Absolute Regression - Chapter 837

Geom ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Mugeuk stared intently at the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked so vivid, as if he were truly alive.

“Excuse ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍me, but may I touch you just once?”

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after hearing that he would be trapped here forever, he still had such composure? It had been the same when they first met—this Young Cult Leader was truly an incomprehensible person.

“This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is no time for that. You only have two hours.”

Unfortunately, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Martial Emperor Divine Sword did not know how to get out. Could the Young Cult Leader really escape from this hellish place?

“To think I would meet you here.”

In truth, there had been intent behind this meeting.

While fighting Hwa Moogi earlier, Geom Mugeuk had felt as though his soul kept slipping out of his body.

That was when he sensed something strange, and he could have retreated using the Lightning Flash Step. Throughout the fight, he had kept in mind the possibility that Hwa Moogi might use a trump card.

Just as he was about to withdraw, that mysterious energy within his body reacted. It was the first time since encountering Hwa Moogi.

In the end, being trapped here had been his instinctive choice.

When he met the Martial Emperor Divine Sword here, Geom Mugeuk felt that his choice had been correct. The energy of the Six-Origin Energies was clearly related to their souls.

“I believe it was fate that brought me here.”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword nodded. Indeed, meeting as souls within the body of the Heavenly Killing Star—how could that not be fateful?

“Is there a way to see or hear what’s happening outside from here?”

When they had borrowed Hwa Moogi’s body and come out before, they had known the situation outside.

“There is a separate place where that is possible.”

“Would you take me there?”

“Follow me.”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword stepped forward, parting the fog.

As he followed, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Why are you helping me? I am the successor of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

Without turning back, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword replied,

“Consider it repayment for the thought of treating me to a meal.”

As if that were the only reason.

—Alliance Leader, your greed saved the martial world.

Geom Mugeuk had said the words he had once wished to hear from someone else.

—Please forgive yourself now.

With those words, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword forgave himself. Even if he died now—though he was already no different from dead—he would have no regrets.

Once they left the fog-filled area, the surrounding scenery began to reveal itself.

The first thing that caught his eye was the sky.

When he looked up, the sun and moon were floating together, and mountains hung upside down. Waterfalls in those mountains flowed upward instead of down. It was truly a sight one could only see in a dream.

To the left was a swamp. If the Poison King had come with them, he would have rushed there immediately. The swamp teemed with all kinds of poisonous creatures.

Beyond the swamp, atop a hill, stood a massive castle. It had an atmosphere as if ghosts might appear at any moment.

On the opposite field lay countless corpses, and beyond them, smoke rose from a small village. The stench of blood permeating the air came from there.

There was also a space where walls were erected like a maze, and another where blades grew like a forest, making entry impossible. Along a path, spearheads were planted, with skeletons hanging from them.

“A fascinating place, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I never imagined it would be like this.”

He had thought the souls would be confined in some narrow room, but instead, they lived within an entire world.

“This place constantly changes. It’s completely different from when I first arrived. Now that you’ve entered, it will likely change again.”

It was clear that this place shifted according to Hwa Moogi’s thoughts and emotions.

As they continued walking, they arrived at a sheer cliff. Looking down, there was no visible end.

As they crossed a rickety wooden bridge hanging between the cliffs, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword spoke,

“At first, it was hard to believe. That such a place could exist within a person’s mind. Sometimes I wonder—what kind of places exist within my own heart?”

Though his heart had eased somewhat through Geom Mugeuk, he still felt fear. What if people came and saw the heart of the Martial Alliance Leader?

“What if there are things even more grotesque and harsh than this?”

Geom Mugeuk answered firmly,

“There won’t be.”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword stopped in the middle of the bridge and turned back. The wind shook the bridge, but Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.

“If you were someone with such scenery in your heart, you wouldn’t have come to help me like this. Even if it’s more desolate than expected, so what? You could just say—‘Hey, you fools, I wandered battlefields for the sake of the martial world, so of course it turned out this way. It was all for your sake.’ Isn’t that what you’d say?”

So simple, and that was what made it good. A smile formed on the Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s lips.

“You have a talent for making people feel good.”

“And thanks to that talent, I’m receiving your help now, aren’t I?”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword resumed crossing the bridge.

