Chương 443: Descend (5)

As the white cloth covering her face is torn apart, the 'prosopagnosia' spell that was cast upon it disappears.

[Editor: Prosopagnosia = face blindness.] Thanks to that, I am now able to clearly see [Her] face, both with my naked eye and my consciousness.

It's full of pockmarks.

Her face is rough and angular, and honestly, she doesn't come across as a beauty.

However, there is an inexplicable sense of dignity in her appearance.

In life, she must have been an excellent martial artist, as well as a wise and noble woman.

Click!

[She] readjusts her posture through the Celestial Energy Calculation Device.

In life, I don't know how she was, but now, she is nothing more than a mere battle puppet.

Having reached this realm, while I might lose to a human, I no longer lose to mere puppets.

Kigegegegek!

Gegegek!

Gerurururu!

Cheorurururu!

Outside the Bright Cold Realm, the Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void begin to swarm in.

'There aren't any at the Star Shattering stage yet.'

That much is enough.

Once again, [She] and I clash.

A Vestige, resembling a distorted long-tailed tit from the world of the dead, opens its seven mouths on its body towards us.

While exchanging blows with [Her], we move inside the Vestige, exploding its body and emerging again.

The Vestiges cannot keep up with our speed, reduced to mere obstacles in the terrain.

[She], realizing that she cannot win in a direct confrontation, hides behind the Vestiges to avoid my attacks, adopting a strategy of crushing me from a distance with attraction force.

[She] moves behind three large Vestiges.

Movement Technique.

Mountain Lord Soaring Flight.

I become the Mountain Lord.

Like a large beast resembling a tiger, I tear through the Vestiges, rushing towards [Her].

The Severing Mountain Swordsmanship's Mountain Tiger and Mountain Lord Soaring Flight combine, forming the image of a giant tiger leaping to bite [Her] with its fangs.

Crunch!

[Her] left shoulder is torn off.

The countless mechanical devices inside become visible.

Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.

Heavenly Lake!

Preventing [Her] from struggling, I use Heavenly Lake to absorb all the power within [Her] into my domain.

Originally, this technique traps the opponent's movements for a brief moment within the sword, limiting their actions. However, when combined with the Integrated Dao Domain, it feels as though I am draining all of [Her] power, much like absorbing-essence devilish arts.

I grip [Her] by the neck and right shoulder and leap toward the Bright Cold Realm.

Kwaaang!

The dimensional barrier of the Bright Cold Realm distorts as we fall back into its interior.

Two gaping holes remain in the sky where I have pierced through. Fortunately, the world's regenerative power is closing them, but one or two Vestiges will likely slip in.

Holding onto her, I cast a net of curses into the sky, sealing the two holes temporarily.

Any Vestiges trying to enter will dissolve on contact.

With [Her] in my grasp, we continue to plummet from the sky of the Bright Cold Realm.

I use the thousand-pound drop technique and attraction force to accelerate the fall.

'I'll destroy it.'

Both [Her] and the power source of a star I sense within!

At this level of acceleration, it's possible!

Sensing that she will be shattered if this continues, [She] struggles frantically to escape from my grasp.

But it's no use.

I press her down even harder, suppressing her movements completely.

[This is the end. Let's finish this now.] The ill-fated connection between [She] and I will finally come to an end.

Huarururuk!

Our bodies start to burn.

There's not much distance left until we reach the ground.

[Disappear!] —That cannot happen.

"...!?"

Flash!

I flinch for a moment, and in that instant...

[She] shines in front of my eyes and vanishes.

Hwiiiiiiii— In the vast, expansive sky.

Now, it's just me here.

'That just now...'

An awkward but fast voice.

However, it feels strange in some way.

'Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress...?'

The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress used the power of the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation to snatch [Her] out of my grasp.

It synchronized with the power of the star inside her body, instantly pulling her away. Clearly, it had been designed so that [She] could return in emergencies.

But I can't help but be shocked by the voice I just heard.

