55장: 강자의 격돌
The Final Duel Begins
The Murim Alliance and the Demon Cult stood at the brink of their final confrontation.After countless casualties and rivers of blood, war had become pointless.Now, only one thing remained:
A battle between the strongest.
Victory would decide the master of the Gangho.Defeat meant oblivion.
The finest warriors of the Murim Alliance now stood face-to-face with the Demon Cult's deadliest champions.
This was no longer a skirmish of foot soldiers.This was the war of giants.
Murim Alliance's Elite Warriors
Jin Ha-yeong — Leader of the Murim Alliance, the peak of orthodoxy.
Jang Mu-jin, the Azure Sword — The secluded Sword Saint, master of precision and grace.
Hwang Cheol, the Tyrant Fist King — A brute force master with devastating power.
Yeomong of the Seven Kills — The silent blade, a killer who ends fights in a single strike.
Seung-chan — A man trying to break free of fate, one who dares to challenge the law of strength.
The Demon Cult's Ultimate Forces
Blood Heaven Demon Emperor — Cult leader, emperor of carnage.
Two of the Four Demon Lords.
Blackblood Fiend — A revenant strengthened by the blood of hundreds, undead and unstoppable.
Crimson Assassin Hyulchu — A shadow swordsman whose blade brings only death.
And… "That Man" — The elusive figure Seung-chan had clashed with twice before.
The Battle Begins: Nothing Held Back
Jin Ha-yeong and the Demon Emperor squared off.
"I will cut you down.""Then it is time. Let the Gangho be claimed."
The leader of the righteous and the monarch of the demonic collided.Azure sword energy clashed with bloodstained demonic force.The earth split, and the sky trembled.
This was no simple battle—This was a war for the very laws of the world.
The Demon Emperor spoke mid-fight, calm as ever:
"You are merely a strong man chosen by fate.""And that… is your limit."
Elsewhere on the Battlefield: Seung-chan vs. 'That Man'
"So we meet again.""Who are you really?"
They had crossed blades twice. Now, it had to end.With the first clash, they both recognized each other's level.
This wasn't a match.This was a duel for existence.
Their swords blurred through the air, inner energy collided, and the peak of martial skill unfolded.
Seung-chan thought mid-battle:
"This man… he doesn't follow the rules I know.""Is he too… testing the laws of power, just like me?"
Hwang Cheol vs. Blackblood Fiend
"You don't die?""Then I'll break you a hundred times."
The fiend was immortal, strengthened by drinking the blood of hundreds.A brutal clash ensued between relentless offense and uncanny regeneration.Hwang Cheol shattered him over and over—But he rose each time.
Jang Mu-jin vs. Hyulchu, the Crimson Blade
"My sword is unseen.""And it brings death."
The Sword Saint's refined techniques met the silent, lethal strikes of Hyulchu.Neither blade left a trace.One misstep would be fatal.
The Tide Turns
Jin Ha-yeong began to falter.He was powerful—but the Demon Emperor was beyond expectation.
"So this… is the power of the Demon Cult's leader?"
Seung-chan's fight showed no sign of conclusion.But his curiosity deepened.
The Blackblood Fiend resurrected once more.Hwang Cheol's strength wasn't enough.
Hyulchu found an opening in Jang Mu-jin's defense—The duel was reaching its endgame.
The Final Moment
In this war, the defeated would not live.It was time to throw everything into the fray.
Jin Ha-yeong prepared his strongest technique.Seung-chan pushed himself, trying to understand the man before him.Hwang Cheol searched desperately for a way to end the immortal.Jang Mu-jin and Hyulchu's clash was one strike away from conclusion.
This war must end.
But who…will be the oneto end it?
***
Chapter 56: The Blood Heaven Demon Emperor — Proof of the Cult's Power56장: 혈천마황, 마교의 힘을 증명하다
A Battle That Will Rewrite the Gangho
This was the moment of no return.No one could back down.No one could afford to lose.
The Blood Heaven Demon Emperor of the Demon Cult faced off against Jin Ha-yeong, leader of the Murim Alliance.
Whoever triumphed here would redefine the laws of Murim.
