Chapter 1230 – 1230. Ascension To The Light
It was definitely easier on the body to be with someone who knew how to use their head. It was easier to avoid traps, and we even managed to persuade an entrant we encountered to part ways without a fight. They were also helpful in battles against monsters. However, I wished they would set up barriers a little faster.
“Number 123.”
“What is it?”
We were walking on a path that was as narrow as a balance beam. The wind blew from the side, and the pits on both sides were filled with sharp thorns.
However, both I and Zhuge Mosun were relaxed. We were masters who had reached the realm of transcendence. For a master, walking on a balance beam was nothing. We could even run.
“I heard you swore allegiance to Number 88.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
It was about two months ago.
I had an unofficial duel with Cheon Yu-un and lost. I had also received help from Cheon Yu-un, and I was impressed by their skills, so I swore allegiance on the spot. That was the superficial reason.
“…How did you know? Did Number 88 tell you?”
“I deduced it from your attitude. Your demeanor has subtly changed.”
As expected of Zhuge Mosun. He was worthy of being the brain of the Demonic Cult, later known as the Demon Brain.
“That’s not all, is it? You must have decided to serve Number 88 as well. That’s how you could guess that I swore allegiance.”
“You’re quite perceptive. Yes, that’s correct. I swore allegiance to Number 88.”
“You’re being too blatant. The head of the entrance exam said they would be watching us.”
“It’s alright. I’m not exactly betraying the Demonic Cult. Rather, swearing allegiance to Number 88 is itself an act of loyalty to the Demonic Cult.”
“You seem to know Number 88’s identity.”
“Would I have sworn allegiance if I didn’t?”
“…What are you curious about?”
“The reason for your allegiance. I saw potential in Number 88. The potential for them to become the master of the Demonic Cult.”
“…Number 88 is stronger than me. I acknowledged their strength. That’s all.”
“That’s absurd. You expect me to believe that? There are plenty of people in this cult stronger than you. Even the head of the entrance exam could kill you in ten moves.”
“The head of the entrance exam doesn’t have the same overwhelming presence as Number 88.”
“What is that presence?”
“…It’s hard to explain in words. It just exists.”
“Well, fine.”
Thud.
Zhuge Mosun’s hand grabbed my shoulder from behind. Just by applying pressure with his hand and pushing my body, I would lose my balance and fall to the side.
“…What are you doing?”
“Number 123, I’ll warn you in advance. Don’t hinder me or Number 88. If I determine that you are not helpful, I will kill you without hesitation.”
I slightly turned my head to look at Zhuge Mosun. His face was utterly serious.
“That’s what I should be saying, Zhuge Mosun. Many people think you might be a spy for the Zhuge family. Don’t forget that.”
“I will prove that in due time.”
He took his hand off my shoulder.
“How long are you going to stay here? Move forward, Number 123.”
I frowned and walked forward.
***
Two men and one woman were lying on the ground. I and Zhuge Mosun approached them and examined their wounds. Unlike their blood-soaked clothes, their injuries were not severe.
“Sword wounds. They’re still alive. Not fatal injuries.”
“Number 215, Number 307, Number 421. Who did this to you?”
Zhuge Mosun asked them in a calm voice. The ones whose numbers were called trembled slightly. The one who answered was the largest man. With unfocused eyes, he spoke while trying to recall his memory.
“A demon… We were attacked by a demon…”
“A demon? Do you mean a monster?”
“Not a monster…! It was a human! The demon wore a mask and wielded two swords… a martial artist…!”
“Please tell us more! Number 215! Number 215!!”
“……”
Number 215 lost consciousness. He wasn’t dead, just seemed to have fallen asleep. Zhuge Mosun looked at Number 307 and Number 421. They had also lost consciousness.
“It doesn’t make sense for them to suddenly faint. No, this isn’t fainting.”
“It’s a sleeping drug.”
