...You were here.
She wipes her tears.
But, no matter how much she wipes, tears keep flowing from her eyes.
"Why did you only come now?"
She hasnt yet reached the state of Beyond the Path to Heaven, but she can see the heart essence.
And being able to see heart essence means that we can communicate through heart language.
I convey my intentions through heart language.
Heart language is often vague and conveys scenes rather than words, making it difficult to express in spoken language, but it conveys the essence of thought, making it immediately understandable.
"Ah... I see. If I just held on a little longer, trained a little harder in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I could have seen this sooner. Ahaha..."
Kim Yeon, perhaps saddened by the past years, laughs while still shedding tears.
"So stupid what have I really been doing..."
I comfort her.
Kim Yeon keeps alternating between laughing and crying as we converse.
"So, you've been persisting all this time..."
She accurately receives my heart language and nods continuously.
For those who haven't reached Beyond the Path to Heaven, transmitting heart language is futile.
But for those who have attained this vision, its possible to receive heart language clearly, allowing us to converse unnoticed by others.
"I see. You've been enduring, persisting all this time."
We share stories that we haven't been able to share over the long years.
She, engulfed in terrible loneliness and madness among the puppets.
And I, who had to just watch as my colleague went mad over the span of 500 years.
"Thank you, Oppa, for enduring..."
"Ahaha, you've been hiding your heart essence from the Mad Lord? How did you do that?"
"As expected... Oppa, in terms of heart essence, you are even higher than the Mad Lord."
"How long has it been since we've had a proper conversation like this... Haha, you think so too, Oppa?"
"Ah, but if someone sees us, they'll think I'm talking to myself."
She laughs heartily, hugging General Seo's body with genuine joy.
"Well, what does it matter? Those ignorant of the truth don't concern us."
Kim Yeon continues to hug General Seo closely, exchanging conversations.
The Mad Lord suddenly watches the everyday lives of the puppets from the top floor of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
From below, he witnesses Kim Yeon, embracing General Seo dearly, conversing in a loving voice.
"...Oh."
The Mad Lord looks on, tears rolling down his face in emotion.
"How beautiful. Finally understanding the true heart hidden in the puppets. Yes, excellent."
He speaks to [Her] standing beside him.
"Look, my disciple has finally come infinitely closer to me. Now... perhaps in a few hundred more years, you can be completed..."
He slowly rises from his seat, embracing [Her] gently, as if caressing a glass sculpture.
"...By the way, Oppa. If you are in such a state, perhaps [She] might also be..."
Kim Yeon inquires about [Her].
"...Yes? Is that true? So [She] isn't in the same remaining state as you, Oppa. Then, was the Mad Lord's muttering really due to madness?"
I convey what I have learned through heart language.
"...Insane. Trying to create a soul. But how did you realize that, Oppa, when I hadn't noticed?"
"Ah, I see. Theres a difference between the vision after becoming a puppet and that of a human?
"Anyway, if what you say is true, Oppa... to escape the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, we need to create errors and target the moment when the Mad Lord shows a gap due to the errors, is that it?
After a heartfelt conversation.
We discuss ways to escape from the clutches of the Mad Lord.
Click, click.
Kim Yeon moves her left hand.
Her left arm had already been modified into a puppet.
"In the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, the Mad Lord is practically a god... To create an opportunity here, even controlling the entire fortress would not be enough. We either wait for outside help or wait for me to raise my cultivation level. But, either way, it will take a very long time.
The number of Integration stage puppets created by the Mad Lord have also increased tremendously.
Moreover, according to Kim Yeon, the Mad Lord is gradually finding a way to create Star Shattering stage puppets.
If [She] becomes a Star Shattering puppet, there will be no stopping her, Kim Yeon says.
Of course, if I had about 1,000-1,500 years, I feel like I could at least reach the Integration stage. Perhaps by then, even if [She] becomes that strong, it might be worth a try. Even the Mad Lord seems to be having a headache about creating Star Shattering puppets... It will take a considerable amount of time.
Kim Yeon shakes her head as she continues.
But, its hard to wait that long, so perhaps receiving help from the outside might be faster. After the forces exterminate Min-hee Unnie... perhaps they might come to exterminate us too.
Deputy Kang Min-hee is on the verge of turning into something terrifying.
Therefore, a group of Integration cultivators are planning to hunt her down.
If they exterminate Kang Min-hee, there might be hope for us too.
...Its really hopeless. Everyone... Section Chief went mad, Chief Oh went mad, Min-hee Unnie turned into a ghost monster, no news from Hye-seo Unnie... We both got caught and modified by a madman. Director Kim must be dead... What? He might be alive? Haha, thats a good joke. He didnt even ascend, did he?
She laughs at my words.
Even though everyone was so distant at the office, you seem to really trust Director Kim? He was a really nice person, but he was also distant with everyone at the office
Kim Yeon brings up the topic of our company.
Was it like that?
I recall the days at the company for the first time in a long while.
The memories are too old to remember well.
But as I hear her stories, bits and pieces come back to me.
Indeed.
I had a distant relationship with Kim Young-hoon.
And originally, I had a neutral relationship with Kim Yeon.
I was her senior, and she was the rookie who followed me well.
Its been a very long time since I remembered this.
Talking with her after so long seems to have brought up deep-buried memories.
No, from Yeons point of view, neutral might be an understatement.
Unbeknownst to me, it seemed she had quite passionately expressed her feelings.
For the first time in a long while.
I reminisced about the memories of when I was an ordinary human.
The day I first met Kim Yeon.
The day I slowly taught her work.
The times when I took full responsibility and re-submitted everything from scratch when Kim Yeon delivered the wrong documents.
The time at a company dinner when Kim Yeon clung to me, crying and vomiting after getting drunk.
There were people I trusted, disliked, who tormented me, and who I liked.
But I couldnt quite remember who they were.
Only memories related to Kim Yeon surfaced from beyond those memories.
We reminisced about our company days for a while, discussing them.
And through the conversation, I steeled my resolve.
No matter how long it takes.
No matter what, lets escape, Yeon-ah.
Yes. Eun-hyun Oppa.
We looked at each other, sharing a firm resolution.
Again, 500 years passed.
Kugugugu!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is flying in the sky.
Its been around a thousand years since ascending to the Bright Cold Realm.
During that time, the Mad Lord further modified the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, now boasting incredible pure flying capabilities.
Kugugugu!
Behind the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, billions of puppets follow.
By now, the number of Integration stage puppets have reached about a hundred.
[She] is said to have reached the Star Shattering stage.
According to the Mad Lord, at least.
I control the puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress alongside Kim Yeon.
Kim Yeon has now reached the mid Four-Axis stage.
Her power is practically at the Integration stage.
Of course, it still feels far from escaping the Mad Lord.
But our minds are considerably at ease.
...This time, it should be possible, right? Considering the chaos that will happen.
Definitely, it will be.
Upon hearing my words, she nods her head.
A short while later.
Kugugugu!
Over the horizon, countless races and hundreds of cultivators at the Integration stage appear.
Among them are humans and demon beasts.
Hah, who do we have here? Where do you think this is for a snake bitch to slither your way here?
And then.
Among the demon beasts, Seo Hweol appears, having reached the Grand Perfection of Four-Axis.
"It's been a while. With Old Mans fame spreading throughout the entire Bright Cold Realm over the past thousand years, as a fellow from the same Head Realm..."
