The First Clash
Whoosh!
Blood Wolf's charging speed transcended imagination. It was like a red lightning bolt cutting through the darkness. Jin-ho could barely follow his movements with his eyes.
Clang!
Han Mu-jin barely managed to block Blood Wolf's claws with his sword. But the tremendous impact sent his body flying backward. His feet carved deep grooves in the ground as he was dragged back.
"Aaah!"
Han Mu-jin let out a pained groan. Blood Wolf's claws contained not just physical attack power, but also special poison. It was toxin enhanced by beast transformation augmentation.
"Master!"
Jin-ho tried to rush over, but Blood Wolf blocked his path.
"Your opponent is me, Death Blood Constitution."
Blood Wolf's pupils glowed golden. As his beast transformation progressed, his pupils had elongated vertically. They were completely wolf eyes now.
"Hehe... I can see why Lord Flame King wants you so badly. You really do have such a sweet scent."
Blood Wolf flicked his tongue while gazing at Jin-ho. His tongue was no longer human. It was a long, forked wolf tongue.
"Don't touch Jin-ho!"
Hyeon-su courageously charged forward. Blue sword energy emanated from his blade. Though not as strong as Jin-ho, he was a swordsman who had built up considerable skill.
Slash!
But it didn't work on Blood Wolf. When Blood Wolf lightly swatted it away with the back of his hand, Hyeon-su's sword energy shattered into pieces.
"A bug dares to interfere?"
Blood Wolf muttered irritably and swung his claws at Hyeon-su.
Ripping sound!
With the sound of fabric and flesh tearing, blood poured from Hyeon-su's shoulder. Blood Wolf's claws had deeply slashed his shoulder.
"Aaah!"
Hyeon-su screamed and tumbled to the ground. The wound was deeper than expected, and the beast's poison was rapidly spreading.
"Hyeon-su!"
Jin-ho became enraged. Seeing his friend get hurt, something stirred deep in his heart. The Blood Heaven Emperor's power was responding.
『Host Emotional Spike Detected』『Anger Level Reaching Critical Point』『Emergency Awakening Mode Preparing...』
'No! Not now!'
Jin-ho desperately restrained himself. He knew that awakening would make him stronger, but at the cost of drawing closer to the Blood Heaven Emperor.
"Hahaha! Good. That face filled with rage looks more delicious."
Blood Wolf laughed as if enjoying himself. He was the type who took pleasure in his opponent's pain. He especially loved watching strong enemies fall into despair.
"Beast Blood Explosion Art, First Stage!"
Even stronger changes began in Blood Wolf's body. His muscles swelled to twice their size, and his height grew to nearly two meters. His face also transformed to become more wolf-like.
Crack, crack... snap, snap...
With the sound of bones restructuring, his spine curved. Now he was standing half on all fours. It was completely a beast's posture.
"Now the real hunt begins!"
The transformed Blood Wolf's voice was no longer human. It was a bizarre sound mixing wolf growls with human speech.
Bang!
Blood Wolf kicked off the ground and leaped up. His jumping ability transcended imagination. He had jumped up to three meters high in one bound.
"Dangerous!"
Han Mu-jin shouted and pushed Jin-ho aside. Blood Wolf's claws struck where Jin-ho had been standing.
Bang! Thud thud thud!
The rock shattered into pieces. Rock fragments with deep claw marks scattered in all directions.
"Phew... that was close."
Jin-ho broke out in a cold sweat. If Han Mu-jin hadn't pushed him away, he would have ended up like that.
"Master, thank you."
"It's not over yet!"
Han Mu-jin raised his sword again. But his hands were trembling. Blood Wolf's poison was gradually spreading through his system.
"Hehe... are you all tired now?"
Blood Wolf approached leisurely. His movements were completely those of a predator. Even while crawling on all fours, he was ready to attack at any moment.
"The poison is spreading. How much longer can you hold out?"
Blood Wolf spoke mockingly. Indeed, Han Mu-jin's face was growing increasingly pale. Hyeon-su was already on the verge of losing consciousness.
The disciple named Dae-sung was trembling in a corner. He was still a young disciple and couldn't handle the fighting between such masters.
'Everyone... because of me...'
Jin-ho blamed himself. None of this would have happened if only he weren't here.
