Cheonma (천마).
The devil who descended from the heavens one day.
The master of the demonic sect that sought to engulf the entire Central Plains and dye it in blood.
A monster who single-handedly killed the Triumvirate (삼존), beings who had transcended humanity.
Until the moment he was slain by the Divine Sword Wi Seol-ah.
Even though he was the lord of the demonic sect and an evil being, he was still known as the greatest under the heavens.
And there was a reason for that.
Wherever Cheonma walked, the ground beneath him rotted. Just by breathing, he exerted a suffocating presence on his surroundings.
The gap between him and others was so vast that it was impossible to even properly perceive his existence. Just knowing that Cheonma was nearby brought about an immense and contradictory sense of his presence.
Just standing before him made one feel as though they had to bow their head, a dignity befitting an emperor.
Such was the nature of Cheonma.
The Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.
The master of the countless demonic beings spread beneath the sky, and the origin of their power.
When I think back to why the demonic sect was able to invade the Central Plains so quickly, it all comes down to the demonic energy that the demons wielded.
Demonic energy (마기) is a deadly force to martial artists. The moment it enters the body, it takes root in the dantian.
These roots quickly grow and begin to block the channels through which inner energy flows, making it difficult for a martial artist to use their abilities properly.
Moreover, it not only blocks the flow of inner energy but also causes the body to rot from within. To a martial artist, demonic energy is akin to a deadly poison.
Cheonma is the source of that demonic energy, which is used by the demons.
Among them, Cheonma is like a god who bestows divine powers to those who use his techniques.
I still remember the sight of him tearing through dimensions and appearing above the Martial Alliance, with a smile on his face, as if daring us to try and stop the bloodshed he was about to unleash.
His long hair was swept back as he floated in midair, surrounded by an aura, looking down at the countless people below with eyes so cold that it felt like he could turn the bright midday into night.
Those eyes.
They were no different from the ones I was looking into now.
"Why...?"
Cheonma, who wasn’t supposed to appear for several more years, was now standing in front of me.
Although he appeared younger, and his expression wasn’t as confident or seductive as it once was, the figure before me was undoubtedly Cheonma.
Rumble...
The small amount of demonic energy inside me was beginning to stir violently, as if resonating with him.
Even without that, I could already tell that the being before me was Cheonma.
But more than anything, it was the eyes that convinced me.
Black hair barely reaching his shoulders.
Pale skin, almost white as if drained of life.
A body so thin that it looked like it would break with a touch, but that wasn’t what I was focused on.
I was staring at the face before me.
The same face as Wi Seol-ah, who was currently nestled in my arms.
Along with the violet eyes within that face.
The Heuk Ya Palace Lord also had violet eyes, but they were different.
Cheonma’s violet eyes were far more vivid, glowing with an indescribable energy.
They looked almost like jewels.
As beautiful as they were, the aura they exuded was anything but beautiful.
Cheonma.
Knowing that the being in front of me was the future calamity I feared most, I was filled with overwhelming terror.
"Why...?"
I tightened my grip around Wi Seol-ah’s shoulders and pulled her closer into my arms.
Cheonma, still tilting his head in curiosity, continued to stare at Wi Seol-ah.
Their eyes, nose, and mouth were identical.
Cheonma was unnaturally thin, and the colors of their hair and eyes were different, but everything else was the same.
It was truly bizarre.
And it wasn’t just me who thought so.
The figure who had collapsed in a pool of blood behind me was also staring at Wi Seol-ah in shock.
“Two... heavens?”
When I turned to see who it was, I was surprised to find that it was the Heuk Ya Palace Lord.
I wasn’t sure why he was sitting there in such a battered state, but the energy I felt from him was undoubtedly the same as when we had first met.
“He was nowhere to be found back then...”
The first time I saw Cheonma was at Heuk Ya Palace.
At the time, the Heuk Ya Palace Lord was holding Cheonma, and both disappeared through the demonic gate that opened behind them.
Since then, I had spread every piece of information I could to try and track down Cheonma and the Palace Lord.
No matter how hard I searched, I could never find them. And now, suddenly, here they were?
“How... how is that...”
The Palace Lord, still in shock, could only stare at Wi Seol-ah in my arms.
No wonder. They were so alike; how could he not be surprised?
Cheonma, too, seemed fascinated by Wi Seol-ah, staring at her with a peculiar gaze.
Feeling his gaze, I pulled Wi Seol-ah even closer into my arms, as if to shield her.
At that moment—
“Gongja-nim...”
Wi Seol-ah’s fingertips wrapped around my hand. Her touch made me tremble.
