Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

“Then I’ll go first!”

*Pa-at!*

The Sword Demon, Seo Mun-dae-ryong, recalled Zhuge Sa’s words as he watched five of Hong Gil-dong’s clones rush toward him.

[ Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong. You have to take on the toughest mission in this plan.]

[ What’s the mission?]

[ According to calculations, after the World Tree’s core collapses, Master of the Twelve Joules and his subordinates will retreat without actively fighting. For some reason, they focus on conserving power instead of engaging. Your task is to hold back the retreating Joules.]

[ Understood.]

[ Listen carefully. The difficulty of your mission lies in the fact that you cannot die.]

With those cold words, Zhuge Sa continued.

[ Dying is easy. How easy is it to charge in and get killed? But your real mission is to draw out the absolute realm of the Joule and check his potential.]

[ Hmm. That’s indeed hard.]

[ I can eavesdrop on your situation in real-time through magical means, but that’s different when it comes to martial arts. You must scrape the bottom of the Joule’s absolute realm and survive to convey that enlightenment to our allies. Only then can you relay that information to Baek Woong.]

[ I understand.]

Zhuge Sa continued.

[ Just to reiterate, while others may die, you must return alive. And pull out as much of the Joule’s power as you can!]

It was common to wish for the success and safety of comrades, but Zhuge Sa’s words were solely focused on efficiency. In fact, his gaze towards his comrades felt more like viewing them as expendable tools. However, the Sword Demon was accustomed to Zhuge Sa’s nature after spending decades in the underworld, leading to no significant disturbance in his composure.

Yet, he couldn’t shake off a bitter feeling.

After all, Zhuge Sa was essentially telling him to survive against Hong Gil-dong, who had liberated two Luminaries and likely matched an absolute realm master. It was almost preferable to fight the entirety of the Orthodox Martial World instead.

But thoughts are just thoughts.

Now, it was time to concentrate.

In the next moment, the Sword Demon wielded his sword, unleashing a wicked blade.

*Soul-Seizing Sword Technique!*

As the true shadow sword advanced with his will, it seemed to glide forward effortlessly. Hong Gil-dong’s clones were coming in from all sides, making it appear futile for the lone sword demon to compete. However, just at the moment when Hong Gil-dong was about to solidify each clone for an attack using his Sky-Rupturing Circle—

*Boom!*

“Ugh.”

In that instant, Hong Gil-dong slightly sliced his shoulder, stepping back. It was unbelievable, but all at once, the clones he had created burst apart, injuring his main body as well! As Hong Gil-dong retreated, Master of the Twelve Joules commented.

“It seems similar, but different. You’ve met your match.”

Hong Gil-dong, perturbed by the Joules’ assessment, retorted irritably, “I’m better at hiding my essence.”

“You know it’s meaningless, right? Ultimately, if you and the Sword Demon fight, it could become a battle of a thousand days.”

“……”

“I’ve finally found a worthy opponent.”

*Wooong!*

The Master of the Twelve Joules began walking slowly toward the bridge. Having sent Hong Gil-dong to scout the Sword Demon’s power, he was now preparing to engage. The Sword Demon thought to himself, ‘As expected, he’s cautious.’

As an absolute being who had liberated two Luminaries, the Master’s power was undoubtedly overwhelming compared to the Sword Demon. Even though he could probably push through with brute force, he still opted for a careful approach. Given the current situation of their base being destroyed and being pursued by the Eight Parts of the Divine, his level of restraint and calmness was astonishing.

*Boom!*

With a sound as if the air was being pushed out, the Sword Demon suddenly noticed a massive chain filling his view. The strike from the Master of the Twelve Joules had flown in at a speed that breached his sensory range in an instant. Nevertheless, the Sword Demon had already adequately prepared for the speed.

*Blood Moon Blade!*

The blood-red blade tightened around the Sword Demon’s body. And as the Master of the Twelve Joules’ Cosmic Fragment broke through what seemed like a barrier, the Sword Demon’s blade flew towards the Joule’s throat. The shift was so sudden, akin to magic, that the Joules narrowly avoided the counterattack of the Blood Moon’s Absolute Cut.

*Piying!*

With a sound like a thread snapping, dozens of Hong Gil-dong’s clones rained down. Despite the small space, figures filled it tightly, each carrying a surge of strong qi in their grasp. The Sword Demon felt an odd thrill knowing that his opponent wouldn’t hesitate to combine forces.

