novelraw Chapter 101 : Hidden Soul Infiltration (1)
Chapter 101 : Hidden Soul Infiltration (1)
Chapter 101: Hidden Soul Infiltration (1)
Infiltrating the Silver Soul Pavilion in secret.
Ssss!
Gugwi concealed himself behind a massive oak tree, hidden beneath the forest’s shade.
The rough bark pricked at his back, and the damp scent of moss brushed his nose.
The Spirit Flow Core in his palm pulsed coldly in sync with his heartbeat.
Thump, thump.
His heart pounded as if it would burst through his ears.
His throat was so parched that even swallowing felt rough. He tried moistening his lips with his tongue, but they dried up again instantly.
Cold sweat seeped into his palm.
‘The dwelling of the Eleventh True Army... Can I really face the Eleventh True Army alone?’
The wind rustled softly through the leaves. An owl hooted in the distance. The stillness of night enveloped him.
From far in the east, a silver mist slowly rose.
Moonlight struck the fog and diffused like pearls, filtering through the trees. It was Yeon Sohye. Her signal shimmered gently through the night air.
The corner of Gugwi’s mouth quivered slightly.
A mixture of tension and relief crossed his face. The first ally had reached her position.
The northern sky also began to glow red.
Orange flames swirled and tore through the night. The heat rode the wind and seemed to reach even here. It was Jang Unhyeok’s flames. Tonight… his rage and despair would dance wildly within those flames. Because he was truly furious.
Whoooosh! Whoooosh!
From the west came the sound of wind being cleaved.
Jin Geonmu’s Blood Spear pierced the air. The cold resonance of steel clashing with wind dug into the bone.
“Hoo!”
Gugwi inhaled deeply.
The cold night air filled his lungs, cooling his entire body. His shoulders relaxed slightly.
This was the signal that all three had reached their designated positions.
Now, it was his turn. He slowly raised his hand to his chest. The location of the Spirit Flow Core. The contrast between the warm body heat and the cold core was clearly felt through his palm.
“It begins now.”
The murmur slipped between his lips.
Gugwi closed his eyes and released the Spirit Flow Core with intensity. From deep within his chest, a blue glow surged like waves. Energy spread through his veins.
But it was different from his usual Soul-Summoning Energy. A subtle vibration—not quite Soul-Summoning, yet not entirely foreign either… an ambiguous wave that felt like something had been stirred, rippled out into the air.
From three distant points, responses occurred almost simultaneously.
In the east, Yeon Sohye, who had been creating the mist, suddenly froze. Her chest warmed, and her heartbeat skipped a beat. It was the Spirit Flow Core's effect. Her eyes gleamed sharply.
“Gugwi has sent the signal.”
In the north, Jang Unhyeok’s flame flared even more fiercely for a moment. A trace of blue flickered through the fire and vanished. He, too, felt the same vibration in his chest.
“He’s reached the destination.”
In the west, the tip of Jin Geonmu’s spear quivered slightly.
A blue light briefly infused the Blood Spear before disappearing. His eyes grew cold.
“It’s time.”
The three completed their final preparations from their respective positions.
They took deep breaths and rechecked their weapons. The true battle was about to begin.
After sending the signal, Gugwi moved immediately.
Suppressing his breath, he slipped forward like a shadow, crouching as low as possible. Leaves rustled softly beneath his feet with every step, but the surrounding chaos masked the sound.
A hidden underground passage revealed itself in the darkness. A narrow stone staircase stretched downward into the depths. Cold air flowed from the passage, brushing against his face.
Whoosh!
Gugwi leapt into the passage.
The farther he descended the steps, the colder and damper the air became. The stench of mold stabbed at his nose. Droplets of water dripped from the walls, echoing faintly.
The infiltration had now truly begun.
This mission wasn’t meant for battle. In fact, avoiding the Eleventh True Army was paramount. The goal was to slip in silently, rescue Jang Unhyeok’s son, and retreat just as quietly.
The ideal outcome would be exiting this passage without encountering a single soul.
Sss!
Gugwi vanished into the deep darkness.
“Funny, isn’t it? Back when I was the Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit, I never had to fight the Heavenly Sound Cult... Hmph!”