"Shut your mouth before I tear it apart. By the way, you've got a lot of strange dharma treasures on your slithery body now, don't you? Is that what's making it obscure? I cant see through you as I did before.
Kim Yeon did so, and I, of course, observed Seo Hweol.
However, unlike a thousand years ago, Seo Hweol is now completely unreadable, even with the vision of Beyond the Path to Heaven.
There seems to be some sort of milky barrier blocking the view.
"Haha, it's well-known that the races of the Bright Cold Realm fear the sight of the Heart Tribe. Hence, its natural that dharma treasures that block the eyes of the Heart Tribe were developed. By the way, Old Man is amazing. When I was in the Head Realm, I didn't even know what the Heart Tribe was, but you had their vision since back then..."
"Hmph! As if to prove you're not a dark-hearted bastard, you're draped in dharma treasures to block others from seeing into your sinister heart. Hehehe, coming to the Bright Cold Realm filled with entities who have a vision like mine must be driving you insane with discomfort, huh?"
"Haha, Old Man. Let's leave the small talk. Anyway, have you thought about it?"
"Hmph!"
The Mad Lord, arms crossed, speaks from atop the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"Fine. Its good. If it's true that Heavenly Being demons from the demon tribes will help me complete the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress by deploying the Full Demon Realm Transfer Formation..."
"Haha! Truly, thank you very much. Im truly touched. I never thought I'd join hands with Old Man in my life."
"Hmph! I'm just here to assess [Her] capabilities as she reached the Star Shattering stage. It's not like I've particularly joined hands with you. Shut your mouth and just guide the way."
"Haha, understood."
Whoooosh!
The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Army followed behind the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Seo Hweol gathered hundreds of millions of demon soldiers and hundreds of Integration stage cultivators from other races.
A formidable force with immense power united and began to fly towards a single destination.
Squeeze...
Kim Yeon holds my hand and whispers softly.
"...With this much, surely an opportunity will arise."
I smile bitterly inside.
There must be.
This is our chance to escape the clutches of the Mad Lord.
But...
'I'm sorry.'
For us to escape meant...
That we had to trample and scatter her.
One of the Integration stage cultivators gathered by Seo Hweol shouts.
"There, look!"
Kugugugu!
Over the horizon.
Dark clouds are rising.
Kyeaaaaaa!
Gueeaaaaaa!
Kiyaaaaaaa!
Hundreds of billions of ghostly wails echo throughout heaven and earth.
Ziiip, Zaaaap
Those clouds.
What looks like black clouds are not clouds, but ghosts, each and every one of them.
Tension fills the eyes of the Integration stage cultivators.
Triumph in the eyes of the Mad Lord.
A truly immeasurable ghost army.
But what is truly terrifying is not the ghost horde.
Its the being beyond them, with an overwhelming presence.
Kuooooo!
[Kyaaaaaaaaa!]
"Ghost... Ghost..."
One of the Four-Axis stage cultivators shouts tremblingly.
"Its the Ghost Guiding Holy Mother!"
"The Ghost Guiding Holy Mother has appeared! Everyone, reorganize the front lines!"
"While the Ghost Mother battles the Mad Lord, well form the formation in the rear!"
Kwagwagwagwa!
The being in the center of the ghost horde.
Its scream turns the earth upside down, and the four directions are filled with yin energy.
Its as if a part of the world has become the Netherworld.
Kim Yeon looks at the entity with a complicated expression, and I, too, look at her bitterly from inside General Seo.
"Min-hee Unnie..."
Deputy Kang Min-hee.
The girl who was captured as a disciple of the Black Ghost Valley.
Now, a thousand years later.
She has become a Star Shattering ghost monster, controlling hundreds of billions of souls.
[AAAAAAAHHH!]
Kugugugugu!
In the center of darkness.
A black ghostly figure is holding their head.
Shedding tearful, blue tears, engulfed in blue ghost fire, is Kang Min-hee.
Her disheveled hair spreads out in all directions, permeating the clouds, and her body, now transformed into a ghostly form, has grown several meters in size.
"Damn it! Those below the Nascent Soul stage, do not look directly at that monster!"
"Those who are alive, do not rashly listen to the Ghost Mother's screams! Use sensory blocking spells!"
Kiyaaaaa!
Keyyyyaaaaa!
At Kang Min-hee's scream, among the alliance behind the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress,
Many cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage transform into ghostly beings all at once.
Kiyyaaaaa!
Keyaaa!
Those who turned into ghostly beings fly towards Kang Minhee, joining the black clouds that are wailing around her.
Of course.
There are no anomalies among the puppets in the Mad Lord's camp, where nothing else is alive, except for the Mad Lord and Kim Yeon.
The artificial souls vibrated, but since they are not real souls to begin with, there was no significant impact.
"Kehehe,. Then, remember the promise, you Seo lineage trash."
"Haha, if Old Man subjugates the Ghost Mother, all races have agreed to cover up Old Man's past misdeeds. With fifty percent of the Bright Cold Realm already turned into the land of death by the Ghost Mother, whats Old Mans promise in comparison?"
Right after.
The Mad Lord Jo Yeon, and the Ghost Mother Kang Min-hee, clash.
Boom!
Billions of puppets fly into the air, colliding with the swarm of ghosts.
The living cultivators support the Mad Lord with their spells from behind the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"...Come back soon, Oppa."
'I will.'
I have already successfully seized control of more than 90% of General Seo's circuits.
But to avoid suspicion, I have to participate in this battle first.
Tadatt!
I, in General Seo's body, enter into the midst of the ghost swarm surrounding Kang Min-hee.
Wooong Wooong Wooong!
The will of the Mad Lord transmits through the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress commands the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Army.
I move in perfect harmony with the other puppets, following the commands of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Woong Woong Woong!
Spiritual power concentrates in my eyes.
Flash!
Bright beams shoot out from the eyes of me and the other Four-Axis stage puppets.
Zzzz, Zzzz, Zzzz!
The black clouds are pierced by the beams.
Although the number of ghosts are overwhelmingly higher than that of the puppets.
In terms of quality, the puppets are superior.
Kugugugugu!
Kiyaaaaaa!
Guyaaaaa!
Of course, there are ghost kings too, so the puppets do face difficulties. But overall, the forces seem evenly matched.
And then, while I and the spirits are fighting,
The heavens and earth began to shake.
[She] and Kang Min-hee began to clash.
Wrapped in a white light, wielding a spear, [She] drives back Kang Min-hee, who is surrounded by souls and wailing wildly.
Like light driving away darkness, every time [She] swings her spear, the heavens and earth split, and the dark clouds are pushed back.
I, in the body of General Seo, analyze the gap between [Her] and Kang Min-hee every time their battle comes into view.
'[She] is operating at maximum output.'
Attacks that can tear apart any Integration stage cultivator in one strike are landing on Kang Min-hee dozens of times.
But.
'Kang Minhee is just screaming... She hasn't moved even once...'
That is the case.
Kang Min-hee, commanding numerous souls and screaming, has so far managed to block [Her] attacks with the billions of ghost hordes.
Despite possessing the power of the Star Shattering stage, Kang Min-hee hasn't shown any signs of exerting her strength.
'Maybe...'
I concentrate on their battle, holding onto hope.
And then.
Flash!
From behind, Seo Hweol and the demon beasts, along with numerous races of the alliance, emit brilliance.
The formation they have been preparing is completed.