*Imperial Sword!*

*True!*

*Shadowless Soul Steal Technique!*

As dozens of Hong Gil-dong’s clones launched powerful qi projectiles simultaneously, the Sword Demon’s sword transformed into a mass of light, completely intangible. The Sword Demon’s flow flipped their trajectory, cutting through the qi instead. The light gathered in a maelstrom, eventually billowing like clouds, and with the Sword Demon’s counterattack, Hong Gil-dong was forced to retreat significantly, compelled to use the shields of his absolute realm.

*Sky-Rupturing Circle!*

*Essence of the Layered Void!*

*Toowong!*

“Ugh!”

Hong Gil-dong spread his wings of the Essence Body, sending the light clouds flying, but the recoil sent him dramatically plunging off the cliff. Although the Essence of the Layered Void represented his most potent defense, if the attack had landed fully, he would have shattered into countless pieces.

‘The rush to aid the Joule led to my error!’

And while his martial arts might be superior in the realm of illusions, he realized it couldn’t possibly compare to the heavy destructive power contained in the Sword Demon’s Shadowless Soul Steal technique. It wasn’t that one was inherently superior over the other; it was just that Hong Gil-dong had inadvertently countered with his own weaknesses against the Sword Demon’s advantages. Had he kept his cool and simply held back, it wouldn’t have ended this way.

‘Damn it. When I first saw the Sword Demon, I was knocking on the door of the absolute realm… Musashi! What kind of monster have you raised?’

*Whoooosh!*

The few moments it took Hong Gil-dong to plummet beneath the cliff felt like an eternity for the two absolute masters remaining in the area. The Master of the Twelve Joules began casting his foot technique the moment the Sword Demon’s Shadowless Soul Steal hit.

[ How about this?]

In the moment of the Heart Command Technique, the will of the Master of the Twelve Joules was conveyed to the Sword Demon. The Sword Demon felt a strange joy emanating from that will.

*Seven Stars Gluttonous Wolf!*

The intricate footwork distorted the space around him. The Sword Demon observed the Master moving freely through the gaps in the photons, as if the Tai Chi was writhing beneath his feet. Although he couldn’t distinguish the details, he recognized that this footwork was the martial arts of the absolute realm and contained the mysteries of the Seven Stars.

For now, he decided to pull back and refrain from attacking.

‘An impeccable technique…’

It felt reminiscent of the Bowing Sky Slash technique. The principle of the Bowing Sky Slash was manipulating space to gain an advantageous position, and the path of the Joules was strikingly similar, almost like a foot technique transitioned from an offensive move. However, attacking even the slightest against such a technique would be hazardous, leading to withdrawal.

After a brief standoff, the Master of the Twelve Joules suddenly extended his hand, enveloped in a chilling aura.

*FAAAHHH!*

“……!!”

The Sword Demon recognized that not only his standing area but nearly everything in his field of vision was enveloped in a polar chill. He felt a tremendous cold wave and blizzard engulfing him. The Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon, wielded his Cosmic Fragment in full swing.

*Sizzle!*

An ice dragon soared prominently in the air, and Ha Eun-cheon leaped atop it, suddenly taking flight. The Sword Demon remained stunned as the situation changed dramatically with Ha Eun-cheon attempting to escape through magic, but then realized he had no options left.

‘Am I to let him go…!!’

Of course, it would have been possible to chase that ice dragon using air steps or martial techniques, but the Sword Demon was still completely unfamiliar with the Joule’s absolute realm of Heavenly Unrestrained Technique. If by any chance he were to use a technique with bad compatibility, he could easily counterattack and face a swift death. Compared to the Master of the Twelve Joules who was at the peak of magic and held two Luminaries, his strategic options were distressingly limited.

The Joules proclaimed, “Don’t chase me.”

There was another reason behind the Sword Demon’s hesitation. Given the Joule’s capabilities, he could certainly knock him out directly; the mere act of choosing to escape felt itself like a trap he couldn’t ignore.

‘What should I do?’

Facing the Joule squarely meant the Sword Demon stood an eight in ten chance of dying. Given that he had no clue of the Joule’s techniques, and the Joules could very likely have the upper hand in martial arts, charging in recklessly amounted to a suicide mission.

If luck was on his side, perhaps they both would fall, but that meant failing the orders given to him by Zhuge Sa. The Sword Demon felt panicked, being forced to make decisions before even drawing out the Joule’s potential.

However, the Sword Demon’s unease did not last long. He soon made up his mind and started to act.