Yeon Sohye let out a dry chuckle and slowly spread her hands.
The cold night air seeped through her palms. Silver energy extended like threads from her fingertips, weaving a complex net in the air.
The energy thickened and drifted into the atmosphere.
“Haa!”
With her breath, the energy pulsed. Soon, three clones identical to her began to materialize within the mist. They shared the same breath, the same heartbeat, the same body temperature.
The silver mist spread like waves, engulfing the entire building.
Martial artists of the Heavenly Sound Cult panicked at the sudden fog. One reached out to grab his companion but grasped only empty air.
“What is this mist?!”
“I can’t see anything! Where are you?!”
Their vision was so thoroughly blocked they couldn’t even see their own hands. They fumbled desperately, trying to find one another.
The first clone silently appeared on the left side of the fog.
She moved like a ghost, without a single footstep. Her dagger gleamed coldly under the moonlight.
The blade flew silently toward the throat of one martial artist.
Sensing danger, the man tried to raise his sword in defense. But at that very moment, the second clone attacked from the right. A precise, lethal stab aimed at his flank.
Then, the real Yeon Sohye appeared from behind. Her movements were as quiet as the wind.
Her dagger pierced precisely between the vertebrae of the man's back.
Squelch!
Warm blood splattered across her hand. The martial artist coughed up frothy blood from his throat and dropped to his knees. His body collapsed like a sand puppet, drained of all strength.
“No regrets. Killing and dying—that’s our fate. Ever since the split between the Heavenly Sound Cult and the Cold Wolf Sect.”
Yeon Sohye's whisper echoed through the mist.
Cold determination glinted in her eyes. If she wanted to make things easier for Gugwi, she needed to create an even bigger disturbance. Ideally, she’d attract all of the Heavenly Sound Cult’s attention.
That meant avoiding killing was not an option.
And for these killings… she held no remorse. Too many comrades and Cold Wolf Sect members had died at the hands of the Heavenly Sound Cult. They were enemies. There was no forgiveness. The game had begun—now it was time to kill to her heart’s content.
That’s what Yeon Sohye thought.
Another martial artist swung his spear.
The spear’s tip tore through the air with force—but hit nothing but wind. Yeon Sohye had already vanished like a phantom.
“She’s gone! Danger!”
The man screamed, stabbing blindly in every direction. But his spear merely sliced the mist in vain.
Fear gradually consumed his mind.
Then, from behind, a chilling murderous intent brushed his back. Goosebumps raced across his skin. Just as he tried to turn around, a dagger again pierced between his vertebrae, skewering his heart. He had no chance to scream.
One by one, martial artists collapsed in the fog.
Screams and groans echoed from all directions, but the enemy remained completely unseen.
Fear gripped the hearts of the surviving martial artists.
Yeon Sohye continued to move like a phantom. She appeared and vanished in a continuous cycle, deepening the confusion. Her movements were graceful like a dance, yet lethally precise.
Meanwhile, scorching energy surged from Jang Unhyeok’s entire body like waves. His robes flared from the heat, and his hair rose upward, whipping like flames.
From his Twin Blades, red flame and blue wind blended together. Like molten iron in a furnace, a mass of lava formed around the blades. The sword glowed red-hot.
The air crackled with boiling heat.
“To save my son!”
He gritted his teeth and shouted to the sky.
His voice cracked with overwhelming emotion. Tears welled in his eyes, glinting in the firelight. His voice carried the rising anger and despair from deep within his chest.
As he raised his sword high overhead and brought it down with full force, a massive molten hammer crashed toward the earth. The ground at the point of impact instantly glowed red and billowed smoke.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of explosions rocked the ground.
Shockwaves rippled out in concentric circles. Cracks split the earth.
The encirclement shattered, and martial artists staggered.
Heavenly Sound Cult martial artists were engulfed in flame. Their armor melted in the searing heat, liquefying like metal. The stench of burning flesh wafted far with the wind.
“Aaaaargh! It’s hot!”
