novelraw Chapter 125 : Ash Rekindled (5)
Chapter 125 : Ash Rekindled (5)
Chapter 125: Ash Rekindled (5)
Sasaha spread both arms wide.
A black aura burst from her body. The air vibrated as it spread in all directions. Four shadows of darkness gathered around her.
Baek Hyeokgang appeared first.
The tall man’s figure brought a gust of wind. A black gale swirled around him. His fingers spun in the air and stretched toward the first disciple.
Ssss!
The wind sharpened like a blade.
It pierced the disciple’s forehead precisely. As his acupoints were sealed, his body stiffened. Staggering like a man who had lost his head, he dropped his weapon.
“Uagh!”
The disciple screamed as he collapsed.
But Baek Hyeokgang’s assault didn’t stop. He thrust his fingers repeatedly, sealing the disciple’s chest and legs.
It was a forced eviction, ensuring the soul wouldn’t cling to this land and become a wandering spirit.
Wi Unseo appeared next.
From the slender woman’s form rose a green poisonous mist. Carried by the wind, the mist enveloped the surrounding disciples. A sweet scent stung their noses.
“What is this?”
One disciple, panicked, covered his nose.
But it was already too late. As the toxic mist brushed his skin, black veins began to spread. The disciple screamed, clutching his face. The venom traveled through his veins, paralyzing his entire body.
The disciples collapsed, frothing at the mouth. Their bodies convulsed as their limbs twisted.
Wi Unseo and Jin Mukgyeol… each spirit eliminated enemies from different directions.
Sasaha followed in their wake, killing the dead once more. It was a measure to forcefully extract the spirits that refused to depart and burrowed inward. The disciples here cherished this land deeply. They believed the Manifest Demon Emperor would appear and save them if they remained.
These were the ones who became wandering spirits.
Gugwi charged forward with his spear.
The Spirit Flow Core in his chest blazed hot. Blue light seeped through his skin.
Spiritless Zone!
A burst of blue light exploded from the Spirit Flow Core.
The spreading energy engulfed the surroundings like a tidal wave. The air vibrated, engulfing everything. The spirits summoned by the disciples of the Dark Spirit Sect screamed, unable to withstand the blue radiance.
“Aagh!”
As if they had never appeared, the spirits vanished. A forced retreat—drawn back into the Realm of the Threshold by the gatekeeper’s summoning.
The disciples of the Dark Spirit Sect panicked.
“The spirit’s gone!”
“How could this be…?”
Ignoring their confusion, Gugwi surged forward.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
One disciple, having lost his spirit union, charged with genuine martial skill and swung his sword.
Gugwi didn’t even glance at the attack. Eyes fixed only ahead, he charged with all his might.
Suddenly! Yeon Sohye emerged from within a silver mist.
The Silver Spirit Technique of So Ryeonghwa cloaked her body, and as the mist obscured vision, her dagger flashed.
Slash!
The one charging at Gugwi took a dagger in the back. The wound ran from the back to the heart… The disciple collapsed on the spot without even a scream.
Yeon Sohye had already moved elsewhere.
Slash!
This time, she stabbed the flank.
A disciple swinging a mace at Gugwi screamed as he was struck by the sudden attack and fell.
Shhh!
Another disciple swung a spear toward Yeon Sohye.
It seemed she was becoming a hindrance by closely following Gugwi and deflecting attacks.
She ducked low, avoiding the spear. As it whooshed over her head, she rose and slashed with her dagger.
“Ah!”
The disciple’s wrist was grazed, causing him to drop his spear.
Yeon Sohye, quickly aiming to stab his neck, momentarily paused—at that instant, another rushed at Gugwi with terrifying speed.
A reckless attack that cared not for body collision.
Gugwi didn’t even glance at the attack. His focus remained fixed on his path. The altar!
Swish!
The attacker, thinking he had a chance, swung his sword with force. But the blade was blocked mid-swing.
Clang!
Jang Unhyeok had crossed his twin swords to block.
His blades carried the power of the Fiery Spirit Warrior and Wind Blade Wolf. Red flame and blue wind intertwined into a whirl.
As he crossed his swords and blocked the disciple’s strike, two others charged at him, attacking from both sides with an axe and a mace.
Jang Unhyeok pushed off with force and immediately spun left and right to deflect them.
Boom! Boom!
The impact shot through his arms. But he didn’t yield.
Fiery Wind Wall! A whirlwind of flames burst from his twin blades. The intense heat engulfed the disciples, setting their clothes ablaze. Their skin scorched as screams erupted.
“Uaaagh!”
The disciples rolled on the ground. But the fire didn’t go out.
Meanwhile, Yeon Sohye passed him, covering Gugwi’s rear.
The rest were for Sasaha and Jin Geommudo to handle. They had to take care of those remaining behind—whether dozens or hundreds.
Jin Geommudo’s spear sliced through the wind.
The crimson energy of the Red Blood Spear Technique flared at the tip of his spear.
Three disciples surrounded him, swinging swords, spears, and iron whips simultaneously.
Jin Geommudo spun his spear, blocking all attacks in an instant.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal clashed repeatedly. Sparks flew everywhere. Then came the counterattack.
His spear flew at the first disciple’s neck.
Swish!
The spear beheaded him. His head separated from his body and rolled across the ground as blood gushed like a fountain.
The second disciple, shocked, retreated—but the spear tip pierced his chest, bursting through his back.
Seeing this, the third tried to flee. But in that instant, the spear struck his back. He collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood.
Jin Geommudo’s spear moved too fast to follow with the eye.
Most would assume that if enough people attacked even a strong foe, they could be defeated… But before such power, that thought didn’t even occur. The usual belief that dying in battle meant joining the Manifest Demon Emperor crumbled in an instant. Only terror filled their minds.
