Chapter 371: Chapter 371

Naturally, Hugo’s rescue of the Dragon’s Children had also been… scripted, in a sense.

He hadn’t micromanaged every detail, to maintain a sense of realism, but he had adjusted the Demonic Cult’s forces they would encounter along the way.

But now that Hugo’s power had surged unexpectedly, thanks to the Dragon God’s… gift…

‘This will be easier than I thought.’

And that was the current situation.

“Master Realm! He’s a Master Realm expert!”

“Don’t engage recklessly! Focus on defense!”

The Demonic Cult warriors guarding the basement corridor screamed in panic as Hugo, charging towards them alone, swung his sword.

He had been slightly concerned about his ability to control his newfound power, but those worries vanished as he began to fight.

The sword in his hand moved effortlessly, an extension of his will.

Wherever his mind went, the blade followed instantly.

A perfect harmony between man and sword, a state of oneness.

It was an exhilarating sensation.

“You fools! Can’t you even hold the line?!”

A massive figure, over two meters tall, emerged from the group of Demonic Cult warriors, his face contorted in a furious grimace.

He wielded two massive iron maces, one in each hand.

A peak Master Realm demon, the guardian of this ritual chamber.

He was supposed to be a challenging opponent, with his home-field advantage and the support of his subordinates…

At Hugo’s current level, he was just a stepping stone, a minor obstacle.

Hugo tightened his grip on his sword.

His internal energy, no longer restricted by his physical limitations thanks to 「Empty Spirit Body」, surged through his veins, enhancing his physical abilities to their peak, and then flowed into his sword, transforming into a concentrated force of destruction.

“Ki…! Quickly, form the formation…!”

His opponent, urging his subordinates, quickly prepared for battle, but Hugo didn’t react.

He simply focused his mind, delving deeper into his inner self.

‘「Heavenly Dragon Divine Art」.’

The new name of 「Nameless Art」, awakened by the Dragon God’s touch.

A culmination of all the martial arts principles he had learned, a synthesis of knowledge and experience, a fusion of techniques and secrets.

‘If they block my path, I’ll just break through!’

Speed, strength, and dominance.

Lightning crackled around his hand as several principles converged, and a bolt of pure energy shot outwards, flowing into his sword.

It transformed into a dragon of lightning, its size increasing rapidly.

The Ki dragon, a manifestation of pure destructive power, enveloped Hugo’s body,

…and then, with a thunderous roar, it shot forward, following the trajectory of his sword.

…a deafening roar, swallowing all other sounds, echoed through the air.

If it wasn’t for the special formation protecting the area, the corridor would have collapsed.

Sparks flickered and danced amidst the dust and debris.

And the only one still standing was the peak Master Realm expert, his arms crossed before his face, shielding himself from the blast.

But even he wasn’t unscathed.

His skin was blackened and charred, smoke rising from his body, his hair and beard singed and sticking out at odd angles, as if he had been struck by lightning.

But he was a demon, and he wouldn’t give up so easily.

His bloodshot eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, and his damaged body began to regenerate at an impossible speed.

And then, as if driven by pure instinct, his rationality gone, he charged towards Hugo, swinging his maces.

It wasn’t a wise decision, as if his demonic cultivation technique had some kind of… intelligence-reducing side effect.

‘Well, it’s not uncommon for techniques that enhance physical abilities to come at the cost of mental stability.’

Hugo calmly raised his sword.

Softness, change, absorption, deflection.

The twin maces, wreathed in a crude and unstable Ki, their power enough to shatter boulders, were deflected by the fluid movements of his sword, their trajectory altered, their momentum lost.

And the water dragon, flowing through his sword, didn't stop there.

It swirled and coiled, following the elegant arc of his blade,

…and then, transforming into a massive wave, it crashed down upon the unbalanced giant.

The giant’s grip on his maces loosened, and he stumbled back, clutching his throat, where the water dragon had grazed him.

He had reacted quickly, dodging at the last moment, but it wasn't enough.

He had avoided instant death, but his fate was sealed.

He had no way of regenerating from such a severe injury, his throat and half his heart torn away.

His eyes widened in shock and disbelief, and then he collapsed, his body falling to the ground with a heavy thud.

An anticlimactic end for someone who was supposed to be a challenging opponent.

‘It deviated slightly from the script, but it’s not bad.’

Hugo nodded slowly, surveying the devastated corridor.

Well, a peak Master Realm expert wasn't exactly a significant obstacle.

The greater the challenge, the greater the sense of accomplishment after overcoming it.

If his own power had increased, then he just had to adjust the enemy’s level accordingly.

“Let’s hurry. There’s no point in staying here now that our intrusion has been discovered.”

He turned to the others, who had been waiting at a safe distance and had only approached after the battle ended.

They were carefully navigating the debris, their faces pale, trying to avoid looking at the carnage.

“There’s a war going on outside… Can we even reach the Murim Alliance?”

Zhuge Hyemi, who seemed to be the calmest among them, spoke, her voice filled with worry.

Thanks to her newfound ability to use holy power, the sickly Dragon’s Children were now able to walk on their own… but they were still weaker than ordinary people.

They couldn't just waltz into a battlefield.

“We’ll try… and if it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way.”

Hugo nodded slowly, his voice reassuring.

But his mind was racing, his various personalities discussing how to adjust the scenario.

He had already received his advance payment. It was his duty to satisfy his investors.

‘I have to earn my keep.’

That way, he could secure further investments, and his existing clients’ positive reviews would attract new investors.

He wasn't planning to be satisfied with this level of success.

Of course, he had to successfully complete this stage first.

“We’re counting on you, Great Hero. You’re our only hope.”

“…Indeed. We have nothing left to lose.”

