Kwaaang—!
It’s overwhelming.
That was the honest feeling of the original Tyrant of Madness, Mok Ing-gwang, as he fought against his opponent.
He had faced many strong foes and been in countless crises, but there was something uniquely different about this enemy.
‘What on earth is this guy?’
Just looking at the development of his body, it was clear that his opponent’s martial abilities were no ordinary feat.
Those brutally trained muscles were far beyond what an average person could achieve.
This wasn’t just some mindless brute with inflated size.
This overwhelming physique possessed matching destructive power and speed, not to mention sharp dynamic vision, an incredibly tough endurance, and instinctual combat skills to back it all up.
‘Most importantly…’
While others might not recognize it, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize it.
The madness boiling within his opponent.
It was an energy so unfathomable that any human couldn’t hope to carry it. The very notion of possessing such madness was unimaginable.
‘Even witnessing it with my own eyes, I can’t believe it. Is he really human?’
It felt like he was up against a completely different species of monster that merely resembled a human.
Thus, he chose to deliberately exploit his opponent’s strengths of aggression and pleasure to deceive instinct and create openings, and at first, it seemed to go according to plan…
Kwaaang—!
The claws of a surge of energy shot up from the corner, only to be blocked by the opponent’s hand.
However, this level of resistance was something he had faced before, so Mok Ing-gwang wasted no time in launching a follow-up attack without a moment’s hesitation.
That attack was—
Qrack!
Once again, it was thwarted.
“Khahaha!”
He was blocked before he could fully extend his strike.
Kakakak!
Again and again, his attacks fell apart.
This was a completely different reaction than at the start of their combat.
And what that meant was…
‘…He’s keeping up with me?’
The monster he was facing was learning in real time.
Not by anyone else’s means but by nourishing itself with him.
Of course, amidst this, he managed to land a few minor wounds on the enemy’s body, but they weren’t significant enough to be considered fatal.
The scars he created healed quickly with time as well.
The wounds created by the surge of energy that destroyed everything touched by the will of someone at this level regenerating so easily was absurd.
Even a master of the Current Realm would typically take longer to recover from injuries, and that was a notion he had never heard of.
“Khuugh! You, did you learn some legendary immortal technique? What kind of body do you have?!”
“Khak! You’re quite something, huh! Not many can handle it this well. Show me more, come on!”
“You madman!”
Yet the opposition was so bizarre that he found it hard to respond adequately.
He was up against a foe that was utterly beyond his grasp, standing on the very edge of the current realm.
He often showcased glory exceeding his limits through his honed martial mastery and unique physique, but there was a vast difference when facing a wall he couldn’t breach.
“C’mon, c’mon! You’re not already tired, are you? Come at me again, buddy!”
That taunt made Mok Ing-gwang’s brow furrow.
At this point, he could clearly understand.
‘Could it be that this is all he has?’
The reason this fight hadn’t ended quickly and was still ongoing was because the enemy wanted it that way.
Naturally, such a realization only fueled his anger, but there was no room for that thought right now.
‘This is dangerous.’
He was reaching his limits.
Maybe due to his frantic maneuvers, the madness that had once been his ally was now clawing deep into his bone marrow and assaulting his brain, relentlessly pounding at his Baihui point.
The source of the power he had, which was a double-edged sword he was born with, was now tightening its grip around his neck.
‘I have to decide now.’
Now he had two choices.
Either admit defeat and withdraw to calmly manage his mind and body or pour every bit of strength he had left into resolving the fight, regardless of what lay ahead.
‘…Is there really a need to choose?’
Just like always, the conclusion he would reach had already been determined.
The corners of his mouth tugged up menacingly again.
‘Yeah, while I’m not quite there yet—’
Utilizing the martial arts, the Hellish Tyrant’s Mind Method, which he had practiced daily since forging connections in childhood, Mok Ing-gwang drew upon his energy again.
With that rebound, the madness that had been restrained burst forth, corrupting his mental state, but he didn’t care about that anymore.
In a situation where he needed to prioritize saving his own skin, thinking about what came next was a luxury.
Crumble—
His entire blood flow surged as his muscles expanded.
His senses sharpened, and the thoughts in his mind focused solely on one thing.
By any means necessary, he would defeat the opponent before him.
As if he were a drug, the logic of battle spiraled in his mind, tightening and twisting.
The sheer quantity of madness his opponent harbored was truly unfathomable, yet he had the Hellish Tyrant’s Mind Method to help him handle it more efficiently.
Had he not already pierced his body a few times and drawn blood?
He still had a decent chance of victory.
He thought so.
“Kh! Let’s find out who the true Tyrant of Madness is!”
“Oh? Suddenly got aggressive… Hmm?”
As his reasoning began to fade, he charged at the enemy, who was watching him in shock.
His body draped in a crimson, swirling energy.
*
In the central city of Henan Province.
Inside a building tucked away in an alley, several individuals were engaged in a quiet conversation.
They utilized advanced techniques to perfectly block out any sound that might escape outside.
“Where’s the Tyrant of Madness?”
“As planned. He headed toward the mansion where the monster is. By now, they must have crossed paths.”
Their discussion revolved around someone who had left the city mere days earlier while chasing after someone impersonating them.
In truth, that was the very reason they had been dispatched here, so this conversation was only natural.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Based on the data thus far, it looks likely to be the monster.”
“Then again, the Tyrant of Madness isn’t one to simply admit defeat when he’s at a disadvantage. If he disregards his safety…”
“True enough, he’s bound to unleash all he’s got without a second thought.”
They quickly organized their thoughts while exchanging murmured opinions.
There was no precise answer until a conclusion was reached, but there was one point they all agreed on.
“However, the one who survives that fight won’t emerge unscathed either.”
