The sky was dyed black, and the stars began to rise.

Countless stars emerged in orderly rows, illuminating the darkness.

And above them, the crimson hue that had once filled the sky coalesced into an aurora, spreading like a celestial phenomenon.

Then, two massive moons emerged, confirming the arrival of night.

The world itself declared its transformation into night.

And only then did the being, who had kept its eyes tightly shut, finally open them.

"Kuhehehe...."

With a low exhalation, suddenly—

Craaaaaack—!!!

A massive hand burst through the stone ground.

A thick arm flailed wildly, struggling, before dragging its enormous form up from the depths of hardened bedrock.

"Kuhehehehe...."

With embers swirling in its exhalations, the General revealed itself.

Dust and jagged stone fragments clung to its body as it calmly emerged onto the surface.

"Kurrrrrrrrrr—"

A low growl rumbled through the air, thick with unbridled rage.

"That damned crow...!!"

It remembered—

The battle it had failed to finish, the forced slumber that had been inflicted upon it.

That realization ignited its wrath anew.

But just as the General was about to let out a furious roar—

"...Hmm?"

Its thick neck twisted upward.

"What do you think you're doing?"

A voice rang out.

But contrary to how it might have seemed, the General was not speaking to itself.

Because from the very moment it had resurfaced—

Someone had been watching from above.

"I found it fascinating before, but truly, it is an amusing thing."

The voice that responded was steeped in mirth, tinged with an underlying amusement.

"How is it that you always manage to perceive my presence so keenly?"

"I’ve already told you. There is no one on this land who can escape my sight."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Tap.

A man descended effortlessly from the rocky cliffs, landing lightly on the ground.

The moment his feet touched the surface, the General’s already menacing expression twisted further.

"You fled like a coward before, yet now you return, expecting praise for your newfound bravery?"

"Kukuk."

The man chuckled at the General’s sneer.

"You misunderstand. I simply indulged you out of consideration, knowing you would regret it otherwise."

"What...?"

"Wasn’t that the case, General? Surely, you must have felt regret. That last time, there was an unwanted interference, after all."

"......."

The man—who referred to himself as Cheonma—spoke, and the General did not immediately refute him.

Not because it agreed—

But because it was momentarily taken aback.

Those words meant only one thing—

He had known.

He had known that the crow had been lurking in the shadows.

"And so, out of concern that you might be left unsatisfied, I personally waited for you. Yet you fail to recognize this honor."

"Kuhehehehehe."

A thick exhalation, heavy with amusement and fury alike.

The General extended its hand—

Craaaaash—!!!

Just as it had risen from the earth, a massive battle axe erupted from below, landing in its grasp.

"I shall commend that pitiful sentiment. And even though stepping forth in ignorance of what is to come is reckless bravado—"

Crack.

"I shall grant you praise for that as well."

"But if you truly wished to cling to life—"

"You should have run."

"Me? Run?"

"Yes. As you always have."

Whoooooosh.

The axe cleaved through the air, beginning to glow with a deep, ominous crimson.

"Because those who do not know their place—"

"Do not live long!"

Craaaaaaash—!!!

With its enormous frame, the General launched itself toward Cheonma.

**********

Boom! Craaaaaash—!!!

Kwaaaaaaang—!!!

Explosions raged in a relentless chain reaction.

In the pitch-dark night, only the violent flashes of the General’s axe, coupled with bursts of scattered flame, punctuated the battlefield.

Amidst the storm of destruction, debris and shattered stone soared skyward, flung by the sheer force of impact.

The cacophony of battle did not wane.

Each time the General’s axe swung, it was as if entire mountains were being torn asunder.

Deep fissures carved through the earth beneath its feet, while each swing cleaved through the very air, birthing violent gales that roared through the darkness.

"Tch."

Even though I had seen this before, its raw power was still utterly monstrous.

This wasn’t mere energy-infused force.