“Yes. They used a sleeping drug. It must be the work of the demon they mentioned.”
Zhuge Mosun glanced at my back. It was because I had a demon tattoo on my back.
“It wasn’t me.”
“I don’t suspect you. You’ve been with me the whole time.”
“I don’t like your eyes.”
Zhuge Mosun didn’t even scoff as he examined the fallen ones before getting up.
“We need to be more vigilant.”
“You’re strangely relaxed. Do you know about the demon?”
“I don’t. However, I can make assumptions. The demon defeated them and put them to sleep. The demon is probably a martial artist from the Demonic Cult. The head of the entrance exam must have deployed them.”
“Why?”
“Probably because the level of this batch of entrants is high. We just need to do what we have to do.”
We left the fallen ones behind and moved forward.
A fork in the road appeared.
Both the right and left sides looked the same. I closed my eyes and listened.
“I can hear the sound of water on the right. I can’t hear anything on the left.”
“Hmm. Let’s go right.”
“Why?”
“It’s a difference in information. It’s better to know that water is flowing than to know nothing. Besides, it’s a place where water is flowing. There might be an exit nearby.”
We headed to the right.
Soon, we encountered flowing water. The problem was that the water was flowing downwards, towards the underground. No matter how much I focused my eyes, I couldn’t see the end of how deep the underground was.
“What? It’s Number 123 and Number 366.”
Two women who had been hiding in a corner revealed themselves. They were Number 290, Seo Mun-so-ryeo, and Number 567, Yeon Ye-ha. Seo Mun-so-ryeo’s clothes were stained with blood, but it didn’t seem to be her blood.
“To think we’d meet you here… You’re lucky.”
Zhuge Mosun smiled slyly.
“Did you find your black jade? We haven’t found ours yet. We need to find the black jade first.”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo said. There was a hint of anxiety in her voice. Yeon Ye-ha, who was next to her, was quiet. She was expressionless here too, so I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“We found the black jade. It hasn’t been long since we started the fourth test, so we can move slowly and find the exit and the black jade. First, let’s drink some water and make a plan.”
It was the moment Zhuge Mosun finished speaking.
We simultaneously turned our heads and looked back the way we came. There was a man wearing a demon mask there. He was holding a sword in each hand.
We all gasped at the same time. We were momentarily overwhelmed by the aura emanating from him. That guy was at least a master of the Five Qi realm or higher.
The first to move among us was Yeon Ye-ha. She drew her sword and charged towards the demon mask. I followed her a step behind and said to Zhuge Mosun.
“Number 366! Set up a barrier!”
“Understood. Buy me some time!”
Zhuge Mosun began to plant steel rods into the ground, and Seo Mun-so-ryeo followed behind me. The three of us worked together to face the demon mask. The demon mask leisurely swung his swords to counter.
‘Damn it. Just by looking, I can tell. Is he around mid-Five Qi?’
The good thing was that he was just toying with us. If he really intended to kill us, I would have had to release my restraints.
White sword energy surged from Yeon Ye-ha’s sword. She swung her sword. The trajectory of the sword distorted and blurred the vision. It was an excellent illusion sword technique. However, the demon mask easily deflected Yeon Ye-ha’s attack.
Clang!
With a loud bang, Yeon Ye-ha flew backward and rolled on the ground.
I and Seo Mun-so-ryeo exchanged glances and simultaneously charged to the sides of the demon mask. The demon mask spun in place like a top, holding his swords. The rotation was so intense that I and Seo Mun-so-ryeo couldn’t get close.
I kicked a protruding part of the floor. A stone flew towards the spinning demon mask. The stone turned to dust and fell to the ground the moment it touched the spinning sword.
“It’s done! I’m activating the barrier!”
Whoosh.
Zhuge Mosun’s barrier activated. The air instantly became heavy. The demon mask stopped spinning.
We gathered in one place, wary of the demon mask. The demon mask remained still. It seemed like he was giving us time to make a plan.
