Book 16 Chapter 16

Horror (恐怖), Despair (絶望), Grief (悲嘆)

- Closing-in Fear -

Though I don't know whose idea it was, if the person who devised this gate wished for everyone to get along harmoniously and unite in nature, then they made a grave mistake. They are without excuse, no matter if they are called a fool or an idiot.

However, if they intended to create a world where the iron rule of the law of the jungle, where everyone fights, competes, and dominates each other, exists, then they made the best choice, and they deserved to be called a devious genius. Humans are bound to choose struggle and conquest over harmony in an environment where a food chain exists.

Then, how will humans react when they encounter a greater unknown terror in a world of the law of the jungle?

Five days have already passed since the Jungtogwan began. In addition to the idiots called the Three Horrors of Macheon, several other people attacked the seventh squad. However, they too met the same fate as the Three Horrors. Currently, Jungtogwan is a fierce survival competition where one must choose between eating or being eaten.

The fifth day dawned on a foggy morning. The fog was so thick that one could barely see an inch ahead.

"Hah! Hah!"

The man was running. He didn't care if the branches brushed past his body as he ran. His throat burned, and his heart felt like it would explode, but he ran. In a near-unconscious state, only the thought of getting away from that person propelled his legs forward. He belonged to squad 9, and his name was Hyunwoon. He was the very Hyunwoon of the Jujakdae.

He was fleeing like a deer chased by a predator. It wasn't an inaccurate analogy. Hyunwoon was not someone who was arrogant about his own abilities. And when you have two very unique and impressive senior disciples, it's almost impossible to even consider such a thing. However, cases like Biruryeon or Master Yeomdo could be considered exceptions to the exception. Except for those two, he thought his own abilities weren't that far behind. Otherwise, why would he still hold the title of Cheonmu Guryong?

'What on earth is that monster?'

That person appeared out of nowhere. At first, he thought it was an attack from another squad member. But it wasn't. He couldn't believe a monster with such a terrifying aura was among them. Crucially, that person was an old man. An old man whom nine young men like himself couldn't defeat even if they ganged up on him. Even after sifting through the best from the Baekdo and Heukdo, they were defeated without being able to land a single blow. Not one of them could withstand the old man's sword.

Something unusual had happened. Something absurd had appeared among them. After blinking a few times, he was the only one standing. What should I do? He thought. Rushing in now would be completely futile. They couldn't even brush the hem of his clothes.

'Boring! Boring! Boring!'

That monster repeated only those words. They weren't even worthy of being a plaything.

'Not fun!'

That was what the person muttered when he saw himself left alone. While eight people lay on the ground, he yawned.

Hyunwoon moved backward. No, he propelled himself backward at an incredibly fast speed. He had to inform someone about this.

'Then, to whom?'

Then, only one person came to mind.

He was moving his feet in a near-insane state. Immense fear gripped his body and mind. The screams of his squad members still echoed in his ears. None of it was anything but desperate. He too wanted to scream. But he ran and ran, forcibly suppressing the fear that was creeping up from the depths of his heart.

Just then, a shadow suddenly appeared before his eyes. It was so sudden, as if it had sprung from the ground. Hyunwoon's fear exploded, and a scream burst from his lips.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Though his mouth screamed, his body, trained thousands, even tens of thousands of times, moved on its own reflex.

Shh!

He instinctively drew his sword and swung it at the uninvited guest before him with great speed. It was a swift strike that even the sect leader of the Mudang sect couldn't help but admire.

"Whoa!"

A short exclamation of surprise. But the shadow's movement was also formidable. He avoided the sword thrust directly at his brow with a slight turn of his head, then quickly used a pinning technique to grab Hyunwoon's right wrist and twist it slightly.

Fwoosh!

Hyunwoon's body, unable to control the momentum of his fall, spun in a circle in mid-air and was slammed to the ground, back first.

Cough!

Hyunwoon let out a short cry. The shadow looked down at him disdainfully and said irritably,

"Hey, that was dangerous… Huh? Hyunwoon?"

"S-Senior Disciple!"

The person looking down at him was none other than his senior disciple, Biruryeon. To find Biruryeon's face, which always felt distasteful, so welcome that it made him want to cry, was truly something to witness in this world.

"So, you're saying you were attacked by an unidentified assailant?"

Biruryeon asked Hyunwoon, who had finally calmed down. He had already downed three bowls of water and had been cultivating his inner energy for a while. Hyunwoon was already extremely fatigued before being subdued by Biruryeon, so it wasn't a situation where he could immediately ask for the full story.

