Drip… drip.
Blood flows down the woman’s hand.
The slash that grazed her shoulder was rougher than expected, leaving a significant wound on her left arm.
Though the pain was rising to her throat, she only moved her injured arm a few times indifferently.
“...”
The pain was severe, but it was bearable.
That was the woman’s conclusion.
She gripped her sword once more.
Fortunately, it was her left arm that was injured. Since she was right-handed, it wasn't a major issue.
Grrrrr.
A rough roar emanates from the dark clouds bound to the sky.
Electric energy fills the clouds, creating a chilling atmosphere.
Just as the woman prepares to swing her sword and unleash the lightning once again.
“…Do you intend to continue?”
Someone speaks to the woman, who is facing off directly against her.
The speaker is Namgung Bi-ah, known as the Little Sword Star, the successor of the Sword Sovereign and the hope of the righteous faction.
Before her, the master of the lightning, Mageomhu (마검후), observes Namgung Bi-ah with a blank expression.
“I don’t quite understand.”
Grrrr—!!
The energy surging from Namgung Bi-ah begins to fill the space, pushing back the lightning energy of Mageomhu.
“Why did you suddenly make this choice?”
“...”
Mageomhu did not respond to Namgung Bi-ah’s words.
She merely gripped her sword and calmly swung it.
Swiish-!
Boom—!
Lightning erupts from the tip of the sword wielded lightly by Mageomhu. It shoots toward Namgung Bi-ah in what seemed like thousands of strands of lightning.
Though thin and delicate, each one contained immense power.
“…Huh.”
In response, Namgung Bi-ah squints her eyes slightly, as if fatigued, and tightens her grip on the sword held in both hands.
Zing-!
As a subtle vibration spreads, a golden energy begins to gather behind Namgung Bi-ah, transforming into the shape of swords.
The swords floating in the air soon aim their tips at the incoming lightning.
Pashh-!
With a burst of energy, the swords shoot toward the direction of the lightning.
Although it seemed obvious how the battle would unfold with thousands of lightning bolts facing just a few swords, the sword of Namgung Bi-ah pierced through the countless currents of electricity and shone slightly.
Swiish—!
Moving at an incomprehensible speed, she began erasing the lightning one by one.
The speed was so fast that it was almost impossible to see how the sword was moving.
And then.
Swiish-!
As the energies in the air collided, Namgung Bi-ah thrust her sword directly toward Mageomhu.
Namgung Bi-ah, now close enough, unleashed her dual sword technique, and Mageomhu responded by swinging her sword as well.
Clang-! Clang-!
In their dazzling movements, each exhibited a level of precision and delicacy.
Every time their swords met, the surrounding air would burst with explosive sounds, and the shattered force would scatter in the wind.
The scene resembled petals drifting on a breeze.
However, despite the beautiful imagery, the energies contained within were ruthlessly fierce.
In the relentless exhibition of powerful energies.
Pik-!
“…!”
Blood splattered from the left shoulder of Mageomhu.
At the same time, her brow furrows deeply.
It seems she has sustained an injury.
Mageomhu tightens her grip on her sword and swings it wide.
Kwahhhh—!
The gathered lightning energy grows immensely and, with her movement, carves a crescent shape that devastates the surroundings.
Though her movements became significantly sluggish, she succeeded in pushing Namgung Bi-ah back for a moment.
Thud-!
Namgung Bi-ah leaps back from the attack of Mageomhu and retrieves the swords hovering in the air, causing them to revolve around her.
“...”
The lightning she had been facing with her sword didn’t matter.
The energy had already vanished just after.
Seizing the opportunity of the brief calm, Namgung Bi-ah gazes ahead.
Huff— huff.
Mageomhu is breathing heavily, dripping blood.
She looks clearly fatigued.
“...”
Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah bit her lip.
Mageomhu is not someone who would tire from a fight of this level.
Though she may not be as formidable as the ‘Blood Demon’ or the Cheonma, she is a person who utilizes her skills with incredible delicacy and precision.