Kugugugugugu!
Drawing the dragon veins from the surroundings.
Spiritual energy from heaven and earth are drawn towards the direction of the alliance.
And then.
Flash!
A brilliant white light tears through the darkness, flying in to assist [Her], beginning to intercept Kang Min-hee.
From the formation of billions of races and hundreds of Integration stage cultivators.
Attacks equal in power to each of [Her] strikes are unleashed.
Kooooong!
Though the billions of ghost hordes willingly blocked the attacks, Kang Min-hee, who never allowed a strike until now, finally got hit by the light shot by the alliance.
[AAAAAAAAAH!]
Kang Min-hee.
The Ghost Mother screams.
The one who screams and clutches her head, raises her hand.
From her hand, long ghost claws extend.
And that.
Flash!
Is the end.
Sssshhhhhhhh
The entire alliance becomes silenced.
Even the Mad Lord, who has been pushing Kang Min-hee through the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with enthusiasm.
Kim Yeon, me.
Everyone falls silent.
[She] is torn in half and flung backward.
"NOOOOOO!!"
The Mad Lord wails crazily.
At the same time.
The Ghost Mother begins to exert her power.
[AAAAAAHHH!]
Kugugugugu!
Heavens and earth are covered with ghosts.
True Four-Axis stage Ghost Kings begin to appear around her, who have only been surrounded by mere lower level ghosts.
Flash!
When the Ghost Mother's ghost claws shine.
Half of the earth is torn away along with space.
With two movements of her hand.
Half of [Her] body is torn off, and half of the alliance is wiped out.
Thiscantbethiscantbethiscantbethiscantbe
The Mad Lord holds his head and convulses crazily, while Seo Hweol maintains his smile and issues commands from behind the alliance.
"All forces, change the formation."
Flash!
The formation supporting the Mad Lord from behind transforms into a barrier that traps both the Mad Lord and the Ghost Mother.
Seo Hweol, with a benevolent smile, says to the Mad Lord.
"Im always thankful for you, Old Man. We will wait for the opportunity, so please buy us some time. Now then, farewell
"I knew it, you snake bitch..."
Boom!
The Mad Lord's puppets catch [Her] torn half that was flying off and returns it to the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
And then.
"Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, fire!"
The Fortress gathers power equivalent to [Her], shooting a beam toward the barrier set up by Seo Hweol and the alliance.
Kuaaang!
The formation doesnt break immediately but is significantly damaged, and Seo Hweol's expression stiffens slightly.
"Did you really think you could use us as bait if something happened to [Her]? How ridiculous. The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, which is the world itself of [Her] and I, is also a puppet comparable to the Star Shattering stage.
Boom!
Once again, the beam fired by the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress hits the formation barrier, and finally, a hole is forcefully opened.
Have I been backstabbed by you only once or twice, you snake bitch.
Haha, even this time, it seems I was insufficient to trouble Old Man."
"Just wait there a little. Ill just graft your body to [Her] part that was torn off and that should do it.
However, Seo Hweol speaks to the Mad Lord without losing his composure.
"Well, if you can do so, I hope you try. The Esteemed One is said to be sending support soon. If you manage to overcome even them, then at that time, I will show you my last trump card."
Wooong Wooong Wooong!
With those words, Seo Hweol and the alliance disappear with the flash of a teleportation array they had already set up beyond the formation.
Paatt!
The teleportation array transmitted Seo Hweol and everyone in one go and then lost its shine.
"Heh, that annoying snake. Hear this, all residents of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress! [She] needs to recover, hence we're retreating!"
Crunch Crack!
The Mad Lord crazily chews his fingers, issuing commands to the puppets with his eyes blazing with madness.
'Damn it...'
I clench my teeth inwardly.
It ended too quickly.
If the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress itself had been hit instead of the Mad Lord's [Her], we might have had a chance to escape.
However as long as the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, commanding the Mad Lord's puppets, remains intact, escape is still far off.
I return to Kim Yeon's side.
"What should we do? If not now, we won't have a chance..."
'Let's wait a bit more.'
It's too dangerous.
Although the Mad Lord's power is greatly weakened, I expected that with Seo Hweols betrayal, they would fiercely attack the Mad Lords rear and damage his Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
I did not expect that Seo Hweol, preserving half of his gathered troops, would retreat without even fighting the Mad Lord.
It's dangerous now
"Yes."
Kim Yeon bites her lip, and led by the call of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, she begins to flee from Kang Min-hee.
Kim Yeon turns back to look at Kang Min-hee, screaming madly beyond the barrier.
She doesn't particularly chase us, engrossed in devouring the souls of half the alliance that her recent strike annihilated.
She's suffering.
It isnt just us enduring pain.
All our colleagues who had fallen into the Bright Cold Realm.
They are despairing, frustrated, and suffering.
Damn it
Everyone is in agony.
But, theres nothing I can do.
I cross the continent of the Bright Cold Realm, engulfed in a deep sense of powerlessness, along with the Mad Lord's remaining army.
Just then.
When we are getting as far away from Kang Min-hee as possible with the Mad Lords Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress,
Wooong Wooong Wooong!
"Hmm?"
The Mad Lord furrows his brow.
From the direction the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is heading, space splits open.
A faint green light emerges from beyond the fissure in space.
Kuuuung!
'It' is the size of a child.
The small green entity, with the physique of a child reaching Kim Yeon's chest, has two podaos strapped to its back.
'Four-axis stage? Integration stage?'
Its hard to properly read the realm of that entity.
However, upon its appearance, the Mad Lords face stiffens and he stops the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The remaining puppet army also halts in place.
"Are you the 'Esteemed One' mentioned by that garbage Seo?"
The Mad Lord, stroking his beard, asks the small entity.
The small and unimpressive entity wearing a green hood speaks while crossing its arms, its small hands the same green as the hood.
Their gazes intertwine.
[I see you've stepped into the first phase of Manifestation(). Hmm, or not? Ah, I see. You just accidentally reached it while cultivating consciousness.]
"What are you talking about?"
[Well, considering there aren't many among the Human Race who truly understand consciousness, reaching this level alone is quite impressive. To not even realize what you've attained, how pitiful. Tsk tsk]
The entity suddenly criticizes the Mad Lord, clicking his tongue.
[Anyway are you the Mad Lord Jo Yeon who ascended from the Head Realm? I've heard that the entire Bright Cold Realm is in chaos because of you and the Ghost Mother...]
"This is strange. You don't even seem like an Integration stage being, but why did the celestial energy change when you appeared?"
[Hmm, I wonder if youre pretending not to know. Or, as Ive heard, you truly dont know because its impossible to get proper information in the Bright Cold Ream.]
Shiver!
I sense a primal warning ringing wildly in my instincts.
I recognize this feeling.
For powerful cultivators,
With Four-Axis stage or Integration stage cultivators, I feel a sense of crisis like encountering a monster.
But this one is different.
Its like the crisis I felt as a martial artist when I fought Kim Young-hoon at his peak during the Ultimate Pinnacle era.
A tension like facing a finely honed blade!
[Child, the title 'Esteemed One' is reserved...]
Swoosh!
The small green hand draws one of the podaos from its back.
[...for those who have reached the Star Shattering stage, or are comparable to it.]
"You're at the Star Shattering stage? You seem much weaker compared to the Ghost Mother..."
