Chapter 177 Land Stained with Death (3)
"Is that... your answer?"
The Sword Demon stared blankly at the demonic energy emanating from Jaun's body.
"Certainly, considering your age, you are unrivaled in the current martial world. But unfortunately, you lack time. If you had been born just ten years earlier, this martial world would have been under your feet..."
The Sword Demon slowly drew his sword and held it forward. As the Sword Demon assumed his stance, a crackling sound of lightning energy began to emanate from his body. That energy was the power of nature that a martial artist who had pursued strength and speed his entire life had instinctively obtained.
At the lightning qi of the absolute master, the founder of the Sky Severing Thunder Sword and the unrivaled swordsman in the current Demonic Cult, everything around began to fall silent.
The Sword Demon's lightning qi filled up and emitted a bright light around him.
Jaun, feeling the Sword Demon's energy that had even silenced sound, drew upon the Reverse Heaven Asura Art.
─ THUMP-THUMP
In the quiet silence, the sound of Jaun's wildly beating heart echoed loudly alone. Soon, a refined demonic energy began to stir within Jaun's body.
"Haaaah..."
As Jaun exhaled, a deep darkness instantly spread out and enveloped his surroundings. A small smile appeared on the Sword Demon's lips as he felt Jaun's energy, which was instantly penetrating his lightning qi and growing in size.
"Reverse Heaven... Asura Art. It's been a long time. I thought I would never feel this energy again."
The energy extending from the Sword Demon's body, which had a faint smile, became even stronger. Soon, the lightning qi crackled and sparked in all directions where it met Jaun's energy.
Muhyang, unable to withstand the energy of the two that was instantly occupying the space, retreated with a horrified look.
The demonic energy of the two, which was growing larger and larger, densely filled the top of the small mountain peak. The two, who were glaring at each other in the terribly thick demonic energy, continuously drew up their energy.
─ CRACK! CRACKLE!
Lightning flashes that sparked in all directions completely enveloped the Sword Demon's body, and a complete darkness like an abyss, riding on Jaun's body, became a fierce whirlwind and circled around.
─ BOOM!
─ CRACK
A fierce wind was created by the clash of the two energies. The wind pushed back the surrounding trees, and the trees that could not withstand the wind began to fall one by one.
Numerous stones floated into the air. Even a huge rock was pulled from the ground with a cracking sound and at the same time turned to dust and disappeared in the air.
Due to the aftermath of the energy emitted by the two, the area around the mountain peak began to be devastated to the point where its original appearance was hard to find.
The eyes of the two sparked amidst the fiercely rising energy.
The two, who had been glaring at each other for a moment, rushed towards each other at the same time.
[Sky Severing Thunder Sword, First Form. Thunder Scenery of a Hundred Li]
─ RUMBLE
The Sword Demon's sword was the first to extend forward. The lightning that had filled the surroundings instantly gathered into a single point and formed on the Sword Demon's sword, and soon it became a flash of light that seemed to burn the eyes and extended forward.
'...Fast.'
Jaun's foot took a step forward towards the flash of light created by the Sword Demon's sword. As Jaun's foot, which had firmly planted on the ground, stomped strongly, stone powder burst out around him. Then, Jaun's waist turned fluidly as he pushed his sword forward.
[Heavenly Killing Demon Sword, First Form. Flash Flower]
As soon as Jaun's sword, which contained a thick demonic energy, shot forward like a flash of lightning, the tips of their swords met in mid-air.
─ BOOM!
With a huge explosion, a terrible demonic energy erupted in all directions, sweeping over the mountain peak once again.
As the dust from the clash slowly settled, the Sword Demon, who had revealed himself from within the dust, tilted his head as he looked at Jaun.
"You... received it?"
The Sword Demon's eyes twitched as he looked at Jaun, who had received his sword without taking a single step back.
"This can't be. I was planning to end this meaningless act with this one strike. Even if I had no intention of taking your life, you shouldn't be able to receive my sword at that level."
Jaun, looking back at the Sword Demon's narrowed eyes, put strength into his faintly trembling hand and gripped his sword tightly.
'Hoo...'
He had no leeway to answer.