It doesn’t make sense for her to be so exhausted after just one battle.
The reason Mageomhu had reached such a state was simple.
‘She fought to that extent.’
It was a straightforward reason.
The scent of blood brushed against Namgung Bi-ah's nose.
It was filled not just with the smell of Mageomhu's blood.
Behind the seemingly exhausted Mageomhu, the corpses of her slain martial artists are scattered around.
Confirming that, Namgung Bi-ah squints her eyes.
“…Did the Blood Demon permit you to act this way?”
One of Mageomhu’s eyebrows twitches at Namgung Bi-ah’s words.
“I thought the transaction had concluded. Is this the Blood Demon’s will… or can it be seen as the will of the Demonic Cult?”
Mageomhu had acted alone in the assault two divisions ago.
Things escalated just as she was about to return to Hanan.
‘The Heavenly Lord had left a barrier behind.’
In a situation where the Heavenly Lord had set up a barrier and left, Mageomhu cut through the barrier without care and launched her attack.
Coincidentally, at that moment, the Heavenly Lord was absent, and Namgung Bi-ah herself was also in a ‘sleeping’ state.
However, even if the representative forces of the alliance were vacant, the current alliance's strength was certainly not weak.
At the very least, it contained peak-level martial artists and those who had just reached the Haegyeong stage, so it was not weak at all.
‘For her to kill…’
The fact that Mageomhu not only withstood two divisions but also killed more than half of them was astonishing.
As Namgung Bi-ah was contemplating Mageomhu's unexpectedly high level, Mageomhu finally broke her silence and opened her lips.
“…Where is he…?”
“What did you say...?”
“That person… where is he…?”
The subject of her question was unclear, but Namgung Bi-ah felt she knew who she was looking for.
At that realization, Namgung Bi-ah clenched her teeth.
“Paljeol-yeop… I believe. Are you saying you came here looking for him?”
“...”
The fact that the infamous Mageomhu was looking for a low-ranking martial artist from the Black Flame Tribe left Namgung Bi-ah slightly exhausted.
“…You, called the world’s wicked woman. When did you start valuing your people so dearly…?”
“Different.”
Namgung Bi-ah attempted to continue, not understanding, but Mageomhu cut her off.
“His name is not that.”
“…!”
At her firm declaration, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened. The shock was not just that.
“…You know that….”
At the subsequent words of Mageomhu, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes began to tremble.
“Why are you pretending not to know…?”
Mageomhu appeared to find Namgung Bi-ah’s reaction incomprehensible.
In that brief moment, although Namgung Bi-ah was shaken and unsteady, she soon returned her expression to its original state and gripped her sword.
“You’re saying something strange… Regardless of the reason, your choice right now is wrong.”
Entering the lair of the enemy alone.
Mageomhu is not the Cheonma.
Thus, no matter how strong she is, there are clearly limitations.
Even in the previous exchange when Namgung Bi-ah had separated their swords, when Mageomhu swung her lightning strongly to create distance.
Namgung Bi-ah could have struck her with her sword due to the gap that existed.
But she didn’t do that.
Why?
“...”
The reason is something Namgung Bi-ah herself did not know well. She hesitated without realizing it.
That hesitation is what allows Mageomhu to still be standing, but such miracles would not happen again.
Swoosh.
Namgung Bi-ah begins to gather her energy, moving the swords circling around her.
“…Are you planning not to draw your lightning sword?”
She inquires, looking at Mageomhu.
Right now, she wasn’t using her lightning sword.
She must have received it back in the deal, yet Mageomhu was using a regular sword.
Is there a reason to deliberately do that even when life is at stake?
Given that she has a faint understanding of how terrifying the Mageomhu wielding the lightning sword is, it was incomprehensible.
Despite Namgung Bi-ah’s question, Mageomhu did not respond and simply held her sword silently.
‘Why?’
That sight deepened her confusion.
It was a fight with no chance of victory.
She wondered if there might be reinforcements, but it didn’t feel like it.
If the Heavenly Lord were to return now, any hope would vanish.
Yet.
