Chapter 92 The Iron Demon Appears-2

Chapter 92: The Iron Demon Appears-2

Wwooong!

Doksoogwang had to exert every ounce of strength to keep a firm grip on the vibrating spear shaft.

His palms ached as if they would tear apart.

But Doksoogwang felt more astonishment at the monster than pain in his hands.

A demonic cultivator?

A demon from the Han tribe, not even a Myo tribe demon, and one who wielded martial arts to boot.

It was something he could never have imagined.

And that man was now charging at the poisonous bird, aiming to shoot down its twin blades.

He shoved aside the spearhead aimed at his own body as if it didn’t concern him at all.

For the Eagle-Eagle, who still couldn’t control his spear, it was an unstoppable attack.

His face turned pale as he anticipated the outcome.

“Guh?!”

But it seemed his life wasn’t over yet.

The five squad members who had charged in at the perfect moment had struck down the monster with their swords.

“Squad Leader!”

“You bastard!”

Their swords struck the monster’s neck and arm with precision.

And with a metallic clang, they bounced right off.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

“What?!”

Though their attack failed to land, it succeeded in disrupting the monster’s movements.

Thanks to that, Doksoogwang, who had barely rolled away to avoid the double blades, shouted urgently.

“Fall back!”

Even without Doksoogwang’s shout, the members familiar with the miners immediately tried to pull back the moment the swords bounced off.

But the monster was faster.

Thud!

The monster lunged at them with the dynamic ferocity of a predator.

It was astonishing speed, comparable to that of a peak master.

The five members screamed as the monster’s twin blades suddenly closed in before their eyes.

“Ugh!”

“F-fast…!”

The next moment, the monster’s fist slammed into their chests.

POW!

“Guh!”

“Guh!”

It happened in an instant.

The two team members, their chests caved in, couldn’t even scream.

The other five crew members cried out in shock.

“Young-woo!”

“Jigyun!”

But Doksoogwang shouted not at the dead team members, but at the remaining ones.

“Get out of the way! He’s coming!”

He was right.

The monster who had just slain two men abruptly changed direction and lunged toward the remaining team members.

Thud!

“Yikes!”

The lone warrior gritted his teeth and lunged at the enemy.

There was no way ordinary squad members could handle a demon using martial arts—one with the endurance of at least an intermediate demon, perhaps even a master demon.

Doksugwang had to block it himself, no matter what.

Puff!

“Dodge!”

“Haaah!”

The creature unleashed another blast, but this time the squad members scattered in all directions and managed to dodge it well.

Seeing this, Doksoogwang felt a bit relieved and struck the creature’s leg with his spear.

“You bastard!”

Bwooosh!

If he couldn’t pierce the bastard’s skin with his own abilities, he planned to at least knock him down and throw him away.

He needed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive, reinforcements who could use their martial energy.

But the next moment, Doksoogwang was forced to gasp in horror.

“What?!”

Whoosh!

The enemy had actually lifted his body slightly like a true martial artist to dodge the spear shaft.

Then, spinning mid-air, he swooped down on Doksoogwang.

It was truly a beast-like movement.

Doksoogwang gritted his teeth and scrambled away.

“A mere demon?!”

Puff!

Doksoogwang barely dodged the creature’s twin blades.

But the attack didn’t end there.

Whoosh!

A foot was flying toward his stomach.

The bastard had kicked the Eagle Warrior, who had thrown himself sideways.

Thud!

“Guh!”

Barely managing to block with his spear shaft, Doksoogwang took the blow and flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the ground.

Thud!

Thud!

The pain was so intense it made his head ring.

Had he not braced himself with the spear shaft, every bone in his body would likely have shattered.

But there was no time to sit there.

Doksugwang endured the pain and immediately raised his head.

Then, the figure of the monster charging toward him like a wild beast came into view.

The distance was already within striking range—too close to evade.

“Ugh!”

The madman’s eyes widened.

The creature’s twin blades, reaching out toward him, filled his vision.

It was the end.

Then.

“Haah!”

“You’re dead!”

“You bastard!”

Three squad members desperately charged the monster, swinging their weapons.

It was a reckless, headlong charge.

Thud! Thud!

Their charge, disregarding even their own safety, slightly disrupted the monster’s balance.

And at the same time, a powerful gust of wind whipped past the eagle’s ear.

Phew!

He swallowed hard.

It felt like being hit by a gust of wind seeping through the crack of hell’s gate.

“Yikes!”

Doksoogwang threw himself forward with all his might.

If he missed this chance, he truly felt he would die.

Thud!

