CFZ

[Ahhhhhhh---!!!]
A monstrous scream echoed in all directions.

The sound was so powerful that each time it roared, the ground trembled.
“Urgh!”
“Ugh…!!!”

“Gah…!!”
The Qi embedded in the scream inflicted damage on the martial artists. They clutched their ears and cowered. Some even coughed up blood.
Those with lower cultivation couldn’t withstand the backlash, causing their internal energy to spiral out of control.

‘Damn it.’
Seeing that, I immediately braced myself.
Whoooom--!!!

Heat burst from my body, scattering my Qi outward.
It was to suppress the surging vibrations. I spread my Qi around as if declaring my domain, finally allowing the others to regain stability.
That was close.

‘If I left it as is, they’d have fallen into Qi deviation.’
If they were anything less than first-class martial artists, their Qi would’ve rampaged, leading straight to Qi deviation.
In other words—

‘First-class fighters can’t even approach.’
First-class.
Though I could now kill them with a single blow, that didn’t mean their level was low.

Many would already revere them as masters. Even being first-class was enough to secure a position in an escort agency, a martial alliance, or a noble household, ensuring a life without financial worries.
‘Yet these people are dropping like flies.’
And all from just one scream.
‘What a crazy bastard.’

I let out a hollow laugh.
No wonder they called it a calamity with this level of impact.
I glanced at the ones convulsing and shouted.

“Those whose Qi just rebounded, get out of here. Staying will only lead to a pointless death.”
They should’ve realized by now that this wasn’t the time for bravado.
The looks on the faces of those who had barely avoided Qi deviation were telling.

It was dangerous.
Being on the verge of death just from a scream—there was no other way to describe it but a meaningless death.
“If you’re going to die uselessly here, you’d be better off going to the shelter and helping manage the civilians. At least that would be meaningful.”

“Ugh….”
The ones I called out hesitated but eventually moved, looking ashamed.
Good. If they hadn’t gone this time, I would’ve kicked them out myself.

‘Pick the right place to lie down and die.’
If you’re going to throw away your life, do it somewhere it matters.
With the first-class and a few peak-class fighters gone, nearly half the numbers had disappeared.

It didn’t matter.
They would’ve died anyway once the battle began.
The ones who left were no different from cannon fodder. Losing them wasn’t a problem.

‘The real fight starts now.’
[Ahhhhhhh----!!!!]
The monster continued to unleash its screams.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on it.
A goat’s head. A human body. Beastly hands and a tail.
And butterfly wings.

It was unlike any other monster I’d seen before, both in appearance and size.
‘Excluding the wings, its body is about nine cheok.’
Large for a human but abnormally small for a high-tier monster.

Was that thing really a White-Rank monster?
Such doubts were understandable.
‘If that’s not White-Rank, then what is?’

The sheer vibrations and backlash it caused—
If that wasn’t White-Rank, it would’ve been ridiculous.
[Ahh… Ahhhhh….]

After wailing for a long time, the monster gradually quieted down.
The softer its cries became, the more my tension rose.
[Aaah.]

Snap.
It stopped.
And then—

Its eyes locked onto me.
[Kyaaaaaah---!!!]
Boom-!!

“Shit-!”
I cursed and jerked my head to the side.
Swish--!!!

A sharp claw grazed the tip of my nose.
It was fast.
Had I been even a moment slower, my head would’ve flown off.

Slash-!!
“…!”
Beyond where it slashed, a building split apart.

It was as if five sword strikes had passed through at once.
Confirmed. This was something to watch out for.
Clenching my fist, I swung immediately.

Boom-!
[Kieeek-!!]
The monster shrieked as my punch struck its face. But—

‘Too shallow.’
The impact felt weak compared to the force I put in.
The reason was obvious.

‘Qi barrier.’
Of course.
Same as before.

I needed to mix my intent to break through its Qi barrier. Only after shattering it could real damage be dealt.
This monster was no exception.
Because I rushed my Heart Fist (Simkwon), it barely managed to crack the barrier, falling short of a decisive blow.

