Resonance (2)
The flames rising from the mountainside were touching the clouds.
‘That crazy bastard.’
I spat out a curse as soon as I saw it.
Clearly the distance was considerable, yet the heat felt even here was unusual.
If the heat is this much from this distance, how hot must the center of those flames be.
I looked at the flames.
Their size was so enormous that even viewing from afar, they displayed an overwhelming majesty.
‘Ha.’
How much energy would be needed to spew out that size.
What I can be sure of is that the current me can’t produce flames that much.
Feeling the heat, I increased my speed.
I wasn’t the only one who increased it; since Mukgwon and the Demon Sword Empress running ahead increased theirs, I increased mine while gauging the situation.
Crackle.
A sound of lightning qi sparking came from the front.
Grind grind-!
The Demon Sword Empress suddenly increased her speed and shot forward.
“Vice-leader…!”
Mukgwon, seeing that, hurriedly calls the Demon Sword Empress, but she had already advanced far ahead.
Confirming that, I wrapped abundant energy around my toes.
‘Tch.’
The sensation felt is utterly unsatisfactory.
Since I can’t use the Gu Flame Wheel Art, I can’t use explosive propulsion.
Moreover, since the qi in my dantian isn’t properly recovered, doing something feels utterly uncomfortable.
‘What can I do. It’s all my karma.’
Since the one who caused the accident was none other than me, I couldn’t blame anyone.
If it were up to my heart, I’d just want to follow moderately.
‘Haa….’
But seeing those nonsensical flames, I couldn’t just do that leisurely.
Thud-!
I leaped with force.
Since I’m using a lot of energy, the difference in speed is clearly felt.
The problem is.
‘I almost fucked up.’
Trying to burst too much power, it felt like flames would pop out on their own.
Since I’m continuously maintaining demonization, if flames burst like this, it would all be for naught.
“Paljeolyeob!”
Mukgwon calls me as I dash out, but I ignored it similarly.
In the midst of that, the name grates. If I was going to make one up, I should have used a proper alias.
As I get closer to the destination, my breath feels blocked.
The black flames are still burning fiercely, maintaining their position. What vicious heat.
I scanned the air.
Above the highly soaring flames, someone is seen floating in the air.
‘That rotten bastard.’
The Black Flame Demon Emperor was floating in the air with black flames wrapped around his body.
Even in that moment, tremendous energy must be being used, but to him, it’s probably nothing.
I looked around.
Though the massive flames were surrounding all sides, they weren’t clinging to the forest and burning.
It meant he was controlling at least that much.
‘Rather than control…’
It looks nonsensical to see.
But this kind of flames itself was close to a show-off method.
The size is so overwhelming that it tingles just to look at.
There wouldn’t be a better method than this for seizing the initiative.
‘…Not that anyone can do it.’
I could boldly say this is a method only I can do.
If I have to pick, perhaps the Heavenly Demon could too.
‘But in terms of intimidation, I’m better.’
The flame evoking a tsunami was too easy to give fear to the viewers.
Since I know all too well such aspects of flames, I used this method before starting.
Look.
‘…It’s already taking effect.’
Around arriving at the heat’s domain, the others gathered there come into view.
Wearing similar white clothes, they were looking at the tsunami unfolded before them with despair.
As Mukgwon said.
A considerable force of martial artists was clustered.
‘What the.’
Moreover, looking at it, their possessed martial prowess is unusual. Almost no martial artists below the peak are visible.
A large number of martial artists at a level that could easily take vice-leader positions in sword squads of families are felt.
‘They gathered such forces?’
And that too in such a short time?
Recalling the past I knew, it shouldn’t have taken long to deploy such forces to Sichuan.
They must have gathered hastily.
Even so, it’s considerable force.
When I was slowing down while looking at them, the martial artists’ gazes turn to me.
Not very favorable gazes.
Some look with contemptuous eyes.
Some look at me with sad eyes.
‘Sadness, huh.’
The reason for looking at me with such eyes is probably because my appearance looks quite young.
Even such a young martial artist became a demon. They must be making such expressions with that thought.
Feeling the gazes, I continued moving.
I could only stop my body upon arriving at the destination.
At the arrived place, the Demon Sword Empress had already come first and was looking at the air, her gaze directed at the Black Flame Demon Emperor.
I too followed her eyes and sent my gaze to the guy.
In the high air, a man with flames wrapped around his body is visible.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor was looking down at the gathered ones with his characteristic gaze.
This place is exactly the boundary line.
The withered forest was a mark of the demons’ territory.
The green forest just one step away was the Heavenly Demon’s mercy.
The Alliance’s forces are staying behind the boundary line beyond Sichuan.
Meaning they haven’t crossed into Sichuan yet.
Kwarrruk-!
The flames start to surge.
Since the size is the size, even a little movement is a reaction.
The wave that seemed about to engulf the people anytime roars fiercely and soars high into the sky.
Grind grind grind-!
As the flames rise, pressure bursts out.
Due to the aftermath, the withered ground starts cracking here and there.
An indescribable scene.
‘To think I’d see this with my own eyes.’
I didn’t know when doing it myself, but seeing from another’s perspective, it’s disgustingly impressive.
Flames that much rising to the sky at once, how could it not be awe-inspiring to others.
Moreover, imagining those flames shooting at oneself.
Could one maintain sanity?
Kwaaaaa-!!
The sound from the flames is like a monster’s cry.
