Bi Sa-in steeled his resolve and calmed his mind.
‘I can do this. I can win.’
It was an absolutely disadvantageous fight.
Gwae-ak was on par with them as one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance, so even if their fight was a close one, the problem was him.
His inner energy and real combat experience were both lacking.
Moreover, those two had roamed the Martial World together their entire lives, while this was the first time he had ever fought alongside Gwae-ak.
But he was not afraid.
It had been that way since he decided to send Gwae-ak off with a good heart.
He had changed.
And above all.
‘I am the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance.’
A fight I won't regret even in death!
Bi Sa-in's expression turned grim.
His already fearsome face looked even more terrifying.
—Take the one on the left.
Gwae-ak told Bi Sa-in to take on Yama Sword.
It wasn't just because the composed Thousand Hands Sword was a more difficult opponent.
Judging by his temperament and personality, Yama Sword would try to play with Bi Sa-in.
If Bi Sa-in held out as long as possible, he planned to somehow kill Thousand Hands Sword and then help him.
—I won't be able to last long.
Bi Sa-in had been taught the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's signature martial art, the Tyrant Heaven-Piercing Sword Technique.
However, the only form he could yet unleash was the First Sword, White Heaven Form.
Furthermore, since his mastery was only at the fourth star, he had to land a precise hit.
‘There is only one chance.’
To get that chance, Bi Sa-in intended to fight using his own signature martial art, the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, which he had learned before the Tyrant Heaven-Piercing Sword Technique.
As Gwae-ak walked toward Thousand Hands Sword, Bi Sa-in naturally came to face Yama Sword.
The aura of Yama Sword, filled with killing intent, was formidable.
Just looking at him created a tension, a feeling that an unknown attack could fly out at any moment and pierce his heart.
Bi Sa-in focused all his senses and asked him.
"I heard you were dead."
"You brought us back to life."
"You?"
"Yes, you."
Bi Sa-in could tell.
The Unorthodox Alliance had saved them.
"Who sent you here?"
"I told you, it was you."
He could feel the hostility towards the Unorthodox Alliance.
In the end, they too were nothing but blades being used by the Unorthodox Alliance.
Just that they were blades meant for slaughtering oxen, not chickens.
Yama Sword drew his sword and lightly launched himself forward.
CLANG!
The two men's swords clashed once.
Bi Sa-in glared at Yama Sword over their crossed blades.
They had only exchanged a single blow, but his arm ached as if it would fall off.
‘How much pain are you in?’
But Yama Sword's expression was calm.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
In an instant, a dozen attacks and defenses were exchanged, and their swords faced each other once more.
"As expected of the Young Alliance Leader."
But seeing Bi Sa-in's arm trembling slightly, a look of ease flowed into Yama Sword's eyes.
"I never thought the day would come in my life when I would kill a Young Alliance Leader."
"If you kill me, do you think the Alliance Leader will let you be?"
"We just did what you ordered. What if he doesn't?"
Who on earth was this 'you' he kept talking about? Bi Sa-in was intensely curious about who was behind this.
"Young Alliance Leader, don't blame me."
"Why would I blame you? If I'm stabbed by a sword, I should blame the one holding it. I'll blame the 'you' that you speak of."
He said it hoping to anger him, but Yama Sword was more composed than he appeared.
"Fine, let's both blame the one who holds the sword."
"Will you grant me the first move?"
"It's a request from the Young Alliance Leader. I should at least grant this much."
Bi Sa-in, whose sword had been locked with his opponent's, leaped back and unleashed his form first.
Bi Sa-in did not spare his inner energy.
Soul-Chasing Four Swords – First Sword: Soul Severing.
A pure white Sword Qi rose from Bi Sa-in's blade like a wave, then surged forward.
BOOM!
With the explosion, the very ground shook.
Despite such a powerful attack, Yama Sword released his own Sword Qi to neutralize the incoming strike.
The impact pushed them both back, but Bi Sa-in was pushed several steps further.
"If my inner energy wasn't lacking, I could have been a worthy opponent for you."
At that, Yama Sword snorted, seeing right through Bi Sa-in's intention.
"You've been making futile efforts for a while now. Do I look like some low-class martial artist who would fall for such a taunt?"
"If you were, such a taunt wouldn't even be necessary."
Bi Sa-in treated him with courtesy.
Not out of respect for him, but to keep himself from getting agitated.
‘If this descends into a brawl, I'll be at a disadvantage.’
I must lead this into a battle of martial arts levels.
He was confident that not only the Tyrant Heaven-Piercing Sword Technique he learned, but also the Soul-Chasing Four Swords were superior martial arts to the sword style Yama Sword used.
He had to find a way to properly utilize the level of these martial arts.
"Young Alliance Leader, no matter what trick you use, it will be useless."
"See all my moves before you speak."
Soul-Chasing Four Swords – Second Sword: Soul Calming.
As many as five streams of Sword Qi swirled left and right as they shot forward.
