Swish!
A chunk of Hong Wemun's hair was sliced off.
Rip!
Seo Ryang's sleeve was torn long.
'Impressive.'
Hong Wemun's martial arts, fully unleashed through the Four Kings Demon Art, were truly extraordinary. At first glance, it seemed as if he was almost consumed by the demonic energy, but that wasn't the case at all. His movements, completely dyed in purple, were more beast-like than martial, yet Hong Wemun's mind was exceptionally clear. It was just that his clear mind was engulfed by intense anger and killing intent.
He swung his hand.
Crash!
A section of a building's roof was torn off and flew away. The power was truly astounding. To achieve such destructive force with a single claw strike, he could be considered a master above Wi Hongryeon or Song Gyeong. If his opponents were Wi Hongryeon or Song Gyeong, he could kill them within ten exchanges. Although Hong Wemun was a step above them, he was not a difficult opponent for Seo Ryang, who walked at an even higher level.
The problem was that Hong Wemun had mastered a more advanced demonic art than the two of them. And that demonic art was making the environment quite troublesome.
'Annoying brat.'
Swoosh!
Seo Ryang, who had instantly closed in on Hong Wemun, grabbed him by the collar. Even though Hong Wemun's eyes were wide open, he couldn't tell how Seo Ryang moved. Hong Wemun's hands reflexively grabbed Seo Ryang's wrist.
'Not here, you fool.'
Crunch!
Seo Ryang's feet dug three inches into the ground.
Bang!
Seo Ryang moved again, still holding Hong Wemun by the collar.
Crack! Crackle!
The veins in Seo Ryang's forearm bulged. Hong Wemun, whose collar was grabbed, was thrashing wildly.
'This bastard!'
Swish!
A long cut appeared on Hong Wemun's cheek. He had dodged a sword that was about to pierce him with beast-like instincts.
Boom!
Seo Ryang's body shook as Hong Wemun's fist struck his chest, as if in retaliation. The tingling pain made his anger rise. He couldn't understand why he had to go through such trouble to catch this sly guy.
'Damn it! They're just like dogs anyway, whether they get swept away or not!'
Thoughts were just thoughts. Having realized that even demonic beings were people, he couldn't let innocent ones get caught up in it. Besides, wasn't he the one who launched the first attack?
At that moment, Hong Wemun's right hand struck Seo Ryang's side.
Thud!
'Ugh.'
It was considerable. If it weren't for the true energy barrier of the Dark Shadow Demon Art, the destructive power was strong enough to cause serious internal injuries. But Hong Wemun had aimed for something else.
Stab!
Seo Ryang's eyes wavered. Hong Wemun's index finger had pierced his side.
Rumble!
The two figures shook violently and then crashed into the ground.
Thud! Crunch!
The two bounced off to the sides.
Hong Wemun was the first to spring up. Thanks to the overflowing demonic energy, he felt neither pain nor shock.
Seo Ryang was different.
Whoosh!
A purple aura flowed from his side. Hong Wemun had directly injected poison into the abdomen pierced by his index finger.
"Does it hurt?"
Hong Wemun spoke for the first time during the battle. It meant he had found some composure.
"It's poison injected directly into your body. If you try to burn it with demonic energy, your organs will be cooked."
Whoosh.
Thick purple demonic energy gathered in his hands. Rather than power, he focused on the poison. It was an intention to slowly and painfully corner his opponent.
"It was a mistake to mess with me."
Bang!
Hong Wemun swung his palms. He judged there was no need to approach.
Boom!
Seo Ryang's body flinched. He was hit directly by the Snake Shadow Poison Palm.
Hong Wemun wasn't satisfied with just one strike.
Boom! Boom!
As Seo Ryang's body continued to twitch, purple poison mist rose around his fallen form. The poison injected by the Snake Shadow Poison Palm accumulated in Seo Ryang's body, creating a mist.
