Absolute Regression

Chapter 545: If You Live with Me, You'll Swing in Vain Too

There was one unchanging belief that Geom Mugeuk always held.

If you worked as hard as I did, then fine, take this victory!

He had done his absolute best, so he was prepared to accept the outcome as well.

Of course, that didn’t mean he should die from a loss, but this mindset brought Geom Mugeuk a range of positive effects.

No matter how difficult the battle was, he could face it with a light heart and overflowing confidence.

Clashing once again with Geom Mugeuk, the Battle King could tell that Geom Mugeuk’s gaze was clearer and more vibrant than ever.

How could such a madman exist! These damn cult bastards! Amid all those thoughts, that was the final conclusion.

‘I must kill him today!’

Even now he was this strong—what if he encountered this Geom Mugeuk again next year? The year after that? What if he turned thirty, forty, or fifty? He would become something beyond imagination.

That feeling seemed to be the same for the Dark King within the carriage.

Ssssss.

The black energy flowing out from the carriage formed a barrier along the Battle King’s body before being absorbed into him. It was clear the Dark King had infused him with some kind of power.

“Young Cult Leader, let’s see that great technique of yours.”

Indeed, the Battle King regained his vitality. As if it were his first battle, he was invigorated.

Harnessing the momentum, he unleashed his exclusive martial art. The very same technique he had once revealed during his fight against the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

It was Chain Wind and Cloud Fist, Third Form: Lightning Chaos Dance.

Shushushushushushushushuk!

Dozens of fists, as fast as light, flew toward Geom Mugeuk.

Sasasasasa.

As Dark Shadow Step, Underworld King Step, and Lightning Flash Step were deployed in succession, a path opened up in a space that seemed impossible to escape from.

Missed punches tore up the ground and sent debris flying in all directions.

At the end of that final path stood the Battle King.

“I was waiting!”

It was a move made with the absolute belief that Geom Mugeuk would evade. As expected, Geom Mugeuk had escaped in the exact direction he had anticipated, and to that spot, he struck with his secret technique.

Chain Wind and Cloud Fist, Fourth Form: Crimson Chain Restraint.

A red energy in the form of chains burst forth from the Battle King’s palm.

Chwarururururuk!

Was it because of the chains wrapped around his hand? The Crimson Chain Restraint coiled even more powerfully around Geom Mugeuk.

Just as the Battle King, without hesitation, was about to launch Chain Wind and Cloud Fist, Fifth Form: Heaven and Earth Shattering Winds—

Geom Mugeuk suddenly asked,

“Are you ready?”

From this angle, with only the Battle King and the carriage ahead, this position ensured that not a single ally on their side would get hurt if he pushed through.

It was the moment Geom Mugeuk had been waiting for in the chaos against the Battle King. A move already made before Crimson Chain Restraint could bind him.

Sssssssssss.

The demonic spirit that appeared before Geom Mugeuk began to split rapidly.

At last, the demonic spirits revealed themselves.

No one could tell what kind of preparations they had made, but now was the time to use Nine Calamities Demon Art.

Earlier, there had been too many of their own within the arena to employ the Great Annihilation Form.

But with Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade gone, an opportunity had opened up.

From where he now stood, there were no Bih Sa-in or Faceless Swordsmen in sight. The sound of barking dogs echoed far off on the other side.

‘I’ll sweep away not just the Battle King, but the palanquin too!’

So what measures had you prepared, then?

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!

Sweeping through everything, the Great Annihilation Form charged at them.

And in that very instant—

Something astonishing occurred.

Shuuuuuk!

A black hole appeared simultaneously beneath both the Battle King and the palanquin, and they vanished into it as if sucked down.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!

The Great Annihilation Form passed right over where they had just been. It disappeared completely, even beyond the far wall behind.

In the place where everything had been swept away, a black circle emerged, and the palanquin rose from within it.

Fortunately, the Crimson Chain Restraint had been released, but Geom Mugeuk stared at the palanquin with a shocked expression.

Srrrk.

