Chapter 56
‘Just one more win, and I’ll be the champion!’
To calm my nerves before the final match, I chose meditation.
Erasing the scattered thoughts flooding my mind, I recited a line from the first page of the Demonic Overlord’s Sword Manual that I had memorized.
“Under the heavens, the great mountain reigns over the world.”
It was a phrase I deeply admired.
How many people in the entire Demonic Cult, under the rule of the Heavenly Demon, would dare inscribe such audacious and grandiose words at the start of their martial arts manual?
Only the unique and unparalleled Demon Empress could have the pride and audacity to do so.
I took a deep breath and engraved the lines of the Demonic Overlord’s Sword Manual into my mind as if reviewing its essence.
_
“Lady Seol-ha.”
How much time had passed?
“It’s time to prepare.”
From outside, Seo Ryeon informed me that the time had come.
“Phew.”
I calmed my breathing, gathered my energy, and quietly opened my eyes.
As I expected, my final opponent was Do-wi, the Red-Faced Black Ghost.
A despicable man known for preying on helpless women.
I was honestly pleased to be given the chance to judge such a vile creature.
Wasn’t this exactly why people trained in martial arts?
With solemn determination, I strapped my sword to my waist and stepped outside.
“You look sharp.”
Even Jeok I-geon came to personally see me off for the finals. After glancing me over, he nodded.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As I walked, I grasped the sword at my waist with my hand.
‘Let’s do well today.’
Wooong—
As if responding to me, the sword vibrated gently.
I suddenly recalled the day I first received this sword.
I had stepped into a combat stance and thrust my sword forward.
Boom!
Energy exploded from the Yongcheon Acupoint on the soles of my feet, surging upward through my entire body.
As the energy coursed through the Eight Meridians and converged in my shoulders, it layered upon itself, amplifying its strength.
The compressed energy surged into the blade like a raging torrent, producing the cry of a phoenix.
Suaaak!
But it lasted only a moment.
Crack—
Unable to bear the overwhelming, domineering energy, the blade shattered.
“Ah…”
I felt something strange stirring in my mind, as if I were on the verge of grasping something profound.
But like a mirage, it vanished, leaving only the broken hilt of the sword in my hand.
“Hahaha!”
The Heavenly Demon, who had been observing my training, burst into laughter, seemingly amused.
“I thought it might be too much for you, but I was wrong.”
As he extended his hand, a wooden box floated through the air toward me.
Whoooong—
The box emitted a low hum.
To be precise, something within it was crying.
What could it be?
As I stared at the bizarre scene, a wave of emotion suddenly overwhelmed me.
Longing? Anticipation?
I couldn’t explain it, but it felt as if I had reunited with a connection from a past life.
Entranced, I extended my hand toward the floating box.
Pop!
The box shattered into powder and scattered in the air.
“…!”
Before me appeared a sword, radiating a crimson glow as it hovered gracefully in midair.
The moment I saw it, I knew.
This sword is mine.
“The Demonic Phoenix Sword,” said the Heavenly Demon. “That is its name.”
Thus began my bond with the Demonic Phoenix Sword.
_
When I arrived at the arena for the final match, it was swarming with members of the Demonic Cult.
Not even the earlier matches in the Eight Extremities or the Semi-finals had drawn such a crowd.
Out of habit, I glanced toward the VIP seats.
There was someone new.
Jeok Hui-gyeom?
Why are you here?
Now that everyone knows I haven’t mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, did you come just to spectate at ease?
Fine. To show you the greatness of this older sister, I’ll make sure to thoroughly defeat Do-wi today.
And this time, I won’t forget to use swordsmanship.
Jeok I-geon’s nagging aside, I wanted to etch something indelible into the memories of the cult members.
That Shin Seol-ha, the disciple of the Heavenly Demon, had inherited all the genuine martial arts of the Demon Empress.
In a way, Do-wi was the perfect candidate for this first demonstration.
Do-wi, the Red-Faced Black Ghost.
A nickname earned due to his ruddy complexion.
A scumbag among scumbags, an undisputed piece of trash.
But despite his despicable nature, he was undeniably a master-level martial artist.
