towards the riverside.
The pier we arrived at after running straight was already empty. The few boats that were visible on the other side also seemed to be ordinary merchant ships.
‘Have they already escaped?’
It seemed most of them had escaped by boat as soon as they had noticed our presence.
Here, the bug stopped its pursuit. It seemed the scent had been scattered by the river wind.
I immediately went to the pier and examined the rope.
As if they had cut it in a hurry, a rope was hanging on the mooring post, and the point of the rope that was wet from the water was not very high.
‘It means the rope hasn’t been in the water for long.’
Then the enemies must still be nearby.
I floated in the air with Go Du-gyeong using psychokinesis. And then I first took Go Du-gyeong to the other side of the riverbank and had him examine the boats.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to look for the enemy along the river stream on the side with the wind at its back.”
The fact that the bug could no longer pursue meant that the scent had been carried away by the wind and had disappeared.
If it had been a headwind, the scent would still be blowing at the port, so there was a possibility that the bug would have continued its pursuit.
That's why I decided to choose the direction with the wind at its back and pursue.
As I followed the river stream where the winter wind was blowing, the first thing I saw was a medium-sized sailboat.
But since another ship was sailing in parallel on the other side of the diagonal, it seemed they were traveling together.
‘It’s suspicious.’
Judging by the traces at the pier, the number of boats the enemies had escaped on was two, so the estimated distance and the number roughly matched.
I looked down at the enemies from the sky.
When the opponent's identity is not discernible, the most effective method after asking questions is to observe the opponent's reaction.
“Heok?!”
Soon, as if they had discovered this side, the people on the deck raised their voices in surprise.
This much was an expected reaction.
Because a person floating in the sky was enough to be surprised.
But the presence of a master that was felt from the side of the boat afterward was unexpected.
‘At least ten peak-level.’
Even if it was a merchant ship where an escort was essential, it was an excessive force.
Even more so in that they all harbored a strange killing intent towards this side.
Because ordinary escorts would just be wary of the appearance of a third party and would not think of killing them right away.
These were points that could be noticed because this side's realm was high.
‘I’m glad I could grasp it in advance.’
Because just by looking at their attitude, they only looked like a very wary merchant ship.
“Who are you?!”
Just then, a voice calling this side was heard from below. I calmly told a lie.
“I’m a reclusive master. I recently gained enlightenment and came out to the Central Plains after achieving rejuvenation, but I don’t know the way, so I came to this ship that caught my eye.”
Although I had deliberately told a surprising story, the other side showed no sign of agitation.
If they had actually seen a master flying in the sky, they would have had a reaction of ‘what if’, but.
As if they had already predicted this side's identity.
This time, this side asked.
“Where is this ship going?”
“It’s a merchant ship bound for Anhui.”
“Since there are no goods for trade, it seems you’re going to the merchant guild’s headquarters?”
“That’s right.”
The boat was fast for its size to be on a trade route. It meant the weight it was carrying was light.
At this point, I had seen everything I needed to see. I hit the core.
“Which merchant guild does this ship belong to?”
“It’s the Eunha Merchant Guild.”
“Oh, I know the Eunha Merchant Guild’s leader well. We’re quite close. Since this is also fate, will you accompany me to the merchant guild’s headquarters?”
“…That’s difficult.”
The opponent's expression hardens. It couldn't be helped. Because the name of the Eunha Merchant Guild I had just sold was a blatant lie.
“Why is that? Is there any reason to be so cold even though I’m an acquaintance of the guild leader?”
“Because it’s our guild’s policy to avoid friction with strangers who are not confirmed…”
“That’s strange. Then why are you scattering your killing intent like this?”
I said, pointing to the several martial artists who were now staring at this side.
The name of the merchant guild I had sold earlier was of course a lie.
Soon, the guys who couldn't stand the pressure revealed their true colors.
“Attack!”
With that, sickles with chains and arrows flew from all directions.
After blocking all of this with a shield, I floated a spear of flame lightning in the air.
“As expected, you guys are bandits.”
And then I struck down a dozen spears of flame lightning on the deck like rain.
Those below the peak-level just fell on the deck, burned black.
“Damn it, kill him! It’s the Great Mage!”
The man who had been exchanging questions and answers with me until just now shouted. Since he was hostile even after knowing my identity, he was definitely an enemy.
‘I just have to catch them all like this.’
The sky. A spear of flame lightning falling on the ship. Even if they ran away, it was into the river. In the limited space, the enemies fell one by one.
A ship that had become like a ghost ship.
‘Is there only that ship left?’
And so, after sweeping through the ship once, just as I was about to attack the other sailboat that was running away.
A slash of tremendous speed flew from under my feet.
‘What?’
Although I reflexively drew the Demon-Slaying Sword and blocked it, I was thrown into the air in an instant by the heavy repulsive force.
To think I had allowed a surprise attack, even though I had lowered my altitude.
As I was being pushed to the side, when I looked down, a man who looked to be in his mid-30s was standing on the sail and had finished preparing to be shot at this side.
