The Rescue Team was composed of martial artists dispatched from each clan, but the most substantial organization among them was undoubtedly the Moyong Clan. With Moyong Mo and Moyong Yeon-hwa as part of it, there were also quite a few members from the Shengsu Faction who had crossed paths with them at least once.
Naturally, the command was taken over by Moyong Seo.
Fortunately, they were able to travel a long distance without incident and make contact with the survivors of the Botamun.
The Rescue Team joined forces with the survivors of the Botamun to clarify the current situation and establish detailed plans.
And today, they were finally set to launch their operation to reclaim the Botamun.
“Please be careful.”
“Haaa, we have to run up the mountain…”
Tang Do-yeon’s serious expression and Tang So-yeol’s desperate look were evident.
Although equipment helpful for the Bicheongmacha was loaded, it wasn’t feasible to pull a cart around inside the Botamun, so Tang Do-yeon and Tang So-yeol decided to contribute to forming a perimeter.
Watching the two head off to their positions, Moyong Seo approached.
“Are you in peak condition?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Just a word of caution, even if you get caught in a fight during the entry process, focus solely on dealing with the Saber Beast. Even if martial artists behind you find themselves in a life-threatening situation. Do you understand?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. The Escort Team will thoroughly protect you and your group.”
As I nodded, I felt the Botamun growing chaotic. Many people were setting up a perimeter around Botasan, and it seemed that the Blood Sect had spotted one of those martial artists.
“Advance!”
Moyong Mo gave the command to advance without panic. With that, the entry squad of martial artists unanimously drew their weapons and began to unleash their lightness martial arts toward the Botamun.
“Go ahead! We’ll guard you!”
With the words of an unnamed martial artist from the Mu-dang Sect, my team also began climbing the mountain under the protection of the Escort Team.
By the time the shattered main gate of the Botamun came into view, fierce battles were already raging up ahead.
Pababak!!
“Chaah!”
“Graaaah!!”
The entry team dispatched Blood Persons with their attacks, while Blood Persons fell from the spray of their blood. Additionally, those engaged in combat exchanged blows with sharp weapons and blood techniques.
Although martial artists from both sides were tangled up, the number of casualties favored the Martial Forest Alliance.
The cause was undoubtedly the river of blood being spilled.
Shiisook!!
Pabuk!
“Cough!”
Compared to the Blood Persons launching long-range attacks while scattering their blood, the martial artists from the Martial Forest Alliance had to wield their weapons honestly, making the situation quite unfavorable.
Just as it seemed the martial artists from the Martial Forest Alliance were about to be blocked by the Blood Sect’s defense, a familiar figure soared high into the sky.
It was the Feng Ying Hall Master.
Swoooosh!!!
The Feng Ying Hall Master’s hands moved quickly, unleashing countless Hidden Weapons, the sounds of which echoed around like rain.
It was evident that the Feng Ying Hall Master was determined to break through the defense spread at the main gate.
“Kuhk!”
“Ah!!”
In proportion to the volumes of Hidden Weapons unleashed, the Blood Sect’s numbers fell sharply.
“Wow!!”
“Indeed, it’s the Hidden Weapons of the Tang Clan!”
The entry team, previously stalled by the Blood Bullet barrage, was revitalized by the Feng Ying Hall Master’s efforts and surged in.
“Retreat! Spread out!”
“Advance! Get in! Don’t let the Blood Sect escape!”
Moyong Mo’s and the Blood Sect commander’s voices overlapped. The Blood Sect had the advantage of using the geography inside the fortified Botamun and coordinating with the Saber Beast, while the Martial Forest Alliance needed to decrease their opponent’s forces before the Blood Sect got fully set up.
The entry squad surged in, and my team too was entering the Botamun with the protection of the first entry squad.
Unlike the relatively intact exterior, the interior showed clear signs of destruction.
From the palace halls, visibly damaged by massive claws, to the Buddhist statues and stone lanterns which should have exuded tranquility, currently broken and scattered across the floor.
I licked my lips as I gazed about the Botamun’s interior.