At that moment—
[Kiiiii-!!]
‘Damn it.’

Because the blow was shallow, it recovered quickly and retaliated.
With the monster so close, dodging wasn’t easy.
Should I sacrifice my upper body?

‘No way.’
Trusting my regeneration and acting recklessly could lead to instant death.
Ending my brief hesitation, I raised my left arm.

I decided to sacrifice an arm instead. Just as I moved—
Crackle-!
Shiiik- Clang-!

[Kiiik?]
Surprisingly, its attack failed.
At the same time, blue-white lightning danced in front of me.

Namgung Bi-ah.
She had jumped in and deflected the attack.
But that wasn’t all.

Schring-!
Golden sword energy pierced through right after.
Another blade cut through the air, its radiant edge striking Namgung Bi-ah’s sword with force.

Clang-!
[Kiii-!!]
The impact forced the monster’s hand upward.

Its torso was exposed.
“Master-!”
A voice called out from behind.

My body reacted instantly.
Heart Fist (Simkwon).
My fist, infused with waves of energy, crashed into the monster’s torso.

Crack—!!
[Kiaaaah-!]
Its Qi barrier shattered, and its torso caved in slightly.

The hit landed.
Not bad. Or so I thought—
Sssssk-!

The broken barrier began to regenerate.
Just as it was about to be restored completely—
Shiiik-!!

Something pierced through my cheek and drove into the barrier.
Thud-!
A dagger.

A dagger flew and embedded itself into the monster’s upper body.
Right after, someone swiftly closed the distance.
A glimpse of light green hair flashed.

Tang So-yeol twisted her waist toward the dagger lodged in its chest.
Her foot traced a circular arc, striking the dagger’s hilt directly.
Thud—!!

[Kiaaaah!!!]
The monster let out a scream and crashed into the ruins.
Boom—!!!

As it smashed through a pillar, the building crumbled.
Crash—!!
Debris and dust erupted as the structure collapsed.

The sight held my attention for a brief moment.
But there was no time to keep staring.
Fwoosh—!!

I gathered flames in my palm.
In an instant, I created a Fire Orb (Yeom-ok).
I compressed it, then compressed it even further.

I poured a considerable amount of Qi into it, maximizing its destructive power.
I had to hit it harder before its Qi barrier could regenerate.
That was the reason I prepared the Fire Orb, but—

“Master! Can I use this?!”
“…What? Wait—!”
Before I could stop her, Bong Soon’s cheerful voice rang out.

Whoosh—!!
Clang—!!
Out of nowhere, Bong Soon appeared and smacked the Fire Orb with her staff, sending it flying.

“You crazy bitch—!!”
I was about to let loose a string of curses—
Boom—!!!!

“...”
—but had to clamp my mouth shut as the explosion erupted.
It caused far more destruction than I’d expected.

The Fire Orb, compressed over and over, had its explosive power amplified by the external impact.
“Huh? What?”
Bong Soon tilted her head as if asking why I was upset.

“…No, good job.”
I awkwardly scratched my head and forced out praise.
Who knew such a reckless method would work?

…I might need to try that technique myself next time.
Anyway—
‘Phew.’

I steadied my breath and looked around.
It was an abrupt combination attack, but surprisingly clean.
‘…Did we practice this somehow?’

How the hell did it come together so perfectly?
I stared at the three women in awe, but they didn’t seem to care about my reaction at all.
They were focused solely on the monster’s position.

Was I the only one who wasn’t concentrating properly?
Or—
‘Did telling them to leave if they’d be useless hit a nerve?’

Had I bruised their pride?
The three of them were burning with determination, their eyes practically «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» radiating heat.
Looks like I messed up.

‘Damn it.’
Suppressing the awkward feeling, I shifted my gaze.
Right. Now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

Sizzle…
The ruins were engulfed in flames, and embers scattered.
The area was filled with blue fire from the Fire Orb’s explosion.