The door of the palanquin opened, and from between the hanging curtains, a hand wrapped in chains appeared.

The Battle King walked out from inside the palanquin.

Geom Mugeuk understood one thing.

“You were the one who rescued him back then, weren’t you.”

From the palanquin, the Dark King's reply came.

“That’s right. Dark Path Return Technique is my exclusive secret art.”

Back when the Battle King had first stepped out of the carriage, she had mentioned the Dark Path Return Technique. At the time, he hadn’t considered that it might be her own martial art.

Once the Great Annihilation Form was activated, the target would be suppressed by demonic energy and unable to escape.

However, not even the Nine Calamities Demon Art of the Seven Stars could prevent the Dark Path Return Technique from extracting its target.

Before, everything he wore had been left behind when he vanished, but this time, the Battle King emerged still wearing his clothes, with chains wrapped around his fists and body. With the Dark King casting the Dark Path Return Technique in close proximity, the effect had changed—it was working even more powerfully than before.

“Have some pride. Will you flee after fighting so cowardly?”

Geom Mugeuk provoked the Battle King.

But on this point, the Battle King didn’t cling to pride.

“Your Nine Calamities Demon Art is what’s cowardly.”

He had just faced the Great Annihilation Form head-on. The momentum of those demonic spirits rushing at him remained vivid. Could anyone truly block that directly?

“Only the Seven Star realm, though. That might be worth enduring once, don’t you think?”

“I’ll pass.”

Though he was obsessed with battle, victory, and revenge—he would decline when it came to the Nine Calamities Demon Art.

It was at that very moment that Geom Mugeuk launched the Human Annihilation Form in a surprise attack.

Saaaahk.

In an instant, demonic spirits appeared around the Battle King, swinging their swords.

The swords of the Four Demonic Ghosts from east, west, south, and north descended upon him.

Shwiik! Shwik! Shwiik! Shwik!

But the opponent was fast as well. Once again, a black hole formed beneath him, pulling him down.

As a result, the blades of the Four Demonic Ghosts sliced through empty air.

Geom Mugeuk saw it—how the demonic spirits aimed at him vanished with hardened expressions. He felt their wounded pride.

Rather than apologizing to the vanishing spirits, he conveyed something else in his gaze.

‘If you live with me from now on, you’ll have to swing in vain many times. That happens. Don’t be ashamed. Your master doesn’t stake his pride on things like this.’

The Battle King emerged from the palanquin again, frowning.

“I said I’ll pass.”

“I’ll keep going. If you keep stepping out of that carriage, your pride will eventually force you to fight. You’re a true duelist when it comes to battle, aren’t you? And I’m only at Seven Star!”

The Dark King stepped forward to interrupt with a veiled provocation.

“Go ahead and try. Let’s see whose inner energy runs out first. Oh, but before that, all your friends will be dead.”

At those words, Geom Mugeuk set aside his bold demeanor.

“Don’t provoke my anxiety by bringing up my friends.”

A soft laugh flowed from within the palanquin.

She was right. He couldn’t just keep wasting time like this. He needed to finish things quickly and save everyone.

He clashed with the Battle King once again. Absorbing the black energy had made him even faster and stronger. It had already been a close match, and now the gap had widened.

Chang chang chang chang chang chang!

In the midst of the fiery battle where sword and fist clashed, Geom Mugeuk finally lost one of his punches.

Puhhhhhk!

Struck in the chest, Geom Mugeuk was hurled far away and collapsed to the ground. From atop the walls and trees, the Faceless Swordsmen, who had been watching, all turned their eyes toward Geom Mugeuk. They exchanged glances.

Then, all the Faceless Swordsmen leaped down and surrounded Geom Mugeuk.

They were ones who never moved without the order of the Evil Smiling Demon—but today was an exception.

The Battle King stared at them with a scornful gaze and released killing intent.

“I’ll kill every last one of you!”

But the Faceless Swordsmen did not move an inch.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk’s face appeared between the white masks.

“I’m fine. Go back to your positions. Soma-nim will be here soon.”