“Your heart must be filled with warm scenery.”

Following behind, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened.

‘Is that really so?’

After crossing the cliff, they arrived at a field where a large white circle was drawn on the ground. Around it were strange symbols and characters.

A mysterious energy flowed around the area. It felt like a completely separate space from the places they had passed.

“This place is called the Heart Circle. From here, one can see and hear the outside. However, he has completely blocked off the connection between here and the outside. It seems he intends not to open it until he fully traps you.”

Even without knowing, the outside must be in chaos. After all, he had suddenly collapsed during a fight.

Still, he did not worry. He was surrounded by people he could truly trust. They would handle things well on their own. For now, he needed to focus on what was happening here.

“How do we speak with him?”

“He can hear whatever we say, no matter where he is.”

“Then he’s listening to our conversation right now.”

As the Martial Emperor Divine Sword nodded, Geom Mugeuk looked up into the air.

“I should say something to him.”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword had expected something like, ‘You coward! To trap me like this—what a disgrace to the name Heavenly Killing Star!’

But instead, Geom Mugeuk shouted cheerfully,

“Heavenly Killing Star! I’ve safely entered your mind! Thanks for letting me see this place! It’s my first time experiencing something like this. Probably something I won’t experience again even until I die. And thanks to you, I get to meet the Martial Emperor Divine Sword again—it’s great!”

The Martial Emperor Divine Sword looked at him. It wasn’t mockery—Geom Mugeuk truly meant it.

“Once the fight is over, don’t forget our promise to talk as much as we want!”

After shouting toward the air, he asked,

“Does he respond?”

“Sometimes.”

Just then, a voice came from behind as someone approached.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

There was only one person among the souls here who would start with such words.

Sure enough, it was the Demonic Cult Leader, Hyeok Do-cheon. He appeared just as he had before being sucked into the Secret Box. His anger, however, was directed not at Geom Mugeuk, but at the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.

“Planning to escape on your own?”

As Hyeok Do-cheon demanded an answer, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword looked dumbfounded.

“You always accuse people with ridiculous claims.”

From that brief exchange, it was clear how the two had been getting along.

Geom Mugeuk greeted him.

“I pay my respects, Cult Leader.”

Hyeok Do-cheon’s gaze shifted to him.

Geom Mugeuk had never spoken kindly of him. He had called him cruel and infamous, and even said that if he hadn’t fallen into the Secret Box, the situation of the Heavenly Demon Cult would have worsened. He had even angered him by saying that a true Heavenly Demon wouldn’t break a wine cup like that.

And yet, the reason Hyeok Do-cheon welcomed him was simple.

“You said you might be able to get me out of here?”

“I did.”

“Did you come here to take me out?”

With hopeful eyes, Hyeok Do-cheon asked.

“I’d like that, but I was captured and brought here as well.”

“You idiot!”

Hyeok Do-cheon’s face twisted. If you can’t get me out, there’s no reason to be nice to you. Just as he was about to lash out—

“If luck is on our side, I might still be able to get you out. It might even be easier from inside.”

The anger rising within Hyeok Do-cheon subsided. If he could just get out of here, he would do anything.

Having experienced what kind of person the Young Cult Leader was, he couldn’t easily abandon the hope that he might truly free him.

“You said you don’t want to unify the martial world, didn’t you?”

He had offered to grant him unification in exchange for his release, but Geom Mugeuk had refused.

“I don’t.”

“Why? You’re someone destined to become the Demonic Cult Leader, yet you lack even the ambition to seize the martial world?”

“I don’t.”

He could tolerate many things, but not that.

“What are you planning to do? Someone as soft as you becoming the Young Cult Leader of our sect? The mere name of the Heavenly Demon Cult should make the entire world tremble! That is our status and dignity!”

Geom Mugeuk asked calmly,

“What are you afraid of?”

“What?”

“Isn’t becoming something others fear ultimately about protecting yourself? ‘I’m dangerous, so don’t mess with me.’”

Thinking he was being called a coward, Hyeok Do-cheon shouted,

“It’s not because of fear! It’s simply how it has always been. That’s what we are!”

“Wouldn’t it be fine for there to be at least one Demonic Cult Leader loved by the martial world in its long history?”