The Sword Demon's Sky Severing Thunder Sword was the only supreme divine art among the demonic arts that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Heavenly Killing Demon Sword.
He thought he had completely understood its sword path and mysteries because he had analyzed the Sky Severing Thunder Sword hundreds of times with his father, but when he actually faced it, the Sword Demon's lightning qi contained within it was beyond imagination.
With this one exchange, Jaun keenly realized that the Sky Severing Thunder Sword he had been performing so far had only been imitating its appearance, and had not even contained half of the sword's esoteric principles.
His entire body was tingling from the traces left by the lightning qi. Jaun bit his lip hard as he struggled to calm down the demonic energy that was racing madly to counter the lightning qi that was trying to penetrate his body.
'This is why the Sword Demon is considered the strongest swordsman in the Divine Cult. Unless I have the mindset of facing my father... I cannot surpass this man's sword.'
Jaun, who had bitten his lip hard, began to draw up all his remaining energy. As the Reverse Heaven Asura Art created continuous explosions within Jaun's body and increased his energy, blue bruises appeared all over his body.
The Sword Demon narrowed his eyes as he saw Jaun increasing his energy again. The Sword Demon, who was staring blankly at Jaun, had a crackling sound of lightning qi rise from his body again.
"Yes. There's something hidden. Then show me your end. I'll have to confirm right here why he chose you instead of me."
As the Sword Demon, who was glaring at Jaun with sharp eyes, raised his sword high into the sky, a black light of lightning qi instantly gathered on the sword.
As the Sword Demon's clothes fluttered as if they would tear, the sky was dyed black with the lightning qi he emitted. Soon, the Sword Demon's entire body was filled with black lightning.
As the Sword Demon, who was engulfed in lightning, jumped into the air, Jaun felt for a moment as if a black curtain had been spread in the air.
Jaun, looking at the black lightning that had instantly filled the space above his head, drew his demonic energy to the extreme. And in the midst of the spreading demonic energy, Jaun raised his sword upwards.
The Sword Demon, who was floating in the air and looking at Jaun with indifferent eyes, swung his sword down.
─ SWISH
[Sky Severing Thunder Sword, Second Form. Black Lightning Heavenly Meteor]
The Sword Demon's sword cut through the air and fell towards Jaun. With a strange cry as if the sky was tearing, the Sword Demon's energy, which had instantly condensed into a spear, was shot straight at Jaun.
─ BOOM!
As the power of lightning was added to the Sword Demon's energy, which had completely occupied the space where Jaun was standing, the ground around where Jaun was standing caved in.
─ RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
A stream of blood flowed from the corner of the mouth of Jaun, who had struggled to raise his head in the midst of the huge energy that was enough to make the ground collapse.
"Cough."
Jaun, who had concentrated all his mind on the sword, raised his sword towards the Sword Demon's energy, which was completely occupying the surroundings.
[Heavenly Killing Demon Sword, Fourth Form. Dark Soul Severing Pierce]
─ SWISH
The refined demonic energy on Jaun's sword cut through the surrounding energy. Then, the dense demonic energy on the sword shot up towards the falling spear of lightning.
─ PIING
Jaun's demonic energy, which had instantly cut through the Sword Demon's energy and soared up, met the spear of black lightning.
─ HISS
The spear of black lightning, which had met Jaun's demonic energy, twisted its body with a strange sound as if it were screaming. Then, Jaun's demonic energy, which seemed to be momentarily stopped, accelerated and pierced through the center of the spear, shooting up towards the sky at a tremendous speed.
─ CRACK
The Sword Demon's condensed lightning qi split in half and scattered in all directions. Then, Jaun's energy, which had split the spear of lightning in half, rushed towards the Sword Demon who was floating in the air.
The Sword Demon, who was looking as if he couldn't understand Jaun's energy, which had instantly cut through the lightning qi and was shooting towards him, swung his sword to the side.
─ BOOM!
The Sword Demon's body, which was deflecting Jaun's energy to the side with an unexpected heaviness, momentarily staggered.
The Sword Demon, with a stiff expression, hurriedly corrected his posture and raised his sword high into the sky again. The Sword Demon, who was spinning furiously on the spot, momentarily stepped on the air and jumped towards the higher sky.