[Well, of course. My main body is currently returning to the Bright Cold Realm from a distant dimension. I sent only a part of my energy as an avatar first because Sacred Master Baek Woon (White Cloud) was so urgent.]
"Hehehe! It was risky to make a puppet with the Ghost Mother, but if I catch you, I can create a real Star Shattering stage puppet!"
[You, just like the rumors say, are truly a madman. Tsk tsk It seems your mind is utterly decayed. How are you even alive with such a mental state? Clinging to a sliver of hope, not succumbing to suicide?]
He speaks to the Mad Lord while looking at him.
Kugugugugu!
The Mad Lord's Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begins to gather power.
"[She] might be injured, but if it's just a Star Shattering cultivators avatar at the Integration Stage, I can definitely catch it! Hehehe! I can also supplement the lacking data of Star Shattering Stage cultivators with you!"
[Hmm. Indeed, the energy seems to be roughly at the level of Star Shattering..]
And then.
Wo-woong!
The small green figure lifts the podao.
'Ah...'
I shudder at that sight.
Kim Yeon and the Mad Lord didn't notice, but only I could see his posture and feel its beauty.
[But it seems youre misunderstanding something. Its not enough to just imitate the energy of a Star Shattering cultivator. True Star Shattering cultivators are those who gradually step out of the realm of the ordinary and become divine. And...]
Kugugugugu!
All the light in the world converges on that podao.
The chilling premonition seems to pierce my very soul.
[I am merely on a level comparable to Star Shattering, not actually a Star Shattering 'cultivator'. So even if you somehow defeat me, you won't get what you want, child.]
"What did you say?"
[Be honored to know, child. I am the supreme leader of the Heart Tribe, Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One, Jang Ik (Radiant Wing).]
Flash....
The podao falls slowly.
It falls at a rate so exceedingly slow.
Yet, just by watching it alone, it makes me feel as if all the martial arts I accumulated are becoming distorted.
[To the Heart Tribe, distinctions like Integration and Star Shattering and their magnitudes of power hold little significance. Know that it is an honor to die from this single strike.]
The next moment.
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is split apart.
Translator Notes: Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One sounds so fkin cool. Also, Baek Woon is the name that means White Cloud.
-x-X-x-
Sssshhhh....
In the area where the green flash had vanished, space itself seemed to have been torn away, revealing a void in the dark emptiness.
Ssshhh....
A green hand places a podao behind their back.
Kugugugu!
A massive piece of a fortress falls through the void.
The figure in green hood, Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One Jang Ik, looks down at the fragment of the fortress with an interested gaze.
[Impressive... they avoided this?]
Kugugugu!
The falling piece of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is about a third of its whole.
Of the three cylindrical fortresses that make up the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, only one had been cleanly sliced off, with the rest escaping.
[Interesting fellow. If he was only not insane, perhaps we could have shared a cup of tea and discussed enlightenment...]
Wo-woong!
A small apparition appears next to Jang Ik.
A handsome young man with blue hair and small deer horns on his forehead the apparition of Seo Hweol.
[On behalf of the Earth Tribe Grand Alliance, Chief Military Strategist Seo Hweol sends his greetings to the Esteemed One of the Heart Tribe.]
[Earth Tribe Grand Alliance? There's such a thing now?]
[Yes, to respond to threats including the Mad Lord and others like the Lightning Harbinger, the Earth Tribe has decided to unite.]
[Hmmm...]
[But, may I ask why you let the Mad Lord escape?]
At Seo Hweol's question, Jang Ik snorts and replies.
[Sacred Master Baek Woon urged me to act, but she said to deal with the Mad Lord later. The Mad Lord isn't the priority. Besides, I'm using an avatar, so my existence is already fading.]
Wo-woong...
Jang Ik shows his half-transparent left hand.
[While the Ghost Mother is threatening, shes no different from a beast without reason. Rather, the Mad Lord where madness and rationality coexists is the real threat that can grow stronger in the future. Wouldn't it be better to deal with that one first...?]
At those words, Jang Ik looks in the direction where the Mad Lord fled.
[I made two attacks.]
[...?]
[One split his fortress, and the other was infused into the heart essence of one of his disciples.]
[I dont quite understand the Heart Tribe's mysterious and profound methods, so is it possible for the Esteemed One to explain? Also, the Mad Lord has only one disciple, so when you say 'one of the disciples'.]"
Interrupted by Seo Hweol's question, Jang Ik glances at him and waves his hand.
Pssh!
With that gesture, Seo Hweol's apparition distorts.
[The Ghost Mother is approaching. Though its rationality has evaporated, I can sense the power of the stars within, meaning it's much closer to Star Shattering than the Mad Lords puppets. I need to concentrate to cut down something of that level, so lets end our communication here.]
Sssshhhh....
Seo Hweol's apparition fades completely.
Jang Ik clicks his tongue.
[I've seen something filthy. Even the Earth Tribe has been struck by a deadly omen. For such a person to take the position of Chief Military StrategistTsk tsk.]
Kugugugugu!
Beyond the horizon, accompanied by black clouds, a howling entity approaches.
Ssssh, ssssh....
Jang Ik takes out the two podaos from behind his back and assumes a stance.
[Hmm, the Mad Lord and Ghost Mother no matter how I look at it, both seem less dangerous than that Seo HweolIs it right for Sacred Master Baek Woons orders to prioritize the other two? Well, if the Earth Tribe falls to ruin, itll be easier for the Heart TribeLets leave it be for now.]
He lifts up the podaos and begins to dance.
Starting with his small frame, a green storm begins to rage.
Kugugugugu!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, despite losing a third of its structure, continues to move forward rapidly.
Crossing through the sky and over all sorts of strange landscapes, it finally arrives at a destination.
Kugugugugu!
A valley similar to the one where the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress had stayed a thousand years ago.
The Mad Lord lands the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and hurriedly enters its core to repair [Her].
I speak with a glint in my eye.
Its now.
Its a golden opportunity.
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is not functioning properly, and the Mad Lord's [Her] is currently half-damaged.
Now is the perfect time to escape from the Mad Lord.
I convey my intention to Kim Yeon.
"You want to leave now?"
Kim Yeon looks at me.
Im taken aback.
Her eyes are shimmering.
"...Why?"
Click, click.
I take advantage of the chaos in the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, causing errors with the controlled puppets.
Then, I direct the errors towards my face and ask.
"Yeon, ah... what, do you, mean?"
"...Eun-hyun Oppa. If we just escape from this madman now, he will repair [Her] and learn from his recent defeat, growing even stronger.
"Yeon, ah..."
"Escaping is wrong. We must kill him now.
A faint rage is visible in her eyes.
No, it isn't just a faint rage.
Its a hatred as intense as lava.
"Yeon, ah... do you, want, revenge?"
"...Yes. This might be the right way. No, it is! I swore, didn't I? To shatter [Her] in front of the Mad Lord! We've ended up like this because of being captured by that lunatic, but he'll just be happy forever indulging in his own world with his puppet!"
Click
"Eun-hyun Oppa. If its now, if its now! I can take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with my consciousness and snatch [Her] right in front of the Mad Lord...!"
Kim Yeon shouts with a broken smile.
"This is rather our only chance! Right now, right here, let's defeat that lunatic and make him pay for what he did to us! If we don't!!"
Bang!
She, with her puppet-modified arm, grabs her chest and says,
"How are we ever supposed to resolve this grudge stuck in our chest? Huh?
I look at the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
She is right.
I too have a lot of grievances against that madman.
