Why Won’t You Fall!

The situation had developed suddenly, but Jeokyang Gwang and Jeokyang So were still scions of the Jeokyang Clan.
It was one of the four great clans with the longest histories among the Seven Powers.
The clan had existed long before the Evil Heaven Alliance was founded.
Regardless of their individual abilities, certain teachings had been ingrained in them.
The moment Gyo-ha’s and Myeong-gong’s eyes met, their swords moved.
One aimed for Gyo-ha’s neck.
The other aimed for his heart.
However.
The haze coating their swords was no longer as threatening as before.
Gyo-ha’s golden eyes followed their swords.

‘I can see them clearly.’

As long as they used Heretical Qi, they could no longer deceive him as they had before.
Kwajik!
Gyo-ha shattered the sword with a single strike and drove his fist into Jeokyang Gwang’s chest.
Jeokyang So hurriedly retreated at the sight.
Jeokyang Gwang flew more than ten feet before crashing into the ground.
He didn’t move.
Jeokyang So swallowed dryly.
He was different.
He was completely different from moments ago. Even now, Jeokyang So’s internal energy was gradually being drawn into Gyo-ha.
Jeokyang So flinched when Gyo-ha’s golden gaze fell upon him.
Gyo-ha looked away from Jeokyang So.
At the end of his gaze stood Myeong-gong.

“Looks like this wasn’t what you expected?”
“……”

Myeong-gong’s expression was also rigid.
He had quietly appeared while Jeokyang So and Jeokyang Gwang were holding off Gyo-ha’s attacks.
His intentions were obvious.
However, the situation had unfolded differently from what he expected.

“What are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“How can a mere human wield yokai power? That is not a power permitted to humans.”

Gyo-ha shrugged at Myeong-gong’s question.
However, Myeong-gong had not truly expected an answer.

“Did you also take the yokai power that was lent to those humans?”

Myeong-gong muttered as though he could not understand it.

‘…I guess not every yokai can do it.’

That meant Gyo-ha was doing more than merely wielding a yokai’s power.
Judging by Myeong-gong’s expression, however, even he did not know the answer.

‘Maybe only someone on Spider Sis’s level would know.’

Spider Sis had looked as though she understood something even before Gyo-ha began wielding yokai power.
That didn’t mean he could simply visit her and ask.
She would probably end his life before giving him an answer.

“Anyway, let’s finish this quickly. I can’t stay like this for long.”

It was not because of the people inside the inn.
Even though he had emptied his dantian, he could not erase the Mystic Qi that had long permeated his muscles and bones.
Even now, his body was screaming.
He had thought a few training sessions had given him the hang of it, but he had miscalculated.
The energy was temperamental.

‘Then again, I never thought it would be easy.’

Gyo-ha took his stance.
Myeong-gong’s gaze shifted behind Gyo-ha before returning to him.
Beyond the inn.
He was sensing the yokai inside.
Gyo-ha had thought Myeong-gong had returned merely to seize an opportunity, but that was not his only reason.
Some of the humans who had transformed into yokai had received Myeong-gong’s power.
They were different from ordinary subordinates.
The moment they transformed using his yokai power, they became bound to him.
Naturally, his mere presence nearby affected them.
Of course, few of the yokai retained their senses after Gyo-ha drained away their yokai power.
Even so, it was enough.
Myeong-gong’s body swelled.
His skin split, and fur spread over it.
Myeong-gong returned to his true form in an instant.
Jeokyang So, who had been watching from the side, let out a small scream.
He wasn’t the only one.
The Jeokyang Clan martial artists fighting Namgung Hyeok also stopped and stared at Myeong-gong.

“What in the world is that?”
“A m-monster?”

They stared at Myeong-gong in disbelief.
Namgung Hyeok also wiped the blood from his sword and frowned.
The fighting around them came to a halt.
In contrast, the commotion inside the inn intensified.
The wild-dog yokai began rampaging the moment Myeong-gong transformed.
The battle grew even fiercer.

[Come. Lord Myeong-gong will show you a true yokai.]

Myeong-gong’s aura erupted like an explosion.
Gyo-ha’s muscles swelled as he watched him.

Myeong-gong opened his mouth.

[Awoooooooo!]

A powerful shock wave surged toward Gyo-ha.
Gyo-ha rolled to the side and evaded it.
At that moment, Myeong-gong kicked powerfully off the ground with both legs.
Kung!
The claws on his forepaws gleamed sharply.
However, Gyo-ha did not evade.
His golden eyes flashed as he thrust out his fist.
Kwagang!
The surrounding ground shook when Gyo-ha and Myeong-gong collided.

“Ugh.”

