Chapter 295: The Two of Us (3)
In a silent space filled with nothing but darkness, Cheon Yujeong's consciousness thought to herself.
That this was the end for her.
'How miserable.'
The moment the center of the Bongseon Ritual was split apart by the True Star Sword, 'something' had burst out from deep within her, seizing control of her body.
Fortunately, when Yoo Jeon's sword sealed 'something's' consciousness, her own awareness had naturally awakened again.
But still, the control over her body had not returned, and her consciousness remained trapped in this place.
'Is this what they call karma?'
Cheon Yujeong reflected on her life.
She had done anything to climb higher.
She had stabbed knives into not only her enemies' backs but also those of her allies without hesitation.
To close the gap caused by her lack of talent, she had discarded the path of humanity without a second thought.
And yet.
From the moment she was born until now, there was not a single thing she had truly wanted that she had managed to obtain.
She had failed.
She had failed, failed, failed, failed.
Once again, she had failed.
As the aftermath of her failure, a distant, overwhelming despair surged toward her.
But Cheon Yujeong’s heart did not break.
'I don’t want to die. No, I don’t want it to end like this!'
Cheon Yujeong desperately tried to rise.
However, the black something that tightly bound her whole being did not allow her consciousness to come out.
At this rate, just like sinking slowly into water, her consciousness would meet eternal rest in the darkness.
But then.
"You look like you're suffering."
Suddenly, as a sinister light flowed from somewhere, someone appeared and looked down at Cheon Yujeong.
'Who?'
Cheon Yujeong tried to ask the identity of the figure, but the darkness blocked even her lips.
However, unexpectedly, the figure spoke as if they could see right through her heart.
"Who knows? Who do you think I am?"
"……!"
Using the only remaining sense she had—sight—Cheon Yujeong examined the figure.
Judging by the outline, the person certainly seemed to be a woman, but the light was so faint that she could not clearly make out her appearance.
The figure spoke.
"What matters isn’t my identity, but whether or not I can help you, don’t you think?"
"……."
"How about it? Do you want to grab hold of another chance?"
Cheon Yujeong quietly nodded.
Sssmile!
Then she felt as if the figure's lips had curved into a crescent moon shape in the darkness.
"I watched your actions from within. You were utterly foolish."
'What?'
"If you truly desire something, it is right to take it by force. There’s nothing more regretful than missing out on true fate while clinging to predetermined ties."
For some reason, the figure's words sounded like she was speaking to herself.
'She' slowly placed her hand on Cheon Yujeong's face and spoke.
"You wretched descendant of the one you curse and despise. I shall properly teach you how to wield the power of Heavenly Evil."
Flash!
Suddenly, the darkness that had been restraining Cheon Yujeong was released.
"I am the last priestess of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, the one who wishes to overturn the heavens and curse the earth."
And soon, her true form began to slowly merge with Cheon Yujeong.
"Those who have left their will in this world are not the only ones."
***
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Yoo Jeon and I were both startled by the sudden clash between the two women.
Cheon Yura, sure, but why was Ma Seoyeon also acting like this?
With a hearty laugh, Ma Seoyeon swung her sword at Cheon Yura.
"Let’s see what you’ve got, you damn descendant!"
"That’s what I want to say!"
Cheon Yura also laughed fiercely as she faced the incoming blade head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, massive shockwaves exploded one after another, turning the surroundings into a wreck.
"U-uh…."
Flustered, I turned to Yoo Jeon beyond them and asked.
"Senior Brother, what the hell is going on?"
As if he had expected this, he shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I had a bad feeling, but I didn't think she'd really go berserk."
"I understand Yura—she always loses it when she meets a strong opponent—but why is Senior Sister Ma acting like that?"
Yoo Jeon muttered quietly, saying something like, 'Calling it a fit… that's a bit much…', and then spoke to me.
"She’s been harboring deep jealousy toward that descendant of the Cheon Clan."
Huh?
Jealousy?
Yoo Jeon approached me, avoiding the two women’s clash, and continued.
