Absolute Regression

Chapter 660: The Most Magnificent Bitch I Had Ever Seen

The wind roared in.

The beast-like howling wind carried his fury.

His voice came riding on the wind!

“This is my world!”

The fierce wind seemed as though it could fling everyone off the cliff at any moment.

Facing the rushing wind, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme spread both arms wide.

Whiiiiiish—

Then, all the wind converged on her.

Standing firmly in place, she alone bore the typhoon-like force.

Jin Hagun and the martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade stood beside her, watching.

It was then that Jin Hagun saw it—the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme grinning like a madwoman.

She was enjoying this very moment of battle.

Whiiiiiiiiiiiish—

The wind grew even stronger.

The spiral pattern engraved on her cheek blazed with even greater intensity.

When the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme did not budge despite the assault, the wind gradually began to die down.

Once it ceased completely, she spoke to Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists standing atop the cliff.

“This is a view you’ll never see again—enjoy it.”

At her words, everyone looked around.

They had been too focused on the crumbling cliff to think of looking, but from this cliff-top with clouds flowing far below, the scenery was truly breathtaking.

A fleeting gift from the martial art known as the Soul Reaping Art.

Moments later, the surroundings began to change.

Sssssk—

The space shifted back to the grand hall where they had originally been.

From the air, his voice resounded.

“I take back what I said about you being cute.”

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme laughed as she replied,

“Still, my heart fluttered a little. It’s been a while since I’ve heard that, after being called a bitch for so long.”

Jin Hagun involuntarily chuckled.

He had not expected a Demon Supreme to speak so freely.

Jin Hagun asked her,

“Even without a body, can one still exist like this?”

“He is using the Body-Transfer Technique.”

The Body-Transfer Technique, a type of Soul Reaping Art, was an advanced martial art that allowed one to move between bodies.

“Unless you kill the main body, you cannot kill him.”

Meaning the only way to break this space was to find and kill the main body.

“If the main body is too far away, the Body-Transfer Technique cannot be used. Which means the main body must be somewhere in this space.”

“Here?”

Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists looked around the grand hall in surprise. But there was no place where a body could be hidden.

Then, a voice drifted down from the air.

“You will never find my body.”

“What’s so precious about it that you’ve hidden it away so carefully?”

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme moved her lips, reciting a mnemonic verse. A violet radiance began to flow from her forehead.

Saaaaaa—

Then came a startling sight.

Sluuurrp—

The closed eye etched on her forehead slowly began to open.

The Ghost Art Eye.

A violet radiance flared as the Ghost Eye swept its gaze around.

The moment its pupil stopped, her figure shot through the air.

Buuuuuk—

Like tearing a sheet of cloth apart, she ripped the very space with her bare hands.

The air split open, revealing what lay beyond.

In that pitch-black void, an old man floated with his eyes closed.

Swaaaek—

An inner-force-infused palm strike flew straight toward the old man’s head. She had no hesitation—she meant to kill him instantly.

At that very moment, the old man’s eyes snapped open.

When her palm struck, he was no longer there.

Her fist had only slammed into the endless blackness.

Kwa-boom!

The old man landed heavily on the floor, his footsteps echoing. Turning his back to her, he spoke quietly.

“To think you’d even use the Ghost Art Eye?”

He could hardly believe it. The Ghost Art Eye was not merely a martial art for detecting concealment—it was an ultimate-level technique hidden within the Soul Reaping Art, capable of uncovering the truths buried inside it.

When he first saw the closed eye on her forehead, he had doubted it. Even drawing it was rare, and even if one managed that, using it so effortlessly was nearly impossible.

When the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme turned toward him, the torn space mended and returned to its original form.

Her third eye slowly closed and then vanished altogether. It was a special Soul Painting—something she could use only once.

The old man faced the direction where she and the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists stood.

He looked like a kindly elder, the type one would never expect to meet inside a world shaped by the Soul Reaping Art.

“Who are you?”

The first to recognize him was Hwa Song. At first, he thought he was mistaken—this was not someone he should ever meet in a place like this.

But there was no doubt.

“Master Jin?!”

Jin Hyeu.

He was one of the two great instructors who taught the Great Righteous Soul-Reversal Art.

Jin Hagun knew him, as did the martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade. Which meant the man who had just tried to kill them all along was none other than the well-known, affable Master Jin.

Only now did Jin Hagun understand—

That under the lead of the Hermit of Heaven and Earth, So Jeongrak the poison user and Jin Hyeu the Soul Reaping Art user, had been deeply embedded within the Martial Alliance. No—it wasn’t infiltration. They had lived alongside the Martial Alliance all this time.

If their scheme had not been exposed this time?

If these three had plotted something decisive—and worse, drawn in other enemies?

The thought alone sent a cold shiver down Jin Hagun’s spine.

Jin Hyeu’s gaze was now colder than ever. The force of his presence inside his own body was far more overwhelming than before.

