Absolute Regression - Chapter 832

“You… ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you’re exactly the same!”

Geom ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mugeuk, who had been standing behind the Heavenly Demon Spirit, stepped forward and looked at it.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍large Heavenly Demon Spirit had shrunk in size but remained exactly the same in appearance.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍still bore that terrifying face and gaze, and in its chest still burned that hellish flame shaped like the face of the Heavenly Demon Spirit.

Now ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that it had become as small as a human, it felt even more frightening, yet at the same time, its reduced size somehow made it look more refined and impressive.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an overwhelmed heart, Geom Mugeuk greeted it.

“It’s been a while, my friend.”

Geom Mugeuk called it a friend.

When he had first met the Heavenly Demon Spirit, he had told it so—its master, and its friend.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was someone who wanted to be its friend more than its master.

The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s eyes seemed to briefly turn toward Geom Mugeuk, but soon fixed themselves on the Heavenly Demon Spirit residing within Hwa Moogi’s body, standing ahead.

“Thank you for saving me.”

But how could Geom Mugeuk leave it at just that?

“Everyone expects my Heavenly Demon Spirit to speak well since it’s mine. Say something.”

Was it just his imagination? He felt as though the Heavenly Demon Spirit was slightly troubled.

The joy of its talkative master continued. It was hard to believe this was someone who had been on the verge of death just moments ago.

“I once told my father I had two wishes regarding you. The first was to have a conversation with you.”

But the Heavenly Demon Spirit said nothing.

“The second was to make you smaller so we could walk around like friends. One of those wishes has already come true.”

Those who had rushed forward to help Geom Mugeuk all stared at the Heavenly Demon Spirit in shock.

Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang stood close to him. This was the first time they had seen that a Heavenly Demon Spirit could descend in such a small form.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at them.

“Where in the world would you find a Martial Alliance Leader and an Unorthodox Alliance Leader throwing themselves forward for the sake of the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”

Jin Paecheon felt genuine relief at seeing Geom Mugeuk unharmed.

“Right now, you’re not the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—you’re Hagon’s friend.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and bowed politely.

“Thank you.”

Because of such bonds, Jin Paecheon felt even more regret.

“You’ve saved us many times, yet I’ve never managed to save you even once.”

“Even without the Heavenly Demon Spirit, you would have saved me, Alliance Leader.”

Would he really have been able to? When he had rushed forward earlier to protect Geom Mugeuk, it had been a narrow margin.

If the Heavenly Demon Spirit had not descended, he would have tried to block it even by unleashing sword energy—but there was no guarantee Geom Mugeuk would have survived.

He clearly regretted being a step too late.

Regardless of the Demonic Cult Leader’s intentions, he should have moved first.

“I’ll boast about this for the rest of my life.”

Jin Paecheon was simply grateful for Geom Mugeuk saying that.

Geom Mugeuk turned his gaze to Baek Jagang.

“You came as well?”

Baek Jagang replied indifferently.

“We have a habit of moving together instinctively whenever the Righteous Faction moves.”

Geom Mugeuk laughed at the joke. Since he didn’t make a show of it at all, the gratitude felt even greater.

Geom Mugeuk bowed to him as well.

“I will never forget the favor of you risking your precious life for me today.”

It was a promise that didn’t make his ears tingle as usual.

Beside them stood the Fist Demon King.

“As expected! Master is the best, far better than my cold-hearted father!”

The Fist Demon King could confirm that the Cult Leader had judged correctly.

To risk his life just to summon his own Heavenly Demon Spirit.

Truly, no one but Geom Mugeuk could have attempted such a thing.

At the same time, he thought it was a wise decision.

If neither Geom Mugeuk’s nor the Cult Leader’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had descended, fighting that Heavenly Demon Spirit would never have been easy.

Geom Mugeuk had found a breakthrough in a disadvantageous battle.

Naturally, the Sword King stood beside them as well. It was truly a historic moment—these great masters had all thrown themselves forward at the same time.

“To be honest, I wasn’t too worried.”

“Why?”

“I figured you were holding on like that because you had a plan.”

Even so, he had rushed forward in urgency.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult scolded Geom Mugeuk loudly.

“You! Are you trying to scare people like this? What were you going to do if the Heavenly Demon Spirit didn’t appear?”