"Didn’t you often tell us about your love story? Even if she didn’t show it outwardly, Senior Sister was deeply moved by your stories."
Of course, while living with my senior brothers and sisters, it wasn’t just about training.
During our breaks, I would often share stories about the outside world, and a significant portion of that was about bragging about my lover, Yura.
But that was that.
"What does being moved have to do with jealousy…?"
"It has everything to do with it."
Yoo Jeon looked at Ma Seoyeon, who was fighting over there, with a gloomy expression.
"I couldn’t treat Senior Sister the way you did."
Although Yoo Jeon had taken her in and cherished her like a daughter, the affection Ma Seoyeon had wanted from Yoo Jeon had been something entirely different.
"And from that descendant of the Cult Leader, she didn’t feel the fate that the one with the Divine Demonic Physique should have faced."
The cursed destiny bestowed upon those born with the Divine Demonic Physique.
"Overcoming fate is something that’s impossible to do alone."
Surprisingly, there weren’t many things in this world that could be overcome by willpower alone.
"Only when someone dedicates their everything to help does the possibility arise."
Yoo Jeon gave me a proud look.
"Pure, selfless love. And affection."
The feelings Ma Seoyeon had longed for all her life but had never received.
That was why she envied Cheon Yura, who had gained them.
"Well, it’s not like she’s really trying to kill her. You could say it’s more like the childish desire to torment someone out of jealousy."
Hearing it from someone else sounded a bit embarrassing, but only then did I understand the root of Ma Seoyeon's behavior.
"Since it doesn’t seem like either side has the upper hand, shall we get started too?"
"...I’ll be in your care, Senior Brother."
No more words were needed.
Yoo Jeon and I drew our swords at the same time, releasing a power that didn’t fall behind the momentum of the two women who had already clashed.
"I was dying to find out, you know? What kind of woman the youngest brat put so much effort into chasing after!"
Blood Demon Dragon Sky Sword Formation
True Whirlpool Manifestation
A massive vortex of blood erupted and surged toward the place where Cheon Yura stood.
But despite the overwhelming force that would normally warrant dodging, she didn’t retreat and met it head-on.
Heaven-Slaying Qi
Reverse Soulfire
Cheon Yura’s sword twisted against Ma Seoyeon’s spinning attack, beginning to dismantle the storm of blood.
"A counter-suppression? Using your head, I see!"
Cheon Yura let out a small laugh.
"I suppose it’s my turn now?"
In an instant, crimson territories spanning over ten jang spread out from her as the center.
Ten Thousand Demons Prostrating
A truly fraudulent technique that suppressed all demonic qi within the territory and granted the caster endless power.
But Ma Seoyeon merely snorted.
"Hah! Just a territory, huh!"
Still, she didn’t seem to completely underestimate Cheon Yura’s domain, as her eyes began to glow red.
It was the manifestation of Blood-Eyed Red Body, the first stage of Heaven-Slaying Physique.
"I’ll crush you completely!"
Exploding Sea of Blood!
Once again, the technique from the Blood Demon Dragon Sky Sword Formation revealed itself.
Pure force versus pure force!
Though the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was said to never lose in terms of strength in all of heaven and earth…
Ma Seoyeon’s Blood Demon Dragon Sky Sword Formation was also derived from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
And wasn’t she recognized as having the strongest attack power among all of the Heavenly Demon Ancestor’s disciples?
However.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Even as the sea of blood surged like waves from Exploding Sea of Blood, Cheon Yura’s territory stood firm like an immovable mountain.
Ma Seoyeon’s expression slightly twisted.
"She’s withstanding this?"
"Not just withstanding."
Standing in the center of the crimson territory, Cheon Yura took her stance.
"I expected more from someone called the Founder of the Ma Clan. How disappointing."
"What did you just say?!"
Just as Ma Seoyeon’s face contorted with wrath like a vengeful demon—
Twitch!
She sensed something ominous from Cheon Yura’s stance and twisted her body like lightning.
Fwoosh!
She felt something graze past her, and the fabric over her shoulder ripped open.