Soon, all the flames floating in the air gather to one point and take the form of a sphere, but this is a different power from the secret art Flame Jade.
‘Secret art my ass… That’s just.’
Really simply lifting and gathering tremendous flames.
Tremendous energy must have been poured to spew the flames.
Once more to float them in the air.
After that, tremendous power must be going into gathering and maintaining them at one point like that.
No matter how overflowing with energy I was at that time, pouring energy this inefficiently…
‘At least half must have been used.’
Energy is abundant, not infinite.
Even if the me at that time had a nonsensical amount of energy, using this much, it’s safe to say half of the possessed energy was used.
Nevertheless, the reason for doing this out of the blue is.
‘Seizing the initiative.’
To firmly seize the initiative from the enemy camp.
And when showing such a sight, based on my experience, it has a definite effect.
Just looking now.
“This… this is…”
Looking at the expressions of the opposing forces, it seems to have worked properly.
Despair.
Their expressions are full only of despair and fear.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor slowly confirmed such ones with his eyes.
Those who met eyes with him tremble madly or collapse crushed by fear.
It’s natural.
Whoever it is, in front of an overwhelming something, they tend to show such appearances.
The me at this time particularly dug into that well and used it.
Around when only the breathing sound of the flames is heard in the chilling silence.
The one who opened his mouth first was the Black Flame Demon Emperor side.
“Quite a lot gathered.”
At the voice with resonance mixed with energy, the enemies flinch.
“I came hearing bugs are hiding and doing something, and it’s true.”
The appearance with corners of the mouth slanted up speaking is fucking annoying. The word choice too.
Couldn’t he just speak normally…
I desperately wish, but unlike my wish, the guy’s mouth didn’t stop.
“What were you hiding here doing.”
At the Black Flame Demon Emperor’s words, they hesitate and step back.
No one could give an answer to the question.
Confirming that, the Black Flame Demon Emperor’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I’ll count to three. If no answer comes within that, there will be no further conversation.”
A threat to start war.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor, ending his words, starts folding his fingers one by one.
Each time a finger folds, the massive fireball behind the Black Flame Demon Emperor starts to sizzle and boil.
Clearly meaning to pour it if something goes wrong.
Finally, two are folded, and just before the last finger folds.
Someone walks out from among the Murim Alliance’s people.
Looking at the robe over the martial robe, seems like a leader level.
A man who looks young for a leader.
The man approaches me and the Black Flame Demon Emperor with a fully tense expression and speaks.
“…Leader of the Golden Dragon Squad. Bi Yeon-seom.”
As expected, a leader…
‘…Wait.’
Bi Yeon-seom?
Definitely a name I’ve heard somewhere.
‘Where did I hear it?’
I can’t recall well.
Looking at this, it seems not a particularly important name.
Anyway, the man who introduced himself as the leader of the Golden Dragon Squad started conversing approaching the Black Flame Demon Emperor from the side not crossing the boundary line.
“…Representing the Murim Alliance, I request dialogue with you.”
“Dialogue?”
At the words from Bi Yeon-seom, the Black Flame Demon Emperor bursts into laughter.
“Do you see this as coming for dialogue now?”
“…”
“You must see me as an idiot.”
Coming all the way to the boundary line dragging at least peak martial artists in large numbers, and dialogue? Words that can’t be understood.
Moreover.
“Just you daring to request dialogue… The cult must look really ridiculous to you.”
The very fact that just a leader level requests dialogue is the problem.
Placing abundant forces behind and a leader level appears requesting dialogue?
‘Do they really think lightly.’
No matter how many wars fought, they shouldn’t see it that way.
Even if this too is part of the plan, it’s a part hard to understand easily.
No matter how idiotic the Murim Alliance is, they shouldn’t be unaware of their place.
They are not in a position to request dialogue now.
Toward a blood-seeing starved beast, the prey should beg and beg to spare life.
I still couldn’t know why they deliberately act like this.
The reason the situation changed like this too.
The problem is.
Grrrr…
The current me only has doubts and suspicions.
But the past me won’t end with that.
The formed black flames boil even more. That appearance is like the sun.
Ssss…
The massive sphere slowly moves its bulk and changes position.
It caused an illusion as if the sun was covered.
Moreover, the Black Flame Demon Emperor slowly starts descending his body from the air.
Slowly, with the robe fluttering.
Confirming that, the Demon Sword Empress steps back a few paces to make space.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor naturally lands there.
And approaches the tensed Bi Yeon-seom.
Crossing the boundary line the Heavenly Demon drew.
It didn’t matter.
This is merely mercy given to the Murim Alliance by the Heavenly Demon.
A mercy that as long as not crossing the line, life would be spared.
The Black Flame Demon Emperor who crossed the line out of Sichuan extended his hand gently toward Bi Yeon-seom’s neck.
“You mongrel.”
He didn’t grab it.
Just slowly stroking the neck.
Just that alone, yet the air was sinking.
The flashy purple pupils meet Bi Yeon-seom’s ink-colored eyes.
“Don’t play useless tricks on me. Unlike the cult leader, my patience isn’t that deep.”
Kwaaaaa-!
The fireball covering the sun in the air starts to gradually change shape.
Each time the flames move, space distorts with vicious heat.
A sound of something sizzling and burning reaches the ears.
Once more, the shape changes.
It’s greatly distorted so can’t properly grasp, but vaguely looking.
“Wolf?”
It resembled a wolf with mouth wide open.
That appearance looked ready to devour everything anytime.