A nearby village on the brink of Beijing.
After all the residents had left, a group of people gathered in the land that had fallen into disarray after being neglected for a long time.
“Hehehe. Welcome, Gwak Siju.”
One of their representatives, the head of the Correct Faction of Martial Arts, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shin Seung Mujin, greeted the recently arrived middle-aged man with one hand in a Prayer Position.
“Shin Seung, I heard you encountered some trouble… But it seems worse than I thought. Can you fight properly?”
“Amitabha, although my training has been lacking which led to this, I still have one arm and two legs, don’t I? Hehe, I won’t be a burden, so worry not.”
“Hmmm, right. It would be ridiculous for one to doubt another when the other claims they can handle it.”
The middle-aged man’s speech felt somewhat rude, but no one challenged him for it.
Contrary to his appearance, he was about the same age as Mujin, and his status was nothing short of a giant as well.
Pacheon Dohwang Gwak Cheol, the former leader of the now-disbanded faction of the Demon Cult Alliance, who was also known as the foremost figure in the Demon Martial Arts.
This was the true identity of the middle-aged man who had just arrived.
‘…By the way, I’ve felt it even coming this far… Indeed, it’s terrifying. Now I understand why those who reported back were all in a fuss.’
He gazed at the sky toward Beijing.
There, thick, unnatural black clouds piled up high, completely blocking out the sunlight.
Rumble—
Moreover, from between the clouds, intermittent fierce thunder and purplish lightning created an instinctual sense of dread and eeriness.
As if faced with the very sky of Hell they had only heard about.
“Those lower ranks would go mad just looking at that. But it’s been said that this atmosphere has persisted for days… The Demon Cult seems to be dead serious this time.”
The face of Pacheon Dohwang, who murmured softly, hardened.
He had come here himself to recognize the gravity of the situation, yet a part of him still held some optimism.
Even though the Heavenly Demon was praised as the best in the world, he believed he wouldn’t lose if he faced them directly.
However, feeling the pressure emanating from ‘that’…
‘There’s no way such intimidation could flow from something simply conducting a ritual. The abominable existence and the heightened intensity contained within that thing. Could it truly be that the Heavenly Demon has reached the level of myth?’
His gaze, after observing the dark sky for a moment, returned to the people gathered here.
Despite a brief look, there were at least hundreds of individuals.
Each of them emanating a sharp and refined aura.
They had gathered from across the entire continent, assisted by the Dosa using the art of Teleportation, all renowned masters from their respective regions.
If it were a normal day, he would have nodded in admiration at their levels, but now, witnessing the intensity flowing from that aura, he couldn’t assure himself if they could face ‘that.’
‘Shin Seung, Sword Saint, Surah Blood Lord, and General Jeongcheon. And myself… The Current Realm rests on these five.’
His expression inadvertently frowned as he scanned the notably outstanding figures among them.
Their number was significantly fewer than he had anticipated.
‘Did they encounter some misfortune and couldn’t come, or are they abstaining for their own safety?’
No matter how many had perished due to the long conflict, names of those who had reached lofty stages should have been known in one way or another.
Only a little over a year ago, there were frequent discussions about the top ten masters in the world.
‘This is troubling.’
Whether they had perished in the chaotic state of the world or were secretly killed before the Demon Cult’s action, or simply abstained out of fear, the news was none too good.
After all, what mattered was that the odds had diminished.
“Hmm?”
Then, Pacheon Dohwang’s face twitched as he examined the numerous masters of Equation.
His gaze naturally drew towards the direction of the woods, almost like being pulled by something.
Rustle— Rustle—
His keen hearing picked up the sounds of the bushes being pushed aside, coming fast.
Something dangerously potent was approaching.
As the distance closed, his body instinctively tensed up.
‘This is…’
Such a reaction was not unique to him.
Starting from those with sensitive Qi, one by one, the eyes of those gathered began to shift toward that direction.
Some had even drawn their weapons.
“Be vigilant! Something is coming…!”
“Ugh, could it be the Demon Cult?!”
Due to the speed at which the figure approached, the wait wasn’t long.
With a collective focus, everyone’s eyes were concentrated as someone suddenly leaped out from the bushes.
“O! Looks like a lot of you are already gathered! Kyahahaha! It seems we’re a bit late!”
With a relaxed laugh that seemed to disperse the tense atmosphere.
Despite standing face-to-face with those tense warriors who had pointed weapons at him, his demeanor showed no intervention whatsoever.
In fact, it seemed he didn’t care about such trivialities at all.