"Eun-hyun Oppa, if we escape from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress... we agreed to open up our hearts to each other, right?"
When we finally had a proper conversation, we promised to do so.
I plan to return the heart and emotions I received from her after we manage to escape from the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"After we shatter [Her] and turn the Mad Lord to puppet materials, let's have a proper wedding ceremony here. Today, today is the perfect opportunity!
"..."
I look at her.
After reaching completion in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, her madness improved significantly from that day.
However, I noticed she developed a strange obsession instead of madness.
From the day she achieved completion in the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, Kim Yeon developed a strange obsession with me and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Her obsession with me is fine.
I understand that.
However, I sometimes slightly fail to understand the obsession with the Fortress.
There were times when even I, who surpassed Kim Yeon in understanding the essence of the Mysterious Bizarre Innate Heart Canon, found it slightly incomprehensible.
Perhaps, having reached Treading Heavens Beyond the Path, and being someone who has perfect control over heart essence, I am better at shaking off the temptation of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon than Kim Yeon, but
'Something's suspicious.'
"Yeon, ah... the Mad Lord is, mad, but... at the same time, he is, a being of reason. He must have, considered our betrayal."
"...It's okay, Oppa."
Wo-woong!
Surururururuk!
Her consciousness unravels like thread.
Sararak, sararararak!
In an instant, the puppets controlled by the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress begin to lose their control to her.
Her consciousness, stretching like threads, enters the puppets' spiritual energy circuits and takes control.
"The Mad Lord failed to understand my real ability. It's not just about having a large consciousness. Eun-hyunn Oppa, since the day I confirmed your heart, from that day 500 years ago, I felt like I've realized my fate. And...."
She laughs brightly.
Somehow, I feel that her laughter is tinged with a strange madness.
"My ability is related to my fate. Its probably the same for Oppa and our other colleagues. Once each of us realize our own fate, we should be able to understand the true nature of our powers to some extent.
Kugugugu!
Gradually, an undeniable power begins to infuse her consciousness.
"...Heavenly Golden Thunder Body? Ghostly Yin Transformation Immortal Root? Unique Holy Body? Not such foolish qualities... The 'real' power we gained as we fell into this world... The ones who assessed our qualities were too low-level to discover them, just spouting nonsense..."
Wo-woong!
Paah!
Her consciousness emits brilliance.
Bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, her shining consciousness envelops the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The Mad Lord's fortress is being consumed, covered in white threads.
[The Mad Lord is definitely an extraordinary person. The Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon he created becomes somewhat similar in form to my powers when it reaches completionBut thats it. Eun-hyun Oppa, please help me.]
Patsutsutsu!
Kim Yeon's entire body begins to boil white, following her consciousness.
She resembles a ghost made of tangled white threads.
[Help me. Let's defeat this madman and live our lives together.]
"...I, understand."
After a moment of thought, I slowly speak.
"After this is over, I will properly, tell you my feelings."
[Thank you.]
She smiles and then enters deep into the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
I take control of the surrounding puppets.
Wo-woong!
The spiritual energy circuits laid on General Seo's body all come under my control.
Not only General Seo's spiritual energy circuits.
The Mad Lord's puppets as well.
The flow of spiritual energy that interconnects these puppets are also, in a way, an invisible circuit of spiritual energy.
The flow of spiritual energy, resembling intent, also begins to come under my will.
Gigigigik!
A portion of control over the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress falls under my consciousness.
Despite the Fortress showing resistance and pouring billions of 'murmurs' into my mind, I look at the fortress with a smile.
"I've been, understanding, you for, a thousand years."
A cradle of madness, infinitely close to a living being.
A madman's workshop that weaves together the waves resembling intent emanating from numerous artificial souls, collecting them at the core to create genuine intent, and crafting a soul that is infinitely close to being real.
Operated solely by madness.
But I too have been grasping his madness, secretly taking control of the circuits and enduring for a thousand years.
"I will not, lose, to you...!"
Wo-woong!
I continue to take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, and Kim Yeon takes control of the puppets.
A thousand years.
Today, a thousand years after being captured by the Mad Lord, we finally begin our rebellion when he is weakened.
Click, click, click...
Inside the Mad Lord's workshop.
The Mad Lord restored [Her] shattered body to roughly form a shape.
"Oh, oh, very fortunate. At least only the battle functions are damaged, and most of the important functions are intact. I'm glad she's not hurt..."
The Mad Lord strokes [her] head and sighs in relief.
Just then.
Kugugugugugugu!
The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress vibrates, informing the Mad Lord of his disciples rebellion.
"Hmm?"
Ddak!
With a flick of his finger, the mechanical devices inside the workshop moves, bringing a mirror to the Mad Lord.
Spiritual energy gathers in the mirror, warping it and gradually showing the image of Kim Yeon ascending the upper floors, taking control of the puppets.
Kim Yeon, with her white threads of consciousness spreading in all directions, has an odd appearance, covered in white brilliance.
The Mad Lord strokes his beard while looking at her for a while.
"Hmm, she's coming here instead of running away. Is she coming to take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress?"
It appears that his madness is subsiding a bit, and his rationality returning.
He looks at Kim Yeon's image and smiles faintly.
"Couldn't resist the temptation of the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon and the hatred towards me."
The Mad Lord briefly gazes into the mirror and then closes his eyes.
"...The Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is half-destroyed, and my love is not in proper shape. Now you're trying to take control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress... I thought you had gone mad, but you still have some rationality left?"
The Mad Lord grasps [Her] hand with his wrinkled hand.
"It's a pity, it would have been better to attempt taking the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress under better circumstances... Well, what can be done?
Somehow, he wears a comfortable smile that has never been seen before.
"If this is the best I can do, I must accept it. It's been a long journey"
The Mad Lord hugs [Her] tightly.
"Finally, today the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress will be completed."
After hugging [her] for a moment, the Mad Lord looks up at the ceiling.
The core and the highest level of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
The upper floor of the workshop, a layer that even Kim Yeon had never been allowed access to until now.
Click, click, click...
At his gesture, stairs leading to the last floor spirals down from the ceiling.
The Mad Lord holds [Her] hand and slowly ascends to the top layer.
Even as he heads up, he does not remove or alter the stairs.
Kuaaang!
She, who had taken control of the puppets and received control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress through Seo Eun-hyun, began to operate the entire fortress with her consciousness.
'It's been a while. This feeling'
The madness and murmurs of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress are being borne by Seo Eun-hyun himself for her stead.
And she, controlling the puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, heads to a new realm.
How many times had there been a situation like this since she pierced through the Seven Stars Ritual long ago?
Although this time it isn't about breaking through a new cultivation realm, its the moment to seize the opportunity to leap towards a new life.
Kuaaangg!
The puppets, commanded by Kim Yeon, hammer the Mad Lord's workshop.
'Finally'
Kim Yeon, manipulating her consciousness, peers beyond the workshop.
The core of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is undetectable even by consciousness.
Rather than being sealed by a special prohibition, the surface is swarming so wildly with near-real intent that merely extending consciousness recklessly engulfs one in madness.
'Even this detestable workshop will now be over.'
Kuaaang!
A hole is made in the workshop.
'And now, this place will become a home for me and Oppa'
Deep anger and pain surges up in her heart.
Even though Seo Eun-hyun is still barely clinging on inside a puppet.
When he first became a puppet.
How much pain did she feel?
