Chapter 51: Yeah, No

The place Seyul logged in.

A little north of there was stained with blood.

Countless corpses covered the entire area.

Even the streets and shops once frequented by users and NPCs.

All were tainted with blood, reminiscent of a hellscape.

In this horrific scene, only two were alive.

Even one of them was not in a normal state, having collapsed with injuries.

“You…”

The one who had collapsed glared at the other, breathing heavily.

He was a dignified old man with a plain outfit and a full beard.

He looked like an ordinary village elder, but he was a famous NPC in Murim.

Jang Tae-hwan, the Indestructible.

A member of the powerful NPCs known as the 100 Greatest Masters of Murim.

Among them, he was on the side of good, the Righteous Sect, and helped users a lot.

The users of Murim Online would be surprised to see Jang Tae-hwan as he was now.

He was specialized in defense among the high-level 100 Greatest Masters.

The reason he was called the Indestructible was because of that, but he was covered in wounds.

“I won’t… let you get away with this!”

Jang Tae-hwan, who had collapsed, shouted and thrust his hand forward.

Golden qi emanated from his hand, forming a giant hand.

Diamond Fist.

One of Jang Tae-hwan’s ultimate techniques flew towards the other survivor.

The other survivor, presumed to be the one who had done this to him, didn’t flinch even when seeing the Diamond Fist.

He simply extended his hand and released qi as well.

Then, the Diamond Fist was easily nullified.

The Diamond Fist, in real-world terms, had the power equivalent to lightning used by a semi.

An attack with the power to instantly shatter dozens of tons of steel was erased in vain.

Those who knew Jang Tae-hwan’s skills would be surprised, but it was only natural.

If Jang Tae-hwan was one of the 100 Greatest Masters, the opponent was a super master above him.

He was a top-tier powerhouse in Murim and a notorious figure as the Vice-Leader of the Demonic Cult.

Blood Hand Soo, the Dark Fist Demon.

He was the Demonic Cult Leader’s faithful henchman and the next boss monster.

He looked down at Jang Tae-hwan with arrogance, wrapped in a stylish black robe.

“Jang Tae-hwan. You’ve been persistently picking a fight since earlier. Do you really think someone like you can beat me? Or are you just trying to buy time?”

Jang Tae-hwan simply closed his mouth at the uncomfortable question.

Because, as the opponent said, he was trying to buy time.

‘I have to hold this guy back as much as possible. Until the Celestials dispose of the Demonic Cult Leader!’

Celestials.

The term Murim Online NPCs used to refer to users.

It was attached because users came and went from the real world.

They were set up as residents of heaven who went up to heaven and came down.

Currently, this Luoyang was largely divided into two battlefields.

One was the north, where Righteous Sect NPCs were fighting against the Demonic Cult.

The other was the south, where the Demonic Cult Leader was single-handedly facing users called Celestials.

The reason the battlefields were divided like this was for a two-pronged strategy.

It was impossible to win if the Demonic Cult Leader, known as the best master, was with his Demonic Cult followers.

So, the Righteous Sect masters decided to separate the two.

The plan was for them to deal with the subordinates after separating the Demonic Cult Leader from them.

The users, the Celestials, would then work together to defeat the Demonic Cult Leader who was left alone.

The reason why they entrusted the Demonic Cult Leader to the Celestials was because.

The NPCs judged that there would be no great sacrifice even against the Demonic Cult Leader since the Celestials could be resurrected even if they died.

…or so the NPCs thought, but the reality was different.

The grand reason was just for show, and the real reason was the raid.

The operation team was just playing tricks to create a structure where users could raid the Demonic Cult Leader, who was the event boss this time.

Because if the Righteous Sect masters or Demonic Cult followers intervened, it would interfere with the raid.

But Jang Tae-hwan had no way of knowing this fact.

He thought he was really risking his life for the plan.

Not only that, but the countless corpses lying here were the same.