『Host Guilt Level Rising』『Mental Instability Detected』『Awakening Induction Conditions Met』
The Blood Heaven Emperor was taking advantage of this opening. He tried not to miss the moment when Jin-ho's heart weakened.
'Don't you need power? Don't you want to save your friends?'
The Blood Heaven Emperor's whisper echoed in Jin-ho's heart.
'If you become one with me, you can eliminate such a guy in one blow.'
'No!'
Jin-ho shouted in his mind.
'I don't want your power. I'll solve this with my own strength!'
『Host Strong Resistance Will Detected』『Awakening Induction Failed』『Switching to Standby Mode』
The Blood Heaven Emperor was flustered. Normally, hosts would crave power in situations like this, but Jin-ho was resisting even more strongly.
"Blood Demon Sword Art!"
Jin-ho drew his sword. There was a Blood Demon Sword Art he could use without awakening. He had learned it from Kang Cheon-hyeol's memories.
"Second Form... Blood Stream Continuous Slash!"
Consecutive crimson sword energies poured from Jin-ho's sword. It was the technique he had mastered during his second awakening, but now he could use it to some degree without awakening.
Slash slash slash!
Five crimson sword energies flew toward Blood Wolf. Each sword energy attacked from different angles.
"Oh? This level of skill without awakening!"
Blood Wolf was impressed. But he still had room to spare.
"But it's still not enough!"
Blood Wolf drew an X in the air with his claws. Red energy emanated from his claws.
"Beast Rending Slash!"
X-shaped red energy collided with Jin-ho's Blood Stream Continuous Slash.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions occurred in mid-air. Jin-ho's sword energy and Blood Wolf's claw energy canceled each other out.
"Hehe... not bad. But how about this?"
Blood Wolf took an attack stance again. This time he was preparing to use an even stronger technique.
"Beast Blood Explosion Art, Second Stage!"
Even more intense changes began in Blood Wolf's body. This time he completely transformed into a werewolf form. His height exceeded three meters, and his entire body was covered with black fur.
Grrrowl...
It was completely the howl of a beast. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and sharp fangs gleamed in the moonlight.
"Now... it's truly the end!"
Blood Wolf roared and charged at Jin-ho. This time it seemed impossible to avoid. The speed was too fast, and Jin-ho was already exhausted.
'Is this really... the end?'
Jin-ho thought desperately.
That's when it happened.
Whizz!
A silver arrow flew like lightning from the darkness. It precisely pierced Blood Wolf's shoulder.
"Aaah!"
Blood Wolf screamed and staggered backward. The arrow was coated with special poison that suppressed beast transformation bloodlines. His transformation slowly began to unravel.
"What... what is this!"
Blood Wolf looked at the arrow in his shoulder in horror. It wasn't an ordinary arrow. It was a special arrow made of silver, coated with poison deadly to beast transformation bloodlines.
"We're late, Senior Han."
Men in black clothes emerged from the darkness. Though their faces were covered, their movements were those of highly trained individuals.
They surrounded Blood Wolf with perfect teamwork. Each person's position was precise, and they acted while predicting each other's movements.
"Thousand Hands Society..."
Han Mu-jin wore a complex expression. He was both relieved and confused. He hadn't expected the Thousand Hands Society to arrive so quickly.
"What is the Thousand Hands Society?"
Hyeon-su barely managed to ask while clutching his wound. His consciousness was hazy due to the poison, but he couldn't contain his curiosity.
"A secret organization created three thousand years ago... to prevent the Blood Heaven Emperor's resurrection."
Han Mu-jin answered in a heavy voice.
"And I... was a member of that organization."
Jin-ho looked surprised. He hadn't known his master had such a huge secret.
"Master, you were from the Thousand Hands Society?"
"Past tense. I'm retired now, but... I couldn't completely cut ties."
Han Mu-jin smiled bitterly.
"Especially after learning that you have the Death Blood Constitution..."
"Thousand Hands Society... so you've come this far."
Blood Wolf gritted his teeth. Blood was flowing from his shoulder wound, but he still had fighting strength left.
"Blood Flame Cult and Thousand Hands Society... three thousand years of sworn enemies."
The Thousand Hands Society captain spoke coldly. No emotion was mixed in his voice. He was completely focused only on the mission.