“I had my own preparations.”

Geom Mugeuk pulled open his clothes, revealing that his chest was tightly wrapped with supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm threads.

“On top of that, I was using the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, the Heavenly Star Body, and even Diamond Asura. Even if it were the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s sword, it wouldn’t have pierced easily. And the moment it stabbed in, if I felt something was wrong, I would have used what I learned from you, Cult Leader.”

Only then did a smile form on the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s lips.

“As expected! You had everything planned. Right, you must have had a plan from the moment you took my divine relic.”

Seeing him bring up the divine relic again so persistently, it seemed the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult had finally relaxed.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to his father, who was still standing in place.

“Even the Poison King took a few steps forward.”

At those words, the Poison King subtly stepped back.

“That’s too much, Father!”

His father simply looked at his son in silence. How could the boy possibly know how difficult it had been to hold himself back and watch until the very end?

Recently—or perhaps in his entire life—it might have been the hardest moment he had ever endured.

And how could Geom Mugeuk not know that? The relief he now saw on his father’s face was something he had never seen before in his life.

Geom Mugeuk immediately dropped to the ground in a deep bow. A mere greeting could never convey the overwhelming gratitude he felt.

“Thank you, Father.”

His father had trusted him until the very end. Because of that trust, the Heavenly Demon Spirit had been able to descend.

After exchanging greetings with those who had tried to protect him, Geom Mugeuk returned to the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s side.

Even as they spoke, the two Heavenly Demon Spirits stared at each other.

“You’ll have to get used to this. Your friend is someone who talks this much.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult couldn’t hold back and added a remark.

“It’s your Heavenly Demon Spirit—it might end up talking even more than you. Maybe right now it’s just hiding its thoughts slyly like its master.”

Geom Mugeuk found himself hoping that was true.

Someday, he wanted to talk about everything with it.

Things he couldn’t tell anyone else—he wanted to share them with it.

So before this battle ended, even just one word—he wanted it to speak.

That was Geom Mugeuk’s wish.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon Spirit within Hwa Moogi still seemed unable to believe what was happening.

“It really descended?”

He had been certain that as long as he existed, their Heavenly Demon Spirit would never appear.

Yet Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had shattered that certainty and descended.

And there was another thing that shocked Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.

“How did it manifest in such a small body?”

Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit gave no answer, simply staring silently at its opponent.

Looking at his Heavenly Demon Spirit, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“I don’t know much about you. I only heard from my father that you absolutely avoid clashing with each other. So I’m sorry that my first command to you is this.”

In a stern voice, he gave the order.

“Destroy that one.”

Upon receiving the command, the Heavenly Demon Spirit stepped forward without a moment’s hesitation.

At that moment, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit sneered at Geom Mugeuk.

“Do you know what you’ve just done?”

It didn’t sound like mere irritation.

Geom Mugeuk stopped his Heavenly Demon Spirit.

“Wait.”

As it halted, he asked,

“What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, the creature asked a question.

“Do you know why Heavenly Demon Spirits refuse to fight each other?”

It was something Geom Mugeuk had also been curious about.

And today, that astonishing secret was revealed.

“If they fight and lose, they are erased forever.”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk was shocked—so much so that he couldn’t recall being this shocked in recent times. Neither he nor his father had known this.

“That’s why if they sense another Heavenly Demon Spirit stronger than themselves, they never manifest. That is their innate nature.”

A secret that could only be heard from a Heavenly Demon Spirit itself.

“The one who wins absorbs the other’s power and becomes even stronger. The loser ceases to exist and all its power is taken.”

Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit revealed an emotion it had never shown before.

Greed.

“Yours is special.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at his Heavenly Demon Spirit. Yes—it was special. From the very first moment it appeared, it had saved him.

“It manifested in such a small body.”

That was the very reason Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had been shocked.

“It descended even while knowing it was weaker.”

Geom Mugeuk silently looked at his Heavenly Demon Spirit—the one staring at its opponent with a blunt expression.

‘You could be erased if you lost… yet it descended for me?’

Because of that, he couldn’t even hear the enemy’s ambition.

“I will absorb your power and become the strongest Heavenly Demon Spirit in history.”

Geom Mugeuk asked calmly,

“Is that true?”

The Heavenly Demon Spirit gave no answer. It used to express itself slightly through its eyes, but now it only stared forward.

