The Regressed Young Master’s Guide to Living on Easy Mode

Chapter 37 : The Twin Poles, the Three-Legged Crow (2)

I was always the predator.

I was in the past, I am in the present, and I thought I would be in the future.

But for the first time in my life, I became the prey.

I learned that I too could be killed by someone.

The defeat of that day was not easily forgotten.

The fear I experienced for the first time was so intense and fresh.

Freshness was also curiosity.

It was also a fear of the new.

All of this returned as a fervent longing.

I wanted to feel that vivid emotion from back then once again.

And I wanted to confirm. What this feeling I'm having now is.

So Soma, day after day, endured the bone-grinding, blood-drying training, even though it was not fun, he forced himself to do it.

Because for some reason, he felt like he had to.

And now.

The long-awaited day had come.

Soma kicked off the tournament stage. Unlike in the quarterfinals, he did not do the unnecessary work of deliberately hiding his skills, fearing that the opponent might die and this fight might end quickly.

Because the being in front of him now was a predator that could clearly eat him.

Soma swung his sword. Yoo Jae-ha lightly dodged it. As expected, he dodges! No! He should! If he hadn't dodged, I would have been disappointed.

In succession, Yoo Jae-ha parried or dodged all six of the Blood Demon True Qi's attacks.

It's as I expected. As expected, unlike the others, he was fun.

Then, how will he counter this attack? Will you be able to satisfy me this time too?

* * *

Should I say the kid has lost his mind?

While attacking, he keeps giggling to himself. Could it be that he's becoming like the Blood Demon? The Blood Demon also, for some reason, keeps cackling.

This is why the surrounding environment is important for children.

Because children are easily influenced by their surroundings.

Unfortunately, Soma seemed to have been stained by the strange color of the Blood Demon. The only good thing was that he wasn't cackling yet.

A young brat cackling is too much like a little old man.

Soma attacks again. It wasn't an attack with any special technique, but they were by no means attacks to be taken lightly.

Fast, accurate, and heavy.

With a little exaggeration, each and every blow is a technique in itself.

At that moment, the Blood Demon True Qis, which had been playing separately until now, all moved according to a certain rule.

The fluttering feels as if they are alive.

And when they attack, each and every Blood Demon True Qi was performing a technique. I had the illusion that I was fighting a total of seven Somas.

Naturally, my arms were moving seven times faster than usual. Naturally, my soft arms, which I had neglected to train, were aching all over. But if I were to stop swinging my arms here, my body would be neatly cut into seven pieces, so I endured the pain and swung.

Then, the six Blood Demon True Qis were reduced to three. Instead, they became thicker and darker than when there were six.

Soma and the Blood Demon True Qis attacked me again.

Along with the Blood Demon True Qis, Soma's movements became faster and sharper. All the attacks were tricky.

If before it was just a technique, now it seemed as if he was performing some kind of secret art or hidden technique.

It has been about two years since Soma and I met again.

The Blood Demon True Qi is a martial art that is several times more difficult to learn than other martial arts. Rather, most people who tried to learn it were eaten by it.

But Soma was now using the Blood Demon True Qi with his own will, unlike two years ago.

As far as I know, the Blood Demon True Qi was a martial art that gnawed at a person's mind.

Usually, when one learns the Blood Demon True Qi, one either becomes a madman or a cripple, converging to one of the two. And with a one in a thousand, one in ten thousand chance of overcoming it, one becomes a Blood Demon.

Before my regression, as far as I knew, the only person who had completely overcome the Blood Demon True Qi, besides the Blood Demon, was the Blood Cult's Young Lord.

It seems I was mistaken.

Look at that. The way he handles the Blood Demon True Qi so naturally, as if it were his own hands and feet.

You just be the Blood Cult's Young Lord.

Of course, Soma couldn't be the Young Lord. Because I had heard that the Blood Cult's Young Lord had a talent on par with my junior sister.

Soma's attacks were gradually becoming too much for me. It seemed that if this situation continued for long, I would be at a disadvantage.

'Should I also get serious?'

I poured all my internal energy into the six great meridians.

