Having achieved enlightenment and successfully merged the Heavenly Lightning Sword Technique with the Royal Sword Style, Namgung Su opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Baek Suryong's sword, and beneath it, a letter written in neat handwriting.
"...What's this now?"
Minutes later, several Blood Cult members arrived at his residence just as the sword had warned. The Divine Azure Dragon Sword had hidden their presences while he was in a trance, but she had exhausted all of her energy.
Shouts and clashing weapons reached his ears, accompanied by the faint tang of blood in his nostrils.
Confused, Namgung Su read the letter Baek Suryong had written. As instructed, he took the Divine Azure Dragon Sword in hand.
[You've finally awakened!] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword cried out.
A loud explosion ripped through the collapsed gorge.
Namgung Su nodded stiffly. "...So the sword really does talk. He wasn't kidding."
"W-What do you mean?" Ak Bi stammered.
[The matter is urgent, so I will tell you the important things first.]
"I... I've lost," Ak Bi admitted defeat, half of his face now monstrously disfigured. The lightning qi had cauterized the wound Ak Yeonho had inflicted before he had a chance to treat it, ensuring the scar would be permanent. "Your accusation that I colluded with the Blood Cult is.
Namgung Su was surprised that a soul truly resided within the Divine Azure Dragon Sword, but only for a moment. By now, he was used to unusual happenings, so he listened quietly as she explained the whole story.
[...And so, unable to contain all of your lightning qi, I let some of it leak outside the formations. Soon, some people will approach this place, alerted by the thunder.]
Namgung Su nodded.
"I understand. Evacuate to a safe place and treat your wounds."
Minutes later, several Blood Cult members arrived at his residence just as the sword had warned. The Divine Azure Dragon Sword had hidden their presences while he was in a trance, but she had exhausted all of her energy.
"Keuk!" Cloaked in his defensive qi, Ak Bi deflected the bolts by spinning his spear around, but not even he could completely avoid the electrostatic discharge.
He wiped them out in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, his control over his power was still imperfect, so he accidentally demolished the teachers' dormitory and fried his enemies into charred husks.
Now roomless, he began rescuing the nearest students.
Namgung Su nodded stiffly.
"Mr. Namgung Su!"
He met with Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok's group and sent them to safety. Through them, he also learned the details of what had happened. Although Geo Sangwoong seemed to be holding back some information, the boy shared enough information for him to grasp the situation.
A loud explosion ripped through the collapsed gorge. Each time a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, the world brightened as if it were daytime, and then plunged back into darkness.
"I understand. Evacuate to a safe place and treat your wounds."
"What about you, Mr. Namgung...?"
"I shall end this battle."
WHOOSH!
Two days ago, Namgung Su had possessed remarkable skill, but he was clearly a cut below himself.
Namgung Su soared high into the sky and surveyed the entire battlefield, his senses newly sharpened by his enlightenment.
Damn bastard! Why didn't he wake me sooner?
He seethed with quiet fury, but the person he needed to question had walked right into a Blood Cult trap.
I won't let him off the hook when he gets back.
Battles raged everywhere, but he ignored the area where colossal energies clashed, prioritizing the students' safety. When he sensed familiar presences with unsteady auras, he bit his lip without realizing it.
"Stop!" he yelled, but on a battlefield filled with noise, a single voice was easily drowned out. Even a Lion's Roar would only make those nearby flinch for a moment.
Namgung Su's mind raced. He needed to attract everyone's attention.
Namgung Su nodded stiffly. "...So the sword really does talk. He wasn't kidding."
Would a warning from the heavens, so powerful that no one would dare act recklessly, do the trick?
BZZZT!
His golden eyes sparkled with lightning qi. Drawing upon the power surging through him, he unleashed his thunderous might upon the earth.
"Unless your eyes are knotholes, does that look like a demonic art to you?"
RUUUUMBLE!
A loud explosion ripped through the collapsed gorge. Each time a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, the world brightened as if it were daytime, and then plunged back into darkness.
Finally, the tragic scene on the ground below was revealed. Everyone stopped fighting and stared up at him, a new supreme master, in astonishment, whether they belonged to the orthodox forces or the Blood Cult.
Streaks of lightning pierced the storm over and over again.