Jin Hagun was doubtful.

The power radiating from Jin Hyeu was so overwhelming, he wondered if the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme could truly face him.

“Why didn’t you fight in your own body from the start?”

Jin Hyeu replied,

“For the likes of you, I didn’t need to reveal my true strength.”

He smiled leisurely—only for the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme to shatter that composure.

“Bullshit.”

A twitch ran across the corner of Jin Hyeu’s eye.

“You didn’t because you didn’t want to die.”

From her words, Jin Hagun understood—if someone like them fought in their true body and died, that was the end.

It was also why, when caught earlier by the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s Chain-Soul Binding, he had begged to escape—he simply didn’t want to die.

“You’re a coward to the very end.”

At Jin Hagun’s remark, Jin Hyeu’s voice turned icy.

“Leader Jin, watch your mouth!”

Who was talking to whom right now?

Jin Hagun was utterly dumbfounded. The only words that wanted to come out were curses, so—like the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme had done earlier—he silently pressed a finger to his lips.

Shhh.

That gesture—telling him to shut up—made Jin Hyeu’s fury explode.

Shhhk—

In an instant, he lunged, aiming a ruthless strike at Jin Hagun’s cheek.

But he never reached him.

Clang!

Looking down, Jin Hyeu saw chains already coiled around his body.

It was the Chain-Soul Binding unleashed from the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s right hand.

His gaze slid toward her.

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme gave the chain a turn around her wrist with a metallic clink and said,

“Trash should be fighting this bitch here.”

A murderous glint burst from Jin Hyeu’s eyes.

“You damn pair—!”

He seized the chains and yanked hard toward himself.

Clang! Kkwaaaak!

The chain stretched taut, and from the spiral pattern on her face, light flared.

Blue radiance also began to seep from the surrounding space.

Seeing this, Hwa Song let out a sigh.

‘The Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art is working at full force.’

As an enhancement to the Soul Reaping Art, the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art’s effect could not be compared to Soul Painting. It required far more preparation and would have cost a fortune in materials.

And since he had activated it himself, the effect was beyond measure.

Sure enough, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme began to be dragged forward.

The flame-shaped mark on the back of her left hand lit up—

And real flames burst forth, racing along the chains toward Jin Hyeu.

Bound by the chains, he could not evade.

Fwoooosh—!

Jin Hyeu’s body was engulfed in fire.

The Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists watching all thought the same thing—

‘Burn to death!’

The very next moment—

Ssshhhaaaa—

A surge of blue energy erupted from Jin Hyeu’s body, and—

Tunng!

The sharp snap of metal breaking rang out.

Clang! Clang!

The chains binding him had been severed.

Still wreathed in flames, Jin Hyeu strode forward.

The blue light surrounding him shone even brighter, and slowly, the fire began to die out.

Jin Hyeu brushed at his irritated brow.

“You crazy bitch! That was hot!”

Even with the situation turning against her, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme showed no sign of being cowed—when it came to swearing, she was better.

“Guess some trash doesn’t burn so easily.”

With a murderous glare, Jin Hyeu charged at her.

When the two drew close enough to be entangled—

Chuaaak!

Blade-like tendrils burst from Jin Hyeu’s back, lancing toward her heart.

Kkwaak—

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme caught them barehanded.

The tendrils writhed, trying to slip free of her grip.

Just as a second tendril shot out from his back—

Shhhhk—

A slash of sword energy swept across Jin Hyeu.

Thud! His head jerked back, and blood trickled down his face from a long, clean cut.

It was Jin Hagun’s sword energy.

“That trash is our trash. We’re the ones who’ll take it out.”

Led by Jin Hagun, the martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade charged him all at once.

Chwaaaaaa—

A transparent barrier sprang up before them.

Thump—

Knocked back for a moment, Jin Hagun surged forward again, driving his sword into the barrier, his inner energy pushed to the extreme to tear it apart.

The other Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists also hurled themselves at the barrier.

Then—spikes of invisible force shot out from the barrier like awls, stabbing into Jin Hagun. Not just one—dozens, like a porcupine’s quills.

Even as he drew up his Protective Energy, the stabbing force delivered searing pain.

Still, he refused to give up on tearing the barrier apart.

Jjiiiiiik—

The barrier began to rip, and as Jin Hyeu’s focus shifted toward him—

Puaaaak!

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme yanked the tendril hard, tearing it free. She hadn’t missed that split-second when his strength faltered.

Paaaaak!

Blood burst from Jin Hyeu’s back, and a beastly roar tore from him.

“You crazy bitch!”

He lunged to rip her arm away, but her shadow rose like a living thing, darting toward him—

Sarararararak!

The shadow wrapped around his face, constricting his neck.

She didn’t miss the chance—her fist drove toward his abdomen.

Tung! Tteo-eong!

Her fist bounced off the blue aura surrounding him with a metallic clang.

