Absolute Regression

Chapter 544: I Am a Man Who Lives with Anxiety

When he was told he had become a monster, the Battle King laughed at first.

Even he thought that expression suited him perfectly.

However, an uncontrollable fury soon surged within him.

He was originally meant to become the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. Yet now, he was exuding poisonous energy from his entire body, and was called a monster instead.

‘All because of that bastard!’

From his body, a surge of force mixed with fighting spirit and killing intent burst out with overwhelming power.

Swaaaaah!

Faced with the force that flew at them as if to pierce through body and mind, both the Martial Alliance and Unorthodox Alliance martial artists drew upon their internal energy to steady their minds.

As though he had not yet shown the full extent of his abilities, the Battle King appeared increasingly powerful.

For now, the other enemies remained still, as if to first watch the fight between the Battle King and Geom Mugeuk.

No one knew when the Dark King would issue the command to attack, but Geom Mugeuk focused solely on the Battle King.

He wanted nothing more than to unleash the Nine Calamities Demon Art right away. However, inside this Sky Flower Pavilion, their own martial artists far outnumbered the enemies. Outside the walls were the Faceless Swordsmen. A careless move would sweep their own into the attack.

If he was to use a technique, it had to be a single-target one like the Human Annihilation Form or Dark Flash.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted toward the palanquin behind the Battle King.

That cautious Dark King surely anticipated he would use the Nine Calamities Demon Art. All the more reason to be extremely careful. There was no telling what kind of countermeasures they had prepared.

Geom Mugeuk concealed these inner thoughts and put on a calm front.

“Doesn’t attaching metal to your fists just make them slower?”

“But it hurts more. Every time I see these chains, I’ll remember you. You, reduced to a pile of bloody flesh by these fists.”

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

“After I kill you, I think I’ll take those chains as a trophy.”

Trying to remember me? Of course, the Battle King thought so. But Geom Mugeuk did not meet his expectations.

“When we see chains made of Millennial Cold Iron, we just can’t resist.”

He was referring to what he once said about Gowol’s chains.

“We’ll melt this one down too, and this time, we’ll forge daggers with it as a keepsake among us. Ah, guess you’ll come to mind now and then when we peel fruit with them.”

A darker murderous aura flowed through the Battle King’s eyes.

“These chains deserve to be melted in the fires of hell!”

Swaaaash!

As the Battle King’s fist struck the air, a stream of fist energy exploded forth.

KWAANG!

The force, stretched out like light, struck Geom Mugeuk directly.

Fwooooom!

A storm surged around Geom Mugeuk, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Crash.

Far behind where Geom Mugeuk had been standing, the wall crumbled entirely.

Once more, the wall of the building far behind crumbled, and then the inner building was pierced through, taking down the backyard wall as well. Had there been more buildings beyond that, the terrifying power might have penetrated them endlessly.

Fist wind surged around, causing the robes of those watching to flap violently.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk. Both Bih Sa-in, Jin Hagun, Jin Haryeong, and Yeo Jeong all looked on with deeply worried expressions. The last strike had been so powerful that it was only natural to assume he might have sustained serious injuries.

Only the Evil Smiling Demon stared at the spot where Geom Mugeuk stood with an unchanged expression.

The rising dust settled.

Geom Mugeuk stood there with both arms crossed.

He had blocked the attack without stepping back even once.

The scene the Battle King had hoped for was—Geom Mugeuk coughing up blood in agony.

But instead of blood, Geom Mugeuk spat out a mocking remark.

“That chain—what’s so special about it that it needs to be melted in hell? Artisan Gwak of the Iron Workshop in our cult will melt it down nicely.”

The Battle King’s expression grew grave.

‘Is his internal energy overwhelming mine?’

After his recent revival, the recovery process had greatly enhanced his internal energy. With the Dark Heaven Night God Art also in play, blocking that last move on the spot should only have been possible for someone on the level of the Cult Leader or Martial Alliance Leader.

The desire to defeat Geom Mugeuk swelled into madness within the Battle King’s eyes.

“Doesn’t seem like I’m the only monster here.”

To that, Geom Mugeuk responded with a grin.

“Wouldn’t it be boring if only ugly monsters like you existed? I’m the unrivaled handsome one among monsters—call me the peerless beauty monster.”

Was that even a real sentence? The Battle King had never seen a master this powerful provoke someone so infuriatingly with words.

Right then!

Whoosh!

Geom Mugeuk used the Underworld King Step to cut through space in an instant. When facing powerful opponents, Geom Mugeuk’s mocking jests were always aimed at breaking their mental focus.

In a flash, Geom Mugeuk’s sword lunged at his opponent’s face.

Shiiik!

The Battle King twisted his body to avoid the blade and threw a punch. He was indeed formidable.

Fwoooosh!

Geom Mugeuk’s sword grazed the Battle King’s ear, and the Battle King’s fist grazed Geom Mugeuk’s chin.

Ska-ka-kak!

The Black Demon Sword instantly changed course to slash at the Battle King’s neck, while the Battle King’s fist flew toward Geom Mugeuk’s side.