If the minor meridians were a metaphysical realm without a form, called senses, the great meridians could be said to be the power of a physical realm with a clear form.

Simply put, the minor meridians are the senses, and the great meridians are the body.

The body is strengthened.

An ordinary body becomes extraordinary by filling the great meridians. When one says, 'to contain internal energy in the body,' that body meant the great meridians.

With the feeling of warm energy filling my body, my body is revitalized.

Compared to my prime before my regression, it's far from enough, but it was enough to deal with what was in front of me.

I grab the sword with both hands.

What I perform is four sword strikes.

However, an ordinary sword strike would be sliced apart by that randomly swung attack. It looks like he's swinging it at will, but each and every one of them contains the will of a one-hit kill.

The killing intent to cut off the opponent's life.

He was continuously spewing it out.

Anyone would think he was a Heavenly Killing Star.

That can't be. Because a Heavenly Killing Star appears once in a hundred years. And that's in front of my eyes now? The Six Yang Divine Meridian is also rare, but a Heavenly Killing Star? Is this not a Divine Demon Tournament, but a Legendary Tournament?

Anyway, to counter those attacks, this side also had to put all its strength into each and every blow.

Of course, it's impossible with the Six Demon Sword Art. A higher-level sword art was needed. There was something that came to mind right now. It seemed that if I performed that, it would work.

* * *

The Sword Demoness, who was watching the semifinals, held her breath without realizing it when she saw the stance Yoo Jae-ha had taken.

Because that was the same stance she had taken not long ago. She knew that Yoo Jae-ha was far from ordinary, but the feeling of having what she had considered her own in this world taken away in front of her eyes was not so sweet.

However, because she had grown up watching the person named Yoo Jae-ha since she was young, a greater expectation arose, as it always had.

In a way, it could be said that the reason she had been able to come this far was because the being named Yoo Jae-ha had shown her the way in advance.

As a martial artist, she was purely curious about what was waiting next.

He pulls the hand holding the sword. The other arm is extended to aim at the opponent. The legs are spread at a moderate interval, and the muscles expand when inhaling. With the exhale, all the power is exploded at once.

That rebound is fully loaded onto the arm. Then the arm is shot out like a tightly pulled rubber band. At this time, if there is no power in it, a proper blow is not completed.

He fully controls the huge load on his arm and transmits it to the tip of the sword.

And so, one blow is completed.

The first technique of the Heaven and Earth Flow, the Void-Breaking Flash.

And at the following movement, the Mad Demon, who was next to the Sword Demoness, had his mouth wide open, drooling.

The Mad Demon was also as surprised as the Sword Demoness at what Yoo Jae-ha was about to perform now.

Yes, performing the Sword Demoness's martial art. Others might not be able to, but Yoo Jae-ha could. Because in the first place, the person who had laid the foundation for his overall martial arts before he met the Fist Demon master was Yoo Jae-ha.

In terms of martial arts alone, Yoo Jae-ha was a person who could do anything in the Mad Demon's mind.

In fact, when the Fist Demon master evaluated the basics he had learned from Yoo Jae-ha, he had even asked, 'Are you trying to make your body out of iron?' But the scene he was seeing now was clearly of a different framework.

It's not the realm of talent.

Because he had learned the Annihilation Chain Fist himself, he knew. To perform the Annihilation Chain Fist, a body that could withstand the load from the tremendous speed of the Annihilation Chain Fist was needed. This was not something that could be imitated just because one had outstanding talent and could steal a glimpse of the mysteries of the Annihilation Chain Fist.

How much hardship had he himself gone through to learn the Annihilation Chain Fist?

He had trained with the feeling of reassembling his body.

And by no means had the Captain seen him training like this. He was mostly seen sleeping somewhere whenever he had the chance.

But the Captain was performing it now.

And he was mixing the principles of the Annihilation Chain Fist with the sword principles of the Sword Demoness.

"Monster..."

"...is he?"

The Mad Demon and the Sword Demoness, who had said the same thing at the same time, looked at each other for a moment.

And as if by promise, the two did not take their eyes off the tournament stage.

