Chapter 295: Demonic Realm (4)
yV3c3JThe soldiers on the wall were puzzled at the sight of an army that had suddenly appeared on the horizon.8gV0
18L“What is that?”oQuT0IN
yfr1cVThose men dressed in black radiated a sinister energy.gpaMUW
fIc7i“Is it the Imperial army?”jvH
xPYAt first glance, they looked very similar to the dreaded Imperial black troops, infamous across the continent.YSe
zGU8ZdaSuddenly, the soldier holding the spyglass raised his voice.j6X
DHPSL“W-wait, they’re not continentals.”YKEb
M4sT“What?”EZlYF
b8i“They’re Easterners!”KWBT
pNz“What are you saying?”vCikEUk
jPXGc“See for yourself.”t6Tj
gI6AtHe handed over the spyglass.cLuo
x25KWbo“Huh…?”v65Pq
ibzdYzThe soldier who looked through the lens opened his mouth.sTkX
gCw“It’s true.”KWh
5P1WThe top of the wall was once again filled with murmurs.QPA8
A8LOMeanwhile, Calcio, having heard the news, appeared.vlXUxK
rXyiw“What’s going on?”tPZYJS
gnYsde“See for yourself.”vRMCd
w79“Give me the spyglass.”s9f
kMx7ECalcio took it and observed the horizon for quite a while.blA
kDj4EspThe army that had emerged from the east was advancing in an orderly fashion toward Sidor.o3pk
MRNDdnkHigh above, banners with large Eastern characters—whose meaning he did not know—were fluttering.tAbpM05
9UH“Boss? What do we do?”ygZITwh
S5puHIR“What the hell are Easterners doing here?”PMiEa7h
jInZP“And the orcs? Why aren’t they stopping them?”MyS
Kv5zgCalcio raised his hand.Jf6qM
biSFm“Everyone calm down.”ZI1I
N0j0SbBut the commotion didn’t stop, so Calcio tightened his abdomen and shouted with force.xeE2
ZoriN“Quiet, all of you!”LLVtd
8aOBpYThe wall went silent.waQYmqZ
gwxX3“Gather all of Sidor’s troops. Prepare the battle formation.”sZMUzbi
LFSVThe meaning was clear—Sidor would defend the city against them.tZBq
v3C“Sound the horn.”Yz0rnX
2yaL“Yes, sir.”5QwK4mU
Gms8The faces of the chatty soldiers turned serious. They were used to risking their lives against the orcs; they knew when to focus.3m1ma6E
g4Rt“Yes!”4rxM
vssO5db“Everyone ready!”08jMFXi
MJ7BLc“Prepare for combat!”1wtz
sV2DThe horn sounded once again, and each man ran to take his position.Jo23wo
oT7The soldiers inside the fortress also finished preparing in an instant and climbed up onto the wall.wq6OS1E
1p7Calcio, with one foot resting on the parapet, spoke.EYXM
dKe“They’re not here with good intentions.”WWKu9C
0DFMvgHis field experience allowed him to recognize hostility in the orcs just by looking at their faces. When it came to humans, he could guess it even more easily.l55
QmEbxdjThey had come to fight.Gqglys
G3Aw6And everything indicated that they intended to destroy everything.Wzm6OfI
Feikq“Get ready. This is going to be a tough fight.”CTs
mWk7NFsThe Eastern army that had suddenly appeared was large in number. With Sidor’s forces weakened lately, it would be difficult to hold them back.QdszxG
wFIDCalcio swallowed hard.1cXR
RqJQb6“Since the count left, things like this keep happening…”dbn
1fInIf they had come all the way to these distant lands to wage war, they must surely be well-prepared.FzSEM
bayGwbAt a glance, from their marching formation, the individual strength of each seemed considerable.FtcTGl
TO5Y6“Well… at least this way it’s fair.”WyJeE
gNPCalcio gave a crooked smile.a71lfQn
RzjIThe continent’s heroes had gone to fight a life-or-death war; it wasn’t the time for them to rest in peace.t6ThHr
sHY2EIn Sidor, they too would have to fight with everything to keep the balance.Vtt
gbRSOgCalcio shouted,UzJY0I
mmy5g“Were you bored of fighting those ugly orcs? This time, they’re handsome Easterners! Anyone who gets scared, start writing your will.”Ae1
