The Chief Strategist of the Demonic Cult, the Demon Brain.
He was undoubtedly a genius. As a child, he had learned his studies twice as fast as others, and as he grew up, he had consistently come up with strategies that were sharper than those of most adult strategists.
His ability was recognized, and he became the Vice-Strategist of the Demonic Cult at the young age of twenty, and when he turned thirty, he became the Chief Strategist.
'It is the grace of the Cult Leader.'
His timid personality was considered a major drawback to becoming a strategist, but the Cult Leader had embraced it.
The Demon Brain was kneeling in front of a portrait.
The era of despair led by the Dark Heavenly Son had ended, and three great men had pioneered a new era, the Three Lords of the World.
Among them, it was the portrait of the Cult Leader, who was said to be the closest to the number one in the world.
The Demon Brain's gaze, which was looking up at it, was lower than ever before. It was so calm, but it seemed as if a blue and cold flame was quietly burning.
"Cult Leader, after you passed away, this Demonic Cult is now finished. The Vice-Cult Leader, who should be leading, cannot even control his own nature, and the six demonic families and the seven demon sects are all busy taking care of their own selfish interests. The young masters are also still far from inheriting the cult. Although they say that the second young master is better, the probability that he will sit on the throne is less than ten percent. And I, the Chief Strategist..."
No matter how much he racked his brain and made plans, he could not come up with a way to win the war between the demonic and the righteous.
He could not defeat the Orthodox Path's Chief Strategist, Sima Hui. And it was a situation where he could not overwhelm them with overwhelming military power.
Before the war broke out, the preparations for the masters of the Orthodox Path were perfectly completed. For example, the Alliance Leader, the Sword King, the Sword Immortal, and so on...
But an unexpected being had suddenly appeared.
"The Emotionless Guest."
That guy was scarier than any master of the Orthodox Path.
As a strategist, facing Cheon Woojin as an enemy, his motivation kept disappearing. Although he had managed to call out the Ice Palace Lord, who was on the verge of retirement, and put him on the battlefield.
He died.
The family head, elders, and eldest son of the Yeo family also died.
The Ghost Demon Squad was also annihilated, and the Thunderclap Gate leader, who had been working with them to smuggle thunderclap bombs, also died.
"Would it have been different if the Cult Leader were here?"
Soon, the Demon Brain shook his head.
If you get involved with that guy called the Emotionless Guest, you all die.
How on earth could one defeat a being who was literally like the King of Hell?
The Demon Brain, who had sensed the defeat of the war, looked at his empty right arm for a moment. It was what the hot-tempered Vice-Cult Leader had done, mistaking him for playing a trick on him.
'Yes, if I'm going to lose anyway...'
The Demon Brain's gaze, which had thought of the Vice-Cult Leader, burned colder than ever before.
* * *
The Vice-Cult Leader, Han Wonsang, rushed through the battlefield.
This time, there was information that they had found out the Sword King's whereabouts. He had confirmed it with the Demon Brain again, and he had confidently said that he would bet his life on it.
If that petty person was willing to bet his life, it must be certain information.
"Get out of the way."
He turned the Martial Alliance members who were blocking his path like insects into lumps of blood with a few gestures.
He was only overshadowed by the huge shadow of the Cult Leader, but he was the undisputed second-in-command of the Demonic Cult.
And so, he crossed the battlefield and descended into a canyon.
Although he had fallen from a very high place, the ground was not dug in at all. It was such an amazing movement technique that the Alliance members who were nearby also stealthily avoided the place.
As all the demonic and Alliance members moved away, a space like a dueling stage was created.
Soon, the Sword King fell there. The pale blue, brilliant sword in his hand was definitely the Azure Sky Sword that only the head of the Namgung family could hold.
"Namgung Byeok, I finally meet you. I've been waiting for this day."
The Vice-Cult Leader, who had said so, drew his sword.
It was the Seven Demon God Sword, one of the divine objects that the Cult Leader had originally used. Its unique purple blade emitted a brilliant light like an amethyst.
At that sight, the Sword King let out a pure admiration.
"Is that the Seven Demon God Sword?"
"You recognize it."
It was not for nothing that he had obtained the nickname 'Sword King'. He truly loved swords. Naturally, he knew all the precious swords and divine swords that existed in the current generation.
Soon, the Sword King had a regretful expression.