They were the ones who had sacrificed themselves to hold back the Demonic Cult, especially Blood Hand Soo, the next master after the Cult Leader.

‘Even for the sake of my dead comrades, I can’t just let this guy go!’

Jang Tae-hwan thought that the Celestials would lose if Blood Hand Soo joined the Demonic Cult Leader.

Of course, there was a separate safety device in place for such a situation, but he, as an NPC, had no way of knowing.

He was just trying to hold on with his life for the peace of Murim.

“I don’t have time to deal with you anymore.”

Blood Hand Soo was not unaware of the other party’s intentions.

“I’m not an idiot. Continuing to deal with you like this would be playing into your hands. No matter what you say, I’m leaving now.”

“You, Blood Hand Soo! Is the Vice-Leader of the Demonic Cult going to leave an enemy behind?”

“I said I’m leaving, but I don’t intend to let you go. Demonic Cult followers. Kill this guy!”

Blood Hand Soo was trying to leave the troublesome Jang Tae-hwan to his subordinates.

Jang Tae-hwan flinched, but,

“….”

“?”

Even though the organization’s second-in-command was calling, no one came out.

Both were embarrassed by the strangely quiet surroundings.

“W-What’s going on?”

Blood Hand Soo’s voice trembled.

Now that he looked, the problem wasn’t just that it was quiet, but he couldn’t feel the presence of his subordinates at all.

The many Demonic Cult followers who were scattered everywhere.

If they hadn’t all deserted him, the Vice-Leader, without saying a word, there was only one reason.

“Who has annihilated our Demonic Cult’s proud followers!”

Blood Hand Soo shouted, trembling with anger.

The answer to that came back immediately.

“We did!”

A loud voice shouted.

When Blood Hand Soo turned his gaze there, he saw something unbelievable.

Like Jang Tae-hwan who fought him.

Weren’t the Righteous Sect NPCs who were fighting his subordinates gathered together as a group?

“How did you guys…?”

He couldn’t believe it.

These guys should have been holding back other Demonic Cult followers like Jang Tae-hwan did to him.

How could they all be here and look relatively unscathed?

Despite fighting the strong Demonic Cult followers.

“Senior Jang!”

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

Unexpected reinforcements.

Even Jang Tae-hwan himself, who was rescued, was puzzled.

“How did you guys…?”

“Let’s talk about the details later!”

“We have to deal with Blood Hand Soo first.”

The Righteous Sect NPCs asked Jang Tae-hwan to fight.

Since Blood Hand Soo was actually the most important thing, Jang Tae-hwan didn’t ask any more questions.

In that way, countless Righteous Sect warriors tried to join Jang Tae-hwan and start a second battle with Blood Hand Soo.

“You bastards. I’ll kill you and avenge my subordinates!”

He still didn’t know what was going on, but the die had already been cast.

Blood Hand Soo rushed to meet the approaching enemies in order to fight back.

Fortunately, these small fries were no match for him even if they gathered in numbers.

But it was the moment he was about to kill them all.

Something flew towards Blood Hand Soo at a rapid speed.

Blood Hand Soo widened his eyes when he identified what it was.

The identity of what flew was absurdly a lump of water.

At first, Blood Hand Soo was going to knock it away, but the momentum was unusual.

It wasn’t just a simple lump of water, but it had considerable power and its movements were also clever.

It flew freely in the air and aimed at Blood Hand Soo.

“Huh!”

Not only was it impossible to knock it away, but even avoiding it wasn’t easy.

The lump of water was there every time he tried to attack the enemies.

It quickly interfered and aimed at him in reverse.

Because of this, he couldn’t even defeat one enemy.

The enemies, who would normally be crushed with one punch, were pressuring him with great momentum.

“Who is it, who is doing this?!”

Blood Hand Soo shouted, desperately throwing his body.

The tide of the battle was instantly reversed because of the unidentified dark technique that used water.

He was busy avoiding the dark technique and even had to deal with the numerous Righteous Sect NPCs who were attacking him.