Then, a soft and seductive voice from within the carriage echoed out—it was the Dark King.

“The Evil Smiling Demon will never make it in time.”

Before the watchful Faceless Swordsmen, Geom Mugeuk displayed absolute confidence.

“Wanna bet? On whether he comes or not?”

The Evil Smiling Demon was, in fact, in the middle of a brutal fight.

Swaaaak!

Two Hellhounds were swept away and vanished under the Frantic Demonic Palm.

But the Hellhounds behind them scattered in all directions to evade. They weren’t just dogs. They moved like martial arts experts.

The dreadful killing intent they emitted while growling stirred an uncomfortable fear.

But the gaze of the Evil Smiling Demon as he looked at them remained indifferent and cold.

Shuk shuk shuk!

At the Hellhound that aimed for the back of his neck, Blood Disaster Finger was released in rapid succession.

Shuk shuk shuk!

Puk puk puk!

Only after three holes were blown into its skull did it vanish into black smoke. Piercing through that smoke, another demonic hound charged in.

Puk!

As he struck the creature’s jaw upward with his fist, the Evil Smiling Demon leaped into the air.

The demonic hounds that had aimed for his legs and back sliced through empty air and shot past him. Other demonic hounds came charging in from all directions.

The Evil Smiling Demon seized the neck of one that had leapt into the air and slammed down to the ground with it.

Kwāng!

With inner energy infused into the blow, the creature dissipated into smoke upon impact.

Again, demonic hounds came rushing in from all sides.

Whiiik, whiik.

He twisted his body to dodge the oncoming hound. Then, twisting in the opposite direction, he narrowly avoided another demonic hound that brushed past his side.

Faced with dozens of demonic hounds swarming from every direction, an ordinary martial master would have faltered just from the visual terror—but the Evil Smiling Demon’s movements were so calm they were almost elegant.

Whik.

The Evil Smiling Demon’s figure quickly shot toward a target isolated on the left.

Shuk! Puk!

If the strike missed even slightly from the center of its forehead, it wouldn’t die in one hit. Only when consecutive Blood Disaster Fingers pierced through its skull did it vanish into black smoke. But this one wasn’t it either.

These creatures knew no fear. As they closed in slowly in a surrounding formation, red killing intent burned in their eyes, and their bodies shimmered with the unique dark energy of black magic.

As he hunted them down one by one, the Evil Smiling Demon focused solely on locating the dog handler. The faster he killed the handler, the less inner energy he would need to expend.

But the handler wasn’t revealing himself easily.

The dog handler was surely among these demonic hounds. At a glance, they seemed to move wildly, but there was an underlying order. Clearly, the dog handler was issuing commands from within.

Shwiik.

This time, the Evil Smiling Demon rushed toward the hound positioned the furthest away—judging it to be the safest spot in this battle. As if on cue, the other hounds charged in from all sides.

The Evil Smiling Demon pierced through the onslaught of demonic hounds using Protective Energy and struck the target.

Pung!

Under the force of Frantic Demonic Palm, the creature vanished into smoke—but the rest of the hounds remained. That one wasn’t the dog handler either.

Just then—

Kwak!

A demonic hound charging from behind bit into the Evil Smiling Demon’s arm.

But its fangs didn’t sink in. It had been a deliberate bait—he had exposed the area wrapped in Supreme-Grade Silkworm Thread.

Shuk! Puh-uhng!

A Blood Disaster Finger struck squarely in the center of its forehead, and the hound vanished into black smoke with its jaws still on his arm.

Dodging the hounds that charged in again from all sides, the Evil Smiling Demon hurled himself into the interior of Sky Flower Pavilion. Inside, he entered an entertainment room located on the second floor.

Fighting in an open space was disadvantageous, so he intended to lure them inside to fight.

However, the demonic hounds did not follow him in.

As if time was on their side, they gathered in front of Sky Flower Pavilion and looked up at the Evil Smiling Demon.

Standing by the window, the Evil Smiling Demon looked down at the demonic hounds with a calm gaze.