[…Kiiii….]
The monster rose slowly, looking exhausted.
But—

‘Something’s wrong.’
I tilted my head in confusion.
The monster barely managed to stand.

Its body looked strange.
‘…What the hell?’
Its flesh was covered in cracks.

Its body looked like it could crumble at any moment.
I couldn’t hide my surprise.
The previous attack wasn’t weak, but…

No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t make sense.
What about the one we fought in the North Sea?
Back then, it took three Hwagyeong-level martial artists, including Paejon and myself, just to tear apart its barrier.

And even then, we barely left a scratch.
‘And this one ends up like that?’
It was ridiculous.

Could their durability vary this much?
[Kieee….]
It looked like it’d die with a light push.

‘Its strength and speed are definitely White-Rank level….’
Was it just unusually fragile?
Or was that previous one exceptionally strong?

It’s not like I’ve fought many White-Rank monsters to compare.
Lost in thought, I suddenly had a realization.
‘…Wait.’

A possibility crossed my mind.
‘Was it because of the initial bombardment?’
Before it transformed—

When it was still a white lump, we bombarded it repeatedly.
I remembered seeing it take damage back then.
I thought it recovered too quickly for it to matter, but—

‘…Maybe that actually weakened it.’
If that attack caused structural damage to its body, this could be a huge advantage.
‘This changes things.’

I felt a surge of excitement.
‘Should I change the plan?’
Originally, the goal was just to hold out until someone else finished it off.

But with the monster in this condition, that plan might be unnecessary.
‘I could take it down myself.’
The original plan was based on not being able to kill it alone.

But if I could…
‘With what we just pulled off….’
We might actually stand a chance.

Not to mention, we still had fighters who hadn’t joined the battle yet.
This could work.
‘Let’s do it.’

Just as I prepared to give the command—
[Kiiiiiiaaaaaah---!!]
The monster screamed first.

And then—
Buzz.
“Huh?”

A familiar vibration echoed.
Rumble—!!
Continuous tremors.

It felt similar to before, but something was different.
Thump—! Thump—!
It wasn’t just the vibration—

It was demonic energy.
And this feeling—
“Oh…!”

“W-What is this…!”
Everyone around me started reacting.
They began pulling out objects from their clothes.

Martial artists—
Specifically, those affiliated with the Murim Alliance—
Were required to carry this item.

‘…The Demon Seal Talisman.’
Developed by the Wudang Sect, it warned of Magyeong Gate activity.
And now, everyone had taken theirs out.

Which meant—
‘No way.’
I turned to the monster in realization.

[Kiaaaaah---!!]
Crackle—!!
As if answering my worst fears—

A Magyeong Gate began opening behind it.
Not just one.
Dozens.

Crack—! Crackle—!!!
Countless Magyeong Gates filled the air, sickeningly dense.
“Ha.”

I let out a bitter laugh.
And the color of every single one—
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

—was red.

   ******************
   
A location far from Hanam.

Situated opposite the evacuation shelter and slightly closer to the battlefield where chaos was unfolding.
Perched atop an abandoned building, a young man sat slouched, drinking from a cup of wine.
He’d gathered some Bamboo Leaf Green and a few dried snacks from a deserted tavern.

To him, that was more than enough.
In fact, he didn’t even need the snacks.
The scene unfolding before his eyes was intoxicating enough.

“Hmm.”
Gulp.
He swallowed a mouthful of Bamboo Leaf Green and gazed into the distance.

Countless Magyeong Gates filled the sky.
The red glow they emitted made the young man snort in amusement.
“What a goddamn mess.”

It was a disaster.
What on earth had happened to create this spectacle?
“Can’t you ever do things moderately? Tsk tsk, what a guy.”

Should he praise him for thinking big?
Or scold him for causing such a massive mess?
The young man—Paejon—couldn’t decide.

