Chapter 372: Chapter 372

“Fall back! Reform the formation!”

The Murim Alliance warriors hurriedly retreated, regrouping and reorganizing their ranks.

The sudden lightning strikes hadn’t caused any casualties, as the bolts had deliberately avoided the humans, targeting only the mass-produced jiangshi.

But no one considered it a good sign.

The fallen jiangshi, their bodies twitching and writhing, suddenly began to… hatch.

Strange creatures, emerging from within their bodies, slowly stood up.

Their sizes varied as well, from ordinary to… gigantic, their massive forms seemingly impossible for the relatively small jiangshi bodies to contain.

Clip-clop— Clip-clop—

Yunhak, the Flowing Cloud Sword, a survivor of the Kunlun Sect, gulped nervously and stared at the approaching figure, its hooves striking the ground with a rhythmic beat.

A four-legged beast, over three meters tall, its faded fur a dull gray, its sharp, black horns like blades pointing towards the sky, and its hooves radiating a fiery heat, like the flames of hell.

A legendary divine beast, considered one of the most powerful, alongside dragons.

But its ominous appearance was far removed from the benevolent image depicted in stories.

A dark, swirling mist, like the depths of the abyss, erupted from the Kirin’s mouth, melting the earth beneath its feet.

Yunhak flinched and instinctively took a step back as he met its gaze, its blood-red eyes burning with a murderous intent.

That he was no match for it. He couldn’t even slow it down.

‘To face a monster like that…’

…He would need to be at least Master Realm… no, Mysterious Realm level.

Of course, he couldn't be certain, as he had never experienced such a high-level battle… but the Kirin’s presence was that overwhelming.

And his assessment wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even though it had been corrupted and turned into a jiangshi, its power diminished, it had once been a member of the Golden Island Sect’s leadership.

‘What have you done, Demonic Cult?’

He gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his sword.

He doubted all the monsters were Mysterious Realm level. Their strength would vary… but that wasn't very reassuring.

Judging by their massive forms, there were at least a hundred of them.

‘…I thought we could win if we worked together. But it seems… we’re too late.’

While the Murim factions had been squabbling amongst themselves, the Demonic Cult, hidden in the shadows, had been meticulously preparing for this moment.

They had grown too powerful for the fragmented Murim to oppose.

“What the—?! What are those monsters? How did they…?”

“Ugh, there has to be… a way…”

The sight of the legendary creatures, once only encountered in stories, now their enemies, their auras radiating a murderous intent, shattered the last vestiges of hope in the hearts of the Murim warriors.

Even those who had been desperately trying to maintain their composure couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair.

And the Mysterious Realm experts, locked in a fierce battle, were also struggling.

Their faces were grim, their expressions troubled.

“What’s wrong? Have you finally realized the futility of your resistance?”

The Heavenly Demon, as if mocking their despair, looked around the battlefield, a sinister smile on his face.

“Hehehe— Have you finally given up? You fought bravely, but it was all for naught. You never had a chance.”

A massive bird, its wingspan several meters wide, circled above him, its black feathers radiating an ominous aura.

A Black Phoenix, its power undeniable.

The precarious balance that had been maintained until now crumbled completely.

At this rate, they didn’t even stand a chance.

Master Wu Jin, fighting valiantly with his single arm, Heavenly General, his loyal companion, Sword Saint Namgung Woo, facing his old nemesis, the Heavenly Crushing Sword Emperor, who had been slowly gaining the upper hand against the Blood Demon jiangshi, and even Blood Asura, the Mysterious Realm expert from the evil factions, who had been cutting down the Master Realm jiangshi…

…all of them reached the same conclusion.

This battle for the fate of the world would end in the Murim Alliance’s defeat.

The Heavenly Demon’s will would prevail, and the Murim, having lost most of its forces, would never recover.

They were speechless, their faces grim, their hearts filled with despair.

…a madman who had been fighting on the front lines,

He didn’t say a word.

He simply charged towards the Heavenly Demon, his fist connecting with his jaw.

