12. The Disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand (2)
Unable to simply watch this bizarre situation unfold, the Blade Demon kicked off the ground with a short shout.
His body soared into the air as if weightless, and he immediately drew the massive blade from his back. It was the Moon White Blade, a unique weapon with a clear, silvery sheen.
Flipping in mid-air, the Blade Demon dove between the Mad Demon and Cheon Ha-rin like a bird of prey.
"That’s enough of your games!"
*Kwooooong—!*
The moment the Blade Demon landed with his shout, a massive roar echoed out. The ground beneath his feet could not withstand the impact and shattered like a spiderweb.
The students stood with their mouths agape, momentarily stunned by the sudden intrusion of someone falling from the sky.
What just happened?
Soon, the students' gazes turned toward the Blade Demon.
"Th-that person is?"
"Wh-why is Lord Blade Demon here...?"
The appearance of the Mad Demon alone had already felt surreal, but now the Blade Demon had appeared as well. These were two of the Demonic Sovereigns, figures students rarely had the chance to see.
Why would individuals of such status descend upon a mere student examination ground? The students' minds were filled with chaos, leaving them completely bewildered.
Just as everyone was watching the situation with bated breath, the Blade Demon glared at the Mad Demon with eyes burning with rage.
"Hey, you crazy lunatic!"
At these words, the air in the examination ground froze completely. It was an unimaginable sight: one Demonic Sovereign hurling insults to the face of another, a figure who was an object of both reverence and terror.
The students could not comprehend what was happening before their eyes; they were plunged into a state of panic that transcended mere confusion.
On the other hand, the Mad Demon did not even blink at the Blade Demon’s harsh profanity.
She withdrew her fingers from Cheon Ha-rin’s sword and tilted her head toward the Blade Demon. Her violet eyes were tinged with annoyance.
"My, what brings you here, you human who boasted so loudly that you would leave the examination to me?"
The Blade Demon’s face twisted into a deep scowl. He slammed the tip of the Moon White Blade into the ground and retorted.
"If you had conducted this test like a proper examination, I wouldn't have had to intervene. But look at the mess you’ve made!"
"Calling it a mess is a bit..."
"At this rate, it’s obvious that not a single student will pass! Which part of your brain came up with the insane idea of forcing them to inflict damage on you?"
The Blade Demon’s roar echoed throughout the arena. The Mad Demon could not find a response. Even with ten mouths, she would have had nothing to say.
Just then, a stifled voice cut through the tense standoff between the two.
"I... I can still do it..."
It was none other than Cheon Ha-rin, standing to the side. Her fighting spirit remained unbroken. However, the Blade Demon shook his head coldly at her.
"The world of martial arts is not a dreamland where willpower can solve everything. Especially not in a situation like this. Remember this: your current behavior is not courage, but recklessness."
The Blade Demon’s cold words pierced Cheon Ha-rin’s pride like a dagger. Unable to offer a rebuttal, she bit her lower lip in frustration.
Her fingertips trembled slightly. It was a moment where she had to admit her limits, however much she hated it.
"Are you convinced?"
"..."
The Blade Demon no longer paid attention to Cheon Ha-rin. He walked past her and approached the Mad Demon. His eyes shone coldly.
"As you know, my Moon White Blade is forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron."
Upon hearing this, Hajin could not help but be quite surprised. As someone with basic knowledge of the martial world, he knew exactly what ten-thousand-year cold iron was.
Ten-thousand-year cold iron—iron that had aged for ten thousand years—was it not practically the hardest metal in existence?
Furthermore, it was common knowledge that it was worth whatever price was asked for it. To think someone would forge it into a weapon and carry it around.
'He must be an incredibly impressive person!'
That was the extent of his assessment of the Blade Demon. Regardless, the Blade Demon swung the Moon White Blade the moment he finished speaking. It looked like nothing more than a flash of light.
"You must dodge!"
Yet, amidst the students' shock, the Mad Demon stood with the same languid expression as before, raising two fingers to meet the blade.
*Kwooooong—!*
A massive sonic boom, incomparable to the previous one, erupted in all directions. The ground beneath their feet shook, and the dust kicked up by the shockwave swallowed the two of them in an instant.
As the dust slowly settled, an unbelievable sight was revealed.
The Mad Demon had blocked the Blade Demon’s Moon White Blade with her bare hands, still looking bored. She appeared completely at ease.
'Even if I didn't channel any internal energy into that...'
The Blade Demon sighed to himself as he recalled the Mad Demon’s miraculous physique. He then muttered to the students.
"As you all have seen, thanks to her unique protective body art, the Mad Demon’s body has reached a realm where it cannot be pierced by most attacks. In other words, it is impossible for your level to land even a single effective hit on her."
At the Blade Demon’s fury, the Mad Demon spoke languidly.
"That is true."
It was a calm admission, as if she had just received a compliment. A vein bulged on the Blade Demon’s forehead.
"Don't say that so proudly, you crazy woman!"
The Blade Demon eventually withdrew the Moon White Blade. Since there was no reason to continue the current test, he sighed and turned toward the students. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Listen carefully. This is not to look down on you. But you must know that at your level, you can never leave even a scratch on that woman."
Even the Blade Demon, a fellow Sovereign, had swung a weapon of ten-thousand-year cold iron to no effect. It was a fact no student could refute.
"Therefore, I will change the test from now on."
* * *
The Blade Demon asked Chae Un-ryang.
"Instructor, can you proceed with the originally planned test immediately?"
Chae Un-ryang shook his head with a stiff face.
"It is impossible, as everything prepared has been cleared away. Lord Blade Demon."
"Hmph..."
