〈 Rehearsal (2) 〉
A nearby village just a stone’s throw away from Beijing.
After all the residents left, a group of people gathered on the land, which had been left unmaintained for a long time and was in disarray.
“Hehehe. “Welcome, Siju Kwak.”
One of their representatives, Mujin, the leader of the Shaolin Temple, a leader of the martial arts faction, greeted the middle-aged man who had just arrived by clasping his hands together.
“I heard the news that you had a bad luck… but your condition is worse than I thought? “Can we fight properly?”
“Amitabha Buddha, although he has become like this due to lack of training, doesn’t the monk still have one arm and two legs left? Hehehe, I won’t cause you any trouble, so don’t worry too much.”
“Hmm, okay. “It would be funny for someone else to argue when you can do it yourself.”
The middle-aged man’s words were harsh enough to feel somewhat rude, but no one questioned him about it.
Contrary to his appearance, he was not only similar in age to Ambassador Mujin, but his status was no less than that of a giant.
Like the Murim League, Kwak Cheol, the former leader of the Sadōryun, a now-disbanded four-sect union, is also called the number one martial artist of the four factions.
That was the identity of the middle-aged man who had just arrived.
‘…Anyway, I felt it while coming here… It’s truly terrifying. I understand why everyone who saw it made a fuss.’
His eyes turned to the sky in the direction of Beijing.
There, pitch black clouds that looked unnatural were piled up so thick that they completely blocked the sunlight shining from above.
Rumbling –
Not only that, but the bloody thunder and purple flashes that flowed intermittently between the clouds gave the viewer an instinctive sense of ominousness and eerieness.
It was as if I was facing the heaven of hell that I had only heard about.
“The sewers will go crazy just looking at that. But the fact that this kind of demonic energy continued for several days… It seems like the demonic cults are really determined this time.”
The face of Emperor Feichun, who was softly reciting, hardened.
Although I personally came to this place aware of the seriousness of the situation, I still felt a little optimistic in a corner of my heart.
Even though Cheonma was praised by the world as the best person in the world, he was confident that he would not be defeated if he faced him directly.
But when I actually felt the force flowing from ‘that’…
‘There is no way this kind of intimidation could come out of me simply by performing a ritual. The terrible presence and high status contained within. Could it be that the Heavenly Demon has really reached the Mythological Realm?’
After looking at the dark sky for a moment, his eyes turned back to the people gathered here.
Even if you just look at it, the crowd is probably hundreds of people.
A sharply refined prayer was emanating from each of their bodies.
Everyone who gathered from all over the continent, even receiving help from local Taoist masters, were renowned experts in each region…
Normally, I would have nodded in admiration at their level, but I When I directly assessed the force emanating from the energy, I was not sure whether I could actually stop it by taking them with me.
‘Shin Seung, Sword Saint Surahyeoljon, and General Jeongcheon. And me too… these five are the end of Hyun-kyung.’
As he glanced at those who particularly stood out among them, his expression frowned without me realizing it.
The number was smaller than he had anticipated.
‘Did something happen that prevented me from coming, or did I not come because I was taking care of my own well-being?’
No matter how many people became immortal due to the long war, the names of those who reached a high level were bound to be known in one way or another.
Until just a year or so ago, it was not uncommon to hear people say that he was one of the top ten masters in the world.
‘It’s difficult.’
Whether they were caught up in the chaotic world and eventually passed away, whether they were killed as a result of a premeditated operation carried out by the Demonic Cult before it did anything, or whether they were afraid and intentionally did not attend, it was never good news.
In any case, the important thing is that the odds of winning have decreased.
“hmm?”
Then, the face of Emperor Pei Cheon, who was looking at the more than a dozen masters of the Flower Sutra with a stern expression, momentarily twitched.
His eyes naturally turn towards the direction of the trees, as if drawn by something.
Rustling— rustling—
His keen sense of hearing detected the distant sound of rustling through the bushes, approaching at great speed.
Something dangerous enough to stimulate his instincts.
As the distance got closer, his body naturally entered a state of tension.
‘This is…’
He wasn’t the only one who had that reaction.
The eyes of those gathered in one place, starting with those with sensitive emotions, began to turn in that direction one by one.
Some had already drawn their weapons.
“boundary! Something is happening now…!”
“Are you a magician?!”
The wait wasn’t that long because the speed of the approach from the other side was so fast.
With everyone’s attention focused on alert, someone suddenly jumped out from beyond the bushes.
“oh! A lot of people have already gathered! Kahahaha! “It looks like we’re a little late!”
Letting out a carefree laugh that seemed to disperse the stiff air.