Gyo-ha gritted his teeth. He had expected it, but Myeong-gong’s strength was still shocking.
Another attack immediately followed.
Myeong-gong’s sudden strike sent Gyo-ha flying.
However, Gyo-ha twisted in midair and launched himself forward again the instant his feet touched the ground.
Red Blossom Palm!
Kwang!
This time, Myeong-gong was pushed backward.
Gyo-ha had only imitated the form without using internal energy, but the blow still carried considerable weight.

[How dare a mere human!]

Myeong-gong swung his arm.
The blow drove Gyo-ha backward.
However, he traveled a shorter distance than before.
Gyo-ha immediately drove his fist into Myeong-gong’s chest.
Kwang!
Myeong-gong frowned at the pain in his chest.

‘This bastard.’

The impact had been stronger than before.
Had his physical strength increased during that brief interval? It might have been possible if he were transforming into a yokai.
But he wasn’t. Only Gyo-ha’s eyes had changed. His body remained human.
Only his bulging muscles were becoming mottled and discolored.
He was not simply wrapping himself in Yokai Qi. He was steadily learning how to apply it.
His growth was terrifying.
Myeong-gong gritted his teeth and thrust out his arm.
Kwang! Kwagang!
The two exchanged blows.
There were no forms or techniques involved.
They simply swung their arms at one another.

‘That’s right. He’s human.’

No matter how strong he was, a human body had clear limits.
Myeong-gong’s eyes flashed as he swung his arm.

The fighting around them had stopped.
Not only Jeokyang So but even the martial artists from the Jeokyang Clan had lowered their swords and were watching the battle.

Namgung Hyeok was no different.
Even though his own battle was over, he did not dare interfere.
Kwang! Kwagang!
Both bodies jolted every time their blows landed.
They were not the only things shaking.
The ground shook as well.
Gyo-ha was the one who appeared to be in danger.
Several parts of his body had been caved in.
His entire body shook violently with every blow.
Blood continually streamed from his nose and mouth.
Yet Gyo-ha himself was smiling brightly.
Myeong-gong’s expression, in contrast, grew increasingly rigid.

‘Brother.’

Still.
Even now, Namgung Hyeok could do nothing but watch.
Namgung Hyeok bit his lip as he watched Gyo-ha.

Puhat.
An impact exploded against Gyo-ha’s abdomen, and blood burst from his mouth.
His mind reeled.
Even so, Gyo-ha swung his fist.
His fists were in terrible condition. They were torn, split, and crushed.
His muscles had swollen so badly that they seemed ready to burst.
It wasn’t a metaphor.
Deoldeoldeol.
The cloth supporting his injured arm tore, and the iron splint fell to the ground.
A sudden sense of freedom washed over him.
Forgetting Tang Ja-gyeong’s warning, Gyo-ha swung his fist.
Kung!
Myeong-gong’s body lifted into the air before dropping back down.
At the same time, pain surged through Gyo-ha’s hand.
It felt as though a sharp awl were driving through him from his back to his head.
He wanted to collapse and scream.
Instead of falling, Gyo-ha chose to take another step forward.

[Why! Why? Why won’t you fall!]

An ordinary human would have.
No, even a yokai should have fallen long ago.
Gyo-ha could see Myeong-gong growing furious.
Compared with Gyo-ha, Myeong-gong appeared unharmed, but his condition was not nearly as good as it seemed.
His regeneration was gradually slowing.
Every time he looked into those golden eyes, Myeong-gong felt himself shrinking back.
Those were not human eyes.
He knew that with certainty.
At that moment.
Gyo-ha’s fist drove into Myeong-gong’s solar plexus.
The pain knocked the breath from him.
When was the last time he had fought this fiercely?
It had been when he met his master.

‘This will never end.’

Gyo-ha, whom he had expected to collapse quickly, continued enduring.
The fighting inside the inn was also drawing to an end.

‘I have no choice.’

Myeong-gong seized Gyo-ha with both hands.
Twitch.
Gyo-ha tried to break free through sheer strength.
However, Myeong-gong still held the advantage in raw strength.
Holding Gyo-ha in place by force, he opened his mouth.
It was the Sound-Shattering Roar.
If Myeong-gong released it at this distance, both of his hands would be destroyed as well.
Even Myeong-gong could not easily recover after losing both hands.
Moreover, the situation would become even more difficult once the people inside the inn emerged.
Nevertheless, Myeong-gong’s sharp teeth gleamed within his open mouth.

Gyo-ha remained trapped in Myeong-gong’s grip.
Beyond him, he saw Namgung Hyeok rushing toward them.
However, Namgung Hyeok was too late. Myeong-gong had already finished inhaling.
The Sound-Shattering Roar would come at any moment.
With both arms restrained, Gyo-ha could not even defend himself.