It felt like the world was falling apart.
She became half-insane for hundreds of years.
And as if that wasn't enough, the Mad Lord also modified her body to make it more helpful in handling the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
'Unforgivable.'
Hatred flares in Kim Yeon's eyes.
'That madman ruined the love between me and Eun-hyun Oppa. I will punish him by smashing what he cherishes the most.'
Step, step...
Kim Yeon, who enters the Mad Lord's workshop, looks around.
"That is Ha."
The spiral staircase leading to the ceiling.
The last and hidden layer of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
"Are you going to hide in the deepest layer of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to face me? Master Even if you bring [Her] mom, dad, and grandparents, you can't change the situation now."
Step, step...
She clenches her teeth and climbs up the spiral staircase left by the Mad Lord.
"From today onwards, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress will be mine. Here, Oppa and I will share our love."
Step
And reaching the end of the staircase.
Kim Yeon, who ascended to the top floor of the workshop, is startled.
"...This is?"
Wo-woong!
From outside, I handed over control of the fortress to Kim Yeon and bearing its madness, I looked toward the center of the fortress.
'The connection... has faded.'
My consciousness thread was also connected to Kim Yeon.
We were communicating in real-time, connected by consciousness, seizing control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
But suddenly, the thread of consciousness connected to her became faint.
As if in a very noisy place, unable to hear a friend's voice from a little distance.
Intense torrents of intent are interfering with the connection between me and her.
'...Should I help?'
But at the moment, its challenging enough to deal with the madness of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
It feels like General Seo's head would explode at any moment.
If I push further, General Seo's head might actually explode, and my soul would scatter and die.
'...Whatever happens, be safe!'
I clench my teeth and look toward where Kim Yeon is.
"...What is this?"
Kim Yeon looks in astonishment at the layer hidden by the Mad Lord.
"Have you come, my disciple?"
The Mad Lord greets Kim Yeon with eyes clearer than ever before.
The madness that had been in his eyes was washed away.
"...You seem to be in good spirits, Master. Did your mind get healed after being properly disciplined by the Ghost Mother and that green dwarf?"
"Hahaha, how could that be? It was you who healed my mind, my disciple."
The Mad Lord speaks while smiling bitterly.
"...Yes?"
"It's been a long and arduous journey. I have been waiting for the day you would lose yourself to madness and seize my Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with your enormous consciousness."
"What...?"
"Unexpectedly, you seem to be sane, considering you attack me now when I am at my weakest and the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is almost destroyed..."
Kim Yeon glares at the Mad Lord.
"...Was making me like this all part of your plan?"
"That's right. I have been waiting to truly complete the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress."
"What...? What does that mean...?"
She discards even the minimal honorifics for the Mad Lord.
"Until I found you, I just accepted it when I was lost in madness, but I always felt hopeless when my sanity returned. To properly complete the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, I needed to at least reach the Star Shattering stage, have more than a hundred billion puppets, and invest an uncountable amount of resources However, you can't imagine how happy I was when I found you. If I only have you, such vast resources, puppets, and cultivation realms wont be necessary."
"..."
Thank you for growing so well, my disciple. I have been waiting and waiting for the day you would seize the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. Only with your immense consciousness can the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress operate properly... Finally, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress will be completed."
Words Kim Yeon could never have imagined came out of the Mad Lord's mouth.
"I'm sorry, my disciple. Blame this madman."
"...You."
Kim Yeon laughs coldly, staring at the Mad Lord.
"From your words, just smashing the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress to pieces with the puppets will make you suffer, right?"
"Haha, the puppets are set not to attack the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. If you want to change that setting you need to seize control of the Fortress first. And to completely seize control means you have to fully activate the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress."
Kim Yeon bites her lip.
What happens if she just gives back the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and leaves now?
Then the Mad Lord would become a madman again, take back the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, and turn her into a puppet.
After a moment of silence, Kim Yeon glares at the Mad Lord with shimmering eyes and speaks.
"You're mistaken, you don't know what my talent is."
"Yes, I know. Even after searching through all the scriptures, there is no one with a consciousness like yours. But have you forgotten? There are similarities between my consciousness, having completed the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, and yours... It means that, even if your qualities are unknown to me, I can infer to some extent from the realm I've reached."
"...So, have you inferred?"
"...Let's see, try it for yourself."
As soon as the Mad Lord finishes speaking, Kim Yeon's consciousness spreads in all directions, seizing control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress even more fiercely.
"I don't know what you plan to do with the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, but if I seize control of the entire fortress faster than you can activate what you want, it's over."
Giiing, click click click...
The highest floor of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
There, numerous intents created from artificial souls are sucked in.
The puppets, under Kim Yeon's command, crazily fly to the highest level of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
A bizarre duel between two puppet masters begins.
Kim Yeon seizes control of the Fortress, and the Mad Lord begins manipulating the puppets in the depths of the Fortress.
Wo-woong!
Kim Yeon also tries to snatch the Mad Lord's puppets, but the puppets do not obey her commands.
"These puppets are a bit peculiar in their manipulation. Maybe only when you completely control the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress can you slowly snatch control.
The puppets at the highest level begin to move.
But Kim Yeon does not lose her smile and raises her spiritual power.
"You haven't forgotten, have you? Though I've reached the Four-Axis stage, my true strength is already comparable to the Integration stage... Such mere puppets, not even [Her], can stop me."
At that, the Mad Lord smiles meaningfully.
"I know. They are not designed for combat in the first place."
Simultaneously, the puppets begin to move.
"...?"
A look of confusion appears on Kim Yeon's face.
"Shall we begin then?"
The Mad Lord stands up with [Her].
Gradually, astonishment appears on Kim Yeon's face.
"...What, you... Is this...?"
She asks with a trembling voice.
"Wasn't the purpose to create a soul...?"
The Mad Lord does not answer.
He just looks at [Her] with endless affection.
Kim Yeon's face gradually contorts.
"No. Don't be ridiculous... You shouldn't do that..."
Kugugugugugu!
Kim Yeon's consciousness gradually seizes control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
And finally, at the moment when she seizes 100% control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Kim Yeon realizes the Mad Lord's goal.
And simultaneously, by activating the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress in place of the Mad Lord, no.
By drawing out 'the entire power' of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress that even the Mad Lord couldn't call forth.
The scenery the Mad Lord truly wanted to create unfolds before her.
[Don't be ridiculous! Stop it!]
Kim Yeon cries out in madness, shedding tears.
But even as she tries to stop the scene before her through the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, the scene does not disappear.
The feat the Mad Lord has built up over thousands of years.
A masterpiece created by a madman.
The Mad Lord, holding a fan, declares.
"The final phase of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress. Yeon's Play (Yeon). Activate."
That day.
The magnum opus the Mad Lord Jo Yeon truly wanted to create.
Is born from Kim Yeon's hands.
-x-X-x-
Click, click, click, click, click, click
The mechanical devices move crazily, creating a landscape.
"Fate is like a magnet. That means, fate has the power to attract things. Back in the old days, when I was a plaything of Seo Hweol's schemes, I visited the Serving Command Palace with him and felt the attraction of fate, and that's when an idea struck me."
The surrounding landscape begins to change.
On the bodies of the puppets, illusions of certain shapes are cast, and eventually, they transform into complete humans.
At the highest floor of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, a 'night sky' appears, and the sounds of a boisterous festival begin to echo from all around.
