1046——————==

True Martial Home

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!!

Thud-thud-thud!!

As the angels charged into the ranks of the Great Bear Empire, the Gui Luepo opened fire. This artillery, having slaughtered countless soldiers in past campaigns, had undergone serious upgrades since Baek Woong’s assault on Goryeo, boasting a firing rate that had jumped by 50% and sporting a lighter barrel without compromising durability. When thousands of Gui Luepo fired their rounds all at once, the enemy soldiers would quickly become nothing but blood ribbons.

Phew-phew!

However, the angels merely staggered for a moment after being hit by the Gui Luepo, quickly regenerating like clay and charging forward again. The gunners were momentarily stunned, witnessing the relentless advance of the angels.

“What the hell is that!”

“No way….”

Swish!

Finally, the angelic legion reached the front lines of the Great Bear Empire troops, initiating a melee with swords and spears. With no choice, the Great Bear Empire soldiers pulled out their rifles and spears to counter, but every time an angel swung their weapon, a formless Qi extended outwards, reaching long distances.

“Graaah!”

“Ugh!”

Boom!

Blood sprayed up everywhere. The angels’ strength and speed were unmatched by ordinary soldiers, easily taking on multiple foes while releasing mysterious Qi. It hadn’t even been a day since the angels stormed in, but already the Great Bear Empire’s lines were visibly collapsing.

“Those bastards!!”

Boom!

The celestial captains guarding the Gui Luepo rushed to confront the angelic legion. Unlike ordinary soldiers, these captains had undergone extensive martial arts training and boasted skills that could rival the peak experts of the Jianghu. A massive celestial captain clashed his axe against an angel’s spear, the loud noise echoing around as his follow-up technique, the Magic Wolf Axe Technique, chopped an angel in half.

Thud!

Seeing the angel fall backward, the celestial captain realized the pleasure of the fight was kinder than he expected. He also felt something odd.

“Those guys were regenerating from thousands of Gui Luepo hits, but now they’re getting split open by my attacks and not regenerating.”

Confident, he tried to charge at the next angel soldier, only to realize that he’d suddenly been surrounded by ten or so angelic warriors. The ordinary soldiers, lacking their skills, had been completely wiped out, putting the Great Bear Empire at a disadvantage at the frontlines. He fought valiantly, but against ten angels, he couldn’t make any headway, only falling back.

This scene was playing out everywhere on the battlefield. The field commanders quickly grasped the situation and ordered the strategic withdrawal of the advanced weapons, the Gui Luepo and Man Gwangpo, while sending out the White Lotus Sect members and the Golden Eagle Guard to try to block the oncoming angels. Additionally, the Elder Council of the White Lotus Sect and martial arts masters joined the fray, engaging the massive hundred-thousand-strong legion of angels.

Boom!!

Boom-bang!!

Watching from afar, the Master of the White Lotus Sect addressed Zhuge Sa.

[Is the angels’ weakness Qi? If we can hit them with Qi, they can’t use their regeneration power.]

“At least, for the lower-tier angels below the seventh rank.”

[Seventh rank? They have ranks?]

“Those guys are the angels of Kabbalah. There are nine ranks from the first to the ninth. The weakest among them are the ninth-rank common angels, and the eighth-rank archangels can moderately compete with our masters, and over there….”

Boom!

From one side of the battlefield emerged a gigantic angel standing five Zhang tall. This angel flapped its wings and wielded a massive fire spear, and with every swing, enormous flames flew across the battlefield like the tail of a fire dragon. To combat this giant angel, dozens of White Lotus members and martial arts masters rushed in, but the fight was far from easy. The enormous angel was surrounded by an intangible barrier.

“That big guy is a seventh-rank authority angel. This is about the scale of the situation.”

[Seventh-rank? It doesn’t seem that strong yet.]

“Ha-ha! In the landlord doctrines, from the third-rank angels onwards, they are considered divine. If you take this lightly, it could be a real problem.”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect flinched at this unexpected information.

[…What?]