‘What on earth.’
Even so, that woman shows no signs of retreat.
I don’t understand.
Namgung Bi-ah could truly grasp nothing.
‘...Calm down.’
She tries to cool her complicated mind and stabilize her energy.
As the blood flows and emotions calm, she feels a serene sensation.
Yet, strangely, her heart remains complex.
‘It’s a good thing.’
She forcibly repeats that to herself.
If she manages to deal with Mageomhu here, it would help her in the future.
As she thinks that, Namgung Bi-ah grips her sword.
But in her mind, for some reason, a thought crosses that if Mageomhu were to die like this, someone who might collapse would come to mind.
That brief thought makes her hesitate.
But soon, Namgung Bi-ah dons her sword armor and moves forward.
Crack—!
Once again, lightning surges from Mageomhu’s body.
However, compared to the lightning she had unleashed just before, it seemed infinitely weaker.
In contrast, Namgung Bi-ah’s ten swords are filled with clear energy, just like at the beginning.
It was a situation where one could easily predict how the outcome would unfold if these two energies clashed.
Golden flashes burst forth with sharp momentum, and several swords flew through the air, drawing lines toward Mageomhu.
The vast energy was enough to make one shrink back. It seemed to assert that it would not allow an escape.
Yet, Mageomhu merely prepares to unleash her sword in response to that energy.
There is a possibility that she could die here.
That thought flickers through her mind, but still, she does not retreat.
If someone were to witness this recklessness, they would undoubtedly be filled with rage, asking if she was insane.
But Mageomhu couldn’t help it.
Her reason, emotions, and even her life were all weighed against each other.
For her, he was more important.
It didn’t matter where he was or where he came from.
The lightning converges at a single point.
Namgung Bi-ah’s swords gradually draw closer.
Seeing the size and condensation of the energy, she realized she was not in a position to confront it.
‘...’
If she were to use her lightning sword from her bosom, it might be a different story.
But she didn’t use it.
The reason is simple.
She had not received permission to use it.
[...!…!]
The angry voice of an old man continuously echoed in her ears, but Mageomhu paid it no mind.
Boom—!
The energy of Namgung Bi-ah aggressively pierces through.
In response, Mageomhu begins to move, channeling her lightning into her sword.
Just as the swords of both sides are about to clash, Mageomhu suddenly recalls.
If she were to meet her end at the hands of that woman here.
What expression would he wear?
Would he spit out something sharp, saying she died uselessly for not listening?
Or would he maintain his usual calm expression and brush it off as if it were nothing?
In the midst of this, she quietly hopes for a slight indulgence.
‘I wish he would feel a little sad.’
Mageomhu whispers that wish to herself.
Boom—!
At last, the energies of Mageomhu and Namgung Bi-ah collide, starting to unleash a tremor.
“…!”
The moment the energies clash, Mageomhu realizes.
With her exhausted body, she cannot win against this energy.
She will crumble before long.
Even amidst that, Mageomhu gazes at Namgung Bi-ah through the energy.
From the face of Namgung Bi-ah, drawing forth energy, Mageomhu sees a trace of hesitation.
Had that hesitation not existed, this fight would never have taken place.
“...”
As she looks at Namgung Bi-ah, Mageomhu’s gaze softens.
The emotion that arises while looking at her—resentment or sympathy?
Mageomhu couldn’t be sure of either.
Thud—!
The tips of her feet are pushed back by the energy.
She can see her sword cracking and scattering.
Her wounds gradually widen.
Mageomhu feels the end drawing near.
In that moment.
Right now. Suddenly, a frantic voice echoes in Mageomhu’s ears.
It was the voice of an unripe boy.
Though it wasn’t a voice she was particularly familiar with, for some reason, she—
Draw your sword! Following that voice, she had no choice but to listen.
As the energy crumbled and was about to be swept away by Namgung Bi-ah’s force, Mageomhu reached into her pocket and grabbed something.
Grrrrr! Boom—!
Simultaneously, a massive bolt of lightning shot up into the sky, sweeping everything away.