—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The roar of the explosions, the howling wind, the chaotic sensory overload… and then, the revitalizing pill Shadow Demon had administered began to take effect, allowing In-ho to regain some semblance of consciousness.
“Ugh…”
Fighting against the heavy weight of his eyelids, he opened his eyes.
Shadow Demon sat beside him, her gaze fixed on something in the distance, her jaw clenched.
He tried to sit up, his arms trembling, and Shadow Demon, noticing his movement, quickly helped him.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah… I’m fine.”
He wasn’t fine.
The pill had only restored a minimal amount of energy.
The long journey without proper food, coupled with the mental trauma he had endured, left him in a state similar to a martial artist who had barely survived qi deviation.
“What happened?”
He asked, vaguely recalling the Three Demons trying to help him up.
Shadow Demon gave him a brief summary of the situation.
The fight between So-yu and So-yeon had escalated beyond anything he or Shadow Demon could comprehend.
The clash of swords, the earth-shattering booms, the flashes of red and black… these fragmented glimpses were all they had to understand the battle’s progress.
“Is Master winning?”
He asked Shadow Demon, hoping for some expert analysis.
But she didn’t answer.
He saw a flicker of an unfamiliar emotion on her face.
He realized it was bewilderment.
The red figure moved relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of attacks, while the black figure effortlessly deflected them, but offered no counterattack.
Occasional bursts of black flames disrupted the red figure’s assault, but she pressed on, seemingly unfazed by the burning heat.
“It’s a stalemate,” Shadow Demon finally said.
“A stalemate?”
“Yes. Usually, when martial artists of similar skill levels fight, there’s an exchange. A give and take.”
She grimaced slightly as she said “similar,” clearly reluctant to put Lightning Sword on the same level as the Heavenly Demon.
“You give up something you can afford to lose to gain something important from your opponent.”
“The Cult Leader’s fighting style doesn’t allow for that exchange. Her black flames prevent anyone from getting close.”
The intense heat that melted flesh on contact – that was the power of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts, the power that had terrorized the Central Plains.
“But… Lightning Sword has gained an inhuman level of regeneration. Even if her body melts, she recovers instantly.”
The life force and energy she had accumulated through countless feedings, combined with the energy she was currently drawing from the fallen soldiers… her regenerative abilities were practically limitless in this place.
“Even if she only lands a few blows, she suffers no consequences. She’ll just heal.”
Shadow Demon muttered, her voice laced with frustration.
“Is there any way to win?”
“With my limited knowledge, there’s only one way. Destroy her dantian, disrupt her energy flow. But whether that’s even possible right now…”
“Master must have a plan, right?”
“I believe so.”
But there was no conviction in her voice.
In-ho silently watched the battle unfold.
The two figures clashed in mid-air, then plummeted to the ground.
Bang!
Another cloud of dust and dirt rose, stinging his eyes.
“Shadow Demon, what weapons do we have?”
Despite his trembling body, his voice was clear and steady.
Shadow Demon listed the available weapons.
In-ho listened intently, his mind racing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Where’s that smugness from before?”
Namgung So-yeon taunted, landing a punch to the Heavenly Demon’s stomach.
The black flames surrounding the Heavenly Demon’s body partially melted the attacking arm, weakening the blow, but the cumulative damage was starting to take its toll.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself. Does it please you to pierce my black flames?”
“Yes, it does. Seeing that haughty expression crumble is incredibly satisfying.”
Lightning Sword grinned and licked her lips.
Sizzle
While she had been taunting the Heavenly Demon, several cuts appeared on Namgung So-yeon’s body and the black flames seared her flesh.
But the wounds closed almost instantly.
“What should we do? Your sword doesn’t seem to be very effective.”
“Your arrogance is sickening.”
This was how it had been going.
Every attack was ineffective, every attempt to create distance was thwarted by Lightning Sword’s relentless pursuit.
There was still a clear difference in their skill levels, but that difference was being negated by Lightning Sword’s unnatural regenerative abilities.
“Gah!”
The Heavenly Demon blocked a roundhouse kick, but the impact sent a jolt through her body.
She stumbled back, landing hard on the ground.
Lightning Sword’s blade descended.
The Heavenly Demon rolled aside just in time, the blade burying itself in the ground where her head had been moments before.
“You’re quick on your feet, aren’t you? Like a little rat.”
Lightning Sword’s laughter grated on the Heavenly Demon’s nerves.
‘I have to end this quickly.’
A prolonged fight would only benefit Lightning Sword.
For the first time since she had taken the title of Heavenly Demon, the possibility of defeat crept into her mind.
She had to take a gamble.