“Those guys aren’t even from the otherworldly race. They’re ancient monsters whose essence guards the Tree of Sephiroth since the creation of the universe. I sometimes summon them as guardian beasts in the landlord doctrines magic, but no one knows from what dimension they are summoned. Even the Demon King Simon Magus can’t handle them after the third rank.”

[……!!]

“To give you some advice, if we keep engaging in direct confrontations, it’s not going to work out. The Great Bear Empire has too much strength for a human empire, and it looks daunting. Originally, humans can’t deal with 50,000 angelic troops.”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect immediately understood Zhuge Sa’s meaning.

[We need to eliminate the summoner.]

“I’ve been weaving magic this whole time. It looks like the summoner is one of those crusaders from the Holy Roman Empire.”

[Do you know their location?]

“Give me a moment. It’s not easy to track if they’re being guarded by any mages.”

Boom!

After a while, Zhuge Sa activated a blue pathway in the air, revealing the summoner’s location and stated.

“Avoid going in directly. Let Seo Mun-hye take care of this.”

[Of course… ]

With that, Zhuge Sa’s magic directed the special forces of the Great Bear Empire to move. Leading them was Seo Mun-hye, with the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong and Dokgo Seong accompanying her. Additionally, a special group of 50 members from the Seven Swords Team, trained specifically in the Great Bear Empire, followed them.

Thud!

As they circumvented the angels, Dokgo Seong murmured.

“Wasn’t this something the leader should handle directly? Why send Hyea out? Hmm…”

During their shared training, Dokgo Seong had grown closer to the Sword Demon father-daughter pair, treating Seo Mun-hye like his granddaughter. So, it felt strange that the overwhelmingly powerful Master opted not to take the front himself.

“Well, with the Demon Kings from the Eight Parts of the Divine invading, there’s no one else who could effectively stand against them except Hyea.”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect had explained the current threat from the Eight Parts of the Divine to the Sword Demon and stated that Seo Mun-hye had the strongest chance of winning in one-on-one combat.

[For the sake of the empire, I won’t hold back any support for Seo Mun-hye. And you, as her father, must grow stronger to protect her…Augh!]

The Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong bit his lip hard at that remark. Ever since hearing that advice a few years ago, he had poured his every effort into martial arts until he finally reached the Absolute Realm. It wasn’t merely the passion of pure martial arts but rather an expression of fatherhood in his determination to protect his daughter. His mental state had allowed him to master the Absolute Realm far quicker than other geniuses.

“No matter what, I will protect Hyea…!!”

Boom!

Moments later, the special forces of the Great Bear Empire invaded the enemy encampment, launching a frontal assault. Dokgo Seong, leading the charge, shouted as he dashed toward the walls.

“Die, all of you!”

Sword Thunder!

This was just a powerful use of the Thunder God’s Sword. Nevertheless, because Dokgo Seong had reached the Absolute Realm, the Sword Thunder burgeoned into hundreds of blades in an instant, sweeping through the heavy walls like a breeze. As the lightning passed, everything in its straight path was cut down horizontally.

Splutter!

The Sword Thunder, having broken through the walls, raged onward, instantly slaughtering thousands of enemy soldiers. Dokgo Seong unleashed successive Sword Thunders five more times, and shortly thereafter, there was hardly a trace of the enemies left standing on the ground.

Leading his troops, Dokgo Seong soon arrived at the location indicated by Zhuge Sa’s magic, which resembled a peculiar altar filled with stone walls. Surrounding the altar were armored figures engraved with crosses, standing guard, and at its center, a blind woman in a white cloak knelt, praying.

“Are those the Crusaders?”

Creeeak…

Then, the figures that looked like Crusaders suddenly lost their human forms, starting to regurgitate something white and transforming. The change happened in an instant, and soon the human shells and flesh fell to the ground as angels emerged in their place.

“Ugh.”

“Are those also monsters from the Path of Demons?”

Seeing this transformation, those from the Seven Swords Team gasped, but the team leader, the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, calmly ordered.

“Seven Swords Team. The three of us will handle these guys, so make sure no support gets through.”