As if such blades posed no threat at all.
“Hoo… It’s all your fault for dragging your feet, isn’t it? Eating and eating without pause… Planning to devour every wild animal in the mountains?”
“Ugh! Isn’t there any beast around here? They’ve all become plump and have no chance of escaping! How could I endure that?”
“…Can you tone it down a bit? I can’t comprehend how all that meat fits in your stomach!”
“Kyahaha! Aren’t we just a bit shy now?”
Conversations of nonsense began with the arrivals who emerged from the bushes.
However, Pacheon Dohwang couldn’t even afford to glance at the one who followed. He couldn’t.
He couldn’t take his eyes off the man who had appeared first.
‘I’ve heard of you. You’re the one called Shin Gwangma, right? I thought the rumors were exaggerated, so I didn’t take them seriously…’
He instinctively understood.
The opponent was not beneath him.
The tall figure, so large he had to look up to see his face, with broad shoulders, filled with fierce muscles showcasing the primal essence through tattoos and clothing.
Although his striking appearance caught the eye, that wasn’t what mattered.
What he really needed to be wary of was— what lay within that giant’s body, that unknown ‘something’ sleeping inside him.
‘What is that?’
He saw Shin Seung welcoming the giant and fell deep into thought.
Could that truly be a human?
‘No way.’
He was certain.
That being, that monster, merely took the shape of a human, but was definitely not human.
If so, then what was his true identity…
“Uh? Hey, do you got something to say to me?”
In that moment.
As he silently observed the creature, his gaze collided with the eyes of the approaching figure, who ambled like a glutton.
With a demeanor so lighthearted that it didn’t match the abyss-like gaze he possessed.
‘…I see. It doesn’t seem to matter now.’
And right after confronting the infinite madness burning within those eyes, he corrected his thoughts.
Perhaps this battle.
The odds might not be as low as he thought.
*
Finally, Harley joined the warriors of the Martial Alliance.
‘More gathered than I expected. Guess my efforts in moving around paid off.’
While Hans prepared the final stage and warriors converged from all across the continent, he didn’t remain idle either.
His task was to casually visit the powers that hesitated to collaborate, offering them what might be the solution to their problems.
Put simply, it was like a teacher visiting a student reluctant to go to school.
Now, unlike real teachers, a hint of pressure and violence accompanied his consultations.
‘This could just be seen as a kind of tough love. It’s way better than them being completely annihilated later!’
What an act of love and mercy this is!
If even after his painstaking efforts to provide them with a last lifeline, they chose not to follow the tide, then it was indeed unfortunate, but those whole groups would have to face the consequences.
Leaving those sorts to their own devices would only disrupt the harmony and peace of this world.
‘Since I knew those who’re a bit late might struggle to get here, I’ve prepared stages for them as well. Let me see, other places should be mostly ready by now, right?’
What Hans prepared was not only the stage in Ganghwan Realm.
In order to allow more people to join in this big event, small stages were set up across various parts of the continent, awaiting their grand opening.
The branches of the Demon Cult prepared in each province would formally serve as auxiliary points aiding the ceremony being held in Beijing.
While this place was the most crucial, those attacking the branches would be able to exert their sense of duty.
‘Of course, the trials must be surmountable, so I’ve calibrated the strength appropriately. If everyone gathers and works together, they should be able to wipe out the Demon Cult members without significant damage.’
If that cleansing operation failed, it would imply someone hadn’t fought earnestly.
Then it would just mean attacking the bases of those who had refused to cooperate using the remaining Demon members.
A true two-birds-with-one-stone scenario.
“Amitabha, it seems those who are meant to come have assembled.”
Just as Harley was lost in thought.
A resonant voice, imbued with profound energy, echoed, capturing everyone’s attention.
“Well then, let us move. We don’t have much time left.”
Those heroes gathered here, united under a common purpose in the face of the world’s crisis.
Following the gaze of Shin Seung, they looked in the direction of Beijing.
Rumble—
The land still shrouded in black clouds absorbed the surrounding light, turning it into a pitch-black night.
As if the transition from day to night occurred along some dividing line.
Even those among the world’s top masters had never witnessed such an oddity.
“…That place, the Hell captured by hope.”
Moments later.
Hundreds of figures leaped into the land enveloped in darkness.
*
‘It has begun.’
The top elites from Ganghwan Realm surged into the heart of Beijing in perfect unison.
Of course, amongst them were also distinguished sorcerers from the Zhuge family and Mosan faction.
