Im Sobyeong's mouth slowly fell open in shock.
The white... no, the crimson-stained cliff was suddenly covered with dozens of cracks spreading like hungry dragons racing up the precipice.
The sight was as if it had shaped the word "collapse" itself. Im Sobyeong screamed so loudly that his throat felt like it was tearing.
"Retreat! It's collapsing!"
The others, who had been staring blankly at the cliff, panicked and leapt back with all their might. Despite the presence of the Evil Tyrant Alliance in their retreat path, it was not a significant obstacle in the current situation.
It wasn't only those who were trying to escape from the cliff.
Rumble! Rumble!
The red cliff literally twisted. Following the spiderweb-like cracks, rocks began to split and grind against each other, creating a grotesque, ear-splitting noise that made every hair on one's body stand on end.
And finally...
Boom!
With the sound of the heavens cracking, the cliff collapsed.
Everyone fled in a panic, running away from the cliff's opposite direction.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Broken rocks crashed into each other in mid-air, creating explosive sounds. Everything seemed to be overwhelming them with a sense of 'fear.'
"Further! Move back further! More!"
Moyong Wigyung shouted until his voice cracked.
Having witnessed hellish scenes in Hubei, the current collapse offered a different kind of terror.
"Damn it, why aren't you retreating further!"
The collapse of the cliff was almost a given. So it would be no exaggeration to say that those who had already moved away would face no harm.
However, even if he knew this rationally, he could not remain calm in the face of such a colossal collapse. Everyone's faces turned pale with fear.
"Aaaaah!"
"Ahhhhh!"
The enormous roar was pierced by someone's scream. The rocks of the collapsing cliff mixed with human bodies, smashing them into oblivion. It was a truly horrific sight.
Boom!
Rocks that had fallen from the bottom of the cliff crashed down, shaking the ground. Even those who had retreated far from the cliff were trembling from the intense vibrations beneath their feet.
And this was just the beginning.
Larger and more numerous rocks rained down like hail, swallowing up hundreds of people standing on the cliff.
Im Sobyeong, watching the appalling and horrifying scene in a daze, turned his gaze toward the high point.
'Please...'
He had unconsciously clenched his fan tightly. His dry knuckles were turning white.
Namgung Doi's body twitched.
Having stepped onto the ground of grass and soil after crossing the cliff sideways before the collapse began, his mind was still trapped in the collapsing cliff.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The massive collapse might be swallowing the volcano that was atop the cliff. For now, he could only watch. He clenched his jaw so hard that his facial muscles bulged.
"This...!"
"Stop it, Dowi!"
Namgung Myung held Namgung Dowi's shoulder tightly, as if made of steel, not letting go.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Namgung Dowi's eyes were bloodshot.
What tortured his heart amidst this chaos was something else as well.
Those who had lost their footing seemed to fall like rain. Even amidst the dust clouded everywhere, Namgung Dowi's trained internal power allowed him to read their expressions as they fell.
Distrust, despair, and terrible resentment.
These were the faces of those who could not believe until the end that they would be abandoned, meeting certain death. It was a sight too horrific to bear.
"Good heavens..."
Not far off, Lee Songbaek's stunned voice was heard.
The scale of the collapse far exceeded their expectations.
It might even be less than half of the collapse planned by the Evil Tyrant Alliance initially, but the shock from the scene of the entire mountain crumbling remained unchanged. Lee Songbaek was frozen, unable to move.
Could anyone survive this? There was no need to contemplate. A person made of flesh and blood would never come out alive. Absolutely...
"Don't act recklessly, Jin Geum Ryong!"
At that moment, Jong Rigok's sharp voice pierced Lee Songbaek's ears. Startled, he turned to see Jong Rigok pressing Jin Geum Ryong's shoulder with a sword sheath.
Though Jong Rigok's aggressive movement was shocking, what was even more startling was Jin Geum Ryong's horrifically distorted face.
"Jin Geum..."
"I know, Sect Leader!"
Interrupting Jong Rigok's words, Jin Geum Ryong shouted. His lower lip was bleeding from being bitten so hard.
Even if Jin Geum Ryong stepped in now, there was nothing he could do. They had to wait. Jin Geum Ryong was not unaware of this fact.
However...
Jin Geum Ryong, after a brief silence, clenched his fists tightly.
"It's just so miserable seeing us barely escape from the cliff like this!"
"This scoundrel..."
Jin Geum Ryong stared silently at the spot where the cliff's summit had been.
If it were them... they would definitely have escaped from that cliff. If the Mount Hua Sect was an easy opponent, the world's Southern Edge Sect would not have suffered such humiliation.
'...Jin Geum Ryong.'
It must be done, absolutely!
Rumble rumble rumble!
Gwak Hui, losing strength in his legs, slumped to the ground.
Thud.
The impact of his fall caused Jo Gul, who was carried on his back, to flinch and open his eyes.