“Understood!”

Bang!

As soon as the Sword Demon’s command was given, all 50 members of the Seven Swords Team, each possessing at least peak-level skills, scattered to engage with the enemies. Naturally, it was a necessary duty here at the enemy’s main base, and the Sword Demon thought engaging in battle with the angels before him would be too dangerous for the team.

Step!

The Sword Demon, Dokgo Seong, and Seo Mun-hye stepped forward. They found themselves surrounded by angels transformed from the Crusaders, each towering like giants. Overwhelmed by the enormous monsters, Seo Mun-hye declared.

“Now, that’s ‘the real deal’.”

Boom-boom-boom!

Seo Mun-hye’s eyes caught sight of the blind woman kneeling at the center of the altar. Mysterious energy seemed to flow around her, implying that something had already been summoned. Sensing the power of that presence, Seo Mun-hye cautioned.

“Be careful of sneak attacks. I’ll take care of that one.”

“Handle it quickly and regroup.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

Swish!!

Right after finishing her words, the two absolute experts engaged in battle with the summoned angels. These were all seven-rank angels possessed with immense strength, and there were dozens of them, making it impossible for even the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong to easily take them on.

Taking advantage of the openings created by the two, Seo Mun-hye charged in at breakneck speed, delivering a palm strike towards the blind woman’s head.

Thud!

However, Seo Mun-hye’s palm strike halted mid-air as a figure slowly became visible, having caught her hand.

[I am the one who has descended in response to the call of the mighty Sephiroth, the Virtue of the Fifth Rank. I have come to this world in exchange for the saint’s physical form!]

Whoooosh!!

In the next instant, the body of the blind woman, referred to as a saint, burst into white flames, disappearing without a trace. In that fleeting moment, she wore a look of agony before turning to ashes.

Seo Mun-hye glanced at the entity that caught her strike. Unlike the lower-ranked angels, the Virtue of the Fifth Rank was donned in a proper crimson armor and helmet, wielding a spear. Seo Mun-hye felt a surge of divine energy competing with her own against the Virtue as their gazes locked.

Boom-boom-boom…

The Virtue, clearly surprised, exclaimed.

[You are from the Giant Race…? How can a sealed clan roam this world?]

“……”

[But human blood runs thick. You cannot defeat me!]

The Virtue’s eyes shone brightly.

Time Stop!

Pwoosh!

With the power of Sephiroth, the Virtue froze time, raising his spear to stab Seo Mun-hye’s heart. His weapon infused with divine power couldn’t be blocked by any earthly matter.

[No!]

However, to the Virtue’s shock, not only did his spear fail to pierce Seo Mun-hye’s heart, it didn’t even leave a minor scratch on her skin. It was remarkable since time still stood still, leaving her no chance to defend or evade. Slowly, Seo Mun-hye twisted her captured wrist and slipped free from the Virtue’s grip, the astonishing strength of that entity failing against her.

Thud!

[Graaargh…!!]

With a blank expression, Seo Mun-hye struck down with her palm, caving in the Virtue’s head. Even in pain, the Virtue attempted to unleash his next power.

Time Reversal!

The Virtue felt confident. He prided himself on easily manipulating time and space to toy with his opponent. He relished the thought of seeing the mortal, thinking he had dealt a fatal blow, sink into despair upon witnessing a fully restored Virtue.

However, nothing happened.

The Virtue’s head remained shattered while divine blood poured forth uncontrollably.

[W-What!? How is this possible…?]

The Virtue realized that his power was merely floundering in vain without manifesting. The grip he had around her neck slackened as Seo Mun-hye murmured.

“…Fifth rank? So, you have at least the strength of a battle spirit. In the past, you would have been a formidable opponent.”

[What did you do!?]

“I read the flow of your divinity and blocked the paths you were stretching out into time and space. While I’m suffocating your power with my own divinity, there’s nothing you can do…”

[……!!]

“Die.”

Splutter!

Araaaaagh!