The Blade Demon sighed once more and shot a glance at the Mad Demon. Seeing her looking away, he made a decision after a moment of thought.
"Fine. The new test will be to block a single strike from the Mad Demon."
A stir ran through the students once again. The Blade Demon continued.
"Do not worry. Compared to her massive external power, her offensive technique is nearly sub-par. If you pour all your internal energy into it, you should be able to block it somehow."
"Must I really be the one to do it?"
As the Mad Demon grumbled as if it were a chore, the Blade Demon glared at her as if she were absurd.
"Then should I do it? If I do, these kids will all be sliced in half. If you’re fine with that, then go ahead."
At the chilling remark, the Mad Demon shrugged. She was aware that what she had done just now was a significant disaster. She, too, wanted to avoid causing any more trouble.
If she messed up, she might truly incur the Cult Leader’s wrath.
"It can't be helped."
Soon, she gestured toward the students and said languidly.
"Come up in order, whoever wants to try. It’s a hassle, so let’s get this over with quickly."
At the Mad Demon’s suggestion, Cheon Ha-rin tried to step forward again. Her eyes burned with zeal, as if to recover her wounded pride. However, the Mad Demon waved her hand at her.
"You’re done. I’ve already checked your skill and will, so I’ll count you as having passed. There are too many others who need to take the test."
There were five hundred students in this batch of the Demonic Path Academy. Four hundred and ninety-nine, excluding Cheon Ha-rin. For the Mad Demon, it was truly a tedious task.
Cheon Ha-rin nodded silently at the Mad Demon’s words. She, too, had realized that anything more would be meaningless.
The Mad Demon then gestured to the remaining students.
"The conditions are the same as before. Those who want to challenge me, come forward."
This time, someone stepped onto the sparring arena first. It was Yun-geom, who had been protesting to Chae Un-ryang. He bowed lightly to the Mad Demon and spoke in a calm voice.
"I ask for your guidance."
Instead of answering, the Mad Demon thrust her hand forward.
It was a simple movement, devoid of any special technique or finesse. But the power contained within was by no means ordinary.
*Whoosh—!*
Yun-geom hurriedly set up a defensive stance with his sword against the hand reaching toward him.
*Clang—!*
Along with a sharp metallic sound, a massive sonic boom swept the surroundings. Amidst the surging force engulfing him, Yun-geom felt the hair on his entire body stand on end.
His hand holding the sword felt as if it were about to burst, and his joints screamed. Only one thought filled his mind.
'Is this the martial power of a Demonic Sovereign...?'
An overwhelming difference in power that seemed to deny everything he had built up as a martial artist. For the first time, a look of clear panic appeared on his face.
Meanwhile, the Mad Demon watched Yun-geom, who had barely withstood her strike, for a moment before withdrawing her hand as if she had lost interest.
"Hmm. You succeeded in blocking it. You pass as well."
She took her eyes off Yun-geom and gestured toward the next student.
"Next."
Even after seeing Yun-geom struggle just moments ago, the next student to step up was confident. But the student who had stepped onto the arena with such dignity met a miserable end immediately.
*Crack—!*
With the hand the Mad Demon swung, the student was sent flying off the arena like a piece of paper. He spun a few times in the air before crashing into the ground in the distance, and soon, he did not move a muscle.
'Is he even alive?'
A gasp of horror erupted among the students at the overwhelming sight.
"Ah..."
Only then did they realize. This test was by no means easy. Yun-geom had endured only because he was special, not because the test was simple.
Hope turned to terror in an instant. Hajin, who had been watching from afar, furrowed his brows.
'Wow, what on earth is that?'
The scene from a moment ago still would not leave his eyes. An overwhelming power that seemed impossible to block. And the sight of the student being mercilessly crushed.
'Can I block that...?'
Hajin began to think seriously. His mana had not yet fully recovered, and his body was in a state where he hadn't properly mastered any martial arts.
Considering all these factors, an answer did not come easily. As he pondered, several more students began to fall.
'For now, I should watch a little longer. He might run out of strength, after all….'
Finally, the woman who had been watching everything in silence stepped onto the sparring arena. In one hand, she carried a massive blade that looked taller than she was.
It was So-yeon, the daughter of the Blade Demon, a woman wielding a monstrous weapon that seemed entirely at odds with her slender frame.
Seeing her, the Mad Demon let out a smirk and glanced toward the Blade Demon.
"Oh my, another precious face has come up?"
Her gaze was filled with the clear intent of, 'I shall judge your daughter.' The Blade Demon said nothing, merely watching his daughter in silence.
Soon, the Mad Demon reached out again. It was a strike of immense power, no different from the ones before.
However, So-yeon’s response was different from the others. She did not panic; she simply extended her blade forward quietly.
*Thung—!*
With a thunderous roar, the Mad Demon’s hand collided with So-yeon’s blade. There was not a hint of wavering. Like a great tree with deep roots, she received the attack calmly, her stance perfectly stable.
Seeing this, the Mad Demon wore an expression of boredom, as if his excitement had completely drained away.
"You passed, so get down."
The moment So-yeon silently withdrew her blade and stepped off the sparring arena, the Blade Demon, who had remained silent until now, finally opened his mouth. As if he had been waiting for this moment, he puffed out his chest and shouted proudly.
"Whose daughter do you think she is? That much is only natural!"
He looked incredibly proud.
Meanwhile, the Mad Demon frowned as if she found it all dull and muttered under her breath.
"How boring, seriously. This won't do. The disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand is here, right? Come out here at once!"
At that moment, the gazes of the students converged on one spot. Everyone was looking at Hajin.
'Me…?'
Hajin couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Why me all of a sudden, you lunatic!
0 Comments