Absolute Regression - Chapter 823

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍killing intent released by Baek Jagang dominated the space.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ultimate killing intent.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment one felt it, the entire body felt suffocated, as if trapped inside a narrow box. Goosebumps rose across the skin, and a chilling cold spread through the body. The exterior grew cold and movements slowed, yet the heart burned hot.

Fear ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and pressure, rage and hatred—every negative desire began to run rampant.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a presence that should have crushed anyone outright, yet Hwa Moogi took a deep breath and savored it.

“This ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is the first time I’ve felt such powerful killing intent.”

Joo Ga-shin, who resided within him, had never revealed such energy. Hwa Moogi described it like this:

“The one inside me is far too insidious, you see.”

Baek Jagang recalled the Joo Ga-shin he had spoken to earlier. That insidious man had tried to save him. Thinking he might be listening, Baek Jagang spoke to Hwa Moogi:

“Still, thank you for the offer.”

It was an abrupt remark, but everyone could guess. It was a continuation of the earlier voice transmission—a message meant for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader from three hundred years ago.

The Fist Demon King silently glanced at Baek Jagang beside him.

It was unexpected that he had stepped forward like this. Since Jin Paecheon had fought alone, he had assumed Baek Jagang would do the same.

‘The Martial Alliance Leader fought alone, so how could I, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, fight together with another?’

He had expected that, yet Baek Jagang chose practicality over pride.

And not just that—

From Baek Jagang’s eyes, the Fist Demon King read a clear resolve.

‘Let’s end this fight, the two of us!’

In that instant, the Fist Demon King’s fists clenched tightly. It was exactly what he had hoped for. If this dangerous battle did not pass on to the Cult Leader, there was nothing more he could wish for.

The Fist Demon King began to release his demonic energy in earnest. His demonic energy was different from usual.

It did not spread or erupt outward.

It was like Mount Tai pressing down—an unbreakable, massive force that began to crush Hwa Moogi.

Baek Jagang’s killing intent and the Fist Demon King’s demonic energy.

The two forces pressed down on Hwa Moogi at the same time.

It was so overwhelming that simply standing should have been difficult, yet Hwa Moogi remained completely fine.

“These energies are not unfamiliar to me.”

And then, as if he were truly a hero about to capture villains—

“Yes, you two are villains worth hunting!”

Hwa Moogi’s gaze turned to the Fist Demon King.

“More than anyone else, I’ve wanted to fight you.”

Hwa Moogi sheathed his black sword.

“With my fists.”

He clenched both fists tightly, as if to show off.

There could be no greater provocation—he was challenging the Fist Demon King to a fistfight.

“Well? How about we fight with fist techniques—”

Before he could finish speaking, Baek Jagang’s figure cut through the air.

Swiish!

In an instant, his sword shot toward Hwa Moogi’s chest.

It was an unexpected attack. Who would have imagined that while he was proposing a fistfight with the Fist Demon King, Baek Jagang would suddenly charge in like this?

Swiish!

Baek Jagang’s sword grazed Hwa Moogi’s body. As Hwa Moogi twisted to evade, the trajectory of the incoming blade shifted.

Clang!

The sword brushed past his face once more.

It was an attack that could not be avoided normally, so Hwa Moogi used Joo Ga-shin’s Radiant World Heavenly King Step to evade it.

Baek Jagang continued his assault relentlessly, as if determined not to give him any chance to draw his sword again.

His attacks differed from those of Jin Paecheon and the Sword King.

He did not aim solely for vital points.

A strike aimed at the jaw was immediately redirected diagonally—this time toward the shoulder, then the thigh.

Arms, waist—anywhere that could be cut was fair game.

That made him all the more dangerous.

Whoosh.

In the end, Hwa Moogi used the Radiant World Heavenly King Step to leap backward.

It was the first time he had retreated since the battle began.

“This is you looking down on the Fist Demon King—”

He couldn’t finish his sentence again.

This time, a gust from the Fist Demon King’s punch flew in.

Whoooooong!

While Baek Jagang and Hwa Moogi fought, the Fist Demon King had drawn his internal energy to the absolute limit into his fist.

It was no mere gust—it carried enough power to grind rocks into dust.

Boom!

Swept up by the force, Hwa Moogi was blown through the tavern wall.

He had tried to withstand it with protective energy, but Baek Jagang and the Fist Demon King charged in right behind the blast.

Hwa Moogi was forced outside the Flowing Wind Tavern, with the two immediately pursuing him, giving him no chance to recover.

Sword energy and fist force struck him simultaneously.

Hwa Moogi leapt into the air.

Boom!

The building across from the tavern was obliterated by the combined attack.

Now, the battlefield was no longer the tavern—it was Maga Village.

Hwa Moogi landed on the roof of a nearby building.

“Fist Demon King, I wanted a proper fight with you. But you’re going to fight like that unrefined, unorthodox bastard?”

It seemed he truly wanted to fight the Fist Demon King one-on-one.

“What? Not confident?”

His provocation bordered on arrogance.

But Baek Jagang saw it differently.

—He’s trying to avoid fighting both of us at once.

If the Fist Demon King engaged him in close-range fist combat, the two would become entangled, making it difficult for Baek Jagang to assist.

The Fist Demon King immediately understood.

—We won’t fight on his terms.

Jin Paecheon, watching from afar, also grasped Hwa Moogi’s intent.

—He’s started managing his internal energy.

Geom Woojin nodded in agreement.

Hwa Moogi, who had previously tanked attacks with his protective energy, had begun dodging instead.