With a twist of her wrist, Seo Mun-hye crushed the Virtue’s neck. Despite having immortality and limitless regeneration, the Virtue was undone, as Seo Mun-hye controlled the space-time around him and rendered his powers void.

That’s why the Master of the White Lotus Sect had sent Seo Mun-hye in his place. Although he could defeat the Virtue in a direct confrontation, he lacked the ability to nullify divine powers, making Seo Mun-hye indispensable in that regard.

The Sword Demon, having dealt with the surrounding angels, asked with concern.

“Are you alright?!”

“Yes. I’ll handle the others too.”

Seo Mun-hye’s eyes glowed briefly in white.

Divine Might

Supergravity

Boom-boom-boom…!!

The very instant Seo Mun-hye unleashed her will, the lower-ranked angels attacking the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong were suddenly overwhelmed and flattened, becoming grilled fish upon impact. Though the angels squirmed to regenerate, as Seo Mun-hye’s supergravity intensified beyond measure, they began collapsing into a dark, tiny void.

Boom-boom-boom…

After exterminating the angels with supergravity, Seo Mun-hye stumbled as if dizzy. The Sword Demon supported her, and Seo Mun-hye shook her head.

“I still haven’t mastered the power of the Giants, Father.”

“I told you not to overdo it.”

“I have to grow stronger quickly to protect the Great Bear Empire.”

The Sword Demon felt a rise of anger.

“That dawdling Great Bear Empire!! Are you telling me you can’t protect it without a woman’s help? If that’s the kind of empire it claims to be, it might as well collapse!”

He shouted, making Dokgo Seong flinch. However, the Sword Demon continued undeterred.

“Hyea. Whether you’re a god or not, it doesn’t matter. Don’t try to shoulder everything alone.”

“……”

Seo Mun-hye smiled wistfully. She gazed up at the sky and said.

“I’m not alone. Until that person returns, I wish to protect this empire.”

“…Is that so….”

The Sword Demon felt a turmoil boiling within him.

‘This isn’t right.’

Naturally, the Sword Demon loved Baek Woong. He knew how great and noble Baek Woong’s ideals were and resolved to dedicate himself to the Great Bear Empire even after the disappearance of Baek Woong. Yet somehow, he sensed that he and his daughter were being worn down without respite.

Is it really right to become a nameless pawn for the reincarnated and die?

Is that a life worth recommending to his daughter as a father?

As the Sword Demon’s heart twisted in turmoil, Dokgo Seong suggested.

“It’s time to return now that the mission is complete.”

“…Understood.”

After the return of the special forces, the outcome of the First East-West War was laid bare.

The 50,000 angel troops from the Western side were completely annihilated, but the human main force withdrew from the battle with little to no losses, barricading themselves in a city called Constantinople. Meanwhile, the Great Bear Empire sustained approximately 100,000 casualties due to the angelic troops, although their main force remained intact, moving on to the next battle.

On the surface, it seemed like the Great Bear Empire had suffered a defeat, but in reality, they had succeeded in eliminating the crusaders and the saint, giving them a significant advantage. Indeed, as the Great Bear Empire troops capitalized on their momentum and pressed into Constantinople, the Holy Roman Empire’s 300,000 troops found themselves utterly unable to resist and were defeated without putting up a proper fight.

After entering Constantinople, the Second Emperor of the Great Bear Empire, Master of the White Lotus Sect Dokgo Uncheon, sent a confidential letter to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Receiving the letter, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V addressed his envoy, Deung Gwak.

“Why did your emperor propose to end this war with humans?”

Bowing his head, Deung Gwak replied to Charles V.

“The request to not only end with the angelic troops but to avoid forming an alliance with the so-called ‘Old Ruler’ of the Path of Demons. You understand what I mean.”

“……”

“The Emperor of the Mughal Empire has received his descendants even after surrendering, and those who have entered under the rule of the Great Bear Empire are obediently living in peace. I hope you make a wise choice.”

“You’re quite the audacious lot. Do you think a being such as me, the supreme leader of the West and emperor, could easily kneel before you?”