“The barrier will slow down his movements. Can we defeat him?”
“It’s impossible to win.”
Yeon Ye-ha stated definitively. I and Seo Mun-so-ryeo nodded, agreeing with her opinion. To defeat the demon mask, we would need at least five more masters of Yeon Ye-ha’s level.
“Then, it’s best to run away. First, you guys should face him. Just buy me a little time.”
“What are you going to do by buying time?”
I asked.
“I’m going to forcibly shrink the barrier to seal his movements. Barriers and formations aren’t my specialty, but… I can buy us time to escape from him.”
“I understand. I agree with your opinion.”
Yeon Ye-ha and Seo Mun-so-ryeo also nodded. At that moment, the demon mask’s sword energy cut through the air and flew towards us. We, who had been watching him, quickly scattered in all directions to avoid the sword energy.
Except for Zhuge Mosun, we immediately charged at the demon mask. Perhaps due to the barrier’s influence, the demon mask’s reactions had slowed down. However, that didn’t mean we could land a fatal blow on him.
Clang! Clang! Claaang!
We had trained together over the past few days. Thanks to that, our teamwork was somewhat coordinated.
The demon mask’s attitude changed. His swordsmanship, which had been focused on defense, turned aggressive.
“Aaaah!”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo screamed and flew towards the wall. Blood flowed from her left shoulder.
“You bastard!”
I charged straight at the demon mask.
Demon Slaying Sword Technique, Reverse Demon Pursuit.
A blade rising from below.
The demon mask easily dodged it by taking a step back. However, the real attack was behind me. Yeon Ye-ha, who had been hiding from the demon mask’s sight by using me as a shield, stepped on my shoulder and rushed towards the demon mask. Her white sword energy momentarily multiplied into four, covering the air and attacking the demon mask.
The demon mask’s eyes widened as if he was flustered. He crossed the two swords in his hands and swung them. A shockwave erupted from the demon mask’s body, blowing me and Yeon Ye-ha away. I and Yeon Ye-ha, who had rolled on the ground, simultaneously got up.
“Now! Run away!”
Zhuge Mosun shouted. The steel rods that had been planted in the ground rushed towards the demon mask, blocking his movements.
Zhuge Mosun began to run away with Seo Mun-so-ryeo.
“Number 567! We have to run away too!”
“…No. It’s a little late. We have to fight.”
“What?”
Bang!
The demon mask had already approached us. A protective aura was blazing like flames around his body. He had blocked Zhuge Mosun’s barrier-based restraints with his protective aura.
He swung his two swords. I and Yeon Ye-ha simultaneously raised our swords to block his. Another shockwave occurred. I barely endured the shockwave by lowering my upper body, but Yeon Ye-ha did not. Her body floated upwards. The demon mask mercilessly raised his sword.
‘Flash!’
Using Flash, I pulled Yeon Ye-ha’s body towards me. The demon mask’s sword narrowly grazed Yeon Ye-ha’s body.
‘Flash! Flash! Flash!’
With one hand around Yeon Ye-ha’s waist, I used Flash in succession and jumped into the flowing water. The demon mask leaped. His sword fell into the water. A pillar of water shot up to the ceiling, but we entrusted our bodies to the flow of the water and avoided the demon mask’s attack.
I prepared for his next attack, but he just stood still and stared at us.
Belatedly, I realized that the protective aura that had been protecting his body had disappeared, and Zhuge Mosun’s barrier, which I thought had vanished, was binding his body.
I and Yeon Ye-ha were swept away by the current and gradually descended.
Splash!
We fell into a wide underground lake. I carried Yeon Ye-ha and swam to the shore. I spat out the water that had entered my mouth and looked at Yeon Ye-ha. Yeon Ye-ha, who was soaked, raised her upper body with an expressionless face. And then, she looked directly at me and said.
“Number 123. It was you.”