"If fate can attract metaphysical phenomenons, maybe can it also draw in my past, that space and time?"
The place where Kim Yeon is standing and where the Mad Lord is standing becomes separated.
A completely Alternate Spacetime begins to form.
"Since the day I created this imitation of the Serving Command Palace, the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, I have been dreaming and dreaming of this moment. Finally"
The Mad Lord smiles brightly, dancing with the one who has transformed from a puppet to a real person, holding a fan.
The happiest moment in the human named Jo Yeons life
That Alternate Spacetime of the two holding fans and enjoying the festival, as it was back then, is being recreated in the center of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Patsutsutsu...!
Kim Yeon feels her energy being sucked into the Alternate Spacetime before her.
Even as her life force is being drained, Kim Yeon does not detach her consciousness from controlling the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress.
Tears are flowing down her face.
[You pushed me and Eun-hyun Oppa into hell, and now what are you doing? Why are you the only one trying to be happy? Don't be ridiculous...!]
Kim Yeon could not accept it.
The wicked perpetrator who had plunged her and billions of lives into a pit of agony.
She could not tolerate him inside his own world wearing a blissful smile as if he had reached heaven.
Gigigigik!
Her will, having seized control of the entire Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, finally gains access to the deepest parts of the fortress.
Click, click...
She stops the mechanical devices one by one, trying to collapse the Alternate Spacetime before her.
However, she shudders.
'Life...'
The Alternate Spacetime before her and her life.
Have become perfectly connected.
[Argh...!]
Kim Yeon clenches her teeth.
An enormous amount of energy is being sucked into the Alternate Spacetime before her.
If this continues, her life force will be entirely drained, leading to her death.
'No, no...!'
She refuses to watch the evil man, who ruined her life, achieve his goal right before her eyes.
'This can't be happening!'
She understands the movements of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress's mechanical devices.
She estimates that the Alternate Spacetime being manifested before her wouldn't last long.
Perhaps when the dance ends, everything will disperse like smoke.
Then her life force wouldn't be drained anymore.
Her life force would drop to a critical level for sure, but currently, that is the only path she has to survive.
But Kim Yeon doesnt want that.
'Why, why do I have to see that madman happy?'
The evil man who ruined her life and the life of her beloved.
She knows as well.
The Mad Lord's life force is also being drawn into that time.
Perhaps, when this created time ends, the Mad Lord too will be on the brink of death.
If she waits a little longer, the Mad Lord will simply die.
But.
'That insane madman, dying wrapped in happiness?'
Crunch...
[I can't accept it!]
Her consciousness threads begin to bore into the Alternate Spacetime before her eyes. However, simultaneously, Kim Yeon realizes that she and the spacetime before her are gradually merging.
Pukwak!
Her upper dantian overheats, causing blood to burst from her nose and eyes. Yet, Kim Yeon, shedding bloody tears, still trembles with the determination to destroy the Mad Lord's creation.
Just then.
Clench!
Someone strongly grasps Kim Yeon's hand.
Its Seo Eun-hyun.
I alternate my gaze between the spacetime created before me and Kim Yeon, who, in her effort to destroy it, is on the verge of killing herself.
After Yeon seized control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, the murmurs vanished, allowing me to finally reach this place.
"Yeon-ah, stop this."
[Oppa...]
She looks up at me.
[Why? Why does he get to die happily, while we have to live in the life he ruined? It's too unfair... We can't let this be... He should also experience the agony of his lifelong goal crumbling before his eyes...]
"Yeon-ah."
I speak, looking at her face.
"Isn't life inherently unfair?"
[Yes...?]
"That's just what this world is. It's hell. Unfair, insane, a place full of pain. But..."
I embrace her.
"Even so, didn't we share our hearts with each other?"
Once, someone taught me that desert glass shines like a beautiful gem when illuminated by light, but becomes a sharp and dangerous monstrosity in the absence of light.
My inability to forget her is not only because of the heart she gave me, but also because of the value of life I gained by sharing hearts with her.
But at this moment, I think of only Kim Yeon and hold her even tighter.
"Life may be hell, but if we share our hearts, maybe... we can reach a heaven far better than what that madman over there is experiencing."
Drip, drip...
I feel her tears falling on my shoulder.
"All this time, I thought I couldn't receive your heart. Because..."
Although Im an emotionless puppet,
Her heart, her pain, her excitement, and her feelings reached me.
"I've only ever received your heart in this puppet's body, unable to give you anything in return. But now that the end is approaching, I can finally give you my heart..."
Slowly...
Kim Yeon, previously enveloped in white threads, returns to her usual appearance, dressed in a light pink garment.
"I will accept your heart."
"Thank you."
She says, crying like a child in my arms.
"Thank you so much..."
Chshhhhsss
She no longer uses her consciousness to bore into the spacetime before her.
The merging has stopped.
But...
'The energy is still being sucked into that space...'
Her Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon had forcibly linked the power that activated the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress with the space inside.
If that Alternate Spacetime eventually collapses, Kim Yeon will be safe, but it's uncertain if it will remain intact and consume all her life force.
'I need to sever the connection between Yeon and that space.'
Woosh!
I gather energy in General Seos left hand and swing it towards the flow of energy between Kim Yeon and the space.
But the connection doesn't cut, and instead, her life force is sucked in even more efficiently.
I think for a moment..
'Ordinary attacks won't sever the connection. Then...'
An attack specialized in cutting and severing is needed.
Woosh, woosh, woosh!
After being remodeled into General Seo's body,
I take out the Formless Sword for the first time in a very long while.
Woosh, woosh, woosh!
Although it feels a bit awkward, being naturally integrated into my body and soul, my Formless Sword reveals its aura again.
'Cut...'
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
I infuse the Formless Sword with the energy of a peak Four-Axis, drawing in the energy I seize from the puppets as well.
Swish!
The Formless Sword becomes even more clear and eventually, its almost nonexistent in my hand.
'Cut.'
With the energy of a peak Four-Axis, the Formless Sword is enhanced to the point where it can cut through anything uncuttable.
'Cut!'
And finally, at the peak of its momentum,
I swing the Formless Sword.
Woosh!
Bang!
The Formless Sword cleanly slices through the connection before it.
True to its name, it cuts through the flow of life force, which seemed uncuttable.
But...
'Ugh...'
I fail to completely sever the massive flow created by the Mad Lord.
The countless artificial souls created numerous intents.
These numerous intents formed the Alternate Spacetime before my eyes.
A power even greater than the immense suction force of this Alternate Spacetime is needed.
'If only I could cut through the Alternate Spacetime itself...'
If such power or skill exists, it might be possible to cut through.
One more time...'
I concentrate all my energy and swing the Formless Sword again.
Woosh!
But still, the results do not change.
I close my eyes and recall the feeling when I imitated the Surpassing Radiant Saber.
Entering into my heart essence, I visualize the Surpassing Radiant Saber.
Standing on the transparent Sword Hell, I draw the aura of the swords inward.
But...
'It's not enough...'
WIth just the entire Sword Hell, can it really cut through the Mad Lords magnum opus?
'To cut through the entire spacetime, consuming Yeon's life...'
A power stronger than both the Surpassing Radiant Saber and Formless Sword is needed.
'I need more power...!'
Just then.
'...?'
I suddenly notice.
Within my heart essence.
Amid the transparent Sword Hell, theres something odd.
Its a green-colored podao.