eaTOne of the soldiers replied,ttUF
8kE“You say the same thing every time the orcs come. I’ve already fought more than a hundred!”APnH5
JYpT6Cu“I’ve fought a thousand, idiot!”SYiuvZi
wWOrHOxLaughter spread along the wall. It was their way of easing the tension in a place where battle was routine.sLLk
kZ1NOc“Let’s see… those guys…”wRPqb
k4tGzCalcio looked through the spyglass again.tji9iXa
w9tdThe distance had shortened considerably.MS7v
0IGSirAt the vanguard, a man dressed in black raised a bow.W2KS7
8qLt5MS“What’s he doing?”6g1a4
V6rLF50They were still quite far away.MW3orWh
NqFSiVEven if he shot an arrow from there, he wouldn’t be able to see the target clearly.uYwL
2nLRrTyAnd then—qSaayZ
PvbXB4He felt as if their eyes had met.GWcz
BV5nVAOThe arrow that had been nocked disappeared. It was just an instant.OX1151
nwcCalcio felt a chill and instinctively ducked his head. At that moment, something passed over him.e8hAlKp
AOyfQThe sound came a second later.jSO
vJpGnpA loud whistle of air being ripped apart rang out.js5K
FFR“What was that?”KvyZI
u5pu“Boss!”qam
cvwicRight after, there was the sound of an explosion.E6c9dbF
fMzCalcio turned his head.dBEq
kJNQhOn one of the towers inside the wall, an arrow was embedded, and part of the wall had collapsed.sJyVj7
8KZK“Damn it…”9eE
XemNTo spot a target from so far away, shoot it, and with power comparable to a catapult—V1bZW
okCvO8RCalcio realized the Eastern visitors were far more dangerous than he had imagined.ezyY
vwC“What the hell are those guys?”AZHgcP
V0TaHe thought quickly.i3wHO
6AbToDoWinning would be difficult.B09f
mS8UQIf the battle was already lost from the start, perhaps the best option was to retreat and preserve as many troops as possible.U57AV
GKUiP“Boss.”bXlB5
BGLai“What? Finally feeling like writing your will?”AKX5l
CX3L3Kn“No, that’s not it…”Imckr5
3hnmThe soldier on the wall lowered the spyglass and spoke.3FwnTI
JBY“Another group is coming.”d1qAz4
Xp0ZkUv“What?”Ottn
aTk6l8Calcio looked in the direction he pointed.ZpT28tl
rxQfdSure enough, another formation was kicking up dust in the distance.yTajL77
gbjDespair washed over him.uQkQT2r
8AxsN“Damn it…”i3E
9bWASThey were almost as numerous as the first army.9ssFh
AN0“What’s with these Easterners?”X7IvGQ1
mufdHe put his hands on his head.pf4KnEb
2ZvezcBut then the soldier with the spyglass raised his voice again.BMP
xyYo6QP“Wait a moment!”US9fgC
4nfJP“What now?”NMbA
1yx8Pvr“Boss, I think… you’d better see for yourself.”oefq
UNzRGXQHe handed him the spyglass.3VVh9lU
buYK***BI7rSj
MoQMa Gunak felt his chest swell with emotion.x7Cf
n1T8DD“At last, the secret vow of the Heavenly Demon Sect is fulfilled!”o8s
LGHIHidden away in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, biding its time to seize the Eastern Murim, the Heavenly Demon Sect was now advancing with all its might toward the West.xxsXF8
SNkjIt was all because of the letter sent by their leader, Dan Socheon.RrK17nB
GdcevqLIn it, Dan Socheon declared that he had recovered the Secret Manual of the Heavenly Evil Spirit and planned, in cooperation with the emperor of the West, to bring the entire continent under the feet of the Heavenly Demon Sect. As such, he had ordered all the sect’s forces to march westward.eKdM2Q
bQr2After conquering the West completely, he intended to invade the East with vast resources and massacre those disgusting people called righteous sects, taking their families as slaves to the sect.izQg
FHH1gDrFor a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, it was a plan to make the blood boil.6vAZwG
