A terrifying silence flowed.
It was as if the ghosts had stopped crying out of fear.
Though his move was countered in a single stroke, Gwak Ju laughed out loud.
Jin Ha-gun could tell.
That laughter was not Gwak Ju's original voice.
What did it mean that the laughter of a Soul-Devouring Art master was mixed in?
'His emotions are wavering.'
Jin Ha-gun felt it.
The first crack had begun to form in the world he had created.
Gwak Ju, who had been laughing aloud, abruptly stopped.
"Our young Demon Sovereign is better than that old man from the Righteous Path over there."
At those words, Hwa Song's face turned red.
He was one of the two grand masters who taught the Great Soul Reversal Technique in the Martial Alliance.
He was feeling immense shame at the fact that he, of all people, had fallen for the Soul-Devouring Art, and his opponent had just dug into that pain.
"That old man even went so far as to activate the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art himself."
Just as his face was flushing an even deeper red, Jin Ha-gun stepped forward.
"But at least he doesn't hide behind others."
Jin Ha-gun's voice was clear and powerful.
It was a voice imbued with the Heart-Calming Technique, which blocked distracting thoughts and drove out inner demons.
The flush that had bloomed on Hwa Song's face subsided.
"I have no face to show Branch Master Jin."
Jin Ha-gun comforted him in a firm tone.
"There's no need to blame yourself. That person has been working behind the scenes around Master Hwa for a very long time."
"It was likely a conspiracy that began from the very first day you started teaching your disciples. No one knows what he might have secretly fed you, or what kind of suggestions he continuously gave you. The arrangement for the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art was also very cunning. Anyone would have fallen for it."
Then, Gwak Ju sneered at Jin Ha-gun.
"Our Branch Master Jin is quite busy. Flattering the Demon Sovereign, comforting the old man of the Righteous Path."
Despite his mockery, Jin Ha-gun remained unshaken.
Even though this was a world created by the enemy's evil arts, he was the Master of the Demon Slaying Branch.
Rather, he was grateful to him.
Thanks to this incident, he had learned a great deal.
It wasn't just a renewed determination to become stronger.
After falling for the fiend's evil arts, he had to endure constant humiliation and helplessness.
But even in that process, he tried his best to keep his subordinates from getting hurt.
At that time, he kept thinking this to himself.
My pride can be wounded.
But my subordinates cannot be.
Jin Ha-gun focused on this heart of his.
Seeing how he had changed, he felt he had matured.
Yes, the tip of the sword may waver, but the heart must not.
As he was steeling his heart, the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign spoke to him.
"When it's fully grown, a tiger is scary, but a large snake is not."
How could he not understand that it meant he couldn't face that large snake because he was a tiger that had not yet fully grown?
Since he hadn't expected her to say something like this, Jin Ha-gun was inwardly moved.
Jin Ha-gun slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude.
Gwak Ju cut in again.
"What a scene. A Demon Sovereign of the Demon Sect comforting the Demon Slaying Branch Master! How can anything be so bizarre?"
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign slowly turned to look at him.
Shh!
The gesture felt like it meant 'You, shut up!', so Gwak Ju's expression hardened.
Without saying a single word, she had turned his insides upside down.
Of course, he didn't just let it slide.
"Your Young Cult Master was killed by the grandfather of the one you are trying to save. Now, who do you think the large snake is?"
Fearing there might be a misunderstanding, Jin Ha-gun quickly stepped forward.
"Don't be deceived. That could never happen."
Then, unexpected words came from the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign.
"I know. If one of the two were to die, forgive me for being blunt, but it would have been the Alliance Leader."
For a moment, Jin Ha-gun was startled.
From her unwavering gaze, he could see that she truly believed that.
Jin Ha-gun could feel that it stemmed not from rudeness, but from an absolute faith in Geom Mugeuk.
'Ah, now that I think about it, she is the first Demon Sovereign of the next generation.'
Thinking of her as Geom Mugeuk's first Demon Sovereign, he could somewhat understand her absolute faith.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign took a step toward Gwak Ju and said.
"Ghost games should be played by ghosts."
Gwak Ju grinned as he watched her walk toward him.
His feeling upon seeing this young Demon Sovereign was this:
"Cute."
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign stopped walking and smiled brightly at him.
"Don't change your mind later."
"The way you talk is cute too."
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors, who were under the Soul-Devouring Art, stood in front of Gwak Ju.
Gwak Ju watched with an expression that said, 'What are you going to do with them? Go on, show me your little tricks.'
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors pointed their swords at her and stepped forward.
Naturally, the one who became anxious was Jin Ha-gun.