'Was that just now... the personality of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress? Even at the thousand-year point, there was nothing like that...'

The Mad Lord isn't the type to create something like that either.

If so, that means the personality must have arisen within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress by itself.

'What is this? Is there a reason for something like that to have appeared in this life...?'

Baffled by the unexpected development in the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, I chase after it as it moves to the edge of the Bright Cold Realm through the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation.

"Nooooooo!!!"

Inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

The Mad Lord is wailing.

Before him lies [Her], with her left shoulder torn off and her entire body shaken and battered.

The 'judgment magic artifact' detected an unknown threat targeting him and triggered the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation.

In that fleeting moment, [She] protected the formation.

It took about three seconds for the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to move.

And as soon as those three seconds were up, [She], in her current broken state, was transmitted in front of Mad Lord.

This means that the opponent was a monster capable of reducing [Her] at the Star Shattering level to such a mess within just three seconds.

The Mad Lord clutches [Her] body, sobbing.

"I swore... I swore never to let you get hurt again... Why, why are you hurt! Why did you let her get hurt! Jo Yeon!!! Is this your limit?! Is this the end!? What is this nonsense! [She] got hurt! Hurt!!!"

Clankclankclank!

Countless puppet arms emerge from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, starting to repair [Her].

"But the vital parts aren't damaged, right? She's okay, right? The repairs will also be quick and... what absolute nonsense! You let her get hurt! We almost lost her again, and you say what!? Hey, calm down. There's no point in fighting. No, what I'm saying is that these injuries aren't even that severe so there's no need to make a fuss... shut up! I'm saying shut you bastardbastardbastardbastard..."

Shudder, shuddershuddershudder...

Blood tears pour from the Mad Lord's eyes.

He repairs [Her] at a terrifying speed, stroking her hand.

"IwasIwasIwasIwaswrongwrongwrongwrong... Pleasepleasepleasepleaseletuslivetogetherforathousandyearsandseethespringflowersbloomattheplacewemadeourvows..."

For a long while, the Mad Lord holds her hand, shedding both blood and tears simultaneously. Then, he suddenly turns to glance sharply at a corner of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

"Yes... it's you bastards. You're the ones together with the one who hurt [Her], aren't you!?"

Before his eyes, a projection appears, showing the situation inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

It reveals a corner of the fortress where the Nether Crossing Ship is lodged.

"Finefinefinefine... I'll catch every last one of you and turn you into auxiliary parts for [Her]! You Black Ghost Valley ghost bastards! Don't expect any mercy from me today!!!"

Furious, the Mad Lord waves his hands wildly.

Simultaneously, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress trembles.

[She] is fully repaired with a few parts replaced, and even the artificial star inside her is swapped out for a new one, leaving her in perfect condition.

However, with an expression telling that he cannot contain his fury, the Mad Lord shouts.

"Capture the intruders! Bring every single one of them to me alive, and lay them on the experiment table!!!"

At his command, countless puppets fly towards the Nether Crossing Ship.

Kugugugugu!

Inside the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

The Nether Crossing Ship, having barely succeeded in spatial teleportation before the Realm Annihilation Ground-Shrinking Formation was triggered, is lodged in one of the fortress's factories.

Kiaaaaaaaaah.

From within the ship, Ghost Kings crawl out, followed by Kim Yeon, Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, Hong Fan, and Azure Tiger Saint.

"This is quite... nerve-wracking already."

Kim Young-hoon clicks his tongue, surveying his surroundings.

Each puppet, easily at the Integration stage Grand Cultivator rank or of Demon King level, numbers in the hundreds.

"A hundred of those like Yuk Rin... haha..."

"Well, we can at least manage to hold out, can't we?"

Jeon Myeong-hoon, with a slightly unnerved expression, clicks his tongue while eyeing the mass of puppets.

Oh Hyun-seok, clad in the Blue Sky Armor gifted to him by Azure Tiger Saint, clenches and unclenches his fists.