Then, rolling his body, he shouted.

“Everyone get out of here now!”

But after frantically throwing himself forward, Doksoogwang immediately turned his gaze and had to witness it.

The monster’s whirlpool sweeping away the team members who hadn’t managed to pull themselves free.

Puhwaak!

“Aaah!”

“Jo Ja-ang!”

Crash!

“Snap!”

It took only a split second for the hojo sword to rip open two chests and then deliver a crushing blow to another’s head, shattering it.

Doksoogwang screamed.

“No!”

The remaining squad members stared at the scene, their expressions frozen in utter disbelief.

But they shouldn’t have.

The machine-like figure spun around and immediately attacked the remaining squad members.

Snapping back to his senses, Doksoogwang shouted in horror.

“Dodge!”

The team members snapped out of it too, scattering in all directions with all their might.

But the monster’s speed was far faster.

The monster had already closed in right behind Deputy Chief Jang Yeo-yeo, who had leaped away.

The Eagle-Eyed Man belatedly leapt forward and shouted.

“Zhang Yueyue! Behind you!”

Startled, Jang Yeo-yeo glanced back to see the monster closing in on her from behind.

Fear filled Jang Yeo-yeo’s eyes.

“Aaaah…”

At that moment.

“Haah!”

Someone attacked the intruder like a tiger.

A brilliant blue sword aura.

Seeing it, Doksoogwang shouted with a delighted look.

“Han Gyoseong!”

It was Han Gyoseong, the sword master known as the Blue Wind Sword Dragon, who had been called a genius even within the Blue Star Sect.

Officially recognized as the strongest among the Thirteen Masters, the swordsman sliced through the monster with his blue sword aura, allowing all survivors to cheer.

“Blue Wind Sword Dragon!”

“It’s the First Squad Leader!”

“It’s done!”

Han Gyoseong’s sword was wrapped in a blue, solid sword aura, like a blade of light.

Such a vivid sword aura would be impossible to withstand, even for the toughest demon, the Zhubi.

But their expressions froze rigid again the very next moment.

Clang!

Han Gyoseong’s sword aura had bounced off the monster’s body without cutting through it.

Everyone who saw it froze in place.

“…What?”

“No way!”

Han Gyoseong’s sword aura, radiating a brilliant glow, failed to pierce the monster’s skin—just like Doksoogwang’s spear had. It was utterly unbelievable.

Such defensive power was impossible even for the toughest of the Jugeui.

But even in the face of this astonishing turn of events, Han Gyoseong could not afford to panic.

The monster, momentarily staggered by the sword energy strike, charged straight at Han Gyoseong, unleashing its own force.

Boom!

“Damn!”

He hadn’t imagined he could withstand the sword strike, so the swift attack caught him off guard. Fortunately, Han Gyoseong reacted immediately.

He swiftly swung his sword to deflect the force.

Thwack!

“Grrrr!”

The monster continued charging forward.

With the ferocious momentum of a wild beast, yet unlike other demons, it attacked using martial arts techniques like a true warrior.

It was a flurry of strikes at a speed that would not be outdone even by a peak master.

Puff-puff-puff-puff!

Han Gyoseong moved his body as if dancing, parrying the monster’s strikes. His responses were utterly natural and fluid.

It was fast, but since it was a predictable, formulaic attack with no variation, it was easily countered.

Thud!

‘The sheer power of his tension is manageable. At best, he’s top-tier elite. But the speed of his movements is peak master-level. Is it because he’s a mind user?’

Han Gyoseong, smoothly stepping back to absorb the opponent’s assault, began to assess the monster’s level before shifting back into offense.

“Haah!”

Han Gyoseong’s sword energy instantly tangled like a blue whirlwind.

The Blue Wind Sword Technique, the signature art of the Blue Star Sect.

Its fierce, chained strikes began to rain down on the monster like a whirlwind, leaving it reeling.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Grrrrrrr!”

The monster tried to defend against Han Gyoseong’s attack.

He wildly swung his arms as if trying to knock the sword away, but it was useless.

Like an unstoppable downpour, the blue sword energy relentlessly pounded the monster, no matter how wildly it flailed.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The five team members cheered at that thrilling sight.

“That’s our leader, Han Gyoseong!”

“Smash him! Team Leader Il!”

But while they cheered Han Gyoseong in unison, Doksoogwang’s expression remained rigidly frozen.

Despite being struck dozens of times by the sword’s edge, the monster’s skin showed not a single scratch.

And Han Gyoseong, who was driving the monster back, was no exception.