“But the Demonic Cult wants us alive, so we have a chance, right?”

Hugo nodded slightly, watching as the Dragon’s Children tried to encourage each other.

The war outside was important, but so was their safety.

They were essential for his ultimate goal in Ganghwange, the restoration of the Dragon Heart.

A cacophony of sounds, a chaotic symphony of violence, filled the battlefield.

Yunhak, the Flowing Cloud Sword, a member of the Murim Alliance, gasped for breath, his lungs burning.

Even a brief, intense battle in this hostile environment, the demonic realm, was incredibly taxing.

He would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago if it wasn’t for the support of the formations and other spells.

He exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the jiangshi lying motionless at his feet, its functions disabled by his sword.

‘…Rest in peace, brother.’

It was one of his fellow disciples.

They had parted ways less than six months ago, fleeing from the Demonic Cult’s attack, hoping to meet again someday.

‘I didn’t expect to see you again …’

His sect, the Kunlun Sect, was no more.

Located closest to the Demonic Cult’s territory in Xinjiang, they had always been on the front lines, suffering the most casualties whenever the Demonic Cult acted.

Before the incident at the imperial palace, their sacrifices had been recognized and rewarded by the other factions… but now, with the world in chaos, everyone was struggling to survive, and their contributions had been forgotten.

The Kunlun Sect’s downfall had been inevitable, isolated and outnumbered.

He had been wandering the Jianghu, a survivor of the fallen sect, when he heard about the upcoming battle against the Demonic Cult.

He had joined the Beijing expedition without hesitation.

To carry on the Kunlun Sect’s legacy, to remind the world that they hadn't been completely eradicated, and most importantly, to avenge his fallen comrades.

‘…What have you done, Demonic Cult?’

Yunhak gritted his teeth, his heart heavy with sorrow and anger.

He had already granted peace to several jiangshi who had been his fellow disciples, including the one he had just defeated.

And they weren’t ordinary jiangshi.

As a Kunlun Taoist priest who had fought on the front lines against the Demonic Cult, he was familiar with their techniques… but these jiangshi were different.

‘They’re enhanced in every aspect. Their physical abilities, their resistance to internal energy… even low-level warriors can’t scratch them. …And the stronger ones…’

His gaze shifted towards another part of the battlefield.

Master Realm experts, both human and demon, were clashing with jiangshi of similar levels.

And among those jiangshi was the former Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect.

And there were twice as many Master Realm jiangshi as there were on their side!

The Murim Alliance was clearly outnumbered, but thanks to Blood Asura, a Mysterious Realm expert from the evil factions, the situation wasn't entirely hopeless.

‘…We can win this, even if it means heavy casualties.’

Yunhak scanned the battlefield, his gaze sweeping across the various skirmishes.

Sword Saint Namgung Woo, facing Demon Sword Master Yeo Mun-cheol.

The Heavenly Crushing Sword Emperor, clashing with the Blood Demon jiangshi.

Master Wu Jin and Heavenly General, exchanging blows with the Heavenly Demon.

“Hahaha! This is fun!”

…the madman, laughing heartily despite the gaping hole in his abdomen, pierced by the Heavenly Demon’s demonic sword.

‘…The new Mad Demon. If it wasn’t for him…’

The Heavenly Demon’s power was even greater than he had imagined.

If it wasn't for the new Mad Demon, they would have needed at least three, perhaps even four, Mysterious Realm experts to hold him off.

And if that had happened, the other fronts would have crumbled, and they would have been annihilated long ago.

It was all thanks to the new Mad Demon, who was fighting like an immortal, taking the brunt of the Heavenly Demon’s attacks.

‘Our job is to create an opening for them to defeat the Heavenly Demon. If we can stabilize the battlefield and allow more people to join the fight…’

Yunhak took a deep breath, his grip tightening around his sword, and then rejoined the fray.

He had rested long enough. It was time to burn his life force and fight alongside his comrades.

‘We can do this. We can win!’

Hope bloomed amidst the flames of his desire for revenge.

He felt a surge of excitement, his spirits lifted by the sight of his comrades fighting bravely, their determination unwavering despite the hostile environment.

He had been tormented by guilt, ashamed of having abandoned his sect and fled… but now, he felt a sense of pride, a renewed sense of purpose, as he fought alongside these heroes.

‘This is the true power of the Murim. Even the darkest night eventually gives way to dawn—’

They would overcome this darkness and seize a brighter future.

As he was filled with optimism,

…the storm clouds above them began to shift and churn.

Purple lightning crackled and flashed through the gaps in the dark clouds, its intensity growing.

Even those who had been focused on the battle before them couldn’t ignore it.

…from the heavens to the earth,

…accompanied by a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the world,

…bolts of purple lightning rained down on the battlefield.

‘Time to pick up the pace.’

Hans, the one manipulating the situation from behind the scenes, smiled faintly.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

The battlefield, enclosed within a massive barrier, was under his complete control, and he had been subtly adjusting the flow of abyssal energy to the Heavenly Demon, ensuring that he performed… adequately.

‘But this isn’t enough for the climax.’

Hope shouldn't come so easily.

To unite the fragmented Murim, they needed to face despair, to experience true hardship, to fight and struggle together, and to achieve victory through their combined efforts.

And for that, he needed something… more impactful.

Hans nodded slowly, watching as massive figures began to rise from the craters created by the purple lightning, their bodies writhing and twisting.

The monstrous creatures, their size comparable to houses, roared, their presence shaking the very air itself.

And the faces of the humans, who had been holding their own until now, began to darken with despair.

Kirin, Nine-Tailed Fox, Goblin…

The highest-ranking demon jiangshi he had meticulously crafted were finally making their appearance.