The six array formation teams of the Heavenly Demon Sect were entangled with their entities, and Wi Seoryeon stood in the way of Gu Mo-seol, who was charging forward leading the martial artists.
As expected, the Hawk Entity appeared, separating me from Wi Ji-cheon, while Blood Ancestor led the Black Serpent in our direction.
The leaders of each faction, as well as the battles between the martial artists, were important, but ultimately, the key to the outcome of this battle lay with the main forces of both sides: the entities and the array formation teams.
And right now, the battlefield was filled with elements that favored the entities.
The entities ran rampant, disregarding any blind attacks.
But what about the array formation teams?
A chaotic melee unfolded, where sounds of combat, energy clashes, and vibrations were heard from all directions, and the martial artists of the Blood Sect were doing their utmost to disrupt the array formation teams.
Maintaining the array formations is already difficult and requires intense concentration; how could one perform with their full potential in such a chaotic environment?
Despite these dire conditions, the array formation teams continued to face the entities.
Thud thud thud!!
While the efforts of the array formation teams played a part, a more definitive factor was the activity of the Bicheongmacha racing across the battlefield.
Boom!!
Whenever the array formation teams showed a gap, they would swiftly charge in, launching iron chains, nets, tear gas, and more to hinder the entities’ movements and immobilize them. In the meantime, the array formation teams would regain their composure and steady their formations.
The current situation was indeed a deadlock.
The moment any array formation team began to falter, the momentum would swing overwhelmingly in favor of that side.
Probably.
The reason I could only say “probably” was that I was too occupied repelling the relentless assault from the Black Serpent and Blood Ancestor before me.
I was simply gauging the state of the battlefield from the frantic screams of the array formation leaders, the roars of the entities, and the deafening sounds of the Bicheongmacha.
The Black Serpent’s body twitched.
Noticing the signs of an upcoming attack, we transformed Six Star Chen into Ice Existence, and just then, the attack came.
Kaboom!!
Black Cat, bolstered by the power of Ice Existence, received a strike from the Black Serpent. Although it had merged with Ice Existence’s principles in a low-level martial skill, it couldn’t perfectly deflect the strength generated by the Black Serpent’s enormous size.
Receiving shock from the blow, Black Cat stumbled back, losing some strength, and at that moment, Blood Ancestor shot a blood bullet.
Once again, the formation changed with the attack aimed squarely at Black Cat.
One strike.
Qi is inherently destructive, but the power of Qi varies according to mastery. While the attack against the entities was manageable, responding to Blood Ancestor’s strike required either myself, Hyeok Gi-rin, or a high-level martial artist.
Boom boom boom!!
“Ugh!”
With Hyeok Gi-rin’s painful groan, blood bullets ricocheted everywhere. Though strengthened by Six Star Chen’s power, fending off the attack from a high-level martial artist was still no walk in the park.
Black Cat was losing strength, and Hyeok Gi-rin was left defenseless from the impact. The Black Serpent could not attack, but Blood Ancestor had a conspicuous opening.
Just as Blood Ancestor’s eyes glimmered, about to shoot another blood bullet, his expression twisted.
Shhhiiing!
A crimson qi soared through the air.
In order to counter the qi shot by Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon, Blood Ancestor had no choice but to fire his blood bullet.
In the meantime, we took a breath and reorganized our formation.
Piiiing!!
The entities were undoubtedly troublesome foes.
Their intelligence was so high that instead of targeting merely Wi Ji-cheon, they aimed to attack the array formation teams, effectively restricting Wi Ji-cheon’s movements.
Yet, even the entities could not completely bind Wi Ji-cheon’s hands and feet.
While responding to the entities’ attacks, Wi Ji-cheon displayed remarkable composure, intervening with qi support every time we found ourselves in danger.
Could one truly credit him as a Heavenly Demon?
Fighting alongside him was an undeniable reassurance.
On the other hand, Blood Ancestor must have found the whole affair incredibly frustrating.
As soon as we regrouped, he charged at the Black Serpent.
If Blood Ancestor devised a strategy to overturn the current situation, things would get complicated.
He launched a significant attack.
“Haaah!!”
Miss Yeo Il-ye unleashed a dual lightning strike against the Black Serpent, prompting Blood Ancestor to click his tongue in response.
From Blood Ancestor’s perspective, merely maintaining the status quo wasn’t a bad outcome.
The Bicheongmacha would tirelessly support the wavering array formation teams of the Demon Sect, but in the end, the fight between entities and array formation teams heavily favored the entities.