"That precious sword has met the wrong owner and cannot even bring out half of its capacity. That dead Cult Leader guy, I don't know about other things, but he knew how to use a sword properly."
"..."
The Vice-Cult Leader closed his mouth and glared at the Sword King.
There was no need to exchange words. Since there were many eyes watching, he just had to prove it with his skill.
"I, Han Wonsang. Following the will of the Demonic God, I will cut down one ignorant swordsman of the Orthodox Path in this place."
He omitted the words 'Vice-Cult Leader'.
Since he had no desire to remain as the second-in-command anymore.
It was then.
"One? No?"
"...?"
It was the moment the Vice-Cult Leader tilted his head.
Two figures fell to the left and right of the Sword King.
The Vice-Cult Leader's pupils, who saw this, trembled.
"H-how did you guys get here..."
The two swordsmen standing on either side of the Sword King.
It was the White Egret Sword Saint and the Wudang Sword Immortal.
The three who were called the Three Great Swordsmen of the Orthodox Path had gathered in one place. This was a huge loss of military power. Each one of them was a master who could change the atmosphere of the battlefield entirely.
To gather such people in one place?
Why such a waste?
The thought was not long.
Soon, the Vice-Cult Leader clenched his fists.
"You were sure."
The certainty that he, the Vice-Cult Leader, would appear here.
If there was such a certainty, it was by no means a loss even if those three gathered in one place.
Then how did he get that certainty?
This was something that did not even need to be thought about.
"Demon Brain, you son of a bitch, you finally...!"
At the same time, a voice mixed with laughter was heard from above the canyon.
The Vice-Cult Leader raised his head. A scholar wearing a fan that covered his mouth was looking down at him. For a moment, he thought it was the Demon Brain, but his physique was a little bigger and his back was straight.
"...Sima Hui."
The man who stood on the opposite side of the Demon Brain.
Unlike the Demon Brain, it was the strategist Sima Hui, who was famous for using bold strategies.
Sima Hui's eyes curved into a circle, and he clicked his tongue.
"Heh heh, you should have treated the strategist properly. Just like our Alliance Leader."
He was very surprised when the letter first came from the Demon Brain.
To think that he would bring the Vice-Cult Leader?
He did not believe it, and he suspected that it was another scheme.
But after hearing the report from the Intelligence Unit that one of his arms had been cut off by the Vice-Cult Leader, he was sure. Since Sima Hui, who was also a strategist, knew better than anyone how petty the Demon Brain was.
Soon, the canyon shook greatly.
The three who were called the Three Great Swordsmen of the Orthodox Path all exuded their ki at once.
All were sharp ki emitted from their swords, but the atmosphere was similar yet different.
The Sword King's sharp ki was refreshing and domineering.
The Sword Immortal's sharp ki was heavy and gentle.
And, the Sword Saint's sharp ki was lofty, as if it embraced all of that.
The ki that the three exuded side by side gradually spread widely.
Not only the Alliance members, but also the Demonic Cult members avoided the place.
No one came forward to fight with the Vice-Cult Leader. Since they were those who served the Heavenly Demon who was above all, they were not those who would throw away their lives for a mere second-in-command.
The Vice-Cult Leader, Han Wonsang, felt the ki of the three old masters who were crushing his entire body and said in a low voice.
"Shall we call it a draw?"
Of course, it was a ridiculous thing to say.
* * *
At the same time.
There were those who were wandering around the battlefield without directly intervening.
The First Young Master of the Demonic Cult and the eldest son of the Ma family, Ma Unhoe, said in his unique low and calm voice.
"There's no talk of the Emotionless Guest."
The news that the Sword King had appeared had spread here and there, but there was still no news of the Emotionless Guest.
At Ma Unhoe's words, the other young masters exchanged glances.
It was decided that the one who killed the Emotionless Guest first would become the young cult leader.
Of course, the fact that the Emotionless Guest's martial prowess had reached Heaven Beyond Heaven was already widely known. Therefore, the families that were the background of each young master had selected and selected elites and had come out to support them.
For example, the Ma family of the First Young Master had all come out, from the first elder to the fifth elder, and even the retired elders had rolled up their sleeves.
The Yuan family of the Fourth Young Master had even come out with their family head.
Compared to that, the Jin family of the Second Young Master had only come out with one armed unit.
At that sight, the Fourth Young Master, Yuan Jeokhwa, clicked his tongue.
"Second Young Master, can you handle the Emotionless Guest with that force?"