‘Still, I’m going to fight!’

*PAAAT!*

The Sword Demon’s body glided through the blizzard with the prowess of the Unity of Body and Sword technique. Knowing he couldn’t trap him with such a wide ultimate technique, he resolved to bring the fight into close quarters. The Master of the Twelve Joules, positioned atop the ice dragon, raised his Cosmic Fragment.

*Clang!*

The Master summoned a barrier with his spell, yet the Sword Demon focused on his Soul-Seizing Sword technique and easily broke through, targeting the Joule’s throat. In that instant, with what felt like a tumultuous whirl of time, he forcibly entered the moment of the Heart Command Technique.

[ … I hadn’t expected you to be this persistent. From your charge, I can sense a belief rather than mere arrogance. I acknowledge you, Sword Demon.]

In a space filled with black and white silence, he could hear the Joule’s voice.

[ You’ll receive a proper fight from me.]

A sudden glow exploded from the Master of the Twelve Joules.

[ And engrave the skills of this rare being in your eyes as you die!]

*Absolute Realm!*

*Heavenly Unrestrained Technique!*

‘Take this!’

The Sword Demon unleashed one of his strongest attacks, the True Shadow Sword. This technique, which had previously obliterated Hong Gil-dong’s physical clones in a single strike, reached the peak of the Shadowless Soul Steal technique, rendering the line between essence and shadow indistinguishable. In the moment of unity, its power could multiply several fold. While seemingly similar to Hong Gil-dong’s clones, the Sword Demon was never engaging a full body but was channeling his essence directly, making it much easier for an offensive.

Moreover, the True Shadow Sword incorporated the intricacies of both the Bowing Sky Slash and the Seven Great Techniques, ensuring victory. With the powering of the Ninety-Nine Harmonious Qi to cover all flaws, even Miyamoto Musashi had no choice but to go all out either to defend or counterattack against the True Shadow Sword.

However—

Just as the True Shadow Sword’s might was about to penetrate the Master of the Twelve Joules, an unexpected martial technique unfurled from his hands.

*Heavenly Unrestrained Technique!*

*Primordial Subtly Undying!*

*Thud, thud, thud!*

Three seals burst forth from the Master’s left hand, neutralizing the momentum of the True Shadow Sword. Remarkably, each seal possessed different powerful attributes, respectively embodying the swift, heavy, and illusory qualities.

Simply having that wouldn’t decide the outcome. The issue arose when, in that same moment, the Joule’s right hand swung his Cosmic Fragment, striking the Sword Demon’s weakness perfectly.

*Bang!*

“……!!”

*Cough cough!*

As the Sword Demon was hit squarely in the side by the Cosmic Fragment’s chain, his Protective Energy technique activated, yet he could feel his ribs break and his insides sustain serious damage. While the injury wasn’t instantly incapacitating, he found himself forced to retreat in chaos.

There was only one thought circling in the Sword Demon’s mind.

‘How?!’

What could have been easily understood as the Joules merely parrying his attacks suddenly felt impossible. The martial arts inherent to the absolute realm consumed tremendous mind and qi in even activating a single skill, almost rendering it impossible to manifest different attributes simultaneously.

Moreover, the recent attacks of Primordial Subtly Undying and the Cosmic Fragment seemed as though the Joule had anticipated his moves, reading his intended trajectories!

Once again, this seemed impossible. The Sword Demon’s sword techniques blurred the line between essence and shadow and could create countless trajectories as he wished, making it impossible to dodge or block based purely on instinct. To compound that, acting only upon the moment of attack to physicalize was a trait of the absolute realm, so how could he precisely counterattack at that moment?!

The Master of the Twelve Joules, observing the flustered Sword Demon atop the ice dragon, spoke.

“What’s the matter? With your exceptional talent having reached the absolute realm, surely you thought you could finally engage me?”

“……”

His tone was cold.

“I won’t dismiss your skills, but to break my techniques, you’re still far from it.”

*Ta-at!*

The Master then descended, nonchalantly flicking his fingers, bearing his Cosmic Fragment.

“Come.”

The Sword Demon gritted his teeth.

This was his crossroad of destiny.

Should he retreat from here?

Or must he ascertain what the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique truly was?

“……”

One step of fate.

The Sword Demon took a step forward.

“I will go.”

This was insufficient as it stood.

He must know what the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique is.

For Baek Woong, he resolved once more to cross into the line of fire.

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