"Yes!"

Hyunwoon nodded.

"Then, did the assailant have any distinguishing features?"

"Features… Of course… I… do."

Hyunwoon's voice trembled like a leaf being toyed with by the wind.

"What are they?"

"That… it was…"

As the image of that monster flashed in his mind again, Hyunwoon shivered. Biruryeon watched and thought,

'To instill such fear in someone like him… And he also gives off the impression of not wanting to talk about his appearance. Why on earth is he doing that?'

Biruryeon felt that Hyunwoon was perhaps trying to forget the fact himself. His training was not yet sufficient to recall it. However, just running away wouldn't solve anything. At least, the courage to face reality… With that thought repeated many times in his mind, he stammered out his words,

"His hair was pure white, like snow. And he had a white beard that reached his chest. And he… he…"

Hyunwoon squeezed out all the courage he had left.

"He was wearing a silver mask that half-covered his face."

"A… silver mask?"

Hyunwoon's body trembled as much as his voice.

"Yes, it was… a silver mask that gleamed coldly like moonlight. And behind that mask… resided cold… fear."

"N-No way… That, that's impossible… Such a foolish thing…"

Everyone held their breath. Most of their faces had turned pale. Only Biruryeon seemed to have a normal complexion. The half-faced silver mask was a trigger that, in despair, brought to mind the darkest and most terrifying symbol sealed at the bottom of their memories. A fear that felt as if one's soul would freeze just by imagining it. It was that kind of fear.

It was Biruryeon who broke the silence, which seemed to stretch for an eternity. He wasn't as greatly agitated as the others.

"So? Didn't he introduce himself?"

"S-Self-introduction?"

"Yes, were you defeated without even exchanging names?"

"Ah, he said this. 'My name is Fear, the one who crawls out from the darkness deep within the heart and devours the soul! That is my name.'"

"It's a declaration of war. Perhaps he only let Hyunwoon escape unharmed to announce his presence. Otherwise, could he have escaped this far safely?"

What was about to happen seemed anything but ordinary.

"Still, one thing has become certain."

"What has become certain? I'm still in utter confusion."

Hyoryong still seemed bewildered. Biruryeon replied,

"At least it's certain that we're not fighting each other now. Though it's unknown how much more we need to suffer before realizing this fact."

As Biruryeon predicted, Hyunwoon's squad (9) was not the only victim. Other squads also faced similar situations. It seemed that eight prey were not enough to appease his hunger.

"Who are you?"

Yongcheonmyeong barked a sharp question at the silver mask that suddenly appeared before them.

"Me?"

A voice seemed to emanate from the depths of ancient darkness, a voice that seemed to suppress the soul, flowed from the silver mask's lips.

"My name is 'Fear,' the one who crawls out from the darkness deep within the heart and devours the soul! That is my name."

Yongcheonmyeong, doing his best to keep his hands from shaking, asked,

"What business does someone like you have here?"

The silver mask replied,

"I have come to drive out hope from your hearts and bring you despair!"

"Alone?"

There was no need for further conversation, nor did he want to have any. Yongcheonmyeong gave a signal, and all twenty members of squad 2 drew their weapons and surrounded him. With the resolve to never let him utter such insolent words again. Fear? They were no longer children but trained martial artists.

"A fight isn't won by numbers! You might pay dearly if you get complacent because you have many."

Everyone held their weapons and surrounded him, but no one dared to rush in recklessly. An unknown pressure seemed to bind their bones and flesh.

"Tsk tsk, if you won't come, I'll come to you."

Swish, swish, swish!

People's eyes widened to the size of saucers in shock. With each light step the silver mask took as if on a stroll, his form began to multiply.

"D-Duplication!"

Yongcheonmyeong's bulging eyes let out a groan. And precisely on the eighth step, the number of his forms had increased to exactly the number of squad 2 members.

"Now it's one-on-one."

There were a total of nine duplicates.

The nine silver masks had subtly positioned themselves in the blind spots of squad 2 members, and the astonished people couldn't even move. It was as if invisible spiderwebs had ensnared their souls. And with a playful flick of the silver mask's hand, everyone dropped their weapons due to the immense sword pressure. Their wrists tingled, and their palms felt numb. They looked like they were possessed by ghosts, having encountered an opponent whose strength was beyond human comprehension.