“Your position as a luminary in the world of light is indeed noble and grand, but you’re not held in such esteem by the existing entities of the hidden world. If you do not end this war with humans, you will pay an unbearable price for your thirst for glory.”

“Ugh, uhmm!!”

Charles V let out a deep groan. Though he put on a brave front, he knew Deung Gwak’s words were correct. Being the highest authority in the West, he was aware of the existence of darkness, the hidden world, and the evil gods referred to as the “Old Ruler.” Yet he didn’t quite grasp it in detail, not having been affected by its mental influence, so it didn’t concern him too severely.

However, he knew well what kind of hellish events could unfold in the “Hidden” world. Therefore, he couldn’t afford to disregard Deung Gwak’s warning.

After deliberating, Charles V stated.

“Return in three days. I will give you my answer then.”

“Expecting favorable results.”

Deung Gwak secretly thought that Charles V would accept the proposal. With the angel troops annihilated and the overwhelming difference in forces and quality, how could one face an army of 2 million now?

Nevertheless, when Deung Gwak returned three days later, the moment he set eyes on Charles V, he was commanded.

“Seize that man and behead him, sending the head back to the Emperor of the Great Bear Empire.”

“What… h-hold on…!!”

Clang! Clang!!

From all directions, knights of the West rushed in. The knights were strong enough, being high-ranking warriors aware of the existence of Qi. Furthermore, the knights tasked with guarding the Holy Roman Emperor were powerful enough to rival peak experts, thus Deung Gwak knew he couldn’t win a direct battle.

Yet with Deung Gwak’s martial arts skill, he had enough means to escape. Thus, he had been sent as a secret envoy alone.

“Gahhh!!”

Quickly unleashing his power, Deung Gwak defended against the knights and tried to flee. But then, in the next instant, a blinding beam shot from behind him, fired by Charles V.

Zap!!

“Ugh….”

As Deung Gwak felt his vital energy drain from his body upon being hit by the death ray, even the protection of his martial arts power couldn’t withstand it.

“It’s an unavoidable sacrifice to maintain balance.”

Swoosh!

And as Charles V approached the fallen Deung Gwak, he drew his longsword and brought it down toward Deung Gwak’s neck. Deung Gwak realized that Charles V was not human.

‘Has he been swapped out in the last three days….’

Bang!

In that moment, a bullet ricocheted off Charles V’s longsword. Simultaneously, a mysterious shadow rushed in rapidly, using a hook to drag Deung Gwak away to safety. The one who rescued him slapped Deung Gwak across the cheek and said.

“Get a grip!”

“Umm… Who are you?”

“I am Fuma Kotaro, leader of the Fuma clan. Abeno Seimei, sensing something amiss, hired me to rescue you.”

Swish!

Fuma Kotaro, using ninjutsu, sprinted at incredible speed through the streets of the Holy Roman Empire’s capital. Deung Gwak, nestled in Kotaro’s back, managed to mutter with a fading voice.

“Cough… Charles V has been swapped. Even if I die, make sure to convey that to the Great Bear Empire….”

“Stop that lousy talk! I’m a genius, and I can get us out of here.”

“Agh, an angel is behind us!”

“Damn it! Take this!”

Bang!

Bang-bang!

Fuma Kotaro fired his gun at the angelic troops following behind with one hand. The angels hit by the bullets staggered and dropped lifelessly. Deung Gwak, feeling puzzled, asked Kotaro.

“What kind of gun is that?”

Fuma Kotaro puffed out smoke from the gun’s muzzle before responding.

“This is a state-of-the-art weapon called a pistol! Our ninjas decided to adopt modern firearms to stay in tune with the times. They’re much more powerful and convenient than shuriken or traditional weapons.”

“The angels are supposed to be resistant to physical force….”

“Abeno Seimei put curse-infused bullets into it. Anyway, hold on tight!”

Whoosh!

Fuma Kotaro fought off several angels during the next 16 skirmishes, navigating through countless hardships to escape into the sewers. Even in the sewers, there were shapeless blobs of liquid monsters and flying noodle monsters, but Fuma Kotaro managed to suppress them using hooks, his gun, and flame bombs, although he was utterly exhausted.

