Paaaaah!
Namgung Dowi's sword ruthlessly sliced through the bodies of the pirates rushing towards him. There was no hesitation whatsoever. The tip of his sword conveyed the determination of Namgung Dowi.
At that moment, Namgung Hwang exploded with a lion's roar.
"Huaaaaaab!"
Kwaaaaaaaaah!
A blinding white aura surged forward from his sword, obliterating the aquatic creatures charging at them in a single sweep.
Overwhelming.
No, even those words don't do justice to describe the intensity of his force.
"Come on, you filthy aquatic scum!"
A storm-like cry burst forth. Amidst the darkness of the river, Namgung Hwang's gaze was vivid and fierce, burning like a fire.
Swoosh!
Harpoons flew menacingly through the air.
Thunk!
Namgung Hwang deflected the incoming harpoons with ease, but he didn't have time to retaliate before more harpoons were unleashed.
Harpoons were primarily used for hunting rather than warfare. The slender harpoon shafts were too thin to intertwine with each other. The barbed tips, once embedded in flesh, couldn't be easily removed.
In combat between warriors, harpoons had a disadvantage, but in hunting small numbers of prey, no other weapon was as effective as harpoons.
In the eyes of the aquatic creatures, a young madness shone brightly in the midst of the darkness. Over a dozen harpoons flew powerfully towards Namgung Hwang and Namgung Dowi.
"Don't underestimate them!"
Namgung Dowi raced across the water and leaped once more, striking the approaching harpoons with his sword.
The Twelve Iron Sword Forms, a fundamental sword technique of the Namgung family, was different from the Sword Emperor's Style, which required vast internal energy. In this situation, the simple sword form proved to be highly effective.
Simplicity enabled swift movements, which, in turn, allowed for stronger strikes. White sword auras cut through the harpoons in flight and pierced the bodies of the aquatic creatures.
"Aaaaargh!"
"Krrraaargh!"
The pirates screamed in agony as they scattered. Their spilled blood spread into the river, but the engulfing darkness seemed indifferent to their blood and lifeless bodies.
Paaaaah!
However, even though their comrades had been slain and their bodies lay lifeless, the harpoons flying through the air showed no signs of stopping.
"Ughhhhh!"
This time, Namgung Hwang roared and swung his sword. The explosive aura created giant waves in all directions. The aquatic creatures, which had been leaping over the water, were swept away by the force of the waves.
But...
"Kill them!"
"They're a small group! Kill them all!"
"I will claim the Sword Emperor!"
Even as they killed and killed again, more of them rushed forward. Pushing them back only brought more of them charging.
No, it wasn't just that. Despite their comrades dying right in front of them, the pirates continued to leap like a starving school of sharks, driven by the scent of blood.
"Fire!"
Paaaaah!
At that moment, from several ships that were slowly approaching, hundreds of arrows shot up into the sky. The arrows that filled the sky seemed to block out the sun and rained down on Namgung Hwang and Namgung Dowi.
"These madmen...!"
Namgung Hwang's voice erupted with rage.
Thud! Thud!
Arrows filled with energy pierced down rapidly, but Namgung Hwang was not the one taking the brunt of their impact. Those arrows hit the pirates charging towards him and Namgung Dowi.
"Grrrk!"
"Aaaargh!"
Arrows that penetrated the backs of the pirates protruded forward, and with no thought, those who had charged forward were transformed into hedgehogs, unable to evade dozens of arrows that pierced them.
"This...!"
Rage ignited in Namgung Hwang's eyes.
Did they think it was fine to shoot arrows despite knowing their own comrades were present? Even if they knew that shooting arrows wouldn't affect him, wasn't it equivalent to dismissing the lives of their comrades as insignificant?
"Black Dragon King-aaaah!"
"Fire!"
Namgung Hwang let out a furious cry, but the Black Dragon King merely gave out orders with a sullen face.
"It's fine if we don't inflict damage. Exhausting their energy is enough."
Fundamentally, the power of all swordsmen comes from their lower body. In places where there's no solid footing, it's difficult for any swordsman, regardless of their sword, to perform at their peak. It means that more energy than usual is required to execute a sword technique with full power.
Particularly, for Namgung Hwang, who wields the Emperor's Sword, which requires a significant amount of energy, he would tire quickly. It would be even more exhausting, having been stranded on that wretched ship for some time.
Once Namgung Hwang's energy was depleted, the Black Dragon King would personally step in and take his life.
"You fool."
A sinister smile curled on the Black Dragon King's lips.
He not sure what he was thinking, but from the moment he recklessly leaped into this river, Namgung Hwang's fate was sealed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Arrows filled with intense energy pierced through the water and surged downward. These arrows might not have caused significant harm to Namgung Hwang, but it was a different story with all of them together.
The situation was entirely different for the elders who faced the pirates underwater. Suddenly, arrows rained down upon them while they were focusing on dealing with the pirates rising from below. These arrows, imbued with energy, pierced through the water without losing their power, and the fate of these elders was clear as they had to face dozens of arrows flying behind them at once.
Kwa-dudduk!