It looked as if five living dragons were swooping down on him.
Sword Qi poured out from Yama Sword's blade as well.
They were wolves that devoured dragons.
The dragons, not yet fully grown, were all devoured by the monstrously large wolves.
The Third Sword, Iron Soul, and the Fourth Sword, Mad Soul, were also ineffective against Yama Sword.
Yama Sword proved with his skills what it meant to be one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Conversely, the more anxious Bi Sa-in became, the weaker his swordsmanship grew.
"Wait! Let's just rest for a moment and then fight!"
At Bi Sa-in's words, Yama Sword laughed openly.
"Do you think stalling for time will make Gwae-ak come to your aid?"
"It seems likely, doesn't it?"
"On the contrary, you might have to face both of us."
The two men naturally turned to watch the fight between Gwae-ak and Thousand Hands Sword.
Gwae-ak's Iron Body Annihilation Technique was truly formidable.
He was dodging and taking Thousand Hands Sword's attacks with his bare body, launching counterattacks.
SHWIIIIIIK!
Dodging the incoming sword, Gwae-ak's elbow flew toward Thousand Hands Sword's chest.
Narrowly avoiding it, Thousand Hands Sword swung his blade.
This time, his sword grazed Gwae-ak's neck.
From the tip of Gwae-ak's next fist strike, a powerful force erupted.
BOOM!
Thousand Hands Sword twisted his body to dodge, and this time, the released Sword Qi swept through the spot where Gwae-ak had been standing.
Gwae-ak did not leap far away to avoid it.
He tried his best not to let the distance between them grow.
It was a truly close match.
A battle where a single mistake could cost one's life was unfolding.
Bi Sa-in and Yama Sword stood for a moment, watching the breathtaking exchange.
"If you truly trust your friend, let's wait until that fight is over. I'll gladly take on both of you."
But their fight was too evenly matched for that.
"If such petty tricks worked, do you think we would have survived this long?"
Yama Sword thrust his sword, pressing his attack.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
It wasn't just inner energy; the difference in combat experience was too great.
Because Yama Sword had been through all kinds of battles, it was not easy for Bi Sa-in to find an opportunity.
SLASH!
Blood spurted from Bi Sa-in's arm.
SHWIIIIK!
The moment he flinched was the crisis.
The attack from Yama Sword that followed was ferocious.
‘Too late to dodge!’
But in the next moment, the one who moved to dodge was Yama Sword.
Gwae-ak had come to save Bi Sa-in.
WHOOOOSH!
Rushing in as fast as lightning, Gwae-ak tried to send Yama Sword flying with his back and shoulder.
It was such a major attack that Yama Sword had to retract his own and dodge.
BOOM!
But he had to pay the price for disengaging from his fight with Thousand Hands Sword.
An incoming wave of Sword Qi struck Gwae-ak in the back.
A groan escaped as Gwae-ak coughed up blood.
His protective energy had prevented his body from being cut, but the internal shock had rattled him.
Seizing that moment, Yama Sword's blade flew toward Gwae-ak's neck.
CLAAAANG!
This time, Bi Sa-in threw himself forward to save Gwae-ak.
Gwae-ak wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Yama Sword spoke to Gwae-ak.
"You weren't this kind of person, were you? What did you agree to receive from the Young Alliance Leader?"
"When I was supposed to receive something from the Young Alliance Leader, I wasn't this desperate. But now that I've decided to receive nothing, I feel like I must save him."
Yama Sword and Thousand Hands Sword exchanged glances with expressions of incomprehension.
Only Bi Sa-in understood what Gwae-ak had said.
Because it was the same for him.
Facing death, he had experienced a strange sense of peace.
That was why he was able to send Gwae-ak off with kind words.
"Thank you in advance. I don't think I'll have a chance to say it later."
To Bi Sa-in's thanks, tinged with a sense of defeat, Gwae-ak firmly shook his head.
"Say thank you after we win."
From the look in his eyes, Bi Sa-in felt it.
Those weren't just nice-sounding words.
He truly meant for them to win.
"You're fighting well right now. Much better than I thought. I believe in you."
In that instant, a flame ignited in Bi Sa-in's heart.
Just a moment ago, a feeling of giving up had been growing within him.
The thought that he would use White Heaven Form as his last resort, and if it didn't work, he would lose, had been dominating his mind.
Suddenly, he thought he might have approached this fight from the wrong direction.
‘What if instead of aiming for a single chance, I truly fight skill against skill?’
No matter what anyone said, he was the one who had proudly become the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Wouldn't he have become the successor because there was something special about him? Something that wouldn't let him die so easily in a place like this.
‘Right, let's not underestimate myself. This is the time to be bold!’
Burning away his desire to give up with this newfound heat, Bi Sa-in charged forward.
Dozens of sword lines cut through the air, and sparks flew each time the blades clashed.
The state of the battle was the same as before, but it was a distinctly different fight.
Now, Bi Sa-in no longer aimed for a decisive final blow.