With the sound of a cannon, the enemy was shot at this side. This time, a sword strike that fell as if striking down.
I hastily flew a First Blade and then swung the Demon-Slaying Sword.
The moment the swords clashed, my whole body was slammed downwards.
‘He’s strong.’
Without even a moment to catch my breath, the opponent who was falling on my head was striking down with his sword.
Although I tried to retreat, the opponent didn't even give me that gap.
‘He deliberately waited until I got close and then dragged me down to the ground.’
Like hunting a bird. He was a dangerous guy.
I immediately prepared a Flame Lightning Second Blade Spear. As my mana was drained, the Flame Lightning Second Blade Spear in the air began to flicker white.
A grace period of just a few seconds. All I had to do was hold out during that time.
But I was still being pushed back. Even though I had reached the proficient super-peak level, it felt like I wouldn't be able to hold out for a few moves.
This gruesome sensation. I had felt it often when I was on the verge of death.
‘A Transformation Realm master!’
Although I didn't know why a Transformation Realm master was in a place like this, one thing was certain.
‘I have to run away.’
The moment the opponent's sword rode up the Demon-Slaying Sword like a snake and was about to aim for my neck.
Two flashes of light struck down on the guy's head.
The deck was shattered in an instant by the shockwave of the Flame Lightning Second Blade Spear, and the center of the sailboat collapsed.
In the meantime, I retreated and was barely able to escape into the sky.
‘That was close.’
If I had been a little late, I would have suffered a fatal blow.
But even as I was raising my altitude with all my might, I could see the opponent shooting a powerful qi and approaching.
After blocking the powerful qi, which had a tingling power, with the Demon-Slaying Sword, I aimed the Daoist Scholar's Fan on the other side.
Wind swirled in the area and began to gather. The flame and electric shock that were swelling inside it soon lit up the area like a small sun.
A Flame-Wind-Lightning.
With the explosion, the enemy who was rushing in flew onto the deck.
Even if he was a Transformation Realm master, in the empty air where there was no place to step, this side was superior.
I raised my altitude even more and then aimed the Daoist Scholar's Fan at the sailboat.
‘I’m no match in close combat. And I can’t expect additional support.’
Then I just have to sink the ship. I immediately formed a spear of flame lightning in the air and struck it down.
Kwang! Kwang!
A huge flame soared, and the ship began to tilt.
The opponent, who had belatedly noticed this side's intention, cut down the spear of flame lightning, but the ship was large, and the opponent was alone.
‘It’s impossible to block all of them.’
I formed more spears of flame lightning and struck them down. The sailboat, which was now surrounded by flames and had become a wreck.
Just as I was about to sink the enemy with the ship. The guy suddenly stood still in the middle of the ship, holding his sword, and closed his two eyes.
‘Did he give up?’
Just in case, with a sense of caution, I raised my altitude and then shot a spear of flame lightning. A dozen fire magic spells that were shot at the ship.
Just then, the opponent's sword turned black, and a hemisphere of something unfolded, centered on him.
‘What is that?’
The moment I was thinking that.
The flame of the spear of flame lightning that was being shot was extinguished in an instant.
“What’s that?!”
I raised my voice without even realizing it.
That was the power of anti-magic, the ability to weaken magic.
‘Why does the Heaven-Shattering Faction have the ability of anti-magic?’
So far, the only ones I had witnessed with anti-magic were the martial arts of the Kongtong Sect and the item that Baek Ra-wook, who was from the Demonic Cult, had.
In the original story, the Heaven-Shattering Faction was just a so-so group that just drew aggro without any substance.
‘There was no related information in the strategy guide either.’
But at this moment, a reason to investigate them had arisen.
Of course, after completely suppressing them.
‘Even if it’s anti-magic, it won’t be able to block a Flame Lightning First Blade Spear that operates with a divine object as a medium.’
As I was thinking that and putting my mana into the Daoist Scholar's Fan.
A vibration was felt from inside my bosom.
‘What is this?’
I used psychokinesis to find the source of the vibration.
“This is?”
The sword handle I had found in the Ghost Cave in the past was vibrating faintly.
But I wasn't the only one who was surprised.
“Don’t tell me, that is?!”
A man's voice echoed from below.
“Give it to me! That is the property of me, Pa Eun-seong, the young leader of the Heaven-Shattering Faction!”
And then he rushed at this side without warning. The guy who was soaring, stepping on the sail, even though the altitude was about 100m.
Naturally, I used the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear I was preparing to keep him in check and then soared even higher with a shield as a foothold.
But the guy who was still rushing at me, gritting his teeth, even while kicking off the empty air. It would consume a considerable amount of internal energy to accelerate with just the blood points of the soles of his feet, but he didn't give up.
“What on earth is this?”
I asked indifferently. To go to such lengths for just a sword handle. I couldn't understand.
Then a rather shocking answer came back.
“That is the sword of the Heaven-Shattering Demon!”
“It must be expensive.”
It seemed this thing I had obtained by chance was a more valuable item than I had thought.
(End of Chapter)