"Even if we can't, we have to."

Seo Ran and Shi Ho, busy operating the Nether Crossing Ship, bombard the enemies with its cannons alongside the Ghost Kings.

Hong Fan, with eight flying daggers tied to strings connected to his fingers, unleashes poison.

Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, and Hong Fan, the four Integration stage powers, form a protective perimeter around Kim Yeon. Likewise, Azure Tiger Saint, Shi Ho, and others form a protective circle around Seo Ran.

Kuarurung!

A puppet of the Western Flame Race at the Integration stage unleashes a beam of fire.

Hong Fan steps forward.

Now at the Integration stage, he spreads both his arms wide.

Kugugugugu!

[Integrated Dao Domain. Darkness World (暗黑世界).] Kururururu!

His body seems to expand, transforming into the shape of a massive centipede. He becomes a world filled with pitch-black toxic energy.

The poison, rising to a higher plane even within the Plane of Qi, morphs into something more metaphysical.

The life-devouring poison rises to a higher plane, becoming a darkness that consumes both light and heat.

Hong Fan, now one with his domain, coils protectively around his comrades.

Huarururururuk!

The flames fail to penetrate Hong Fan's body and are instead absorbed into the darkness.

A puppet of the Supreme Tiger Race leaps towards Hong Fan, swinging its front paw down.

Kugwang!

But the puppet's paw is stopped by a giant hand.

From within Hong Fan's coiled form, a giant arm rises.

It's Oh Hyun-seok, now in the Integration stage.

[Integrated Dao Domain...] Kugugugugu!

Oh Hyun-seok's body expands and his domain envelops the surroundings.

[Cold Lamp Underneath the Great Starry Night Palace (大星夜宮底寒燈)!] Chuaaaak!

Around him, a vast starry sky unfurls.

It is the universe.

In the midst of that cosmos, Oh Hyun-seok alone becomes a blazing blue flame.

Kurururururu— The blue flame gradually changes color.

He transforms into a purple star.

Kurururung!

A sound resembling thunder rumbles, and Oh Hyun-seok's body becomes covered in the bones of all sorts of demon beasts.

At the very bottom of the Great Starry Night (大星夜).

A single Cold Lamp burns (寒燈), dispelling the desolate chill of the universe, pushing back the Supreme Tiger Race Demon King puppet.

Kwaaang!

[Great Heavenly Rain of the Charged Lightning Veil.] Jeon Myeong-hoon also transforms into a Two-Headed, Six-Armed Thunder God, expanding his domain.

A world where the rain of red lightning falls.

The domains of the three Integration stage powers overlap.

[Domain Connection!] Hong Fan's Darkness World, Oh Hyun-seok's Cold Lamp Underneath the Great Starry Night Palace, and Jeon Myeong-hoon's Great Heavenly Rain of the Charged Lightning Veil.

The three domains connect, intensifying in power.

In the darkness untouched by light, Oh Hyun-seok's Cold Lamp and Jeon Myeong-hoon's Red Lightning manifest domains.

And in the center of that darkness.

Surrounded and protected by them, Kim Yeon sits cross-legged, focusing her consciousness.

Wo-woong!

Her threads of consciousness gather, creating something before her eyes.

Hwarururuk!

It's a consciousness clone.

Like a white flame flickering, her consciousness sways, creating a clone resembling her in front of her.

Seo Eun-hyun's words about the plan come to her mind.

Once Yeon's Play is activated, the Mad Lord will disappear on his own, and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress will be theirs.

A plan that appears exceptionally straightforward and clear.

However, as the one with the greatest consciousness among those present, she feels an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Even though it can't be read through celestial energy, her vast consciousness, which can perceive even the Plane of Soul, senses something ominous from that plane.

Negative thoughts amplify in her mind, and an inexplicable guilt begins to weigh on her heart.

As a result, her heart wavers, and the clone before her eyes begins to flicker as well.