“A meaningless struggle.”

The Heavenly Demon casually blocked the attack and spoke, his voice filled with amusement.

He had only been able to match him with the help of two others. There was no way he could defeat him alone now.

“I don’t care! It’s not over until it’s over! Let’s go again!”

But Harley didn’t care about the odds.

He would do what he wanted, what he had to do!

“Wake up, you fools! You won’t get another chance ! Are you just going to give up because things look bleak?! Are you going to throw away this magnificent stage?!”

His booming voice echoed through the battlefield, his words filled with a fierce intensity.

And yet, his attacks on the Heavenly Demon didn't falter.

“Sometimes, knowing when to retreat is also a virtue.”

“Hahaha! What good is retreating? Will meat fall from the sky? I’d rather charge forward and die trying!”

If the outcome was the same, then he would choose his own path.

To accept his fate with humility, or to fight to the death, his body broken and battered, his spirit shattered.

And Harley always chose the latter.

“I’m a bit… stubborn, you see. I can’t stand seeing others succeed!”

Even if his own end was predetermined, he wouldn't let his opponent achieve his goals so easily.

If he wanted to celebrate, he would have to do it with a body covered in wounds, his bare feet treading on Harley’s shattered remains.

He would make sure of it—.

A selfish declaration, a defiant roar.

And as his words echoed through the battlefield, the despairing warriors looked up, their faces filled with a strange mixture of confusion and… awe.

“He’s… impressive. In many ways.”

“…I think I understand what he’s trying to say.”

Not everyone agreed with his words, of course.

But they understood his intent, his unwavering will.

“Right, we can’t just give up.”

“I’ll take down as many of them as I can, even if I die.”

“…My child is only three years old. I have to go back.”

The despairing atmosphere began to shift, fueled by various emotions.

Resentment, anger, and a desperate desire to survive.

“Hahaha! I’m starting to get the hang of this! Let’s play some more, friend!”

“…That naked savage is quite annoying.”

And Harley’s sudden surge in power, as if he had awakened some hidden potential, also played a significant role.

And jiangshi were just puppets, controlled by their masters.

They didn't need to fight them all. They just had to eliminate their controllers.

If they could just… somehow… survive until the heroes defeated the Heavenly Demon…

…wasn’t there a chance?

The warriors and sorcerers on the battlefield exchanged glances.

Their formations, initially organized by faction and fighting style, were now a chaotic mess, a result of the long and intense battle.

Thanks to the Zhuge Clan’s sorcery, they could quickly regroup and join other formations even if their own was broken… but their efficiency decreased significantly when fighting alongside their rivals.

‘…Tsk, it can’t be helped.’

Their lives were on the line.

Their enemy, the one who threatened their existence, their families, their future, was right before them.

They couldn't afford to be picky about their allies.

“Hey, Black Spear, I’ll take the front. You cover my back.”

“I am the Crescent Moon Spear. I’ll pierce their heads if you create an opening.”

They put aside their differences, their rivalries, their suspicions, and fought back to back.

If one fell, the other would be next.

A true alliance, forged in the crucible of despair.

Like a dying ember flaring brightly one last time, a fierce and determined aura erupted from the Murim Alliance.

And that aura also affected the Mysterious Realm experts, who were well aware of the dire situation.

“Haha! I like that guy! We should spar sometime.”

Blood Asura, a man wearing metal gauntlets with sharp blades extending from his fingertips, smacked his lips, then charged towards a massive demon, its size three times his own.

And the others resumed their battles as well.

Of course, a change in mindset couldn't overcome the overwhelming difference in their power levels.

It simply delayed the inevitable.

Their current resolve wouldn't last forever…

But before their inevitable defeat,

…another change occurred.

A silent streak of light, like a laser beam, shot across the battlefield.

Towards the Black Phoenix, circling above the Heavenly Demon, disrupting their attacks.

The sniper attack, a precise and powerful shot, tore through the Black Phoenix’s wing, sending it crashing to the ground.