‘…This is the end.’

Gyo-ha sensed his death.
Perhaps because he had survived death so many times, he was calmer than expected.
Gyo-ha did not close his eyes and continued glaring at Myeong-gong.
He intended to witness his final moment.
Then.

[I suppose I have no choice. It would become troublesome if you died, so I’ll lend you a hand just this once.]

A familiar voice reached his ears.
Spider Sis.
The moment he realized who it was, he saw a gleaming thread before his eyes.
Myeong-gong’s open mouth was forcibly closed.
Powerful energy churned inside his mouth. Confusion appeared in Myeong-gong’s eyes.
It was not only his mouth. The hands gripping Gyo-ha were also forced apart.
Gyo-ha’s eyes flashed when the pressure disappeared.
Kung.
He stepped forward.
He drew back his arm with all his strength.
His other arm was already ruined. If he destroyed this one as well, there would be no going back.
Even so, Gyo-ha pressed forward.
A violet haze wrapped around Gyo-ha’s fist.

Radiant Burst Strike.

Violet rays of light erupted in every direction.
The light was bright enough to blind.
Then, just as the light began to fade.
An explosive roar rang out.
Kwagagagagagagagagagang!

[Keulleok!]

Tudududuk.
Myeong-gong vomited blood and pieces of his organs.
A massive hole had been torn through his abdomen.
Even so, Myeong-gong didn’t die.

‘I… have to… escape.’

However, Gyo-ha’s forehead appeared directly before his eyes.
Kwang!
Myeong-gong’s head was violently shaken.
It was a headbutt.
Gyo-ha’s body then spun around.
His heel came crashing down from above.
Kung.
Myeong-gong’s head was driven downward.
Even then, Myeong-gong did not give up on escaping.
He forcibly twisted his body. At that moment.
Puk.
A sharp sword tore into Myeong-gong’s back.

[You… bastard.]

When he turned his head, he saw Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok had been charging toward them from the moment Myeong-gong grabbed Gyo-ha.
Myeong-gong’s eyes filled with rage.
But that was a mistake.
He should have fled without turning toward Namgung Hyeok.
Sensing an ominous presence, he turned and saw Gyo-ha crouching low.
Both of Gyo-ha’s hands were mangled.
However, his head was pointed directly at Myeong-gong.
What he was about to do was no mere headbutt.
Standing at an angle, Gyo-ha stamped the ground.
Lightning struck at the same moment.

Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning.

Peong!
Gyo-ha’s body shot forward like a cannonball.
Like a dragon ascending to the heavens, Gyo-ha shot skyward.
After soaring high into the air, Gyo-ha’s body began to fall.
He didn’t move, apparently having lost consciousness.

“Brother!”

Namgung Hyeok immediately launched himself forward and caught the falling Gyo-ha.
It was only possible because Gyo-ha’s attack had sent him upward.
Had the angle been even slightly lower, catching him would have been difficult.
Namgung Hyeok caught Gyo-ha almost at the same moment Myeong-gong’s body collapsed.
Myeong-gong’s upper body was gone. Chunks of flesh were scattered in every direction.
However, Gyo-ha was far from unharmed. Bone and flesh protruded from both arms, while his neck and head also looked terribly wrong.
He looked as though he might stop breathing at any moment.
Then Gyo-ha’s mouth opened.
His lips trembled.

“Not… yet…”

Did he still intend to fight?
Even with his eyes closed, his foot twitched.

“Brother, it’s all right. It’s over.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke to Gyo-ha while glancing at Myeong-gong.
Myeong-gong was not moving either.
He was dead. Namgung Hyeok had not judged that merely because he was motionless.
Namgung Hyeok saw an ominous energy leave Myeong-gong’s body and flow toward Gyo-ha.
The amount was enormous.
At the same time, Gyo-ha’s body was beginning to recover, albeit slowly.
Gyo-ha gave no answer, apparently unconscious.

‘Good.’

His fading breath began to return.
Only then did Namgung Hyeok sigh in relief.
Gyo-ha had moved slightly farther from death, but his breathing remained terribly weak. There was no time.
Namgung Hyeok carefully laid Gyo-ha on the ground and slowly got up. He pulled his sword from Myeong-gong’s body.
Then he turned around.
Gripping his sword with a bloodstained hand, Namgung Hyeok’s gaze grew cold.
Gyo-ha’s battle was over, but his was not.

“Come.”

His cold voice rang sharply toward Jeokyang So and the Jeokyang Clan martial artists.