Vl9Dan Socheon was considered one of the most gifted Heavenly Demons in history. When he left alone for the West, everyone in the sect had felt disappointed, even thinking he had abandoned them.I9J
vzXKBut it had all been a misunderstanding.3Jpou
TL1xbyDan Socheon was, in truth, the rightful supreme sovereign of the Heavenly Demon Sect.KRh9
m4VF8f“Heavenly Demon! Heavenly Demon!”OHurv
0FH1nG“Heavenly Demon! Heavenly Demon!”Ztkc
6xksiWhen Ma Gunak shouted the sect’s slogan, all the members joined in.rUyHR
W2V44sGExcited, Ma Gunak stepped forward to shout even louder, but someone interrupted him.XRNgf
tSECxM4“Chief of the Black Assassin Division!”vLYQ42
xz4NnT“What is it?”idTwpZO
Yae4Ij“Don’t you think it would be better not to rush ahead alone?”RKT
0Zug“Hm?”u0vsM
WIoGPmMa Gunak frowned.A59w
4bA“Does the Chief of the Demonic Blood Division dislike me?”cyH2k
E86“I’m saying this because the other five chiefs aren’t saying anything, but you act like you’re the leader.”uRd
EiyXw6“Leader… With the Heavenly Demon absent, I wouldn’t mind taking that place.”xOd9JSv
brK2“What?”k4NL
lyELYB“Is there anyone here stronger than me?”Uf3vDl5
KTbj4When Ma Gunak’s expression turned threatening, Jo Bong-seol, Chief of the Demonic Blood Division, pursed his lips.9L22nrk
9V0“That attitude… I’ll report it all to the Heavenly Demon.”NGyttu
ZAflQWt“Do as you please. Hey, you!”OTEzm
liRMa Gunak suddenly shouted, calling for his lieutenant. He only wanted to annoy Jo Bong-seol, but the man didn’t react at all.wpXa
uD1XwY5With a mischievous grin, Ma Gunak extended his hand.0v1W0
vHno“Bow!”b6HhhC5
w7KSQ“Yes!”Jj6qA
Reti3MQAs he received the bow, Jo Bong-seol stepped back and asked,rUcWRY
Q1PBoT“What are you doing?”Ulm
zkvN“There’s a rat spying on us, so I’m going to greet those Westerners.”K5V3
eBRaQtd“Always acting on your own…”uLtT
NENVUIgnoring the protest, Ma Gunak released the bowstring.XXU2
KStceThe arrow, infused with his internal energy, flew an enormous distance and embedded itself into the tower on the wall.zdP
O8xjYdAlthough it didn’t bring it down, the outer wall cracked, and the soldiers on the wall could be seen stirring.wlh5r
F1KMa Gunak let out a hearty laugh.VAOY
LpDPcI“Let’s go. All we have to do is attack this so-called Briol and, in its capital, kidnap the most beautiful woman on the continent, right?”XD22
lniA few days ago, a messenger from Dan Socheon had reached the sect on its march westward.xTD4sj
Ysy5OHe brought the order to kidnap the most beautiful woman on the continent, supposedly in the capital of a country called Briol.J0NA
6x8Ma Gunak had no reason to refuse.azelyh
BGKOi“They say that country’s main forces are away. But even so, we mustn’t underestimate it.”SDStpT
cHc“No need to make it too complicated, either.”ZnTY
xB09zd0Ma Gunak smiled wickedly.lie
M0Kpku“The most beautiful woman on the continent… I can’t wait to meet her. Hahahaha…”9s9
9brZL“Tsk…”OUfWuA
P766Jo Bong-seol, looking at him with disdain, turned away.0CmTUxC
p4a“There are strong ones in the West too…”6wsKeA
H7zbxAs he muttered, he noticed something fluttering on the horizon.Pn3OFJA
M7tNMiSAt first, he thought he was mistaken, but yes, it was a flag.Xu3f
e7G“Hm?”2aqb
4hRgwA9Thanks to his high martial level, he was the first to notice. Soon, his subordinates saw it as well, and unease spread.UKWG26A
x49The six division chiefs of the Heavenly Demon Sect, including Ma Gunak, fixed their eyes on the horizon.F0KU
NA6vOn the flag were written Eastern characters:e0YEM6
LdGKyI『Break the false and establish the true, renounce life for justice.』V1GPXd
