Chapter 347

Chapter 347

That day was a day like any other.

—Touchy monster. Why are you sulking again today?

—Because you’re telling me useless stories.

—Kahaha. Is it once or twice that I’ve told useless stories? No reason to sulk about it now.

—…….

—Monster. Nevertheless, I think I know why you’re sulking. Because I rambled on about how my time to die is near.

—What does that matter? It’s a story I’ve heard several times already.

—That’s right. But you wouldn’t have felt it as real.

A human’s lifespan is short.

Compared to a monster’s lifespan of at least thousands of years, at most tens of thousands of years, a human lifespan is merely tens of years, at most a hundred years. It means most humans can only live one-hundredth of a monster’s life.

Watching the white hair of the man who had grown so much older in just a few years, now half-gray, Heukya carefully asked.

—How much…… is left?

—Kahaha! Well, I don’t know. Unlike monsters, humans can’t know their remaining lifespan!

—Monsters don’t know either.

—That’s right. Could there be a species that knows their natural lifespan merely from being born! But one thing is certain. At most about thirty years.

His movements weren’t like before.

The hand combing the large tail wasn’t as vigorous as before, the eyes that shone cleverly now had wrinkles hanging softly, and the always-straight back gradually bent as if burdened. Things that happened in just these few years.

—Don’t be too sad.

—……Who says I’m sad?

—Who else is here besides me? Obviously you. Poor monster.

The man wearing a faintly benevolent smile continued while stroking Heukya’s tail.

—My death will surely wound you.

—…….

—But don’t be too sad about it. Don’t cling to it. Your life ahead is long, and I’m merely one passing point, so don’t cling to me too much.

—Didn’t you say you approached me to leave a scar? Is it okay to say such things?

—Hahaha. It’s fine. Even saying this, what you’ll do is obvious.

Even told not to be bound, you’ll be bound; even told not to grieve, you’ll grieve.

Even a pet that can’t speak and lives barely ten-some years remains burned in memory like a brand for life. Then how could you easily shake off meeting the death of one who even changed your values?

—Monster. Even this cruel and wicked me seems to have grown attached to you.

They lived together for forty years.

—I hope you won’t be bound to me. But I also hope you’ll remember me, I think that way too.

The man who approached wanting to leave his existence behind now wished to erase his existence from Heukya.

—Even if I die, don’t be too sad. Don’t even remember.

—…….

—Hahaha. Saying this might make it remain even deeper?

The man who burst into an awkward laugh scratched his head, and at that simple appearance, Heukya merely smiled softly. And.

A week later, the man died of old age.

And in Heukya’s heart, an indelible scar remained.

A scar that would never be erased.

***

The war situation isn’t good.

—…….

Kwaang─!!!

Heukya, barely avoiding the sword energy approaching right before her by twisting her neck, swept the battlefield with eyes lacking composure. Martial artists continuously swarming toward her.

Nakcheon holds down and suppresses two tails.

Ilryun and Taeag each one, Geomje and Geomhu joining forces for one, Bulgwae and Jeokwol another. Daesageom and the Sado Alliance Leader joining forces for one more.

Seven tails are suppressed by martial artists. Then it means two tails remain.

Originally, with these two tails, she could have annihilated the martial artists. Because each of Heukya’s tails is like Heukya’s avatar, possessing power transcending the realm of absolute masters.

The moment unbalanced power intervenes, balance would crumble, and martial artists would fall one by one. So humanity’s full force should have rightfully been defeated against Heukya.

That’s only if Baek Riyun didn’t exist, that is.

Cheonryeosin Jong

Gaebyeok

────!!!!!

White lightning bursts.

A strike vastly outstripping sound drives in and strikes the swung tail hundreds of times in the blink of an eye. Despite the clear difference in power, the tail slams to the ground unable to overcome that momentum.

Extend and it splits, swing and it flows away, wrap around and it doesn’t exist there.

Like facing a phantom freely crossing between substance and illusion. Existing simultaneously in every conceivable place, and also not existing. Can this be called human martial arts?

“Where are you looking so distracted?”

Cheonui Singong

Pilgwae

Just a slight stray thought, and through that gap comes the Thunder God’s strike.

Lightning tears the firmament, collapsing the boundary between earth and sky, and the White Death God at hand raises a brush to cross out the name written in the Saengsabu. White-hot lightning covering the vision, an attack where even the place to dodge cannot be determined.

—……Keuuuk.

Heukya, reflexively drawing her tails together, ground her teeth seeing her half-severed tail. Heukya’s appearance now completely tattered beyond recognition.

—……You’ve transcended human limits.

“No, I haven’t transcended. Simply, human limits can rise this high.”

Species limits don’t exist.

Only starting points differ; in this world, anything can reach extremes. Even a mere mayfly can enter Ipsingyeong, and even divine beasts with endless peaks can fall unable to withstand a single human. Limits never existed in the first place.

“I defined Talgak as casting off one’s shell.”

—…….

