Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 418 – Battle of Numbers (6)

-Jureureuk!

In a dark hall.

Blood trickled down the corner of the mouth of a shadowy figure seated on a stone throne.

Eventually, the being opened its eyes.

Not just two eyes, but also the third eye on its forehead.

-Kwa-deureuk!

The sturdy stone armrest of the throne crumbled helplessly in the being’s grip.

The being’s three eyeballs were tinged with anger.

Because it had connected half of its consciousness through an almost identically constructed eyeball, it fully felt the aftermath of the self-destruction.

The feeling of instantaneous annihilation.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling even for a being that had lived for ages and gone through countless experiences.

‘To lose power like this, even if it’s just a part…’

At a glance, replicating consciousness seemed like creating a completely separate object, but that wasn’t exactly the case.

It should be seen as connecting and sharing consciousness with the main body.

Therefore, part of the power had to be contained, and because it lost the replicated consciousness’s eye, it had to lose the power infused there as well.

-You said it was a perfect move, but the result is not at all.

One of the consciousnesses clicked its tongue and spoke.

Then the eyeball on the forehead squirmed, and another consciousness expressed its opinion.

-You know there was a big variable since you watched together.

-You’re the one who said no variable would be a problem.

-If it could have been killed easily, we could have resolved it back then, a hundred years ago.

-What?

-Kwang!

The being, filled with anger, stomped on the floor.

The floor not only cracked, but the entire dark hall shook violently as if an earthquake had occurred.

-Kureureureureu!

As the vibrations of the shaking hall finally stopped, one of the consciousnesses spoke as if to soothe:

-Calm down, companion.

-Calm down? Not only have we lost part of our power, but So-wol has fallen into his hands again. And you can say such things?

-It’s not completely lost.

-What are you trying to say?

To that question, one of the consciousnesses spoke in a meaningful voice.

-Didn’t I tell you? He will desperately seek us out.

***

“I leave the rest to you now.”

As soon as those words ended, Mok Gyeong-un’s pupils, which had been full of absolute majesty, trembled slightly, and then his gaze and atmosphere changed.

Mok Gyeong-un, now back to his normal self, looked at his palm covered in burnt ashes from Three Eyes’s burst eyeball.

‘…What is this?’

Mok Gyeong-un was seized by a strange feeling.

Last time, he felt completely controlled by that being inside him.

But this time was different.

It felt more like being assimilated.

It felt like their wills were in harmony, almost as if it were another self.

He had even communicated intentions to it, hadn’t he?

[Deceive him.]

Indeed, the being inside him had accepted that intention and deceived him.

And it willingly returned control of the body.

What exactly was the purpose of this being inside him?

As his mind was becoming confused, a tremendous cheer erupted from the direction of the square.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

It was the cheering of the society members under Mok Gyeong-un.

They had been worriedly watching the sky even while fighting enemies, thinking Mok Gyeong-un was in danger.

But when the mist cleared and they saw Three Eyes, or rather Young Master Na Yul-ryang, limp as if dead, they were convinced Mok Gyeong-un had won.

That’s why they were shouting these cheers of victory.

“Huh?”

Amidst such cheers, Chunchu of the First Realm of the Secret Society, who had been facing off against Ou Cheon-mu, one of the Seven Heavens and the master of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, stuck out her tongue with a somewhat surprised look.

‘Even if it wasn’t the main body, that Mok-gan lost even after using the Great Void Sealing Technique?’

The Great Void Sealing Technique was an ancient secret technique that had even sealed the Assassin King of the Sea, one of the Six Demons infinitely close to divine beasts.

Naturally, she who had predicted Mok-gan would win couldn’t help but be surprised.

How could a mere human be this strong?

Her gaze towards Mok Gyeong-un became strange.

-Seuk!

At that moment, Ou Cheon-mu pointed his sword at her and said:

“It didn’t go as you predicted. The tide of battle has turned. Of course, I think you’ll continue to fight, but with my lord joining…”

Before he could finish his words,

“I surrender.”

Chunchu of the First Realm withdrew her energy and then raised both hands as if she had no intention to fight, saying:

“I surrender.”

At this, Ou Cheon-mu frowned, unable to hide his bewilderment.

Even though their leader had been defeated, he hadn’t expected her to surrender so easily.

At the very least, he thought she would act in an unexpected direction or fight desperately, being one who led non-human beings.

“What kind of trick is this?”

“The leader has lost, so I’m surrendering gracefully. What’s tricky about that?”

“……”

It’s still suspicious.

I should block her energy channels and thoroughly subdue her first to prevent any tricks.

-Mortal!

-Pat!

At that moment, Cheong-ryeong, who had recovered some of her spirit power, flew up and approached Mok Gyeong-un’s side.

She too must have been very worried, as she showed signs of relief upon seeing Mok Gyeong-un safe.

“Cheong-ryeong.”

-You really…

Cheong-ryeong, with slightly reddened eyes, was about to say something but then closed her mouth.

Then, as if nothing had happened, her eyes filled with resentment again as she looked at Na Yul-ryang, whose face was held in Mok Gyeong-un’s hand, and asked:

-Did you kill him?

“No. He’s not dead.”

-…Don’t tell me you’re leaving the finishing blow to me to give me a chance to resolve my grudge?

Cheong-ryeong asked in a tone that suggested she was slightly moved, thinking Mok Gyeong-un had considered her feelings.

However, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and answered:

“I wish that were the case, but not this one.”

-What do you mean, not this one? Mortal, didn’t you also acknowledge that this guy is Bi Yong-heon and that Three Eyes?

