Chapter 662: Waves Aren't for Avoiding, They're for Overcoming

TL: FoodieMonster007

You want to live differently?

"What kind of bullshit is this now?"

The words held no water with Jin Hyo.

"So? Are you satisfied now that you've thrown away the Cult Leader position to run errands for the Young Cult Leader?"

He probably wanted to see a negative reaction and was certainly convinced he would get one.

However, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader answered with a bright smile.

"I'm truly satisfied. The heavens have given me a gift."

Jin Hyo could tell that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader genuinely thought so. How could anyone fake that kind of ecstatic joy?

"Why are you telling me this? Are you telling me to live like an idiot too?"

Whether this Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had dementia or was lost in belated sentimentality, it felt like he was about to say, 'You should try living like this too.'

Cold words flowed from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's mouth.

"What are you talking about? You're going to die by my hand today."

"Then why did you say it?"

"Why? To show off, of course."

A curse escaped Jin Hyo's lips.

"This crazy fat bastard, really."

"Call me fat one more time and you'll regret it. Ah, wait a moment."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had been standing at the bow, turned around.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists were fighting a desperate battle against tentacles that had sprung up from all sides. One of them was in crisis. A tentacle had wrapped around the martial artist and was about to rip his leg clean off, but there was no one nearby to help him.

"……"

The tentacle that was about to rip off the martial artist's leg exploded from a single strike by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It vanished without a trace, so no blood splattered onto the martial artist.

The martial artist bowed his head in thanks, then limped back to swinging his sword.

Without looking back, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said softly, "Don't be impatient, old man. You're going to die today anyway."

A thick killing intent, as if a strike could fly out at any moment, was directed at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's turned back.

"Once you die today, my disciple's era will begin."

After all, a master of soul-manipulation arts like Jin Hyo might only appear once or twice in a generation.

Of course, Jin Hyo sneered coldly.

He intended to kill them both today and become the greatest master of soul-manipulation arts himself.

"When you two die, my era will begin."

"If that happens, the soul-manipulation arts will be lost for a very long time."

In response to Jin Hyo's questioning gaze, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader mentioned one person.

"Because you will die at the hands of the Young Cult Leader."

"Even you two couldn't kill me, and you're saying the Young Cult Leader will? Did you perhaps fall for his soul-manipulation arts?"

A strange smile formed on the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's lips.

"It's because you haven't experienced it. Yes, with our poor imagination, we could never know. I was the same."

"You say that so easily after sending your disciple to her death."

At that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shook his head.

"She won't die."

"Why are you so sure?"

"You saw it earlier. The young ones jumping into that water one after another without hesitation. Can you do that? I can't either."

"This world is a place where fools like that are the first to die."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader slowly nodded his head.

"But this is my world, isn't it?"

To say something so shameless in a world he created.

"You crazy fatso! This is my world!"

"I clearly warned you, yet you do it again."

Jin Hyo scowled. He was the one doing most of the cursing, but strangely, he was the one in a worse mood. He didn't like that look in the man's eyes, as if he had realized something.

It was at that very moment.

PUNG! POONG! PUNG PUNG!

Tentacles began to explode from all directions. They were the kind that regenerated endlessly no matter how many were killed, but just as the water beasts had burst into droplets, these too exploded, creating a beautiful halo of light.

Just as the martial artists on the ship finally caught their breath in relief!

"……"

From within the water, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme revealed herself. Soon after, Jin Hagun emerged gasping for air, followed by the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists. Some were injured, but thankfully, they had avoided any fatal wounds.

"We've broken through."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader smiled with satisfaction and praised her.

"Well done, my disciple."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme beamed. She was always happiest when she received her Master's acknowledgment.

She glanced at Jin Hagun, who was floating beside her.

"Commander Jin's help was immense."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at Jin Hagun, who shook his head.

"Your disciple did everything. We only played a supporting role."

He said as much, but without Jin Hagun, breaking through would have been much more difficult.

They leaped up onto the ship's deck.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said to Jin Hyo, "See? In my world, they don't die."

Jin Hyo no longer said it was his world. He would have to kill them to shut that annoying mouth.

Jin Hyo began to draw up his qi. A blue energy started to emanate not just from his body, but now from his eyes as well.

CHWAAAAAAK!

The waves began to surge higher.

Jin Hyo's figure, standing atop them, looked small.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked up at him and shouted, "Hey man, if you push yourself like that at your age, you'll collapse!"

The angry waves rose even higher.

Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists stared at the towering waves.

It looked as if even this large ship would be helpless if that wave crashed down on it. If they fell into the water, there was no telling what else might attack them.

"Disciple, what should we do in a situation like this?"

"I think we should evade it first."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shook his head at the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's answer.

"Waves aren't for avoiding, they're for overcoming."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stomped his foot where he stood.

"……"

A shockwave spread out in all directions from his foot.