“No doubt about it. Bad luck’s been following me in my old age.”
Otherwise, there was no way the only disciple he’d ever taken could be such a lunatic.
Maybe it was a blessing, but to Paejon, it didn’t feel like one.

“Hmph.”
Chewing on another piece of dried squid, he propped his chin on his hand.
What should he do?

He hesitated.
‘Should I help?’
He wasn’t too keen on jumping in.

His fragile body healed far too slowly from internal injuries.
Even the Divine Doctor’s touch couldn’t fix that quickly.
‘The aftermath of using Tua Pacheonmu hit too hard.’

Trying to impress his disciple, he’d carelessly used a power he shouldn’t have.
As a result, Paejon’s body was now at its limit.
He’d need at least half a year of rest to recover.

Paejon could still walk and run thanks to his finely honed senses, but most others wouldn’t even be able to move.
While he resolved to play it safe—
‘That damn brat.’

Of all times, his only disciple wasn’t making things any easier.
Judging by the mess, he’d stirred up something big again.
‘Living quietly just isn’t an option for him.’

Why couldn’t he just focus on training martial arts?
Why did he keep throwing himself into storms?
…Wait, no.

‘Maybe he is the storm.’
At this point, that seemed more accurate.
“Ugh.”

There was never a day of peace.
Taking in that reckless disciple was turning out to be quite the ordeal.
But he couldn’t just leave him to his fate.

Paejon eventually set his drink down and stood up.
“This time, I need to teach him a lesson.”
Maybe it was because he’d failed to discipline him properly.

If the brat survived this, Paejon was definitely going to yell at him.
With that thought, Paejon prepared to leap into action—
“Stay seated.”

“…!”
Paejon froze in place.
“You looked like you were enjoying your rest. Why not take it easy? No need to break the flow.”

“…Ha.”
Despite his internal injuries, Paejon hadn’t noticed someone approaching.
That fact alone shocked him.

Relaxing his tense body, he turned his head.
“…Looks like your little adventure is over.”
The stranger already knew everything.

It was rare for Paejon to speak respectfully.
In all of Zhongyuan, there were fewer than ten people he addressed that way.
And this man was one of them.

“Senior.”
Paejon’s greeting made the older man smile.
An elderly figure with snow-white hair and a perfectly upright posture.

Though he’d once worn blue martial robes, today he stood in red.
It didn’t matter.
His aura alone made his identity unmistakable.

“You said you were taking a break. What brings you here?”
Paejon’s voice was stiff as he asked.
“I planned to rest, too… but unfortunately, my young master called me here.”

“...”
The mention of “young master” made Paejon’s face twist.
“That brat called you?”

“Haha, don’t get so upset. He’s been generous enough to provide food and lodging. This much work is a fair exchange, isn’t it?”
“If your family or those old men in Namgung heard you, they’d cough up blood.”
“Do keep that to yourself.”

“...”
The man’s relaxed tone irritated Paejon.
“You’ve changed a lot.”

Was that a compliment?
The older man took it as such and chuckled.
“Let’s hope so.”

With that, the man began walking forward.
Was it just his imagination?
Rumble—!

Each step he took echoed like thunder.
“Anyway, this is my job. You can stay here and enjoy a bit more rest.”
“...”

“And maybe lay off the booze while you’re at it.”
Paejon didn’t argue.
If it were anyone else, he might have.

But this man?
He was different.
‘Guess I’ll just watch for now.’

It had been ages since Paejon last fought alongside this man.
Now, he was curious.
Was this sword, dulled by time, still sharp?

Thud.
Paejon sat back down without another word.
The old man was already gone.

Watching him disappear, Paejon muttered quietly.
“…My disciple really is a madman.”
The old man his disciple had summoned—

Known as the Thunder of Anhui.
A figure who stood above the heavens for over half a century.
The core and heart of the Namgung family, who pursued endless glory—

Namgung Myung, the Thunder God.
And now, the legendary swordsman, said to be guarding the gate of the Sanseo household, had arrived in Hanam at the beckoning of a reckless fool.