Struggling to lift his heavy eyelids, he looked around with difficulty and grabbed Gwak Hui's shoulder. Even that small movement elicited a pained groan from his mouth.
"Ugh..."
A short while ago, the cliff where they had fought fiercely had transformed into a bizarre shape.
The cliff, which had once jutted high into the sky, was now gouged out as if it had been plowed by a gigantic hoe.
And those who had been on top of it had disappeared.
Rumbling!
Only the noise coming from below and the intense vibrations that were conveyed through the whole body explained what had happened.
"Good heavens…"
It was a disaster far greater than he had clumsily anticipated. Jo Gul could only stand there, shivering with his mouth agape.
A newly formed void stretched out before them, right in front of the archers of the Southern Sea Sun Palace who had been standing to block their retreat.
Jo Gul felt his bones go cold in an instant. Sweat ran down his face.
What did this mean? It meant that if they had been even a moment slower, everyone would have collapsed along with the cliff. Not a single person would have been left.
"A miracle…"
It was indeed a miraculous escape. Yet he could not bring himself to sigh in relief.
On the left and right of the collapsed cliff, there was a narrow strip of space that remained just barely. On this part of the mountain, the exhausted members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance were left sitting down, drained.
These were the ones who had narrowly escaped the inevitable death by luck.
Of course, those who had been chosen by luck were not even half of those who had climbed the cliff.
Hundreds of members of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, who were not chosen, had fallen to their deaths in an instant, becoming lost souls. Not by the hands of enemies, but by the schemes of their own allies.
Creeeak.
The sound of someone grinding their teeth in suppressed rage could be heard. There was no need to confirm who it was. After all, the feelings of those watching this scene were likely all the same.
"The people below must have stopped the ones meddling with the cliff to some extent. Otherwise, the entire cliff would have surely collapsed."
Listening to Tang Gunak's muttering, Jo Gul let out a hollow laugh.
What he meant was, according to the Evil Tyrant Alliance's plan, all members should have died. Thanks to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's valiant resistance, less than half of the members survived.
How should this situation be assessed?
"Unit Leader, the others…"
"The battle is over."
"…Pardon?"
Tang Gunak stared intently at something beyond the collapsed cliff. A cold anger was boiling deep within his eyes.
"That's probably… something the one who started this incident would know best."
Ho Gakmyung stared at the collapsed cliff with a stony face.
He remained perfectly still, as if he were a rock himself. Not even a word or a sigh escaped him.
His aides, observing his expression, finally managed to speak.
"General, what's next…"
Ho Gakmyung closed his eyes in silence. After a moment of steadying his breath, he slowly opened his eyes and let out a small, unexpected smile.
"What's next…"
Was there such a thing?
Words that had seemed to stick to the tip of his tongue emerged, disguised as calmness.
"Retreat."
"G-General! Did you just say retreat?"
"…Yes."
"But, still…"
"The battle here is already over."
"B-But, General. There are troops remaining on the cliff. Our forces still…"
"That's exactly why."
"…Pardon?"
Ho Gakmyung continued to gaze at the partially collapsed cliff. There was still some space left, so about half of the Evil Tyrant Alliance members would have survived.
Simply put, it was a matter of conserving strength, but if looked at coldly, it was like carrying a ticking time bomb.
Unless they were fools, they must know what kind of situation they were in. If their anger was swept away by the heat of battle, there would be no way to control the direction of that blade.
The Heavenly Comrade Alliance stationed below would never miss such a gap.
If everything depended on this place and victory had to be pursued at all costs, he would risk the danger and continue the attack. However, the significance of this battle was not that grand.
There was only a small sense of regret that could not be helped.
"If only…"
If the entire cliff had collapsed, turning even those left on top into mere lost souls…
"No, never mind."
But soon, Ho Gakmyung shook his head.
It was already done. The fact that the collapse was stopped to that extent was also their skill, so it could not be denied.
The Evil Tyrant Alliance led by Ho Gakmyung had been defeated by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. That was all. Any further lingering would be nothing more than pathetic excuses.
"Send the retreat signal. We are withdrawing."
"General…"
"How many times must I say it?"
"N-No, sir!"
The aides quickly sent the signal. Then, those around began firing signal flares in all directions.
Ho Gakmyung, who had stood silently for a moment, let out a sneer.
"Amateurs…"
They had been defeated by those amateurs. There was no room for excuses.
The Evil Tyrant Alliance, which had even trampled over Shaolin mercilessly.
Despite using his strongest card, "Jang Ilso," to drive the Plum Blossom Sword Demon away from here, they were unable to handle the names of Mount Hua and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"Just that I…"
Ho Gakmyung muttered quietly as he gazed endlessly at the cliff. As if he intended to embed himself there.
After a long while, he finally turned his body around.
With his back to the collapsed cliff and descending the mountain, a trace of solemnity crossed his face.