CFZ

The Sect Master staggered back after taking a blow to his knee, nearly collapsing.

Gu Yangcheon clenched his fist, preparing for the next strike, but—
"Tch."
He suddenly backed off, putting distance between them.

A sword grazed past his face. Even while reeling, the Sect Master had managed to counterattack.
‘What a tough bastard.’
Despite the punishment he had endured, he still retaliated. His regenerative ability was formidable.

‘Looks like I’ll have to rip his arm off.’
Would it grow back? Unlikely, but to be sure, completely severing his limbs seemed the best course of action.
However—

Swish!
The Sect Master's attacks were growing more intense.
‘Oh?’
Even after sustaining so much damage, the Sect Master refused to fall. Gu Yangcheon considered the possibilities.

Was it sheer willpower? Or was his body slowly adapting to the situation?
Or perhaps—
‘Am I getting tired?’

Feeling the fatigue in his body, Gu Yangcheon became acutely aware of the strain.
The excess energy he had been pouring into his blood vessels was accelerating his exhaustion.
‘This isn’t good.’
It was clear he couldn’t afford to draw out the fight.

‘Subduing him won’t be easy.’
If he could use his fire techniques, things would be different, but that wasn’t an option right now.
The only solution was to kill him outright.
[Grrr.]

The Sect Master gathered strength, his movements growing wilder.
It was clear he was pushing himself to endure the current situation.
Though his opponent was also nearing his limit, Gu Yangcheon took a moment to regulate his breathing.

‘Looks like he’s waiting for reinforcements.’
The Sect Master was likely expecting help. After all, in a space as large as this underground chamber, it was unlikely he was alone.
‘I did kill everyone I could find on the way here, but….’

There were probably more enemies nearby. That much was certain. If reinforcements arrived now, things could get tricky.
‘That could be dangerous.’
From an objective standpoint, it would put them at a disadvantage.
Namgung Bi-ah needed rest, and while Wi Seol-ah could assist, the odds weren’t in their favor.
Even so, Gu Yangcheon wasn’t particularly worried.

‘Reinforcements? Let them come if they can.’
If anyone was capable of showing up, they’d have to contend with the traps he’d already laid.
For now, he needed to focus on the fight in front of him.

Haaah.
He took a deep breath, twisting his waist.
Thump!

Energy surged from his heart, spreading throughout his body. The strain made his brow furrow.
Tua Pacheonmu.
With a fierce strike, he closed the gap, his attack aimed directly at the Sect Master. The Sect Master quickly raised both hands to block.

BOOOOM---!!!
The impact exploded against the Sect Master’s arms, sending him skidding backward.
[Arrgh—!!]

He barely absorbed the shock, stabilizing himself with his feet.
Gu Yangcheon tilted his head, puzzled.
‘What’s this?’

The attack had been weaker than expected.
Despite channeling a significant amount of energy, the impact fell short.
It wasn’t just exhaustion—something else was off.
‘Could it be… my internal energy?’
It wasn’t his demonic energy but his naegi that seemed to be the issue.

When he had used Tua Pacheonmu earlier, he had temporarily suppressed his demonic energy. Could that have been the problem?
‘Hmm.’
He wasn’t certain yet. He needed to test it further.

As he prepared to launch another attack—
Thud!
‘Huh?’

This time, the ground itself seemed strange.
‘What the…?’
He had expected the floor to shatter under his weight, but it didn’t even budge.
Though his movements weren’t disrupted, it was disconcerting.

As he approached, a sword flew toward him. He dodged by ducking and drove his fist into the Sect Master’s abdomen.
[Guh!]
The blow landed cleanly, lifting the Sect Master off the ground.

But—
Swish!
Once again, the Sect Master counterattacked. A lock of Gu Yangcheon’s hair was sliced off, drifting in the air.

‘So that’s it.’
At that moment, Gu Yangcheon realized the issue.
‘My naegi isn’t working properly.’

It seemed like his internal energy was significantly less effective. Recognizing this, he immediately overlaid it with his demonic energy.
He struck the Sect Master’s left shoulder with a powerful blow.
[Argh!]

This time, the effect was entirely different.
The pain on the Sect Master’s face and the impact were much more pronounced.
Just as he suspected.
‘Demonic energy works, but naegi is greatly reduced.’

It wasn’t entirely ineffective, but it was clearly diminished.
And—
Crack.

He stomped on the ground. This time, the floor shattered beneath him.
‘So, this space is affected as well.’
He didn’t know the exact mechanism, but it was clear that naegi was the issue.

‘Tch.’
What an irritating place.
Still, now that he understood, it didn’t matter.
Gu Yangcheon deactivated all his internal energy, replacing it entirely with demonic energy.

The hand-to-hand combat resumed. Though calling it "combat" was misleading—it was pure violence.
BAM!
When the Sect Master swung his sword, Gu Yangcheon evaded and struck him in an opening.
When he tried to create distance, Gu Yangcheon closed the gap and beat him again.

He destroyed everything in his path, pouring all his strength into breaking the Sect Master’s body.
BAM! BAM BAM! BAM!
Each blow carried a weight that felt anything but human.

‘Damn this.’
Despite his relentless assault, Gu Yangcheon’s expression darkened.
Truthfully, it was exhausting.

‘He’s getting faster.’
No matter how much damage he inflicted, the Sect Master’s recovery speed kept improving.
Unable to use his fire techniques, Gu Yangcheon was left with only brute force.
But even Tua Pacheonmu wasn’t enough. Its recoil was heavy, and his blood vessels weren’t in the best shape to handle it.