He and his men wouldn't attack their comrades, even at the risk of injury, but the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign was different.
It was unlikely she would show such consideration, nor could he force it upon her.
Jin Ha-gun gestured to the Demon Slaying Branch subordinates next to him, then moved forward.
Following him, all the Demon Slaying Branch warriors stepped up.
"We will take care of them."
"There's no need."
At the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign's words, telling him to trust her and step back, Jin Ha-gun immediately had his men fall back.
He trusted her.
He trusted Geom Mugeuk, who had sent her.
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors under the Soul-Devouring Art rushed toward her all at once.
Shhhwiik! Shwik! Shhhwiik!
Thinking someone would surely die, the watching Demon Slaying Branch warriors were about to rush out when Jin Ha-gun spread his hands to either side to stop them.
If you can't trust, you intervene from the start; if you trust, you must trust until the end.
The swirl pattern drawn on her cheek glowed, and at the same time, a pure white wave of energy erupted from her body.
Whoooosh!
The fiercely blowing wave of energy made everyone's collars and hair flutter.
Silence followed.
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors who were striking down with their swords all stopped their movements.
The swords that were thrusting toward the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign were also frozen in place.
"Huh?"
Their expressions had all returned to normal.
They wore looks that asked why they were attacking a woman they'd never seen before.
As if blowing it away with the wind, the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign had released the Soul-Devouring Art cast upon them in one go.
It was truly a display of incredible Divine Might.
Soon after, the Demon Slaying Branch warriors saw Jin Ha-gun standing behind the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign and understood the situation.
They realized they had fallen into a Soul-Devouring Art.
They all leaped toward Jin Ha-gun at once.
Jin Ha-gun joyfully greeted them.
"Welcome back."
Seeing Jin Ha-gun's body drenched in blood, they guessed what the situation had been like.
"Thank you, Branch Master."
"Offer your thanks to the Demon Sovereign."
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors then politely paid their respects to her.
"Thank you."
Without turning around, the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign simply raised a hand lightly.
Jin Ha-gun liked her for that.
Perhaps it was because she was a Demon Sovereign he would be seeing for a very long time, as long as his connection with Geom Mugeuk continued.
Now, only Gwak Ju stood alone before the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign.
Even though the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign had released the art cast on the Demon Slaying Branch warriors in an instant, he was not flustered.
The moment he shot a sharp gaze.
Chaang.
One of the Demon Slaying Branch warriors half-drew his sword.
He had fallen under the Soul-Devouring Art again and was about to attack the warrior next to him, but before he could fully draw his sword, the art was released by the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign.
Chaang!
A sword being drawn from another's hand stopped.
It was truly a Soul-Devouring Art duel like none he had ever seen.
Like playing a game of Go, attack and defense, attack and defense, continued one after another.
Each time, the swirl painting on her cheek shone with light.
Just as the opponent had strengthened his Soul-Devouring Art with the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art, he could see that the Soul Painting was also lending her power.
And each time it shone, the swirl pattern faded a little.
In the end, the opponent gave up on casting the Soul-Devouring Art on the Demon Slaying Branch warriors.
Gwak Ju gently clapped his palms together in a silent applause, as if admitting defeat.
Though he still acted relaxed, he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign spoke casually, as if tossing the words out.
"How did someone so cowardly get involved in something like this?"
It wasn't an outright taunt, but a question asked as if genuinely curious.
Because of that, Gwak Ju's face truly hardened, and a wave of irritation flashed across it.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign never had an ordinary personality.
Her ambition was great, and her temperament was fierce.
However, after recently rising to the position of Demon Sovereign, she had been devoted solely to training.
Since she was relatively weaker than the other Demon Sovereigns, how hard had she worked to escape that reputation of being weak?
After focusing only on training for so long, she was finally facing a strong enemy, and her tongue was starting to loosen up.
"It's my first time seeing someone hide behind a hostage."
Of all people, the body he was currently in was Gwak Ju's.
She knew that this current operation was a mission to rescue Gwak Ju.
Gwak Ju immediately countered.
"I hear the Young Cult Master placed you in the Demon Sovereign's seat. Did you offer him that body of yours?"
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign returned the provocation.
It was a provocation that returned far more than it received.
"And you? Did you offer up your courage before you came?"
In the end, the opponent couldn't hold back.
Gwak Ju's gaze turned cold as he took something out from his robe.
Surprisingly, it was the counterfeit hidden weapon, the Piercing Spike.
He thought it had been taken out to fire at his opponent.
But Gwak Ju began to bring the Piercing Spike under his own chin.
He was about to kill himself.
"Since our Demon Sovereign teases me for being a coward, I have no choice but to show you I'm not."