If the current situation persisted, it was likely that the first one to collapse would be me and the Heavenly Demon Sect, so Blood Ancestor had no urgent need to take risks.
After relying on the aid of Wi Ji-cheon, I barely managed to restrict the onslaught of the Black Serpent and Blood Ancestor for a moment.
As the battle prolonged, I could feel Blood Ancestor’s attention being drawn towards Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon.
In a battlefield where everyone was pouring their heart and soul into the fight, it was only natural for Blood Ancestor to fixate on the one who remained to supplant his side—Wi Ji-cheon.
At that thought, the fierce emotions transmitted through Six Star Chen connected with Black Cat.
“It’s fragmented.”
“Yes, indeed.”
Just as Miss Yeo Il-ye readily agreed, Dokgo I-seol became furious.
“Why not retaliate? If ignored by Blood Ancestor, you should pay him back immediately!”
“We must confirm who the opponent is.”
The usually gentle Moyong Yeon-hwa also appeared to be uncharacteristically angry.
“It’s fine…!”
I attempted to calm the heated emotions of the group, but everyone except me advanced, leaving me no choice but to follow suit.
It wasn’t really an issue for me.
What’s the big deal about being ignored? At that moment, I felt no discomfort. In the future when reminiscing about this moment, I might roll around in despair saying, ‘Aigoo, Ho Cheon-an, what were you thinking!?’ But right now, I barely had time to consider those feelings, as I was calculating strategies.
As the fight dragged on, my companions’ energy and stamina were visibly dwindling.
The Black Serpent bore numerous minor injuries, and Blood Ancestor’s prosthetic arm and leg were losing blood, but if we began exchanging mistakes, the side comprising myself and my allies forming Six Star Chen would suffer even more significant damage.
Thus, my judgment was to stay as calm as possible and wait for the right opportunity.
Yet, my companions were already boiling with excitement.
Perhaps due to elevated emotions.
The responses of the array formation grew sharper, and my companions’ movements became more precise.
“I’m not okay! I’m going in!!”
“Show him the hot taste!”
Hyeok Gi-rin unleashed a flurry of attacks.
Taken aback by our sudden shift to aggressive maneuvers, the Black Serpent was caught off guard.
Swoosh!!
Swoosh!!
Significant wounds were carved into the Black Serpent’s body. As it staggered, Blood Ancestor hurriedly fired blood bullets. To counter Blood Ancestor’s shots, Black Cat stepped forward.
Not in defense, but in offense.
Blue-White Wave.
Jang Yi conjured azure waves to block the blood bullets. With a difference of two ranks in mastery, no matter how much assistance came from the array formation, it was impossible to fend off in a direct clash.
So it became a battle of sheer numbers.
“I’ll make you pay for taking your eyes off!”
“Resolve!”
Dokgo I-seol’s ten thousand blades followed the opening left by the scattering blood bullets caught off guard by the flow of Creation.
Boom!!
With a heavy thud, the Black Serpent stumbled back. As it staggered, my comrades erupted in cheers.
“We did it!”
“It’s the Six Star Chen led by Ho Cheon-an who is truly your match!”
Observing my companions who were genuinely thrilled about dealing a blow to Blood Ancestor was both amusing and heartwarming.
I felt a strange tickle in my heart, grateful that they seemed more furious for me than I was for myself.
Perhaps sensing my feelings, smiles spread broadly across their faces.
“Let’s go full throttle!”
“Let’s bring down that serpent and turn the tide!”
With our spirits lifted, my companions shouted. This time, I nodded in agreement. With this momentum, with this excitement, I felt as though we could accomplish something.
Seeing our spirits rise, Blood Ancestor’s face twisted with fury and fierce blood surged within him.
“Ugh… these brats!”
Was he trying to regain the momentum he lost?
My companions and I stood tense, observing Blood Ancestor’s movements. Stopping even a few drops of blood was exhausting enough, let alone facing an entire torrent.
But Blood Ancestor did not aim his blood surge at us.
Screeeam!!!
At that moment, a thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield.
Even as we fought desperately beside our opponents, it was a sound that could not be ignored, the one determining the fate of the battlefield.
Our heads instinctively turned in the same direction.
There stood Wi Seoryeon, covered in wounds.
Her lips bore the color of blood, and her raised right arm was tattered, clothing and flesh alike marked by shards of energy. Yet, her crimson eyes shone with bravery sharper than ever, standing proudly.
While the entities and the crowd mingled chaotically, I couldn’t see what happened to Gu Mo-seol, but surely they had either fallen or fled.