I looked down at her.
Her golden eyes were staring back at me.
“It’s okay.”
“What...?”
I couldn’t help but ask in confusion when she suddenly said that it was okay.
What did she mean by that?
“I’m okay. Let me go.”
“...!”
Was it a problem that I was holding her so tightly with my rigid body? I loosened my grip slightly at her words, but I didn’t release her completely.
Sensing this, Wi Seol-ah gently but firmly tried to free herself from my hold.
As much as I wanted to keep her close, the look in her eyes just moments ago weighed on my mind, so I couldn’t stop her.
Wi Seol-ah slowly rose from my arms and stood to face Cheonma.
Srrrng.
She pointed the tip of her sword at him. The sight of two identical faces standing in the same space was disconcerting.
Wi Seol-ah spoke as she faced Cheonma.
“Who are you?”
Despite seeing a face identical to hers, she wasn’t the least bit flustered. Of course, the same was true for Cheonma.
Step.
Cheonma took a step forward in response to Wi Seol-ah’s words.
Even that small movement sent my senses on high alert.
I extended my energy perception fully, directing it entirely at Cheonma, ready to react at a moment's notice.
Though, I wasn’t sure if I could handle whatever might happen.
Wi Seol-ah also noticed his movement and gathered her energy.
It was a brilliant golden hue.
So brilliant, in fact, that it seemed to contrast sharply with Cheonma.
Yet, despite facing such powerful energy, Cheonma’s expression remained calm.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t care at all about Wi Seol-ah’s energy. Cheonma wasn’t approaching her.
He was coming toward me.
Cheonma wasn’t approaching her. He was coming toward me.
Seeing this, Wi Seol-ah's eyes gleamed as she swung her sword, as if to prevent his approach.
Swoosh—!
The sword that cleaved the air was fast, leaving a trail of golden light in its path.
It was a flawless sword strike, without hesitation.
However—
Ssshhhh—!
A black aura suddenly shot out from Cheonma's foot, deflecting the sword.
Ting—!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as the sword was repelled. Yet, Cheonma didn’t even glance at Wi Seol-ah.
The moment I saw it, I was certain.
It was demonic energy (마기).
The energy that Cheonma had just released was the purest form of demonic energy.
Caught in its wake, Wi Seol-ah twisted her body to avoid the energy. The black energy, resembling thorns, shot out and attacked her just like the martial arts used by the Heuk Ya Palace Lord. However, Wi Seol-ah’s agile movements allowed her to evade it with ease.
Meanwhile—
‘…Move.’
For some reason, my body wasn’t responding.
Grrrr…
“…Ugh…”
When I tried to muster my energy, my body refused to cooperate.
To be more precise, the demonic energy embedded in my dantian was running wild on its own.
Earlier, when I saw the transformation of the Black Dragon Sword, my inner energy had stagnated. But this time, it was the demonic energy causing the problem.
It seemed overjoyed to meet its true master, wildly rampaging within me. Just like before.
The day I encountered Cheonma at the Heuk Ya Palace.
Back then, at the mere flick of Cheonma's fingers, the demonic energy within me had thrashed violently, just as it was now.
Now that the true master had appeared...
Was it refusing to follow my commands?
‘Why now, of all times, won’t you help me?’
Last time, the beast had roared and suppressed the demonic energy to some extent, perhaps because of its hostility toward Cheonma. But now, the damned beast remained silent.
That miserable beast had been growling and interfering with me earlier, and now, it wouldn’t even utter a whimper.
‘Are you seriously hindering me on purpose?’
I clenched my teeth, stifling a scream that was threatening to escape as I desperately tried to move my body.
I couldn't afford to stop now.
Right in front of me was the very being who would one day bring about a bloody catastrophe, the one who would turn me into a demonic being and ruin my life.
The monster I had spent my life training to stop.
The reason I had immersed myself in demonic cultivation, sought the key to unlock the highest realm in the Magyeong, and endured endless hardships to raise my abilities.
All of it had been to stop Cheonma.
‘Damn it.’
Even though I had barely reached the realm of Hwakyung, just facing Cheonma made my knees buckle.
It was absurd. I couldn’t let this happen.
Moreover—
Wi Seol-ah was facing Cheonma right now.
This was the one situation I had desperately wanted to avoid in this life.
Crackle—!
Lightning flashed in every direction.
The golden light surrounding Wi Seol-ah’s sword surged and cut through the air, drawing countless lines that appeared and disappeared repeatedly in the sky.
