The heavens cried as lightning invaded their domain with its thunderous noise, The Earth trembled when the fierce bolts powered by qi struck it. The heavy downpour did nothing but increase the intensity of the lightning. It was as if the heavens were crying.
“Kuh….”
The body of the Sword Emperor lay in a crater, his bones mangled and torn and his clothes reduced to nothing but ash. Except for his pants.
“Trai…tor,”
The Sword Emperor barely managed to utter those words. His mighty figure had been reduced to an old man on the verge of death…No.
One step of his had already stepped into the domain of death.
“…”
Above him, on the border of the crate lay the Heavenly demon, his figure upright and fine. It was as if he had just come back from a stroll…Not a fight against the man known as the Emperor of Swords himself.
“Namgoong Yoon.”
He called out the name of the Sword Emperor.
“How…is it?”
He asked, his voice containing a hint of uncertainty.
“Haha…fuck you.”
But all he was met with were curses from the Sword Emperor.
“Daring to ask the state of the outside world…when you are the cause…Fucking pathetic.”
“…”
“Cough!”
The Sword Emperor wheezed his last breath, but could it be said to be his last?
The tower would bring him back…and begin another loop of his miserable existence.
His body started to disappear into white light but the regret on the Heavenly demon’s face remained.
“What am I doing…?”
He wondered as he sat down on the muddy ground, the rain falling on his head felt quite…
Agonizing.
It was as if it was the blood of all that were suffering because of him, not rain. The water felt heavy and different.
He sighed and lay down on the ground, his eyes seeking refuge from someone….seeking hope.
“What point is there…in this?”
He wondered.
How long…until someone…someone appears?!
Has he been tricked?
[No, you had not been.]
The tower answered his questions, He glared at the sky with animosity.
“What do you want now?!”
He roared, his demonic qi surged and battled against the downpour. It was like the sea itself!
The demonic energy was so vast that its bright red hue covered the entire heavenly demonic mountain, bathing the raindrops in a shade of red.
Now…they looked like proper drops of blood. A sea of blood had formed!
[Your efforts are futile.]
The tower remarked, enjoying the scene fully.
The heavenly demon raised his ink-black blade and sliced the skies apart.
The dark clouds parted and the bright rays of the sun appeared, to shine its light impartially upon all of the Heavenly mountains. In mere seconds, the water evaporated.
But this was not because of the sun…it was the manifestation of the rage of the Heavenly demon. The water in the surroundings had evaporated because of that.
[I did not trick you.]
The heavenly demon, however, refused to believe so. He swung his sword again, and the dark clouds completely disappeared this time.
[Such Strength…]
The tower was amazed, even though it had expected the heavenly demon to be strong…
Was just phenomenal.
He didn’t just cut the clouds…but the skies themselves…Nay. His strike was so powerful it reached the heavens of Murim, the force so powerful even the earth and seas quaked.
An entire realm was shivering due to the attack of one individual… its strongest individual.
[Calm down.]
Said the tower, it didn’t want to waste energy by restoring Murim if the Heavenly demon destroyed all of it. Thankfully for it, the heavenly demon had calmed himself down of his own volition. He didn’t want to see the world die because of him.
That would go against his very existence.
[And have you not noticed?]
The words of the Tower caught his attention. He looked at the sky with a glare.
“…what?”
Asked the Heavenly demon, still apprehensive of whatever the tower would dare say,
He had learned to not trust its words.
[A challenger has appeared.]
Shortly upon receiving the news, the heavenly demon’s eyes widened. He used his aura(Ki) to enhance his eyes and observed all of Murim.
“…”
And then he found the challenger, climbing up the steps that led to the Heavenly Mountain, his state miserable.
“…He defeated the Sword Emperor.”
The heavenly demon gasped. He looked closely at the first challenger,
Hair as black as ebony, and black eyes, an aura of the Ki of Metal around him. He walked up the steps with an unsteady gait. The injuries on his body were severe, but he still didn’t give up and fought against the biting cold of the heavenly demonic mountain, slowly but steadily climbing the mountain,
[Didn’t I tell you? I keep my promises.]
The heavenly demon was still shocked.
He continued observing the boy, but soon a disappointed look appeared on his face.
[Why? What’s wrong?]
The tower asked, confused. Wasn’t this what the heavenly demon wanted..?
Then why the frown?
Why the look? As if he just tasted shit?
“He is not capable enough…”
Sighed the Heavenly demon…after so long someone appeared but even he was weak!
The heavenly demon’s wish would not be fulfilled by this!
[You can at least try.]
The tower urged him on, to at least give the boy a chance!
The heavenly demon clicked his tongue, he held his ink-black blade and flew downwards. His fall was as gracious and slow as a feather.
The demonic qi surrounding the mountain disappeared and the heavenly demon met the young man that was climbing up the tower.
“Why did you not rest?”
Asked the Heavenly demon. But the young man, Daniel, did not respond. He only raised his blade and attacked.
The heavenly demon parried his sword and cut his chest, but the boy did not give up. He then slammed the pommel of his sword into the nape of Daniel and rendered him unconscious.
“…Send him to the lobby. I do not wish to kill such trash.”
After so long, a challenger came.
But he was unworthy.
The heavenly demon silently returned to his abode, waiting again. For Another…worthy challenger.
𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