With all her strength, she shouted.
Draw your sword! The cry, filled with desperation, fortunately reached Mageomhu.
Mageomhu immediately slipped her arm into her sleeve.
Right after that.
Kwahhh—!
An immense light surged into the sky from Mageomhu.
Kuuuuuuu—! The energy spreading around mixed with the pressure of the wind and began to wildly spread.
With the wind intermingled with the lightning, unless one was at a higher level, those below peak rank would be swept away.
“Gah…!”
She barely kept her feet on the ground, releasing her energy to endure.
Thud—! As she tried to withstand the pressure, her feet sank into the ground.
It felt as if she would fly away at any moment.
Yet, she held on.
This was something she absolutely had to witness.
‘…What the hell is happening?’
Grinding her teeth, she stared straight ahead.
Lightning roared as it soared.
The power was so strong that it felt as if a hole was being pierced in the sky.
Contrary to the savage atmosphere, the clouds that had been bright began to dissipate.
As all the clouds disappeared, leaving only a blue sky above.
Grrrr—!
In an instant, dark clouds began to occupy the space, appearing from nowhere.
The previously clear sun disappeared.
Kurung…
What remained were clouds heavy with lightning. It was an unnatural sight, as if something strange was happening.
In the midst of this awe-inspiring yet subtle situation.
Grrrr—!!
Suddenly, the lightning that had permeated the dark clouds began to rage wildly.
Each bolt of lightning seemed to possess its own will, bursting with presence through the gaps in the clouds.
Upon seeing that, chills ran down her spine.
As her level increased, she could tell how much power was contained in those lightning bolts.
Kurung—!
After the lightning had curled and gathered, it suddenly shot upward.
Kwahhh—!
Unlike its initial surge, it now thrust all its might down to the ground.
That formidable power was more than enough to shatter the surrounding ground.
The pressure began to pull her body in the opposite direction.
Fortunately, this force of gravity didn’t last long.
The blinding light that had fiercely surged calmed down within seconds, leaving only dust obscuring her vision.
“...”
The dust clouding her vision was quite uncomfortable, but knowing it would soon clear, she endured it.
And as expected.
Whoooooosh—!
An enormous wind blew in, clearing the dust that had been obstructing her view.
What lay in her now-clear sight was.
“…!”
Namgung Bi-ah, panting with her sword embedded in the ground.
And Mageomhu, standing with her sword lowered, gazing at Namgung Bi-ah.
Upon seeing that, she unconsciously swallowed hard.
‘That’s… a sight I haven’t seen in a long time.’
The thought arose as she looked at Mageomhu. Right now, Mageomhu was completely different from usual.
Until just a moment ago, she had been exhausted and bleeding from one hand, on the verge of collapse.
Now, she stood with an elegant posture, unwavering.
The sword she held was also different from before.
Its shape was quite unique.
It was a sword with only a handle.
Notably, the guard that should have been on the blade was missing, replaced instead by an inexplicable blue gem.
That was the sword body of Jeoksusa (Red Water Snake), the Lightning Fang.
At first glance, it seemed odd.
Though it looked like a weapon that couldn't be used as a sword, it was undoubtedly a sword.
It was the legendary sword of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains, the divine sword Jeoksusa, used by the hero of the Namgung family.
Moreover, it was known as—
A sword that only a true Namgung could wield.
This was a name left behind by Namgung Myeong for the future generations.
Only those who could handle that sword would be appointed as the head of the Namgung family, according to an ancient tale.
In other words, Jeoksusa was a sword that not just anyone could use.
The sword body, invisible as it was, did not seem to qualify as a rare item.
Yet, if one had the qualification, Jeoksusa became a weapon more fearsome than anything else.
“...”
If the one wielding it is Mageomhu, the story changes entirely.
Sashh.
Mageomhu moved.
With that, the lightning began to tremble.
Namgung Bi-ah noticed this and tried to rise.
Behind her, several golden swords took shape.
‘Oh no.’
This is not the time to be watching the situation calmly.
Even if Mageomhu has reached that state, it seems she has no intention of retreating.