* * *

I also want to perform high-level martial arts freely, pow pow.

Because instead of this complicated method, I could just simply perform the Three Swords of the Heavenly Demon.

But if I were to perform the Three Swords of the Heavenly Demon, which I had never learned, it was obvious that a pretty big problem would arise, so I had no choice but to use a temporary measure, mixing the most effective attacks in the current situation among the martial arts I had seen.

Above all, the Three Swords of the Heavenly Demon is a martial art learned after becoming the Young Lord.

If I were to perform it in this place where the Heavenly Demon was watching directly, it wouldn't be strange even if my head were to fly off right away.

So I mixed the Mad Demon's Annihilation Chain Fist with the Sword Demoness's Heaven and Earth Flow.

Well, it sounds plausible, but it was just a simple act of adding the mystery of the chain to the Heaven and Earth Flow and performing it four times in a row.

Still, for a brilliant idea thought up on the spot, the result was quite good.

A single path to Soma, who was wide open in front of me after I had parried all his attacks, was revealed. I immediately kicked off my foot and entered Soma's embrace. I raised my sword vertically from bottom to top, aiming for his chin.

Now! Say you've lost.

If you don't, my sword will pierce your chin as it is!

Soma's pupils were by no means the eyes of someone who was about to declare defeat.

Don't blame me later if you keep drooling while eating!

I thrust my sword with all my might.

At that moment, I could see the Blood Demon True Qis, which had been sent flying by the attack just now, gathering towards Soma all at once.

Scrape, scrape, scrape.

My sword was blocked by a red qi barrier.

'As expected, it's not easy.'

The second form of the Blood Demon True Qi, the Blood Scale.

Soma had lightly dodged a blow that he would not have been able to dodge otherwise. But I, who was once a Young Lord, knew the disadvantage that the Blood Scale had a large consumption of mental strength.

In other words, the moment he brought out this Blood Scale, Soma had as good as lost.

'If I push him here, it's over.'

Perhaps if the Mad Demon had known this fact and had fought a battle of attrition the moment Soma brought out the Blood Scale, he might have won.

I pushed Soma as he was. I performed the Six Demon Sword Art continuously, imbuing it with the mystery of the chain of the Annihilation Chain Fist. And when I saw an opening, I performed the Heaven and Earth Flow's Void-Breaking Flash, and to pressure Soma's movements, I also used the Green Water that the Blood Twin Axes, Piram, had shown. At the same time, as the Falling Shadow, Mu-hyu, had shown, I occasionally scattered my presence and layered it on top to induce Soma's movements.

I used all the techniques I could and pressured Soma.

Slice, I cut. Soma dodged. I chased after him and kicked up. Soma raised his arm to block.

I shifted my center of gravity downwards as it was, and as my foot touched the ground, I extended a fist. Soma extended a fist as well to counter it.

But the fist I had extended was a feint. My arm was lightly sent flying. Instead, I turned my body and slashed the sword I was holding in my other hand from top to bottom. Soma, whose balance was broken, floated his body in the air, spun around, and kicked up to block. A movement like an acrobat. I left the sword that was sent flying as it was and grabbed Soma's trouser leg with my other hand and threw him.

Soma flies and then spins his body twice in the air again and lands lightly on the ground. I knew he would land there. I threw the sword I had prepared in advance. Soma swung his sword to parry it. That was also as expected! I jumped into the air, grabbed the sword that had been sent flying upwards, and used the Reversal of Heaven.

I imbued the power that was loading my body into the sword as it was. A tremendous power was transmitted to the sword. Soma raised his sword to receive it. I cheered inwardly. Because if he had dodged, I would have had to think of the next move. Since he didn't, this was the end.

Crash! My sword fell on top of Soma's sword. At that moment, the tournament stage Soma was standing on cracked, and Soma's knees dug into the tournament stage.

I sent the sword flying as it was and jumped back.

"Phew, phew!"

Panting hard, I looked ahead. Without taking a single breath, I had performed a series of attacks. And that one move was not lacking even if it were to be called someone's secret art or hidden technique.