“You’ve lost your mind!”

Hyeok Do-cheon’s anger boiled, but he held it back. For now, he had to place his hope in this Young Cult Leader.

“Fine. Enough nonsense. Then what do you want?”

What Geom Mugeuk wanted was not grand.

“Help me for just two hours. I must get out first for you to leave as well.”

“Just say the word.”

“First, please gather everyone else.”

At that moment, another voice came from behind.

“That won’t be necessary. We’re already here.”

The Heavenly Will Palace Master and Joo Ga-shin of the Unorthodox Alliance approached. However, the final soul—the Heavenly Demon Spirit of Hyeok Do-cheon—did not appear.

Perhaps it rarely interacted with them, or it simply did not appear when Hyeok Do-cheon was present.

The Heavenly Will Palace Master spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

“You acted so arrogantly before, yet you’re no different in the end.”

Though his words were sharp, there was little hostility in his eyes. He had heard that Geom Mugeuk had personally closed the eyes of the Guardian Palace Master.

Geom Mugeuk accepted his words calmly.

“Isn’t it said that an empty cart rattles the loudest? You all will have to fill that cart for me.”

They all looked at him, wondering what he meant.

“As you all know, every dark sorcery has a way to break it.”

Geom Mugeuk knew well that the stronger the sorcery, the easier it could sometimes be to find its weakness.

“If you help me, I will try to take all of you out with me.”

They all stared at him in shock. When he had said earlier that he could get out, they hadn’t believed him. They had thought it was merely to provoke Hyeok Do-cheon. Even now, they still didn’t believe it.

“How exactly do you plan to take us out? Are you going to put us into someone else’s body?”

At the Heavenly Will Palace Master’s question, Geom Mugeuk could have lied and given false hope. But he did not.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“It is only a premonition. If fate brought me here, then perhaps it means I am to take you all out. If that happens, whether you enter another’s body, are reborn, or go to paradise or hell—I do not know. Only the heavens would know.”

At those words, Hyeok Do-cheon’s expression hardened.

“I will surely go to hell. In that case, I’d rather remain in this body.”

The same was true for the Heavenly Will Palace Master and Joo Ga-shin.

Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

“I believe none of you will go to hell.”

“Why do you think that?”

“You have already been trapped in hell for three hundred years.”

“!”

A heavy silence fell over the place.

After giving them time to think, Geom Mugeuk spoke again.

“I dare not claim to know how you have lived these past three hundred years, nor what thoughts you hold now. I will not force anyone who does not wish to go. If you choose to remain……”

Depending on the outcome of this battle, their fate would also be decided.

“You will either spend this life alongside the Heavenly Killing Star, or die with him today.”

The Heavenly Will Palace Master asked with suspicion,

“How can we trust that you can do this?”

“There is no need to doubt or worry in advance. If I fail to get out anyway……”

Geom Mugeuk let out a light sigh and added,

“You can nag me for the rest of my life.”

They all nodded. After all, the one in the most urgent situation was Geom Mugeuk himself.

The one who most actively helped him remained the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.

“How should we assist you?”

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. The Martial Emperor Divine Sword was not helping because he wanted to leave this place. He was helping purely so that Geom Mugeuk could escape.

At first, Geom Mugeuk had considered running around using the Star Light Step to find a way to break this place. But finding a solution within such a vast area in just two hours would not be easy.

However, there was a reason he had asked to gather everyone.

If fate had led him here, perhaps it meant he should rely on these souls. Yes—rather than trying to do it alone, he should seek their help.

“Is there any strange place within here? Somewhere that stands out, or something inexplicably special?”

“As you saw on the way here, everything is strange.”

At that answer, Geom Mugeuk seemed to realize something.

“Then let me ask the opposite. Is there any place that isn’t special?”

They all tried to recall such a place. Having been here for so long, nothing came to mind easily.

At that moment, someone spoke up. It was a person who had not said a single word since meeting Geom Mugeuk here.

“There is such a place.”

It was Joo Ga-shin.

“Since we arrived, this place has constantly changed, but……”

He had always kept his thoughts and emotions to himself, so no one even knew whether he truly wished to leave this place.

And yet—