[Heh… heh.]
Suddenly, laughter echoed from the Sect Master.
Gu Yangcheon, still mid-strike, glanced at him and asked, "What’s so funny? You want to die?"

[Heh heh… It’s amusing, that’s all.]
The Sect Master’s sword moved with a sharp swish. Gu Yangcheon narrowly avoided it, the blade grazing past him.
[I had a feeling something was off… Now I see it.]

Gu Yangcheon leapt high into the air, creating distance.
[You’re exhausted, aren’t you?]
"…"

At the Sect Master’s words, Gu Yangcheon silently steadied his breathing.
[Your punches are growing weaker. They’re still thunderous, but they lack the comet-like force from earlier.]
So, he noticed. Gu Yangcheon gave a faint smile, almost as if admitting defeat.

[And you’re not using your signature fire techniques… something must be wrong.]
The old man was sharp. Gu Yangcheon rolled his shoulders, biting his lip slightly.
Yes, it was only a matter of time before the Sect Master figured it out.
[It seems… the heavens are on my side after all.]

"Old man, if you keep spouting nonsense, you’ll die even more pathetically."
Gu Yangcheon hid his labored breathing. He estimated that he had about twenty percent of his energy left.
His inability to use fire techniques had forced him to burn through more energy than he wanted.

The situation was far from ideal.
But Gu Yangcheon didn’t let it show.
"And what of it? So what if I’m tired?"

Unable to summon his fire, Gu Yangcheon faced the reality that the Sect Master’s body was growing stronger. A prolonged fight might end unfavorably.
But so what?
"Even so, there’s no way you’re going to win."

[Are you just flailing in desperation now? You and those women never should have come here.]
"Shut it."
He had caught his breath. Unfortunately, that brief respite also meant the Sect Master had recovered further.

If only he could replenish his depleted energy, things might turn around. How could he do it? Even as he spoke, Gu Yangcheon’s mind spun, calculating his next move.
"I can see through your pathetic schemes, but I’ve been nice enough to pretend otherwise."
[Hah.]

The Sect Master let out a dry laugh.
[You already knew?]
"Not everything, but I could tell. You reek of greed, like you’re covered in it."

[Do not insult me…!]
The Sect Master’s voice boomed with anger.
[You know nothing, boy! This is all for the heavens!]

"Funny how lunatics always spouting that crap end up in cults."
The heavens? Sure. Like those self-proclaimed righteous bastards even knew what the heavens wanted. Gu Yangcheon couldn’t understand such delusions.
‘Still, given that body of his, it might not be all nonsense.’

The Sect Master’s transformation was unlike anything Gu Yangcheon had seen. Whatever method had been used to achieve it, it was worth keeping in mind.
The Sect Master, filled with rage, continued his tirade.
[You don’t understand. You have no idea about the paradise we’re building or the treasures we’ve prepared for it.]

"Why would I care about that—"
Gu Yangcheon started to dismiss his words but paused.
"Paradise?"

The word caught his attention.
‘Paradise?’
A beautiful word on the surface, yet in Gu Yangcheon’s mind, it bristled with thorns.

It reminded him of something the Blood Demon had once said.
‘Didn’t that bastard also mention dreaming of paradise?’
Could it be a coincidence? The more he thought about it, the less likely it seemed.

[Soon, the elders will arrive. Once they do, you’ll be finished. You won’t be allowed to leave.]
The Sect Master’s confidence returned at the thought of reinforcements. Gu Yangcheon, however, raised an eyebrow.
"That pathetic body of yours—did the mighty heavens gift you that too?"

The question was a feint, meant to provoke, and the Sect Master took the bait instantly.
[Hah! To speak so after witnessing the greatness of the Dragon Pearl—you still fail to grasp reality.]
‘Dragon Pearl?’

The term made Gu Yangcheon furrow his brow. Somehow, it felt familiar.
Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled something out and held it up for the Sect /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Master to see.
[What are you—huh?]

The object he revealed was a small, pristine white pearl, no larger than a thumbnail.
The moment the Sect Master saw it, his eyes widened in shock.
[How… how do you have that?!]

"This thing… is this the Dragon Pearl you were talking about?"
He recalled finding it earlier after killing that hulking old man when he first arrived. Now, it seemed to match the Sect Master’s description.
As Gu Yangcheon casually displayed it, the Sect Master’s fury erupted like wildfire.

[You bastard—! Where did you get that?!]
The Sect Master lunged at him, his face twisted with madness. His desperation was almost pitiable, but Gu Yangcheon barely reacted.
"Hmm…"

Even as the Sect Master charged, Gu Yangcheon stared at the pearl in his hand.
For now, it gave off no discernible energy or presence.
‘Should I… eat it?’

It seemed like the Sect Master was referring to this pearl, but its purpose was still unknown. Eating it would be a gamble—one that might cost him everything.
Deciding against it for the moment, he resolved to focus on the fight instead.
Just as he was about to put the pearl away—

[Stop! Stop, you fool!]
The Sect Master’s frantic shout echoed through the chamber.
"What do you mean, stop—gulp…?"

Gu Yangcheon froze mid-sentence.
"Huh?"
He rolled his eyes downward to his hand.

The pearl was gone.
Running his hand over his chest, he realized with dawning horror what had happened.
"…Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."

He could feel something descending into his body.
He had swallowed the pearl—against his will.
Stunned by the absurdity of the situation, Gu Yangcheon barely had time to react.

Thump!
His heart pounded, and with that single beat, the transformation began.