It was a sharp and decisive sword technique, so flawless that it was clear how hard Wi Seol-ah had trained.
Anyone who saw her now would find it hard to believe that she had once been a young girl who knew nothing of martial arts just a few years ago. Her growth was nothing short of dazzling.
Bang!
The ground shook under the force of her footwork.
Boom!
She evaded the thorn-like black energy and swung her sword. It was a perfect response.
But—
Crack!
“…!”
Still, Wi Seol-ah's sword couldn't leave a scratch on Cheonma's aura. The demonic energy surrounding him was as hard as steel.
Moreover, Cheonma still hadn't spared a glance at Wi Seol-ah.
Clench.
I heard the sound of Wi Seol-ah gritting her teeth. Despite the frustration, she continued to swing her sword with determination.
Then, Cheonma finally turned his head to look at her.
At the same time, with a soft flick of his hand, his fingers gracefully cut through the air.
Fwoosh—!
“Kugh!”
In an instant, a burst of energy shot from Cheonma, sending Wi Seol-ah flying backward. The moment I saw this, I forced my body to move.
“Wi Seol-ah!”
As I stood up, the pain of my body tearing apart surged through me. Perhaps it was because I had forcibly suppressed the demonic energy and stood, but I didn’t care. I had to catch Wi Seol-ah before she crashed.
I launched myself forward.
Or at least, I tried to.
Thwack!
But before I could move, a delicate hand caught me. Cheonma’s frail-looking hand had seized my arm.
The moment he grabbed me, all the strength drained from my body.
Thud.
My knees gave way. My body was caught between the urge to move and the overwhelming weakness pulling me down, and in the end, kneeling was all I could manage.
In that moment, a wave of helplessness washed over me.
It was suffocating.
I had thought I was doing well enough, but now I felt utterly powerless.
Was it because of the demonic energy inside me?
Or was it the deep-seated fear?
Whatever the reason, one thing was certain: despite having reached the realm of Hwakyung, my body was completely useless now.
I tried to shake off Cheonma’s hand.
But I couldn’t.
He wasn’t even holding me tightly. He was barely grasping me, and yet... I couldn’t break free.
How could this be?
I had used so much inner energy, and while I was somewhat exhausted from the fight, it wasn’t enough to justify this level of weakness.
‘…Roar, damn it, just roar!’
I cursed inwardly.
The beast that had been growling and interfering with me earlier—now I was begging it to help, but it remained silent.
Why now of all times?
“…What is this?”
A voice whispered in my ear.
It was a low voice, eerily similar to Wi Seol-ah’s.
It was Cheonma’s voice.
I turned my eyes to meet his violet gaze.
The hue was mesmerizing.
So beautiful that it momentarily captivated my gaze, but the feelings rising in my chest were anything but pleasant.
“You...”
“…!”
Boom!
As if in response, the demonic energy inside me surged even more violently.
“Kugh.”
“What... are you?”
Was it trying to burst out of me?
The backlash from the demonic energy was too intense.
It had obeyed me until now, and yet... now, at this moment, it was rebelling against me? Stop with the nonsense.
“What are you?”
Despite my reaction, Cheonma only continued to ask the same question, his voice filled with curiosity.
The more I heard his voice, the more it felt like my body was going to explode.
“Cheonma... what does that mean?”
Was he repeating what I had said earlier?
Cheonma asked me, his tone filled with interest.
But I was too busy trying to suppress the demonic energy that was ready to tear me apart to answer him.
The helplessness of being crushed under the weight of such an overwhelming presence was staggering.
All the training I had done to prepare for this moment seemed to have been for nothing.
As the urge to give up began to creep up—
Swoosh—! Crack—!
Suddenly, an immense burst of energy flew at Cheonma.
The energy swept through the surroundings, shattering everything in its path.
Even Cheonma, who seemed unaffected by everything, released my arm and backed away.
Such a wide-reaching and powerful energy...
Yet, despite being so close, I hadn’t been harmed by it at all.
“Huff... Huff...”
Finally freed from the crushing pressure, I let out a ragged breath, my eyes bloodshot as I turned to see where the energy had come from.
There—
Wi Seol-ah was walking toward us, dusting off her torn clothes.
Her face was twisted in anger, and the golden energy that surrounded her had changed.
“Let go.”
The unique golden aura of Wi Seol-ah now had a faint trace of white energy mixed in.
‘That’s...’
I recognized it.
How could I not?
It was the same energy Wi Seol-ah had shown in my past life.
“How dare you touch him with those filthy hands.”
Her voice was sharp, more so than I had ever heard it before.