Even though he faced head-on with many warriors who pointed their weapons at him with tense faces, he showed no hesitation in his attitude.
No, he didn’t seem to care about such trivial things in the first place.
As if a blade like that could never cause any harm to oneself.
“Whoa, isn’t this all because you were late? I keep eating and eating without getting tired… Are you planning to kill and eat all the wild animals that exist in the mountains?”
“Heung! As if there were no wild animals here, everyone was very chubby. “How can you tolerate that?”
“…Take it easy. “I don’t know how all that meat fits in that stomach.”
“Hahaha! “This is embarrassing!”
The gunman then started having a nonsensical conversation with the group that followed him out of the bushes.
However, Emperor Paecheon did not even pay attention to the person who followed him. I couldn’t give it.
Because my eyes never left the man who came out first.
‘I’ve heard of it. Shin Gwang-ma is growing up, right? Rumors tend to be exaggerated, so I didn’t think much of it…’
He knew it intuitively.
That the other person is never below you.
The tattoos and attire that highlight the ferocious muscles and wild nature of his entire body, with his stature so tall and broad shoulders that even he, who is famous for being tall, had to look up.
The eye-catching appearance was unusual, but that wasn’t that important right now.
What we really needed to pay attention to was the unknown ‘something’ that was wrapped around the giant’s body and sleeping within it.
‘What is that?’
He was troubled as he watched the monks of the Shaolin Temple greet the assailant.
Is that really a human?
‘No way.’
He was sure.
That creature, that monster, only has the shape of a human and is not human at all.
Then, the identity of the author is….
“Huh? “Is there something you want to say to me?”
That moment.
His eyes, observing the creeping monster, collided directly with the eyes of the other person, who was sauntering over like a well-fed predator.
Those bottomless-pit-like eyes that don’t match his seemingly infinitely light attitude.
‘…Right. I guess that doesn’t matter now.’
And immediately after encountering the infinite madness that resides within him, to the point where he cannot understand how he maintains reason.
He revised his thoughts.
Maybe this fight.
The odds of winning might not be that low.
***
Finally, Harley joined the warriors of the Murim Alliance.
‘There were more people gathered than I expected. After all, working diligently is rewarding.’
While Hans prepared the final stage and the warriors from all over the continent gathered in one place, he did not sit idle.
His job is to visit the powers that are lukewarm and not cooperating properly and provide free consultation to see if there is any problem.
To put it simply, it was a healthy activity, no different from a teacher visiting the home of a student who refuses to go to school.
Of course, unlike real teachers, there was very little coercion and violence involved in the counseling process.
‘This level should just be seen as a form of love. ‘It’s much better than being wiped out later, right?’
What an act of love and mercy!
If they did not follow the trend even though they worked so hard and gave them the last rope of salvation, it would be very unfortunate, but all of them had no choice but to be punished.
If we leave these guys alone, they will only interfere with the harmony and peace of this world.
‘Because we prepared separate stages for those who were a little late and had difficulty coming here. Let’s see. I’m sure the other places are almost ready by now, right?’
Hans, who remained in Kang Hwan-gye, prepared not only the stage in Beijing.
Small stages prepared to make the stage even bigger so that more people could participate in this big event were waiting for the opening in various parts of the continent.
The branches of the Demonic Cult prepared in each province will nominally serve as branches to assist the ceremony held in Beijing.
The most important place was Beijing, but so that those who attack the branch can also make efforts with their own sense of duty.
‘Of course, we have to be able to overcome the ordeal, so we adjusted our power accordingly. If everyone works together and cooperates, we can eliminate the demonic cultists without much damage.’
If the sweep operation failed, it would mean that someone did not fight properly.
Then, all we had to do was use the remaining demonic cultists to attack the bases of those who did not cooperate.
It’s literally like two birds with one stone.
“It seems like everyone who is coming to Amitabha Buddha has now gathered.”
When Harley was alone in her thoughts.
A voice filled with majestic energy rang out and caught everyone’s attention.
“Then let us move now. “We don’t have much time left.”
Heroes gathered here with one cause in a time of crisis in the world.
Their eyes followed the gaze of the monk who was at the forefront and headed towards Beijing.
Rumbling—
The ground was still covered with pitch-black clouds, absorbing the surrounding light, and it had already become a pitch-black night.
As if day and night changed along a certain line dividing the area.
It was a miracle that even they, who were among the world’s greatest experts, had seen for the first time.
“…To the hell where hope is captured.”
Some time after that.
Hundreds of human figures flew into the dark land.
***
‘It has begun.’
The best elites of the Kang Huan world penetrated into the heart of Beijing in perfect order.
Of course, among them were famous magicians, including those from the Zhuge family and the Mosan faction.