‘The black flames aren’t useless. It’s her regeneration that’s the problem.’
How was she healing so quickly?
The answer was simple.
Her dantian, the source of her internal energy, was fueling her regeneration.
“Ha!”
The Heavenly Demon, who had been dodging until now, suddenly lunged forward.
She narrowly avoided Lightning Sword’s blade, a shallow cut appearing on her left cheek.
She thrust her arm into Lightning Sword’s abdomen, aiming for her dantian.
She felt the resistance of flesh and bone, the squelch of internal organs.
She unleashed her black flames.
“AAAAAHHH!!!”
Namgung So-yeon screamed as the flames erupted within her.
“Die, you bitch.”
The Heavenly Demon spat the words, her voice filled with venom.
The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
Grip!
The Heavenly Demon, sensing the complete destruction of Lightning Sword’s dantian, tried to withdraw her arm.
But Lightning Sword’s hand clamped around her wrist.
The Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Gotcha!”
Crack!
With a brutal twist, Namgung So-yeon snapped the Heavenly Demon’s arm.
“Gah!”
The Heavenly Demon kicked Namgung So-yeon away, but her broken arm dangled uselessly at her side.
Namgung So-yeon landed lightly and rose to her feet, completely unharmed.
“That look of bewilderment… ‘Why… why isn’t she dead?’”
She chuckled.
“My regeneration doesn’t come from my dantian. It’s my blood that heals me. It has nothing to do with internal energy.”
She closed the distance in an instant, tackling the Heavenly Demon to the ground.
Straddling her, she rained blows down on the Heavenly Demon’s face.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
“Just! Die! Already!”
The Heavenly Demon’s vision blurred, her mind reeling from the relentless assault.
She tried to fight back, but her movements were sluggish, her attacks missing their mark.
‘Is this how it ends?’
She thought, a sense of despair washing over her.
Namgung So-yeon’s fists continued to fall on her mercilessly.
Through her fading consciousness, she saw a figure approaching from behind Lightning Sword.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The moment Lightning Sword pinned the Heavenly Demon, Shadow Demon sprang into action.
She had attached every available weapon to her wires and now hurled them at Lightning Sword.
Some missed, some found their mark.
She had long abandoned the hope that these weapons would inflict any real damage.
Their purpose was simply to disrupt, to create an opening.
The weapons embedded themselves in Lightning Sword’s flesh like nails, and Shadow Demon, positioning herself behind her, yanked on the wires, restricting her movement like a rider pulling on the reins of a horse.
“Do you really think this can stop me?”
Lightning Sword asked, her voice laced with incredulity.
Shadow Demon didn’t reply, only tightening her grip on the wires, her hands bleeding.
“This is nothing!”
As Lightning Sword strained against the restraints, a figure stumbled towards them, their legs barely able to support their weight.
Seeing the newcomer, Lightning Sword’s face lit up.
“Young Master Kang!”
‘He’s coming to me!’
She thought, her heart filled with childish glee.
But her joy was short-lived.
She saw the small dagger clutched in his hand.
“Young Master… what is that?”
Her face twisted in a grotesque parody of a smile as she watched In-ho approach, the dagger pointed at her.
He was aiming for her throat, but she wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
“Gah!”
With a surge of strength, she snapped the wires, sending Shadow Demon flying.
Crimson tendrils erupted from her back, binding In-ho’s limbs.
He was lifted into the air, suspended helplessly.
The Heavenly Demon slowly rose to her feet.
The tendrils brought In-ho closer.
Namgung So-yeon gently caressed his cheek.
“Why?”
“…”
“Why? Why did you try to attack me? Are you… still under her control? If so, I can forgive you.”
‘Say it. Tell me it was the Heavenly Demon’s wicked magic that made you do it.’
But instead of the words she longed to hear, In-ho’s voice was filled with venom.
“Fuck… you, you crazy bitch.”
“…Huh?”
“You fucking crazy bitch. You’re nothing but a goddamn lunatic.”
Spit!
In-ho spat at her.
“I’m perfectly sane, you crazy cunt.”
“Why… why are you saying such horrible things? We love each other… we even kissed…”
“Did I want to kiss you? Kissing you was fucking disgusting.”
“D-don’t say that. No, you’re not Young Master Kang!”
“Whether I am or not, kissing you was fucking awful. Kissing Master was way better!”
“Shut uuuup!!!”
Namgung So-yeon screamed, her voice filled with rage.
She ripped a massive, crimson spike from her body and impaled In-ho through the stomach.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[T/N: onion ninja incoming]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ok I still got questions that need to be answered hopefully they get answered in the next few chapters of this arc like why did the heavenly
demon suspect time travel?