Swish! Crack!
Sasaha lashed her whip.
The black leather danced like a snake in the air. Its barbed tip wrapped around a disciple’s leg.
“Ugh!”
The disciple crashed to the ground. As the whip tightened, bones cracked audibly.
Sasaha yanked the whip.
The disciple was dragged, screaming. The barbs dug into flesh, blood streaming out.
Finally, the tip of the whip pierced his heart.
Thud!
The disciple convulsed and died.
Twenty had fallen in an instant.
The mountainside had become a complete sea of blood. Like during their rituals, corpses were strewn all around. Screams burst into the sky and rebounded off the cliffs.
The stench of blood thickened in the air.
Startled birds took flight. Even the wind carried the scent of blood.
Sasaha withdrew her whip and caught her breath.
Sweat beaded on her forehead. Controlling four spirits simultaneously was no easy feat.
“No matter how many I kill, they keep coming. Just how many of these madmen are there?”
Her voice echoed coldly.
Swish! Thud!
Gugwi shook the blood from his spear.
Though Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok supported him from behind, they couldn’t block every one of the attackers swarming like hornets. Sometimes, like now, he had to wield his spear himself.
Blood dripped from the spearhead.
Gugwi kept running.
The corridor grew narrower.
Strange patterns were engraved on the walls—twisted shapes of skulls and serpents. The stench of blood intensified. The air grew heavier, making it hard to breathe. Soul-summoning energy gathered from all directions.
Crash!
He kicked open the closed door and leapt inside—revealing a suddenly vast hall.
He had finally reached the main chamber.
But just as he was about to step in, Gugwi froze in place.
The scene beyond the door… was horrific. He felt confused—was this truly the world of the living, not the afterlife?
The long-awaited altar appeared before his eyes.
A massive altar made of black stone, as tall as a man. Upon it was a gruesome spectacle.
Severed heads were piled high.
Men, women, young, old—it made no difference. Heads were stacked like a mountain. All the eyes were rolled back, showing only the whites. Mouths hung open, frozen in that state.
Blood soaked the altar and flowed down, dyeing the black stone red.
Blood pooled on the floor, rising to ankle height.
The air was thick with the presence of death. Spirits screamed, and the voices of the dead filled the hall. Resentful cries echoed near his ears.
“Urgh!”
Gugwi’s chest churned. He felt like vomiting.
At that moment, the Spirit Flow Core reacted violently. It clashed with the dark energy emanating from the altar and began to tremble.
More shocking still… was the Spirit Flow Core’s excitement.
The Spirit Flow Core craved the vengeful spirits piled on the altar. It thirsted for blood, desired to witness death. Murderous intent surged madly, and everyone in sight appeared as a target to be slain.
“What a horrific…”
Gugwi gritted his teeth.
He burned with rage toward the Dark Spirit Sect that had created this abomination.
“Haahp!”
With a fierce shout, he raised his spear and struck the altar.
Boom!
The stone cracked and split.
The altar shattered. An intangible, immense force burst from it. Dark energy surged like a wave and engulfed Gugwi’s body. The Spirit Flow Core began to absorb this power. Black energy was sucked into his chest.
‘Urgh! Damn it!’
Gugwi tried to block the spirits from being absorbed.
He knew how this phenomenon was occurring. The Manifest Demon Emperor was at work.
“No!”
But it was no use.
The altar’s power seeped completely into the Spirit Flow Core. His chest burned, overflowing with energy. The core grew even stronger, and the blue light brightened further. Power surged through his whole body.
The Manifest Demon Emperor’s laughter rang out.
‘Kuhahaha! Yes…! Become even stronger.’
A cruel whisper echoed in his head. A sweet temptation tickled his ear.
‘Take my power. Become a mightier being.’
Gugwi shook his head.
“No! I’m not yours!”
But it was already too late. The altar’s power had been completely absorbed. The Spirit Flow Core pulsed, now even more powerful.
Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok rushed in after him.
“Gugwi! Are you alright?”
Yeon Sohye asked in concern.
Gugwi’s face had turned pale. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
“Check if there are any other altars.”
Gugwi spoke urgently.
“I can’t destroy them myself.”
Jang Unhyeok scanned the surroundings. He searched every corner of the room, knocked on the walls, checked the floor.
“This seems to be the only one. There’s nothing else.”
He shook his head.
Just then, Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core activated again.
Blue light exploded from his chest. It was far stronger than before. The blue light spread outward in wide waves. The spiritless zone enveloped the entire temple. It pierced through the walls and spread down the corridor.
Outside, Sasaha and Jin Geommudo’s attacks grew even fiercer.
With the disciples’ spirit unions all banished, a one-sided massacre began.
“The spirits are gone!”
“What is going on!”
Disciples cried out in panic.
Sasaha’s whip danced in the air.
Even without spirit aid, her prowess was overwhelming. Her whip cut through the disciples one by one.
Jin Geommudo’s spear sliced through the wind.
Red energy flared like lightning from the tip. One by one, the disciples fell.
Screams echoed throughout the entire temple.
The dance of death had begun. The Eumhyeolsa had become a complete hellscape.
Gugwi fell to his knees.
The power of the Spirit Flow Core had grown so intense that he could barely control his body. The whispers of the Manifest Demon Emperor continued to haunt him. Now… it was clear that the Manifest Demon Emperor had grown far stronger than before.
But he did not yield.
‘I am the gatekeeper of the Realm of the Threshold. Without my permission, no one can leave. You understand that?’
Gugwi clenched his teeth and resisted the Manifest Demon Emperor’s temptation. He fought not to lose his will.