Chapter 141
He wasn't dead.
This was an obvious outcome.
How could Retar, who was enveloped in such immense demonic energy, die from just that?
'Still, it must have had some impact.'
The power of the Asura Destruction Palm would be continuously churning and tearing apart Retar's insides even now.
Of course, even this impact wouldn't last long.
In the end, it was just an attack to buy time.
But that was exactly what Lee Seong-jun had wanted - to buy time.
Lee Seong-jun quickly turned his gaze to look at the corpse masses surrounding the Chinese hunters.
'...Not good.'
Since he came to help, he couldn't just stand by and watch the Chinese hunters die.
"Hmmm..."
As Lee Seong-jun took a deep breath, his eyes staring at the corpse masses turned red.
Immediately after, Lee Seong-jun stretched his hand into the air and spread out red energy woven from blood qi like a wide net.
Whish-!
With a sound of wind, the energy net spread out and enveloped the corpse masses on the ground.
Each and every red thread, moving under Lee Seong-jun's will, didn't miss a single corpse mass.
It was an act that required not only an absurdly excellent ability to manipulate internal energy but also superhuman mental strength and concentration, yet Lee Seong-jun did it effortlessly. But his actions didn't end there.
'...I can't let the Chinese hunters get hurt.'
He wrapped the area around the Chinese hunters in the center, surrounded by the netted corpse masses, with a circular thread of energy.
The moment he secured everyone's safety like this.
Lee Seong-jun, showing a cold smile, clenched his outstretched hand.
'Blood Flower Heaven Opening, Secret Technique, Great Luo Destruction Flower.'
The killing technique of Blood Flower Heaven Opening, a blood demon martial art for large-scale battles, unfolds.
Shwaeaek-
With a sound of splitting wind, the widely spread energy net tightens around the bodies of the corpse masses.
Along with a world-shaking impact, the nets begin to explode.
Kwagwang-!
Although the concentration was lowered due to being spread thinly, it was still an explosion caused by energy. Moreover, the corpses were bound and unable to escape.
They had no choice but to take the full impact with their bodies. It was an attack that mere corpse masses couldn't withstand.
Kwagwagwang-!
The successive explosions instantly engulfed the corpse masses densely filling the ground, turning them into ashes.
* * *
Inside the red energy.
In the situation where only silence lingered, the allied forces and Chinese hunters had their eyes wide open.
"Wh-what...?"
"What just happened?"
In the midst of a deadly crisis, they had clearly watched Lee Seong-jun, who came to support, overwhelm and push back the enemies with his impressive might.
Thanks to that, they were able to face a glimmer of hope, gather their faltering spirits, and prepare to fight against the army of corpse masses in a final stand.
But suddenly, red energy appeared and created a world cut off from the outside.
"To be able to manipulate energy so freely..."
"Just how strong is he?"
As the veteran high-ranked hunters were unconsciously letting out exclamations at Lee Seong-jun's overwhelming abilities, it happened.
Whiiish-
As the red energy barrier disappeared with the wind, Wi Ji-gang, the lord of the Dragon-Subduing Fortress, raised his voice urgently.
"The war isn't over yet! Stay alert and prepare for the next battle!"
Having clearly seen the might of the corpse mass army, none of the Chinese hunters had any doubts or questions.
They just nodded and quickly gripped their weapons tightly, readjusting their stances.
Finally, the moment the red energy barrier completely vanished.
The Chinese hunters couldn't close their gaping mouths.
"Wh-what is this?"
No matter how much they looked around, there wasn't a single moving corpse mass in sight.
It meant that the unimaginably vast army of corpse masses had been completely annihilated.
"Lord...?"
Some were asking questions to Wi Ji-gang, who could be considered their commander, unable to believe the situation even though they saw it with their own eyes.
But unfortunately, Wi Ji-gang couldn't give an answer either.
More precisely, he didn't have the mental capacity to give an answer.
Because right now, he was the one most surprised among everyone present.
'What on earth is this situation?'
As a master who had reached the realm of Transformation, unlike the inside of the energy where silence prevailed, he knew that successive explosions had occurred outside.
An area attack aimed at numerous enemies at once, it was truly an efficient battle method.
However, given the vast numbers of the corpse mass army, he thought it would be impossible to annihilate them all.
No, considering the amount of energy he felt from the inside, it should have only cleared out 20% or 30% at most.
'...But it completely annihilated them?'
It was hard to believe, but he couldn't deny the situation that had clearly unfolded as reality.
'It means I couldn't properly sense it.'
Given the huge gap in power, it was natural that he couldn't properly sense Lee Seong-jun's strength.
But the fact that he couldn't perceive a massive explosion that wiped out the army of corpse masses filling the plains in a single strike, despite it happening right in front of him, couldn't be dismissed as mere lack of ability.
'Then there's only one remaining cause.'
It meant that even he, Wi Ji-gang, a master who had reached the realm of Transformation, couldn't properly perceive the external explosion.