The name of the Namgung elders was not in vain, as they immediately deflected the arrows. However, it was impossible to block them all. Sharp arrowheads still pierced their backs and sides.
Kwa-duk!
"Sanjangro!"
A scream of pain erupted from Namgung Hwang's mouth. The wounded Sanjangro was now plunged deeper into the water.
Namgung Hwang clenched his teeth.
There was no time to attend to their wounds. Once they left the frontlines, Namgung Hwang would not only have to deal with the attacks above the water but also the harpoons flying underwater.
Understanding this, Sanjangro chose to face the pirates without concern for his own life. He knew that, when Namgung Hwang's energy was depleted, he would have to confront not only those above water but also the harpoons flying underwater.
Namgung Hwang surveyed his surroundings.
It seemed endless. He couldn't tell whether what he saw were powerful beings or the pirates filling the river.
Namgung Hwang clenched his teeth.
"Dowi!"
"Yes!"
"Behind me!"
Namgung Dowi momentarily locked eyes with Namgung Hwang. He seemed to be about to say something but clamped his lips together so hard they bled, swallowing his words.
Dowi, as if kicking off the water's surface, shifted his position to stand behind Namgung Hwang.
Namgung Hwang let out a heavy breath.
"Dowi!"
"Yes, my lord!"
In the midst of this confusion, Namgung Hwang glanced at Dowi. Dowi, with eyes that made it hard to decipher his thoughts, looked back at him. Namgung Hwang's lips parted slightly.
"Do not fall from your father's... back."
Those words were all he said. Namgung Hwang gripped the sword handle once again.
In any case, it was clear that the outcome would be predictable when they were immobilized in a place like this. However, what they had to do was not just endure but push forward, no matter the cost.
"Protect Dowi, elders!"
His voice may or may not have pierced through the water. But they would surely understand Namgung Hwang's intentions without him having to spell it out.
Kwa-aaah!
A brilliant light.
The radiant light, like it could instantly transform the darkened sky into a bright blue sky, swept forward as Namgung Hwang's sword energy split the river, annihilating everything in its path. The pirates that occupied the path of the sword energy were crushed without being able to cry out.
"Go!"
As the receded waters surged back in, the river surged like the stormy sea. As Namgung Hwang kicked off the water's surface and advanced in a straight line, the pirates came charging toward him, filled with rage and fear.
Once again, the single sword!
Kwa-aaah!
Namgung Hwang's unleashed sword energy struck the pirates rushing at them, sending them flying along with the river.
Wookshin! Wookshin!
From the moment he had jumped into the river, Namgung Hwang's body was far from being in perfect condition. It was obvious that he would run out of energy, given the circumstances where he did not look back and continued to exert his sword energy. However, Namgung Hwang did not think about what was behind him.
There was no going back; there was only moving forward.
"Ooooh!"
Namgung Hwang's sword moved once again. The brilliant white sword energy erupted as if it were painting the way for them on the river.
"Charge!"
Kwa-aaah!
The ground beneath the sword energy burst open like a giant ripping it apart with his bare hands.
"Charge!"
Namgung Hwang roared.
His body had no strength left. By now, his dantian felt excruciatingly painful, as if it were being stabbed repeatedly with a giant needle. The fact that he was already in pain from the time he had jumped into the river made it clear that his situation was hopeless. But Namgung Hwang did not think about what was behind him.
Behind him did not exist. Only what was ahead mattered.
The sword energy was unleashed once again.
"Now... I understand."
He had sometimes pondered the half-baked sword style called the Emperor Sword Style. It emphasized extreme offense, using an unusually large amount of inner energy to generate powerful destructive force, while leaving the back vulnerable in defense. As a result, even though the Namgung family had always produced the top swordsmen, they could never pass the final stage. The title of the world's greatest sword was always out of their reach.
"Why my ancestors chose this sword style, I understand now."
In reality, there was no need to protect the back anymore.
Because his son was behind him.
Emperor Sword Style, the sword of the emperor.
The sword was not for self-boasting or defeating an opponent. It existed only to protect those who followed and stood behind the wielder.
This was the emperor's wish that Namgung aspired to achieve.
"No... perhaps, it's the path of my lineage."
His sword spoke.
To protect his son, he would squeeze every last bit of what remained within him.
Namgung Hwang's lips curled up, revealing his bright white teeth. Despite the surging waves hitting his face and the bitter river water flooding his mouth, his eyes were clearer than ever.
"Dowi!"
"Yes!"
"Watch closely!"
This was his path. And someday, it would be his son's path.
Kwa-aaah!
The monstrous sword energy he unleashed without hesitation swept and annihilated the pirates charging at them.
Kwa-duk!
However, between the now incomplete sword energy, a harpoon shot through and pierced his side.
Namgung Hwang didn't avert his gaze.
Kwa-aaah!
He struck the throat of the one who had pierced their boat in a single stroke and continued to decapitate the terrified pirates one after another.
Kwa-duk! Kwa-duk!
Arrows from below the water struck his legs, and a barrage of arrows pierced his shoulders. Nevertheless, Namgung Hwang only looked ahead.
"Open the way."
Even if it meant burning down everything.
The path for Namgung to walk on.
The path his son should... move forward on.