ZtxWIt was an audacious slogan that made clear who they were.rTJA
054“The Murim Alliance!”I9V9B3E
AEiUg“How did they get here…?”8MVgo
OvWThough the Heavenly Demon Sect had strengthened its forces in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, it had never been able to take the Eastern Murim precisely because of the Murim Alliance.kp1M3Ky
azuFFor them, the Murim Alliance was a sworn enemy and rival.0Sm7qh
kesL4HNext appeared a brilliant golden flag.bHWHtrE
2AA『Righteous Path, Righteous Conduct.』kD4
65EIK6Upon seeing it, Ma Gunak’s face hardened.IDLuHFr
Nh1YKwKIt could mean only one thing—IMSJmcI
kAtgThe leader of the Murim Alliance, Jang Yeonghak, was here in person.plw
LalnKi***F59
9jrMHJang Yeonghak was marching westward with the warriors of the Murim Alliance.fMM6Mg6
4hK8cTHis decision was based on several reasons.tuY5hp
lknJFirst, he was interested in the swordsmanship of a man named Bernard, and he had heard that in the West there were even stronger warriors. Once called the “Heaven-Defying Sword” for his love of battle, the idea of witnessing a new martial world thrilled him.3Vw
Bfl8Second, the goods a merchant named Elaine had brought were rare items in the East. If they could open trade with the West and gain monopoly over certain products, the Murim Alliance would gain great influence.Z6P4p
1kGFsLAnd most importantly—the Heavenly Demon.5dwuCff
lSxDsFor the Murim Alliance, destroying the Heavenly Demon Sect, that is, the demon sect, had always been a goal. And now, the Heavenly Demon Dan Socheon was in the West.bOy0
c8h55At first, it was hard to believe, but soon came reports of strange movements in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, transmitted by infiltrated spies. They said the demon sect’s army was marching to the West.oLJhA
xNe8xzEverything fit.0TntVri
uFzGhThus, trusting the words of merchants, swordsmen, and ronin from the West, he summoned the Murim Alliance and set out. It was a risky decision—if something went wrong, he could lose his position as leader.cGc
StbBut he no longer cared much for the title of leader of the Murim Alliance. Before obtaining it, he had desired it intensely, but once he had it, he found it hollow.oYm0M8
CO7In the latter half of his life, he wanted to achieve something greater than a mere position.CPfMq
wgWdAnd that goal was now before his eyes.1vcADd6
f2AGK“You said your name was Cheongun?”JFt8v
sAzR6Tb“Yes, that’s right.”om7iCoY
2Q3h“You were right.”xJh2j
hscMJang Yeonghak spoke.HkPIe
RyrS“There they are, those bastards from the Heavenly Demon Sect.”5Ux3U
7i2But Cheongun didn’t seem to sense anything. Perhaps lower-level warriors couldn’t perceive it, but Jang Yeonghak could.0i8
riWNxHe could feel the demonic stench of the sect beyond the horizon.N35fCEK
iEw8GkAnd not only that—something even more terrible covered the sky of the West, a malevolent energy distorting the heavens.XcB
7hqU8IAs a Taoist of Mount Wudang before becoming leader of the Murim Alliance, he knew the fate of the world was at stake.TKp0fgJ
eU6b“Perhaps meeting you was Heaven’s will.”BWM8
BUzLittle by little, the demon sect’s army came into view.uIKtT
Ew7qGBefore unrest could spread, Jang Yeonghak shouted,HAHe
kZyTvK“There are the demon sectarians. Prepare for battle!”wEA6djH
GsaEeLiHe drew his sword.aOr
oZa417In front of Sidor, a war that would decide the fate of the Eastern Murim was about to begin.T9v
Zhoj5CQMeanwhile, watching from atop the wall, Calcio murmured in disbelief,gxBQ5
RDqaUvJ“What the hell are these people doing here?”co71i
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