Had she reacted even a moment later, her shoulder would’ve had a gaping hole in it!
'Don’t tell me… that territory was just a distraction?!'
A strike so silent and traceless that it hid even the flow of intent itself.
"Interesting. I didn’t expect the disciple of the Heavenly Demon Ancestor to use such a technique."
Of course, Sojeong’s Nine Heavens Thunder Howl was also taught by the Heavenly Demon Ancestor, but typically, those who practiced the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the pinnacle of domination, were obsessed with direct confrontations.
"I realized it by facing many powerful foes… and by watching someone who fought against such enemies."
Cheon Yura withdrew her sword and smirked.
"Sometimes, you have to play smart."
The Heavenly Demon Ancestor of Heaven of Sacred Spirits, the Immortal who had obtained a fragment of the Ancestor’s power—
All were monsters who surpassed her in raw power.
Even Cheon Yura couldn’t overpower such beings through sheer strength alone.
"Hah, the youngest brat really created something interesting. Even Senior Brother isn’t as flexible as you."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"What’s the name of that technique?"
"Bright Fang Blade, Blade of Remaining Life."
"...Isn’t that name a bit too blunt?"
Though she clicked her tongue at the naming, Ma Seoyeon didn’t mock it.
"It’s actually… kind of enviable!"
"...!"
Ma Seoyeon fully unleashed her power.
Something sticky and blood-like began to ooze from her entire body.
Second Stage of Heaven-Slaying Physique, Blood-Eyed Death Melody.
The very reason she was called the Blood Demon God throughout the Central Plains, and the true power of Heaven-Slaying Physique.
"Now, shall we fight properly?"
Cheon Yura sensed that her opponent had reached a level that couldn’t be taken lightly.
'It’ll be hard to handle this alone.'
She felt like she might manage it if she pushed her inner demonic nature to the extreme…
"Sigh, but there’s no need to go that far."
Letting out a faint smile, Cheon Yura kicked off the ground.
"You bastard! How dare you run from this fight—"
Ma Seoyeon scowled as she realized where Cheon Yura was heading.
It was none other than the battlefield where that insolent youngest disciple and her beloved Senior Brother were fighting!
"Are you seriously abandoning this sacred one-on-one duel?!"
"Who said this was a one-on-one?"
Mocking Ma Seoyeon, Cheon Yura shot toward Yoo Jeon.
But Yoo Jeon casually deflected Cheon Yura’s Heaven-Slaying Qi aimed at the back of his neck as if he had been expecting it.
Despite her surprise attack failing, Cheon Yura didn’t panic.
Only now had the true starting point of this battle been set!
"Jin Yeomyung!"
"I know!"
I extended the Heaven Record Qi from the Mystic Heaven Divine Art into a long blade.
Cheon Yura also extended her Heaven-Slaying Qi into a blade over one jang long, crossing them in an X.
The two energies harmonized naturally.
Combined Qi
Heavenly Demon Resonance Great Nirvana Catastrophe
"Impressive. So this is the two of you combining your qi?"
Sensing the potential of their resonance, Yoo Jeon let out an exclamation.
But even as the resonant field crept closer with every passing moment, Yoo Jeon’s expression remained unchanged.
"I don’t know if we can reach your level of mastery, but since we’ve spent so long together, my Junior Sister and I can do something similar."
"Senior Brother!"
Ma Seoyeon, arriving a beat late, exhaled her Blood Demon Qi similar to Cheon Yura.
"That’s right, Junior Sister."
Yoo Jeon’s Heaven Record Qi naturally merged with Ma Seoyeon’s Blood Demon Qi.
A completely different energy was born, seemingly similar to but entirely unlike the Heavenly Demon Resonance.
Combined Qi
Primordial Chaos Resonance Wasteland Annihilation
The combined qi from the four of us began to greedily consume the surroundings, repeating cycles of destruction and regeneration.
And then…
Twitch.
Off in the distance, the motionless form of Heavenly Evil, like a machine that had run out of power, began to tremble ever so slightly.