Kwaaaaah!
As the two forces collided, the aftermath swept through the environment.
It was a battle of giants dominating the era.
Yet, those standing on the ground had no time to focus on it.
"Kraaaah!"
The outstretched sword pierced someone's heart.
"Junior brother!"
"That dog!"
A companion of decades fell to tragedy. Swords, tainted with evil, flew in from all directions, turning the enemies into porcupines.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
Dozens fell to the ground, blood spurting as swords pierced them.
There was no room even for minimal mourning for these tragic deaths on this land.
"Die!"
"Amitabha!"
The evil sect charging forward was met with the golden authority, spraying blood as they fell back. Shaolin's martial arts were truly unmatched. They fought hand-to-hand against armed opponents without a step back.
But that didn't mean Shaolin was in a good situation.
"Kuk!"
"Hehehehe! Even the mighty Shaolin leaders can be struck by a sword!"
"Retreat!"
Clang!
A Shaolin monk, allowing a blow, sent a Myriad Man House member flying by gripping his shoulder. He tried to push back, but his injured shoulder refused to comply, causing him to falter.
Seeing this, Beok Gye shouted loudly.
"Increase your internal strength to resist the poisoning!"
"Yes, elder!"
He bit his lips tightly.
"This is not good."
Shaolin disciples bleeding everywhere were visible. Even the fallen ones, forever on the ground, were visible through the dusty haze.
"This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to go like this..."
Of course, no war could be won without sacrifice. Sacrifices were necessary for victory.
But this level of sacrifice was unexpected. It exceeded all expectations.
"Aaargh!"
Somewhere, a terrible scream echoed, causing Beok Gye's hand to tremble.
"Why..."
It was too much. They could have surrounded and overwhelmed the enemies slowly.
But they rushed forward as if they had forgotten to look back.
And now everyone was paying the price for it.
*Pow*
"Aaargh!"
Jang Ilso's faithful dogs were tearing apart Shaolin disciples. The elders and Beok Gye focused on the front, leaving the rear vulnerable to attack. It was like hunting hungry beasts targeting martial artists.
"Senior brother! This is too much damage! We must surrender now!"
"Junior brother!"
"We must endure!"
The formation was now stretched thin.
The so-called "wedge" formation was immensely powerful when piercing through opponents, but once the charge stopped, they were fully exposed to the attacks from all sides.
In other words, it was a formation with no rear guard.
They hadn't failed, per se. They successfully blocked the enemies and sent Beok Jeong to Jang Ilso.
The problem was what came next.
Caught between three serpents and surrounded by mice.
No matter how strong the serpent was, there was no way to shake off all the mice gnawing at its body while the front mice were dying.
Just as the sharp fangs of the serpent tore into the mice, the mice's teeth were also chewing on the serpent's tail.
"The rear! The disciples at the rear are collapsing, senior brother!"
"I know, don't I!"
Beok Gye shouted sharply and bit down on his lips.
The situation had deviated too far from his initial expectations...
"But now, there's no turning back!"
If they retreated from here to save those under attack at the rear, it would put Beok Jeong in danger and risk Jang Ilso being rescued.
Only the righteous sects were fixated on the showdown between leaders. Those filthy evil sect bastards would rush in at any opportunity to kill Beok Jeong and rescue Jang Ilso.
'If we lose here, it is as good as losing everything'
The pressure from those pushing him in the not-so-distant distance had been keenly felt since earlier.
Especially the force leaders who had been guarding Jang Ilso from the beginning were by no means to be underestimated.
If those individuals were to join the battle, there would be no guarantee of Beok Jeong's safety. Beok Gye couldn't move an inch from this spot.
"Endure it! Endure it no matter what!"
"Senior brother!"
"The abbot will soon defeat that demon! Then it will all be over! Can't you hold on until then?"
Despair flickered in the eyes of some at Beok Gye's desperate cry.
Unable to fight or help the disciples falling behind, it was a situation of utter helplessness. Who could have unleashed such hell?
Bloodshot veins filled Beok Gye's eyes as he surveyed the battlefield.
The sacrifices were undoubtedly great. But they were just sacrifices. The tide hadn't turned yet. Their forces were still superior. When Jang Ilso fell, everything would flow according to their plan once again.
"The abbot will! The abbot will definitely prevail!"
He knew it. He knew how extraordinary Beok Jeong was!
Having watched him all his life, he couldn't possibly not know.
He believed. He still believed.
Beok Jeong would definitely defeat Jang Ilso and bring all the glory to Shaolin.
So they couldn't retreat yet...
That moment arrived.
"Se, senior brother!"
"I told you to endure! Can't you hear me?"
"It's not that, senior brother! Look there! Look over there!"
"What?"
Beok Gye turned sharply towards where his junior brother was pointing.
Gradually, his eyes, not very big to begin with, widened as if they might pop out at any moment.
* * *
Thunk!
Hands intertwined.
Beok Jeong's hand, filled with terrifying internal strength, tried to grasp Jang Ilso's remaining hand like a roaring dragon.
But Jang Ilso, like a slippery eel, skillfully evaded Beok Jeong's Gold Seizing Hand.
"This...!"
Killing intent flashed in Beok Jeong's eyes. Seeing his reaction, Jang Ilso sneered.
"Hmm. You seem impatient. If you're a master, you should be more patient. Don't you think?"
"Shut up!"