“I did, but to be precise, it’s not the real consciousness.”

At this, Cheong-ryeong asked with an expression of incomprehension:

-Not the real consciousness? What do you mean? If it’s not real, are you saying it’s fake?

“Rather than fake, I should say he constructed his consciousness identically?”

-Constructed his consciousness identically?

“I’m not sure how he did it, but it seems he can transfer his consciousness and power through the third eye.”

-The third eye… Are you saying he’s not just a Imaemangnyang being capable of simple parasitism?

“Yes, it seems so.”

Mok Gyeong-un had observed the conversation between the being inside him and him.

Thanks to that, he learned a bit about Three Eyes, but also had some questions.

The conversation was so abstract that it was difficult to understand, but it seemed as if the being inside him knew this Three Eyes.

Moreover, even this Three Eyes knew the being inside him enough to spew out anger.

[So this was the reason for that strange sense of dissonance, as if I had killed him but hadn’t.]

[Yes, the emotion of desperately wanting something can also be called greed. But how dare you, who arbitrarily took what belongs to me, speak to me about greed?]

The moment he heard this, strangely enough, what Cheong-ryeong had said came to mind.

The man Cheong-ryeong had loved in her past life as Ryu So-wol.

For some reason, their conversation made him feel as if Cheong-ryeong’s past story was continuing.

‘…Could it be.’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

At that moment, he heard someone calling out to him from somewhere.

“Y-Young Master Mok! Please help!”

Mok Gyeong-un looked down in puzzlement at where the cry was coming from.

There was a woman covered in wounds, and she was Gi Ok-ryeon, the eldest daughter of Sun Rock Valley Master Gi Hae, who was the most loyal follower and long-time friend of Wi So-yeon, the youngest disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society Leader.

What’s going on?

Come to think of it, Wi So-yeon and most of the factions following her hadn’t been seen.

But why has Gi Ok-ryeon appeared in such a state?

As he was wondering, Cheong-ryeong said:

-Hand him over to me and go.

“Na Yul-ryang?”

-Yes. Since his body was controlled by him, he might remember something.

Cheong-ryeong believed that he must know something about him, as Three-Eyes had dwelled in him, even though she didn’t disbelieve Mok Gyeong-un’s words.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un nodded and handed the unconscious Na Yul-ryang over to her.

And then,

-Tak!

He landed lightly on the ground where Gi Ok-ryeon was.

Gi Ok-ryeon, with tears welling up in her eyes, spoke in a pleading voice:

“Young Master. Please help. Lady Wi So-yeon has been kidnapped by unknown individuals.”

“Kidnapped?”

“Yes, the Bright Blade King and my father, the Sun Rock Valley Master, faced them but… Sob…”

She couldn’t continue speaking properly as she shed tears.

This was because most of the blood on her clothes was her father’s.

He, who had desperately tried to protect Wi So-yeon, lost his life with his body cut in half by the enemy’s hands.

As she recalled her father’s last moments, her grief intensified, making it difficult for her to speak properly. Mok Gyeong-un asked her:

“What happened to the Sword Demon?”

This was why Mok Gyeong-un was puzzled.

Although Wi So-yeon had her own faction following her, just in case, he had sent the best swordsman, Sword Demon Ji-oe, whom he had recruited as a subordinate from the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, the sacred land of swordsmanship.

“Sword Demon?”

“Ji-oe.”

She understood when he mentioned Ji-oe.

Although Ji-oe called himself the Sword Demon, he was more renowned in the world as the Mad Swordsman obsessed with swords.

“He, he sent me to you, Young Master.”

“Ji-oe sent you?”

“Sob… Yes, Master Ji-oe joined and fought together with the Bright Blade King against that enormously large man, but he’s too strong.”

The Bright Blade King Son Yun was quite large, but this man was even bigger than him.

She had thought they would surely subdue him somehow, as one of the Five Kings and her father, an executive, and supreme experts at the level of great hall masters had stepped up, but he was a tremendous monster who far overwhelmed them.

That’s why Ji-oe, who had joined belatedly to help them, hastily sent her to Mok Gyeong-un.

‘Why?’

For a moment, Mok Gyeong-un became suspicious.

If they were desperately targeting Cheong-ryeong, it could be understood because Three-Eyes was also Bi Yong-heon.

But even though Wi So-yeon was Cheong-ryeong’s twin sister and looked exactly like her enough to believe it, she was strictly a different person.

So why did they kidnap her?

Moreover, Ji-oe was a master of the Transformation Realm, and the Bright Blade King Son Yun was also a warrior approaching that level.

They didn’t deploy forces here that could overwhelm even these individuals fighting together, but used them just to kidnap Wi So-yeon?

‘…There’s something.’

Mok Gyeong-un instinctively felt there was a reason why the Secret Society targeted Wi So-yeon.

There’s no such thing as perfect coincidence in all matters.

He had always wondered why she looked so much like Cheong-ryeong, and it might be related to that secret.

So,

“Where?”

“I, I’ll guide…”

-Pak!

“Ah?”

“Tell me.”

Mok Gyeong-un wrapped his arm around her waist, carried her at his side, and flew up using the Treading Void technique.

-Pa-ang!

Thus, stepping on the air, Mok Gyeong-un flew towards Wi So-yeon’s estate.

Someone staggered out from a broken wall of the main building and watched this scene.

It was none other than the Heaven and Earth Society Leader.

“Cough, cough… So they’ve finally laid hands on that child Wi So-yeon?”

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