“This way!”
Under the guidance of the Zhuge family’s representative, who specialized in Formation Techniques, they moved forward without breaking a single formation.
They actively resisted the malevolent energies corrupting their Qi, as well as the magic aimed at consuming their bodies and the extensive illusions leading them astray.
‘Impressive! So this is how you can apply these techniques. They didn’t teach us this back in Gonmudo.’
To properly utilize formation techniques necessitated extensive time spent synchronizing with one another.
It wasn’t something that could be used among people who were just meeting for the first time, as was the case now.
Let alone the hundreds of individuals moving as one body.
‘Well, they are a grand family. Given this, they could have easily achieved overwhelming superiority even in battles between lower warriors unless a supreme master intervened.’
But the Zhuge family had surpassed that limitation by integrating magic into their formation.
They had modified a technique originally requiring strict and complex conditions for communication, making it easier to execute and subtly connecting the surface subconscious of those nearby.
Thanks to this, the warriors could intuitively feel where they needed to be, moving without a trace of error.
‘Moreover, they can immediately identify the positions of allies in danger and adjust formation accordingly. In this world, it’s almost like being the best operators.’
With this advantage, the Martial Alliance was approaching the heart of the Accursed Realm much more smoothly than anticipated.
Otherwise, they would have struggled far more to reach the ceremonial site.
‘Well, this is not bad at all. Now, shall we officially get started?’
The throngs of hundreds moved forward with an orderly formation and speed.
Yet, just as they were about to reach the center of the ceremony unfolding in Beijing, those advancing with momentum suddenly found their steps halted.
“Huff— So you managed to crawl this far, huh? Not even realizing it’s your deathbed.”
As if lying in wait, an old man with a one-eyed glare, holding a black blade carved with ghostly shapes, sneered while blocking their path.
Behind him, an army exceeding hundreds, nearing thousands, loomed.
“The Ghost Sword Demon Master, Yeom Cheol…”
The Sword Saint, Namgoong Woo, sighed as he whispered it out.
While he had expected him here, facing him like this evoked an unavoidable sense of unease.
“Bony Horse Commander and Clear Water Horse Commander, and even Heavenly Wolf Commander…”
“Aren’t they all notorious figures among the Demon Cult? …Upon reflection, that one seems to be the legendary blood-clothed scoundrel, Blood Mountain Elder. The Blood Sect has actually allied with the Demon Cult.”
“Wait! That Jiangshi! Why is our Elder here?!”
Immediately upon confronting the military forces of the Demon Cult blocking their path, the morale of the Martial Alliance, which had been bursting with energy, took a hit.
Roughly estimating, the number of masters amongst the Demon Cult seemed to be comparable to their own, not to mention the appearance of those thought to be missing or dead, revealed as Jiangshi, shaking their hearts.
And behind them—
“…Blood Demon.”
Pacheon Dohwang muttered lowly as he watched the ranks of Jiangshi advance slowly.
It was the very one he had previously recognized as his nemesis.
The last time he saw him, he was alive and full of energy, yet now he appeared stiff like a wax doll.
Although he hadn’t particularly liked him due to differences in disposition, he certainly acknowledged his skill.
Yet to think such a supreme master would appear in this state…
‘They didn’t just ally with the Demon Cult; rather they were defeated and absorbed. To what extent have they been plotting?’
Yet the chaos that had shaken the Martial Alliance subsided for a brief moment.
Having endured all sorts of battles, the elite warriors soon composed themselves, forming their ranks and readying for combat.
The warriors tightened their grips on their weapons and sorcerers prepared their altars and charms to counter the Demon Cult’s sorcery, ramping up the tension.
With an explosive surge of energy from both sides, the oppressive atmosphere tightened.
In that moment.
[“So you’ve come as far as here, vermin of the Martial World.”]
A voice wrapped in sinister power resounded across the battlefield.
“Ugh!”
“T, this is…!”
“Grr!”
Those of lower levels staggered, desperately trying to stabilize their churning stomachs.
Some even bled from their lips.
A ghastly voice that seemed to shake the very space itself.
The sound that seemed to emerge from Hell tainted their minds merely by being heard, scattering their internal energies.
[“After coming all this way, I suppose I ought to welcome you with grandeur as a host.”]
The current number one in the world and the leader of the Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon.
The moment the final boss of the scenario had arrived.
‘This is quite impressive. After all, a first appearance should be impactful.’
The one orchestrating the battlefield behind the curtain.
With the production crafted by Hans in full swing.