“Huff. Huff. That was the hardest mission I’ve faced in my life…. Now that we’ve slipped out of the capital, there shouldn’t be any magical defenses left…”

Muttering as he tossed down a divine talisman given by Abeno Seimei, a portal began to form with a whooshing sound. Fuma Kotaro tilted his head toward Deung Gwak, saying.

“Looks like your paralysis has worn off. Go inside.”

“And what about you?”

“I’ve still got a mission to approach Catherine de Medici. And this is a one-person portal.”

“Got it…”

Bang!

Soon, Deung Gwak found himself in an unknown location. It was a magical realm where walls and ceilings were made entirely of wood, a paradise carved from a giant tree. Standing there dazed, Deung Gwak eventually heard someone’s voice.

“Welcome, Deung Gwak. Fuma Kotaro did a good job.”

“Are you Abeno Seimei? I’ve heard of your fame before….”

“Indeed.”

Abeno Seimei stated.

“You have been severely impacted by powerful magic, so your body isn’t fully recovered yet. You should rest for a few days before heading back.”

“I can’t do that. I need to inform the Emperor immediately….”

“Don’t push yourself. After all, you and I are merely supporting characters in history, so preserving yourself is the fastest way to stay alive.”

As they conversed, a beautiful woman appeared, saying.

“Abeno Seimei. Are you certain you’ve foresaw the heavenly signs? Does saving this insignificant human truly change the fate of the Great Bear Empire?”

“Indeed. From the moment you beheaded Deung Gwak and returned the head to Emperor Charles V, irrefutably, a chain of events will begin. I merely delayed the flow of that event.”

“But ultimately, the war will resume, and that remains unchanged. What significance does this act have?”

“It holds significance. If the wrong flow continues, the Great Bear Empire could very well fall before Baek Woong’s return. At this rate, we can delay the full-frontal war with the Eight Parts of the Divine for a hundred… no, perhaps fifty years.”

The woman Abeno Seimei spoke to, then, remarked.

“Moreover, are you really not planning to return to the Celestial Realm, Miho?”

“Indeed.”

With her arms crossed, Miho replied.

“I desire to obtain divine power. For that, I will remain here.”

“…So you truly intend to follow through.”

“Humph! You best prepare yourself.”

“Understood. I shall accompany your plans for centuries to come, Miho.”

Abeno Seimei murmured.

“To maintain a façade while holding on to the essence of the Golden Crow’s Daji… that mad plan of yours….”

News of Charles V’s change of heart towards the Great Bear Empire soon spread. Afterward, the Master of the White Lotus Sect secretly met with Abeno Seimei to discuss vital strategies and proposed a temporary ceasefire to Charles V.

Seemingly caught off guard by the proposal, Charles V hesitated but ultimately agreed. The reasoning was simple; to him, it would yield no disadvantage. Following the establishment of a temporary ceasefire, the Master of the White Lotus Sect eased the pressure toward the West and focused his efforts on governing the southern western realms, eventually seizing northern portions of the Black Continent, including Egypt.

Several years later – the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin sensed unusual disturbances, leaving Master Mangnyang’s village to arrive at the sealed place of Chi You. After arriving at the sealed place and taking in the scenery, he murmured.

“Brother. I can’t just not do this, can I?”

Master Mangnyang replied.

“Priest. You’re our only hope. Please do it.”

“…….”

Pressing his temple hard, Cheon Woo-jin finally stated.

“Seal the… thing….”

The area around Chi You’s heart, now transformed, resembled areas of demonic influence.

Using the power of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, he barely kept it sealed, but sealing it seemed unrealistic. However, he had no choice.

‘This is all because of Baek Woong…!!’

Cheon Woo-jin couldn’t stop himself from grinding his teeth against Baek Woong as he reluctantly nodded.

“Got it. I’ll give sealing it a shot.”

Master Mangnyang smiled widely.

“Of course, it had to be you, Priest!”

That marked the beginning of Cheon Woo-jin’s 500 years of hardship.