As if determined, Hong Wemun unleashed dozens of lethal poison palms.
Boom! Boom!
Before long, Seo Ryang's figure was no longer visible to the naked eye. The purple poison mist, spanning two lengths, completely erased Seo Ryang.
Sizzle!
Hong Wemun retracted the Snake Shadow Poison Palm. He smiled broadly, revealing sharp black nails once more. It had been a long time since he had shown such a genuine smile.
"I won't kill you right away. Try living with crippled legs."
"Ugh!"
Just then, a sound of someone coughing up blood came from within the mist.
Swoosh!
Hong Wemun dashed forward. He didn't let his guard down just because his opponent was weak. He found composure but didn't become complacent and miss the opportunity.
Disabling his opponent with poison and devouring them. His actions were no different from a viper.
Whoosh!
Entering the mist, Hong Wemun could accurately pinpoint Seo Ryang's location. In the hazy view, he saw Seo Ryang, collapsed forward, coughing up blood.
'Farewell, you persistent bastard.'
Hong Wemun thrust the Black Bone Snake Shadow Hand at Seo Ryang's shin.
It was then.
Crunch!
'Huh?'
What was this? Where did Seo Ryang disappear to?
'This guy again?!'
Did he still have energy left?
As Hong Wemun hurriedly looked around, he suddenly felt a sharp pain rising from his forearm. His eyes widened as he looked down at his right arm.
"What...?"
His joint was bent backward.
'Why did it break?'
Whoosh!!
The poison mist that had covered the area was suddenly swept up by a whirlwind rising from the ground. The wind speed was tremendous. The gust compressed the poison mist and sent it soaring high into the sky. The view cleared, and the stifling air became fresh and cool.
And it didn't take long for that refreshing air to disappear without a trace.
Crackle! Crackle!
The burning demonic energy absorbed the air and emitted even stronger flames.
Crackle! Crack!
Red lightning swirled around the flames. The one who emitted such an overwhelming demonic energy was none other than Seo Ryang.
"Spit!"
He spat out the last of the poison mixed with blood and aimed his sword at the sky.
Buzz!
A red sphere shone brilliantly at the tip of the sword.
Seo Ryang shouted with a burst of energy.
"Ha!"
Boom!
The red sphere shot high into the sky, touching the poison mist, and spread rapidly like a spark on oil-soaked paper.
Whoosh!
The purple poison mist completely evaporated. The poison mist that Hong Wemun had painstakingly built up vanished so futilely.
"You brat, sneaking around and being annoying from behind, your martial arts suit your personality perfectly."
Hong Wemun couldn't understand.
"How...?"
"What? Oh, this?"
Seo Ryang touched his side.
"It's not even a serious wound."
It was indeed a serious wound. The reason the abdomen is dangerous is that it houses the internal organs. The abdominal pressure is very strong, so if there's a hole, the organs try to protrude through it. On top of that, he had poured a lethal dose of poison. And he did it dozens of times. It was a fatal wound that even a great immortal would find difficult to handle.
"I was the one who, even with broken limbs and holes in my belly, could smile and eliminate my target with unwavering professionalism."
"What, what did you say?!"
"This is just a scratch, you fool!"
Boom!
Seo Ryang closed the distance in an instant and swung his sword. His footwork and swordplay were too fast. Hong Wemun quickly stepped on the Dragon Step.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
Blood spurted from Hong Wemun's mouth. Seo Ryang had kicked him in the face. Just like when his arm broke, he couldn't see how he was hit this time either.
"That's not how you use footwork."
Sparks flew from Hong Wemun's eyes.
Bang!
A short-distance diagonal upward strike with his left hand. Even though it was executed in haste, the trajectory of the Black Bone Snake Shadow Hand was perfectly alive.
Seo Ryang swung his sword mercilessly.
Swish!
"Argh!"