No matter how much Mageomhu wields Jeoksusa.
Namgung Bi-ah was also prepared to reveal her full strength; it was uncertain how the situation would unfold.
‘She hasn’t done it properly either.’
The problem is.
Namgung Bi-ah cannot recklessly reveal her full strength right now.
According to my expectations, if she understands the essence of her power and the meaning of her martial arts, she should be able to wield her true strength.
However, that power consumes her ‘life.’
That is something she cannot allow.
She looked around.
Given that the Heavenly Lord seemed to be absent, it appeared that old man was likely not here.
At least that’s a relief; it would have been a major issue if that human had been present.
‘But on the contrary.’
Why isn’t the Demon Sovereign visible in this situation?
‘Could it be that Mageomhu came here alone?’
Neither the Demon Sovereign nor other demonic beings were seen.
This means that it could be concluded that Mageomhu alone stormed into this place.
‘Is she crazy or what?’
Why?
Why did she suddenly come here?
Could it be that she came to save me?
The situation was incomprehensible.
She had been a madwoman who sliced through enemies and allies alike; why would she come here?
She might as well not have come at all.
If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be so injured.
As I frowned in thought.
Kwahhh—!
An enormous roar erupted from Jeoksusa.
That was a declaration of intent to attack with Jeoksusa.
It was dangerous.
‘Damn it.’
It was obvious that she would become so strong, yet even while engaging in a life-threatening battle, I recalled the reason she hadn’t drawn her sword for some reason.
Only then did it come to mind.
‘I told her not to draw it.’
That she shouldn’t draw Jeoksusa without her permission.
Those were the words spoken right after she faced me with Jeoksusa during battle.
There was no helping it.
The battle in which she had used Jeoksusa was—
‘A bloodbath.’
I had seen the enemy and allies alike getting burned by the constant rain of lightning and the attacks unleashed by Jeoksusa.
That was a dangerous power.
Even Mageomhu struggled to control it.
Although its destructive power and strength were remarkable, it frequently obliterated everything around.
Of course, it would be the same for me. It was no wonder I had told her to refrain from it.
That’s why I had said those words.
‘...Has she been keeping that in mind?’
It seemed that Mageomhu had indeed been adhering to that word of mine until now.
I hadn’t known.
I hadn’t paid attention.
And I couldn’t pay attention.
I didn’t care whether she kept it or not.
Was she adhering to those words of mine?
I bit my lip at the thought.
‘Is it because she’s the Mageomhu of this world?’
The Mageomhu from my original world might be different.
According to the Blood Demon, this place was different from the world I came from.
But.
For some reason, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
Kurung—! Kururung—!
The atmosphere was intensifying with the rough lightning and blades crashing together.
Swooosh.
The tip of Mageomhu’s sword aimed at Namgung Bi-ah.
Soon, Namgung Bi-ah also began to raise her golden energy.
A situation poised for explosion.
Suuuuuu—!
As Namgung Bi-ah pulled up her energy to the fullest, a change began to occur in her body.
It felt like her breath was getting caught as her energy shifted.
Upon noticing that, she leaped.
She couldn’t let this go.
“…!”
“...Hah!!”
With all her strength, she leaped and arrived between the two women.
Mageomhu and Namgung Bi-ah both looked at me with expressions of surprise.
“Stop….”
I was trying to dissuade Mageomhu from continuing.
“Ah….”
Boom.
As Mageomhu looked at me, the light from Jeoksusa instantly extinguished. It meant that only the handle remained.
Furthermore, the densely packed dark clouds slowly retreated, returning the bright sky.
The pressure of the lightning that had been pressing down around also vanished.
In this sudden situation, I found myself taken aback.
“…I’m relieved.”
Mageomhu said that as she looked at me.
“...”
At that brief statement, I had to bite my tongue.
How could I say anything?
My left arm was bleeding profusely.
From her tired eyes and labored breath, I could tell how bad her condition was.
Only after confirming that did I unknowingly wipe my face with one hand.
“…You.”
You continue to protect me even to the extent of being in that state.
That damn thought stirred deeply within me.