No, this was something more primal, something so overwhelmingly destructive that the mere pressure of its swings could sculpt landscapes.

If I took even a single direct hit, it wouldn’t just send me flying—

It would tear me apart.

I evaded each strike with absolute precision, weaving through the onslaught.

Gradually—methodically—

I closed the distance.

I wanted to activate Myeong, immobilize the beast, and land a decisive strike.

"But this damn thing—"

It never stayed still.

If I activated Myeong in this state, the backlash would surge straight into my body.

I had to endure.

"Just a little more—"

I slipped past the barrage of swings, narrowing the gap.

I watched. I waited.

And then—

Clench—!

"Now!"

I had stepped into range.

Darkness coiled around me, the Cheonma Divine Art wrapping my limbs.

My fist clenched, brimming with power.

"I’ll use Tam."

Activating Tam, I would suppress the General’s immortality and obliterate it in a single decisive strike.

But just as I gathered the force to strike—

"—!"

The General suddenly leapt backward.

"Hm?"

Through the mask, I narrowed my eyes.

It had retreated.

Now standing over a dozen paces away, the General firmly gripped its axe, its entire posture radiating vigilance.

"Tch. That bastard."

I clicked my tongue.

"It's being cautious."

Despite possessing an undying body, despite its arrogance, something had warned it.

"Could it know?"

That my Tam could strip away its immortality?

"No way."

It shouldn’t. It couldn’t.

I had gone to great lengths to conceal Tam, saving it for this very moment.

"Then when did it figure it out?"

There was no way it should have known.

And yet, it did.

"What are you doing?"

Feigning indifference, I asked.

"Kuheuh."

It did not answer.

It simply exhaled, then—

Whooooooosh—!!!

Gripping its axe tighter, it unleashed a storm of deadly, energy-infused slashes.

Each wave carried sheer destructive force.

Evasion was not difficult, but something about this felt off. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Did I reveal too much?"

During our first battle, I had used Myeong and revealed Cheonma Divine Art.

That alone would justify its caution—

"But this is different."

Before, it had charged at me recklessly, unafraid.

Now—

"It’s wary. It’s analyzing me."

And that was dangerous.

Because an immortal opponent who also exercised caution—

There was no greater nightmare than that.

"You've come at the right time."

The chief's eerie words sent a chill down my spine.

Chiiiiiiiiiik—!!!!

His skin scorched, his body shifting once again into a deep red hue, just like before.

'His speed... it's different.'

The transformation was happening much faster this time.

And then—

Whoosh.

"......!!"

Even before I could react, his axe blade was already inches from my eyes.

'Fast.'

His speed had drastically increased.

There was no avoiding this.

Clang—!!

Kwadudududuk—!!!!!

The force of the impact sent me crashing down the rocky mountainside.

My body couldn’t withstand the shock, tearing through the ground as I was thrown back.

I barely managed to plant my feet and slow my momentum. At the same time, I checked my left arm.

'Damn it.'

I had barely managed to block the axe using Eternal Bind.

If I had hesitated even slightly, my arm would have been sliced clean off.

'This is insane.'

I tried to steady my breath, analyzing the situation—

"Huuuuuuh—!"

—but there was no time for that.

The chief was already upon me.

His axe cleaved through the air once again.

I barely dodged, my thoughts racing.

'Both his speed and strength have increased.'

Does his transformed state enhance both his speed and power?

And yet, why does his presence feel fainter?

As questions swirled in my mind, I pulled out my own energy.

Changcheon (Sky Ascendance).

The power of Tua Pacheonmu wrapped around my body.

My physical abilities surged exponentially.

At the same time, I unleashed demonic energy, filling the sky with its presence.

Only after unfolding Heukcheon was I able to match his speed.

"Huuuuuh!"

The chief’s expression shifted the moment I caught up to him.

And just like that, the battle reignited.

He swung his axe relentlessly, each strike carrying monstrous force. I dodged, looking for an opening.

