Chapter 106
'The calculation was wrong from the beginning.'
There wasn't enough information, so I underestimated Lee Seong-jun.
However, that doesn't mean I'm thinking about defeat.
'His attacks aren't a big threat to me.'
In fact, during the previous exchange, I allowed numerous hits, but none could be called fatal.
Even if the poison doesn't work, if I continue to engage in close combat and wage a war of attrition, I will eventually gain the upper hand.
Of course, it won't be easy.
Lee Seong-jun is no ordinary human. He's skilled in combat, has a lot of experience, and moreover, uses that troublesome ability called martial arts.
But if I keep pressuring him without giving him time to catch his breath, he'll eventually reach his physical limit and collapse.
Thinking this, Razaka smiled with killing intent and rushed towards Lee Seong-jun.
Whoosh-!
A frontal assault, nothing special about the movement, but the power contained within was tremendous.
'Strong energy? No. This can't be seen as simple strong energy.'
The black energy that had been rising like a mirage from Razaka's entire body began to condense, taking on the form of strong energy.
Up to this point, it could be called ordinary strong energy, but the problem was that the amount of internal energy being emitted was enormous.
He was explosively releasing at once the overwhelming energy (氣) accumulated through predation so far, an amount so brutish that even Lee Seong-jun's current strength couldn't easily handle it.
Lee Seong-jun's expression hardened slightly at the sight of Razaka's strong determination to engage in close combat no matter what.
"An attack so brutal it's vicious."
He could withstand it if he tried.
But there was no need to waste unnecessary stamina engaging in a brute force battle.
Whoosh-
Lee Seong-jun unleashed the Taeseonchjilju by enveloping his entire body in wind, immediately trying to distance himself from the approaching Razaka.
However, Razaka, filled with determination, didn't allow it.
"I won't let you escape!"
The moment Razaka concentrated the exploded strong energy in his legs and stepped forward was when it happened.
Boom-!
With a thunderous sound that seemed to shake the earth's axis, Razaka's body shot forward at the speed of a shell.
Lee Seong-jun's pupils showed a faint tremor at the sight of Razaka closing the distance at such a rapid speed.
"...Not bad."
Taeseonchjilju was the ultimate technique of the Wind Ghost Demon Sect, used only by Hyeokcheon. In terms of speed alone, it could be considered the best martial art in the world.
In fact, until now, not a single being on Earth had ever caught up with Taeseonchjilju, right?
Yet Razaka was keeping up with the speed of Taeseonchjilju.
'If I hadn't undergone Rebirth, this could have become quite troublesome.'
Not only had the amount and efficiency of his internal energy increased, but his physical abilities themselves had also improved, meaning the range of martial arts he could use had greatly expanded.
Thanks to this, he could easily respond to Razaka's unexpected movements.
With a relaxed smile, Lee Seong-jun wrapped red strong energy around both feet.
'Blood Sea Dragon Step, Cloud Mist.'
The extremely soft movements create diverse changes, resembling the appearance of clouds in the sky.
'No matter how fast you are, it's meaningless if you can't reach me.'
Just as the previously used Taeseonchjilju pursued only speed, martial arts using the feet each had their own characteristics.
And what the Blood Sea Dragon Step, Cloud Mist he was now displaying pursued was change (變), movements seeking extreme transformation.
Every time Lee Seong-jun's feet moved, afterimages filled the air, creating a scene as if red mist was covering the entire area.
Of course, this wasn't just a simple metaphor.
Whoosh-!
Though Razaka thought he had surely grasped him, Lee Seong-jun dispersed like a mirage, toying with Razaka's gaze.
"What...!?"
Unable to hide his confusion, Razaka frantically swung his arms, but still couldn't catch Lee Seong-jun.
Just as Razaka was flailing about, trapped in the red cloud mist, Lee Seong-jun's form underwent another change.
'Blood Sea Dragon Step, Transformation, Cloud Mist Scattered Blood Strike.'
The illusions that Razaka had thought were mere mirages began to rush towards him. The forms of Lee Seong-jun shooting out now were no longer illusions.
Through the Cloud Mist Scattered Blood Strike, they had become fists, feet, a kind of martial weapon.
However, since its foundation was a footwork technique pursuing change, its destructive power was far inferior compared to other martial arts.
But if asked whether its power was weak, one could immediately shake their head no.
True to its name, the Cloud Mist Scattered Blood Strike spread Lee Seong-jun's internal energy in all directions, creating dozens of physical forms to pressure Razaka.
Razaka swung his arms desperately, but he couldn't block the attacks coming from all directions.
Papapapak-!
Battered by the Cloud Mist Scattered Blood Strike, Razaka's entire body trembled as he let out a short groan.
"Kugh-!"
The impact he felt at the moment was not negligible.
But what was most annoying was that he couldn't continue the close combat he had planned.
It meant that the plan he had painstakingly made had come to nothing.
From Razaka's perspective, it was quite an awkward situation, but the problem he was facing now was just the tip of the iceberg.
Whoosh-
A small flame bloomed in the air, and Choi Chang-woo's voice flowed from a paper doll the size of a palm.
-As you ordered, we've evacuated all the hunters in the vicinity to the safe zone.