His middle and ring fingers were cut off at the joint, and half of the nails on his index and little fingers flew off. The pain was unbearable, and a scream escaped his lips. The quick response was surprising, but the delicate swordplay was beyond amazing, it was dazzling. To swing a sword four lengths long at such close range was itself remarkable.
Seo Ryang's face turned cold.
"You're finished."
Thud!
Hong Wemun's body flew backward. It was just the right distance. Most of the poison had been drained, so even if he swung his sword a bit, there would be no secondary damage from the poison blood.
Seo Ryang aimed his sword at the staggering Hong Wemun.
Crackle!
Red lightning flickered from the blade. And an invisible wind hovered around it. Softly and naturally, and for the first time in a while, he unleashed his secret technique.
"Wind Blade."
Whoosh!!
A gust of wind blew once more. A terrifying sword wind, unrelated to the weather, blew from all directions, slashing Hong Wemun's body.
Slash! Thud!
No one can block the wind. Wounds appeared all over Hong Wemun's body. Thanks to the Four Kings Demon Art, he wasn't torn to shreds, but the injuries were not negligible.
But Seo Ryang's attack was just beginning.
"North Wind."
Rip!
The muscles on Hong Wemun's back were torn long.
"Ugh!"
The pain of muscles being torn raw is indescribable. It was a rough wound, as if struck by an axe rather than a sword.
Rip! Rip!
Deep cuts appeared on his thigh, chest, and shoulder. Even the true energy barrier of the Four Kings Demon Art couldn't block it.
"Ninefold Wind."
Bang!
Hong Wemun's body shook violently. The Ninefold Wind, with its nine strikes in one move, was a continuous slashing attack. Even the caster couldn't predict which part would be hit next.
Hong Wemun's body was drenched in blood. The fierce demonic energy immediately stopped the bleeding, but the amount of blood lost in a short time was considerable, and the internal injuries were also significant.
Seo Ryang's sword danced.
"Wind Death, Gale."
Whoosh! Bang!
"Ahhh!!"
It was the loudest and most desperate scream he had ever let out. It was a pain and fear that couldn't be endured with pride or patience.
Seo Ryang's eyes, staring at him, were slowly tearing like those of a demon.
Click!
He gripped the sword with both hands and swung the final move of the continuous style.
"Heavenly Wind Execution."
Whoosh!
If the wind had weight, this wind pouring down from the high heavens would have been like a massive steel ball. The staggering Hong Wemun was in the path of that large, heavy wind.
Bang!
Invisible blades were carried by the clear and refreshing wind. What happened to Hong Wemun's body, brushed by that wind?
Thud!
Hong Wemun's figure wavered as he spewed a large amount of blood. Thud! In the end, Hong Wemun knelt. As he coughed up blood, his eyes were dazed and unfocused.
'What is this?'
What on earth was this martial art? It was just pure sword wind, without any brilliant sword energy or overwhelming demonic energy, so why couldn't the Four Kings Demon Art block it? No, was this even martial art in the first place?
Swoosh.
His vision darkened. On the ground that looked red, he saw two unfamiliar feet.
'Seo Ryang...'
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Seo Ryang had placed his sword on Hong Wemun's shoulder.
"Any last words?"
Last words. Words left by a person just before they die. It was a much cleaner and more chilling statement than any curse-laden threat, and Hong Wemun's pupils shook wildly.
'Die? Me?'
He had never once thought he would die like this. Even if he didn't seize the throne, he thought his end would be grand and solemn, witnessed by everyone. To lose in a life-and-death duel that wasn't even a proper match and to kneel? This ridiculous and absurd ending was unbelievable.
"Of course, you don't. What would you have to say?"
Buzz!
A powerful pulse of demonic energy flowed over the surface of the blade. Seo Ryang's eyes turned cold.
"That's how dying is. A person's life scatters as futilely as the smoke from the cigarette you used to smoke."
"......!"
"Farewell."
Seo Ryang swung his sword down.