He looked at Jin Ha-gun and grinned.
"Your objective was to save me, right? Mission failed."
Jin Ha-gun couldn't let Gwak Yeong's brother die like this, so his heart grew anxious.
But he trusted the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign.
She knew that they had to save that man.
Before the Piercing Spike could be triggered!
Something else was unleashed first.
Clang, clang!
Suddenly, something was wrapped around Gwak Ju's body.
The black steel chains that had been engraved on the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign's hand had actually emerged and were tightly binding him.
"Go on, die if you want to die!"
His finger wasn't restrained.
But Gwak Ju couldn't fire the Piercing Spike.
Normally, the moment Gwak Ju died, he would have been able to escape his body.
But in this situation, bound by these chains, he couldn't.
"Soul!"
The chains had completely trapped his soul in Gwak Ju's body.
In the end, if Gwak Ju killed himself, he would die along with him.
Gwak Ju tried to break the chains.
But the black glow only shone more intensely; they didn't break.
"You're telling me you drew such a powerful Soul Painting?"
He opened his eyes wide, full of disbelief.
"Who drew this Soul Painting for you?"
He was certain it wasn't a Soul Painting she had drawn herself.
She didn't deny it.
"If I'd had just a few more years, I wouldn't have needed a Soul Painting to deal with you."
After she finished speaking, the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign pulled the chains, and Gwak Ju flew right in front of her.
She grabbed Gwak Ju's neck firmly.
He felt it.
Her killing intent was not a simple threat.
"Do you intend to kill this man too?"
He threatened her with Gwak Ju's life, but it didn't work.
"Why? Am I not allowed?"
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign's other hand, the one not gripping his neck, rose into the air.
"It's a profitable trade!"
Shwaaaak!
Before anyone could stop her, she struck down with a palm toward Gwak Ju's head without hesitation.
"Wait!"
At Gwak Ju's urgent shout, her hand stopped.
It stopped precariously, right above his head.
He could tell.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign had really been trying to kill him.
For the first time, a look of fear flowed from Gwak Ju's expression.
Of course, he had no intention of dying along with this insignificant hostage.
"I'll leave."
Thud.
As if in surrender, the Piercing Spike held in Gwak Ju's hand fell to the floor.
But the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign continued to look down with a cold gaze, pondering.
Gwak Ju shouted urgently.
"This is the man the First Young Master promised to save. You must not kill him!"
To think he would end up making such a plea.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign smiled brightly, like a madwoman, and asked.
"Do you still think I'm cute?"
As soon as her words ended, the black steel chains vanished, retracting into her arm.
The chains were much lighter in color than before.
Gwak Ju's expression returned to normal.
The one who had been inside his body had vanished in an instant.
With Gwak Ju being the last one, everyone here was finally free from the Soul-Devouring Art.
Watching her threaten the opponent, Jin Ha-gun felt as if he were looking at a witch.
He wondered what this young witch would become when she grew older.
An enraged voice boomed from the empty air.
He no longer concealed his anger.
"How dare you open the door to my world and enter."
As if he didn't physically exist here, his voice echoed like it was coming from inside a cave.
"You mock and threaten me?"
In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.
Whoooosh!
A fierce wind was blowing.
It was the top of a cliff.
Everyone was standing precariously on that cliff.
It was a cliff so high that clouds could be seen far below.
The cliff was real.
If they fell from here, they would really die.
"You should not have opened that door and come in."
Normally, in a battle of Soul-Devouring Arts, entering another's world was an absolute disadvantage.
It was far more difficult to break down the world than to create it.
"Save them if you can."
Craaaack! Crack!
The cliff they were standing on cracked and began to crumble from the edges.
It was a height from which it would be difficult to survive even with lightness arts.
As the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign chanted an incantation, the swirl pattern engraved on her face shone more brilliantly than ever before.
The moment the light vanished!
Ruuuuuumble!
A deep roar sounded from below the clouds, and a massive cliff pierced through the clouds and rose up.
Surprisingly, a cliff similar to the one they were standing on had risen from below.
This was no time to be amazed.
"Everyone, to the other side!"
At Jin Ha-gun's shout, the Demon Slaying Branch warriors used their lightness arts to cross to the opposite cliff.
Jin Ha-gun flew there with Gwak Ju tucked under his arm.
Those with weaker lightness arts received help from their comrades and all landed safely on the opposite cliff.
Kwarururung!
In that time, the original cliff they had been on had completely collapsed.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign's hair fluttered in the wind.
"You call this your world?"
From the cliff she had created and raised, she shouted in a clear, ringing voice.
"If I take it, it becomes my world."