"Objective confirmed. Protecting the Death Blood Constitution heir is top priority."
The Thousand Hands Society agents completely surrounded Blood Wolf. Their movements were perfectly synchronized. They moved like a single living organism.
Each carried different weapons. Bows, swords, spears, hidden weapons - they sealed off all of Blood Wolf's movements with various weapons.
"Hmph... yes, and today will be the decisive battle."
The Thousand Hands Society captain gave a signal. He moved only one finger, but all agents understood the meaning.
Swish swish swish swish!
Arrows flew from all directions. But this time Blood Wolf was also prepared.
"Beast Instinct!"
Blood Wolf's eyes became even sharper. Though his second-stage beast transformation had been undone, he still maintained his first-stage state.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Blood Wolf dodged the arrows with amazing agility. Even while crawling on all fours, he moved three-dimensionally using walls and trees.
"Don't let him escape!"
The Thousand Hands Society agents continued attacking while following Blood Wolf's movements. But the agility of the beast transformation bloodline exceeded imagination.
"Hehe... do you think you can catch me with this much?"
Blood Wolf sneered and began his counterattack.
"Beast Rending Explosion!"
Blood Wolf gathered his hands to create a large energy ball. Red energy coalesced while emanating dangerous aura.
Bang!
The energy ball exploded, toppling surrounding trees. Several Thousand Hands Society agents were blown back by the impact.
Battle began in earnest. The Thousand Hands Society moved systematically to pressure Blood Wolf, while Blood Wolf fought back with beast instincts.
Bang! Clang! Whizz!
Sword energy, blood energy, and arrows flew wildly. The mountain had become a battlefield.
"There's no end like this!"
Han Mu-jin shouted. Though his body was heavy due to poison, he accurately grasped the situation.
"Jin-ho, let's go first!"
"But... the Thousand Hands Society..."
"They'll hold him off. Our mission is to find Kang Cheon-hyeol's tomb!"
Jin-ho was conflicted. The Thousand Hands Society had come to save them, but was it right to leave them behind?
But Han Mu-jin was right. Fighting here was less important than achieving their objective.
"Captain of the Thousand Hands Society, thank you!"
Jin-ho shouted while supporting Han Mu-jin and Hyeon-su. Dae-sung was with them too.
"Go! We'll hold them off!"
The Thousand Hands Society captain responded. His voice carried conviction.
"Remember! The destination is the northern valley of Heaven Sword Mountain!"
Han Mu-jin shouted one last time. He had informed the Thousand Hands Society of their destination.
"Understood! We'll join you later!"
The Thousand Hands Society captain replied.
"I can't let them escape!"
Blood Wolf tried to chase Jin-ho's group, but was blocked by the Thousand Hands Society's concentrated attack.
"Your opponent is us, Blood Wolf!"
The Thousand Hands Society agents completely surrounded Blood Wolf. Now he couldn't pursue Jin-ho's group.
"Aaah! Remember this, Death Blood Constitution! I'm letting you go this time, but next time, definitely!"
Blood Wolf's roar echoed through the mountains. It was a sound mixed with anger and frustration.
Jin-ho's group continued running. Their destination was the depths of Heaven Sword Mountain where Kang Cheon-hyeol's tomb was said to be located.
"Master, will the Thousand Hands Society really be okay?"
Hyeon-su asked worriedly. Though his steps wavered due to poison, he couldn't stop worrying about his comrades.
"They are professionals who have been doing this for three thousand years. Don't worry."
Han Mu-jin reassured him.
"More importantly, we need to hurry. The Blood Flame Cult will come again."
Jin-ho took the lead and spoke. His eyes held firm determination.
『Next Awakening Opportunity on Standby』『Blood Wolf Battle Data Collection Complete』『Thousand Hands Society Existence Confirmed』『Formulating New Strategy...』
The Blood Heaven Emperor was also devising new plans. Though the variable of the Thousand Hands Society had emerged, there were still many ways to claim Jin-ho.
'Soon... soon a stronger crisis will come. Then... you won't be able to resist.'
The Blood Heaven Emperor's sinister laughter echoed from deep within Jin-ho's heart.
Next: Jin-ho's group heads toward Heaven Sword Mountain. But greater dangers await them...