Even Blood Hand Soo, the Vice-Leader of the Demonic Cult, couldn’t handle it.

‘Whoever it is, they’re an amazing master!’

Who was Blood Hand Soo?

He was a super master and the second-in-command of the Demonic Cult.

Such a person was using dark techniques that were difficult to catch in succession.

No matter how hard he tried to find them, he couldn’t even see their appearance.

This meant that not only was their dark technique considerable, but their stealth technique was also significant.

With this situation, Blood Hand Soo realized.

The dead subordinates and the suddenly appearing Righteous Sect NPCs.

It was all the work of this guy who was throwing water dark techniques.

“You cowardly bastard, come out right now! How can you use such petty tricks even with that much skill!”

He was at a loss for words.

If he was being put in such a difficult situation, the opponent must be a top-tier powerhouse.

But he didn’t know why such a master would do such a despicable thing.

But this despicable act was effective.

The fact that an unidentified master was hiding gave him more pressure.

Because of this, Blood Hand Soo’s movements were further reduced.

Attacks from low-level people that he would never normally be hit by were hitting him, but he couldn’t land a single hit.

He was protecting himself with strong qi, but if he continued like this, he would definitely lose.

Should he force himself to get out of this situation, even if it was a bit reckless?

It was then that he was conflicted.

“Vice-Leader, come this way!”

A clear voice called out to him.

“There’s an opening here, hurry!”

When he immediately turned his gaze to the voice, there was indeed an opening.

There was a gap without dark techniques or Righteous Sect warriors, and there was a familiar black robe there.

Someone wearing the clothes worn by the Demonic Cult followers and covering their face was gesturing.

“I understand, I’ll go there!”

It was like a lifeline that had come down from the sky.

Blood Hand Soo immediately threw himself towards the subordinate in that direction.

However, it was then that he was about to escape the encirclement and join his subordinate.

‘Isn’t he too short?’

He realized that the subordinate gesturing to him was strangely small.

Their voice was also very cute and pretty.

Besides, he didn’t notice it at first, but the closer he got, the more terrifying momentum he felt.

He sensed a power that was too strong to be a simple Demonic Cult follower from the opponent he thought was his subordinate.

A trap!

Blood Hand Soo was horrified and tried to back away, but it was already too late.

Because he thought his subordinate was trying to save him, he had sped up, so the distance to the opponent was close.

Almost right in front of him, the existence he thought was his subordinate rushed at him, not missing the gap where he had been careless.

Holding a spear.

The spear approached with terrifying power and speed.

Blood Hand Soo tried to avoid it, but he had been going forward with all his might just a moment ago.

There was no way he could properly avoid it, and the spear struck his chest.

“Kuhuk!”

He quickly protected the hit area with qi.

He struggled to shake off the spear, but the opponent didn’t stay still.

The opponent, who had ambushed him disguised as a subordinate, persistently moved the spear.

They continuously put in strength and eventually succeeded in piercing his chest with the spear.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Blood Hand Soo shed tears as the spear pierced his heart.

Not because he was afraid of dying, but because he was frustrated that he was dying to someone like this.

They released the Righteous Sect bastards to create confusion.

They hid and threw dark techniques.

Now they’re even disguising themselves as subordinates to ambush him.

How could there be such a despicable person!

“A-Are you even a man…”

He squeezed out his last strength and condemned them for not even being a man, but,

“Well, you’re a cultist who attacks a perfectly fine city, so.”

The opponent, Seyul, took off the black hood that was covering their face, revealing brilliant silver hair and beauty, and said indifferently.

“Well, you were quite strong for a cultist. I was originally just going to borrow the power of the NPCs, but I thought I’d have to go as far as disguising myself like this to kill you more surely. It’s rare for me to go this far, so I’ll give you a compliment.”

They then gave a compliment that didn’t sound like a compliment at all.

They didn’t care at all about Blood Hand Soo’s last words.

Because it was true that they weren’t a man, so it was the right thing to say.