Song Cheon-baek's silhouette vanished—then reappeared before Lee Seong-jun in a flash, a streak of blue light carving through the air.
His right arm shot forward, overflowing with surging energy. The target: Lee Seong-jun's heart. The intention: a clean kill.
But Seong-jun, already reading the motion before it began, merely twisted his waist. The strike passed harmlessly by, slicing through empty space.
Seong-jun exhaled lightly, a faint smirk curving his lips. "You've gotten faster," he said, catching Cheon-baek's arm mid-swing.
A flick of the wrist—
Whirrr.
Cheon-baek's entire stance collapsed. It was as if invisible lines had been drawn through his body, undoing the very technique he had constructed.
"Instead of just observing movement," Seong-jun murmured, "I can now read the flow… even your breathing. It's simple, really. I've improved."
No reply came.
Cheon-baek rolled once, regaining balance, blue energy flaring around his body again. The air trembled with his intent to kill.
"…If you wanted to deceive your opponent," Seong-jun said, lowering his gaze, "you should've hidden your killing intent."
A red light pulsed in his palm.
The Destruction of Asura.
The technique of the Blood Demon—Mansanghyeolmahae—erupted outward.
The ground split. Red waves surged forth, shredding Cheon-baek's spiritual energy like paper and slamming his body back against the wall.
"—Ugh!?"
The blue aura shattered.
Seong-jun met his dazed gaze and asked calmly, "Do you still think I'm an imposter?"
Cheon-baek's breath hitched. His wide eyes quivered, disbelief melting into realization.
"R… really…" His voice trembled. "It's been a long time."
Seong-jun approached, each step echoing in the silent hall.
Thump… thump…
When he finally stood before him, Cheon-baek's eyes brimmed with emotion.
"Are you truly… Your Majesty?"
"Yes," Seong-jun replied softly. "The Blood Emperor you once swore allegiance to."
"Your Majesty…!"
Cheon-baek dropped to one knee, his voice breaking with reverence. "Song Cheon-baek greets the great Emperor."
The members of the Blood Wind Corps stared, wide-eyed.
Song Cheon-baek—the most steadfast among them, loyal only to the Blood Emperor—was kneeling.
In the next instant, every warrior dropped to the ground.
"A lowly being has an audience with the great Blood Emperor!"
Their voices thundered as one.
The Blood Emperor had returned.
Tears welled in the eyes of hardened soldiers. For years they had fought, waited, and bled in the dark—never giving up the belief that he would come back.
"Great Emperor…"
"The one true master of the Thousand Continents…"
Lee Seong-jun let out a quiet, awkward laugh.
'This… feels strange,' he thought. 'It's been a long time since I've heard those words.'
Nine years, to be exact—since he ascended to the Celestial Realm. In the grand scale of history, that wasn't long. But in the hearts of those who had waited… it was an eternity.
"Everyone, stand up," Seong-jun said with a faint smile. "You know I dislike formality."
Even when he ruled as Emperor, Seong-jun had never demanded kneeling or ceremony. To him, power was proven through will, not posture.
Song Cheon-baek rose slowly, his voice trembling. "I had no doubt, Your Majesty. I knew you would return."
Seong-jun smiled lightly but didn't reply. There were too many questions weighing on his mind.
"Let's go somewhere quiet," he said. "We have much to discuss."
They moved to a secluded pavilion deep within the garden. Anna was already there, leaning casually against a pillar, waving.
"Took you long enough," she said with a grin. "Your reunion looked a little… intense."
Seong-jun chuckled. "It was a heartfelt greeting, in its own way."
Anna shrugged. "I'd call it a duel between nostalgia and death, but sure—'heartfelt' works."
Cheon-baek's expression was somber. "I dared to strike at Your Majesty. I have no excuse. If you wish, I will end my life now—"
"There's no need," Seong-jun interrupted, waving dismissively. "You acted out of loyalty. That's what matters."
He gestured for Cheon-baek to sit.
When the atmosphere settled, Seong-jun's expression hardened.
"I've been gone for nine years," he said quietly. "Tell me everything. What happened to the Blood Empire?"
Cheon-baek hesitated. "…You can ask anything. My network still reaches every corner of the continent. But… this question…"
He clenched his fists. "It shames me to answer."
"Then it's as bad as I feared," Seong-jun said, his tone dropping. "How did he—that man I personally raised to succeed Chugon—become Emperor?"
Before leaving for the Celestial Realm, Seong-jun had entrusted the empire to Chugon—an honest, humble man of integrity. Peace had been secured. There was no reason for bloodshed.
But the throne now belonged to Yeon Seo-han—a name Seong-jun remembered only as an ambitious clerk.
"What happened?" he demanded. "Where are the Eight Demon Kings?"
Cheon-baek bowed his head deeply.
"It began with Han Ye-baek," he said. "He grew concerned for Your Majesty's safety. Using his own power, he opened a dimensional gate and went to find you."
Han Ye-baek… the Lightning Spirit. One of the strongest among the Eight Demons. His strength rivaled even the gods of the Upper Realm.
"Following him," Cheon-baek continued, "Cheol Mujin, Bi Hyeong, Hyeok Cheon-man, Hwa Won-pyeong, and Yuk Hwi-geom all departed to join him."
Six of the Eight Demon Kings—gone from the continent.
Seong-jun's brow furrowed. "Then why didn't they reach me?"
"I don't know. Perhaps the coordinates of the dimensional gate were unstable… or something interfered. None of them ever returned."
Seong-jun's expression darkened, but he nodded slowly. "They wouldn't fall so easily. They'll survive, wherever they are."
"And the remaining two?"
Cheon-baek's voice trembled. "The Poison Fang Demon, Tanghak… betrayed us. He allied with Yeon Seo-han. Lord Cheon Jin-myeong fought to stop him, but…"
"But?"
"We discovered too late that Tanghak had poisoned our supplies. Even Cheon Jin-myeong couldn't resist it. By the time we realized… it was over."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Seong-jun's fists clenched, veins bulging. Tanghak—one of his oldest comrades—had turned traitor.
"I see," Seong-jun said finally, his tone cold as ice. "So Yeon Seo-han used deceit and poison to seize my empire."
Cheon-baek fell to his knees again, tears streaking down his face. "Forgive me, Your Majesty! I should have seen it coming!"
"It isn't your fault," Seong-jun said quietly. "It's mine… for leaving before ensuring stability."
He rested a hand on Cheon-baek's shoulder, his gaze burning with restrained fury.
"But now," he said, "we take it back."
A crimson light flickered behind his eyes—cold, resolute, unstoppable.
"The Blood Emperor has returned," Seong-jun declared. "Let every corner of the Thousand Continents know…"
"…who their true master is."