The red energy barrier that had just surrounded them must have been incredibly solid and strong.
'This is absurd...'
It would have been shocking enough just to create an energy barrier with such excellent durability.
But in the midst of that, he also caused an explosion that annihilated the entire corpse mass army.
Witnessing Lee Seong-jun's power, which made him feel an immeasurable gap, Wi Ji-gang could be certain.
'With Lee Seong-jun...!'
He could defeat Retar, the absolute demon that they didn't even dare to confront.
It meant they could grasp victory in the war against the corpse masses.
The hope that had bloomed on the battlefield began to swell like a balloon.
Naturally, a gleam appeared in the eyes of Wi Ji-gang and the Chinese hunters.
"..."
They couldn't speak out loud as it might interfere with the battle against Retar.
But the Chinese hunters looking up at Lee Seong-jun floating in the sky were conveying their sincere gratitude and support.
* * *
The byproducts left behind by the army of corpse masses, countless monsters, made Lee Seong-jun tremble.
[Experience points greatly increased.]
[Experience points greatly increased.]
[Congratulations, as you've met the required experience...]
'Is it because of the sheer numbers? The experience gain is enormous.'
The level-up alerts ringing in his ears reached as many as 5.
Considering the slowed growth due to his already high level, this was a jackpot-level increase.
It was truly something to be happy about, but sadly, there was no time to indulge in emotions.
As mentioned before, Retar wasn't dead.
The battle wasn't over.
No, it would be more accurate to say it was just beginning.
In fact, a vast amount of demonic energy was explosively rising from the ground where Retar had been driven into.
"...So he was holding back after all."
It meant that when they first exchanged blows, Retar was hiding his true power.
However, Lee Seong-jun hadn't used his full strength either.
Ding-!
[User 'Lee Seong-jun' activates Star's Advice, Star's Favor, Earth's Blessing, Wind's Protection, Strength Enhancement, Stamina Enhancement, and Agility Enhancement.]
As Lee Seong-jun, enveloped in golden energy, bent his back, it happened.
Whoosh-!
Retar's fist, flying with a fierce gust of wind, barely grazed Lee Seong-jun's nose. If he hadn't sensed it in advance and dodged, his head would have been blown off.
"That was quite a sharp attack."
While Lee Seong-jun was letting out a short exclamation with a relaxed expression, Retar, who was staring at him, also let out an exclamation.
"Impressive."
Naturally, it wasn't just admiration for dodging the attack.
"...To think you could annihilate my army in such a short time."
Although the individual power of the corpse masses was pathetic, their numbers were unmatched by any other army.
He had to acknowledge the firepower that could annihilate such an army in a single strike.
The human before him, Lee Seong-jun, was more powerful than any being he had ever encountered.
However, that didn't mean he was contemplating defeat.
He had attained a truly immortal body by ascending to the throne of the Emperor of the Dead, meaning he had transcended death itself.
"No matter how much you struggle, you can't harm me with my immortal body."
"Everyone says something similar before they die."
It was the moment when the cold gazes of Lee Seong-jun and Retar crossed in the air.
Whoosh-!
In a split second, Lee Seong-jun's form shot forward, trying to penetrate Retar's defenses once again.
Having experienced this attack once before, Retar doesn't respond in the same careless manner as before.
Instead, he quickly draws up black demonic energy.
Immediately after, he wraps the energy around his entire body, creating a thick barrier.
Wooong-!
He completely blocked any gaps through which an attack could penetrate.
However, this could be considered Retar's worst mistake.
"...If you just stand still like that, it's too easy to hit you."
Lee Seong-jun, with a grim smile, pushes the exploding red sphere in his hand towards Retar.
'Myriad Phenomena Blood Demon Sea Fifth Form, Asura Explosion.'
Kugugung-!
The small red sphere, taking the form of a legendary asura, instantly pierces through the demonic energy barrier blocking its path.
Kwagwagwang-!
Trapped by the barrier he created himself and taking the full brunt of the Asura Explosion, Retar's body scatters into ashes.
Given its destructive power that burns away everything, including the remnants of the soul and the very foundation of being, not even a lich with an immortal body could survive.
Therefore, normally, he would have turned his back, confirming victory.
However, the demonic energy still filling the area and the absence of system sounds ringing in his ears indicated that Retar was still alive.
"This is quite surprising."
Thanks to his narrowed gaze scanning the area, Lee Seong-jun could see it - Retar's body, which had turned to ashes, regenerating in less than 10 seconds from a tiny speck of ash.
"Didn't I tell you? Your attacks can never harm my body."
Seeing Retar's face with a relaxed smile, Lee Seong-jun muttered.
"Seeing that it takes 10 seconds to regenerate, it seems you're not truly immortal after all. There must be a phylactery, the weakness of a lich... I can't pinpoint its location though. Well, can't be helped. This time, I'll have to erase you without leaving a trace."
By now, Lee Seong-jun's gaze fixed on Retar was emitting a sharp light.