"Ho ho, a sword is a living thing, how can you let it go so easily? How can you call yourself a swordsman, a martial artist, or properly guard your own life?"

No one could refute that criticism. But that didn't mean they weren't angry.

"Even without swords, we have hands!"

Several people bravely lunged at the silver mask, wielding martial arts and palm techniques. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Was he a little satisfied? The silver mask casually waved his hand once more.

Kuaaaargh!

Seven desperate screams erupted simultaneously from seven mouths. They were screams so desperate they didn't seem to belong to this world, sounds that would echo only in the Avici hell. And the bodies of the seven who had rushed towards him stiffened exactly as they had been moving and collapsed powerlessly like a rotten corpse.

It happened in an instant. Everything happened within eight steps, just eight steps.

Now, only Yongcheonmyeong and Maharyeong remained. Yongcheonmyeong drew his Nokok Yeorae Sin-geom and unleashed the first sword of Dalma Sam-geom. A sword energy as dazzling as the radiance of a Tathagata stretched towards the opponent. The silver mask slightly raised the sword he was holding and effortlessly parried his strike, making him feel drained. His admonishing voice flowed out.

"Tsk tsk, Buddhist swordsmanship should be based on an unwavering mind and compassion… Your mind is turbulent like a rippling sea, and your sword carries killing intent, so how can it display its true power? To possess the Nokok Yeorae Sin-geom with such skill is to mock the sword!"

"H-How did you know!"

Yongcheonmyeong was astonished by the perfectly accurate critique that pierced to the core.

"Quiet!"

Seeing Yongcheonmyeong hesitate due to the mental shock, Maharyeong, who couldn't stand by, rushed forward wielding her dao. And in the next moment, she collapsed with a scream.

A tremendous gale erupted. It wasn't the power of nature. It was a gale unleashed by pure human strength. The small-statured silver mask man, who appeared suddenly, subdued five martial artists in an instant like a storm.

There was no contest from the beginning. He dealt with the young moths charging at him as if they were children.

The attacks of squad 11 were ineffective against the silver mask. They couldn't even brush his clothes. An irresistible force enveloped the silver mask, and the flow of that force pushed away their swords and daos. On the other hand, they suffered greatly with just a flick of his finger. Invisible ghost hands seemed to play with them at will. Furthermore, with immense spiral force in each move, if they even brushed against him, their clothes would be torn to shreds like rags. It was as if invisible, rough hands were wringing out their clothes like laundry.

First, the sleeves were ripped to shreds in a spiral, and then their entire bodies. It was fortunate that they ended up in tatters instead of being completely naked.

"Who… who are you?"

He was a man with a sword scar on one side of his face, his voice trembling, the one called the third senior disciple by the young man named Soyu. But even his cold face was now trembling with fear. His junior disciples were already scattered on the ground.

"My name is Despair! The endless deep swamp that swallows hope and leads people to the mire of sorrow. That is my name."

A terrifying voice flowed from the silver mask's lips.

The attacks continued, and squad 1 was no exception. However, it was during the brief absence of the Grand Disciple Bi and the Demonic Sword Yi Choomyeong.

"Oh my, the numbers are short, what a pity!"

Her voice was sullen, like a child who had lost a toy. She was enveloped in blood-red hostility, with half her face covered by a silver mask.

"What kind of woman are you?"

Omun Chu of the Five Heroes of Macheon sealed his own fate with that single remark. He paid a heavy price for his loose tongue. With a single wave of the silver mask woman's hand, his body was inverted by an irresistible force, and simultaneously, his head was slammed into the ground like a pounding pestle.

Thump!

The sound was so loud it was a miracle his head didn't burst like a watermelon.

"Oh my, you must be careful with your words. You might bring misfortune upon yourself."

Jongri Chu of the Seven Spears of Igeol, belonging to the same squad 1, thrust his seven spears sequentially, attacking the uninvited guest. In coordination, Do Chuun of the Four Swords of Samgeol also attacked the silver mask with his sword. As expected from colleagues, their breathing was perfectly synchronized. The shadows of the blade and the spear danced intricately in the space. However, their attacks only passed through her body. What they stabbed and ravaged was merely an illusion, not a reality.

It was like a mirage, or like mist on the sea. Even when Namgung Sang and Jinnyeong attacked simultaneously, they kept reappearing no matter how much they cut. They would dissipate like mist and regenerate repeatedly. It was so difficult to grasp their form, like sea mist on the ocean.

"It's a ghost!"