Different from the surrounding swords pointing towards the sky, this podao is firmly embedded with the handle up.
As if someone had intentionally placed it there.
Alone.
And then.
I feel an inexplicable pull towards this podao.
Grab it.
Grab it.
Grab it...
In my heart essence.
I find myself reaching out towards the podao that constantly whispers to me.
And when I grasp its handle and pull it out from my Sword Hell,
Flash!
"...!"
The Formless Sword Im holding turns green, becoming a podao.
Someone's voice echoes in my mind.
[To think you've reached the second stage of Manifestation. You seem like an unusual one, even surpassing my master, so I planted my strike in your consciousness.]
A small green figure, the Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One, Jang Ik, speaks as if hes right beside me.
[You harbor a rebellious heart against the Mad Lord, dont you? The day you draw out my strike will probably be the day you reveal your rebellious intentions. It might strain your body a bit, but...]
That green figure.
Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One, Jang Ik.
I assume the same posture that person had demonstrated in the Starting Form, staring blankly at the flow of energy in front of me.
And then.
The green podao falls.
[Using this strike, you'll certainly achieve your goal. I don't know how you reached the second stage of Manifestation of the Heart Path Method. Anyway, judging by your heart essence, you're a remarkable member of the Heart Tribe. So, I'll assist you.]
Destruction.
Only this word comes to my mind.
Ah, this is
A combat method created solely to obliterate everything.
To obliterate the opponent before me, any annoying entities, anything suppressing me.
A state to absolutely crush everything to bits.
A different solution, from me and Kim Young-hoon.
Kwaguanguanguan!
The green podao advances relentlessly, tearing through the space itself.
The gigantic flow of energy?
It's mere child's play in front of this.
Everything, is utterly destroyed.
The green single-edged saber splits the remaining Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress in half, along with the spacetime.
Crack!
Heaven and earth are enveloped in green light, and the circuits in both arms of General Seo are unable to withstand the output, burning to crisps.
The spiritual energy I had been drawing from the other puppets of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress is also completely exhausted.
At the same time.
Kugugugugugu!
Kim Yeons connection with the Mad Lords time is cut.
Chuaaaaaa
As her consciousness and life ceases to fuel it, the Alternate Spacetime created by the Mad Lord begins to collapse.
Kugugugugu!
With my completely ruined arms, I somehow manage to move the Formless Sword, catching Kim Yeon as shes thrown out.
Kuaguaguaguagua!
Half of the remaining part of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, along with the traces of destruction left by the podao, fall away into the torn space.
I step on the air, moving next to the Mad Lord's space.
Swoosh...
After a while, the Mad Lord's space slowly disperses.
"Finally..."
"It's over, Oppa..."
I put Kim Yeon down.
The Alternate Spacetime crumbles away.
What remains at the top of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress are only the puppets that had stopped in their tracks.
[She], too, has returned from her past human form to her current puppet form.
And the Mad Lord, looking even older than before, is holding hands and smiling with [Her].
Depleted of all energy, not even a trace of life can be felt from him.
We approach the Mad Lord.
Thud!
And as we approach,
He collapses right there alongside [Her].
"He's dead."
"...Seems so."
The Mad Lord's goal was not to revive the dead.
It was merely to recall the happiest moment of his life.
To summon that spacetime again and die within it.
I look at the surrounding puppets.
"...Now it's clear why this madman was creating fake souls..."
Kim Yeon says as she chuckles.
Was it because she had seized control of the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress and completed this spacetime with her own hands?
She seems to have realized something.
The Mad Lord had been creating numerous fake souls until now with the belief that just as fate influences people, people can also influence fate in return.
From her mouth, who had completed the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress, flows the secret of the fortress.
By manipulating numerous artificial souls, he influenced fate to create attraction. Through this attraction, he wanted to recall and reproduce his past, his happiest moment. That was the objective of this madman.
Kim Yeon collapses, exhausted, as she speaks.
I sit down beside her.
Not a trace of spiritual power is left in my circuits.
She, too, seems drained from the immense ordeal she had faced.
With a weak expression, she leans on my shoulder, saying while looking at the deceased Mad Lord and [Her].
"...It's all over now."
"...Yes."
It was long.
Truly long.
But now,
We finally escaped the grasp of the Mad Lord.
She smiles faintly and tightly clenches my hand, which could no longer move due to the burnt spiritual circuits.
"Eun-hyun Oppa."
"Hmm?"
"I have something to tell you..."
And then.
Kugugugugu!
Above in the sky, a massive barrier unfolds.
Flash!
In the center of the barrier, a majestic blue dragon is depicted.
From beyond the barrier formation, Seo Hweol's voice resounds.
[Thanks to the guidance of the Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One, we were able to locate the coordinates of his attack. Haha, Old Man. Are you still alive? Or have you finally closed your eyes after being hit by the strike the Esteemed One left hidden? It's hard to see from this distance.]
Woosh!
Energy begins to gather in the center of the barrier.
"This...!"
I grit my teeth and try to get up.
But my strength leaves me.
Maybe because I had just adopted the Heaven-Entrapping Esteemed One's strike, my entire body became ruined.
Kim Yeon, too, after having activated the Wonderfully Mysterious Fortress for so long, couldn't even lift a finger.
She tries to control the remaining puppets, but there are few left, and most of them are also broken.
[If Old Man passed away, that's one thing. But if by a slim chance, I mean a very, truly slim chance, Old Man is still alive, it would be very troublesome for us. So, please don't cling to your stubborn life and close your eyes now.]
Kugugugu!
The dragon symbol in the center of the barrier twitches and comes to life.
Simultaneously, various mystical immortal beasts appear around the dragon.
[Finally, our ill connection (yeon) comes to an end. To my lifelong rival, I, Seo Hweol, express my respect. Now then.]
Kugugugugu!
[Madam, please activate it.]
Flash!
The immortal beasts turn into vivid illusions, appearing beneath the formation, each opening their mouths.
A blue light fills the heavens and the earth.
I slowly watch the falling beams of light and look at Kim Yeon beside me.
She has a resigned look in her eyes.
"...Eun-hyun Oppa."
"...Yeon-ah."
I hold her hand and ask,
"May I ask for one thing?"
"What is it?"
"For the future."
I close my eyes and speak.
Tears seem to well up in my dried-up body.
"If we have another life after this... In our next life, even if you are not the Yeon I have known until now..."
The surroundings turn white.
"May I continue to convey this heart to you?"
For a brief moment, she looks into my eyes and smiles amidst the luminance.
"Eun-hyun Oppa, you told me not to tell my secret, right? Shall I tell you a huge secret?"
"Wait..."
"I actually..."
Hesitating for a moment, Kim Yeon smiles more beautifully than any budding flower.
"Really like you, Eun-hyun Oppa. So... please do that."
"...That's..."
Engulfed in light, my entire body disappears.
I smile faintly.
"That's a really great secret."
At the end of Jo Yeon's Play (Yeon)
Having confirmed Kim Yeon's heart for me,
I slowly close my eyes, ending the Bond (Yeon) of Love (Yeon).
The two dolls, who had been together for over a thousand years,
At the end of their life riddled with pain,
Finally kiss, submerged in a burst of light.
That is Seo Eun-hyuns 14th return.
Translator Notes: Bond of Love is also translated as Yeons Yeon in the raws. Hence, Yeons Yeon has the dual meanings of Jo Yeons Play and Bond of Love.