But she recalls something and steadies her mind.

'Hyang-hwa...'

She ponders.

She has been thinking about this for a very long time.

What is love?

She does not know what love is.

She doesn't understand it.

Even as a student, she couldn't comprehend her friends who fell in love and dated boyfriends.

To Kim Yeon, her parents are merely people who fought each other, abandoned her at her grandmother's house, and didn't care to take her back.

Even her grandmother raised her more out of pity than love.

Without ever learning about parental love or romantic love, she was thrown into society.

Knowing that she herself is somewhat abnormal, Kim Yeon never openly spoke about this fact.

Maybe she had mentioned it once when drinking with Kang Min-hee and Oh Hye-seo.

Kang Min-hee said that time would solve it, while Oh Hye-seo became exceedingly kind to her from that day on.

And as Kang Min-hee said, time did solve it.

The feeling of 'liking' arose.

She developed feelings for a senior at work.

But in reality, that senior had no interest in her at all.

Holding onto those feelings, she fell into this bizarre world.

Afterward, that senior recognized her feelings.

He acknowledged Kim Yeon's affection.

But that was it.

Seo Eun-hyun ultimately rejected her.

Kim Yeon insisted she would continue to like him.

But recently, as she spent more time with Seo Eun-hyun, she began to realize something.

No, not just her, but everyone including Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Oh Hyun-seok felt it too.

Seo Eun-hyun is insane.

He isn't in his right mind.

She doesn't know why, but since coming to this world, his mind snapped.

Even so, Jeon Myeong-hoon insists on believing in Seo Eun-hyun, trusting him. Kim Young-hoon also believes, claiming that martial arts never lie and that Seo Eun-hyun's true nature has not turned evil. Oh Hyun-seok believes out of loyalty.

However, Kim Yeon came to realize that her feelings toward Seo Eun-hyun have changed.

Her affection remains unchanged.

But the nature of that affection has subtly shifted from romantic love to sympathy.

The moment she realized this, her mind wavered significantly.

She thought she had discovered the emotion called love.

She thought that this feeling would never change.

But it degenerated.

Then, does that mean love isn't such a great power?

That question arose in her.

And that question was answered when she met Buk Hyang-hwa.

Buk Hyang-hwa saw her mother's image in Kim Yeon and loved Kim Yeon as if Kim Yeon were her mother.

By 'receiving' love, Kim Yeon finally understood.

True love is an unchanging force.

Therefore, Kim Yeon's changing affections before were not true love.

That's why Kim Yeon changed the way she addressed Seo Eun-hyun.

She felt ashamed.

It embarrasses her that she pretended to be close by calling him 'Eun-hyun Oppa,' even though she didn't truly love him.

And now, Kim Yeon wants to know how to truly love someone.

—Yeon-ah, from now on, you're going to live at your grandmother's house. Okay?

A memory from her childhood surfaces in her mind.

—Mom isn't going to live with me?

—... Sorry, Yeon-ah... Mom... doesn't think she loves your dad anymore. And it's the same for him.

Not loving anymore.

That is the reason Kim Yeon's parents separated.

And why they left her.

Hence, she learned one rule from a young age.

If you don't love, people will leave.

From that moment on, she tried her best to love others.

She didn't want anyone to leave her side.

I wish no one will leave me.

That is her deepest wish.

Hwarurururul!

The moment she confronts this desire, the clone in front of her grows even larger.

Kim Yeon opens her eyes.

The pure white clone also opens its eyes.

Pasasasasa!

At the same time, thousands, tens of thousands, and even hundreds of millions of threads of consciousness pour out from the clone's body.

The consciousness threads pierce through the Integrated Dao Domains protecting her, directly connecting to various parts of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Chwararararak!

Information from every corner of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress floods into her mind.

She feels herself entering a pure white world.

The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress' everything.

The cradle of all its information.

In front of her, she sees a giant, pure white sphere.

Inside this sphere lies the control over the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

Just as she is about to reach for the control authority— Flinch!