‘The sword isn’t penetrating at all. How is this possible? Could this bastard…?’

Suddenly, Han Gyoseong recalled what Seonwoo Jin had said before leaving a month ago.

‘His sword energy doesn’t penetrate, and he uses martial arts. Plus, he’s a Han, not a Miao. Could this be the very demon Seonwoo Jin warned me about?’

Unlike Doksu-gwang, who had completely ignored Seonwoo-jin’s words, Han Gyoseong had followed his advice. During every patrol, he habitually carried the Huagol Mountain powder that Dang Yeo-eun had given him.

The problem was that this wasn’t a patrol.

In his haste to come to the rescue, Hwagol Mountain had been left behind, and he had come out wielding only his sword.

Han Gyoseong continued his offensive, shouting at Doksu-gwang.

“Doksu-gwang! This bastard seems to be the iron demon Sunwoo-jin spoke of! Hwagol-san! Where is the Hwagol-san Tang Yeo-eun gave you?!”

Doksugwang flinched slightly before answering.

“I… I didn’t bring it!”

“What?!”

“How could you trust that bastard and carry something so dangerous?!”

“You fool!”

That was when it all began.

The monster gave up blocking Han Gyoseong’s attacks.

The monster no longer tried to block Han Gyoseong’s attacks. Instead, it simply absorbed the blows with its body and began counterattacking Han Gyoseong.

It seemed he had abandoned the warrior’s instinct to defend against an opponent’s attack, having learned that getting hit didn’t matter anyway.

“Grrrrr!”

The monster began countering Han Gyoseong’s incoming sword strike with its own force.

Puff-puff-puff-puff!

Though the force of the blast was insignificant compared to the sword energy, unlike the monster who could take the sword energy without a care, Han Gyoseong could not simply absorb that blast head-on.

So there was no need to say which of the two had the upper hand.

Han Gyoseong had to retreat frantically to evade the monster’s attack.

He could no longer continue attacking.

If it had opened its mouth like other demons, he would have targeted that spot, but the creature scarcely opened its mouth at all.

“Damn it!”

Fortunately, the monster’s attack didn’t land on Han Gyoseong. The monster’s movements were at the peak master level, but Han Gyoseong was the real peak master.

But even that was a razor-thin margin.

To Han Gyoseong, the beast’s current frenzied, animalistic onslaught felt far more threatening than its earlier attacks using martial arts techniques.

Han Gyoseong barely dodged the monster’s attacks as they whizzed past him, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Then he shouted.

“Doksu-gwang! Send the signal again! Tell them to bring the Firebone Mountain!”

Doksoogwang frowned and replied.

“How the hell am I supposed to send a signal for that?!”

“Then send someone! Do you want us all to die?! If the sword energy doesn’t work, even the Grand Master coming won’t help!”

It was then.

The monster suddenly halted its assault on Han Gyoseong.

“?!”

Han Gyoseong, who had been frantically retreating, barely found his composure when the strange figure suddenly stopped moving, and immediately put distance between them.

Then, he caught the monster’s gaze shifting toward the others.

No way?!

Han Gyoseong shouted urgently.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

But at that very moment, the monster was already lunging forward. Toward the five team members watching them, toward the vulnerable ones who had somehow ended up close by.

Han Gyoseong felt as if he’d been struck in the head.

The members of Team Oh, who had been watching from a distance, were now dangerously close.

It was because the distance between us had closed while fighting Han Gyoseong.

‘Could it be they planned this from the start?’

That was absurd.

How could a Maen, whose intelligence was lower than most beasts, possibly…?

“Whoa?!”

“Dodge!”

Oh, the team members panicked and tried to leap out of the way.

Ever since Han Gyoseong arrived, they had been watching the fight with their guard down.

This was due to the long-held stereotype that a mine never changes its target once locked on.

And that very belief ultimately determined their fate.

Thud!

“Guh!”

“Guh!”

This time, the monster didn’t unleash its force.

Each pierced one chest with a sword, then pulled their bodies toward them.

This action, completely different from before, and the very thing the creature did next, left Han Gyoseong and Dok Sugwang utterly horrified.

Splash! Slurp! Gulp gulp!

“Wh-what?!”

“That bastard, no way?!”

The creature held one corpse in its left hand while sinking its teeth into the neck of the fifth member it held in its right hand, sucking down the blood.

Just like a blood demon growing stronger by absorbing human blood and inner energy.

“You bastard!”

Han Gyoseong roared and immediately charged at the monster.

The same was true for Doksoogwang.

Both men’s hearts were now filled with urgency.