People recoiled in terror. It couldn't be anything but a ghost, they thought, to be repeatedly cut without being cut. Then, a dissatisfied protest burst from the air.

"What, a ghost? Have you ever seen such an elegant and beautiful ghost?"

"Hieeeeeek! It's a real ghost!"

Tremble, tremble, tremble!

It was understandable that Nohak was scared. He absolutely hated ghosts. Jinnyeong felt the same fear of ghosts. Her complexion had turned very pale.

"To call an ordinary person a ghost… You deserve to be punished."

A twig in her hand – it wasn't even a sword – swept across the surroundings. Then, with desperate screams, everyone collapsed to the ground. It was a truly anticlimactic battle. Now, only Dokgollyeong remained.

"Oh my, what a cute-looking child!"

The woman dressed in blood-red clothes said, clapping her hands gleefully.

There was someone whose fashion sense was as bad as Yeomdo's. Her clothes seemed to smell faintly of blood. It was just a feeling.

"Can you give me a little more fun? I'll be really sad if you're as weak as these children."

Her tone was like a spoiled child.

Dokgollyeong attacked with her full strength using the ultimate technique of the Bihong sword, 'Bisang Cheonri' (Flying a Thousand Miles). Thirty-six goose-shaped sword energies left her sword. It was a strike with vastly superior power compared to the previous limit of twelve.

"That's a magnificent move! But that won't stop me."

With a single sweep of the silver mask's sword in the air, the thirty-six Bihong sword energies were drawn in as if being sucked into a birdcage and completely rendered powerless. Dokgollyeong, who had never imagined her ultimate strike would be so easily neutralized, was astonished.

"It looks flashy on the outside, but your mind is elsewhere… Your wavering mind, your anxiety and impatience are all revealed. Are you dating someone these days?"

"Wh-What basis do you have!"

Dokgollyeong's face turned red.

"Why do you deny it so strongly? A sword doesn't lie. Your sword embodies all your worries. How can you unleash a proper sword without reaching 'Simjeong Cheongdo' (a calm and clear mind)!"

"H-How do you know the teachings of Simjeong Cheongdo?"

However, the silver mask woman paid no attention to her shocked question and continued speaking.

"Without the purity of the mind, the sword cannot exert its full power. Like this."

The woman extended the twig in her hand. It was impossible to read her movements. It was as if an empty void was before them. By then, sword energy had reached her brow.

Shishishshish!

Just then, dozens of leaves suddenly swept towards the woman's flank like throwing stars. The woman, unable to thrust her sword energy further, dodged. All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Both Dokgollyeong and the silver mask woman simultaneously looked towards where the leaves had come from. There stood the Grand Disciple Bi and the Demonic Sword Yi Choomyeong.

"Who are you?"

Grand Disciple Bi asked.

"Me? My name is 'Grief,' born from the sea of lamentation and guiding people to the swamp of sorrow!"

A formidable presence, entirely different from her playful demeanor moments ago, emanated from the woman.

"Now that reinforcements have arrived, is it going to get more interesting?"

Even with two more opponents, she didn't seem threatened at all. There was no sign of fear. Rather, she seemed delighted. Like a child with more toys.

"Will it be more fun this way?"

A voice was heard from the forest on the opposite side of Grand Disciple Bi, and a person appeared. It was Biruryeon. Why was he in squad 1's territory?

"How did you get here?"

Dokgollyeong also seemed surprised by Biruryeon's appearance.

"Lion, are you alright?"

This time, it was Nayerin. Her voice was filled with worry and tension. Lijinseol was beside her.

"By the way, didn't they say it was a man?"

Another person appeared from the darkness of the forest. It was Obivan. And following him were Jang Hong, Hyoryong, Yunjunho, and Gyook. Almost no one from squad 7 was missing, except for Wijicheon, who was living like a wreck. He had been acting like a lost soul since the Suhwagwan. So they had left him be. There were also people who weren't from squad 7, such as Hyunwoon and Moyonghwi. They too had experienced attacks from the silver mask. But they were all alive.

"What brings you here?"

Demonic Sword Yi Choomyeong asked in a gruff voice. He was still an unlikeable fellow.

"The mountain seems to be in turmoil all of a sudden. We've heard that some unidentified group is wandering the mountain, attacking people for sport."

"For sport?"

"We say that because no one has died yet."

Jang Hong replied.

"No one died?"

"Yes, don't worry about the people lying on the ground. Their screams were loud, but they just fainted."