In the corner of the pure white world that enters Kim Yeon's vision, She sees a shadow exuding a sinister aura.

Squirm, squirm...

The shadow writhes, then begins to coalesce in midair.

"... You are..."

Kim Yeon's pupils contract sharply.

It's Oh Hye-seo.

[Hi, our dear Yeon!] Thump, thump...

As if emerging from the depths of the sea, Black water drips from her body as Oh Hye-seo approaches Kim Yeon.

Kim Yeon doesn't particularly step back.

[You've grown a lot. You're even looking me directly in the eye...]

"... Why are you here?"

[Ahaha. Normally, wouldn't you be more curious about how I got here?] The shadowy form of Oh Hye-seo caresses Kim Yeon's cheek.

[I'll tell you. Since the 'why' and the 'how' are connected...] Oh Hye-seo's mouth opens.

[You know I got married, right?]

"... Yes, well. Roughly..."

[That's right. The person who became my husband, Seo Hweol... his superior ordered him to incapacitate the Mad Lord, the last Star Shattering-level force left in the Bright Cold Realm... and Seo Hweol answered to his superior that he would bring down the Mad Lord using a secret art called Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens that he planted within the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. But... Seo Hweol said this. Even with his Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, he wouldn't be able to fully erode the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress without a significant sacrifice. So... through Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, I came here. I've been hiding here, waiting for the right opportunity. I heard you would return here one day, you see.] She smiles faintly, stroking Kim Yeon's cheek again

"... Do you have something to say to me?"

Kim Yeon, expressionless, meets Oh Hye-seo's gaze and asks.

Oh Hye-seo's eyes curve into crescent moons.

[Seo Hweol's superior... the Owner of this Heavenly Domain, the Master of All Negative Force... they will soon come to the Bright Cold Realm. The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is a construct built upon blood... if you connect your mind to it, you too will be tied and judged for its sins. So... I'll tell you a way.]

"A way?"

[Yes... A way to escape the gaze of the Owner of Negative Force... If you use this method, you'll be able to avoid the Owner's eyes and properly control the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.]

"... Why are you telling me this?"

In response to Kim Yeon's question, Oh Hye-seo smiles brightly.

[Because I want something from you.]

"... What do you want?"

[It's simple. When the great being descends, secretly seize control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress... and activate its hidden power.] Kim Yeon's expression turns puzzled.

'Does she want me to activate Yeon's Play?'

"How does that benefit you?"

It's strange.

Kim Yeon knows a bit about her nature.

A person who doesn't do anything without personal gain.

That is Oh Hye-seo.

As she pulls away from Kim Yeon, she speaks.

[Because that's what Seo Hweol wants.]

"Why are you doing what Seo Hweol wants?"

[He made me an offer. That he will send me back to our original world.] Oh Hye-seo's eyes tremble.

[I just... want to go back. I'm tired of this power too. I'm sick of this vast world. There are too many [Immense Beings] here... Our world doesn't have such things.] Her eyes reflect fear.

The terror and dread when she saw the Chief Judge in the darkness is etched into her mind.

[If I help Seo Hweol with his plan... I can return to our original world. He showed me hope. It's quite the reasonable plan. Hoho... I can't tell you the details, but one thing's for sure. If I help Seo Hweol... there's hope to return home. Hoho...] Even as she reveals her fear, Oh Hye-seo keeps smiling.

[So, Yeon-ah. Use the method I told you, and when the [Immense Yin] descends... take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and activate it. That's the only way... for us to see hope... Hoho...] Oh Hye-seo gradually melts away as she distances herself from Kim Yeon.

Completely melted into a shadow, Oh Hye-seo finally dissolves entirely into the pure white world and disappears.

Kim Yeon watches this scene and closes her eyes.

Indeed, just as Oh Hye-seo said, negative forces are gradually growing stronger.

It seems true that something is trying to descend upon this land.