In other words, no matter which side, they wouldn’t be able to interfere with their operations for a while.
“Well then, mission accomplished.”
“Regardless of the outcome, our part is done. What happens next is for the higher-ups to decide.”
They had drawn these two, possibly problematic individuals into battle, and now managing the aftermath would be much easier than before.
“Let’s move to the next location.”
Of course, the matter was out of their hands now, and they need not concern themselves with what became of either party.
“…To Deungbonghyun.”
Thus, the place they had vanished from was left spotless, devoid of any remnants.
Even the previous owners, who had existed here until just moments ago, were gone.
*
While the original Tyrant of Madness was exchanging blows, Harley couldn’t help but marvel for perhaps the umpteenth time.
“This is just amazing!”
It was evident that his opponent was barely at the Current Realm yet possessed formidable combat prowess.
No matter how specialized the Martial Arts World was for individual combat, this was a level that surely surpassed those of other dimensions by over half.
‘Is he using martial arts to manipulate refined madness? How incredible!’
The characteristics of these techniques played a significant role in his performance.
It almost made one wonder if anything could truly hinder him.
Such extensive adaptability was a major advantage, compensating perfectly for the limited diversity of the world’s mysteries based on energy.
‘I could definitely make good use of this.’
Harley’s response to that was quite simple.
By observing and experiencing directly, he would adapt and learn from his opponent’s attacks.
The common skill, “Imitation,” was not exclusive to Hugo, so it wouldn’t be overly difficult.
‘Plus, I have the specialization in madness with “Tyrant of Madness” on my side.’
Having devoured the core of the White Giant, his madness-related skills—“Beast of Frenzy,” “Heart of the Bone Dragon,” and “Madness Control”—had fused to evolve into one powerful ability.
Extending beyond merely manipulating madness to exerting dominance over it, the resulting power began to channel the immense chaos within him along specific paths.
But…
‘…That looks a bit dangerous.’
While experimenting diligently through a one-on-one tutorial, Harley furrowed his brow.
Crraa—!
His teacher’s state was troubling as he charged, eyes rolled back, foam at the mouth.
Using force that shattered his limits had likely led to this, as uncontrollable energies spilled from his body, completely devoid of rationality.
If left as is, the odds were high he would self-destruct.
‘There’s still so much I need to learn.’
And that was not what Harley wanted.
The technique he was currently practicing had deviated significantly from the norms of typical martial arts and seemed to be quite advanced, suggesting that it required a bit more time for him to make fine adjustments to ensure true mastery.
‘And I’ve marked him as my first subordinate in the Ganghwan Realm.’
So he needed to calm the opponent first.
“Hey there, buddy? Take a breath and let’s talk…”
“Kraa!
At that moment, Mok Ing-gwang was not in a state conducive to conversation.
Only aggression flowed through him.
It seemed he was truly ready to use any means necessary, now even drawing upon the innate energy akin to his lifeblood to supplement his waning strength.
‘If I leave him like this, it’ll be a real mess.’
It’d be second best to suppress him; for now, calming his madness was the priority.
Even if he managed to immobilize his body, the surging madness would feast upon his innate energy.
‘It’s my first time trying this on another.’
But there was no time to hesitate.
Should he fail, so be it; that was a risk he had to take.
Of course, the one carrying the penalties wouldn’t be him.
“Hoo.”
With a light exhale.
Pshew—!
Kigigig— Krik—!
Hot steam erupted from his body, accompanied by a cacophony of metallic sounds.
The right eye, imbued with a red glow, slit like a reptile’s, while the left green eye sparkled like a gem, showing signs of firmness.
Then, right after…
Kwaaang—!
Just like before, a crashing sound echoed, shaking mountains, but the results revealed were drastically different this time.
“Kahak! Let’s ease up the pressure for now.”
“Khuek!”
“Please understand, my friend. Think of it as anesthesia before the operation.”
In that decisive moment, Gem Eye: Suppression activated, and a great fist plunged deep into Mok Ing-gwang’s gut.
His momentary pause was brief, but for Harley, who had already gauged his opponent, that instant was more than enough to land a solid hit.
“Kkaaa! Ugh!”
“Whoa! Looks like this guy really! One punch wasn’t enough, huh?”
Of course, the sheer madness that flared up to his very core couldn’t be calmed with just one punch.
The fact that he’d held back some force to avoid rupturing internal organs added to the situation.
Snatch!
With one hand gripping his opponent’s head tightly, Harley alternated between clenching and relaxing his other hand while giving Mok Ing-gwang a meaningful look.
The Tyrant of Madness struggled as if trying to shake off the shock, but the unprecedented might suppressing him allowed no such resistance.
‘How effective “Tyrant of Madness” will be here remains to be seen…’
But anything was better than doing nothing.
It might be a bit too rough, but surely he’d understand.
“This might sting a little~?”
Probably.
Fwoosh!
“…!?”
And then.
The Tyrant of a great nation led an army to suppress a rebellion occurring in a foreign land.
Accompanied by overwhelming force to crush any resistance in the occupied territories.
*
There were indeed many admirable proverbs in the world.
If it doesn’t work, keep trying until it does.
What a magnificent saying!
It was just a short phrase, but the sweat-soaked effort, unwavering perseverance, and burning passion to get it done were certainly not commonplace.
‘And there was something else.’
Who said it, anyway?
A mad dog is a hawk’s remedy.
Whack— Pffft—
While contemplating that saying he had heard somewhere, Harley continued to practice diligently, striving for enlightenment.
And the result…
Thud—
“Ugh. This, this madman… Cough!”
He felt once more that indeed, nothing was truly impossible in this world.
With satisfied eyes, he looked down at the former Tyrant of Madness, as the current Tyrant of Madness slowly nodded his head.