Nayerin reassured Dokgollyeong.

"They fainted from immense psychological trauma."

"At the time, I was too flustered to know, so I thought they were all dead… but when I went to check, they were all alive and well. At first, I thought I had seen a ghost."

Hyunwoon chimed in.

"However, it's good that they didn't kill them, but a problem has arisen that cannot be overlooked…"

"A problem that cannot be overlooked?"

"After they attacked each squad, they knocked them out and stole their Cheonryupae."

Having their Cheonryupae stolen meant being eliminated from Jungtogwan.

"It seems they intend to steal the Cheonryupae of everyone here. However, their martial arts are so profound that it's true that squad members alone cannot contend with them. Therefore, we have decided to find a way to overcome this situation, which is for all squad members to temporarily cease their disputes and unite. In preparation for the threat of an unknown enemy. That's why we came here. The remaining squads all agreed to our opinion. Now, only squad 1 remains. We would appreciate it if you could let us know your intentions shortly."

Jang Hong explained the whole story of why they had come. It was a very interesting proposal. Certainly, Dokgollyeong, having clashed with them, could now keenly feel it. The opponent was a being in a far higher realm, beyond her reach.

"But was it really a man? According to eyewitness accounts, it was a man."

Biruryeon gazed at the silver mask woman, tilting his head in puzzlement. Certainly, the person before him was wearing a silver mask, and as the testimonies suggested, was unbelievably strong, but he didn't look like a man at all.

"A man!"

The silver mask woman's hostility trembled with anger.

"Have you ever seen a man with such a beautiful, elegant, slender, and perfect figure?"

The woman struck a pose, as if to show off. It was a non-vulgar yet excellent pose that simultaneously emphasized her waist, leg line, and bust line. Mmm, several men nodded foolishly. It was indeed a well-proportioned figure.

"You must take good care of your body?"

Biruryeon asked, admiringly.

"Of course! I always eat only healthy food and never forget skin massages. I don't expose myself to sunlight carelessly and exercise regularly. It's no exaggeration to say that eighty percent of my internal energy is used for body management."

The silver mask woman said proudly, as if it were a great point of pride.

"Oh, indeed! Such efforts are the secret to creating such a wonderful physique."

"Good, young man! Today, I will withdraw because I have seen the face of someone with excellent aesthetic judgment. Then, young lady! I expect to see a better appearance next time we meet. Tell your boyfriend that too. Your boyfriend seems to be no ordinary friend!"

"He is not my boyfriend!"

Grand Disciple Bi and Dokgollyeong vehemently denied.

"Hmm, if not, then so be it…"

"You may have come as you pleased, but you won't be able to leave as you pleased!"

Jang Hong said in a firm voice. There were still too many unanswered questions. At that, the woman covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh.

"Do you think a few more heads can stop me? Today, I'm leaving because my mood has been spoiled, little one. I can come and go as I please, anytime. You're still a hundred years away from stopping me!"

At that moment, an immense sword energy erupted from the woman's body in all directions. Everyone, terrified by the appearance of dozens of swords piercing them, drew their weapons. But the sword energy disappeared just before their faces.

"Wh-What…"

People looked around bewildered.

"It's killing intent! It was an illusion of swords piercing us with immense killing intent."

Jang Hong groaned. To be able to do this with mere killing intent… it was a terrifying strength that made one's skin crawl.

"Tsk!"

Biruryeon muttered, touching his numb hand. While others were shown an illusion, he was the one who was actually touched. While others were still bewildered by the illusory killing intent, he knew. This numb feeling was the biggest proof.

"Was it a deterrent…"

If so, it was an accurate judgment. He had missed the timing to follow her movements by being obstructed by the ultimate strike just now. She had blocked his movements with truly exquisite swordplay. But there was one thing that bothered him.

'… This feeling?'

Biruryeon, who had exchanged blows with the silver mask woman, couldn't hide his bewilderment. The feeling was not unfamiliar at all. Who on earth could it be that gave him such a feeling?

He was so lost in thought that he didn't even properly notice that something had fallen from his waist. He had too many things to think about, and everything was a riddle that couldn't be solved. Biruryeon moved his body, snapping out of his reverie as people called him.

"Huh?"

Grand Disciple Bi, who had been watching Biruryeon's group's murmurs from a distance, discovered a foreign object on the ground and bent down to pick it up.

"This is!"

In his hand was a Cheonryupae, which was as vital as life in Jungtogwan. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he confirmed the name written there.