Beok Jeong's swift strikes aimed at Jang Ilso's head.
Swift and powerful, devoid of any hesitation, these strikes were filled only with the killing intent to shatter Jang Ilso's head.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Jang Ilso turned his head, avoiding the strikes sent by Beok Jeong.
Of course, with the distance being so close, perfect evasion was difficult. The sharp edge of authority grazed his ear, causing blood to trickle down.
Beok Jeong bit his lower lip tightly.
'Why...?'
This person's condition was clearly precarious. While he had made some progress, it was too uncertain who would emerge victorious in this battle.
This person, who had gone through countless fights, surely wouldn't be unaware.
But where did this calmness come from? Even as the situation was becoming increasingly dire, how could he still show such composure?
Beok Jeong had clearly seen it in this person's eyes. The glint of those demonic eyes, filled with intense desire and strong attachment to life!
Jang Ilso was someone who clung to life more than anyone else. Yet, how could he still show such calmness? Even in a situation where the end was becoming certain.
Beok Jeong would never let go of this person, nor would he let him survive. No matter what happened, he would definitely do that. This person must know that as well. So, perhaps this person's desperation was just a form of resistance.
But more than the incredible power of those fists or the resilient body that seemed impossible to defeat, it was this person's unfathomable calmness that made Beok Jeong gradually uneasy.
"Whooooosh!"
Within arm's reach, the Hundred Steps Divine Fist unfolded.
Abandoning its original power entirely, the Divine Fist retained only its speed as it pierced through the blazing flames towards Jang Ilso's chest.
Kwaaaaah!
Jang Ilso spewed blood from his mouth as he was pushed back. His body staggered backward from the impact.
"Ooooh!"
As if vowing never to let go of the upper hand, Beok Jeong surged forward again towards the retreating Jang Ilso.
All he had to do was bring him down. If he could only bring down this person, everything would be over!
Then he would finally obtain it. He would regain everything he had lost.
All the glory that rightfully belonged to him!
He would dispel the worries of those who doubted him and once again elevate Shaolin's name to the highest peak of the Murim!
Just this person! If he could only bring down this person!
"Jang Ilsooooo!"
Raging. The blue flames. Everything poured out by Beok Jeong only fueled their ferocious burning. To Beok Jeong, it all appeared infinitely brilliant.
"Nooo-!"
Beok Jeong's fist extended fiercely. It was a strike that could hardly be called martial arts, simply a thrust filled with cultivated internal strength but lacking in any specific Shaolin technique.
And in that moment.
Thuuurr!
Jang Ilso, who had been staggering as if exerting all his strength, suddenly grabbed hold of Beok Jeong's fist. With a different strength than before.
'What?'
Beok Jeong's eyes widened.
Gradually, Jang Ilso's head, which had been leaning back, returned to its original position.
A sinister energy ran down Beok Jeong's spine.
Beok Jeong's shoulders involuntarily tensed.
In that split second, Beok Jeong's ear caught an unbelievable whisper.
'What...'
Beok Jeong turned his gaze to where Jang Ilso was looking, beyond Beok Jeong, to somewhere far away.
After a moment, Beok Jeong's mouth slowly fell open.
In the dark night, in the middle of the desert, a gigantic dust cloud was approaching, as if it could overrun everything.
Its intention was clear and vivid.
Amidst the rapidly approaching dust cloud, a massive martial arts figure emerged.
Beok Jeong's trained eyes perfectly discerned their identities even in the darkness.
"Underhanded Gate...!"
The Underhanded Gate, which had not revealed itself until now, had entered this battlefield. At the most opportune moment.
Beok Jeong clenched his teeth.
Even knowing it, it was painful.
However, it was too early to conclude that the situation had worsened. Even if they joined the fray, the advantage still belonged to them...
"Again, they're coming again!"
At that moment, Beok Jeong heard an unbelievable shout.
'Again? They're coming again?'
What in the world...?
Beok Jeong's gaze reflexively turned in the opposite direction. Not to the west where the Underhanded Gate was advancing, but to the east.
And he was met with an incredible sight.
In the deep night, breaking through the horizon, was the shape of a gigantic sun.
No, not the sun. It was a massive red flag adorned with a blazing sun.
"The... the sun?"
There was no mistaking it. That flag belonged to the South Sea Sun Palace.
'Under heaven's five foreign palaces,' one of them being the South Sea Sun Palace, was revealing itself on this battlefield.
Why were they here? Why were they, who should have been far away? Were they enemies? Or allies?
Beok Jeong felt his bones chill.
It was only now that everything became clear. The chaotic formations and the confusion that made it difficult to exert their power. And now, the Underhanded Gate and the Sun Army pressing in on them.
Beok Jeong was even led forward by Jang Ilso.
It was Beok Jeong himself who had created all of this chaos. Like a moth rushing into the flames.
Before Beok Jeong could fully despair, Jang Ilso spoke. His whispering voice sent shivers down Beok Jeong's spine.
"Aren't you enjoying this?"
When Beok Jeong turned to look, Jang Ilso was smiling even more intensely than before. Like a devil blazing brightly in the darkness.
"You should smile. Instead of just being angry, right? Hahaha!"
The laughter pierced Beok Jeong's heart like a sharpened knife.
The twisting flames engulfed everything, including Beok Jeong and even Jang Ilso himself.
Fueled by endless madness and desire.