A glance confirmed that Wi Seoryeon was in no condition to continue battling, so if considering her strength, I had to assume that Gu Mo-seol and Wi Seoryeon had effectively disengaged from the battle at the same time.
“The Heavenly Demon has defeated the Black Serpent Gu Mo-seol!”
“Cheers! Cheers! Long live the Heavenly Demon!”
“Invincible Heavenly Demon Sect!”
On both sides, the martial artists led by Blood Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect, the outcome between these two individuals would greatly impact the morale of the fighting martial artists.
The martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Sect would push back the martial artists of the Blood Sect, and with the main force holding fast, the insurrectionary movements of the Blood Sect’s martial artists to disrupt the array formation teams would falter.
Should this develop, the balance of the ongoing contest, previously tipped slightly against us, would start to swing in our favor.
“Wi Seoryeon did it!”
Black Cat clenched her fist in joy.
“We can’t be outdone!”
“Absolutely!”
With the mood heating up, my comrades ignited their fighting spirit towards the Black Serpent and Blood Ancestor.
I too scoured the scene, controlling my heightened emotions as I glared at Blood Ancestor and the Black Serpent.
“That useless bastard…”
Blood Ancestor snickered at Wi Seoryeon.
Given that he was on the massive Black Serpent’s head, he had likely caught sight of Gu Mo-seol’s situation.
Now Blood Ancestor’s eyes shifted toward us.
“There’s no other way.”
And then, a haze rose from his prosthetic limb. Rather than mist, it seemed more like a beacon constructed of blood fog.
That sight heightened my tension immensely.
Until now, Blood Sect had only deployed one entity.
Yet now they were mobilizing multiple entities all at once. One could say this was a testament to their full combat readiness, but starting with their whole hand at the beginning?
The odds that had tilted in our favor—beginning to shift unfavorably—meant they would likely unveil their trump card.
What exact means did Blood Ancestor prepare?
While I remained alert, I noticed the movements of the Mosan Sect’s Taoists becoming frantic.
Before Jo Jin-hwi, the Sect Leader of the Mosan Sect, an oddly shaped orb covered in countless talismans was being prepared, while the Taoists clustered around him chanted incantations relentlessly.
It was clear to anyone that they were deploying some significant sorcery, but sadly, we were too far away to interfere with the Mosan Sect’s ritual.
What spell were they trying to conjure?
I quickly grasped the answer.
“Senior Ho!”
The one with the highest mastery among our group, Hyeok Gi-rin, urgently called out to me. His eyes pointed toward the ground beneath us.
Deep underground.
A potent surge of energy pulsed from below.
Boom!!
The unsettling currents of energy manifested as a shake of the ground. The faint vibrations we felt beneath our feet escalated into tremors, quickly becoming strong enough to threaten our balance.
Crash!! Crackle!!
Kaboom!!
The crack of the earth and the peculiar tremors! The martial artists, engaged in intense exchanges, and the entities and array formation teams embroiled in battle all stumbled, caught off guard by the tremendous vibrations sweeping across the battlefield.
Instinct whispered to me.
I didn’t know what it was, but we needed to get out of here immediately.
“Run!”
Though it was an urgent command with no elaboration, the rest of the team, connected through Six Star Chen, understood instantly and began to perform their nimble aerial movements.
But—
Kaboom!!
Before we could even take a few steps, Blood Ancestor shot blood bullets that enveloped us.
“Ugh!!”
An overwhelming resolve was evident in the wide ranged brutal attack; he sensed no compromise in preventing our escape.
Caught in Blood Ancestor’s onslaught, our feet were effectively stuck.
While the ground tremors and splits unnerved us, we had to properly counter Blood Ancestor’s blood bullets, gathering the power from our formations, or we’d be assuredly in trouble.
Kabooommm!!
Despite Blood Ancestor’s unyielding barrage, the tremors drew even the martial artists who had been fighting for their lives to momentarily sheath their weapons to flee, but Blood Ancestor showed no inclination to retreat, driving relentless assaults in our direction.
Momentarily unable to budge in response to that overwhelming barrage, our eyes met with Blood Ancestor’s.
Realizing the confidence etched on his face, it dawned on me.
Having been immobilized, we had fallen into the trap Blood Ancestor had laid for us.
Boom!!
And just as that realization struck, the ground below us gave way.
No.
Swoosh!!
In a flash, the ground beneath us, including the area where Blood Ancestor and the Black Serpent stood fell apart.