Without immediately seizing control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress in the pure white world, she sits down cross-legged.

Oh Hye-seo is clearly acting strange.

And according to Seo Eun-hyun, Seo Hweol uses a secret art that infects the minds of others.

It's possible that Oh Hye-seo is already infected by Seo Hweol, and everything she said is a lie. If Kim Yeon follows her words, she might also become infected.

But strangely, she doesn't feel worried.

'Why... am I not afraid?'

Thump, thump...

Ever since the day she realized that what she had been doing wasn't true love, Kim Yeon's Vast Cold Heavenly Circle began to emit a subtle power.

And every time she contemplates what love truly is, the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle starts to spin ever more strongly.

When Kim Yeon returned to the Bright Cold Realm carrying this contemplation, she felt the power sensed from the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle flowing into her.

She overflows with an inexplicable confidence that she cannot be infected.

Kim Yeon believes that the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle is protecting her.

'Then, it should be fine to follow her words a little.'

If it were Seo Eun-hyun, he would have split Oh Hye-seo in half and killed her the moment he saw her, but Kim Yeon decides to follow her words.

It's because the Vast Cold Heavenly Circle instills an inexplicable but absolute confidence in her, as if whispering, 'It's okay.'

Kim Yeon sits cross-legged and waits for the 'moment' Oh Hye-seo mentioned.

Bright Cold Realm.

Heavenly Lotus Mountain.

Inside a certain cave within.

At the center of the cave, Baek Woon sits cross-legged, her eyes half-closed.

[... I sensed something strange ever since the frequency of pollination among the race increased by 30 percent... So it was your doing.] Baek Woon speaks, staring into the deep darkness somewhere within the cave.

[Do you not know whom I serve? How dare you try to enter here while fearing Them!] And then, a voice comes from the darkness.

:: If it were back when you were a Sacred Master, I would have worried about being discovered. However, as an Esteemed One, do you think you're worthy of receiving the attention of the Light?:: [They know of all phenomena in the universe.]:: Without having even fought, you act as if you know. I, on the other hand, have faced Them dozens of times.:: [It wasn't you but the Chief Judge of the Netherworld, was it not? Elder 'Blood Yin'!] At Baek Woon's words, the darkness falls silent for a moment.

And then, after a while...

Ziiiiiiiing!

The entire Bright Cold Realm trembles violently.

As though someone, in a fit of rage, is shaking the entire Bright Cold Realm.

Seo Eun-hyun, who is heading in the direction of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, suddenly stops and looks up.

In his 42 eyes, a gleam of terror flickers.

With a stunned expression, Seo Eun-hyun opens his mouth.

[... What... is that...?] At the top of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.

There, the Mad Lord, who is in the middle of operating something, hurriedly spins around.

Behind him, the 'Celestial Energy Calculation Device' is spinning furiously.

The Mad Lord looks at the Celestial Energy Calculation Device with a puzzled expression.

"Yin (陰)...? What's this? Why is only this character appearing? Is it broken? Yin...?"

At that moment, the Mad Lord instinctively looks up at the sky.

The madness-filled Mad Lord temporarily regains his sanity.

"What...!?"

Inside the storage scroll of Lofty Dragon True Person.

Within the Care Layer.

[Someone]'s thoughts look up at the sky, rubbing their face in shame as their body trembles.

[With what face shall I meet my friends...?] The Tall Tree Race, the Paired Wings Race, the Fighting Ghost Race, the Fungal Bone Race, the Rotting Owl Race.

The 13 races of the Earth Tribe.

And the Heart Tribe.

All the living beings residing in the Bright Cold Realm look up at the sky with stunned faces.

The sky is turning red.

:: Descend.:: From the sky, a colossal voice, like that of a Heavenly Tribulation, reverberates throughout the Bright Cold Realm.

:: Name of Bright Cold (光寒)!:: The light (光) of the Bright Cold Realm fades as it begins to transform into the Blood Yin Realm (血陰界).