Because he had been keeping that final blow in mind, he hadn't been able to pour everything he had into the fight.
That difference was huge.
Blood spurted from Bi Sa-in's side.
But in exchange for giving up his side, he cut Yama Sword's shoulder.
It was Yama Sword's first injury.
Seeing blood, Yama Sword's attacks grew even fiercer.
But Bi Sa-in was actually glad.
He could feel that his opponent's composure had crumbled.
Bi Sa-in poured out everything he had.
If you are one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance, then I am the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance.
If you have all kinds of battle experience, I learned martial arts directly from the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
If I am stabbed twice, be prepared to be stabbed at least once yourself.
I am younger than you, so I will endure.
Blood spurted from Bi Sa-in's arm again.
He was cut so badly his legs staggered, and his waist was cut too.
One out of every two times, it was Yama Sword who shed blood.
Furthermore, he was fortunate that the protective armor he wore allowed him to avoid fatal wounds.
The heat of Bi Sa-in's changed mindset was creating a miracle.
PUUK!
Yama Sword's arm was deeply cut.
The next moment, Gwae-ak shouted.
"Careful!"
Bi Sa-in threw his body to dodge the incoming attack.
The attacker was, surprisingly, Thousand Hands Sword.
Judging that Yama Sword was in danger, he had intervened in this fight.
He too had to pay a price.
THWACK!
Gwae-ak, who had rushed in right behind him, slammed his shoulder squarely into his torso.
Thousand Hands Sword rolled on the ground, and Yama Sword retreated, swinging his blade.
It was Bi Sa-in who was surprised.
‘He came to save Yama Sword!’
It meant that he was fighting that well.
Bi Sa-in could tell.
The other three were all paying attention to the other fight.
Because they couldn't die.
If one side fell, it would become a two-on-one battle.
On the other hand, he was engrossed in this fight like a madman.
His opponent could only exert eighty percent of his power, while he was exerting one hundred and twenty percent.
Gwae-ak and Thousand Hands Sword clashed again, and Bi Sa-in began to fight with Yama Sword.
He fought like a madman, but unfortunately, the heat began to cool.
He began to be pushed back, little by little.
A hundred blows, two hundred, three hundred...
In the end, as time passed, the one with more inner energy and experience was bound to have the advantage.
Bi Sa-in felt a sense of regret.
He had thought the skill gap between them would be large, but now that he was fighting, it wasn't that big of a difference.
That's why he regretted it.
It wasn't dying to an unavoidable enemy, but dying to an enemy he could have killed if they had met just a little later that was regrettable.
There was a limit to how long he could endure with youth and venom.
He had lost so much blood that his movements were gradually slowing down.
And so, Bi Sa-in was driven into a final corner.
As he leaned against a wall, panting for breath, Yama Sword slowly approached him.
‘This is the end.’
He only had enough strength left to swing his sword one more time.
Was it because he had lost so much blood?
As if a panorama was flashing before his eyes before death, the movements around him appeared in slow motion.
Even in the slow movements, he could feel how incredibly intense the fight between Gwae-ak and Thousand Hands Sword was.
Gwae-ak's own fight was too desperate for him to come to his aid.
Yama Sword said something as he walked toward him, but he couldn't hear what it was.
He could only see his mouth moving.
And then he started seeing things.
At first, it was a dot in the distant sky.
Everything was moving slowly, but only that dot moved quickly.
The dot grew larger and larger as it approached.
He read the look of certain victory on Yama Sword's face.
Even so, the dot visible over his shoulder was still growing larger.
Yama Sword thrust his sword.
He could clearly see the sword flying toward his neck.
The problem was that his own movements were also in slow motion.
With his last ounce of strength, he also thrust his sword.
Two swords, flying toward each other.
Meanwhile, the dot he had seen before was moving several times faster than his and Yama Sword's movements.
Was it a bird flying over? Or was it a stone? Could it be a person?
He saw a distant wall collapsing.
Whatever had fallen from the sky kicked off the wall and flew up again.
The dust from the wall, shattered by the powerful leap, slowly rose in all directions, but the thing that had broken the wall was already gone.
In that time, Yama Sword's blade had reached his neck.
Just as the cold sword touched Bi Sa-in's neck, someone dropped down and grabbed Yama Sword's arm tightly from behind.
The sword could advance no further and stopped.
In that very instant, time returned to its normal speed.
SHWIIIIK!
PUAAAAK!
Bi Sa-in's sword did not stop, stretching out to pierce Yama Sword's flesh, bone, and heart.
It wasn't an illusion.
The sensation in his hand was real.
He could see the slowly collapsing figure of Yama Sword.
The person standing behind him.
It was Geom Mugeuk, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
He had moved so fast that the distant wall, which had been collapsing, was only now falling to the ground.
His eyes slowly closed, and Bi Sa-in had no strength left to stand.
Leaning against Geom Mugeuk's body as if collapsing, he spoke with his last ounce of strength.
"... Please save Senior Gwae."