Suddenly, Namgung Su spotted Ak Yeonho lying on the ground with an arm covered in blood.
His patience reached its limit.
CLANG! KABOOOOOOM!
A thunderous blast rocked the area each time Namgung Su's sword clashed with Ak Bi's spear. Every time the lightning coiling around the Divine Azure Dragon Sword drew a pure white arc, the darkness receded.
SIZZLE!
Naturally, dodging his attacks was nearly impossible.
The searing heat of the lightning cauterized the wound on Ak Bi's face, causing him agonizing pain. At the same time, he couldn't hide his shock.
Is this really the same man I fought last time?!
Two days ago, Namgung Su had possessed remarkable skill, but he was clearly a cut below himself. Today, however, he was a completely different person. Each time he blocked the instructor's sword, the Ak Clan Spear creaked and flexed. If it weren't the Ak Clan's sacred treasure, it would have shattered by now.
Now roomless, he began rescuing the nearest students.
I can't accept this!
Ak Bi's face contorted with envy. He was one of the Ten Supremes, a great martial artist known as the world's best spearman. How could someone grow enough to push him this far after only a few days?
"You bastard! Did you learn some wicked demonic art somewhere?" he accused.
Namgung Su ignored the pathetic provocation.
Only the Divine Azure Dragon Sword let out a furious cry, [Rip that fucking mouth of his apart!]
...She has a foul mouth, just like her master.
Drawing upon the power surging through him, he unleashed his thunderous might upon the earth.
Namgung Su ignored the rude remark, mentally classifying the sword as an unusual type of spirit beast. Fortunately, Baek Suryong hadn't told him that the Divine Azure Dragon Sword was actually the Dark Heaven Goddess.
The Divine Azure Dragon Sword vibrated angrily. She knew about the Blood Cult's attack, but Baek Suryong had forced her to stay behind and protect Namgung Su with sorcery instead of bringing her with him. That left her with a great deal of pent-up frustration.
"The Blood Cult? A demonic art? You mean the Lightning Dragon Hero...?"
[That shithead is the root cause of this entire incident! You must not forgive him!]
[I know, so please be quiet.]
It's not like the outcome will change if we interfere..."
Namgung Su sighed. The Divine Azure Dragon Sword may be a legendary weapon, but it doesn't quite suit me.
Of course, it was far better than his previous sword, as no ordinary sword could endure his intense enhanced lightning qi any longer.
If you wish, you may hold me in custody while you investigate."
BZZZZZT!
"Are you certain that man is the Spear King? He only has half a face..."
Each time he swung his sword, bolts of lightning shot out in unpredictable trajectories.
[You've finally awakened!] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword cried out.
"Keuk!" Cloaked in his defensive qi, Ak Bi deflected the bolts by spinning his spear around, but not even he could completely avoid the electrostatic discharge.
He grit his teeth. Martial arts that utilized lightning were known to be extremely difficult to master. However, once one reached a high level, they became some of the most fearsome in the world. Furthermore, Namgung Su had mastered more than just the Heavenly Lightning Sword Technique, he had learned the dominating Royal Sword Style.
RUUUMBLE!
An intangible pressure weighed down on Ak Bi's body, different from the aura any master could emit. The Royal Sword Style had transformed the space around them into its user's domain.
"Have you no shame? How dare a son of the Namgung Clan combine demonic arts with evil arts!"
Namgung Su snorted. In a way, his new martial art, the Royal Lightning Sword Style, did resemble a demonic art. It was so powerful that it could be considered the Namgung Clan's new ultimate divine art, destined to one day be renowned throughout the world.
First, he controlled space, restricting his enemies' movements. After that, he called down lightning, like shooting a tethered arrow at a target.
Each time he swung his sword, bolts of lightning shot out in unpredictable trajectories.
Naturally, dodging his attacks was nearly impossible. As proof of that, soot marks quickly spread across Ak Bi's body despite his defensive qi.
Ak Bi hollered, "I see it now! You must have colluded with the Blood Cult in exchange for this demonic art! You conspired with them to orchestrate this whole massacre!"
Namgung Su furrowed his brow. There was no way Ak Bi truly believed his martial arts were demonic, especially not after clashing with him directly.