But Geom Mugeuk didn’t evade and let the sword fly as it was. The one to abandon the attack and retreat was the Battle King.

Leaping back in surprise, he asked with a stunned expression,

“Were you ready for mutual destruction?”

Though it was aimed at the side, taking that blow head-on would have meant death—that’s what he meant.

“No, I knew you’d dodge.”

“How could you be so sure?”

“Well, anyone without that much desperation to live wouldn’t have come back looking like that, would they?”

Provoked by Geom Mugeuk, the Battle King charged in instantly, emanating killing intent.

Cheng cheng cheng cheng!

The Battle King blocked the Black Demon Sword with his fists. The chains wrapped around his fists didn’t break, even against the Black Demon Sword.

Each time sword and fist clashed, sharp metallic clangs rang out and sparks flew.

These were two men whose combat experience could only be described as absolute.

They were volcanoes, oceans—trying to devour one another.

If the Battle King’s fists were erupting lava, then Geom Mugeuk’s sword was a tidal wave crashing down upon him.

Trading blows at close range, they then launched into motion, clashing as they moved.

They fought inside the Sky Flower Pavilion. From the first floor to the second, from the second to the third. Only the sounds of their battle echoed. Though unseen, the sounds were so vivid it felt like the fight was happening right before their eyes. With each level they ascended, the rhythm of clashing sword and fist grew faster.

Bang!

The two broke through the roof and soared into the night sky.

Cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng!

Fists and sword strikes filled the sky.

To the eye, it looked as though dozens were fighting at once.

In the night sky, dozens of swords and fists appeared simultaneously.

The trails left by the sword and fists were pure artistry.

It was more than admirational—it was awespiring.

Even the Faceless Swordsmen’s eyes were fixed skyward, and the pupils in the darkness also gazed upward.

At least in this moment, all watched not as enemies or allies, but as martial artists.

In Jin Haryeong’s heart, one feeling arose.

‘Beautiful.’

Jin Hagun felt regret. He wanted to show this scene to every Martial Alliance martial artist. Normally, he should say, “These are the kind of people you’re up against,” but—

He wanted to say this instead: “This is the path you must follow. This is what you train for—to unleash martial arts like this.” That’s how perfect the battle seemed in Jin Hagun’s eyes.

Cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng!

With every clash of sword and fist, radiant sparks flared to life.

Thus, in the night sky, new stars were born and vanished.

Bih Sa-in felt two conflicting emotions.

First, joy. That such a powerful Geom Mugeuk was his friend.

At the same time, fear. He was witnessing the future Cult Leader. He was already this strong now—how powerful would he be once he became the Cult Leader? And how much more effort would he need to match him?

He felt true joy—and yet, his chest felt heavy.

Swaaaaah!

The two fell back to the ground and resumed fighting.

As the wall collapsed with a crash, the Faceless Swordsmen outside and the eyes glowing in the darkness came into view.

The number of figures hidden in the dark continued to grow, and the glowing eyes became too many to count. Yet the Faceless Swordsmen showed not the slightest sign of fear. As the standoff dragged on, most of them had settled down—some perched on the wall, others squatting on tree branches, with just a few standing guard at the front.

As the two continued exchanging sword and fist strikes, they passed through the standoff between the Faceless Swordsmen and the eyes hidden in the darkness.

Thud!

Geom Mugeuk was pushed back, sliding all the way into the interior of the Sky Flower Pavilion.

The Faceless Swordsmen all turned their gazes toward the inside of the pavilion. There, Geom Mugeuk was frowning while rubbing his chest.

This time, the Faceless Swordsmen looked to the opposite side.

Despite landing a solid blow to the chest, the Battle King did not look pleased. Blood was streaming from his arm, which had been deeply slashed.

The Battle King strode forward once more, stepping confidently between them and entering the Sky Flower Pavilion.

The Faceless Swordsmen watched him pass with curious expressions in their eyes.

Thus, the two stood face to face once again.

“You! What the hell are you?”

No matter if he was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, no matter how much of a martial genius he was—

The Battle King glared at Geom Mugeuk with a look of utter disbelief.

Geom Mugeuk, still grimacing in pain, massaged his chest and spoke.

“If they made a dying man like you this strong, it must’ve cost an absurd amount of money.”

At first, it was unclear why he was saying this.

“I want to send you back alive again.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

The Battle King still couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words.

“If I half-kill you and send you back, your organization will be so busy saving you again that they won’t be able to do anything else, right?”

“You lunatic! Even after taking a hit, you’re still spouting garbage!”

Just as rage burst from the Battle King’s burning eyes—

The voice of the Dark King came from within the palanquin. She had stepped in to calm him.

“I’ve heard this many times before. It seems the Young Cult Leader is far stronger than we expected. I thought it was just an excuse for failure, but it turns out it was true.”

Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun both agreed with her words. Every time they met Geom Mugeuk, he was stronger than before. Realistically, no one could understand how that was possible.

Having witnessed Geom Mugeuk’s strength firsthand, the Dark King shifted the flow of this deadlocked battle.