Jin Ha-yeong's sword was fast and fierce.But the Demon Emperor did not move.He simply looked down on him.
"You're the new 'strongest' in Murim?"
His voice was low and oppressive.
"Then as the strong..."
In a flash, Jin Ha-yeong struck—His blade sliced through the air like a beam of light aimed at the Demon Emperor.
"…You must never be overpowered."
The Demon Emperor extended a single hand.
The air around them turned heavy.The sword strike never even reached him.
The Proof of Power
Jin Ha-yeong vanished—Perfect Gyeonggong. Flawless speed.
His sword aimed for the Demon Emperor's waist.
But then—Jin Ha-yeong realized something was wrong.
His body slowed, as if tethered in midair.
Inner force suppression…
An overwhelming energy radiated from the Demon Emperor.His very presence felt like a separate world.
Gritting his teeth, Jin Ha-yeong slashed—
But—
The Demon Emperor blocked the blade with his bare hand.
BOOM!
An explosion rang out as Jin Ha-yeong was hurled back, rolling across the ground.
He quickly regained his stance.But before he could react, the Demon Emperor was already in front of him.
"Too slow."
A hand reached out.
Though Jin Ha-yeong dodged, the brush of a fingertip sent demonic energy into his shoulder.The air grew even heavier.
The Demon Emperor stepped forward.His very existence crushed down on Jin Ha-yeong.
Breathing hard, Jin Ha-yeong gripped his sword tighter.
Now he knew—This man was no mere master.
He stood at the summit, even among the strong.
This… was the Blood Heaven Demon Emperor.
Jin Ha-yeong's Limits
Once more, Jin Ha-yeong raised his sword.But his fingertips trembled.
He had never faced a battle like this.Stronger than anyone he had fought before.
Still—He clenched his teeth.
The strong must be strong.The strong must win.
He swallowed blood and slashed again.Not defense—offense.
Fast. Precise. Relentless.
Three successive strikes—Enough to pierce through even the deepest demonic martial arts.
But—
The Demon Emperor raised his hand again.
Dark demonic energy burst forth from his palm.
It surged toward Jin Ha-yeong's blade—A devouring force.
He tried to retract his sword—Too late.
The energy climbed up the blade into his hand.
This wasn't just inner energy.
This was power of a different class.Power reserved for those chosen by fate.
A Strong One, Pulled by Destiny
Jin Ha-yeong dropped to one knee.Blood spilled from his mouth.
But the Demon Emperor did not lower his hand.
"This… is your limit."
He raised his palm slowly—Preparing the final blow.
Jin Ha-yeong's thoughts turned inward.
"So this is the gap between us?""Is this my end?"
In that moment—Something erupted within him.
He raised his sword again.Not with resolve alone.
It was a command written into the core of his being:
The strong must be strong.The strong must win.
This was not just power.It was strength imbued by fate.
His sword flashed—The air screamed as it was torn apart.
The Demon Emperor narrowed his eyes—Jin Ha-yeong's sword pierced his chest.
BOOM!
The impact sent both men flying.The Demon Emperor was dragged along the ground,clutching his chest.
Blood trickled down.
And for the first time—He smiled.
"So you were set up to be strong."
He slowly closed his eyes.
Jin Ha-yeong steadied himself on his sword, panting.
He had won.
A Battlefield Stained in Blood
Silence.
The warriors of both sides—Murim Alliance and Demon Cult—lay strewn across the field.Even the survivors were gravely wounded.
There were no true victors here.
But ultimately,The Murim Alliance stood victorious.
The Demon Emperor had fallen.The remnants of the Demon Cult had scattered.
Seung-chan's Duel — A Hollow Victory
Meanwhile, Seung-chan had barely overcome the mysterious man.
They had clashed dozens of times, blades singing in harmony and discord.
Eventually, Seung-chan landed a decisive blow.His sword sank deep.
The man coughed blood and collapsed.
But even in victory—Something felt wrong.
Before dying, the man had said:
"Is this… the victory you truly wanted?"
That question echoed in Seung-chan's mind.
"What did he mean?"
He sheathed his sword, frowning in thought.
Was this truly the end?
Within the laws of the Gangho as he understood them…Was this really the conclusion?