Chapter 312: The Battle of the Dead (1)
The number of ghouls had reached triple digits.
Fifteen Yin-Yang ghouls, which would take at least five peak-level warriors to barely hold off, were present.
Additionally, there were even the Shura Heavenly Killing Ghouls, said to be able to contend with supreme masters on their own.
An army worthy of being called a formidable force.
And at the center of it all…
A figure cloaked in black robes stood.
The Heart Demon Commander.
An expert not only in controlling ghouls and sorcery but also skilled in stealth techniques.
Among the strong individuals of the Heavenly Demon Sect, he was fourth in rank, with no dispute about his strength.
“Damn it. Is there not a single peaceful day? Do I have to lose sleep every time I’m with you?”
Chun Yoosung growled, reacting a step too late.
His eyes were still bleary, indicating his deep sleep had been interrupted.
Medical students are said to get less than three hours of sleep a day, but why this guy is such a heavy sleeper is beyond me.
“My word…”
“G-g-ghosts, so many…”
“Ugh…”
“This is too much. They’ve blocked all the escape routes.”
The villagers, who had been relieved to be alive, now had shadows cast over their faces.
Seeing several times more ghouls than they had initially encountered…
…it was only natural for them to feel despair.
“Sir…”
The village chief also called out to Jinhyuk in a trembling voice.
‘Impressive. I had set up triple alarm barriers on the path here, and they managed to break through all of them.’
Numerous ghouls were stationed at the hut where Alice and Teresa were staying.
The fact that the Heart Demon Commander came in person indicated that they had anticipated our presence here.
Targeting civilians and predicting our moves in advance…
The initial tactical fight is proving quite challenging.
‘I had planned to start without losing a single base, but it seems I must assume the other locations have already fallen into their hands.’
Throughout the twenty-seven battles between the orthodox and unorthodox factions, this was the most troublesome opponent.
Each time, they devised new tactics suitable for the situation, causing a lot of trouble.
As a result, many attempts to conquer the floors had failed.
‘I guess I won’t have to worry about boredom this time either.’
Jinhyuk’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
The thrilling tension of overturning predictions and tearing up expectations.
It had been a long time since he felt this way.
“Hoo. Looks like we’ve got some big fish here. Wudang Sect novices and the Dark Emperor’s disciple…”
The Heart Demon Commander’s eyes widened as he slowly scanned the hut.
“Hmm? What is this?”
His gaze landed on a haggard-looking man.
“Hahaha! Well, well, what a sight! The great Heavenly Demon looks like a mere beggar here.”
“Heart Demon Commander…”
The Heavenly Demon slowly opened his mouth.
His voice was low and calm, but it lacked weight.
“It seems it’s true that you’ve lost your internal energy. I was half-believing it when Left Guardian mentioned it, but now I’m convinced. It was the right decision to choose him.”
“Sama-ja is not fit to be the Heavenly Demon.”
“No, he is the one capable of realizing the dream of unifying the martial world. An old tiger without teeth should not speak of such things.”
No matter how much survival of the fittest might apply…
To speak this way to someone you once swore loyalty to.
Jinhyuk clicked his tongue in bitterness.
‘I need to find a way for him to regain his internal energy quickly.’
Watching someone like Sama-ja rise and the Heavenly Demon fall was not something he wanted to see.
Witnessing such an unfair conclusion would be unbearable.
Moreover, regaining the Heavenly Demon’s power was necessary to copy the [Heavenly Demon Divine Art].
Just then.
The Heart Demon Commander waved his hand.
“It would be easy to sweep away these insects, but to demonstrate the greatness of the newly reborn Heavenly Demon Sect, let us hold a small contest.”
The ghouls parted to the sides.
The overlapping walls opened, revealing the hut where Alice and Teresa were staying.
The three of them were already outside, awakened by the sudden attack.
“Speak. Who among you is the strongest?”
Killing the strongest one to prove that ghoul techniques are supreme.
No matter how strong orthodox martial arts or players from outside the tower might be.
He would clearly show that they are insignificant before the demonic sect.
“It wouldn’t be the Wudang Sect novices…”
The Heart Demon Commander’s gaze shifted to the side.
“Kuk!”
Soh Yoomyung’s eyes sparked with anger upon being singled out.
Remaining silent in the face of such provocation would mean he wasn’t a true Taoist of Wudang.
“Those evil demonic beings dare to insult Wudang!”
“Senior! Just give the order. I’ll take them all down right now!”
Soh Youngho and Soh Woongoon shouted, veins bulging in their necks.
But Soh Yoomyung couldn’t easily step forward.
He wasn’t the strongest one here.
Since Soh Yoomyung didn’t step up, the haughty queen made her move.
“Of course, the great and noble one would be…”
Alice gently brushed back her black hair.
“Alice.”
“Hmm?”
“Wait.”
Jinhyuk stopped Alice as she raised her hand.
Then he stepped forward instead.
“So, it’s you. The Dark Emperor’s disciple.”
The Heart Demon Commander looked at Jinhyuk as if he had expected it.
-Indeed. The monster who defeated me, the top disciple of the Wudang Sect, must be the strongest among them.
-Well, if it’s the Contractor, I’ll help anyway, so he’s the strongest in terms of overall combat power!