I had pushed him this much. By now, the Blood Demon True Qi would have consumed all of Soma's mental strength.

In his current state, it would be difficult for him to even stand on two feet.

I had also consumed that much stamina and internal energy, but it was an attack that had a sufficient result.

After catching my breath, I looked at Soma to deliver the final blow.

"Is this all?"

Not tired at all.

"If so, I'm disappointed."

And Soma, who was even more lively than before, is visible.

The Blood Demon True Qi constantly demands something from the caster.

Most of those who use the Blood Demon True Qi become cripples.

Because they cannot satisfy it.

Because humans are finite beings.

There was only one way to be freed from the Blood Demon True Qi. To subdue the Blood Demon True Qi.

And that was a method that was only possible after reaching the realm of Soul Detachment.

Of course, Soma had not reached Soul Detachment.

Soma was fine now.

He was even more lively than before.

"It seems I was mistaken."

If, just if, Soma had figured out how to control the Blood Demon True Qi, then this situation would be understandable. Though it's unlikely.

-It's a deal.

Soma had said.

-This is today's food. Eat it up.

The Blood Demon True Qi was a relationship that was quite mutually beneficial for Soma.

The killing intent that boiled up every time he wasn't conscious.

Himself, being encroached upon by it.

When he came to his senses, the surroundings were littered with corpses.

Soma wanted to do something about this overflowing killing intent. Just then, a way had appeared.

-Heheh. Good. Hand it over to me, your killing intent.

Soma was a Heavenly Killing Star.

Killing intent was an infinite emotion.

Soma was feeling a sincere disappointment towards the opponent in front of him, the human named Yoo Jae-ha.

Rather, it was more boring now than when they had met two years ago.

It seemed that he was the only one who had been excited about today's meeting. Yoo Jae-ha was busy performing the worthless miscellaneous skills of others.

Anger welled up.

The only thing he had considered meaningful was just a misunderstanding.

The color of the world was being dyed red, just like in the old days.

Unpleasant, angry, annoyed, and so on, various emotions welled up. These emotions, as they always had, converged into a single emotion.

Killing intent.

The world was completely dyed red.

Crunch!

Something ate that world.

That something said.

-The price has been received. What is it that you want?

Soma answered.

-Power. The power to tear apart that uninteresting thing in front of me right now.

-Good. Take it.

Gurgle, gurgle.

The red energy that was wrapping around his body without a clear form begins to take shape.

It took the form of a gentle line, following Soma's body.

"Hehehe! I can finally make it show its complete form!"

The Blood Demon, who saw that, kicked off his seat and laughed maniacally.

The Sura Cult Lord next to him let out a small exclamation of admiration.

"Oh-ho! It's been a while since I've seen that."

The Divine Monk quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer.

"Amitabha."

A fallen leaf falls onto the tournament stage.

The fallen leaf, though it was in empty air, was torn to shreds as if it had been cut by a knife.

Swish.

A lightly kicked floor.

Yoo Jae-ha blinks. Before his eyes open, Soma reaches in front of Yoo Jae-ha.

Blink.

Yoo Jae-ha opens his eyes. Suddenly, Soma was in front of him. For a moment, Yoo Jae-ha's eyes widen. Without even a gap for that surprise, Soma lightly slashed his sword.

Slice, slice, slice, slice, slice!

The sword cuts the air. The air is cut. The sword points to the tournament stage. The trajectory of the sword was long engraved on the tournament stage.

And the sword qi that had flown towards the spectator seats along that trajectory cut the wall of the spectator seats in half and disappeared.

The Heavenly Demon, unlike the other three, was looking at the tournament stage without any agitation.

In his eyes, he could see Yoo Jae-ha, who had dodged by a fluke, looking blankly at the trajectory engraved on the tournament stage with his eyes wide open.

The Heavenly Demon recalled the conversation he had with the Demonic Doctor before coming to the semifinals.

The Demonic Doctor had said.

-I thought it was the Heavenly Dragon Saintly Bones, but it seems it's not.

-Then, what is it?

-Perhaps...