“This way!”
Following the guidance of Zhuge Se, who specialized in fighting techniques, they moved forward quickly without breaking their ranks even while moving.
Actively resisting the environment of the demon world that disrupts one’s inner energy, the demon energy that tries to encroach on one’s body, and the wide illusion of the labyrinth that causes one to lose one’s way.
‘Amazing? This technique could have been applied in this way. ‘I didn’t learn this even on Geumo Island.’
Originally, in order to use the Jinbeop properly, a process of coordinating hands and feet together over a long period of time was essential.
Like now, it’s not something that can be written between people who just met for the first time.
Moreover, it was impossible for hundreds of people to move as one body like they do now.
‘So, the name is a giant Segara, right? At this level, if we exclude the intervention of an absolute master, we could have an unconditional superiority in a fight between low-ranking warriors.’
However, in the Zhuge Dynasty, that limitation was overcome by incorporating techniques.
The communication technique that originally required very difficult and demanding conditions was improved to make it easier to unfold and a thin line was connected to the surface unconsciousness of those nearby.
Thanks to this, the drones were able to intuitively feel the correct position they should be in and move without any error, even without any special training.
‘In addition, you can immediately determine the location of allies in crisis and change their formation. ‘He is the best operator in this world.’
Thanks to this, the Murim Alliance was approaching the center of the Demon World much more easily than expected.
Originally, it would have been a bit more confusing and we would have barely managed to reach the ceremony site.
‘Well, this isn’t bad either. ‘Then shall we get started properly?’
Hundreds of people lined up and moved forward at high speed.
However, when they almost reached the center of Beijing, where the ceremony was taking place, their rapid progress was soon forced to stop.
“Huh, I’m glad you crawled all the way here. “They didn’t even know that it was their place to die.”
A one-eyed old man holding a black sword with a ghostly image engraved on it, as if he had been waiting, blocked their path with a sneer.
Behind him was an army numbering hundreds or even thousands.
“Demon Sword Demon Emperor Yeo Mun-cheol….”
Namgung-woo, a swordsman who had a bad relationship with the opponent, frowned and muttered.
I had expected it to be here, but when I actually encountered it like this, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
“The White Bone Demon Army, the Blue Beast Demon Army, and even the Cheonrang Demon Army…”
“Aren’t they all infamous demons of the Hwagyeong? …Now that I think about it, the author is Hyeolsan Noong, an old monster from the previous era. “Even the Blood Cult joined hands with the Demon Cult.”
“for a moment! That jiangshi over there! “Why is the elder of this sect over there?”
Immediately after facing the demonic forces blocking the front, the momentum of the Murim Alliance, which was attacking with great vigor, was bound to break.
The number of Hwagyeong masters was roughly similar to their number, but when the masters from this side who had been known to be missing or dead appeared as jiangshi, my heart was shaken.
And what followed—.
“…Blood Demon.”
Seeing the leader of the group of jiangshi slowly moving forward, Emperor Peecheon muttered lowly as if chewing.
The opponent whom I had collided with several times and who I regarded as a worthy opponent was right in front of me.
The last time I saw her, her lively appearance had gone from nowhere to a face as stiff as a wax doll.
Although I didn’t like him very much because his personality didn’t match, he was someone whose skills I definitely recognized.
But who would have thought that even such an extreme expert would show up in such a disgrace…
‘It wasn’t that they joined hands with the demonic cult, but that they were defeated and absorbed. ‘How long have you been preparing?’
However, the chaos that shook the Moorim Alliance was short-lived.
As the elite who had experienced all kinds of battles, they soon came to their senses and lined up in perfect order, ready to fight.
The warriors stepped forward, strongly grasping their weapons, and the magicians took out their ritual tools and talismans, raising the tension to counter the magic of the demonic cult.
The war is slowly escalating with rising momentum on both sides.
That moment.
[“Wow, you’ve come this far. “You bastards of the martial arts.”]
A voice filled with evil power echoed throughout the battlefield.
“Ugh!”
“This…!”
“Big!”
Those who were relatively unskilled stumbled and struggled to control their turmoil.
Among the dogs, there was a thin line of blood flowing from the corner of the mouth.
A gloomy voice that seems to shake the entire space.
Just listening to that voice, which seemed to come from hell, polluted my mind and disrupted my inner energy.
[“Since you worked so hard to come here, I should give you a grand welcome as the owner.”]
Cheonma, the current greatest human in the world and the leader of the Demonic Cult.
It was the moment when the final boss of the scenario appeared.
‘This is great. After all, the first appearance should have an impact.’
A being who coordinates the battlefield behind the curtain.
With Hans’ elaborate production.