Martial artists screamed and rolled on the ground, trying to put out the fire clinging to their bodies. But Jang Unhyeok’s flames were the fire of a Spirit Union Spirit, not easily extinguished with mere water. Only Soul-Summoning Arts could put it out...
His fury only intensified the flames.
His longing and guilt for his son became fuel for the fire. His wailing shot up into the night sky along with the flames.
Not long ago, this place had embraced him—where he laughed and pledged loyalty… now, he drenched it in blood.
The night sky turned entirely red.
He kept unleashing flames.
Each swing of his sword sent fire coiling outward in all directions. Trees burned and crumbled into ash. The northern sector of the Heavenly Sound Cult plunged into chaos.
Jin Geonmu stood with his spear upright, taking a step back.
He swept his gaze between the east and the north.
In the east, silver mist swirled and devoured the martial artists of the Heavenly Sound Cult. Screams burst from within the mist, only to be abruptly cut off. Yeon Sohye’s phantoms were spreading death.
The northern sky blazed entirely red.
Jang Unhyeok’s flames licked at buildings and spread rapidly. The stench of melting armor and burning flesh rode the wind. The cries of martial artists rose with the fire.
Jin Geonmu's lips curled in a cold smile.
‘That should be enough.’
Heavenly Sound Cult martial artists poured out from every direction.
The bell rang out loudly as the emergency alarm was issued. All eyes turned toward the east and north.
He was a mercenary. And a mercenary doesn’t fight unnecessary battles. It was a habit ingrained into him—to minimize risk and achieve the objective. That was how a mercenary survived.
At this moment, he had no need to swing his spear. The ferocity of Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok was more than enough to capture the attention of the entire Heavenly Sound Cult.
But—
Jin Geonmu’s feet moved. Toward the west—toward where Gugwi had disappeared.
The black tower of the Silver Soul Pavilion stood ominously beneath the moonlight. Gugwi had entered that darkness alone.
‘Yeon Sohye, Jang Unhyeok. Hang in there.’
His pace quickened. With his spear strapped to his back, he crouched low and moved like a shadow.
‘With Soul-Summoning Arts at the level of Resonance, regular members of the Heavenly Sound Cult won’t be a threat. The problem is if the Twelve True Armies show up… They're clearly more proficient in Soul-Summoning than those two, so it will get difficult… That goes for me, too. The best course is to get in fast and get out even faster.’
He kicked off a boulder and leapt onto the roof. The tiles creaked underfoot as the cold night wind brushed past his face.
The Silver Soul Pavilion drew closer.
Something felt off around the building. It was too quiet. Far too quiet.
Jin Geonmu leapt down from the roof, muffling his landing, and approached the outer perimeter of the Silver Soul Pavilion.
He had changed his mind—he would protect Gugwi.
As Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok’s assaults reached their peak, the entire Heavenly Sound Cult’s stronghold was thrown into turmoil. The usual order and discipline vanished. Shouts and screams echoed from every direction. The sound of footsteps overlapped like thunder.
“It’s an enemy attack!”
“Who dares invade the stronghold of the Heavenly Sound Cult?!”
“Are they insane?! Do they have a death wish?!”
Crimson flames roared into the night sky. Silver mist seeped between buildings, covering the ground.
The metallic tang of blood and the reek of flame saturated the night air. The scent of smoke and iron mingled. Thick smoke rose and veiled the moonlight, plunging the world into deeper darkness.
The sound of bells rang out frantically.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
It was the emergency alarm.
Heavenly Sound Cult martial artists poured out of buildings and rushed in from all directions. The clashing of armor produced sharp metallic clangs. Their footsteps shook the earth like thunder.
Yeon Sohye’s silver phantoms danced a deathly dance within the mist. Appearing and vanishing, they drove fear into the hearts of their enemies. Jang Unhyeok’s flames blazed without restraint, swallowing sky and earth alike. His cries rose alongside the fire into the night.
The chaos reached its climax.
The once impenetrable defenses of the Heavenly Sound Cult were now riddled with gaping holes.
Order vanished—only fear remained.
And amidst the heart of that chaos, Gugwi slipped silently into the deep, dark underground of the Silver Soul Pavilion, unnoticed by anyone.
The darkness of the passage completely swallowed him.