KWAAAK! WAZZIKKEUN!

The ship's deck shattered and flew up from all sides.

What fell were wooden planks, each just big enough for one person to ride.

"Alright, everyone disembark!"

The moment he finished speaking.

"……"

The large ship they had been riding on vanished in an instant.

Atop the churning sea, everyone was now riding on the wooden fragments the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had created. Jin Hagun took care of Gwak Ju, who didn't know martial arts.

"Now, when a wave comes, you ride it."

HWIIIIING!

The wind and waves created by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader pushed everyone on their planks into the surf.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took the lead, advancing toward the oncoming wave. His excited laughter echoed thunderously.

CHWAAAAAAK.

Everyone following behind saw it. They saw the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader cutting diagonally through the massive wave, ascending it.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, Jin Hagun, and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists rode the waves together on their planks. The wind raised by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader pushed them powerfully from behind.

They never imagined they would be surfing a wave within a world of soul-manipulation.

Instead of fear, Jin Hagun's heart pounded. Gwak Ju, holding onto him tightly, was also certain this would be a moment he would never forget for the rest of his life. Of course, no one would believe it.

PUAAAAA.

And everyone saw it. They saw the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader rise to the crest of the great wave.

They saw him kick off from that crest and soar into the sky with Jin Hyo.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's red energy and Jin Hyo's blue energy clashed in mid-air. It looked as if two immortals were battling in the heavens.

KWAAANG!

The two colors, red and blue, spread across the clear sky as if it were paper, embroidering the heavens.

The first thought that came to Jin Hyo's mind at the moment of their first clash was this.

He's strong!

Perhaps his nonsensical words had made him seem weak. However, with just one exchange, he could tell. The man was astonishingly strong.

As the two men clashed in mid-air, the waves subsided as if by a lie.

Everyone stood on their wooden planks, watching the fight. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, in particular, did not miss a single one of her Master's movements.

JWAWAAAAAAK!

Jin Hyo's body instantly split, creating clones. They immediately formed a circle around the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

The True Soul Splitting Clone Art.

They were not mere clones that only looked the same. They were clones that could actually attack with one-third of Jin Hyo's power.

It was truly one of Jin Hyo's secret techniques.

But none of them attacked.

SEOKEOK, SEOKEOK, SEOKEOK, SEOKEOK!

Jin Hyo's split bodies were sliced into dozens of pieces.

Dozens of threads were suddenly spread across the empty air.

Formless strands of enhanced qi created by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader were spread out in all directions like a spider's web.

The liquid spilled by the clones as they were cut by the threads was flowing down them.

Among it was real blood.

Jin Hyo's shoulders were soaked with blood as he stared up at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader with a shocked face, his head tilted all the way back.

If he had raised his protective enhanced qi a moment later, if he had tilted his head back a moment later, his neck would have been sliced off, not his shoulder.

"Formless qi?"

It was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's martial arts, which used invisible energy as a weapon.

The formless qi he had showcased when fighting the Illusion King in the past was being unleashed once again.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's cool gaze was fixed on him.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader from down below and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader now were completely different people.

The next moment.

HUUUUNG.

The surrounding space began to spin and distort.

The people standing on the sea felt a wave of dizziness and fell from their planks. It was a vertigo that could not be resisted with mental strength.

However, they did not fall into the water.

They were suddenly in a new space.

Looking around, they were in a room filled with mirrors on all sides.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's reflection appeared in the mirrors.

A single mirror floated before the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was staring blankly at the mirror, which emanated a sinister energy.

Jin Hyo's unique martial arts, the Demonic Soul Mirror, had been activated.

The ultimate martial arts for controlling an opponent.

The moment one falls into the Demonic Soul Mirror, they are forced to obey the user's commands.

Deeming the situation serious, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme immediately tried to find her Master, but there was nothing but mirrors all around. The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists appeared and disappeared in the mirrors, and she couldn't tell where her Master was. This was a labyrinth of mirrors.

…Master!

Now, Jin Hyo's image appeared in the mirror.

"The deep darkness in your heart shall lead you to a new world, now obey my command!"

Jin Hyo's incantation echoed through the space. Jin Hyo wore a satisfied expression.

"Kill everyone here and then kill yourself!"

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, as well as Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists, were all shocked by the command. What if the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader obeyed his words? No one here would survive.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, having received the command, slowly opened his mouth. Normally, he should have been looking at Jin Hyo as he said it, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze was still fixed on the mirror.

"When did I get so many white hairs? This is all because of the Young Cult Leader."

In that instant, Jin Hyo's eyes shot wide open in astonishment. His expression twisted.

He looked at the Demonic Soul Mirror, but it didn't work?

He couldn't believe it.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, from beyond the mirror, glanced at Jin Hyo.

In that moment, Jin Hyo felt as if he were standing before a giant cliff.

He had thought it would be a winnable fight against the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, but the real Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was far stronger than he had imagined.