“Looks like they set this all up on purpose.”
The statues, stone lanterns, and the broken tiles served as numerous obstacles, though not particularly large.
Though they might seem insignificant, such obstacles would certainly trip up many when forming an Array Formation.
What could it mean to have prepared to block such an Array within the premises?
“Cunning.”
To have assumed that their opponent would lay out an Array means that the Saber Beast was lurking somewhere within the palace hall.
Not knowing when they might be ambushed, it would be wise to prepare an array formation first.
Sssss!
Startled by the sudden cunning, I directed the Escort Team.
“It’s possible the Saber Beast is hiding in the palace halls. Be cautious.”
“Understood! Spread out and search the halls!”
As the Escort Team spread their formation and members scattered to explore the halls, suddenly—
Swaaaang!!
Blood Techniques poured out from one of the palace halls. Different from the Blood Bullets seen at the main gate, these Blood Techniques were wrapped in strong Qi.
“Cugh!”
The Escort Team members struggled to fend off the numerous strong Qi attacks, but the distance between them was too far apart to effectively block them all.
As I observed the incoming Blood Techniques, I felt my team’s intentions.
With my mind linked through Oh Seong-jin, the same thought surfaced in every member’s mind.
The moment we break formation to dodge these Blood Techniques, that’s when the attacks will come.
Intentionally breaking formation, my team avoided the incoming Blood Techniques.
With the traits of Oh Seong-jin allowing each member to utilize their Qi readily, it was easy for every individual to launch a counter against the half-formed Qi of the Blood Techniques.
This was all to bait an attack from the Saber Beast.
GRAAAAAAAAH!!
Crunch crack!!
The wall on the opposite side of where the Blood Technique flew was obliterated. More specifically, it was the Saber Beast, which had been hiding there, charging toward us and demolishing the entire hall.
What a massive size and momentum it had; how had it even hidden in there?
…This must be the might of an entity protected by the Blood Sect.
No matter how low Seo Gong claimed its combat power was, casually abandoning a trained entity would surely be a sign of excessive arrogance, something I had often pondered. But the fierce presence of the Saber Beast hurtling toward me dismissed those thoughts entirely.
It was a level of strength that distinguished itself from every entity I had faced while honing the Essence of Qi.
Engaging head-on with the rampaging Saber Beast would certainly be detrimental.
My teammates quickly scattered.
Kwwaaang!!
Its huge front paw struck the ground, causing rocks to scatter like shrapnel.
And in the chaos, the Blood Techniques poured in as well.
I swung my Great Sword frantically to clear the debris and attack the incoming Blood Techniques.
If it weren’t for that commotion, the Array Formation would have already been disrupted.
In a moment of madness, I managed to stabilize my Qi, which had wavered due to the onslaught from all directions.
And simultaneously, the Saber Beast’s face surged toward me.
Those elongated fangs were aimed down like daggers.
“Huuh!”
“Suck!!”
The Black Cat and Miss Yeo Il-ye blocked one fang each. As the fangs of the Saber Beast were caught by their weapons, Dokgo I-seol moved.
Her target was its front paw.
Swoosh!
I thought she had chosen the perfect timing to strike during the exchange of strength, but Dokgo I-seol’s blade tore through empty air.
The Saber Beast’s movements were quicker than she anticipated.
This won’t be easy.
The Saber Beast was faster and stronger than any entity I had faced before.
I reevaluated its abilities and reorganized our formation.
Perhaps realizing it couldn’t attack recklessly, the Saber Beast started wandering around the Array Formation, seeking an opening.
A momentary quiet ensued.
“Leave the Saber Beast to the Brain Knife Outcast Great Hero, and the Escort Team will handle that group of Blood Sect members over there!”
Leading the way, the martial artists of the Mu-dang Sect charged into the hall where the Blood Techniques had been launched. They should be able to handle that side.
So let’s focus solely on the Saber Beast.
“Let’s go.”
We charged toward the Saber Beast en masse.
Much like the Blood Sect had prepared their defenses, we had devised a strategy to face the Saber Beast based on testimonies from the survivors of the Botamun.