Although they were not blood relatives, they were strictly in a senior-junior relationship.
Nevertheless, the Fourth Young Master spoke informally to the Second Young Master.
However, the Second Young Master, Jin Somyeong, was calm, as if it were not the first or second time.
"If I can't handle it, then the position of the young cult leader is not mine either."
"Again, again with the hypocrisy. Sometimes you're more disgusting than most Orthodox Path guys. Isn't that right, Father?"
The Fourth Young Master sought agreement from his father, the Yuan family head.
However, the Yuan family head was reluctant to speak. Although he ridiculed the Second Young Master with his eyes, to say it out loud was another matter.
In any case, since the opponent's status was the young master of the Divine Cult, he was in an equal relationship with himself, the head of the six demonic families.
"Ah! I can't wait any longer! Let's just go and find him, shall we?"
The Fourth Young Master, Yuan Jeokhwa, was hot-tempered. The people of the Yuan family were generally like that. It was to the point where there was even a saying that if the Orthodox Path had the Peng family, the Demonic Path had the Yuan family.
"That would be better."
The Yuan family head also agreed this time.
He could not wait forever. Moreover, this place where all the young masters and their background families had gathered was also uncomfortable.
Above all.
'That guy keeps getting on my nerves.'
The Yuan family head's gaze turned to the Fifth Young Master.
He had become a young master as the second son of the Eun family. But the Yuan family head knew. That guy was not the real bloodline of the Eun family. He was an adopted son who had been adopted by the Cult Leader's order.
In other words, it meant that the dead Cult Leader had chosen that guy as the young master of the Demonic Cult from the beginning.
Even though he had made eye contact with himself, the head of the six demonic families, there was no agitation. He just looked straight at him with his unique playful eyes.
'Unpleasant.'
That word was perfect to describe the Fifth Young Master.
When he faced him, an unknown unpleasantness would rise from the depths of his heart. Since even he, who was old and experienced, was like this, the young masters must also be feeling that unpleasant sensation.
"Let's go."
With those last words, the Yuan family head left the place first.
At the same time, the Fourth Young Master, Yuan Jeokhwa, and the elites of the Yuan family followed in a rush.
And so, how long had they walked after leaving the place?
Someone naturally joined the ranks.
It was an old man with red hair and skin, and a large physique.
He stood side by side with the Fourth Young Master and the Yuan family head without a word. There were few in the Demonic Cult who could stand so equally with the two powerful men.
The Yuan family head greeted him warmly.
"You've had a hard time coming a long way, Flame Demon Sect Leader."
The Flame Demon Sect Leader.
He was the head of the Flame Demon Sect, one of the seven demon sects of the Demonic Cult.
He had sided with the Yuan family of the Fourth Young Master.
Although the death of the Cult Leader, with whom he had spent his whole life, was regrettable, a new cult leader would be born anyway. To protect his position as one of the seven demon sect leaders at that time, it was advantageous to side with someone in advance.
Just like the Drunken Demon Sect Leader, who had died with the Third Young Master.
"Hoho, since the family head personally asked, of course I had to come."
He was a fiery man who suited the nickname 'Flame Demon'. Every time he breathed, the surrounding air shimmered with heat.
The Flame Demon Sect and the Yuan family were originally close.
Since they both handled the Fire Demon Art, and their unique fiery natures were similar, they had a lot in common.
"My body is itching, I can't stand it. Let's move quickly and warm up."
The Flame Demon Sect Leader said so.
The Yuan family head and the Fourth Young Master, who had similar natures, also agreed.
They were all people who could not stay still for a moment.
Soon, a group of people, led by the three, crossed the battlefield in a straight line.
Flames blazed up. It was as if a carriage engulfed in flames was traversing the battlefield with a fierce momentum.
Wherever their footsteps reached, something was invariably turned to ashes. The Alliance members who had been blocking their path were engulfed in flames and rolled on the ground, letting out painful groans.
The burning pain was one of the most terrible pains that a human could feel.
"Hahaha, aren't they going to appear until we've killed all the Martial Alliance guys?"
The Fourth Young Master, who had burned someone's head whole, burst into a long laugh. The Flame Demon Sect Leader and the Yuan family head also let out a sticky laugh and burned something.
And so, by the time they were traversing the battlefield back and forth.
A pale and blue blade blocked the Fire Demon Sword of the Fourth Young Master, which was about to cut an Alliance member's neck.
(End of Chapter)