It had been too focused on the battle below to react in time.

The observers, who had been watching the situation unfold, turned their heads towards the source of the attack.

And among them was Zhuge Howon, the Zhuge Clan Leader.

It was a familiar aura.

Harisu, the mysterious master who had brought Ha Seung-hoon to the Zhuge Clan.

He had been silent for a while, and now, he had finally appeared.

‘…He’s late, but I’m grateful.’

He searched for Harisu, eager to thank him…

…but then he saw something else, something completely unexpected.

“…What in the world…?”

Something was approaching from the distance, flying through the air.

A massive creature, about six meters long, its body formed from concentrated energy… a dragon.

And it was carrying several people on its back.

“…Did they actually succeed?”

His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the figures on the dragon’s back.

Ha Seung-hoon, his guest, who had promised to find a way to rescue the hostages.

And Zhuge Hyemi, his daughter, who had been kidnapped by the Demonic Cult.

“Ha… Hahaha… I didn’t think they could actually do it. But what is that? A summoned creature? Some kind of sorcery?”

As he stared at the approaching dragon, bewildered, it landed in the middle of the Murim Alliance’s formation.

Several flying demons and Demonic Cult warriors tried to intercept it, but they were all eliminated by long-range sniper attacks, their bodies falling from the sky.

The Heavenly Demon’s face hardened as he witnessed the scene.

“What are you waiting for?! Stop them!”

An uncharacteristic display of urgency from the usually calm and composed villain.

He tried to move, but Harley, who had been relentlessly attacking him, wouldn’t let him go.

“Hahaha! Where do you think you’re going?!”

Even the Heavenly Demon couldn’t ignore his reckless and persistent attacks, especially now that Master Wu Jin and Heavenly General had also joined the fray, their attacks becoming more aggressive.

“It’s useless! I’ll kill you all and retrieve the sacrifices!”

The Heavenly Demon roared, his face twisted in a grimace, as the dragon landed, the figures on its back dismounting.

The demon jiangshi, shrouded in a dark aura, roared in response, their presence shaking the ground.

The demonic energy filling the battlefield surged and intensified.

The Demonic Cult still had the upper hand.

The rescue of the Dragon’s Children was meaningless. They were completely surrounded.

Unless… a major variable appeared and turned the tide of the battle.

And the heavens… or rather,

…the stage director, had already made his choice.

As the Demonic Cult’s aura intensified, fueled by the turbulent demonic energy,

…a cracking sound, like breaking glass, echoed through the air.

No one noticed it at first.

It was too faint, too indistinct, its origin difficult to pinpoint.

But as the sound repeated, those with sharper senses began to look up at the sky.

The storm clouds above them.

That was the source of the sound.

Spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the dark clouds, and a faint light began to seep through.

A ray of hope, piercing through the darkness and illuminating the earth below.

…a deafening roar, shaking the very foundations of the world, and the storm clouds shattered, scattering in all directions.

Accompanied by a series of roars, each one filled with an overwhelming presence.

A powerful gust of wind, as if sweeping away the sinister demonic energy, swept through the battlefield.

Massive figures, emerging from the shattered storm clouds, hovered in the air, their gazes fixed on the scene below.

A benevolent aura, a stark contrast to the corrupted demon jiangshi, radiated from them, spreading outwards.

The Azure Dragon of the East, the Red Dragon of the South, the White Dragon of the West, the Black Dragon of the North.

…a slightly… unusual Yellow Dragon.

Their appearance stabilized the chaotic energy of the demonic realm, a feat no one had been able to achieve before, even temporarily.

And then, demons, summoned from another dimension, began to materialize around the Five Dragons.

‘This is… quite a spectacle.’

Hugo, having finally reached the heart of the Murim Alliance after overcoming various obstacles, looked up at the countless demons hovering in the sky, a sense of awe filling his heart.

The objective of this stage was to unite all the factions of Ganghwange.

And that included the Golden Island Sect and the demons.