“I asked if it’s true. I know you don’t speak, but answer this.”

There was still no response.

And that was answer enough.

“Go back.”

Geom Mugeuk ordered it to disappear.

But it did not.

“That’s an order. Go back.”

Still, it did not disappear.

At that moment, Geom Woojin spoke quietly.

“A Heavenly Demon Spirit exists to protect its master. Right now, it has judged that your life is in danger.”

Its duty to protect its master took precedence over its master’s command.

Naturally, it would make that judgment. After all, it had been summoned under dire circumstances.

‘So you really descended to protect me… even defying your own nature.’

Geom Mugeuk could not simply be moved. He had to break its stubbornness.

“Hey, my friend. Even if it hasn’t been long, it’s been enough time for you to roughly know what kind of person I am, right? You know I always find a way. So go back. And I’m not alone—my father is here, and so are the others. So don’t worry about me. Go back.”

Even when coaxed gently, it did not return.

In its eyes, Geom Mugeuk read not only the will to protect him, but something else.

The pride of a Heavenly Demon Spirit that refused to lose to anyone.

Its gaze seemed to ask:

Would you retreat in this situation?

Of course… he wouldn’t abandon someone he had to protect.

The Heavenly Demon Spirit resembled him exactly.

And because of that, Geom Mugeuk realized he could not stop it.

As he nodded, the two Heavenly Demon Spirits walked toward each other.

Step by step, they approached—and then swung their swords.

Swoooooosh—

An overwhelming demonic aura surged as their blades collided midair.

Boom!

The impact caused the demonic energy to explode outward. Though their size had shrunk, the battle still emitted the same immense demonic force as when they were giant.

Wooooooong!

All those watching stepped back. Only by raising their internal energy to the limit could they withstand the demonic aura.

A battle between Heavenly Demon Spirits was different.

It wasn’t a fight of techniques or footwork like humans.

A clash of demonic energy.

A clash of momentum.

A clash of pride.

Two different demonic energies pressed against each other in perfect tension.

Beyond their crossed swords, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit spoke arrogantly.

“Do you think a Heavenly Demon Spirit that hasn’t even existed for long can defeat me, who has endured for three hundred years?”

Its experience alone was overwhelmingly superior.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk’s heart sank.

He had forgotten something.

He had not yet learned the Ninth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art. From the Seventh to Ninth Forms were techniques used by the Heavenly Demon Spirit, and he had only mastered up to the Eighth.

In his urgency to summon the Heavenly Demon Spirit, he had overlooked it.

Surely, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had mastered the final form.

And if it was the Ninth Form?

‘At this rate… he will lose.’

And if he lost the Heavenly Demon Spirit forever?

This was not like losing strength in martial arts.

This was losing a friend.

What should he do? Think, Geom Mugeuk! Hurry!

Then, a thought flashed through his mind.

‘Maybe…?’

It was insane—but it was the only way.

Geom Mugeuk sent a voice transmission to his father.

—Father, please pass down the Ninth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art to me right now.

Geom Woojin understood why his son made such a request.

If anyone else had said it, he would have dismissed it as madness.

His hesitation did not last long.

—From now on, I will pass down the Ninth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art.

The Ninth Form—Supreme Demon Soul.

To think he would transmit this final technique here of all places.

And for this impossible transmission to succeed—

—You must comprehend the mnemonic verse in one go!

He attempted it because it was his son.

Because the son he had seen all this time might just be able to accomplish it.

—I will understand it without fail.

This attempt was not to make his Heavenly Demon Spirit win.

It was simply to let it endure without being erased.

‘Please!’

Geom Mugeuk sent a voice transmission to the others, including the two Alliance Leaders.

—Please protect my father and me from the aftermath of that battle for a moment.

Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang understood.

The father and son were about to attempt something.

They stepped in front of Geom Mugeuk, while the others shielded Geom Woojin.

Even Geom Mugeuk himself had never imagined he would learn the final form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art in the midst of this final battle.

He focused all his mind.

Everything he had trained for led to this moment. Let the body reformation help! Let the martial enlightenment he gained from fighting Hwa Moogi help!

‘I will definitely master it before you have to use the Ninth Form.’

As he listened to the mnemonic verse transmitted by his father, Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes.

‘Hold on until then.’