What advantages would we have in this confrontation with the Saber Beast?
It came down to the number of attacks.
Despite being an impressive entity, the Saber Beast’s form was still that of a beast.
Thus, there was a limit to the number of attacks it could unleash in one go.
But we had five people who could attack simultaneously.
This wasn’t solely a characteristic of Oh Seong-jin but rather enabled by Miss Yeo Il-ye being part of our Array Formation team.
Thanks to her, Oh Seong-jin could use his combined power even if the number of individuals was small, even when dividing their Qi.
Zzzt!!
As the Saber Beast swung its front paw while constrained by the double swords of the Black Cat, Miss Yeo Il-ye aimed for the opposite paw.
In that moment, the Saber Beast’s tail came crashing down to smack her.
Using that chance, Dokgo I-seol tried to slip under its throat, but the Saber Beast’s sharp fangs blocked her path.
Stalled by the Saber Beast, Dokgo I-seol had to quickly raise her head.
Rumble!!
I swung my sword at its nose.
Kaaang!!
I struck against its thick teeth, and my sword bounced back. The Saber Beast glared at me with its fierce eyes, but it wasn’t like the Saber Beast could afford to be looking at me.
Swoooosh!!
Hyeok Gi-rin dove in, inflicting a serious injury to its front paw.
ROOOOARRRRR!!
Infuriated by the pain, the Saber Beast thrashed wildly.
Even though my body had been airborne for a moment, I managed to stabilize and land smoothly.
No matter how massive and strong the creature was, I wasn’t amateurish enough to be tossed by such flailing.
Realigning, I clashed with the Saber Beast again.
Claws, tail, and debris were all swirling around amidst the collision of strong Qi.
At times, I did adopt stances to defend, but for the most part, I faced the Saber Beast utilizing a standard stance.
KRAAAWW!!!
The Saber Beast’s attack carved through the air without striking anyone.
Hyeok Gi-rin boldly pushed forward while Dokgo I-seol twisted her upper body to narrowly avoid the Saber Beast’s claws. The Black Cat pressed down on one of its front paws as it lost its strength.
Though the Saber Beast’s fangs loomed over Hyeok Gi-rin, that didn’t deter his charge.
It was crucial to discern the range of the Saber Beast’s attacks and how to dodge them.
The Saber Beast pulled its center backward, showing a bewildered expression.
While it might have halted Hyeok Gi-rin’s advance under its body, it had no escape from the simultaneous attacks unleashed from both me and Dokgo I-seol.
Two new wounds opened on the Saber Beast’s body.
While Dokgo I-seol deftly avoided descent, the tail lunged mercilessly toward me, already anticipated, so I swung my sword with a calm hand.
Boom!!
I swung diagonally, controlling the recoil to disengage my body.
Roar!
The Saber Beast’s eyes reflected a look of surprise as I effortlessly slipped away.
And why wouldn’t it be surprised?
Having lived through many years, it must have faced numerous opponents, but it had never encountered anyone as swift to decipher its movements as we were now.
The five experts learning how to deal with the Saber Beast with each collision was the reason for this speed.
This situation meant that within just a few dozen exchanges, we had grasped all of its behavior and established optimal responses for both attack and defense.
The result was the current state of things.
Despite becoming more furious and rapid in its movements—an attempt to regain its footing—it could find no grounded path.
No, it was in a position where it couldn’t attack or defend freely. No matter how it attacked, we’d exploit every opening, continuing to etch wounds into its body, irrespective of its defensive position.
However, the tide did not shift further.
Rumble!!
The signs of fading wounds started to appear on its body, which retreated defensively.
Despite its attempts to shield itself, it could still unleash fierce movements. The wounds healing amid its furious flailing was a testament to the Saber Beast’s strength.
And at that moment, an unsettling sound reached my ears.
“Blood Sect’s resurrection, world unification!”
“Blood Sect’s resurrection, world unification!”
And soon, I could sense the presence of more Blood Persons pouring in this direction.
This was going to turn into a war of attrition.