“Uaaaargh!”

With raw strength, Jin Hyeu ripped the shadow apart. In sheer force, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was being overpowered.

But by then, Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade had broken through the barrier.

Shhhk! Shhhk! Shwik!

Sword energy rained down toward him—

And in an instant, the surroundings shifted.

Splash!

Jin Hagun and all the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists plunged into a sea. As they swam and looked around, they saw they were in the middle of an endless ocean. No small rocky islands, only the distant line of the horizon.

“Where is the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme?”

At Jin Hagun’s shout, a voice came from behind.

“I am here.”

Turning, they saw her standing atop the water behind them.

It wasn’t that she was using light footwork to hover—this was the world of the Soul Reaping Art, so she could stand as if on solid ground.

But the martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade could not.

To them, this was truly underwater.

“Uh!”

Just then, one of the brigade members was suddenly pulled down into the depths.

And not just one—others were dragged down as well.

From beneath the surface, Waterfolk emerged, wielding weapons. They were shaped like humans, but their bodies were covered in scales, and gills flared along their necks—an eerie, twisted form.

Some unknown force dragged the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists deeper and deeper.

Underwater, they swung their swords and fought the creatures.

But in the water, they were at an absolute disadvantage. Their internal energy drained far faster, and the strength of their strikes fell short.

In contrast, the creatures’ attacks were much faster—and stronger.

While fighting, Jin Hagun glanced around. The situation was grim.

That unknown force kept pulling them down, making it impossible to surface. They held their breath and endured while fighting, but soon reached their limits—

Then, suddenly, the force reversed, yanking everyone out of the water.

Ssshhwaaa—!

The martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade, along with the Waterfolk, all soared into the air.

“Now! Kill them all!”

At Jin Hagun’s command, the Demon-Slaying Brigade struck all at once. Underwater might be another matter, but in open air—how could the Waterfolk hope to match them?

Under the onslaught of sword energy, every one of the Waterfolk was cut down.

Splash! Splash!

Both the corpses and the brigade members fell back into the sea.

Everyone knew—

It was the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme who had pulled them out.

“Thank you.”

At Jin Hagun’s gratitude, she smiled.

“Isn’t this fight a real shitshow?”

From anyone else, he might have agreed that this cursed Soul Reaping Art was exactly that. But with her, he didn’t feel like saying such a thing.

“No.”

She stared quietly at him for a moment, then smiled.

“Our Leader Jin is far too gentlemanly.”

Praise from the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme? She was truly a woman one could never predict.

It was then—

“Look there!”

At a Demon-Slaying Brigade member’s shout, all eyes turned toward the corpses of the Waterfolk.

Pop. Pop. Pop!

Like bursting bubbles, the corpses exploded—

And in their place, new Waterfolk formed.

The faces of Jin Hagun and the brigade hardened. Against such foes, their internal energy would run out first.

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, however, looked entirely unfazed, as if she had expected this.

And that wasn’t all.

Ssshhwaaaaaa—

From far off, a massive wave rolled in.

Atop the towering swell stood Jin Hyeu.

If they were swept away by that massive wave, everyone would be scattered and then attacked by the Waterfolk beneath the surface.

It was a clear attempt to break them apart and destroy them one by one.

In that hopeless moment, Jin Hagun looked toward the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.

The patterns on her face had all vanished, leaving only the faint glow of the flame-shaped mark on the back of her hand.

And her face, drained by the extreme consumption of internal energy, was pale.

“Demon Supreme, you should escape first.”

He believed that someone like her surely had some hidden means to save herself.

He could not allow her to die here as well.

“I suppose I should.”

When she readily agreed, Jin Hagun felt relieved and offered a respectful fist salute.

“I will never forget the debt of your aid until now.”

She looked at him and smiled.

“Planning to live alone? I really am a bitch, aren’t you?”

Jin Hagun smiled back.

“In that case, you were the most magnificent ‘bitch’ I have ever seen. I will see you in the next life.”

The martial artists of the Demon-Slaying Brigade, still in the water, also bowed their heads in respect. None of them feared death.

Just when it seemed she was about to leave, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme changed her mind.

“I would like to go as well, but I cannot.”

“He will understand.”

Geom Mugeuk, this Demon Supreme did her best, so do not be too harsh on her and yourself.

But she gave a reason none of them expected.

“It’s not because of the Young Cult Leader, but because I am still in training.”

Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists all wore expressions of confusion at her words—

When suddenly, a dark shadow fell over the place where she and Jin Hagun stood.

Everyone turned to look behind them.

They were stunned. It was not a cloud blocking the sun.

Ssshhwaaaaa—

A colossal ship was cutting through the water toward them.

Never in their lives had they seen such a massive vessel. The wave Jin Hyeu was driving forward seemed like nothing more than a small ripple before it.

At the bow of that ship stood the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, arms folded.