Only then checking the surrounding situation, Razaka's brow furrowed.
Not only Song Seung-jun, who was originally the prey, but also the hunters who should have been sprawled on the ground were nowhere to be seen.
He had been so focused on the battle with Lee Seong-jun that he hadn't noticed the hunters disappearing one by one.
This meant that Lee Seong-jun, whom he thought he had been exchanging blows with fairly evenly, had never truly engaged in the battle.
From the beginning, he had merely been playing along to draw Razaka's attention.
Indeed, a refreshed smile was blooming on Lee Seong-jun's lips in his gaze.
"As expected, defensive battles don't suit me."
As much as he was praised as the Blood Demon and Demon God, he couldn't call himself a good person.
However, he wasn't an evil person who would easily disregard the lives of hunters who had shown sacrifice to the point of giving up their own lives.
Therefore, every time he clashed with Razaka, he had to control his strength while being mindful of the fallen hunters around.
In other words, from now on, there was no need to control his strength.
It meant he could now use his full power.
Ding-!
[Using Star's Favor, Earth's Blessing, Wind's Protection, Strength, Stamina, and Agility Enhancement on user 'Lee Seong-jun'.]
[Due to the effect of the active skill Amplification, the effects of enhancement skills are increased by 50% each.]
[Due to the effect of the buff skill Earth's Blessing, the durability of the body is greatly increased.]
[Agility status increases by 45.]
[Strength and Stamina statuses increase by 37 each.]
Golden energy wrapped around Lee Seong-jun's body as he stiffened his expression, and he felt an enormous power rising within him.
Although it could be said that he had undergone a change in an instant, Lee Seong-jun's full power didn't end here.
Whoosh!
As blood energy moved through all the meridians in his body, Lee Seong-jun's black pupils took on an alluring red color, changing the air currents in the area.
The Blood Demon, the ruler of the Blood Sect that had conquered the Thousand Continent in the past, had descended here.
"Let's have a proper play."
At the chilling smile blooming on Lee Seong-jun's lips, Razaka's body began to tremble like an aspen tree.
"Wh-what, what on earth...?"
Razaka was unconsciously clashing his sharp fangs repeatedly, letting out a voice full of fear.
He couldn't help it.
The instinctive senses of a beast, an animal, had grasped Lee Seong-jun's appearance hidden in the abyss.
The insignificant human body had somehow changed to be so vast as to cover the world, and the wild and fierce red light in his eyes was emitting such overwhelming power that its limits couldn't be known.
It felt as if he was witnessing the asura of hell with his own eyes.
Razaka's eyes, which had been full of pride as a king, were now filled only with fear and trembling.
"Y-you were clearly human... but no, y-you... what is your true identity...!"
Can't win.
Must avoid.
Must escape.
His instincts kept sending warning signals.
But his body wouldn't move.
No, where could he run to in the first place?
There was nowhere to escape from the power of an asura that could destroy even the world.
Thud-
Filled with fear in his mind, Razaka had no choice but to cut off the thread of his reason himself.
"Kraaagh-!"
Razaka, who had degenerated into a mere beast, was rushing towards Lee Seong-jun with fierce momentum, but it was truly a meaningless struggle.
"Eaten by fear... how disappointing."
Lee Seong-jun, wearing a cold expression, took a deep breath, concentrated strong energy in both palms, collided them, and then pulled them apart as if stretching dough.
Woong-
Along with a resonant sound, the membrane of strong energy spread thin and wide, creating a red rod.
As a weapon crafted from the strong energy of the Blood Demon, the Asura, it could be said to contain quite destructive power even in this state.
But Lee Seong-jun's actions didn't end there.
'Devour it.'
The moment his will touched it, the red rod in his grasp began to indiscriminately suck in the blood energy from his body as if it had been waiting for this.
Kugung-!
With a low roar, the absorbed blood energy enveloped the red rod, transformed, and took on the complete form of a sword.
At first glance, it might seem like nothing special, just a red sword.
However, it contained the power and essence of the Asura, praised as the greatest Blood Demon and Demon God of all time.
It could be said without exaggeration that this was the best martial art Lee Seong-jun could currently unleash.
It was a power that a mere beast that had lost its reason and was rampaging could never withstand.
'Ten Thousand Forms Blood Demon Release, 4th Form, Asura Soul-Cutting Sword.'
The martial art of the Blood Demon using his full power.
Among them, the Blood Demon's sword that even cuts through the soul is swung.
Unlike the martial arts he had displayed so far, it doesn't accompany loud explosions or roars.
However, that doesn't mean there were no changes or impacts.
Slash-
With a chilling cutting sound, the red strong energy shot in the shape of a crescent moon splits the world.
The nearby trees that had been blocking the view, buildings made of concrete, towering mountains, even the clouds hanging on the horizon.
It didn't matter what the target was or what form it had.
The red crescent moon shot in the shape of a straight line cut through and split everything it passed, causing them to lose their original form.
Naturally, Razaka's body, which was caught in the center of the red crescent moon, couldn't possibly remain intact.
Thud.
Razaka's body, split exactly in half, rolled on the ground in an unsightly form.
The subjugation of Razaka, the king of werewolves who possessed the power of predation, had been accomplished.