Then one of the demonic hounds let out a long howl like a wolf. The others followed suit and began barking in unison. The Evil Smiling Demon immediately realized—they were trying to lure him out, using the first one as bait.

Watching the barking demonic hounds, a sudden memory flashed through his mind—Geom Mugeuk barking alongside the Poison King in the martial arena that day. He had to hurry and go help Geom Mugeuk.

At that moment, a sudden thought struck the Evil Smiling Demon.

He leaped down without hesitation.

The demonic hounds, arranged in a semicircle, growled as if they were ready to pounce at any moment.

Swaaaaaaaa.

The Evil Smiling Demon began releasing Laughter of Evil Heart again.

Originally, Laughter of Evil Heart was a demonic energy that awakened the innate violence within a being. When exposed to it, one’s heartbeat quickened, and the urge to kill someone would rise.

At the start of the fight, he had released Laughter of Evil Heart not for any special purpose but to reveal his unique demonic energy before battle. It had excited the demonic hounds and made the battle somewhat more favorable for him.

But this time, there was a clear reason behind unleashing it.

Gradually, the demonic hounds exposed to Laughter of Evil Heart began to grow excited. The one closest to him couldn’t hold back and lunged at the Evil Smiling Demon.

Swaaaak!

Kwaaaang!

He exploded the creature midair with Frantic Demonic Palm and immediately intensified the release of Laughter of Evil Heart.

At the peak of its power, the demonic hounds went berserk. They lunged at him more madly, became more violent, and eventually even began biting and fighting each other.

Kwang!

The Evil Smiling Demon threw a charging hound into another one that had followed right behind. Even then, he continued to amplify the Laughter of Evil Heart, never taking his eyes off the demonic hounds.

Swoooooosh.

Even while consuming his inner energy, the Evil Smiling Demon did all this for one reason—he needed to find the dog handler.

As thoughts of Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King passed through his mind, he came to a realization.

Just like those two on that day, the dog handler must also be human pretending to be a dog—only wearing a canine shape.

If that was true—

Then in the face of extreme Laughter of Evil Heart, that one would definitely react differently. After all, a dog and a human cannot respond the same way.

When the Laughter of Evil Heart reached its peak, one of them caught the Evil Smiling Demon’s eye.

‘That one!’

He felt that its reaction was different. It was a choice made on pure instinct.

Swaaaak.

The Evil Smiling Demon charged toward it.

The demonic hounds desperately rushed in to block his path.

They lunged at him from all directions, piling on top of him.

They pounced again and again, doing everything they could to stop him. So many hounds leapt onto him that the Evil Smiling Demon’s figure could no longer be seen.

But the gaze of the demonic hound he had targeted was not that of a beast.

The Evil Smiling Demon’s hunch had been correct. That demonic hound was the dog handler.

‘He may be holding out with Protective Energy, but there’s no way he can withstand that many.’

Just as that satisfied gleam filled his eyes, the dog handler suddenly flinched.

Amid the piled-up mass of demonic hounds, an arm poked out.

A finger pointed straight at him.

Shuuuuuk!

Blood Disaster Finger shot out like a beam of light toward the dog handler.

Several demonic hounds nearby hurled themselves into its path. They had been prepared for this exact possibility.

‘Too late!’

Just as a flicker of smugness crossed the dog handler’s eyes—

Chwaaaaaak!

The Blood Disaster Finger split into five streams.

Each stream twisted sharply to avoid the blocking hounds—

Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!

—and struck the dog handler’s face dead-on.

A moment of silence followed.

Pung!

The demonic hound beside the Evil Smiling Demon’s outstretched arm burst into black smoke and vanished.

Pung! Pung! Pung! Pung!

One after another, the hounds exploded into smoke and disappeared. Amid the rising dark mist, the white mask of the Evil Smiling Demon grinned.

When the smoke finally cleared, the dog handler had reverted to his original human form.

Past the corpse of the dog handler, whose face was riddled with holes, the Evil Smiling Demon was already soaring toward where Geom Mugeuk was fighting.

‘Young Cult Leader, I’m coming!’