I can't win like this!

There was only one method left.

The next moment!

SEUSEUSEUSEUSEU.

Cracks began to form on the mirrors on all sides, and the surroundings started to change.

And they were all standing in the great hall from the beginning.

Now, the look in Jin Hyo's eyes changed. The place once filled with killing intent was now occupied by an unknowable, tragic beauty.

"So it comes to this in the end."

As Jin Hyo chanted an incantation, the objects around them began to move.

The picture frame on the wall tilted, and the flowers in the vase withered. The window opened by itself, and incense began to burn.

"The Berserk Soul Art has been activated."

The Berserk Soul Art was a technique that displayed far greater power than the Heaven-Annihilating soul strengthening art he had activated earlier.

However, it had a fatal problem. If one used the Berserk Soul Art, they themselves could not survive. Moreover, it wasn't a simple death. One would die after experiencing truly horrific pain.

"Damn it! I didn't endure all this time just to end it like this. Damn it all!"

Jin Hyo shouted as if it were unfair. However, as long as the Demonic Soul Mirror didn't work, he had no other choice.

"That damn Young Cult Leader!"

He thought this was all because of Geom Mugeuk. He was the one who had sent them here.

Then, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader roared, "Shut up! Someone like you has no right to speak his name!"

Both the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and Jin Hagun were inwardly shocked by the thundering shout. It was the same Heavenly Wind Cult Leader who was always badmouthing the Young Cult Leader.

Jin Hyo drew upon all his power with the Berserk Soul Art. He had intended to unleash all his strength in one blast to take you down with me.

Jin Hyo's expression hardened. The Berserk Soul Art did not activate.

He was shocked and bewildered. He tried to summon the energy of the berserk soul again, but the Berserk Soul Art wouldn't activate at all.

What did that mean?

"You broke through the Berserk Soul Art? But how?"

He hadn't interfered at all when he was activating the Berserk Soul Art.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader slowly walked toward him.

"If I were the old me, I would have made the same choice. Even if it meant dying in excruciating pain, I would never have wanted to die alone. That's who we are. Selfish beings who only think of ourselves."

"Shut up!"

Just as Jin Hyo tried to activate the Berserk Soul Art once more.

WALKAK.

Blood gushed from his mouth.

Jin Hyo slowly looked down at his own chest.

Something invisible was embedded in the gaping hole in his chest.

"A formless spear?"

He had been too agitated by the thought that the Berserk Soul Art had been broken through. How could I be so careless in front of a master who could take my life with a single wrong breath?

"…What happened?"

At Jin Hyo's question, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flicked his finger.

TAK!

Then, the surroundings began to change.

To his surprise, it was the space with the mirrors.

The most shocked person was the dying Jin Hyo. This space was the one he himself had opened earlier. He hadn't opened it again.

"Why is this place…?"

With an uncomprehending expression, he stared at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who was silently gazing at him.

At that very moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

"No way!"

Jin Hyo could tell. The great hall he had returned to earlier was not his original space.

"That's right. The place just now was one I opened."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had used the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to open a space identical to the great hall outside.

The appearance was the same, but it was a completely different space.

That was why the Berserk Soul Art hadn't activated no matter how he moved the objects there.

Because the Berserk Soul Art hadn't activated, he couldn't give his all in the final battle due to his shock and confusion. If I had just kept my wits about me, I could have at least killed the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, whose inner arts were depleted, or those bastards from the Demon Slaying Brigade.

Blood gushed from Jin Hyo's mouth. Even though he had experienced it directly, he couldn't believe it.

"…You noticed I had prepared the Berserk Soul Art, and you calculated this whole situation?"

"I told you beforehand that this is my world, didn't I?"

"!"

Could it be that he had been planning for this moment since then?

Only at the moment of his death did Jin Hyo realize he was facing an opponent he could never defeat.

His dying eyes filled with anger and regret.

"…So you like your 'different life'. You, who have lived your entire life in an illusion!"

He wanted to insult the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, but it had no effect.

"That illusion was my world. It is still my world."

Then, he offered some unexpected words.

"Shall I tell you why I've become so strong?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze was not on Jin Hyo, but on the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. He passed his enlightenment on to his disciple.

"Because I tried to live differently, my world within the soul-manipulation arts grew stronger."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's eyes trembled. It was a moment where her Master was setting a milestone on the path she had to walk.

In contrast, Jin Hyo's eyes trembled with rage. He was even angrier because he could feel the sincerity in the words.

Rambling about a different life until the very end. He didn't want to hear that crap at the moment of his death. He truly hated it.

"…Bullshit to the very end."

No, this is bullshit.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader forced open Jin Hyo's slowly closing eyelids. The last thing Jin Hyo saw and heard before his breath gave out was this.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader patted his own belly and asked cheerfully.

"I should probably lose some of this belly fat, right?"