Even the Heavenly Killing Star could not possess infinite internal energy.

Nor did he possess power overwhelming enough to crush them all effortlessly.

He had inflicted external injuries on Jin Paecheon and internal injuries on the Sword King—but both had had support.

So far, Hwa Moogi’s strength was only slightly greater than that of two fighters working together.

If they coordinated properly, an even battle was possible.

However, the fight had grown far more dangerous.

With less internal energy to spare, the Heavenly Killing Star might resort to a single decisive killing move.

As before, the battle could end before anyone could intervene.

In the end, Baek Jagang and the Fist Demon King had to support each other.

But how far would they go?

Since that was uncertain, Geom Woojin watched more closely than ever.

The Fist Demon King looked up at Hwa Moogi on the roof.

“You want to fight me with fists?”

He gestured for him to come down.

“Come down. A fistfight is fought with your feet on the ground.”

The moment Hwa Moogi leapt down—

Baek Jagang struck.

Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art.

First Form—White Heaven Form.

A blinding white surge of energy swept toward Hwa Moogi.

But as if he had anticipated it, Hwa Moogi’s black sword cut through the air.

Radiant Martial Sun Sword Art

Second Form—Great Sun Birth.

Boom!

The clash of two supreme techniques shook the surroundings like an earthquake.

Hwa Moogi had already anticipated the ambush.

Swiish!

Breaking through the rising dust, he charged forward.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As their swords collided, Baek Jagang felt the same thing the others had.

‘He’s strong.’

The black sword carried immense power—enough to tear his wrist apart.

‘His strength should be waning by now.’

Yet Hwa Moogi remained powerful.

After exchanging dozens of blows in an instant, Hwa Moogi’s final strike carried immense internal energy, aiming to break Baek Jagang’s sword—but it did not break.

Boom!

Baek Jagang was pushed back, dispersing the force by sliding.

‘Good—keep using your internal energy!’

In that moment, Hwa Moogi struck toward the Fist Demon King’s vital points.

Shhk shhk shhk!

Given his large build, dodging seemed difficult—

Yet astonishingly, the Fist Demon King avoided every attack with elegant footwork.

In fist techniques, footwork was more important than the fist itself.

It was something he always taught his subordinates.

Dodging mattered more than striking.

Facing weapons with bare hands, evasion and redirection were paramount.

'How does that massive body move like that?'

The Fist Demon King showed them the answer through action.

And Hwa Moogi could not focus solely on him.

From his left, Baek Jagang attacked again.

Hwa Moogi avoided and countered—

Swiish!

Their blades crossed, both aimed at each other’s hearts.

At that moment—

Thud!

The Fist Demon King’s punch struck Hwa Moogi’s side.

And in that instant, he felt it.

A protective energy unlike anything he had ever encountered.

Unlike when he struck his face earlier—this time, it felt different.

Though the impact sounded loud, it felt like punching water. His internal energy dispersed within it.

'So this is why he blocked everything!'

Hwa Moogi countered toward him—

Swiish.

Clang!

Baek Jagang intercepted the attack.

At that moment, the Fist Demon King launched an unexpected strike at close range.

Lightning Asura Fist

First Technique—Black Cloud Asura.

Boom!

Hwa Moogi was pushed back—but did not fall.

They pressed the advantage.

Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art

Fifth Form—Ring of Annihilation.

Sword energy split in all directions around him.

There was nowhere to escape.

Shhk shhk shhk shhk!

The attacks struck him from all sides.

The ground shook.

Yet through the dust—

Hwa Moogi still stood.

Swoosh!

The Fist Demon King struck again.

Boom!

For the first time, Hwa Moogi was sent flying, rolling across the ground.

The Third Technique—Heavenly Thunder Asura had landed cleanly.

Rumble!

Thunder roared.

As Hwa Moogi rose, Baek Jagang’s attacks continued.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Fist Demon King followed, unleashing everything.

Hwa Moogi did not dodge.

He took every hit.

This was their chance.

The Fist Demon King prepared his final move.

Sixth Technique—Yama’s Thunder Asura.

A single-use strike, pouring all internal energy into one blow.

Baek Jagang did the same—

At that moment—

“Wait!”

It was Geom Woojin.

The attacks halted.

As the dust settled, Hwa Moogi stood—still.

A violent killing intent burst from him—no longer rising, but erupting uncontrollably.

The Heavenly Killing Star was beginning to collapse.

The Fist Demon King could not understand.

'Why stop us?'

Geom Woojin stared at Hwa Moogi.

Those blood-red eyes—

“I think it’s time you stop acting.”

Everyone was stunned.

Geom Woojin said:

“His protective energy isn’t normal.”

He had watched everything.

At first, he thought Hwa Moogi was simply showing off.

But something felt wrong.

Hwa Moogi could have dodged those attacks.

Even more so, since he had tried to conserve energy earlier.

Then why take them?

Why invite disadvantage?

Geom Woojin spoke:

“I think his protective energy absorbs external attacks as internal energy.”

“!”

Silence.

“Am I wrong?”

The raging killing intent suddenly subsided.

Then—

Hwa Moogi smiled.

“As expected… you noticed.”

“Reverse Heaven Absorption Demonic Art. A martial art I created.”

“With help,” he implied.

“You thought you were exhausting me—but I was exhausting you.”

“!”

“We’re the ones injured…”

“My internal energy is fully restored.”

If Geom Woojin hadn’t noticed, they would have been drained completely.

Everything had been calculated.

Hwa Moogi was never truly arrogant.

Only pretending to be.

Now—

He truly was.

“The only one who can kill me… is myself.”