“Let the hunt begin.”

The order was given to the Dog Man.

If chaos erupted all around, it was likely Geom Mugeuk who would lose focus. The Battle King wouldn’t care in the slightest about his allies' lives, but Geom Mugeuk definitely would.

As expected, Geom Mugeuk looked toward everyone. His eyes said, "Hold on until I can come help!" But his mouth said the opposite.

“Hurry up and kill them so you can come save me.”

A faint smile appeared on Bih Sa-in’s lips. Yes, even in this urgent moment, he maintained his composure. That was something worth learning.

Bih Sa-in spoke to the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance lined up before him.

“You heard him? Take them out and go assist the Young Cult Leader.”

“Yes!”

The Thirteen Wolves replied with vigor.

Before them, four black-clad masked figures spread out, increasing the distance between them to the left and right. They displayed an unusual lightness technique, gliding across the ground as if skating on ice.

Jin Hagun was no different.

“Did everyone hear that?”

In response to his powerful question, the Demon-Slaying Brigade roared back, unwilling to be outdone by the Thirteen Wolves.

Despite facing them all alone, the Heavenly Abomination wore a strangely composed expression. It was clear he had something prepared.

The Hellhounds growled up at the Evil Smiling Demon. Red light blazed fiercely in their eyes.

Swoosh!

Right then, without anyone expecting it, the Blood Disaster Finger was unleashed.

But the direction of the energy was not toward the Hellhounds.

Thud!

The Blood Disaster Finger, as fast as light, struck its target—it was the Dog Man.

Unable to evade in time, the Dog Man’s forehead was pierced clean through.

His body slowly tilted and then fell, disappearing with a dull thud into black smoke.

The Evil Smiling Demon’s eyes said he had anticipated this.

“As expected.”

The weakness of this kind of beast-summoning sorcery was that the enemy could target the summoner.

The Dog Man had also anticipated that the Evil Smiling Demon would target him, and had sent out a decoy.

But the Evil Smiling Demon had figured out where he was hiding. There was no way he could control those beasts from far away while dealing with his own opponent.

His gaze turned toward the Hellhounds.

The Dog Man had hidden himself by becoming one of the Hellhounds.

From within the Evil Smiling Demon’s mask, pure white demonic energy surged from his eyes.

The surrounding air began to grow heavy and stifling.

It was the Evil Smiling Demon’s unique demonic energy—Laughter of Evil Heart.

Kraaang!

One of the nearby Hellhounds, agitated, leapt onto the roof where the Evil Smiling Demon stood.

Thud!

Though the Blood Disaster Finger pierced through its body, it continued to lunge forward.

As it tried to bite his throat, the Evil Smiling Demon grabbed it by the scruff and slammed it repeatedly into the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sssssss.

The Hellhound began to vanish in black smoke.

It too wasn’t a real, living dog—it was a product of the Dog Man’s sorcery.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Smiling Demon’s gazes met.

Leaping boldly into the midst of the Hellhounds, the Evil Smiling Demon called out,

“Don’t worry, I’m unbeatable when it comes to dogfights!”

From all directions, the Hellhounds charged at the Evil Smiling Demon at once.

As the battle with the Evil Smiling Demon began, four black-clad figures holding lanterns flew toward Bih Sa-in, trailing the long shadows connected to the palanquin.

Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade did not see what happened.

The very moment they moved to attack the Heavenly Abomination—

They all vanished from that spot.

Geom Mugeuk immediately understood. They had been drawn into a formation created by the Heavenly Abomination.

As everyone plunged into battle, the enchanting voice of the Dark King flowed from the palanquin.

“I can feel it—the Young Cult Leader’s anxiety over possibly losing his friends.”

How could Geom Mugeuk not recognize it as an attempt to shake him? And yet, he admitted it without hesitation.

“You observed well. I am someone who lives with the anxiety that a friend might die in a place like this.”

“Then taking your friends hostage should be an easy way to kill the Young Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“That’s not quite right.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I’m selfish. I’m truly selfish, so I want to save all my friends—for my own sake. I want to be the one who saved everyone.”

“……”

“So it won’t work. Because I know all too well that it’s my greatest weakness.”

The Dark King fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a composed voice.

“You’re not someone easy to understand, Young Cult Leader.”

“Then allow me to share one thing with you.”

What Geom Mugeuk said next was completely unexpected.

“Because of the anxiety that I might lose someone I must never lose, I too have undergone a Great Technique. Every single day.”

Even the Battle King and the Dark King inside the palanquin seemed visibly shocked.

“My Great Technique is no less than yours.”

“What kind of Great Technique is it?”

Given his previously displayed skill, and his identity as the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it was entirely believable that he had undergone some extraordinary training.

What had started as a conversation meant to shake Geom Mugeuk had instead left the other two confused.

Without answering, Geom Mugeuk drew the Black Demon Sword once more. Something he had done every day from his life before the regression to now.

“Come. Taste my Great Technique for yourself.”

The name of that Great Technique was effort.