If that monster grew stronger through bloodsucking like the blood demon, and if it intended to enhance itself through bloodsucking because it felt inadequate in its confrontation with Han Gyoseong, then that creature was undoubtedly a monster beyond comparison to the blood demon.

“Ugh!”

“Taaah!”

Puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Clang!

Han Gyoseong’s sword energy and Doksu Gwang’s spear energy struck the back of the monster, which was in the midst of sucking blood.

But though its body staggered, the monster did not turn around. It simply continued sucking blood.

“Die!”

“Ugh!”

Puff-puff-puff-puff-puff!

Countless attacks struck the monster’s back.

Yet even amidst them, it crouched low and drained the blood from one.

Then another.

The attacks of the two men did not harm it at all, and it never ceased its actions.

Han Gyoseong, who had been relentlessly pounding the monster’s body, finally shouted.

“Everyone, run! Go tell the leader about this thing! And tell him to hurry and bring the Firebone Mountain!”

At his words, the remaining five squad members, who had been watching with horrified expressions, snapped to attention and replied.

“Yes, yes! Understood!”

Only three members of the Five-Member Group remain.

Even including Doksoogwang, there were only four.

Han Gyoseong watched the three members flee and shouted to Doksoogwang as well.

“Doksoogwang! Run too! You’re in danger too!”

Doksoogwang was also contemplating whether he should flee.

But those words only made the fiercely proud Doksoogwang flare up in anger.

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“You’re no match for him! Don’t you get it?!”

“Don’t make me laugh! How dare you look down on me…!”

That was when it happened.

The monster, which had been sucking blood without moving an inch no matter how hard it was beaten, suddenly stopped feeding and raised its head.

It was directed at the five members of the team who were fleeing.

Then, the monster’s eyes, which had been fixed on the five members, swiftly shifted toward the bloodthirsty glare.

They now emitted an even more intense blood-red glow than before.

When the monster’s crimson gaze locked onto him, Doksoogwang could no longer speak.

A pressure unlike anything before made his entire body stiffen.

“Grrrrrrr!”

The monster growled and immediately pounced on Doksoogwang.

“Yeeek!”

Doksoogwang thrust his spear with all his might at the monster bearing down on him.

Zing!

But as expected, it was useless.

The monster shoved the spear aside with his body as if it didn’t matter at all, trying to grab Doksoogwang.

“Doksoogwang!”

Han Gyoseong then desperately charged at the monster’s side.

He was trying to save him somehow.

But Doksu-gwang seemed to catch a glimpse of a sickening grin on the monster’s lips at that very moment.

The next instant, the monster spun around, using his body to block Han Gyoseong’s sword strike aimed at him.

Thud!

Then, he immediately wrapped his arm around it, seizing Han Gyoseong’s sword.

Clang!

“?!

Han Gyoseong could only stare blankly at the man’s face, which wore a sickening grin as he held the sword and Han himself, immobilized in an instant.

Ma-in’s target had always been Han Gyoseong himself.

He had lured him by pretending to attack Doksoogwang.

Han Gyoseong should have immediately dropped the sword and retreated.

But he hesitated for just a moment.

It was the habit of a disciple from a prestigious school, who saw releasing the sword as defeat, and his experience, having never faced a crisis before due to his exceptional skill.

Han Gyoseong watched as Ma-in’s large palm loomed ever larger before his eyes.

He murmured without realizing it.

“Master.”

It was at that very moment.

BOOM!

A sudden, thunderous explosion erupted right before Han Gyoseong’s eyes.

It was a violent collision sound, like a meteorite had fallen.

“…What?”

Stunned for a moment, Han Gyoseong stared in utter bewilderment at this unexpected turn of events that had saved his life.

Something large had just flown in like a cannonball and struck the mine.

But it was far too large to be a shell.

It was as large as a human figure, and possessed a speed so immense that even Han Gyoseong, a master at the peak of his art, couldn’t properly perceive it, no matter how unfocused he might have been.

Could it really have been a meteorite?

As Han Gyoseong stared in that direction, horrified by the thought, he gasped in shock.

Before the Ma-in buried deep in the forest, someone was gasping for breath and struggling to rise.

He smiled brightly and muttered.

“Phew, barely made it in time.”

Seeing the handsome face wearing that refreshing smile, Han Gyoseong murmured without realizing it.

“Seonwoo… Jin? How?”

Seon Woo-jin, who had sent Cheol-gwi flying with a body slam using the Explosive Charge at the moment of crisis, watched Cheol-gwi get back up after crashing into the forest and grinned savagely.

“Long time no see, Iron Demon.”