[Sky Severing Thunder Sword, Third Form. Thunder Shadow Under the Moon]
The Sword Demon's body, which had risen into the air, scattered like mist among the surrounding lightning qi. The Sword Demon's sword, which had completely melted into the black lightning that filled the sky, transformed into dozens of lightning strikes.
As the Sword Demon, who had melted like smoke among the lightning strikes that were embroidering the sky like stars, concentrated his energy, the lightning strikes soon emitted a brilliant light that was blinding.
'It's like dozens of absolute masters are pointing their swords at me.'
Jaun gulped as he looked at the lightning strikes that were filling the sky and falling down.
'...Was Thunder Shadow Under the Moon this kind of technique?'
Although the technique itself was the same as he had known, it felt like a completely different sword style when the power of lightning was added to it.
A black demonic energy boiled up from Jaun's body to counter the bright light that filled the air. Jaun, who had clenched his teeth, drew up his energy with all his might once again.
The sound of his pounding heart filled Jaun's mind, and soon, an uncontrollable amount of demonic energy burst out, beginning to encroach on the surroundings and Jaun's entire body.
A crimson light burned in Jaun's eyes.
Jaun, who was struggling to hold onto his consciousness, which was being cut off from moment to moment as he was being encroached by the demonic energy, poured all his energy into the sword.
─ WHOOSH
A huge black flame erupted from the demonic energy contained in Jaun's sword.
"Hehehehe..."
A wry smile momentarily flashed across Jaun's lips.
Jaun looked at the Sword Demon with blazing crimson eyes.
[Heavenly Killing Demon Sword, Ninth Form. Thunderclap Demonic Fire]
Jaun's sword, which contained a huge demonic energy, drew a beautiful straight line from left to right. At the same time, black flames began to bloom from the surrounding demonic energy.
─ WHOOSH
The black flames that were blooming one by one instantly filled Jaun's surroundings.
Jaun, who had raised his eyes from among the numerous flames, burst into a loud laugh towards the sky.
"Hahahahaha!"
Jaun's laughter shook the axis of the earth.
Then, Jaun jumped up towards the sky.
The moment Jaun's body soared, the demonic fire that had filled the surroundings floated up towards the sky. Hundreds of demonic fires bloomed brilliantly to counter the Sword Demon's lightning strikes, which were falling from the sky.
─ BOOM, BOOM!
─ BAM
─ CRACK
The lightning and the demonic fire met, creating huge explosions in all directions.
The thick demonic energy that was created every time the demonic fire exploded was then sucked into Jaun's body.
Jaun, who had soared into the air, breaking through the endless explosions, suddenly felt something and turned his body towards a point in the air.
─ BOOM!
Immediately after, a thick demonic energy created a long, black trail behind Jaun, who was shooting forward like a cannonball.
Jaun, who was running through the air at a tremendous speed, swung his sword.
"Ugh."
He thought he had hidden himself perfectly in the lightning, but because Jaun's sword was aiming for his heart so accurately, the Sword Demon hurriedly raised his sword to receive Jaun's sword.
─ CLANG!
The Sword Demon, who had hurriedly deflected Jaun's sword, stared at Jaun with a dazed look.
"You created demonic fire? Impossible. How can you, who have not even achieved great mastery of the divine art, draw out the power of the Demon God!"
The Sword Demon, who was looking at the demonic fire that filled the surroundings, suddenly turned his head and stared straight at Jaun.
Deep in the eyes of Jaun, who was wrapped in a terribly black energy, something clear and pure was still shining.
"To be able to manifest the power of the Demon God without having achieved great mastery of the divine art and still have a sound mind...? How?"
─ BOOM!
Another explosion occurred in all directions.
Jaun raised his crimson eyes and watched the Sword Demon from between the exploding demonic energy and lightning.
The Sword Demon's pupils shook greatly as he looked at Jaun.
"...The chosen messenger will bring forth a single ray of life even in the midst of the complete energy of death."
A passage from the Demonic Scripture flowed from the Sword Demon's mouth.
"Are you truly the chosen one mentioned in the Demonic Scripture?"
With a trembling hand, the Sword Demon gripped his sword tightly.