-Mr. Jinhyuk… leave the rear to me.
All eyes were on Jinhyuk.
But then.
“No, there’s someone stronger than me.”
“Someone stronger than you?”
“Yes.”
Before anyone could stop him, Jinhyuk pushed Chun Yoosung forward.
“Huh?”
Chun Yoosung stumbled a few steps, almost reaching the ghouls’ faces.
The smell of rotting corpses hit Chun Yoosung’s nose.
“He is the disciple of the Phantom Blood Sword. Honestly, none of us, including me, could beat him.”
“Oh. So, he inherited the Phantom Sword? Interesting.”
“Hey! You! What are you thinking… huh!”
Chun Yoosung hurriedly swung his sword.
Boom!
Despite unleashing his sword aura, his balance was thrown off in one strike.
The Shura Heavenly Killing Ghoul swung its claws with terrifying momentum.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Neck, heart, chest.
Each strike aimed at vital points.
“Kuh!”
Chun Yoosung’s face tensed as he used his [Song of Swords] to counter.
Though he managed to fend off the attacks with the Phantom Sword Dance, it was clear that he was at his limit.
No matter how skilled Chun Yoosung was, he couldn’t guarantee victory against such a monster.
At least not in an open space like this, without any constraints on the opponent’s movements…
The decision didn’t take long.
Chun Yoosung dashed away.
“Remember this. Even if I die… I won’t forget this! Remember that! Aaaaah!”
As Chun Yoosung fled into the forest, he shouted at Jinhyuk.
Hmm.
He really does run well.
A true strong person should have quick legs.
With the most troublesome top-tier ghoul out of the way, things became much more manageable.
—
Once Chun Yoosung disappeared, the tense atmosphere began to tighten again.
“You used one of your comrades as a sacrificial pawn.”
“Hmm? You knew?”
“My eyes aren’t blind. I know he’s strong but not stronger than you.”
Ho.
So he’s not a complete idiot.
“Then why did you play along with my ruse?”
At Jinhyuk’s question, the Heart Demon Commander smirked.
“If I couldn’t handle you all without one ghoul, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”
The pinnacle of tactics is a surprise attack.
To move a large force without being noticed, spatial transfer techniques through formations were used.
The number of sacrifices required for this was in the hundreds.
And.
All of this was to ensure success.
“Watch. See what it means to control ghouls.”
The Heart Demon Commander dropped a drop of blood from his fingertip.
Hum!
A red aura rose from the ground.
“Kree… Kraaah!”
“Kraooo!”
“Keeeek!”
A bloodline curse using blood as a medium.
An ominous aura seeped into the ghouls’ bodies.
[The Heart Demon Commander activates the unique ability ‘Servants of the Commander’!]
[The abilities of the dead increase by 30%!]
[The abilities of the living decrease by 30%!]
The ghouls’ eyes turned bloodshot.
Their muscles swelled rapidly, and their claws grew nearly twice as long.
The clear liquid dripping from their black claws was a deadly poison from the Blood Sect.
And.
[You have been afflicted with a status condition.]
[Your vision and touch have dulled.]
[Your sense of balance has decreased by 10%.]
Just being within the formation caused a frenzy of red status windows to appear.
Indeed.
There was a reason the Heart Demon Commander was so confident.
At this rate, fighting here without being a ghoul was akin to suicide.
However.
“Controlling the dead isn’t a power only you possess.”
“Kahaha! Ridiculous. Did you manage to make a few ghouls in that time?”
“No,they’re much more reliable than ghouls.”
The category of the dead doesn’t only include ghouls.
“Come forth.”
The subspace behind Jinhyuk opened.
Pshhh…!
From beyond the vast space, a snow-white blizzard blew in.
A chilling cold began to flow in.
Clatter. Clatter.
The sound of hooves echoed at that moment.
A Death Knight clad in black armor.
T-Bone.
And behind him, ancient soldiers wielding spears inscribed with runes.
All mounted on ghostly warhorses, their formation gave the illusion of a demonic army invading the mortal world.
“Master.”
T-Bone bowed deeply.
Having concentrated all his magic power into T-Bone, he appeared as a complete Death Knight, just like when seen in the Dreaming Paradise.
“While I deal with that guy, don’t let anyone interfere.”
The target is only the leader.
The remaining minions were left to T-Bone and the ancient soldiers.
“Leave it to me.”
T-Bone drew his sword horizontally while on horseback.
Then.
Crack!
The ground shook.
The dead buried here long ago began to rise.
Skeletons broke through the ground.
Ghosts, who died at the hands of bandits.
Souls trampled by the demonic sect.
They responded to their new master’s call.
Now, the numbers were even.
‘If the quality is lacking… just make up for it.’
Jinhyuk summoned another ability from the [Memory of the World].
[Unique ability ‘Core of the Legion’ activated!]
Along the ground.
Crack! Crack!
Blue magic power surged.
As if countering the Heart Demon Commander’s ability.
Auras of different colors clashed in the air.
Amidst the black sparks flying…
“Let’s begin.”
In Jinhyuk’s left hand was the ‘Fang’.
And in his right hand, the ‘Twin Dragon Swords’.