That massive axe—he wielded it as if it were no heavier than a twig, unleashing a flurry of wild, frenzied attacks.

Finding a gap in his onslaught was like searching for a star in broad daylight.

'There's no other choice.'

I had to make a decision.

"Stop."

"......!!!"

Cough—!

The backlash hit me instantly, and blood welled up in my throat, seeping into my mask.

It didn’t matter.

There was no time to even acknowledge the pain.

It only lasted for a fleeting moment, but I had managed to restrain him.

Fwoooooosh—!!!!

Immediately, I formed a ring of fire and set it spinning.

At the same time, I refined the flames in my hands, tempering them with precision.

And onto them, I engraved my realization.

Nine Flames Firewheel.

The secret technique of the Gu family spread from my fingertips.

Nine Flames Ultimate Peak Technique.

Craaaaaaaah—!!!

A beast of seething flames roared as it engulfed the chief’s body.

Kwooooooooosh—!!!

An inferno of unimaginable heat consumed the sky, the sheer force melting the very ground beneath us.

Drip. Drip.

Sizzle.

Embers falling from the chief’s body hissed as they scorched the earth.

"Grrrrrrr......."

His body was a ruined mess.

Seeing him in that state, I clenched my fist.

"You make for a fine sight."

"Krrrrrgh—!!"

My mocking words sent him into a rage.

And in that instant—I saw it.

His shattered body began regenerating.

Tch.

I gave an immediate order to Tam.

"Devour him."

Shiiiiiiiaaaaah—!!!

Tam, the shadowy entity, surged forth, aiming to engulf the chief.

Just as Tam lunged—

Wuuuuuuuuung—!!!

The air suddenly split apart.

A rift had formed.

"What...?"

Above the chief, countless cracks appeared in the sky.

Every single one of them—Magyeong Gates.

Which meant...

Krrrrrrrrr—!!!

As expected, an ominous growl echoed from the rifts, followed by an endless flood of demonic beasts pouring out.

I turned my gaze back to the chief.

"So this was your hidden card?"

It seemed he had more than just immortality up his sleeve.

I muttered, almost in amusement—

"The Crow—!!!"

The chief suddenly howled in fury at the sight of the rifts.

"I told you not to interfere—!!!"

Kwooooom—!!!!

His enraged roar split the ground beneath him.

"You bastard—!!!"

'...So this wasn’t his doing?'

I hadn’t even noticed.

There was someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Tch.

Suppressing my unease, I lifted my gaze.

Demonic beasts poured endlessly from the rifts above.

No—not just demonic beasts.

They bore a striking resemblance to the creatures I had seen when I first entered Mangye.

Or perhaps, they were similar to the Moonlit Night Tribe that lived within the depths of Mareong Cave.

"Crow, I swear I will kill you—!!!"

The chief, however, paid no heed to his growing forces.

He was too fixated on the intruder who had interrupted his battle.

Krrrrrrrr!!!

Even so, his army continued to amass.

I let out a sigh.

"Haah."

"To interfere like this..."

"Shut up. You're giving me a headache."

Ignoring the chief’s incessant ranting, I slowly raised a hand.

"This little display is neither surprising nor irritating."

And then—

I clenched my heart, activating my authority.

It wasn’t Tam.

This was something else entirely.

Bzzzt—!

A tingling sensation spread from my heart, and then—

Kuuuuuuuuuuung—!!!

The sky above me began to tear apart.

"What...?"

The ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) chief’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Don’t take it too personally. This is simply to balance the scales."

I smirked.

This was the power I had obtained back in Hanan, after slaying a Crimson-Rank Beast.

Krrrrrrrrrr—!!!

Kuaaaaaah—!!!!

The ability to open my own Magyeong Gate.

And to summon the monstrous entities I had devoured.

I gave it a name—

"Hyakki Yagyō."

A Hundred Demons’ Parade.