Even after committing countless atrocities and becoming a target of the martial world’s vengeance, he managed to survive numerous bloody pursuits and eventually pledged himself to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The cult.
A place governed by the law of The Strong Rule.
For those who walk the demonic path, it is the safest haven, but simultaneously the most perilous one.
Thus, after joining the cult, Do-wi suppressed his instincts, laying low and biding his time.
He carefully assessed his environment, gauging his position, and ensuring he could indulge his desires without consequence.
He found his opportunity in the Killing Ghost Corps.
Gaining recognition for his abilities, he climbed the ranks to become the deputy leader and began to cautiously indulge his base desires.
Though he feigned restraint for now, it was only a matter of time before he unleashed himself completely.
In the original timeline, after winning the martial arts competition, he gained favor and soared to prominence.
He must believe that defeating the Heavenly Demon’s disciple will pave his way to greatness.
Little does he know, today will be the last day he walks this earth unscathed.
“Please take care of me.”
Standing on the martial stage, Do-wi greeted me with exaggerated politeness, likely because of the many eyes watching us.
Sure, maintaining his courteous image was his current strategy.
Had I not known his true nature, I might have mistaken him for a decent person, so flawless was his pretense.
“Blades have no eyes. Though this is a sparring match, please be cautious.”
Sreung!
Do-wi drew his sword as he retreated a few steps.
“As the junior here, I’ll allow you the first move.”
How generous, pretending to be a senior granting me a courtesy.
It was clear how he had managed to conceal his vile nature for years.
“Since you insist.”
I did not refuse and drew the Demonic Phoenix Sword.
“Oh, the First Young Lady has drawn her sword!”
“Are we finally going to witness the Demonic Overlord’s Sword?”
Excited murmurs erupted as I wielded my weapon on the martial stage for the first time.
Do-wi visibly tensed.
Even he, a man of the demonic path, must have heard of the Demonic Overlord’s Sword.
Ignoring the commotion, I focused entirely on his blade.
Do-wi’s sword was longer than average, with a hilt about one and a half times the usual length.
Though he claimed it was due to his swordsmanship style, I knew better.
He had hidden a dagger within that hilt.
As a seasoned swordsman, he concealed a third of his true abilities, biding his time for the right moment to unsheath the dagger and strike at the neck or heart.
But that wasn’t all.
The dagger’s tip could be opened like a lid, revealing a small compartment filled with poison.
A last resort to ensure survival in dire situations.
We maintained a cautious distance, both of us calculating the perfect moment to strike.
Though he claimed to yield the first move, I didn’t trust him completely.
‘Disgusting bastard!’
Perhaps my prejudice was affecting me, but his gaze didn’t feel like that of an opponent in a sparring match.
His eyes seemed to undress me, filled with lecherous desire.
Truly, a leopard never changes its spots.
‘Today, I’ll make sure to ruin you for good!’
Pop!
I closed the gap in an instant with a swift step, swinging my sword at his chest.
As expected, Do-wi raised his blade to block.
Clang!
The clash of our swords sparked flames.
Locked in a contest of strength, our faces drew closer.
That’s when his narrowed eyes gleamed, and he licked his lips as if he wanted to taste me.
What a lunatic!
If his goal was to provoke me, he succeeded.
Using my left hand, which was free from the sword, I struck at his abdomen.
Bang!
Do-wi, ever composed, chose not to evade but to counter with a punch.
Palm and Fist.
Wind and Qi clashed, creating a thunderous explosion on the martial stage.
Unlike me, who stood my ground, Do-wi slid back by half a step.
How does it feel?
The difference in our internal energy is clear, isn’t it?
With a single exchange, the superiority of our martial strength was decided.
Seeing my triumphant expression, Do-wi gritted his teeth. To lose in terms of internal energy to a mere seventeen-year-old—his pride must have been deeply wounded.
The playful and mocking look in his eyes finally shifted.
It seemed he had decided to get serious.
This was the situation I had been waiting for.
“Come at me.”
I sneered, gesturing him to approach.
As if to say, Someone like you is nothing I can’t handle.
—
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