“To me it felt different. Talgak was ultimately about adding on.”

Not rejecting everything different from oneself, but embracing everything one can embrace.

Baek Riyun’s Talgak was achieved that way. Capturing most of Central Plains martial arts in his eyes, comprehending it all, reconstructing it again, and refining it in the domain of omnipotence.

In fact, with just that, he wouldn’t have become this strong. Because that was ultimately human martial arts. Because it was humanity’s conventional limit line.

However.

“Becoming a monster was a great help.”

Monster energy and internal energy are ultimately powers extending from one branch.

The moment he understood the two powers forming the world’s foundation, he reached the extreme of principle. Having established martial arts reaching the extremes of Cheon, Ji, In Samjae, can that realm be denigrated as merely a human realm?

“It’s over, Heukya.”

Slowly.

At Baek Riyun’s appearance lowering his sword tip and watching her with calm eyes, Heukya burst into laughter and gathered her tails. The battlefield instantly entering a lull.

—I’ve lost.

“……”

—I acknowledge it. My defeat.

What turned back time wasn’t just one or two, but this entire world. And that means everyone knows what situation is unfolding now.

Like Gwonryeong who joined below, those nearby will immediately join, and even if not nearby, if the fight continues, humans will slowly gather. The Geomseon who should be in the Murim Alliance now, Daehwalbeol who should be in Seojang, the other Sipcheon, Chilryun and Samgong.

—The more time drags on, the more disadvantageous for me. But I’m not confident I can break through you either.

“Are you surrendering?”

—As if.

Heukya, bursting into hollow laughter as if absurd, slowly spread her tails.

—I wished to leave a scar on the world. I wanted my traces to remain eternally and imperishably in this world.

“……”

—Now an unattainable dream. However, leaving a scar is still possible now.

She cannot leave eternally imperishable traces.

Even so, there’s a way. If she kills everyone here, makes them her Gildongmu, humanity will at least regress a thousand years.

—I shall become your destruction.

“Damn it, for fuck……!”

Monster energy gathers.

Ilryun, realizing what Heukya intends, urgently raised energy like a tidal wave to attack Heukya. However, Heukya’s body doesn’t get a scratch.

The power difference is extreme.

Taeag’s fist that shatters mountains, Ilryun’s energy that swallows the world, Geomje’s sword strike piercing ten li in an instant, even Nakcheon’s strike gathering all the world’s ominousness.

Nothing penetrates Heukya’s defense. Before Yowang’s condensing monster energy, everything kneels.

Except one person.

“Ultimately offering your neck yourself at the end?”

—With your power until now, you cannot break it.

“When have I ever remained at ‘until now’?”

Baek Riyun, chuckling at Heukya’s words, raised the lowered sword and slowly took middle stance. Sword tip toward heaven, hands guarding the body’s center toward ground. Form bearing heaven and standing on earth.

“Thanks to you, I can complete the last one too.”

Energy gathers.

Leisurely flowing wind, clouds overlooking the ground from the firmament, leylines rising from the ground toward heaven.

Internal Energy.

Flashing madness, battle spirit shouting, fear facing death, bloody energy flowing through the battlefield.

Together with Monster Energy.

“Ultimately, isn’t it the same thing?”

Monsters or humans.

Their origin is the same. They were Heaven’s chess pieces, merely living according to predetermined fate.

“If Heaven sets my limits, I should say this.”

My limits aren’t so shallow that you can set them yourself.

Until meeting death, my limits don’t exist.

“It’s over, Heukya.”

—…….

“Come.”

Light curved.

—Good.

Watching that sword radiating overwhelming presence, Heukya burst into laughter and released the gathered monster energy. And at that moment, Baek Riyun’s sword moving loosely.

Cheonui Singong

The storm of monster energy dismantled piece by piece.

Baek Riyun’s sword, penetrating the center and cutting refined monster energy with immeasurable blades, slowly cleaves the vision and steps forward. Five steps, four steps, three steps, two steps, one step.

—Ah.

It’s over.

—To end like this……!

Heukya, instinctively feeling it, twisted her body. However, the sword strike slowly pushing in regardless of that movement.

—…….

The storm dispersed.

Heukya, quietly watching the sword driven into her heart, raised her head to look at Baek Riyun and asked.

—……I wanted to become a meaningful existence.

“I know.”

—Did I, did I do wrong?

“It wasn’t wrong. We simply couldn’t coexist.”

Nothing was wrong.

—Can I not even remain as absolute evil……

Heukya, smiling faintly at Baek Riyun’s affirmation, looked up at the sky and asked.

—What is the technique’s name?

“Final Profound Meaning. Muui.”

—There is no intent…… A good name.

Isn’t it the most fitting name for those pioneering a new world?

—Thinking about it now, you.

Heukya, bursting into a chuckle, slowly raised her hand and stroked Baek Riyun’s cheek. And shortly after.

—You resemble that man.

Heukya’s movement stopped.

Forever.

***

And so,

Three years passed.